Some Things You May Not Know Yet
SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW YET
Over on Beatty St., the city’s most popular little hole in the wall, the Kolachy Shop, has papered over its windows and posted a sign on the door stating that it will be reopened in September with a new look, a new menu and a new name - Kolachy Co. A peek inside at the renos reveals a major face lift going on. It looks like they have moved the serving counter way back into the space and are making room for tables in the front
Looking for a perfect restaurant for a secret rendezvous? Newly renovated and renamed La Vallée in the Executive Inn Vintage Park (1379 Howe Street) may suit you if you're looking for a new dining spot for any occasion. Sibling to San Francisco's famed Masa's, the menu features “contemporary wine country cuisine� inspired by Napa, Columbia and Okanagan Valley wines.
Sometimes a name like Pie by Night Pizzeria (1147 Granville Street) is enough to get us in the door. Happily the pizzas are decent too. These ones are of the thin crust variety and almost healthy -- toppings are fresh and there is no oil or sugar in the dough. Clubsters will be pleased to note the hours: they're open from 4:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily.
Construction is already underway for a new Cactus Club at the Bentall Centre on Burrard St.
In Yaletown, the space briefly occupied by Diner and then Lucky Diner has been leased by the people who also own the Queens Cross Pub in North Vancouver. Apparently they intend to turn it into a wine bar and tapas place. Banano’s Caribbean restaurant on Pacific is now gone and Salsa and Agave (presumably offering something in a Mexican theme), will be moving in shortly.
Schnitzelz is due to open on Denman, north of Robson, and is speculated to be part of a German cuisine-style chain.
Desi’s Downtown has opened in space once occupied by Ambrozia.
Thirty-four-year restaurant vet, Afghan Horseman has relocated from Broadway and Cambie to lofty digs at the entrance to Granville Island (202-1833 Anderson).
With a mandate of serving organic, fair trade coffee direct from farmers in developing countries, Yaletown's AGRO Café has expanded to a second location on Granville Island (1363 Railspur Alley). In addition to excellent organic coffee, almost everything else on the casual breakfast-through-dinner menu is organic too, including beer and wine.
Kicking up the heat in Kerrisdale is Suvai at 2279 West 41st Avenue. There's much to like about this classic French eatery opened by Sri Lankan-born, recent Toronto escapee and former Mildred Pierce exec chef, Segar Kulasegarampillai. There'll be even more to like soon in the form of a very good wine list. Word out of Toronto has it that he makes a wicked cassoulet.
In the pipeline: Linda Meinhardt of Meinhardt's on Granville is opening a fine-foods store at 3151 Arbutus Street next to the Ridge theatre next spring.
Cute-as-a-button Oyaji Zushi in the Waterfall building at 1542 West 2nd Avenue, is already drawing a roster of regulars with goodies such as the tuna crunch Oz roll (unagi and garlic chips), donburi, udon, and lovely sashimi. Eat in or take out.
Joining Yew Street's hill-climbing restaurant row is chipper little Sea Shanty Fish & Chips (1629 Yew Street). Decked out in the usual salty memorabilia, the shop serves reliable cod (or halibut) and chips, plus side orders of mushy peas and poutine. If you're lucky, you might score a streetside patio table.
49th Parallel Coffee Roasters is opening a coffee house at 2152 West 4th and it should be open by mid-September. It will serve all of the coffees that they supply to Artigiano and coffee houses, restos and stores around B.C., Portland, Calgary, Laval, Brooklyn and NYC.
Bean Around the World vacated their location at 3007 Granville Street amid controversy after a large rent increase. They've moved one block south under the new name Phoscao Café. This came about because allegedly, Cowboy Coffee, the Bean Around the World franchiser, did not approve of the new location.
If you're in the mood for a cuppa, check out just-opened T Room (4445 West 10th Avenue) for lovely pastries, daily fresh croissants, as well as soups, salads, and sandwiches. Tea (and high tea too) is served indoors and in the garden.
........