Nuba Restaurant in the Dominion Building

On Wednesday, May 11, we were in a group of 13 people who went for dinner at the Nuba Restaurant, 207B West Hastings Street, Vancouver, just north of Victory Square, to celebrate a birthday.  Nuba Restaurant specializes in authentic Lebanese cuisine, and is located in the basement of the historic Dominion Building, located to the west of the Woodward’s redevelopment.  See Nuba’s website:  www.nuba.ca

Groups over 8 are required to have a set menu.  This turned out to be a fabulous way to taste so many dishes.  The group menu was made up of seven cold starters, five hot starters and your choice of five different main courses.

Here is the menu for the Cold and Hot Starters:

Everything was beautifully presented and delicious.  The hummus was so smooth it was like mousse, as was the baba ghanooj.  The pita bread was thin and baked to perfection. 

Here are pictures we took at the table of two hot starters, first the Najib’s Special – crispy cauliflower with lemon juice and sea salt.  It was outstanding, almost to die for, but then you have to know that cauliflower is my favourite veggie. 

The second picture is of the Mjadra – organic green lentils with rice, topped with crispy onions – oh so good!

Here is the group menu for the main course (you are to choose one). 

I chose the Chicken Tawook skewer as my main course, and it was spiced and grilled very well.

I highly recommend Nuba Restaurant for its food and good service.  I prefer to go to this restaurant during the day, or when the evening hours are still light out, because the neighbourhood is filled with characters that you may not wish to run into at dusk or at night time.

The Nuba Restaurant is located in the basement level of the historic Dominion Building. 

In today's Vancouver Sun newspaper, there is an article "Our 10 Favourite Haunts" because it is Friday the 13th today.  The information comes from Lorne Richard, director of operations at Vancouver Trolley Tours, which conducts tours of local sites of murders and hauntings.  This is what was said about the Dominion Building:

"Opened in 1909, this 13-storey building was once the tallest in the British Empire, and Vancouver's first steel-framed highrise.  It's now headquarters to many of the city's young creative professionals who enjoy its well-maintained heritage character and affordable rent.  A building of this stature deserved the big grand opening celebration it received.  Sadly the party was cut short for its architect, John S. Helyer.  It is said he either threw himself or fell down the stairs, and was killed.  Since then, his spirt has been seen - and his footsteps heard - in the stairway between the seventh and eights floors."

For more information see Ghosts of Old Vancouver.