The restaurant scene in North Vancouver has evolved immensely in the past 50 years. I use this period of time because it was 50 years ago that the Seven Seas Restaurant was opened at the foot of Lonsdale. A converted passenger ferry, it served the community of North Vancouver for about four decades before the City of North Vancouver decided to unceremoniously deep six it in 2002.

It was a surprising decision because the old ferry was more than just a restaurant; it was a tourist attraction and a corner stone of the community. It served as a historic reminder of North Vancouver's dependence on ferries to move people and goods on and off the North Shore prior to the erection of first and second narrows bridges. For most, the Seven Seas Restaurant was the only reason to venture down to the foot of Lonsdale which was the industrial heart of North Vancouver. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the early years but still attracted people to its legendary buffet table, just the same.

Since the Seven Seas' start in its unlikely location, the foot of Lonsdale has changed immensely. Today, restaurants can be found at every turn and line both sides of Lonsdale Avenue, all the way up to the upper levels highway. This 2.3 kilometre stretch of road has enough culinary choice to delight the most discerning of pallets, drawing people from all over the lower mainland. So prevalent are the eateries and coffee shops along this strip, one might assume that they are the driving force behind the rejuvenation of the Lonsdale corridor. 

Now, as much of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver redevelops, we are beginning to see similar patterns developing elsewhere. The latest is in Lynn Valley where the new Lynn Valley Village Square has attracted no less that seven new places where you can find a bite to eat or a drink of you choice. Although there is a ways to go before you could consider Lynn Valley a dining destination, residents now have a few more choices. The need to leave the community to find a decent meal is a little less necessary. 

As the Lynn Valley "Pod of Density" continues to develop and the population grows, larger chain restaurants are destine to arrive. It is only a matter of time before larger establishments such as Earl's, Milestones, Cactus Club or Brown's locate in the village center and like Lonsdale, Lynn Valley will eventually be awash with restaurants. The once quiet backwoods community of Lynn Valley will become a bustling urban satellite and all the dining choices that come with it. 

However, if the Seven Seas experience can be taken as any indication of what a restaurant needs to do to be successful in North Vancouver, they will have to do three things. They will need to be a integral part of the community it serves, provide quality meals that are of exceptional value and finally they will have to attract people from outside of the community. Whether this happens in Lynn Valley or not, only time will tell but things are looking up for those of us who love to dine a little closer to home.