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

Came here for a private party. 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. read more

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So long story short, this place ruined by birthday or almost did. My sister was throwing me a surprise birthday party and booked The Refinery 2 months in advance. What happened? The Manager booked a different birthday party in and booked us downstairs at The Pawn Shop. There is no way in hell I would would book my birthday there. LOL. NO WAY. First off, I hate tequila... I looked at my sisters correspondence with the manager and it was clear that she did not want the Pawn Shop. After arguing with the Manager he apologized and set up some shots (that were disgusting) and a bottle of champagne. This did not make up for spotty service. I'm sure the girl upstairs that got the refinery was annoyed that my guest kept showing up to her party, only to be redirected downstairs. Blame the Manager. Luckily my friend had a hook up at the Roxy and got all 30 of us in! Birthday luckily saved. Never giving this venue any business ever again. read more

The Refinery - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Graham is the bomb! We came in, sheepishly, only a few minutes after they open on a Saturday afternoon right after we checked into our hotel room. We didn't have reservations and got turned away until we told them that we just wanted to try a drink. And I'm so glad we persisted. Graham was patient with all our questions regarding the different cocktails since they do use unusual ingredients that we usually don't encounter. You can see the jars along the wall of all the infused ingredients they make in house. At that moment, all the cocktails has one unifying ingredient in them. We failed miserably in figuring out what it was, you should try to figure it out. Since it was our first stop in Vancouver and we're there to explore cocktails and food, we asked Graham for some recommendations. This is where he really went above and beyond when proceeded to hand write 5 (!!) pages of places to go to. And spent at least 10 minutes describing each one and what their specialty is. Really gave us a good first impression of the city and how close knit the bar scene is. Awesome! Would give a 6th star if I could. read more

Awesome little place located in downtown Vancouver. They have a good collection of wines & whiskeys. They also do some cocktails. I loved the "Prince of Yan". A gin & Chai tea cocktail. Bit on the pricey side, but good music and a very friendly service makes up for it. Definitely worth visiting. Food : Great Service :Very Friendly Ambiance : Casual Worth the price : Yes read more

The Refinery - Prince of Yan - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I've never eaten at The Refinery and what better way to try out a place then with a LivingSocial coupon. The deal was for 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and 2 alcoholic beverages (you can go for non alcoholic, but why would you do that??) for $44. My husband and I ended up sharing everything and here's the verdict: Appee Beef Carpaccio - needed a bit more flavor, maybe more salt and parmesan? Seared Ahi Tuna slices - perfect amount of capers, shallots and olives. Seared perfectly, but a bit too much olive oil Entree Gnocchi - cooked with spinach, bacon, pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes and parmigiano. It was the best dish out of the bunch and had a nice crust on the outside of the gnocchi, while remaining fluffy inside. Halibut with barley risotto - the halibut was a little overcooked, but the risotto was plate scraping good. Dessert Cinnamon bun cheesecake - came with 2 slices and was surprisingly good. Not too rich, but was delicious. Walnut brownie - warm on the inside and not overly sweet topped with sangria ice cream. Yum! The place is great for a date night out as it was lively and fun, but never too loud where you can't hear your dining companion. I base how much I like a place by thinking to myself, would I come back and pay full price. The answer is yes. read more

If you like the nightlife vibe, come here during the week for a toned down version! Located above its sister restaurant SIP Lounge, Refinery is the only spot on Granville that offers a cocktail kitchen with exquisite, hand-crafted cocktails by Mixologist Graham Racich and a surprisingly delicious menu of share plates and mains - perfect for lounging in a trendy-casual environment for dinner and late night to some house music back beats. I`ve been here a few times for casual drinks, but this was the first time I ate from their menu and I must say, I was definitely impressed by the food! We ordered one of the Dine Out menus and a few items from the regular menu: - Smashed Peas & Prosciutto bruschetta - Recommend! - Beef carpaccio olive oil, garlic aioli, aged cheddar, arugula - Very fresh - Seared Tuna Albacore Tuna - Braised Beef Short Ribs - Tender and deliciously soaked in onion gravy! - Chocolate Pot de Creme - My Marma -Lady. Well-crafted, giving us an usual first taste with the peach bitters, but brilliant aftertaste. - Lavare - Vodka, lavender syrup, grapefruit Overall, their tapas and share plates are very well portioned and reasonably-priced - I'd say they're quite 'guy-friendly' (aka. good portions). We unintentionally confused the server with our order and she was extremely accommodating, helpful and generous to us. Great experience, and I definitely recommend it. Will be back! Comparable to: The Diamond, but with better custom cocktails, food and music. read more

The Refinery - Vodka soda with lime made perfectly. - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I have now tried the delicious food here, and a couple more delightful cocktails. The Woodlands Sour is cramazing (crazy amazing). The gorgonzola gnocchi kicks ass. The cheese is a little crusty and gooey at the same time. The gnocchi is cooked just right. I just wish there was more of it, because sharing this was difficult as I wanted it all. My friend and I also tried the veggie flatbread. This was also delightful, though I thought the price a tad high. Overall, very good. The bathroom is nice and clean, but watch the lock, it's a tough one. I will be back, especially to check out their Cocktail Kitchen series. Mmmm. read more

The Refinery is a fantastic new restaurant on Granville. With just a door off Granville Street inviting you to the second floor lounge, The Refinery is definitely worth checking out. The interior is fantastic and even more so once you learn that it is made primarily from recycled material with sustainability in mind. The menu consists of a number of different share plates - like cheese and charcuterie consisting of fresh organic and sustainable local meets, cheese and breads. As a wine bar there is also a fantastic wine menu. I would definitely recommend this place for a night of good conversation, great wine and fantastic eating. Oh, and our waitress was fantastic as well. She even chased us down the street when I forgot my gloves. read more

The Refinery - inside the refinery - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Just popped in for a quick bite. Service was quick and friendly and they took my food allergy seriously, which I can always appreciate. I got the chicken sandwich. It was pretty good. Not a whole lot of flavour but I liked the subtleties of the brie. I thought it was unique putting asparagus in it. It came with housemade potato chips which seemed to have some rosemary on them. A tad too salty but still good. The little salad was pretty decent. I wouldn't say the food was stellar but it's definitely good, especially at that price point, and I would definitely go back. Romantic lighting, nice ambiance. There were people beside me with a bottle of wine and fruit platter which seemed awesome. I was jealous and wanted to pick off their fruit platter, it looked delicious. Next time I'll go for some fancy cocktails so I can get a feel for this place's full potential, as some of these pics look great. The girl at the table beside me really loves this place and everything on the menu. I would definitely recommend trying this place out. read more

The Refinery - chicken, brie & asparagus sandwich (in the shape of a heart?) with sides of housemade potato chips & salad - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Like the atmosphere of this place, a second floor on the Granville strip. A small room, with another back room with windows facing the street. Modern atmosphere, with a long high table, a perfect place for larger groups. We were here for drinks, and I got a Provencale: gin, lavender syrup, lemon, angostura & flower bitters, soda. The drink was good, almost tasted like a fizzy lemonade to me. A charcuterie plate was also ordered, and I loved one of the cheeses-I think it was a smoked cheddar. A charming room, with lots of drink selection. Also with good service, I think I'll be back to try out their 'Cocktail Kitchen" nights! read more

The Refinery - Charcuterie Board - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

My hubby and I landed at the Refinery on Granville in the heart of entertainment district after purchasing a livingsocial voucher. It was our first time here, and we had a fantastic dinner!! (worth writing about). The restaurant is very chic, and is a tapas style kind of joint. It's true that it's not cheap, but the quality and ambiance was worth an after work trip to wind down. We walked up the stairs and were greeted at the bar. We were then seated by the open windows (really nice on a summer's day), and were given the menus. We had the duck, scallops, pork tenderloin, and spanish ribs (lots of meat--good thing the portions were tapas sized--perfect for two people). We also had two really strong cocktails, and two desserts. Thumbs up for EVERYTHING, including the service. We had 3 servers helping us, and we even were given the bill quickly when we realized our parking was running out (there is an Easypark lot on seymour just a block down--$1.75/30 minutes all day). I took pictures which made all my friends drool. The presentation was just as good as it tasted. Thanks to the Refinery for a great night out! read more

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My drive to go here was partly nostalgia. Do you remember the Sugar Refinery that used to be here? I sure do. It was an incredible place to hangout with friends and enjoy good food.. It was a real disappointment when they closed. In it`s place, is a surprisingly modern space hidden from the street. Not what I expected from my past experience. It`s true if you are coming thinking of what once was - my friend, you will feel a loss. The charm and chill hipness is gone. If you go to the Refinery website, it says they have a dress code that includes no hats. I know! Weird especially considering one of the servers was wearing a poor boy hat. The food is compromised of mostly, flatbreads, sandwiches, plates to share and appetizers. More of a drink and much place. I wouldn`t say I would go there again for a meal. I prefer more entrees for my evening sit downs. I ordered the Beef Pot Pie. Tiny portion but I must say, tender and flavourful. The downside was the accompanying bread was much too hard. In fact, my bread gave me some of her flatbread so I could eat the rest of my meal. For sharing, the vegetable plate was great with so many morsels to try. I would suggest the sharing plates. There`s meat ones, too! The flatbreads are large, filling and tasty but sure would be nice if it came with some kind of an accompaniment. WOuld I recommend it? Well, I can`t say there is anything special to drive me back there. I would rather explore other culinary adventures in this city. I will say, that the woman talking to my friend about wines and port was incredible. Her depth of knowledge on wines and spirits was impressive. Kudos to her. read more

My wife and I went to the Refinery before the Bryan Adams concert and were left wanting more. First of all, if the food even came close to the service we received, then I would be rating Refinery higher. However, the service is the only thing that is keeping it as high as a 3 star. We arrived to an empty restaurant (not surprised as it was a Wed night at 6pm). Nevertheless, we were greeted by our future server named Keith. He was personable, friendly, and professional. We were actually taken back at first with how appropriately friendly he was when we arrived as he asked for our names and introduced himself. For the rest of the night he addressed us by name and we found this to be a great touch that truly added a sense of attentiveness and personality. I know the place was empty, but we still appreciated how attentive and friendly he was. He made the experience much better. Since we ordered a bottle of wine, I cannot comment on their cocktails (however, I have heard great things about them). The food at Refinery, unfortunately, leaves MUCH to be desired. While one can make the argument that you get what you pay for (the prices of the small plates were lowish), it doesn't excuse the lack of creativity and finesse. The ratio of bread to topping on the bruschetta was too high on the bread side. And the toppings were, at best, pedestrian and resembled something you would quickly make at home (the Meatball one was the best). Maybe I am setting my bruschetta bar too high since I had it at Yaletown Antipasto. The stuffed Jalapeno peppers, while not aesthetically pleasing, was actually very good (despite the wilted salad that should never have left the kitchen). And lastly, the confit of potatoes on chorizo, was exactly what it sounds like...potatoes and chorizo. Yes, it was good...but in the end it was literally just potatoes (with soffrito) on a bunch of chorizo. Not much creativity. All in all, we will not be going back mainly due to the fact that the food did not meet our expectations. It was just plain mediocre. That being said, the service we had was excellent! read more

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Came here for a dine out and really enjoyed the experience. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive (water glasses rarely were empty), the food was quick and it was definitely a good deal at $18 for the 3-course. The penny floor is beautiful, and I spent a lot of my time marvelling over it. The other thing I noticed is that there was no elevator. I was sporting a pretty hawt baby bump at the time, so the stairs had me huffing but it was still doable. My only knock is that the portions were small and we both left hungry (smallest lamb shank eveeeer). But then again, $18. read more

I had a chance to sneak into The Refinery during one of the craziest weekends in Vancouver history, so it's really hard to balance this review accordingly. Perhaps a second visit will do the trick, which I look forward to immensely. Situated right, smack dab in the centre of they city, they sit atop a glam-sleazy nightclub that attracts young men sporting tight v-neck tee shirts and scantily clad women with a penchant for apple-tinis and glasses of chardonnay. I really don't know if the two spaces are owned by the same group or not, but The Refinery is definitely yin to their first floor neighbour's yang. Being that the craft cocktail scene is in its infancy around the streets of Vancouver, The Refinery is getting into the game early. Of course, NY and SF lead the charge in this arena, but in the lower mainland of British Columbia, there are but a handful of spots whipping up these kinds of cocktails. I must admit, I can't remember exactly what made up the contents of my adult libation, but I do know it tasted damn good and contained egg whites. It wasn't because I was too sauced to remember, but because the bartender took it upon herself to make us a mystery cocktail, and I couldn't quite decipher what the drink was called, because it was as loud as a Nick Jonas bris in the middle of a junior high school quad. Again, being that it was the host city for the Olympics, the chaos was to be expected. My pals who were also in attendance gave their drinks the ol' nod of approval as well (and we're all pretty critical when it comes to fancy pants drinks), which leads me to believe they're doing big things over there at the Refinery. Not sure when I'll return to Vancouver, but I'm anxious to see how this place fares when the town isn't overrun by world travelers and a bunch of turds from Surrey. I'm guessing it'd quickly become one of my new favourite bars in the Great White North. read more

Let's think about this for a moment, shall we? I'm not a Granville kinda girl. I'm just not. I don't like being herded into one specific area of a city to do all of my drinking, fooding, wining and dining. Entertainment district, my ass. You know what it's really called? It's a ghetto. The Granville Ghetto. But in every ghetto is a bit of fabulous - that twinkle, that bling, the little bit of sparkle that brightens up an otherwise predominately uninspired and intensely vapid street. Once I walk up that long flight of familiar steps at the Refinery, I know that I'm about to be taken care of. I know that my cocktail awaits. Or wine. Either or. Arguably the best seat in the house, the bar is most definitely *the* spot to get the intel on the what's-what of the drink menu (and if you're lucky, the what's-what on the "unofficial" menu as well). Craft cocktails may be in their infancy in our fine town, but the bartenders here have it straight-up locked. down. Fuzzy what now? So long as it's cool, crisp and clean I'm game for trying your drink. And try I do. Don't want a cocktail, but in the mood for wine? There's a right answer for what I want. Bet you didn't know that, did you? They did. Yet to be led astray, I trust my taste-buds in the capable hands and creative minds of the (wo)man behind their bar. It's that good. Inevitably the enticing plates of tempting food that make their way out the kitchen door, past the walls lined with wine bottles and finally to the table full of fancy women enjoying their "girls night out" will lure me in. Seasonal, fresh AND a cured meat option? I'm having my own ladies night just thinking about it. This is no aspiring ghettofabulist, my friends. No, the Refinery is the real deal. read more

Refinery is a nifty hidden wine and cocktail bar that sits upstairs from Sip on clubby Granville Street in downtown Vancouver. The space itself is outfitted with a lot of wood against some industrial cement/brick producing a slick but warm/cozy design-heavy feel. The space is fairly small and seems to be inhabited by an upscale crowd. I visited this spot on a Friday night during the Olympics, so I'm guessing that the feel and vibe were skewed, so I'll just focus on the drinks. We rolled in late night with someone who knows the bartender. We did what we usually do at a bar that offers high-end cocktails and we gave the tender a spirit and flavor profile and told her to impress us. And impress us she did. She rolled out some bourbon sours with foamed egg white that were dangerously drinkable. I had to throttle back on consuming my delicious treat since a) I had to drive a car at some point later in the night, and b) cocktails this good and at this price point should be sipped, not chugged. As we kicked it and enjoyed our cocktails we surveyed the scene. Delicious-looking plates of food were being delivered to tables all around us, the walls were decked with wine bottles, there were 2 big screens (temporary?) in the back showing the Olympics (every bar in the Van has TV's right now), and an official Olympic torch was in a display case above the nook in the back. Overall, it was a lively scene but looked to be filled with primarily locals. The clientele were mostly well-appointed folks in their 20's and 30's... lots of tan, blonde, fancy clothes, and pretty people. That would be my one downside to this place. Sounds that that's the average crowd, which is not really my crowd. Too uppity. But if that's your thing, or if you're like me and good drinks can outweigh the surrounding environs, then you'll be just fine here. I look forward to coming back and trying the food... and more drinks mixed with the house-made bitters. Yum! read more

It's like going home. Homemade preserves line the wall, floor to ceiling bottles of wine welcome you atop the long flight of stairs, meat hanging in the fridge... okay so maybe home was nothing like this, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it was? For a romantic little date, or a nibble and catch up session with friends, The Refinery is a suggestion I frequently make. Just watch out getting there... depending on the time of night, you might just have to ask to bypass the line going into Sip downstairs. When I want to have a cocktail expertly prepared, I head straight for a seat at the bar. I don't even have to explain myself, the perfect drink just appears in front of me. Although, if I had to choose the Earl Grey Marteani pops into my mind, morning, noon and night! Like it spicy? They even have curry bitters - that's right curry! Sit at the bar and in a quiet moment, ask the bartender for some bitters education. You'll get a mouth full for sure. Onto food... flatbreads, meats and cheeses, preserves...but what makes my toes curl and my heart flutter? Goat cheese cake with sour cherries... I love you... read more

Oh the Refinery, how the mighty have fallen. I remember going when it first opened and being in love. Beautifully made craft cocktails, delicious tapas and flatbreads for sharing, and a charming 2nd story room. Fast forward to present day. The cocktails are mediocre, the food is not impressive (especially for the price) with an exception to the flatbread (still delish!), and the service has gone downhill. Most egregious is the service. I've visited The Refinery twice in the last 2 months and each time I've gone, the servers that waited on us took forever to take our order, bring our drinks, serve our food, etc. On my last visit, a couple of friends joined us at the long table and the server kept bypassing them so they couldn't get their drink order in. I was also unimpressed with their lack of knowledge in cocktails as I tried asking some basic questions about what they were offering on the menu. It's not like I was playing 'stump the server'! It's such a shame as I did love the Refinery. It was also one of those rare spaces downtown you could escape to when you wanted to avoid the douche-y parts of Granville row. read more

I remember the Refinery fondly as the "Sugar Refinery." For those of you young 'uns on yelp--ask the bartender about those days. it was ultra-hip and cool and well, fun...from what I can remember. Yes, those were the days (sigh). But not unlike the clientele from back then, the Refinery is all grown up. (However, the clientele now is just as young and cool). The staff is welcoming and friendly. The wine selection was great and reasonably priced. The food looked delish, and I must remember to return again to try it out sometime. The place was warm and welcoming, but the windows to the street were shaded by a "partition of sorts" when I visited on a bright week night. In spite of the Granville "cheesiness" I found this to make the place seem a bit dull and claustrophobia- inducing; this was probably the opposite effect of what was intended. It was pretty quiet inside compared to so many neighbouring bars, and I suspect this might be the reason why. I get the "hidden" aspect, but do you really want to serve only two sets of customers on a weeknight during a busy Spring Break? I found it odd that there was only one female b.r. too. Other than that, I'd return, but next time, I hope that they keep the front area open, as it just might lure in some more customers. The Refinery is a cute little gem, and with all of the new places opening up in Vancouver, I hope that it keeps "refining" itself, too. read more

I heart this place a lot and I would have never discovered it without the fabulous Yelp team throwing a Yelp Elite event here. I've been back several times and if you are looking for top quality ingredients and bar tenders that REALLY know what they are doing...go here now! They make their own bitters and let's just say the smoked bourbon sour's are freaking amazing. All their food fare is made from organic, mostly local ingredients and they have fabulous veggies options. I loved the Vegetarian flat-bread and the white bean and truffle hummus is super yum!!! IMPORTANT TIP TO KNOW: This place is super hidden...it's located above Sip and there is only an Oak door with "The Refinery" on it to tell you it exists. The best thing about this place is how NOT Granville it is. Even though its located on the strip it has a completely different vibe, one that is pleasant and warm instead of loud and leud. In summary...COME AND EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF! read more

There are not many places that will get me back out on Granville Street on a busy night, however The Refinery is just one such place. First introduced to me by a friend last year, my only disappointment was that I hadn't discovered it earlier. GM Lauren Mote runs an impressive bar program, sourcing local and organic products to create an ever changing seasonal cocktail list... as well as making her own bitters to complement whatever concoction is being brewed. The restaurant was designed with the environment in mind, so not only is the menu sustainable, so is the space it occupies. Whether you're sat at the "long table" in the middle of the room, or tucked into a booth, the space welcomes you, as you sip one of Lauren's famous cocktails (I'm a sucker for the Sake Sour or for allowing Lauren to decide!) or tuck into their 'market-style' menu. I'm a huge fan of charcuterie and cheese plates, accompanied by a glass of wine and conversation, and this is the perfect place to meet up with friends, or simply grab a quick nibble and a cocktail. The staff are attentive and friendly, and it is just one of those places that makes you want to keep coming back. read more

I have been to The Refinery twice in the past two weeks meaning I must really like it. I love the space and jaws full of delicious foods. Great atmosphere. The room is very well laid out as you can sit on a long table (with high chairs) if you have a larger group or enjoy a quite moment in the back area. Servers are super nice and Lauren, the bartender, knows her stuff! She makes fab cocktails. I loved their flatbreads...the one with pear was delicious... I will def. be back...most likely soon considering this seems to be my new hang out. read more

The Refinery beats STR in my humble cheese & wine induced opinion. Bigger portions of everything LOCAL, and a way better bar. I appreciate the effort the owner has put into making The Refinery an environmentally friendly business. People love talking the talk in Vancouver, and other than Ocean Wise on many a menu, there really aren't that many places around actually going the distance. The homemade bitters and concoctions that litter the shelves inside are a rare sight indeed. You can totally taste that extra bit of love in their drinks. Mmm After much debate, I have decided that for my last drink on earth I would have Lauren mix up one of her Bourbon masterpieces. Now that would be a proper curtain call! read more

I wanted my first yelp review to be for one of my favorite places and that means Refinery. It was a great place when it first re-opened, but Lauren Mote has created an innovative, sustainable bar program that incorporates house-made bitters, local organic ingredients and molecular cocktails. The charred bourbon sour, Maker's Mark Bourbon, lemon, charred oak syrup, egg white meringue and oak bitters is amazing as are the rest of her list that changes seasonally and she is equally adept at inventing on the fly to suit your taste. Last night I had a walnut cognac cocktail that blew my mind. Just don't sit in the second seat from the end - that's mine. read more

I normally avoid Granville St. at night like the plague, but I'm happy to brave the rowdy crowds to get into this place. The Refinery is tucked away up on the second floor, and is home to what I consider to be the very best cheese & charcuterie tasting room/market style eatery in Vancouver. The experience starts when you walk in the door - the design of the space from the floor up is simple and complete eye candy for anyone who appreciates beautiful interior design. Then comes the food... while tasting plates seem easy, there really is an art to pulling together the right pairs. I highly recommend letting the chef choose your options rather than going it your own, you won't be disappointed there. In addition to your meat and cheese boards (depending on how many of you there are and what you're sharing), starting with one of the many salads is a good choice (I loved the raspberry ginger salmon salad when I had it recently), and adding one of the savoury flatbreads is a good addition as well. Finally, at the end of your meal, please please do not leave without ordering the Goat Cheese Cheesecake. I don't hand out "my very favourite..." often - and I mean it when I say that something is the best there is. This dessert is the best way to end a meal in the entire city. Handmade goat cheese cheesecake with a caramel almond crust and sour cherries... it sounds so simple, doesn't it? Nothing I can say in words can describe the contents of this little plate, and the fact that everything else is incredible only adds to it. We've had great service every time we've been, and the prices are on the high side but for me completely worth it for a great night out. So - Go! Go for dinner, and if you can't make it for dinner, head for drinks and the cheesecake if nothing else. read more

FYI - **BREWER's LUNCH SPECIAL DOES NOT APPLY** Ever since I came here for the Yelp event, I was very impressed with the quality of the people and the food... so when my friends from Cabo asked for suggestions for food.. I thought this would be a great place for a cool atmosphere and good quality food. This must've been a busy day for the Refinery - the back room was booked for a private party and the only reservation I could get for a table was 6pm because a part of 14 was coming in at 8. The waitress was patient and gave us all the time we needed while we waited for our friends, while we did a quick catch up before actually looking at the menu to order food. I had heard great things about the drinks and I know Lauren Mote has crafted up some amazing drinks so I got the Tea-Marteani. It definitely did not disappoint with hints of both orange pekoe and earl grey... I could not even taste the alcohol although i knew it was there. They had a very nice selection of beers although the Whistler ale and dark was both out. I was very interested in the "special offer" posted on yelp.. and when I asked the waitress, she said that it did not exist... so I'm not sure how long that was in effect for .. but if anyone is looking to check it out, it's not available. Between the four of us, we ordered the cassoulet (slow braised chicken thighs, toulouse sausage, homemade duck prosciutto, cannellini beans, crumb topping), and 3 flatbreads: 1. smoked salmon 2. proscuitto and brie 3. vegetable (which I remembered trying at the Yelp Event). The flatbreads came out on their boards with a little side salad. Although I thought that they were all a little luke warm, I had a feeling that the cassoulet was what was keeping them from coming out. They were still delicious, but that's my preference. The cassoulet was loaded with meat, and very tasty. A few pieces of vegetables and potatoes accompanied the dish, which was a great addition. My favourite was the proscuitto and brie. The flavours were perfectly paired and I didn't want to admit it because I would've been greedy and taken the whole thing. For dessert - we ordered the goat cheese cheese cake and the vegan chocolate cake. The cheesecake was definitely goat-y... which is what made it unique and it lived up to my expectations. They had rice crisps which I was hoping would taste like the Crunch Bar, but it didn't.. and the sour cherries were nice. The vegan chocolate cake was a little too dense, although I really liked the coconut creme and strawberry sauce was not too sweet and tasted well with the cake. The creme brulee were all out for the night. (please continue reading for ranting moment) I happened to have the Travellor's Deck and there is a Refinery Card that offers Free Dessert with the purchase of an entree (valid for up to two people).... Now let me ask - between four people, we all got entrees- doesn't that mean we get TWO free desserts? I mean that's what the card says right? ... when we eventually got the bill, only one dessert was taken off and when I asked for clarification, the waitress told me that it is only one dessert per table..... but NO..... I said that the card is valid up to two.... I did the same thing at another restaurant with the same wording and we got two desserts. I didn't want to argue because I didn't want to make a fuss in front of my new friends and I think that 8 dollars is not the end of the world. I think it is just the principle... let me know if you disagree. In the end - the 4 stars goes for the food. They really do some good stuff. I will come back, and try not to think of the nitty gritties. read more

oooh, grrr! I didn't want to like you, Refinery! This used to be a dark, moody coffee shop/bar when I was a goth teenager and we would come here to smoke clove cigarettes, write poetry and drink endless espresso. I wanted to hate this gentrified, upmarket lounge/restaurant for re-opening and commandeering the beloved old name and jumping up and down on my old memories. But I can't! S and I walked in for a drink on a Friday night at 9pm, and were seated right away. The decor is a little "Las Vegas Italian restaurant" for me, but it has its charm. The staff were extremely knowledgable and friendly! S was boring and ordered a Krusovice (a little excessively priced at 9 bux) but I wanted something unique. I ordered the "Bittered Sling" - a combination of citrus, egg white and one of about 10 housemade bitters, with the spirit that they then feel is best with your choice. I went for the grapefruit and fennel bitters, and asked for vodka, but the waitress lovingly and reassuringly told me to trust her - she would make me like gin (even though I loathe it.) Not convinced but wanting to appear game, I capitulated - and I'm happy I did! A frothy, lemony delight arrived, and I the gin mixed so well with the lemon and grapefruit that I truly was not offended by it. My only complaint was the lack of fennel taste - it was so subtle as to not even seem to be there. More fennel please! A great experience for drinks, with great music playing - I will be back to try what looks like a fabulous menu. My goth teenaged self, however, will be grumbling at me for selling out. Does it ever do anything but? :) read more

On a rather quiet Friday night I was invited for bevies and food to this fine establishment. This place used to be my hang out during the Olympics but having outgrown frat house party Granville street I hadn't been in ages. The decor looks the same and is very ghetto fabulous and inviting. Crowd is early 30s and classy, not young-wanting- to-get-hammered-suburban which you'd expect because of the location. Upon arrival we were greeted by our friendly server whom was quick to bring my first cocktail, Petit Chateau. If you have read my previous reviews you know I'm more of a wine snob than a cocktail connoisseur but this has to be my favorite cocktail ever! It was a bit more on the sour side but out of this world refreshing; and was served in fashion. A geometrical French cocktail glass that you could find in your grandma's pantry. We then proceeded to order our bottle of Argentinian Malbec, half bodied and a great complement to our delicious tapas. The beef tartar was the winner, greatly mixed with vegetables accompanied by small pieces of baguettes. The Duck breast was cooked to perfection and my only complain was the small portion. Risotto balls although good were not that memorable. Needless to day I'll definitely come back to check out more cocktails and tapas and take in the ghetto fabulous attitude! read more

Look, do you want quality or quantity?! --------- Relax, you can have both here and with the service to go with it. The Refinery is located right in the middle of some of my favourite places to have a meal. It's staff are stylish and capable. The mixologist behind the bar knows what time it is, try anything on the Special cocktails list and i'm sure it'll have you saying "hmm, never had this - BUT I LIKE IT!" Don't forget about the brownie with the sangria ice cream, it's the perfect end to a fantastic meal. read more

The Refinery is really awesome (despite all the Granville mayhem going on around it). It's not a cheap meal, but you definitely receive good quality food and service. I've been back a couple of times, and on each occasion the food was top-notch. I particularly recommend the flatbread (simple, yet bloody amazing), the bacon wrapped scallops, and the fried scamorza cheese. I'd come back here and eat fried cheese here every day, but then I'd be dead in 5 years. I'll have to settle for once in a while. My friends and I came on a Tuesday, so bottles of wine were 40% off. That's a great promotion 'cause you can pop a couple bottles open without worrying about the cost too much. More fun that way. =) Lastly, our server was a rockstar. He totally nailed every aspect of the evening. read more

Strongly seconding Erin I.'s recommendation of the Irish Stew ... we ate it a day later than she did, and I suspect it was even better. Totally delish! It's simple, it's universal, but it's hard to really get right ... hummus. I love their hummus appetizer. Our server said that the app serves four, my friend and I made it serve two, before moving onto the stew. read more

Let me start by saying that the food is decent, although not very special, but ambience is cool, casual and trendy. What's left to be desired was the service we received. Here's my experience: We came in and had to wait about 10 minutes until our drink/food order was taken. When our server did arrive, she stood there like a tree with her pen and paper and stared at us. No hello, no smile, just cold and unwelcoming. After the moment of awkwardness, my party and I broke the silence and ordered our drinks AND food since it took so long for her to greet us. 10 minutes later.. we got our sparkling water and wine. Wine was OK, the water arrived warm. Hmm? We were too kind to say anything. We received our courses in good time which was great. The food was tasty and the food runners were kind and prompt. I got a pear salad, sablefish and tiramisu - all satisfactory, especially the tiramisu. Our server was really nowhere to be found until the end of our meal when it came to pay the bill. She never came around to do a quality check, or to fill our water glasses. Working previously in the food/hospitality industry myself, I know that when it's busy (especially during Dine-Out) that it can be stressful and difficult to be super attentive, so again, we just let it slide. When it finally came to paying our bill, her rudeness towards my party and I really pushed our limits. She made a snarky comment towards us, pretty much telling us to hurry up and pay because she didn't have time to wait since she was busy with OTHER tables. Um, we're right here... As patrons, who were paying you at that moment for your 'service', it wasn't the best time to be rude and snappy. It left a really bad taste in our mouths and tarnished the rest of our experience at The Refinery. Top it off, she didn't even say thank you. EVER. Not even a goodbye, have a good night! She took my cash, turned around and just took off to wait her OTHER tables. I'll leave this by saying that although the service we received from this particular server was below standard, the other employees who we interacted with were very kind and attentive. I guess some people just aren't cut out for the hospitality industry. read more

I am such a sucker for a great cocktail list! It was a struggle to settle on one drink because they all sounded amazing. I asked the server a plethora of questions about how fruity/refreshing/strong/bold the drinks were and she answered them with great detail. There is nothing I love more than a sever who is well educated about everything on the menu (that, and a great cocktail of course!) The Smooth Criminal would be my recommendation! This place has a great feel to it. It keeps elements of the buildings history while adding it's own modern and classy touch. The food is almost all made from scratch and rotates depending on the season. We tried the Duck Wings and Pork & Octopus. The wings were flavourful but hinge on the salty side while the octopus was extremely tender. I'm glad I got to try this place! read more

It can be pretty stressful planning a wrap party for your crew when you want to please as many as you can and want no detail overlooked by the time your boss arrives...but The Refinery and its staff made it easy, tasty and enjoyable. I'd been there for a Yelp event when it opened so I knew the space would be ideal for a private event. Instead of booking some claustrophobic dinning room somewhere else we got run of the place here: one room to mingle and one to dine in. Throughout the night the wait staff were charming and went out of their way to make sure people got what they wanted. Tapas style was a fun way to do things, everyone got a great deal of food and got to munch on different tasty items throughout the night. I'd have another event here in a heartbeat. read more

The bartender was great and drinks were good. However, server was horrible and food took an extremely long time. The server gave us our food and came back 1 min later to tell us she gave us the wrong food. We already touched it at that point and she asked if we wanted to switch to that instead. We said we wanted what we ordered but she pointed out we already touched it, as if it's our fault that she gave us the wrong dish. Who gives someone the wrong dish and asks them to pay for it? When we got the bill, there were 3 extra drinks on our bill we didn't order. We pointed it out and the server argued with us about it. She was extremely rude and didn't believe us until she went to confirm with the bartender that we were right. When we were paying, she slammed our credit cards down on the table as well as the bill. I understand that it gets busy on weekends and it's stressful but she should def not be taking it out on customers. Will not return because of the horrible service. read more

Oct.16 Although I do not drink much wine, I imagine I would take my wine loving friends to this place. I love their chartcuterie selection and their flat bread was absolutely delicious. Really friendly staff. We ordered a few different things and I was starving so I enjoyed every bite. The only part of the evening I disapproved of was the $12 I was charged for their "Improptu" drink. $12!!! Oh and each plate was brought out as it was done with seemingly no order in terms of hot or cold items first. I think if I went again (especiallly if with a group) I would be sure to specify what comes first! read more

Came here on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday party. Thankfully we had made reservations as the front of the restaurant was booked for a private party and the back only has a few tables available. The restaurant itself is very modern but homey. Giant displays of wine bottles separate the front room from the back and there's an Olympic torch encased above the walkway. The wine list is fairly extensive with a good variety of both by the glass and by the bottle selections. We chose the Pinot Noir by See Ya Later Ranch and the Gamay Noir by Dessert Hills. Both were fabulous and definitely worth the $40/bottle price tags. The cocktail list is very unique and I like that they The food menu has items that seem like tapas but portions for some definitely act as full meals. The charcuterie boards come with tons of meats and cheeses and accompaniments, along with what looks like 3/4 of a baguette. Pizzas arrive on long wooden boards and everything is under $20. For dessert, I would highly recommend the profiteroles. Heaven. 5 plump 'cream puffs' arrive in a mason jar, drizzled with chocolate and amaretto sauce. They were almost like Timbits and it kinda made me sad that I chose to share these instead of hoard them all to myself. Definitely save room for these! The restaurant itself gets to be super noisy and so it's not best for intimate dates, though we did see quite a few be seated while we were there. Overall everything was fabulous and I would definitely return for an evening of drinks and delights! read more

My Yelp buddy and I decided to come here during Dine Out and I'm glad we did. The beef carpaccio starter was delicious and served with olive oil, garlic aioli on top of arugula. The roasted halibut was perfect: it was so soft on the inside. The table next to me had a plate of the cinnamon bun cheese cake and it looked so good that I had to get that as my dessert. I thought that they were just sharing the plate and each of them had a slice, but no, my dessert came and there were two slices on the plate! It was so smooth and sweet, but not too rich. I was sad when I finally finished the dessert. The dinner was definitely a good size since I wasn't left hungry nor was there food leftover. My cocktail for the evening was a Chambord Manhattan which was paired on the menu with the beef carpaccio but I took my time sipping it because it was so good. read more