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Adesso Bistro
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1906 Haro StreetVancouver, BC V6G 1H6
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 568-9975
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Adesso Bistro
Review Highlights
21 reviews in English
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Review from Charly S.
5/21/2012
This was a lovely find. Tucked into the lower level of a tree lined residential street, this cozy, welcoming restaurant was just the place to relax, catch up and enjoy a simple yet delicious italian meal. We liked the modern yet classical decor inside the restaurant, it reminded me of an upscale family run restaurant in Rome. The outer courtyard looked lovely, a little too cold for me though, although they do have heaters.
Nice selection of wines and cocktails. It was about 50% full the night we were there so we were able to have a nice conversation, I think if it was full it would be quite loud. The tables in some areas are close, but not terrible as with some west end places.
The service was ok, I think our waitress was very new - she seemed timid and unsure. She was relatively efficient though, so no complaints there. The gentleman who answered the phone to take ourt reservation was not friendly which made me leary of what to expect, but the rest of the staff in the restaurant were pleasant.
The food was very good. They offer warm, fresh made in house foccaccia with cracked salt and pepper, and olive oil and balsamic for dipping - excellent. Based on other reviews we tried the Arancini (risotto croquettes) and the short ribs. The Arancini were a little too deep fried and heavy for our liking but were good. The short ribs and polenta were great - we would also recommend this dish, very well flavoured and excellent texture. We also ordered a pasta dish, a tortellini style pasta stuffed with greens and herbs, topped with walnut pesto - very tasty, loved the fresh flavours inside the pasta. The sizes of the main dishes were smaller than expected for the price, however we found that a shared appetizer and a main each was more than enough - big eaters would probably need a full appetizer and entree each, maybe more....
This review is longer than I had intended already - so I will stop and just say; excellent, romantic, cozy ambiance - very nice food, we recommend it and we'll be back. -
Review from Aron A.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2012
Nice location
Great Patio
Good food
Had dinner tonight, table for three. Our server was very nice but the restaurant did seem a little understaffed once busy as we started to get overlooked...no hard feelings...just hard to get a drink a couple of times.
One person in the party brought a 50$ groupon which disqualified the table for the 5$ Martini special and instead we had to pay 9$.
To be fair here is the verbiage from groupon "Not valid for prix fixe or neighborhood night specials"
Ok, I get it, it's clear as day but when we are having a dinner for 3 and one person is paying with a groupon why would the whole table have to pay full price for our Martinis? If this is a legal practice, which I don't think it is as discounted liquor in BC is to be available from open to close for all patrons, why tell your new first time customers that they do not get their drinks for the same price as everyone else in the restaurant? This is not good for business. I finished dinner thinking this was a decent 4 Yelp stars and now it's a 3.
To the restaurant...I can understand that you don't want someone coming in for a plate of pasta and 5 discounted drinks...I get it...you should understand that when your table of 3 is spending 200$ on dinner that we've bought lots more than 50$ in food and our drinks before, during and afterwards should be discounted to the price of the daily special. I would like to turn back time. Ask for separate cheques at the beginning of the meal and see how the staff tells the one guest at the table that they have to pay more for their drinks than the rest of the party. If we settled our bill then decided to stay for a few more drinks would we be eligible for the daily discounted price? If there was a party of 10 would you expect to apply this same logic to the other 9 diners?
Your policy is wrong, the reason I know this is because I feel like I wasn't treated fairly. I did not buy a groupon. I should have had my discounted price.
I also know the policy is wrong because I'm writing this review based on how I feel and I believe my review will cost you much more than the 20$ I should have been discounted.
Think about your customer, even if you still think I'm wrong your customer will not appreciate this treatment and that hurts you in the end.
Nice place overall and I may be back. -
Review from Felicity D.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
I love Italian food. It really isn't hard for a good Italian restaurant to impress me, so maybe I'm a little biased. But I've been to Adesso a few times and never has it let me down. The regular menu has a ton of options (but I'm paralysed by my love of one dish in particular), they have a great selection of wines, and their staff obviously know what they're talking about. They're able to answer questions and display a knowledge that suggests some attention to detail in their training.
Adesso Bistro's the kind of place you can sit down for a meal and conversation and not feel hurried - you've got the time to enjoy some of their really great bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar while you choose your meals, but it doesn't feel too slow. You'll sit and be unable to avoid noticing their desserts, and following the meal with an espresso and some sort of sweet is just inevitable.
Last night for Valentine's Day, they offered a set four course menu with mostly items I haven't seen before. Though it was a little chilly being sat at a table near to the front door, the restaurant was packed and we didn't want to wait for a table further to the back. We were served by a waitress that we've never seen before. She was as friendly and efficient as we've come to expect. Our courses came out very quickly for a night that was obviously very busy. My tenderloin was cooked perfectly and the dessert platter we were served was truly decadent... however, the best dish of the night was the house cured ham and olive starter.
A couple of recommendations from their regular menu: try their risotto croquettes as a starter - a sort of rice ball served with a nice red pepper sauce, a great little appetizer. Their gnocchi is phenomenal, as are the short ribs with polenta (my favourite) . They have a signature dessert, a semi-frozen chocolate pudding that I can't remember the name of. Tried it last time we were there, and it was brilliant. -
Review from Narges L.
Vancouver, BC
5/18/2012
Overpriced menu. The food was okay but not delicious! It was a disappointing experience.
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Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
1/5/2012
We went for a friend's bday and our meals were fantastic. I had the squash ravioli with brown butter and sage and it was a thing of beauty. Boyfriend had the short-rib gnocchi and echoed my sentiments. Arancini is definitely worth it. Delish! They were also very accommodating of us being late since the limo company we hired sh*t the bed and didn't show up.
The only complaint was that our meals came our quite sporadically. When half the table was done, the other half was just getting their meals. But... We were a pretty large group. For quality of the food and price, it was a small sacrifice to make. -
Review from Ellie I.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2012
(4.5 stars) A bit too crowded but the taste and the quality of the food is excellent. It's a perfect place to go when you crave great food but don't feel like running into people you know. It's a nice, cozy place in the west end.
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Review from Kat D.
1/11/2012
We were there on the night of January 1 and I was amazed to find it packed. It turned out most of the tables were full of people taking advantage of a promotion. I like the location especially that secluded private alcove for one table in the back and was here during its previous incarnation. It was loud this time and luckily they weren't playing music. There was not going to be much romance for the couples sitting around us. Our antipasti of frito misto (mixed fried seafood) which interestingly included tasty salmon and the second one of mozarella with marinated beets and pistachios were flavourful although the nuts added little. But then things started to deteriorate. An hour passed between the very speedy arrival of the cold appetizers and the main courses. I was a guest or I would have talked to the waitress.
My friend finally asked her where our entrees were. She apologized and said the kitchen was backed up but she should have come over long before that. My friend's butternut squash-filled large ravioli were very good but my linguine with wild boar sauce tasted like slightly burned meat and there were pools of oil around it. It was disappointing. We ordered a selection of 3 gelati for dessert but it was served as two scoops of one flavour and one more of a second flavour but apparently no one told the waitress that. In the dark doldrums of January a promotion to fill seats is likely essential but the staff was not prepared for so many diners. The owner was there but didn't seem to be involved with the staff. I hope they learn to handle busy nights because it's a nice place with a fantastic garden for warm days. -
Review from Joe L.
Vancouver, BC
I have visited Adesso a few times now. I have had absolutely fantastic experience every time I went there hat I owe it to give it a review here.
The restaurant is hidden in the a very quiet part of the West End just a few blocks from Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. The main dining room located in a half sunken ground floor of an apartment building is intimately and comfortably appointed. It extends a warm welcome the moment you walk in. Tonight was the first time we sat in the patio outside the restaurant nestled in a courtyard between 2 apartment buildings. The quaint and quiet neighbourhoold with neighbours going by on their evening dog walks was a perfect setting for alfresco dining on a warm summer evening. Let's just say it set the mood for us to come home to watch Amélie.
My favourite dishes are fritto misto di mare and linguine vongole. I could not get enough of the perfectly cooked pasta and the plump and juicy clams. Service was friendly, attentive and very down to earth. You can be in your smart dinner attire or as casual as in your shorts and flip flop and you'll have no problem feeling at home either way.
We have been here for Valentine's Day, a Friday dinner and an early 5pm dinner on a Saturday after a short hike through Stanley Park and loved every single visit ... service, food and just being there. -
Review from Sharon C.
Surrey, BC
1/14/2012 10 photos
Hidden gem! Love everything about this place -- ambience, food, customer service, and did I say food? Tip: Park at Safeway or do valet.
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Review from Irena L.
2/28/2011
I went there in August and sat outside. It was really nice! I don't think it's as nice now (in winter) as it is during the summer:) Food was delicious, we tried pasta and a steak. All really flavourful! Dessert was also great! Good wine list! I must say that the service was a bit unattentive, and they all looked super busy and frustrated.
Overall, I would recommend it! -
Review from Randy V.
Vancouver, BC
9/22/2011
I took my wife here for our 11th anniversary in September so we could break from our usual restaurants. This place was not reviewed by Zagats or Frommers, but was #3 in TripAdvisor for Vancouver Restaurants, so I wanted to check it out. After valet, we were seated outside close to a heat lamp. We started with the Saltspring mussels, I ordered the elk, my wife ordered the lamb, which were all excellent. The waitress suggested an Italian wine which impressed me as it was $10 cheaper then my pick. When the sun went down, the heat lamp went on and my wife received a shawl. The patio has a 10pm curfew due to neighbours, but we were turning into pumpkins anyways. We had a great meal, fantastic service and the bill was reasonable for the nights entertainment. I would recommend this restaurant for an outside romantic evening of fine dining.
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Review from Adam G.
Edmonton, AB
9/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Two words: Over. Rated.
To me, this is the classic struggling, family-owned restaurant: with a slight attitude adjustment, it could be excellent, but, like proud parents, the proprietors are just too close to it to admit any weaknesses or areas for improvement. Further complicating matters is the fact that this place purports to be a fine-dining establishment, which only adds extra layers of stubbornness, pretension, pride.
Granted, it's a nice room, and they seemingly have a great thing going on in the summer with their Euro-style patio (alas, it was raining when we went). But the reality is, the restaurant itself is housed in the basement of a musty old building, in an out-of-the-way location (you really have to know where it is), in a neighbourhood (the west end) that most Vancouverites have long since forgotten about. So it would take a special restaurant indeed to lure the big spenders from downtown.
Adesso Bistro is not that restaurant. The light Italian fare is worth the walk if you live nearby, but it's not a destination by any stretch. In fact, I think they would do better to cater to the local crowd (which is solidly middle-class) than to those who partake in valet parking, but what do I know about running a restaurant? I just know about eating at them.
I enjoyed their mixed starter breads, as well as my summer caprese salad -an inventive, well presented special that featured caramelized peaches and an (apparently) rare variety of young mozzarella, which was without question the culinary highlight of the night.
I will also give them credit for having a decent list of Italian reds that were mostly priced within reach.
However, my spaghettini alla carbonara, in a appreciable attempt at simplicity, simply fell flat. Ditto for A.'s spaghettini with prawns, which bore a suspicious resemblance to my dish, and which also bored.
But I reserve my chief complaint for the wait staff. The first slip came when we were read the specials but not told the prices -nor was that information made available on printed menus or menu boards. This had practical implications, as my small starter salad, described above, turned out to be $16 -a pricey app by almost anyone's standards.
(Having to ask about the price of an item is embarrassing for both patron and server alike, which is why I didn't do it, and which is why most establishments make it clear from the outset).
Later, our server made no attempt to hide her disappointment when we passed on the (overpriced) dessert; you could almost hear her mentally calculating her lowered share of the bill as she took the menus back. Little did she realize that turning up your nose at a modest (actually, still fairly expensive) bill is far worse for your tip prospects than simply putting on a smile and bringing us our breathmints.
But that is another fatal flaw of doomed restaurants: they take it out on the customers they have, rather than the ones they don't. Perhaps, instead, they should look in the mirror. -
Review from Allen W.
Visited Adesso last night to try their regular menu and I was impressed. It was friday night and the restaurant was bustling. The hostess greeted us in a friendly manner and even offered us our choice of open tables. We opted to sit by a window -- I like that the tables are close but not too close together.
Service was also friendly and abundant - water glasses kept filled, table kept clean of empty dishes, and a fly-by after each dish to make sure all was well.
We ordered martinis which we found a bit overpriced for the end result ($9) -- although delicious, the martinis were quite small in size. Room for improvement here.
With our drinks came an amuse bouche, a small complimentary bit of food to get the tastebuds warmed up. This evening, it was a small chickpea fritter on a tomato sauce -- certainly a good jumpstart.
The menu offers a solid selection of offerings and we started with the frito misto, quickly fried seafood, as our starter. The seafood was amazingly fresh and tender, so delicious ... and I don't really care for seafood normally.
For my main, I chose the Pansotti, a chestnut filled pasta in a brown butter sauce. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the filling exploded with flavour in my mouth.
We finished with Americanos and a rich chocolate dessert (forgot the name).
Overall, service remained top-notch and courses were well paced ... not slow, but with a pause to allow for a casual and relaxing dinner. I never once felt rushed.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/16/2011
Surprised by all the negativity on this one - we visited for Valentine's Day where they had a… Read more »
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Review from Jeremy D.
Vancouver, BC
2/29/2012
Disappointing. Lovely decor, but the pasta was bland, and the chef seems to have a thing for goulash(??), and it just didn't have that robust Italian zing I expected, especially at these prices. Service was acceptable, but not outstanding. The bread and wine were great, though!
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Review from Erika S.
Vancouver, BC
1/19/2011
After passing this little restaurant many times over the years I finally ventured in for a meal. With high expectations as to what I had read on-line I was disappointed.
The famed romantic atmosphere was not so much. Large parties and too many hard surfaces make for a noisy room.
The service seemed to be rushing us through as though contemplating the next service rather then giving us a little, well, service.
To top this off one of two dishes tasted like nothing really. When they came to clear the plates and this one dish was not touched there was no need by the server to ask why......
I won't be going back and will opt to keep walking by.
e -
Review from Waylon C.
Vancouver, BC
7/8/2010
A group of six of us dined at Adesso recently. The room hasn't changed much since the old Parkside/L'altro Buca days. This isn't a bad thing as it is a very comfortable room. The room is on the dark side but I prefer that to a restaurant being too bright.
We ordered several appetizers: Oysters, spaghetti carbonara, bruschetta & risotto. I sampled all the appies and they were very good. The spaghetti and risotto were my favorites.
For a main, I had the short rib. It came with a chickpea "frittelle." Think of it as a chick pea french fry. The short rib was absolutely delicious...extremely tender and flavorful. The chickpea fries were also great. I managed to grab a bite of someone's halibut and a bite of the cornish game hen. Both were very tasty.
The wine list is on the short side, but they have some great stuff that you likely won't find elsewhere.
Service was prompt. They brought one of our party the wrong entrée but they let us keep it (free of charge) to share while we were waiting for the proper entree to arrive...nice touch I thought!
Will I be back? Absolutely!Listed in: My favourite restaurants in…
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Review from Jamie H.
8/4/2011
Had a lovely dinner here while visiting in town. The bread was excellent, however they didn't bring it out until well after we ordered our food, so that was a bit annoying. Also, my dad ordered something he thought tasted like clams, and he's allergic, so he asked the waiter who went to ask the chef....and the waiter wandered around for about five minutes before FINALLY coming back to tell my dad it did not have clams. One might thing he would have come over right away if someone is concerned they may have eaten something they're allergic to! Other than that, everything was fantastic.
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Review from Wilson K.
9/15/2010
Classic fare from central Italy. The space is elegant and rustic, along the lines of wine-cellar restaurants you might find in Tuscany, with outdoor seating as well. The service is a bit aggressive, however, and we had some trouble with the valet service.
Be sure to order both a primo and secondo so as to get the full experience (who wants just pasta for dinner?), and finish with a grappa. The carbonara is not to be missed. -
Review from Cristian W.
Vancouver, BC
8/13/2010
The atmosphere is terrific. This is a great place to come with a date or a large group. The new owners have wisely left the old Parkside Restaurant intact and focused on the food concept.
The wine list is competent and the markup is not outlandish, although the selection of wine by the glass is a bit limited.
The Fritto Misto di Mare appetizer is world class. I would go just for this dish. If I had only eaten this dish I would have asked Yelp if they could add a 6th star to their rating system.
The calamari was very good - not the usual deep fried rendition you get everywhere else.
The Linguine Genovese was well balanced in flavour, but far too much oil was used and there were not enough beans. I would not recommend this as a main course unless you don't mind drinking a quarter cup of olive oil.
The Mixed Seafood with prawns, octopus, calamari, clam and oyster,
light tomato broth was disappointing. I was expecting a bowl with a nice quantity of broth, assorted sea food and possibly some potatoes or other vegetables. Instead I got a flat plate strewn with a few odds and sods. It looked more like an incomplete antipasto than a main course.
The service is attentive and you really get the sense these guys are going the extra mile.
This is a relatively new restaurant and it shows. The next time I go I'm going to have the Fritto Misto di Mare appetizer and a soup. I'm going to wait until they work out the kinks on the main courses. -
Review from Betty L.
8/20/2010
What was suppose to be a lovely bday dinner at Adesso turned into a nightmare. The food was good but the crappy valet parking by the attendant who works for the restarant dinged my parents' car and the owner refused to acknowledge it. Talk about leaving a bad taste in your mouth. So if you want to have a nice dinner and a few damaages on your car to take home, then Adesso is the place for you.
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Review from Opey B.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2011
Best Pizza in Vancouver, thin crispy crust and great toppings. The pastas are great too - everything is great. It is small, crowded and noisy but I didn't find that unpleasant. They play rock from the 70's and 80's which I rather enjoyed. Better than Nicli Antica
