Provence Marinaside

Provence Marinaside is one of my go-to restaurants for brunch in Vancouver, partly because of its aesthetically and gustatorily pleasing variations on morning eggs and partly because of the view of, you guessed it, the marina. Should you find yourself in Vancouver in need of a midday combination meal, stroll through trendy (and yes, yuppie) Yaletown in search of this Provençal-style destination.

THE GOOD: The entrées are large and prepared with fresh ingredients; Omega-3 eggs come with a selection of fruit you`ll actually eat, unlike at most other restaurants. The excellent menu is one that will leave you torn between, say, the Croque Monsieur Eggs Benedict (poached eggs, black forest ham, gruyère, sundried tomato butter on foccacia, $14.00) and the Seafood Crêpes (salmon, baby scallops, shrimp, spinach, velouté, $16.00). The French sky is the limit. Besides, there's nothing like leisurely lunching on the heated patio (both artificially and naturally heated, on sunny days) in January, looking out at some rather impressive yachts.

THE BAD: This spot tends to be pretty busy on weekends, so the service lags and lacks that je ne sais quoi, if you will (I`ve never been one to care about this, but it can be a deal-breaker for some).

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you want something special for your Brunch Bucket List, Provence Marinaside is the place to go - and return to again and again. They also offer gourmet picnic baskets, ideal for out-of-towners, and frequent exclusive promotions for return customers (I have been known to take advantage of these culinary temptations). In (fittingly French) conclusion: Allez-y, goûtez!

 Vegetarian Eggs Benedict (poached eggs, artichoke and bell pepper spread, arugula, on baguette, $14.00).

Provence Panini (goat cheese, pesto, sun dried tomato, prosciutto, $13.00)