For Sake All Others

To reclaim your sanity after a long day of dodging weekend shoppers
downtown, forgo the fast food and instead take a seat at sake bar and
bistro Shuraku.

Within a long, narrow room of deep, dark woods illuminated by a backlit
rice paper wall, the young izakaya-style resto serves up deliciously
fresh sushi alongside tantalizing warm dishes. Our Japanese-style BBQ
back-rib ($16) fell right off the bone and the grilled sablefish
marinated in sweet miso ($14) melted in our mouth. And should you feel
adventurous, your order of spot prawn nigiri comes with the critters
head for crunching on (surprisingly, it tasted like chips).

But more importantly, theres a lengthy list of premium sakes, including
a refreshing sake sangria ($6.25), that will erase all memory of the
half hour spent waiting for the dressing room.

Shuraku, 833 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-687-6622, www.shuraku.net