Nine leading Railtown restaurants and cafés will come together to showcase the heart of a growing culinary community and help support a community-serving organization when the month-long Dine Railtown initiative debuts on November 1.

Supported by the Strathcona Business Improvement Association (SBIA) of which the Railtown neighbourhood resides, Dine Railtown sees such establishments as Ask For Luigi, The Belgard Kitchen and The Mackenzie Room offer an exclusive feature from November 1 to 30 with proceeds from the sale of each item earmarked for programming at the Powell Street Getaway, one of 42 sites operated by the Lookout Housing and Health Society across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island.

The Powell Street Getaway at 528 Powell Street, is a peer-led resource centre that supports people living with chronic illnesses, addictions and/or mental health challenges. Funds raised from Dine Railtown will be put directly towards Powell Street Getaway programming and initiatives.

“We’re proud of the owner-operated small businesses that have come to define Railtown as a true dining destination in Vancouver,” says Theodora Lamb, Executive Director at the SBIA. “It’s an opportunity for people to discover some of what this area has to offer through a culinary lens while, at the same time, building connections to the community in which these businesses operate.

The full list of participating restaurants and featured dishes are as follows: The Belgard Kitchen 55 Dunlevy Avenue Yam Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu  $19 braised pork shoulder, brown sage butter, sweet peasAsk For Luigi 305 Alexander Street Fried Cauliflower and Chickpeas  $15 Herbs, spicy aioli, parmesanCuchillo 261 Powell Street Wild Caught Argentinian Sea Prawns  $24 Butter browned corn arepas, green apple jalapeño pipian verde The Uncommon Café 477 Powell Street Braised Chicken Sandwich  $12 Homemade herb aioli and jalapeño jelly, brie cheese, applewood smoked bacon, crispy fried onions Railtown Cafe 397 Railway Street Classic Beef Stroganoff Bowl  $16 Buttered egg noodles, flank steak, mushrooms, onions, sour cream St. Lawrence 269 Powell Street Escargots  $18 Garlic butter, puff pastry Pallet Coffee Roasters 395 Alexander Street Feature Pourover Coffee and any 340g Bag of Coffee Beans  $20 The Mackenzie Room 415 Powell Street Chicken of the Sea  $19 sea urchin parfait, burnt onion nectar, poached pears, hazelnut butter, squid ink brioche LanaLou’s Restaurant 362 Powell Street Quinoa and Brown Rice Salad Bowl  $13 ginger tamari dressing, greens, grape tomatoes, avocado, beets, pumpkin and sunflower seeds