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    El Mercat

    4.0 (1 review)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    5 years ago

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    La Boqueria

    La Boqueria

    4.3
    (31 reviews)
    1.2 km

    5 pintxos for $32. We shared a plate of 5 + a slice of tortilla and that was enough for 2, athough…read morewe were not very hungry. It is a tapas bar, limited options. They have 8 kinds of pintxos, cheese, charcuterie, and some side dishes. So for a light dinner or pre dinner, this is a good place. It's casual so don't expect fancy service. Staff is nice and welcoming. They had live music (Spanish guitar soloist) which was a nice touch. Rating is more like 3.5, food and value is ok, but venue and ambiance is one of a kind.

    The last time I had visited La Boqueria was during its soft opening, which seems like so many years…read moreago but I'm very glad to say that i was able to come back post-lockdown for another unforgettably great meal! We had begun our night at Bar Gobo and just was not feeling it, so we decided to come to La Boqueria instead for dinner. We were able to get a table right away with a quick phone call, and they saved us a table upon our arrival! We mainly came here for wine and the delicious Pintxos, and between the two of us we shared a bottle of the Blasted Church Hatfields Fuse, and a platter of 5 Pintxos (great date meal!). Due to the current circumstances they seemed to be understaffed so the food was taking longer than usual so they offered us a complimentary dish of Pulpo a la Gallega - perfectly cooked giant octopus with potato, mayo and paprika - if I knew how delicious it was I would have definitely ordered it as an appy! The Pintxos are to die for - perfect for sharing. Our favourite was probably the negitoro, and the ultimate sardine. The platter of 5 is a perfect portion for 2 people and a great way to try a selection of Pintxos and a delicious explosion of variety of flavors. This place is a must-visit for seafood lovers, and such a unique offering comparing to the many tapas options in the city. My only feedback is I would have probably liked a more extensive list of red wine; maybe more full bodied reds? The cocktail list also looks amazing as well but sharing a bottle of wine is such a great date idea that we decided to leave the cocktails for our next visit. If you are looking for an unique romantic date night spot, I would highly recommend La Boqueria because it will be sure to delight and surprise your date with a great meal, ambiance, and great service. Truly a hidden gem in Vancouver for seafood and wine lovers. They are only open for dinner service for now so be sure to make a reservation.

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    La Boqueria
    Blue cheese and red tasting wine
    Blue cheese and red tasting wine
    La Boqueria

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    España Restaurant

    España Restaurant

    4.2
    (269 reviews)
    3.8 km
    $$

    So good from start to finish. Everything we ordered hit, and I already know I'll be back to try the…read morerest of the menu. Service was great. Our server was attentive and around when we needed something but never interrupting, and his recommendations ended up being some of our favourite dishes. The anchovy olives were a standout, super crispy, packed with flavour, and not overly fishy at all (great if you're a bit hesitant about anchovies). The mushroom toast was rich, savoury, and full of umami. Just a heads up not to let it sit too long since it softens the bread. The tuna tartare was fresh and well-balanced. Not my personal favourite served on toast, but still really enjoyable overall. The paella was excellent, perfectly cooked shrimp, tclams, and crispy pork belly chicharrón that added the best salty, fatty crunch. The roasted cabbage completely surprised me and was easily one of the best veggie dishes I've had in a while. I could have eaten a whole plate of it. We wrapped things up with churros and shared a pitcher of sangria. For three people, it came out to about $68 each before tip, which felt very fair for how much we ordered. Would definitely recommend.

    The service was friendly and prompt but we were a bit disappointed by the food…read more We ordered the meat and cheese plate and they did say one of the options was fattier, but it was essentially a strip of fat (as you can see in the photo). As well, the manchego was so tiny it was like a shaving . The bone marrow amounted to about three teaspoons of marrow. We were so sad and dissatisfied. The patatas bravas was okay. Unfortunately we do not have a reason to return.

    Photos
    Exterior
    Exterior
    Grilled hanger steak
    Grilled hanger steak
    Roasted spiced eggplant

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    Roasted spiced eggplant
    Published on Main

    Published on Main

    4.3
    (205 reviews)
    2.0 km

    Published on Main - Vancouver, BC…read more We chose Published on Main for dinner because it's one of the participating restaurants where we could use our Amex Platinum dining credit. Since it's also a Michelin-starred restaurant, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally experience it. Our dinner lineup was: Aebleskiver Milk Bun Belgian Endive Dungeness Crab GBP Gnocchi BBQ Beef Striploin Most of the dishes are designed for sharing, with the exception of the Aebleskiver, which is served individually, so we ordered two. It's a round, savoury dough with herbs and pine nuts, topped with Kaluga caviar. The dough itself was delicious, but the caviar wasn't quite to my taste. I prefer caviar with that distinct salty, creamy and buttery flavour, while I found this particular Kaluga very mild and almost tasteless. Everything else, however, was fabulous. Dungeness Crab - My absolute favourite of the evening. Beautifully executed and packed with flavour. Belgian Endive - A very close second and probably one of the biggest surprises of the meal. Who knew endive could be this memorable? BBQ Beef Striploin - The Michelin-worthy dish for me. Beautifully prepared and a great way to finish our savoury courses. The Milk Bun and GBP Gnocchi were also excellent and rounded out the meal nicely. The atmosphere is polished but not overly formal--I'd describe it as business casual. Most guests were dressed accordingly; you could probably count on one hand the number who weren't. Despite the restaurant being busy, I didn't find it loud at all. We could comfortably chat and hear each other throughout dinner, which I really appreciated. Service was cordial, professional and knowledgeable. Each dish was presented with a clear description, adding to the overall dining experience without making it feel overly ceremonial. Overall, Published on Main lived up to its reputation. With the exception of the caviar not being to my personal taste, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The Dungeness Crab alone is something I would happily return for. Definitely a restaurant I would recommend to friends and family--especially for a special occasion or if you're looking to put that Amex Platinum dining credit to very good use!

    We were a table of 5 and were told about 10 dishes would be a good amount of food for us…read more She said if she felt like we needed more or to double up on a dish she would let us know. The servers that brought us our food were great at explaining each dish. The burrata was smooth and creamy. The focaccia that came with it, was huge and had a nice flavor to it. The candied pine nuts and cherry toppings were a really nice addition to the dish. The beef tar tar was tasty and slightly acidic. We had the Elk served rare, and it was delicous, but I didn't liked the cubed pieces. The stuffed pappardelle was soo good. I liked the hint of lemon, as it really elevated the dish. The duck with beet sauce was so nice. The duck had a nice crispy skin. The beets were one of my favorites. They were slightly acidic and sweet. The summer beans were very smooth and not like previous bean dishes that I have tried. The milk buns with butter didn't have much flavor, but the bun itself was nice and fluffy. The Octopus' sauce was so good and the Octopus itself was tender. I found the Maitake a bit too salty for me, but otherwise it was enjoyable. The Lambchetta was our least favorite dish of the night. It was a touch salty and had a hint of hoisin to it. The strawberry mille flavors were good, but the puff was a bit dry. The strawberry gelato was my favorite dessert. The gellee was nice as well. Walk through the forest dessert sounded interesting, but didn't hit the spot. I didn't really enjoy the mushroom flavor. It reminded me of Chinese herbal medicine. The coffee flavor wasn't bad. Our server was great at advising when she didn't think one of the desserts would be good to share as a table. This restaurant would be great for a celebration or date night. 4.5 stars

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Ableskiver $19: three savoury danish donuts stuffed with stewed herbs and served a top a fresh herb emulsion
    Ableskiver $19: three savoury danish donuts stuffed with stewed herbs and served a top a fresh herb emulsion
    Pasta in herb sauce

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    Pasta in herb sauce
    The Refinery

    The Refinery

    3.9
    (158 reviews)
    2.3 km
    $$

    Hosted a surprise birthday party which was unforgettable. Organizing and booking the venue was…read moreseamless. Servers and bartenders were very attentive and service was great. Guests mentioned the appetizers were flavourful. I would highly recommend this venue.

    Came here for a private party…read more Parking along Granville is a free-for-all during most evenings. Good luck. The front entrance is quite difficult to locate. We walked right past it. It's located literally directly above Sip, if that helps. For food, our host had an appetizer platter made. It was mediocre at best. The vegetables were all soggy. Somewhat disappointing. I had the bartender mix up a "strong drink". It was a shot of JD mixed with something out a green mystery bottle. Hopefully it wasn't antifreeze. Came to $4.50. Not bad! My biggest problem (though this is not the only place guilty of this) is that the music is too freaking loud. I couldn't hear anything, and had to shout in people's ears. Yes there's a DJ there (and he's quite good, hello Snoop Dogg, blast from the past), but seriously, please turn it down a notch. The other thing I didn't like is that the interior is quite plain. Yes, it's supposed to look like a refinery, but putting 500 glass jars filled with random food items on the shelves on the wall doesn't cut it. It makes the place look like a 1800s supermarket instead. This place needs some help in the branding department. Overall the experience was okay, but it was nothing memorable at all. There are better places in town.

    Photos
    L'epice verte
    L'epice verte
    Flora and fauna cocktails
    Flora and fauna cocktails
    Flower sour

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    Flower sour
    Casa Molina

    Casa Molina

    4.2
    (21 reviews)
    1.0 km

    I have to give my husband credit for finding this little hole in the wall…read more Being a long time foodie, aside from the food itself I tend to lean towards experiences and this was one of them. From the outside,it looked like a normal house in an industrial area. But walking through the doors, I was greeted by what felt like family! The decor was minimalistic but packed with so much flavour ( just like the food). We got the fois gras which was unlike any other I've had. It was covered with a sugary brûlée crust that added so much more dimension to its flavour and texture. This was also served with bread from the local bakery. We also got the seafood paella, which was super intimidating at first the platter looked HUGE on the table next to us, but turned out to be a good size. Really happy with the experience.

    We had reservations for a Wednesday night at the tiny but inviting Casa Molina on Manitoba Street…read morein Mount Pleasant. The cozy converted house was full but not loud with dim lighting and close‑set tables for an almost home‑dinner vibe. From my visit, we shared three standout plates. The alcachofas con jamón paired confit baby artichokes with roasted onion and jamón Ibérico. It was a good balance of textures and classic Spanish seasoning. The ensalada de ajo blanco con tomates asados y atún semicurado brought a creamier, richer profile: silky almond‑garlic dressing on fire‑roasted tomatoes with chunks of semi‑cured tuna and a drizzle of ash oil that added a nice aromatic note. The arroz negro arrived with seafood mixed into deeply flavoured squid‑ink rice; it was hot, savoury, and rich, perfect with a squeeze of lemon and garlicky aioli. Service was a definite high point! It was warm, knowledgeable, and paced so we weren't rushed. Portions were generous enough for sharing among two, especially with the more substantial rice dish in play. That said, the overall meal trended toward the rich and dense, so pairing with a couple of the lighter salads or crisp wines next time would help round things out. Would recommend for for date nights, small groups, or anyone curious about Spanish flavours. Lighter eaters might want to mix in a salad or a vegetable forward plate to balance the richer offerings.

    Photos
    Casa Molina
    Atun semicurado
    Atun semicurado
    Espresso

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    Espresso

    El Mercat - spanish - Updated August 2026

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