ELORA – They must be doing something right to make the list of Canada’s top 100 restaurants, says Michael Anderson, restaurant director at the Elora Mill Restaurant.
OpenTable, a restaurant booking app, has listed the Elora Mill among the top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants in Canada for 2022 based on customer comments and ratings.
With a mantra that guests have an “exceptional” experience at the Elora Mill Hotel and Spa, “it means we’re doing something right,” Anderson said. “But we always try to do better.”
Anderson, who has worked in Elora for four-and-a-half years, said executive chef Dacha Markovic uses food from local farms and local butchers, “and that has led to the food-driven part.”
Because ingredients are locally sourced, the menu changes seasonally with slight changes every two weeks or so.
“It keeps staff engaged. And for guests who stay multiple nights, it’s nice to be able to offer variety,” said Anderson.
“From a service aspect, our mantra is that our guests have an exceptional experience. That makes it very clear to staff, at every level of the organization.”
Anderson said coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus was on staff.
“We really paid attention to their mental health,” he said, adding when staff is looked after they are better able to care for guests.
“We do a number of different things, including singing each other’s praises.”
Indeed, Anderson sang the praises of housekeeping staff, spa services, groundskeepers, hosts, bartenders, food runners, back of house, sommeliers and events staff in this recognition.
“The recognition means a lot and is testament to how many people are involved to make it happen. We all have to work together at a high level,” he said.
The Elora Mill is in good company, with numerous entries on the OpenTable list in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary.
Nearby, The Earth to Table: Bread Bar in Guelph also made the list, as did the Bauer Kitchen in Waterloo and the Charcoal Steak House in Kitchener.
“This diner-generated reference guide stands apart from others because it’s a reflection of diners’ most beloved restaurants across the country,” said Matt Davis, country director of OpenTable Canada. “Only those who book via OpenTable and dine are able to leave a review.”
OpenTable’s list of the top 100 restaurants in Canada is generated from diner reviews collected between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022. Qualifying restaurants were sorted according to an overall score that considered overall diner rating, user klout, total number of reviews and regional overall rating.
