Nice little Italian spot in walking distance from the Fairmount waterfront hotel. We sat on the street / patio and enjoyed some wine and dinner with my two kids and friend. The tartar was second to none and the kids pasta was the surprise hit of the evening when My daughter couldn't finish it my son and I finished it off. I had the lamb, very good but wouldn't get it again at the price. The rigatoni was also lights out. The server was so friendly but the wait was long due to two waiters handling the entire restaurant. She explained they don't know how busy it gets sometimes and over staffs when cruise ships are scheduled but under staffs when they are not sometimes. Didn't bother us, wine and great company for the win read more

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I remembered to take pictures this time let me start by talking about Miriana, she explained the menu adequately talked about wine pairings and asked about preferences which would help us feel more confident when choosing our meals. When the food arrived the plates were beautiful the sauce on the pork chops my partner had was rich and balanced. My plate the steak rigatoni went was complemented by the Cabernet I received. The beef was tender and well seasoned and the carrots roasted in honey gave a sweet but delicious addition to the entree. For desert we had a gelato...forgot that picture...oops but it was rich smooth and creamy. The calm dimly lit atmosphere with smooth jazz in the background was a great environment that helped us celebrate our anniversary in style. We loved the experience. Thanks a million Miriana!! read more

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We came for happy hour on a Saturday and the restaurant was very empty at 5pm. We got 2 drinks and with the drinks you get complimentary cicchetti. We ordered a couple to nibble on. Our favourite was the duck liver and the ricotta & pancetta. We didn't like the focaccia at all. The bread felt doughy and under baked. The tuna cicchetti was a chopped raw tuna with a spicy aioli on top. It wasn't our cup of tea For the cicchetti, the flavours were okay but I felt like the biscuit or bread on the bottom was too crispy and didn't hold the toppings well. We had recently come back from Venice and they didn't remind us of the cicchetti in venice at all. It was more like a cracker with toppings on top. The cracker also got soggy quite quickly (especially under the duck liver one). I would only get these again if they changed the bread underneath. We were curious about the pasta so we decided to get the bigoli con anatra. The duck didn't have a prominent duck flavour nor did the truffle. But the pasta itself was the saving grace. It had that snap that you would find in pastas in Italy but it was missing the chew. I liked the cheese and the fried basil that they used in this dish. Could have done with more of the basil to give it more lightness. The drinks were passable. The espresso martini wasn't smooth enough. The blueberry negroni sour lacked blueberry flavour but was strong enough for me. Service was really good and fast. Overall the food was okay. Service was good and atmosphere was nice because it was quiet. Good for date night read more

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I love how Bacaro fit into our special night out without feeling too pretentious. The menu all sounded so good so we basically ordered 3/4 of the menu just to taste it all. Honestly I found that I enjoyed the antipastis the most. The mains were fine but maybe a bit too rich for my liking. It was also my birthday so I got a candle with my dessert. Our server was fantastic as she checked up on us at good times and we didn't feel like we had to flag her down when we needed something. Really enjoyed our evening there! read more

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Came back for the tasting menu along with the wine pairing. Probably wouldn't do it again, and will just be getting the pasta if I come back. The tasting menu was fine but not memorable (except for the hard focaccia that was like eating plastic). The best part of the tasting menu was the pasta dish (shrimp tagliatelle). The server also didn't know almost anything about the wines paired with the food, nor did they show us the label/bottle for any of the wine pairings. read more

Intimate, upscale Italian restaurant with an extensive wine menu (and in-house sommelier!). For our group of 10, the restaurant required that we did a "shared tasting menu" based on a combination of our preferences and their recommendations. Service was friendly and accommodating without being too pushy. It ended up working out - we left it in their hands and had a wide assortment of dishes shared family-style. All the dishes were tasty; the group particularly enjoyed the pastas. There was just one dish that had a bitter vegetable (similar to broccolini) that a few people didn't prefer but otherwise everything else were good choices. Though we probably received one or two dishes too many since we were all stuffed to the brim by the end, but it was overall a nice, celebratory dinner with a chance to try a bit of everything. read more

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Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 I think I found my new favourite appetizer! As a preface, I LOVE cheese so when I saw that they had a deep fried grilled cheese on their menu, I was excited. It's quite a big sandwich with lots of cheese in it so I would recommend sharing it which is what I did and half of it was the perfect amount for a little snack. As for ambiance, this spot is pretty cute for a casual lunch/dinner and it's accessed by walking through Giovane cafe. Our server was lovely as well and super attentive. While I didn't get a chance to try any of their mains here, I'll definitely be back to have this one appetizer again! read more

Bacaro - classico in carrozza (fried mozzarella sandwich) - Italian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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i came here for a light dinner on a weeknight. No reservation, just walked in. It was a bit earlier in the evening and there was plenty of room. Service was good, but slow. Friendly waitress, knowledgeable. We ordered 3 things: Albacore tuna - good vegetables and dip - the dip was good, but this dish was very overpriced for what it is. Bigoli in duck ragu - good, pasta nice and al dente, sauce was seasoned just right, and not too salty. They have a sizeable drink and wine list. street and pay parking available. solid 4/5, but not higher. read more

Michael my server was amazing!!! So hospitable, friendly, amazing server and person Would highly recommend!!! The food is delicious!!! The cicchetti yummmm I love the tuna crisp and ricotta and pancetta ones The salads are phenomenal too!! read more

Bacaro - Salad and fancy water! - Italian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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After making the recommended guide list for Michelin 2022...i had to give this place a go. I do wanna call it a hidden gem. Hidden on the ground flr of the fairmont pacific rim. Lol. venetian inspired for sure. Nice tapas to choose from and if you go during happy hr, order a drink and you get to choose a certain appy for free. Wow! But they also have dinner entrees like pasta and other things. We tried the house chips - served hot and properly seasoned with chives. ( truffle flakes would've kicked it up a notch) Chicken liver pate. Devilishly good and smooth. No after taste and served on a crostini. Next we tried the salted cod with some polenta. Again, very good. Melt in your mouth goodness. Also tried the house bread and butter infused with cured egg yolk. So creamy but lacked the kick from the yolk. (Perhaps salted eggs could Provide a twist. ) For mains tried the duck ragu and the seafood Linguini pasta. Both absolutely amazing. What sets the pasta apart is the actual pasta. Clearly house made fresh. Excellent texture. Next the sauce, so rich and pure. You can clearly taste the essence of the main ingredient of the sauce. The pasta is also able To carry the sauce well. Dish was not drowning in sauce but had the perfect quantity to coat every strand. I love both pasta dishes. The duck ragu also came with shaved parmesan. Generous servings as you can see. Nice creamy texture. Service was also top notch. Consistent, quick, and attentive. I would surely repeat. They have a small Menu compared to other italian places , but whatever they have they are very good at it. Cheers! Happy eating! read more

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Bacaro was an unexpected treat! I haven't been at the Fairmont for years so seeing a restaurant where once there was a gift shop really confused me. I wandered in with my friend and had some appetizers and drinks before a scheduled meal. It took awhile for me to stop looking at the ghosts of the gift shop since they put a restaurant in place without making any major changes to the space. Shelving was the same. The bar was the old counter. The tables were new. The lights were lower and more moody for a restaurant and now there was a host station but otherwise it was largely the same. Really odd. But once the drinks started coming I started to relax. They have a cute happy hour menu with light bites. They are not kidding about light bites! I ordered the mozzarella and received one ball of cheese that was about the size of a small grape. It was delicious! I had a fresh oyster. And then a few more fresh oysters! All those were super delicious. My friend had the potato chips. She said she didn't even really like potato chips but still found herself pretty much finishing the plate of them saying they were exceptional. I drank aperol spritzes which were delightful. Each came in a nice little bottle as the restaurant creates and bottles their own aperol spritz cocktails. They were balanced and super smooth. Our waitress, Zeenah, was very personable and attentive. She laughed with us, talked with us, and when we overstayed our welcome she very politely gave us plenty of time knowing we had to vacate for an incoming reservation. She was amazing. I was super impressed with this experience! read more

Service is great, all servers are friendly and knowledgeable of menu. Been here a few times and all recommendations have been delicious. I would suggest choosing 4-5 dishes to share - menu is separated by plate size so it is easy to choose from. My absolute favorites have been the fresh Spaghetti with duck Ragout and the Asparagus with Parmesan truffle foam. Restaurant has a great view during the day and ambiance at night. Sit by the bar or at a table and the servers will treat you with warmth and kindness. read more

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We ordered the chef dinner course, the food comes in shared serving style instead of individually served which is kind of odd, the waitress mentioned it's because they have small kitchen. The food was alright, one of the dish (octopus) was extremely salty. The service was great. Overall experience was alright, might give it another try during Happy Hour. read more

I researched Bacaro and made reservations for a Thursday night at 8:15pm. We were on vacation in Vancouver from Ohio in the US. Our server was attentive, and we started with a lovely wine. We ordered the polpette di fungi. They were just average. We expected more mushroom flavor. For our mains we ordered the linguini ai gamberi, and the Capesante. The supposed prawns on the gamberi were small shrimps and very overcooked and mushy. The dish needed way more fresh basil, but the tomato sauce was good and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. The Capesante was fantastic! The broth was complimentary to the scallops and ravioli and the addition of dill was the icing on the dish. One weird thing was for this caliber of restaurant, they put silverware in a cup for you to get one for yourself. At the end of the meal, our server went AWOL and we had to wait a long time or our check. We were hoping for a great experience, and on some levels it was, but overall there are some tweaks that could have been made to make it better. read more

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Jesse was super nice, friendly and accommodating. Tammy our attendant is super knowledgeable, attentive and thorough. read more

My first time here was back in the summer during that crazy heat dome, and every hotel downtown was packed with locals looking for AC. I was looking for a bar to have a drink and a snack, and the Pac Rim lobby was a total gong show of hot, irate, over dressed Instagram types waiting to get checked in, and the Lobby Bar had a 2+ hour wait. On my way out, I popped into their rest room, and saw the back entrance to the then-new Giovane Bacaro wine bar! So of course I investigated, and it was HEAVEN!! It was a calm oasis of civility, excellent & knowledgeable service, tasty snacks, and cold, refreshing drinks made with the clearest of ice cubes. It was so great, I came back a few hours later with my husband in tow. I have been back several times since. It was, and still is, a largely undiscovered gem hiding in plain sight. Depending on your server, they can be VERY knowledgeable about their wines - Emily is a standout. The Italian cocktails are quite good, and they spend considerable $$$ on procuring specially made, super clear ice cubes, if that is your thing. The cicchetti (bite sized snacks) are a bit hit and miss, some are excellent, some are cold & stodgy. The potato chips made in-house are ethereal, crispy, light and addictive. The fritto misto is usually good, but a bit heavy/dense with the batter. The carrozza are delightfully filling and indulgent deep fried cheese sandwich that is best shared with a good friend. The pastas I've had so far have all been good. The portions are small, so the bill does add up quickly. But it's a delightful little nook for normal people tucked away from the strutting & preening peacocks often found in the Lobby Bar. read more

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Found this gem of a tapas/Mediterranean resto while browsing Michelin's recommended list for Vancouver. Then later stumbled by it late at 9pm and stopped in and glad we did. It's attached to a hotel sort of but under completely different ownership. Service was even better than the solid food. The one cocktail we ordered was good but they make it in house ahead of time and bottle it, so not my ideal drink but still was very good. Have a small patio that is awesome and inside decor is nice too. Very fair prices so a good value for a nice do inexperience. Hopefully we will be visiting Vancouver again soon. read more

Bacaro - Crostini tapas - Italian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I never knew this restaurant existed until a friend mentioned going. So we made reservations with a $10 hold each (I've mentioned how I felt about this before). We got there right on time... but our table wasn't ready. Oddly, they said they moved someone to get us our table. This took a few minutes. First off, it is very dark in here. I found it hard to read the menu. It was that dark, where I was seated. I loved the cheese plater. It was very small but almost everything was small. My main was a shrimp linguine, which I found far too rich for my liking. It also smelled like seafood, which I found a turnoff. My friend ordered the risotto, which she found delicious. The dessert was amazing. We had the tiramisu, which was very light and airy. We also ordered the semifreddo, which was just amazing. The service was good overall. She did mess up our bills and needed clarification, but overall, she was friendly and competent. The cocktail menu is very dry. The wines are some great selections! I would definitely come back for wine and dessert. read more

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I'm a bit conflicted here. This was Michelin recommended so I expected and don't mind paying for ambience, plating, and above average ingredients. But I hate feeling ripped off when I done eating. Their happy hour menu featured buffalo cheese and meatball for $5 each. And I got a toothpick with these 2 nickel size buffalo mozzarella on it. Nothing that distinguished it from store bought. That was $5. The meatballs were quarter sized made from tuna..tasty but each meatball was $5. That's the feeling of being ripped off. The lady host said to treat the dishes as family style to share. These were not family sized to share. These were definitely single serving size, if that. You get this wide plate with a 4 in brim and a dip in the middle where they plate your pasta. The duck ragu was very tasty. In fact, it was the star of the show. The pasta itself was the star as it appeared to be made in house, had a nice chew, al dente, thicker than a spaghetti noodle. The pasta in the lobster special appeared to be fussilli, also great chew and texture. There was a metallic aftertaste to the lobster sauce, it didn't enhance the dish but distracted you with the flavor. The Steak was fine for a 6 oz steak cut into 2 pieces. And that was it for a plate. You got that 6 oz steak and nothing else. They said Waygu bit I didn't recall seeing that listed on the steak description. They may have offered some sides but for the price I was afraid I would get 2 pieces of a vegetable. The tiramisu was delicious and dessert hit the mark with the special. The cherry Gelato was tart and bright. For the price you want to walk out feeling you experienced something special. Service was friendly but that doesn't make up for the feeling of being had...This wasn't outstanding. Save your time and money and dine elsewhere read more

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A fancy Michelin recommended place is going to be graded on a different curve than a casual place. And this place has lots of fanfare after being picked by Michelin as one of 20 places in its initial local edition. I booked this place for my anniversary and it was great overall, but not transcendent. The flavours are great, the presentation only so so. It made for a great evening but at the same time I felt it didn't quite measure up to the Michelin places I've been to in Scandinavia. Like, it's more like a really good place rather than wow, this is amazing extraordinary cannot get anywhere else special. Service was fantastic and very attentive. Tables kinda too close together. Specific notes: - we ordered lots of appetizers. This is one thing I loved about the menu. The fried calamari/seafood was just regular good, nothing special. We also thought the bread with cured egg yolk - good butter but the egg flavor was too subtle. - the fried mushroom balls were awesome. Great texture and more filling than you'd admit. - they have potato chips which were great and my wife loved it - my wife ordered the scallops main dish - now this one was SUPERB and worth five stars. It was sooo tender and succulent. One of the best scallops that I've ever had. - I do like my duck ragu. It was warm texture and great sauce. - tiramisu was great but then I saw someone else get the beignets and I really wanted those instead. :-p read more

Recently attended a corporate event here. The vibe was impeccable! Amazing food and service - especially from Christian the bartender. Highly recommend! read more

Tiramisu 10/10 +++ amazing!!! It has different textures in one bite. One of the best tiramisu's I've had. Duck pasta - 8/10. Interesting, chewy pasta. The sauce was well flavored though. Prosciutto, bread, and caesar salad -7/10 just the normal appetizer there was nothing wow about it Risotto with candied walnut - 7/10. Not a huge fan, it was more on the sweeter end. But it was still pretty good. Carrot grilled - 7/10. Good carrots, but I think the ricotta underneath was a little bit much. read more

Discovered another gem during Dine Out 2022 and couldn't be happier! It was my first time visiting Bacaro and it was honestly so delicious, impressive and high quality! I never would have ever visited or known about this restaurant in the first place without Dine Out. Honestly love Dine Out for this reason because it gives us an excuse to try new restaurants and gives us more of an opportunity to try a variety of their menu. After the Dine Out experience here at Bacaro, it's safe to say that I'll definitely come back to try out their other dishes. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, decor and dishes. Here is what I ordered for $49: BEEF CARPACCIO Delicious and melts in your mouth. I liked that this had peas on top - gave it an interesting flavour and texture. It isn't as good as other carpaccios that I've tried at other restaurants but it's a great appetizer nonetheless to start your meal. DUCK RAGU Wow. Is all I've got to say. This duck ragu was insanely good! So start, I loved the pasta noodles - the texture and the way they were cooked perfectly chewy al dente, it was spot ON. The ragu was so flavourful and seasoned extremely well. I loved loved loved the duck and how it was so abundant here. 10/10 would order this again. TIRAMISU This portion was pretty biggg not gonna lie. One of the better tiramisus that I've had and it seriously had me licking the entire little bowl haha. Great way to end the night. read more

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My husband and I went here on a date after seeing that it was recommended on the Michelin guide. Our overall experience was underwhelming and we felt it was overpriced. We ordered appetizers to share between us, two pasta dishes and a dessert. The good: The ingredients were fresh. The food was good but we were not wowed. The pasta was fresh and had a good bite, but my pesto sauce tasted just as good as the one my husband makes at home. The tiramisu stood out as the best part of our meal. Not wow: The atmosphere is underwhelming and definitely contributed to the overall average experience. The service was average, again not what I would expect from a highly praised/rated restaurant. The food was good but simple. Our taste buds were not dazzled but our stomachs were satisfied. We were also surprised to see that it's part of the Fairmomt Hotel. If you're just looking for good pasta Bacaro will deliver. But if you're looking to be wowed at a Michelin guide worthy Italian restaurant with the atmosphere and service to match, this is not it. read more

I don't know what the hype is about. The whole dinner was odd. Booked for a Sunday, was told 9pm was the only time, turns out a 6pm was available, got there, restaurant empty, still had to wait as someone was in our table, and they had to ask them to move. We profusely asked them not to, as the place was empty and the couple was just eating. They forgot about us multiple times, I don't drink alcohol, they had one alternative, they couldn't make anything virgin, said they'd try and bring me something, an hour later some guy shows up with a mini can of some mix and said they would 'comp' it for the wait. The food was meh, we 8 dishes between three of us. nothing that interesting, the highlight was hazelnuts on a salad. For something so expensive, the server literally looked like she rolled out of bed, a smoothed pony tail would be enough, but it just shows how service staff quality is next to none these days after Covid. I won't be back, it's a tourist trap, but the space is pretty. read more

Our reservation at another restaurant was cancelled and we got so lucky that we could walk in here. Fate was working with us. We had a lovely experience with the sommelier who recommended a fantastic wine to us. We ended up sharing a bunch of items that were delicious and we could not decide a favorite. The only bummer was the heat was not working hard enough haha and it was 0 degree Fahrenheit outside so it was a bit chilly. The pastas were so flavorful and tender. One of the best dining experiences! read more

Just returned from bacaros and the food was delicious. The service however was very poor. We had a very rude waitress who not only would not listen to our requests but responded to us in quite a rude manner. When delivering the dish my wife ordered the bread fell off the plate in the table and the waitress picked it up off the table and plunked the cracker back in my wife's plate with her hand. Did not fill water and ignored our table. i hope this is a reflection of the waitress and not the staff in general. I will attempt to speak to the manager and send a messafe to Michelin. I was very dissatisfied and disappointed. read more

The drinks are amazing but Christian is even better. We came for a work event and especially loved the Sancerre.

Lovely ambiance with delicious eats and drinks. Perfectly dressed delicious salad, cheese plate, and a tasty spritz made for an elegant afternoon top-up. read more

Cute spot in a convenient location. I do wish there was a little more separation between this restaurant and the cafe literally right next door (Giovane) though to elevate the experience. The food was tasty: I had a butternut squash and my sister had a rigatoni ragu. The flavours were complex and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Sadly though, I had to knock down a star because the service was very slow at 2pm on a Friday afternoon when there were only 4 tables in the whole restaurant. It took a while for them to take our order and we waited a long time for our food as well. Certainly not a place for a work lunch if you're on a time crunch! Otherwise, I'd go back if I had more time to spare or for happy hour. read more

Amazing food, great place, every dish made with a clear intention. So good. Great experience. read more

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Truly a testament to how good the food was that I wasn't able to take any photos. I had the wagyu bolognese, polpo, and burrata all of which were phenomenal and I would certainly recommend. The ambiance is well curated and not too loud which is pleasant, but a bit dimly lit. The service was awesome! We all got an iced tea we didn't like and they made a new one wow! read more

Food and ambiance was good until we got the bill. We came for Aperitivo (happy hour) and ordered the aperol to start. Using the same Apertivo menu, we ordered the wine, and since the Aperitivo menu does not specify what type of wine they serve, we asked the server. She gave us some options and we picked one each. When the bill came we were surprised to find that the charge for the wine was much more than listed on the menu. Also the cicchetti that was supposed to be complementary with each drink, was charged. I asked the server why the price difference and why they charged for the cicchetti, if everything was ordered before 6. She explained the wine we picked was not part of the Aperitivo menu, and as such, was more expensive and did not qualify for the complementary cicchetti. I was shocked and said to her that it did not make any sense since she never informed us about it. She apologized and said that she agreed that the menu was not clear on what wines are covered under the Aperitivo menu and would provide feedback for management. We paid the bill and left as we had dinner reservations waiting for us. But I'm not going back there. Such deceiving practices do not fit a Michelin Guide recommended place. Funny thing is, my work is near this place and I was there actually checking the place to see if we could host some small company functions there. After this disappointing experience I reported back to my coworkers to steer clear from this place. read more

Very friendly and attentive staff. Professional staff and nice ambience. Relaxing and romantic atmosphere. The decors and interior are well put together and full of culture, not just expensive decor slapped onto the shelves or walls to look "high end" or "nice". Price is obviously on the pricier side but worth the experience. Portion is a bit small as my family and I do eat a lot. We order more than for 3 people but was still a bit unsatisfied in terms of size. However, the flavours were definitely satisfying and hit the spot. I've had a lot of good food but some of their dishes made it memorable, on top of just being delicious. The fried wagyu meatballs are A MUST TRY! I like oysters but can be picky with their aftertaste and texture. There oysters slides into your mouth and the flavours blend together so beautifully it just melts. The sashimi on top and sauce leaves no fishy aftertaste but more of a taste from heaven. If money was free, it's definitely a place I'd order everything and each dish will be ordered twice. I can eat some of the dishes like the fried meatball and oyster every day. House wine is just okay but their cocktails are fantastic. read more

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The food was good for the most part, but the table next to us complained that the food smelled so game-y that one diner left the table. Our table was literally crawling with black ants. We don't think they got into the food on our plates, but it made our skin crawl. Forget about them making it right. With so many other options in Vancouver, go elsewhere. There's also no view or ambiance. read more

The sucking pig was drier than your mom's pork chops. The waitress was barely there so forget about any refills. Ambiance and price point says good food, but it's anything but. Overall, save your money on ok food and get better food for the price anywhere in gas town, I recommend the water street cafe and get show on the patio with excellent service. read more

Don't be thrown off by the rating- this place is fantastic. Everything we had was amazing and the service is exceptional. We tried the mushroom meatballs, carne salada and the absolute highlight which the sbocciare which was a pasta stuffed with cheese and vegetables on the side. So accommodating to kids too- our server couldn't have done more for our boisterous kid. read more

Located on the main floor of The Fairmont Vancouver, Giovanni Bacaro Restaurant Bar is a convenient casual place to catch up with friends for drinks and tapas. I wouldn't recommend this for dinner entrees because the menu selection is quite limited and our table found their food very underwhelming. My friends described their entrees as overly salty after ordering duck ragu pasta and the ravioli special. I was satisfied with my octopus salad entree (Moscardini) which had a nice musky flavor with a generous side of white beans and saffron garnish. For the prices this area of Vancouver has a lot more competition to consider nearby and on Robson St. Here, I felt that the space and decor/furniture didn't instill a sit-down gathering spot for dining. However if drinks in a low lit casual space at the Fairmont is your thing I think this might work out for you, but if it's drinks in a cool area that you want, why not just walk 1 minute to the suave hotel atrium where the atmosphere is open and live piano/entertainers perform? read more

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I tried their pistachio chocolate and tonno salad (tuna mixed with lentils, spinach, and other veggies) and both were healthy and tasty.

We stopped by for the Apertivo hour and enjoyed the wine list as well as the authentic menu items. The service was excellent. I loved the Aperol spritz I ordered. read more