NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

HEAD Sea Mate Peter Chiu at his Sea Mates restaurant, which is currentiy celebrating ite 25th anniversary.
The North Vancouver restaurant remains a local favourite for reasonabiv priced seafood and steak and

seafcod combinations. (See page 28.)

DINING news flash:
local dining doors
clese; opportunity
knocks,

Subritle this one: life and
~ death in the dining Jane,
where the two are but an
entree apart.
: Regular readers will recall
the Feb. 9 Table Hopping

episode reporting the Jan. 31
‘demise of Goodtellas IL

- Goodfellas Linguini Bar
and Grill owners Bob
Constabaris and David
Koonzr had taken over the
old Vivace! locale (60
’ Semisch Ave., North
> Vancouver) a scant 18
months earlier: loaded with
optimism and plans to dupli-
cate their downtown success
north of the inlet.

Burt it was not to be.

Now, alas, more bad news
_ on the local dining, front:

West Vancouver’s

. Organic |
_| Galifornia Navel! BC Gol
f Oranges

large size

Japanese
Plant
9

$4.99

(while supplies last - we reserve the right to limit quantities.)

Ambleside Bistro (235
15th Se. West Vancouver)
closed its doors on Feb. 15.
What was opened with

such panache and energy in
July 1998 by the original

ree Bistro Boys — Joe
Perri, Shawn Perger and
Steve Myddleton — has
become but the latest ia a
long string of restaurants to
fail in the second-storey
Bellevue Avenue location.
(Anyone remember Infusicn?
Ciao Mein? the Granite Cafe?
King’s Fare? La Belle Sole?

ibleside

a)

The aio had moved west
after their runaway success at
Edgemont’s Village Bistro,
seeking a bigger dining room
and bigger paydays. Bue the
bigger, better bistro plan
began to unravel soon after
the restaurant opened.

The Ambleside’s demise
follows the initial departure
of chef Myddicton and the
subsequent departure of
front-end man ferger.

Perri has considerable
energy and charm, but the
demands of trying to keep
the restaurant operating in
the style upon which it was
founded proved too much for
a single Bistro Boy.

Perri also blames new no-
smoking legislation for
undermining his restaurant’s
viability.

Much of the bistro’s
lounge trade, he said, includ-
ed cigar aficionados and

Organic

den Delicious|

Mr. Noodle

Fresh Noodles
300 g

Prices effective Feb. 23 - Feb. 26, 2000

other tobacco fans. Having to
walk down two flights of
stairs to light up was not
worth it for them. The likeli-
hood that one or more of
those patrons might fall in
the process was not worth if
for Perri.

And too, the Bistro has no
outdoor patio, which makes
for a long dry summer for
high-end, high-overhead
restaurants.

But enough of departures.
This column is dedicated to
just desserts and happy end-
ings.

And for the Goodfellas
locale good news abounds.

Michel Segur, the soft-
spoken and congenial host
and owner of West
Vancouver's fine Chez
Michel (1373 Marine Dr.,
West Vancouver, 926-4913)
restaurant, has indulged him-

See Bistro page 27

Wednesday, February 23, 2000 — North Shore News -— 25

Coming Maren 72.

: €0 @ river near you.

Fresh & Fabulous

A creative approach to superior Italian cuisine
in a casual, upbeat atmosphere.

Great Food e3 Great Friends Make Great Times
Gift Certificates Available © Open Lunch & Dinner

2232 Marine Drive
Underground packing in rear

For reservations cal!

| 921-2228

Escape Ray

Join us for a Sicilian |

Join as for a Sicilian

celebration at Barolo |
restaurant on

Feb. 23/00 at 6:00 pm §

ANTIPASTO
Arancini Di Riso
Peperani Ripieni-alla Trapanese
Melancane Ripient

_ FASTA | :

Spaghettini Di San Giuseppe Con
Mollica Di Pane Fresco
PIATTO FORTS
Calamari Duborriti
Invoitini Di Pesce Spuda-Alla
Palermitana
DOLCE
Mpiqnuilata

One of the most traditional Sicilian denerts
Served with a glass of Marsala Wine

$35.00 p.p. ——_< af

west van

RESERVATIONS
926-4228

open for lunch Mon-Fri
and dinner 7 days

per person

* Tamago * Salmon Teriyaki

* Special Scallop Cone * Chicken Karaage
® Spicy Tana Cone * Jka Karaage

® Salmon Sashimi # Agedashi Tofu

* Tana Sashimi * Tonkatsts

* Sunomono * Vegetable Tempura
* Goma yle * Oyster Motoyuki

* Cyoza *VYakisoba

* Chicken Teriyaki * Miso Soup’

© Beef Teriyaki * Rice

e California Maki
® B.C. Roll

© Tekka Maki

¢ Saleion Moki

® Kappa Maki

© Futo Maki

& Salmon

® Tuna

© Imitation Cray

* Red Snapper