The Ivy on Parker Guest House

Although there may be a number of Italian-leaning restaurants and pizza spots scattered around Vancouver, this simple pastificio invites diners to pull up a chair and savor authentic, well-prepared dishes. They have bistro charm down pat, with black-and-white tiled flooring, a chalkboard emblazoned with the daily specials and a window onto an open kitchen. Consider the specials, then peek into the pasta rolling station and watch as your meal is made. The kitchen's singular devotion to the craft of pasta-making is evident in dishes of studied simplicity, like a single spiraled raviolo with a cr

Chef Patrick Hennessy spent time at many top spots, including Eleven Madison Park in New York, but he is clearly at home at Barbara. The kitchen feels like a stage, with guests perched at the L-shaped bar watching with bated breath as he performs culinary magic. Should you wonder where each item hails from, Chef Hennessy is happy to oblige (hint: it's local and sustainable), but most are focused on the here and now thanks to his refined techniques and sensational flavors. Oysters with local Northern Divine caviar are impeccable; crisply fried slices of Japanese eggplant with local honey and ch

Inspired by the jazz cafes of 1960s Tokyo, Kissa Tanto seduces with a moody vibe complete with white mosaic floors, antique Japanese panels and steely colored walls loaded with artwork and photos. This ambitious kitchen pulls no punches with its mingling of Japanese and Italian cuisine. The "omakase" menu pulls dishes from their à la carte offerings as well as a sprinkling of compelling off-menu items. The region's bounty is on full display in dishes such as roasted and fried celeriac served with onion and mushroom dashi. The cultural collision is best seen in dishes like the tajarin, hand-cut

Charm abounds at this beloved Québécois bistro. Sit close enough to Chef/owner Jean-Christophe Poirier's kitchen to experience the heady aromas of his refined yet indulgent French-Canadian cooking, featuring ethereal sauces and a characteristic use of sweetness. The fixed menu changes seasonally, but signature additions like oreilles de crisse (crispy pig ears tossed in maple syrup and spices) and a savory éclair filled with duck liver mousse, are well worth considering for those who desire an extra hit of richness. Otherwise, the meal begins with thoughtful canapés and proceeds to heartier

With this understated 14-seat Mount Pleasant counter, Chef Pete Ho has ushered in a new gold standard of yakitori to Vancouver. The multicourse omakase spans dishes like red crab chawanmushi with yuzu, or crispy, delicately fried tofu accented with sweet soy, but the centerpiece of the menu is meticulously prepared skewers of chicken grilled over binchotan coals. Combining specially sourced heritage breed birds, skillful butchery, masterful seasoning (including with a special tare maintained over decades) and brilliant use of the grill, the results are uncomplicated yet profound. From impeccab

This Mount Pleasant charmer straddles a corner of Main Street in an area rich with top spots, but Burdock & Co stands out with its rustic appeal and Chef Andrea Carlson's farm-to-table cooking. The concise menu highlights the best of the season. First, grilled sourdough, herb-flavored gougère and nori cornbread with aged sake kasu butter prove that this is not your average bread basket. Then, miniature Hazelmere radishes roasted with house-made shio koji deliver unexpected glee. Morels stuffed with halibut mousse resting beside delicate gnocchi in a green garlic sauce embody the fleeting beaut

In the heart of Chinatown, find one of the city’s most respected restaurants. Since 1985, this family-run institution has dazzled crowds with both Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes. The menu is massive, offering nearly 100 rice, noodle and soup preparations, but everyone knows to lean on the classics. You could almost make a meal out of #71, thin slivers of nearly-raw beef soaking in a tangy mix of pureed pineapple and fish sauce. It’s a deliciously original effort. Ordering a mound of golden-fried chicken wings coated in an addicting mix of salt, pepper and sugar is also a given. Beef luc lac w