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Browns Socialhouse
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Canadian (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
2296 W 4th AveVancouver, BC V6K 1N8
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 733-2420
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 12 am
Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat 10 am - 2 am
Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
27 reviews for Browns Socialhouse
Review Highlights
27 reviews in English
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Review from Beverly W.
Vancouver, BC
Came here on a late Sunday and it was very busy inside. Our server was pretty good, checked on us a few times, refilled our water even though the place was busy.
I had the spa veggie burger and yam fries which was decent. The patty was not hard and just right. The yam fries were crisp and not burnt. I liked how they put the burger in a wrap so that all the contents don't fall out.
The Biltmore and BBQ Chicken Pizza were decent. It was definitely more like a gourmet pizza. A single guy can eat two pizzas in order to be full. Pizzas are $9 each on Mondays and Sundays.
Veggie burger score based on value and quality: 4.5/5 -
Review from Amanda L.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am starting to really like Browns, their food is always way better then I anticipate and their drinks are dirt cheap.
Their Bellini is easily half the price of any other restaurant and it is amazing. Perfectly sweet and sour plus it comes with a fuzzy peach!!! I have tried a couple of their martinis at another location and they are great, although they could use a touch more alcohol in them.
I got the Margherita pizza and although it was not an actual Margherita pizza it was still mouthwateringly good. It was supposed to have boccochini, which it did not, but it has a mix of cheddar and some other sort of cheese, coulda had more tomatoes as well but the crust and sauce were so good I dind't really care what was on top of it.
This place is small but laid out to fit a decent amount of people, all the servers and the hostess were super friendly and everything came pretty quick too. -
Review from Craig C.
Langley, BC
2/26/2012
Good cheap ($) wine. Nice atmosphere. Great friendly service staff but...here it comes...crappy food. It's like they are over trying. Nice presentation but lousy taste? Nice booth seating BTW
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Review from Will H.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not bad, not great. I did like their brunch though surprisingly enough when everywhere else had a 30 min line-up so I'll give them 4 stars for convenience and great corn beef hash wow.... MY only confusion is I was eating breakfast at the bar. my dilemma was if I should order a tequila shot with my breaky... thankfully for my GF I chose not..
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Review from Alexandra S.
Vancouver, BC
11/27/2011
One of the better options among the various "upscale casual" chains. Good salads and soups, and a shockingly good veggie burger (though it comes on an irresistibly squishy tasty white bun, so if -- like me-- you try to resist the siren song of white flour, ask for your burger bun-less).
The service is consistently polite, music selection is actually not bad, and during the day (if I stop in for lunch) it's not usually that hectic and you can sit and work while you eat. All in all, a very useful spot. -
Review from Sabrina F.
Greater Vancouver Regional District, BC
4/6/2012
I like going to Browns for the drinks. The 4 dollar "social sodas" are great as well the 4 dollar "social lager". Also the Bellini's are only 5 bucks every day and a lot better than most you get in the city. However I am not a fan of their food. I have ordered wings (they were too small not enough flavor) and their dry ribs were very small like barely any meat. As well as the pizzas I found not too impressive. I like going there for drinks they are very unique and good price but food I probably wont order again. The staff is great sometimes a little too "systematic" I don't know, maybe it was her first day. Its worth a shot if your looking for casual drinks.
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Review from Melissa Nicole J.
1/17/2012
I really like coming here when im in Vancouver. One...it's in one of my favorite neighborhoods and two they never fail at getting me buzzed and full. One of the better chains of restaurants/bars...I always enjoy myself here. Awesome place for watching some hockey...but the food was subpar. I like the atmosphere and the drink specials are really good. Good lord I sound like an alcoholic.....
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Review from Andrea P.
12/27/2011
Usually I avoid chain restaurants, but I've been to Browns quite a few times with larger groups and, for a chain, I think it's pretty good. I've tried pretty much everything on the $4 drink special menu and while the wine was not very good I've never been disappointed with the beer or cocktails. I've ordered the ahi tuna salad multiple times which is actually quite good. Overall good prices, good atmosphere, wouldn't go out of my way to visit but its a great option if you're in the neighborhood or if you need to find a place that can accommodate a party of 10+.
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Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2010
I came here late one night after my friend and I had been driving around aimlessly looking for a place for drinks. Fortunately this place was open late, and there was plenty of parking since it was the only place still open.
We both ordered drinks from their $4 cocktail menu: a bellini for me, and sangria for my friend. We also decided to try the 2 for $5 shooters. For food, we shared a plate of calamari. The drinks were delicious: strong enough for us to feel their effects, but not so strong that we could taste the alcohol. The calamari was decent, however, we would have preferred the more traditional tzatziki sauce as opposed to the spicy red sauce that it came with.
As it was late at night, my friend and I didn't order any other dishes or drinks, but based on our experience, we're both interested in coming back to try what else Browns has to offer.
Menu: lots of appealing choice:appies, flatbreads, salads, burgers, ricebowls, pasta, and meat
Price: reasonable - I think we spent around $15 each for drinks and an appetizer, including tax and tip
Service: good service; our server was really friendly and came by to check on us often, but wasn't hovering over us
Ambiance: funky decor, dim lighting, the music was good (a mix of indie rock and hip hop) although it was kind of loud; my friend and I had to raise our voices and lean in to be heard -
Review from Ysabelle R.
Vancouver, BC
8/28/2010
+ 1 for the food
+ 1 breakfast specifically
+ 1 drink specials
+ 1 service
- 1 atmosphere
All in all a decent place to go for food and drinks. I've never been here to watch the game, but they have TVs set up everywhere, so I'm sure it's a good option if you can get in through the door (the place itself is quite small).
When you enter, the first thing you'll see is a bar that takes up pretty much the centre of the room. There are booths to the side, and tables with bar stools everywhere else. In the front there are a few table-for-two types with nice, cozy chairs by the window.
The food is higher-end pub fare. You have the usual salads, fries, yam fries (with delicious aioli), burgers and steaks. I've never had any complaints about the food; the hamburgers were good when I had them, the steak was standard but not terrible; the hot wings were hot and plentiful; and so forth. The drinks are reasonably priced for Kits, and you can usually enjoy it for cheaper if you check out the specials.
Breakfast is my favourite. My boyfriend normally gets the waffles served with fruit and a healthy dollop for fresh whipped cream - which makes a huuuge difference - and I get the smoked salmon and goat cheese eggs benny. Delicious! Now I'm hungry.
The price is reasonable for Kits. The servers are all pretty nice and flirt with pretty much anyone, which is hilarious on a night out. The manager seems to sincerely care about the service, though, and you can certainly tell based on how the wait staff approach their job, which is a nice change of pace for the Kits area.
I hate the atmosphere because Browns doesn't seem to know what they want to be - a bar, a pub, or a restaurant. It's often too loud to talk. If there isn't a game on, the TVs will still be on and playing either the strange or mundane (one morning it was a show with pictures of missing kids and how they would look like now). Little things like that turn me off of Browns when I just want a nice, quiet breakfast or a chance to recover from a hangover. But YMMV.
Pro tip: One of the few places down that stretch of Kits that's open late, and a life-saver when you have zero to eat. -
Review from Sy M.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2010
I went there for brunch today (Sunday) at noon and was surprised to find my friend already sitting there which means she got a table right away.
Service was great. I got my coffee right away. She came by often but not enough to interrupt the conversation which was nice.
I ordered the Mexican hash. Oh my goodness!!! It was so good!!!! The salsa is quite spicy so make sure you order sour cream as well!
Had a great experience and will definitely be back! Don't know what took me so long to try the brunch there! -
Review from Katie S.
8/6/2008 1 photo
Damn Good Food in the heart of Kitsilano Cool!
Great breakfast/ lunch space in one the middle of some of Vancouver's best shopping!
I had the #23 Blackened Chicken Wonton Soup which consisted of chicken, scallions, wontons, Hokkien noodles, Asian veggies, and soy broth. It was super tasty, filling, and the presentation was fantastic! My dining mates had the Almost Famous Sourdough Egg Sandwich and the Traditional Eggs Benedict.
The place was packed, and I'm told (by my fellow Vancouverians) that it always is. Reasonably priced and cute for when you want to step it up a scoetch for brunch, dinner.. or drinks!Listed in: Oh, Canada..., Vancouver Eats!, Vancouvers Got the Goods!
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Review from Tyler V.
Vancouver, BC
3/22/2011
um mediocre.
Not sure I had a server yet two pretty girls came by.
A simple appy of yam fries... not so great, i can make better for $7
Drinks.... Do not let the specials fool you... Nothing special.
Will not go back unless forced... NIce venue.
MIxed feelings on the unhappy bartender...
Ty -
Review from Rose N.
Vancouver, BC
5/25/2010
Coming in, I didn't have high expectations knowing that it would be very mediocre menu like Earls, Cactus, Milestones, etc, but it was below par and very disappointing in food and service
Burger took 1 hr and waitress didn't bother to tell us it wasn't cooked right the first time and chef had to do it twice. Taste-not much too talk about, bun was not best, meat was soggy and it doesn't compare to the ones I make fresh at home.
Pizza-pretty bad, really salty, over down with cheese and tomato sauce was too heavy.
Manager recognized we received poor service, and waived the charges and gave us coupons. Unfortunately, I won't come back until they change chefs. Such a disappointment. -
Review from Dani B.
5/28/2009
Everything I don't like about kits, rolled into a restaurant/lounge. This place popped up almost 2 years ago, and it immediately turned me off. I tried to eat here once but ended up standing at the door for a while before the waitress grudgingly said, "can I help you?" I spotted my friend who was working at the bar and sauntered over to him.
"Does the staff treat everyone this way?!" I asked him.
"Grunt, that's nothing, they treat the staff even worse." He replied.
So, the inside scoop from my friend (who no longer works there) is the food is mediocre, the scene is basically a bunch of awkard people on first dates and the staff is just dying to get their shift over with.
Me thinks not. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2008
"Meh".
This is probably the best way to describe my experience here. I was there on a saturday evening... it wasn't busy (that should have been our first sign), but we decided to experiment anyways..
1. As soon as our server came to our table to take our drink orders, and realized that we weren't ordering any alcohol - our service turned sour, as our server RARELY came back to our table.
2. There was no selection at all for us vegetarians in the world! (needless to say I ordered a garden salad - yum (rolls eyes)).
3. Then my tiny tiny tiny little garden salad came out 30 minutes later, I was greeted by a nice long hair in it (COUGH COUGH).
That, if you haven't already guessed, was the end of Browns Social House. -
Review from Melisa W.
Surrey, BC
1/18/2011
I have been to Browns three times and my experience has been the same all three times. The food is great. If I based my rating just on food, I would give it 4 or 5 stars. It is the reason I have given it more than one chance.
The service is abysmal.
The first time, I went with a friend and we sat outside. Our server was incredibly slow to get to us. We both ordered different versions of the fish bowls which were incredibly delicious. It took us a really long time to get our bill.
The second time, I went with my boyfriend. There was no one to greet us at the door and we waited a few minutes. I couldn't remember if someone else seated us so we decided to just sit down. We sat there for 10-15 minutes before we were able to signal someone over to give us a menu. The food was not as interesting this time. I ordered from their flat bread section.
The third time, I came again with the same friend from the first time. We had forgotten our initial experience, until again, we sat down outside and waited 20 minutes for the waitress to come out. When she didn't come out, we walked back in and told the hostess how long we waited for someone to come out and, at the very least, take our drink order. She apologized and seated us in front where the comfy chairs were. After another 5-10 mins the waitress came to us. She did not acknowledge her mistake in not approaching us earlier. We ordered, and again the food was great.
We have agreed that if we decide to come back to Browns, that we'll insist to sit at the bar, as only the bartender seemed interested in serving customers. I believe he approached us when we were sitting at the front of the restaurant.
I'm not sure that I will ever go back there...and I'm not sure if I would recommend it to anyone else. I gave them three chances. But if you must go there, sit at the bar because the waitresses will take forever! -
Review from Martin P.
Vancouver, BC
8/31/2011
Theres nothing I like better in Vancouver than going on a sunny day to this place, have a sit at the terrace and enjoy a steak sandwich. Im very demanding when It comes to red meat, I also tryed the hollywood burger which is great and quesadillas. The service is optimus, the girls who work there are adorable. The washrooms are very clean. The terrace accessibility is great for smokers like me who like to stand away after meal. Inside it is a bit dark and the music is kind of loud, but good enough to be with friends.
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Review from Allison F.
11/10/2009
Last night was my second visit to Browns. We made a reservation as we had a large party and I'm glad we did as the place was very busy. We had a nice long table at the back of the restaurant and while we were right beside the kitchen, it wasn't noisey at all.
Our server was very pleasant and attentive. She was able to fully answer questions and kept our beverages topped up.
Last time I was at this location, I had their Blackened Chicken Wonton Soup. I wasn't overly impressed as it was lacking some flavour and hokkein noodles make me think of shoelaces. But I'm a huge fan of any place that offers chicken wontons (I don't eat pork) and so I tried the Wonton Cup this time, along with a Biltmore Pizza.
My soup was far more delicious this time. The broth had the right amount of salt and the three little wontons were delish. The additional of crunchy corn kernals added the right amount of sweetness and seemed fresh even though it's November.
My pizza arrived and smelled super heavenly like garlic. It had shrimp, feta, sundried tomatoes, and pesto on a light and fluffy base. The only downside was a mysterious pool of oil underneath the pizza that threatened to drip on me, but that waas easily avoided.
For everyone in the group, the food was raved about. We had a wide range of dishes from salads to rice bowls, and burgers. We didn't try the cocktails but I would definitely recommend this as a delicious night out! -
Review from Sarah A.
5/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Overall a mediocre place. It wasn't horrible, but I wasn't blown away either. A good place in Kits to watch a game (good crowd, TV screens from every angle, and the chances of getting a seat are pretty good), but not as good as the Local. Decent brunch (loved the eggs benny and the caesar) but the rest of their food seems lacking (I was especially disappointed by the nachos...if you can even call those nachos). The service was sub-par (although friendly, most of the waitresses stood around chatting rather than waiting on tables). It took forever to get the bill and then forever to get the waitress to come pick up the bill, and when she did she had a very sour look on her face.
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Review from Sabrina S.
Montréal, QC
6/5/2009
I read lotsa mixed reviews about this place. Honestly, I will go when I don't know where else to go and when I don't want to on on an adventure, pay 30$ and be dissaponted. I know that at Browns my drink is going to have booze in it and my food will be decent. I usually take the cowboy or cowgirl salad, and pizzas from time to time.
Drinks: the Bellini is good if you like fruity drinks, Cougar Juice is good too. I usualy take dirty martinis and gin w/ tonic.
The crowd is humm... Kitsy and sugically enhanced, so don't expect much. The waitresses capable of taking an order, I don't want to be mean but they look like the girls that Cactus Club hires.. do I need to say more ?????? -
Review from Daniel L.
1/15/2010
The wrap around bar in the center of the room is my favorite feature here. A couple of tv's without sound keeps you busy if need be. On game days they fire up the 6x5 large screen. Oh and the servers and bartenders are just worth the visit.
I really like the food here, it's creative, infused, well priced and good portions, and they have daily drink specials. Of all the chain style resturant/bars Browns stands tall over the rest ...
Each location has its own feel of a warm cozy uniquely special with a american bar atmosphere. -
Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
9/11/2008
Brown's is a bar/restaurant in Kits. It sits on the corner of 4th Avenue and Vine, across the street from Shopper's Drug Mart and kitty corner from Safeway. It's usually bumping most nights of the week, and you may find yourself out of luck if you're looking for a table or booth on a weekend night.
I find the space a bit dark, but the food is decent (try the yam fries with mayo dipping sauce - yum!), the atmosphere is casual, and the patrons are all friendly locals you can actually approach and chat with if you like.
If you're a sports fan, Brown's usually airs whatever game is big on any particular night on the TV screens that circle the bar. And, if you find the lighting inside or noise level hard to bear, head for the generous patio that runs alongside the entire length of the building on Vine Street. -
Review from Patrick C.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2011
Great place to grab a drink and watch a game on the big screens. Take a pass on the food. It is overpriced and mediocre, even for pub/lounge food. We were 0 - 3 on the food in our party. The most disappointing was the steak sandwich...over salted, small and tough. If you are looking for good food, keep walking down 4th until you hit Refuel or MaeNam, hell cross the street and hit Sophie's for true comfort food.
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Review from Courtney M.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
The food is worth 4 stars, but the service gets this one only 2. The hostess has a permanent sour look on her face, which is not a good idea for the first person you see when you walk in the door. Then the waitress came over an was short with us when we mentioned that we had a groupon. She made is feel like we were wasting her time being there, didn't refill our pops until we asked twice, and was just generally unpleasant. It is similar in taste to Cactus Club and Joey's and they both have very friendly service. I would skip Browns and go to one Of those instead next time.
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Review from Scott H.
9/6/2010
Nothing overly special about Browns. Service was honestly a little weak. Atmosphere was good though. Burgers weren't so good , but the yam fries were great. It was just kind of Jerry Seinfeld (even). Not great, not terrible, but good enough for a beer and a burger on a Friday evening.
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Review from Kristine P.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2010
This restaurant is a compressed version of cactus club in yaletown. But the food slightly better. Im all about their Cowgirl salad. All the food I've tried is above average. It's also nice being in a small cozy environment when you are enjoying dinner or drinks.
