Whether it’s a top-notch after dinner coffee and dessert you’re looking for, one of the most distinctive martinis in town, or a truly memorable light meal, the new Cafe Sette at 818 Burrard near Robson just might be what you’re looking for.

It initially appears to be a replacement for the Death by Chocolate location which used to be there, but a close investigation of the menu reveals it’s actually an evolution rather than a replacement, still carrying the original Death by Chocolate desserts, but now supplemented with trendier decor, a full bar, and a creative Italian-inspired food menu.

True winners included the ciabatta with dips (a luscious homemade pesto, spicy hummus, and a bold black olive tapenade), the pear and brie panino, and practically anything from the martini menu (I’m not at all a fan of frou-frou flavoured martinis, but one sip of the pineapple and basil martini made me wonder if I’d merely been missing out on the good ones all this time).

The restaurant seems particularly geared toward dating couples, and the menu even includes (slipped between the food and drinks) a full page of conversation-inspiring quotations, “In case your date is not going as well as you’d hoped,” but even if you’re on your own, or with a group, there’s plenty to enjoy.