by Andrew Morrison | Foreign Restaurant Porn looks at covet-worthy restaurants from parts afar and uses them to plug holes – geographically or conceptually – in Vancouver’s own restaurant landscape. This week I’ve been seduced by the look of Clancy’s Fish Bar, a waterfront restaurant in Perth designed by Paul Burnham. I think it could easily be replicated (in the local vernacular) on Ambleside’s forgotten seawall. Though the West Van neighbourhood has a sad and terrible habit of neglecting its restaurants to death (few good operators, chefs, or managers consider it a viable locale these days), a waterfront location changes the game a little. And truly, opportunities like this are as rare as comets:

The District of West Vancouver has a unique opportunity for a restaurant/bistro at a new premier waterfront location in Ambleside at 1468 and 1472 Argyle Avenue. The site is approximately 20 feet from the beach, has excellent exposure with its location next to green space at Millennium Park at 15th Street, and the Ferry Building Gallery and Ambleside Pier steps away at 14th Street. The District invites proposals from established firms for the design, construction, management, operation and maintenance of the restaurant.

Proposals are due by 2pm on August 8th, so I hope that someone truly inspired (and with means) is really burning the midnight oil on this. Why? Because it would be nice for a change to see a quality eatery on our waterfront – serving fresh, local seafood and craft beers on long communal tables, for example – instead of more of the same kaleidoscope of horrible nachos and frozen sliders. I mean, we already get that in expensive spades at the Lower Mainland’s myriad lower pub-grade seawall shit holes. Enough is enough. The big question is whether the City of West Vancouver is even remotely interested in quality, and whether the handful of stifling, stubborn residents who regularly show up at council meetings to blow hot air can take long enough naps (if you’ve never been to a West Van council meeting before, it’s like getting repeatedly hit with a hammer between the eyes). I fear they’ll do what’s expected and opt for a tourist-vacuuming casual fine dining chain or a “special occasion” one-off rip-off that’ll make guests pay for the view in lieu of good ingredients and a soul. But wouldn’t it be awesome if they took a chance and held out for something better? So dream this little dream with me and our crossed fingers…

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