There’s nothing more mouth-watering than a chilled, spicy Caesar on a warm, sunny patio. Whether you’re wrapping up a long day at the office, or feeling the inevitable pain from a late night of bar-hopping, Caesars are a welcoming sight for sore eyes. It was tough work, but we investigated the top local spots in #YVR to indulge in your favourite Canadian bevvy this patio season…
Build Your Own: The Sin Bin Sports Grill
Over brunch one day, the folks at Sin Bin Sports Grill had a moment of clarity. After some serious debate about their Caesar garnish-of-choice, following a vegetarian emergency where the Caesar had to be sent back due to pepperoni contamination (highly reminiscent of an episode of Seinfeld), the “Build Your Own Caesar” was born. Providing patrons with the ability to pick and choose their favourite food deco (including our veggie friends), Sin Bin’s Caesar is a crowd pleaser. Sin Bin is located in the heart of Olympic Village and offers their “Build Your Own Caesar” at a dangerously low $5 on Sundays. Sunday Funday, anyone…?
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The Classic: Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
Picture this fellow Vancouverites: You’re sitting at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House’s bright, buzzing rooftop patio after a long day at work, dipping into their delicious 50% off Happy Hour special, and the waiter presents you with a Joe’s Signature Caesar. Is this Heaven? Joe’s Caesar is rimmed with lemon pepper and contains classic, quality ingredients, including Absolut vodka, Tabasco, Worcestershire, Clamato juice, chili pepper paste, and fresh horseradish (topped off with a juicy jumbo prawn). The attention to detail and execution are unparalleled. Happy Hour at Joe Fortes runs daily from 4pm to 6pm, available at the bar and high-tops inside the restaurant and on the patio.
Bacon Lovers: Chewies Steam & Oyster Bar
Chewies Steam & Oyster Bar, a bustling, down-to-earth neighbourhood hub offering delicious New Orleans-inspired comfort food, has whipped up a bacon-flavoured Caesar that’s a favourite amongst the locals. Richard Chew, co-owner of Chewies, provides us an insight into what makes their Caesar so special (key word being bacon): “We use 2 ounces of house-infused bacon Sobieski vodka, a healthy dose of Crystal hot sauce shipped straight from New Orleans, Lea & Perrins, freshly grated horseradish, cracked pepper, and we top it all off with a pile of homemade bacon bits and a Cajun prawn.” Tip: Sip on this Caesar while people-watching on Chewies’ sunny Kits patio, or seated at the bar in either the Kits or Coal Harbour locations. The friendly staff might entice you to pull a long shift.
Seafood Lovers: Rodney’s Oyster House
One word to describe the Rodney’s Oyster House Caesar? Fresh. Much like the restaurant/bar itself, it’s no fuss and simple – this is why people keep coming back. Rodney’s memorable Caesar is packed with ice chips to create a frozen snow-cone texture and includes shavings of horseradish, a tender, melt-in-your-mouth jumbo prawn, and a zesty lemon wedge to spritz over the Caesar. A tip is to order this as an appetizer before your meal – no fuss to the finest. Tip: Check out their new Gastown location at 52 Powell Street; single ladies, sit at the bar.
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The Ultimate: Score on Davie
There’s been a buzz around town about what Jesse Ritchie and his staff have been cooking up at Score on Davie, in the form of outrageous Caesars that have gone viral across the social media sphere. “One of our staff members and my best friend growing up, Peter Verge, was traveling in the states and saw some people putting McDonald’s cheeseburgers on their Bloody Mary as a joke,” Ritchie explains. After entertaining this wild idea, they found a few variations that were destined to be stars. The Checkmate, Score’s most insane Caesar that deserves a “food porn” hashtag, includes a roasted chicken, a pulled pork mac ‘n cheese hot dog, a Score burger, a pulled pork slider, and a brownie. Tip (for the beginner): Try the Grilled Chaesar, which includes a grilled cheese sandwich, a deep fried pickle, and onion rings.
The Boot: Local Public Eatery
A welcoming sight for sore eyes (think hangover days), Local Public Eatery’s El Caesar – served up in a boot – will get you right again. Providing some protein in the form of a spicy pepperoni stick and offering a myriad of hot green beans and olives to get your senses stirring, you’ll soon find refuge in this Caesar. Local slings this wild west Caesar at a low 6 bucks a pop on “Recovery Room Sundays.” Tip: Enjoy the Boot on Local’s famous patio overlooking beautiful, people-watching-worthy Kits beach.
Do you have a favourite local Caesar spot you’d like to share with us? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.
