Le Crocodile Restaurant: France Meets Vancouver

Inspired by Strasbourg's Au Crocodile, Chef Michel Jacob opened Le Crocodile and brought quality French cuisine to Vancouver. Thirty years later, the restaurant still offers an unpretentious taste of West Coast-style French cooking. It is not a surprise that the establishment is still open; this year alone, Where Magazine, Georgia Straight, and Zagat named them the "Best French Restaurant," according to the restaurant's website.

When ordering with more than ten people, Le Crocodile has several prix fixe menus, for both lunch and dinner. Another offer is the $75 five-course Chef's Tasting Menu, which changes weekly. Past dishes included lobster tortellini pasta with crab cake, fresh halibut and braised beef short ribs, and rhubarb meringue tartlets. Try the pan-seared foie gras for an extra $15. Those who want to forgo the prix fixe menus can order a la carte, and choose from choices such as pan-fried goat cheese with endive salad, the classic tomato and gin soup, grilled tiger prawns and sea scallops with angel hair pasta, and more.

Dessert is not to be skipped. With the exception of the cheese plate, everything else is $10.50. They offer selections such as: daily-made fruit sorbets, made-to-order pear tarts, chocolate crepes, and crème caramel.

Le Crocodile would be a good choice for both business lunches and family dinners.