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Elite Event @ The Refinery
Category: Local Flavour Local Flavour [Edit]
1115 Granville StreetVancouver, BC V6Z 1M1
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
(604) 687-8001
- Good for Kids:
- No
14 reviews for Elite Event @ The Refinery
14 reviews in English
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Review from Gersham M.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2009
Great event, it was fun to meet all the various people here. Enjoyed the cocktails and appetizers. Managed to get a few drinks under the belt too, raw eggs and all!
The space is pretty cool, quite the change from the sugar refinery that I remember from afterhours of years gone by. I'll definitely check it out and see what the regular menu is like. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
10/6/2009
I'm not gonna lie - this was a pretty fantastic elite event....
The drinks were delish! The crowd was all smiles and hugs! ...and lets just say, that veggie pizza that was going around - well, BEST SEASONING EVER!
The venue itself was amazing - from the decor to the layout and of course, the super friendly staff! -
Review from Katie F.
10/6/2009
I had a little mishap where I didn't know who Peter (the owner!) was tonight - oops :) Hopefully that won't turn him off yelp - I can't even blame it on having too much to drink!
Had a great time! I never really noticed The Refinery before but it's been here since Jan 2009 - entrance is up the stairs just south of Helmcken. Nice atmosphere and option for bar-style or table seating.
Loved the honey lager beer. The yelp cocktail with Maker's Mark was one of the most interesting combos to see! The canapes were great - nice variety of salmon, tuna, mushrooms toppings - yummy!
Thanks again to Crystal for organizing a great event. Looking forward to coming back here on a regular night. -
Review from Reena M.
10/6/2009
Woot woot! FTR for me!
This event was awesome! And I was only there for 30 minutes of it! It was so nice meeting other eliters. The bourbon drinks were awesome!! The bartenders were superb! The canapes were amazing!! I really wish I could have stayed longer.... next time... as long it's not on a Monday!
The Refinery is an awesome venue! I have been told the menu is amazing so I will be sure to check it out in the near future.
Thanks so much Crystal for the invite and everything!Listed in: Get y'er drank on!, Sip & Grub in Downtown…, Yelpage
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Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
10/9/2009
Foodie Frenzie at The Refinery
Well my friends, we certainly had a Yelptastic time *Carleton arm swing*
There is no better way to spend a Monday night than socializing over some awesome special cocktails and fresh appies from a lounge that prides itself on sustainability. I've passed by the Refinery many times and had it on the top of my "To Eat" list and along came the perfect Yelp Elite event.
I'm not usually a fan of cocktails but their bourbon-egg-white-other-delicious-stuff mixer was absolutely addictive. Dangerously so if I must say so myself. They even made a virgin version for me so I could keep on my toes while I mingled over foodie talk.
The door prizes were awesome, great staff and inspiring owner. They have a deep appreciation of food and drink here and it shines through in their menu and their customer service.
The Refinery is definitely on my list for a place to organize a party, a place to dine and a place to love. Can't wait to come back. -
Review from Renee C.
10/6/2009
The bottles lined the room up high, watching eliters mingle, smile, laugh, and drink. They had a birds-eye view of the fun and friendly people, the Makers Mark bourbon that flowed freely into peach-preserve drinks made lovingly by Ron, the carefully chosen and prepared canapes. One of their confidants, Lauren, worked the room enthusiastically, clearly passionate about her art (one of the mixologists at the Refinery, and the maker of the peach preserves).
Twas' a night to be had, a night to be enjoyed, and the bottles up high whispered amongst themselves..."These yelpers...they sure know how to have a good time".
Thanks Crystal, such a lovely evening (that's me saying that, not the bottles). -
Review from Dani B.
10/7/2009
Quality + great ambiance + great people = Elite event @ The Refinery.
This event was amazing, and my first! I couldn't complain even if I tried, the drink seleciton was amazing, the Refinery and their staff were friendly, helpful and really knew their stuff. All the elites and their guests were friendly and I even dug the SWAG as well.
Thanks to everyone for making it a great night, keep yelping and hope to see you at the next event. -
Review from Jenna H.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2009
Who knew how yummy bourbon can be?! I always pictured older men in Louisiana sipping bourbon on their front porch wearing a white tank top and smoking a cigar. But bourbon can be magically transformed to taste like heaven on the rocks!
The Elite Event at The Refinery was so much fun with the biggest Yelp crew I have seen yet. There is a real little community now and everyone I have met at Yelp events are just a bit cooler than regular people!
The venue was a perfect setting for chit chat, sipping and grabbing delectable goodies from the multiple trays that didn't stop all night. I loved all the bottles and pickled delights that line the walls. Crystal and Michelle were fabulous hostesses and The Refinery staff was amazing too. I will be back with bells on soon! -
Review from Gina I.
10/6/2009
This was my first Elite event.. So I brought my boyfriend and a good friend who both love food & drink!
The maker's mark mixed drinks were fabulous.. My bf curiously asked the manager how much they would be if we were paying & she said around $11 if it was maker's mark. Woah. I am not one to spend that much on drinks, but they were really good. So I'm glad we got to taste them! :)
The canapes were okay, I loved the tuna with the orange piece on top. Sadly, there wasn't that much cheese offerings.. but that's okay! The cured pork loin was also tasty.
Brook, the Whistler Beer rep was really informative and knew his beers as was the Maker's Mark guy (I forgot his name!) I was impressed with the manager's peach picking story & how she picked her own peaches in the Okanagan to be used in the mixed maker's mark drinks..
Everyone I spoke with and met was also really nice. It makes me happy to be part of the Yelping community! Next time I will mingle more, that's for sure. The Refinery is a place I'll go back to, for sure.. I remember in the old Sugar Refinery days when I'd go there for a before 'party' snack and chill session. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
10/6/2009
Bourbon cocktails? I wasn't sure on the idea, but trust in the power of Yelp because they were delicious. The atmosphere was chill and laidback but friendly. My plus-1 arrived somewhat before me (I had to bomb it from Burquitlam), but she had a great time, too, mingling and getting the drink on.
And having been something of a denizen of the old Sugar Refinery, I could not believe my eyes at the amazing transformation of this old hippie hangout/artsy space. From sipping bad wine in jam jars on old couches to revelatory bourbon cocktails while perched ladylike on high stools and well, pigging out on appies made with house-made preserves - there's no comparison.
I had an awesome time seeing many of my favourite Yelpers in person (swear to god, you guys are "the nicest kids in town") and meeting new ones. Great event as always Crystal, and I'm looking forward to the next edition!Listed in: Yelping: the Live Show
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Review from Roanna Z.
10/6/2009
If there's anything I love it's a wall of wine bottles. WOW.
I sure hope our celebrity photographer Raymond O got a pic't of that. It really felt like it was a party in some cool person's loft tonight. I had such a great time chatting with the Yelpers, my face hurts from smiling!
:-)
The Refinery seems like a very hip place. -
Review from samuel a.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2009
Sheesh, am I late to this elite review or what? Six other keeners beat me to the punch. It was my first event, and it was nice to see many folks out.
It's a great cozy atmosphere there and I love the communal table, although I didn't sit around it. But I could imagine a big gang of friends (or friends with strangers) hanging out for hours.
The folks were nice ... Michael the EChef, Lauren the GM, and Peter one of the owners were all pressing the flesh which was nice to see.
I agree with the comment on Brook the Whister Beer guy - very informative and knew his stuff. Even if you don't drink beer he's one guy that will convince many.
Food and drinks really weren't my focus - it was mainly just blabbering away with fellow Yelpers. I intend to create a new category of Super Duper Elite. For those our Elite events will only be at buffets. And we will have eating contests.
And it is late, and I will quit. :) -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2009
I didn't know what to expect when I stepped into this place. I had heard this was one of those meats and cheese - chacouterie style of eating... so I thought it would be something similar to Salt (not that I have been there either).
The atmosphere is warm and modern, with bottles of wine stacked up as wall decoration in their cases that divide a casual dining space and a more cozing room with longer banquettes.
Not going to lie - I knew that bourbon was the star tonight and I was scared that I was going to have to try something so strong to the point I could not even drink it... but I was wrong... in fact.. it was a yelptastic cocktail with Maker's Mark and loads of other fruity goodness that was easy to sip!
Appies came out, consisting of seared tuna, smoked salmon, leek and mushroom, and delcious, loaded-with-toppings flatbread... I still daydream about the artichose and sundried tomatoes flatbread! Lauren, the manager was so friendly, accomodating and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves.... and with all that said - there were still an additional two beers to sample in the back.. a honey lager and a dark with lovely hints of chocolate.
The night was great, met lots of cool people and can't wait for the next Elite event :) -
Review from Luisa D.
10/8/2009
Another lovely event - thanks Crystal! The Makers Mark cocktails were delicious and seemed quite complicated to make. They went down a bit too easily so I switched to the Tinhorn Chardonnay which wasn't bad. The canapes were tasty although I would have expected a bit more cheese given their menu. My highlight was finally meeting Lauren as I've read several articles that she's written. She is a commanding presence! I'd love to try some of her homemade peach preserves on toast. The jar they were using for the cocktails looked scrumptious. I also enjoyed chatting with the owner Peter. Once he heard we used to go to the old Sugar Refinery he picked our brains for ideas as they're planning to do Sugar Refinery Sundays. We ended up talking so long that everyone had left when we were done. If anyone knows some artists interested in doing spoken word, etc you should contact him. I hope the new businesses going in next door attract some good clientele. They've struggled enough with all the Granville renovations. I look forward to going back.
