Category Archives: Downtown

Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

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Like its sister restaurant, Gotham Steakhouse, Hy’s offers a terrific afternoon happy hour in its bar. You can get a multi-course feast of snacks, cocktails, and wine for well under $200 per couple, which is much less than lunch or dinner here.

We started with the prawn cocktail, four large and very fresh prawns served with an excellent cocktail sauce. The we had the “famous” cheese toast, which is butter-grilled with a layer of cheese on top, and served in aluminum foil to keep it warm.

Our mains were the mini lobster rolls, which came on grilled feather-light brioche, and the prime rib sliders, the most substantial dish. Each slider included a wonderful onion ring, encouraging us to make a note to order onion rings as a side next time.

In addition to the great drink prices such as 40% off sparkling wines during happy hour, the dessert menu prices are also very reasonable. We had tableside Bananas Foster and Irish Coffee. Both were prepared in true classic fashion.

The bar area is cozy, with only a few tables, but I think I like the ambiance at Gotham’s larger bar better. But both are excellent choices for an afternoon meal.

Tequila Cocina

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This is the most authentic Mexican food I’ve found in the West End area. The tacos are served traditional style, with a choice of traditional filling such as pastor, cicil, and carne asada. The carnitas were the best, succulent and juicy.

The Mole don Pollo was excellent, a bit more chocolatey than traditional, but nicely complex with spices.

The complementary chips are excellent, apparently fried twice to get them to puff up a bit, and the accompanying salsa verde was spot on.

Service was pleasant and efficient, all seemingly done by one person who was also tending bar. Speaking of which, the margaritas (lime, on the rocks, of course) were excellent.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tequila-cocina-vancouver

515 Bar

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Excellent cocktail lounge with a small menu of appropriate noshes. Cool ambiance, and a pleasant, not overwhelming soundtrack.

We had several rounds of cocktails, all good, the standout being the Exit Strategy, a sort of coffee-infused Negroni made with tequila, if that makes any sense at all.

The charcuterie plate was particularly nice.

Pleasant and prompt service.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-515-bar-vancouver

Hydra Estiatorio

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This restaurant is stunning. I wasn’t expecting it, either from the website or the hotel’s facade. 

We had a delightful lunch here. We started with the assorted dips, served with crudites, pitas, and the best pita chips I’ve ever had. We couldn’t pick a favorite, although the salmon one was certainly a standout.

After all that dip, we just had a couple of other appetizers: tuna tartare and spanikopita. Both were excellent.

The service was attentive and pleasant. I’m looking forward to another visit to further explore the menu.

Loved the Greek mythology lecture playing in the restrooms!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/hydra-estiatorio-vancouver

Archer

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This lovely bistro is light and airy, and has traditional green banquettes that evoke Paris. The lunch menu isn’t overly elaborate, but offers a variety.

I had the Caesar salad, a large serving topped by a veritable school of white anchovies. I’m old-fashioned, and still prefer my anchovies chopped into the dressing and my lettuce chopped by the chef, but it was very good, particularly the rosemary croutons.

My tablemate had the seafood chowder, a large bowl literally brimming with mussels, clams, salmon, and lardons. The seafood was fresh and not overcooked.

We also shared a sourdough boule, which was fresh from the oven, and nice and crusty.

Service was friendly and responsive.

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

Miku

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This beautiful restaurant overlooking the cruise ship dock at Canada Place serves terrific high-end sushi.

We had the Deluxe Shokai lunch. It included miso soup, three starters (scallop, salmon, and tuna sashimi; seared scallop in cream sauce; seared wagyu with Bernaise), ten pieces of sushi (rolls, nigiri, and Aburi Oshi sushi), and dessert. It was a lot of food for $75.

Our favorites were the scallop sashimi and seared scallop, but everything was delicious.

Service was very friendly, and the view can’t be beat. Outdoor seating is also available, but some of the subtleties of the food might be lost out there.

Full bar and extensive wine list. Maybe ask to not sit near the bar if you don’t like the sound of cocktail shakers!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/miku-vancouver-2

Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge

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There was a time when fine dining restaurants were intimate, romantically lit, and offered live music that still allowed for conversation. It’s been a long time since I’ve found one, so I was delighted to discover Bacchus. It’s everything I loved about dining back in the 70s, but with a modern take on food.

There were many highlights to our meal, but I’d have to list the two-tier seafood tower as the best. Unlike other seafood towers, there were a great variety of prepared dishes included along with the usual lobster, shrimp, and oysters–perhaps a dozen selections in total. We loved all of them. 

The wine list is extensive, and represents nearly every region of the world, although there is no depth to the vintages.

Service was friendly and precise. 

This place is a keeper.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/bacchus-restaurant-and-lounge-vancouver

Black+Blue

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We had a delightful experience at Black+Blues. We were seated in the upstairs area of the dining room, which is quieter and much more intimate than the downstairs. Our server, Will, was perfect.

We started with the Caesar Salad and French Onion Soup. Both were absolute classics. The Caesar was made tableside, and was one of the best I’ve had in years, with all the traditional ingredients, plus a touch of capers and Tabasco.

The prime ptriploin was good, but the standout entry was actually the salt brick chicken, which was incredibly tender, and topped with a delicious lemon & thyme chicken jus.

The fries are excellent. The spinach is whole-leaf, sauteed, and a bit wet; not my favorite.

The wine list offers a broadt selection of varietals and regions, although no depth of vintages.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/black-and-blue-vancouver

Hawksworth Restaurant

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Hawksworth restaurant is an upscale dining experience that offers creative cuisine with an emphasis on fish. There is a nightly tasting menu, but we opted for à la cart selections in order to try more items.

We started with the chips and dip and the bread service, both were good choices to get warmed up for our starters.

All of the starters were excellent. We had asparagus soup, steelhead tartare served on endive, and Burrata cheese.

Our entrées included Lamb, Seabass, and Hamachi (which was served raw, but with a broth poured over it). We all liked the entrées, but I don’t think they were as good as the starters.

Service throughout was friendly and professional.

There is an extensive wine list from a broad range of countries, but with no depth of vintage.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/hawksworth-restaurant-vancouver-3