Chic, mysterious, and just a little mischievous, The Good Thief is the kind of spot that feels like…read morea secret you are almost reluctant to share. The entrance is completely unmarked, with darkened windows and no signage; you literally have to decide whether to push or pull your way into the gloom, which fits the "thief" theme perfectly once you step inside. Inside, the space leans into a **chic** speakeasy ambience, only slightly undercut by 90s chillout tunes that are a touch loud but still on-brand for a laid-back late-night hideout. The food is where things really land. Frog legs arrive as the star curiosity and end up tasting strikingly familiar--so much so they echo the famed chicken wings from Anh and Chi in both comfort and flavour. The beef tartare is properly seasoned and genuinely delicious, rich but balanced enough that it never feels heavy. Ox tail is a unique inclusion on the menu and it follows through, offering deep, slow-cooked flavour that stands out even among the stronger dishes. Duck breast is cooked to a textbook pink, tender and juicy, an easy "order again" plate. Dessert keeps the momentum going. An oolong peach creation acts as the perfect finishing touch: fragrant, slightly floral, and just sweet enough to close the meal without tipping into cloying territory. Service and atmosphere reinforce the sense of a discreet drinking den--this is the place you duck into for a properly made drink and a series of small plates, not a high-traffic scene bar. With nothing to complain about--from food to vibe--The Good Thief feels like a well-executed concept: a hidden, unmarked bolthole where you slip in from the dark, linger over excellent plates, and slip back out just as quietly.

Modern vietnamese/fusion restaurant. Clearly some vietnamese…read moreflavours but otherwise it's not your traditional vietnamese dishes. The menu has lots of interesting cocktails, some unusual and other more classic. We tried the tasting menu which has almost every dishes from the menu. Everything was very tasty and delicious. I would say it was too much food for me and a bit too rich but still worth the price. Our favorites were the bone marrow, the dungeness crab garlic noodles, the wagyu beef tartare and duck breast. Service was fast and the waiter was very helpful making sure what we liked and what we didn't.

We went here on a Saturday night and made a reservation on OpenTable. It was a bit strange that…read morewhen we called the restaurant, they claimed they can't accommodate us until 9:30pm, but OpenTable shows availability well before then - starting at 8pm, so it was a strange experience with the inconsistency. We sat indoors with the option to be seated outdoors with heated lamps but we didn't want to smell the smoke from people smoking outside. We ordered the Dark Spell Latte, Albedo Spritz, and Final Word. The Dark Spell Latte is like an espresso martini with chocolate syrup added, which is pretty solid. The Albedo Spritz is a red wine cocktail with hard liquor, and stood out to me as they had 5oz of alcohol so this was fairly strong, but I would imagine most of the ounces came from the wine itself. I liked the gold dusted blackberry. The Final Word is fruity and smoky, which I enjoyed, but not warrant a hefty price tag compared to the other drinks. Service is decent and in line with other restaurant bars. Overall, solid drinks at okay prices that I can see myself recommending this spot. Given the name, it would be great to see more alchemy themed cocktails or decor as what draws me as a frequent bar goer is themed and unique drinks.

We got the diavola pizza and it was amazing. Best crunch to the meat on the pizza which made it…read moreamazing to eat. We also got an old fashion and a whiskey sour and they were also delicious. You can the tell the owner takes great pride in this establishment as he was always making sure we were ok with our order. Beautiful inside and atmosphere was great. Hope to visit again soon. PS... we didn't take a pic of food bc we devoured it fast

I ordered the lamb and it was excellent. The servers were very kind, we accidentally dropped one of…read moreour drinks and they brought out a new drink in no time. Our server also gave us a round of champagne out of their own kindness. Loved the moody atmosphere, it felt like I was in Europe

We came for happy hour and got the Watson cocktail ($11) which was not bad. Tasted similar to a…read moreNegroni. Margherita ($11) was the better of the two. The lamb tostadas ($8 each) were SO SALTY. Crispy taco shell on the bottom was nice and crispy but the lamb was just so salty. We couldn't finish one of them. They either need to add some kind of sweet chutney to balance it off or really reduce the salt content in it. There was a good amount of lamb flavour from the dish though The carrots were okay. Could have been a bit softer. I felt like the dish was missing to tie the hummus and the carrots together. It felt like a puzzle with a missing piece. Service was fine and the atmosphere was nice and laid back

Whenever we travel, we visit the local tiki bars and this one did not disappoint! We arrived a half…read morehour early for our reservation and we're still sat, the service was great! We ordered a variety of drinks and all delicious! When certain drinks were ordered, the lights would flicker and a volcano, wood erupt, it added to the great ambience!

This is a fantastic spot to unwind with friends after a long day at work. To really enjoy their…read morelarge fish bowl drinks, it's best to visit in a group of three or four. Also, it's a good idea to come after a hearty meal to fully appreciate the alcohol. As you step into this bar from the bustling streets of Vancouver, you're instantly transported to a humid, tropical paradise. The theme is all around you, and you're suddenly in Hawaii, ready to order a mai tai. We began with the mystery bowl, and each bowl comes with its own unique song and flair, making it a fun experience. Whether it's the fire, the smoke show, or the lights flashing in the background as everyone turns to see what you've ordered, it's all part of the show. Besides the bowls, be sure to order your own drinks, as they have something for everyone. Their menu is easy to read, so you can already picture the drink you're about to enjoy. Overall, this is a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion with their whimsical drinks.

If you're looking for the perfect date night or elevated drinks spot, Bar Arsa hits every note --…read moremoody vibes, creative cocktails, and seriously impressive plates. Ideal for intimate conversations, celebrations, or a classy night out Cocktails first (because they're THAT good): * Truffle Ya Feathers ($23) - Smooth, aromatic, and subtly indulgent with earthy truffle notes that feel luxe without being overpowering. * You Smoky Thing ($25) - Bold, smoky, and dramatic. A must-order if you love mezcal-forward cocktails. * Takin' the Pisco ($21) - Bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with a citrusy kick. * The Devil Drinks Margaritas ($19) - Spicy, zesty, and dangerously drinkable with just the right heat. * Black Garlic Chicken Skewers ($23) - Juicy, tender, and packed with deep umami flavor. * NY Strip Loin Steak ($49) - Perfectly cooked, rich and hearty. Adding foraged mushrooms (+$7) and charred broccolini (+$7) takes it to the next level. * West Coast Crab Cake ($27) - Crispy on the outside, delicate and flavorful inside, loaded with real crab. * Sweet & Sour Pork Belly ($21) - Crispy, sticky, and melt-in-your-mouth with the perfect sweet-tangy balance. * Pacific Cod with Coconut Velouté ($35) - Light, buttery cod paired beautifully with the creamy coconut sauce. Add garlic butter prawns (+$7) for extra indulgence. * Dubai Chocolate Bars ($19) - Rich, decadent, and the perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable meal. * Final thoughts: Bar Arsa is a total vibe -- ideal for date night, cocktail hopping, or a stylish night out with food and drinks. One of those places you'll want to come back to again and again

Very disappointing dining experience. We came here after a show at Granville Island. The restaurant…read moreonly had 3-4 occupied tables, yet the atmosphere was uncomfortably hot. Four of us ordered one dish when we arrived, and then placed another order about 10 minutes later. After waiting for an hour, both food orders were completely missed by the staff. The kitchen was closed by the time we follow up on the orders. They waived the $20 bill but that didn't make us feel better. My friend at least received a drink, but I ended up sitting there drinking water for over an hour and left with an empty stomach. This restaurant charges $20+ for one dessert and $40+ for one main dish. The service quality is not okay for this price range.

Fabulous business in Vancouver! I signed up for a cocktail making class and our instructor Aaron…read morewas amazing! I've always wanted to do something like this but have been a bit nervous to do so but he made the class fun, funny, and so easy! You have the chance to make 3 bespoke artisan cocktails during this 3 hour class, 2 of their signatures and then the 3rd Aaron let us pick! He made it so easy and explained each step well, also how to use the tools properly along with sharing some great tips on shaking, measuring and also the importance of balance in your cocktail. I enjoyed every minute as well as consuming the cocktails after... each so delicious made with their in house liquors. If I had room I would have bought several bottles with me to take home!

Aaron was absolutely fantastic. We came by and were so disappointed because there was a sign out…read moresaying they were closed for a private event. Aaron came out as we were looking for Plan B and let us know the event had just ended and they were open again. (5 loud cheers on the street for sure!) I tried both the Kyoto and Wet Work, enjoying them both. They would even work as a blend of one another. My dad accidentally ordered a chocolate martini instead of an espresso martini, and Aaron made it happen. (The entire table loved it! Take that poured over some ice cream and I'd be far too content!) My brother had the gin martini, and while not a fan of gin straight up, it had a nice smooth finish that I could appreciate.

We had the best time at Odd Society, and I am still smiling two days later. Initially perplexed,…read moresince our Uber dropped us off one block away, we had no idea where we were in the dark of the Canadian night. Surrounded by warehouses, did the driver want us to experience a "call of the wild?" However, Odd Society beckoned one block from the corner, and two seats were available at the strange bar. Strange because our view was blocked by a kind of ersatz plastic and wood wagon wheel blocking our view of the servers and bar. It was reminiscent of Utah's Zion Curtain. Later, I was told it was part of Odd Society's Covid protection and helped the bartenders stack things up. Okay, fine, but tear the damn things down. They're obnoxious. Odd Society creates an array of liquors made from ingredients sourced locally by law. It's required by their license. I tried almost all of them, and most were fantastic. Abby and Colin, our servers, were charming, fun, and educational, answering my questions, which became increasingly inane as the alcohol took effect. The distillery also mixes fantastic cocktails, and mine, named Midori, was friggen unbelievable. I had two of them along with my liquor tasting. My Midori was made with a special concoction called Portuguese Sweet Milk, or something like that. It was amazing. I want one for breakfast. The fun kept coming, and I didn't want to leave. Alas, we had reservations at Lunch Lady up the street. We should have stayed at Odd Society. Lunch Lady was a disappointment. Try Odd Society out as both a distillery and cocktail bar. You won't be disappointed about either one.

I have a friend who loves to drink so when he was back in town, I bookmarked this place to bring…read morehim to as I saw many great reviews and pictures. In summary, the place was ok, but noticed after the fact that we were overcharged for the drinks. It's a small space - about 3 high tables, one lower one, each seating 4 to maybe at most 5 people, plus a bar. I reserved a table for the 2 of us at 3:30 pm on a Sunday (earliest reservation they had as they open at 3 pm) and we were seated at 3 pm. They checked our vaccine passports and then seated us. Not long after we were seated, the remaining tables were all taken just after opening for 30 minutes so I would recommend reserving if you prefer tables over bar seating. The waitress brought over a drinks menu and food menu. The menu showed cocktails at $13. We chose our drinks and ordered, then the waitress came by with a second menu that she said was for Sunday only. She apologized and said she normally doesn't work Sunday's so she didn't know this promotional menu was available. This menu had some cocktails on promotion that I would have not minded to try, but I had already received my cocktail. Oh well. I had the Violet and Claire, which looked great and tasted pretty good for the first half. However by the second half of the drink, it started to taste too sweet. It was not bad for a cocktail, overall. My friend said the Smoke Between the Sheets cocktail was alright as well. We got our bills quickly as we had a second place to visit afterwards. After paying, I snapped a picture of the bill at the time but did not notice until I got home that to my surprise, each cocktail was listed on the bill at $14.95. I recalled their physical menu saying $13, and verified this with their menu online. Unfortunately, I did not notice the discrepancy until I was home, otherwise I would have mentioned something. Note that our visit was at the end of November 2021, and at the time I'm writing this review (December 26, 2021), their online menu still has cocktail prices at $13. So, I am not sure if this was a one time mistake when we paid, or if they have just forgotten to update their menu? Either way, this was disappointing. Because of the entire experience I probably won't visit again, especially with all the other options Vancouver has for cocktails.

Finally tried out Mnimes Restaurant & Bar for a weekday dinner. They're in the same plaza as Thai…read moreSon Restaurant and Prinkle Chicken. Menu is a simple one pager with a couple of chalkboard specials. Entrees are $21.00 to $46.00. Service was very friendly and hospitable. - Greek salad ($19.00) - simple - Kalamari ($18.00) - beet garlic dip was tasty. Calamari was excellent - Lamb chops ($24.00 for 2) - plenty of lemon potatoes. Chops (requested medium) were perfect - Mousaka ($21.00) - homey bechamel sauce - Roasted lamb shoulder ($31.00) - opted for the rice pilaf. Lamb shoulder was huge, tender - Seafood spaghetti ($29.00) - al dente. Good portion with prawns, octopus and calamari - Flourless chocolate cake ($17.00) - coconut sorbet scoop was refreshing. Small slice but tasty - Loukoumades - fresh, doughy donuts Great portions at Mnimes. Will be back to try more.

Been missing Greek food after our honeymoon a month ago and was delighted to find Mnimes. The…read moreMoussaka was great. We've had their loukoumades twice, once as takeout and once at the restaurant. It was pretty good as takeout but so good eating it immediately at the restaurant. Also tried their lamb shoulder. I'm chasing the high of this one leg of lamb we had in Athens, and this one wasn't bad at all (my husband loved it)! But I usually am not one for lamb. Still was good though! And the lemony potatoes were lovely. Can't wait to come back next time!

Published on Main was hands down the best restaurant I've eaten at in Vancouver this trip and…read morehonestly in a long time. I ate at two other tasting menu spots while I was here and this place was a clear winner. It's a one Michelin star restaurant and absolutely lives up to the hype. We did the tasting menu and every single course was delicious. There were a lot of flavor combinations I'd never had before, and the presentation was on point. They took the time to explain each dish, which I really appreciated. The chef clearly focuses on seasonality and local ingredients, so the menu changes by season. This tasting menu was themed around "Preservation," which made the experience even more interesting. The ambiance was top notch. The space felt warm, intimate, and thoughtfully designed, which really elevated the whole experience without feeling stuffy or overdone. The pacing was perfect, about two hours total, and I left very full and very happy. Can't wait to come back.

We have put off visiting the restaurant for almost 3 years since moving back to Vancouver after an…read moreabsence of 10 years so we decided it would be time to pay a visit for our anniversary a week before Christmas. Service was exceptional. Both the maître d' and our server were friendly and helpful. We opted to order from the regular and seasonal à la carte menus for dinner: - Brezeln - The pretzel buns were soft and warm and we could not resist putting a big glob of the honey cultured butter on every bite. - Octopus - The tentacles were tender and springy at the same time. The slight heat from the sauce was perfect in cutting through the richness of the meat. - Chicken fried maitake - The coating was very flavourful but we found the the seasoning a bit too heavy. - Scallops - They were fresh and sinfully delicious with the sauce. - Sunchoke Dumplings - A dish with simple ingredients but it was easily the most flavour rich and balanced dish of the evening. - Hunters Chicken - I like that both dark and white meats were served on the dish. Although I generally stay away from white poultry meat but all the pieces were tender and juicy. The seasoning was a bit on the saltier side for us though. - Hay - The custard dish was interesting and we were told it's been the most popular dessert offering since the restaurant doors opened. It reminds me of a deconstructed tres leches cake from a restaurant on the North Shore years agar when I was hoping for a good piece of cake.

Caught up with a friend recently and we chose Parker Rooftop…read more The oysters were a definite improvement -- 95% shell-free, a huge step up from previous visits. We ordered earlier in the day, and the shucker was clearly alert, taking the extra steps to ensure a clean finish. Truffle fries were indulgent and perfectly crisp, though the garlic aioli was milder than I prefer -- almost like straight mayo without a punch. I skipped the sushi wrap, sticking to my traditionalist ways, but my friend enjoyed it. Brownie bites, complimentary as they were, were a disappointment. Lacking enough fat and possibly stored improperly, they tasted a bit stale -- a shame, because how does a brownie not taste good? Our server was attentive and charming, swooping in at just the right moments for round twos and top-offs, which made the experience that much smoother.

Gosh, we wanted to love this hotels food options so much after discovering the hotel itself…read morerecently. Sadly after visiting the rooftop twice for happy hour and once for dinner with an announced significant birthday number shared, and two breakfast's a three is all we can muster. It should be so much more, but the food lets down the entire experience. Our service was good, with delightful people helping our experience. That said service is slow, with details that should be spot on, not even evident. Water glasses left empty forever, promises made, not even brought up again. When the reservation was made a question was asked of an event for the dinner out. A 60th birthday was mentioned, acknowledged, and when sat by our server and nothing further. To be fair K would rather it all go by unannounced, but when it's all over the paperwork a small recognition should be there. The space itself, is not on a rooftop at all, but it's a beautiful high ceilings restaurant that deserves a far better kitchen. Our price fixe menu for two at $155 or so was definitely not worth the price at all. The steak was uniformly medium when med rare was the ask. There was a tiny bit of medium rare at one end, but the vast majority was medium or more. The torch of the butter on the steak, looked good from afar prior to our serving, but right in front of you looks almost comical. Our breakfasts were average at best, again service was ok, but the food was not where it should be, in fact not even close. We'd ponder staying at the hotel again due to location, but we'd not eat here.