Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
single meal), while lunches include good-value grilled sandwiches and heaping fish and
chips.
Avoid the peak weekend breakfast period ; the place can be packed and finding a seat
(even at the counter) can be hard. Weekdays you'll have the pick of the perches. This is
the ideal spot to fill your belly and then walk it off with a wander around the neighbor-
hood.
SEA MONSTR SUSHI
JAPANESE
$$
(
www.seamonstrsushi.com
;
55 Powell St; mains $7-15; 11:30am-10pm Mon-Fri, 2-10pm Sat;
4)
This tiny Powell St spot comes with an almost equally diminutive menu. But despite
its hipster popularity and cool exposed-brick room, there's no edge. This place would
be right at home in a Tokyo back street. It's seriously committed to fresh, perfectly pre-
pared sushi, and the under-$15 combos are a good deal.
Take a seat at the counter and watch the sushi masters at work. Don't expect bulging-
but-boring California rolls: it's all about quality over quantity.
L'ABBATOIR
FRENCH
$$$
( 604-568-1701;
www.labbatoir.ca
; 217 Carrall St; mains $26-45; 5:30pm-midnight; 4)
Gastown's most romantic top-end restaurant, this candlelit, brick-lined spot makes an
art of attending to every detail. Be careful not to fill up on the warm bread before you
tuck into a menu of French-influenced West Coast dishes. We recommend the roast
scallops and pork belly. Reservations advised: ask for a table in the window-walled
back room.
Whatever you end up eating, save some room for a perfect cocktail. The restaurant
also encourages you to bring your own wine (one bottle per table; corkage costs $30).
WILDEBEEST
WEST COAST
$$$
(
www.wildebeest.ca
; 120 W Hastings St; mains $13-42; 5pm-midnight Tue-Sun; 14)
This
moodlit, bi-level joint is a carnivore's dream dinner destination. In fact, they eat veget-
arians here (just kidding; there are choices for you here, too). Find a table among the
chattering classes - or better still at the communal long table down stairs - and tuck in-
to short ribs, pork jowl or the juiciest roast chicken you'll ever eat.
