This review covers two separate dinners at this restaurant.  The first visit was before heading up to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to see an opera. I thought the calamari appetiser was one of the best dishes of this kind I have tasted, and when another friend came into town for a visit, I suggested we see if a repeat would be as good.  

After a hard day of training, the thought of my usual "nutritionally correct" supper of baked salmon and green salad was not really appealing, and instead we decided to head up to the local restaurant rows on Hamilton and Mainland Streets and pick somewhere for dinner.

Hungry after a couple of intense hours of boot camp, we walked up to Mainland Street's restaurant row for supper but did not get very far. My dinner companion confessed that since his last visit here he had been craving for a repeat meal of the sushi burger at Hub Restaurant. So that's where we went.  The Sushi burger consists of sesame crusted albacore tune loin with a wasabi soy mayonnaise, cucumber avocado, lettuce  and a soy chili dip. There is a choice of side house or Caesar salad or fries.

This is the second time I have eaten at r.tl but as the previous occasion was a spontaneous visit I did not have my camera with me, and I felt the attractive presentation of the dishes warranted visual rather than verbal images. My first visit was a few weeks ago: while walking back from the theatre. My friend and I wanted to continue our discussion of the performance over a light meal, and on the spur of the moment, dropped into r.tl. It was a little late in the evening for eating, by my standards anyway; from years of arriving home from work famished I am usually ready for dinner before 6 pm! But we were warmly welcomed by Alain Canuel, operations director and Sommelier, who explained the concept behind the menu. I enjoyed the couple of dishes we had so much that I vowed to return with my camera, and learn more about the regional tasting concept.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Lofty heights and creepy crawlies don’t bother me at all yet the mere thought of being enclosed in a small dark space sends me off in urgent need of a glass of Gewurztraminer, with creamy Cambozola, almonds and grapes. That’s comfort food for a Yaletown MUPPY.