Seasons in the Park Named Canada's Top Fine Dining Spot

What the award actually is

So what does number one mean here? It's a Tripadvisor award, and Daily Hive explains that Tripadvisor gives it to places with a high volume of strong reviews and opinions from its community over a 12-month period. Tripadvisor says fewer than one per cent of its eight million listings reach that level. In other words, it reflects what diners keep saying, not a panel of critics.

The restaurant thanked its team and guests on Instagram, saying it is proud to be part of people's celebrations, special occasions and everyday moments. Vancouver had company on the list too: Daily Hive reports Black+Blue Vancouver at number four, Bacchus at number 11 and Five Sails by Alex Kim at number 12.

What dinner costs and when to go

Here's what we found on the restaurant's own dinner menu when we checked on October 20. Mains run from $27 (wild mushroom agnolotti or spaghetti Bolognese) to $68 for the Filet Neptune, with steelhead salmon at $37.50, rack of lamb at $43.50 and citrus-ponzu sablefish at $47. Starters are $17 to $29.50 and desserts are $13.50. Dinner is served from 2:30pm daily, and Sundays bring slow-roasted prime rib at $52 from 4:30pm while it lasts.

Want the view for less? Weekday happy hour in the lounge runs 2:30 to 5, with classic cocktails at $10 and bites from $8.50. Reservations go through OpenTable or by phone at 604-874-8008.

Why Seasons works for a date

The reason to go is the room. It sits at the top of the park with wide windows looking out to downtown and the North Shore mountains, and it's a classic, comfortable kind of special rather than a fussy one. If it were us, we'd book a window table before sunset, keep the order simple, and walk the Quarry Gardens just below afterwards. Expect the award to make tables harder to get, so book ahead if you have a date in mind.