Got Your Goat

A tapas bar in Blood Alley named for the hired goat that leads livestock
to slaughter sounds gruesome, but its actually very toothsome.

Judas Goat is the new Gastown gastro-venture from Sean Heather and Scott
Hawthorn, the same smart twosome behind Salt. The space is pint-sized
(seats 28) but spiffy with bright yellow stools and a bold black and
white mural by Robert Chaplin. Take a date there for a pre-show nibble
and order the warm lamb cheek wrapped in Savoy cabbage and white truffle
oil ($8), smoked paprika and lemon sablefish with Israeli couscous ($9)
and potted prawns with pistachio butter ($7).

Just be sure to tell your party that following you down a dark alley
means theyll get dinner, not become it.

Judas Goat, 27 Blood Alley, Vancouver, 604-681-5090, open Monday through
Saturday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.