- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Au Petit Chavignol
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Wine Bars, Cheese Shops [Edit]
843 E Hastings StVancouver, BC V6A 1R8
Neighbourhood: Downtown Eastside
(604) 255-4218
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 10 pm
Thu 11 am - 11 pm
Fri 11 am - 12 am
Sat 10 am - 12 am
Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
44 reviews for Au Petit Chavignol
Review Highlights
"Then for the main show, raclette."
(in 10 reviews)
"...tasty and we shared the Croque Madame which was delicious."
(in 4 reviews)
"Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich EVER."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
44 reviews in English
-
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cheesegasm. Cheesmares. Cheesanticies.
I can't believe I've lived in Vancouver as long as I have and I have never eaten at Au Petit Chavignol. Located next door to Les Amis du Fromage, Au Petit Chavignol is a little slice of French and cheese heaven.
We had been debating between Au Petit Chavignol and Les Faux Bourgeois and decided on Au Petit as I had never been there before and oh boy am I glad we did.
We first split a nice bottle Joie, which I always love, while we waited for our Grand Tasting Platter. A lover of fragrant, strong cheeses I was excited to see what they had in store for us.
Our charcuterie selection include the pate maison, prosciutto di parma, chorizo, speck Americano and one more I can't remember. All perfectly, thinly sliced they were a glimpse into the amazing charcuterie Au Petit has.
For our cheeses we had the Bresse blue, Piave Vecchio, Gouda, and some others I honestly don't remember.
After that we shared some duck pate, and at this point I have to interrupt our trip down cheesery lane to say that I normally detest pate and after having some I could tolerate at Les Faux Bourgeois I decided to try it again here and wow, I was blown away. It didn't taste anything like what cat food smells like. Awesome.
We shared the cendrillon and another cheese with a bit more of the speck.
I was really impressed that even after all that food it worked out to about $40 each which is fantastic given how much we ate and how fresh and divine it all was.
All in all it was divine. We probably could have kept eating if it wasn't for the cheesemares that we thought might ensue. (Chesemares, you know, nightmares if you eat cheese too close to going to bed).
If you love cheese, check this place out, you wont be sorry.Listed in: Hot Eats
-
Review from Robin M.
1/25/2012
Cheese, cheese, cheese, WINE. Cheese, cheese, cheese, MEAT. Cheese, cheese, cheese, MORE WINE.
This about sums my experience at Au Petit Chavignol. Lots o' cheese, a little cured meat, and a *very* decent amount of wine. But the good stuff doesn't end there. Oh no, friends. We're talking about the cured ham that's glistening like a beacon for my charcuterie-obsessed ways, cheese of the gods that vary in selection week to week with no preference to cow, goat or sheep but with a heavy lean toward my favourite French varieties. And finally, a wine list that will keep up with my sometimes tight budget and always picky palette. Yes, it is *that* good.
Sure, they've got other nice things on the menu that more than likely deserve my attention, but the tripartite of my soul will only be truly nourished by the appetitive, the rational, and the spirited -- meat, cheese, and wine.
Up next: medium rare burger. No bun. Kosher salted fries. Which part of me does that nourish, I wonder? -
Review from Stevie B.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2012
Constantly missing items from take out orders. Often disappointing food. Small portions and expensive.
I only order because it's close to my office. Every time I get my food -- I say never again.
They really need to improve service an reliability. -
Review from Wendy Y.
After checking out Les Amis de Fromage, my partner and I walked over here. It was around 5pm but we weren't particularly hungry so we got ourselves a platter with 3 cheeses, 3 meats, and 3 condiments. He got a glass of red (blend), and I got myself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. For cheese we got a Brie, Blue, and another semi-firm cheese that had the consistency of gruyere and parmesan. We had 2 types of prosciutto and a salami, we had fig/walnut preserve, caramelized onion jam and Quince paste (reminds of tangy apples). Everything on the platter was delicious. Even the baguette slices were good. The place definitely knows how to serve quality.
The restaurant is small, but very chic. This can easily be turned into a trendy Manhattan bar if it so chooses to. The seats were comfortable and atmosphere was intimate. The lights were dim and quite romantic.
We had a lot of fun trying out different combination with our wine and food to see what works and what doesn't. And it was quite a learning experience to see how the staff carved up the prosciutto and salami with their special meat machine.
The bill was roughly $65. Yes it did cost us an arm and a leg but I think the experience was well worth it.Listed in: Wine and Cheese
-
Review from Buster B.
North Vancouver, BC
2/1/2012
Nice atmosphere and friendly service. We ordered the cheese and meat platter and just like other wine bars, it always seems a bit pricey for the portions. The cheese was good and served correctly at room temperature. The meat was sliced so thin, you could see through it. If you are fine spending a bit extra for some quality cheese and average size glasses of wine, then this place is good for you. They have a full menu that looks good and are offering a nice menu for Feast Vancouver, so we will probably go back to check out their dinner.
-
Review from Brad K.
Port Moody, BC
11/20/2011
No bad but not worth returning.
Service:
Ok, but not great in many regards, especially compared to similar style places (salt). For example, we ordered the small cheese and meat sharing platter. 3 meats, 3 cheese and accompaniments. The waiter simply said ok, and started to leave the table. We had to flag him down and give him a couple requests. At salt, we would have been asked about what types of cheeses/meats we would like to try, what they recommended, what went well with our wine etc..
Aside from that our group kept getting our food delivered inconsistently, with up to 5 minutes for the last of our group to receive their main so we could start.
We also had a couple order mixups and I would have rather had the waiter write them down than fail to remember them.
Food:
We had the dinner for two. It's described as 'family style' Mac and cheese, salad and dessert and starts with the small meat and cheese platter. Main issue here being portions. 'family style' was misleading and we essentially received one portion of salad, and one portion of Mac and cheese. The dessert (cookies) and (cheese platter) were shareable. So basically I left really hungry and pissed off at the description 'family style' which usually means two servings served in a single dish.
The dinner for two is cheap that's for sure. I would have gladly paid more to receive one. We ordered it because my wife and I like sharing our meals and would not have missed a little extra money to have had that.
The actual food was a mixed bag. I found the salad unpleasant and boring. The Mac and cheese was ok and the cookies were great. The sharing platter was ok, but served on a pain in the ass pyramid plate setup that made things difficult to cut the cheese or reach things on the bottom. The bread and crackers that came with it were good but recognized the crackers as a brand we buy at Costco pretty often, and the bread with just ok. Good amount though.
Overall, if this was the only place in Vancouver that delivered a charcuterie experience, they'd probably do ok. But there are many other places that deliver a similar, but much better experience (including my own house if I bought good cheese and wine myself). Go to Salt instead or make your own! -
Review from Amy T.
Updated - 9/4/2011
Still a strong solid 4 stars!
My friend and I decided to eat the fondue this time and it just hit the spot! Honestly, you can't go wrong with wine and cheese. And especially high quality cheese, pates and meats.
Another one of my friends love this restaurant as well and she would take a pill before eating since she was lactose intolerant. She said it's 100% worth it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/27/2011
You really can't go wrong with CHEESE!
I've had fondue many times, but wanted to try Raclette. It's… Read more »
-
-
Review from Quinn O.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2011
The cheese selection is, of course, great, as is the charcuterie, but let's talk about the cheeseburger--it might be Vancouver's best (I'll have to eat it at least 3 or 4 more times to be sure).
While most "high end" burgers tend to go with brioche these days, for a burger, I'll take something like the plain, fresh, white bun they use here. It just seems more appropriate for a cheeseburger and it's slathered with enough butter pre-toasting that you won't miss the richness of the brioche anyhow.
The meat is flavourful, has a decent sear, is well seasoned, hasn't been over handled, and comes medium.
Ironically, I found the aged cheddar (which was delicious by itself) almost too flavourful for the complete package, but they also offer the more mild Leerdammer, which would solve that issue, nicely. Other than that, the burger just comes standard with a pretty fine homage to the Shack sauce at Shake Shack and a pickle. I paid the extra buck for tomato and lettuce, which I'd recommend.
All in all, if you love a good burger, this one's worth paying a visit for. -
Review from Marlena M.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 11/20/2011
This is a great place for a little intimate gathering or party. I just can't find a thing wrong with it. Really good service, really good food, free street parking. If you like cheese, even a little, you should go.
Listed in: Big Night Out
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/12/2011
Absolutely delish. Had a fabulous mac and cheese and a really great little greens and radish salad.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Linzi M.
3/20/2011 ROTD 4/23/2011
Sure I had to run away from a homeless lady on my way here but it was so WORTH IT. Located in the charmingly atmospheric East Hastings, this is a destination restaurant. They even have big iron gates to keep out the zombie apocalypse. That's your 5 stars right there.
Inside is fabulous: funky wallpaper, a great long bar to perch on and bottles of wine to ogle. I am a cheese fanatic and got to taste their sublime mac and cheese, croque madame and poutine. My first time having poutine and though I claimed not to like it, I had to keep eating. It was a revelation.
But you want to hear about dessert, right? The gooey chocolatey dream cookies, (half brownie, half cookies) crafted by the oh so talented Kari C. Our very own chef Yelper extraordinaire.
I'd love to come back and get a tasting platter of meats and cheeses. Everything is totally affordable and you should try it all. The service is friendly and charming and I hear the kitchen staff are total rockstars. -
Review from Melissa K.
Vancouver, BC
10/9/2011
Finally found a reason to get out of downtown to visit Au Petit Chavignol. The room is really trendy and cozy. You know their cheese selection is top notch when the owners also own the huge cheese shop next door. The wine list and menu is really good. I saw a couple people have fondue, would love to try it next time.
-
Review from Jaden N.
North Vancouver, BC
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Shhh! We're trying to be sophisticated here...
It was that type of place. Trendy, classy, pretty hip and strangely quiet for a full restaurant. Location wasn't so great...kind of a scummy neighborhood.
It was my friends birthday and we wanted to try something different. I hadn't heard of Au Petit Chavignol but the rest of the group had. When I heard wine and cheese bar all I thought was...hmm small portions, I should have eaten before I left home. But i was pleasantly surprised with large portions and a great menu to choose from.
I had the grilled cheese - a nicely grilled sandwich featuring 3 delicious gooey cheeses (Brie, Havarti, and Cheddar). It came complete with a pickle, pickled onion and 5 thin slices of apple. These are a great compliment to any grilled cheese.
I also shared the Tasting of 5 cheese platter. We picked 3 cheeses, a meat and an apple jam. Also got some apricot and cranberry spread as extras.
Now aside from the food which I would give 1 more star to, the service wasn't all that great. I dunno maybe the 2 waitresses couldn't handle the tiny full restaurant. There was 8 of us and we all had to sit at the bar as there was no seating left. 3 in our group were already there and neither of the waitresses greeted us when we sat down with them. It took nearly 10 minutes for them to give us menus and another few minutes to take our drink orders. They were fairly quick after that but for someone sitting at the bar..."that's where you normally go to order a drink right?"... The service was pretty slow.
They weren't all that outgoing to be working the bar either...but maybe that was to add to the quiet atmosphere.
This is definitely worth a try for the great tasting food! -
Review from Andrew L.
Port Moody, BC
5/20/2011
Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich EVER!
This is the part of town where you don't want to have you car break down in!
Mine did, and as the car stalled and went dead, I cruised s l o w l y past hookers with my lights off - awkward!!!!
Any how, the next day, in broad daylight, not sooo bad!
Its still the 800 block of East Hastings, so they must get very cheap rent - good for them!
In constrast to the neighborhood - a super classy joint, great food, Des Amis De Fromage next door, in a hugely expanded locale, and every cool, French food, liquor, wine you coulod ask for!
Amazingly gooey, applewood smoked cheddar grilled cheese sandwich - they also have Croque Monsieur and Madame.
Mac and Cheese plus Red Truck beer is $12
Definitely coming back for the charcuterie - looks amazing!
And lots of cool liquors that I haven't tried - Im coming back for the one with the pear that grew inside the bottle! -
Review from Garth C.
12/7/2010 8 Check-ins Here
How can you not love a place that is in a building with a big neon "Cheese" sign? As soon as i saw the cheese sign my arteries seized in excitement.
Too bad it was closed that day for a private function, foiled!
Ok take two: After 24 hours of agonizing waiting we try again and success, we are in! The inviting lounge/bar makes for a great little place nurture the little cheese-crush growing inside of you.
I have to come clean, I didn't really read the menu. After reading Mac & Cheese, Grilled Cheese and Poutine I was sold, why even bother reading the rest of the menu? Did I make the right choice? Sure did because it was awesome, Mac & Cheese was one of the better ones in the city, poutine was delicious and a grilled cheese sandwich filled with some of my favourites cheeses was to die for.
The prices were pretty good, they have a special on Sun-Thurs, $12 for beer + mac & cheese, looks like we have plans again this week!
For people not sure of the location, it's great - free street parking! -
Review from Alicyn C.
12/10/2010 6 Check-ins Here
CHEESE.. my absolute favorite food. I like to cheese it up just a little and Au Petit Chavignol seemed like the perfect place for a little cheesiness. .
As part of my mac n' cheese quest this was a must place to try and I was not dissapointed. The mac n' cheese was perfect in every way. Well almost every way. If it had bread crumbs baked on top then it would have been the most perfect mac n' cheese to date on the quest.
As I was on a mission for mac n' cheese it was ordered but sharedas other yummy cheese dishes were just too hard to say no to. The grilled cheese was amazing as well as the poutine. I look forward to gong back and trying more and more cheese dishes. Bring on the Cheese!Listed in: Mac n' Cheese Quest
-
Review from Mars K.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
This isn't a place you'd see driving by, and it certainly isn't a neighborhood you're likely to have your Sunday afternoon walks. This place is a hidden gem. I discovered it only because I was next door buying some raclette at the cheese shop next door, under the same ownership from the looks of it.
With a bag full of cheese I walked in to explore, it was early in the evening so it was quiet. The waitress asked if I'd like to store my cheese in their fridge while I had my dinner, good idea I thought and I sat down.
I was thrilled to see that they served raclette, as far as I know this is the only restaurant in town that does. The Chinese have hotpot, the Koreans have bbq, and Swiss equivalent of a fun, cook-it-yourself dinning experience is the raclette. Essentially it involves an ingenious table top appliance with two levels: a grill cook top where you heat your baguette, potatoes, and/or meats, and a lower level where you melt your cheese in a metal trays. The melted cheese is poured over the baguette etc. I was already hosting a raclette dinner at home the next evening so I opted to have something else during this visit.
I had the french onion soup and the sucking pig, which was special of the day. The soup was $10 which I thought was on the high side, especially considering that they probably don't have much rent to pay at this location. However, the price seemed justified after I had a taste. Being part of a cheese shop operation you'd expect them to get the cheese part right, but the soup was also excellent. All too often the soup is overly salty, it wasn't the case here, it was just right. The suckling pig was also quite tasty, the sweetness of the glaze went especially well with my glass of red wine.
I look forward to my next visit. -
Review from Suiki S.
Vancouver, BC
3/23/2011
Food - 4 stars
Ambiance - 4 stars
Décor - 4 stars
Service - 3 1/2 stars
Value - 3 1/2 stars
Au Petit Chavignol is located in the the Strathcona district on the corner of Hastings and Hawks street. This is a great little wine & cheese bar that is perfect for a get-together with a small group of friends for brunch, lunch, dinner or simply a glass of wine. The décor is minimalistic with a classic overtone accented with an extraordinary pink chandelier featured wall at the back of the restaurant. The ambiance is intimate and sophisticated.
In addition to offering a variety of cheese and charcuterie plates on their menu, they also feature delicious fondue and raclette, croque monsieur & madame sandwiches and last but not least, Vancouver's best "mac and cheese". Just to let you in on a little secret, the "Red Truck & Mac N Cheese" deal is available every Sunday through Thursday. You can order a glass of Red Truck Pale Lager and their famous four cheese Mac n Cheese for only $12 - it's a steal!
I visited Au Petit Chavignol for Sunday Brunch and ordered:
Classic Four Cheese Mac N Cheese $ 9 - featuring Gruyere, white cheddar, orange cheddar and stilton - it is rich and creamy with a crunchy top broiled to perfection. This is a Must-Try.
Poutine $10 - featuring hand cut fries with peppercorn gravy and cheese curds. I was a little disappointed with the poutine. The fries and gravy weren't hot enough to melt the cheese curds so the poutine was cold and soggy.
After your meal, step by next door at Les Amis du Fromage where you can purchase some cheese to bring home. This is Vancouver's premier cheese shop offering hundreds of cheeses including local, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Swiss and other specialities from around the world. -
Review from Tracy P.
Vancouver, BC
2/1/2011
This place has been hyped up so much by local foodies, I was very excited to finally get a chance to try this place!
Somehow, though, I was left feeling a little...underwhelmed. Perhaps it was the late reservation, the unsettling quiet...who knows.
The venue feels very much like a hole-in-the-wall cafe. Small and intimate, it's a lovely place for a chat, charcuterie and cheese.
I feel like I would have enjoyed my experience much more, had it been in the middle of the day or something. The atmosphere just felt so somber in the late evening.
As for the food, I think I just about died in a haze of delicate prosciutto. The pecorino was strong like bull and I even gave blue a chance. And I never give blue a chance. I can safely say that I greatly enjoyed the selections.
Also, those warm chocolate cookies tasted amazing paired with ice wine.
This was a great taste, but I think I may need to visit juuuust once more, to get a better feeling for the place. -
Review from Siri W.
6/1/2011
So...I love cheese. Like LOVE cheese. I have been known to polish off half a block of cheese on my own and come back for more. As such, my life has always involved pursuit of the next dish of ooey gooey cheesy yumminess wherever I can find it.
Mac and Cheese is always a tricky one. Don't even get me started on Kraft, you can hardly call that neon powder "cheese." But restaurant after restaurant has never quite gotten it right. The cheese quotient is never quite cheesy enough for my liking and it remained one of those elusive dishes that I thought maybe no one could ever prepare just to my liking.
Enter Au Petit Chavignol. I had heard tales of their miraculous mac and cheese from friends and so dragged the boyfriend here to sample. The place is, as mentioned by many, not in the greatest area of town, but it's by far not the worst either. You're well enough out of the danger-zone of Main and Hastings that you don't really need to worry too much about leaving your car or walking to the place.
The place has an air of sophistication that might just be a bit beyond the boyfriend and I at this stage in our lives, but we played it cool and pretended we knew what the hell the waitress was talking about as she (very pleasantly) rattled off the benefits of the different types of butter to go with our bread and crackers. I blurted out "Goat butter!", overwhelmed by the amount of choice, and it turned out to be a good one. Butter from a goat is delicious. Who knew?
We loved looking around at all the crazy kitchen devices and watched with great interest as one of the young waiters prepared a three tier cheese sampler utilizing some of said devices.
However. We knew what we came for. We both ordered the Mac and Cheese (with double smoked bacon, natch.) It arrived pretty promptly and ZOMG! I have never experienced anything like it. The portion was perfect, the flavours were insane, and we were in cheese induced bliss comas. There are (I believe?) four or five different cheeses in the mac and cheese and you can taste every single one of them clearly, creating a blend of rich flavours that is out of this world. The double smoked bacon just added to the deliciousness, but honestly, I think it would be fine without as well.
Also...try the dozen chocolate cookies for dessert. They taste like something your gramma made you when you were a kid, and come out warm from the oven and chocolately as sin. Mmm mmm good.
The staff here was super knowledgeable about their product, and were very patient with us when we clearly had no idea what they were talking about. They were prompt, smiley and sweet all the way.
If you are looking for somewhere quiet to go on one of those sad Vancouver days - and you know the ones I mean....those days in November where it's dark and rainy when you get up to go to work and dark and rainy when you leave to come home - this is the place. Sit, have some Mac and Cheese that'll warm your soul and enjoy. I can't wait to go back and do the same. -
Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
2/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic. Cold cheese, warm cheese, whatever your preference, this joint has got what you don't need. The cheese platters are exactly as you would expect and rounded out nicely with flavors to suit even the most non-cheese-loving folks. You get a bit less actual cheese than at Salt tasting room but with accompaniments, everything fits together divinely.
The moitie- moitie fondue is mind altering if you are looking for a cheese fondue that packs a bit more flavor punch than the traditional emmenthal and kirsch.
Service was great; we were there well after closing time and not once did we feel pressured to leave. Oh and pretty damn good wine list.
All round awesomeness for a chill place to socialize, eat wine and drink cheese. Yep. I said that. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
8/6/2010
I popped in here with my mum for a weekday lunch a few weeks back, and despite wanting to lovelovelove this place for its location, attached cheeseshop, ethics and aesthetic, we simply couldn't. We tried!
My mum had the on special risotto balls and the French Onion soup, and I had a grilled cheese and soup du jour.
Mum's risotto balls were greasy and practically flavourless, just clumps of rice with a slight cheese flavour deep fried to near cremation. And disappointingly, she likened the onion soup to dishwater. :(
My grilled cheese arrived on some simple white bread, which was a bit shocking, because given the wonderful cheeses contained within, I expected some beautiful artesanal bread. It arrived completely transparent with oil - like it had been cooked on wayyyy too low heat. I mean, I like oil - but this was atrocious.
My soup was really the biggest disappointment - it was chard and potato soup and arrived lukewarm, bitter and downright acrid. When our server noticed that I hadn't eaten it, she did take it off the bill, but it turned my stomach so much I was left queasy.
Even poor mum's Pinot Gris arrived tepid. Sigh.
So, my little goat, I will try you again - I promise! But you only get one more chance.... brunch, perhaps? -
Review from Dave Y.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2011
I was here for brunch on a quiet rainy Saturday. The smell of cheese is the first thing you will notice when you walk in.
The double americano was pretty good way to start the meal. I had the fries with mayo which were quite good. I could have had a second bucket of them. The eggs benny were to put it flattly a disappointment. The sauce had way to much critus taste to it. It muted out the rich taste of the hollandaise sauce. The eggs were like rubber balls as they were cooked to almost a hard boil state. I am pretty sure you could bounce them down the oddly steep ramp in front of the restaurant. And the salad was just rocket and dressing.
Service was average for a slow brunch place. Staff spent most their time talking behind the bar.
Would I return? Maybe for dinner but not for brunch as it isn't really worth it. -
Review from Colene C.
This place sets itself apart from similar restaurants like Salt Tasting Room & The Refinery by having an excellent assortment of cheese. If you're a cheese fan (and c'mon, who doesn't adore cheese?!), then this place is a must.
Situated in the DTES, it seems like a bit of a sketchy neighbourhood, but once you're actually there, it's not bad at all! Plenty of street parking (unmetered) out front which was nice too. The restaurant is a little cozier than I thought, about 8 tables and a long bar. I went on a Thursday night and it was bustling.
I had hoped to try the fondue, but my friend and I decided that we would get more variety of cheeses by ordering a cheese plate. The cheese are divided up in categories: cow, goat, sheep, mixed milk.
We had some difficulty deciding but were lured into particular cheeses based on the little descriptions, ie. goat gouda with nettles and garlic (YUM) and Cacio di Bosco (carmelized flavours, hints of truffle=double YUM). We also had a plate of prosciutto, a side of fries, and a small special of the day...however, the cheese is the real standout. -
Review from LJ M.
North Vancouver, BC
10/19/2010
Stopped here for late night drinks with friends and ended up having cheese instead. Yum!
Fabulous drinks, divine creme brulee, and fries that paired perfectly with a bourbon sour.
We'll be back for more cheese and wine (and hopefully a whole meal) again soon. -
Review from Steven S.
4/18/2010
Yes they now do Brunch!!! All you cheese freaks this place is amazing. It a laid back temple to cheese and cured meats, great for friends, social nights, and dates. The staff is wonderful and helpful, no pretense in what others would make stuffy. Good wine list but not as good as my favorite cheese place Gudruns in Steveston.
It maybe in a odd place for some but worth the trip. The Mac & Cheese is decadent and the Racelette is fun and tasty. The lactose intolerant will burst into flames just passing by.
There is also a Cheese monger shop next door with an amazing selection of not only cheeses but Olive Oils and other foodie goodness.Listed in: Best Places to Celebrate…
-
Review from A B.
Vancouver, BC
12/4/2010
Really cozy atmosphere, fine service, great wines and of course, wonderful cheeses & comfort food. All in a very nefarious (but changing) part of Vancouver. Pretty close to the OAA (Open Air Asylum) with all its charms.
We loved the fondue. -
Review from Jordan H.
9/12/2009 ROTD 3/21/2010
Miles ahead of all the charcuterie & cheese places in the city. The Refinery and Salt are put to shame.
Some of my favourites:
White truffle pecorino
Blue goat gouda
Some other crazy cheese with hay and ash.
That black hog that they let run around in the forest and eat truffles all day.
Honeycomb
Quince paste
Makers Mark & Cinzano Manhattans
Perfect espresso
And the croque madame!!! If you haven't had one of these I think you should go right now.
Also crazy cheap. They could charge almost twice as much and it'd still be worth it. -
Review from Renee C.
8/14/2009 ROTD 9/26/2009
This place is a very! Gouda!
The waitress, with her lovely Scandinavian accent, asks us a few questions about our culinary likes and dislikes (not unlike a first date) and took this valuable information back to the "wine and cheese expert" (I'm sure there's a very sophisticated and lovely sounding name for them) who carefully selected a grouping of cheese and charcuterie according to our tastes. Our tastes were in good hands. It's not every day that you can say this.
Some of the cheeses were nearly nirvana in creamy cheesy form (I almost had an out-of-body experience tasting a brie with a white wine jelly). And I didn't even need to meditate or give up all my possessions!
They serve each plate with a basket of bread and crackers, and I must recommend that you do try the jelly (previously mentioned as an ingredient in my food-induced nirvana) and olives. The suggested wine pairings went beautifully as well.
I have to admit, however, that the several plates of cheeses (although lovely) only put a dent in our appetites. The group of 5 of us ended up finishing up with an impromptu order of delectable mac and cheese. Ok...we also ordered the poutine. What? There was 5 of us! We had no guilt and neither should you.
Experiencing this place is a little like taking your taste buds to a 'sophisticated PNE for the senses'. -
Review from Christie S.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2010
Cheese. Oh my god, cheese.
This is one I have to thank Yelp for. Thanks Yelp! Walked in without reservations on a busy Friday night and knew in a heartbeat that this place gets 5 stars.
Okay, the location: deepest darkest Downtown Eastside. Don't be frightened, friends! The warm glow emanating from the window is just the sweetest hint of the delicacies inside.
Ask the friendly and knowledgeable bar and wait staff for suggestions on wine and cheese pairing. They likely know more than any of the rest of us do. I recommend the flights - the best way to sample as much of the menu without gorging yourself.
Sexy, romantic, delicious, decadent, exciting. What more could a wine-and-cheese lover ask for? -
Review from Angel C.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2010
Cheese, cheese and more cheese. If that's what you're looking for, you won't be disappointed at Au Petit Chavignol. In fact, I dare you to stop here and NOT have cheese.
The aroma of wonderful cheese is so heady when you enter this quaint little joint that you will be in trouble if you are not a fan. In my case, I pondered with my companions if there might be a way to possibly contain it in an air freshener as they do with the smell of baked apple pies. Then we remembered how awful those apple pie air fresheners smell. Project quashed.
As you would expect, a thoughtful but not oversized wine list is a must with great cheese. You would not find your run-of-the-mill Yellow Label here- so bring your sense of adventure.
Starting with a glass of prosecco (my favourite way to start most meals), we then headed to the St. Martin GSM- a perfect balance of ripe fruitiness that makes great Rhones so approachable. We started with frites. Then we had more frites. Clearly they were delicious. Then there was house made orichiette with roasted duck leg meat, bacon, kale, and blue cheese. With some of my favourite ingredients of all time, what can I say about this dish? You could taste the delicate texture of the fresh orichette, and everything else about the dish was well balanced and well proportioned.
The only thing that didn't blow me away about Au Petit Chavignol was the service. it was not bad, or offensive, but was borderline cold and impersonal. There was no offer of additional information without asking first, and I always think that when one is passionate about such great products, one would love to chat about it with guests. But, our server was busy, and I have been spoiled by great service in my recent favourite places so perhaps my expectations and standards are higher than average. I certainly am not deterred from coming here again... after all, there is a whole raclette and fondue menu that I haven't touched yet! -
Review from Mark H.
5/29/2010 2 photos
Do you know what raclette is? Neither did I before coming here. Food guru aka my brother from Chicago was in town so we meandered through the quite interesting Strathcona area to this stylish place on you guessed it, East Hastings.
We started with some unique meats and cheeses (I doubt I'd ever remember), antipasto, and some great red BC wine (also forgot). Then for the main show, raclette. I call it 'hot pot for French people'. Similar to fondue, you get stick a slice of cheese in this tray, and it gets melted by the flame below. Once bubbled you pour it over potatoes, meats or bread. Simple, yet oh so satisfying. Healthy? Heck no, but can all indulge once in a while can't we?
I must mention something I had here that I have never had at a restaurant. Freshly baked (I mean fresh as in BAKED TO ORDER) mini chocolate cookies. Perfectly baked with a moist centre, these were spectacular. Again, simple yet brilliant.Listed in: Unique Places
-
Review from Cam W.
Vancouver, BC
4/29/2010
I went here for the first time last night to sample their Dine Out Vancouver menu, and thought it was great! If you like French cheese, wine and charcuterie then you are going to love it here. Their menu was jam packed with a great variety of cheeses and wines and their Dine Out set menus ($18 & $28 versions) offered a solid sampling of these delights.
Our waiter was really friendly, professional and clearly had a great passion and knowledge of the fine cheese and wine she was serving. I would recommend this restaurant and look forward to a return visit. -
Review from Danielle M.
Vancouver, BC
3/20/2010
A great place for a date. Excellent service and a cozy, elegant atmosphere.
Yes it is cheese-centric. Me and my mate shared a small fondue, soup and a salad and we were stuffed.
The towers of cheese and the raclette ovens look very intriguing...
All in all I think the owners have created a great experience for dinners in the neighbourhood looking for something outside of the greasy Chinese food that proliferates. (Phnom Phen not included.) -
Review from Roanna Z.
1/7/2010
Once again I'm delightfully surprised to find that there are places like this here on the - (looked down upon) -East side of town.
Our first feeling about the place was that it seems a bit snooty, but I guess that's just the Cheese and Wine culture here sometimes.
This is an exploration in French and Italian Cheeses and specialty Meats. I had a bit of culture shock seeing a leg (complete with hoof!) -of a pig propped up on the bar ready for carving. It turned out to be a type of Prosciutto.
http://en.wikipedia.or...
The Raclette is the next level up from Fondue. They bring something like a Cheese toaster to the table and you heat up your cheese individually and drip it onto a potato. For the price they charge though, it seemed a bit naked. A few slices of cheese a few potatoes.
hmmm.... how about a warm Baguette and some Olive oil/Balsamic dip to go with it?
It was fun to watch people trying not to burn the slices that had previously looked so lovely laid out on the serving dishes.
Over all impression: Nice idea but I'm not sure (we) are refined enough here for this to be anything but a trendy experiment.
If you can't get to Europe this year, you can at least get a taste of it here in Vancouver. -
Review from Riel R.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2010
Expensive, but very good.
It's the first in what I hope will be a revival for businesses in the east hastings area. They've got great food and an excellent wine list, the ambiance is nice as well, friendly but not .. you know ... too friendly :) -
Review from Tania Y.
Vancouver, BC
6/21/2010 3 photos
Very cool. We went here for father's day and I was a bit scared because I couldn't read or understand anything on the menu, but that's where the helpful waitresses come in.
We ended up having the onion soup, braised short ribs poutine, proscuitto mac n cheese, and croque madame. All which was very yummy. However, I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese and that's kind of what my mac n cheese tasted like. Not saying it's bad - just not what I'm used to.
Will definitely come here again to try the wine and cheese. Sounds like it could be quite the adventure for me! -
Review from Daniel L.
12/1/2009 7 Check-ins Here
This retro building is one of the oldest around this hood... It was a used by the Royal Canadian Navy way back in 1910..... But true to its heritage this place serves up unique euro style dining with of course a twist of west coast. They own the cheese shop next door so the selection of cheese & charcuterie served is very large, like the wines.....
I suggest letting them pick for you is your not fluent in this area, you wont be disappointed, or try the; french onion soup, pepper corn poutine, or croque monsieur for hot plates.The service is top notch even if its casual dining.
If you like Salt then you will love this place, with its huge sit up bar, or high top tables with the large windows over looking busy Hastings street. -
Review from Eva B.
1/30/2011
Upon entry to the temple of fromage we were greeted by a rather wary priestess. However, upon exchanging formalities we were treated very well. In fact, we were invited to feast as honored guests and as such were given offerings fit for even the most particular of gods. Amongst the delectable dishes served to us were razor thin prosciutto, squash soup with a gorgonzola fritter, hot bubbly raclette accompanied by an adequate amount of pickles and starch, macaroni and cheese and of course freshly baked chocolate-chocolate chip cookies. With a liberal selection of libations to wash it all down with I only wish that I had prayed to have consumed fewer calories.
-
Review from Maya M.
North Vancouver, BC
2/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The second time I went was yesterday and I really enjoy the atmosphere and food and will definitely return again! The raclette was very tasty and we shared the Croque Madame which was delicious. The only negative thing I have to say can really apply to most restaurants in Vancouver and that is the poor selection of reasonably priced wines.
-
Review from Ramon V.
The dine out menu here really exceeded my expectations. I have learned to realize that most restaurants offer a slightly different or reduced version of their regular menus, but Au Petit Chavignol admits that they offer some exact items that exist on the menu.
I arrived, slightly pre-eatened, ready to have sample plates of what they had to offer. What I discovered, after expecting a limited menu of meats and cheeses, was a tempting array of cow, goat and sheep cheeses, a wide assortment of accompaniments, and a healthy wine list.
I started with the butternut squash soup with gorgonzola fritter. I could have stopped right there . Combined with the fantastic gorgonzola filled fritter, it was perhaps the best squash soup I've ever had. Smooth, creamy and delicious. For the main course, I opted for the four cheese macaroni and cheese. It was so wonderfully rich that from the first bite I knew I was in trouble, and I couldn't resist finishing it even though my stomach was telling me to share it or take some of it home. With a drink in hand, and after trying some bread and shared items from friends at the table, I was convinced. And I didn't even need dessert to make the decision. I asked for it to go. I was full. And I was surprised. I didn't think that a reasonably priced charcuterie style menu could meet the challenge of a value-seeking hungry man, but it did. And it did oh so much better than their Gastown competitors.
One thing. Please disregard their location. I urge you to venture out for this cheesy treat away from the Gastown Gouge.
