Dinner at Calvin’s sampled From page 25 and lite. The first outlook being that there is more to life than work. Calvin’s, for example, was not initially set up as a dawn “dl dusk business. It was not Orth and Bigler’s idea of a good time. As they say in clicheville: been there, done that, bought the T-shurc. And there is nothing wore than dining at 2 restaurant in which the principal or princi- pals have invested so much time in its running thar there is nothing left fv the dining room at 8 p.m. but exhausted stares and exasperation. Calvin’s consequently spent its formative years being tucked into bed betore 6 p.m. And with each partner spelling the other off there was no shortage of kitchen or din- ing room energy. Thus its success. But dinner beckoned, as it does with most restaurants worth their salt. Ir began with weekend openings after dark. Sull, Orth and Bigler were not ready to sacrifice all their evenings as they had for much of their previous restaurant career. Enter Rene Widmer, another ex-William Tell alum- nus and another spark of Swiss energy. Add in chef Anna McSporran and voila: dinner is served and Calvin’s presents a whole new side of its personal- ity. Call it informal formal. Loose collars and quality cui- ® Serving NEWS phote Paul MeGrath SWISS Meringue Glace au Chocolate presented at West Vancouver's Calvin's Cafe. Calvin's after dark is much like Calvin's after breakfast. The dining room is com- pact; the tabies tight together; the atmosphere charged with neighborly good spirits. And no smoke. Soon after Calvin’s launch, Orth and Bigler determined that cigarette smoke, a main- stay of the restaurant’s prede- cessor, didn’t do much for Calvin's persona. Or its breathable atmosphere. They initially prohibited smoking on weekend nights. But in 1995, they made a full commitment to clean air and designated Calvin's a 100% non-smoking restaurant. Ahead of their time, they were. And they have prospered ever since. Besides clean air, expect a simple menu of well made dishes at Calvin’s that bear Ly a World Famous Fish & Chips 3 : im HORSESHOE BAY since 1946 * Monday to Friday only, 2 p.m. to closing © Horseshoe Bay location only * Dine-in only ® Not valid with other promotional offers \W/ oe With this coupon, buy the first entree, and receive ff a second entree of equal or lesser value -. t 6408 Bay Sireet - West Vancouver 921-7755. strong Swiss influence. Chicken Zurichvise and Wiener Schnitzel, New York Steak with herb butter, West Coast Salmon, Breast of Chicken, Cajun-style garlic prawns and other Calvin's entrees come with vegetables and Spatzli (Swiss dumplings). Calvin's also offers a Vegetarian Ratatouille casse- role and a pair of pasta. Prices are reasonable: entrees range from $10 up to $14. And a good list of nightly specials usually sel! for around $15. On a recent Friday night the list included everything irom grilled pork chops to bouillabaisse. Sampled from that selec- tion were Sea Bass, which came grilled ina creamy dill sauce, and Black and White. The latter dish featured a filet of beef tenderloin finished in a simple red wine sauce and a veal cutlet topped with a mushroom cream sauce. Both plates came with a good assortment of steamed vegetables — cauliflower, broccoli, green beans and car- rots. The Sea Bass was served with a side of Spatzli, delicate egg and flour dumplings; the Gambrinus-Restaurant a “Pasta, ail “closed Monda Fee “S8ae TORE fa) daysiic ae 337°" BEST GREEK 1998! “Spacious split level dining room. Smail outdoor patio. Gregarious Mediterranean atmosphere regardless of external temperatures.” Tim RENSHAW- TABLE HoPPiNG NortH SHore News Thank you to all our customers who have supported us over the last 15 years. We wish you a very happy New Year! MANAGEMENT & STAFF AT ANATOLI'S Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner 985-9853 nat Black and White came with sliced roast potatoes. Good dollar value on both counts. And preparation combined keen eve to plate detail and an inspired kitchen hand. Though a quibble here: that hand was too generous with the salt for my tastes. It isa Table Hopping quib- ble that extends to many restaurants. Calvin's evening dining room is presided aver by Widmer. His tableside manner is at once personable and pro- fessional. It benefits trom a combination of natural conge- niality and vears of service industry experience. Arne A cree Rea TE IN, TE cote en AE oer - Private Party Reom Available SONS aaa fee a a ate ae eet un aera ate! BAROLO i Raa nla ristorante italiano 15cu marine drive, west van. reservations 926-4228 Desserts are worth saving. room for, The meringue, tor example, isa challenging hillock of white meringue stutfed with vanilla ice cream and topped with melted chocolate. Good pies, too. Calvin's dinner service took a break during the Christmas season, ft will restart on Jan. 15. Anyone who has enjoved Calvin's pre-dinner wares wil find much to enjoy at the Dundarave restaurant after dark. Anyone who has not had the chance to enjoy either should add it ro their list of resolutions, File it under the can-do side. Gift i Certificate ary Special Valid when rwu ar mare dinuer entrees are purchased. Limit 1 coupon per couple & 2 conpuns per table. Offer valid until January 31/99. | ? Dee, | sees Tal: 922-2411 1734 Marine Drive, RESTAURANT JANUARY’S NUDLI SPECTACULAR SEAFOOD or CHICKEN VEGETARIAN or LAMB $9.95 add $2.00 for “THE MERINGUE SWAN” {not offered on the 22RD} BURNS’ NIGHT DINWER JANUARY 23RD \ Valid Sun. to Thurs. 5:30-10pm H Fri, & Sat. 5:30-6:30pm_ q Limit 2 coupons per table (Offer expires January 31/99) Caunels 2 “haditiexal Ttalian Ceucrine 7448 Marine Dr. West. Vancsuver 922-4719