Restaurants in Coquitlam

Since May 1986, the Chronakis family has crafted authentic Greek cuisine at Minoas Greek Taverna. Dinner platters teem with Hellenic morsels such as grilled chicken souvlaki, creamy hummus, and the rice-stuffed grape leaves of dolmades. The wait staff also serves entrees à la carte, so diners can dig into plates of steaming moussaka and avoid jealous struggles with the pastitsio, which would only get tomato sauce all over the pristine white stucco walls. Lush ivy winds up the walls and traverses the ceiling, tablecloths in the cobalt blue of the Greek flag dot the interior, and traditional folk music drifts through the air, transporting diners to the Mediterranean without requiring a gas-guzzling teleportation device.

Specializing in Northern Indian fare, the kitchen staff at King Mahal Restaurant bakes and fries dishes as they slip between wreaths of steam rising from simmering pots of sauce. As diners settle into tables, they pass hunks of naan or whole-wheat roti and dishfuls of pakoras to busy hands and keep away the shadow puppets that ruined Thanksgiving. Abundant vegetarian entrees parade alongside curries in a rainbow of colours, and cooks roll meats in spices before baking them in a tandoor oven. Piles of rice soak up sauces, and a fountain of mango and lassi beverages help keep tongues cool throughout each repast.

Behind the facade of a century-old former residence, La Rustica’s chefs drizzle organic, from-scratch sauces onto locally raised meats and homemade pastas. The culinary team veers away from run-of-the-mill Italian eats, instead luring tongues out of hiding with bait in the form of fresh Madagascar peppercorns, barolo-wine reduction, and Sambuca flambé sauce. The two-floored eatery's covered patio and pastel-hued interior lend the eatery a relaxed, homey vibe whether sitting near the flickering fireplace or one of the establishment's many art pieces covering the walls.

You could say that the art of food preparation is in chef Manish Rawat‘s blood. An India native, his culinary passion started early on by observing his father’s restaurant and catering business. That experience formed the kind of chef he is today: one who is passionate about artful cuisine and the lengths to which he can bend flavours. That’s nowhere more evident than in the way his kitchen staff at Chef's Kebab blends herbs and spices to craft his extensive menu of vegetarian and meat-based entrees and tandoor-baked breads.

But dinner at Chef’s Kebab is a treat for the other senses, too. The restaurant’s use of white plates makes the chef’s colourful food pop, whether it’s the ochre glow of a cashew curry with lamb or the vibrant green of a cumin-spinach puree with farmer's cheese. Inside the tandoor oven, skewered black tiger prawns, peppercorn-flavoured lamb, and yogurt-marinated jack fruit might be found roasting over an open flame or perfecting their tan lines.

A cozy picture of Tudor revivalist design, the lakeside Hart House Restaurant purveys creative menus full of exquisite dinner, lunch, and brunch delicacies lauded for their casual elegance. At the helm of these sophisticated dishes is executive chef Alana Peckham, who grew up in Vancouver and applies her knowledge of Pacific Northwest ingredients when crafting dishes such as steelhead salmon with green beans and a pea purée and Fraser Valley duck breast. During warmer months, guests can enjoy Chef Peckham's creative fare on the patio with a Pimm's Cup or a local wine before cracking into an espresso crème brûlée.

Seasonal events, such as the Lobster Supper, celebrate fresh, local fare. Hart House's glass-walled lakeside cottage, sprawling green backyard, and second-storey private rooms also make it an ideal location for business meetings, weddings, and reenactments of The English Patient.

At Los Compadres, meals ensue within the dining room's green and red-orange walls while guests savour familiar staples of generously portioned Mexican cuisine. Flat-screen TVs display UFC fights and musicians serenade the eatery's occupants with live music and bird calls on weekend evenings. The owners decorate the menu with colourful descriptions of chorizo folded into melted cheese and chocolate-tinged mole sauce glazed over corn enchiladas.