Last week, I talked about the now-launched Taste of Yaletown dining festival, which runs through October 27. Lots of great lunch and dinner menus at $25, $35 and $45 await the hungry palate. I introduced a few more established spots in that article, so this week is for the young bloods. Here are my choices from among the more recently opened dining spots.
The $35 three-course menu includes options such as the steelhead pastrami or house terrine, as well as the hearty braised beef cheeks (pictured) with country-style risotto and the famous lemon cake for dessert. If you want to splurge on a cocktail, try the French 77, a twist on the classic 75, with gin, lavender syrup and Codorníu cava. 1043 Mainland St. | 604-428-1043 | GoodWolfe.ca
For a great value meal, the $35 lunch or the $45 dinner are both good options, with four courses each. Start with antipasti such as vitello tonnato, parmesan soufflé, or seafood saor (a Venetian sweet-and-sour sauce), followed by a pasta course, main course of lamb shank for lunch, or choice of fish, pork or beef for dinner, and a light lemon cream (think panna cotta) for dessert. 350 Davie | 604-642-0557 | LaPentola.ca
There is an entire host of options at this contemporary and inventive Japanese restaurant. A quick $15 tempura bap lunch with seasonal veggies, kale gomae, steamed rice and miso soup is good for those in a rush. For those with more time, the three-course $25 zen lunch is available, with choices such as prawn fritters, chicken tofu salad, fresh nigiri and karubi pork rib. For dinner, there is the $35 vegan menu and the $45 three-course extravaganza, including sushi sampler, chicken foie gras gyoza and earl grey bavarois for dessert (optional sake pairings for each dinner $15). 1118 Mainland | 604-685-8080 | MinamiRestaurant.com
See all restaurants participating in Taste of Yaletown at YaletownInfo.com/TasteOfYaletown.
