28 - Wednesday, October 36, 1991 —- North Shore News NEWS photo Nei! Lucente SUPPER AT Saki’s...A Greek feast of Motitziano, feta cheese, chicken souvlaki and spanakopita is laid out a? Saki’s 22nd Street Cafe in West Varicouver. ; 22nd Street surprise ” Saki’ S continues its location’s ~. tradition of hearty. homecooking Timothy Renshaw , TABLE HOPPING. Saki’s 22nd Street Cafe, 2220 . Marine Dr., West Vancouver. 925-2218. Visa, Mastercard, American Express accepted. Open Monday to Saturday for - lunch and dinner. Open Sun- day for dinner. Call a babysit- ter or take the kids? You could take the kids. : r ’ “ESTAURANTS like ‘Bs Saki’s can defrost the : & glacial hearts of food “critics. “Stumbling across them is sucti an unexpected pleasure on the grease-stick dining beat. Why? Yes, _ why indeed yo! may ask, imperti- hent young upstart in the back “row. + Because they far exceed expec- tations that have been lowered by “too many nights on the bland meat-and-two-veg circuit. .. Table Hopping breezed into ’ Saki’s on a recent Friday night to ‘see what had become of the old 22nd Street Cate locale, that en- thusiastic vendor of robust breakfasts and lunches. . We had not expected much; we were more than pleasantly sur- prised. Saki’s opened in February, Simon Dimakis, formerly of The Simpatico Restaurant and other renowned centres of Greek gastronomy, reasoned that West Vancouver needed a little more Greek spirit, another place where: - * old school ties might be loosened. He appears to have reasoned - tight. A steady stream of West - Vancouver locals flowed through the deors of Dimakis' elegant little restaurant during our stay. They came to partake of Saki’s abundant neighborly. hospitality or merely to partake of the restau- rant's food, which is available to g0 (an astute bit of marketing). Saki’s interior is a tasteful mar- riage of whitewash and Mediter- . Tanean blue; its food an en- _thusiastic rendering of Mediterra- nean rural cuisine. _ Service is-white shirt and tie, uninterrupted by gyrating bellydancers or sabre-jumping waiters. And the food is good. And . cheap (entrees $7 to $10). There.is lots of it, and it is prepared with confidence and imagination. - The restaurant's wine list is not outstanding, but prices are mod- erate ($11 to $20) and selections are available from Italy, France, Greece, Australia and elsewhere. A Wyndham Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95) provided ex- tremely pleasant company for an opening plate of Melitziano ($3.50) with hot-buttered pita bread. The appetizer is made.with whipped eggplant, garlic, lemon and onion. An order of deliciously executed Calamari ($5.95) followed. Saki’s version of this traditional Greek dish boasts big slices of sweet fresh squid lightly encased in a batter that is as crisp and grease-free as the best Japanese tempura. ‘It cornes with a serving of yogurt sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley and a black Greek olive. Precede the above with an Avgolemono Soup ($2.75) and you could walk away well satisfied. But Table Hopping staff are of a more robust breed. Hogs? Perhaps. Hungry? Always. We therefore tackled a Roast Lamb ($9.56), billed as a House Speciality, and a plate of Garlic Prawns ($10.95). The lamb, delivered at a brisk pace after the Calamari had been swept away, was big. It was a feast aboard a large oblong platter: (from left to right) a melange of ‘umatoes, zucchini and cottage-fried potatoes (very good with an underlying pepper bite), fist of roast lamb (tender and abundant), roast potato (simple and substantial) and rice (deco- - rated with chopped parsley). It was more than a match for . me. The food was exuberantly prepared, though somewhat salty, See Cafe page 33 Sue Coleman Internationally known BC. artist will be signing her book and prints on location at Bilton’s. | Edition 450 s/n Thursday, November 7, 3-5pm & 6-9pm Originals and signed and numbered - prints will be on dispiay, plus a selection’ of her poster art. Dogfish Pole Size. 15”"x20". ; BILTO 109 East 1st Stree Gallery: 985-4035 - ; ‘North Var:couver, ° Talking Yellow Pages: 299-9000, 4033. For your enjoyment, our Sushi Buffet atures, both Sushi and. special foods prepared by our kitchen. ONE DAY ONLY pate: Nov. 8rd (Sun. TIME: 4:30-6:30 6:30-8:30 8:30-10:30 (P.M) 5:00-7:00 7:00-9:00 (Maximum 2 Hour Seating Per Reservation) LOCATION: 630 Hornby St., Vancouver (B.C. Bank Building 2F) PRICE: $2 1 (810.50 - 11 years and under) IMQUIRY: 685-7355 . (Sorry No Discount Coupon Accepted) Dinner, Lunch .and Weekend Brunch | 1362 Marine De. 9251945 West Vancouver