Ask for Luigi: What's all the fuss about?

My wife and I tend to avoid restaurants in Vancouver that don't take reservations, save those where the wait typically is short (for example, Via Tevere and Sura). But we decided to be patient last night in order (finally) to give Ask for Luigi as try. One meal, of course, is not a fair test of any restaurant, but based upon last night's experience, we doubt that we'd put up with the typical 90 minute wait again.

We ordered four dishes, which we shared. A fennel, citrus and Dungeness crab salad (cold) was boring; the limited amount of crab in the dish was irrelevant. Our second starter, Luigi's meatballs were quite good, as was its tangy tomato base. Both mains were poor, a ricotta filled raviolo in the which the pasta was tough and the amount of ricotta overwhelming and a risotto made with oxtail, which came out undercooked and watery. The wine list was just okay. We skipped dessert.

If anyone knows why this place is so popular, do tell.