Since 2015, the rankings have been published annually, with the exception of 2021 when restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic kept most restaurants in Canada closed for dining during the preceding year.
[7] The ranking process involves votes from a national panel of experts, who evaluate restaurants primarily on food quality, but also on other criteria including service, ambiance, and overall dining experience.
[4] To ensure the list captures Canada's geographic diversity, judges are required to vote for at least three restaurants outside of their home region.
[6] In 2020, Richler stated the impacts of the pandemic on fine dining could result in further adjustments to the scoring model of the list, to focus more on food quality and less on the other criteria being evaluated.
[6] In 2018, Canada's 100 Best introduced a standalone annual ranking of the country's top 50 bars, published alongside the Best Restaurants list.