The Urban Dweller put on his Armani suit and headed out on a night out in the town this past Saturday. With the weather cooling I decided to heat things up a bit, so I escorted a lovely lady to the fine dining establishment known as Le Crocodile. I’ve been here many times before mainly for business, however, this time it was for pleasure. Knowing that my lady friend had never been, I decided that she is worthy of this exquisite dining experience.

Years ago chef/owner Micheal Jacob wanted to raise the level of French cuisine in Vancouver. It is safe to say that for many years he has not only achieved but surpassed his original goal. Lets just say the reputation he has garnered in this city is well deserved.

I made the wise decision to make reservations as this place can get packed, especially on the weekends. My lady friend and I arrived promptly and were kindly shown to our seats. The service in Le Crocodile is always stupendous and this time was no different. The servers always go the extra mile to make sure everything is fine.

It is also a great place for people watching if that’s your thing and by people I mean lovely ladies. They are a plenty at this place. Nope, you won’t see any anarchists or punk wannabes in this elegant place, maybe at The Keg but not here. That just adds to the ambiance, very 007ish. Further, the place has a certain buzz, it’s not too loud and not too quiet, simply put the noise level was just right. The lighting too is fantastic, its not as darkly lit as some of the other fine dining restaurants in town.

All those amazing things aside, the main reason I continue to come back here is the food. On this particular night I ordered the filet de boeuf grillé, sauce au poivre, that translates to grilled beef tenderloin served with peppercorn sauce. It was simply delicious, as always the food was cooked just right. For the price of the meal (nearly $200 not including tip) it sure does not disappoint. For you wine connoisseurs there list is quite extensive. Moreover, at the end of your meal expect to see a little plate of desert and a little plate of chocolate crocodiles. Classy. My only gripe with the place is that it closes a bit too early for my liking (10pm on weeknights and 10:30 on Friday and Saturday) but hey I normally eat dinner at a normal time so it does not impact me. This is definitely one of the best places in the city for French cuisine. Bon Appétit.

Le Crocodile
100-909 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC

Food: A+
Atmosphere: A
Service: A+
Price: A
(photo courtesy of Le Crocodile)