Amarcord Restaurant (visitor reviews, restaurant web site, 104 – 1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604.681.6500) is an authentic Italian restaurant located in the upscale Yaletown district of downtown Vancouver. It has excellent service, outstanding traditional Italian dishes, and an unpretentious atmosphere. Mia Stainsby writes in the Vancouver Sun:

“Amarcord - a pleasant memory of good food, service and an Italian slice of life… The kitchen does gnocchi like nobody’s business – not too dense, just pillowy right… The tournedos of beef in a red wine sauce revealed its excellent quality when it came under the knife.”

And she wasn’t kidding about the gnocchi. I ordered the Gnocchi alla Reggiana which is soft gnocchi pasta served with Italian sausage, fresh tomato and basil sauce (pictured below, $12.95 at lunch), and this was a real treat – the sauce had just the right amount of garlic and tomato and left me wanting more. I also really enjoyed the Insalata alla Caprese, a salad made with Tomato, Bocconcini, and capers with fresh basil (also pictured below, $8.95 at lunch). Dinner prices are slightly more than lunch, around $16.95 for a pasta.

Gnocchi with Italian sausage served in a sauce made with fresh tomato, basil, and garlic.

Tomato and Bocconcini salad with fresh basil. Delicious and refreshing!

Another visit to Zachary’s on Robson (121 Robson St., phone 604.605.1472), and I enjoyed the Beef Stroganoff (around $12, pictured below), as well as the Calamari (deep fried squid) which was served with tatziki sauce (pictured below, around $7.00). More photos: Part 1, Part 2

Zachary’s is located a stone’s throw away from BC Place Stadium in the Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel. It’s also very close to Queen Elizabeth Theatre and GM Place Stadium.

Beef stroganoff

Calamari

Cactus Club (web site) is a chain of really trendy, energetic and fun restaurants with outstanding food.

Their location in West Vancouver (at Park Royal Village, 855 Main Street, West Vancouver, BC, phone, 604-922-1707) also features live jazz by the Geoff Peters Trio on selected Tuesday nights. Please call the restaurant to confirm about the live music.

Prices for dinner entrees are in the $15-$25 range. I really enjoyed the Steelhead Salmon Entree (pictured below) as well as my favorite snacking items, the Westcoast pockets (also pictured below). The Chicken Jambalaya rice bowl (also pictured below) was tasty as well.

Cactus Club’s Steelhead salmon Entree – grilled to perfection!

Westcoast pockets – like sushi, but bigger and better.

Chicken Jambalaya rice bowl. A colorful melange of ingredients combine for a yummy taste experience.