Category Archives: Italian

Tavola

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Charming Italian restaurant just off of Denman and Robson. Despite the bustling neighborhood, the outdoor dining is surprisingly serene, nestled in a quiet residential respite from the traffic.

We went for Saturday brunch and ate outside. The “Toast” we chose was sautéed mushroom, and it was delicious, and plenty for two to share. We also had the day’s frittata, which was filled with an assortment of fresh vegetables and came with a tasty side salad.

The wine list offers mainly Italian wines, with about 1/3 of them by the glass.

Service was friendly and the atmosphere is great.

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

Nook

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This charming and intimate trattoria offers authentic rustic pizza and pastas in a cozy, welcoming environment.

The pizza is just like in Naples, with a thin center and poofy crust, perfectly sauced and cooked.

A small but well-thought-out wine list focuses on Italian wines.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Budino is a fabulous chocolate mousse-like dessert that goes great with an espresso.

The servers are friendly and enthusiastic, and obviously enjoy what they are doing, which creates wonderful hospitality.

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

CinCin Ristorante + Bar

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Don’t be put off by the fact that this is an upscale restaurant in a tourist district. This is a great spot for local regulars, too. Accessed through a steep stairway, the space opens out into a large area with an expansive balcony overlooking Robson. 

The menu offers far more than traditional Italian food. 

The Hamachi Crudo was a spectacular dish of fish, flowers, scrumptious olive oil, and mild olive slices that didn’t overpower the fish.

The Parmesan Souffle was flavorful, light, and delightfully crusty.

Caesar salad is a good choice for sharing.

Wagyu Carpaccio came with a generous topping of freshly shaved truffle.

Perhaps my favorite dish was the Dungeness Crab Linguine, served in a cream sauce with just a hint of jalapeno.

The broccolini was an excellent side, fire-grilled with a touch of rosemary.

Pistachio gelato was the true essence of ground pistachios.

There’s a nice assortment of apertivos and amaros.

Service is friendly and well-paced.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/cincin-ristorante-bar-vancouver-3