This cozy Vancouver restaurant is my all-time favourite that I always recommend

Every local has their own personal list of the best restaurants in Vancouver. It comes down to personal taste and preference, but I'd argue that this one spot deserves a place on everyone's list.

It's a sure-fire crowd pleaser that'll also impress your foodie friend, and is my go-to recommendation for anyone visiting the city.

After living in B.C. for two years, my research has been thorough — many reservations booked and a total amount of money spent that I never want to know. The result, though? A few top-tier favourite restaurants in Vancouver that I can confidently recommend to friends and readers. Now, living on the East Coast, I'm sadly left to daydream about these spots in between West Coast visits — but one restaurant takes up more headspace than the others.

It's this cozy Italian gem, serving up family-style homemade pasta that, I promise, you too will be thinking about long after your bill is paid.

Ask for Luigi is no hidden gem, I'll be the first to admit, but it is one of those places that actually deserves the praise it receives.

The Vancouver food scene is bustling, with endless restaurants to choose from, Michelin nods, and simply too many good options (if that's possible?). Overwhelming decision fatigue is easy to catch when trying to plan a dinner out — but I'm here to help cure that.

Ask for Luigi is a trusty win — whether it's for a date night, meal with the girls, or your one nice dinner to squeeze in on a Vancouver trip. It's the place to go for a simply tasty meal.

First of all, it's pasta, which is generally non-divisive, beloved by pretty much everyone, and always somewhat satisfying. Here, though, you're not just getting any pasta; you're getting fresh, handmade, family-style dishes that elevate comfort food to a first-class dining experience.

The menu is designed to be shared (to me, a trademark of a good restaurant) – plopped down in the middle of the table to dive into (and fight over) as a group. Forks become weapons, battling for the biggest bites of the best dish.

The sharing part here is almost a necessity, because choosing just one thing off the menu to eat alone would be a mammoth of a task. For dinner here, my little group shared four pastas, two appetizers and dessert. The dishes are well-sized and we left stuffed to the brim, but I'd do it all again, and will tell you to do the same.

They offer brunch, lunch, and dinner service, so the menu varies depending on when you visit, but it's really one of those spots where you can't go wrong. You can even leave it all up to your server without being disappointed.

The family-style experience also encompasses what Ask for Lugi is all about. It's intimate, with limited seating and an almost cottage-like atmosphere that puts you at ease.

The mismatched plates and eclectic decor scattered around give it a cozy vibe, but it's all tied together in a way that still feels purposeful and aesthetic.

I could go on and on about how jealous I am of those living in Vancouver right now, who can pop over for some pasta after reading this, but I think the MICHELIN Guide recommendation sums it up best: "...no one feeds you quite like Ask for Luigi."

The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.