PrintEating Out In Vancouver, BC
I need some advice regarding eating out in Vancouver BC
... though I am in the process of getting an Undergrad degree, it doesn't mean I don't like to eat well, so every few months I take someone who enjoys & is adventurous about food (one of my 4 roommates, boyfriend, my sister) out for a (more) expensive meal, just to splurge on something nice when papers & school gets depressing...
so does anyone have suggestions?
I looked on the internet, but I prefer suggestions that I can't get lost in!
thanks!
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4 Comments:
OMG... Vancouver is one of my three most favorite cities on the planet (so far). I count it right up there with NYC and Paris. Yes, I love it that much. We've actually given some thought to buying a second home in Van or Whistler. Not only is it a wonderful, beautiful, never-a-dull-moment kind of place, with some of the nicest people you'll meet anywhere, it is a Serious Eater's playground. Definitely one of the best-kept culinary secrets in the Western world.
Anyway. Sorry to get so carried away. I haven't been up there in a couple years, and I'm long overdue...
My very favorite restaurant in Vancouver is Blue Water Cafe. We make a point of eating there every visit. Excellent ultra fresh well prepared food, along with top-notch service and a really nice, comfy room. Also, a patio if the weather is nice. A very reliable place that we visit every single time we're there, without fail. Added bonus: Surprisingly reasonable prices. (Not to be confused with affordable, mind you. Just not outrageous, and reasonable for the quality.)
Arguably the best-rated restaurant in the city is West. Definitely not cheap, but excellent, and you'd never be disppointed. They do have an early prix fixe that runs about CAN$50-ish, but I've never done it, so I can't comment on the quality.
For a great old school, romantic place, check out Bacchus Restaurant & Piano Lounge at the Wedgewood. It's a really beautiful room in a gorgeous old building. Expensive, somewhat formal (for Vancouver), but truly among the nicest evenings I've enjoyed dining out anywhere in the world.
Eat by the bay at The Beach House. When we go here, we try to make it lunch, or a very early dinner (in time for sunset), so we can enjoy the fantastic view. Food is very good in spite of the location. The last time we ate lunch here, we ended up sitting on the back deck for several hours. Stick with the exceptionally fresh local seafood dishes, and choose the simplest preps. One the best pieces of wild salmon I've ever eaten in my entire life was had here, and it almost ruined salmon for me (set the bar too high).
Also good are Vij's for updated Indian, C Restaurant (very expensive), Cru, Raincity Grille, Lumiere...
I'm sure I missed some, but these are all fantastic. Try to stick with Pac Northwest cuisine (the local food is beyond belief), and if you like wine, try as many BC wines as you can. They're virtually impossible to get in the States, which is a shame, because they rival anything from California.
Have a great time!!! I'm so, so envious...
LoCo at 12:12PM on 03/22/08
I've been around the Vancouver restaurant scene and while the food never ceases to amaze me (sablefish at Blue Water Cafe!! Rainbow Trout at NU!!) it is difficult to find something that is exciting and different for an adventure-seeking individual like yourself.
I would recommend
1. Nan-Chuu in Richmond for its delicious beef tartare, topped with a raw quail's egg.
2. Sai-Z, a new restaurant but an upcoming star, on West Broadway for the most exquisite sea foie gras I've ever tasted. It also the first place that made sea urchin sashimi edible for me.They have a reasonable (30ish dollars) seasonal prix fixe suitable for college students on a low budget, and a higher-end omakase menu for that occasional splurge.
Let me know where you end up going!
iheartpurpleyams at 5:10PM on 03/22/08
Last time I was in Vancouver (summer 2006), I had a fantastic meal at Joe Fortes. I loved it.
Vancouver is a gorgeous city. I wish I could get back there more often!
minstrel at 12:12AM on 03/23/08
my very favourite restaurants to eat in in vancouver are La Buca (4025 MacDonald Street) and Parkside (1906 Haro Street in the west end) -- both by the same fantastic chef. They're both small places with an emphasis on locally grown foods etc. You can check out their menus online by googling their names + vancouver. I can't recommend them highly enough!!
dithie at 2:19PM on 03/24/08