Tim Hortons is an iconic Canadian brand of convenient fast-food restaurants that serve their famous coffee and donuts (the smaller donuts are called “Timbits”) as well as sandwiches and soups. Prices are reasonable, service is prompt, and there is a consistent level of quality across the franchise. Two downtown Vancouver locations of Tim Hortons are 947 Hornby Street, Vancouver – (604) 642-4272, and 607 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver – (604) 609-0865. Their web site www.timhortons.com has links to their other numerous locations across Canada. Below is pictured the turkey bacon club sandwich which was around $6.50 for a large. (This picture was taken at a Tim Horton’s near the Halifax airport.)

Moxie’s Classic Grill (web site, address: 180 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, phone 604-684-8434) is a contemporary chain restaurant that serves Canadian style food. Moxie’s has a large and varied menu, ranging from affordable entrees such as burgers, sandwiches, and rice bowls, to more upscale and expensive choices such as the “Land Sea Grill” – a plate that includes a 4 oz steak, a skewer of prawns, and a fillet of salmon, as well as your choice of mashed potatoes, stuffed baked potato, or fries, and a seasonal vegetable, all for $22.99 (pictured below). In my experience, Moxie’s has served our large office groups quite well in the past, but during the busy lunch rush, it is best to make a reservation if you have a large group.

The Keg (restaurant web site, 1499 Anderson Street, phone 604-685-4735) brings their famed restaurant chain’s steaks to one of Vancouver’s cultural and tourist hotspots, Granville Island, located across False Creek from downtown Vancouver underneath the Granville bridge. Currently the Keg is featuring a special called “Lobster Summer“, where until August 19th you can go all out and order a whole 2 lb lobster, or enjoy a half lobster with a steak, or perhaps a dish such as the Grilled Chicken and Seafood (for $20.95, pictured below) which features lobster as an ingredient. Prices for entrees are in the $20 to $40 range, and the taste is well worth the cost. The grilled chicken and seafood entree was delicious: a grilled chicken breast was topped with garlic sauteed shrimp, lobster, asparagus, and a white wine and butter sauce. The Keg’s roasted garlic mashed potatoes can’t be beat!