489816 Thu Feb 14 18:57:22 -0800 2008 12 57 Western Canada 0 3399207 I'm in Vancouver the 15-23 and am finally prepared to try Guu... but which one would you Vancouver hounds recommend? I'll be alone so is there one that's better for solo dining? I'm staying on Robson, so Richmond is pretty much out of the question for me. Thanks for the help! Thu Feb 14 18:57:22 -0800 2008 12135 John Manzo 1 3399216 Go the both the original Guu on Thurlow for a couple of dishes...then walk down the hill (5 min walk) to Guu with Garlic. For solo dining...the original on Thurlow has a nicer vibe, methinks. Thu Feb 14 19:01:34 -0800 2008 3399207 145820 fmed 1 3400527 i like the gastown one myself, they have a bar that would be good for dining solo. hapa izakaya is good for dining solo as well, i did it many times when i lived around the corner from it. Fri Feb 15 08:37:22 -0800 2008 3399207 74241 pants 2 3401002 The Gastown Guu is the "nicest" but also the most "tame". IMO. (Actually, I suspect the one in Richmond to be the most tame....I haven't been, though). John...why restrict yourself to just Guu?...do the izakaya crawl. One or two dishes and a tokuri of sake at each place: Guu Guu with Garlic E-Hwa (Korean Izakaya) Hapa Zakkushi then Kingyo (and make sure to try the Granville Island artisinal Osake sake). Whoa Nelly! Fri Feb 15 10:13:13 -0800 2008 3400527 145820 fmed 1 3403291 I much prefer the original Guu and Guu with Garlic over the gastown Guu. I find the gastown Guu doesn't have the energy and homey feel of the other two (I find it too wanna-be trendy). I also feel like the original Guu and Guu with Garlic have better food. All of them have a bar that would be perfect for solo dining. Fri Feb 15 23:06:34 -0800 2008 3399207 99625 twinkienic 1 3403412 I think the Gas town one is more new style Izakaya, with such thing like bake oyster with tomato sauce and cheese, Mushroom with garlic toast. More of a fusion touch. On the other hand the Guu with garlic is more like traditonal Japanese home cook food. Oden, Kimchi Udon, and Sashimi. Hey, if the money is not so tight, I agree with fmed you should do a bit of Izakaya crawl. I know I have!! Sat Feb 16 03:48:50 -0800 2008 3399207 78615 wine guru 2 3404477 On a cheap crawl (1 or 2 dishes plus one tokuri of sake), you can spend as little as $10-$12 per joint. And since the izakaya at the Robson/Denman corridor are literally right next to each other - you have zero transportation costs. Sat Feb 16 12:57:10 -0800 2008 3403412 145820 fmed 1 3404219 Excuse my ignorance but what is "izakaya"? Sat Feb 16 10:49:21 -0800 2008 3399207 16931 Hart50 2 3404374 Japanese Sake bars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izakaya It is popular style of eating for Japanese salarymen in Japan where they treat izakaya more like a place for after work drinks with their workmates prior to hopping on the train for home. Like tapas bars in Barcelona - it is "drink" with "food". Here in North America it is more "food" with "drink". In NA, the izakaya morphed into a type of fusion cuisine. Vancouver has the definitive izakaya scene outside Japan. Sat Feb 16 12:02:10 -0800 2008 3404219 145820 fmed 3 3404756 Are Guu (and izakaya in general) just seafood? I'm going to be in Van for a week this spring, and they look interesting. My wife, however, has major seafood allergies, so is this something I should plan for a lunch when she is busy? Sat Feb 16 14:54:40 -0800 2008 3404374 144892 Dan G 4 3404814 Not just seafood, though my favorites are seafood dishes. Most of the restaurants have their menus posted on-line. (BTW Most izakaya are closed for lunch...Guu is open, but I don't recommend it for lunch.) Sat Feb 16 15:21:43 -0800 2008 3404756 145820 fmed 4 3405309 There are usually a good number of (very tasty) meat dishes. The lunch menu at Guu is pretty different. Instead of tapas-style dishes, it's more individual bowls (e.g. curry, donburi, etc) and not their strong point. Sat Feb 16 19:11:39 -0800 2008 3404756 99625 twinkienic 3 3405069 Thanks! Sat Feb 16 17:31:14 -0800 2008 3404374 16931 Hart50