For the romantics out there planning the perfect date this Valentine’s Day, look no further.
A pair of Whistler restaurants, Rimrock Café and Wild Blue, made OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in Canada, two of the 16 B.C. restaurants on the list.
The online reservation company devised the list by analyzing more than 900,000 diner reviews, along with diner ratings, reservation demand and the percentage of reviews with the tag “romantic,” among other factors.
Rimrock, a perennial favourite in Pique’s Best of Whistler reader poll, has been a mainstay on the local culinary scene since 1986, known for its sizable portions and specialty in fish and game. Longtime employees Chris McKinney and Steve Maile took the reins from restaurant founders Bob Dawson and Rolf Gunther in 2023.
Wild Blue is a relative newcomer to Whistler’s fine dining scene, having opened in 2022. Since then, it has become known for its vibrant-yet-elegant atmosphere, and its award-winning coastal cuisine, drawing influences from Italy, France and Japan. The restaurant is backed by several local restaurant luminaries: Araxi founder and B.C. Restaurant Hall of Famer Jack Evrensel, partner and restaurant director Neil Henderson, who cut his teeth at Araxi and Evrensel’s Toptable Group; and executive chef Derek Bendig, formerly of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The restaurant also counts Alex Chen, former Vancouver Chef of the Year and TV personality, as chef-partner.
According to OpenTable data, Valentine’s Day 2024 saw a 23-per-cent increase in dining out in B.C. The results of the company's recent consumer survey found 42 per cent of British Columbians are planning to dine at a restaurant this Valentine’s Day.