A 'new star' in Metro Vancouver's restaurant scene has opened — here's what to expect
A new restaurant has just opened in Port Moody, and it hopes to be the “new star” in the Tri-Cities dining scene.
Called Nova (named after the astronomical term for a new star), the restaurant offers what it calls a “premium dining experience without the pretension.” Here, guests will find an inviting dining room, lively lounge, and a pet-friendly patio, in addition to live music on select nights and rotating seasonal features.
“We don’t believe excellence should come with barriers,” said General Manager Prashant Pandhi. “Nova was created because Port Moody deserves a restaurant where guests can enjoy exceptional food and drinks without having to travel downtown. More importantly, we wanted to bring back the kind of hospitality where every guest feels genuinely welcomed and appreciated. That’s the experience we’re committed to creating every single day.”
In addition to Pandhi, the team consists of Head Chef Thomas Shorthouse (Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, Homer Street Cafe, and Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar), bar consultant Max Curzon-Price (recipient of the Michelin Guide Vancouver Exceptional Cocktail Award), and renowned wine consultant Kurtis Kolt.
At the heart of Nova’s menu is its 100 per cent Canadian Certified Angus Beef, selected for its rich marbling, depth of flavour, and tenderness, aged up to 45 days. You’ll find it in signature offerings, including Steak Frites (6oz beef sirloin, seasoned fries, arugula tomato salad, and cabernet jus), The Blue Cut (12oz blackened prime ribeye, whipped blue cheese butter, cabernet jus, charred broccolini, and crispy shallots), and the Black Truffle Sirloin (6oz grilled sirloin, truffle mac and cheese, and seasonal vegetables).
Nova Kitchen and Bar
Nova’s menu also offers plenty of West Coast-inspired seafood dishes such as Seafood Plateau (half dozen oysters, five poached prawns, tuna poke, marinated mussels, and a half-pound butter-poached lobster served with cocktail sauce, mignonette, lemon, and crackers), Yellowfin Tuna Crudo (Yellowfin tuna, mango aioli, citrus vinaigrette, and chili), and West Coast Spring Salmon (pan-roasted and served with warm herbed potato salad, peas, asparagus, bacon, and lemon-caper aioli).
Complementing the food offerings is a curated beverage program courtesy of Curzon-Price, who has developed a selection of signature cocktails, including the 5 O’Clock Somewhere (Suntory Toki, cherry blossom, cedar, and bitters), Silk Road (Tanqueray, ginger, yuzu, nigori sake, honey, cardamom, and egg white), and Golden Hour (Johnnie Walker Black Label, Suntory Toki, ice wine, bay leaf, beeswax-aged).
This is alongside Kolt’s curated wine program that highlights standout B.C. producers in addition to carefully selected international wines.
Nova Kitchen and Bar
As for why Port Moody for the restaurant, Nova shared that the area has increasingly been recognized as one of Metro Vancouver’s emerging culinary destinations, with the City issuing more than $259 million in building permits and nearly 3000 business licenses in 2024 alone.
“There is tremendous opportunity in Port Moody,” added Pandhi. “The community is growing, the energy is incredible, and we’re thrilled to offer a restaurant that reflects that momentum while becoming a place where people can gather, celebrate, and connect.”
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You can officially visit Nova as of today. Will you be checking out the new Port Moody restaurant? Let us know in the comments.
Nova Kitchen and Bar
Address:Â 101 Morrissey Rd., Port Moody
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