Most restaurants rarely change their menus. The staff at Regional Tasting Lounge (R.TL), however, made change a part of their restaurant's mandate. A recent addition to the Yaletown strip, this tapas lounge features food from different regions every three months—currently offering dishes from Portugal and France, as well as their usual selection from Coastal BC.

We visited R.TL during a tasting party for local bloggers. Our platters held five samples from the restaurant's full menu, including Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Cakes, Prawns Piri Piri and Duck Liver Pâté. We decided to also try full plates of the Fava Bean and Cilantro Salad, and the Entrecôte Gaufrittes (AAA beef strip loin). The food was delicately prepared and flavorful. Our favorites of the evening were the crab and shrimp cakes and the bean salad. The Prawn Piri Piri was a bit of a let-down for a prawn lover like me, but I would be willing to give it a proper chance on a full plate.

R.TL's knowlegable and meticulous operations manager, Alain Canuel, is responsible for the carefully selected wine list (which changes as often as the rest of the menu). The staff make excellent wine suggestions and the Enomatic wine machine ensured that each glass tastes as it should. If you're more in the mood for a cocktail, I highly recommend the Gin-Gin Mule.

The restaurant has a good atmosphere and nice decor. I was intrigued by the hidden back room with it's "speakeasy-inspired" bookshelf door (available for small parties). R.TL's efforts towards buying locally and operating sustainably is an additional plus. Though drinks can get a bit pricey, the tapas plates are quite reasonable ($9 - $15). This is the type of place I'd choose to share a meal and start an evening.

Regional Tasting Lounge
1130 Mainland Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 638-1550

Photos copyright Ami Sanyal