Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 604-673-7000;
www.hawksworthrestaurant.com
;
801 W Georgia St; mains $29-39;
6:30am-11pm Mon-Fri, 7am-11pm Sat & Sun; Vancouver City Centre)
Vancouver's current 'it'
restaurant is the chic, fine-dining anchor of the top-end Rosewood Hotel Georgia. But
unlike most hotel restaurants, this one has a starry-eyed local following. Created by and
named after one of the city's top local chefs, the menu fuses contemporary West Coast
approaches with clever international influences, hence dishes such as soy-roasted stur-
geon. The seasonal tasting menu is also heartily recommended. This is the city's best
restaurant for a special night out; reservations are recommended.
CHAMBAR
EUROPEAN
$$$
( 604-879-7119;
www.chambar.com
;
562 Beatty St; mains $23-33; 5pm-midnight;
Stadium-Chinatown)
This candlelit, brick-lined cave is a great place for a romantic night
out. The sophisticated Belgian-esque menu includes perfectly delectable
moules et
frites
(mussels and fries) and a braised lamb shank with figs that's a local dining le-
gend. An impressive wine and cocktail list (try a blue fig martini) is also coupled with a
great Belgian beer menu dripping with tripels and lambics.
Also consider dropping by just to hang out in the restaurant's front-room bar: grab a
perch and work your merry way down the drinks list.
LE CROCODILE
FRENCH
$$$
( 604-669-4298;
www.lecrocodilerestaurant.com
; 909 Burrard St; mains $26-42;
11:30am-2:30pm Mon-Fri, 5:30-10pm Mon-Thu, 5:30-10:30pm Fri & Sat; 2)
Tucked along a
side street (enter from Smithe) in an unassuming building that resembles a cast-off
from a shopping mall, this excellent Parisian-style dining room is right up there with
the city's top-end best. Instead of focusing on experimental shenanigans that only
please the chefs, it's perfected a menu of classic French dishes, each prepared with con-
summate cooking skill and served by perfect, snob-free wait staff.
Try the sumptuous, slow-braised lamb shank, washed down with a smashing bottle
from the mother country, or treat yourself to the five-course chef's tasting menu ($75).
