Bravo Cucina Ristorante — Restaurant in North Vancouver

I've been here about a dozen times in the past 10 years and it's always exceeded expectations; excellent Italian fare in a relaxed open dining room served by knowledgeable, friendly wait staff. Usually there is free street parking in the area, if not right outside the restaurant. Recently redecorated, the atmosphere is still warm and inviting from the moment you walk in, greeted with a smile and escorted to your table. I love that they still use clean white tablecloths and tables are set for dinner. There are no dirty dishes in sight; the staff keeps the place spotless and inviting. Friendly and knowledgeable servers are ready and happy to answer any and all questions with a smile. Once you have the menu in hand, fresh, homemade bread and garlic butter arrives at the table. The sizeable menu, as always, offers many classic Italian dishes with some nice twists and locally sourced ingredients. The specials always sound tempting but I had pasta on my mind. I started with Lobster Bisque which was sinfully smooth and creamy. My partner enjoyed his Caesar Salad saying it had lots of garlic which he likes. I chose Angle Hair Pasta with the biggest shrimp I've ever seen and my partner had Pork Tenderloin with fresh, seasonal veggies, beautifully prepared and presented. For dessert, I chose the Flourless Chocolate Cake; it's so dense and rich you really should share it but I didn't, and we each had a glass of wine with dinner. Appearing at the right moment to refill the water glass and clear away empty dishes, our waiter didn't make us feel under pressure to vacate the table. It's simply good, attentive service that I wish other local restaurants would emulate. The bill came to about $160. which was quite reasonable. I recommend calling ahead to book a table as they can get very busy on the weekend but they were able to squeeze us in on a Friday at 5 pm if we could leave by 7, their busiest time. We were fed, wined and out the door in 90 minutes, full, happy and relaxed. I'm glad to see Bravo Cucina flourishing during these tough times and doing it with...

Disappointing experience after years of great visits

I’ve been to Bravo Cucina many times over the years — for birthdays, date nights, and family dinners. I’ve always loved it here and have even brought my very young kids several times with no issues.

But tonight was really disappointing.

I called around 5:10 (they open at 5) and asked if they had room for four. The person who answered said, “Absolutely, we can make room for four,” and I said we’d be there right away. When we arrived a few minutes later, the same person asked if we had a reservation. I said no, thinking he might realize we were the group who had just called — but apparently not. He took one look at our stroller and our comfy hiking gear, and his whole attitude changed. His tone felt cold, and the interaction set the tone for the rest of the evening.

We were seated, but the service never improved. No one offered us a booster seat for our one-year-old, even though I saw another child in one nearby. We ordered a bottle of wine, but I ended up pouring every glass myself all night while watching servers refill wine for other tables.

One of our mains never arrived, and by that point, we were tired of waiting. Our empty dishes and bread plates sat on the table long after we were done — I ended up stacking them myself just to make space. It honestly felt like we were being ignored.

At the end, when the server asked, “How was everything?” I just said “fine” because we were ready to leave. But it really wasn’t fine. And as we walked out, no one said goodbye or even acknowledged us leaving.

After so many positive visits over the years, tonight left me feeling unwelcome and disappointed — enough that I don’t think I’ll be coming back, and I certainly won’t be recommending this place to...

A longtime North Vancouver staple in Italian cusine. The restaurant itself has ample seating inside and out, and the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. The menu includes the italian classics you'd expect, as well as many in-house creations, and a notable seafood offering. The quality and freshness of the ingredients is always top-notch, portions are generous, and baked-in-house foccacia style (served with oil & vinegar/tapenade/bean spread) is included with your meal. The wine list and dessert menu are excellent, and they also have an espresso machine if you want coffee after dinner. What sets this place apart is two-fold: First is the value. When you combine the quality, portion size, and prices, it's no wonder this place has been business as long as it has. You get excellent bang for your buck. Secondly is the service. The servers as well as the manager are so good at their jobs, and love what they do. Whether you're there splurging on a multi-course dinner, or simply there for a $25 lunch, they go above and beyond. These folks are genuinely friendly, courteous, and true professionals who make you feel welcome, and keep you coming back. I highly recommend Bravo, and advise to call ahead and make...