Ealetown’s newest and hottest dining spot is surprisingly a chain restaurant- Milestones. While people are often quick to judge any larger chain restos, this one is worth a night out for some wining and dining.

With over 30 locations, Milestones is slowly creeping up all over Canada. Yaletown’s chain may need a bit of work, but it’s to be expected of a new restaurant. Within a few weeks, the kinks will be worked out and Milestone’s will run much more efficiently. The interiors of almost all Milestones have a recurring theme of rich wood and comfort, while the local neighborhood themes are worked in. The lighting is always soft, which promotes relaxation, but the coloured shades and tinting gives Milestones a slight party edge. The fireplace is also something to gape at, as it’s providing you with that sexy glow that only a fireplace (or a facial peel) can provide.

Yaletown’s Milestones also features a glassed-in party room that can accommodate 40 people. The room is surrounded by silver trees and Steven Sprouse fabric-covered furniture with a graffiti theme. The banquettes are Vancouver-esque, covered in snakeskin and accented by driftwood décor. Try to avoid the urge to make out in your booth, as sexy as they may be.

The menu is new to fall and winter, with a choice of 2 lunch and 4 dinner menus. Executive Chef Jim Romer has been creating the menus since 1989, which proves his ability as a world-class chef. For example, the lunch menu offers a choice of artichoke dip or calamari, while entrees such as grilled chicken salad or roma tomato basil capellini are excellent choices. The dinner menu offers portabella mushroom chicken, slow roasted chicken, or butternut squash ravioli.

For dessert, Belgian chocolate ganache torte or white chocolate cheesecake sounds so tasty, I’d order it at the beginning of the meal. It’s much too hard to try and pace yourself during the meal to save room for dessert- and you can always run for 2 hours after your meal (or at least tell people this to cure guilt).