alance, on the surface of it all, seems to be a fitting name – the lounge offers the option of having a full-on dining experience, or for the martini-sipping wild child, experiencing the style of a nocturnal nightspot once the sun goes down. Either way you look at it, Balance is a fairly urban setting for eating, lounging or drinking – all bundled up into one balanced, let's-call-it-economical parcel.

Certainly go for drinks. But if you simply treat Balance as a lounge, you'll miss some very good cooking. Balance's interesting (yet not ridiculously "out there") menu offers a variety of options to satiate your hunger. The Tequila fired fresh queso crostini ($7.00) is a fine starter, as is the vegetable tempura in ponzu dipping sauce. Potato gnocchi ($7.00) marries well with truffle and parmesan.

For a couple of dollars more, you could go the route of the spiced Alberta beef steak ($10.00) in chipotle syrup, which has its share of flavour; or perhaps the Lobster Grilled cheese tomato soup shooter.

Adventurous? Try out the Tandori chicken with an unexpected and delicious mint raita. Balance offers up a few salads - like the Middle East Salad, with couscous, dried cranberries, red onion, tomato, mint and fig dressing – which range from $7.00 - $14.00.

For mains, the blackened pork tenderloin with red wine emulsion ($18.00), plated with double smoked potato, is simple and good. The dijon mustard cream smothered breast of chicken ($18.00) is served with potato roesti. The pacific salmon ($19.00) is hard to resist; Balance offers a grilled fillet with confit of tomato and lentil ragout.