I had lunch at Cactus Club Cafe (web site, map, 855 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone 604-682-0933) and enjoyed their Westcoast Pocket ($4.00) and the Prawn and Scallop Spaghettini ($20).

The Westcoast Pocket (shown in video below) is made with wild smoked salmon, avocado, seasoned rice, pea shoots, tofu and tobiko, and is one of my favorite appetizers that Cactus Club serves. For another photo of the Westcoast pocket please view my review of their Yaletown location.

The prawn and scallop spaghettini is a specialty of Cactus Club’s celebrity chef and Iron Chef USA winner, Rob Feenie, and is made with pan seared prawns and scallops, roasted tomato sauce, garlic and parmesan crostini. I was really impressed by the size and taste of the scallops, which were generous in number and hidden throughout the pasta.

I made a little video of the dishes, which you can view by clicking here, or use the player below.

Westcoast Pocket from Cactus Club

Milestone’s Grill and Bar (map, web site, 2966 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-734-8616) is a popular casual/trendy Canadian restaurant chain with several locations in Vancouver.

Milestones is known for their steaks, rotisserie, and pasta dishes, but they also have a great brunch menu, which is available on weekends. I ordered their Grilled Shrimp California Benedict ($12.99, pictured below) which was a creative variation on the classic Eggs Benedict, served with “spicy house-made avocado salsa, double-smoked bacon, [and] large grilled shrimp.” I was really impressed by the presentation of this dish and it tasted great – the bacon, eggs, shrimp and hollandaise sauce were a nice combination.

antoni81, a revewer on Dinehere.ca (click here to read review) writes:

I always leave happy. Tonight I came by with 2 friends. I had a double hamburger and fettucini. My other friend had the Portobella chicken, and I think my other friend had a hamburger. The food here has always tasted good…

Visit Part 6 for another photo and more information about a different location (Yaletown, downtown).

California Eggs Benedict with Shrimp ($12.99) from Milestones Restaurant in Vancouver.

The Hamilton Street Grill (map, web site, 1009 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, phone: 604-331-1511) is a casual steakhouse in downtown Vancouver’s upscale Yaletown neighborhood. In addition to steaks, the Hamilton Street Grill offers tempting seafood and creative “small plate” appetizers created by their chef.

The HSG (as it is affectionately called, not to be mistaken with MSG which the chef most certainly avoids in his/her kitchen) is a favorite lunch place for me and my coworkers, as our office is nearby. Lunch prices are in the $11 to $15 range and dinner entrees are in the $25 to $35 range. The restaurant’s menus are available on their web site.

Pictured below is the Hamilton Street Burger ($12), which is made with house-ground Certified Angus Beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, and chipotle mayo. I ordered my burger with a Caesar salad (included in the price) but I could have gotten a regular house salad, their popular Yam Fries, or regular fries instead. I thought the burger was especially delicious and gobbled up the whole thing in a flash (all the while making conversation and being pleasant of course!).

For more photos from my previous visits, please view Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 or Part 7.

Hamilton Street Burger ($12) with Beef, bacon, cheddar, sautéed onions, and chipotle mayo from the Hamilton Street Grill in Vancouver.