Where to drink and dine during Taste of Yaletown
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association hosts the 12th annual Taste of Yaletown event on October 13 to 27. Take a culinary tour along the cobblestoned-streets of this stylish downtown neighbourhood and enjoy special prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus from dozens of restaurants. Check out a few of the participating eateries below and call directly to reserve your table.
Bistro Sakana Japanese Restaurant Ltd
1123 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2This contemporary Japanese restaurant on Mainland is known for its artfully plated fusion dishes, flame-torched aburi sushi and romantic ambiance. The $35 three-course Taste of Yaletown dinner includes a sampling platter with wild sockeye jalapeño aburi hakozushi, toro red chilli aburi hakozushi, Hamachi shio-koji yaki, crunchy phyllo-wrapped scallops and prawns, black sesame encrusted tuna and more. For dessert, enjoy hoji-cha creme brulee flavoured with charcoal roasted green tea. The bar boasts Vancouver’s largest selection of premium cold sake so we suggest starting or finishing your meal with a tasting flight.
Brix and Mortar
1137 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6Housed inside a 1912 heritage building, Brix is a refined space to enjoy a glass of wine and good company. Contemporary West Coast farm-to-table fare is prepared with European and Asian influences. During Taste of Yaletown, diners can order up a three-course dinner menu ($35 per person) packed with seasonal fall flavours. Start with tomato and roasted pepper soup, karaage squid or a green salad. Entrées highlight the best of land and sea with your choice of wild salmon, duck confit or spinach risotto with grilled broccolini. Vanilla bean panna cotta with raspberry coulis concludes this affordable feast.
Cactus Club Cafe
357 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1R2This popular West Coast chain is a dependable dining destination year-round, but during the Taste of Yaletown festival locals and visitors can get even more bang for their buck with prix-fixe menus for daytime and evening meals. The three-course $25 lunch features crowd-pleasing apps, your choice of main (crispy chicken sandwich or prawn spaghettini) and caramel chocolate mousse for dessert. For dinner, $35 gets you three courses with your choice of thai red curry lingcod or roast chicken as a main. Visit during happy hour to score a couple of affordable libations as well.
Central City on Beatty Street
871 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M6There are no choose-your-own options on the $35 set menu at Central City, but we’re sure you’ll enjoy the tasty three-course meal nonetheless. The craft alehouse was founded by the folks behind Red Racer IPA and offers 40 beers on tap paired with a Southern-inspired meat-centric food menu. The Taste of Yaletown lineup starts with brisket burnt ends cheese toasties followed by a sirloin steak served with smoked corn butter, Brussels sprouts with bacon, and crispy garlic potatoes. For dessert, enjoy forkfuls of a decadent dark chocolate brownie spiked with gin-infused cranberries, IPA almonds and a rich chipotle ganache.
The Distillery Bar + Kitchen
1131 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2Don’t be fooled by the name, there’s much more than spirits on offer at this neighbourhood haunt (although there are plenty of those too). The spacious interior impresses with its industrial wood beams, oversized chandeliers and long communal table, while the menu delivers crowd-pleasing Italian-American cooking and boozy libations. During the Taste of Yaletown, order up rustic carb-forward fare (think penne alla vodka and flatbread pizza) and don’t forget to ask about the featured cocktails for pairings. If it’s warm enough, wrap yourself in a blanket on the heated patio and enjoy your meal al fresco.
The Greek by Anatoli
1043 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9You’ll find a little piece of the Mediterranean in the heart of Yaletown at this hip spot from the talented team behind North Van’s Anatoli Souvlaki. The family-owned restaurant has a warm, inviting ambiance but still feels like a hip downtown eatery. Upscale Greek-style tapas dishes are best-enjoyed sharing-style and accompanied by a glass of Helen’s famous sangria. The Taste of Yaletown menu features a wide range of options: spanakopita, calamari, moussaka, souvlaki, braised lamb and much more. There are a couple different picks for dessert but we think the filo cup chooclate mousse with caramel is a sticky sweet must-try.
Hapa Izakaya
1193 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6The Yaletown outpost of this ubiquitous Vancouver izakaya chain specializes in modern Japanese fusion fare in a casual, trendy atmosphere. The special Taste of Yaletown $35 dinner menu features a diverse variety of savoury signature dishes. Start off with ponzu beef tataki, tuna tataki and kale and asparagus goma-ae. The second course features shiso pesto chicken steak, lobster motoyaki and pine mushroom yaki udon. The third and final course offers torched smoked chicken sushi, torched saba sushi, and pepper and avocado pressed sushi.
Honjin Yaletown Sushi Restaurant
138 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2V4This cozy sushi joint on Davie is a popular spot with Yaletown’s many condo-dwellers thanks to its reasonable prices, diverse menu and incredibly friendly service. A great spot for take-out, date night or a get-together with a group of friends, the fresh ingredients and beautiful presentation make Honjin stand out from the crowd. The $25 Taste of Yaletown menu features four courses of Japanese-inspired fare.
Hub Restaurant
1165 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2With daily drink features and happy hour specials, it’s easy to see how Hub lives up to its name as a popular gathering spot for Yaletown locals. The brewpub’s Taste of Yaletown menu showcases some of the highlights from its regular menu. For Taste of Yaletown tasting menu is designed for two people to share ($35 per diner) and includes a local-brew beer flight.
Hurricane Grill
1137 Marinaside Cres, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3You’ll get a great view and good value for your buck when you dine during the Taste of Yaletown event at Hurricane Grill. Located along Marinaside Crescent overlooking False Creek Marina, this casual waterfront restaurant is a fun spot to people watch along the seawall or catch the Canucks game with pals. The $25 three-course menu includes plenty of options: French onion soup or harvest salad to start; lamb risotto, salmon rice bowl or chicken cordon florentine for your main; and mixed berry mousse or Earl Grey creme brulee for dessert.
La Pentola
350 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5Z6Budget-conscious foodies rejoice! This upscale Italian dining room inside the OPUS Hotel is made a little more accessible during the Taste of Yaletown event thanks to the special $40 dinner menu on offer. The chic trattoria offers handmade pasta, farm-to-table fare and an award-winning wine program, all served in a stylish setting. The four-course evening menu includes appetizers, pasta, a meaty entree and dessert.
Lime and Moon Pie Company
1066 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4Two servings of pie in one meal? Heck yes! This Bowen Island bakery brings its delicious creations to the downtown crowd and the Taste of Yaletown is a great opportunity to try out this popular pie bar. A $25 two-course menu starts with a couple of savoury slices of Tourtière with a side of greens. For dessert, choose a sweet sliver paired with organic vanilla bean ice cream and an espresso or tea. Sweet pie options include lemon-lime meringue, chocolate banana cream and raspberry-rhubarb. There’s even a raw vegan coconut banana cashew cream tart for alternative dessert fans.
Aburi Restaurant
1118 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T9Experience Minami’s innovative aburi-style sushi for a great price when you stop in at this chic dining room for lunch or dinner during the Taste of Yaletown event. The special $25 lunch and $45 dinner menus include aburi flame-seared sushi selections and tapas dishes inspired by both Japanese and West Coast food traditions. Check out the drink list, which includes sake, wine, cocktails, beer and an impressive scotch collection.
The New Oxford
1141 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6This modern British gastro-pub from the Donnelly Group has all the essentials you need for a great night out: tasty dishes, a cozy interior and a great list of draught beers from local craft breweries and a few international labels. The $25 Taste of Yaletown menu is packed with refined renditions of crowd pleasing bistro fare. Think butternut squash soup, seared scallops, moules frites, eggplant parm lasagna and espresso trifle for dessert.
The Parlour
1011 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4Looking for a trendy spot with a cool young crowd and plenty of variety? Diners are invited to mix and match the entire menu at The Parlour. For $35, guests can choose any two appetizers and one of the famous signature flatbread pizzas. With 12 inventive pizzas on offer, you’ll have no problem picking a perfect pie. Local faves include the Yaletown (of course) topped with tuna, red onion, avocado and spicy aioli; the Goldmember, which features caramelized onions, mushrooms, potatoes and truffle oil; and the Instagram-worthy #Swag pizza dressed with ricotta, roasted peppers, olives, and honey.
Romer's Burger Bar
1039 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9How do you make a juicy burger even better? Turn it into a decadent three-course meal, of course. This upscale burger bar (as seen on the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here) is turning out a $25 menu packed with tasty comfort food favourites in honour of the Taste of Yaletown event. Start with beet salad, calamari, fresh tomato soup or Brussels sprouts and then move on to your main – if you can decide among the six options. Fully loaded meat patties, vegetarian-friendly varieties, curry and noodle bowls, and fish tacos are just some of the dishes available.
Sushi Maro
101-1168 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2S2This simple sushi house will surprise you with its unique creations, large portions and super fresh ingredients. The $35 Taste of Yaletown menu offers great value, with three courses of assorted Japanese delicacies. Chef’s selections include aburi-style sushi, sashimi salad, grilled chicken, beef short ribs and more. Cleanse the palate with matcha, mago or vanilla ice cream.
Urban Thai Bistro
1119 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6A multi-course Thai meal for just $25 sounds like a great deal to us. Check out the newly remodeled interior at this longstanding Yaletown restaurant and sample a tasty menu of Thai fare. Kick off with a tropical fruit salad, tod man gai chicken nuggets or roti Diners can then choose from two mains: yellow curry with tofu or stir-fried vermicelli with suki hank prawns and mixed veggies. For just $3, add a dessert course of pumpkin and taro in coconut milk.
West Oak Restaurant
1035 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9You might want to plan repeat visits to this local hotspot during the Taste of Yaletown event. Farm-to-fork and root-to-shoot, each of the dishes on offer showcases the very best in locally sourced West Coast cuisine. The seasonal prix-fixe menu offers four different options for the appetizer and the main course, plus two decadent dessert choices – all for just $35! Dig in to creamy mushroom risotto, roasted B.C. salmon, Fraser Valley duck breast or braised lamb shank. If you want to watch the chefs at work, we recommend grabbing a seat at the bar overlooking the lively open kitchen.
Yaletown Brewing Co
1111 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2Craft beer lovers flock to this Yaletown gastropub, where the small-batch brews flow freely from the rotating taps. In business for more than 20 years, this Yaletown original is the neighbourhood’s go-to gathering place after work for a cold pint. The 160-seat restaurant also boasts numerous TVs, a pool table and a busy patio. During the Taste of Yaletown event, $35 will get you a hearty three-course meal; suggested beer pairings are extra but are, of course, recommended. Choose from creamy soup or sautéed shrimp to start followed by veggie Bolognese, tempura prawn sandwich or duck confit pizza.
Yaletown L'Antipasto
1127 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2Planning an inexpensive date night in Yaletown can be a challenge, but you can’t go wrong with the rustic Italian fare and charming ambiance at this beloved trattoria. Regionally inspired dishes are prepared with family recipes, while the wine list offers a nice selection of vino. The $45 Taste of Yaletown dinner menu is an affordable option, especially given the quality. Start with your choice of antipasti then move on to pappardelle rosche (hearty braised meats in tomato sauce), seafood risotto, lobster and crab ravioli, or mushroom risotto. Indulge in tiramisu, chocolate mousse or vanilla panna cotta to finish – bellissima!
Zend Conscious Lounge
1130 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T9Healthy hipsters who worship all things plant-based will find refuge at this ultra-green botanical bar and community space on Mainland. The100-percent organic, vegan Taste of Yaletown menus are available in $25, $35 or $45 varieties depending on your hunger level and budget. In keeping with the altruistic ethos, all of the profits from Zend Conscious Lounge are donated to charitable causes.
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