Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge

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

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

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