Côte Richmond

You'll find yourself at a proper brasserie here—white tablecloths and close-packed tables that hum with the kind of convivial energy you want on a Friday night. The menu reads like a love letter to French tradition: côte de boeuf that arrives sizzling and pink, moules marinières that smell like the Atlantic, and pommes frites that actually taste of potato. It's not trying to reinvent anything; it's just doing the fundamentals properly, which is rarer than you'd think. Hill Street sees all sorts, but Côte slots in nicely between the chains and pretension—somewhere you can dress up or show up casual and feel equally welcome. Book ahead unless you fancy the bar.