I have dined at a lot of new restaurants that have opened in 2011. These are 30 of the Best NEW Restaurants in Vancouver that newly define how we eat, drink and play.

Note: These are not in any ranking order.

House Guest

332 Water Street, Vancouver

Great Comfort food, music and vibe.

The Bibo Italian Restaurant

1835 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Authentic Neapolitan Italian Pizza and Pasta!

Chewie’s Steam and Oyster Bar

2201 West 1st Avenue

Delicious taste of New Orleans – Creole cooking!

Edible Canada at the Market

1551 Johnston Street, Vancouver

Art on a plate, inventive dishes, best in local.

Boneta (the new one)

12 Water Street, Vancouver

Creative dishes, flavourful, foodie paradise.

Ensemble Tap

990 Smithe Street, Vancouver

International Comfort food at play with Beer.

Hapa Umi

909 West Cordova Street, Vancouver

Modern fusion Japanese cuisine.

Black + Blue

1032 Alberni Street, Vancouver

Best steak in Vancouver, and table side classics.

Fray on Fraser

3980 Fraser Street, Vancouver

Fabulous Comfort Food with a playful spin.

Revolver Coffee

325 Cambie Street, Vancouver

4 passionate brothers who share a true love for the bean.

Go Fish Broadway

1521 West Broadway, Vancouver

Upscale Fish & Chips, inventive dishes and wonderful flavours.

Rocky Mountain Flatbread

4186 Main Street, Vancouver

Handcrafted flatbread pizzas, local and organic ingredients.

Cosca Restaurant

1118 Denman Street, Vancouver

Delicious pasta dishes.

Lanna Thai

775 Denman Street, Vancouver

Flavourful Thai dishes, a hidden gem.

Nicli Antica Pizzeria

62 East Cordova, Vancouver

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza.

The Flying Pig

1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Canadian Bistro, inventive dishes that are full of flavour, you will want to eat every dish.

Nelson and the Seagull

315 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Great cafe to escape, large sharing communal table.

Thierry

1059 Alberni Street, Vancouver

Chocolaterie patisserie that is divine and stunning, then there are the exquisite desserts and macarons!

Pizza Farina

915 Main Street, Vancouver

Really good pizza, that is it!

Hawksworth Restaurant

801 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Exquisite dishes, outstanding presentation and creative cocktails.

The Oakwood

2741 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Canadian bistro with inventive dishes and great flavours, craft brews on tap with a beautiful communal dining table.

Tableau Bar Bistro

1181 Melville Street, Vancouver

French bistro with delicious food, inventive cocktails and great people watching.

Pink Elephant Thai

1152 Alberni Street, Vancouver

Flavourful Thai dishes, beautiful modern decor.

Ensemble Restaurant

850 Thurlow Street, Vancouver

Exquisite food and presentation and full of flavour.

Big Lou’s Butcher Shop

269 Powell Street, Vancouver

Great tasting sandwiches with flavour in an old fashioned butcher shop.

Meat & Bread

370 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Love the communal table and the room as well as the great sandwiches!

Bob Lkes Thai Food

3755 Main Street, Vancouver

Authentic Thai, and it was very tasty, wonderful flavours and wonderful service.

Via Veneto

656 West Broadway, Vancouver

Northern Italian food, gracious and inviting.

Cento Notti

350 Davie Street, Vancouver

Italian food with a creative twist, pop-up restaurant.

Stackhouse Burger Bar

1224 Granville Street, Vancouver

Delicious burgers in a stylish room.

by Richard Wolak

Richard Wolak (Founder & Publisher of Vancouver Foodster) at the Miku Party

I went to a lot of different food events, openings and parties during 2011 in and around Vancouver and these are the standouts of the year.

1)    Chewies  Opening was the best restaurant opening of the year.

2)    Ocean Wise Seafood Chowder Chowdown was the most entertaining event at the coolest venue that brought together some of the cities best chefs, restaurants and breweries.

3) Black & Blue Restaurant Opening was one of the most fun events of 2011 with cocktails flowing and appetizers.

4) 2011 Gold Medal Plates was the most amazing gastronomic experience.

5) Thierry Opening was the sweetest opening of the year with amazing desserts, wine and appetizers

6) Feast of Fields at Krause Berry Farms was the best afternoon of eating and drinking in the outdoors.

7) Chefs Table Dinner Party that Earls Hornby held for me and Vancouver Foodster contest winners.

8 ) Best of the West was the best food event in the best location imaginable on the wharf at Ambelside in West Van

9) Dish N Dazzle was the best food, wine and cocktail event from some of Vancouver’s finest chefs, and bartenders.

10) Summer Splash at Goldfish was the most fun event of 2011 with delicious food and festivities.

11) A Night at the Aquarium was the most incredible evening of food from some of Vancouver’s finest chefs and wine in the city’s most spectacular venue.

12) Spring Party at Miku Restaurant serving outstanding seafood.

By: Richard Wolak

Note: The prices indicated exclude tax.

In ranking order, these are are the Best Chicken & Waffles in Vancouver:

1)    Tableau Bar & Bistro – FIRST PLACE

Tableau Bar & Bistro

The dish: Buttermilk fried chicken, maple syrup  & savoury waffle!

My take: The chicken was unbelievably good crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The chicken was brined for 3 days and then marinated in buttermilk over night. Personally I prefer white meat over dark and this version of the dish won me over not only for the chicken but for the savoury waffle combination as well.

Price: $15

Cuisine: French Bistro

On the regular menu: Yes on the Weekend on the Brunch menu

Chefs: Marc Andre Choquette

Location: 1181 Melville Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @tableaubistro

Web: http://tableaubarbistro.com/pdf/Tableau_Brunch_Menu.pdf

2)    Two Chefs and a Table – – SECOND PLACE

Two Chefs and a Table

The Dish: Polderside chicken, housemade waffles, pecan vanilla butter and syrup

My take: Even though it was a leg and a thigh, the chicken tasted very good, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The waffle was large and thick and the pecan vanilla butter with the maple syrup really made this dish.

Price: $13

Cuisine: Canadian

On the regular menu: Yes on the Lunch and Brunch menu

Chefs: Allan Bosomworth & Karl Gregg

Location: 305 Alexander Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @2chefsandatable

Web:  http://www.twochefsandatable.com/restaurant/brunch.html

3)    Hog Shack Cook House– THIRD PLACE

Hog Shack

The Dish: 3 pieces of chicken,, 2 waffles, Bacon bourbon maple syrup

My Take: Large portion of chicken, crunchy battered and fried. It was the savoury waffle with corn, scallions and cayene with the bacon, bourbon maple syrup that made this dish.

Price: $16

Cuisine: Southern Barbq

On the regular menu: No – call a minimum of 2 days in advance to special order.

Chefs: John Lim Hing

Location: 160-3900 Bayview Street, Richmond

Twitter: @hogshackca

Web:  http://www.hogshack.ca/

4) House Guest – FOURTH PLACE

House Guest

The Dish: bacon & pecan waffles, yogurt fried chicken, cream cheese maple syrup

My Take: The chicken was good but could have used a bit more crunch, the waffles could have been larger, there was no maple flavour in the syrup, so I would have added maple syrup on the side with the dish.

Price: $12

Cuisine: Comfort

On the regular menu: Yes on Brunch menu

Chefs: Kayla Dhaliwall

Location: 322 Water Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @housexguest

Web: http://housexguest.com/menu/

5) Hidden Tasting Bar  — FIFTH PLACE

Hidden Tasting Bar

The Dish: buttermilk battered fried chicken with watermelon relish and cheddar waffle

My Take: It was like a fusion version of Chicken and Waffles, I liked the cheddar waffle on its own but not with the watermelon relish. I also thought having maple syrup on the side would have been a good addition to the overall dish.

Price: $12

Cuisine: International

On the regular menu: Yes on the dinner menu

Chefs:

Location: 433 Robson Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @hiddentastingbar

Web:  http://www.hiddenvancouver.ca/

Apologies to other restaurants that I did not have a chance to visit for their Chicken and Waffles those are Phat Deli  and Rumpus Room!

Feel free to add your comment here with your favourite Chicken & Waffles in a Vancouver area restaurant and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak

Note: The prices indicated exclude tax.

In ranking order, here are the Best Sticky Toffee Pudding desserts in Vancouver:

1)   EBO Restaurant – FIRST PLACE

EBO Restaurant

The Dish: Warm Toffee, Chocolate and Date Pudding with walnuts and butterscotch, candy caramel popcorn, baked custard crisp, topped with brown butter ice cream.

My take: This was like eating a molten chocolate cake except for the inside was the sticky toffee (not chocolate) and it was absolutely heavenly.

Price: $10

On the dessert menu: Yes and its seasonal

Chefs: Romeo Maghirang and Dan Craig

Location: 4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby

Twitter: @eborestaurant

2)   Cactus Club – SECOND PLACE

Cactus Club Cafe

The Dish: Pumpkin Sticky Toffee Pudding  warm spice cake, brown sugar toffee sauce, topped with vanilla ice cream, hand whipped cream.

My take:  The pudding is served warm, infused with cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin. Drizzled over top of the vanilla ice cream is a sticky toffee that is unbelievable!

Price: $7

On the dessert menu: Yes and its seasonal

Chefs: Wendy Boys & Rob Feenie

Location: 575 West Broadway, Vancouver (multiple locations)

Twitter: @cactusclubcafe

3)   Fraiche – THIRD PLACE

Fraiche

The Dish: Sticky Toffee Pudding with toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream, fruits and gelee

My take: The presentation alone was spectacular, the sticky toffee pudding was delicious, moist, sitting in a pool of toffee sauce, and served with vanilla ice cream on the side.

Price: $9

On the dessert menu: Yes and its seasonal

Chefs: Kimberley Steele & Jefferson Alvarez

Location: 2240 Chippendale Rd, West Vancouver

Twitter: @fraichewv

4)   The Cascade Room – FOURTH PLACE

The Cascade Room

The Dish: Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce

My take: The serving was quite large for the price, the sticky toffee pudding was moist and delicious, the toffee sauce covered the whole pudding cake and the ice cream was the perfect accompaniment.

Price: $7

On the dessert menu: Yes

Chef: Travis Williams

Location: 2616 Main Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @cascaderoom

5)   The District — FIFTH PLACE

The District

The Dish: Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce

My take: It was more like a cake than a pudding as it was served in 2 large wedges, with the toffee sauce and ice cream on top. The combination of the cake, toffee sauce and ice cream tasted great.

Price: $9

On the dessert menu: Yes

Chefs: Paul Mon-Kau

Location: 13 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver

Twitter: @districtsocial

6)   Mahoney & Sons – SIXTH PLACE

Mahoney & Sons

The Dish: Butterscotch Sticky Date Pudding with vanilla bean ice cream

My take: The dates made it in this pudding, I would have preferred a little bit more of the sauce.

Price: $7.95

On the dessert menu: Yes

Chef: Paul Nguyen

Location: 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre) Vancouver

Twitter: @MahonyAndSons

7)    Biercraft  – SEVENTH PLACE

Biercraft

The Dish: Sticky Toffee Pudding - Warm toffee cake, sticky coconut topping, caramel, chantilly cream

My take: The pudding was more like a cake topped with the sticky coconut topping and caramel.

Price: $7.50

On the dessert menu: Yes

Chefs: Stephen Chadband

Location: 1191 Commercial Drive, Vancouver and 3305 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @biercraft

Feel free to add your comment here with your favourite Sticky Toffee Pudding in a Vancouver area restaurant and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak

In the end though, the very best short ribs touch on all the different carb accompaniments, sauces and garnish.

Note: I had all these dishes over the past 5 weeks and this Best list reflects this time period. The prices indicated exclude tax.

Here are the Best Short Rib dishes in Vancouver in no particular order:

1)    Edible at the Market

Edible at the Market

Smoked Alberta Bison Shortribs & Frites with red apple, spiced pecan salad, fresh horseradish

Price: $16

Cuisine: Canadian

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Jennifer Dodd & Tom Lee

Location: 1596 Johnston Street (on Granville Island) Vancouver

Twitter: @ediblecanada

Web: http://www.ediblecanada.com/bistro.php

2)    Boneta

Boneta

Angus Beef Short Ribs, Cauliflower Puree, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Kaniwa & Walnuts

Price: $24

Cuisine: Contemporary French, Northwest

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Jason Leizert

Location: 12 Water Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @bonetavan

Web: http://boneta.ca

3)    House Guest

House Guest

The Poutine with Short Rib & Red Eye Ketchup

Price : $13

Cuisine: Eclectic, International

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Kayla Dhaliwall

Location: 332 Water Street, Vancouver

Twitter: @housexguest

Web: http://housexguest.com/

4)    Cactus Club

Cactus Club Cafe

Double Braised Pineapple Hoisin Short Rib – tender slow-braised boneless short rib, sweet pineapple glaze, marinated shiitake mushrooms, spicy Korean chili sauce, pomme puree, crispy sugar snap peas

Price: $ unknown

Cuisine: International

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Rob Feenie

Location: multiple

Twitter: @cactusclubcafe

Web: http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/

5)    The Pourhouse

The Pourhouse

Braised Short Rib –egg noodles

Price: $28

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: J-C Poirier

Location: 162 Water Street

Twitter: @pourhouse_van

Web: http://www.pourhousevancouver.com

6)    Federico’s Supper Club

Federico’s Supper Club

Brasato di Manzo - Slow cooked aged boneless beef short rib, red wine, root vegetables, fresh herb gremolata, tomato, served with gorgonzola polenta

Price: $ n/a

Cuisine: Italian

On the regular menu: No

Chefs: Romy Prasad

Location: 1728 Commercial Drive

Twitter: @FedericosClub

Web: http://www.federicossupperclub.com/

7)    Mahoney & Sons

Mahoney & Sons

Braised Short Rib Sliders –garlic aioli and crispy onions

Price: $13.95

Cuisine: Pub fare

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Paul Nguyen

Location: 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver Convention Centre) Vancouver

Twitter: @MahonyAndSons

Web: www.mahonyandsons.com

Blue Canoe Restaurant

Blue Canoe Restaurant

Cherry Braised Short Ribs with Cherries, Roasted beets, Brown butter mash

Price: $27

Cuisine: Seafood, Steak, Northwest

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Paul Haldane

Location: 140 – 3866 Bayview Street

Twitter: @bluecanoeresto

Web: http://www.bluecanoerestaurant.com

 9) CRU Restaurant

CRU Restaurant

Syrah-braised Beef Short Rib with macaroni and cheese

Price: $ unknown

Cuisine: North West

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Alana Peckham

Location: 1459 West Broadway, Vancouver

Twitter: @CRUrestaurant

Web: http://www.cru.ca

10)    St Augustines 

St. Augustines

Brown Ale Braised Shortrib –whipped potatoes, onion jus, watercress salad.

Price: $19

Cuisine: Pub Fare

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: unknown

Location: 2360 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Twitter: @StAugustinesVan

Web: http://staugustinesvancouver.com/

11)    The District 

The District

Slow Braised Beef Short Ribs –served with garlic and leek mashed potato and seasonal vegetables

Price: $22

Cuisine: International

On the regular menu: Yes

Chefs: Paul Mon-Kau

Location: 13 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver

Twitter: @districtsocial

Web: http://www.thedistrictsocial.com/

Feel free to add your comment here with your favourite Short Ribs dish in a Vancouver area restaurant and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak

You can’t judge the burger on its own, most of the time you will find fries on the side of your burger, hence this quest was not only about finding the best and most delicious beef burger it was about finding the best fries and my results are based on this combination of the burger and fries. There are many aspects of what makes a great burger, starting with the bun (was it home baked or from another bakery), the type of cheese, the sauce, the toppings and most of all the meat!

My Best Beef Burger quest was for the best ‘Premium’ or ‘Upmarket’ burger that is over $10, and not from chain restaurants with over 4 locations.

Note: The prices indicated exclude tax.

In ranking order, here are the Best Beef Burgers & Fries in Vancouver.

1)    The Oakwood – FIRST PLACE

The Oakwood

The Burger

House ground AAA Shoulder, crispy buttermilk fried onions, alfalfa sprouts,  smoked cheddar cheese, secret sauce, texture and flavour of the bun, perfectly done meat juicy and flavourful,  pickles, and tomato.

Everything is home made from the brioche bun to the buttermilk fried onion, to the pickles, and smoked cheddar

My take: This was the most unbelievable burger I had on this quest and one that I would repeatedly order in a flash. Every single ingredient here is a standout from the juicy meat, to the freshly baked poppy brioche bun, to the amazing fries and the home made ketchup.

Cost: $16

The Oakwood

2741 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-558-1965

Web: www.theoakwood.ca

Twitter: @theOakwoodKits

2) Stackhouse Burger Bar– SECOND PLACE

Stackhouse

Stackhouse Burger

6.5 oz local prime rib patty with pancetta, Portabellini, Guinness cheddar, chipotle aioli and butter lettuce served on a brioche bun with Russet potatoes fries and seasoned to perfection with fleur de sel.

My take: This is definitely the second best burger I had on this quest, Stackhouse specializes in burgers and this beef burger is one that stands out, the meat was perfectly cooked, the brioche buns are baked fresh, the portabellini and Guiness cheddar pack a punch that delivers a sensational taste.

Cost: $15

Stackhouse Burger Bar

1224 Granville Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-558-3499

Web: http://www.stackhouseburgerbar.com/

Twitter: @StackhouseBB

3)       Romers Burger Bar – THIRD PLACE

Romers

Man’s Man Burger

All-natural Heritage Farms range-fed Angus beef, Thick-sliced applewood bacon, local creamery amber ale cheddar, onion strings, smoked alder salts, vine-ripened tomato, whole grain mustard. Added a side of the Fresh-Cut Fries with truffle oil and regianno.

You can ‘Pimp Your Burger’ by adding savouries, marvelous mustards, different types of cheeses and more.

My take: Another place that specializes in burgers and this Man’s Man beef burger is another one that stands out, the meat was perfectly cooked, the brioche buns are baked fresh, the onion strings and Amber ale cheddar along with the smoked alder salts made for a mouth-watering experience.

Cost: $11 burger and $7 fries

Romers Burger Bar

1873 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-732-9545

Web: http://romersburgerbar.com/

Twitter: @romersburger

4)    Refuel – FOURTH PLACE

Refuel

The Burger

Ground chuck 28 day aged beef, smoked bacon, Stony Paradise farms Tomatoes, aged cheddar cheese, mayo, home made bun by their own bakery at Campagnolo. Hand cut fries blanched and fried.

My take: The beef is aged from 28-35 days and the flavour comes from the aging process, the burger is fried on the grill and the meat is juicy and delicious. The ingredients are superb and these sweet red tomatoes with the aged cheddar cheese pull it all together on their home-made bun.

Cost: $16

Refuel

1944 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Phone: 604-288-7905 ‎

Web: www.refuelrestaurant.com

Twitter: @refuel_bar

5) Au Petit Chavignol – FIFTH PLACE

Au Petit Chavignol

Cheese Burger

Ground AAA beef chuck, toasted bun from Island City Bakery  with Leerdammer cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickle, secret sauce, Dijon mustard, ketchup, homemade seasoning salt and frits.

My take: The meat was juicy and tender, but the combination of the Dutch Leerdammer cheese with the caramelized onions have made this burger. The Frites had a good crunch and very lightly salted.

Cost: $12 for burger, Add lettuce & Tomato +$1, Add caramelized onions+$1½

Au Petit Chavignol

845 East Hastings Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-255-4218

Web: www.aupetitchavignol.com

Twitter: @petitchavignol

6)    The District –SIXTH PLACE

The District

The No. 13 Burger

Tenderloin & Sirloin beef with tapenade & caramelized white onion mayo, cumin Gouda, secret sauces on a bun made by Fortuna bakery. Awesome fries with seasoning and a good tarragon tartar sauce on the side.

My take: this was a huge burger, the meat tasted good but fell apart too easily which made the burger difficult to eat.

Cost: $16

The District

13 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver

Tel: 778-338-4938

Web: http://www.thedistrictsocial.com

Twitter: @districtsocial

7)    Market by Jean-Georges – SEVENTH PLACE

Market by Jean-Georges

Truffle Burger

Two Angus beef burger patties topped with Brie cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, tasty pickles, truffle aioli on both sides of the bun, fries on the side with a light crunch, ketchup on the side.

My take: This was quite the heavenly rich burger with its 2 beef patties, brie cheese and truffle sauce, my only downside was that the fries could have been just that much better.

Cost: $18

Market by Jean-Georges

1115 Alberni Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-695-1115

Web: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/vancouver/shangrila

Twitter: @MARKETjg_Van

8)    The Teahouse – EIGHTH PLACE  

The Teahouse

Chefs Burger

Canadian Angus beef, aged applewood cheddar, bacon, balsamic braised portabelini, lettuce, tomato, Dijon remoulade, big kaiser bun made by Terra breads, with fries.

My take: The meat was perfectly done, moist and delicious, the balsamic braised portabellini and the aged applewood cheddar was a wonderful combination and the big Kaiser bun just added to the great burger. The fries were disappointing, they were thin and too salty for my liking.

Cost: $16

The Teahouse

Ferguson Point, Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver

Tel: 604-669-3281

Web: http://www.vancouverdine.com/teahouse

Twitter: @The_Teahouse

9)    Beachside Forno – NINTH PLACE

Beachside Forno

House-Made Wagyu Beef Burger, caramelized onions, pancetta, white cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes on a house-made milk bun and house-cut fries and ketchup on the side.

My take: The type of beef used while being top notch wasn’t moist and flavourful like the others relying on the caramelized onions and cheddar to lift it to the next level.

Cost: $16

Beachside Forno

1362 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Tel: 604-926-3332

Web: http://www.beachsideforno.com/

Twitter: @Beachside_Forno

10) Gerard Lounge — TENTH PLACE

Gerard

Beef Sirloin Burger

Canadian Angus beef, white cheddar, bacon, mushrooms, Portuguese bun, horseradish aioli & red pepper relish

My take: Although huge in appearance that didn’t make up for the overall taste of the burger. The meat was a little too dry, and the bun would have been so much better had it been a Kaiser or Brioche.

Cost: $17

Gerard Lounge

845 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604.682.5511

Web: http://www.vancouver.suttonplace.com/restaurant/Lounge_Menu.htm

Note: I know there are more restaurants around the Vancouver area that have Burgers & Fries and I was unable to get to all of them on this quest.

Which Beef Burgers & Fries are your favourite from a restaurant around Vancouver or in the suburbs?

Feel free to add your comment here and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak

The restaurants for the best fish & chips in Vancouver are the ones that have been making this dish for quite some time. There are so many variables that come into play with fish & chips around the city and I have done my best to outline those for you. Some will wrap your take-out in eco containers or newspaper, others will serve it to you on a plate and presentation does count too. Most serve salmon, halibut and cod, some serve coleslaw as an accompaniment with the dish, most serve tartar and all of them will tell you they have the best chips in the city.

So where and how do I begin, over the past 4 weeks I have ate my way through a multitude of dishes all over  Vancouver, Richmond and West Vancouver to the places that either were faved by readers alike or were on my must visit list. I didn’t just taste the dish I ate the whole dish, if I didn’t finish the dish (there were a couple) it meant that I didn’t care for the dish.

You can’t just judge the fish or fries alone, there is a reason the dish is called Fish & Chips. On this quest I focussed on the Traditional British style although some have a bit of a Westcoast influence, since this is British Columbia after-all. I found battered fish that was made with either beer or soda in the batter, some of the fish was panko breaded, some were greasy, some of the places had the most delicious fries and some had no flavour, I had thick cut and regular sized and round, salted and unsalted, hand-cut and machine cut .

Note:  The prices indicated exclude tax.

In ranking order, these are my favourite Fish & Chips in and around Vancouver.

Note: The following first four places tied at 1st place as they were equally the Best.

(1) Fish Cafe (4 way tied for 1st place)

Fish Cafe

One the Plate: Fish & Chips – 2 large pieces of halibut, fries, tartar sauce and ketchup with lemon wedges.

The halibut was very good, the battered coating was golden in appearance and tasted really good.  The fries were perfectly done and tasted great, Tartar sauce was good and chunky. In the batter well it is a secret I am told.

Presentation: served on a newspaper type of paper on a frying pan

Ocean Wise: Yes

Served with: White and Malt Vinegar

$ 18.95 Halibut Fish & Chips

$ 14.95 Salmon Fish & Chips

Fish Café is located at 2053 West 41^st Avenue in Vancouver.

(2) Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House (4 way tied for 1st place)

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

On the Plate: Halibut & Chips : 1 piece of halibut, fries, tartar sauce and ketchup with lemon wedges.

The halibut was delicious, the battered coating was made with soda water, golden in appearance on the outside, crispy and tasted really good.  The fries were thickly cut, perfectly done and tasted great, the coleslaw was nice and light, tartar sauce was a tad too smooth for my liking though tasted good.

$24.95 Halibut & Chips

Presentation: served on a newspaper type of paper on a plate.

Served with: Malt Vinegar

Ocean Wise: Yes

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House is at 777 Thurlow Street in Vancouver.

(3) Coast Restaurant (4 way tied for 1st place)

Coast Restaurant

On the Plate: Fish & Chips – 1 piece of salmon, halibut and cod along with fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce and ketchup with a wrapped lemon to squeeze.

My favourite was the Salmon which was moist and flavourful, the battered coating was lightly salted, golden in appearance and tasted really good. Second favourite was the Halibut which was perfectly cooked and flavourful and lastly was the cod. The fries were perfectly done and tasted great, the coleslaw was also very good. Tartar sauce was good and chunky. Their batter is made with lager from Hells Gate and they also use a mix of all purpose and a light rice flour as the base for it.

$ 19.95     Halibut Fish & Chips

$ 18.95     Salmon Fish & Chips

$ 17.95     Cod Fish & Chips

Presentation: served on black and white checkered paper on a plate

Ocean Wise: Yes

Served with: White and Malt Vinegar

Coast Restaurant  is located 1054 Alberni Street in Vancouver

(4) Go Fish (4 way tied for 1st place)

Go Fish

On the Plate: 1 piece of halibut, fries, pacific rim coleslaw, tarragon tartar sauce and lemon wedge

I tried all of the fish options and my favourite was the Salmon which was moist and full of flavour on the inside, then the Halibut and lastly the cod. The battered coating is made with Red Truck Lager to give it a clean and delicious taste, golden brown in appearance, the coleslaw was the best that I have had anywhere and the tarragon tartar sauce was wonderous.

$13 Halibut Fish & Chips

$10 Salmon fish & chips

$9 Cod Fish & Chips

Presentation: served on a plate

Ocean Wise: Yes

Served with:  Malt Vinegar on request

Go Fish is located at 1521 West Broadway, in Vancouver.

(5) Raincity Grill   (2nd place)

Raincity Grill

In the Takeout Container: Halibut Fish & Chips – 2 pieces of halibut + 1 extra piece with fries and greens.

The halibut with a the battered coating which was made with Lighthouse Lager was lightly sea salted, golden in appearance and tasted really good. Served with fries that were a bit too salty (also with sea salt) and greens with eco wooden utensils.

$10  Halibut Fish & Chips

Presentation: Fully bio degradable containers and cutlery

Ocean Wise: Yes

Served with:  White & Malt Vinegar packages to go

Raincity Grill is located at 1193 Denman Street in Vancouver

(6) Dundarave Fish Market (3rd place)

Dundarave Fish Market

On the Plate: 1 piece of halibut, fries, sassy sesame coleslaw, round sand dollar fries, tartar sauce, baja sauce and lemon wedge

The halibut was moist on the inside with a really good battered coating that is made with soda and a secret recipe, golden brown in appearance, the sand dollar fries were thin and not greasy, lightly seasoned, the sassy sesame coleslaw was very good, the two sauces worked well from the classic tartar sauce to the baja sauce.

$14.95 Halibut Fish & Chips

Presentation: served on a large oval plate

Ocean Wise: n/a

Served with:  White & Malt Vinegar

Dundarave Fish Market is located at 2423 Marine Drive in West Vancouver.

(7) Dockside Restaurant (4th place)

Dockside Restaurant

Fish & Chips – 2 large pieces of halibut, fries, sweet and sour tartar sauce, and ketchup

The halibut was very good, the battered coating was golden in appearance and tasted really good.  The fish was a bit too greasy. The fries were perfectly done and tasted great, Tartar sauce was good and chunky.

$16 Pilsner Battered Halibut Fish & Chips

Presentation: fish and condiments served on a plate, fries served in a bowl

Ocean Wise: Yes

Served with:  Malt Vinegar on the table

Dockside is located at 1253 Johnston Street (Granville Island) in Vancouver.

(8) Pajo’s Fish & Chips (5th place)

Pajos Fish & Chips

Fish & Chips – 1 piece of salmon, halibut and cod along with fries.

tartar sauce and ketchup

Favourite was the Halibut which was moist and flavourful, the battered coating golden in appearance and tasted really good. Second favourite was the Salmon which was perfectly cooked and lastly was the cod. The handcut  fries looked ok but had no flavour, made with no salt.

$14.99     Fish & Chips with 1 piece of Halibut, Salmon and Cod

$1.59         Coleslaw – chopped up served as a side dish

Presentation: served in a paper cone.

Ocean Wise: No

Served with:  White & Malt Vinegar on the table

Pajo’s at the Wharf, Steveston 604-272-1588

Pajo’s at Garry Point, Steveston 604-204-0767

Pajo’s at Rocky Point, Port Moody 604-469-2289

Pajo’s at Gates Park, Port Coquitlam 604-461-5527

(9) Fresh Local Wild (6th place)

Fresh Local Wild

Fish & Chips – 2 large pieces of salmon, fries, tartar sauce

The salmon was very good, the light tempura  coating was very light in appearance and tasted really good.  The fries were awesome and tasted great, Tartar sauce was good

$12 for Salmon Fish & Chips

Presentation: fish and fries served in plastic basket with tartar sauce dolloped on top.

Ocean Wise: Yes

Fresh Local Wild is a Food Truck located at the corner of Hastings and Burrard most of the time. Follow them on Twitter @freshlocalwild for hours.

(10) The Fish House   (7th place)

Fish House

Fish & Chips – 2  pieces of Haddock, fries, tartar sauce

The haddock was not too my liking, the batter coating was crispy and made with the Red Truck Ale, was golden in appearance and tasted really good.  The fries weren’t all that tasty, Tartar sauce with Old Bay was good.

$17.95 for Fresh Haddock Fish and Chips

Presentation: fish and condiments served on a plate, fries served in a bowl

Ocean Wise: Yes

The Fish House is located at 8901 Stanley Park Drive in Vancouver.

Note: I know there are more restaurants around the Vancouver area that have Fish & Chips and I was unable to get to all of them on this quest.

Which Fish & Chips are your favourite from a restaurant around Vancouver or in the suburbs?

Feel free to add your comment here and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak

In January I began a Meatball quest to find the best meatballs in Vancouver, this was a task that seemed impossible to conquer, I quickly discovered that aside from all the Italian restaurants that had meatballs on their menus, the Greek restaurants had them too, as did many of the Asian eateries and this quest was going to take me years to finish. I decided to limit my quest to finding the best classic traditional meatball that fell in between Italy, Greece and Spain. I then discovered that each of the restaurants meatballs weren’t only made with beef, some were made with pork or lamb and some were made with beef, pork and lamb, how on earth was I going to be fair to finding the best meatballs in Vancouver.

Note: You may not agree with my opinion as my taste may not be your taste. The prices indicated exclude tax and were for one Meatballs dish. I only visited places in Vancouver, I did not venture into the suburbs on this quest.

Here are 4 of my favourite meatballs Mediterranean style, in no particular order:

1)    Italian Kitchen - Spicy Kobe Meatballs – $10.50

Italian Kitchen

Style: Italian

Location: 1037 Alberni Street

Beef meatballs (3 balls on plate) perfect dense texture, fresh tomato sauce made with roma tomatoes and roasted garlic, chilli and cracked black pepper, slice of grada padano cheese on top of each meatball.

2)    NU Restaurant — Keftedes Lamb Meatballs – $9.50

NU Restaurant

Style: Greek

Location: 1661 Granville Street

Keftedes lamb meatballs (3 balls in the dish), tomato sauce, dried olives, chive oil $9.50  tasty, melted in my mouth, tender with a wonderful tomato sauce. 3 balls in a rich tomato sauce.

3) Judas Goat – Beef Brisket Meatballs – $6

Judas Goat

Style: Spanish

Location: 27 Blood Alley

Beef Brisket Meatballs (4 balls on the plate) with Rustic tomato sauce, topped with grated ricotta cheese. Outstanding and well presented.

4)    Q4 al Centro — Polpette al Centro – $12

Q4 al Centro

Style: Italian

Location: 780 Richards Street

House made meatballs (3 balls on the plate), smoked caciocavallo, marsala basil pomodoro ragout, tuscan crostini. Delicious, rich, smothered in sauce.

Which restaurants Meatballs are your favourite from a restaurant around Vancouver or in the suburbs?

Feel free to add your comment here and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak

Here are 8 of my favourite desserts, in no particular order:

1)    Lindt Single Farm Chocolate & Soil -created by Chef Hamid  Salimian

Lindt Single Farm Chocolate & Soil

What looks like soil in a ceramic flower pot, is an outstanding surprise for your tastebuds, chocolate that has a slight salty meets sweet is very unique dessert created by the chef.

The Apron Restaurant

3099 Corvette Way, Richmond

Tel: 604-303-6565

2)    Lemon Merengue Pie -created by Chef Michael Deutsch

Lemon Merengue Pie

This pie is a deconstructed version of a Lemon Merengue Pie that is nothing like you thought it would be!

Fleuri Restaurant

845 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-642-2900

3)    Marzipan Layer Cake – Created by Chef Jean-Georges

Marzipan Layer Cake

After eating one piece of this delicious cake with mixed glazed berries, and sour cherry sorbet, I was craving another, if you love Marzipan you will love this dessert.

Market by Jean-Georges

1128 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-689-1120

4) Shattered Baklava -created by Chef Hamid Saliliman

Shattered Baklava

A Persian dessert, broken down baklava saffron pistachio ice cream, cardamom dates, rosewater honey. One of a kind dessert!

The Apron Restaurant

3099 Corvette Way, Richmond

Tel: 604-303-6565

5)    Matcha Layer Cake -created by Chef Arthur Chen

Matcha Layer Cake

Matcha cream layered between a delicate white cake and its addicting!

Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge

1038 Canada Place, Vancouver

Tel: 604- 695-5502

6)   Bounet

Bounet

A traditional Piemontese pudding made with amaretti and cocoa that is exquisite.

The Bibo Italian Restaurant

1835 West 4^th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-6177

7)    Walnut Cake with Carrot Sorbet -created by Chef Jennifer Peters

Walnut Cake with Carrot Sorbet

Savoury meets sweet, heavenly and left my palate in delight.

Raincity Grill

1193 Denman Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-685-7337

8)    Souffle Cheesecake -created by Chef Akiko Gonnami

Souffle Cheesecake

Strawberry-shiso compote, crystallized shiso leaf both rich and light.

Hapa Umi

110-909 West Cordova Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-420-4272

By: Richard Wolak

Note: You may not agree with my opinion as my taste may not be your taste. The prices indicated exclude tax and were for one Mac & Cheese dish. I only visited places in Vancouver, I did not venture into the suburbs on this quest.

In ranking order, these are my favourite Mac & Cheese dishes around Vancouver.

1)    Coast Restaurant  - 1054 Alberni Street – $16

Lobster Mac & Cheese

Type of Noodles: elbow macaroni

Very good Lobster Mac & Cheese, creamy, cheesy with lots of lobster pieces, good flavour & rich! Made with Gruyere, blue cheese, sharp cheddar and parmesan with a Bechamel sauce that had a little garlic and shallots. Nicely presented in an All-Clad steel dish! This was the very best I had out of all of the Mac & Cheese dishes I tried, and the price was affordable based on the type of ingredients in the dish.

COAST RESTAURANT

2)              100 Days – 350 Davie Street – $22

Lobster Mac & Cheese with Hennessey bisque

Type of Noodles: elbow macaroni

Big chunks of lobster in this dish making this one super rich and tasty. The Hennessey bisque made this dish, it was absolutely delicious and was a fine meal that came with some greens and garlic toast.

100 Days

3)    Hamilton Street Grill – 1009 Hamilton Street – $13

Mac & Cheese topped with house made Strip Loin Beef hot dog, served with 2 slices of garlic toast

Type of Noodles: cavatappi

Large dish made with gorgonzola, Sardo parmesan, and white cheddar on top. The rich and delicious sauce was made with cream, roasted garlic, splash of Tabasco, leeks and shallots. The Strip loin beef hot dog is seasoned with mustard powder and paprika. Pricewise this Mac & Cheese is value and it is a meal for a great price.

HAMILTON STREET GRILL

4)    Yew Restaurant (in Four Seasons Hotel)  - 791 West Georgia Street – $18

Truffle Mac & Cheese

Type of Noodles: casareccia

Elegantly presented in a ceramic bowl this dish was made with Farmhouse Cheddar and Black Truffle. The Béchamel sauce is made with milk (not cream) made very creamy, good and rich taste, topped with shaved truffle mushrooms.

YEW RESTAURANT

5)       Au Petit Chavignol – 843 East Hastings Street – $9

Classic Four Cheese Macaroni

Type of Noodles: elbow macaroni

This dish was made with Gruyere, white cheddar, orange cheddar, stilton. Loaded with cheese, the orange cheddar on top was a nice touch though was not melted enough breadcrumbs were on top of the cheese, but the Stilton cheese was overpowering in taste which overdid my palate.

AU PETIT CHAVIGNOL

6)    Acme Cafe – 51 West Hastings Street – $8

Mac & Cheese served with greens

Type of Noodles: elbow macaroni

Served as a meal this dish was made with a creamy béchamel sauce, topped with cheddar cheese and bread crumbs, baked in white ceramic dish and nicely lightly browned, however I couldn’t taste the breadcrumbs topping.

ACME CAFE

7)       Burgoo Bistro – 3096 Main Street   –  $10

Mac & Cheese

Type of noodles: elbow macaroni

Loaded with aged white cheddar, baked golden brown. This Mac & Cheese was pretty good, gooey, and cheesy goodness. The waiter offered me ketchup, hot sauce and pepper for my mac & cheese and I was a bit puzzled and declined as I wanted to try the Mac and Cheese as they prepared it.

BURGOO BISTRO

8)       Society – 1257 Hamilton Street –  $15.50

Baked Truffled Mac & Cheese

Type of Noodles: elbow macaroni

Made with Winter truffles and parmesan gratin, this dish was tasty, not over powering with the truffle, the size of the dish makes it easy not to over eat and it is not too rich this way. Nice presentation with little black skillet and served with a slice of garlic toast and greens, however the price was a little too high for this type of dish.

SOCIETY

9)   Crave on Main – 3941 Main Street –  $14

Aged Cheddar Cheese & Macaroni Gratin

Type of Noodles: penne

This dish was topped with a crumbly bread crumb mixture and sundried tomatoes and did not have much flavour. It had a creamy, cheesy sauce, however the whole dish had a bland flavour overall. It’s over priced in comparison to other Mac & Cheese dishes I had around the city.

CRAVE ON MAIN

10)     Whole Foods – 510 West 8^th Avenue – $5.50

Mac & Cheese

Type of Noodles: elbow macaroni

Their Mac & Cheese is on offer most days and it is on their hot buffet bar and is sold by weight. I scooped a portion on to the plate and this was tasty, rich and cheesy, however there was too much butter and when heated in the microwave it is was too oily.

WHOLE FOODS

Do you have a favourite Mac & Cheese from a restaurant around Vancouver or in the suburbs?

Feel free to add your comment here and name the place and their location, the cost of each excluding tax and why you think they are the best!

By: Richard Wolak