Their foodcarts have caused a souvlaki sensation.

Now Nu Greek has just opened their first storefront right beside Vancouver’s other favourite foodcart-turned-storefront, Japadog. We tried the grilled octopus souvlaki (so tender you could cut it with a butter knife) served on housemade pita with tzatziki, cucumbers and enough onions to make us un-kissable for a week. We combo’d it with a side of minted chickpeas and a bottle of water and the whole thing set us back a mere $8.50.

Now that’s what we call good Nus. —Kelsey Dundon

Nu Greek, 542 Robson St., Vancouver

Summer came so late this year we are refusing to let it go so soon. That’s why we’ll be dining al fresco right through Labour Day weekend.

Pehr Napkins $11 at Provide
After our third ear of corn, we’ll be using these beautiful napkins from Toronto’s Pehr to wipe globs of melted butter off our faces.

Union Wood Company Cheese Platter $80 at the Cross
Home décor trends are leaning toward the rustic and we love the French country feel of this distressed cheese platter from Union Wood Company.

Ripple Pitcher $149 at Mint
This white-glazed pitcher is begging to be filled—and then re-filled—with white-wine sangria.

Stainless-steel smoker box $57.95 at Williams Sonoma
With a little help from this fancy hickory chip-filled smoker box, our barbequed salmon will be smokin’.

The Summer Collection $25 at David’s Tea
Need we remind you, oh Mr. Golden Sun, that summer is supposed to stay around until September 21st? We’ll be serving fragrant loose leaf iced tea until then, thankyouverymuch.
—Kelsey Dundon

We always dream of strolling the streets of Paris and indulging in many of its charming patisseries: Well, that dream just a came a little closer to home.

Brought to you by the acclaimed pastry chef Thierry Busset, the new Thierry brings Paris to us with its delectable offerings of all things French, both savoury and sweet. On the savoury end, grab a Primavera Sandwich ($8.50), a lovely mix of roasted pepper, artichoke, goat cheese and black olives. Then move onto the countless sweet offerings like the pretty Citrus Madeleine ($1.25), the out-of-this-world Lemon Tart ($5.75) or bite-size Hazelnut Financiers ($8 for 8). Quench your thirst with a White Plum House Soda ($3.95), but don't even think about leaving without sampling one of Thierry Espresso Blend creations.

When in ‘France’, have a glass of wine too. —Anya Georgijevic

Thierry, 1059 Alberni Street, Vancouver, 604-608-6870, www.thierrychocolates.com

We’re all for plaid, maple syrup and denim formalwear.

But every now and then it’s nice to encounter Canadiana that’s a little more classy than kitschy. Like the just-opened Oakwood Canadian Bistro. The Fourth Avenue haunt is home to polite people, chic surroundings and house made food crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. We started with the tomato coconut mussels ($15), chowed down on the cast iron Cornish hen with cauliflower puree ($19), and doubled up on dessert (we shared, we swear)—the baked apple dumpling ($6) and raspberry panna cotta ($5). We finished it off with a Caesar ($8). Nope, not a bloody Mary, a Caesar.

Pretty tasty, eh? —Kelsey Dundon

Oakwood Canadian Bistro,  2741 West 4th Ave., Vancouver,  604-558-1965, www.theoakwood.ca

Sometimes even the most classic beauties get a little work done.

It’s true of Hollywood stars (we’re looking at you, Nicole Kidman) and restaurants. Tucked away in the city’s most beautiful garden, Seasons in the Park has long been one of our favourite spots. Now the wine bar has been renovated, the kitchen has been opened up and the space has been given a bit of a facelift. It looks fresh, modern, and—dare we say—younger. We indulged in the tasty stuffed mushrooms, sampled a thirst-quenching cucumber margarita and scarfed down a melt-in-your-mouth miso-glazed black cod. All while watching the sun set over the city.

Which is, we’d like to point out, a natural beauty.
—Kelsey Dundon

Seasons in the Park, Cambie & 33rd Ave., Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver, 604-874-8008, www.vancouverdine.com

Perched at the top of the Shangri-la Hotel's gorgeous bamboo garden is Ki, Vancouver’s newest luxe sushi spot.

And by luxe we mean super exotic sashimi like Matsu (butterfish), Aji (Japanese horse mackerel) and Tai (sea bream) ranging from $5-$17. On the playful modern side is the Spicy Avocado Roll ($10), a protein-less delight comprised of pineapple, tomato and chives, wrapped in cucumber instead of seaweed. When it comes to spirits, Ki sports a comprehensive saké list of different grades and styles. The luxurious food comes with ritzy surroundings: Ki’s opulent room and picturesque rooftop patio exudes decadence.

Now that's our kind of raw deal. —Anya Georgijevic

Ki Modern Japanese and Bar, 1121 Alberni St., Vancouver, 604-609-0600, www.kijapanese.com

After six years as the premiere gourmet attraction of the Granville Island Public Market, Edible Canada is venturing into a new role as a vibrant bistro.

Its stand-alone restaurant/shop is exactly what the Island needed: a much needed market where both locals and tourists can enjoy the best of regional cuisine. We started with the Fried Fraser Valley Chicken and Duck Terrine ($12.50), then moved on to fresh seafood entrees like the delicious Birch Syrup and Kasu Roasted Sablefish with peas, fava and lima beans ($25) and then indulged in the Strawberry Ice Cream ($6.50). All paired with Nichol Wines on tap ($7) starting with Pinot Gris and ending with Pinot Noir. —Anya Georgijevic

Edible Canada at the Market, 1596 Johnston St.,
 Vancouver, 604-682-6681, www.ediblecanada.com

You’ve dined in the dark, drank vodka in an ice bar, and munched on deep fried crickets. Been there, ate that.

But have you supped on sustainable seafood in a plastic dining room floating on hundreds of pop bottles?

Jaded diners get ready to be wowed: the new School Of Fish Plastic Dining Room moored at the False Creek Yacht Club has the most exclusive 12 seats of the summer. 

Book it out and host the most memorable dinner party of your life (minus the cooking and cleanup). Or make it a date, and meet likeminded folks who enjoy the finer things in life.

There’s plenty to love, like the glittery chandelier and white nautical décor by The Cross, and a set 6-course menu by C Restaurant’s Robert Clark. Our Qualicum Bay scallop was alive 20 minutes before it was served, still attached to its beautiful shell and bathed in a sweet dashi broth.

Young founder Shannon Ronalds, whose School of Fish Foundation is the charity behind the project to educate young chefs, managed (with the help of C/Nu owner Harry Kambolis) to secure all of the 20 permits needed to launch the project (and is hosting every dinner for the next 60 days, when the dining room floats to future locations).

A seat at this table is most certainly the catch of the day.

To reserve ($215 per person including wine), please call Shannon Ronalds at 778-997-6977.
To learn more, visit www.schooloffishfoundation.org
To view more images of the dining room, please visit our Editors' Diary.

Nose-to-tail eating may have trickled over from St. John in London, but L'Abattoir goes whole hog on its name, too.

French for slaughterhouse, the new restaurant and bar sits just off Blood Alley (so-named for the butcher shops of yore) with a décor that features mason-jar lights hung off meat hooks.

But no butcher's whites here: staff wear dapper plaids, vests, ties and brogues with dark jeans, and the kitchen serves up fare from both field and stream.

Our meal in the light-filled atrium was a delight from start (sardine tuiles in the bread basket) to finish (lemon ricotta doughnut holes), with sous-vide Indian-spiced lamb in between.

Now we just need to go back for a Bloody Mary at the gorgeous, open-air bar. Chop, chop!

L'Abattoir, 217 Carrall St., Vancouver, 604-568-1701, www.labattoir.ca

Let the athletes have their protein shakes, and we’ll have their performance-enhancing cocktails and chow.

Just for the games, Yew has debuted a host of new drinks and dishes. Our pick of plates is the Olympic Burger ($40), which lives up to its name by holding one pound of Kobe and Alberta beef, chanterelle mushrooms, double smoked bacon and Agassiz Farm House cheddar between its buns.

Meant for sharing among six friends, just a sliver left us stuffed. But if you manage to finish it on your own, you deserve gold.

Yew restaurant and bar, 791 West Georgia St., Vancouver, 604-692-4939, www.fourseasons.com/vancouver