I have to give my husband credit for finding this little hole in the wall…read more Being a long time foodie, aside from the food itself I tend to lean towards experiences and this was one of them. From the outside,it looked like a normal house in an industrial area. But walking through the doors, I was greeted by what felt like family! The decor was minimalistic but packed with so much flavour ( just like the food). We got the fois gras which was unlike any other I've had. It was covered with a sugary brûlée crust that added so much more dimension to its flavour and texture. This was also served with bread from the local bakery. We also got the seafood paella, which was super intimidating at first the platter looked HUGE on the table next to us, but turned out to be a good size. Really happy with the experience.

We had reservations for a Wednesday night at the tiny but inviting Casa Molina on Manitoba Street…read morein Mount Pleasant. The cozy converted house was full but not loud with dim lighting and close‑set tables for an almost home‑dinner vibe. From my visit, we shared three standout plates. The alcachofas con jamón paired confit baby artichokes with roasted onion and jamón Ibérico. It was a good balance of textures and classic Spanish seasoning. The ensalada de ajo blanco con tomates asados y atún semicurado brought a creamier, richer profile: silky almond‑garlic dressing on fire‑roasted tomatoes with chunks of semi‑cured tuna and a drizzle of ash oil that added a nice aromatic note. The arroz negro arrived with seafood mixed into deeply flavoured squid‑ink rice; it was hot, savoury, and rich, perfect with a squeeze of lemon and garlicky aioli. Service was a definite high point! It was warm, knowledgeable, and paced so we weren't rushed. Portions were generous enough for sharing among two, especially with the more substantial rice dish in play. That said, the overall meal trended toward the rich and dense, so pairing with a couple of the lighter salads or crisp wines next time would help round things out. Would recommend for for date nights, small groups, or anyone curious about Spanish flavours. Lighter eaters might want to mix in a salad or a vegetable forward plate to balance the richer offerings.

This meal surely satisfied our cravings…read more This Mexican inspired focaccia is jam packed with flavour. The toasted airy bread, was the perfect wrapper for their delicious fillings. No wonder why they were best sellers. The minced pork and pulled beef were seasoned well, still moist, and had chunks of soft potatoes interlaced within it. Dunk it in their meat jus was the ultimate bite.

I've been here three times now, but haven't reviewed it until now. The experience is similar each…read moretime. ARC Imports is an importer of Spanish products, and is located in a business park. The first time I came, I thought I was in the wrong place, but the friendly staff pointed me to the stairs which takes you to a cute little dining area. Each time, I've come on the weekend, and it's always been quiet. All their dishes are basically simple preparations of their imported goods. Over three visits I've tried their appertivos, tostas, cino jotas, tapas, bocadillo and marisqueria. Despite how simple everything is, it's quite delicious, and becomes the reason why I go downstairs to buy several products before going home. Service always been super friendly, but not always there when you need them, as the employees do double-time working downstairs and so they are not constantly present in the dining area. Overall, I always enjoyed my meals here. It's simple food in a quiet cozy place.

They get overwhelmed when there is 5+ party or more. There were about 4 staff workers in the back…read more There was a steady flow of people ordering coming/going. We tried some sandwiches, tosadas, bocadillos, ham. It is not your baguette but small slices of bread. Overall, slightly on the pricey side. There is also an indoor upstairs area for guests. Service/food is a bit slow.

Everything was fantastic, from start to finish…read more The service was lovely, and while there was a bit of a lag on food at certain points (I don't think they were expecting to be so busy on a weeknight), it wasn't an awkward wait, and our server kept us apprised the whole time. Ambiance - amazing. This place is a neighbourhood gem. We sat on the patio, and the twinkly lights strung along the street came on at dusk - it was really transporting. While it's "Italian", it's not heavy; lots of share plates, wonderful bright salads and seafood. We had the housemade potato chips (melt-in-your-mouth), the beet carpaccio, which was so light and refreshing, the caprese salad, the house caesar (crispy capers? Yes please!), and the cheesy focaccia, along with some delightful cocktails. My only complaint is that my stomach isn't bigger, because so many of the dishes looked and sounded amazing, but we were stuffed. Guess I'll have to go back!

The food was very tasty, they like salt. The potatoes were very good. I really enjoyed these…read moreflavours and the service was great. Decor was admirable, felt the spanish vibes. ​

Thank-you for your response. i don't usually make a habit of responding to replies…read more... Sure Mediterranean diet is considered to be a "healthy" diet etc. However the ingredients if not sourced from organic farms etc,, it would render any "healthy" attributes meaningless. FYI, peppers and tomatoes are well documented to contain high amounts of pesticides. If they are not duly removed, they would do more harm than good. Having said that, some are more sensitive to inflammation than others I am more than happy to re-review when your restaurant can stake the organic ingredients or non-pesticide claim. Thank-you for your attention.

The store is small and cute…read more I absolutely adored being surrounded by Spanish speakers. We very much felt at home, amongst Venezuelans. For our meal we ordered two domino arepas (sub "yellow cheese" because they were out of white cheese); Tequenõs and a Venezuelan cheese empanada. Inside all the seating was taken so we moved to the outdoor seating. It took 30 minutes for the 3 tequenõs, 45 minutes for our arepas, (and they ended up refunding our empanada because they were out of cheese again). No water offered or glasses provided while we waited. I wish we could say our food was worth the wait but sadly it the cheese was cold. The beans were unsalted and unspiced. The arepa itself was thin and crispy (but also needed salt).... or ironically longer on the grill? Thank goodness I added plantains to mine otherwise I wouldn't have eaten it. Truly the worst arepa I've had. I didn't know there was anyone that preferred cold cheese or unspiced unsalted beans. Shockingly bland I don't recommend. Was so happy to hear of a Venezuelan spot near to us. So bummed this was our experience. Their veggie options definitely need work.

Best empanadas I have had in canada, as a venezuelan they definitelly reminded me of home. Service…read morewas super friendly and quick. And the ambiance is casual, bonus for selling some goodies to go such as frozen tequeños and cachapas

We came on a Sunday because we were gifted paella for 2 from a relative. They're not open until…read morenoon sharp. It happens to be a cold rainy Sunday, we were seated in the patio. It's late July but feels like September, rain and all. First shock was that our paella lunch wouldn't be ready for an hour so they want you to order some tapas while we wait that hour in the cold, in the patio, exposed to rain. Felt like a bait and switch. The paella better be worth the wait (as well as the garlic shrimp) we ordered. So far so bad! Shrimp was pretty good, not outstanding. A half hour to go before the paella is ready. There are no heaters in the small patio area so it's really cold right now. Paella finally came. It's TINY, served on a cake plate. Never coming here again!

Came here for a late night snack and got two small plates to share. The vibes are always great here…read morewith fun servers and the place is packed despite the late hours. That said, the small plates really were quite small. We weren't full but flavours were great. Not a big deal since it was a late night snack for us anyways. I recently came back for the paella event. For the event, the ticket comes with a plate of the paella. Ordered the octopus, Patatas bravas, and bikini sandwiches while waiting for the paella. The paella station was quite impressive with the big pan. Fun to watch for sure. Though it took over an hour until we finally got to eat the paella. The octopus was very delicious. All the dishes were expensive for the portions, though very delicious. The paella was a decent portion for me and I had to pack about half home. Though my friends were not full after so maybe I just have a small appetite. Street parking available on the side streets. If you are lucky, you might get some free spots.

Solid Ethiopian food and very good value, with lots of vegetarian/vegan options…read more We stopped in for dinner on a Friday around 6pm. It was dead when we arrived, but a few tables were seated shortly after us. We ordered the vegetarian combo for 2 ($30) and I added a lentil sambusa ($4). The food came out in about 20 minutes. Highlights on the combo were the misir wot, shiro (spiced chickpea), and brown lentil dish; the beet dish was good too; the gomen dish was rather blend, and the potato/carrot dish was rather oily. The salad in the middle was excessively salty. Not the hugest portion, but pretty good value for money. The sambusa was pretty solid, but it's served with a dairy dipping sauce that the menu didn't indicate. Very friendly service. The interior is somewhat nice, with parts of the restaurant decorated nicely (nice paintings) and others hilariously unfinished. I'd say middle-of-the-road for Ethiopian food in Greater Vancouver.