Can’t say I have ever been to a Franco-German restaurant before this one, but doesn’t the idea sound awesome? Take the best classic French bistro dishes combined with the best German food and you have a menu with steak tartare, mussels & fries, steak frites, homemade bratwurst and saurkraut, and schnitzel. Yum.

My first visit was a Sunday evening for a quick dinner of rotisserie chicken and frites for me, and the homemade bratwurst for the hubby. The chicken was huge – an entire half chicken on the bone, extremely moist and “chickeny.” The frites were super crispy and salty and lovely dunked into the housemade ketchup and mayo. The bratwurst came with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes – also delicious, but the flavours were a bit more muted than expected. When you think bratwurst and sauerkraut you think really punchy flavours, but it was much milder here. Perhaps to cater to the masses.

Overall, it was a great first visit and I’m looking forward to trying another dinner and the weekend brunch menu next time I want some gourmet comfort food.

La Brasserie
1091 Davie Street
604.568.6499
No reservations

The menu is simple but interesting. One soup prepared daily, five salads (all vegetarian), five sandwiches, a daily quiche, a cheese plate, and a charcuterie plate.

I enjoyed Mike’s Reuben sandwich with a beets & cheese salad. The sandwich was rich from the excellent corned beef*, a smattering of sauerkraut, thousand island dressing, and melted swiss cheese on rye. On the side, my marinated beets with frisee and goats cheese was a light, fresh accompaniment.

My dining partner went for the meat ball sub, featuring the now famous meatballs from sister restaurant Judas Goat. The meatballs were rolled in a tomato sauce, tucked into a soft bun, and topped with shavings of ricotta salata cheese. Delicious & moist with a salty bite. On the side was the Mediterranean macaroni salad, tossed in a tomato dressing with arugula, olives, and feta.

Dishes I have my eye on for the next visit: Good ‘ol potato salad, a TLT (T=smoked trout), and the grilled cheese with smoked jarlsberg, brie, and caramelized onions.

Sandwiches range from $8-9 dollars, and you can add a salad or soup for $3 more. Great value for what you’re getting. The restaurant is also open for breakfast, serving coffee & baked goodies.

Weekday lunches are looking up!

Everything Cafe
75 East Pender Street, b/w Carrall & Columbia
Vancouver
604-681-3115

* The supplier of corned beef is Mike Vito, of J. Beethoven’s corned beef fame. If you ever see them at Granville Island, do yourself a favour and buy some for dinner at home one night. INCREDIBLE!

Highlights:

• Lightly cooked asparagus with a runny poached egg, garlic, anchovy, and light olive oil. Fresh and rich without being too heavy
• Spinach and ricotta raviolo with a hazelnut butter sauce. Perfectly cooked pasta and so good with the nutty butter sauce.
• Fettuccine Bolognese – if this is on the menu of an Italian restaurant, I order it. It’s one of my “test” dishes, so to speak – I went through a 1-month period where I made about 10 different bolognese recipes at home. Lupo’s version is great. Meaty, rich & flavourful, clinging to fresh pasta.  The way it should be. I’m bringing my husband back to try this one.
• Sablefish with spinach, grappa, and orange marmalade. I didn’t try this dish, but a few people around the table raved about it
• The dessert list is seasonal but traditional, featuring gelato, tiramisu, panna cotta, and tarts. My tiramisu was excellent – creamy with a nice edge of liquor and coffee.

Located in a beautiful heritage house (formerly Villa Del Lupo – read the back story here), I love the setting. The inside is quite modern with clean lines and colours. The upstairs provides a nice space for a private party or group event. Just watch out for the washrooms – unlocking the doors are tricky!

Around my table of 8 people, everyone loved the meal. A few people felt the portions were a bit on the small side, so plan to order 2-3 courses for dinner…as they do in Italy!

The food brought me back to my trip to Italy last year. Great flavour, but simple and seasonal. My kind of food.

Lupo Restaurant
869 Hamilton Street (b/w Smithe & Robson)
Vancouver
604.569.2535

First, the food – an interesting menu, all dishes executed wonderfully:

• Salade de Baies, lightly dressed greens atop a silky sheep feta and fresh berries
• Les coquilles st. jacques – perfectly tender and seared scallops with smoked bacon and pickled vegetables
• Grilled ostrich with sweet onions and potato crisps. Some of the most tender ostrich I’ve ever had
• Moules Frites – some of the best in town. I love the Congolaise, mussels cooked with tomatoes, coconut cream, chilli, and cilantro. The frites are crisp and dusted with a smoked paprika. And also order some freshly baked bread for soaking up mussel broth.
• As good as all our food was, the dessert made the meal. We shared the “Le Cafe Belge,” a creamy espresso cheesecake topped with layers of chocolate mousse, cream, and crispy chocolate wafers. SO GOOD. Not too sweet and a perfect balance of chocolate & coffee, crisp and creamy textures. I’ll remember this dessert for a while.

One Vancouver restaurant trend I’m liking is the filtering and carbonating of their own water, rather than flying in “gourmet” bottles of sparkling water from New Zealand or other far off places. Our sparkling water was unlimited and just $2.00 – a big difference from the $6-10 charged for Pelligrino at many restaurants.  While it does not help their profit margin much, it’s a much better environmental choice. I know Boneta also does this.

Service at Chambar is always great. Professional, relaxed, and fun. It’s always lovely dining at Chambar – I’ll be back again sooner next time.

Chambar Restaurant
562 Beatty Street (@ Dunsmuir)
Vancouver
604 879 7119

I don’t know about other Vancouver food lovers, but I find this question impossible to answer. There is no way, NO WAY I could name one restaurant as my favourite. Vancouver has so many good places, it’s a lucky place to be.

However, year after year, Cru Restaurant remains one of my favourites, delivering on all fronts: food, wine, service, and price. You can drop a good sum of money here, but you can also have a great time for about $60.

Sandwiched between unlikely restaurant neighbours Vera’s Burger Shack and Memphis Blues BBQ (although Cru was there first!), Cru is an elegant small restaurant that seats about 40 people. As a diner, you can choose between a daily prix fixe menu for $38 or sample a selection of dishes from their small plates menu. I typically go for the small plates, which let you try a few different flavours and the selection is so great, there’s something for everyone. The menu changes up, but there are always some dishes that stay. Some of my all-time favourites:

• The Cellar Door Caesar: This still remains my favourite caesar in town. It’s probably the most fattening too, but it’s worth it. Crisp romaine lightly grilled with a mound of asiago cheese and thick creamy dressing on top. Then, a few made-to-order buttery croutons on the side. So good.
• Syrah-braised beef short rib with a teeny, but potent pot of macaroni and cheese. The short rib is a tender delicious bite and the rich macaroni and cheese puts it over the top. Like the Caesar, I don’t think Cru can ever take this dish off the menu.
• Sweet spring pea risotto: There’s usually a seasonal risotto on the menu, but my favourite is the Spring version, usually full of beautiful green vegetables and a tender & creamy rice
• Cru Brushchetta: Soft bread, flavourful tomatoes, a good bite
• Classic Creme Brulee – I just love Cru’s version. Smooth and creamy texture, perfectly browned sugar top. Just a well executed, simple dessert.

I could go on, but I’ve never had a bad dish at Cru, so I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Service is always friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable – the servers are always more than willing to talk food and wine. In fact, I believe a server at Cru was the one who convinced me I had to go to the French Laundry when I was in Napa Valley a few years ago. One of the most memorable (and expensive) meals of my life.

I’m always thankful for Cru. Good food, room, service. A relaxing and delicious place to go.

Cru Restaurant
1459 W. Broadway (@ Granville), Vancouver
604-677-4111

I’ve seen lots of great top patio lists for Vancouver already, but below are some favourites & recommendations. And remember, this is a list for patio first, food second.

Downtown
The Gallery Cafe (at the Vancouver Art Gallery), 750 Hornby Street (best accessed off of Robson & Howe): If you want a truly sunny patio, nothing beats the Gallery Cafe’s huge outdoor licensed patio atop the Vancouver Art Gallery. A great place to catch some rays, people watch, and catch up over a glass of wine. Food is cafe style – sandwiches, salads (with art gallery prices).

False Creek North
Nu Restaurant, 1661 Granville Street (under the Granville St. Bridge): Nu features and all-seasons patio right on the water, with tables, couches, and a great view of False Creek and Granville Island across the water. A great spot for lunch or dinner while enjoying the view is a relaxed setting. And the food here is great.

Coal Harbour
Cardero’s Restaurant, 1583 Coal Harbour Quay: Cardero’s makes many best patio lists because, it’s a nice patio! A big, airy space right in the centre of Coal Harbour. A calming location away from the bustle of downtown Vancouver.

Willow Stream Spa and the  Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby, 1038 Canada Place Way (near Burrard & Cordova) - The newest Fairmont Hotel is beautiful on the inside with a great outdoor patio off the lobby lounge, which features live music daily. Plus, the Willow Stream spa on the 5th floor is just completing construction on an incredible outdoor patio, which will include fire pits, hot tubs, and outdoor treatment – I hear it should be ready later this month.

Gastown
Chill Winston, 3 Alexander Street: Right in the centre of Gastown by the Gassy Jack statue is Chill Winston’s huge patio – perfect for drinks while overlooking the cobblestone roads and Gastown shops. Downsides: it’s a busy patio so there can be waits, and you’ll get your share of people asking for spare change. While it’s shadier, the small patio at Jules can be a good alternative.

Granville Island
Sammy J Peppers, 1517 Anderson St, right inside Granville Island. Remember, what I said about patio first, food second? Sammy J on Granville Island does sport a fantastic patio for those who want the breeze, but not the glaring hot sunlight. It’s a fully covered patio, overlooking the boats and a boardwalk. A good spot for a beer in a slightly less crazy part of Granville Island in the summer. (but if you like crazy, hit up Bridges or the Backstage Lounge)

Main St.
Crave Restaurant, 3941 Main St (near 24th): You’d never guess it from the front of the restaurant, but Crave has a beautiful patio in the back of the restaurant. It’s been nicely lanscaped and feels like a comfy backyard. Food here is good, but inconsistent. Brunch is my favourite meal here.

Burgoo Bistro on Main, 3096 Main St (near 16th): The Main Street Burgoo has a great patio right on Main Street that gets plenty of sun.

Kitsilano
The Boathouse on Kits Beach (formerly the Watermark Restaurant), 1305 Arbutus Street: I’ll miss the prawn spring rolls at the Watermark, but otherwise, I’m sure the Boathouse will fit right into the Kits Beach scene. An incredible view of the city, mountains, and beach.

The Smoking Dog, 1889 W. 1st Ave (@ Cypress): I used to live 50 steps from the Dog and enjoyed the patio regularly. Sun drenched, quiet street, great French bistro food.

Yaletown
The Keg, 1011 Mainland Street: I haven’t been, but everyone I know is raving about the patio at the new Keg in Yaletown.

The menu offers traditional French bistro fare: French onion soup, croque-monsieur, mussels and frites, steak frites, escargots, and more. They used to have frogs legs too, but they don’t seem to be on the menu anymore. Everything is freshly prepared and delicious. The most expensive menu item is $25 and the restaurant also features a daily three-course fixed menu for $25.

My last visit was a ladies lunch a few weeks ago – I devoured a beautiful seafood quiche with a buttery crust and tender filling with a light green salad and plenty of salty, crispy frites. Mmmm.

I also love the room – it’s quite charming, spacious, black & white with a European feel.

Gastown is packed with great food options these days, but Jules remains a favourite for me. No gimmicks – just good food and a nice setting (and a patio too!)

Jules French Bistro
216 Abbott Street, Vancouver
604-669-0033
Open Monday to Saturday, 11:30-10pm

Tucked into a teeny space on Granville Street between Pender & Hastings, walk into a heavenly smelling shop filled with baked breakfast goods, plenty of treats, and gourmet sandwiches for lunch.

Examples:

- The memorable vanilla bean cinnamon bun. Moist, gooey and rich with a vanilla bean icing, it’s the perfect size treat. Not so big that it’s “too much” and not so small that it’s not enough.
- A rice crispy square filled with cranberries and chocolate – I love good rice crispy squares!
- Scones and loafs, all freshly made from scratch each day
- Light and fluffy Belgium waffles. They were making them last time I was in the shop. It took some serious willpower not to buy about 10 of them.
- For lunch, a pan seared salmon sandwich with rich garlic aioli and arugula. Light, but satisfying

Chef/owner Lydia Lai and her staff are usually on hand to serve up your food and give you tips on maximum food enjoyment (ie. put the cinnamon bun in the microwave for 20 secs for maximum gooey-ness). They’re all very lovely – the type of business and people you want to support.

Also available for catering, I hope to keep coming back to Crème de la Crumb for a long time.

Crème de la Crumb Bakeshop & Catering
Twitter – cremedelacrumb
466 Granville Street, (b/w Pender & Hastings)
(604) 683-5595

I had to go find something to eat to honour such an occasion. While La Brasserie and Mis Trucos were tempting (and on the list!), I was solo and tired so opted for something much more casual – La Belle Patate, land of all things French-Canadian in the way of poutine – 30+ different kinds, including some crazy combinations (a donair poutine?).

But the only poutine that appeals to me is the classic – fries, curds, gravy. I haven’t enjoyed a real Quebec poutine in nearly a decade, but based on my memories, La Belle Patate’s poutine is pretty good. The fries are real potatoes, fried but not crispy. The cheese curds are fresh and actually have some flavour. The gravy is as it should be – a thin and salty layer over the fries and curds.

Go for the poutine – I’m not sure I’d order plain fries, as they were a little too dark and on the mushy side. I’d also steer clear of their “shakes,” which don’t seem to be made from hand scooped ice cream and milk.

If you need a junk food fix or something to soak up the alcohol on a late weekend night, La Patate fits the bill. I enjoyed the food and service much more than Fritz Fry House – the usual late night french fry hangout.

Oh, and if you are really gung-ho on poutine, they have all you can eat poutine for $25. Dangerous. There are people I know that should never know about this.

La Belle Patate
1215 Davie Street (b/w Bute and Jervis)
Vancouver
604-569-1215

Au Petit Cafe, 4851 Main St (b/w 32nd and 33rd ave)

Two Saturdays ago we hit up Au Petit Cafe, famous in Vancouver for their excellent Vietnamese sandwiches, which we ordered in addition to our vermicelli bowls. Have you heard all the raves about this place’s sandwiches? People go on and on about the fresh French bread. Well, my first Vietnamese sandwich at Au Petit Cafe was certainly the best Vietnamese sandwich I’d eaten – soft & crusty French bread with nicely seasoned pork and veggies…but it was still just a sandwich. I’m not in a hurry to return for it, but it was tasty. The vermicelli bowls were great with crispy pork spring rolls and fresh vegetables. My husband says the portion was a little small though.

The restaurant itself was small and busy, with a line-up out the door when we arrived and the staff running around to keep up with the crowd. You’re not there for the ambiance, but the place was clean and service prompt.  I’d definitely return. For two vermicelli bowls and a sandwich, the price was about $20 plus tip.

Pho Tan Vietnamese Restauarant, 4598 Main St (@ 30th Ave)

This restaurant was given Bronze for best Vietnamese by Vancouver Magazine this year, and is about 1 block north of Au Petit Cafe, so we gave Pho Tan a try this weekend. Business is good, as Pho Tan was also packed with a line-up out the door when we arrived. A ten minute wait later and we were in! The staff was busy as hell, but very good at clearing tables, seating tables, and getting orders taken. Not always an easy feat when you’re slammed. My husband deemed Pho Tan’s vermicelli bowls to be big portions, cheaper and equally good as Au Petit Cafe, so this is his new number one. I enjoyed it also, but found Au Petit’s was slightly fresher and tastier – but also saltier. We also drank down some  lovely iced Vietnamese French coffee with sweetened condensed milk – always a tasty treat, and nicely made here. At $7.50 per vermicelli bowl, this was good cheap eating.

If Vietnamese Saturday lunch continues next week, I think we’ll hit up Thai Son on East Broadway, which I’ve also heard good things about. There’s also Pho Hoang at 3388 Main St, but I find the food quite over-rated. Many tasty options.