Simpatico Ristorante (map, 2222 West 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-733-6824) is one of Vancouver’s oldest Greek restaurants, a long standing place for tasty and authentic Greek food since 1969.

Where.ca writes (click here to read review):

Butterknife-tender roast lamb and crusty whole-wheat pizza are the specialties in this traditional Greco-Roman family restaurant.

Located in the heart of the trendy Kitsilano neighborhood, Simpatico is nestled amongst many interesting independent shops ranging from clothing and fashion to hobbies and pets. Simpatico is about 5 blocks up the hill from the popular Kits Beach (English Bay), which the Vancouver Parks Board describes as:

Kitsilano Beach: a happening place geared for the younger set (teens to thirties) with a lovely outlook spanning from open bay, to North Shore mountains to Stanley Park

At Simpatico Restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly server who guided us to a table with a blue checkered tablecloth by the window. The main dining room is bright and airy with several skylights, and a large number of healthy plants all around the room. The couple next to us were speaking Greek and there was a large well-dressed family group at another table who were having a great time.

My friend and I both ordered the same thing: the Lamb Souvlakia (pictured below) which came with Greek salad, rice, potatoes, and a skewer of premium lamb garnished with fresh herbs. The dish was a reasonable $13.99 and was quite a generous portion.

I’ll definitely be back to try their pizza, which the server said is one of their specialties.

Lamb Souvlakia ($13.99) from Simpatico Greek Restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

A closeup shot of the Lamb Souvlaki from Simpatico Greek Restaurant in Kitsilano, Vancouver.

Anducci’s Restaurant (map, visitor reviews, 608 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-696-5558) is a newly opened pub-style Italian restaurant at the old location of the Jester’s pub at the St. Regis Hotel downtown.

sumiln, a reviewer on DineHere.ca (click here to read review) writes:

Service was attentive and the 3 pizzas we ordered were really nice. Thin crusted and tasty we all agreed, very like (my own) homemade. Wine reasonably priced; however, they were out our first two choices. Not too worry, very close to the office so will likely quickly become one of our lunch repertoires.

We started off with the Tomato and Boccicini salad (the “Caprese” salad, $11, pictured below) which was nicely presented and tasty. I then ordered a scrumptious pasta dish with salmon that had some fancy Italian name (also pictured below, $12.00). My friend had a mug of Guiness beer ($6.00) and the mixed seafood spaghettini ($14, not pictured). A good time was had by all!

Caprese salad (Tomato and boccocini) $11 from Anducci's pub in downtown Vancouver.

Italian pasta with salmon from Anducci's Pub restaurant in downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Marmalade Kitchen and Bar (web site, #3 – 1010 Beach Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-689-7800) is a London-inspired casual waterfront restaurant with a great patio, overlooking one of the marinas at Vancouver’s False Creek. It’s located just east of the Burrard Street bridge, on the north side of False Creek downtown. You’ll find it in front of the Chilli House Thai Restaurant at the bottom of Hornby Street. Google Maps (click here for map) incorrectly places their address on the west side of the Burrard Bridge, when in fact it is just to the east.

Marmalade is a great place to go for cocktails or dinner, and the restaurant is also open for lunch, weekday breakfast, and weekend brunch. Visit their web site for their current menu and specials.

Enjoy dishes that bring out the best of London-style cuisine, such as the Chelsea Flair (sauteed wild sockeye salmon with red onion marmalade, served on a bed of sauteed potatoes, $17.95) or the Knightsbridge Chic (half garlic herb-roasted game hen served with tomato ragout and saffron rice, $16.95). Or if you’re looking for something a little more traditional, there’s always the comforting and satisfying Shepherd’s Pie ($12.50, served with mixed greens) which is a rich stew served with mashed potatoes, vegetables and a tasty gravy. Pictured below are some of the chef’s creations.

Mushroom at Marmalade Kitchen and Bar

Tuna at Marmalade Kitchen and Bar (photos courtesy of the restaurant)

Stephos Greek Restaurant (visitor reviews, 1124 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 604-683-2555) is so popular that most nights of the week you’ll find people lining up outside the door, waiting to get in. And the wait is worth it, for the portions are huge, prices reasonable, service attentive, and food really tasty. Christine G. Louie writes:

“The kalamari entree was even more enormous than the other dishes and so large that whenever one of us forked a morsel, five or six little kalamari pieces fell to the table ($9.99).”

Pictured below is the roast lamb, which is a steal at $8.99 and is served with rice, potatoes, Greek salad, and a very tasty tomato ratatouille (something that you don’t usually find at Greek restaurants). Everything on the menu is under $10, and the wine is also reasonably priced.

Amarcord Restaurant (visitor reviews, restaurant web site, 104 – 1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604.681.6500) is an authentic Italian restaurant located in the upscale Yaletown district of downtown Vancouver. It has excellent service, outstanding traditional Italian dishes, and an unpretentious atmosphere. Mia Stainsby writes in the Vancouver Sun:

“Amarcord - a pleasant memory of good food, service and an Italian slice of life… The kitchen does gnocchi like nobody’s business – not too dense, just pillowy right… The tournedos of beef in a red wine sauce revealed its excellent quality when it came under the knife.”

And she wasn’t kidding about the gnocchi. I ordered the Gnocchi alla Reggiana which is soft gnocchi pasta served with Italian sausage, fresh tomato and basil sauce (pictured below, $12.95 at lunch), and this was a real treat – the sauce had just the right amount of garlic and tomato and left me wanting more. I also really enjoyed the Insalata alla Caprese, a salad made with Tomato, Bocconcini, and capers with fresh basil (also pictured below, $8.95 at lunch). Dinner prices are slightly more than lunch, around $16.95 for a pasta.

Gnocchi with Italian sausage served in a sauce made with fresh tomato, basil, and garlic.

Tomato and Bocconcini salad with fresh basil. Delicious and refreshing!

Falafel House (902 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, phone 604-806-0045) is a fast food restaurant that serves Lebanese cuisine. Choose from a chicken or beef donair, a chicken schwarma plate, a falafel plate, or a vegetarian plate (pictured below). The vegetarian plate comes with rice wrapped in grape leaves, a samosa, some falafel, humus and pita bread, as well as two kinds of salads. It is around $6.00 plus tax.

Falafel House is big enough to seat maybe around 10 to 15 people comfortably, but is also popular for take out. The restaurant is located near the many night clubs on the Granville Strip downtown, and is open late.

Update June 1st 2008: The Falafel House restaurant has changed to a pizza place, which is also open late.

Falafel Maison (516 Robson Street, Vancouver, 604-647-6450) is a small take-out restaurant that serves Mediterranean cuisine. The Chicken Shwarma plate is a humongous serving of grilled chicken on rice with tatziki and hot sauce, a small green salad, humus and pita bread (pictured below, $6.25).