| Table Hopping digests rere RG north shore news % DINING NEWS photo Cindy Goodman “TASTY TRAIN ... Chet Neil Schroeter takes in the air prior to the May 21 inaugur- ai run of BC Rail’s Pacific Starlight Dinner Train, Table Hopping's pick for Best New Dining Idea. From page 24 eateries and has managed to succeed where others have failed. It delivers ample slices of good authentic Persian cuisine and culture. Large dining room, com- plete with dance floor and Islamic mirror ball. Zen Japanese Restaurant, 2232 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 925-0667; fax: 925-0668. West Vancouver’s most, clegant Japanese restaurant. A place of sophisticated sushi run by Japanese food enthusiast Angela Jamal. g00 Best pub addition: The Black Bear Neighborhood Pub, 1177 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver, 990-8880. Prosperous pub pair Ron Slinger and Dave Raht departed their Upper Lonsdale neighborhood Queens Cross pub to bring real ale to the thirsty Valley folk. The Bear delivers far more than just suds. The food is good and the atmos- phere is ski chalet robust. Too bad it had ro be set in a shopping centre parking lor. PPing a oo 3 Best luncheon counter: Calvin's Cafe, 2452 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 922- 4222. The North Shore boasts an impressive roster of lunch bars, but in 1997 Calvin's delivered the best midday sandwich shop dining expe- rience. This is not a white shirt and black tic affair. It is Hermann Grth and Milo Bigler’s rock solid Swiss lunch bar in Dundarave Village. Big sandwiches, hearty soups, spirited neigh- borhoad atmosphere. Completely non-smoking. Completely charming. oly Best caffeine counter: Garibaldi’s Espresso at Lonsdale Quay, 102-123 Carrie Cates Crt., North Vancouver, 986-9228. Morad Jahanshahi’s high- octane espresso deluxe Quay corner lunch bar. Specializes in panini sandwiches, first- rate cappuccino /espresso and stimulating cross- counter conversation. Q090 Best stock option: The Stock Pot at the Lonsdale Quay Public Market, 203—123 Carrie Cates Crt., North Vancouver, 983-2774; fax 984-0507. Not the Dow Jones; far more reliable. Master chef Ralf Dauns’ masterful soup kitchen: a place dedicated wo the heart and sou! of dining all over the globe: soups and stocks. Not really a restau- rant — though it serves a few counter stools __ yore a place to snag a litre of Borscht to take out and down at home with a chunk of dark rye bread and a schooner of chilled ale. O00 Cheap and cheerful: Orange Club Cafe, 1440 Lonsdale Ave., North Vencouver, 986-6272. Club president and head chef Yoshihiro (Hire) Tsuruki continues to deliver one of the best dining deals on the North Shore. Good quality entrees tor under S9. It’s net a get- rich-quick scheme for Mr. Tsuruki, bur it’s a good din- ner date for Mr. and Mrs. Economizer. Oa Most improved kitchen: ‘orchy’s in the Village, 1050 West Queens, North Vancouver, 987-7444. With Chef Allison James rattling che pots and pans in this small Edgemont Village diner, the food went from acceptable to applaudable over night aoa Best overall: 1552 Lonsdale Ave. Thursday-Sunday 11:30am-midnight Great British Food Live Entertainment tunch Value $6.00, Dinner vatuy $12.00 t Nat valid Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or New Years Eve. One coupon per group.ne | separate cheques. if you have two or more items from our bar, dessert of appetizer menu, { we will cordiatly invite yor and your guest to enjoy a complimentary entree when 2 second i entree of equal or greator value is gutchased. Dine in only. Nat valld an Specia) Occasions 5 1 LIVE MEXICAN ENTERTAINMENT ! i RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED AT 988-TACO | eerenren 1200 Lonsdale. North Vancouver mat ees ay on ae ies a Pa com ote me a Village Bistro, 3135 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver, 980-5535. Hats off to the meticu- . lous Bistro Boys (Joe Perri, Shawn Perger, Sam Kang and chef Steve Myddleten) for gracing Edgemont Village with one of the best restaurants on the North Shore and beyond. Smail dining room — intimate is the romantic term — crack- erjack kitchen, and a menu whose biggest strength is a nightly fresh sheet that goes above and beyond the call of duty, Carmelo’s Ristorante Italiano, 1448 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 922- 4719. Jean Claude Lo-Cicero’s tine West Vancouver place of fralian cuisine. Intimate and polished. New Italian brick oven pizza turns out some of the best pizza in the Lower Mainland. Expansion into adjacent storefront has doubled Carmelo's size and enhanced its internal ambi- ence, The Savoury Restaurant, 4390 Gallant Ave., North Vancouver, 929-2373. Despice his outward facade of European calm, Augusto Pecorelli is nota status quo kind of guy. He continues co push his fine Deep Cove restaurant to higher culinary ground. Eastern North Shore's best restaurant. Salute!, 1747 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 922- 6282. Gamal Hanna’s sophisti- cated Italian restaurant has added such savvy accou- trements as a mini cigar Wednesday, December 24, 1997 ~- North Shore News -25 room. Front man Sergio Gallo is surely one of the most discerning hosts on this side of the ialet. Excellent food, elegant ambience. 300 Best small diner: Chefi’s Restaurant, 4371 Gallant Ave., Deep Cove North Vancouver, 929- NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge OVEN’S OVATION .». Roberto Lo- Cicero at the brick oven of Carmelo’s restau- rant in West Vancouver, one of Table Hopping’s Best Overall Dining experi- ences for 1997. porns Flavour of India i 6 Years of Successful Operation Serving Authentic indian Gourmet Cuisine I Re Happy & Prosperous New Year! 1 Wishing All Our Friends and Patrons 3 Q a Very Merry Christmas and a Be Stotday & AbGnday Butter $-9pn ot I Ba open Tues - Sat 5-JOpm. Sun & Mon 5-9pm | Closed Christmas Day & New Years Day 985-5477 4175 E. 3rd St., N. Van. ample parking west side of building ae ee Lunch Buffet Peesian, Geeek & Italian food Monday-Friday 11:30-3:30 . Sarucday & Sunday 12-4 o-serecreesseere Soup. Saled bac, BBQ. Kabobs and mang other items Sook your parties! Persepolis Restaurant “Sealing for 140 112-13th Street, N. Van. 990-0001 Special menu at 9:30pm, December 31st Regular menu for seating prior ta 9:30pm, open Jan ist at Spm dinner only. Open Dee 24th dunch & dinner. Closed Dee 25th - 28th Qpen Mon-Sat Lunc & Dinner 1373 Marine Drive, West Vancouver nema. sy year’s dining highlights 3912. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Doug MeCall’s neighbor- ly Deep Cove diner boasts a Invely atmosphere, bright interior decor and good food. G00 Wholesome highlight: See Recommended page 26 "Seafood . | Restaurant. Waterfront | Free Delivery {within 10 km., min. order $20) 987-2609 or 987-2728 Waterfront + Lonsdate Quay #3-157 Chadwick Cri..N.V. Next to Seats tarminat above McDonalds :a