THE MACKENZIE ROOM

Since opening in 2015, The Mackenzie Room has become one of our favourite go-to places when we want something appealingly original and reliably fantastic.

The Mackenzie Room is owned by husband / wife team Andrew and Katie Jameson, and their partner / chef Sean Reeve. It's named after Andrew's great-great grandfather William Mackenzie, the famous Canadian entrepreneur and railway contractor who founded the Canadian Northern Railway. Mackenzie is also Andrew's middle name and his daughter's name. Located across from Oppenheimer Park, the restaurant is somewhat off the beaten track but that adds to its charm. Located in the old Parke Place Coffee Bar, the owners removed most of the space's drywall to expose the original brick and cement walls. With reclaimed wood tables and antique décor, the restaurant is reminiscent of Vancouver's early pioneering days, offset by large windows and bright splashes of colour.

The menu, written on a large chalkboard at the back of the restaurant, is always changing to showcase locally sourced items. With a focus on nose-to-tail dishes, the menu is never dull (and the dishes' names are always punny). The menu allows you to choose share plates, individual entrees, or the full tasting menu. Pair your choice(s) with a BC wine or choose from the extensive cocktail menu, and watch as your meal is prepared behind the open kitchen and your drink is mixed behind the bar. Our go-to starter is the Showstopper Salad, which is one of the constant items on the menu. Make sure you leave enough room for dessert, though! 

If the food and drinks alone aren't enough to get your in the door, the service is friendly and unpretentious, which means you are sure to have good conversation, even if it's not with your date.

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AU COMPTOIR

If you need to get away without really getting away we have found the perfect place - Au Comptoir. It will make you feel like you've been whisked away to a bistro on the streets of Paris (without the cost of the flight).

The Parisian illusion starts with the bistro seats on the narrow patio that overlooks 4th Avenue. On opening the doors, you will be greeted by friendly, charming waiters with perfect French accents. A bank of tables on one side of the restaurant with blue leather bench searing provides for perfect people watching. The other rows of tables (with cast iron Singer sewing machine legs) provide more seating. The shiny tin bar adds sparkle and a little je ne sais quoi.

Au Comptoir serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays and breakfast, brunch, and dinner on weekends. There are separate menus for each meal so you can sit there all day rolling from one menu to the next.

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JOHNNY'S POPS

Do you remember the days when you could buy an ice cream from a guy with a bicycle? Well, Johnny's Pops has taken that nostalgic idea and has given it a twist, selling popsicles made from locally sourced ingredients from the front of a bicycle he retrofitted himself.

Johnny grew up in Agassiz and made the big move to Vancouver in 2010. One day, he was inspired by someone in Atlanta making popsicles with interesting flavours. So, Johnny retrofitted a bicycle to hold a cooler for 100 popsicles, found some warehouse space with a kitchen, and in May 2013, Johnny's Pops was born.

The popsicle flavours are largely a result of trial and error. What started as an attempt to recreate ice cream flavours has moved to create unique and mouth-wateringly good popsicles. Flavours include raspberry lime, coconut, apricot salted caramel, and creamy strawberry lemonade. The fruit is largely sourced from Krause Berry Farms in Langley, which has been in operation for over 40 years.

Johnny reckons he has made more than 60,000 popsicles since 2013, which have been devoured everywhere from the Food Cart Fest, to the Vancouver Farmers Market, Khatsahlano, and at private catering functions. This year, Johnny will also be at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, which in itself is a good reason to go. The popsicles are also sold at retail locations including Welk's General Store (3511 Main Street), Gigi Blin and soon at the Dirty Apron (540 Beatty Street).

So the next time you're craving something good (and cold) on a hot day, use the Vancouver Street Food App to find Johnny - he'll be the guy with the striped shirt and really really good popsicles. 

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JETHRO'S FINE GRUB

Jethro's Fine Grub is exactly what you might assume from its name and logo - hearty servings of indulgent food combined with a dose of edginess.

Owners Emily-Jane Stuart and D'Arcy Allen first established Jethro's in Dunbar to bring some East Vancouver flavour to the city's West side. It has since expanded to a second location on Fraser Street, but hasn't lost its charm. Both locations have only a handful of tables, which means you get to see what everyone is eating before you make your own decision. The menu is inspired by America's south, with dishes like gumbo, alligator nuggets, catfish po-boy, and chicken fried steak. There are also twelve different egg dishes and five different omelettes, not including the ones you can design yourself. If you're particularly hungry (or just want to see a 12" stack of food), we recommend the pancakes or french toast - we haven't seen anyone finish a plate yet!

Regardless of the day of time, there always seems to be a line up outside. Don't let that deter you, though. It moves quickly, and at a place where all the dishes are under $14, is definitely worth the wait.

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THE ACORN RESTAURANT AND BAR

If you're a devout carnivore who could never imagine ditching meat, it's probably because you've never eaten at The Acorn. Totally unpretentious, this little restaurant offers some of the most delicious and flavourful dishes in the city. 

The Acorn's owner and General Manager Shira Blustein wanted to bring variety to vegetarian cooking in Vancouver. With the help of Head Chef Rob Clarke and Chef de Cuisine Brian Luptak, The Acorn dispels any notion that vegetarian cooking is bland, boring, and brown. If you don't believe us, just head to the corner of Main Street and 24th Avenue on a Friday night - the line up outside the restaurant doesn't lie!

The space is small and cozy, with a contemporary take on 1950s décor. The dishes are relatable (even to those who don't speak vegetarian) and interesting - we haven't seen tofu listed on the menu yet. And like any good Vancouver restaurant, there are always vegan and gluten-free options available.

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KARAMELLER

Candy shops aren't just for kids.

Growing up in Sweden, Louise Schönberg remembers spending her weekly allowance on Saturday sweets. Nostalgic for that memory, she and her husband Luis Giraldo opened Karameller (Swedish for hard candy) in Yaletown in July. The 300 square foot space was designed by Michael Leckie of Leckie Studio - it is bright and contemporary, with hints of the olden days with hexagon tiles at the entrance and light box near the counter. A row of clear bins lines one side of the shop with paper bags and scoops for customers to choose their own candy. Despite the numerous options, the candies are rotated often to ensure you are always able find something new on which to spend your allowance. Imported from Scandinavia, the candies are free of GMOs, trans fats, and high-fructose corn syrup. Bags are $3.49 per 100 grams, $10 for a small glass jar, or $15 for a large.

Louise recommends the Sorbisar (liquorice and raspberry) or the Choko-Banan (marshmallow, banana and chocolate). We recommend anything in the shop - we had to use some serious self restraint to stop ourselves from trying it all.

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THE BIRDS & THE BEETS

Just like its name, The Birds & The Beets combines the familiar with the unexpected, creating a refreshingly unique coffee experience. Instead of the traditional model of coffee and baked goods, The Birds & The Beets focuses on local and house-made items prepared behind the counter - turkey is sourced from the Abbotsford's Rossdown Farms, pork comes from Chilliwack’s Johnston’s Farms, and the whole-grain granola and baked goods are made in house.

That’s not to say the same amount of care is not taken with the caffeine (this is Vancouver, after all). The coffee is from Victoria roasters, Bows & Arrows Coffee Roasters, and the local Matchstick Coffee Roasters. The tea is from Main Street’s Cultivate Tea Brew Bar.

The simple (but delicious) menu is on the wall behind the counter off the Powell Street entrance. If you aren’t pleasantly surprised by the personable, friendly staff when you walk in, you will certainly notice the café’s décor, which fits perfectly with its charm. The exposed old brick walls contrast the new white walls and millwork. Flowers and succulents adorn every nook and cranny, adding to its familiarity and unexpectedness.

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LA CASA GELATO

As you may have heard / experienced, Vancouver has been having a very hot and very dry summer, which isn't showing any signs of abating.

Will all this hot weather, Vancouverites have developed an affinity for ice cream. Thankfully, La Casa Gelato has us covered. With 518 flavours, it would take you nearly a year and a half to try all the flavours (even more if you have a double scoop - think of all the possible permutations!). That's right. It would take you 17 months of trying a different flavour every single day to get through each type. 

This gelato, sorbetto and frozen yogurt establishment originally opened on Commercial Drive in 1982 serving pizza, panarotti, panni and 12 flavours of gelato and sorbetto. It has since grown into the only gelato factory and store in the world that consistently has 218 flavours on location at all times. Choosing a flavour is half the experience (the other half is the décor, atmosphere, and that first lick). 

It's almost impossible to make a recommendation, as we've barely scratched the surface of the available flavours. Regardless of what you choose, we recommend you get it in a hand-made-in-house cone and eat it in the parkette across the street (easily identifiable by its vibrant pink walls). 

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FOOD CART FEST

Back when we were growing up the only food sold out of a cart in Vancouver was hot dogs and chestnuts. Kids these days don't know how good they have it - with over 100 food trucks, carts, and vendors permitted to sell food on Vancouver's streets, the options are endless. There's even an App that locates the food truck hours and locations, allowing you to find a vendor by name, location, or food type.

And just in case you're not much of a food truck hunter, you're in luck. Food Cart Fest Vancouver gathers over 20 food trucks to the Olympic Village every Sunday through the summer. Their website lists all the participating carts - there is definitely something for every budget and taste. But be prepared to wait in line for the most popular trucks (like Tacofino). And if you're thirsty (and over 19), we've heard the beer garden is a great thirst-quencher. 

Admission is $2.50 or free for Vancity members or with a non-perishable food donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

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BESTIE

Everyone has a bestie - that person you don't need to make plans with cause you're always together and who you trust above all else... That friendship might be in trouble, though, when you start spending all your time with your new Bestie, the delicious German street food inspired sausage and beer parlour in Chinatown.  Even if your old bestie is happy to visit Bestie with you, they won't be happy when you refuse to share - the food it just too good.

The menu at Bestie is simple with a choice of several sausages to make up either a Currywurst or a Sausage and Sauerkraut.  Both the Currywurst and the Sausage and Sauerkraut come with crispy golden fries that form the perfect addition to the meal. A selection of salads and pretzels are also available. Bestie values community and supports local growers, butchers and brewers. The sausages are made at Oyama Sausage on Granville Island and all the produce is sourced from local farms (as local as the urban farm three blocks away). There are four taps at the bar that serve up a rotating cast of local craft brews, available in a massive 24 oz. ceramic stein that really rounds out the Vancouverized German street food experience.

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LIBERTY BAKERY

If running a successful café is an art, Liberty Bakery takes the cake.

Liberty Bakery was originally established by  Swedish baker named Gunnar Gustafson and his wife, Liberty, as a 20-year long retirement project. In June of last year, artist Shannon Skansen, musician and photographer Scott Livingstone, and artist Rodney Graham took over the coffee shop, allowing Gunnar and his wife to enjoy their re-retirement. The trio renovated the space, giving it their own personal touch with tables designed by Livingstone and signage designed by Graham.

The artist touch can be seen in the baking, too - from gingerbread cookies shaped like Totoro (the cartoon character), to the chocolate cream puffs that look like oysters, to the sprinkle cookies probably modelled after a Pollock painting. And although we (clearly) have a sweet tooth, Liberty Bakery also offers beautifully (read: artistically) prepared salads, soups, and sandwiches. 

It's impossible to recommend only one thing from Liberty Bakery but we highly suggest accompanying any drink with a baked good. And if you eat it there, you will probably be able to feel yourself becoming more cultured as you are surrounded by the artistry of its three owners.

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EDIBLE CANADA

At nearly 10 million square kilometres in size, most people don't get the chance to visit the country from coast to coast. Unfortunately, it also means most people miss out on all the distinct foods that are available within the five regions that span this great country.

Unless you visit Edible Canada, a self-described culinary tourism and locavore retail company.

Edible Canada on Granville Island selects the very best from Canadian farmers, butchers, foragers and brewers to create a local dining experience. In addition to the Bistro which serves brunch, lunch, dinner, and cocktails, Edible Canada also hosts tours and events throughout the year. And if you want to bite off a slice of BC to take home with you, the retail store sells a curated assortment of edibles made in the province.  

You really can't go wrong here, but we are particularly fond of anything with hollandaise sauce for brunch, with a tall glass of Mike Weir (a Canadian take on the Arnold Palmer). And if it's sunny, a seat on the patio makes for great people watching.

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HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA

Vancouver has seen a surge in the popularity of ramen over the last five years, most of which seem to be located in the West End neighbourhood around Robson and Denman Streets. While there are many to choose from, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka consistently makes the lists of best ramen restaurants in Vancouver. The restaurant is part of a chain from Hokkaido, Japan's most northern island. The restaurants were started by a man called Hitoshi Hatanka who was unhappy with the ramen available in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. He decided to open his own restaurant, which quickly became a local favourite. Today he has restaurants in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, the United States, and Canada (Toronto and Vancouver). 

The menu has multiple pages, but we recommend their signature topknots toroniku ramen. For those new to the ramen experience, it comes in four flavours here: shoyu (soy), miso (soybean paste), shio (salt), and kara miso (spicy soybean).  

There's bound to be a line up out the door, but it's worth the wait. Seating is either at a large circular table where you can watch how the locals eat the long noodles, or at booths.

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BUTTER BAKED GOODS & CAFE

Although not technically in Kerrisdale, Butter is close enough that if the wind is blowing east, the smell of its baked goods probably wafts over. 

Butter Baked Goods and Café was started by Rosie Daykin, an interior designer with a passion for baking. In 2012, Butter opened on Mackenzie Street and has become a popular destination for anyone with a sweet tooth.

The décor is the epitome of what little girls dream of when they think of tea - rose wallpaper, pastel coloured paint, whimsical lighting, and display cases filled with cupcakes, cookies, squares, and cakes. Lewis Carroll's characters would feel quite at home here.  

Butter is not only one of the best spots in Vancouver to push the limits of sugar consumption, it is also the official home of the number one selling cookbook in Canada, Butter Baked Goods: Nostalgic Recipes from a Little Neighbourhood Bakery. And if you'd rather leave the baking to the professionals, you can always take the baking to go - a full list of the goods is available on their website. We would strongly recommend The Chocolate Sandwich Cookie, paired with a tea or latte. 

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BUFALA

This pizzeria is the newest addition to Kerrisdale's restaurants, and is a much needed breath of fresh, trendy air.

Opened by James Iranzad and Josh Pape (who grew up in the area), Bufala is a family-oriented spin off of the pairs' Gastown restaurant, Wildebeest. The atmosphere of Bufala encourages lively conversation and family-style sharing (sometimes with the group next to you), attracting the very young, the very old, and everything in between... After all, it is Kerrisdale

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