It’s not bad from the freezer or the phone book but nothing’s better than pizza made the way it was supposed to be.

Famoso Pizza, which crafts its pies according to the standards set by the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana, has just opened up across the street from Commercial Drive’s other pizza mecca: Marcello’s. We tried the funghi tartufo topped with roasted mushrooms, reggiano parmesan and truffle oil ($14.50) and sipped a classic Italian soda made of sparkling water and peach syrup ($2.50). Come summer, you’ll find us savouring a scoop of artisan-style salted caramel gelato ($3.50) on the sunny patio. Sure beats delivery. —Kelsey Dundon

Famoso Pizza, 1380 Commercial Dr., Vancouver, 604-251-2292, www.famoso.ca

Oysters and wine. Is there anything better?

We know the secrets to the good life. As does Todd’s on Sixth, an unassuming off-Granville Street café that turns into an oyster joint every Thursday and Friday night after 4pm. The chalkboard menu displays fresh catches of the day, from Royal Miyagis, Lighthouse Points and Summer Breeze oysters ($2 each). Aside from raw, Todd does phenomenal cornmeal panfried oysters ($3 each) for those craving a little crunch. Served with homemade bread and wine, it’s simple fare to remember. —Anya Georgijevic

Todd’s On Sixth, 1529 W. Sixth Ave., Vancouver, 604-568-0640, www.toddsonsixth.com

The weekend calls for everyone’s favourite meal: the divine brunch.



Before you hit Gastown’s shopping stroll, power up in the city’s newest soon-to-be hotspot, Catch 122.

This daytime-only (for now) bistro serves up French favourites like the Croque Madame ($12) and Lorraine Crepe ($10.25), both with a hefty dose of cheese. Even the salads are on the decadent side, like the brunch-appropriate Poached Egg and Bacon Salad ($11). For smaller bites, indulge in fluffy waffles ($3) or crispy croissants ($2.25). Food is best followed by a great cup of coffee, and Catch 122 serves Chicago’s famous Intelligentsia Coffee. Or have a glass of wine—it’s the weekend after all. —Anya Georgijevic



Catch 122, 122 W. Hastings St., Vancouver, 604-731-3474, www.catch122.ca

Raw food has come a long way since that episode of Sex and the City in which the girls sipped wheatgrass juice in disgust.

OrganicLives takes the philosophy to new culinary heights, with a menu even devout carnivores like me would enjoy plus a new downtown location. The vegan sushi ($7) is scrumptious, with fish replaced by sprouted pecan and walnuts.

The Pad Thai ($15) is nothing if not inventive, with young coconut meat and kelp replacing the traditional noodles. Guilt-free desserts? Yes, all the yummy raw desserts like The OMG Coconut Cream Pie ($7) and bite-sized macaroons ($1.50) are made without the aid of sugar, and, believe me, you won’t even notice. —Anya Georgijevic

OrganicLives, 451 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-424-9422,  www.organiclives.org

Two barbeque worlds collide, but it’s a harmony of tastes.

Legendary Southern barbecue methods are given a taste of East Asian flavour by Fat Dragon Bar-B-Q, a new spot by the owners of the Campagnolos. Located in East Van, this restaurant-meets-bar joint is bound to energize the quiet neighbourhood. How? With a Whole Smoked & Roasted Pig’s Head ($45) perhaps, requiring a small team to devour. For daintier appetites, there are plenty of smaller plates, from the fresh take on the Gado-Gado Salad ($9) to the selection of two-bite Bao Buns ($2.50 each). As for the “Bar” in Bar-B-Q, save some room for Asian beers and cocktails, provided that the glaring pink tube entryway doesn’t trip you up a little first. —Anya Georgijevic

Fat Dragon Bar-B-Q, 566 Powell St. Vancouver, 604-558-0880, www.fatdragonbbq.com

Last year The New York Times penned a roundup depicting best bánh mì sandwiches in America, a very passionate subject, according to the hundreds of comments below the article.

If they were to pay Vancouver a visit, they might consider DD Mau, a fresh and welcome addition to the city’s modest Vietnamese sub options. Located in Yaletown, DD Mau serves up bánh mìs of the traditional kind, and of the gourmet variety like the Honey-Garlic Beef ($7), with a delightful runny egg option, as well as the slightly sinful BBQ Roast Duck ($10.80). While you’re at it, ditch the fussy frappuccino and grab a Vietnamese iced coffee ($3.50). Then stroll down the block, find a picnic spot, and enjoy our belated spring. —Anya Georgijevic

DD Mau, 1239 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, 604-684-4446, www.ddmau.ca

Gastown just got a little sweeter, thanks to the newly-opened Cadeaux Bakery.

This delicious and roomy patisserie is brought to us by two talented pastry chefs who previously delighted us with their baked goods at Chambar. Since ‘cadeau’ means gift in French, I decided to treat myself with some self-gifting. I had the most decadent buttery croissant ($2.75), a melt-in-your-mouth apple custard danish ($3.35), and two tiny bite-sized truffles, a sweet and savoury salted caramel and a refreshing lemon coconut ($1.50 each). I could have kept going, but I’m exercising a little thing called self-control. —Anya Georgijevic

Cadeaux Bakery, 172 Powell St., Vancouver, 604-608-8889, www.cadeauxbakery.com

We like our Mediterranean rustic and close to home.

As nice as it would be to jet over to Siena for some Italian fare, the newly opened restaurant in South Granville that bears this Tuscan city’s name will just have to do. This little gem is one of those trusty neighborhood joints that could serve as a casual go-to with a side of Mediterranean romance. Siena serves up a charming, rustic fare with salumi and cheese boards, appetizers like the chorizo stuffed grilled squid ($10), a selection of classic and not-so-classic pastas like steak and spaghetti ($17), all of which are being inducted into my endless list of guilty pleasures as we speak. —Anya Georgijevic

Siena, 1485 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver, 604-558-1485, www.eatsiena.com

Our highly subjective ranking of the best places to eat and drink right now:

Best Business Lunch: Hawksworth
When someone important comes to town, this is where you take them. Sit under the Damien Hirst in the bar for a glass of Henriot, then head into the elegant-yet-cool dining room. Order the apple and beet salad (a masterpiece of execution) and whichever fish or pasta is offered that day and you’ll have sealed your deal. Hawksworth, 801 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, 604-673-7000, www.hawksworthrestaurant.com

Best Yoga Brunch: Che Baba Cantina
Something about this new restaurant reminds me of my parents’ Volkswagen van (The batik? The starburst cushions? The three shades of brown?) Still, the haute hippie vibe (it’s below a yoga studio on a gentrified strip of East Van) feels right now, as does the grilled polenta topped with poached eggs and pulled pork with a side of gently tossed arugula. Bliss. Che Baba Cantina, 603 Kingsway, 604-558-1519, www.chebaba.ca

Best Lobby Bar: Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge and Terrace
The scent of jasmine floats overhead in this lofty and bright space warmed with couches and a floating fireplace. There’s the requisite white grand piano for traditionalists, yet the vibe feels pan-Asian at this indoor/outdoor space where sashimi and oysters, rather than tea sandwiches, are the order of the day. Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Pl., Vancouver, 604-695-5300, www.fairmont.com

Best Dim Sum: Kirin
Views of the mountains and City Hall, white tablecloths, attentive table service: this is where chefs eat on Sunday, in rounds of 12. Crispy, spicy squid, scallop and pea shoot dumplings, plus all the dim sum favourites you know and love. Kirin, 555 W. 12 Ave., Third Floor, Vancouver, 604-879-8038, www.kirinrestaurants.com

Best Street Meat: Meat & Bread
Ok, so technically there are seats, though they are probably all full. Luckily there’s a swift turn of foodie hipsters who know their porchetta from their brisket at this smartly-conceived concept that would be right at home in Williamsburg or London’s East End. Meat & Bread, 370 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-566-9003, www.meatandbread.ca

Best Bar Snacks: Boneta
Sure the new restaurant is a fishbowl (quite literally with walls of glass) but the back bar off Blood Alley is a lovely place to spend an intimate hour before a show, bonding over excellent microgreens, house-made octopus chips, warm bread and wines paired by the inimitable sommelier Neil Ingram. Boneta, 12 Water St., Vancouver, 604-684-1844, www.boneta.ca

Best Out-of-Vancouver Experience: Medina
Breakfast and lunch via the Ivory Coast, France and Spain (think merguez tagines and Paella), or Belgian waffles, both savoury and sweet, make this Crosstown destination a cosmopolitan hotspot. Medina, 556 Beatty St., Vancouver, 604-879-3114, www.medinacafe.com

Best Restaurant that isn’t Vij’s: Rangoli
Yes, you can wait in line for two hours to get into Vij’s. Or leave the mutton to the sheep and head to its sister restaurant next door where dishes are swiftly served by excellent staff in a modern Indian room. Black chickpea fritters and a glass of Gewürz: what else could you want? Rangoli, 1488 W. 11th Ave., Vancouver, 604-736-5711, www.vijsrangoli.com

Best Threesome: ReFuel, Campagnolo, and Campagnolo Roma
Some of the best dinners we’ve had in the past year have been from the team behind this culinary trifecta.  We especially like Campagnolo for its central location and Tuesday night $19 prix-fixe, which may be as simple as fennel sausages, peppers and polenta, but perfectly so.  Campagnolo, 1020 Main St., Vancouver, 604-484-6018, www.campagnolorestaurant.ca, ReFuel, 1944 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver, 604 288-7905, www.refuelrestaurant.com,  Campagnolo Roma, 2297 Hastings St., Vancouver, 604-569-0456, www.campagnoloroma.com

Best Patisserie: Thierry
New, yet already evolved enough to be an international brand. Yes, you can order a glass of red wine at 9 p.m. with your Hazelnut choux: That’s progress. A Pear Charlotte purchased here will be the hit of your next dinner party (along with your pithy repartee). Thierry, 1059 Alberni St., 604-609-6870, www.thierrychocolates.com —Sarah Bancroft

Union Street keeps delighting us.

First, chic shops, Charlie and Lee, LAND and Board of Trade pop up. Now resto-bar The Union brings communal tables and creative cocktails to the block. The newest member of the Habit and Cascade family, the Union serves the type of food that fits its location on the southeast edge of Chinatown: Southeast Asian. We love the Thai-style green papaya salad ($7), the Vietnamese-style caramelized prawn bahn mi ($7) and the Indonesian-style nasi goreng ($13). We fell hard for the savoury cocktail (yes, savoury) tom yum collins made with coconut milk, lemongrass and Thai basil ($10).

Here's one union we are happy to join. —Kelsey Dundon

The Union Bar, 219 Union St., Vancouver, BC 604.568.3230, www.theunionbar.ca