Anna Lena

We had a delightful evening at Anna Lena. It easily demonstrated its reputation as one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Vancouver. It’s a small space that is both intimate and welcoming.

There are a lot of servers and staff here in addition to the kitchen personnel. I suspect the ratio is about one to one between employees and customers. Everyone was extraordinarily welcoming and gracious.

The menu is both fun and complex without being pretentious. My favorite dishes were:

The Cheeseburger 2050, a deconstructed combination of their amazing torn bread, oak tartare, and a lovely cheese dipping sauce.

The oyster with shaved foie gras was also remarkable.

The prawn that came with the off the coast course.

The frozen cookie at the end of the meal was also a lot of fun.

I thought the pricing was quite reasonable considering the quantity and quality of the food. There’s also an optional add-on that includes caviar, truffles, and wagyu, which I think is worth it if you particularly enjoy those things.

Two wine pairings are offered. I feel it’s worth upgrading to the premium pairing because it includes a lovely glass of Dom Pérignon and the spectacular 2021 Avrell Creek Barrel 36 Pinot Noir, which so impressed me that I ordered several bottles from the winery while we were still dining!

On all the delightful evenings, and I look forward to returning.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/annalena-vancouver

Cactus Club – West End

Delightful setting for a delightful meal. Even on a cloudy day it’s great fun overlooking the beach from the second story (street level) of this stylish location.

We started with the crab and spinach dip, which was wonderfully creamy without being two rich. Then for entrees we have the ceviche–which was classically prepared with a nice hint of jalapeño to accompany the line–and the lettuce wraps. I particularly liked the couch of the peanuts and the kick of korean sauce in the wraps, and there was a half a head of iceberg lettuce to make wrapping easy.

There’s a nice cocktail list (excellent whiskey sour) and some interesting wines by the glass.

Service was friendly.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/cactus-club-cafe-vancouver-7

Teahouse in Stanley Park

We went here in 1986 during Expo 86, and it’s still as lovely as we remember. Whether is time for a dramatic sunset, or a cozy day with rain pattering on the glass roof, this is a special place in a special park in a special city.

The menu harkens back to traditional time, with dishes like Steak Diane, but also a few modern dishes such as herb crusted ware albacore.

Service was extremely professional, and the entire staff was efficient and welcoming. You can’t beat this location for an especially memorable Vancouver meal.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/teahouse-in-stanley-park-vancouver-2

Q at the Empress

This upscale dining restaurant is in a beautiful room, but is open to the often very boisterous bar, which interferes with what otherwise would be an elegant experience.

The menu offers a nice selection of appealing starters, but a somewhat limited selection of entrees.

We visited twice, because there are, frankly, not a lot of fine dining options in Victoria.

Standouts were the Crunchy Leaves (basically a Caesar salad) and the beautifully plated asparagus entree.

Least impressive was the sable fish, a large steamed chunk that was pretty much flavorless.

Service both nights was excellent.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/q-at-the-empress-victoria?osq=Q

H Tasting Lounge

We had dinner here twice during our stay. Great location with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the marina.

The menu and wine list are both compact, but they have all the bases covered. We particularly enjoyed the edamame, smoked duck banh mi, seafood tower, and french fries.

The service both times was excellent.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/h-tasting-lounge-vancouver