British Invasion -- Cygnia Style!

[Old Man]

Does Vancouver still have those tiny ferry boats that operate in the harbor?  Those were fun to ride a couple of times.

[Cancer]

I can attest they were there in Victoria Harbour back in September, but we didn't stop into Vancouver on that trip.

[Cygnia]

Found this list...can anyone confirm any of these places (or say, if the writer is full of horse pucky?)
https://www.eater.com/maps/best-vancouver-restaurants-bc-canada

[Lawnmower Boy]

Well, I've only  heard of two of them, which is not a good sign that this isn't a payola list. 

 

To add to that, they're also fine dining establishments geographically concentrated in the core downtown area and into East Vancouver and up Commercial a bit, a rough neighbourhood tending towards a certain kind of counterculture for people with connections to the racialised and marginalised. (That's a fancy way of saying First Nations and LGBTQ+ communities.) And there's two restaurants in the Fairmont Pacific. Who even eats at hotels?

 

I can totally see some frequent business traveller with a generous expense account and entertainment deduction compiling this list by eating dinner with clients within walking distance of the hotel, with occasional ventures out for sex and drugs. It is very unadventurous in terms of the neighbourhoods it visits, with only one restaurant in Richmond (destination for Chinese) and none in Surrey (Indian, mostly Punjabi), Steveston (docks; fresh seafood) or Burnaby (Korean) listed. There's basically just a gesture to the Granville Island, and no mention of the Richmond Night Market (admittedly not open during the winter) or Londsdale Quay. And my imaginary businessperson evidently doesn't waste much time with breakfast or lunch. (For the latter, you need to track down the Javadog cart.)

 

I'd say that if you're staying downtown and looking for good eats within walking distance of the hotel, you are probably going to be happy with the places on this list, although they're not going to be, err, economical. If you're looking for the "authentic" Greater Vancouver food experience, the only Vancouver institution on the list is Vij's, which you should probably check out. If you're looking for the latest thing locally, I think we're currently on to bannock (First Nations) and Mexican. I have no concrete recommendations, but that's what to look for. 

 

This is certainly not the list for the quintessential "hole in the wall with great food" destinations serving comfort food the way that Mommy used to make it,  you want to look up Japanese (not sushi, which is pretty domesticated these days), Greek, "Italian," Persian, barbecue, "Canadian Chinese," Indian places with words like "Samosa" and "Tandoori" in the name, Thai, pho, Malaysian/Indonesian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican. And, of course, the White Spot.

 

Kidding! Not the White Spot. 

 

Okay, that's enough. Off for the set breakfast at the Artistry Cafe!