I read half this thread, then the other half later, and I'm not quite sure if anyone has mentioned The Metropolitan Grill yet. I have never been disappointed in anything I've ordered from there, and their menu seems to be changing all the time. It's a high quality restaurant, without the accompanying high quality price.
The two most overrated, IMO, are River Cafe and Smuggler's Inn. River Cafe is #1 for ambiance, but I've been there three times, and the food was always just a bit above average while costing a fortune. I order steaks there, so maybe I'm missing out on whatever it is that they do truly exceptional.
I've been to Smuggler's Inn more than five times, and have always been disappointed. The steaks either look and taste like they've been pan fried, or they burn their meat, giving it a beef-jerky-like toughness like that found in the bulk bin beef jerky in Mac's convenience stores run by East Indians or Chinese. And I always forget my night-vision goggles at home.
My other two favorites are Saltlik on Center Street and 8th (I think) and that Brazilian BBQ place on MacLeod Trail near Chinook Centre.
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