Tokyo Japanese Grill

While the Tokyo Japanese Grill does offer a lovely sushi selection it is more of a traditional Japanese restaurant, not just a sushi place. Located in the heart of down town Chilliwack right across from the Paramount Theatre, it is perfect for a business lunch for those who work on the north side of the City or as part of an evening out in town (dinner & a movie). If memory serves, this was the first restaurant in Chilliwack to offer Japanese cuisine. It has a lovely traditional feel, right down to the private screened rooms for intimate dining experiences. The full dinner sets are the way to sample the gifts of the chef. Teriyaki here is the best, the way it is supposed to taste. If you are really into sushi, sharing the sushi ‘boat’ is a great choice but so beautiful that you may not want to mess it up. The staff here are exceptional and remember their customers in an uncanny way, even when it has been a while since you stepped through the door. Highly recommend that you head downtown and enjoy a fantastic meal and wonderful service!
Open:
Monday to Friday 11:30am ~ 9:30pm
Saturday 4:00pm~ 9:30pm
Sundays Closed

46170 Yale Road East,
Chilliwack, BC
V2P 2P1
(604) 795-2931

Vedder Sushi

Vedder Sushi

Being the sushi fanatics that we are, we were just beside ourselves when Vedder Sushi opened up right in front of our office at RE/MAX on, you guessed it, Vedder Road. It was a building previously occupied by an English fish and chip shop as many will remember. It is a cute stand- alone 2 storey restaurant. The upstairs is lovely for meeting with a larger group as it is a bigger space or if you want a table beside the fireplace and a warm saki on those cooler days. The mood is serene, and the decor is modern yet warm. We also believe that it is the only sushi place that also has patio dining available. The food is lovely and fresh as it should be, and the service is very gracious. Between us we are now visiting here at least three times a week. Good thing sushi isn’t fattening!

In terms of favourite dishes we would recommend the Spicy Sashimi Salad, the Ebi Sunomono and the Philadelphia Roll.

We encourage you to give them a try. This is one of the sushi places that would be good for dinner out because of the warmer atmosphere.

Open:
Monday -Thursday 11:30am ~ 9:30pm
Friday & Saturday 11:30am ~ 10:00pm
Sunday 12noon ~ 9:00pm

8-7300 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, BC V2R 4G6
(604) 824-9880

Seven Sushi

There are now many options for sushi lovers in Chilliwack, and we certainly count ourselves as a part of this group. We are only reviewing a few however that are our favourites and Seven Sushi is definitely one of them. This is the most contemporary of all of them in this town with contrast of apple green walls, sleek black furniture and flat panel TV monitors showing off their amazing dishes. It is a super environment for lunch with friends or colleagues if you are looking for a place on south side (Sardis) near the Cottonwood and Chilliwack malls. We think that Seven has the very best and freshest tuna (melt in your mouth) and it was one of the first in Chilliwack to come up with some very wild and delicious special rolls. One example of that is the Explosion Roll that is prawn tempura, yam, spicy tuna, sweet potato, avocado, cucumber, crabmeat, mayo and unagi sauce. Spicy and delectable and only $7.77, the same price as all their special rolls.
The owner and Head Chef, Andrew Um with his staff are warm and very accommodating making it a terrific place to bring the family as well. They even have wheat -free soya sauce upon request should you have gluten issues (like me).

Open:
Monday to Thursday: 11:30 am to 9:00 pm
Friday to Saturday: 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Closed Statutory Holidays
150-45428 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack, BC V2R 3S9
604-824-7710

Rustica’s

Rustica’s Ristorante Italiano

Superb!!
Once you try this restaurant it is the place you will be choosing to make reservations for that special event and entertaining your out-of-town company. Located in the heart of downtown at 9339 Main Street, close to Wellington Avenue and great boutique shopping.

Warm classic Italian ambience with a modern touch, we find that the atmosphere makes it the perfect place to grab a table of two, and enjoy some candlelight and Chianti. The service has always been just right, attentive and professional without being intrusive.

Speaking of Chianti, the wine list here is very nice and the staff is quite knowledgeable if you need some wine pairing advice. My only criticism would be that the wine selection by the glass is very limited and not an offering of some of the better wines that they have in the cellar.

This is no simple spaghetti house. While they do serve some lovely pasta dishes with delectable sauces, the menu is far more expansive offering a range of appetizers, salads and entrees from rich and rustic to very sophisticated and delicate. I have also heard from more than one food lover that they serve the best steak anywhere!

Open 11:30 am – 2pm Tuesday thru Friday for lunch, and Tuesday thru Saturday for dinner starting at 5:30 pm. Do yourself a big favour and make a reservation.
604-792-7081

Prestons

As if seeing the transformation to the new Coast Hotel at the heart of downtown Chilliwack in 2009 wasn’t enough!! Inside the contemporary sleek interior of this hot hotel is a jewel, Preston’s Restaurant and Lounge. The decor is a modern take on mid-century design. Massive floor to ceiling windows overlooking Salish Park and the pond flood the space with light during the day and twinkling lights in the evenings. Fabulous for both lunch get-togethers and
intimate dinners, Prestons is always the right meeting place. The lovely staff are well trained and very attentive, but not too attentive if you know what I mean.
The chef has put together a fantastic creative fusion menu of starters through desserts and the fresh sheet focuses on local seasonal ingredients. A couple of standouts for me (although I haven’t yet ordered anything I didn’t really enjoy) are the Grilled Romaine Salad where wedges of romaine are grilled lightly and a de-constructed Caesar salad is plated for you, including a tasty prosciutto-wrapped crostini. It is a must try. For dinner my husband, the red meat eater, loves the hot stone steak dish which is literally a sizzling hot rock slab topped with a lovely cut of beef. It allows you to control how ‘done’ the steak will be, keeps it hot and is quite novel. My favourite dinner entree is the Sable Fish with delicate sticky rice and a comforting Miso Broth. Delicious!! Because this restaurant is located within the hotel it is open 7 days a week which is really a big deal in a city the size of Chilliwack as most of our fine dining restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays (at least). So nice to be able have a lovely dinner on a Sunday night.

Daily 6:30am to 11pm.
Fri. & Sat. till Midnight
Reservations or Information: 604-701-3070.

Whispers Wine Bar

Something Different to Do This Weekend

Located at 9282 Main Street in Chilliwack, across from the old Safeway site is a real hidden gem. To the best of my knowledge this is Chilliwack’s first wine bar and it opened it’s doors in January 2009.  Husband Steve and I thought we would finally get over to sample their wares last week and were pleased that we did.

The exterior of the building is quite unassuming, with a mere coro-plast sign with red vinyl letters. Hopefully they will be doing something more permanent and appropriate for signage soon because we all know that books and business establishments are often judged by their covers. It was very quiet at 6pm when we entered but it was a hockey night in Canada so…The atmosphere is very nice although a little spare and wide open. A few more tables, rugs or art would make a world of difference.

The wine menu is extensive featuring many interesting selections with a strong concentration of BC wines. Almost all the wines are available by the glass. The beauty of a wine bar is that ordering wine by the glass, beyond a few crummy ‘house wines’,  gives one a chance to sample something new and broaden your wine experience. Steve ordered a glass of Enigma, a red blend, from Lotusland Winery in Abbotsford (can you say ’100 mile diet?) and I had a lovely white from Hester Creek . We also ordered a delicious baked garlic brie with crackers and grapes to nibble on with the beverages. The food menu is just wine-friendly appys to enhance the tasting experience.

Service was professional and attentive but not bubbly and annoying. Low lights, cool jazz playing softly, a little candlelight, good food and drink… how can you go wrong? Perfect place to talk tete-a-tete or with a group of friends, even as start of say a movie night.

The hours for Whispers  are 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.