1966 replies to this topic

[fmed]

>>Like nearly all the places downtown too. But I must say I had an excellent lunch at la Brasserie over the Christmas break.

La Brasserie's suckling pig sandwich is outstanding!

Edited by fmed, 06 January 2011 - 10:41 PM.

[barolo]

A Hapa is going into the old Metro place. Here's the news release:

Hapa Izakaya Restaurant Group to Open Hapa Umi by March 2011


(Vancouver, BC) January 7, 2010 – Lea and Justin Ault of Vancouver’s hip Hapa Izakaya restaurant group will open a new restaurant, Hapa Umi, by early March 2011. Construction is already under way at 200 Burrard, at the former Metro Restaurant & Lounge location, across the street from the Vancouver Convention Centre.



Umi means ocean in Japanese, and with the restaurant’s prime downtown waterfront location the Aults seized the opportunity to launch a concept they’ve been developing for some time.



“Hapa Umi will offer a more sophisticated and upscale version of the Hapa Izakaya experience with a sustainable seafood forward menu, sushi bar, and more refined service standards.”



Leading the kitchen brigade will be long-time Hapa chef Tomoki Yamasaki. He’ll be joined by new recruit Tetsuya Shimizu, a kaiseki trained chef who was most recently sous chef at Blue Water Cafe's raw bar. At the front of the house, Justin will be joined by recently appointed general manager, Kevin Banno. Kevin brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as a general manager in the Cactus Club Café organization; he was most recently their Yaletown GM.



Once again, the Aults are turning to M Studio for their interior design expertise. Expect an understated elegantly modern room with finely textured textiles, and rich walnut wood. The restaurant boasts loads of windows with outside views, a real departure from the underground and insular design of the existing Hapa restaurants. The 150 seat restaurant spans a large bar, lounge, and private dining room, and in warmer month a 50 seat patio with wonderful views of the vibrant neighbourhood.


Hapa Umi will be open for lunch Monday to Friday and dinner nightly.

[fmed]

With Tesuya and Yoshi gone...who's left at Blue Water's raw bar?

[barolo]

With Tesuya and Yoshi gone...who's left at Blue Water's raw bar?

Good question. I took a peek at their website and no one is listed.

[barolo]

Signs for "Pink Elephant Thai" up on Alberni across from Urban Fare.

Does anyone know what is happening with Thierry? I walk by that location fairly often and there's not a whole lot of signs that anything much is happening there.

[Beebs]

They've been open several months already, but Via Veneto on West Broadway (at Ash) is excellent. Owner used to run Amarcord in Yaletown, which is now closed.

I was there for a weekday lunch, and we had the mixed seafood appetizer (my favourite), mussels, caesar salad, mixed greens, and spaghetti alla puttenesca. Everything was delicious, reasonably priced, excellent service. Menu's been updated from Amarcord with some of the old main-stays, but the food has been greatly improved and is now better than Amarcord was. Haven't been for dinner yet, but will be trying it out soon.

[Nicholas Ellan]

Hmm, slow times in the Western Canada section. Hopefully this jazzes things up:

Hawksworth restaurant to open May 7

Edited by Nicholas Ellan, 13 February 2011 - 07:53 PM.

[barolo]

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that Lumiere and db Bistro Moderne are closing in two weeks.

[prasantrin]

Closing forever???? But I never got to eat at either place! Don't they know they're supposed to stay open at least until I can go?

[barolo]

Closing forever???? But I never got to eat at either place! Don't they know they're supposed to stay open at least until I can go?

You've got two weeks, they close March 13th.

[2roost]

Lumiere just never seemed to regain its' cache after Feenie left.

The Bistro side seemed still busy but signs were present, last time we were there was a Sunday Brunch and they had an "All you can Drink Bloody Caesar" promo.

[Mark Donnelly]

Vancouver is a contradiction. A vibrant Farmers' Market scene, small independent coffee roasters, Fisherman's Warf, etc, but the most bog standard restaurants. Comapred to other cities of similar (or larger) size, Vancouver's high end restaurants are aweful. There I've said it; but it doesn't make me feel any better.

I mean, Rob Feaney is famous not for being a great chef, but for competing on a reality TV series on a minority, dumbed down cable channel. Tough, but true.

[mtigges]

Really? "Rob Feaney (sic) is famous not for being a great chef, but for competing on a reality TV series on a minority, dumbed down cable channel. Tough, but true." Feeny was famous long before his appearance on Iron Chef. You've sold him about as short as one could.

[Mark Donnelly]

Yep, I spelt Feaney wrong. But, then so did you. It's Feenie, I believe, not Feeny (sic).

I haven't sold him short. By becoming the "Food Concept Architect" at the Catus Club he's sold himself short. I mean it's the most laughable title I've ever heard. Even my own title of Charlie Sheen's "Randomised Ramblings Quality Assurance Engineer" comes a distant second. But don't tell Charlie that.

[barolo]

I see the ruours abuut Dale MacKay opening a restaurant in the former Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe space are true. It looks like he's taking a good portion of the Lumiere crew with him.

Ensemble will open in early May in the space formerly occupied by the Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe, at 850 Thurlow St. in Vancouver. It will likely have about 80 seats in the restaurant and 30 in the bar, said MacKay, adding he has a silent partner in this venture.

MacKay's modern French sensibility will be reflected in the menu, and he'll be taking along nearly 20 kitchen and front-of-house staffers from Lumiere to Ensemble.



Read more: http://www.vancouver...l#ixzz1GzB5loXO

[barolo]

Does anyone know what is happening with Thierry? I walk by that location fairly often and there's not a whole lot of signs that anything much is happening there.

I'm hearing a mid-May opening now.

[barolo]

Not a closing, but La Brasserie will no longer be open for lunch on weekdays. They are still doing Saturday and Sunday brunch.