Black Tuna Japanese Tapas Bistro (web site, #202 – 1184 Denman Street, downtown Vancouver, phone: 604-408-7557) is quite a find for exceptional food quality, an upscale atmosphere with aesthetically pleasing decor and a great view of the English bay beach from the window. It’s an intimate dining room located on the second floor of the commercial building on Denman Street, very close to the Davie intersection. We tried the Chef’s Special Dinner Box ($29.95) which in my opinion was really worth it (some of the items are pictured below). And to accompany the food I really liked the restaurant’s choice of laid-back jazz background music.

[update Oct 14 2008: Black Tuna has closed and there is another Japanese restaurant there now.]

Characters Taverna (web site, 1103 Davie Street, Vancouver, phone 604-685-9607) offers traditional Greek and Indian dishes with some creative fusion dishes as well. Below is a picture of my pasta special which was curry beef with fettucini (around $12). This is an unusual combination that actually worked really well.

Another visit to Thai Away Home  (address: 1206 Davie Street, phone: 604-682-8424) and this time I enjoyed the Penang Curry with prawns (pictured below) which was served as a combination with soup, salad and rice for $9.95. At Thai Away Home you can order take out (which is what many people do), or order at the counter and then eat in the restaurant. This tiny restaurant has won awards in the local newspapers for Best Thai in the casual / take out category. (Click here to view another picture from this restaurant -Part 1).