Andrew Morrison

They're the boys from Rare. Urban Diner has the details and a link to pics here and here. Their web address is http://metrodining.ca.

It's open, even though they don't "officially" open until the 1st. It's very, very good.

Good questions, Warren, although Metro isn't officially open. There are 24 new restaurants in the summer of 2007. It is unprecedented. Are there enough customers to go around? We'll see...

I enjoyed it tremendously, as did my kids, my wife, and my wallet. Gourmet is a magazine, and what do they know. If you have small children then The Little Nest is what you have been looking for in a restaurant since you gave birth.

First look at The Shore Club.

Opening News: The Shore Club and Torotatsu.

New restaurant going in next to Chambar.

I'd wager mostly foodies, but probably also a handful of panhandlers and property developers, too.

Not only that but they are also about to open another one in Park Royal across from Whole Foods and Artigiano. Don't know much about them except they already have a couple of locations but with the current labour market it's quite a logistical feat to go for openings so close together. They must have the pockets to finance but let's see if the head (corp.) chef can pull this off. ← Browns chef stuff: The expansion of the chainlet (Lonsdale, West Van, 4th, and Yaletown locations) has attracted some new talent. Just prior to the new year, owners Derek Archer and Scott Morrison hired chef Brian Orrange (formerly of Tdot’s Far Niente) and have just acquired banquet chef Danny Markowicz off waivers from Diva at the Met. The Vineyard location opens on Tuesday at 5pm.

Boneta coming to Gastown.

Yup. Nice steaks.

Not just any prawn, mind you, but BC Spot Prawns no less.

Phenomenal dinner there tonight. The whole spread. About 12 dishes all told and all excellent. Cate, for the record, they enjoyed plenty of pre-opening buzz. Much of their menu and talk of their concept/bio/raison et cetera has been floating around the local web ether for a couple of months now. Just five days in on a Tuesday tonight and they were already packed and performing.

Don't sweat it. Rejoice in the awesome gullet.

She is on leave.

Right. My bad.

I think Ocean 617 bought it.

It's called The Charlatan.

Plus they do a spice-less kids option.

There is a more industry-centric conversation going on over at Waiterforum. Unfortunately, Urban Diner is under repair today (hopefully back up tomorrow, techies permitting), but members can enter through this backdoor. From my owns travels and after reading the many WF comments over the last week, folks seem to be doing just fine. Cin Cin, fo example, did well over 300 last night, and dinner at West saw them looking to do 3 turns this past Wednesday with their last reso scheduled for 10:15pm. The few higher end places that aren't doing DOV have been packed, too. Tis the season for dining.

^ Ha!. Since people are in the mood for rolling epithets like "spoiled brats", let me be the first to say "Chicken!"

Why? Lemons are a controllable. It isn't insulting. It's business.

That's terribly unfortunate. Wankers!

Not enough dough.

News. The Social. Main Street. Opening in March.