Good date restaurants in Vancouver, BC?

November 5, 2007 2:53 PM

Good date restaurants in Vancouver, BC?

Before I wow my girlfriend with a trip to see Swan Lake tomorrow, I'd like to wine and dine her at fine restaurant. We'll be downtown, and we'll eat anything but thai. Thanks in advance for the hot tips.

posted by radiocontrolled to food & drink (19 comments total)

There is a delightful Italian resturant in Gas Town, the name escapes me but the waterfront side in red brick I think shows from the cruise ship dock and is easy to spot.
posted by Freedomboy at 3:32 PM on November 5, 2007

In Gastown; Jules French Bistro, Boneta; hip (and relatively good value) small plates from the ex-Lumiere chef, Try Metro or Rare.

Scratch that, try Rare. Innovative ethical local cooking, executed well, the prixe fix is 65 bucks. Google for exact loaction,. it's acros sthe street from Umberto's.
posted by Keith Talent at 3:54 PM on November 5, 2007

Parkside (my favourite), Rain City Grill, Bacchus, Jules Bistro.
posted by timeistight at 3:56 PM on November 5, 2007

I randomly went to Cafe du Paris once and liked it quite a bit.
posted by jeffamaphone at 4:33 PM on November 5, 2007

I love Bin 941 . . . I've had a blast there with my wife, more on the bustling and hip end of the spectrum v. the quiet and romantic. But damn the food is good.
posted by donovan at 5:01 PM on November 5, 2007

Saltlik is a great steakhouse on Alberni.
Amarcord is Italian in Yaletown and has killer gnocchi.
There's a delightful little European-ish cafe on Denman called Central that's very quaint. It's got a small menu, but mostly quite tasty (avoid the lamb burger though) and they've got a good selection of martinis if that's your thing.
Chambar is supposed to be really good, but I've never been there personally.
posted by Nelsormensch at 5:31 PM on November 5, 2007

I loved Rain City Grill a few years ago (on my honeymoon)...
posted by mdiskin at 6:15 PM on November 5, 2007

Freedomboy's Italian restaurant in Gastown is Al Porto. Chambar is indeed great, plus it's not far from your theatre.

My wife, the restaurant expert, suggests Diva At The Met and Le Crocodile.
posted by timeistight at 6:50 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]

Avoid the Feenie's restaurants; I was reading in the paper that he's left them over a dispute with his business partners and the food is suffering as a result.
posted by heeeraldo at 7:19 PM on November 5, 2007

Avoid the Feenie's restaurants

That would be Feenie's and Lumiere
posted by Neiltupper at 8:37 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]

Bishop's (West coast contemporary) is haut cuisine. I have had several excellent meals there.
posted by Neiltupper at 8:42 PM on November 5, 2007

Chambar is supposed to be really good, but I've never been there personally.

Had dinner at Chambar last week. Spectacular. Very stylish interior, but warm and comfortable, and the food's magnificently artfully rendered Belgian comfort food. If you're a let's-share-the-moules-et-frites kind of couple, it might be your ticket. Make a reservation.
posted by gompa at 8:56 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]

Nthing Rain City Grill. They have a refreshing policy of trying to buy locally produced ingredients as much as possible, also. Their Hundred Mile Tasting Menu isn't cheap but is well worth it. (If you really want to go all-out, do the wine accompaniment!)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:01 PM on November 5, 2007

I'll second Bin 941 - been there twice and loved it both times.
posted by gecko12 at 9:24 PM on November 5, 2007

Went to Goldfish in Yaletown a few weeks ago. Loved it.

My sister is raving about Connor Butler.
posted by acoutu at 9:50 PM on November 5, 2007 [1 favorite]

I had a good dinner at Five Sails in the Pan Pacific Hotel two and a half years ago.
posted by brujita at 10:23 PM on November 5, 2007

Chambar is the way to go. Beautiful food, beautiful room. Stumbling distance to the theatre.

Boneta is nice too, but a bit further from the theatre, as are most of the other really great suggestions here.
posted by miles1972 at 12:16 AM on November 6, 2007

Adding my votes for Rain City, Bin 941 and Chambar.
posted by rokusan at 4:06 AM on November 6, 2007 [1 favorite]

Bishops is always reliable, Le Crocodile is excellent
posted by arcticseal at 5:56 AM on November 6, 2007