Vancouver is known for its extremely diverse and competitive restaurant industry so it wasn’t an easy task to pinpoint some of the best new Vancouver restaurants of 2013.
Our starting point was taking the two that were honoured in the top 10 best restaurants in Canada. After narrowing down our list, we quickly noticed that Chinatown, Railtown and Main Street are in fact major up-and-coming restaurant hubs – the character that some of the below places have is unbelievable. Without further ado, in alphabetical order, we highlight some of the ones we noticed that have been able to make an immediate splash into Vancouver’s electrifying restaurant scene.
Ask for Luigi
Opening just a couple months ago, Ask for Luigi has made instant waves with its tasty Italian menu nestled in our adored Railtown area. It is run by the same folks from Pour House and brings forward an experienced and well-known front and back of house staff.
Address: 305 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-428-2544
Hours:
Lunch: Wednesday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: Wednesday – Sunday, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. (open until 11 a.m. on Friday & Saturday)
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Website: www.askforluigi.com
Bestie
This Chinatown gem came about thanks to Indiegogo as they smashed their initial goal of $10,000. We paid them a visit in the summer after their June launch and got to know the owners Clint and Dane. Make sure to utilize the pickup window late-night on weekends and go anytime to enjoy the best German sausage, pretzel and beer around.
Address: 105 East Pender Street, Vancouver
Phone Number:
604-620-1175
Hours:
Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight
Website: www.bestie.ca
Bambudda
Bambudda is the latest addition to the fast emerging Powell Street hub. After their July opening, which we had a chance to visit, they’ve been doing some great things for Gastown’s culinary scene. They describe themselves as offering contemporary Chinese with dim sum, Asian tapas and an innovative cocktail list.
Address: 99 Powell Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-428-0301
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to midnight
Website: www.bambudda.ca
Cuchillo
Cuchillo, follows up Bambudda as another amazing new 2013 opening along Powell Street. Cuchillo serves up Modern Pan-Latin tapas with unique and classic cocktail creations in what they call the sexiest room in town – take a look yourself to see if you agree!
Address: 261 Powell Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-559-7585
Hours:
Sunday – Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight
Website: www.cuchillo.ca
Good Wolfe
Good Wolfe was opened by Richard Goodine and Josh Wolfe and packs a healthy portion of personality with a fun wall of wine at back of the restaurant to accompany the lighthearted owners and staff. They focus on comfort food and a vast range of wines and a bistro inspired menu. The plates are creative without being fussy and the flavours vibrant. A nice bonus is the home-baked baguettes served in a miniature bucket – don’t miss out.
Address: 1043 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-428-1043
Hours:
Lunch/Brunch: Wednesday – Sunday, 11 a.m.
Dinner: Tuesday – Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight
Website: www.goodwolfe.ca
Mamie Taylor’s
Mamie Taylor’s is perhaps one of the most buzzed about new establishments within the restaurant industry. They are another reason why Chinatown is getting revitalized into Vancouver’s gastronomic go-to area. Besides its innovative comfort food, it has an edgy interior and a trio of experienced owners that don’t take themselves too seriously. They recently opened up a back room for intimate gatherings and are starting to get some hype for their new years eve plans.
Address: 251 East Georgia Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-620-8818
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight
Website: www.mamietaylors.ca
Miku
Miku is the sister restaurant to the gorgeous Minami restaurant in Yaletown. It rests in Coal Harbour with a beautiful view and offers a full bar and lounge area, waterfront patio, private dining room and full service sushi bar.
Executive Corporate Chef Kazuya Matsuoka and Executive Chef Kazuhiro Hayashi take advantage of fresh, regional ingredients as well as Ocean Wise seafood options to showcase the best of what Vancouver has to offer. Traditional Japanese flavours and techniques are combined with local, west coast elements to create an unparalleled dining experience.
Address: 70-200 Granville Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-568-3900
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Website: www.mikurestaurant.com
Pidgin
No one stormed onto the Vancouver restaurant scene quite as loudly as our friends over at Pidgin as they opened their doors in early 2013. It has been a roller coaster ride in their stardom as they managed to get 5th best new restaurant in Canada all while fending off anti-gentrification protestors for half of the year. This French and Japanese fusion restaurant makes the perfect spot for taking out a client, date or celebrating a birthday as many of the plates are shareable and it has a gorgeous decor.
Address: 350 Carrall Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-620-9400
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight (opens at 6 p.m. on Sunday)
Website: www.pidginvancouver.com
The Acorn
The Acorn joins Pidgin as one of the top 10 restaurants in Canada, and with good reason, this place has it all. Firstly, it turns the normal vegetarian restaurant concept on its head by offering dishes that any meat lover will drool over. Besides its stellar menu it has a beautiful interior and is open late every night and offers a special cocktail list after 10 p.m. If you want to impress anyone and indulge in some of the most beautiful dishes in Vancouver then look no further than The Acorn.
Address: 3995 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-566-9001
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday/Saturday open until 2 a.m.
Sunday open until midnight
Website: www.theacornrestaurant.ca
The Emerald
The Emerald gives Chinatown the crown for most up-and-coming area as they are the third restaurant to make our list of best new Vancouver restaurants of 2013. This location brings some Vegas to Vancouver with a stunning decor of faux-crystal chandeliers, themed rooms, an old fashioned martini cart and 5000 square feet to lose yourself in. The venue was brought to fruition by David Duprey and Rachel Zottenberg, the masterminds behind The Rumpus Room, The Rickshaw Theatre and the hidden Narrow Bar. If you want to get an idea of what it was like to be living in the ’60s listening to Sinatra and sipping on your prawn cocktail, you can now experience it in your backyard. Oh, and did we mention there is an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. all weekend?
Address: 555 Gore Street, Vancouver
Phone Number: 604-559-8477
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight*
*Saturday/Sundays there is brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Website: www.the-emerald.ca
For more access to the best restaurants in Vancouver, meet your new pocket concierge on www.tangoo.ca
Feature image: Miku Restaurant
Photo credits: Maryinvancity.com, Vancouvercourier.com, discoverkiosk.com
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