Hungry? You will be once you’ve discovered all this year’s delicious recipients and finalists.
BY JOANNE SASVARI | PHOTOS BY JEFFREY BOSDET
On Monday, June 23, the Inn at Laurel Point was abuzz with excitement as more than 300 members of Greater Victoria’s culinary and business community gathered to find out who the winners and finalists would be for the sixth annual YAM Best Restaurant Awards, produced by YAM magazine and Page One Publishing.
Taking home the top prize among the 21 categories, YAM’s 2025 Restaurant of the Year is Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar, which was lauded by the judges for “ticking all the boxes,” from its beautiful room to its polished service to executive chef Kristian Eligh’s elevated yet approachable cuisine. Marilena, which was 2024’s Best New Restaurant, was also the recipient of the awards for Best Big Night Out, Outstanding Service and Best Wine Program. “It is,” the judges said, “a place that truly understands what Victorians have been hungry for.”
Read on to discover the full list — congratulations to all the finalists, and we hope you brought your appetite!
Restaurant of the Year
Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
Runners-up:
Chef(s) of the Year
Kiran Kolathodan+ Karma Tenpa of Cafe Malabar
Runners-up:
Kristian Eligh of Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
Sam Harris of Cafe Brio
Best New Restaurant
Janevca Kitchen & Lounge
Runners-up:
Best Pastry Chef
Haley Landa & Curtis Helm of GoodSide Pastry House
Runners-up:
Brian Bradley of Janevca Kitchen & Lounge
Kimberley Vy of Inn at Laurel Point
Best Big Night Out
Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
Runners-up:
Ugly Duckling Kitchen & Provisions
Best Casual
Part and Parcel
Runners-up:
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses
Best Patio
Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio
Runners-up:
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses
Best Brunch
House Of Boateng
Runners-up:
Best Happy Hour
Bray’s West Coast Tapas and Wine Bar
Runners-up:
Best Plant Based
Nourish Kitchen & Cafe
Runners-up:
Producer of the Year
Silk Road Tea
Runners-up:
Tastemakers of the Year
Peter and Jo Zambri
Best European (French, Italian, German, Greek, etc)
Zambri’s
Runners-up:
Best Latin (Spanish, Mexican, South American)
Matadora Tapas
Runners-up:
Best East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
Chobap Shushi Bar
Runners-up:
Best South or Southeast Asian (Indian, Thai, Malaysian)
Cafe Malabar
Runners-up:
Best Middle Eastern or North African
Niloo Persian Kitchen & Grill
Runners-up:
Best West Coast Contemporary
Bray’s West Coast Tapas and Wine Bar
Runners-up:
Best Cocktail Bar or Lounge
Humboldt Bar
Runners-up:
Best Sommelier and/or Wine Program
Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
Runners-up:
Outstanding Service
Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar
Runners-up:
About the awards:
The YAM Best Restaurant Awards are the only fully independent restaurant awards in Southern Vancouver Island. They recognize the top chefs, sommeliers, producers, front-of-house staff and all who work in Greater Victoria’s restaurants. Produced by YAM magazine, in 2025 the awards celebrated their sixth year of lifting up the city’s hospitality industry.
How it works: A judging team of local culinary experts and industry professionals, led by editor-in-chief Joanne Sasvari, nominates the restaurants or individuals in each of 21 categories. Following intense discussion and debate, the judges then vote on each category to determine the winners and runners-up. There is no application or pay-to-play process involved.
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