G’day,
Those in the know, know where to go.
We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Lucas Szaraz, Bar Manager at Nomo Nomo on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive. Opened in September 2025, Nomo Nomo has quickly established itself as one of the neighbourhood’s most exciting dining and cocktail destinations. Describing itself as a Japanese-inspired dining bar and cocktail club, the intimate space brings together playful cocktails, Japanese spirits, and a food menu built around yōshoku, or Western food through a Japanese lens. With an inventive approach to both food and drink, a lively atmosphere, and a strong sense of community, Nomo Nomo has already earned international attention, receiving a nomination for Best New International Cocktail Bar at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.
Lucas has spent approximately 15 years working in hospitality, beginning his journey at Starbucks before moving into the brewing and bartending worlds. A Vancouver local who grew up in Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows, Lucas developed his bartending skills at Townhall in Maple Ridge before spending four years at the celebrated Keefer Bar in Chinatown, where he had the opportunity to learn from some of the city's most talented bartenders. He joined the Nomo Nomo team approximately six months before opening, initially consulting on the cocktail menu before stepping into the role of Bar Manager. With a knack for creating approachable yet inventive cocktails, Lucas has helped develop a beverage program that reimagines familiar flavours in some rather unexpected ways.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Lucas to chat about his journey through Vancouver's hospitality scene, his time at the Keefer Bar, the creative thinking behind Nomo Nomo's Japanese-inspired food and cocktail menus, the restaurant's international recognition, and all of Lucas's favourite spots around Vancouver and beyond.
Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.
Lucas’s favourites at Nomo Nomo:
Snack: Wagyu Tartare with yuzu kosho
Cocktail Pairing: The Daikon
The FULL LIST of Lucas’s Local Favourites:
Cocktail Bar: The Keefer Bar
Coffee: Turks Coffee Bar
Cuisine: Japanese
Date Night: Grapes & Soda, La La
Dying to Try: Chez Celine
Food Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Hidden Gem: Pho Goodness
Neighbourhood Favourites (Chinatown): Say Hey Cafe & Deli, Juke Fried Chicken, Kissa Tanto
Neighbourhood Favourites (Commercial Drive): Bar Corso, Magari by Oca, La Mezcaleria, Flamingo Room, Havana, Don’t Argue Pizza
Pizza: Belli Pizza
Ramen: Akedo Showten (Langley)
Spanish: Como Taperia
Sushi: Sushi Hil
Take an Out of Town Guest: June, Oku Izakaya
Outside of Vancouver: Humo (Kelowna)
Thanks for joining us, Lucas!
Watch Lucas’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.
