Looking for a good romantic meal in Vancouver

[redarmy]

My wife and I are going to be celebrating our second anniversary next week while we're in Vancouver for a wedding. We'd definately like to take advantage of Vancouver's restaurant scene, but we don't really know where to start.

Ideally, we'd like a nice restaurant that won't end up costing us an arm and a leg--say, starters in the range of 6-10, entrees in the range of 15-30, and so on. We've got no restrictions on what kind of restaurant, although I wouldn't mind if the place had a regional focus. Finally, we're going to be going out on a Monday.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[Jerry_A]

Le Gavroche

http://www.legavroche.com/

[Coop]

I think you may like Cru. It's a very nice room with great food and service. I think it's romantic but we have been married for 21 years. So my opinion may not hold much water.

http://www.cru.ca/

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?act=ST...T&f=74&t=23829&

[redarmy]

Both of those restaurants look great. I was wondering what kind of dress code I would expect for either one--slacks and a shirt? fashionista hip? suit and tie?

We're going to be more formal that normal, especially given that it's our anniversary, but we also don't want to stand out. (Plus, coming from Alberta, dressy often means clean jeans and boots, so...)

[Coop]

Cru is casual. Look as hip as you can. No boots. Le Gavaroche was at it's best in the 70's, so if this is your choice think Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

[Schneier]

Ideally, we'd like a nice restaurant that won't end up costing us an arm and a leg--say, starters in the range of 6-10, entrees in the range of 15-30, and so on.

Is that cost in Canadian?

Bruce

[redarmy]

Is that cost in Canadian?

Yep. I'm just an underpaid propagandist, so.

[Johnathon]

I would echo Coop's thoughts here. Cru is a nice place to enjoy plates of your choosing whether they be small, large, plentiful or just a sampling with some good wines on the list by the glass. Hip casual attire will always go well in most Vancouver dining spots! And since the look now is borrowing retro stylings from the past... maybe a nice white suit, black shirt and some bling around the neck might be in order??!!

If for some reason the Albertan in you takes over and the boots and spurs come out for dinner, there is always the best place in town for ribs right next door at Memphis Blues. Enjoy.

[redarmy]

Thanks for your suggestions--I think we're going to head to Cru.

[Funny aside: I was talking to my mom last night, who's also a foodie and aquainted with Vancouver's restaurant scene. I mentioned Cru to her and--to my surprise--she was less than enthusiastic about us going there, if only because she'd never heard of it before. Lord knows I couldn't attend a restaurant that she hadn't already approved.

Anyway, I convinced her that it was okay for us to go to Cru and all was well.]

[Coop]

redarmy: Could we have the same mother? I have heard this kind of talk for years about resaurants. If we haven't heard of it, god forbid we would want to broaden our horizons. Even though I constantly surf the web for food and restaurant ideas, read the papers and Vancouver Magazine, troll the streets looking for new places, there still are places I have not heard of! Would I try them? By all means!

[ae35]

If you want to blow her away, book the wine cellar at Villa del Lupo. That's a romantic table. If those walls could talk ....

[redarmy]

Coop: That was what she said--BUT I READ VANCOUVER MAGAZINE AND THE REVIEWS AND AND AND. I think she was also a little miffed that I had heard of a restaurant that she hadn't--especially since I haven't been to Vancouver for at least six years.

I mean, she's great about trying new things/restaurants/etc, so this threw me for a loop.

[Another funny aside: She once took me to restaurant in Ottawa that garnered some pretty favourable reviews. Euro-style cuisine, regional ingredients, regional wines, etc. etc. etc.--a place with a real regional focus, and great service and and and. I can't remember the name for the life of me, but I think it was in a converted house, down the street from Trattoria Zingaro (sp?). Anyway, just after we were seated, our server came by asking us if we'd like a libation to start.

Now I hate to stereotype myself as the rustic Albertan, but I really wanted a beer. Figuring this place had a regional focus, I thought they'd have a good regional beer selection. To my--and my stepfather's, who also enjoys a beer before dinner--chagrin, they offered us Blue, Heineken, Blue Light and Bud. AND the server gave us a look, as if to indicate that the hoi polloi were not welcome.

I don't think my mother ever reads reviews in the same way again.]