VANCOUVER - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 110

On the northern edge of Chinatown is the Ovaltine Café (251 E. Hastings St., 604/
685-7021, 6am-midnight daily, $5-9), easily spotted by the classic neon sign hanging out
front. This classic diner has been serving up cheap chow for over 50 years.
ROBSON STREET
Linking downtown to the West End, Robson Street holds the city's largest concentration of
eateries, ranging from Joe Fortes, one of Vancouver's finest seafood restaurants, to a bunch
of Starbucks outlets.
Cafés and Coffeehouses
It's been said that Vancouver is addicted to coffee, and walking along Robson Street, it
would be hard to disagree. The street harbors multiple outlets of the main coffeehouse
chains, including six Starbucks (of 100 citywide) and four of the city's 20-plus Blenz out-
lets.
Breka Downtown (812 Bute St., 604/620-8200) is half a block off busy Robson Street.
It's open 24 hours a day and is always busy—so much so that patrons often need to take
a number and wait for service. The coffee is great, as are the freshly baked muffins and
European-style breads. Salads and healthy sandwiches are also available.
East Indian
A Taste of India (1282 Robson St., 604/682-3894, 11am-midnight daily, $16-26) stands
out along this strip of fashionable boutiques and trendy cafés. The decor—complete with
plastic flowers—is nothing to write home about, but this restaurant is worth visiting for its
wide selection of traditional East Indian dishes at reasonable prices.
French
Generally regarded as one of Vancouver's best restaurants, M Le Gavroche (1616 Alberni
St., 604/685-3924, 11:30am-3pm Mon.-Fri., from 5:30pm daily, $20-36) seamlessly blends
West Coast ingredients with modern French cooking styles. Ensconced in a century-old
home, tables are spread through the second floor, with some spilling onto a terrace. Pacific
salmon tartare is a delicious way to start, after which you can order mains such as venison
with a side of rhubarb salad and locally harvested vegetables. The wine list is one of the
most thoughtful in Vancouver.