Salade de Fruits Cafe (web site, map, 1551 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver BC, Canada, phone 604-714-5987) is an authentic, unpretentious French restaurant that is hidden away inside the French Cultural Centre in Vancouver’s South Granville area. One of Vancouver’s “not so well kept secrets for French Food” (FoodVancouver.com), this casual bistro serves up some of the best French food in the city, but in a home-style atmosphere with friendly French (and English-speaking!) service.

Angela Murrills writes in the Georgia Straight (click here to read review):

Weekdays at noon it feels like small-town France, where everyone decamps from their office for a couple of hours during which the mark of a truly civilized country parking is free by law. A fresh-fish dish or two, grilled prawns, moules frites, quiche or a sandwich it’s all competently made, sans froufrou, and mostly under $10.

Christine G. Louie describes the food at Salade de Fruits (writing in the Peak, SFU’s student newspaper, click here to read review):

The moules et frites ($11.99) arrived with puffs of steam wafting up, the P.E.I. mussels fat, perfectly steamed little morsels sitting in the most fragrant of broths. Accompanying the pot of shiny black shells lay a stack of fresh-cooked pomme frites, still glistening from their bath of hot oil. Crispy, golden-brown, and thinly sliced, the pomme frites were perfect for dipping into the pool of broth or the little container of their homemade mayonnaise. The calamari dish came in thick ringlets, fried to a glorious golden-brown, and looking ravishingly hot. The smoked-salmon baguette was clean tasting, jazzed up with capers and sweet onions, and sandwiched in the same lovely bread. The steak dish was pounded into a thin large slab, arrived on top of a layer of gravy-smothered frites.

Wow, I love those descriptions, thanks Christine!

Pictured below is some of the food we enjoyed: the Saumon Sauvage (Wild salmon entree, around $16), the Calmars à la Nage (Calamari dish, $9.99), and the Escargots à l’Ail (snail in garlic, $5.99, a French delicacy!). My friend also ordered the T-Bone Steak served with fresh crab (not pictured), which he described as juicy and of really high quality (he’s a regular of steak places around town).

Saumon Sauvage (Wild Salmon entree, $16.99) from Salade De Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver

Calamari dish (Calmars à la Nage, $9.99) from Salade De Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver

Escargots à l'Ail ($5.99) - Snail in garlic, a French delicacy! Food from Salade De Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver.

Fresh baguette (French bread) included with the meal at Salade de Fruits French restaurant in Vancouver

I made another visit to Zachary’s on Robson (map, 121 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, phone 604-605-1472), and enjoyed the Clam Linguini for lunch (pictured below, around $12). Also pictured below is the side Caesar salad. More photos and info: Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 1. This restaurant is part of the Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel which is a stone’s throw away from BC Place Stadium. It is also very close to GM Place Stadium and the Vancouver Main Library branch downtown.

Clam Linguini at Zachary's on Robson

Side Caesar salad from Zachary's on Robson

Bombay Bhel Restaurant (more reviews, map, 4266 E Hastings, Burnaby, BC, Canada, phone: 604-299-2500) is one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the Burnaby area, a suburb that is only about 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The restaurant is located next door to the popular pasta place, “Anton’s”, which is famous for its exceedingly large portions. Bombay Bhel’s portions are more manageable, and the Bombay chef’s command of the Indian spices is really evident, making for an exotic, yet palatable dining experience.

WestcoastMunchers, a reviewer on Dinehere.ca writes (click here to read review):

Well first off, I am East Indian and have grown up eating this food since my mother is an awesome cook… This place is definitely authentic and the spice blends are certainly what your palate desires… My wife and I had the Halyari Chicken which is totally different blend of spices cooked in the tandoor. Magnificent is all I can say! We also had the Goan lamb curry which was very delicious. Service was very attentive, polite and friendly. Nice ambience too. Certainly going to be one of our favourite Indian restaurants in the Lower Mainland.

I ordered the “Non Vegetarian Thali”, which is a huge combination platter that includes a selection of veggie and meat curries, a cold yogurt sauce, some spicy peppers, some pieces of chicken, rice, naan, and papadum (Indian crackers). The platter was around $14 (pictured below). There are plenty of choices for vegetarians too, including a vegetarian version of this platter.

I’m definitely going back when I have the chance.

Non-vegetarian Thali combination platter ($14) from Bombay Bhel Indian restaurant in Burnaby.