Vij's

Adored by locals and honoured by such luminaries as the New York Times, who declared that Vij’s was ‘...easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world,’ it’s no wonder that dedicated fans of Vij’s modern Indian cuisine are more than happy to queue — sometimes for 90 minutes — to get a taste of those legendarily delicious lamb popsicles, and other treats on the menu.

And it really doesn’t matter who you are, as Vij’s has a strict "no reservation" policy, which is why celebrities like Harrison Ford, Martha Stewart and Pierre Trudeau have all patiently waited to get a table just like the rest of us. But part of the fun of Vij’s is waiting in the lounge area, spotting who’s who, meeting new friends and gobbling down the delicious complimentary hors d’oeuvres that are handed around to stave off hunger pangs.

“It’s first come, first served for everyone,” says the acclaimed restaurateur and TV star. “This is my home, I want to welcome people; these [Vij's, Rangoli and My Shanti, his three local restaurants] are not just restaurants they are an extension of how I think, how I feel and what I love.”