Reviewer: Linda Bates

"It’s hard for me to imagine how this place could be anything but a winner."

"In every case the dishes were fresh, original without being weird, and served in nicely sized portions."

"Appetizers and salads too show imagination in their combination of flavours."

"The beautiful room is elegant yet casual, with a fireplace for rainy days and a large patio for sunny ones."

"Our servers, too, were friendly and professional without being the least bit snooty."

"Count me in as a fan."

Ratings (out of 5 stars):
Overall: 4 stars
Food: 4 stars
Ambience: 4 1/2 stars
Service: 4 stars

Reviewer: Mark Laba

"Sleekly modern, without losing the comfort factor and the big booths don't hurt either, with red suede coverings that you want to rub your face against. A salt-water aquarium adds a mesmerizing fluorescence in the dim lighting and there's a second room devoted to lounge living in all its swanky glory."

"(The seafood wonton stack) was was very tasty with pan seared shrimp and scallops lolling in a wasabi sauce."

"Also sampled the chicken satay with peanut sauce and a great Asian slaw with a zingy dressing of sesame oil, sweet soy, ginger and a touch of dijon for body."

"For mains, I picked the Moroccan spice-rubbed lamb chops... Very Savoury"

"Peaches had walnut-crusted chinook salmon, beautifully cooked and the nutty crust lent a sweet finish."

"So don't miss one of the pizzas or pastas, the seafood hotpot piling sealife over rice noodles in curry sauce or maple chipotle glazed back ribs. Massive winelist also to match any mood and for dessert, I gotta recommend the peanut butter creme brule."

Ratings:
Food: B+
Service: A+
Atmosphere: A

Reviewer: Robin Mines

Relish is a fine-looking place: outside, a generously proportioned patio, safely away from traffic's worst fumes; inside, cosy and well-spaced ultrasuede booths.

"With Pope heading the kitchen, details are handled with almost fine-dining skill; the Moroccan-rubbed lamb chops, for example, are whittled down to succulent, pink, fat-free perfection, and the peanut butter creme brulee is a study in expert, micro-thin caramelization."

"...customers are treated with nothing short of kid-glove devotion."

"In fact, if ever a restaurant deserved to make a go of it in this notoriously business-tough city, it's Relish"

"And if you like a really nice bottle of wine but start hyperventilating at the usual 100-plus per cent markup that puts a decent Australian Shiraz beyond your grasp, you'll like wine nut Jason Sohor's philosophy of trimming the price of premium bottles down to a manageable size."

"I'll drink to that-and to the success of Matt and the lads at Relish."

Reviewer: ANGELA MURRILLS

"The new eatery Relish creatively combines value, variety, and good taste."

"(a) cleverly conceived menu, which has as its backbone Vancouver's greatest culinary hits and wanders from there"

"The sirloin here is a sensibly sized seven ounces, was tender, cooked medium-rare as requested, and came with garlicky mashed potatoes and a slew of roasted root vegetables. The whole plate, he said, was excellent."

"(The food was) in fact, several steps up in the case of the risotto, with its copious duck and wild mushrooms. Goat cheese and cherry tomatoes tempered the richness, and slivers of al dente asparagus contributed texture."

"but this isn't just a handy downtown watering hole. The wine list has more than a few surprises, reasonable markups, and plenty of by-the-glass options."

"Large servings, prime value -- Relish is a good place all round."

Reviewer: Tim Pawsey

"... this spot has almost everything you're looking for in a downtown dining lounge - a chameleon that wears its West Coat Chef's toque almost as easily as its 'no worries' bar cap."

"(The bar) is pretty cool, but if you're tempted to stay there, just make a note of coming back later. The wide ranging, reasonably priced menu that awaits around the corner is worth checking out."

"Our starters of a firmly garlicky caesar salad and zesty basil toned Tuscan tomato soup underscored the value on offer."

"Also successful, the seafood hotpot tureen with seared scallops, salmon, mussels and prawns with red bell peppers in a mildly spiced curry sauce over rice noodles."

"The refit that this quintet comes up with succeeds."

"... this relish is worth a taste."

America's Next Top Model premiere party at relish
Special thanks to Lanny Pepler!

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