Resto roundup: Per Se, The Art of Spice, Tuck Shoppe, Hungry Guys, and more

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      We're back with another overview of restaurants and other eateries that have opened their doors within the past few months.

      Getting social

      The innovative Per Se Social Corner has taken over the high-ceilinged, voluminous space at 891 Homer Street that was once home to the longstanding Subeez. It's actually now home to three enterprises sharing the same roof.

      One is a pizzeria, Water & Flour, that offers a variety of stone-oven-baked pizzas.

      Per Se Social Corner

      Another is a Spanish tapas and charcuterie bar Rosalinda, which serves tappetizers and plates such as maple rum gambas (prawns), patatas bravas (roasted potatoes in a tomato aioli), and wagyu beef or octopus carpaccio.

      And yet another is Illy Café, featuring a range of baked goods, Illy coffee, teas, baguettes, and breakfast pizzas.

      Per Se Social Corner

      Patrons have access to all of the menus, and the space offers a variety of seating arrangements from tables to bars.

      Tuck in

      If you're a lady who lunches or dude who dines (which is basically everyone), you'll like this one. The Tuck Shoppe opened for lunch and dinner in February in Chinatown at 237 Union Street with a focus on sandwiches, salads, and craft beer.

      Tuck into sandwiches and salads at Tuck Shoppe.

      A selection of six sandwiches draw from international influences, including the pork belly Cubano (pork belly, ham, swiss cheese), South Asian curry flower (roast cauliflower, curry tomato sauce, chickpeas) and the Japanese tuna katsu (pank-crusted albacore tuna with wasabi, daikon, soy ginger). 

      Beer options include selections from 33 Acres, Strange Fellows, and even a Tuck Shoppe Lager.

      Hunger management

      In the Granville Entertainment District, Hungry Guys Kitchen opened up late last year at 988 Granville Street which formerly housed UFood Grill. Like the previous inhabitant, this is also a casual spot that offers a health-oriented alternative to the numerous fast-food options lining the street.

      At Hungry Guys Kitchen, you can have your bowl or burritos tailored to your specifications.

      This new establishment, which is locally based, serves Mexican-inspired bowls and burritos, which diners can tailor to their preferences, choosing from beans, rice, meat or tofu, and toppings such as corn, cheddar, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or sriracha. There are also four salads on offer, including avocado taco and kale and romaine with grilled chicken.

      While it's convenient for those seeking grab-n-go options, its extensive number of seats will ensure no one will be turned away due to lack of space. 

      Indian spice

      Residents straddling the West End and Yaletown have a new Indian dining option. Art of Spice opened at 1355 Hornby Street earlier this year.

      The usual favourites of Indian cuisine fill out the menu, including butter chicken, lamb vindaloo, fish tikka, tandoori chicken, goat masala, aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower), palak paneer (cheese with spinach), pakoras, and naan.

      A taste of Texas

      Dixie's BBQ opened its carnivorous doors at 337 East Hastings on the Downtown Eastside in January. Its menu offers a meat-based Texas barbecue menu.

      There's no shortage of Texan cuisine to feast upon at Dixie's.

      There's everything you'd expect, including platters, pulled pork, fried chicken, pork ribs, brisket, sandwiches, and baked stuffed jalapenos.

      It's open for dinner as well as weekend brunch, which offers the likes of buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, eggs benedict, and poached eggs with jalapeno and corn potato hash. 

      Dixie's

      Confection obsession

      Sweet tooths (teeth?) have a new downtown spot to get their sugar fix at. The Candy Room is now operational at 1218 Robson Street, offering an extensive array of chocolate bars, jelly beans, candies, and other cavity-flirting delectables.

      More, more, more

      Some other places we've recently mentioned include:

      • Japanese chain Pepper Lunch is opening up on Cambie Street

      • no-tipping restaurant Ritual debuted on Denman Street

      • BjornBar Bakery set up shop in North Vancouver's Edgemont Village

      • Tacofino will open a third location in Yaletown

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at twitter.com/cinecraig or on Facebook.

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