I love to eat, I love to cook and I love going out to eat too! I am very privileged that my job allows me to eat in many places. To me, good food is more about good cooking and not how expensive it is. It is all about taste, style and value!
The main theme of my review is to let you know what to eat when you are in my city, Vancouver, BC. We are fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with access to fresh seafood and fresh ingredients.
Baguette & Co
Pastry Display
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3273 W BroadwayVancouver, BC V6K 2H5
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 737-8050
http://www.facebook.com/baguetteandco
A delightful French pastry shop with excellent baguette made fresh daily. I really enjoy the $7.99 lunch special. It comes with a baguette sandwich, a drink and a dessert of your choice. How can you beat this kind of value and quality they offer! Today I had a Baguette sandwich with goat cheese, tomato and pesto. Afterward I selected a “Royal Choco” pastry as my dessert. It was heavenly delicious! Give them a try…….you’ll love it!!
Salade de Fruits Café
Salade de Fruits French Bistro
1551 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1S1
Tel: (604) 714-5987
http://www.saladedefruits.com/
How can you experience real French bistro cooking? You can find it in a place located in the foyer area of the Vancouver Francophone Cultural Centre in Kitsilano. All of the staff speak French, and the menu is in French, but the servers will translate the entire menu for you when you ask. The most authentic aspect of Salade de Fruits is that it proves French food does not have to be pretentious and ridiculously expensive, and can still be delicious, copious and satisfying. While there are no white tablecloths, this place delivers top-notch food and service. I always enjoy coming here and seeing what new items have cropped up on the menu. This is a hidden gem that you probably wouldn’t notice from walking by, but is a definite must-try.
Must consider: $22.00 TABLE D’HOTE , a 3-course dinner special of the week including a salad, main course and dessert.
Great appetizers: Rillette de Canard, duck pate, and the house special Moules et frites (mussels in wine with fries)
Dinner entrees: Carré d’agneau au jus (Rack of lamb for $19.99!) and canard confit (duck confit, $15.99 for one leg and $18.99 for two legs)
Desserts: Vanilla profiterolles — this is the real deal…..a French puff pastry with vanilla ice cream filling and a dark chocolate sauce. Also try the Tarte aux pommes (apple pie).
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Mistral French Bistro
Mistral French Bistro
2585 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E9
(604) 733-0046
Mistral is a wonderful and reliable small French bistro in the Kitsilano area. It is in the same category as Les Faux Bourgeois and Salade de Fruits, except you will get white table cloths and a cozy warm colours and tasteful décor. The lunch prix fixe menus are a real bargain and delicious. For the price of $20-$24, the prix fixe menu has great value; however it is not available during dinner time.
Chef Benoit cooked for Five Sails Restaurant in Pan Pacific Hotel before creating his own in West Vancouver, L’Emotion. After 3 years of success Chef Benoit found a new heaven, Mistral Bistro, to showcase his talent in Kitsilano on West Broadway in September 2005.
Do not miss: French Onion Soup and thin-crust onion tart, both very delicious.
Entrees: Seafood Bourride or Lingcod with ratatouille, capers and olives, potato crisps
Dessert: honey parfait, or Warm pear tart
Ask your server about the daily specials and check out the dinner prix fixe menu ($35.00 — more expensive than their lunch prix fixe but still great value)
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Le Bistro de Paris
Le Bistro de Paris
751 Denman St
Vancouver, BC V6G
(604) 687-1418
http://www.lebistrodeparis.com/
Must order:
Gratin Lyonnais – onion soup with gruyère cheese
Escargots Bourguignons
Crèpes Suzette – with Grand Marnier and crème chantilly
A great deal – Table d”hote – 3 courses prix fixe dinner for only $30.00
Even a better deal – go there on Wednesday night and all main courses are 50% off! Prepare to wait in line though…
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la quercia
- La Quercia
3689 West 4th Ave
Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604-676-1007
La Quercia is an absolutely delightful small Italian casual located on Fourth Avenue in beautiful Kitsilano, W4 and Alma area. They serve a five or seven course dinner ($43.00/$59.00).
Both menus include dessert; however the second menu will always include risotto ‘cooked to order.’ The courses are served on plates designed for sharing with everyone at the table. They don’t usually tell you what you get and the chef in the kitchen will surprise you when you see your food on the table. You also can opt for a la carte menu and choose whatever you like from the fresh sheet for the day. Reservations are difficult to come by so do book early!
The restaurant is very small so don’t expect to bring a large party there. When I go there, I always order several appetizers, pasta and desserts but no main courses. If you go for the set menu, make sure you mention if you have a food allergy.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend what I like because they change their fresh sheet weekly. Whatever you order, make sure you save room for dessert. I always like their Chocolate- Hazelnut Torte, and Orange and Ricotta Cannol.
la Regalade French Bistro
La Regalade
2232 Marine Drive,
West Vancouver, BC V7V 1K4
(604) 921-2228
Big enough to share: 1/2 roasted Duck with sauted fruits
Dessert to die for: Monaco Tart – a medium sweet dessert with hazelnut, mascarpone cheese and chocolate……Yummmm!
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Adesso Bistro
- Adesso Bistro
1906 Haro Street
Vancouver, BC.
V6G 1H7
http://www.adessobistro.net/index.php
There have been many restaurants in this location for years, and Adesso is the latest, opening in 2010. 1906 Haro is not an easy place to find because it is right at the middle of an apartment block. Parking is difficult but I parked my car nearby at the Safeway. Adesso features an Italian menu with an emphasis on Northern regional cuisine. When you go there, just forget the secondi (main course) but concentrate ordering their antipasti. If you go there before 6:30pm, there is a $29.96 3-course dinner special.
What I like:
Bruschetta - chicken liver patè, oliveade, parmesan and tomato-basil
Sautèed Calamari – black ink sauce, tomatoes, capers and olives
Carpaccio of Bison – beet vinaigrette, ricotta salata, crispy garlic
Moules Frites – Mussels cooked in a white wine, tomato and Chorizo sausage. It was the special feature of the night and it might not appear in daily menu.
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Au Petit Cafe
Authentic Vietnamese Food, East Vancouver
4851 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V5V-3R9
Tel: 604-873-3328
https://www.aupetitcafe.com/authentic/Welcome.html
Special Vietmanese Bun is a must have item. Do go early because they make only limited number of these a day. On the weekends, the line ups are insane but well worth the wait.
BBQ Lemon Grass Chicken with Vermicelli Noodle – It is a salad and main course all in one.
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Tea House in Stanley Park
TeaHouse, Stanley Park
7501 Stanley Park Drive,
It is a must “go-to” place when you have visitors in Vancouver. Tea House is located right in the heart of Stanley Park and offers a great atmosphere, especially on a sunny day. I love their brunch every Sunday! There is nothing more enjoyable than drinking a cup of fresh coffee and feeling the calm sea breeze.
My favourite sandwich: “Open Face Niçoise” (albacore tuna, olives, radish w/salad)
My beloved breakfast: Teahouse Breakfast (sausage, double smoked bacon, tomato confit)
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Lombardo’s Pizza
Lombardo's Pizza
1641 Commercial Drive,
Must order: MEDITERRANEAN SALAD ( romaine lettuce, grilled vegetables, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, artichokes, sautéed prawns and scallops, topped with house dressing)
Best Pizza: CAPRICCIOSA; Tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, ham, artichokes, mushrooms and black olives
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Quattro on Fourth (Q4)
Q4
2611 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6K 1P8
(604) 734-4444
http://www.q4restaurant.com/
If you want to eat like an Italian for two hours, Q4 is the place to be. Excellent cooking, friendly service and very European atmosphere.
Best pasta: Linguine Pescatore, Linguine with prawns, fresh tomato, white wine and peperoncino
Should try this: Polpette Zafferano; Dungeness crab cake topped with a saffron tiger prawn salad with a spicy arugula aioli and candied lemon zest
Best time to go: Monday and Wednesday, all pasta $10.00
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Paul’s Place Omelettery Restaurant
Paul's Place on Granville
Vancouver, BC V6H3G1
Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe
Sophia's Cosmic Cafe
2095 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1N3
(604) 732-6810
http://www.sophiescosmiccafe.com/
What I always order: Bacon Cheese Burger with mushroom and curly fries
Must drink: Chocolate milkshake
**Warning** If you don’t like lineups, don’t get close to it on Saturday and Sunday
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West Restaurant
West Restaurant
A good starting point: Tian of dungeoness crab and saffron couscous and smoed tomato gazpacho
Unusal fish: Roasted white sturgeon with a white onion puree with confit portobello mushrooms & celery
West is definitely one of Vancouver’s finest seafood restaurants but it is in the pricier range — if your pockets are deep enough, you can opt to sit at the table inside the kitchen!
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C Restaurant
C dinning room
2-1600 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2L9
(604) 681-1164
http://www.crestaurant.com/
Must try: Seared Scallops, octopus bacon wrap, truffled celeriac remoulade
For my sweet tooth: Gabriel’s Heirloom Apple Tarte Tatin
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Federico’s Supper Club
Federico singing Viva Las Vagas
1728 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC V5N 4A3
(604) 251-3473
http://www.federicossupperclub.com/
Three words sum up this place: FUN, FUN, FUN!!
What I like best: This is “THE” place to shake your booty!
Best in town: Mozzarella di Bufala Campana
Don’t miss: Linguine ai frutti di mare
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Go Fish
Go Fish
1505 West 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1E8
(604) 730-5040
The best fish and chips (halibut in particular) outside of Britain. This is an outdoor “shack” style restaurant with limited seating but has a wonderful view of Granville Island. This is a definite spot to visit when the weather is nice and you are going for a walk or bike ride in the area.
Must order: Halibut and Chips with extra Tartar sauce
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Stepho’s Greek Taverna
Stephos
1124 Davie St
Vancouver, BC V6E1N1
If you don’t like lineups, don’t come here! It is casual greek food at cheap prices. Always a line up down the block. Nothing on the menu over $12.
What I always order: Grilled Lamb Chop
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La Belle Auberge
La Belle Auberge
4856 48 Avenue
Delta, BC V4K 1V1
(604) 946-7717
http://www.labelleauberge.com/
This is not just another French Resturant. This is “THE” French resturant in Vancouver. If there is only one chance to have your last meal, La Belle Auberge is the place to be.
Best in town: Lobster bisque
Better than Paris: Seared foie gras
My all time favour: Orange Souffles
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Pastis French Bistro
2153 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6K 1N7
(604) 731-5020
http://www.bistropastis.com/
What I like best: La Sole Meuniere
Must try: Basket of freshly baked orange and Chocolate Madeleines
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Seasons in the Park
Seasons in the Park
Queen Elizabeth Park
West 33rd Avenue at Cambie Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada
T: 604-874-8008
http://www.vancouverdine.com/seasons/home.html
Another scenic location in Vancouver, Seasons in the Park lives up to the name of being inside the park – Queen Elizabeth Park. The food is consistent but I usually go for the view and for large group functions.
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Crave Restaurant
Vancouver, BC V5V3P3
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Fraiche
Bishop’s Restaurant
2183 West 4th Avenue,
Vancouver – (604) 738-2025
This is the best there is in Vancouver. John Bishop has been the most well-known ”Chef Guru”, “Cooking God” in the city for years. His cooking can be classified as Northwest, local, French and Italian influenced. If you want to learn a thing or two from him, just buy one of his several cooking books.
Best in town: Dungeness crab fritter
Have to order: Qualicum Bay scallop
To finish: Espresso panna cotta
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The Beach House Restaurant and Lounge
150 25th Street
West Vancouver, BC V7V 4H8
(604) 922-1414
http://www.thebeachhouserestaurant.ca/
When you have out-of-town guests visiting you in Vancouver, this is a must place to take them. Book a table just before sunset at around 7:00pm in summer and you’ll give your guests the “wow” factor.
What I like the best: The smell of the ocean air
Must try: Spaghettini All’ amatrician
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Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill
1129 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6
(604) 685-8462
http://cioppinos.wordpress.com/
One of the best Italian restaurants in Vancouver. On any given night, you can spot movie stars and hockey players here. A must visit when you are in this city if you are looking for upscale Italian dining.
Must have: Classic lobster bisque
Very delicious: Pappardelle with 4-hour-braised veal cheeks and porcini mushrooms
My sweet spot: Banana, chocolate and caramel, wrapped with phyllo pastry, served with banana ice-cream
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Provence Mediterranean Grill
1177 Marinaside Crescent
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3
(604) 681-4144
http://www.provencevancouver.com/
This restaurant has been one of my favourites for almost ten years now — the prices are reasonable and the menu is outstanding.
Toxically delicious: Fish soup
Chef special: Bouillabaisse
What I like the best: Berry and White Chocolate Clafoutis.
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Dundarave Fish Market
West Vancouver, BC V7V1L3
http://www.dundaravefishmarket.com/index.html
Must order: Citrus Scallop Salad
Eddy, I would love to know what you think of the Red Wagon in East Vancouver and Chez Meme/Baguette Bistro on East Hastings. I have not tried Chez Meme yet, but I hear its incredible. I like reading your reviews! Thanks – Jen