If there’s a default food for me (and many Vancouverites) – it’s sushi. Chinese-owned Japanese restaurants are a dime a dozen, found in every corner of the GVRD, but there are a small handful that stand above the rest; Nikkyu is one of them.

From the outside, Nikkyu is rather unassuming, and that doesn’t change past the doors either. Wooden tables and chairs are clustered tightly in the small dining hall, allowing for easy (though slightly public) conversations and access to the attentive staff.

The food, like the restaurant itself, is a simple affair, but an enjoyable one. Withing minutes of ordering, dishes started rolling in. While each entree was presented well, it was the tuna dishes that stood out the most from common fare. The soft textures of the negitoro sashimi ($1/pc) melted in my mouth, while the green onions in the negitoro and spicy tuna rolls ($3.85) gave a nice kick to the staple. The spider ($9.50) and rainbow rolls ($8.50), while competent, were a bit too familiar; I’d had the same formula elsewhere.

If you’re looking for an authentic or innovative Japanese experience, Nikkyu isn’t your place, but if you’re with a small group looking for familiar flavours, fresh tuna, and quality service, I recommend it.

For more photos from Nikkyu, visit the Flickr set.

Main Street foodies, you’re in for a treat; the former owners of Tofino’s critically acclaimed RainCoast Cafe have moved into your neighbourhood, bringing their same signature Pan-American cuisine but with a chic new look. Despite the sweltering heat (that had other restaurants shuttered), Latitude’s stellar service, intimate atmosphere, and trademark eats were a great experience from top to bottom.

First up was an avocado and mango salad ($9) on baby arugula, garnished with spiced pepitas, sweet onion, toasted cumin, vinaigrette and a slice of fried panela cheese on the side to finish. Though it reads busy, it was clear that a lot of love was put into balancing the salad; the mix of mellow, sweet, sour, and spicy flavours played incredibly well together.

The second and final dish was a special: a smoked black cod and halibut cake ($13), crowned with samphire (sea asparagus) and seated on roasted corn and heirloom tomato salsa. At this point, the heat was getting to me and I had lost my sense of taste, but I will say the presentation was gorgeous. The addition of samphire was clever and very much appreciated, adding an oceanic flavour to the seafood dish.

Even in record-breaking heat, Latitude managed to impress. Many thanks to our lovely waitress who kept our glasses full and introduced me to a new favourite BC lager, Dead Frog. If you’re looking for an intimate place to dine on Main with a modern flair and a Pan-American flavour, I know no better.