It's attached to the Pacific Palisades Hotel, and you can add your meal to your hotel bill if you're staying there, which is quite handy, especially if you've prepaid the hotel, as we had!

In the morning, the restaurant was fairly empty. The first time we ate here, the service was awesome. The second time, we had a different waitress and... well... Regardless, both meals were yummy. The presentation of the food itself was worthy of an artist! The peach waffles, served with heavy whipped cream and maple syrup--a hint of lavender flavor added--were culinary perfection. I also enjoyed ordering fresh fruit with scrambled eggs.

If you skip breakfast and end up at Zin later in the evening, expect the same high quality of food. Choices range from a balsamic chicken breast to an ahi tuna entrée, butter curry scallops or coconut crab cake tapas.

The bar is also a good place to grab a drink late at night...especially if you're staying at the Pacific Palisades. I walked down here from my room and met some friends one evening for a zintini.

Open until 1am on weekends. Closed Mondays.

Zin is visual. The interiors were done by famed designer Judy Henderson. She uses bold oranges to accent this room. The room is so bright and wild it seems to be in motion. The bar is mid-century modern, and a large fireplace is framed with plasma screen TVs showing cooking shows. Plush couches surround the fireplace, an excellent spot to enjoy a cocktail on a rainy Vancouver evening.

I only had the pleasure of having breakfast here. I ordered a bowl of Groats, which are steel-cut oats (similar to oatmeal); it comes with seasonal berries and cinnamon froth.

When my meal came, I was reminded that food is indeed art. This simple meal looked as lovely as it tasted. The groats came in a bowl with some huge local blackberries. The brownish cinnamon froth swirled around the mixture. It not only looked great, it tasted great. The berries were local, and so fresh and juicy.

The waitresses were charming and on top of things. They kept my coffee filled and always had a smile. The table next to me was an elderly tourist couple. The waitress gave them her tips for her favorite walks around Vancouver. She spent time giving exact directions and adding her own personal favorites. She then gave a big smile and demanded they return tomorrow morning with a full report. It was nice to see someone so interested in showing off her city.

I am sorry we never had time to enjoy lunch or dinner here. However, I walked by a number of times and it always seemed full and very lively. It seemed to attract a lot of locals as well as tourists.

I did peek at the dinner menu. The chef, Chris Whittaker, uses fresh ingredients from local markets and fish from the waters of B.C. The menu had salmon, scallops and local duck. It all looked delicious. However, what caught my eye was a tasting dinner that changes weekly. The chef picks three courses that are fresh and in season, and the price was only $25.00 (CAD), a deal by any standard. I hope I get the chance to go back - I would love to try it out.

Zin is not just your ordinary hotel dining room. It has class and flair and shows a unique perspective on local foods. It's a perfect match for the Pacific Palisades Hotel.