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DB Bistro Moderne - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
2563 W BroadwayVancouver, BC V6K
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 739-7115
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for DB Bistro Moderne
Review Highlights
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"Next time I'm coming back & trying the Coq Au Vin." In 3 reviews -
"But for brunch, definitely go for the Duck Poutine." In 4 reviews -
"My favourite dish had to be the smoked salmon crepe though." In 2 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from Karen L.
Richmond, BC
4/23/2011
Classy and romantic, and less $$$ than Lumiere.
I am sad this place has closed down too.... =(
They had the BEST Arctic Char, which was so creamy and scrumptious. -
Review from Allison F.
2/15/2011
A-OK I think sums up my experience last night. It was lovely but there were a couple of things that could have been improved.
In my head, I always celebrate Valentine's Day with a good friend of mine. Significant other or not, we hang out. Really, this was just our second year, but it seems like for forever. So, a few weeks ago, I cruised the dessert menu at DB and immediately made a reservation for 7pm.
We arrived and the hostesses were super nice and asked to take my coat. Our little table was right by the entrance to the kitchen and washroom area, which made it a little busy but not bad. While deciding what we would like to drink, a little stool appeared at the side of our table and one of the managers informed me it was for me to place my giant purse on. Lovely touch, though originally made me think someone was coming over to join us.
We decided on wine and the apple bourbon sour to drink. My cocktail wasn't as sweet as I had expected but the strong bourbon taste quickly grew on me and it was very good. A little bread basket with foccacia, sourdough, and french bread was brought out for us to sample. All were very good and I liked that the butter was sprinkled with sea salt. For dinner, we ordered the coq au vin and steak frites. Our server was very patient with our multiple questions and always ran to the kitchen to check if he was unsure of the answer.
Our meals were quick to arrive and looked delicious. My steak frites came with a little side salad and my friend's coq au vin came with a little cast iron dish of spaetzle. My new york strip steak wasn't the most tender and other than the peppercorn sauce it's served with, didn't have much seasoning on it. The side salad was delicious and had little crispy fried onions thrown in it. The fries would have been good but had so much salt on them that my mouth was burning after a couple of bites. More salt on the steak, less on the fries please! The coq au vin arrived in a rich sauce and the chicken was well done. Not very moist but had a nice flavor. The skin wasn't very appetizing but was easy to push to the side. The spaetzle was delicious and the dish included wild mushrooms and pearl onions.
We were most excited about dessert and it definitely did not disappoint. I had the pumpkin sundae and my friend had the chocolate salted caramel tart. My sundae consisted of a pumpkin mousse, crumbled pie crust, ginger ice cream, and a creme brulee whipping cream. Everything was delicious, though I didn't find the ginger ice cream to be very gingery. The chocolate tart is unsweetened chocolate and is a bit of a bitter taste, though goes well with the salt. Their listing of ice creams you could order looked fantastic and I was pretty sure I should have ordered a bunch of desserts for dinner instead.
By the time we left around 9, the restaurant was packed. Overall our server was very informative and we were checked in on by the management several times to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. I would definitely return for dessert, especially around brunch for their bottomless champagne cocktails. Mmmmm!! -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2010
Came here to celebrate my friends birthday. The food took awhile to come out, but with a group so large, that can be expected. What I didn't expect was not being able to pay the bill when I needed to leave.
When I asked for the bill the server offered to split all the bills equally but that was a preposterous offer, with some people ordering bottomless mimosas and others coffee. It just doesn't make sense for the non-drinkers to pay for the drinkers. We told him we would like to pay for our portion of the bill. Then waited... and waited.
After 30 minutes of waiting I walked up to the perturbed-looking server and told him I had to leave and needed to pay. He said I'd have to wait as he was dividing up the water on each bill. I was not aware that we ordered water, so I was surprised that this was why it was taking so long, but let it slide. It couldn't have been too much, right? I mean, we were all drinking other things, with water there as the staple offering. It didn't make sense why it was so hard to divide.
I waited longer. I went up a second time and told him that I had to leave and needed to pay ASAP. He told me the bill would be ready in a few minutes. It wasn't.
Finally the server brought out some individual bills to seats. The first group saw their bills and then protested the addition of water on the bill. It turns out DB was charging our table for over $200 worth of water!
Some of the frustrated crew protested the water charge, as we had not ordered bottled water.
The Maître d' was frustrated (he had been helping the server to pore over the apparently difficult math problem) and insisted that the birthday girl ordered the water. The birthday girl insisted that she didn't, and when offered sparkling or still, chose still, assuming it was tap water. It was a wrong assumption, fair enough. But $200 for water? Come on.
I just wanted to leave (I was quite late at this point for my appointment). With attitude, the Maître d' insisted that he would not take it off our bills, however more frustrated guests complained and he begrudgingly gave in, and with a snarky voice said that it would now take even longer to wait for our bills.
Completely frustrated (I just wanted to leave, and didn't care about the water charge) I insisted that I didn't have the luxury of waiting to adjust the bill and needed to pay now. He started to ring me in at that point (finally) and he did take the water charge off (but the annoyance had already been caused). I was so frustrated at being held up for so long and treated so poorly. I haven't received such bad service all year. I will not come back.
When you've got to go, you've got to go...Listed in: 1-2 Stars.
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Review from Betty L.
12/9/2010
Went to DB's for the winemaker's dinner with my boyfriend on a Tuesday night. I was really looking forward to a nice meal because of the food and wine pairings. We sat at the table and had dinner with three other couples.
I started the evening with a cocktail called white lady and it was pretty good. However that couldn't be said for the first food and wine pairing course. The rose was flat and the flambee ddin't have much ingredients on there. I couldn't decide whether the wine was opened and used for quite some time or the wine itself was just too one dimensional. Others agreed with me.
Next came the cassoulet. The portions were tiny and quite deconstructed, so there wasn't much to eat. The red wine was ok because it had a short finish. After that they brought the beef duo. Personally found the beef to be too raw and a bit tough. My partner agreed with me. They should asked how cooked we wanted our beef but they ddin't do that. The braised beef was pretty good because it had a lot of flavour and it was moist too. The wine was amazing. It went really well with the beef.
For dessert we had chocolate tart with a glass of Banyul. Both were pretty good.
At the end of the day, I felt it wasn't that memorable. Thank goodness I had great conversations with other diners at the table. -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
1/26/2009
Daniel Boulud has come to Canada from New York (or at least his name has). Apparently some of the little things came from the States as well - the little comment card at the end of the meal is U.S. style asking for State and Zip Code. Hello? Province and postal code please? This is not the 51st State. I wasn't sure if I should write Canada as the state just to keep Daniel happy. But I digress....
Amusing story of the evening - they have a row of unisex washrooms that are each labeled WC. I saw an elderly gentleman that was clearly originally from overseas looking at the first door for a while, and then decide that W must mean women. He went to the next door, and decided "wrong again" and kept going down the line. He got to the end and looked desperate. I opened one of the doors for him and told him it was "ok." He looked so relieved! There I go digressing again....
The service was precise and omnipresent. It was similar to the floating waitstaff at a very busy weekend dim sum place in Richmond. I actually appreciated that the entire team was helping each other, jumping on empty plates whenever they saw them and refilling water glasses, etc. The buzz of activity also creates a bit of an energy to the room (which was nicely renovated from the previous Feenie's space).
The chef (no - not Daniel - local talent Stephane Istel instead) sent an amuse of gruyere and parmesan puff. It arrived warm and had a nice (but not overpowering) saltiness from the cheese. The sommelier was quick to arrive, and knew his wine selection extremely well. He was able to gracefully discuss every wine on the list and know exactly what characteristics each demonstrated. We selected a white burgundy and red bordeaux. Both were superb, and not as terribly marked up as you might expect.
The bread basket was the disappointment of the evening. Three types of breads - but they were of mass bakery quality (like a Terra breads) and not served warm. They clearly had been heated and sat so that the edges were overly hard, yet cold. Not a winner. The replacement basket was no better (although a bit warmer). They need to fix this with some housemade bread pronto! Come on, Daniel!
The tuna tartar had a beautiful plating with the tartar in a circle and covered in a raita. There were two horizontal and vertical lines of gelée (one was yuzu flavoured and the other was chipotle flavoured), and a coriander tuile. The round and linear shapes combined beautifully. The tuna was good, but had a few sinewy parts. The raita could have had a little more fermented flavour. The tuile was superb. I love the idea of using coriander like that. The gelée provided a nice accent as well. Overall a good dish.
The salad covered a mound of herbed goat cheese which provided a nice contrast of textures and flavours. Small diced butternut squash and toasted pumpkin seeds rounded out the dish.
The pot au feu was a generous portion of fork tender hangar steak that had been braised perfectly. There was a selection of root veggies including turnips and carrots. It blended extremely well. There was a promise of bone marrow as well, but I could not detect it anyplace in the dish unfortunately as it is one of my favourites. The broth was slightly over salted, but highlighted the beef nicely.
The arctic char was the highlight of the evening. It was perfectly seared so the skin was nice and crispy and the flesh of the fish was moist and tender. Perfect. It had a light butter sauce and a side of cauliflower puree. Beautiful dish.
Bruno Feldeisen's (who has had stints at the Four Seasons in NY, the Highlands Inn in Carmel, the Wikaninnish Inn in Tofino, Malisa in SF, and most recently Senses in Toronto) desserts were superb. The blueberry lemon tart was served with a side of tart yogurt sorbet which was incredibly palate cleansing. The tart itself was served warm and had candied strips of lemon zest to punch up the flavour. The chocolate coupe was served as a sundae with a nicely flavoured coffee ice cream on top of chocolate crispy rice and topped with chocolate mouse. A very decadent dessert that was the perfect ending to the meal.
Overall there are still a few little kinks that need to be worked out, but it was a pleasant meal and I will return to give them another shot and see how things develop. I imagine they will perfect the menu and improve over time - or go terribly downhill and just trade on the name alone. I'm hoping it is the first, but fearful of the other option. In any case, if it doesn't work out, I'm sure Daniel will be opening up plenty of other restaurants in his empire since he is now in international expansion mode!Listed in: Vancouver European Food
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Review from Phil S.
Vancouver, BC
6/21/2009
Definitely one of my most memorable dinners, everything from the food to the service was top notch. I have to give this review one star short of WooHoo cuz I wasn't super pleased with our table which was smack in the centre of the restaurant. Tho I could've ask for a table change, the other options weren't any better cuz by the wall tables had only a few inches between them and that is a pet peeve to be within spitting distance from other diners. Anyhoo, having said that, they deserve EVERY single star for their stellar food.
We started with tarte flambe and boy oh boy, it was a perfect appy to have, freshly baked with onions, bacon and cheese sitting on top of thin crust, I cannot rave enuf about this dish, if you go, order this as an appy. We had the lobster salad and the pork chop as our entrees. And I can honestly say I have never had a better pork chop cuz I have never had pork this juicy, literally so tender I could cut with my fork. A thick cut sits on top of fava beans and a creamy green pea coulis, it was tres tres delicious! My spouse who almost abhors pork gave it a try and ACTUALLY asked for another piece from me. I have no idea how pork could be this tender.
We ended our meal with a simple flourless chocolate cake reminiscent of the lava cake (my favourite) and it was accompanied by tiny scoops of chocolate and vanilla bean ice cream, a perfect ending.
Service was amazing, attentive but not imposing.
While we were walking out, I was completely sated and cannot wait to return, just to have that chop again. -
Review from Stephanie K.
Vancouver, BC
10/27/2010
This restaurant is acceptable. However it does not live up to my expectations. The madelines of course are amazing and the Gnocchi was fantastic. But I have had friend who have complaints about the fish. The chocolate desert is much too rich and dense. I would say 3.5 stars. Its a nice place to go for just a dinner out but save your special occasions for somewhere better.
Comparing it to 'Daniel' in New York... its not even in reach.... -
Review from Daniel B.
2/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Rock star dinner.
I'd love to say that we came here because it was highly recommended and widely acclaimed... I'd love to say that we came here because it's consistently ranked amongst the best restaurants in the country...but that would be a complete and utter lie. The honest truth is that we ended up coming here because my initials are DB and for some stupid reason I gravitate towards things with my initials on it. It's the same reason I ended up on the damn German railroad for a month.
That being said, what a phenomenal restaurant.
Upon walking in, even though the Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey team was in the room, we were treated like the most important customers in the restaurant. That's an outstanding trait for a place of this caliber to have. Every patron is truly an important guest. We were amazed at how well we were received and how warm a welcome we were given. It set the tone for the entire evening.
The drink menu is outstanding and the bar is well stocked. Several creative cocktails are made from in-house ingredients. Victoria Gin, Absinthe, Whisky Bitters, Salivation, more, more, more.
Our Maitre'D was absolutely perfect. Conversation points were delivered in a non-intrusive manner while providing an educated glimpse into the cosmopolitan scene of this wonderful city.
The atmosphere of this gorgeous space is active while being relaxed. The food is delivered in generous portions and is flavorful and rich. Service is impeccable. I wish that I could eat these words as I write them.
Undoubtedly the best part of the night was our unrushed conversation with the proprietor of the restaurant, David, who provided us with outstanding insight while making us feel at home.
Strongly recommended. -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
5/14/2009 4 photos
I think this urban restaurant belongs in Downtown Vancouver along the likes of Market and Italian Kitchen. It's a lunch spot for corporate bigwigs. But I can't complain they opened in Kits. With abundant free parking around the area, I'm actually glad they did.
I'm sure we all know who Daniel Boulud is by now. I'm very sad I am not able to watch his "After Hours" TV show here in Vancouver. Are there any plans to bring Mojo HDTV at all? But I digress.
Let's not fool ourselves and beat around the menu, we're first and foremost here for the original db burger. It's not your run of the mill patty. It's a top sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs and black truffle (truffle!) for a whopping CAD28.00 the width of a dollar menu burger item, but the height of a few burgers stacked on top of each other. The burger arrives split into two with a plate of fries.
I went there for brunch so my review is reserved for that. How else can you compliment a burger, but by pairing some belgian waffle and a classic eggs benedict. The taste is delicate and light. There's no over-powering of one spice which makes it perfectly well balanced, in my opinion.
The price is as expected for a restaurant with a name attached to a highly acclaimed chef.
Ambiance and decor is definitely top notch for a bistro. Perfect for lunch. Perfect for groups and family gathering especially for Sunday brunch.
Will definitely be coming back and definitely recommend the place.Listed in: French Connection, GENERATION K
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Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2009
We went here for lunch today, and this is quite possibly the best lunch I have ever had at a Vancouver restaurant! I tried lunch at Market by Jean-George last week & this one wins for my choice, though it is more expensive.
I had the set menu for $24 I think, which was an appy & plat du jour. On the set menus you can have an appy & entree or entree & dessert (choices of 3 for appy & dessert). The prices vary for entrees but from $23 - $28. I started with the country duck pate. Very good. Served with mustard, onion jelly, cornichon, pickled onion. Bread basket was delivered with 3 different types, all warm & refilled when entree arrived. My friend had soup of the day which was potato leek & she said it was very tasty.
I orderd the special, which was duck leg with home made fettucine with a tomato confit, with spinach & green beens. The confit was more like a gravy, it was absolutely delicious!!! I did find it a tad salty, but I don't use salt so that may be why. I cleaned the bowl, eating every last bite, then taking bread to mop up the gravy. The bowl was spotless when I was done! My friend had the black cod which she said was wonderful. The table beside us ordered coq au vin, and I seriously wish I would have ordered that! It looked divine - served with spaetzle too! My friend and I seriously debated jabbing our forks into her dish for a taste!
We had coffee/tea after & they brought us complimentary warm madeleines for dessert - they were lemon flavoured. I tried one, so tasty but I'm not a dessert gal. My friend polished them off like nobody's business!
Next time I'm coming back & trying the Coq Au Vin!!! Loved lunch!!!! -
Review from Dan T.
4/28/2010
Lured in by the prospect of trying the db burger for a relatively mere $28 CDN (compared with $32 USD - hey, makes a difference when the CDN is weak!), I decided to make a trip out to the Moderne while I was back home.
The burger was a rather bulbous concoction at first glance, but skillfully cut down the middle to reveal the remarkably filled patty center. Just within the edges of the patty lay a generous layer of braised short rib, which added a nice textural contrast and flavour to each bite.
The center of the patty showcased an unexpectedly large piece of fois. However, it was not as lush as one would expect, and did not do much more than impress me with the fact that they just crammed an expensive piece of engorged duck liver into a hamburger patty.
Although the fois did not distract from the burger, I can't say that it ultimately added much to the experience. I may not have the most discerning palate around, but with all the fat and flavour already in the mix, I can't say that I could taste the black truffle that was allegedly blended into the beef.
BTW, thank you for the amuse - but why are you charging me $9 for petit fours? -
Review from Joseph L.
Vancouver, BC
7/8/2010
It's no secret that I enjoy BIG wines. The only thing to pair with big wines is food that will give you a heart attack. That said, THE BURGER at DB Moderne is out of this world. Sure its pricey, it has to be once you see what they put in it.
I truly look forward to my next opportunity to shorten my life-span at the hands of the master that makes this dish. -
Review from Daniele D.
8/23/2010
3.5 maybe 4.
I was sold the burger as the best in the world. It was good, very good, but not amazing. But then again I am a purist, the pizza margherita guy so perhaps I don't get it. Beef with short ribs and fois gras? Too much.
Good apologetic service, as necessary and as you'd expect. Attentive and ready to step in (for their shortcomings). -
Review from Colleen C.
Vancouver, BC
2/26/2009
I've been to DB Morerne Bistro a few times just for drinks, but one evening we had dinner and another evening, we had bar snacks. I would recommend absolutely anything on this menu.
Cameron, the head bartender, is a true master mixologist and makes, hands down, the best gin martini I've ever had.
The food. Wow, the food was to die for, and the service has always been fantastic. We ordered wine pairings to go with our meal and the pairings were spot on.
When we had bar snacks, the confit chicken wings were tender and flavourful, the cheese plate and charcuterie plates were good, but probably not something I would get again.
I will, no matter what, go back to DB again and again, if only just to have those confit chicken wings and one of Cameron's beautiful beverages! -
Review from Michael H.
Calgary, AB
8/30/2010
I don't think it deserves a 5-star, nor do I think it deserves a 4-star, but Yelp doesn't allow 1/2 stars. So consider this a 4.5-star review.
To begin, the chef brought us this amuse-bouche. Cannot recall what it was called, but it was this little spicy fried fritter, sitting on a little bed of spicy sauce. It was delicious, the hit of spice was just right, it was not overwhelming in the least. My only complaint is that once finished, the server swooped in to clean the plates, while I wanted to finger up the remaining sauce.
For starters, my dining partner ordered the soup de jour, a joyous bowl of Chilled Gazpacho. Really flavourful. The cucumber note really added to the refreshing coolness of the dish. Yowzers is probably the best way I can put it. A 5-star soup. Tremendous.
I ordered the Wild Mushroom Tartes Flambées as my starter. The Alsatian Flatbread, upon which the mushroom rested, was unremarkable, just a crisp flatbread. Some sort of seasoning encrusted into the bread would have been nice. One could say that seasoning the flatbread would have taken away from the delicate flavours of the wild mushrooms. I think I'd disagree, and suggest that proper seasoning would have complimented the wild mushroom topping. A 4-star starter, in this case.
For main courses, I had the Bouillebaise Provencale, while my dining partner had the Top Sirloin Burger Filled with Braised Short Ribs and Black Truffle (aka The DB Burger.)
The bouillebaise was a little meager, basically one type of each seafood (though a couple mussels) and the broth. It was incredibly tasty. I did indeed finish every last morsel and drop.
I will agree with my dining partner that a burger should be able to be eaten as a burger. Not so with the DB Burger. It has to be ate with knife and fork. That is a quibbling complaint, because it was delicious. The pork and black truffle stuffing was very nice, though I could have done with a little more truffle taste (I'd gather there's not much in the way of actual truffle and more in the way of truffle oil.)
The service was impeccable. And don't be fooled by the "dressy" dress code people are giving to this place. It is more business casual. A golf shirt and some khakis would do fine here. This is Vancouver after all.
I would return here. Not soon, far too many other places to try, but I would return again in a year or so. -
Review from Karen R.
5/1/2010 7 photos
Tonight we tried db bistro for the first time. It was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a very long time.
First - the space is gorgeous, it's sleek and modern but very warm and inviting at the same time. I loved the black glass sliding door.
The service was fantastic. The host staff was very friendly and all greeted us with a smile, which is unusual in Vancouver. After they took my coat, I sat down and waited for my friend to walk in. They didn't hassle us right away for drinks - we took time to go through the extensive bar menu and got GREAT recommendations from one of the staff (not sure who he was - wasn't a waiter and I don't think he was a manager...). Let the games begin!!
Le Scandale - A cocktail with earl grey, bitters, absinthe, and other good stuff. It tasted like a less harsh chinotto - I would say this is the best cocktail I've had in Vancouver.
Le Frenz Muscat - oh holy hell this is the best muscat I've had in a while. it paired very very well with my dessert (see below).
Tarte Fine Provencal - beautiful. The puff pastry was light and airy with the right amount of eggplant, cheese and tomato. The peppery touch of the arugula made it one delicious mediterranean bite after another.
Pork Terrine - again, delicious. Fresh, flavourful and just meaty goodness.
Rock Hen Duo - the potato puree was smooth and creamy. It didn't taste starchy at all. Now comes the good part...the hen. Perfectly cooked - juicy with crispy skin, lots of flavour.
Potato Gnocci - light as a cloud these little bites of magic burst with flavour in your mouth. Mmmmmmm.....
Rhubarb Sundae - yum yum yum. A huge helping of whipped cream, rhubarb and oatmeal crisp.
Tarte au Citron - the lemon tart was phenomenal. It doesn't hurt that lemon is my favourite dessert flavour. It came with a meringue-type topping and cassis sorbet on the side. Light and refreshing, the perfect way to end a perfect meal.
Overall, this place lived up to everything I heard. I admit I'm a little surprised only because we went during Dine Out where all these places have to pump out copious amounts of the same dishes. They did not sacrifice anything tonight. Mad props to the chef, the wait staff and the whole establishment. I will definitely come back for real.Listed in: Girls Night Out - Downtown…
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Review from Nadine N.
Vancouver, BC
1/29/2009
I recently had dinner at DB Bistro for Dine Out. While I was quite impressed by the food, I was less than thrilled with the service.
I ordered the prix fixe meal, while my wife ordered a la carte. Both of our main courses were awesome. She had the herb crusted sablefish, which was prepared in a way that I've never had sablefish before. It seems the trend is to prepare it in a somewhat sweet miso glaze so I was excited to try something new. She also ordered a side of mixed greens. For $8 we'd hoped for something a little more interesting than lettuce. I had the tuna tartar to start. It was decent, but not that flavourful. I did really enjoy my entree of seared artic char. For dessert I had the blueberry lemon tart, which was as tart as it sounds. Not something I'd order again. My wife had a chocolate creme brulee and it was love at first bite.
Service was not so hot. No one brought us bread. No one checked on us between delivering our orders. I get that they were really busy due to restaurant week, so I can let that stuff go. What really irked me though was that our waitress gave us the wrong credit card receipts to sign and even worse, gave us back the wrong credit card. We wouldn't have noticed except for the fact that the bill was less than we'd expected. We asked the people at the next table if they got our bill and at that point we realized that we had each others credit cards in our respective wallets. Thank goodness we noticed or else we would have had to cancel our credit cards. I pointed out the mistake to the waitress who didn't seem all that concerned about the error.
All in all, it was a good meal. I'm willing to give them another try when they aren't as busy. -
Review from Ben C.
Victoria, BC
9/4/2009
My wife and I decided to try DB Bistro Moderne as we have previously enjoyed eating at Daniel Boulud's restaurant in the Wynne Hotel in Las Vegas. DB Bistro did nothing to disappoint and in fact we both agreed that it was one of the finest meals we have ever had.
The service was terrific, just the right note of friendliness without trying too hard.
Every course we had was excellent. I ordered the escargot and chicken oysters fricassee while my wife ordered the lobster salad. Both dishes were great. Our main courses were the pork special and duck. All eight preparations (the pork was served six ways and the duck was prepared two ways) were terrific, and the accompaniments served to heighten the enjoyment of the meal.
It was a meal that we will be using to judge future restaurants and we will definitely be returning. -
Review from Reena M.
5/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
The food gets a solid 3.5-4 stars. The pork terrine appetizer was amazing and perfectly executed. All the condiments were made in house. The flavours were all so great and it was so artistically plated. The bread doesn't seem to be made in house though. For mains, I had the rock hen duo, which was good. The best part about it was the smooth mashed potatoes. The hen was perfectly cooked though and the flavours were all just right. The dessert was nice--Tarte au Citron or lemon tart. It was a bit sour but it's the nature of the dessert. I especially enjoyed the cassis sorbet with this.
But here are the few drawbacks that cost the extra star:
When we first arrived, they were behind schedule and we had to wait for a while, which was okay. When there was space to sit in the lounge, we were sat there and they said we could order drinks. However they didn't bring menus until at least 10-15 mins later. And then before they could come around to take drink orders they sat us at our table.
Then, the last thing was that we had sparkling mineral water, which our server then topped up half way through our meal with tap water. Not even a mention of if we would like another mineral water.
In summary, the food was okay-good. Service needs a little improvement.
Oh an on a final note, the Reina Rosa cocktail was fantastic! I highly recommend it! -
Review from Nick K.
7/8/2010
Had a somewhat disappointing meal here last weekend on our trip to Vancouver. We started off by deciding to order a couple of cocktails instead of go with wine. I tried the Police Gazette and my wife tried the Aviation. Mine was so-so, but hers was not very good at all. Neither of us could finish it and we decided to switch to wine after that.
For our meal, we started with Gruyere and Bacon flatbread and the Duck pate. Both were ok but neither were great. For our meals, we had the NY's original db burger and the bouillabaisse brovencale. The burger was pretty tasty, but the fries that came with it were mushy. The bouillabaisse broth was great, but some of the fish served in it wasn't so hot.
The location seemed kind of odd, but the service was pretty good. I don't think we would go back were we ever to come back to Vancouver. -
Review from Joseph G.
7/3/2010 4 photos
What an Awesome Experience. Ive always wanted to come here in the states. Who would of know I would go to canada and try it there? Our experience was soo good. I ordered the original db burger. It was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned . Perfect everything. The chef even gave us a complimentary smoked salmon crepe with hollandaise. Perfect start along with duck confit poutine. Another heaven on a plate dish.
I was so impressed on how everything worked in the burger. I cant wait to have another. Also the service was on point! very nice and friendly waitstaff. -
Review from Daphne H.
6/23/2009
Wow! Db modern has not failed to disappoint! Came for brunch at had the duck poutine lyonnaise and was very impressed.
Table for 6 ordered 9 dishes and rolled out very satisfied. Honourable mentions: brioches French toast & smoked salmon club. Heard the db burger is overrated & not worth the $28.
Would live to try dinner here...it's no Daniel but would expect it to be not too shabby! But for brunch, definitely go for the Duck Poutine! :D -
Review from Sam L.
8/22/2010 1 photo
I love this place!!! I would fly here once a month if I had a lot of expendable cash and plenty of spare time. I'm so glad that Lumiere was fully booked and couldn't take any walk-in reservations forcing us to stumble upon DB.
I want to first start off by saying how beautiful the restaurant is and how accommodating and pleasant the serving staff is. In the beginning I didn't feel like we belonged, but the serving staff was so welcoming it made the experience comfortable and easy going.
For my meal, I ordered the three course Prix Fix Dinner. The soup du jour wasn't that great, that might be due to the fact I'm not a soup girl, but the other two courses was a dream come true. The main course was a coq au vin w/spaetzle topped with a Peach Sundae for desert. Believe me when I say OMG!!!!!!! I had coq au vin before, but never like this, it made me fall in love with food all over again. It was the perfect meal, perfect balance of ingredients.
Now that I've tasted good food I can never go back!!! Darn you DB, you've spoiled me. -
Review from Steph L.
9/25/2010 11 photos
3.5 stars.
I went to Lumière the last time I visited Vancouver and had one of the best meals of my life, so naturally, I wanted to see if their sister restaurant db Bistro also lives up to the Daniel Boulud name. The space is decidedly more casual than Lumière, but still very sleek and modern. Lining the front of the restaurant are floor-to-ceiling windows that allow ample sunlight to spill into the dining area. Natural light makes me happy, and happy Steph has a big appetite :)
I started with a virgin Caesar (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). [I've been obsessed with this drink ever since I found out you can't get them in the States. Seriously.] They season it a little differently and it was one of the tastiest Caesars I've ever had, with just the right amount of spice.
My mom and I started with "appetizers" of BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) and BELGIAN WAFFLE (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). I absolutely LOVED the French toast! The bread was sweet and so incredibly moist it rendered the maple syrup almost unnecessary. It had a custard-y texture that made me think of a super soft and moist bread pudding. The Belgian waffles, on the other hand, were just meh. I would've liked them bigger and fluffier.
We then had the bacon & onion TARTE FLAMBE (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...), which although not on the brunch menu is available by request. I liked this a lot--from the crispy thin flatbread to the smoky bacon and tangy and creamy fromage blanc. Eat it fast though, it's not nearly as good once the flatbread gets cold and soggy.
For our "mains" we got the DUCK POUTIN LYONNAISE (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) and SMOKED SALMON CREPE special (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). The duck poutine was a nice gourmet take on traditional poutine (another dish you can't find in the US). I loved the duck confit, duck jus, cheese curds, and sunny side up egg all mixed together--very, very hearty! The homefries were cooked well and the duck was salty and delicious--I just wish there was more of it! My favourite dish had to be the smoked salmon crepe though. Filled also with two perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs (with GORGEOUS bright orange yolks that made me think of boobies), heirloom tomatoes, goat cheese, and basil, the flavour combination was absolutely amazing. The pièce de résistance had to be the Hollandaise sauce it was smothered in, which had the most wonderful kinda caramel-y flavour. But, again, I wished there was more smoked salmon.
We ended with two desserts: the FIG TART (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) and their special STRAWBERRY FLAMBÉ CREPE (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). To be honest, these were a bit of a let down. I love figs, (like really LOVE figs) but cooking them kills their delicate flavours and textures. Plus, the ice cream was unremarkable and the pastry crust a little dense and not very flaky. The saving grace was the sweet crème anglaise with loads of vanilla flavour. The strawberry crepe was served with mascarpone mousse, toasted almonds, basil, and ice cream. It was actually pretty tasty, but nothing all that special and definitely not worth $14.
It was a good enough brunch, but not really worth a return visit--especially since I already ate most of the dishes I wanted to try =PListed in: Brunch Crunch!
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Review from Tom G.
Vancouver, BC
1/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had one of the worst meals of my life here the other night. Ordered the short rib pasta, way way to salty and the short ribs had more fat then meat. Very disappointed.
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Review from Elvis A.
12/6/2010
I tried DB for brunch. Reservation was straight forward via open table. I went in at 11 and most of the place was empty on Sunday. It did get packed around noon. I just ordered the DB burger as I really wanted to have good burger after a while. They have bottomless Caesars for 20$ and 27$ fixed for Champagne cocktails. I decided to stick with the Champagne drinks. Service was prompt and courteous. They did take some time to bring the burger which gave me more time to work on my Kir Royale :)
When the burger arrived it looked pretty good I had ordered it medium as I am a bit apprehensive ordering ground beef rare ( I do eat all my steaks rare though) it looked beautiful. I decided to try the fries first which were just right IMO. The burger showed some short-rib stuffing. With a small piece of Foie Gras. I am Foie Gras luver but couldn't taste it in this burger. The burger was very nice a juicy. The bun was nice and did well to catch all the dripping juices. Good burger 4 star IMO. Foie Gras is being wasted and I wish they just put it on the side :)
I did enjoy all their champagne drinks though very good value IMO as I don't think anyone else serves Champagne cocktails for this price and this good. I wanted to cleanse my palate afterwards so I ordered the trio of sorbet. unfortunately they only had pina colada and raspberry. I like the raspberry pina colada was ho hum. Good option for brunch in my opinion specially if you want to drink Champagne :)
I will come back for sure. -
Review from Seann G.
Vancouver, BC
12/16/2008
4 of us went to DB for dinner during its opening week. We had to try "the burger", which was $28 - a patty stuffed with shortrib meat, fois gras and black truffle. We ordered one for the table, cut it into 4 and had a few bites each, along with a few frites. While it was good, I don't think I need to pay $28 for it again. The main courses were all very good, the tuna, creamy veal stew, sablefish and duck confit w/Poutine. The grilled tuna with hummus, cucumber raita and harrisa chicken jus stood out as the best dish at the table. I was disappointed to see that the dishes didn't encompass locally sourced ingredients (or at least didn't mention them), but I guess that is par for the course for Daniel's restaurants and this may not bother the crowd that they attract. None of us wanted dessert, although they looked good. We asked them to bring an apple tart to the table, it was very nice, but nothing to write home about.
The wine and cocktail list were priced at a premium, but none more than any restaurant in this category. The service was what you'd expect on opening week when Daniel Bouloud was in the restaurant. Our server was noticeably nervous, as were a few of the other folks, I take it this will get better as the restaurant matures. Either way, the service was a bit fussy for my liking.
I really liked Feenies and the price-point at DB is ~20% more and it is a more casual environment, which appeals to a diner that doesn't want to venture to Lumiere. With that said, DB is a high-end bistro and they priced themselves as such (most of the entrees are $28). With all the great places to eat in Vancouver, my personal preference is to hit somewhere that is more authentic in it's feel, food and service. One caveat, I do see myself hitting it for brunch, as the menu looks great. -
Review from Joanne L.
Richmond, BC
3/18/2010
The hype for db Bistro is overrated, there is nothing spectacular or really special about it, there are much better restaurants in town at this price level. Our server had poor attitude, no energy, and did not appear to enjoy his work at all. The food was good, although just average for a restaurant of this caliber. The best part was the dessert, perfectly balanced and truly delicious, I will definitely go back for dessert if I were to try the restaurant again.
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Review from Becky L.
1/5/2009
There was some hype and intrigue about this new restaurant so we had to test it out. We sat at the bar and had cocktails before heading out of town. I a had gin drink with egg whites and other mixers served in a champagne glass that was delicious. I really liked it and it was easy to sip on for the evening. Our entree was a double serving of pig: tenderloin with sauerkraut and pork belly with horseradish coleslaw and bacon jus. The crispy belly was delicious and juicy and full of flavor, which made up for the surprisingly bland tenderloin. With sauerkraut even! Sans flavor altogether.
The service was good - our waiter was a bit chatty, but I encouraged it. And the hostesses all need a cupcake - too much collarbone to look at while I'm eating a pig 10 feet away.
I would go back and try again, but after hitting so many Vancouver musts, this would go on the 'if we have time and money to burn' list. -
Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
7/6/2009
OK I went to the soft opening, something I normally don't do, that's the confession. Now I have been back twice and it is that good. Vancouver needs more celebraChefs as they know how to run a service business something many restaurants in Vancouver have no clue about, why open a service business then abuse your potential repeat customers?? These guy are smooth and offer great service, everyone else has commented on their food, I'll say the burger is that great try it.
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Review from heather B.
9/17/2010
One of my favorites in town. Love it!
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Review from Alex D.
Vancouver, BC
8/9/2010
I am going against a lot of love for the DB Burger and saying it is decidedly average. Zero char on the burger and it was also under seasoned. The bread was soggy and you have to eat it with a knife and fork. I did enjoy the flavours but as a burger it is a quite off the mark. Dishes such as the duck terrine and the gnocchi were very good as were the desserts. Service was excellent and although the dining room seems a little formal for a brunch setting, they manage to pull it off.
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Review from Yunn A.
7/4/2010
Don't have the duck terrine. However, the Piggy Burger is just decadent! Good dessert, and the servers were nice. However, the whole experience didn't overly wow me, compared to others in the city. Still, if you're looking for a finer dining experience in the area, it's still worth the go.
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Review from Christine C.
Vancouver, BC
8/20/2009
I was VERY impressed with this place. The service was impeccable and the decor was very modern and comfortable. The food was absolutely amazing. Great attention was put into every detail of flavours down to the veggie sides. You must try the burgers which come with to die for fries! The only thing keeping this from a 5 star review was a $27 plating fee for the cake we brought. yikes!
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Review from Thelma Lee G.
8/27/2009
We came here with a large group and had a separate room to ourselves. We ordered off the menu, which doesn't always happen in this type of setting so I was glad, as I wanted to try some of the Yelp suggestions! The tuna tartare was excellent, probably the best I have ever had. I tasted the lobster salad but the lobster didn't taste too much like lobster...the presentation was pretty and the portion was large. I then ordered the duck...served two ways, both as breast, sliced, and a sort of comfit in a leg shape. I have had lots of duck confit and this one was rather different. I didn't care for the texture and the flavor was slightly bland. The breast itself was perfectly cooked, but the cherry sauce was very unbalanced by the huge nearly whole pieces of black pepper...very jarring for this otherwise delicate sauce. My husband said his steak was a 8.5 out of 10. The service was very good indeed. The wine list was very expensive.
We would return in a group but probably not on our own. -
Review from Barry C.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2010
A December visit for a newly minted Master's celebratory dinner. Party of 8. It is a beautful room, more pleasing than the previous incarnation. Three ordered the touted DB Burger and laid along our table also was the Pork Cheek Tortelini in entree and appy sizes, Lamb chops and the evenings special of Salt baked fish. It was the starters that shined most. Tart Flambe two ways: smoked bacon & onions and snails and smoked bacon, plus Plateau de Chacuterie. The Tarts and the Chacuterie shared over bottles of reds and whites was so warmly communal. The mains were good but not stellar. The DB burger suffered from expectations of grandeur not met. Deserts partaken were the Passion Fruit Souffle, Chocolate Mouse Tower and Napoleon of Rasberries. Again, well done but not memorable The service was excellent. Servers knew the menu, offered suggestions and covered all the bases . There is a mandatory 15% grats for parties of 8 or more. Having a server know to ask 'neat?' when Lagavulan is ordered is comforting, reflecting experience and knowledge of spirits.
Star ratings, reputations and hype force mains to reach for the stars and seek to exceed expectations. And so often the starters, the appies and the deserts hit the homeruns. And with these supporting role players is what a great repast is about: the table, what is on it and around it: engaged and sharing.
We left with our socks on.
I did discover Chacuterie! Anytime with a fine grape and friends around! -
Review from Rian K.
Vancouver, BC
12/15/2009
Took a couple of out of town friends to DB, hoping for an "It's not really Monday and snowing outside" vibe. Definitely did the trick. The interior is beautiful and modern (just as the name states) and the food is delightful. I can't comment much on the service, since we had a brand new, first night on the job, server. She was very nervous and she did a sort of non-top shuffle dance around the table--poor girl. She was incredibly sweet and asked for others to come and explain dishes and wine, and everyone seemed very informed and on top of things. My impression was that the service is normally spot on. Started with the Tarte Fine Provencal (yum) and had the gnocchi with wild mushroom, sunchokes and brussel sprouts for my entree. I never thought that I would savour brussel sprouts, but savour them I did. The desserts were also tasty and fun (there was a baked alaskan pistachio concoction that was lit on fire and a chocolate mousse tower). A very nice spot to relax with friends.
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Review from Karen C.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2011
came here for dineout. it's more like 3.5 stars. for $38, much better value than Kits Daily Kitchen, which offered a dineout menu for the same price. As appetizer, I had the terrine, which was overall a little bit plain on bread, but it appears that they made some effort for it to seem interesting, serving it with black mushrooms, cabbage, pickled veggies, and marmalade. As main dish I took the sablefish, which was cooked perfectly with a crunchy skin. The saffron sauce was tasty, just a bit too creamy, and the veggies it came with didn't quite perfectly complement everything else. For dessert I had the vacherin. It was good overall; the accompanying sorbet could have been a bit more exotic, to offset the sweet taste of meringe. I probably won't be back for the regular menu; perhaps I would give it another try when dineout comes around again.
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Review from aiden b.
Vancouver, BC
5/17/2010
Oh yeah this is good for brunch. We've been be here 3 times in the last month and it's always been pretty good, a couple misses here and there but all is forgiven with the all you can drink French 75's and Mimosa's for $22. I've never gotten past 3 but it's a pretty sweet deal none the less. Jen like the granola parfait with raspberries and yogurt, a little low on granola though. The eggs benny are consistently good with tender roasted potatoes and they are ALL tender. I hate undercooked potatoes! The Croque is what sends me over the edge though, awesome! The duck poutine is the only thing that we probably won't get again. I can't believe I gonna say this but it was just way too rich and I'm a guy that likes my hot chocolate made with cream instead of milk. Hey you only live once.
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Review from oanababy o.
Vancouver, BC
9/5/2010
Excellent brioche French toast for brunch. Too bad none of the savoury brunch items are vegetarian. Also they were out of the duck poutine.
