Vancouver restaurants for your poutine fix
Poutine may originate in Quebec, but there’s no denying it has found adoring fans in Vancouver. And while you can’t go wrong with fries, gravy and cheese, there are a few additions and techniques that make one dish stand out over another. Here are some of those standouts.
The Spudshack Fry Co
352-800 Carnarvon St, New Westminster, BC V3M 0G3A literal train-ride away in New West (the restaurant is in the bottom of the SkyTrain station), Spud Shack’s poutine started as a challenge. Their limited edition ‘porktine’ with bacon-apple-rosemary fritters took first place in Vancouver Foodster’s 2013 Poutine Challenge and was so in demand that they added a revised version to their permanent menu. After its traditional poutine, it’s the most popular item. Get thee to New West, poutine-lovers.
La Brasserie
1091 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1M5This is no late-night, sloppy poutine (though we love that, too). This small but excellent Franco-German bistro in the West End adds a Canadian flair to their menu with their decadent, truffle-scented bowl of frites, roast chicken gravy and cheese curds. Rich, unctuous, dare we say gourmet, it wouldn’t be gauche to pair this with a glass of their Burgundy Pinot Noir.
Fritz European Fry House
718 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1B6Right off the Granville Entertainment District on Davie, Fritz’s is best visited in daylight hours if you want to avoid drunken revellers pouring out of downtown nightclubs. But if you are one of those revellers, you might be wise to hit it up, too. An excellent absorber, this poutine can be topped with loads of extras and ranges from a $5 small to a $13 bucket. Grab your friends and dig in. Open till at least 3 am.
Tap & Barrel
1 Athletes Way, Vancouver, BC V5Y 0B1Start your day off right (and then take a nap) with the protein hit that is Tap & Barrel’s breakfast poutine. Standard poutine is amped up with pulled pork and topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. We’re not going to even guess at the calorie count on this one, but this is definitely the breakfast of champions. Add a pint of cold, local craft beer for a bit of a boozy brunch. We won’t judge.
Chill Winston
3 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1B2Served piping hot in a cast iron ramekin, this substantial dish is great for sharing. The fries are smothered in Jack-Daniels-spiked gravy and melting, gooey cheese curds, yet still manage to stay crisp. Wash it down with any one of their Montreal or Belgian beers and you’ll have a hard time remembering you’re in Vancouver.
Belgian Fries
1885 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A6A poutine list wouldn’t be complete without mention of this Commercial Drive fave. Montreal BBQ gravy smothers fries, while cheddar cheese curds ooze all over your heaping portion of poutine. Take it straight up or add bacon, mushrooms, peppers, onion or smoked meat. This is filling, fast and affordable food, a few of the hallmarks of this Canadian classic.
The Oakwood Canadian Bistro
2741 4th Avenue W, Vancouver, BC V6K 1P9Another one to add to the somewhat oxymoronic category of fine-dining poutine, The Oakwood Canadian Bistro wouldn’t live up to its name if this classic Quebecois dish didn’t find its way onto the menu. Taking the Montreal theme to the next level, this $10 poutine comes topped with brisket. Order a plate while you sample the other delectable and creative dishes from their menu, all intended for sharing, as is the Canadian way.
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