West Restaurant and Bar
2881 Granville St
13th Ave.
Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3J4
Canada
Phone: 604-738-8938
13th Ave.
Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3J4
Canada
Phone: 604-738-8938
| Food | - |
| Service | - |
| Ambiance | - |
| Overall: | - |
Location & Nearby Info
Gianni Restaurant-Morcineria0.00 mi
482733 BC Ltd0.00 mi
Cafe Crepe Inc0.01 mi
466131 BC Ltd0.06 mi
Primo's on 12th0.06 mi
Star Anise0.06 mi
Caffe Barney0.06 mi
Red Door Pan Asian Grill0.07 mi
Cuisine:
West Restaurant and Bar Description:
Experience local cuisine at this contemporary neighborhood restaurant that specializes in sourcing regional ingredients.
The kitchen operates behind beveled glass and at the back of the room a sculpture is suspended from the ceiling. A wall of wine, complete with library ladders, provides the backdrop to the bar.
Sit at the cherry wood-and-marble bar opposite the ceiling-high "wall of wine." Look up and glimpse a reflection of diners' plates in the wavy sculpture above. The menu might feature first courses of a quail duo (ravioli and roasted breast) and a tian of Dungeness crab and couscous with North African influences. Mains are inventive, and can include a smoked sablefish en papillote with pomme purée and dashi-style broth and pine mushrooms from the woods of Vancouver, saké-braised Berkshire pork cheeks with Victoria plum purée, and a quick-seared peanut and sesame-crusted ahi with poached lobster and lettuce "farci." There are three eclectic five- and seven-course tasting menus with wine pairings focused around top seasonal ingredients. Ceviche spot prawns tucked into a barely poached ravioli, and Queen Charlotte halibut with a watercress potato salad, clams and mussels might sing an ode to spring. Another option, the West, is a seven-course sequence of classics such as foie gras scented with vanilla Earl Grey tea and biodynamic aged risotto. There is also a vegetarian tasting. Pastry chef Rhonda Viani's chocolate tasting stars a chocolate praline millefeuille. An early (before 6 p.m.) prix-fixe menu is a steal at $55. The wine list focusing on boutique wineries (both old- and new-world) and seldom-found varietals complements the cuisine. Service is seamless.
Reviews of West Restaurant and Bar
wheres the quality by study
2009-01-03 04:58:54.0
2009-01-03 04:58:54.0
Overall
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Service
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Review :
Expensive it is but not worth it in quality. the seared ahi tuna had no flavours and the wines are overpriced. wont go back
Expensive it is but not worth it in quality. the seared ahi tuna had no flavours and the wines are overpriced. wont go back
West Restaurant by gavin
2008-09-11 09:38:36.0
2008-09-11 09:38:36.0
Overall
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Review :
Given all the accolades I was a bit disappointed by West, and given the high prices I don't think it's great value for the money.
My first course was the risotto, and it was terrific - no fault there.
My second course was the seared tuna. It was the darkest red tuna I've ever seen - it looked like beef, so it was very promising at first glance. But it had almost no flavour. The watermelon broth was delicate and intriguing. The squid-ink pasta was okay - not much flavour, and the broth was so thin it didn't add much. It wasn't very interesting at all.
My partner's halibut was over-cooked and flavourless as well; although he liked the rest of the dish. There was a 'cassoulet', although I write that in quotes because it was a modern deconstructed version instead of the traditional slow-cooked version.
We both ordered desert, which we don't normally do, simply because we were still hungry. My desert (lemon pudding & pound cake, etc.) was excellent.
Our wines very good too.
The service was very friendly and attentive, although we find it very irksome and disingenous when the server exclaims "Excellent!!" at every choice you make, as if you have accidentally stumbled on the one truly good item on the menu.
The room is very nice proportions, although the decor isn't that sophisticated. It tries hard but doesn't make it.
We live in Manhattan and for the price we could do much better here (I guess there's more competition).
Given all the accolades I was a bit disappointed by West, and given the high prices I don't think it's great value for the money.
My first course was the risotto, and it was terrific - no fault there.
My second course was the seared tuna. It was the darkest red tuna I've ever seen - it looked like beef, so it was very promising at first glance. But it had almost no flavour. The watermelon broth was delicate and intriguing. The squid-ink pasta was okay - not much flavour, and the broth was so thin it didn't add much. It wasn't very interesting at all.
My partner's halibut was over-cooked and flavourless as well; although he liked the rest of the dish. There was a 'cassoulet', although I write that in quotes because it was a modern deconstructed version instead of the traditional slow-cooked version.
We both ordered desert, which we don't normally do, simply because we were still hungry. My desert (lemon pudding & pound cake, etc.) was excellent.
Our wines very good too.
The service was very friendly and attentive, although we find it very irksome and disingenous when the server exclaims "Excellent!!" at every choice you make, as if you have accidentally stumbled on the one truly good item on the menu.
The room is very nice proportions, although the decor isn't that sophisticated. It tries hard but doesn't make it.
We live in Manhattan and for the price we could do much better here (I guess there's more competition).
PERFECT - Almost! by sherie
2008-02-04 05:30:08.0
2008-02-04 05:30:08.0
Overall
Food
Service
Ambiance
Review :
Having been to this restaurant on multiple occasions in the last year, i feel that I can contribute this review in a position of knowledge.
First the food - excellent and VERY unique... every dish. Once drawback is that the portions are tiny, but given my overweight status, I should probably eat less anyways.
Second the atmosphere - everything that you expect to find in an upper scale restaurant like this is here... the bar is beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is open, happy and elegant all at the same time.
Third the Service - Outstanding... no other way to describe it... The wait staff that are at West Restaurant are professional servers. This is their career, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them make well over $100k to do it. And they deserve it. They know every dish and every wine for pairing.
Lastly the Value - This is in the eye of the beholder. A value meal at McDonald's has a lot of value in the sense that it is cheap and you get a lot of food that fills you up. This is not the type of value that you will get at West. If money is no object, than I am sure the value is 5/5. For me, money is harder to come by, and a $320 bill for 2 people to dine , even though it was perfect, is still a little to pricey. So here, West gets 1 point less. I understand that there is something like an early bird special before 6pm. $45 for 3 courses... which sounds great, and will be my next visit time to try.
Having been to this restaurant on multiple occasions in the last year, i feel that I can contribute this review in a position of knowledge.
First the food - excellent and VERY unique... every dish. Once drawback is that the portions are tiny, but given my overweight status, I should probably eat less anyways.
Second the atmosphere - everything that you expect to find in an upper scale restaurant like this is here... the bar is beautiful, and the overall atmosphere is open, happy and elegant all at the same time.
Third the Service - Outstanding... no other way to describe it... The wait staff that are at West Restaurant are professional servers. This is their career, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them make well over $100k to do it. And they deserve it. They know every dish and every wine for pairing.
Lastly the Value - This is in the eye of the beholder. A value meal at McDonald's has a lot of value in the sense that it is cheap and you get a lot of food that fills you up. This is not the type of value that you will get at West. If money is no object, than I am sure the value is 5/5. For me, money is harder to come by, and a $320 bill for 2 people to dine , even though it was perfect, is still a little to pricey. So here, West gets 1 point less. I understand that there is something like an early bird special before 6pm. $45 for 3 courses... which sounds great, and will be my next visit time to try.
Go West...to obtain what you are seeking... by HAPAFAN
2007-07-21 08:59:40.0
2007-07-21 08:59:40.0
Overall
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Service
Ambiance
Review :
Went to West Restaurant and Bar for Dine Out this year and had a truly wonderful experience.
My wife and I don’t go to trendy restaurants very often, but when we do, we try to be very discerning about our choices... and West Restaurant was well worth it. West's food was not only tasty and good, but the flavors and innovation in textures in our meals were very special, especially the desserts they offered.
I also read another review on HiHenry.com were the writer said to order the Caesar because they make the tomato juice by mashing it from scratch... WOW!!! You have to try that drink...
All worth the high costs... I will return (when my wallet can afford it)!
Went to West Restaurant and Bar for Dine Out this year and had a truly wonderful experience.
My wife and I don’t go to trendy restaurants very often, but when we do, we try to be very discerning about our choices... and West Restaurant was well worth it. West's food was not only tasty and good, but the flavors and innovation in textures in our meals were very special, especially the desserts they offered.
I also read another review on HiHenry.com were the writer said to order the Caesar because they make the tomato juice by mashing it from scratch... WOW!!! You have to try that drink...
All worth the high costs... I will return (when my wallet can afford it)!
Great Restaurant deserves a great review by BAL
2007-06-02 02:18:03.0
2007-06-02 02:18:03.0
Overall
Food
Service
Ambiance
Review :
Had the chance to try this top notch, award winner, during dine out. They offered a $35 table haute as part of the program. The food was excellent, but the service was a little cocky. I will have to go on a regular night to truly assess the value of this upscale bistro.
One thing of note that I thought was out of this world. If you are a fan of the Caesar cocktail, order one here. They actually crush fresh tomatoes by hand as the base of this drink, making it completely like none other that you have tasted... truly marvellous.
Had the chance to try this top notch, award winner, during dine out. They offered a $35 table haute as part of the program. The food was excellent, but the service was a little cocky. I will have to go on a regular night to truly assess the value of this upscale bistro.
One thing of note that I thought was out of this world. If you are a fan of the Caesar cocktail, order one here. They actually crush fresh tomatoes by hand as the base of this drink, making it completely like none other that you have tasted... truly marvellous.
lovely atmosphere by STACEYK
2007-04-24 11:39:49.0
2007-04-24 11:39:49.0
Overall
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Service
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Review :
I was quite impressed with the bar....it was the best Bloody Caesar that I ever had. The bartender actually used fresh tomatoes, it was quite a treat! The food was beautifully presented and very delicious! The portions were appropriately small,perfect for a date night!
I was quite impressed with the bar....it was the best Bloody Caesar that I ever had. The bartender actually used fresh tomatoes, it was quite a treat! The food was beautifully presented and very delicious! The portions were appropriately small,perfect for a date night!