JOS is a comfortable neighborhood Italian restaurant in Coal Harbor, a block from the waterfront, with stunning views of the mountains. If the weather’s nice, there’s even patio seating available to enjoy the idyllic setting.

The menu is fairly limited – some salads, a charcuterie plate and handful of pizzas. They do have a full bar, with European beer and wine. Since we were in Canada, we passed on the Austrian beer on tap, which was a little light for our tastes, in favor of the local Four Winds IPA. It was a good choice.

The owner proudly declared that they baked their own bread, so I had high expectations, expecting my mind to be blown. The baguette slices were fine, appropriately studded with holes, and served with a dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Their pizzas are cooked in an imported Italian wood-fired oven. My daughter, who likes to keep things simple, had a Margherita (with the basil held). The crust had that slightly charred look that you would expect.

My husband’s Wood Roast Mixed Mushrooms pizza seemed to only have one type of mushroom (so much for the mix) but was executed perfectly.

In an effort to be different, I chose the Nicoise Salad, which came with seared tuna (a selling point), potatoes, eggs, green beans and butter lettuce in a vinaigrette. This simple salad offered a refreshing contrast to our pizzas. The pieces of tuna were on the small side, but my favorite were the eggs. They were cooked so that yolks were still bit jammy, with some sea salt flakes sprinkled on top. Utter perfection.

Not only was the scenery stunning out the window, but there’s a skylight above, revealing another beautiful view.

If we were lucky enough to live in the area, JOS would be one of our regular places to relax and appreciate the Vancouver’s beauty, while getting a bite. Should you find yourself in Coal Harbour (or staying at one of the nearby at the Waterfront), JOS makes a lovely spot to spend an hour or two.

Location – 1190 W Cordova St, Vancouver, BC V6C 0E1, Canada
Website – https://www.josvanbc.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegan Friendly – with some modifications
Gluten-Free Friendly – Yes