FAQ: Calgary’s Best Restaurants Ballot

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Avenue’s 2022 Best Restaurants ballot.

Each year, Avenue has created a Best Restaurants online ballot to collect submissions and votes from diners across the city in multiple categories. Tens of thousands of votes have rolled in over the last few years. Because of the enthusiasm for dining in Calgary, and in particular the enthusiasm from Avenue‘s audience, we anticipate engagement will be even higher this year. Anyone can participate and we hope that you do so that collectively we can continue to learn about, celebrate and support our local dining scene.

Here’s some information about how this ballot project works as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

When is it?

The ballot project has three phases.

Phase 1: The write-in phase from July 11 to 26. During this phase, we are asking Calgarians to nominate their favourite restaurants in a variety of categories. To do that, simply select the category and type in the name of the restaurant. All of those nominations will be collected and the restaurants with the most nominations will move on to phase 2.

Phase 2: The voting period from August 29 to September 15. The finalists in each category will be displayed online during this time and readers can go to the ballot and vote for the best.

Phase 3: The results in March 2024. We’ll reveal the winners in each category online and in Avenue‘s Best Restaurants print issue.

Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions, including several specifically for businesses that have been nominated. If you are interested in advertising, this post will answer some of your questions.

Where is it?

The ballot for both the nomination and voting period is on AvenueCalgary.com/Best-Restaurants-Ballot.

How were businesses selected for each category?

The list is generated by audience input. Between July 11 and 26, we’re asking Avenue readers to nominate their favourite restaurants in dozens of categories. As entries are submitted, our team reviews them to make sure they were submitted to the correct category, that the name is correct and that the restaurant is eligible. When the nominations round closes, businesses with the most nominations in each category will advance to the voting round.

Why don’t you have a category for _______?

To make this ballot manageable and user friendly, we narrowed down the list of categories. We selected categories that Avenue‘s audience has shown the most interest in and tried to capture a broad range of dining options in Calgary. That said, we had dozens of other categories that we could have included but didn’t have space for and it is most important that we learn about all of the great dining in Calgary.

What about Best Overall Restaurant or Best New?

To determine these lists, Avenue will once again assemble a group of judges who are experts in the local food scene. Those judges will be given the results of voting across all of the categories and consider the winners and high placers to create the Best Overall Restaurants in Calgary and Best New Restaurants in Calgary lists.

Which restaurants are eligible?

We are looking for the best restaurants in Calgary so the restaurant must be in Calgary. In addition, we want to celebrate locally owned businesses. We’ve set aside a category for Best Chain Restaurant because we love eating at those too, but for all other categories we want Calgary-based submissions.

How will the winners be chosen?

The business with the most number of votes in a category will be selected as the Best Restaurant in Calgary in that category.

How many times can I enter nominations?

You can nominate once per day in each category.

How many times can I vote?

You can vote once in each category.

When will I know the results?

The results will be announced in the March 2023 print issue of Avenue as well as on AvenueCalgary.com around the same time.

Does this mean the 2024 Best Restaurants list will all be reader’s choice?

For all of the categories in this ballot, the results will be based on reader nominations and voting. For the Best Overall Restaurant and Best New Restaurant category, we will use the information and feedback gained by the voting process, but the winners will ultimately be decided by an expert panel of judges.

Why do you ask for my email address?

To vote, you must enter your own email address and it has to be valid. That allows the system we use to eliminate potential voter fraud. We don’t keep or use your email unless you specifically opt-in to receive emails from us and you have the option to unsubscribe from those at any time.

Take me back to the ballot

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