Nightingale is from the owners of Hawksworth, which I thought was a very good but not necessarily great restaurant, but I really like Nightingale. It’s a two-story space off of Hastings with a bar downstairs that has table seating and a somewhat quieter upstairs dining area where the kitchen is. I prefer the upstairs area, but both are fine. Don’t be misled by the fact that reservations for the bar don’t mean that you have to sit at the bar. It could mean anywhere in the downstairs area.
The menu is a combination of surprisingly upscale food and straightforward dishes such as pizza, but the pizza is just not ordinary pizza, even though it’s reasonably priced. In fact, it’s one of the best pizzas in Vancouver.
The appetizers are varied and extraordinary. We had the hamachi, which let the fish shine through, and the kanpachi, which was a complex preparation that we particularly enjoyed.
Another surprise was the cauliflower hummus, which was much more layered and intricate than you might expect.
Service was excellent, and there is a thoughtful wine list plus an enormous selection of liquors such as whiskies and even Amaro. In fact, they have tasting flights of different whiskies and Amaro, which I always particularly appreciate.