The following is a list of what I consider to be the top 10 of Vancouver’s fine dining scene. With so many restaurants to consider in this great city, I based my selection on the restaurants that consistently deliver on all fronts: food, drink, service and atmosphere.
1. Lumiere
Lumiere is at the top of the list because it is quite simply the most fancy and decadent dining experience you can have in Vancouver. I’m talking about the new Lumiere post-Feenie since Daniel Boulud took over as executive chef. I would not suggest even considering booking a table here unless you have a ridiculous amount of money to spare or are so dedicated to your dining out experiences that you have no problem taking a second mortgage on your house. OK maybe I exaggerate a bit, but the point is it can get quite expensive, especially where wine parings are concerned. We were lucky enough to receive a gift certificate as a wedding present, should you be so lucky or if money is no object I would suggest the 7 course tasting menu, it will be be something you will not soon forget.
www.lumiere.ca
2551 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E9
(604) 739-8185
2. Boneta
Boneta is truly a Vancouver gem. Since it opened in July of 2007, right in my neighborhood I might add, it has thrived and continually lived up to its reputation. From the excellent service with detailed knowledge of food and wine to the expertly prepared seasonal menus that focus on locally available products – if there’s gnocchi on the menu do not pass it up!-Boneta delivers on all fronts. If you’re a cocktail person this is the place to order something interesting, Vancouver Magazine’s 2006 Bartender of the Year and co-owner Mark Brand has a selection of some of the most finely tuned cocktails your likely to encounter.
www.boneta.ca
1 West Cordova
Vancouver, BC V6B1C8
(604) 684-1844
3. Le Crocodile
Le Crocodile has been around for 25 years and is an old favorite of mine. We were in on a rainy Tuesday night recently and were surprised to see the restaurant completely full, with not a seat to be had and it was only 6:30p! In Vancouver this speaks louder than words. If you’re looking for an experience in French cuisine, you are not likely to find another restaurant with as much elegance in the preparation of food, service and atmosphere. I have eaten here countless times over the years and it has been a special experience every time.
www.lecrocodilerestaurant.com
909 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2N2
(604) 669-4298
4. Cioppino’s
Cioppino’s is the place for Mediterranean food (with an Italian slant) in Vancouver. If you’re in the mood for a custom crafted antipasto platter, tailored to your liking, this is the place. While I don’t generally review restaurants individually, I did a post on Cioppino’s a few months back that will take you in detail through one of my favorite dining experiences in this city. If you are the traditional Milanese style Osso Bucco type, the kind where the saffron risotto is made with bone marrow and the veal bones are packed with enough of the stuff to stop your heart at the prime age of 29, this dish may be one of life’s great eating experiences.
www.cioppinos.wordpress.com
1129 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6
(604) 685-8462
5. Chambar
If you are in the mood for some spectacular mussels, the kind that are simmered in a sauce that is so good you’ll be dreaming about it for a good week after, Chambar is the place to go. The restaurant has its roots in Belgium cuisine with distinctly Moroccan influence and the food is modern and elegant yet non-pretentious at the same time. While it is some of the best Vancouver has to offer in the way of fine dinning, it does so with a relaxed atmosphere which is something I can always appreciate.
www.chambar.com
562 Beatty Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3
(604) 879-7119
6. Vij’s
Vij’s is a unique chance to experience fine dining Indian style. Chef Vikram Vij focuses on traditional methods of preparing foods from all over India, with seasonal and locally available ingredients. The cuisine is best described as contemporary Indian as it’s quite modern in its execution and different from what you would expect out of an Indian restaurant. I have read several reviews that call this place the best Indian Restaurant in the world and while I find that sort of statement with any restaurant to be sort of hard to digest, Vij’s is definitely a unique dining experience and its not difficult to understand why its maintained its place among the best Vancouver has to offer.
www.vijs.ca
1480 West 11th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6H 1L1
(604) 736-6664 – No reservations accepted.
7. West
West is the place to experience local flavor as this restaurant for me not only highlights some of the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer, but more importantly what BC has to offer. I would suggest trying one of their seasonal tasting menus, which will surely be one of the most sophisticated experiences in local fare you may ever have.
www.westrestaurant.com
2881 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3J4
(604) 738-8938
8. Cobre
Cobre’s nuevo latino cuisine brings flavors from Brazil, Argentina and Latin America as a whole and presents them with an extraordinary amount of style and sophistication. Though menu consists of small plates, this is not your ordinary tapas bar. The ceviche is fresh and beautifully prepared, the pupusas are simply amazing-I would suggest ordering 2- and when combined with their signature glazed short ribs you might just have the perfect meal.
www.cobrerestaurant.com
52 Powell Street
Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7
(604) 669-2396
9. Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar
Blue Water Cafe is a thought-provoking mix of east and west and all around it might just be the best seafood restaurant Vancouver has to offer. The Sushi/Raw Bar headed up by Yoshi Tabo will leave you with little to be desired as this sort of innovation is rare at best. Executive chef Frank Pabst uses only wild and sustainable seafood and will surely win you over with his distinguished preparation. This is a not to be miss Vancouver restaurant and is also a great place to sit for a drink during happy hour.
www.bluewatercafe.net
1095 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4
(604) 688-8078
10. Les Faux Bourgeois
OK this is more of a bistro than anything but it made my top 10 list because it is one of my favorite new Vancouver restaurants to open up in the last year. This is French bistro done right, the sort of place that doesn’t have a dessert menu, instead an incredibly hot french server will offer you a daily selection of 2 desserts made fresh with what they had that day. I love that, it makes me feel like I’m actually in France and not on one of the most unattractive areas of Kingsway.
www.lesfauxbourgeois.com
663 East 15th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 2R6
(604) 873-9733
