Il Giardino - The Who's Who of Vancouver

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Il Giardino - The Who's Who of Vancouver

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Il Giardino has to be one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver, hands down. It's especially lovely in the summer when you can sit on the terrace. It's like you're not even in Vancouver anymore. I like to pretend I'm in a small seaside town in Italy, but that's just me. One of the best patios in the city.

This is the place to go when you know someone else will be paying. And it is also the place to see and be seen. Excellent people watching for the who's who of Vancouver. The first time I was there, some famous hockey old timers were dining nearby - but I couldn't tell you their names. Just that the guys I were with were in awe. And the second time I went there, last February, I was the one in awe when I got to gaze at Jason Priestley at the next table. Sigh. Brandon Walsh used to be sooo dreamy. He's turned into a bit of a mountain man these days, grizzly beard and all - gotta say, I was kind of into it. Alas, he's just too short for me. Very short.

The food at Il Giardino is absolutely divine. Each bite is pleasurable and an orgasm in your mouth. I have had the quail, scallops, salmon, risotto, antipasto, calamari, chocolate ganache... have never been disappointed. I remember each and every morsel.

The server recommended a gorgeous wine to us the other day. Tommasi le Rosse, an Italian Pinot Grigio. It went down so smoothly, almost too smoothly. I just couldn't put my glass down. I believe our table went through 6 bottles... no joke. There is nothing like a late Friday afternoon lunch, drinking on a patio at a fine restaurant when you should be sitting at your desk working. I must confess, that after all of those bottles, I engaged in a tactical vomit in the washroom. Just to get me through the rest of the night without passing out... Seems like such a huge shame. But it was necessary.

Ladies, this is THE spot to go to spy sexy business hot shots during the lunch hour and after work. I can't promise they're quality. But they're quite nice to look at and may send you champagne to your table...

Read more restaurant reviews in our Eats and Drinks section at Civilized Spice.

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