Rock Salt

There's no water view or flashy decor at this understated little BYO bistro, but it's popular for very good reason. Settle into comfy banquette seating inside or the candlelit courtyard overlooking a park for a relaxed dinner that feels a world away from the Hastings Street hustle. A diverse menu has all bases covered, from simple tempura asparagus and hollandaise sauce to enticing flavour combinations such as whiting with scallop mousse, coconut-fried eggplant and mandarin and ginger salt. The generous whiting entree is unquestionably fresh and moist but lacked some of the finer details described on the menu. Plump housemade pockets of salmon-filled ravioli in a rich crab and saffron sauce are evidence of an assured hand in the kitchen. Desserts sum up the commitment to produce-driven food made from scratch, such as rustic peach tart drizzled with a scoop of rich, bittersweet honeycomb ice-cream.