Kavita Wins Michelin Bib Gourmand in Vancouver

What Michelin recognized

Per Vancouver Is Awesome, the Bib Gourmand recognizes good-quality cooking at good value. It's not a star, and it isn't an award for the tasting menu specifically. It's for the restaurant.

Shah's Outstanding Service Award is the other headline. Most of us think we're great hosts because we once said "make yourself at home" while hiding the good towels. Shah does it professionally, for a whole room, with no towels hidden.

The Ammakase menu and house rules

Chef Tushar Tondvalkar cooks contemporary Indian fine dining, reimagining regional cuisine with modern techniques and seasonal local produce. The tasting menu, Ammakase, changes with the seasons and local availability. It's listed at $145 per person on the official site, with reservations required and 24 hours' notice for dietary needs.

That menu is a good test of your own habits. You'll happily say you want to be surprised, then order the same noodles for the ninth straight Friday. Here, the kitchen decides, and for once the surprise is the plan.

Kavita is at 250 W 3rd Avenue. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 4:30pm to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday 4:45pm to 11pm. Parties over six should contact the restaurant. Corkage is $50 per 750 ml bottle, limited to two bottles, and tables of five or more get a 20% service charge. The restaurant also notes it isn't equipped for young children.

Before you book

Book ahead, since reservations are required, and if either of you has a dietary restriction, tell them at least 24 hours before you go. The seasonal Ammakase tasting menu is $145 per person, so for two, pick a night when you can take your time and enjoy it together.