#old spaghetti factory vancouver

[oddphotos362]

[keensdesign]

Happy National Lasagna Day! 🎉🇮🇹🍝

Today, we celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures and flavors that make #VancouverBC, such a vibrant and diverse city. From the bustling streets of #CommercialDrive to the scenic views of Stanley Park, #Vancouver is a melting pot of traditions and cuisines.

As we honour this delicious day, here are three must-try lasagna spots:

1��⃣ The Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown has been serving up classic Italian dishes since 1970. It’s a beloved spot for families and anyone craving a taste of nostalgia. @oldspaghettifactory @oldspaghettifactory_gastown

2️⃣ Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar is renowned for its mouth-watering #lasagna, made with a family recipe that includes ricotta, bolognese sauce, and mozzarella. It’s a dish you won’t want to miss. @frankiesitalian

3️⃣ Giardino Restaurant offers not only delicious lasagna but also a stunning ambiance perfect for your next Instagram post. The Tuscan-inspired decor and beautifully plated dishes make it a social media favourite. @giardinova

Celebrate today by indulging in some lasagna and sharing your favorite spots with us! 🍽️📸 #NationalLasagnaDay #FoodieFavorites #BrandingDesign #MarketingMagic #LittleItalyYVR #LittleItalyVancouver

VancouverEats #VancouverFood #VancouverFoodie

[moonmausoleum]

The Creepy History of The Haunted Old Spaghetti Factory

Take a journey through the macabre and spooky history of The Haunted Old Spaghetti Factory in Vancouver, a family restaurant where you get a ghost story served with your meal. 

Take a journey through the macabre and spooky history of The Haunted Old Spaghetti Factory in Vancouver, a family restaurant where you get a ghost story served with your meal.  Right before opening time, a waitress was walking in the back of the restaurant to check if all the tables were set. She suddenly saw a little boy under one of the boots and went over to him to see if he was alright.…

[crystalsandcrochet]

The Old Spaghetti Factory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

[myhauntedsalem]

Terrified Night Watchmen

Waterfront Station is an old train depot in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Located in the western historic Gastown district, this grand building reflects the golden luxury era of train travel.

The station’s elegance was featured in the American television show The X-Files. A statue located on the southeast corner of the building known as Angel of Victory was featured in one episode.

This station recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary. It was built in 1915 by the Canadian Pacific Railroad and is still a busy transportation hub for the lower mainland.

As one Canadian journalist put it a building this old cannot survive without quirks. Waterfront Station is considered Vancouver’s most haunted.

In recent years, multiple night watchmen who work in the station during graveyard shifts have seen apparitions and experienced poltergeist activity.

This activity is so pronounced it has terrified them.

A favorite encounter happened late one night. A guard spotted a woman dressed in a 1920s flapper outfit dancing solo through one corridor on the west side of the station. He also heard 1920s music. When he approached this female the music stopped abruptly and she vanished.

Another guard experienced what he characterized as “the fright of his life” while he patrolled the northwest corner of the building. He entered one empty room with only his flashlight for light.

He spotted the ghost of a “little old lady.” A bright glowing light surrounded her. He described her as having a mournful expression. As he stood rooted to the floor, this woman reached out to him.

He bolted from the room. Later he stated he had no idea how he managed this for he had been in a state of shock.

Yet another security guard inspecting the upper floor on the east side of the building experienced poltergeist activity. As he walked through one room used to store old desks something caught his attention.

He became aware he was not alone. Seeing nothing amiss he became nervous. He decided to leave. When he turned around to exit he found the desks had all been moved together silently.

They now blocked his exit path. In a panic he jumped on top of one and ran from the room.

Many other night watchmen have reported hearing the sound of phantom footsteps strike the station’s tiled floors and soft disembodied voices when they are the only ones in the building.

One sight that is often reported by the guards involves three ghosts. They state they watched three old ladies sitting on one particular station bench in the middle of the night. It appears they are waiting for a train that never arrives.

Ghostly soldiers are sometimes spotted in Waterfront. This station was heavily used during both the first and second world wars.

One stark apparition often seen appears on the north side of the station on the tracks outside.

In 1926, a brakeman while making repairs was killed in the rail yard. He was knocked unconscious by falling debris on the tracks. Tragically, a passenger train then ran over him, decapitating his head.

Since, many have reported seeing this headless brakeman roaming the tracks–especially in rainy weather. He carries a glowing lantern in one hand.

This apparition has also been seen in other parts of Gastown. The Old Spaghetti Factory a restaurant in the area also lays claim to this ghost.

People wonder if he is still on the job or if he is just looking for his head.

[rjdavies]

Spooky and the Supernatural Series: Haunted Restaurants

Supernatural, Spooky, Creature and Places Series we continue with ….

Today’s Feature: Haunted Restaurants

Old Spaghetti Factory

53 Water Street, Vancouver British Columbia 

This building was built in 1912, the Old Spaghetti Factory opened in 1970 at this location. Things moving, odd noises and banging, lights flickering, a little boy under a booth before the restaurant opens and a waitress went over to help him. There was a loud bang, she was startled and looked over her shoulder, when she looked back the little boy was gone. Ghost appearing to staff. 

Keg Mansion

515 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Ontario

This building was built in 1867 for the McMaster’s family and later purchased by the Massey family. There are a couple ghosts that can be seen at this location, a little boy playing on the stairs, a ghost of a maid who haunts the second floor bathroom, and sometimes even a vision of a woman hanging from where she had allegedly hung herself in 1915. 

The Frog: A Firkin Pub

4854 Yonge Street North, North York, Ontario

Established at this location in 1994, staff complaints of someone unseen watching them, many won’t go into the basement, toilets and alarms going off mysteriously by themselves, customers being locked in bathroom stalls and spotting shadows in the basement hallways. 

Eating out, where you can get more than what you asked for. 

R. J. Davies

A Riveting Jacked-In Dreamy Mind-Bender

Visit my website at https://rjdavies.ca/ and sign up for my mailing list!

[myallaroundtheworld-blog]

Vancouver City Guide

Vancouver, EH?

Whether you’re just visiting for the weekend or you will spend more than a week here, I’m positive these tips will leave you with plenty of things to do and food to eat ;) ENJOY!

P.s. the best time to visit is between June and September to guarantee nice weather. But don’t forget Vancouver is also known as “Raincouver” so be prepared with an umbrella always with you.

VANCOUVER FOOD

-      Medina Café: fuel up for a long day with a hearty breakfast. Considered as the best breakfast in town – so expect to wait. My recommendation àorder a liege waffle with your choice of dipping sauce.

-      Chambar: if you want to avoid the line at Medina Cafe, Chambar is for you. The food is exactly the same, and the interior is even prettier.

-      The old spaghetti factory: if you’re in Gastown this place is an ideal spot to have dinner for a very convenient price. Also the inside is totally worth.

-      Vancouver Lookout ($$$): if you want a bird’s eye view, check out the Vancouver Lookout, it is in Gastown but you can see the whole city. Be sure you don’t get there on a cloudy day.

THINGS TO DO

-      Stanley Park: is a huge urban park, it has trails, old growth forest, beaches and the largest aquarium in Canada. The perfect spot for a picnic or stop by Teahouse which doesn’t have a huge variety of teas but does have a full menu and also serves wine, beer and cocktails.  

-      Lynn Canyon Park:

-      Granville Island: to get there you can take a water taxi to the island or a bus from the city. Here you’ll found a market with lots of fresh food, local made shops and restaurants. Check out the Granville Island Broom Co, where you can find handmade brooms and watch the owners as they make the brooms. -      Day trip to Whistler 

  -      Kitsilano beach: take your picnic supplies and head over this beach. After your picnic, head back towards Gastown in Vancouver.

-      Gastown: Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood. With ted brick streets and vintage lamps, don’t miss the Steam Clock, a steam powered clock that whistles a chime every 15 minutes. 

-      Granville Street: the heart of the town, this is the street where everyone is and it is a must. You can spend the afternoon here walking, shopping or taking a drink. This street has so much to offer, make sure you give yourself some time to visit it.

-      Vancouver Public library: one of the most amazing libraries I have ever seen.  

I hope this guide help you to plan your trip and enjoy the most of Vancouver.

Have a wonderful holiday!!!

By: Salma Hernandez Ramirez.

[desert-scorpio]

Time Machine- Downtown Vancouver - 20th of June 2018 #photography #citylife #bicycle #time #blackandwhitephoto #mood #antique #texture #downtownvancouver #travel #vacation #destinations #vancouver #canada #artistlife #artistoninstagram (at Old Spaghetti Factory Canada)

[keensdesign]

Happy National Lasagna Day! 🎉🇮🇹🍝

Today, we celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures and flavors that make #VancouverBC, such a vibrant and diverse city. From the bustling streets of #CommercialDrive to the scenic views of Stanley Park, #Vancouver is a melting pot of traditions and cuisines.

As we honour this delicious day, here are three must-try lasagna spots:

1️⃣ The Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown has been serving up classic Italian dishes since 1970. It’s a beloved spot for families and anyone craving a taste of nostalgia. @oldspaghettifactory @oldspaghettifactory_gastown

2️⃣ Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar is renowned for its mouth-watering #lasagna, made with a family recipe that includes ricotta, bolognese sauce, and mozzarella. It’s a dish you won’t want to miss. @frankiesitalian

3️⃣ Giardino Restaurant offers not only delicious lasagna but also a stunning ambiance perfect for your next Instagram post. The Tuscan-inspired decor and beautifully plated dishes make it a social media favourite. @giardinova

Celebrate today by indulging in some lasagna and sharing your favorite spots with us! 🍽️📸 #NationalLasagnaDay #FoodieFavorites #BrandingDesign #MarketingMagic #LittleItalyYVR #LittleItalyVancouver

VancouverEats #VancouverFood #VancouverFoodie

[delectable-travel-dining]

Canada's National Cocktail Turns 50 - And Here Are 4 Great Places to Drink It

It's as Canadian as maple syrup. The Caesar is Canada's national cocktail. Created in a hotel bar in Calgary in 1969, it's been the only-in-Canada favorite game night, summer patio, and 'hair of the dog' Sunday brunch cocktail. Caesars even prompted an exclusively Canadian cocktail mix: Clamato juice, a combination of clam and tomato juice, which you can find on the shelves of almost every market in the country.

The country's 35 million residents consume an estimated 350 million Caesars every year, with variations and a cornucopia of local and inventive garnishes that ratchet up competition between bars across the country.

Feel like a taste of Canada? Well, book a trip to one of these standout Caesar cocktail destinations from coast to coast… or enjoy the recipes these bars, restaurants and hotels have been kind enough to share.

Hail Caesar!

Lynn Elmhirst, Producer/ Host, BestTrip TV

The Birthplace: Westin Hotel – Calgary, Alberta

Today's Westin in Canada's oil country capital was the Calgary Inn in 1969. Bar manager Walter Chell was assigned the creative task of devising a signature cocktail for the opening of the hotel's new Italian restaurant. He called on his own Italian roots and favorite dish, spaghetti with clams, mashing clams and blending them with tomato juice, adding spice, topping the beverage with a celery stalk, a 'crown' for a cocktail to be named after ancient Roman emperors.

The Caesar is still on the bar menu at the Westin's Liquid Lounge in Calgary, and although its recipe is true to Walter Chell's original recipe, they make it unique using local vodka from Eau Claire Distillery.

The Original Caesar Recipe

1 lime wedge

1 T celery salt or as needed

ice cubes as needed

1 oz vodka

1 dash Worcestershire sauce, or to taste

1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Tobasco), or to taste

8 oz tomato and clam juice cocktail (such as Mott's Clamato or Walter Chell Caesar mix)

1 celery stick

Wet the rim of a cocktail glass with the lime wedge; set aside for garnish. Place celery salt in a small dish, and press the rim of the glass into the salt to coat. Add ice to the glass.

Pour vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce over the ice; top with tomato-clam juice. Garnish with lime wedge and celery stick.

Pro Tip: Double down on local flavor, pairing the Liquid Lounge's Caesar with the hotel's western-themed Bison Nachos.

The First Caesar Bar: 1858 Caesar Bar - Collingwood, Ontario

Two hours north of Toronto, mountains meet the shore of the vast Georgian Bay on the Great Lakes. The town of Collingwood is the gateway to the four-season Blue Mountains resort area, where skiing and snowboarding in the winter meet hiking and biking in the summer, and a host of marine activities in this historic Great Lakes shipping and ship building destination. Collingwood's beaux-art Federal Building downtown is one attraction. Another is the first Caesar Bar in North America.

1858 Caesar Bar features a huge menu of Caesars from traditional to outrageous, and you can even build your own custom Caesar cocktail. They all uniquely contain Walkers OneShot Caesar Additive, the Caesar seasoning that was the inspiration for the bar. They shared the recipe for their all-Canadian flavored Caesar:

1858 Caesar Bar - Canadian Maple BBQ Caesar

Start - Rim a 16oz to 20oz Glass with Walkers OneShot ‘Bold and Savory Rimmer’

Use Lemon or Lime Juice on a Tea Plate or Bowl to Wet your glass for the Rimmer to stick to the glass

Rim your glass

Add lots of ICE, THIS is important for a Great Caesar.. Yes ICE! Fill the glass full of ICE

Add Saddleback Whisky - Maple Bacon Whisky

Add Mott’s Clamato Original - Or your favorite Clam Juice

And now here comes the Magic - Add about 1oz of Walkers OneShot Premium HandCrafted Caesar Additive - Choose your desired Heat Level from Mild to Hot

Garnish with a piece of Maple Canadian Bacon

Finish - The Best Part - ENJOY this True ALL Canadian Caesar

Pro Tip: It's easy to make your own Maple Bacon - Get some BBQ Sauce and add some pure Canadian Maple syrup to the BBQ sauce. Stir it up, and brush onto the cooked piece of bacon.

The Liberty Distillery – Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada's West Coast cruise port is famously nestled between the sea and the mountains. Vancouver's Granville Island neighborhood has been transformed from factories and sawmills to a famous shopping and foodie destination. There you'll find the century-old Saloon Bar of the Liberty Distillery.

The Liberty Distillery's award-winning, light and citrus-y Bloody Caesar (pictured, top) highlights their organic, local grain craft distilled spirits.

Bloody Caesar

In a Collins Glass, build:

1oz. Truth Vodka

½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

3 Drops Tabasco

5 Drops Worcestershire

Clamato Juice or Tomato Juice

Ground Pepper

Grated Horseradish

Spicy Bean and Olive on a pick

Lime Wedge

Rim glass with celery salt. Fill with ice, spirit, lemon juice, tabasco and Worcester. Top with clamato juice and garnish with an olive/bean skewer, freshly grated horseradish, ground pepper and a lime wedge.

Pro Tip: instead of driving, practice safe cocktailing and at the same time enjoy an iconic Vancouver trip: take one of the adorable mini-tugboat ferries over to Granville Island to indulge in Caesars and the famous food scene.

Peake's Quay Restaurant and Bar - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Canada's smallest and only island province is one of Canada's east coast provinces. PEI is famous for red sand beaches, lighthouses, Anne of Green Gables, and church lobster suppers.

Historic capital Charlottetown, with its Victorian buildings, is the birthplace of Canadian Confederation, and home to Peake's Quay Restaurant and Bar, overlooking the historic Charlottetown waterfront. They serve a classic Caesar, but with a local twist:

Peake's Quay Classic Caesar

Rim a collins glass with Celery Salt

Ice

1 oz Vodka

Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce

Splash of. Lime Juice

Maritime Madness Bacon Blaze Zesty Bacon Hot Sauce (made in Montague, Prince Edward Island)

Topped with Motts Original Clamato Juice

Salt and Pepper

Topped with Salt & Pepper

Garnished with a Spicy Bean and Lemon and Lime.

Pro Tip: Peake's Quay is open during the summer season, when it hosts some of the best of the Canadian maritime's famous music. Check out their Summer Concert Series schedule to make sure you're sipping a Caesar and tapping your toes to 'down East' coast music.

Start your Trip!

Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[myhauntedsalem]

Terrified Night Watchmen 

Waterfront Station is an old train depot in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Located in the western historic Gastown district, this grand building reflects the golden luxury era of train travel.

The station’s elegance was featured in the American television show The X-Files. A statue located on the southeast corner of the building known as Angel of Victory was featured in one episode.

This station recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary. It was built in 1915 by the Canadian Pacific Railroad and is still a busy transportation hub for the lower mainland.

As one Canadian journalist put it a building this old cannot survive without quirks. Waterfront Station is considered Vancouver’s most haunted.

In recent years, multiple night watchmen who work in the station during graveyard shifts have seen apparitions and experienced poltergeist activity.

This activity is so pronounced it has terrified them.

A favorite encounter happened late one night. A guard spotted a woman dressed in a 1920s flapper outfit dancing solo through one corridor on the west side of the station. He also heard 1920s music. When he approached this female the music stopped abruptly and she vanished.

Another guard experienced what he characterized as “the fright of his life” while he patrolled the northwest corner of the building. He entered one empty room with only his flashlight for light.

He spotted the ghost of a “little old lady.” A bright glowing light surrounded her. He described her as having a mournful expression. As he stood rooted to the floor, this woman reached out to him.

He bolted from the room. Later he stated he had no idea how he managed this for he had been in a state of shock.

Yet another security guard inspecting the upper floor on the east side of the building experienced poltergeist activity. As he walked through one room used to store old desks something caught his attention.

He became aware he was not alone. Seeing nothing amiss he became nervous. He decided to leave. When he turned around to exit he found the desks had all been moved together silently.

They now blocked his exit path. In a panic he jumped on top of one and ran from the room.

Many other night watchmen have reported hearing the sound of phantom footsteps strike the station’s tiled floors and soft disembodied voices when they are the only ones in the building.

One sight that is often reported by the guards involves three ghosts. They state they watched three old ladies sitting on one particular station bench in the middle of the night. It appears they are waiting for a train that never arrives.

Ghostly soldiers are sometimes spotted in Waterfront. This station was heavily used during both the first and second world wars.

One stark apparition often seen appears on the north side of the station on the tracks outside.

In 1926, a brakeman while making repairs was killed in the rail yard. He was knocked unconscious by falling debris on the tracks. Tragically, a passenger train then ran over him, decapitating his head.

Since, many have reported seeing this headless brakeman roaming the tracks–especially in rainy weather. He carries a glowing lantern in one hand.

This apparition has also been seen in other parts of Gastown. The Old Spaghetti Factory a restaurant in the area also lays claim to this ghost.

People wonder if he is still on the job or if he is just looking for his head.

[alstravelblog]

World Trip 2014 - Part 4

've been here a month already. Four bloody weeks. It feels like only yesterday my friends were forcing a line of shots down me while I tried to say I had too much packing to do to get that drunk. Anyway, this week had a bit less train travel and a bit more city-hopping. 

My first evening in Seattle was spent at the airport, learning that Jonny's luggage had probably been stolen. We were so keen to get to the pub that we pretty much brushed it off as 'one of those things' but, looking back, it's not that great. He had his best clothes in there, apparently, and now they're gone due to Seattle airport's publicly-accessible baggage carousels. The tossers.

So then, Pike Place Market. It's the big crazy market near the waterfront of Seattle - Stephen Fry went there in his documentary about the U.S., it's so famous - and our hostel happened to be over the road. You could buy all sorts there: peanut butter and jelly bagels, comic books, supposedly original TV scripts for shows like Doctor Who and Firefly, leather-bound journals (of which Jonny bought one), artwork, and a hell of a lot of fish. The fishmongers seemed to love their job, as every few minutes they shouted "we got another tip!" and cheered. We wandered over to the Space Needle, Seattle's most famous building, but decided not to pay the $22 to go up as it was pretty cloudy. Instead, we ate lunch in a renovated armoury and then wandered round the Pacific Science Centre - a cool museum containing things like robotic dinosaurs, laser shows, a butterfly house, and a colony of naked mole rats blindly climbing on top of each other.

After getting a beer buzz on at the Cheesecake Factory downtown, we had some free spaghetti at the hostel and then set out on a pub crawl. The second bar was full of transvestites, and I got hit on by a bloke called Ernesto whose brother is apparently running for mayor of Miami. Other highlights included an underground bar believed to be the last place Kurt Cobain was seen in public, which had a big projector showing videos of monkeys riding sheepdogs which were herding sheep; me and Jonny got to bust out our signature dance move in a dance club whilst incredibly drunk (it involves miming rope); and on the walk home, the hostel guide played music from his backpack, so we just danced home through the streets of Seattle like idiots to the Cha Cha Slide.

After seeing the quirkier parts of Seattle, including a giant troll under a bridge, and an underground tour of the old city, we caught the bus northward for a spontaneous trip to Vancouver (mainly because we couldn't find accommodation in Oregon for the weekend). It turns out this was a great decision. Vancouver is awesome, especially if you like your cities merged with forests, lakes and mountains. Arriving in the evening, we walked down by the harbour and into the first casino we saw - where we drank whisky and gambled some of Jonny's money away at the blackjack and roulette tables. On our way home, we dropped in to a noisy pub to sit at the bar, drink a pitcher of beer, and watch ice hockey like true Canadians. We got chatting to folk sat near us, and ended the night walking through the city centre rammed with thousands of hockey fans, while our new friend Melissa told us the best sights in the city to visit and shared some of the local plant life with us. Sorry Mum.

The next day we took a ferry and a bus to a big old gorge just next to the city (one of Vancouver's suburbs is actually built around it, it's amazing) and crossed a suspension bridge that just kept on swinging over the river. As the rain came in, we rented bikes and those really embarrassing waterproof ponchos and went cycling round the sea wall of Stanley Park - 7km of lighthouses, boats, forests and beaches. We stopped off at a restaurant for a drink and the concierge asked if he could take our coats, but I didn't want to hand over my poncho in such a fancy place so I just stuffed it in my bike helmet and sat by the fire. And so ended my brief stay in Canada.

Another bus ride later (and another scary trip through customs) and we reached Portland, Oregon, known for being a weird, kooky city. There's not much to say about this place that'll blow your minds, it's just full of young people with beards and moustaches, and parks filled with stretchy folks doing gymnastics during the day instead of working. Me and John, as he likes to introduce himself here, drank lots of local ales, ate lots of Cajun tatertots and wandered around the massive late night book shops Portland has. We even caught a book- reading by a semi-famous author whose book has become a big show in America (Resurrection, for those interested). After a failed attempt at renting a car with a girl named Maria we met at the hostel to visit a local national park, we proceeded to drink more beer and watch Gone Girl at the vintage cinema near our hostel. We must have done something right, because our waiter gave us free tickets and the cinema had alcohol and reclining chairs. The film, however, is totally messed up and weird, which didn't mellow us out as much. Still good, though.

The three of us decided to road trip it to California, so that's what comes next week, folks..

[crisarruda]

Almoçando na #oldspaghettifactory toda em estilo #artnouveau em #gastow 😍 🌿🍃. . . . . . . . . ***************************************************** #altoastral #recessoartesdacrisarruda #goodvibes #inspiração #desenho #design #ilustración #ilustração #arte #vancouver #canadá #art #illustration #férias #inspiration #artesdacrisarruda #artesdacris #crisarruda #crisarruda2017 #cristianearrudadesign #gastown (em Old Spaghetti Factory Canada)

[ptripleu]

All done @oldspaghettifactory our waitress did a fine job of getting our order in and us out fast 👌👏👍😀#BlarTi #wristshot #breitlingaerospace #dailywristshot #WatchfyCrew #watch #watches #watchnerd #watchesofinstagram #wwatches #breitling #titanium #vancouver #yvr #watchesofyvr #watchfam #SGWatchfam #Watchfamasia #wis #womw (at Old Spaghetti Factory Canada)

[gunboatbaylodge]

Kids In Vancouver: 5 Family-Friendly ‘Dine Out’ Destinations

Photo: Tourism Vancouver

As a family of five, dining out usually means an early dinner at one of our local go-to kid-friendly dinner spots. We rarely stray from our standbys, because we never know if a new restaurant will have a suitable setting and the necessary supplies to host under-12 guests.

Each year, when the Dine Out Vancouver Festival list of participating restaurants is released, I browse longingly through the lineup, wishing I could enjoy some of the delectable dishes that are featured. I had always assumed that the festival was focused on an adults-only audience – until this year, when I recognized some familiar family-friendly food destinations. Here are 5 places where families can comfortably enjoy the ‘Dine Out’ experience with kids in tow.

Photo: Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. (Instagram)

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co.

With a farm to pizza focus, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. sources their ingredients from local farms, creating drool-worthy pizzas, pastas, soups and salads using only fresh organic vegetables and free range organic meats and eggs. Their dishes will delight both adults and kids, and their unique play space for kids (featuring a cute wooden kitchen) makes it easy to maintain an adult conversation without fussing with fidgety little ones.

DINNER MENU ($ 20) 2 locations in Vancouver

Pan-Seared Salmon Entree | Photo: Trattoria (Instagram)

Trattoria

This Italian home-cooking hangout is just as suitable for a date night or a girls night out, as it is for a family gathering filled with guests of all ages. While it’s a local favourite for traditional Italian comfort foods, the menu also boasts a variety of  mouthwatering dishes that expand beyond the classic pasta favourites, such as the pan-seared salmon (pictured above). Trattoria offers a kids menu that will satisfy picky eaters, and colouring mats to entertain their youngest guests will they wait for dinner to arrive.

DINNER MENU ($ 30) 2 locations in the Greater Vancouver Area

Braised Beef & Butternut Squash Rigatoni | Photo: Old Spaghetti Factory (Instagram)

The Old Spagetti Factory

For 47 years, The Old Spaghetti Factory has  been a staple in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood. Known for their all-inclusive meals at reasonable prices, it’s easy for an entire family to fill their bellies with quality food without breaking the bank. The main attraction for guests of all ages is the Trolley Car (built in 1904) that sits in the dining room. If you’re lucky, you might even get to dine inside the antique relic.

DINNER MENU ($ 20) 53 Water St (Gastown), Vancouver 

Sirloin Oscar Entree | Photo: The Keg (Instagram)

The Keg

If you have a meat-and-potatoes kind of palate, then this is the dining destination for you. But The Keg doesn’t just serve grilled steaks and twice-baked potatoes, there’s something for everyone on their diverse and delicious menu – including my personal favourite appetizer, the Baked Garlic Shrimp. They offer a kid-friendly menu, colouring sheets, and snack plates to keep the little ones busy while you wait for your food.

DINNER MENU ($ 40) 11 locations in the Greater Vancouver Area

Duck Confit | Photo: Arms Reach Bistro (Instagram)

Arms Reach Bistro

Nestled near the water’s edge of the quaint community of Deep Cove in North Vancouver, Arms Reach Bistro is a hot spot for out-of-towners and locals alike. The menu balances carefully-curated, high-end dishes with playful, hearty dishes (such as their famous Angry Chicken dish) to please the palates of every patron. The enchanting atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and as a family-owned and community-oriented restaurant, children are always welcome.

DINNER MENU ($ 40) Location: 4390 Gallant Avenue, North Vancouver

To learn more about the participating restaurants and featured menus, check out the Dine Out Vancouver Festival Home Page.

Inside Vancouver Blog