A Hidden Gem With a Waitlist

Annora is the rare restaurant that people describe as a secret and also say you need to book weeks ahead. One reviewer called it their "go-to, hidden secret gem in Langley," adding: "Book a couple weeks out folks!" Another said three weeks out is typical. It holds a 4.8-star rating across 427 Google reviews, and Google describes it as a quaint venue presenting reimagined seafood and meat dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

The restaurant's name carries the philosophy. Annora translates to honour, and the idea is to treat ingredients with honour.

The Chef Behind It

Chef and owner Aaron Turkstra opened Annora in November 2016 after more than 15 years in professional kitchens. A graduate of Dubrulle culinary school, he served as executive sous chef at Vancouver's LIFT restaurant and held executive chef positions at Encore, eighteen27, Restaurant 62, and Charcoal before launching his own place. The resulting menu is fine West Coast dining built on fresh, locally sourced British Columbian ingredients, prepared entirely in-house.

Reviewers regularly single him out. One called him consistent, saying Chef Aaron turns out exceptional dishes, and another thanked him and his staff after a parent's 50th wedding anniversary dinner.

What Reviewers Order

The truffle gnocchi gets a "must" from one regular, who also says every steak has been cooked perfectly. Photos on the restaurant's site show dishes like braised beef short rib, seared ahi tuna, Maple Hill Farms chicken breast, and heirloom beets. Another reviewer asked the chef for a recommendation and received a house-made bolognese with al dente pasta and a slice of bread, and a guest who tried the three-course menu called it amazing value and raved about the in-house butter.

The wine list is small but curated, and a reviewer called the cocktails balanced and expertly crafted. Portions are described as just right rather than oversized, so you can have appetizers through dessert and leave comfortably full.

An Intimate Room

The restaurant is small, with around 20 seats according to one guest, which creates a calm and intimate atmosphere. Tables are separated by acrylic frames, so you can talk without being drowned out by the next table, and the entrance is discreet, so keep an eye out. Private events can accommodate up to 30 guests.

Not every visit is perfect: one four-star reviewer loved the food and the intimate room but felt the server could not offer any recommendations. The overall picture is of a place where the kitchen is strong and the service is mostly warm.

How to Book

Reservations are by phone at (778) 366-6708, and the restaurant also answers email. One guest who had been trying to get in for months emailed and said the owner responded immediately, getting them in on a Tuesday night for a birthday. The three-course chef's menu is $53 according to the website, and the restaurant is BYOB-friendly with a $26 corkage fee for a 750 ml bottle.

Annora serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, with Saturday service from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

Why It's Worth Planning Ahead

For a celebration, a date night, or a long dinner with a friend, Annora is the kind of place that people return to for years. Book early, tell them if it is a special occasion, and go hungry.