Vv Magazine’s Helen Siwak fills us in on Vancouver’s upcoming festivals, best new restaurants, those opening this Fall and the most talked about in-the-works hot spots.
The Fall season’s overcast gray days brings Vancouverites indoors into the warm enclaves of the city’s finest and funkiest gathering places to catch-up on summertime shenanigans, reconnect with old friends while trying new places, and to create new friendships over a hot meal and a bottle of wine.
Participating restaurants across Metro Vancouver are busting the bamboo at this year’s Chopstick Fest. Running until the end of October, each of the participating 32 Chinese restaurants are offering a unique prix fixe menu with an emphasis on tasting adventures and a focus on sharing. Contributing to the fest are favorites 21 Nautical Miles, 0755 Restaurant, Grand Dynasty, Maji Restaurant, and the AYCE Morals Village.
Taste of Yaletown 2016 returns for its 12th year and 31 Yaletown kitchens have put together a wonderful selection of featured menus, tastings, and pairings and prix fixe menus with a per person price tag of $25, $35 or $45. This event is also a fundraiser for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. To date, Taste of Yaletown has donated over $112K in support. Participating favorites include newcomer Zend Conscious Lounge with 3 different plant-based menus, Urban Thai Bistro with their Pumpkin & Taro Coconut Milk dessert, La Pentola in the chic Opus Hotel which is offering Italian cuisine with the $45 only option.
Finish off your taste trip through Yaletown at the Lime and Moon Pie Company which is offering a $15 and $25 sweet and savory menu which included slices of pie with organic vanilla bean ice cream and espresso or tea.
Can Vancouver have enough coffee shops? Apparently not as the group behind Nemesis (302 West Hastings Street) readies their 1500 sq ft space in the new SFU building. This group is thinking big and besides offering 40 seats, the coffee shop will also offer a mix of hot and cold seasonal comfort foods, baked in-house bread and pastry offerings, cold brews and a smattering of craft beers.
Opening late October, possibly early November, is the Acorn’s sister restaurant, The Arbor Restaurant. Located at 3941 Main Street, The Arbour is touted as a ‘fast casual plant-based eatery’ as opposed to the Acorn’s relaxed fine dining experience next door. The Arbor will have two outdoor patios – 8 seats facing the Main Street hubbub and 20 seats snuggled into the tree lined rear of the space.
Poke lovers will be salivating knowing Pacific Poke is set to open soon at 625 Main Street with their personalized build-you-own poke bowls and at SFU, Poke Bar is going to settle in at 8931 Cornerstone Mews.
Robson Street will be bustling with new flavors in November and December with the additions of Rice Noodle House, Paramount Fine Foods, Yah Yah Ya Ramen, Jinya Ramen and Bar and Tractor Foods.
If casual dining is your jam, Joe Pizza (2 West Cordova) is still teasing an opening day, Firecrust Neapolitan Pizzeria is so close to opening at 808 Davie Street, and late night favorite hang-out Goldies Pizza readying to launch their third location at 504 Abbott. The Eastwood on Fraser has finished the menu tasting and the TVs are ready to broadcast the MLB, NFL, and the NHL any day now so break out your team jerseys and get ready to break this new casual sports bar in.
Now to desserts! Peaked Pies is an Aussie meat pie company that also does sweets and they’re opening this month at 975 Denman Street. Cannoli King is open with both a storefront and food truck delivering fresh cannolis citywide including markets and restaurants. Fun for adults and kids alike is the new Wishing Treats Caramel Studio at 49 West Hastings that offers personalized organic candies to celebrate all occasions.
RELATED LINK: New Vancouver Restaurants: September 2016
Did we miss any of your new Vancouver restaurants? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.