Kingston Taphouse and Grille

755 Richards Street
604-681-7011

Atmosphere - This cavernous restaurant just outside of Yaletown consists of several different areas: the pub, dining room, oasis patio and the wreck room. Its is large and busy, but designed and decorated in a way to make it feel almost cozy. Also great place to catch 'the game' as it has several huge projection screens situated around the pub and dining room.

Service - The staff was very prompt and friendly and i don't remember the last time I had such great service. It was a Friday night and we wanted a table for six so we waited at the bar. The bar tenders were very friendly, funny and quick to get our drink and appetizer orders. We ate and chatted and were seated at our table in less than 20 minutes. The waitress was equally as attentive and friendly even as our group kept expanding as the night went on.

Food - We shared a few of the appetizers instead of a meal. We ordered the house calamari, ahi tuna spring rolls, edemame and Kingston kettle chips. The flavors of the ahi tuna, dipping sauce and crispy roll didn't go together well, but the calamari was just the way it should be served with tatziki dip that wasn't too garliky (I love garlic but it's nice to keep bad breath to a minimum when chatting with your neighbor all night). The edemame was fresh and tasty and served warm with sea salt. I liked that they made their own kettle chips - they were very crunchy and had a nice flavour. They were served with salsa and sour cream but thought i thought they would be better served with a different dip. The Kingston also has a great selection of beer and a long martini list to choose from.

Whom to take - Go with a friend(s) for a drink and appys after work or on the weekend.

Value for Money - Good. The food was okay but the service was impecable even on a very busy night.

Irish Heather

Atmosphere - The Irish Heather is an authentic looking pub located in Gastown. It has a casual feel with mismatched tables, benches and stools, brick walls and a cool enclosed patio in the back.

Service - The server was unhelpful and looked very bored, we barely had time to tell him our order before he walked away. They were out of the Harp Lager so he suggested another option, which was inaudible so I wasn't sure what I ended up ordering until it was brought to me.

Food - A North American take on English/Irish pub food with choices like bangers and mash curry chips (basically curry sauce dumped on fries) and pot pie. We ordered the mushroom strudel to start and then the Fish and Chips. The mushroom strudel was delicious and was served with a tasty cream sauce. The Fish and Chips were average but the coleslaw and tarter sauce added much needed zip.

Whom to take - Aside from the service I really loved this place and would definitely go back with a group of friends.

Value for money - Excellent. The food was tasty and the casual pub atmosphere was great on a Saturday afternoon.

Cafe il nido

780 Thurlow Street (hidden away)
604 685 6436

Atmosphere - Tucked away in a corner at Thurlow and Robson made it a little difficult to find but added to the relaxed charm and cozy ambience of this restaurant.

Service - We were greeted by the hostess as soon as we arrived, we had a reservation so we were seated right away. Because it was Valentine's day it was very busy, but the servers did their best to keep up though really only had enough time for basic service. It probably would have been a good idea to have another body on hand.

Food - The Valentine's Day Menu was quite varied and had lots to choose from. I ordered the Grilled Salmon with vegetables and salmon mousse. I thought it was a bit strange to have a cold salmon mousse on the same plate as the grilled salmon, and it turned out that it tasted a bit strange as well. Aside from that little issue, the salmon was done well, and it came with crispy vegetables and mashed potatoes, one of my favourites.

Whom to take - It ended up being a nice place to go on Valentine's Day, but it would also be a great place to take one's parents or out-of-town guests.

Value for Money - Good, the service was great for such a busy night and my food tasted delicious and was presented nicely.

Portobello Ristorante

2585 W. Broadway
604-734-0697

Atmosphere: Low lighting, Italian opera music, cozy but with enough space between tables. There is an open kitchen area so you can watch the chefs create your meal while they banter with the waiting staff. One of the chefs broke in to an a cappela version of O Sole Mio while we were waiting for our main course.

Service: The waiting staff are warm and friendly. Our waiter said to choose anything we wished as "everything would be perfect."

Food: I ordered the mussels in white wine sauce and the salmon pasta in cream sauce. The white wine sauce that the mussels were served in was fantastic, tangy and with a hint of lime. I found that the salmon filet was a little dry but the cream sauce was delicious, if not a litte too creamy. My date ordered the melon and prociutto appetizer, a traditionally Italian dish and the spaghetti bolognase. Both tasted just as they should.

Whom to take: Low lighting and ambiance make the perfect place to go on a date.

Value for Money: Good. A little pricey but worth it for the tasty food and great staff.

Aoki Sushi

1888 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC
V6J 1Y9

ph: 604 731 5577

Atmosphere: This lively Japanese restaurant is almost always busy but I haven't had to wait for longer than 15 minutes to get a table. When you walk in the door you are greeted with an automated greeting.

Service: The servers are very friendly and efficient and the sushi chef smiles and calls a greeting from behind the counter. The staff is always the same and seems to know the regular customers.

Food: The food is fresh and seems authentic. The menu is extensive with the sashimi, nigiri, Don, tempura and rolls to choose from some are very inventive like the Mediterranean roll featuring sundried tomato. It is located close to me so I go quite often. Last time we went i ordered the Tuna Tataki and the veggie gyoza. The Tuna Tataki comes with a tangy sauce on the side and the gyoza appears to be made in shop. Other favorites include the spicy tuna roll and Alaska roll.

Value for money: Good. Aoki is priced a bit higher than most other 'fast food' sushi places in Vancouver probably because they use better quality ingredients.

Whom to take: A great casual place to go with friends.