[Dine Out Vancouver 2020] Menus are out: What looks good? #DOVF

If you are looking for suggestions for Dine Out Vancouver 2022, click here.

Dine Out Vancouver is back! Running from January 17 to February 2, the prix fixe portion of this year’s program is the same as last year, with 4 price points at $15, $25, $35 and $45. There are also lunch options, usually at a cheaper price than dinner. Menu may not be the same as dinner, though, so the value for money is a bit debatable.

The menus are now live and reservations are open. As I was going through the menus, I noticed a lot of new restaurants, ones that I’ve never heard of before. There’s been a lot of openings and closures last year so it makes sense – but it’s also nice to know it’s not the same old list. Here are some suggestions, based on past experience (Dine Out or not) as well as menu attractiveness (e.g. value for the money, choice of ingredients, creativity in the menu, enough options for two people, etc.). Now keep in mind I curated the list based on my preference (as you know, I’m a meat lover and I’m biased against chicken and salmon), my way of thinking, so it may not all suit your taste. But hopefully this gives you a place to start.

I’ve included links to the menu to make it easier for you.

$15 Suggestions

• Chutney Villa
• Espana (weekend brunch only)
• Popina (they close at 5pm)

$25 Suggestions

• Banana Leaf (Broadway, Davie, Denman, Kitsilano, Robson)
• BC Kitchen
• Bells & Whistles
• Bombay Kitchen + Bar
• Britannia Brewing
• Gyoza Bar
• Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. (Kitsilano, Main Street, Surrey)
• Trattoria Burnaby
• Trattoria – Kits
• Trattoria – Park Royal
• Tuc Craft Kitchen (one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver)
• The Vancouver Fish Company ($25 brunch)
• Water St. Cafe ($25 weekend brunch menu)

$35 Suggestions

• Beehive Restaurant
• Bridges Restaurant
• Cafe One
• Catch Kitchen + Bar
• CAVU Kitchen Bar
• CENTRO Ristorante
• Chicha Restaurant
• Chickpea
• Cibo Trattoria
• Cuchillo
• The Deck Kitchen + Bar
• The Fat Cow and Oyster Bar
• Fishworks
• H2 Rotisserie & Bar (price came down from $45 last year)
• Hook Seabar
• JamJar on Granville
• Maenam (go for lunch – same menu as dinner but $10 cheaper)
• Mulligans at Burnaby Mountain
• Pacifico Pizzeria & Ristorante: Davie Street and Smithe Street
• Sai Woo
• The Shoestring Cafe
• Showcase Restaurant (you get all the starters to share at the table)
• The Flying Pig: Gastown, Olympic Village, Yaletown (price came down from $45)
• The Rise Eatery
• The Trump Champagne Lounge + Crudo Bar
• The Vancouver Fish Company ($35 lunch)
• WildTale: Olympic Village, Yaletown (this came down from $45)
• The Wild Fig

$45 Suggestions

• 75 West Coast Grill
• AnnaLena
• ARC Restaurant + Bar
• Bishops
• Blue Hat Bistro (formerly Bistro 101 at PICA)
• Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
• Brix & Mortar
• Chambar (dinner menu)
• Chop Steakhouse & Bar (dinner menu)
• CinCin Ristorante + Bar
• Dockside Restaurant (price went up from $35)
• Don Francesco
• Federico’s Supper Club (go for the live music!)
• Forage
• Hart House
• Joe Fortes
• L’Abattoir
• La Pentola (4-course dinner menu)
• LIFT Bar Grill View
• The Observatory on Grouse Mountain
• Pidgin (all courses served for sharing)
• Provence Marinaside
• Riverway Restaurant
• Robba da Matti: West End, Yaletown
• Salmon House on the Hill
• Salmon n’ Bannock
• Top of Vancouver
• Torafuku (5 courses for sharing)
• Tramonto
• The Vancouver Fish Company ($45 dinner menu)
• The Victor ($45 dinner menu)
• Wildebeest

After going through the menus, I was shocked at some of the price tags! Some just felt overpriced – or they didn’t do a good job at describing the dishes. There aren’t many that piqued my interest, but as per tradition, likely I will still go to a few. Hopefully you find these recommendations helpful.

Of course don’t forget that there are other DOVF events, including the Street Food City (it is now held over two weekends), a long table dinner at Hawksworth, Vancouver World Chef Exchange (there are a number of them), a Coffee, Brunch, Donuts and Beer Tour, Pig Roast at The Flying Pig, and Secret Supper Soiree.

What do you think? Are you going to any dinners? Enjoy the Dine Out Vancouver 2020 festivities and keep checking back as I go on my DOVF journey this year and report back on my experience.