A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

850 Thurlow Claims Another Eatery, Cursed Space Soon To Return As The Harrow

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by Andrew Morrison | What do Saveur, Ensemble, Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe, Piccolo Mondo, and the Purple Olive Grill all have in common? They’re all restaurants that shuttered – in recently memory – at 850 Thurlow Street, just south of Robson’s main drag. It’s pretty much the most cursed restaurant location that Vancouver has.

And can you believe it, yet another has volunteered to give it a go. This time around it’s a sports bar/pub called The Harrow (photo: Shaun Layton). Imagery on their Facebook page leads me to expect potato skins, quesadillas, chicken satays, neon-coloured shots, what appears to be a slice of caramel-drizzled cheesecake from 2003 (no candle?), a Mad Men fetish, buckets of Budweiser and Bud Light, and yes, a neck-inked barman pouring shots of Bols Blue…

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So what do you think. Is this a recipe for total success or abject disaster? Either way, join us in wishing them all the luck in the world, because they’re sure as shit gonna need it!

Villa Lobos: Skate Kids, Sharp Knives, Sold-Out Dinners

A group of skate kids from King George started cooking for each other and ended up building something bigger than they expected. Now they’re running sold-out dinners, with strong community backing.

Vancouver’s Best Japanese Curries, Our Favourites Mapped

Japanese curry doesn’t chase the spotlight the way ramen or gyoza do, but it has always been one of Japan’s most reliable comfort meals: hot, filling, and easy on the wallet. With Vancouver’s cooler weather still lingering, it’s exactly the kind of satisfying bowl that hits the spot.

AnnaLena’s Long Game

Most restaurants leave well enough alone. AnnaLena doesn’t. Whether bold or subtle, the changes they make carry weight. Here’s what shifted during the annual closure and why it matters.

Gujarati Jalso: The Burnaby Restaurant Giving Gujarati Food Top Billing

Edmonds Street in Burnaby is home to Gujarati Jalso, where the focus is entirely on vegetarian food from India’s western coast.