Caffe La Tana

Caffe La Tana is a tiny Italian spot in a quiet area of Commercial Drive, a neighborhood where you’ll find people who grow their own arugula and are competitive about bike polo. It has olive oil on tap and sells pastries and giant cans of tomatoes, but what you should be prioritizing is their homemade pasta. In the likely scenario that the weather isn’t great, sit inside for lunch and order dishes like agnolotti in roasting juices or pea and pancetta maltagliati. If you’re lucky enough to get a sunny day, rent a bike, pick up some prosciutto to go, and ride over to Trout Lake to have a picnic. Or go at night on weekends when it becomes a natural wine bar, especially if it’s late and you’re craving cheese. It’s a pretty casual spot, but you’ll pay a little extra for their higher quality ingredients (once you try the pasta though, you won’t mind).