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Updating the Vancouver HeatMap: Where to Eat Now

by Nikki Bayley
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by Nikki Bayley

If you've been puzzling over where you should eat out, Eater is back to answer that very question with our newest edition of the Heatmap—a guide to what's new, what's hot, and which restaurants are causing most buzz in Van City. 
While the Eater 38 is a resource that covers old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not necessarily a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. Thus, in no particular order, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change every month to continuously highlight where the food nerds are flocking to at the moment. Spring is in full flood, we're teetering on the edge of patio season and new restaurants are popping up across the city like a whack-a-mole game. Awards season has come and shaken up the pack, so where to eat right now?
Come on in, and meet the new heat-makers.
IN: The Farmer's Apprentice, Belgard Kitchen, Uva, Dynasty and Jackalope's Neighbourhood Dive.

OUT: The Fish Counter, Basho Cafe
Got a suggestion for a restaurant you think deserves to be added to next month's Heatmap? Drop us a line or leave a comment or contact our 100% confidential TipLine and stay tuned for the next edition of the Heatmap, dropping the first Thursday of June.



Heatmap History:

May
Added: The Farmer's Apprentice, Belgard Kitchen, Uva, Dynasty and Jackalope's Neighbourhood Dive.
Removed: The Fish Counter, Basho Cafe

April
Added The Roof at Hotel Vancouver, Cinara, Basho Cafe, Blacktail Florist, Los Cuervos Taqueria & Cantina
Removed Notturno, Ask For Luigi, Bestie, Mamie Taylor's, Yolk's, Wagon Rouge

March
Added Merchant's Oyster Bar, Burger 2.85, Upstairs at Campagnolo
Removed: Greenhorn, Temper Pastry, Dunlevy Snack Bar

February
Added: Bestie, Temper Pastry, Greenhorn
Removed: Mosaic, Rain or Shine Ice Cream, Craft Beer Market

January

Added: Yolk's, The Fish Counter, Ask for Luigi and the Dunlevy Snack Bar

Removed: Burdock & Co, Good Wolfe, Bambudda and Boneta

December

Added: Rain or Shine Ice Cream, Notturno, Craft Beer Market, Mosaic, Boneta

Removed: Gringo, Cuchillo, Emerald

November

Added: Wagon Rouge, Gringo, Emerald

Removed: Earnest Ice Cream, Homer Street Cafe and Bar, The Farmer's Apprentice

Read More

The Farmer’s Apprentice

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The big success story at this year’s Vancouver Magazine Restaurant awards, David Gunawan and team romped home with a dazzling trio of gongs: Best New Restaurant, Best Casual Restaurant and Best Overall Restaurant. Sure, they’re on the 38 and yes, we never usually do this - but to ignore the crazy white-hot heat of Farmer’s Apprentice right now would do the concept of HEAT a disservice.
1529 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1R1, Canada
(604) 620-2070
(604) 620-2070

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant 皇朝海鮮酒家

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Winning not one but two Critic’s Choice Signature Dish awards in the recent Chinese Restaurant Awards rockets Dynasty onto the hot list. Go there and order the Geoduck - Two Ways and Hand-Shredded Chicken with Bamboo Cane to see what the judges raved about.
108-777 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z, Canada
(604) 876-8388
(604) 876-8388

Los Cuervos Taqueria & Cantina

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Riding the buzz from a pair of good reviews from the Globe and Mail and Van Sun, this compact neighbourhood taqueria is earning its good word by whipping up authentic always-cooked-to-order tacos which sing with well-balanced flavours and delicious local ingredients. The seared tuna and chipotle crema tostada may be the best $5 you ever spent.
603 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Merchant's Oyster Bar

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A new chef, David Jackman, at this neighbourhood favourite has put it squarely back on the map. Yes, go for the great buck-a-shuck oyster deals, but take time to check out treats like house-made gnocchi and their EVOO ice cream with sea salt too. Oh - and brunch is a solid bet especially the lobster benedict.
1590 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y2, Canada

Jackalope's Neighbourhood Dive

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Winning fans with their Southern-inspired comfort food and craft beer, Jackalope opened just a few weeks ago and are already scoring good word with Yelpsters and beyond for their great service, tasty food and pinball machines. Welcome to the Heatmap.
2257 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V3, Canada
(604) 568-6674
(604) 568-6674

Upstairs at Campagnolo

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Fans of the much-missed Fuel/Refuel Dirty Burger rejoice: it is back. Given a boost by inclusion on our recent Burger Map, Upstairs continues to sizzle.
1020 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W1, Canada
(604) 484-6018
(604) 484-6018

Belgard Kitchen

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Vancouver Urban Winery’s long-awaited kitchen opened a few weeks ago for lunch and dinner service under the command of Earl's alum Chef Reuben Major, serving up quick eats like fresh salads, a burger, pizzetti and soup for lunch before swapping over to a small plate menu in the evening. The cavernous space has been split in two with the hotly anticipated Postmark Brewing (directed by Nate Rayment of Howe Sound Brewing) taking up one half making a far more intimate and welcoming space for the VUW and Belgard Kitchen to thrive.
55 Dunlevy Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada
(604) 566-9463
(604) 566-9463

The Blacktail Florist

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Ex-Top Chef Jimmy Stewart's passion project opens in the old House Guest space in Gastown. Designer Craig Stanghetta has woven his usual magical spell and spun a space of light and creamy warmth in which chef Stewart and team can create vegetable-forward seasonal cuisine which seeks to answer the question: what is Canadian cuisine.
322 Water St, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Cinara

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This is chef Lucais Syme's (La Pentola) new project serving "modern-style European cuisine with a strong Italian focus". A brace of good reviews keeps Cinara sizzling away on the Heatmap.
350 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada
604-428-9694
604-428-9694

Burger 2.85

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One no-name burger van. Two items. Queues down the block and a Globe & Mail review from restaurant critic Alexandra Gill. It's a $2.85 burger and incredibly, you can believe the hype. It's fantastic: all crisp lettuce, juicy patty and a judicious slick of Teriyaki sauce. Months after they launched we are all still obsessed.
500 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada

Uva Wine Bar

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Under the skillful stewardship of top bartender Lauren Mote, and with a fresh programme of food and drink specials, DJ nights and fun cocktail contests, Uva is showing up on the radar again and has earned its place back on the Heatmap.
900 Seymour St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2L9, Canada
(604) 632-9560
(604) 632-9560

The Roof, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

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At last! The Roof at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is open for drinks, dinner —and we hope— all-round dancing and being glamourous in a suitably retro style. Best views are, of course, at sunset. Take a seat at the sunken bar and re-discover your favourite Prohibition-era cocktail.
900 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6, Canada
(604) 684-3131
(604) 684-3131
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The Farmer’s Apprentice

1529 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1R1, Canada
The big success story at this year’s Vancouver Magazine Restaurant awards, David Gunawan and team romped home with a dazzling trio of gongs: Best New Restaurant, Best Casual Restaurant and Best Overall Restaurant. Sure, they’re on the 38 and yes, we never usually do this - but to ignore the crazy white-hot heat of Farmer’s Apprentice right now would do the concept of HEAT a disservice.
1529 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1R1, Canada
(604) 620-2070
(604) 620-2070

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant 皇朝海鮮酒家

108-777 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z, Canada
Winning not one but two Critic’s Choice Signature Dish awards in the recent Chinese Restaurant Awards rockets Dynasty onto the hot list. Go there and order the Geoduck - Two Ways and Hand-Shredded Chicken with Bamboo Cane to see what the judges raved about.
108-777 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z, Canada
(604) 876-8388
(604) 876-8388

Los Cuervos Taqueria & Cantina

603 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Riding the buzz from a pair of good reviews from the Globe and Mail and Van Sun, this compact neighbourhood taqueria is earning its good word by whipping up authentic always-cooked-to-order tacos which sing with well-balanced flavours and delicious local ingredients. The seared tuna and chipotle crema tostada may be the best $5 you ever spent.
603 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Merchant's Oyster Bar

1590 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y2, Canada
A new chef, David Jackman, at this neighbourhood favourite has put it squarely back on the map. Yes, go for the great buck-a-shuck oyster deals, but take time to check out treats like house-made gnocchi and their EVOO ice cream with sea salt too. Oh - and brunch is a solid bet especially the lobster benedict.
1590 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y2, Canada

Jackalope's Neighbourhood Dive

2257 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V3, Canada
Winning fans with their Southern-inspired comfort food and craft beer, Jackalope opened just a few weeks ago and are already scoring good word with Yelpsters and beyond for their great service, tasty food and pinball machines. Welcome to the Heatmap.
2257 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V3, Canada
(604) 568-6674
(604) 568-6674

Upstairs at Campagnolo

1020 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W1, Canada
Fans of the much-missed Fuel/Refuel Dirty Burger rejoice: it is back. Given a boost by inclusion on our recent Burger Map, Upstairs continues to sizzle.
1020 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W1, Canada
(604) 484-6018
(604) 484-6018

Belgard Kitchen

55 Dunlevy Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Vancouver Urban Winery’s long-awaited kitchen opened a few weeks ago for lunch and dinner service under the command of Earl's alum Chef Reuben Major, serving up quick eats like fresh salads, a burger, pizzetti and soup for lunch before swapping over to a small plate menu in the evening. The cavernous space has been split in two with the hotly anticipated Postmark Brewing (directed by Nate Rayment of Howe Sound Brewing) taking up one half making a far more intimate and welcoming space for the VUW and Belgard Kitchen to thrive.
55 Dunlevy Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada
(604) 566-9463
(604) 566-9463

The Blacktail Florist

322 Water St, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Ex-Top Chef Jimmy Stewart's passion project opens in the old House Guest space in Gastown. Designer Craig Stanghetta has woven his usual magical spell and spun a space of light and creamy warmth in which chef Stewart and team can create vegetable-forward seasonal cuisine which seeks to answer the question: what is Canadian cuisine.
322 Water St, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Cinara

350 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada
This is chef Lucais Syme's (La Pentola) new project serving "modern-style European cuisine with a strong Italian focus". A brace of good reviews keeps Cinara sizzling away on the Heatmap.
350 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada
604-428-9694
604-428-9694

Burger 2.85

500 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada
One no-name burger van. Two items. Queues down the block and a Globe & Mail review from restaurant critic Alexandra Gill. It's a $2.85 burger and incredibly, you can believe the hype. It's fantastic: all crisp lettuce, juicy patty and a judicious slick of Teriyaki sauce. Months after they launched we are all still obsessed.
500 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada

Uva Wine Bar

900 Seymour St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2L9, Canada
Under the skillful stewardship of top bartender Lauren Mote, and with a fresh programme of food and drink specials, DJ nights and fun cocktail contests, Uva is showing up on the radar again and has earned its place back on the Heatmap.
900 Seymour St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2L9, Canada
(604) 632-9560
(604) 632-9560

The Roof, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

900 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6, Canada
At last! The Roof at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is open for drinks, dinner —and we hope— all-round dancing and being glamourous in a suitably retro style. Best views are, of course, at sunset. Take a seat at the sunken bar and re-discover your favourite Prohibition-era cocktail.
900 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6, Canada
(604) 684-3131
(604) 684-3131