"Consummate restaurateur" Vikram Vij presides over this "very popular" South Granville "destination" where the "enormously satisfying" Indian cooking exhibits an "unrivalled" "depth of flavours" and the "warm", "festive" atmosphere feels like a "private party", complete with "attentive" servers; on the downside, no reserving means inevitable "long waits", but fans insist it's "so worth it",... more

At Vancouver's most innovative Indian restaurant, genial proprietor Vikram Vij and his wife Meeru Dhalwala use local ingredients to create exciting takes on South Asian cuisine. Dishes such as lamb "popsicles" in a creamy curry, spot prawns served with a wheat berry pilaf, or roasted eggplant and butternut squash with black chickpeas are far from traditional but are beautifully executed. Mr.... more

Vij's doesn't take reservations, as is apparent by the line outside every night, but patrons huddled under the neon sign don't seem to mind since they're treated to tea and papadums (a thin bread made from lentils). Inside, the decor is as warm and subtle as the seasonings, which are all roasted, hand-ground, and used with studied delicacy. The menu changes monthly, though some of the more... more