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CinCin Ristorante + Bar
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1154 Robson StreetVancouver, BC V6E 1B2
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 688-7338
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- 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:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
91 reviews for CinCin Ristorante + Bar
Review Highlights
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"as we perused the extensive menu and wine list." In 11 reviews -
"We started with the house-cured swordfish - very savory." In 3 reviews -
"...which was stop-everything delicious), and lemon tart." In 4 reviews
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91 reviews in English
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Review from Allan-ester D.
Vancouver, BC
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
had an exceptional meal here on Friday evening...wow...from the moment we arrived we were treated to excellent service.
i had their special, which is now going to be on the menu, ox-tail cannelloni...it was exceptional...the homemade bread they brought was awesome, and my amazing fresh-local-garden salad was over the top
i had a glass of one of their reds...the waiter's choice...and it too was outstanding...sorry i can't remember the brand...3 of the 4 of our party had dessert, everyone was satisfied with the wonderful quality...we will be going back for sure -
Review from Lizee A.
5/1/2012
Traveled to Vancouver in Nov 2011 and have delayed writing this review because my mind goes blank every time I try to describe their dishes. It says something for their dishes since it is an upscale restaurant, yet their food is unmemorable. I guess should start off by writing what I do remember....
*Service: EXCELLENT. I definitely remember being VERY impressed with their service . My BFF and I popped in after hours of shopping on Robson. Although we had no reservation and wasn't dressed for fine dining, they were very friendly and welcoming. The hostess offered to check in our coats, bags, and umbrellas. We were seated immediately. The waiter was knowledgeable, patient and always provided his full attention. My water glass never went empty.
*Food: I remember there was a mushroom festival. The items we ordered from the special mushroom menu, had no mushrooms?! ? I also ordered pasta, but again cant remember what type. The food wasn't bad...just nothing I could rave about.
*Price: $30 and up pp
*Ambiance: Dimmed lights and comfortable seats. Suitable for romantic dinners or large groups.
Overall the service was the best part of our dining experience. For the prices paid, I expect to have food to be the best part, but unfortunately it wasn't. -
Review from Jacob K.
4/6/2012
CinCin provides an exquisite evening of dining. The risotto balls had a slight hint of tomato, a very nice twist to the creamy rice dish.
Grilled tofino octopus and pemberton potatoes and salsa verde were the primi. The octopus was a very nice dish, meaty with a smoked-gamey taste to it.
Carnaroli rice with BC mushrooms, white truffle oil and parmesan was a sweet and rich dish, and a nice teaser before the main dish of lamb.
The osso bucco slow cooked lamb shank with saffron risotto confit tomato and cerifnola olives was the most mouth watering dish I have had in quite a while. The lamb is slow cooked for forty-hours and melts in your mouth. I would come back to CinCin just for this lamb.
The piece de resistance was the duomo dark chocolate mousse with orange cream hazelnut crunch and raspberry sauce. A very delicate and delicious way to finish a meal. The mousse was a contrast of a sweet and semibitter chocolate.
The service was wonderful - not helpful when asked for their suggestions on which dishes to order. That is the downside to eating at restaurants where all the food is good. -
Review from J H.
5/21/2012
Very easy to make reservation through open table website. Not too busy for Saturday night. Fantastic Risotto with prawns, but disappointing pasta with crab and gnocchi with mushroom. Service and ambiance were good.
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Review from Jeff F.
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
We'll start with a comment about Italian food... and me... I LOVE Italian food. Probably my most favoritistististist type of food out there. When I cook at home... 75% of it ends up coming out Italiany... I make my own pasta... I'm going to Italy in a month or so....
So... when the wife decided we should maybe go to CinCin for dinner (most places were looking pretty booked up this Friday.... and we had reservations nowhere!)... we were told that there was nothing in the dining area for about 2 hours, but we could sit at the bar, or the lounge and get full food service... we decided on the lounge and sat at a smallish table (good enough for drinks with 4 people... but for dining... 2 people filled up the table). Our server was quite attentive, and informative about the specials, and helped the wife pick a drink that was 'fruityish' (and no... it didn't end up being that way at all... boozyish would have been a better description... but it meant more of it for me!).
We ordered a pizza to start... but did some modifications on the menu to add tomato sauce to the sausage pizza, and take the fennel off (boo! not my choice...). She had no problem with that... and the pizza came out a little while later and beautifully done.
For mains we ordered risotto with prawns for her... and I had the agnolotti with ricotta and caramelized onions with crispy pancetta. She was ok with hers... last time she was here she had a mushroom risotto... and she preferred that one. But it looks like they shake up the menu every so often (good sign!)... mine was blissful. Really enjoyed ever single bite of it.
At the end we shared a dessert they called Chocolate Purses... it was quite nice too... tasted like filo pouches stuffed with a nutella like substance... was VERY good.
All in all... was one of the better Italian restaurant experiences I've had in the city for quite some time (I'm looking at you Italian Kitchen... and your 'Kobe' meatballs... yeah right... and your stupid freakin' truffle oil... BLECH!)
Give it a shot.... just be prepared... this is 'fine dining'. Don't expect Old Spaghetti Factory pricing. ;) -
Review from Monty S.
5/5/2012
There was a bug in our food. We ordered a tasting menu and were very excited to experience the food at Cin Cin and then when the appetizer was served there was a bug crawling on the prosciutto and it fell into the cream sauce. The server took it away and we waited for the restaurant management to come to our table and make things right, but no one ever did. This was very surprising considering the level of this restaurant. If I were a restaurant owner I would have discretely come to the table and comped the meal. This did not happen. They only took the cost of the one appetizer off the check. With a pre-dinner cocktail and a bottle of wine our bill was right at $200.
I have been looking on line for the health department to report the bug in the food but cannot find it in Vancouver. As far as I am concerned this is unacceptable. I will find as many way as possible to report this transgression.
I would avoid this restaurant at all costs.
ADDENDUM -
Management did refund the cost of the meal - AFTER 2 phone calls. My friend didn't feel it had been handled correctly at the restaurant and unknown to me called Cin Cin and spoke with the manager. I called shortly after that as well. While apologetic that there was a bug in the food and admitting it was not handled well at the restaurant the minute it happened, that is how the scenario played out.
Did Chef even know there was a bug in our food? Wouldn't any waiter know enough to tell management about any ruffles in service?
Communication is instant these days and all it takes is a cell phone and BAM the picture and damaging evidence is out there.Comment from Jack E. of CinCin Ristorante + Bar 5/11/2012
Dear Monty S., Thank you for taking the time to post the… More » -
Review from Marje B.
Burnaby, BC
Fantastic!! My husband and I came to CinCin for DineOut Vancouver. Ive read great reviews about this place so I had high expectations.
We both had the Tofino Octopus for our starters, which was amazing the Octopus was so tender and went well with the potatoes, rst garlic
For our main I had Lamb with past, Lamb was very tender and the sauce was a wine reduction (im usually not a fan but it was delish) my husband had the Fish I believe it was Halibut. I had a taste and it was also very tasty.
For dessert we had a panna cotta and a layered cake both were excellent.
I was overall impressed with the service and food that's why I gave it 5 stars!
We will be back to try regular menu soon! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Vancouver, BC
My BFF flew in from out of town and we thought we'd give this place a try, but it was totally a "spur of the moment" decision, like many of my past eating experiences when you're hungry, it's raining, and you just gotta find a place to dry off - quick!
But honestly, now that I'm writing this review 2 months later, I can't remember much about the food! I do remember that the service was excellent. In fact, that's all we could talk about after we polished off our meal.
- When we arrived, they seated us promptly (even without a reservation).
- They asked to take our shopping bags, wet umbrellas, and coats (which we politely declined because we were still shocked that they offered to "check" our shopping bags, like a coat check service).
- The waiter was knowledgeable and unfailingly patient (he stopped by our table three times to ask if we were ready to order), he made sure that our water glasses were always full, and he used a nifty crumb scraper to clear our table cloth of any bread crumbs before the next course!
But that's where the memory ends. I know we ordered quite a lot, in anticipation of small portions. BUT I don't remember much about the food, except ordering a polenta dish on the seasonable mushroom menu, which was superb by the way, BUT the dish didn't come with any mushrooms! Talk about a disappointment.
I really want to give this place a higher rating, but if you can't remember much about what you ate esp. at the exorbitant prices you're paying, then that says something. Maybe I'm just paying for the service?
An update to my original review: I finally found pics of our food, you're at all curious - http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Philippe G.
Calgary, AB
2/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had what might be considered the perfect experience at CinCin.
I came solo for some proper Italian and I was not disjointed.
Sat me at the bar (my preference) and proceeded to lead my experience from cocktail to course. I drank 5 cocktails, 2 glasses of wine and ate 3 (or 4) courses.
I cannot say enough about CinCin and the service team. Colin was a treat and made my experience so easy.
This might have been the first time I "instagramed" every step in my night, I just did not want to forget.
Thank you for everything, I can't wait to bring a group in next time I am in Van. -
Review from Angela R.
5/6/2012
Loved this restaurant!! Upstairs, beautiful decor, great food, and the best service! The garlic soup was delicious, but you have to love garlic:-) others at the table had Caesar and said it was fine. We had 2 order pasta, one steak, and I had osso bocco. It was amazing. As someone before me mentioned, the little purses for dessert were oh so delicious. If you want truly authentic Italian food, this is the restaurant for you!
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Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2012
This place if overrated. While the food is good (but not spectacular), when I go to a place like this, I want to be fed, not served undersized pieces of art. I suppose some people like it, and that is the reason that I go there, as I often get dragged there.
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Review from Sarah F.
1/2/2012
Let me begin with this: this was one of the top 10 best meals of my life. We went for New Year's Eve dinner this year - the place was packed but we still had impeccable service.
If you are gluten free, you have found heaven. If you're not gluten free, you've also found heaven. It's rare to find a place where both gluten free and regular diners are given the same number of fantastic options that taste just as good.
We were seated, and our waitress came and spoke with us, already knowing I was gluten free. She was a Celiac as well so she totally knew what I could eat on the menu, what could be modified, and what she would recommend. She ordered us house-made gluten free bread and olive tapenade - to die for. The bread tasted just like normal people bread. We ordered bufala mozzarella to start - melt in your mouth good.
Our main courses were the pollo pizza (gluten free crust with pesto, pulled chicken, fresh mozzarella, and artichokes) - this was delicious. The crust was crispy, and didn't taste gluten free at all. Our other dish was something the chef came up with (I'm allergic to oregano as well and the other sauces all had oregano. I know. Oregano allergy at an italian restaurant? I'm ridiculous. But they were super accommodating). So this dish was HOMEMADE gluten free pasta (um. heavenly.) with pomodoro and basil sauce with roasted rabbit. YUM. My gluten-loving boyfriend enjoyed everything and even said it didn't taste gluten free at all.
Dessert was the perfect finish - house-made macarons (gluten free) and the chocolate mousse. With the check they also brought the most wonderful almond (gf) cookie I've ever had -- sweet, chewy perfection - along with a pear gelee.
Well worth the price -- FANTASTIC service, super accommodating to those with dietary restrictions, oh and the most delicious gluten free food I've ever had. We will definitely be coming back here on our next trip to Vancouver! -
Review from Marlena M.
Vancouver, BC
12/21/2011
Superb. Excellent service. Knowledgeable wait staff. Slam-dunk wine list. The dessert menu is inspired. There are waiters whose sole job is just to keep your table topped up with fresh bread and tapenade. Even the soap in the bathrooms is fancy.
Probably one of the prettiest patios in Vancouver. Take your girlfriend here and propose to her.Listed in: Big Night Out
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Review from Lindsay b.
Vancouver, BC
1/31/2012
Did Dine Out last week and really loved every bite. I was with 5 other friends and we all ordered something different and each plate was as yummy as the next. Great atmosphere, solid service and delicious food. I'll be back to pay full price, for sure!
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Review from Chitra S.
12/27/2011
Cin Cin was our dinner stop on our first night in Vancouver. We went here based on a friend's recommendation and cin cin lived up to it!
We didn't have reservations, but the hostess seated us right away. Taking our coats and umbrella was a nice touch.
The service was attentive although there was one point where we finished our main courses and the dishes were just sitting there for about 15 minutes without being cleared.
I ordered the roasted garlic soup drizzled with olive oil on top. Nice and creamy, with a subtle garlic flavor.
The bread rolls were warm out of the oven and the olive tapenade to go with it was very tasty.
The Pappardalle pasta was done just right and the sauce had a kick to it. Our server suggested adding scallops to it, which enhanced the dish.
Warm chocolate cake for dessert capped off a really nice dinner.
After we finished, the hostess even called us a cab which was super helpful because it was raining!
A great experience and will definitely recommend to friends! -
Review from Angela C.
8/8/2011
I'll have to agree with Harsha J.: "This place is all looks no substance"
The Rosemary bread was AMAZING (skip the overly salty olive dip) but otherwise the food was unmemorable. My braised short rib was NOT melting in my mouth and the marination did not soak all the way through the meat. The fish dishes were bland. Caesar salad was also bland. Cooked spinach had no flavor other than of olive oil and salt.
Charming, gorgeous waitresses and beautiful contemporary Italian decorations...but a slow kitchen with boring, expensive food gives CinCin only 2 stars.
P.S. Good luck getting a wheelchair or a stroller up the stairs -
Review from Richard N.
7/31/2011
Treated As Tourists - But The Men's Room Is Nice.....
My wife and I...plus her son, his wife and their 6 year old daughter...planned a 4 day vacation in Vancouver ahead of a 7 day cruise to Alaska. We did what all good Yelpers try to do and read a raft of reviews for the hotel and series of dinners. L'Hermitage was chosen as the place to stay ( it earned 5 stars ) while CinCin got nominated for the important "lead off" position as first evening meal of the week.
Although CinCin was located only 7 blocks from our hotel, the 15 minute walk up Robson Street was like passing through different neighborhoods varying from nice to "hold onto your purse and look straight ahead". As we approached the restaurant, things improved and my wife was able to let her guard down.
CinCin is an easy mark to miss. If you know the address, you'll see a sign by a set of steep stairs leading to the restaurant on the 2nd floor. When we walked in, our group felt transported from crowded streets to an upscale Mediterranean cafe with the open kitchen and playful air of spices promising an entertaining and enjoyable meal.
Our table for 5 was reserved, but instead of moving us to the outdoor patio overlooking Robson, the hostess said there was nothing else available other than the main room. Yes, it was very pretty, but the hustle and bustle were more conducive to a traffic cop than a patron paying a small ransom. It's like they stamped "tourist" on our party of 5 ( we were actually well dressed and behaved )
The menu at CinCin had many interesting items, mostly similar to an upper end Italian restaurant, but with hints of neighboring Mediterranean countries. The number of appetizers, salads and entrees provided hope for each of us, including our 6 year old granddaughter. The wine list was extensive, as you might imagine. Prices were in the ballpark for a restaurant with lofty goals, though that's still 2-3 times what you'd pay in a store.
Unfortunately, it's been several weeks since that meal and the 3 specific things I remember about the food were...the bread rolls were fantastic, my wife favored her fish dish and our daughter-in-law, a fellow Yelper with a very discriminating palate, said the food she sampled was good, but not impressive. Sorry for the memory lapse. Does that say more about the food or the state of my health?
Service was interesting. Our server was friendly and accommodating, though not necessarily knowledgeable. The dinner took 2 hours and 15 minutes which crossed the line of leisurely to slow. However, that's more a reflection on the kitchen than the waitstaff.
One other note. I like to check the men's bathroom because cleaning it can slip below the radar. At CinCin, it was actually quite nice and up-to-date.
Overall, you're looking at an Italian restaurant with generally good marks...but not quite as high as their pretensions.
Pros: Nice atmosphere. Good food. Great bread. Men's room worthy of a pit stop ( even if you don't need to go )
Cons: Unaccommodating hostess. Sloooooow service ( or kitchen ).
Ratings:
- Overall: 3
- Food Quality: 4
- Food Quantity: 3
- Menu: 4
- Wine List: 4
- Server: 3
- Kitchen: 2
- Hostess: 1
- Atmosphere: 4
- Men's Bathroom: 5 -
Review from Patricia L.
Vancouver, BC
10/3/2011
I was surprised to see some of the negative reviews about the service here. I rather like this place or perhaps, I've been lucky enough to have had positive experiences every time I've come here.
While it is more on the touristy-side, it is still one of the better Italian joints in town. Impeccable service (when I've gone) and while they are more on the high-end side of things, they seem to be a lot less pretentious than they could be and compared to many other places downtown.
Their fresh Rosemary Bread is fantastic. They have a grilled squid dish that is excellently made. The squid is perfect, never rubbery or overcooked. The pastas are great too. They also make one of the best espressos in the city.
I really like Lemon drinks and the bartender made his own version of fresh Limonata that was perfectly made too. Overall, CinCin's is a staple in downtown Vancouver that everyone should at least try once. -
Review from Cherry H.
Vancouver, BC
6/17/2011
I don't know what to say....Simply AMAZING!!!!
Best italian restaurant I've tried in town.
Severs are HOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!
They have great dished and desserts! You have to try their desert! -
Review from Marie L.
Vancouver, BC
2/7/2012
great wine selection, and romantic vibe. Defiantly the best italian date nite spot in the city. Robson is pretty busy, so not the greatest for post or pre-dinner walks but good for shopping.
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Review from Chrissy H.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2011
I really loved it! In addition to some of the best Italian that I have had in Vancouver, in contrary to what some of the other reviews said, I found the service to be just as sensational!
The interior design was as inspiring as the flavours and I was pleased with the menu as there were many seafood and vegetarian friendly dishes. I had the tagliatelle which was a melody of dungeness crab, grilled green onions in a pinot grigio cream sauce. The meal left me with a taste bud hang over; food the next day seemed so disappointing!
I love it when I am inspired by my meal and I walk out feeling like I had an experience not just a tasty dish (which it certainly was)
In addition, they get points for not having veal on their menu like so many other Italian restaurants; that among many other reasons will keep me coming back for more :) -
Review from Mark D.
12/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
While staying in Vancouver for the weekend I wanted to discover a great wood fire Pizza restaurant. I found CinCin Ristorante + Bar on yelp/trip advisor and the reviews looked very good. I made a reservation using Open Table. CinCin Ristorante + Bar is a sister restaurant of Blue Water and Café and a member of the toptable group of restaurants in Vancouver. I found the service exceptional. As soon as we stepped into the restaurant we were greeted and seated right away. The staff found a location to store the stroller and provided a table that was perfect for dinning with the family. CinCin Ristorante + Bar is located on Robson street above the stores and overlooks the street below. I believe there might be outside or patio dining area. A staircase leads you up to the restaurant.
I ordered a pizza from the wood fired oven which was perfectly cooked. I haven't had a good wood fired pizza for years while living in the United States. I would highly recommend looking at the wine list. If you are not sure what wine to get, ask to speak to the Wine Director. They have approximately 800 labels. The wine directory bottles her own wine label. I think it's called While speaking to the wine director she opened a bottle of her wine and poured me a glass. It was surprisingly very good. CinCin Ristorante + Bar was our favorite restaurant in Vancouver. I would highly recommend you check it out when staying in Vancouver. -
Review from Steven H.
7/10/2011
This place blew us away. I found it on OpenTable while searching for an Italian restaurant, then saw the rave reviews on Yelp! and decided to try it. So glad we did. The restaurant is up a flight of stairs from the street and is quite attractive in Mediterranean upscale way. We asked to eat out on the terrace, and were accommodated with a smile.
Our server, Peter, was charming and highly competent. He really knows the menu and was able to answer our many questions and make excellent recommendations. My appetizer of grilled calamari stuffed with chorizo, crisp pork belly, baby spinach and sweet, hot red peppers was a revelation. The caprese salad was also excellent.
My rigatoni with veal cheeks braised in red wine with trumpet mushrooms was SO GOOD! The pork chop was also outstanding.
We didn't have room for dessert, but were presented with very tasty petit fours. The food and service were outstanding. Highly recommend this place! -
Review from Deborah S.
Vancouver, BC
9/3/2011
Patio is extremely lovely, overlooking Robson, but the noisiness is masked by the tall green trees which is nice.
We started with the calamari ($16 - grilled, stuffed w/ chorizo pepper) which is a nice starter. Comes w/ 3 pieces of squid, 1 long piece of pork belly, a small bundle of spinach and a lovely sweet pepper sauce.
Next, I ordered the Rigatoni w/ veal cheeks & porcini & trumpet royal mushrooms ($18.50 / 27.50). The sauce is more sweet than savoury. The veal is very tender w/ the right amount of fat. The pasta is al dente, but not with too much bite. I thought adding the parsley was a good way to give it some freshness.
My friend ordered the Reginette ($15.00 / 23.50 bolognese), but with the Papardelle noodle instead. The papardelle is very light.
The server had said the mid-sized portions were appetizer-sized, so we ordered the full-size. We found this to be too much food in the end, so I would recommend ordering the mid-size only if you plan on ordering appetizers as well (unless you are big eaters). -
Review from Lisa L.
Vancouver, BC
3/18/2011
Love love love this place! Beautiful decor, elegant details, and food and service to die for. From the moment you walk in, you are treated to an experience to remember.
The servers were fantastic. They were courteous but not overbearing, professional but also friendly. We never ran out of wine or water and their recommendations made for a great experience to try things we normally wouldn't.
The food is good, but the prices are much more about the presentation and overall experience than what you are eating. We found sampling a variety of appetizers and desserts to be a lot of fun. But mostly, we just loved the experience of having a perfect dinner. -
Review from Jaye L.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2011 5 photos
Ingredient-driven, seasonal focus sets the tone for our menu, with distinctive dishes embracing the traditions of Italy..."
Hard to find entrance, beautiful staff.
Great authentic Italian food and the interior is gorgeous.. like the other reviewer said, perfect to bring a date.
Tremendously enjoyed the salumi appetizer &Lamb shank osso bucco.
Expensive but well worth it. Great selection of wines. Will definitely go back! -
Review from Jim C.
Lions Bay, BC
2/9/2012
An outstanding restaurant. Had the octopus with pesto pasta. unbelievable! I would go back but only for a special occasion.
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Review from Katie F.
Updated - 1/15/2011
Came here for NYE and the service was a bit spotty that night from the server (forgot to list the evening specials until he came by again later, drinks ran low) but otherwise the experience was very good.
Food is still top notch - bread service comes with a nice olive tapenade and was regularly filled as we ran low. We each had our own pizza to start - the mushroom one is fabulous!! One of my favorite pizzas in town! I also liked the prosciuotto one as well - the crusts are beautifully done. Hubby had the osso bucco and I went with the shortribs since they're not usually on the menu, along with the gnocchi. The sides on the dishes were OK but the meats were excellent.
Still one of my favorite Italian restos in GVR.Listed in: Making the most of your…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/23/2009
4.5 stars.
Mmmm, one of my fave Italian restos in town. I first came here as a tourist in Vancouver… Read more »
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Review from Jenny S.
Surrey, BC
2/5/2011
[Excellent food, but desserts fell short]
My experience during dine out 2011:
appie - the polpo appetizer was warm and had a chewy texture. Best appetizer for its value.
main course - the pork chop was absolutely delicious and it was much bigger than my expectation of CinCin's small portions. It was cooked to more than medium, but not dry, just the way I requested it.
dessert - to be honest I had really high expectation but the tiramisu fell short. It wasn't sweet or chocolatey as I like my desserts. The crust of the tiramisu was too hard to go well with the soft mascarpone.
ambiance - My friend and I had to yell at each other to have a conversation. It was very crowded and way too loud. The interior looks the same as most Italian restaurants.
service - great! nothing to complain. -
Review from Robin M.
Updated - 8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
They serve gluten-free bread and pasta. Best, best, best. Full stop. Best.
Listed in: My West End, Gluten Free Vancouver, Because I Love Me A Good Glass…, The Vancouver Epicurean
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2011
Personal antidote (naturally):
On my first visit to CinCin I had just graduated high school, was… Read more »
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Review from Bronwyn G.
North Vancouver, BC
3/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
As other reviewers have suggested, the price may or may not justify the dishes' size and fabulosity, but I think the overall experience contributes to justifying it.
The servers were all adults and all very professional. The waters and bread were never allowed to run out. The space was beautiful and well staffed.
For really great Italian at half the price, I'd take Campangolo. But for a really special night, Cin Cin could definitely work. -
Review from Harsha J.
Vancouver, BC
7/20/2011
This place is all looks no substance.
I have to hand it out to them for creating a very nice high end Italian restaurant look and feel right in the heart of downtown Vancouver. However the food was pretty disappointing. Tried the caesar salad, risotto, rigatoni, tiramisu all very average.
If you want great Italian food & fine dining, head over to Italian Kitchen on Alberni which is like 2 - 3 blocks from this place. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2011
**Review based on Company Client Event**
We rented the private dining room that seats up to 30 people - if you have more, then you can rent the dining area. You are seated in the most beautiful wine cellar with lovely rustic orange walls. A long table runs left to right and it is a little hard to mingle but perfect for a sit down.
As soon as people started coming in, the service came with it. Wine was always pouring and your glass was never empty... EVER. The service was courteous and not overbearing at all. They were respectful, friendly, and happy. Claudia was our main waitress. She had the most beautiful french accent it was the best of Europe - feeling like you're in France and Italy at the same time!
We got a 4 course group menu, with the world of options. I tried:
Course 1:
grilled tofino octopus, chorizo sausage, saffron potatoes and salsa verde - A fairly large plate for a first course - the octopus was not too firm, and the salsa verde was a little bitter but worked well with the octopus. There potatoes and sausage just added additional flavours to complete each bite.
Course 2:
risotto - carnaroli rice with yellow foot, black trumpet, hedgehog mushrooms grana padano - I love risotto so I was looking forward to this. It was really funny because the gentleman and I thought we thought we were actually eating hedgehog when it was MUSHROOMS. The dish was oh so creamy, and I wanted to lick the bowl.
Course 3:
lois lake steelhead trout, horseradish gnocchi with baby carrots
olive oil confit celery root and truffle butter sauce - After two courses, I was really full, but this wasn't going to stop me from keep on eating. The plate was huge. there were several pieces of gnocchi that were nicely seared and plump. The truffle butter sauce was rich and you wanted to make sure the trout was coated with every bite. The other people who got pork chop - that portion was about the size of my head.
Course 4:
I'm a big fan of Thierry Busset (can't wait for his bakery to open), but I was dying to try the tiramisu, although I heard the lemon tart is the best thing ever. The tiramisu came in a caramel flavoured weaved cracker-like-bowl, edible of course. It looked like a beautiful flower. To my surprise, it was mostly cream, very little lady finger, which was a bit heavy for my taste, but I still ate the whole thing because I just could not resist.
I was soooo impressed with everything. Even after everyone ordered ports, coffee, and we paid the bill, they let us stay for as long as we want and still kept coming in to make sure our water glasses were filled.
Their wine manager, Sarah, who was in charge of the wine restaurant that night was so accommodating and made sure our company logos were on the menus. The staff was friendly and never fussed about any requests that were made, especially all the times I had to get stuff from the coat room.
I could not have asked for a better night and if I had the wallet, I would be here ALL THE TIME. Yes, I know that private events can be different from a dinner for two, but I can only imagine great things. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 1/18/2011
Did we just spend $450 on dinner on a Monday night? Do I have to answer that? I suppose there's no shame in admitting it if you don't regret it, right?
I'm actually beginning to feel like there's no bad menu choice here. Although when we asked about the sea bass, our server warned us that it comes out as the whole fish with the head and tail (next please!).
What did we enjoy on Monday, you ask?
Starters: margherita pizza, fungi pizza, lobster risotto, veggie risotto
Main: fungi gnocchi, pesto rigatoni (gluten free!), rack of lamb, carb linguine, and spicy tomato fusilli ...and don't forget that all the pastas are made fresh daily!
Dessert: vanilla creme brulee with FRESH raspberry sorbet (to die for), panna cota, and tiramisu ...did you know that they're won "Best Last Course" for several years in a row? I would come back here JUST for the desserts!
I'm not gonna lie - we haven't eaten THAT much is a long time... and we were all thankful that the car was parked far away so we could actually walk it out!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/17/2010
If I could only use one word to describe my experience at CinCin, it would be: FABULOUS!
We came here… Read more »
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Review from Irena L.
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
A very nice place, although the room is a bit too open for me...it kinda looks like a big eatery. But once you get a chance to look at the details, it feels very warm and cozy. Service is great. Food was amazing! I tried octopus as an appetizer, which was absolutely delicious! Pork Chop was a lot of meat, ofc men at the table loved it:) and tiramisu to finish the meal, mmmmmm:)
Would recommend it, and am planning to go back for lunch, to try pasta and pizza! -
Review from Brittany G.
Vancouver, BC
12/18/2010 1 photo
Delicious afternoon meal; we ordered the Carpaccio (divine!), the funghi pizzette ( added black truffle,) and white truffle gnocchi (custom request.)
I am a truffle lover, so was delighted to hear there were multiple varieties on hand, and that the chef could create a gnocchi dish that would accommodate my preferences.
The waitress was knowledgeable enough to make great recommendations for each dish and had extensive wine knowledge re:pairings.
Food was excellent; top-quality yet unpretentious.
The service was the most impressive factor. Personable, knowledgeable, yet non-invasive. (Bonus points: the female server attire was actually professional and classy.)
The hostess initially sat us in a central area, but after a cozy corner table cleared out, our waitress offered to reseat the two of us before ordering. A ballsy suggestion, (moving once seated can be unsettling,) but the ambiance at the new table was exponentially better; her suggestion was a fantastic one and much appreciated.
Will definitely return. -
Review from Mark D.
2/22/2011
Quick review:
The food was very bland. Both my main course (chicken) and my friends (pasta) lacked any distinction. The service was excellent though. -
Review from Betty L.
2/14/2011
Everytime I dine at CinCIn, I always leave with a huge smile on my face. I dined here on several occasions and the quality is very consistent. Well, I came last night with my b.f. to celebrate V-day.
From the moment I walked in, the hostess was really friendly and quickly led me to my table. Our server shortly afterwards came to greet us. He was patient, knowlegeable, friendly and informative. As usual the food was very yummy. Even the olive tepenade for the bread was really good. Highlights of the meal:
1)Salad with apples, greens and fresh artichokes - sounds simple, right? It had just enough dressing, apples were fresh and the arichokes were young and tender. Eventhough it was my b.f.'s salad, I helped myself to a bit of it.
2)Grilled octopus with sausage, potatoes & salsa verde - The presentation was really nice. The octopus was cooked to perfection. It had a good balance of heartiness and lightness. The portion was good too.
3)Osso Bucco w/polenta- My b.f. found it to be a bit heavy. It would be helpful if it had some acidity and colour from tomatoes. Yet the meat was so moist and juicy. I helped myself to the marrow from the bone.
4)Steelhead trout with baby carrots, gnocchi & artichokes - The portion once again was good. The skin on the trout was nice and crispy. Too bad I wasn't a fan of carrots otherwise I would finish it. The gnocchi was tender.
The desserts were just as good. It was a very nice and satisfying meal. Always a pleasure to go back. Thinking about my next meal from them............ -
Review from Julie N.
9/9/2010
Top 5 meals of all time. And I have had a lot of meals.
I had the entree sized cannelloni di fagiano (pheasant cannelloni) and it was absolutely incredible.
The guy next to me at the bar had the rabbit dish and I swear I saw his eyes roll back in his head in sheer ecstasy.
Hubby enjoyed his dish, I think he got the pork chop. Honestly all I can remember was looking at my empty plate after I was finished and thinking, "I wish I could rewind my life an hour and eat that all over again."
Delicious. -
Review from John M.
9/8/2010
From the warm greeting upon our arrival to the charming setting, it was a homerun.
While the wine list was wildey expensive, the sommelier was able to direct us to a Spanish wine of wonderful quality for only $65.
My dinning companion never orders pasta in the evening and was so impressed by the range of gourmet choices, he ordered the cappellini wih tomato and lobster and smiled all evening. The other guests equally enjoyed their entrees.
