Oru at the Fairmont Pacific Rim is the perfect place for a quite romantic dinner, or a special occasion. The tables overlook the new Convention Centre and Canada Place. The atmosphere is elegant and classy and completely west coast.

The menu at Oru is pacific northwest. But this time I decided to try something different. I have a few friends who are vegetarians, how do some of Vancouver’s best restaurant accommodate this demographic? I decided to order several of Oru’s vegetarian items and check it out.

We started with the spicy corn chowder ($10) This dish is not only vegetarian, but it’s also gluten free and vegan. With mild hints of coconut and caramelized onion with jalapeño spice, and lime and cilantro this chowder is perfect for this chilly autumn evenings. Very satisfying.

Now this is something very special: sautéed kale, cauliflower and quinoa ($6) – This side has crispy purple kale, pickled papaya and roasted cauliflower in a tangy citrus marinade.

Let me start by saying that I’m not a fan of kale or quinoa, so I was going way out of my comfort zone. So glad I did! This is a fantastic and tasty combination of flavours and textures. By far one of the best salads I’ve ever had.  This is another gluten and vegan option.

Moving on to mains: the asparagus & roasted salsify risotto ($18)

The charred tomato and scallion sauce gave this dish a much needed flavour infusion. I found it to be a very mildly tasting. The risotto was cooked perfectly. Beautiful presentation.

Overall I thought that Oru accommodated my vegetarian cravings really well.

The service was perfect. We did not lack for anything and our server was attentive and alert. The atmosphere is beautiful.