Stainsby Drools at Nook; Levykh Swoons Over Cinara

The Westender's Anya Levykh heads to the newly-opened Cinara and finds a room with 'bright windows, antique yet comfy chairs, and retro dishware.' It's all good news for chef/owner Lucais Syme as 'outstanding starters such as the peas and carrots over honey-spiced ricotta are simple, elegant and fully adult dishes.' Mains 'feel more Alsatian in flavour, while pan-fried chicken livers with salad hint at German or more eastern roots' plus 'stand-out' service bags an overall score of 4.5/5.

Across town, Mia Stainsby visits Kitsilano to cheek out Nook and discovers pizzas with a 'blistered, charred crust and good quality ingredients topping (them)'. We learn that their dough recipe is 'pretty much the one that came with the gas pizza oven'. Stainsby claims to be 'Pavlov's panting dog when it comes to ricotta-anything' and drools over a 'whipped ricotta crostini with a drizzle of honey and sprinkling of hazelnuts.' Pizzas please with just one jarring note; the 'overly salty prosciutto' and a casarecce pasta with house-made extruded pasta noodles 'had a bit of chew' but overall scores 3.4/5.
· Cinara Takes Menu Beyond Borders [WE]
· Kitsilano Neighbourhood Takes to Nook [Van Sun]
· All Previous Week in Reviews [EVAN]