Wine-and-dine business lunches in Yaletown
Lined with retail outlets at street level, the industrial warehouses of Yaletown now house numerous businesses, from creative agencies to art galleries. All this enterprise calls for excellent restaurants in which to wine and dine, and the neighbourhood is no slouch in this department either. Here are some great restaurants for a mid-week business lunch. [Photo courtesy of La Pentola]
Provence Marinaside
1177 Marinaside Cres, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3When a view of the seawall and yachts on a glistening False Creek are in order, make a reservation (ideally on the patio) at Provence Marinaside at the foot of Davie. This long-serving French-inspired restaurant excels at making diners feel as if they’re feasting on the Côte d’Azur, thanks to their fresh selection of antipasti — think grilled vegetables, oil-marinated olives, and cheese and charcuterie — and their professional but friendly wait staff. It’s an ideal place to bring clients to show off the city’s beauty and ensure a reliably delicious meal.
Aburi Restaurant
1118 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T9This oft-praised sushi restaurant on Mainland Street is a quintessential Yaletown establishment: the beautiful dining room is filled with beautiful people eating beautiful food — in this case Aburi-style sushi with West Coast flair. Get down to business indoors by settling into one of their comfortable banquettes or reserve their private room for a work-related function for multiple stakeholders. Celebrating a professional win? Consider champagne and oshi on the cushy sectionals on their tasteful side patio.
La Pentola
350 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5Z6If your out-of-town clients happen to be staying at Yaletown’s swank OPUS hotel, suggest a lunch meeting at adjoining restaurant La Pentola. The Northern Italian-inspired cuisine delivered from the active kitchen is both hearty and incredibly flavourful. It is also surprisingly affordable considering the quality ingredients, expert technique and impeccable care taken in turning out these pastas, risottos, salads and paninis. Feel free to order à la carte, but to bring an element of intimacy to your meeting, consider ordering family style so you can all swoon over the same dishes while you seal the deal.
Homer St Cafe & Bar
898 Homer St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W5Boisterous, lively and very cosmopolitan, The Homer Street Café is a rotisserie first and does a mean roasted chicken. But look beyond their specialty to their superb hand with fish — typically steelhead trout or halibut — or opt for lighter fare with exquisitely dressed and deceivingly simple salads, a cheese and charcuterie plate, or a selection of their sides and snacks. The multilevel space is open yet intimate, the wine list is approachable and you’re guaranteed to enjoy a relaxed and urbane dining experience no matter how stiff your company.
West Oak Restaurant
1035 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9Decidedly West Coast, this sleek Yaletown spot serves local favourites like salmon and asparagus salad, tuna tartare, chicken and brie baguette, and a gruyere and mushroom beef burger. All the seafood is Ocean Wise, service is friendly and attentive and their covered patio makes for a charming, street-side location for your midday meeting — a thousand times more inspiring than a stuffy boardroom.
The Flying Pig
104-1168 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2S2At the bustling The Flying Pig, the vibe is casual and laid back, the food homey and comforting while still managing to wow with both presentation and flavour. Calling themselves a “nouveau Canadian bistro,” you can expect upscale classics like pulled pork poutine and iceberg salad as well as wild seafood pappardelle and a chili-rubbed skirt steak sandwich. The lively atmosphere may be more conducive to a project-end celebration or employee promotion than brass-tacks business, so come prepared for a jovial meal.
Yaletown Brewing Co
1111 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2If the business you’re conducting is of a more casual nature, consider a more casual environment. The restaurant side of the ever-popular Yaletown Brewing Company is roomy and accommodating, either in their comfortable dining room or outside on their welcoming patio. It’s pub fare to be sure, but excellently done pub fare, with pizzas that are truly delicious. And this being one of Vancouver’s earliest brewpubs, you can bet their taps are fresh and innovative — cheers a pint or two over your newly established business arrangement and take in the distinctive Yaletown vibe.
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