Dinner and a Cruise: District Restaurant Group

Last Friday we hopped aboard the SeaBus and headed to North Vancouver’s Lonsdale area (lower and mid) for a dinner that was, quite simply, to die for.

First admission: we dined at not one, but three different restaurants that night. Second admission: the trio—Little District Roadhouse, El Matador Spanish Tapas and District Brasserie—are all part of District Restaurant Group, co-owned by Jeff Murl and chef Paul Mon-Kau. Third admission: read to the end. Meantime, here’s how the evening broke down:

little district: This bourbon-beer-and-blues-loving joint wowed us with its easy good looks and southern-comfort-inpired food. Sous chef Dustyn Harvey was kind enough to whip up a vegetarian version of the famed cod fritters—both versions were hot, bready and so full of flavour, they barely required the accompanying spicy mayo dip (which we used regardless because, frankly, the stuff was good enough to—as co-owner Jeff himself suggested—slurp up with a straw). Fish tacos made decidedly delicious with wheat rather than traditional corn tortillas rounded out our first course. The Little District, 1336 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 604-770-2776, www.thelittledistrict.com

el matador: A quick, all-downhill traipse toward the Quay landed us at this Spanish spot, tucked around and behind the Esplanade. Fronted by a small and intimate patio, El Matador does traditional tapas (think totally shareable spiced house olives, cheese and chorizo puffs and melt-in-your-mouth fried patatas bravas) right. With a dark-wood interior, low lights and plenty of tables for two, it does the mood right, too (also, the sweet sangria helps). El Matador Spanish Tapas, 131 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, 604-770-1717, www.elmatadorsocial.com

district brasserie: Big, bright, bustling, the group’s flagship is everything you’d want a Belgian brasserie to be. Over a beautifully plated warm beet salad, baked brie and, as the menu suggests, truly one of the best crab-and-shrimp cakes we’ve ever tasted, we likely bored chef Paul with praise for his food. How good was it? Considering we were stuffed to the gills from the first two rounds yet devoured every last morsel of course No. 3—right down to the brie’s fruit compote companion—well, you do the math. The District Brasserie, 13 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 778-338-4938, www.thedistrictsocial.com

Our final admission of the night: media treat or not, these eateries have gained definite return customers—westside Vancouver dwellers who rarely see the other side of the bridge, no less—in us.

You should go. —Noa Glouberman