Nuba Restaurant: 207-B West Hastings St. at Cambie, Vancouver, B.C.

Nuba Restaurant, Vancouver BC

Note: This review is from 4/1/2012
As promised, I am going to share with you some details of my wonderful meal from a couple of weeks ago at the Lebanese restaurant called Nuba, which is located in Vancouver. My husband and I went to Nuba for an early dinner on a Saturday evening, and luckily they were able to squeeze us in before the dinner rush even though we did not have a reservation. The menu at Nuba is very vegan-friendly, and since we wanted to find a way to try as many dishes as possible, we ordered a vegan version of "la feast," which really was the most amazing feast I could have ever wished for.

Hummus, baba ganoush, pickled cabbage and tabouli

The feast began with a platter of hummus, baba ganoush, tabouli, and pickled cabbage, served with a side of pita bread. The plate size was generous and the dishes were amazing. I love baba ganoush, especially if it is made just right, and this was absolutely perfect. I don't know if they have a special tahini, (or perhaps they make it in-house themselves), but the flavor of the tahini was so delicious--smooth and strong at the same time--it affected everything it was a part of, causing both the hummus and the baba ganoush to be perfect and flavorful.

The rest of the Feast!

Even though we managed to finish the first part in its entirety, leaving nothing on the plate to be cleaned, we were determined to still be hungry enough for whatever followed. This was going to be a feast after all! The platter they brought out next contained a lentil dish, a chickpea dish, falafel, a salad, and an absolutely divine cauliflower dish known as najib's special, olives, and more pickled cabbage. The lentils were seasoned perfectly, served over rice, sprinkled with crispy onions, and accompanied by fresh avocados. The falafel was fantastic, and the cauliflower makes my mouth water even now just remembering it. Lightly fried, crispy in texture, and tossed with lemon and salt, it was unlike anything I had ever tasted before--truly delicious. The chickpea stew was also really good, and the variety of spices and flavors of each dish was varied enough to be interesting, and yet somehow remained complementary.

The feast also came with two different sauces, one of them tahini-based,  although I unfortunately  do not have a picture of them--but take my word for it, they were both excellent. The meal costs $30.00 (Canadian), not a bad price at all for such a delectable feast for two. I would definitely dine there again, only next time I would make a reservation in advance, just to be on the safe side. After only one meal, this has become one of my favorite places.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is a wonderful combination of elegant and comfortable, and everyone working there was friendly and attentive. We had a lovely evening, and it was a great way to kick off the celebration of my birthday week, (as evidenced by my smiling face). Thanks again to those of you who suggested I check Nuba out. I get so many great tips and recommendations from readers, and I love hearing about your favorite places, especially when they then become my favorite places too!