Ask for Luigi | Bon Appétit
"GO HERE: for plates of Ask for Luigi’s fresh pasta in a space you’ll mistake for East Vancouver’s most lovely (and tiny) home. ORDER THE: daily pasta and, if you have room for it, the raisin-studded Sicilian-style meatballs for sharing; soft-boiled eggs with anchovies, caviar, and grilled bread; spaghetti nero with octopus and puttanesca sauce; bocconcini fritti (for all the fried cheese lovers out there); and a slice of olive oil cake to finish. To drink, try something from their concise but discerning wine list or ask for a spritz. THE VIBE IS: intimate and gracious. The staff moves efficiently through the small area, delivering plates of refined Italian comfort food. Families line up early for celebratory dinners, and there are usually at least a few well-behaved children slurping back noodles or peeking into the kitchen: The morning’s labors—flour-dusted spaghetti nests and rows of fat ravioli—are usually visible through the pass. PRACTICAL STUFF: Open: Tuesday to Friday, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. On the weekends, there’s brunch, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Closed Monday. No reservations, so arrive early, put your name down, and then head to Vancouver Urban Winery for a drink while you wait. —Lindsay Anderson" - Condé Nast
