entered around a full bar, with raised vinyl booths and brick walls, Brown’s Restaurant and Bar strives to present an unpretentious atmosphere in the heart of Yaletown. Originally opened on Lonsdale Quay in 2004, this newly launched location maintains the same retro design and eclectic menu while plunking itself down in a swankier neighbourhood.

Scott Morison, former Cactus Club founder and owner, collaborated with Derek Archer, also of Cactus Club repute, to produce a crowd-pleasing menu with more than enough to choose from. An ambitious menu ranges from Chicken Pad Thai ($12) and various burgers ($9-$16) to Seared Ahi Tuna ($22) and Baby Back Ribs ($23).

The Seasonal Vegetable Plate ($11) that I started with evidences the West Coast influence. The dish comes with wild rice; normally plain white rice is the only option, so the assortment was a nice surprise. I followed that with the Spa Veggie Burger ($10), as I couldn’t get around that name; would it rejuvenate my skin, too? Not even close, but it was good-sized and well worth it. I washed it all down with a Bellini, which was mixed to perfection.

For dessert, I tried the Key Lime Pie. I’m not a big fan of desserts that don’t include chocolate, but I decided that I needed to try something new and took the plunge. It was quite refreshing, but not something I would undertake again. I’m sure if I was a big fan, it would have satisfied me - my guest had a bite and ended up finishing the rest of it quite enthusiastically.