Intimate and sophisticated, but light on the snotty - I'm a fan. Rare's recent EnRoute magazine accolade hasn't gone to their head. Carefully prepared and presented food, we were impressed by the amount of energy expended in product sourcing. This is fun times for food nerds and a train wreck for vegetarians. I especially liked the three tier pricing for tasting menu wine parings. A small plate approach allows for different levels of indulgence. 

Having spent my childhood in Richmond, eating a sub from Bob's Subs was a goal. These are big sandwiches and there's no way a little kid could eat one. My older brothers reminded me of this often. Other than an a couple of ownership changes nothing much has changed here for 30 years. Delicious subs unlike anything you'd get at a chain. We split a BBQ chicken between the two us and barely made it through. Strangely, one of the best things about these sandwiches is the finely sliced iceberg lettuce - the perfect compliment to gooey cheese, hot meat, related sauces on a grilled bun. Soooo delicious.

If you go out for a huge lunch and don't really have a big appetite for dinner, but of course don't want to miss out on anything (a problem I often have) Salt is the perfect choice.

The concept is pick your own cheese, charcuterie and condiment samplers accompanied by a substantial 'by the glass' wine, spirit and sherry list. While the lists may seem a little daunting, staff were willing and more importantly, able, to answer questions. Great products, served as they should be, I look forward to seeing a few more adventurous selections added to the lists (not much in the way of stinky armpit cheese or charcuterie made from offal), but in the meantime, I'll shut up and eat.

Consult a map before you leave, because you'll be uncertain about heading down Blood Alley without some reassurance that there's a restaurant down there.

Not for everyone, C Restaurant is  hyper-affected, but if you're in the mood for heavy presentation and mysterious food entities (which, I am, sometimes) this is your place - lots of smoke and mirrors. We had the 9 course tasting menu and I was impressed with most of the courses (my foie gras was a little over done) and the wine pairings were top-notch. The first course cucumber and tuna tartare with macadamia nut was paired with an amazing sake, that served as a component of the dish, rather than simply a taste accessory. I was surprised by the number of kids present, clearly they're ok with it. Also, of note, a great view of False Creek and a large patio.

A fun wine bar with a good small plate menu and a fixe prix. If you've been to Vintage in Victoria, you'll notice that this is where they stole the colour coded menu idea from. Generally speaking, a highly superior restaurant to Vintage. The small plates are fairly big, but they were all tasty and elegantly presented. I liked the wine list and more importantly it was interesting - I go to a wine bar to try new things and don't want to see the same olds. Good for a group looking to experiment a little bit. The service was also very good.