Taste of the Balkans
Steps away from English Bay and a short walk from Stanley Park, Denman Street is the obvious place to get a bite to eat if you’re hanging out at the beach or strolling the seawall. Take a pass on the pedestrian hot dogs and hamburgers, and try the Bulgarian specialties at Acacia Fillo Bar. Run by a seasoned wife and husband team, Acacia offers freshly baked fillo creations stuffed with sweet and savoury flavours served from breakfast to dinner.

Bright and Airy
Behind its orange awning, the eatery’s snug space holds half a dozen small tables and a few stools by the window counter. The light tile floor blends with biscuit-colored walls painted with decorative arches and olive green leaves. Terracotta tile mosaics on the round iron tables accentuate the pastoral feel. High ceilings and a wide skylight make the compact room bright and airy. At the front counter, you can peruse the delectable desserts in one case and choose a slice of banitza from another.

Fresh, Flavourful Fillo
Acacia’s specialty is banitza, a traditional Bulgarian dish made by rolling handmade fillo around a mixture of eggs and sirene or kashkaval (sheep milk cheeses). Several stuffed rolls are coiled in a spiral forming a round pie that’s baked and sliced like pizza. Banitza stuffed with spinach and feta; leeks and feta; or ground beef (called burek) comes garnished with homemade yoghurt. A variety of savoury fillo triangles are stuffed with vegetables, sliced meats and seafood then baked to order. Combinations like Brie and pecans; halibut, shrimp and spinach; and roasted lamb and green onions are succulent inside their crispy fillo parcels. Pumpkin banitza, chocolate mousse in a fillo shell, strawberry tarts and baked apples are only a few of the luscious desserts you can savour with a Café D’arte coffee. Everything on the menu is under $10, unless you take home a whole banitza. Acacia also offers its fillo delights through Acacia Catering.