Vancouver. My town. Where you can get sushi right next to a taco stand, next to a organic vegan take-out joint. Vancouver is a true melting pot of culinary goodness. People take food seriously here. If they aren’t flying tuna in from the Sea of Japan, they are at a farmer’s market sourcing out unpasteurized milk. For me, if the place has pork, I’m interested, and pork they do have. I’ll likely keep on tweaking this post as I explore new places. Keep posted my people.
Best place to have Sunday Brunch: The Tea House in Stanley Park
We found this place a couple of years ago. On a nice day, you park the car, walk the sea wall, and return to the Tea House. The restaurant feels like you are going to a friend’s house for a bit. The staff do a nice job at making you feel welcome and the food is nicely prepared and presented. My favourite is: Kir Royale to start, the fresh croissant basket, and then the Gooey Grilled Cheese & Bacon Sandwich with curried tomato & coconut milk soup or West Coast Benedict wild smoked sockeye salmon, hollandaise & hash browns. Breakfast for two will set you back about $80 bucks with tip.
Best place for a Business Lunch: the Cactus Club
Cactus club has great food, pretty good service, and as a chain, does a decent job at standing out. I have lunch at one of their locations about 8 times a month. The have good booths, the food is consistent, and options for all budgets. I’m on a bit of a fix right now for their bbq duck clubhouse (bbq duck, pan seared chicken and crisp prosciutto on pecan fruit bread). Lunch for two (no booze) is about $45bucks with tip.
Best place to let out your inner Samurai: The Eatery
With a tag line, “Miso Horney”, you know this place has to be unique. The food is hard to explain, but good. The service is hit or miss, but you never mind. The staff are friendly, you sometimes get your main before your appies, but for some reason you don’t care. Maybe they pump oxygen into the restaurant like casinos do in Vegas. Randy, the owner is normally around chatting up customers. I’ve been eating here for almost a decade and there is no better place for dynamite rolls, Japanese curry or tempura. Check it out.
Best guilty pleasure (read no further vegans…wait…what the hell are you doing on this site anyway?): Fois Gras at Pied a Terre
I’m a bit of a french bistro slut. Pied a Terre makes beautiful short ribs, excellent steaks, and amazing duck confit (really a Tallouse-style cassoulet). But the gem in the crown of their offering is the Fois Gras Parfait. Served with toasted brioche bread and a prune compote, this is the ultimate indulgence and would be my last meal if I knew when my trip was up in this life. It is amazing and I’m actually thinking about abandoning this post just to got and have some. After discovering it with my wife, and then again with family and friends, I brought Paul to this restaurant. It’s the quietest I’ve seen him since we’ve known each other. Dinner for 2 and bottle of wine, about $200bucks and well worth it. p.s. Service staff is great here.
Secret Lunch spot: The Gold Stone (139 Keefer Street)
I have a rule about ethnic places. I want to see people of that ethnicity eating there. If you go into an Ethiopian restaurant and everyone is wearing “I’m going to Vegas” t-shirts, you are in the wrong place. Pack your shit and run out. The Gold Stone is a restaurant in Vancouver’s China Town that a Chinese client took me to back in 2002. I’ve been there now at least 100 times and have never seen another white guy (or gal) in there unless I brought them. You know it is good if the people living IN the neighbourhood are there every day! This place is AMAZING! They have a lunch special for $6bucks of a curried beef brisket that is as tender as your mother’s bosom when you were a baby. Now if I ever have to wait for a table because you and your crownies are taking up the spots in my favorite place, I’ll kick some ass (or have a BBQ pork bun in the bakery part of the restaurant, which are also delicious!)
Tel: (604) 688-9328