10 Great Boxing Day Shopping Eateries Across Canada

Posted by Dan Clapson on December 22, 2014

Since many of us won’t get exactly what we want for Christmas, we can look forward to Boxing Day and getting a decent deal on, well, just about anything that wasn’t crossed off our wish lists. If you’ve worked up an appetite after shopping for a good part of the day, here are few places close to shopping hotspots across Canada that can give you some good food and drink. Whether or not they’ll be having Boxing Day food deals though, this is something I don’t know. You can’t win ‘em all, folks.

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Earls Test Kitchen (Vancouver, BC)

There’s certainly no shortage of Earls locations in this country, but their <a target="_blank" href="https://earls.ca/locations/test-kitchen">Test Kitchen</a> location, one of the company’s flagships and <a target="_self" href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/top-chef-canada/">Top Chef Canada</a> alumnus, Dawn Douchette’s homebase, just a block or so off the always bustling <a target="_blank" href="http://www.robsonstreet.ca/">Robson Street</a> is a great spot to check out.Dish in photo: Calamari
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Earls Test Kitchen (Vancouver, BC)

Aside from menu favourites that will please anyone from kids to picky-eaters, this unique location also tests new menu items out on patrons, so you’ll be able to try dishes here that will not have been tried at any other Earls in the country. Now that’s pretty cool!Dish in photo: Quinoa Tofu Bowl
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Richmond Station (Toronto, ON)

Top Chef Canada season two champion Carl Heinrichs runs a tight, delicious ship at his restaurant that’s right around the corner from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.torontoeatoncentre.com/en/Pages/default.aspx">Toronto Eaton Centre</a>.Dish in photo: Stn. Burger
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Richmond Station (Toronto, ON)

<a target="_blank" href="http://richmondstation.ca/">Richmond Station</a> is known very well for its charcuterie, all made in-house, as well as the burger that when ordered medium-rare is one of the most delicious bites you could ever have during the lunch hour. Meat may be the word here, but save room for dessert, like the squash cake with pumpkin ganache. I mean, “I’m eating healthy now!” isn’t a mantra we all start until January 1st anyway, right?Dish in photo: Charcuterie
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Double Zero (Calgary, AB)

Whether you’re elbowing your way into H&M inside the <a href="http://www.chinookcentre.com/en/Pages/default.aspx">Chinook Centre</a> in South Calgary or wandering the different levels of <a href="http://www.coreshopping.ca/">The Core</a> in the city’s downtown area, find relief knowing that a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.doublezeropizza.ca/chinook/">Double Zero Pizza</a> is only a short stroll away. Dish in photo: Chorizo Salami Pizza
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Double Zero (Calgary, AB)

Both locations are found in malls, but still maintain that “real” restaurant feel (no easy task for an eatery located inside a shopping centre) and offer up wood-fired pizzas, a decent wine list and plenty of small plates for sharing.Dish in photo: Tuna Crudo
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Meat (Edmonton, AB)

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.oldstrathcona.ca/">Whyte Avenue</a> has long been a shopping destination for tourists and Edmonton natives alike, but it’s also riddled with subpar food options. Make your way past all the riff raff and head into <a target="_blank" href="http://meatfordinner.com/">MEAT</a>.
Edmonton Journal

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Meat (Edmonton, AB)

As you may have guessed, this spot lives up to its name, cooking up a ton of meat done Southern barbecue-style, with a nice list of straight-up bourbon and bourbon cocktails on the side. Brisket, ribs, smoked chicken…you name it, they got it. Well, not tofu. They do not have that.Dish in photo: Sampler Platter
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The Good Son (Toronto, ON)

Your bargain shopping chit chat will start to slow down once the Italian-inspired plates hit your table at <a target="_blank" href="http://thegoodsontoronto.com/">The Good Son</a>. Owned by Top Chef Canada’s <a target="_blank" href="http://vittoriocolacitti.com/">Vittorio Colacitti</a>, the Queen Street West restaurant sets its sights on simple food and bold flavours, all in the name of family-style dining.
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The Good Son (Toronto, ON)

Grilled rapini, pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven, maybe even some grilled octopus... What more could you ask for in an post-shopping meal?Dish in photo: Crispy Potato-Wrapped Jerk Shrimp
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YEW in the Four Seasons (Vancouver, BC)

Just steps away from Vancouver’s main downtown shopping mall, the <a href="http://www.pacificcentre.ca/en/Pages/default.aspx">Pacific Centre</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.yewseafood.com/">YEW</a> inside the Four Seasons hotel is all about seafood and even more so, sustainability. The crab or lobster tacos are always a great way to start off a meal before diving into main courses featuring char, trout, B.C. clams and more—all 100% <a target="_blank" href="http://www.oceanwise.ca/">Ocean Wise</a> certified.Dish in photo: Pork & Clams
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YEW in the Four Seasons (Vancouver, BC)

Best of all? The dining room offers a nice, peaceful atmosphere, juxtaposed perfectly by the insanity of an overcrowded mall next-door.Dish in photo: Sablefish
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Local on 8th (Calgary, AB)

Based out of Vancouver, you can now find the <a target="_blank" href="http://localpubliceatery.com/">Local Public Eatery</a> group in Calgary, Edmonton and most recently, Ottawa. The Calgary location is found right on Stephen Avenue, just outside of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.coreshopping.ca/">The Core</a>. It’s a charming room, with plenty of seating for you and friends, or for you, friends and one million shopping bags.Dish in photo: Churros
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Local on 8th (Calgary, AB)

Chain or not, Local makes one of the best Caesars that I’ve ever had in this country (it’s all about that garnish) and their other drinks and food offerings (they’ve even got wine on tap!) are always consistent and at a great value.Dish in photo: Sliders
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Fabbrica (Toronto, ON)

Chef <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/chef_markmcewan">Mark McEwan</a> may have been as tough as nails as the head judge on <a target="_self" href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/top-chef-canada/">Top Chef Canada</a>, but he certainly knows when (and where) to offer a good, comfortable restaurant experience when you need one. Dish in photo: Margherita Pizza
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Fabbrica (Toronto, ON)

It doesn’t matter if you’re craving something light, like a buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad, big plates of house-made gnocchi, or even Neopolitan-style pizza all for yourself, <a target="_blank" href="http://fabbrica.mcewangroup.ca/">Fabbrica</a> has got you covered.Dish in photo: Sergio Panino
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The Capitol (Saskatoon, SK)

Backed by one of the band members of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thesheepdogs.com/">The Sheepdogs</a>, this Saskatoon music venue is only a couple blocks away from the downtown mall, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.midtownplaza.ca/">Midtown Plaza</a>. At <a target="_blank" href="http://capitolclub.ca/">The Capitol</a> you’ll find some standard pub fare, but also house-made brisket and bacon jalapeno mac ‘n cheese (perfect for combating the -40 temperatures of Saskatchewan). You’ll also find a nice selection of local microbrews and cocktails made with liquor from Saskatoon’s only microdistillery, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lbdistillers.ca/">Lucky Bastard</a>.
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The Capitol (Saskatoon, SK)

If an afternoon bite turns into a dinner, which eventually turns into drinks, you’ll be lucky enough to catch a live show.Dish in photo: Taquito
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Two Doors Down (Halifax, NS)

If you’re walking around downtown Halifax and need a break from shopping, then pop into <a target="_blank" href="http://www.go2doorsdown.com/">Two Doors Down</a>. This spot is all about local ingredients and elevating the comfort foods we all know and love. No one does warm seafood dip better than the east coast, so start with that. But don’t forget to order their burger, ground in-house and topped with their “processed” cheese (also made in-house), dill pickles and the regular fixings.Dish in photo: The Cheeseburger
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Two Doors Down (Halifax, NS)

This burger rivals Richmond Station for one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in this country.Dish in photo: Gnocchi<a target="_blank" href="http://dansgoodside.com/">Dan Clapson</a> is a food writer and culinary instructor based out of Calgary. He is constantly creating new recipes and striving to expand his culinary horizons. He thinks yam fries are overrated.
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