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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 the air and the city is looking gorgeous; but forget cherry blossom fever, it's all about the matcha, thanks to Basho and tacos at Los Cuervos. Be one of the first to get a reservation at Cinara and Blacktail Florist (hipster beware: it's not a florist...) and go Fairmont Crazy as they own the city this month by re-opening the ultra-sexy Roof at the Hotel Vancouver.
Come on in, and meet the new heat-makers.

IN: The Roof at Hotel Vancouver, Cinara, Basho Cafe, Blacktail Florist, Los Cuervos Taqueria & Cantina

OUT: Notturno, Ask For Luigi, Bestie, Mamie Taylor's, Yolk's, Wagon Rouge

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 May.


Heatmap History:

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

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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

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 launch we are all still obsessed.
500 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, 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". It's only been open a few days and we're sure the buzz will grow and grow.
350 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada
604-428-9694
604-428-9694

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

Upstairs at Campagnolo

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Fans of the much-missed Fuel/Refuel Dirty Burger rejoice: it is back.
1020 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W1, Canada
(604) 484-6018
(604) 484-6018

Basho

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A flurry of glowing reviews and good word on social media has catapulted Basho's home-style Japanese cafe on to the heatmap. Go for the matcha lattes and matcha-and-black-sesame cupcakes, stay for the tuna tataki and warm, friendly service.
2007 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2, Canada
(604) 428-6276
(604) 428-6276

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

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

The Fish Counter

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The creators of the city's Ocean Wise fish programme, Chef Robert Clark and Marine Biologist Mike McDermid have opened a fish counter on Main serving nothing but - of course - sustainable fish. As well as seafood to cook at home you can also dive into their delicious fried to order fish and chips (with possibly the city's best batter), tacos and hearty chowders and soups at the dining counter. Check out the stunning carved benches - loving attention to detail shines from every corner.
3825 Main St, Vancouver, BC, Canada
(604) 876-3474
(604) 876-3474
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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

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 launch we are all still obsessed.
500 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, 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". It's only been open a few days and we're sure the buzz will grow and grow.
350 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6B, Canada
604-428-9694
604-428-9694

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

Upstairs at Campagnolo

1020 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W1, Canada
Fans of the much-missed Fuel/Refuel Dirty Burger rejoice: it is back.
1020 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W1, Canada
(604) 484-6018
(604) 484-6018

Basho

2007 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2, Canada
A flurry of glowing reviews and good word on social media has catapulted Basho's home-style Japanese cafe on to the heatmap. Go for the matcha lattes and matcha-and-black-sesame cupcakes, stay for the tuna tataki and warm, friendly service.
2007 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2, Canada
(604) 428-6276
(604) 428-6276

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

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

The Fish Counter

3825 Main St, Vancouver, BC, Canada
The creators of the city's Ocean Wise fish programme, Chef Robert Clark and Marine Biologist Mike McDermid have opened a fish counter on Main serving nothing but - of course - sustainable fish. As well as seafood to cook at home you can also dive into their delicious fried to order fish and chips (with possibly the city's best batter), tacos and hearty chowders and soups at the dining counter. Check out the stunning carved benches - loving attention to detail shines from every corner.
3825 Main St, Vancouver, BC, Canada
(604) 876-3474
(604) 876-3474