More favorite Vancouver restaurants

Let’s face it: Sometimes, you just want something a little less exotic. Here are some favorite local restaurants, both new and old:

Blue Water Café: Busy even when other spots are empty, this Yaletown hot spot serves local seasonal catches at different stations: sushi counter, raw bar and bustling open kitchen; Blue Water Café, 1095 Hamilton St., Yaletown; (604) 688-8078, www.bluewatercafe.net.

Cibo Trattoria: Named Canada’s best new restaurant in 2008 by Air Canada’s in-flight magazine, this square box of a room seats perhaps 50. Service is professional and friendly, and the market-based Italian menu changes daily. It’s inside the Moda Hotel in the heart of downtown; 900 Seymour St.; (604) 602-9570, www.cibotrattoria.ca.

Raincity Grill: Homey but not kitschy, masculine but not macho, professional but not stuffy and with picture windows all around, Raincity Grill practices a “hundred mile” menu of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients such as salmon, lamb and vegetables; 1193 Denman St., West End; (604) 685-7337.

Salt Tasting Room: This minimalist space artfully shows off minimalist servings of natural charcuterie, cheeses, simple salads and wines in pours as small as 2 ounces; Blood Alley, Gastown; (604) 633-1912.