Latitude, Vancouver

t’s funny how times change. Main Street was once a place where, after antique shopping, you’d grab some quick pub fare or perhaps share some cheap Asian food with a friend or two. But as the trendy indie shops began to invade the strip, Main Street suddenly found itself with some honest-to-goodness cachet, and now there’s more than a few hip spots to eat. Joining the fray is Latitude, a restaurant that not only brings great food to the area, but also provides a designer space to eat it in.

You may remember this as the space that once housed Budapest, but the room has been given a complete transformation. Accomplished Vancouver design firm, Evoke ID (The Irish Heather, Cascade Room, Sanafir), have managed to create a comfortable feel with modern lighting and reclaimed wood. The dining area features built in furniture and an intimate vibe. The sleek marble bar looks great, but the stools aren’t overly comfortable, so I’d suggest only parking there briefly. Besides, there is no cocktail wizardry here; the wine list is the star.

The Latitude concept was developed by owners Larry Nicolay and Lisa Henderson (who also acts as Executive Chef), the minds behind Tofino’s critically acclaimed RainCoast Café. Back in Vancouver they’ve brought us “wine and food of the Americas,” a menu full of local ingredients and South American and Asian accents. If you’re sharing, I’d suggest you start with some local oysters served with apple granita or the tomato chili sangrita, or do them fried with a citrus mayo. Follow these up with scallops on a masa pancake with a side of most definitely fresh-made guacamole. The charcuterie takes a welcome jump from its usual land ingredients to a seafood-based plate that includes seafood sausage, smoked albacore tuna and an excellent cod brandade that you might just have to order more of.

The mains here are surprisingly reasonably priced, considering the amount of food and flavour arriving on your plate. Duck breast with chocolate orange pan sauce, a sweet potato flan and chayote squash is begging to be devoured quickly, as is the Paella, blending its South American background with ingredients from its new home (BC local spot prawns, halibut and mussles). A flank steak receives similar treatment with some Latin chimichurri sauce, as does the halibut with its avocado creama. Chef Henderson has created a menu that manages to bring together the Americas without having them arguing on the plate.

Latitude is a comfortable restaurant, with a kick of sleek, serving an innovative yet accessible cuisine and a wine program that includes some old favourites while suggesting new ones. In the ever competitive Vancouver market, Latitude has brought something unique to the mouths of the hungry city.

Address: 3250 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
Contact: 604-875-6246
Cuisine: Contemporary
Area: Main Street
Venue: Restaurant
Hours: Daily: 5:00 pm – 12:00am
Price Range: $$$ (Within Reach)
Payment: Master Card, Visa, American Express

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