The third and final in my three-post series on Vancouver restaurants, and quite possibly the best for last. As much as we love our casual lunch spots, we knew the most special experience would be at The Acorn, an incredible vegetarian restaurant in the Riley Park neighborhood. The first time we were at Acorn was at the end of a very long rainy day in November. We had walked more than fifteen miles at that point and the downpour had rarely let up. But our meal at Acorn was a transcendent experience that rejuvenated body and soul. Our second visit was no less magical, even if the weather was completely different. We got our same cozy table by the window, but this time it was open onto a perfectly mild summer evening. I doubt any single restaurant will ever mean more to us than Acorn, even if we don't return for ten more years.
Travel Guide
Bestie
Bestie might be my favorite place in the world. It's certainly my favorite spot for a quick bite. That fact is slightly complicated by the fact that it's 2700 miles from Pittsburgh, in Vancouver to be precise. Nonetheless, since Kristin and I were honeymooning in the Pacific Northwest, we took the opportunity to stop by twice for the best currywurst this side of the Atlantic (Pacific?) If you're wondering what currywurst is, you're looking at it: sausage on a bed of french fries, covered in curry ketchup. It's popular in Germany as a street food, but when I'm in Vancouver I revere it as the finest dining experience I can have.
(Also, bring back Schnitzel night!)
Nelson the Seagull
Our honeymoon begins! We're back in Vancouver and it's time to revisit some of the highlights of our last trip out here. At the top of the list for Kristin was Nelson the Seagull, so we headed there as soon as we got into the city for lunch. The main draw for Kristin (and many others) was the avocado toast (on delicious homemade bread) with poached eggs that she'd been thinking about since November. It did not disappoint.
Like many places in Gastown and Vancouver in general, the atmosphere at Nelson is eclectic, laid-back, and full of character. There's a similar vibe on a smaller scale in Pittsburgh, but Vancouver is full of quirky places like Nelson that make it worth exploring on and off the beaten path.
Brew Gentlemen
Breweries are appearing in Pittsburgh at a much faster rate than I'm able to visit them, so despite Brew Gentlemen (in Braddock) being one of the first-wave local taprooms that's been around for more than three years, I hadn't made my way out there until just yesterday. They brew all types of beers, but their signature style is the unfiltered IPA. I sampled two of those yesterday, including their staple General Braddock's IPA, as well as an unfiltered pale ale. All three were excellent, and they shared an earthy, grassy profile more common in English style IPAs than the floral and citric American styles that are so pervasive in local breweries today.