24 - Friday, January 16, 1987 - North Shore News WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT ON THE N. SHORE Jest restaurants Of “ THE PROBLEM with Best Of lists is that they, by’ definition, fail to acknowl- edge the myriad of Just About Best Of runners-up. People who regularly buttonhole me on the street attired in napkins and waving crab-cracking tools or other eating equipment usually ac- cuse me of being far too lenient with local restaurants. But, with a few minor excep- tions, the North Shore restaurant scene now presents a progressive and interesting vista. Restaurateurs of half-hearted commitment and half-baked tal- ents are now routinely weeded out by what has become a highly com- petitive North Shore restaurant market. With all that in mind and remembering that the selections below include only those restau- rants visited over the past year, here is my list of outstanding North Shore restaurants for 1986, and the various categories in which they were rated for their ex- cellence. eBest Display of Christmas Lights: The Oasis Pitt Grill, 657 West Third St., North Vancouver. A brilliant riot of reds, yellows and canned frost crowned with a rooftop illuminated life-size plastic sculpture of Mr. Claus and his reindeer, all decorating a normally sedate Third Street daytime trucker’s diner. Most Oddball locale: The Anchor In, 1653 Columbia St., North Vancouver. Deep in the heart of the North Shere’s boat repair and construc- tion heartland amid ramshackle warehouses, Outboard motor parts and discarded cans of two-stroke oil, this burger’ and pasta eatery, formerly a bunkhouse. and a retreat for wayward sailors, casu- ally continues churning out basic grub amid the industrial flotsam and jetsam. Announcement Boston Pizza-North Van. Debbie Hutt Boston's is pleased to an- nounce the appointment off [Debbie Hutt as restaurant manager. Ms. Hutt brings with her, 16 years of restaurant in-}. idustry experience. Best Curry House: Cafe Nairobi, 1344 Lonsdale Ave., North Van- cOu' sr. Full-bodied Indian-East African curries prepared with imagination and presented with flair. *Most Weddings Hosted: Canyon Gardens, 3381 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver. Over 6,000 at last count. All hosted in the restaurant’s Alpine and Ridgewood rooms, presided over by owner and professional wedding guest Ray Marinakis. A North Shore marital institution. «Best Deal for Families: Bonanza Restaurant, 1070 Marine Drive, table hopping Timothy Renshaw sap North Vancouver. Overhead ct this cafeteria style eatery has been cut to the bare vinyl table tops by trimming such expensive baubles as liquor and waiters. Dinner includes access to an impressive food bar and all the soft ice cream you can eat, a frightening prospect for young children and ice cream addicts. Best Pizza: Sorrento’s, 2385 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. Restaurant owners Robert and Roya Ara produce top of the line, low-profile pizzas that come equipped with substantial white flour, whole wheat or deep dish crusts. All are home-made, low-fat and easy on the digestive tract. *Best Breakfast: The 22nd Street - Cafe, 2220 Marine, West Van- couver. Home-style foods prepared by the culinary Carter family with a generous seasoning of ’60s back- to-the-earth sensibilities. Eggs, omelettes, croissants, sausages, home-made jams and marmalades are all served in glorious quantity and full-flavored variety for the early morning and late afternoon food enthusiast. eBest Breakfast With Which to Nurse a Hangover: The Tomahawk Barbecue Restaurant, . 1550 Philip, North Vancouver. The Tomahawk’s Bacon and Eggs Yukon Style is one of the North Shore’s traditional cures for UI Prey Oo much the ills inflicted by vdleyeorn. alavanting with John i the Tomahawk celebrated ts 60rh anniversary in June. *Best Newfangled H P.J.'s Allstar Cafe, 7 Drive, North Vancouver: 4 4, in what has becomé Fishy competitive field, P.J- oy burger the original big and bee hemical- joint dedicated to using ‘98 mam- free ingredients and ser¥’ moth portions. b : “Best. Traditional Ha” Mess The White Spot, 7° Drive, West Vancouver. A classic from its unioye wun oe the beef within and the ot burger sauce upon, the White Pin depth may have been eclipsé bY brash and variety of toppiN® «remains new burger upstarts, buf val ham- in its own class for oV@ burger flavor and charact oma, 60 *Best Pasta: Cafe “cOUVer Semisch Ave., North V2? 1iOns. all Features 50 pasta seler iNterest- made on the premises, Excellent ing and first-class. 00d an- home-made bread and 8 tipasto plates. t . “Most Voracious Resta hora: tion: 61 Lonsdale, N° couver. er . During 1986, the fore, lores tion of the Grape EscaP acallits up and spat out, Whats4 onsdale. Willie and Phil's and 6! Key Largo, an excelle F food and tropical cockt4 one on the current occupant appetite whipping the location’S ants and for unsuspecting restaul their ownership. Best Chinese Food: The gmDurpgers: 00 Marine Capilano 1184 DENMAN 684-5324 ANT The Finest of . Greek Cooking SPECIAL °14,95 For January Greek Platter for Two Greek Salad, Calamari, Meatballs Dolmades, Spanakopita, Souviak!, Satziki, Homous, Mousaka 2422 MARINE DRIVE WEST VANCOUVER RESERVATIONS 922-5751 Heights Restaurant, 5020 Capilano Road. With good quality, low-priced food, the Capilano Heights is bathed in the bright and affable light of owner C.C. Sun, who recently invested in an overhaul "BIODI listed that has added an airy 60-seat solarium to help patrons absorb the location’s West Coast rain forest setting. *Best Lunch: Capers Restaurant, See Brando‘s Page 26 teat a An Exotic Safari into the Heart of Fine Indian Cuisine Try our famous Samosas For Your Party in our dinin: g room when you purchase any regular seafood dinner (minimum $4.95) with this coupon’ Authentic English Style : ; Fish 'N Chip Shoppe & Liconsed premises. Wheelchairs accessible 987-0686 ‘NEXT TO SAVE-ON-FOODS AT PEMBERTON PLAZA “ One coupon per table. Not valld with other specials. Offer oxpires Jan. 30, 1967 INCLUDES © gems or spaghetti ° tossed salad « garlic toast APPETIZERS 2 FOR 1 “ALL NIGHT LONG” 984-0407 1078 Marine Drive North Vancouver, B.C.