Fodor's Expert Review L'Abattoir

On the site of Vancouver's first jail, this two-level restaurant with exposed brick walls and classic black-and-white floor tiles has a bold collection of cocktails and an intriguing modern menu. From the restaurant's name—French for "slaughterhouse" (the surrounding neighborhood was once a meatpacking district)—you'd expect a meat-focused menu. And although you'll find veal sweetbreads on toast, seafood shines as well in dishes like the grilled lobster tail or baked Pacific oysters with Burgundy truffle. Before plotting your escape into the night, dally over the mille-feuille or the chia spice-infused rice pudding.