Vancouver on Per Diem

So, I'm here in Vancouver working on a movie called Things We Lost In The Fire, starring Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro and David Duchovny. One of the great things about being on location is meeting new people and getting to eat at wonderful restaurants with your per diem (you gotta love per diem).

On this week's podcast, we are introduced to the editing crew: Pernille, Bruce, Shelly and Julia. In A Week of Lunches in Yaletown, we review lunch spots in Yaletown, a hip part of Vancouver, as well as some diner spots.

The Lunches:

Yaletown Brewing Co. - Your basic bar food place...but on a good day, it can be really nice. Unfortunately, it can be hit and miss. Two and a half Smacks

Hamilton Street Grill - Depending on what you get here, it can be pretty decent. Good burgers and very good yam fries can be had at this joint. But again, get the wrong thing and you'll be disappointed. Two and a half Smacks

Subeez Cafe - I liked this place. Nice atmosphere and good food. And Shelly really likes the coffee here. It's one of these "you can get anything" type of place. Three Smacks

Simply Thai - The best of the lunch places in Yaletown, in my opinion. Very good food, and not too expensive. The noodle dishes are excellent, as is the green curry. Three and a half Smacks



The Diners:


Cru - Small restaurant with excellent atmosphere. Two owners, the wife is the chef and the husband is the sommelier. I recommend sitting at the bar and ordering from the small plates menu. The food is to notch and they have a great wine by the glass menu that has color codes that match with their food dishes...that way you can pair your own wines. Three and a half Smacks

West - I have not gone here (it looks a little too California Cuisine to me). But Bruce and Pernille have both gone and loved it. Pernille has actually gone several times. She says the food is quite good, but the wines are too expensive. She gives it four smacks.

Vij's - So far, this is one of my favorites. A high end Indian restaurant, you pretty much can't go wrong here. They don't take reservations, so there is a wait for tables...but they have a wonderful bar and bring around free appetizers (I wish more restaurants did this). The best dish is the Lamb Popsicles (grilled rack of lamb in a creamy, curry sauce). It is to die for. I would definitely say this is a must go if you are visiting or living in Vancouver. Five Smacks


-JB