Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Instead, you'll get well-made classics such as beef and turkey patties with cheese and
bacon toppings.
The fries are of the fresh-made, plate-heaped variety and this is the place to indulge
in that naughtily calorific ice-cream-packed coffee mocha shake you've been dreaming
about.
LA CIGALE FRENCH BISTRO
FRENCH
$$
( 604-732-0004;
www.lacigalebistro.ca
; 1961 W 4th Ave; mains $15-27; 11:30am-2:30pm
Tue-Fri, 5-11pm Tue-Sun, 10:30am-2:30pm Sat & Sun; 4)
A charming, snob-free neighbor-
hood bistro with a casual contemporary feel. The menu here combines traditional
French recipes with seasonal local ingredients and simple, flavor-revealing prepar-
ations. Expect hearty nosh such as pork tenderloin in mustard sauce and velvet-soft
lamb shank. The best way to go, though, is the three-course Sunday to Thursday $30
prix-fixe special.
There's a small but well-curated French wine list, but if you want to bring your own
bottle, they waive the usual corkage fee on Tuesdays.
ZAKKUSHI
JAPANESE
$$
(
www.zakkushi.com
;
1833 W 4th Ave; tapas $4-8; 5:30pm-1am; 4)
Dive into a retro-feel
izakaya
(Japanese neighborhood pub) at this wood-cocooned hole-in-the-wall. Stay for
a few hours and you'll be so immersed in your Tokyo fantasy that stumbling back onto
West 4th with be decidedly discombobulating. The main approach here is to order an
array of grilled yakitori sticks, from chicken thigh to duck breast, and a jug of ice-cold
Sapporo.
Asahi Black, plus a good array of sake and shochu-based cocktails, is also available
for more discerning quaffers.
SOPHIE'S COSMIC CAFÉ
DINER
$$
(
www.sophiescosmiccafe.com
;
2095 W 4th Ave; mains $9-16; 8am-2:30pm Mon, 8am-8pm
Tue-Sun; ; 4)
Slide between the oversized knife and fork flanking the entrance and
step into one of Vancouver's favorite retro-look diners, with a cornucopia of kitsch lin-
ing the walls. Burgers and big-ass milkshakes dominate the menu, but breakfast is the
