On the Grid : Guu Garden

"The Vancouver-based Guu chain of restaurants is legendary as much for the rambunctious atmosphere, as for the food. This, the quietest and most secluded location puts the emphasis squarely on the food. The dinner menu is designed for sharing, and packed full of wildly inventive and diverse Japanese dishes. This shop specializes in Oden, a winter classic soup. Other favorites include the blow-torch seared Salmon Oshi-Sushi, Kimchi Bibimbap and the green bean fries. There is also a cheap and cheerful lunch menu, with the best bento boxes in town, and the highly-recommended pork cutlet curry rice. The restaurant is located on an expansive third-floor garden patio, overlooking Robson Square. This is as fantastic a place for a summer lunch, as it is for a warm winter soup." - Becki Chan & Milos Begovic