540 Beatty Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604 879 8588

Web: http://www.dirtyapron.com/del

Twitter: @Dirty_Apron

Advice: Open daily 10am – 8pm.

Beginning as a cooking school, and then a market and now a deli, The Dirty Apron has come full circle. I visited the newly opened deli yesterday and fell in love with the market and the dining room, you could take your sandwich to go or you could have the sandwich to stay and enjoy eating in the dining room like I did.

Baguette Chicken Sandwich

The gourmet sandwiches (they can be grilled) in the cold case all looked good and so did the menu of Baguette sandwiches (all are served hot and made to order), I had the Baguette Chicken Sandwich ($7.99) baguette filled with hot rotisserie style chicken breast that is stewing in a thyme broth, with a tasty sauce making the whole sandwich so Yum! Asides from the sandwiches they also offer up salads, desserts and drinks!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Vancouver Tel: 604-568-5882

Web: http://calabashbistro.com/

Twitter: @calabashbistro

Advice: Nominal charge of $1 for the dipping sauces. The best place to sit would be downstairs if space permits.

Coco Bun

Vegetarian Curry

Fried Coconut Dumplings

Loved the vibe and the Caribbean flavours in the food and the music, my friend Noam and I had a late night dinner recently and as much as we both loved the food, it seemed as the kitchen was running on Caribbean time. Despite the slowness in our dishes arriving to the table, once the food did arrive each dish was delicious and flavourful. We both shared the outstanding Coco Bun ($10) with Fried Fish (Snapper was the fish that night) with salad; the spicy Vegetarian Curry ($10) in roti with salad and a side of fried Coconut Dumplings ($4) which needed a sauce for accompaniment, we asked our server what would be best and he said he would bring us some Jamaican Ketchup, it sounded interesting and tasted great and was the perfect pairing with the coconut dumplings. The roti is some of the best I have eaten on the west coast, made fresh in-house. The restaurant is on two levels, upstairs you have a great view into the kitchen and you are close to the bar, downstairs is more secluded with a larger bar. The menu is all about the flavours and you are going to love it, from salads to patties to mains, everything is house-made and you’ll want to check out the Jerk Board for the fish of the day, each of the Jerk dishes are made with the chef’s own Jerk-spice. The next time I am in I must try the Seafood Curry!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Photo Credit: Noam Dehan

51 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-569-1022

Web: www.acmecafe.ca

Twitter: @acme_cafe

Advice: Sit at the counter, make sure you save room for some pie!

High-falutin’ Grilled Cheese

Strawberry Custard Pie

When I was a little kid I used to go a café nearby that had a cool old time counter and stools, the things we remember from childhood seem to come back again later in life. Over at Acme Café they have the same old fashioned counters that were custom built for them along with comfy booths and those cool counter stools. The room is large and spacious with high ceilings, I like the décor and I like the café. This is a friendly neighborhood eatery that serves up delicious food at great prices and the service is wonderful. I had the very tasty High-falutin’ Grilled Cheese ($10.00) with cheddar, swiss, brie, Grand Marnier–cranberry relish on a Ciabatta panini grilled, that was served with broccoli almond slaw and potato chips. For dessert I had a slice of the Strawberry Custard Pie ($4.25). You’ll find breakfast favourites, great tasting sandwiches, soups, salads, and main plates that include a Crock Pot supper feature that changes daily. Everything is made fresh, and their pie selection is outstanding, they usually have 6 different pies on daily with a rotating selection, make sure that you have some pie and just like the old days add a scoop of ice cream too! I can’t wait for my next visit and I am going back to try their Espresso Milkshake and another piece of pie!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Upstairs

117 West Pender Street, Vancouver

Phone: 604-642-2882

Web: http://www.wildricevancouver.com/

Twitter: @wildrice_pender

Advice: Check out the upstairs lounge for some bites and drinks.

I have dined here numerous times over the years and always love the vibe of the room with its modernist look, tall and narrow with a great looking bar and comfort.

Won Ton

Spicy Kung Pao Chicken

Tea Cup Chocolate Pudding

I have dined here numerous times over the years and always love the vibe of the room with its modernist look, tall and narrow with a great looking bar and comfort. Last week some friends joined me and we all had the featured Prix Fixe 3 course menu for $18. My appetizer (1st course) was the Stuffed Won Ton for my entree (2nd course) was the Spicy Kung Pao Chicken (twice-cooked peanuts, Maple Hills free-range chicken, broccoli and rice noodles) that wasn’t too spicy and for dessert (3rd course) Tea Cup Chocolate Pudding. The menu is modern Chinese, with tasty dishes for sharing, soups and other dishes as well as an interesting line up of desserts. They often have Prixe Fixe menu specials as well they celebrate many of the Chinese holidays with festive fare.

Review by: Richard Wolak

526 Abbott Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-608-0500

Web: www.pivopublichouse.com

Advice: Located at Tinseltown, close to GM Place and BC Place. If you are having any of the three Poutine dishes share with your friends.

Onion Rings

Italian Poutine

If you are looking for a place to get some food and drink before or after a game or for an after-work get together, then a visit to nearby Pivo is well worth it! I had lunch there with a couple of friends who shared my starters with me as there was no way I was going to be able to eat all of the rings and poutine on my own. To begin, we had the huge Onion Rings ($5) thick cut onion rings, coated with a crispy buttermilk batter served with paprika aioli or mustard on the side. Then the large bowl of hearty Italian Poutine ($8) Kennebec fries, fresh tomato and garlic sauce, basil and mozzarella.

Aged Cheddar Perogies

Blackened White Fish Sandwich

Then the large bowl of hearty Italian Poutine ($8) Kennebec fries, fresh tomato and garlic sauce, basil and mozzarella. I then enjoyed the Blackened White Fish Sandwich ($13) fresh baguette, lemon mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, crispy capers and a side of salad; while my friend had the Aged Cheddar Perogies ($8) pan-fried with pancetta and onions.

Banana Bread and Chocolate Pudding

For dessert we all shared the Banana Bread and Chocolate Pudding ($6) baked banana bread, chocolate and spices, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. They have a stellar beer list including top notch local and international beers on tap as well as by the bottle, wine and cocktails round out the liquid refreshments. I love the modern room with the comfortable seating and the big screen for watching the sporting events!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Duck Confit

562 Beatty Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-879-7119
Webs: http://www.chambar.com

Twitter: @chambar

Advice: Make an advance reservation thru Open Table, try to get a table towards the rear of the restaurant.

Sinatra Cocktail

This is a long time favourite restaurant of mine and I have been eating there since they opened. Chambar is all about Belgian food and drink, my favourite dish is the Tajine d’aziz a l’agneau ($28) Braised lamb shank with honey, figs, cinnamon & cilantro, served with cous cous and zalouk. ($3 harissa & raita), you also must try their Pomme frites ($6). These dishes have been on the menu since they opened, other entrée selections which do change include the steak, other meats, fish and seafood selections. There is a changing line-up of delicious desserts too. On the drinks side the bar is always a buzz with their stellar bartenders creating winning cocktails, the beer line-up is huge and my advice would be to order one of the beers from Belgium as this is the place to enjoy. The Chambar menu, was created by Belgian chef/owner Nico Schuermans and is Belgian with a dash of fusion, innovation and creativity.

Chocolate Pot de Creme

Have a seat at one of the tables towards the rear of the restaurant if you are able to reserve in advance or if you don’t mind noise and you enjoy action then choose to sit at the bar and watch the bartenders in mode. The room is broken up into three areas, the dining room (towards the rear of the restaurant), the lounge and the bar. You will love the exposed brick, wood beams, and leather banquettes for lounging.The service is superb, and the waiters are knowledgable about the food as well as the beers, wine and other drinks. This is a great place for people watching as well you will often run into friends or depending on where you sit may meet some new friends.

Review by: Richard Wolak

556 Beatty Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-879-3114
Webs: http://www.medinacafe.com

Twitter: @CafeMedina

Advice: They don’t take reservations and they don’t have wireless

This is a café kind of restaurant that serves awesome sandwiches. Located next door to Chambar, the café is the daytime place to indulge, featuring homemade Belgian Liege-style waffles available plain or with any one of 8 gourmet toppings. I had their house special which was a waffle with the dark chocolate topping and an espresso machiatto for $6 which was devine. Other intriguing toppings include fig orange marmalade, lavender milk chocolate, organic maple syrup to name a few. The sandwiches are in the mid to high range as far as prices go, but they are a good size and you won’t be hungry afterwards. Coffee from 49th Parallel, teas, smoothies, baklava, granola, fresh fruit round out the menu.

Have a seat in front of the classic wooden bar on one of the stools or at a table aside the exposed brick walls backdrop. Magazines and Newspapers for your reading pleasure, or bring your own notebook while enjoying all that Café Medina has to offer.

Review by: Richard Wolak