Restaurant in Vancouver, Canada
Easy booking, solid Med fare in Kerrisdale.
Sofra Mediterranean Kitchen in Kerrisdale is an easy booking by Vancouver standards — no weeks-in-advance scramble required. It suits first-timers and neighbourhood regulars who want a relaxed, share-friendly Mediterranean meal without the production of a downtown destination restaurant. For a low-pressure dinner in a quieter part of the city, it's a practical and accessible choice.
Sofra Mediterranean Kitchen on West 41st Avenue is an easy booking by Vancouver standards — you won't be fighting for a reservation weeks in advance the way you would at Kissa Tanto or Masayoshi. That accessibility is a point in its favour for first-timers who want a relaxed entry into the Kerrisdale dining scene without the stress of a timed booking sprint. If you're visiting Vancouver and want Mediterranean in a neighbourhood setting rather than a downtown production, Sofra is worth putting on your shortlist.
Sofra sits in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood, a low-key residential strip that runs quieter than Yaletown or Gastown. For a first visit, that context matters: this is a neighbourhood restaurant, not a destination dining room. Expect a room that's intimate in scale rather than cavernous — the kind of space where you're aware of other tables and the energy stays conversational. If you're coming from downtown, factor in the drive or transit time to West 41st; it's not a quick walk from the hotel corridor, but the neighbourhood itself is pleasant and parking is generally available.
Mediterranean kitchens in this format typically offer a spread-and-share approach rather than a structured tasting arc , think composed small plates and mains built around the larder of the eastern Mediterranean rather than a linear chef's progression. That's a different experience from the tasting menu format you'd find at AnnaLena or Barbara, and it's worth calibrating your expectations accordingly. The meal here is yours to pace; you're not locked into a kitchen's timeline.
Booking difficulty is rated easy, which means same-week reservations are realistic for most party sizes. Walk-in availability is plausible, particularly for smaller parties of two. If you're planning around a specific date , an anniversary, a pre-theatre window , book a few days out to be safe, but you won't need the weeks-in-advance lead time required at Published on Main or the city's higher-demand tables. For groups, call ahead to confirm the restaurant can seat your full party comfortably rather than assuming availability.
For broader Vancouver dining context, see our full Vancouver restaurants guide. If you're planning a full trip, our Vancouver hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of the city. Elsewhere in Canada, Alo in Toronto and Tanière³ in Quebec City set the benchmark for destination dining if you're benchmarking Sofra against the national tier.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofra Mediterranean Kitchen | Easy | — | |||
| AnnaLena | $$$$ · Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| iDen & QuanJuDe Beijing Duck House | $$$$ · Chinese | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Kissa Tanto | $$$$ · Fusion | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Masayoshi | $$$$ · Japanese | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Published on Main | $$$ · Contemporary | $$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Same-week reservations are realistic at Sofra, and walk-ins are plausible outside peak weekend hours. It sits on a quieter Kerrisdale residential strip rather than a high-traffic dining corridor, which keeps demand manageable. If you have a fixed date in mind, booking a few days ahead is enough insurance for most party sizes.
Bar seating details are not confirmed in available venue data for Sofra. Given its Kerrisdale location and neighbourhood-restaurant format, counter or bar walk-in options may exist, but confirming directly with the restaurant before showing up solo is the safer move.
Sofra works for a low-key celebration where the priority is good food without the logistical overhead of harder-to-book Vancouver restaurants. It is not the place for a high-ceremony anniversary dinner in the way that Published on Main or Kissa Tanto might be, but for a relaxed birthday dinner or a neighbourhood date night, the booking ease and Mediterranean format are an asset.
Sofra's easy booking rating suggests it can handle groups without the lead time that tighter Vancouver restaurants require. For larger parties of six or more, calling ahead rather than booking online gives you the best chance of securing a configuration that works. The Kerrisdale setting skews residential and relaxed, which suits group dinners that do not need a big-room atmosphere.
For a step up in ambition and price, Kissa Tanto and Published on Main are the benchmark Vancouver options for considered cooking in a refined room, though both require more advance planning. AnnaLena on West 1st Ave offers a comparable neighbourhood-restaurant feel with a Canadian-focused menu. Masayoshi and iDen & QuanJuDe Beijing Duck House serve entirely different cuisines but are worth knowing if your group has mixed preferences. Sofra's edge is accessibility: easier to book, quieter surroundings, and a Mediterranean format that suits casual weeknight dining.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
