7 Restaurants to Make a Beeline for During Taste of Yaletown

The annual Taste of Yaletown fest offers you the chance to sample the ‘hoods top restaurants.

There’s no shortage of great bars and restaurants in Vancouver—and Yaletown is no exception. Lost within the red-brick buildings and the narrow streets is a culinary oasis of fine and casual dining, unforgettable cocktails and good times to be had. And there’s no better time to take it all in than the annual Taste of Yaletown festival (taking place October 11 to 27); it’s an opportunity for the neighbourhood’s collection of chefs to venture away from their usual dishes to create brand new tasting menus, available for set prices of $25, $35 or $45. Not only does it give you the excuse to try a new restaurant (or two!), a portion of all proceeds will support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.With so many options (there are 26 participating restaurants) and so little time, we’ve put the spotlight on seven Yaletown rooms we love—and think you will, too.

1. La Pentola

With a spot on the Best Yaletown list for both our 2016 and 2017 Restaurant Awards, there are a lot of good things we can say about La Pentola: it’s a great pick for rustic Italian cuisine and they create dishes that are simple yet full of flavour. Their $45 four-course meal includes an entree, pasta, main and dessert, with dishes like grilled hanger steak and seafood linguine to make it a divine feast.

2. Bistro Sakana

If you’re craving Japanese cuisine with a West-Coast influence, Bistro Sakana should be at the top of your list. The restaurant provides a carefully prepared selection of nigiri and sashimi, as well as one of the largest sake lists in Vancouver. The highlight of their $45 four-course menu is a nigiri sample plate that features blue fin tuna, ora king salmon and wagyu beef.

3. Provence Marinaside

Provence Marinaside brings a taste of France to the Yaletown foodie fest. A three-course meal for $45 offers you the chance to indulge in West Coast bouillabaisse or seared Lois Lake steelhead salmon; for an additional price, a suggested wine pairing is also available featuring select bottles from B.C. and regions of France.  (Photo: Makito Inomata.)

4. The Parlour

For something more casual, find a seat at the Parlour. Their Taste of Yaletown menu will get you one pizza of your choice—we recommend the Goldmember (caramelized onions, mushroom, Yukon gold potato, gruyere cheese and truffle oil)—and two appetizers for $45. Combine that with their flamboyant cocktails and daily drink specials, and you’ve got plenty of reason to make a reservation.

5. House Special

The menu at House Special is chock-full of Vietnamese street food, market-style and family-style dinners. (And they make a mean bowl of noodles.) Their $45 tasting menu will leave you full of wontons, banh hoi and a Vietnamese version of beef tenderloin made with a herb-crust, five-spice kabocha squash puree and a chilli-shiraz reduction.

6. Hapa Izakaya 

Hapa’s three-course Taste of Yaletown menu (available for $25) will give you a full taste of the casual, Japanese gastropub-style food often presented at Izakaya restaurants; it includes beef tataki, ahi tuna tartare, and a vegetable poke bowl (to name a few options).

7. Lime and Moon Pie Company

Self-described as a “pie boutique and espresso bar,” Lime and Moon Pie Company has something for everyone; they prepare fresh, organic and gluten-free pies on the daily. During the festival, you can try a slice of their signature fruit pies (think apple, strawberry-rhubarb, raspberry and chocolate, maple blueberry) or savoury tourtière and an espresso or tea for only $15 (or $25 for two slices).

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