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Cafe Nuba
Categories: Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Middle Eastern Lebanese Mediterranean, Lebanese [Edit]
146 E 3rd AveVancouver, BC V5T 1C8
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
(604) 568-6727
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
38 reviews for Cafe Nuba
Review Highlights
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"Crispy Cauliflower was TO DIE FOR." In 10 reviews -
"My friend ordered the eggplant stew and I managed to steal..." In 3 reviews -
"Had the chicken tawook pita and the incredible OJ..." In 4 reviews
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38 reviews in English
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Review from Trish R.
2/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Fantastic vibe, great service and the food... so yummy!
It's a wonderful cafe-style version of the original Nuba with a modified menu. Very very good, clean food and great overall value. Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Sijia W.
Vancouver, BC
2/11/2012
An old diner feel to this place. Great vegetarian dishes if that's your game.
I went for lunch and felt stressed because the servers were too relaxed and was not in a rush whatsoever even after I explained I only have 40 minutes to order and eat.
Food was great so I will try this place again when I'm not so rushed. -
Review from Renee E.
Vancouver, BC
1/1/2012
Was expecting something similar to the Gastown location but was kind of disappointed with the diner feel when we came for dinner. The tables are tiny and the plastic chairs are not comfy.
Sadly, our server seemed kind of clueless, not in a rush in any way even though there were 3 tables when we were there.
The food was decent, had hoped for maybe home-made pita? or at least warm??
Won't be back -
Review from Louise G.
Impromptu Date Night!!! Cafe Nuba was the perfect place for it. Beautiful interior. Warm, friendly, and very capable service. Amazing food.
Appetizer of crispy cauliflower was, as others have stated, delicious. I'm sure I will be joining a long line of people who try to replicate this dish at home. (Pic: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... )
My lover and I (I usually call him 'my honey', but this is Impromptu Date Night !!!) shared an appetizer sized chicken skewers (Chicken Shish Tawook), as they were out of the main-sized 1/2 chicken dish. We will have to return to try that if it is anywhere as wonderful as the skewers were. We could cut them with our forks they were so tender. Juicy and delicious. (Pic: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... )
We also shared the small feast plate, which contained hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and pickles (think pickled beet slaw, rather than pickled cucumber....) Pita was plentiful. (Pic: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... )
All in all it was delicious, and we loved it. Nuba never fails us. So happy all the locations are doing so well. Cheers!Listed in: 365-Day Challenge - Review A…, Food Porn, Mainly Main, VEGETARIAN
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Review from Jason R.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011
How do they make lentils taste so good?!
The value for food here is unparallelled. Dishes are artfully presented, taste healthy while being a delight to eat. A rare combination.
I only wish they had better quality pita...but still worthy of 5 starts. -
Review from Sarah O.
11/5/2011
I had a better experience at Nuba recently. The food was tastier this time around and the drinks are reasonably priced. All the workers were quite attentive and friendly and they made sure to replace everything on our table before it got empty. This location is much brighter and more charming than the one on Hastings, even though it is a bit smaller.
After all these years, I am still not crazy over their food but my most recent visit redeemed themselves a bit. I had the Feast which came with all sorts of goodies and nibbles. Falafel and pita are still too dry for me and the hummus was lacking flavour. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the vegan stew and the tabbouleh as always. Overall, it's bordering on being too expensive- I think they are truly capable of stepping it up a little bit and coming with something more exciting than just banking on the fact that there are no other Lebanese restaurant out there to compete with. That being said, they have a loyal band of followers and regulars so they must be doing something right. -
Review from West D.
Vancouver, BC
4/13/2012
Definitely good food - I could taste the organic difference. Service was a little slow and prices were a little steep. Crowded for a Thursday evening.
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Review from Louisa P.
Burnaby, BC
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went there for an early dinner with a bunch of friends. My friend raved about the crispy cauliflower, and it was good. Their homemade slaw was fantastic.
The service was friendly, and it has a cool clean atmosphere.
Didn't love their dessert which I couldn't pronounce, but maybe it's just an aquired taste. -
Review from Maya M.
North Vancouver, BC
7/9/2011
Crispy Cauliflower was TO DIE FOR! This place was awesome. It's hard to find a place that has healthy and unhealthy options (for two people of differing tastes) in this City and this place did it. Everything on the menu looked tasty and it was really hard to decide.
The interior is very clean and modern and gets a lot of natural light. The service was very good as well. Now, back to the food...
Besides the cauliflower, I ordered the beef tenderloin kabab and it was very flavorful. Homemade hummous and tahini as well as a hot sauce that was out of this world.
One negative note, my companion ordered the chicken tawook and wasn't impressed.
We will definitely be back again! -
Review from Allyson C.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2012
NUBA never disappoints! Awesome gluten free options and yummy cider. No need to go into details but I highly recommend trying the falafel... so fluffy and amazing!
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Review from Allison F.
Updated - 2/10/2011
Met a friend here for dinner last night and was pleased to find tons of seating options at 5:30. I ordered my typical apple ginger juice and my friend had carrot apple and ginger. We were pleased to be informed that you can mix any amount of fruit/veggies in their drinks, all for the same price.
For dinner, I had the beef sirloin kebab and my friend had the eggplant stew. The meals arrived after a bit of a wait and looked very delicious. My beef skewers were cooked more on the well-done side, despite being asked how I would like them and saying medium. But the potatoes were tender and both salads were tasty. The hummus went well with the beef and the remainder was wiped up with the provided wholewheat pita. My friend's stew was good and was full of vegetables. Overall, the meals were quite enjoyable.
Half way through our meal, I noticed that the restaurant had become completely packed, with people also left waiting for tables. I would recommend arriving early, even on week days. We didn't feel rushed at all during our visit, which made catching up even more pleasant. Service was sparse but attentive when they did eventually come by.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/19/2010
I came here with a couple of coworkers to pick up some 'to go' lunch for the crew. The space is very… Read more »
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Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great place for vegetarians and vegans, but for a meat eater like me.... "OK, USA!" (http://www.youtube.com...)
I love restaurant with open kitchens! Two cooks behind the counter cooking and plating with the aromatics breezing into the cafe from the kitchen.
Haven't had a without meat in a long time. We got the crispy cauliflower and loved it! Best cauliflower I had in a long ass time! I got the Falafel and my gf got the Chicken Tawook. The falafel was pretty darn good, but the place in DC still got the best I've tried. (It was a random drunken adventurous night.) The chicken tawook however was over-cooked and quite dry :(
Ok, I just googled tawook and now correct me if I'm wrong, tawook = chicken. So on the menu it's Chicken Chicken?
Menu: http://nuba.ca/3rdlunc...
Oh yeah, if you're wondering why the water tastes funny...... it's the cucumbers they drop into their jugs.
Lol, sorry about the JCVD clip... just felt like paying some respects to him today. -
Review from David D.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2011
After hearing a lot of rave reviews about Cafe Nuba, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I went to the Waldorf location, and the hostess told us they were full and stared at us blankly, she didn't tell us how long the wait would be nor did she ask us if we wanted to put our names down. Being hipster shouldn't mean you're too cool to care!
Not giving up we headed to the main location and were seated immediatly. We ordered the tabouleh, chicken shishtawook, and steak. The tabouleh was not that fresh, the chicken was moderately season, however the dipping sauce was delicious. The steak was really small and tasted alright, the tartness of the pomergranate reduction was nice, however the onions were overpoweriing.
I found the ambience a little lacking, The decor and furniture looked like it had been salvaged, I'm all about reduce reuse and recyle, but when your friend says the chairs and pvc floor tiles remind him of his 5 grade school cafeteria in Laos..I think that it's a sign they missed the mark. -
Review from Mya N.
Langley, BC
10/30/2010
Nuba... seriously what is the big deal? Did I catch the cook on an off day? Did all the other yelpers get served something amazing that I obviously didn't? I was buzzin' for my first taste of Nuba. Unfortunately, I was left thoroughly disappointed with a case of the tummy aches.
Ok, let's start by saying I love Lebanese food and anything from the Middle East. I love cauliflower, lamb, etc etc. So the crispy cauliflower that is so raved about failed big time. It was not crispy at all, edging on soggy almost, and was way too salty. It was over seasoned and totally lame. I had the lamb kafta plate which was not impressive. The lamb patty was small, dry, overcooked, and I'm positive it gave me diarrhea. Boo! My friend's mjadra was so salty she had to send it back, and this chick loves salt. Everything was salty- from the salad dressing to the potatos and the soup. Damn you salt. The eggplant stew was better, and thus earned it another star.
I feel like Nuba deserves another chance. I believe in my fellow yelpers. But i don't think I'll be going back. One case of diarrhea was enough for this lady. FAIL! -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 9/14/2010
* Manoushe! *
I hadn't popped by this newer location of Nuba for a while, and decided to go in for lunch today. They re-did the system since the last time I was there and now have table service instead of ordering at the counter.
They now have a section on the menu of Manoushe (Lebanese flatbreads). I tried the lamb version. While the dough was a bit thicker and puffier than other Manooshe I have had, the flavours were very good.
They first coated the Manoushe with sesame seeds and za'atar and then topped that with a mixture of ground lamb and pine nuts. The lamb was very flavourful and the toasted pine nuts added nice texture and flavour. It was served with a small side of tzatziki and some pickled cabbage. Very reasonably priced at $5.
They offer a salad/soup add-on for an additional $3. So with my side salad this made for a very satisfying lunch! The salad had a nice variety of very fresh veggies as well as some chick peas.
Overall Nuba continues to deliver, and now with Manoushe!Listed in: Which wich is which?, Mary had a little lamb, and I…, Vancouver Middle Eastern Food
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/15/2010 First to Review
* A third location for this local favourite *
I'm glad the folks at Nuba are doing well, and have… Read more »
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Review from Larry L.
Updated - 8/11/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I'm still a fan, but my friend that I brought with my brother, didn't like it as much. For her, it was spicy and she just wasn't used to it.
She did like the lamb but not the "special" What? You don't like cauliflower done this way? No way!.
Well, sad to say, yes, it's not for everyone. but for me and plenty of others, it's Terrrrriiiiific!
Today, it was the mushroom soup that was fantastic.
Amost as good as Mum makes. That's a complimennt!Listed in: Taste Bud Tinglers, Healthier Food options, Diabetic Friendly
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/13/2010
Brought a few other people here today.
The food is still terrific and still very consistent.
Every… Read more »
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Review from Beau K.
Vancouver, BC
11/12/2010
DELICIOUS! Fresh ingredients and savoury, moist, tender meats. Hummus that is fresh made and great service. I ordered sirloin beef kabobs and I was so happy with the portion and the price.
I'll be coming back! -
Review from Justin M.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2010
Is there even a point in leaving another glowing review for this fantastic restaurant?
If you like tasty food you owe it to yourself to try Nuba. Great food, great value, enough said. -
Review from Ido R.
Vancouver, BC
10/23/2010
Shall I compare thee to Al Basha?
I could try.
The food is ten fold better in Al Basha. It may be prettier in Nuba, but if we are after flavor, richness, if we go to reward our taste buds - Nuba is certainly not the place. The food was okay, nothing more than that.
Compared with the food, the prices were rather high in Nuba.
The air was stuffed, and the scent of cooking everyone. Ironically, the most fresh place was... in the washroom.
Service - well, the service was great. I knew there was something good about this place! -
Review from Peter S.
6/30/2010
I second the comments about the pleasant brightness of this location. Much preferred to the basement Nuba on Hastings.
Stopped in for a quick lunch time snack here yesterday. Had the chicken tawook pita and the incredible OJ+grapefruit+carrot+ginger juice. I thought the pita was lacking a bit of umph, but it calmed my hungry tummy nonetheless. The juice was awesome. I could drink that everyday for the rest of my life and be content.
See you again soon Nuba. -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
9/21/2010
Yum yum yum! Nuba did not disappoint. I was excited to see that this location had the same menu as the one downtown. I was a bit confused as to the order process - do you order at the counter or is there table service? There wasn't a sign indicating either but I saw others were at tables using a take out menu for reference.
To start we ordered the falafel - SO good. I would have loved a plateful of that and nothing else. Definitely worth going back for. For my main, I ordered the crispy cauliflower, not really knowing what to expect. What I got was a slightly salty, slightly sour, crispy cauliflower that tasted slightly of tempura batter. The first couple of bites were interesting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered potatoes with my cauliflower which was okay. I liked my hummus - not too garlicky but with good flavour. The pita bread that accompanied the meal wasn't a bit cardboard-y. If they had heated it up, it would have been fantastic with the hummus.
My friend ordered the eggplant stew and I managed to steal a bite and WOW. I loved it. So many great flavours. I could eat this everyday.
Compared to the location on Hastings, this place is a lot brighter. I enjoyed the atmosphere and despite its really hidden location, the place had a steady customer base while I was there.Listed in: My Haunts
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Review from kath r.
3/30/2010
I *heart* Nuba.
Nuba on Seymour, Nuba Restaurant on Cambie and the new Nuba Cafe on E.3rd.
Located on E.3rd, in the first block just off Main street on the left hand side (opposite the burgundy awning of the Swiss Cafe), the new Nuba Cafe has all the hallmarks of the Nuba you know and love:
*Affordable and tasty dishes with plenty of vegetarian and vegan offerings
*Casual dining in a chill setting, complete w/ plants and mint green walls!
*Awesome selection of smoothie and juice-extracted beverages
*Decadent baklava
This location is about the same size as the Seymour Street cafe, so think small and don't camp. We slid onto our chairs around 12:30pm and by 12:45pm the place was packed with lots of people waiting to be sat and just as many people getting it all to go.
They're currently open until 7pm? but are extending service once they get settled into a groove.
Def a welcome addition to the lower Main 'hood. -
Review from John S.
Richmond, BC
12/1/2010
It's a bit of a hole in the wall that you probably wouldn't know existed unless you happen to walk by or live in the area. Anyways, the staff was friendly and we noted how frequently they would come by to fill everyone's water. I had the Najib's Special to start, which is a crispy cauliflower dish that was really tasty and I would definitely recommend trying it out. For the main course, I had the lamb kafta, which was a bit like a large lamb meatball. It was tasty but nothing special.
The restaurant itself is pretty cozy. There aren't a ton of tables and it was pretty full the entire time we were there - and we were there fairly early (before 6pm on a weekend). Prices were reasonable, if not a bit high for what it is. I wouldn't mind coming back, but it's not at the top of my list for middle eastern food. -
Review from Steph J.
Richmond, BC
7/20/2010
I often have dreams about Cafe Nuba! Being vegetarian, sometimes you have to settle for the generic "veggie burger" or "veggie wrap". But at Nuba, you get something that is unique, tasty and well worth the value. It's something that I can't just whip up at home, and this is the ultimate reason for eating out- treating yourself to something that you'd normally not get anywhere else.
Favorite dish: mjadra pita -
Review from Daniel L.
This is a great new location for Nuba... To be out of downtown and on the east side and 1/2 blk off main st. The new room is bright with easy street parking and I think a bit of a different menu....
The great tasting quality food is as good as the rest of the locations, its nice to see a small hole in the wall restaurant expand they way they have over the last 18 months, i hope its not to fast. -
Review from Ravenas M.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2011
Not much to say about Nuba. I was expecting better, both in ambience and food, but the fact that neither lived up the expectations speaks more to my experiences elsewhere than what they offer. In short, the food was good, the decor was nice, but nothing stood out how I was expecting it would. If I was asked to go here again, I would go, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go here.
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Review from Laure-Elaine C.
Vancouver, BC
5/27/2010
Great food, lovely decor, friendly service.
I love Nuba! -
Review from Mark H.
6/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Thanks to the April Yelp Elite party which was held here, I thought I'd give this the full test. We started with baba ganoush with pita and the spectacular seasoned cauliflower, mmm. I had the lamb patties which comes with rice, salad and hummus. Very filling, very fresh, and naturally delicious.
They aren't licensed yet, so no booze for you. However, waitress said they will get it soon and will be opening a patio. Oh and their prices include the GST, which I think all restaurants should do.Go WYSIWYG menus! -
Review from Vincci L.
6/6/2010 2 photos
We really wanted Nuba. The crispy cauliflowers were calling for me. After learning the Nuba restaurant was completely full, we resorted here. Even then, there was a bit of a wait.
I like this space-bright, with hints of lime green and brown. Lots of free street parking all around too.
They essentially have the same menu as the Cafe Nuba on Seymour. Of course I had to get my fix of crispy cauliflower, lamb hushwie-sautéed lamb with onions, peppers, pinenuts & spices over hummus, and taboulleh. The lamb hushwie is very flavourful, and it goes perfectly with hummus and the pita.
Also got a plate of lamb kibbeh, with grilled grain-fed halal lamb patty, vegetables,pinenuts, burghul & aromatic spices.
I like the plates here because it also comes with all the works-taboulleh, hummus, salad, hot sauce,pita & choice of organic brown rice or roasted potatoes. all served with tahini.
They aren't licensed here, but they do have a 'juice bar', with daily smoothie and juice specials. Tonight was a juice with beets, apples, carrots and lime juice. So refreshing and good. Everything went well together, and it's healthy!
Nuba is seriously good stuff. I'll admit it, I'm addicted. -
Review from spice r.
Vancouver, BC
6/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've never been to a Lebanese restaurant that took so long to serve our food. Also, the do NOT have shawarma.
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Review from Crystal G.
West Vancouver, BC
6/5/2011
Have been here twice, and can't wait to try their new locations. The first time we had to sit at the counter (no tables left), the second time, arrived just after they opened at 11:30 am so plenty of tables -- but it filled up fast. I like the cucumber-flavoured water they serve, much more interesting and original than regular or lemon water.
We have had the Najib's special (crispy cauliflower), the vegan stew (this day it came with eggplant) and the falafal lunch. All are good. The menu is marked for vegetarian or vegan items, but they do have some meat dishes. The lunch meals come with hummus, tabouleh, and purple cabbage as well as pita. Let them know in advance if you don't want a pool of oil in your hummus.
Service the second time was fairly fast, but can slow down when they're busy. We like this Nuba, but look forward to trying the one in the Waldorf Hotel, which has much more space and apparently wifi but unfortunately is not open for lunch. Decent value for money. Interestingly, although this Nuba doesn't have wifi, I was able to pick it up from a nearby location. -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
10/18/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Had a lamb patty plate of sort was gamy tasting and not sure how this could be Halal.
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Review from Vanessa G.
11/16/2010
I was so excited to hear that a Nuba was opening by my house since i don't work near the Nuba on Hastings anymore. The menu seemed to be the same, so i ordered a falafel wrap. I have never had issues with the food either other then it not tasting 1/2 as great as the Lebanese food i have had in Calgary surprisingly. My falafel crumbled before my eyes.. it was dry, the pita wouldn't stay together and it became the biggest mess ever in the history of my eating falafel, it might as well have been salad. It also lacked sauce and flavoring. I let the server know, and he agreed that they have been having many problems since they have gone with a new pita supplier. He was super nice and all but when you witness that most of the food is a mess on a plate and not eaten.. wouldn't you not charge for it, especially when you admit to having so many complaints.
I do hope they get on it because i do want to keep going here. -
Review from Marty p.
Vancouver, BC
1/5/2011
Am I missing something? I've been 4 times, I keep going back thinking maybe I will get this great food everyone is talking about this time, it hasn't happened, Cauliflower that everyone talks about has not been crispy the three times I've tried it, the salad is boring, the pita is dry, the falafel is OK, I just don't get it. I will go back because it is so close to home, but I would not go out of my way to eat here.
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Review from ness y.
Toronto, ON
8/21/2010
i wish i had Cafe Nuba in my neighbourhood. i'd be a regular.
great smoothie, service, and the cauliflower was fantastic! -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
5/27/2010
Delicious, healthy, flavourful, cute. Loved the food and the unique space-- off the beaten path yet packed to the brim with people! The smoothies and crispy cauliflower wowed. The olives with feta starter-- weak presentation (not too surprising) and I wouldn't order it again. Also love the cucumber water- nice touch : )
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Review from Leila H.
Vancouver, BC
5/1/2011
had a delicate and divine lunch her some time ago. subtle flavors, and overall deliciousness. my only complaint: the pita should be warmed, it was disappointing next to all the great things to dip it in.
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Review from Opey B.
Vancouver, BC
11/12/2010
Cafe Nuba deserves an award for best new decor/design. Airy, bright room with very clever features. The food is great , healthy and cheap. The dinner plates have a nice variety. The fresh green apple juice is tart and delicious. Baclava was delicate, not the usual soggy mess. My new favourite restaurant.
