During the weekend, my wife and I were out for a walk on Main Street keeping an eye out for places…read moreto try for Happy Hour. As we walked by Anh and Chi, we saw Good Thief. I've certainly heard about this place before, but peeking-in, we only saw one table of customers eating, so I was a little unsure about it. But we starting to get hungry, so we gave it a try. This place is not big, but feels very stylish and lush. The host was super friendly and gave us open choice where to sit. The kitchen menu was very limited at that time, which made it easy to pick a few items to sample: - Sun Seeker Oysters: Excellent. Foam has not been popular food trend for awhile, but when used smartly, it works, and it certainly worked well here. - In-House Cured Skewer (Veal Tongue): Excellent. I was blown away by this one. I guess I've never had veal tongue before. It was so incredibly tender, it almost melted in my mouth. About the same tenderness I would expect from a A5 wagyu. - In-House Cured Skewer (Pork Belly): Excellent. This is a little more traditional, but perfectly prepared, so it was bubbly/crispy on the outside and great caramelized flavour. - Canh Spot Chua Tom: Good. I found this dish hard to judge. The server explained that the dish is inspired by Vietnamese Hot & Sour Soup (Canh Chua) but served cold. I'm not sure I could connect the two. The combination of spot prawn, burrata, sorbet, fennel and basil oil was unusual but good, and got better with each bite. I really have nothing to compare it to because its so different to the original inspiration and anything else I've had. But I still enjoyed it. Service was really good. Being only 1 of 3 customers helped, but our server was friendly and interactive, and took the time to explain all the dishes served. I really enjoyed this visit. I always worry that some places gets lots of social media attention, and once the hype is gone, they fade away because they can't meet the hype. But the food and service really hit above my expectations. It's definitely pricey, but I think you get really high level imagination and execution in the food they serve.

The food is generally excellent here. Get the Frog Legs and Crabmeat Noodles. Service is great and…read morethe bar really tells you about the drinks. Ambience is great - both lightning and decor. Great for dates. I did feel a bit stuffy though. Frog leg - perfectly friend like a chip or a juicy chicken tender, well spiced and breaded Asian style. Hoi An Night - nice and smooth that is also very refreshing and citrus, does well for the mangosteen interpretation Best Kept Secret - this basically a mix of scotch and whiskey with a twist, a bit of bitter and syrup to spin a strong drink, must-try for whiskey lover

Stumbled upon this place via Yelp (thanks fellow Yelpers) when we were in town for a cruise. So…read moreglad that we found it as the establishment was a gem. The owner and staff were so welcoming / made our dinner even more special. Restaurant has classy, modern, and hip decor. There's also a bar area for drinks. We had several of their pasta dishes and all were very good. Nice selection of wines, which we enjoyed with our meal. We had a large party (9 people) and they did a great job of serving us - meals came out quickly and efficiently. They really added to the specialness of our group vacation.

I met a friend here last night for an early-ish dinner. Made a reservation for 5:30pm and the…read morerestaurant was practically empty, save for a few diners outside on the patio and one or two occupied tables inside. The interior was super cute but small/intimate. This would be a good place to go on a date night as the volume inside wasn't deafening; you could easily carry on a conversation with your dining partners (surprisingly, I can't say this about many restaurants lately - especially in Yaletown!). The center of the restaurant is occupied by a bar-island. You'd think with a name like "Alchemy" that they'd be known for their cocktail concoctions here but, IMO, this cute place is more of a pasta/bistro/pub than a cocktail lounge. Their alcoholic beverage menu seemed more run-of-the-mill standard to me. Here are the positives: -the staff here are AMAZINGLY nice and attentive. Like, SO nice and friendly! -there's a pretty fast turnover time between ordering and receiving your foods and drinks. -as mentioned above, the restaurant is cute and intimate, there's a nice patio, and the interior volume is very reasonable. -they have a really good happy hour menu, and it's every single day, from 3-6pm. -they have a daily special, including "pasta Monday", where every pasta dish costs $17.95. -their everyday menu is pretty varied with quite a few options for "pub" food (i.e., pasta and pizza, chicken wings and burgers, and mains that include steak and salmon and chicken). Their desserts look pretty decent, too. (The creme brûlée sounds particularly good!). We were there for Happy Hour, so I got a glass of excellent pinot Grigio and my friend ordered a Malbec (or two!), and we shared a Margherita pizza and some tortilla chips with artichoke dip. The presentation of the chips and dip was amazing (a neighboring table had ordered this dish and it looked so good, we had to order it too). And both the pizza and the chips and dip were really good. Really good. The only reason I'm deducting a star is because there was a dirty napkin on the floor by my feet. That was kinda a turn-off for me. The rest of the table and restaurant were very clean. It was just this one dirty napkin. (I took a photo, attached). (Wish there was a way to just deduct half a star TBH). This was a fun local place, with very reasonable prices for good bistro-like fare, and the staff here was fantastic. I'd definitely return.

Been to The Watson a few times for happy hour (daily until 6pm, all day Sundays). The HH menu has…read more10 small plates and cocktails. Chill vibes that get more intimate when the sun goes down. There's patio seats outside and even seating upstairs. - "Amaretto" sour ($14.00) - tasty foam - The Watson ($11.00) - slightly medicinal - Watson's margarita ($13.00) - smooth - Paloma ($14.00) - well balanced, slight tang - Blue pony club ($11.00) - touch sweet - Watson's gimlet ($10.00) - liked the basil - Chorizo in red wine ($10.00) - best of the three dishes. Tasty chorizo in a flavourful sauce - Potato bravas ($8.00) - not crispy, dry - Wild boar tacos ($12.00) - average

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

Delightful and delicious! The Shameful Tiki Room delivers on ambiance and libations in equal…read moremeasure.

TIKI DAVE from TIKI DAVE'S TERRIFIC TRIPS absolutely loves this place!…read more After searching for the best Tiki Bar in Vancouver (what???), I absolutely had to leave the family at the airport hotel to check this place out. As Son of TIKI DAVE would say, I didn't need to go, but I wanted to go. Yes, yes, Alec, I wanted to go. And the reviews lived up to the hype. What a wonderful spot halfway between the airport and downtown. I left it up to the bartenders to choose my drinks... Against my better judgment, I went with the bartender's recommendation to try the Painkiller because they touted it better than the Soggy Dollar Bar in the BVI. Well, I've been to the BVI but never the Soggy Dollar Bar...yeah, I know. But this drink, that I would normally think too sweet for my taste, was amazing. Now, I have to go to the freakin' Soggy Dollar Bar to compare but I'd bet this one was better. For my second, I again, left it up to the knowledgeable bartender to guide me the way. And he served me up with this perfectly amazing and glowy amazingness that is the Rememberer? Which is off menu. It was amazing. And did I mention it glowed? Ambience and service is amazing. I showed up on a Saturday night at 10 and I was worried after reading about it that I'd have trouble getting in but it wasn't a problem at all. TIKI DAVE of TIKI DAVE TRAVEL / TIKI DAVE'S TERRIFIC TRIPS highly highly highly recommends The Shameful Tiki! I will be making a video of my experience so... Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/@TIKIDAVETRAVEL And follow! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565274777775&mibextid=ZbWKwL https://www.instagram.com/tikidavetravel/?__d=1%2F%3Fhidemenu%3Dtrue

Bar Asra is a charming, innovative, intimate neighbourhood gem. The cocktails are inventive while…read morestill being familiar, and have really thoughtful touches. I'm also a big fan of any cocktail menu which dedicates a page to each cocktail and really explains the drink from inception to ingredients to glass. The food menu is also filled with a great selection for snacking and sharing and there are plenty of options for an array of dietraty restrictions. T he restaurant also has a lovely patio on a quiet street, and an even more beautiful restaurant inside -- I think everyone wants to dine and drink under fairy lights! Service was also prompt, engaging and knowledgeable -- you could tell the staff liked being there and even on a first visit, we felt like regulars. Top marks for ambience, service and taste!

Ambiance is good, and it is priced as such. But the food and drinks were unfortunately quite meh…read more We came on a Friday night at around 10pm for happy hour snack and drinks. For food, we got the karaage and meatballs. Both items were plated nicely but flavor were just okay. Particularly the meatballs where very crumbly. Can barely pick one up with fork without it falling apart. For drinks, we got the plum Spritz and the ginger old fashion. For a bar, with drinks mostly priced around $18-20, they are not even using clear ice. Then, for the old fashion, they are using a huge slice of grapefruit as garnish which 1. Is so big that it keeps hitting my nose every time I take a sip and 2. On the menu is should have been a slice of orange. Service was quick and friendly, but unfortunately quite disappointed with the food and drinks.

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.

We started with the Manos Signature Dip. The creamy, slightly spicy Tirokafteri served with warm…read moregrilled pita. Then came the Watermelon Salad. It was fresh and juicy Would've been even better if the watermelon came in bite-sized cubes instead of slices For mains, we had Roasted Lamb Shoulder which is very Tender and flavourful And the star of the table...Mousaka! Rich, comforting and beautifully layered

I have seen a lot of good reviews about this place and convinced our party of 8 to come try it…read moresince it's in our neighborhood and we have been looking for a new local Greek restaurant since Panos on Marine Drive closed down. Sadly, we were sooooo disappointed! We came on a Saturday evening at peak time, around 6:30pm, so granted, we expected it to be busy. We were sat nearly right away in comfortable booths with tables. The waitress brought us menus and water. So far so good! We ordered our food, nothing crazy, several got the special of the night, lamb souvlaki with potatoes rice and pita. A couple ordered the seafood pasta, one asked for red sauce instead of cream sauce and two asked for veggie lasagna's but they only had one order available. When we asked about the beers on menu, we were told each one was unavailable except for Heineken and the seasonal beer. When we asked what it was, she didn't know. She then brought the can of beer over and said she wasn't sure what type it was. Fair enough! She was young, seemed new and not quite trained with alcohol so no big deal. It gave us a giggle. It was a Granville Island radler btw. I ordered a Heineken and my friend ordered the yummy sounding spicy passionfruit margarita. My beer came fairly quick but no margarita. Then the young waitress came out to say that our food would take a bit longer to come out since they were a bit slammed with orders and asked if we wanted any appetizers. We decided we'd be ok, and decided to wait. One hour later!!!!! I'm not joking, one hour later, the margarita drink came out. Again, we noticed very young and probably newly hired staff attempting to make drinks. When this $19 drink came out, it looked like the rim of salt was touched with fingers and a lot of it was missing. However, my friend desperate for a drink or morsel of anything, decided to just have it as it came. She said it was delicious and the best thing she had. One hour and a half later!!! Our food came out. My medium rare lamb was cooked through and the pasta with red sauce came out with a cream sauce, but there was NO way we were going to send anything back as we were pretty hangry at this point. The potatoes were delicious, the rice extremely plain. All 8 of us agreed that for the price, service and quality of food, we would not be returning, although my friend said if the passionfruit drink was on the happy hour menu, she would consider it. All in all, very disappointed.

My husband and I celebrated our baby moon in Vancouver and enjoyed our Saturday date night at…read morePublished on Main. Ordered the chips and dip, fried mushrooms,fried chicken, gnocchi pasta and a few drinks for hubby, non alcoholic for myself. Some standouts and key highlights were the chips and dip, gnocchi, and the fried chicken! Service was good. Our server highlighted all of the things I can and cannot eat which was nice touch given my dietary restrictions. All in all service and food was good and would recommend for a special occasion or even a treat yoself dinner. We made reservations 2 weeks prior.

It was so-so. This octopus plate is ugly, spicy, and not…read moregood! The pasta was good. The whiskey was the best one. The mushroom was nothing special. The lamb plate! So disappointing! $66 for 3 small pieces of lamb and 6 creams (weird). Would not come back. These beans made me sick. High tables (not comfortable at all).

5 Stars for class and ambiance alone. It's like a reverse speakeasy. You see a guy in the ally next…read moreto the red light. He sees if they can accommodate - and then up an elevator you go (although we did learn they take reservations as well). There's both inside and outside seating. The seating is well appointed and comfortable. Drinks: Coked Up and Parker Chocolate Orange. Both were decadent. Coked up a bit sweet for my taste, but unique and was worth ordering. We had the Fish and Chip Cones. They're part of the Happy Hour Menu. They were an interesting fusion of sushi meets fish and chips. We've checked out various happy hour spots in Vancouver over the years. Most aren't worth the hype or sadly have gone out of business over the years. This one... we'll be back on our next visit to Vancouver. We'd probably also call for reservations as we got one of the last two tables!

This is a great little spot. The views are great! We didn't have reservations, so it was a 30…read moreminute wait to get a table. We just came in for a nightcap. The service was slow. They were very focused on a small birthday group, so it took a while just to get a drink order in. The drinks were fantastic. Definitely the highlight of the visit. I had an Affogato Martini and it was amazing. We would have stayed longer, but the music was so loud we couldn't hear each other. Nice venue, decent service, great drinks.