Vancouver police arrested three men and are recommending charges against two of them after a restaurant was robbed at gunpoint Thursday night.

Police were called to the scene near West Broadway and Cambie Street after a witness reported the incident around 10 p.m. Officers were told that a man with a firearm had entered the restaurant with his face covered.

He demanded money from the cash register, then left with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

A witness to the robbery immediately reported it to Transit police, and three men were taken into custody.

Officials told CTV News that they'd tried to flee in a cab. A taxi driver transporting a CTV reporter to the scene confirmed drivers for his company were warned that the suspects tried to get away in one of their cars.

He said the driver whose car the suspects chose was not harmed.

Cash and shoes could be seen on the ground at the scene more than an hour after the robbery occurred, as officers gathered evidence at the Vietnamese and Cambodian restaurant.

The case has been handed over to Vancouver police for further investigation. Officers praised the quick-thinking civilian and transit police for their help in the investigation.

"These suspects could have avoided arrest without the witness and officers taking quick action," Const. Jason Doucette said in a statement.

Police will be recommending robbery-related charges against two men in their 20s, while the third was released without charge.

Police have also confiscated the money that was stolen.