Sunrise Pizza & Steak House — Restaurant in Vancouver

Table of 8 monthly regulars who are neighbours from the same building in the Commercial Dr area. Except for the joy of being with good friends the experience was awful. Ambience of a low rent cafeteria. Decor faded and tacky (but not in a good way). Bring your sunglasses unless you like full-on white light!! THE WORST management I have ever witnessed in the hospitality industry. Wanted to charge me full price for a misrepresented spinach pie which in fact, was a badly made Spanikopita; deep fried... verging on burnt, so tough I couldn't break thru the pastry, even with a steak knife. Looked like an appetizer tho I had ordered the entree size. Sent the full portion back immediately. I had specified clearly that I needed super soft food because of my teeth (dentures) & that was recommended. The other 7 people confirmed I had done so. **The restaurant couldn't provide a substitute that would take less than 20 minutes so I settled for the bread & dipping sauce that came with it. Everyone else was eating and our waitress said some more bread had just come out of the oven & she'd bring me a plate with sauce "On the House".

We finished about 45 minutes later & when our bills I expected to see the charge for the sparkling water + tax. It was $22 + tax 🙀 When I said I wasn't paying for food I couldn't & didn’t eat but had sent back they wanted to charge me $10 for the free bread. ...it would have been $17 total FOR BREAD & WATER. Throughout this, the manager wouldn't even come from out back to speak with me & opted to send verbal messages via the waitress (who I truly felt sorry for). I said I would pay for my drink, the bread & the tax (even on the food I couldn't eat) so our server wouldn't lose out. Additionally, I tipped generously in cash on the the full amount. The manger ought to be fired. Whomever it has cost the place 6-8 regular monthly customers who order full dinners with drinks & don't go cheap by splitting entrees or appetizers the way many people do. If that person is also the owner I suggest a finding a different occupation ...or sell the business to someone who will elevate the tone of The DRIVE not detract from...

A true Vancouver institution that's been serving authentic Greek-style pan pizza since 1978. This place has literally witnessed my entire adult life unfold - all three marriages, countless celebrations, and more late-night meals than I care to count.

Brought Sandra here on our third date in 1989 (back when the original neon sign still flickered). She ordered a salad and spent the evening criticizing the "excessive cheese usage." Should have seen that as a red flag. Carol, wife number two, actually loved this place - we came here to celebrate our engagement in 1999. Even took my third wife here once, though she complained

The Greek-style pan pizza is still perfection after all these years. Thick, chewy crust that's crispy on the bottom, generous cheese coverage, and that slightly tangy tomato sauce that's remained unchanged since the Carter administration. None of this thin-crust nonsense or "artisanal" toppings - just honest pizza made by people who understand that sometimes consistency matters more than innovation.

The staff have seen me age from a young insurance adjuster to a bald pension recipient. The owner's son still remembers my usual order: large pepperoni and mushroom, well-done. The fact that a business can maintain this level of personal service while surviving Vancouver's retail apocalypse speaks to their commitment to community.

The atmosphere hasn't changed much - same red vinyl booths, same Greek paintings on the walls, same friendly staff. In a city that seems to renovate every restaurant every five years, Sunrise's stubborn consistency feels revolutionary.

Prices have obviously increased since 1978, but they're still reasonable compared to those $48 "craft pizza" places downtown. A large pizza here costs what a medium costs at most places, and tastes infinitely better.

Some things should never change. Sunrise Pizza is...

What do you think? Is pizza, an American, Canadian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Italian or Mexican food? The answer is all of the above & many more in a general sense if pizza is thought of as a modern name for flatbread. Unleavened bread, or flatbread, is eaten the world over. According to archeologists, flatbread itself is of Sumerian origin, which was already consumed at least a thousand years ago. However, the pizza made at Sunrise Pizza on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, BC undoubtably caters to Canadian tastebuds. The decor can perhaps described as simple or “fake Italian”; nonetheless this has not prevented people from savouring the delicious pizza & pasta dishes. And frankly speaking, the wall decor here actually is quiet pleasant. This restaurant & other non- pretentious Italian restaurants, which sprouted in the 60’s & 70’s were often decorated in this style until we “learned better“ in the 90’s. Lol. Over time, this style will become a historical relic or “retro”. All in all, it is not unusual to see people happily eating here what could be described as comfort food. Customers are probably not aware that they are eating a food which most likely developed as a flatbread made from toppings which started as “leftovers”, hidden underneath a layer of cheese. Melted cheese strands combined with sweet tomato sauce in all of its topping variations are incredibly irresistible no matter what. It is not surprising that pizza has been called the most popular food in the whole world! A personal favourite at Sunrise pizza is chicken with sun-dried tomatoes & garlic. Don’t order this on a first date unless both of you are Garlic Lovers, ha, ha, ha. The restaurant, with its great service, appetizing food, & good value continues to make it a popular choice...