The Secret's Out
An industrial neighbourhood of warehouses and auto shops in central Burnaby is probably the last place you'd think to look for a hip watering hole. But here, carved out of a long-established catering company, is Nathan's Grill, a sexy, sleek little room boasting a long list of tasty and affordable creations. The idea was to bring a bit of Yaletown style to the 'burbs", but with two major recreation centres nearby, portions are large enough to sate the appetites of athletes and aficionados.

Affordable West Coast Cuisine
Nathan's Grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and does it all with a decidely West Coast sensibility. Smoked salmon figures prominently in several breakfast dishes, and daily lunch and dinner specials often include a fresh seafood dish. But there are also plenty of choices for landlubbers, most notably, the Braised Lamb Shank served with seasonal veggies and mashed potatoes.

A Place to Party
Like those other upscale urban casual restaurants, Nathan's Grill offers tapas plates and a full list of martinis, wines by the glass, and draft beers. However, they offer something else rarely seen in Vancouver: Happy Hour! From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays all appies are half-priced - think Ahi tuna tacos, calamari, chicken drumettes, crab fritters - perfect for sharing with a round of reasonably priced beverages. Sports fans will be happy to know that they can catch all the UFC and Canucks pay-per-view action here.