Twisted Fork Bistro

Rated this place:

1147 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

Quality food on the Granville strip: Sit-down dining on the Granville strip is lamentable, with style being very much appreciated over substance and sticker prices that insist that all that glitters must be worth the spend. If eating mediocre food in glitzy environs is not your thing, try Twisted Fork, a French bistro with rustic meals in modern but still low-key ambience. I'm still trying to find the time to return for dessert. See Full Post

Rangoli

Rated this place:

1488 W 11th Ave, Vancouver, BC

Affordable Indian fusion with takeout options: I prefer to dine in when going to Vij's sister Indian bistro, and when I do, I *must* have the portobello mushroom and red pepper curry with paneer and beetroot salad. Best item on the menu in my humble opinion. If you'd rather not wait for a seat or are just planning on picking something up for home, they have freezers full of vacuum-sealed curries, bags of naan, and tubs of rice. About $10-15 for a bag that feeds two.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Curry
• Takeout
• Fusion Indian

Sushi Bento Express

Rated this place:

1258 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 1C1

Family-run but striving for sustainability: Ever since I visited Sushi Bento as part of a flash mob to encourage sustainable sushi, I've been impressed by this restaurant's attempt to implement quite costly changes to ingredients and kitchen processes in order to morph into an eco-friendly business. This is tough to do being a small outfit (usually, only the restaurant bigwigs can swallow the expense). Kudos to them for the changes and for still producing great sushi product at the lower end of the price range. See Full Post

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi

Uva Wine Bar

Rated this place:

900 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC

Wine, lunch and espresso in Yaletown: Never mind that Uva is literally next door to where I live. That's just a bonus. It's my go-to place for a morning cappucino and my office-away-from-my-office when I need to organize a business lunch. Free wifi care of Moda Hotel. Say hi to Michele at the espresso bar - he'll take good care of you. Not in the area before 2pm? Hang out after 5pm when Uva does its thing as one of the hippest wine bars in town.

Artisan SakeMaker

Rated this place:

1339 Railspur Alley, Vancouver, BC, V6H 4G9

Artisan sake in the heart of Granville Island: I've had the pleasure of meeting the amiable Masa Shiroki, the man behind Artisan SakeMaker and his line of Osake artisan sakes. I fell in love with the Osake nigori (an unfiltered sake) when Masa paired it with Memphis Blues ribs...an unusual but effective combination. I look for the Osake line at every Japanese restaurant I visit.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• sake

Babylon Cafe

Rated this place:

708 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC

Favourite shawerma stop: I've been frequenting the Babylon Cafe location in my neighbourhood at an average of once per week for the past four weeks. To date, the only thing I've tried is the chicken shawerma (their spelling) with grilled vegetables. Deeeelish. $7 for a giant wrap. Totally worth the line and squeezing into their closet of a space. And last time I was in, I was caught taking photos...and rather than getting annoyed, the owners invited me behind the counter for a picture of me with the stands of roast chicken and falafel. I think they assumed I was a tourist =) See Full Post

Chilli House Thai Bistro

Rated this place:

1018 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6E1T3

Thai along the water: This is where I used to spend sunny weekend lunches on the patio, sipping on a Royal Thai or coconut juice straight out of a coconut. When I don't get my drink out of a large fruit, I order my meal out of a coconut: the coconut chicken in red curry is my favourite. Coconut not your thing? Order the pineapple fried rice...which unsurprisingly is served out of a pineapple half-shell. See Full Post

Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge

Rated this place:

845 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z1V1

Boutique high tea: The Wedgwood Hotel, home of Bacchus Restaurant, holds a special place in my heart, being the boutique hotel we honeymooned at three years ago. Sadly, it took three years for me to try Bacchus, as much as it had been a permanent fixture on my wishlist. If you go for afternoon tea there, make it at least a party of 6 so that you can grab a table against the sexy esses of their velvet purple settees.

Chambar

Rated this place:

562 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B2L3

Go for the mussels: When one thinks of good eats in Crosstown, Chambar is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Friends swear by this Belgian bistro, citing heavenly meals and drinks to match. In my personal experience, the mussels alone are worth the trip. Chill at the bar or lounge with your mussels and martini before heading to Gastown for more nightlife. See Full Post

Sandwich Garden Korean Cafe

Rated this place:

529 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1V3

Korean food: I was never impressed with Korean cuisine until I came across this place. Their $8 hotpot and soup specials are perfect for chilly days. Not a single DIY barbeque grill in sight. See Full Post

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Korean Food

T Room Bakery & Kitchenware

Rated this place:

4445 10th Avenue West, Kitsilano, V6J 5L1

Modern afternoon tea: This is my favourite place for high tea to date...and I'm on a mission to try them all. With the $16 mini tea, you get a 3-tier tray of dainties that run you $30 at other establishments. (They have a $26 option but I cannot imagine ordering larger quantities than what the mini-tea gives!) T Room may not have the English charm of Secret Garden, but it has its own modern coziness, from the stainless steel teapots to the scroll of tea choices tied with a pretty green bow. See Full Post

Campagnolo

Rated this place:

1022 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

Rustic Italian with Fuel clout: Of all the Italian bistros that have cropped up in the city over the past few years, this sister establishment of the sublime Fuel Restaurant is one of my favourites. Nutella tarts, risottos I can trust, and the most photogenic grissini I've ever come across...all beneath a $15-20 price point per dish. See Full Post

Qoola Yogurt + Fruit

Rated this place:

1116 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC, V6G 2M8

Great yogurt and great for the environment: I cannot believe that my lactose intolerant self can consume Qoola's frozen yogurt treats without my system going awry! Not only is their Active Cultures "fresh frozen" yogurt good to you, it's delicious to boot. Cherry on top: management crafted its business model to be sustainable from the get-go: biodegradable products, energy efficient environs, fairly traded coffee and tea, organic and GE-free offerings. See Full Post

West Restaurant + Bar

Rated this place:

2881 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

A must for gourmands: West is easily one of the premiere restaurants in Vancouver. My husband and I were recently invited to a winemaker's dinner with Road 13 for the International Wine Fest. My husband leaned over after the 4th course and whispered, "This is the best meal I've ever had!" before going back to clearing his plate. It's got a high price point, but if you can afford the dollars, you will get the quality that that kind of spend warrants. See Full Post

Secret Garden Tea Co

Rated this place:

5559 West Blvd, Vancouver, BC, V6M3W6

Perfect for a tea party: Of the handful of places that offer afternoon (high) tea in the city, this one handles large groups with aplomb. Sittings are every day at noon, 2pm, and 4pm in an atmosphere of mismatched china, silver trays, and tea cosies. See Full Post

Rinconcito Salvadoreno Rstrnt

Rated this place:

2062 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC, V5N4A9

Pupusa pit stop: This family-run restaurant in the heart of The Drive offers a selection of affordable tacos and pupusas that I daresay hold their own against the epicurean counterparts at Gastown's Cobre. See Full Post

Rodney's Oyster House

Rated this place:

1228 Hamilton St #405, Vancouver, BC, V6B6L2

Racy times on the halfshell: Rodney's is my favourite stop for oysters in the city. If you're looking to be entertained, sit at the bar and chat with the gregarious staff, garbed in suggestive tees (and more) that can be purchased for out-of-restaurant adventures. See Full Post

Tomato Fresh Food Cafe

Rated this place:

2486 Bayswater Street, VANCOUVER, BC, V6K2G6

Notable pastry list: Tomato Cafe had a devout following at its original Cambie corridor location before Olympic cityworks prompted a store move to the Kitsilano district. You can still find die-hards frequenting the place for organic, seasonal, and mostly seafood dishes. As for me...I'm a fan of their pastry chef! See Full Post

Caffe Artigiano

Rated this place:

763 Hornby Street , Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1S2

Superior roasts and prize baristas: Vancouver is spoiled when it comes to artisanal coffee. Our city's reputation as a coffee destination is thanks in no small part to the efforts of Caffé Artigiano and its exclusive roaster, 49th Parallel. Have your gourmet caffeine fix artifully prepared by baristas that have won accolades around the world. See Full Post

La Bretagne Creperie

Rated this place:

795 Jervis Street, Vancouver, BC

Creperie: The place I go to satisfy my frequent cravings for crepes and galettes. Leagues better than the franchises that are spattered across downtown Vancouver. Enjoy your meal while sipping on apple cider and listening to Isabelle sing French ditties while she cooks.

Kolachy Co

Rated this place:

888 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1C2

Tomato and basil soup: One of my favourite soups has got to be tomato, basil, and dill. I constantly crave Kolachy Co's rendition of it! Thankfully, it’s on high rotation. I prefer breakfasts loaded with protein (ie: meat), but for some reason, this vegetarian soup is fully satiating. More on Tiny Bites: http://tinyurl.com/6h3929

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• tomato and basil soup

Ebisu On Robson

Rated this place:

827 Bute Street, 2nd floor, Vancouver, BC, V6E1Y5

Cheesecake mashup: When I saw "crème brulée cheesecake" on Ebisu's dessert menu, I couldn't believe my eyes. I ordered it out of curiosity and my, did it deliver! They even torched the top of the portion individually so that the caramelized crust was perfectly molded to the shape of the slice. More photos: http://tinyurl.com/6oo9ey

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cheesecake mashup

Northern Delicacy

Rated this place:

4151 Hazelbridge Way (Aberdeen Centre), Richmond, BC, V6X 1K2

Northern dim sum: Best spicy wontons I've ever had. The Shanghainese focus on pork and freshly spun noodles is a refreshing change from Vancouver's typical dim sum scene. More photos: http://tinyurl.com/4beq

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• northern dim sum

Hon's Wun-Tun House

Rated this place:

1339 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 1C6

Chinese fast food: Service is quick, potstickers come with a zingy dipping sauce, and I cannot stop myself from ordering the exact same dish every time we visit. The bill? $15 for 2; sometimes it's under $10. More on Tiny Bites: http://tinyurl.com/5dzzpv

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chinese fast food

Paros Taverna

Rated this place:

526 Clarke Rd , Coquitlam, BC, V3J 3X5

Greek restaurant: We loved this place 6 years ago when we lived just 2 blocks away. We live downtown these days, but still make the trek out to Burquitlam for Greek fare that surpasses the Stephos-es of the Lower Mainland. Bonus points: complimentary baklava / ouzo; belly dancers on the weekend; no 20min lineups out the door.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• greek restaurant