My 5 Favorite Vancouver Restaurants

Restaurants are funny beasts. They are not static. They morph, grow and change. How many times have you recommended a restaurant to someone only to have a report back that the experience was less than stellar? So when I am asked what my favorite restaurants are, I have to put my answer into context.

The best meal I’ve ever had was in Bouze-les-Beaune, in the Cote-d'Or. A rustic little place called La Bouzerotte. It was an unexpectedly perfect meal in picturesque Burgundy. But that was 15 years ago. Would it be the same if I recommended it to someone today? Hopefully, but maybe the chef has changed, the owners have sold or the manager who kept everything running smoothly has moved on. 

Back in Vancouver, I’m currently enjoying Bao Bei. They recently cleaned up at the Vancouver Magazine 2011 Restaurant Awards, and rightfully so. I LOVE the decor and ambience of the place and actually find myself craving the Shao Bing (crunchy sesame flatbread with braised pork and mustard greens); absolutely addictive!

Another new entry on my top five list is L'Abattoir. Chef Lee Cooper is young and adventurous and his menu reflects a fresh take on fine dining. I loved the sweetbreads I had last time I was there. A dish, more often than not, that is improperly prepared and cooked. These were perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth.

Tojo's.  What more can I say that hasn't already been said about this iconic Vancouver restaurant?  Tojo is the absolute master of the roll. I dream of the Tojo Roll with Dungeness crab and gossamer thin wrapping of egg. Sublime.

Right now, my preferred Italian haunt is La Quercia and its family-style dining. It serves up authentic Italian dining where you wait in anticipation for the next mouth-watering course. It is such a connected and communal way to enjoy a meal with people you love.

I’ve also had great pizza at Nook. How can you go wrong with Italian sausage, chilies and sweet onion?  So reminiscent of dining in great little "hole-in-the-wall" places in New York or Toronto.

That’s the top five today. But ask me next week what my favorite restaurants are and you might get a whole different answer.