La Quercia is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. We have been to there several times and we love that they always change their menu / offer seasonal menus. We tried dishes from their morel menu in May, and truffle menu in early November. Everything was impressive with a good wow effect. The restaurant is cozy and the servers are helpful. We will be returning to La Quercia from time to time! read more

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Went early on a Friday night recently and just walked in without a reservation at 5:15. By 6:00 the small place was full. Tried the tasting menu at $100 per person. We had one cocktail each and we enjoyed the food. The service is upscale. The server knew the menu. Of the many courses I really enjoyed the endive and egg salad which had excellent flavor and not over seasoned. The tortellini in butter sauce was light and solid. A shout out to the Bartender who made me an excellent Boulivardier and if I wasn't driving I would have had a couple more. The other courses were not nearly as outstanding. The beef cheek was seasoned well but not quite warm enough. The carrot cake for dessert was not too sweet and flavorful, however the tart orange wedges really complemented this dish well. It must the Nona's recipe from back home. I would go back, if I could just walk in again. read more

We split the soup in two and it came in this cute cup. It was one of the most comforting soup I've ever had! My other favourites from the night were the stuffed pasta and the semifreddo. All in all a very memorable evening with delicious food. I'll definitely be back to try some of the other dishes! read more

A small restaurant all about northern Italy. It's rare and refreshing to see a restaurant that's "run by the chefs, for the chefs". With produce coming from local gardens, organic farms, with a seasonal menu that changes by the day. Sausage stuffed morels with Polenta - 9/10 Aged Parmigiano Reggiano souffle with Balsamic - 8.5/10 Ricotta gnocchi with morels - 8/10 (ricotta gnocchi is ricotta and flour only, not potato. It makes for a tender and savoury pasta) Rigatoni all' Amatriciana - 6/10 - too al dente for my liking, but a very tasty sauce Taste - 7.9/10 Plating - 8/10 Ambiance & Service - 8/10 (fresh cutlery and warmed plates before each course) Overall - 8/10 The stuffed morels were amazing! I'm looking forwards to eating there again since the menu changes so often! (Especially when they make stuffed zucchini blossoms) read more

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Terrific appetizer and pasta. The main dish, Talgiata di Manzo, always a good dish, is better than ever, maybe because the beef now comes from a dedicated farm. Service is first rate. This is still the only Italian restaurant in Vancouver that I really like. I never made it to Ciappino. read more

Great charming spot. As a walk-in we were seated immediately with most tables already being full. Menu had a great simple selection, very traditional which we loved. The pasta noodles tasted incredible. The cacio e pepe was great, wish it was a bit richer in flavor, and wished the tagliatelle bolognese had more bolognese. The Vitelli tonnato was so tender, tonnato a bit overly salted and I love salt. The fresh bread was nice and simple served with olive oil- always a plus. The wine options were nice. No room for dessert, but I'm sure it's delicious. Giving 4 stars since for the type of restaurant and for the prices I wish the lighting was dimmed a bit as it was pretty bright - and was looking forward to more richness in the pasta sauces, but still very delicious! read more

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We had been meaning to try La Quercia for years and so finally booked it for a birthday dinner. What a tremendous disappointment. That will be my last experience at this restaurant. We ordered the family style menu at $100/person. At that price point, we expected a unique, delicious and filling meal. It wasn't any of those things. The pasta courses were good, although quite small. But the rest of the meal was, frankly, bad. The first course was a basic charcuterie served with bread, no better or different than what I prepare for friends at my home. The second course was an endive salad, which was watery and unseasoned, though the egg dressing was interesting. These courses were disappointing at the price point, but they were not gross. The meat course unfortunately was. It was "Bollito Misto," or mixed boiled meats, which is evidently a traditional delicacy in northern Italy. Whether or not something so rustic as hunks of boiled meat is a good choice as the signature item on a $100 menu at an upscale North American restaurant is a great question. It probably isn't. But if it is, then it should be memorably flavorable, like the greatest bowl of pho you've ever had. This couldn't have been further from that. When our waiter set it on the table, he said "this will taste better than it looks." It somehow tasted worse than it looked. Eating this dish required fishing around in a watery broth for a hunk of something, guessing what it was, and then trying to eat it. But it was all inedibly tough. For example, the pieces of short rib were so tough that our steak knives couldn't successfully separate meat from bone. Other retrieved hunks could not be identified, but had the texture of undercooked tongue (and in fact may have been). I cannot imagine that this was a reasonable replica of a dish that Italians love. But even a better version of this probably would have been disappointing because part of the fun of going to high end restaurants is having the chance to experience cooking techniques that go beyond boiling (or, in this instance, underboiling). The boiled meats were accompanied by a plate of potatoes and carrots that were cooked to the point of disintegration and seemed never to have encountered salt. They had the texture that the short ribs should have had. They were a startling counterexample to my general belief that Italian cuisine typically prides itself on lightly cooked, al dente vegetables. What a mess. We eventually complained, the waiter apologized, and we were offered chicken scallopini as a replacement. This dish was better, but it was not remotely up to the standard we would expect at a restaurant of this reputation and at this price point. It certainly was no better, or more interesting, than similar dishes I regularly make at home. I was very surprised to find out it's on the regular menu because it was so tremendously ordinary. Dessert was a cannoli that was able to withstand silverware to an extraordinary degree. We couldn't wait to get out of there. The staff was polite and apologetic; they seemed embarrassed to be serving this food. Our dinner was during their last service before a holiday break. I assumed that this explained being served mystery meat stew. Judging by their social media, this is perhaps wrong: this dish seems to have been encountered by the chef on a recent trip to Italy, and so was perhaps not just the freezer-clearing mistake it appeared to be. Either way, it felt like a joke or an insult: if you are in the business of separating customers from hundreds of dollars, you must give them something better than badly boiled meats. I would not go back to this restaurant and I could not recommend it to anyone. read more

I have been going to La Quercia for years but it's just not the same, the portions are much too small and price is ridiculous high, it been awhile gone so I was totally surprised by the difference a few years make. I think there is better options and I suggest they rethink their pricing and portions read more

The food was excellent! Fresh, top quality ingredients with creative presentation. Service was top notch, very friendly, attention to details without intruding. The restaurant is small, unpretentious , packed with regulars with a neighbourhood feel. read more

The Chef Adam Pegg has a Master degree of Italian Gastronomy--the first to do so in Canada. He knows what he is doing. And if you want an advice on vine served here - Karin Lazzaris knows Italian wines as she knows her family. I recommend you try it tonight. read more

Tried the family style chef's choice for 6 and it was one of the best meals in a long time! Service was excellent and meal accommodated allergies with no problems. Portions generous with good variety. Love the ambiance its got a nice relaxed vibe can have a conversation without yelling or talking over music. We were all very satisfied and will definitely return. Highly recommend! read more

So tasty! The octopus was tender and slightly roasted. We enjoyed the wide noodles made with buckwheat, a slight bite and a big taste. The duck tapas was perfectly fragrant and tender. The selection of roasted meats was rich and dark. The roasted broccoli was our only veg...no matter- the meats and pastas were wonderful. We finished with the elderflower pannacotta - tasting of elderflower and cream. My companion enjoyed a grappa and espresso. Ambience is great for a date or noshing with a good friend. Conversation is easy. Wood beams and white plaster create cosy. Located at Alma and West 4th. Lots of street parking. Bus stops right in front. A very nice place to relax, chat and enjoy well-prepared food. read more

Food used to be so much better. The $100pp family style dinner was not worth the price. At the end of the dinner we were like where was the main course? Almost every dish felt like an appetizer. The best dish was the almond semifreddo, delicious! read more

La Quercia has one of the best tasting menus in Vancouver and what makes it special is that their chefs create a personalized family-style tasting feast for you and your table mates, based on your preferences! We went with the smaller tasting menu ($60.00) and it was more than enough food for all of us. We truly enjoyed every dish that we ate but the most outstanding course was the second pasta dish, their classic lasagna. Even though the portions are on the smaller side, you only need a taste of this lasagna to truly appreciate La Quercia's authentic Italian fare. We also really enjoyed trying the different wines imported from Italy. Our server was extremely knowledgeable of their extensive list of wines and we got to try a few wines that we would normally not be able to order at other restaurants. Even though La Quercia is a bit far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, it is definitely worth making the trek out to the West side for some excellent fine dining! The restaurant is quite small and quaint so you definitely want to make your reservations a few weeks in advance. P.S. Their Tiramisu is amazing! read more

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It was a nice private dining experience! Staff were lovely. For the price, it was good, wasn't blown away by any plate but all very solid. read more

La Quercia - Italian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Highly recommend. It's an experience! Sat at the bar and enjoyed *everything, including the exceptional service. Must try!

This was a slightly disappointing meal, even though most of the food was good (but not all). If you read anything about this restaurant, it's this: they do NOT have a tasting menu of any sort, regardless of what the waitress says! I had originally been recommended this restaurant for their tasting menu. I did read online that they no longer have a tasting menu, but I wanted to be sure, so I called in and checked. They said they still have it, but it's not exactly the same as before. However, the price point was still $60-70 a person depending on what's ordered, some of the dishes would be on the menu, and some not depending on what the kitchen had that day. She quoted that we could share a few appetizers, pastas, main, and dessert. That sounded fine to me, so I decided to go for my birthday dinner. Then, once seated at the restaurant, I again asked the waitress about their tasting menu. She explained pretty much the same thing, making it sound like they have a tasting menu still available and we could list our preferences on what we saw on their regular menu that seemed interesting, and then the kitchen would decide what else to add to the menu. She quoted 3 appetizers, 2 pastas, 1 main, 1 dessert to share between 3 people. We chose 2 appetizers and the main. She said we might get a different special main from the kitchen (we did not). I wish I had chosen more, because when the bill came, it turns out they just ordered us items off the regular menu and it was pretty much exactly the same as if we'd have chosen the items, except they chose 1 appetizer, 2 pastas, and 1 dessert to serve to us. If they were more transparent on what their "tasting menu" was actually, I would have just gone and ordered things that I wanted to have. We did not get 1 dish that was not available on the regular menu. I wish I had listened to the reviews that warned me that there was no tasting menu. The restaurant sounds like they have a new alternative "tasting menu" to answer for why they don't have one any more. I'd rather just have them be open and transparent, then we would have ordered all of the dishes we preferred. Okay, so that explains why 1 star down. On to the food! All of the dishes were very tasty, with the exception of the dessert. They had a prosciutto and burrata appetizer ($25) on special which I highly recommend. They fly their burrata fresh in from Italy. It's so soft and delicious. We also had their parmesan souffles ($16 each) which were SO good, light, fluffy, and tasty. We tried their butter lettuce wedge salad ($15), which was also very fresh, crisp, and delightful. Then, we had their spinach dumplings ($23). Not something I'd normally order, and value wise, not something I'd get again. It comes with 4 pieces. The taste was good, very carb loaded. The second pasta we had was the Maltagliani all'americano ($23). The sauce was really good, so flavourful, and the pasta was fresh and had a good bite. We then had 2 portions of the hangar steak main ($34 each). This was a generous portion, with lots of pieces of well-cooked steak and a nice arugula salad. I did find they were quite generous with the cheese in all of the dishes that had cheese. Lastly, they served us a chocolate cake with poached pear for dessert ($10). This was the most disappointing finish to our meal, as this was not only dry, but there was not much chocolate flavour. It wasn't a very decadent dessert, it almost tasted store-bought. Definitely do not recommend this cake, so minus another star. Overall, if you go in ordering the dishes you actually want to try, and avoid their "tasting menu", I think you'd have a great time. The flavours for their dishes (in exception of the chocolate cake) are really good. If only I had gone with ordering dishes on my own, I would have had a much better experience. I might be back as I hear their lasagna is amazing, and there were a few dishes that were very good. But for sure I do not recommend their tasting menu, and likely won't be back soon. read more

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Excellent food. Service not that warm. Maybe overworked staff. Favorite dish: octopus (so so so soft), tajarin with white truffle ($70.. not cheap but I never tried white truffle before) . Pasta with smoked beet and Cannoli read more

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We had a hard time getting a reservation for a Thur night that we had to book for three weeks in advance. I was told that the early seating at 5.30 pm and only dining time for 2 hours. Since the yelpers reviews are rated so high and so hard to book for it. I have no reason to refuse it. The restaurant is very small and has around 10 tables inside. The tables are pretty close together so over-hearing the conversations of the tables on either side should be expected. It was our first time at La Quercia, the 7-course menu was suggested by waiter and we could try most of the dishes on the menu. 3 kinds of tomatoes with cheese - The 1st course was fresh and matched with perfect sauce. Halibut in tomatoes sauce - The 2nd course was a bit disappointed, the halibut served in cold dish. It's overcooked and so rough of halibut. Also, the tomatoes sauce a bit sour. Lamp roll - the 3rd course was arranged beautifully but the lamp was too gamey. We had two types of pasta: gnocchi and agnolotti di guido. Gnocchi were a bit soft but Agnolotti was good. Hanger beef - the 6th course was tasty, each slice of beef was so thick but soft. The salad and dressing with vinegar was matched perfectly. Desserts were a chocolate hazelnut torte, berries sorbet and tart I have No complaints about the food we had, 7-course for $45. I would say it's fair enough for the food quality and service. read more

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This is our second time going to La Quercia. It's a family-style Italian restaurant at 4th and Alma. It's a tiny restaurant that probably has around 10-12 tables. They seem to always be booked way in advance so book early if you want to try the place. La Quercia has been ranked as one of the top 100 restaurants in Canada and it's usually featured as one of the best 25 restaurants in Vancouver, according to Scout Magazine. The first time we went we had their tasting menu, which was unbelievable. This time I don't think they were offering it which was disappointing. I'm thinking they might just do it for groups of six or more. We both started with the Cured Meats. Delicious. They offered seven different kinds of meat, along with their fresh bread. It also cake with asparagus and egg, plus pickled tomatoes. We also shared their Broccoli as a starter. It came with a subtle mushroom sauce. For the main dish I ordered the Roasted Chicken. It came with chanterelle mushrooms on top of the chicken and celeriac pave as the side. I've never had celeriac pave before and it was so good. It's celery and potatoes that are thinly sliced, with some cream. The top was golden brown. Despite the plate being really good, I wish the chicken portion was a tad smaller. I also would've liked some greens or something to be included in the plate. I was so stuffed after eating it that I didn't have room for dessert, although some raisins were given with the bill. I love having little treats as a thank you. It's a small team at La Quercia. You can just tell that there's so much passion for Italian food with the staff. The dinner was around 90 minutes, although they always reserve two hours for each guest. My entire meal was $70 for the main dish plus the two-shared plates. Service was 3.5. Food was 3.5. Overall experience was 4.0. read more

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Wonderful authentic Italian restaurant with a great selection of wines. The atmosphere was cozy as the restaurant is smaller so to optimize space they have bench seating along the walls with tables and chairs towards the interior of the room. Was expecting the set up to be more intimate for the prices. I was slightly disappointed that I was seated right on the corner to the kitchen and bar but I suppose with it being fully booked every weekend someone has to sit there. Morale of the story the food is delicious but the atmosphere detracted from the experience. I'd recommend skipping it for the first date and saving it for someone worthwhile that won't mind a tight dining experience. Highly recommend the Selezione di Affettati misti e to begin with as it's great for sharing and gives lots of variety. The Sformato di Parmigiano was interesting, much lighter than I thought it was going to be, I think it's worth trying but has to be in addition to something. Agnolotti del Plin was cooked to perfection but I was missing a flavour component. While the sauce complimented the dish and I understand why they didn't want it to over power the veal and spinach stuffing, I would have preferred it to be slightly richer. Maltagliati all'Amatriciana was my favourite dish out of them all and highly recommend it. As a side note be cautious of the staff, our server was determined to up sell dishes which was slightly annoying when we had two of the same starter dishes come out and hadn't agreed to it. I understand he may have thought 4 people needed two soufflés but with two tiny girls, an additional starter plate and pasta dishes to go around it was a bit over kill. read more

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Had the fortunate opportunity to share a swath of delicious things off the menu with a group of friends here, some of whom are regulars. I'm not going to try to remember the Italian names for the different dishes - just what stood out. The cheese soufflé was exactly everything you'd hope and dream that a cheese soufflé could be. The arancini (deep-fried risotto and cheese) is just superb. We got an antipasti board with deep-fried zucchini that will redefine zucchini for you, a sadly forgettable fennel and radish salad, three kinds of sliced meat (two of which were awe-inspiring, one that was just okay), crackers with a mint & pea topping, some pork crackling, pickles, and pickled veggies. There was a tasty salmon with some kind of onion topping, gnocchi with perfectly-prepared chanterelles, and a few other odds and ends, finishing on a splendid cheese plate. You get the feeling it's run and cared for by people to whom the food and the experience really matters. Service was a little brusque but well-intentioned; it's a tight space that's hard for a server to move about, and it was a busy night. Plus, we ordered our dishes with heedless disregard for what order they would traditionally be in, so we may have come across as uncouth, uncivilized creatures. I certainly wasn't bothered, and would gladly go back. read more

La Quercia - Much anticipated antipasti. - Italian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

When I came to dinner with my family last night, while waiting for the table for 4 people to be ready, I saw magnificent mushrooms that had just been picked in the forest, chanterelles, a variety of mushrooms resembling sponges or cauliflowers that grow on the trunk of the trees..., in the garden at the back all the aromatic plants, even strawberries. The tomatoes come from the Trout Lake farmers' market but the market gardeners are already robbed by the restaurateurs at 8am.... I missed these exceptional tomatoes when I arrived too late around 10:00 but I found them on my plate as an appetizer to Querchia. Here the head chef ADAMS prepares a remarkable risotto with chanterelles, pasta of all kinds, exceptional, even the rare handmade bracelet pasta by the chef named LORIGHITTAS, gnocchi with pesto and grilled pine nuts... in the desert a carpaccio of pineapple and orange with a lemon granita... In total one of the best Italian restaurants where I have eaten even in Paris, Berlin or Italy You won't find better read more

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Superb, classic Italian cuisine. Outstanding service. Small, inviting room. A little embarrassing moment over the wine. What my friend thought was a $150 bottle was actually $650!! Sure, the wine was incredible (2001 Antinori Tignanello Super Tuscan), but $650! Argh. However, fabulous meal. And wine lol read more

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Repeat customer (pictures from pre and post pandemic: January and August). Went back again and opted for a family-style experience. Felt excited as always. read more

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Love the sandwich shop!! Much needed addition to the neighbourhood, and appreciate that you're open all through the day. Keep up the great work. read more

Quality/price (4/4): Went there and had the family-style tasting menu, which is basically whatever the chef decides to serve you (different tables on the same night can have different dishes). There were 7 courses in total, all of which were delicious. The wine pairing was good too. Although the tasting menu requires 2 or more participants, the price isn't too bad per person. Service (1/1): Service was great. The waitress clearly knew a lot about the restaurant and food was served on time. Would I go there again: YES, but I would order from the regular menu next time. The tasting menu can get a little pricey, even though it's worth the money. read more

Very rarely do you venture into a restaurant and love everything you had. My glass of Baroso was beautiful in texture and aroma. Our appetizers were simply delicious: grilled squid with tomatoes paired with some potatoes and ricotta stuffed blossom. The olive oil for the bread is the perfect level of 'grassiness' for me. So clean and so fresh. Our raviolo was WOW and then the rest just added to the great experience of the night. We were served the Branzino, presented in such a meticulous way. Truly enjoyed the Torta della Nonna as well and finished off with a glass of Porto. read more

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I knew I was going to like this place before I took my first bite. And I was right! Went on a Tuesday evening and the restaurant was booked full. Was told on the phone that a seat at the bar was all that was available all night, even if I wanted to walk in and wait for a table (this was not possible I was told). So we arrived and decided to try the bar seating, which in my opinion was the best seat in the house. The hostess who sat us happened to be the same person who turned me down for a table a few minutes earlier on the phone, and when I expressed my pleasant surprised at seeing the mini half-booth that was our seat, she said: "Clearly you didn't know what you were missing!" She was right. From this seat, you can peek into the kitchen, you can see what everyone else in the restaurant is eating, and you have constant access to the wait staff, who is walking by constantly. Only con was the lack of a footrest, which kind of makes you feel like a little kid whose feet are too short to touch the ground. Service was lovely throughout. We were checked in on and waitstaff was very knowledgeable. Food was solid. Everything we ordered was good and managed to strike a good balance, i.e., food was appetizing without being prissy, and tasted delicious, bold, flavourful, yet delicate at the same time. Didn't love the rose that was recommended, but followed it with a nice fruity red which I enjoyed quite a bit. Saw many dishes on other tables and on the menu that I will have to return to try. Delicious, unpretentious food made with thought, care, dare I say love? :-p Attentive service. Nice date spot. Menu prices are standard, probably cheaper than most Italian restaurants in the city and certainly just as tasty if not much tastier. Didn't look at the final bill was tipsy from the wine and happy from the food. :-D How could I forget to mention!!! The espresso machine that kept us company across the bar all night has got to be one of the most quaint things I've seen in a restaurant (maybe a family heirloom belonging to the proprietor?). I couldn't stop myself from alternating between sizing it up and giving it googly eyes throughout the meal. During dessert, I actually got to witness how the staff uses this charming contraption to make coffee, which was decidedly disturbing to my dinner mate (a coffee nerd), and which process prompted us each to simultaneously look at each other and try to keep our laughter at polite decibels. Personally I found the entire spectacle as enchanting as it was shocking, and I'll leave the details for you to observe for yourself if you get the pleasure of sitting at the bar. After all, this is all part of the appeal of the La Quercia dining experience! read more

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The menu was on the wall behind the bar and it was all written in Italian. One of the servers who might be the owner, was quite unpleasant & rude when I asked him to explain all the dishes, he was not very friendly and seemed a bit arrogant and impatience when I asked him to explain which pasta dish is made with tomato paste. He replied " None". So my friend & I had to google all the main dishes and translate them into English before we can order. The food was quite good overall and they made delicious cocktails. I would recommend the owner to describe what ingredients & different types of pastas in English before we can order. read more

This restaurant has gone down hill. A better assessment might be that their ego is WAY too inflated for average food. Not bad, but not exceptional either. But more (and most important) the service is DREADFUL. Our server - a woman who has worked there for years on years, seemed not to understand how to give service any longer. We had to ask for pepper over and over - and she left wine glasses unfilled. But the absolute worst - was after we had paid, one of my guests had a bit of wine left in his glass. We chatted as he finished it - and she had the gull to come over and tell us we needed to leave as they had another reservation. What was most ludicrous about this, was the restaurant was empty. Not one other table and no one at the bar (8pm - we had been there since 6pm). I spent well over 400$ and was treated like I had merely popped in for olives. Was brutal. I've never experienced it before. The owner needs to do an overhaul of his staff and lean back into customer service. I will not be going back, and I intend on sharing my experience with others who frequent there. Appalling. read more

Delicious, authentic Italian dishes served in an intimate + unpretentious dining room a few blocks away from the beach. Skip downtown and come here for one of the best elevated dining experiences in the city. In a city awash with mediocre meat boards, La Quercia's reminds you that with an eye for selection and quality, they can be worthy of a spot at any table. I will never forget the veal-stuffed agnolotti. I dare you to find any pasta dish as bursting with flavor, yet delicate. The market fish of the day, a halibut, was fresh and perfectly cooked - flakey and buttery, a very satisfying conclusion to a meal of many smaller dishes (most items are meant for sharing). Service was informed, attentive, and unhurried. I usually don't like to repeat upscale restaurants, but La Quercia will tempt me back soon. read more

Best Italian I've had in the city. The pasta was perfectly cooked. Tomato salad was melt in the mouth. Servers were wonderful.

Okay it's silly how good the food is at this place, it's beyond good. Got the chefs tasting, left about 8 lbs heavier, with a big fat smile on face. Farm to table? Yes I even saw the little garden out back. Impressive! Thank you Chef for an incredible night of food made and served with love. read more

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Came here last week after all the hype this restaurant gets and was left VERY disappointed. Everyone had great things to say about this restaurant and it's been here forever but I had a really bad experience. Food: 4/10 Grilled squid: 7/10 Parmesan soufflé: 5/10 Risotto: 3/10 and 1/10 for plating, had to get it redone since the rice was undercooked Bream: 5/10 Venison: 5/10 Service: 2/10 They seemed to be in a rush to turn the table over and when we told them that the rice was undercooked, the waitress says "it's supposed to be like that, that's how we do it here". The rice was still hard and chalky.. Don't recommend. There are so many better options in this city for fine dining. Would not come back. read more

La Quercia - Risotto - Italian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We stopped by La Quercia on a Friday night at 8, and the place was packed (I had to make reservations a couple of weeks in advance). The place is pretty tiny, but nicely and simply decorated, with free parking available around the restaurant. It was a warm night, so they had the A/C on high, which made dining here a little on the chilly side. We decided to order alla famiglia (sharing 3 apps, 2 pastas, 1 main and 1 dessert) for $50 per person. The party two tables from us got the same dishes as we did, so we were able to get a preview of what was coming. We were served: 1st course: asparagus, egg, cotto. The egg was like an Italian version of egg salad, and it was pretty good. This was a light way to start the meal (they also offer good bread and olive oil with your meal). 2nd course: goat cheese and roasted beets. Although decent, this dish was my least favorite since they topped it with brown sugar, making everything too sweet. 3rd course: salmon crostini, smoked salmon, grapefruit, sea asparagus. This was my favorite appetizer: I loved both preparations of the salmon, especially the smoked version. I wished the appetizer was bigger. 4th course: gnocchi, fava beans, mushroom sauce. This was the best of the pasta courses. The gnocchi were light, and the mushroom sauce was really tasty. 5th course: pasta sheets with pork ragu: I also liked this dish, but the gnocchi won out for me. The pasta was light and fresh, and the ragu was good, though. 6th course: hangar steak with greens, pine nuts and parmesan. By this time, I was getting full, so having a light main course was good. The meat was nicely prepared medium rare. 7th course: lemon custard (?) with macerated cherries. Again, this was a good and light way to end the meal (lemon taste was nice and refreshing). I would skip this place if you are in a hurry: our dinner ended up taking over 2 hours (there were some 10-15 minute waits between courses). The service was good, although our main server was busy with a larger party the whole night. Overall, the price of the meal was decent for the quality, and you will leave full but not stuffed. Definitely make reservations in advance and open up your plans for the night if you come here. read more

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A quaint Italian restaurant in a casual setting with professional service and an evolving menu crafted daily by Executive Chefs Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme, located in Kits on 4th & Alma - moderately pricey for casual Italian, but is of good quality. Like Cibo Trattoria, La Quercia offers an evolving menu with daily fresh sheets that are based on local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Fresh sheets are written on the chalkboard for all to read. A+ for atmosphere (upscale-casual comfort) and for service. Our servers were extremely mindful, knowledgeable and professional (cute too!). Tonight we shared the 7-course menu for two ($45/per person). Since it was our first time, we wanted to be surprised - let the chefs get creative and have free range to work their magic. We were presented with delish, wholesome and comforting dishes: - Bread basket with grapeseed oil (i think) - very fresh. - Antipasti with artichokes, salami, brioche, prosciutto - Loved it! - Cheese Soufflé - Creamy, succulent, delicious. - Rabbit gnocchi with Lamb Ragu - My favourite, perfectly crafted. - Sloping Hills Pork Belly Agnolotti - Pork Tenderloin w/ quinoa - Very tender. Wasn't a fan of the quinoa. - Chocolate Linzer Tart with Raspberries - mmmm. - Valle Reale 2009 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($40) / Espresso - (See photos.) It's not typically a spot where you see people taking photos, but I did anyway for Yelp-sake :) The $45 set menu is a really great value comparatively to say the set menu at Chambar or West. I totally recommend it. Overall, the food was satisfying and we had a really great experience. What's more: - It's very small and always packed - book ahead! - La Quercia picked up three BIG VanMag Awards this year: 2011 Restaurant of the Year, Best Restaurant for Informal Dining AND Best Casual Italian - Suggestion for La Quercia: Share your story and add bios of your Chefs to the website. We want to know more about how you came to be and the fabulous culinary team :) read more

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Go for the tasting menu and be in for a pleasant surprise. If you have been to Quince in San Francisco, this place is like a casual version of them. Italian inspired tasting menu. Good service, great food and fun experience. There is an option to go a la carte but that takes the fun out of the experience. We went for the 7-course tasting ($45/person). All dishes come family style and as a surprise. You will not know what you are getting until it comes. Since the menu changes often and everyone gets something different, I'm not going to go into each dish we had (you can refer to my pictures for that if you like). Everything was excellent. Some courses were on the a la carte menu and some were not. The table next to us had a few of the same dishes and few that were different. They ask if there are food allergies when they take your order. We don't have any food allergies but we told them we had preferences. The gf doesn't like undercooked meats so that is what I told them. When the meat course came, they checked in with us to make sure everything was fine. The place is small and the tables are pretty close to each other. They have a very small bar area that seats like two. I think that is for walk-ins. I would not come without a reservation. We will be back the next time we are in Vancouver. read more

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Outstanding execution. Delectable construction, nails the balance of substance and presentation. Presentation is simple, not overly done. Enjoyed the tasting menu with a friend and was pleasantly impressed with stellar quality - the pasta dishes especially shine. CUISINE (4.5 star) - (3.5-star) Heirloom tomatoes dressed with e.v.o.o. & balsamic: indescribably fresh heirloom bursting with flavor. A simple yet well-selected palate-opener - (3-star) Salmon with anchovy pate: Fine but relatively non-descript. Wasn't particularly enamored with this preparation, potentially spoiled from outstanding salmon in Seattle. - (4-star) Roasted bone marrow. Flavorful, indulgent. - (5-star) Ricotta and roasted beet ravioli - delicately hand-formed, the roasted beet added a remarkable texture and satisfying flavor. A beautiful creation. - (5-star) Potato gnocchi with sausage - among the best gnocchi anywhere. As someone who rarely/never orders gnocchi for how frequently kitchens disappoint, this was pure pillowy, melt-in-your-mouth. - (4.5-star) Lamb shoulder with broccolini - tender, not too gamey, perfectly paired with broccolini, which cuts through the richness of the lamb. AMBIANCE (4-star) Cozy, understated, not too loud or crowded. SERVICE (4.5-star) Excellent - attentive without being disruptive. Meal was expertly paced, with an understandable preface for each dish. Overall, a quite enjoyable experience. Restaurant books weeks in advance, check up-to-date availability via its voice message. read more

Really bad impression for the long waiting. 2 pasta and one antipasti. Nearly 1.5h and they were so mediocre. Not worth it. The server was just ignoring you all the time. Vancouver has so many wonderful place for Italian food. This is not one of them. The risotto. So not worth waiting. Agnolotti as well. Disappointed in every way. read more

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