John Gilchrist's top 10 new restaurants in Calgary

It's John Gilchrist's most anticipated column of the year his list of the best new restaurants in Calgary. Competition was so tight for the best restaurant, Gilchrist declared it a tie.

• Listen to Gilchrist'sinterview on CBC's Calgary Eyeopener as he goes through his year-end list of Calgary's best new restaurants. Click on the "Listen" button.

1) Candela

Candelawhich means flame in Spanishis atapas-style restaurant featuringa lively atmosphere with afood conceptof what the owners call global small plates.

1919 Fourth St. S.W.

1) Avec

Run by industry professionals, this place is a lovely, classy French bistro.

#105-550 11th Ave. S.W.

3) Carino

This Japanese-Italian bistro combines some interesting flavours, and features a great teriyakiKobe beef burger.

709 Edmonton Tr. N.E.

4) Thai On Zon (Cochrane)

Run by two Thai sisters, Thai On Zon meaning awesome Thai has opened a vegetarian restaurant in Cochrane with bright, lively food and rich flavours.

115Fifth Ave. West

5) Downtownfood

This restaurant featuresa young chef from Innisfail, Alta.,who isreally into local,seasonal fare anddoing a great job.

628 Eighth Ave. S.W.

6) Cibo

It's lively, it's big, it's loud and it's brassy, andhas a big pizza oven in this restaurant that features casual Californian-Italian style cuisine.

1012 17th Ave. S.W.

7) Cucina Market Bistro

It'sa rustic eatery that looks like an "oddlittleItalian farmhouse," andJohn Michael Macneilone of the top chefs in the city right nowis doing some really interesting things.

515 Eighth Ave. S.W.

8) Bar C

Witha bit of new style, this restaurant features big screens and a bar with some great southwest, contemporary cooking like grilled salmon with a red quinoa salad.

340 17th Ave. S.W.

9) Fine Diner

One restaurant taking a different spin on diner cuisine is out in Inglewood.This eaterycooks upeggs benedict six different waysincluding a seared duck breast egg benedict.

1420Ninth Ave. S.E.

10) National Beer Hall

This new beer hall features more than 100 craft beers, and "really good food"everything from pickled eggs to oysters.

550 17th Ave. S.W.