



Friday night we partook in our annual tradition of Dine Out Vancouver. Each year we try to hit a restaurant we’ve never been to and this year we chose Al Porto in Gastown.
I decided to bust out some of my new Spring 2011 purchases since we were going out somewhere nice.
Spring hits our warehouse super early, with new arrivals starting to peek into stores at the end of December. Everything is so beautiful, colourful and new, but the weather isn’t good enough to wear most of it. Thankfully, Alicia put together some looks on how to wear your new Spring purchases during the transitional period between Fall and Spring which gave me the inspiration and push to actually start wearing them.
I should probably be wearing pants with this blouse, but I went for Fleece Leggings since they keep me nice and toasty. The blouse is long enough that wearing it with tights still works. I absolutely love the print!

We’ve walked by / driven by Al Porto a million times but have never gone in. This year we finally took the ‘plunge’!
Their foot print is pretty big and their decor and atmosphere is exactly what we love. We felt so cozy and intimate at our little table for two. Chad and I find lighting to be the most important element in the dining experience (other then the food of course). If things are too bright you feel like you are on the spot and it’s uncomfortable. Too dark and you can’t see anything.



We started off our meal with a little cocktail.
We already knew what we were going to get before we got there. I was really looking forward to the food!

Caesar Salad
I always find it weird when Italian restaurants have this because it is SO not an Italian dish. The first time I went to Italy I never saw it once on a menu. Now because they are starting to open their menus to more Western traditions, Caesar salads are starting to make an appearance. Since it’s one of my favorite salads, I decided to order it!
I’ve had classy Caesar salads (alla Sand Bar) and I have had non classy Caesar salads (alla Boston Pizza). This kind of fell on the non classy side. I know I sound like a total snob, but I was kind of expecting more. Think outside the box! Salad and once thin slice of bread. SAD!

Veal Medallions
I was really looking forward to this dish. The veal was amazing, but the rest of it was kind of disappointing. The gravy had a skin on it, which meant it had been sitting for a while. Beans aren’t my favorite, so I really didn’t indulge in those, and the roasted vegetables were OK. The veal was the best part, which I guess is the most important part. I just wasn’t super impressed with the rest.

Chocolate Tort
This was really good. Chocolate cake, how could you go wrong!?


After our meal we talked about our Dine Out Vancouver experiences. We have had some amazing ones, (Quatro on 4th & La Terraza) and we’ve had some ‘just OK’ ones (Cozas & Romano’s Macaroni Grill).
As a customer, I view Dine Out Vancouver as a chance to try out a restaurant I normally wouldn’t because of price or menu. I look at it as my opportunity to fall in love with something unexpected. Therefore, I feel as though the restaurants participating in Dine Out Vancouver should go above and beyond to supply me with an amazing experience. This is their chance to gain new clientele that will tell their friends and come back for more.
I didn’t feel that Al Porto did that for me. It honestly felt like they were doing me a favour by giving me a deal on my food. As if they really have no need to gain new patrons because they have such a great client base already. ‘So, here’s your veal that’s been sitting under the lamps and your super boring Caesar salad. Make sure to tip your waiter.’ But then again, maybe they were just having an off day, or I’ve become that much more of a food snob.
I guess each restaurant has its own view on Dine Out Vancouver. Some probably do see it as a way to gain customers, and others probably see it as a nuisance but it’s tradition so they do it anyways.
I guess it’s better to have a disappointing meal for $28 then it is for $50!