It’s the 2018 Dine Out Vancouver Festival and you’ve got 300+ restaurants and events to choose from. Where do you start?
It’s a question that we get asked all the time, and rightfully so. It’s just after Christmas and no one’s looking to spend money on things that aren’t 100% worthwhile.
So, we took a crack at it and created our Foodie Hit List – here’s how we’re strategizing our Dine Out Vancouver adventures.
THE CRITERIA
Food – Just like you wouldn’t order chicken soup at an oyster bar, we ask: “Does this Dine Out menu exemplify the style and cuisine that the restaurant is known for?”
Value – If you’re not someone that normally orders all three courses at dinner, this question of value actually comes down to the appetizers and desserts. We ask, “Does every course sound enticing?”
Doing Dine Out – In our opinion, some of Vancouver’s top restaurants are best for free-wheeling, family-style dining. For this list, we focus on making the most of Dine Out Vancouver’s $20, $30 and $40 set format.
BEST OVERALL
Edible Canada at the Market – $30 – Dinner
“Canadian” menus dominate our top picks this year. Dine Out’s three course menu structure proves ideal for Canadian fare – the appetizers highlight the seasonal harvest, while the main courses feature meats like elk, bison, salmon, and arctic char.
Edible Canada takes top rank not only for their mouthwatering menu, but for the mission behind it – they’ve invited a guest chef, Rich Francis (Chef and Founder of The Seventh Fire Hospitality Group, Red Chef Revival & Cooking for Reconciliation) to prepare a dining experience that showcases indigenous cuisine.
Photo Credit: Salt Spring Island
BEST BUDGET PICK
Juke Fried Chicken – $20 – Dinner
If you’re on a new year’s diet, stay clear of Juke. It’s a heavy-hitting 3 pieces of their signature crispy fried chicken, peanut slaw, side, buttermilk biscuits AND a dark chocolate peanut butter tart. For the cohesive meal and great value, this was a clear stand out as a Best Budget Pick.
Photo Credit: Home World Design
A NOT-TO MISS EVENT
Granville Island Market Tour – Unlocked for Locals
Have you explored the world-famous Market in your backyard?
The Granville Island Market Tour is 12-years strong and one of Vancouver’s top-rated experiences on TripAdvisor! Hosted by Vancouver Foodie Tours, this is a designated Canadian Signature Experience.
- An exclusive sit down food + BC wine tasting at a farm-to-table gem, Edible Canada
- Face-to-face time with Canada’s top food artisans
- Exclusive Foodie Tour discounts at the Public Market
- And, of course…the drool-worthy foodie spectacle of hot-out-of-the-fryer, freshly-glazed, honey dipped donuts at Lee’s Donuts!
- $20 Bonus Foodie Tour Gift Certificate
MOST INTRUIGING MENUS
Honey Salt – $25 Lunch – $40 Dinner
It’s always exciting to see what new restaurants, like Honey Salt, create for their Dine Out debut. We found a little twist on each item, like Coho Salmon Steak with Dungeness Crab Stuffing. How are we supposed to choose between Brown Bag Baked Apple Pie and Warm Apple Cider Donuts?
Photo Credit: Honey Salt
Wildebeest – $40 Dinner
It’s a good sign when Pork Belly & Polenta and Tuna Tartare appear on the Appetizers menu.
Photo credit: Wildebeest
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar – $40 Dinner
Boulevard is known for best-in-class seafood and delicate flavours. You can bet they’ll deliver on their Lobster Infused Carrot Bisque and Roasted Ling Cod. But, the tipping point is dessert, specifically the Black Forest: cherry, dark chocolate mousse, chocolate crunch.
Photo credit: Boulevard
Notch 8 – $40 Dinner
Speaking of Canadian gastronomy, the menu at Notch 8 starts with a choice between Venison Lingonberry Tartare and Grilled Octopus and BC Shellfish. What really caught our eye? The Maple Chocolate Cake finale!
Photo credit: Notch 8
