Vancouver Magazine

Casual fine dining, that Vancouver phenomenon, now has three serious players: under executive chef Chris Mills, JOEY has upped its game. The combination of sportsbar-sized screens, energetic music, comely young servers, showy cocktails, and tasty food attracts more adherents by the month (former patrons, perhaps, of Cactus Club and/or Earls). It’s no easy trick devising easily replicable, appealing dishes at attractive price points, but Joey nails it with the likes of Baja fish tacos (three for $11.99), lobster ravioli ($16.99), and Bombay butter chicken ($16.99). The service is carefully programmed ("How are the first few bites tasting?") and the menu includes much that’s predictable (burgers, caesar salad, hot chicken wings); still, Vancouver diners are the clear winners in the casual fine dining wars.

VIDEO: Watch Chef Chris Mills demontrate how to make a warm winter duck salad and a seared tuna salad

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