Former Toronto Chef Segar Kulasegarampillai (yes I had to copy and paste that for spelling purposes) has moved to Vancouver and opened his own restaurant in Burnaby, B.C. This fusion French bistro prides itself on fresh and local ingredients, combined with Asian flair.

Chef Segar is a stickler for traditional French cooking techniques and skills. Although French cuisine could very easily turn boring and old, Suvai will not stand for it. The cuisine adheres to French tradition, but is made modern with Asian spices and infused with both cultures.

The restaurant isn’t huge, seating only 30 people. The décor makes up for this fact, creating a comfortable atmosphere that’s perfect for romance. My only suggestion is to keep your intimately private conversations or arguments to yourself- the next table could hear even a whisper.

If you’re a soup lover like me, try the leek and mushroom soup with truffle oil. I’m not entirely sure I understand how expensive and potent truffle oil is, but I do appreciate anything original. Plus, Take Home Chef uses it all the time (and I’m in love with him/anything he does). Back to Suvai…short ribs are also a good treat for meat lovers, which are spiced with ginger and anise. Pretty much the same ingredients as contained in Jagermeister- and we all know how tasty that concoction is.

The local catch of the day is always tasty, along with crab cakes and panko patties. Another favourite is Wild spring salmon, served with sticky rice. Risotto is also a great side dish to try, and prepared perfectly for once. The few issues that will most likely be worked out are the none-too impressive wine menu, with many bottles by the same winery. The dessert menu is also extremely short, offering very few choices for the sweets lover.