I’ve been remiss in my duties on reporting to you, fair readers, on my dining exploits, and follow up on my promised Vancouver dining reviews. While I haven’t had an interesting meals lately (but hope to later this week), I will proceed with my Vancouver blogging.
The Vancouver food scene is quite expansive. Much like Los Angeles, you can find just about any type of ethnic cuisine and regional culinary delight – with a Pacific Northwest flavor. Stating the obvious, seafood plays a major role in the cuisines of the greater Vancouver area – with BC salmon leading the charge.
Starting with the major tourist destination, Granville Island (www.grandvilleisland.com) [and it’s not really an island….but whatever], which has multiple choices. The Public Marketing – a giant indoor farmer’s market – has many food stalls offering many options. There are a few delis, bakeries and “fast” food vendors….all with delicious choices at affordable prices. You can put together a nice meal from one or two vendors for under $10. There are also lots of “day vendors” hawking art, jewelry, gourmet goods, etc., similar to going to a swap meet or flea market (though a little more upscale). There are also actual produce vendors offering up a bounty of local fruits and vegetables. (British Columbia is actually a big agricultural province, providing fruits and vegetables for Canada).
If you’re looking for to quench your thirst, there’s the Granville Island Brewing Company (www.gib.ca), which provides great beers and ales made onsite. The Taproom offers beer on tap by the pint, or you can have a flight to enjoy a spectrum of what they’re brewing (and get a bit toasted by their generous pours). They also offered their craft beers bottled to take home with you.
For a very nice sit-down meal (lunch or dinner), I highly recommend the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (www.picachef.com). They offer a prix fixe 3-course menu for lunch ($18) and dinner ($24) Monday through Thursday. On Friday they offer a seafood buffet. It’s a great value for a very high quality meal. The restaurant is run and staff by students at the school, overseen by master chefs. I always try to get one meal in there when I am in Vancouver. They also have a nice wine list, offering local, as well as international wines. There is also a café/bakery in the lobby that offers sandwiches and baked goods. Who knows, you may wind up dining on the cuisine of the next Top Chef!
In the West End in downtown you have sooooo many choices for great restaurants. My all-time favorite is Bin 941 (www.bin941.com). It’s located where else, but at 941 Davie Street. There was a sister restaurant in Kitsilano, Bin 942, but unfortunately that restaurant has closed (though they are opening a new restaurant in the same location called “Go Fish”). Bin 941 is a tapas parlour, focusing on small plates. The location is also on the small side, and they do not accept reservations. I recommend going early (they open at 5pm) if you want to get a table and not wait for an hour or more. It’s a very quaint set-up, in a long, narrow space, with a bar taking up one wall, and tables the other. There are two window seats that will hold two or three people max – and they are the first to go!
From the menu, choices I can highly recommend are their homous with Navajo bread, the Bruschetta, and Goat cheese with house dried tomato salsa (yummmmm). Their heartier choices include a Lamb shank with a pomegranate date glaze, duck breast with port cranberry jus, and flank steak with a cinnamon chilli rub. They also have an extensive wine list, from which I recommend going local with a good BC red. By the end of the evening, you can find your tab running over $75 if you aren’t careful, but it’s a worthwhile treat if you’re sharing with someone.
My next recommendation would be Rain City Grill (www.raincitygrill.com). It’s right at near the bottom of Davie St. on Denman. While not the least expensive option for dining in town, the food is absolutely amazing and the service, stellar. It’s worth treating yourself to a fine dining excursion when on vacation. Expect to spend upwards of $75-100 for two (including a glass of wine each). Rain City Grill focuses on regional cuisine and will give you a great overview of the culinary scene in Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. They do offer a two course prix fixe menu for lunch for $22, with an add-on of a glass of wine for $6. It’s a great value.
For dinner they offer a regional tasting menu for $52, which includes four courses. For an additional $29, you can add wine pairing to each course. It’s a wonderful deal if you are looking for a British Columbian food experience. They also offer an early bird three course prix fixe menu for $30 (additional $20 for wine pairing). Entrees range from $19 to $36. I can highly recommend the salmon, chicken, and if they have it…duck! (quack quack).
At the other end of Denman is Wild Garlic Bistro (www.wildgarlicbistro.com). As the name implies….this place is all about garlic. There is this delicious roasted garlic and camembert cheese fondue. They serve it with toast points, and there are whole cloves of garlic in the fondue. MMmmmmm. I made sure to stop in every trip to get some. Other dishes include duck confit in sour cherry jus, gnocchi with garlic, roasted walnuts and parmesan, grilled salmon, and a grilled lamb sirloin. I’ve never had a bad meal there, and the staff is always warm and friendly, and will gladly recommend dishes based on your tastes. The tapas menu averages about $10 a plate, and entrees about $20. Prices are very reasonable and the portions generous.
In Yaletown, if you’re looking for the seafood experience, check out Blue Water Café and Raw Bar (www.bluewatercafe.net) on Hamilton. Their focus is on shellfish and fish, and they do it all very well. They do offer beef and other land animals, but that’s not what they are truly about. They even have a tank where you can pick your meal. Prices are average, but don’t expect it to be cheap. You’ll wind up spending about $75 for two. They also have geoduck on the menu (if you have to ask, it’s most likely not for you).
Also in Yaletown you’ll find Brix (www.brixvancouver.com) on Homer between Helmcken and Davie. More upscale, like Rain City Grill. They offer an early seating menu between 5pm and 6:30. It’s a three course menu for $29. There small plates menu can be turned into a meal as well, offering up salads, scallops, a duck pate parfait, a cheese plate, and other tasty items for an average price of $13 a plate. Their entrée menu has a variety of Canadian sourced beef, poultry, vegetables and fish. The presentation is amazing and service excellent. Entrees run from $23 to $45 – definitely a treat meal.
There are definitely many more restaurants in the downtown and Greater Vancouver area. Many I have yet to try, some it’s been so long since I’ve been to them that I’ve forgotten their names. Pretty much – you can’t throw a stone without hitting a decent place to eat in town. Davie and Denman both offer stretches of great sit-down and take-away dining options. I’ll try to pull together a larger list, with different price level options. And I welcome anyone who wants more info and recommendations, please feel free to email me at cjhelm@thefoodtripper.com.
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