Review :
I will admit upfront that I am a bit of a foodie and have been fortunate to eat and enjoy meals at some of the top restaurants around the world. Lumiere IS Vancouver's TOP restaurant, and probably in the top 3 in all of Canada's top restaurants. The food is outstanding, portion sizes large for a tasting menu and only the service and restaurant space knocks it a rung or two below the United States' top restaurant The French Laundry.

Review :
The biggest challenge Lumiere has for it is the expectation everyone has of it. It is very expensive, and it's chef owner, Fini (sp?) is definitely the most famous chef in Vancouver. You basically expect to walk in and out with the best possible dinning experience of life...

I tried to keep my expectations realistic, but must admit that I secretly wanted to be ultra-fulfilled.

The atmosphere was not very romantic. I was there with my wife and we found ourselves constantly in conversation with the table next to us, as tables were so close together.

The food is very good in quality. We did the recommended 12 course menu, and many of the courses were good, but not all of them. It should be noted also that I am not a HUGE fan of French cuisine.

Lastly, the most disappointing part of the night was the desserts, which I expected to be the toper - oh well.

All and all a great experience for a unique place, but one that I would only revisit if others made a reservation.