Q4 | where.ca

Hot Dining: La Dolce Vita

At Q4, Polpette al Centro: house-made meatballs, smoked caciocavallo, marsala basil pomodoro ragout, Tuscan crostini. Photo by KK Law

Tucked away off the lobby of L’Hermitage Hotel, Q4 Al Centro is perfect for pre-theatre or post-game eats. The mahogany-trimmed room yields up classics such as the Corsi family’s celebrated spaghetti combo of garlic, minced chicken, black beans and chillies. Stone-fired thin-crust pizza is a more casual option. Business lunches are prompt, unless derailed by the bountiful list of Barolos that invites lingering.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Dining: 5 Tasteful Italians

Pino Posteraro shows off the heirloom tomato and Dungeness crab salad at Cioppino's. Photo by KK Law

In a city blessed with great dining, Vancouver truly has an abbondanza of Italian choice.
1 Cioppino’s Pino Posteraro’s sumptuous room is a fave with locals and visiting stars alike, especially for osso buco alla Milanese or the namesake spicy seafood medley.
2 Al Porto Hidden away in Gastown, this warm and cozy room serves up a wealth of classic plates in a cellar-like setting.
3 Q4 This West Side destination is a favourite for its polished, rustic, candlelit decor and shared plates of Cornish game hen and legendary spicy spaghetti.
4 La Terrazza Discover elegance and romance personified, along with a striking private wine room and cellar and specialties of Dungeness crab risotto and grilled bison rib-eye.
5 L’Altro Buca This oasis on a quiet side street in the West End serves firmly flavoured traditional fare such as puttanesca and porchetta, with well-chosen wines to match.—Tim Pawsey