OLD BUT STILL KICKING

The main strip beneath Esplanade and before the quay is quintessential Lolo dining, and there hasn’t been anything new on that block for years. However, owner and certified Red Seal chef Paul Mon-kau’s neighbourhood favourite The District Brasserie ( 13 Lonsdale Ave., eatatdistrict.com), the European gastro-pub meets West Coast, is still hopping. Refined yet casual pub grub and local beers on tap mean it still draws a crowd on a Thursday night.

Another option for casual food is an outpost of Main Street stalwart Burgoo ( 3 Lonsdale Ave., burgoo .ca) next door. It’s the only one of their locations to feature live music, so check out the website for a list of performances that range in style from Latin jazz to soft pop. And we’re loving the queso fundido.

On the same block, you have the illustrious Gusto di Quattro ( 1 Lonsdale Ave., quattrorestaurants.com), which has been part of the neighbourhood since 2000. The rustic Italian menu, inspired by local legend Antonio Corsi, o sets the potential snootiness of a white-linen fine dining experience—the result being a higher price tag without high levels of pretension.