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Ensemble Tap
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Gastropubs Canadian (New), Gastropubs [Edit]
990 Smithe StVancouver, BC V6Z 0A4
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 566-9770
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
39 reviews for Ensemble Tap
39 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa K.
Vancouver, BC
4/15/2012
I'd give this place 3.5, 4 is too high but 3 is too low. The hanger steak was really amazing. Meat was tender and the chimichurri was perfect. It went so well with the meat. I didn't think I'd finish it but it was so delicious I inhaled it in minutes. The were lots of big tvs around if you're into the game. I was impressed by the list of beer although I'm not a beer drinker. The cocktails look interesting but at $12 a glass I'd rather go to West.
Will come back for happy hour or pre-movie meal. My friend had the crispy chicken sandwich and she enjoyed it. Although she said there was too much bread. -
Review from Chad P.
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a Canucks game.
Lot's of TVs so no matter where you are sitting, you'll have a good view of the game. Beer was average price $5-10 for a pint. Food was good but not over the top amazing. We got an order of Thai wings and an order of Hot wings. Thai basically tasted like salt and pepper wings with some vinegar type of dipping sauce. The hot wings had a good kick to it and it came with a good dipping sauce. I forget what it was exactly, it seemed like a mix of ranch with dill. We also got prawns but I didn't get to try those.
Service was good. We had a group of 8 and they were very attentive of us :-)
Solid place but nothing out of the ordinary. -
Review from Cara P.
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Other than our server acting like she really, really had better things to do than take our order and be pleasant, the interior is poorly designed, the menu is over priced for a tap house, and the overall feel of the place is just cold and uninviting. The ceiling is way too high and gives the place a really cavernous, cold feeling, which doesn't help with the noise levels (I'm sure it's deafening when the place is full).
My friends and I stopped in for a quick drink and a snack after a matinee and should have gone elsewhere. The menu is too 'upscale' and expensive for what you'd expect walking in. Ensemble (their main restaurant) is two blocks away if you want the expensive stuff - why open a tap house and serve posh expensive 'bar' food? And no poutine!? How disappointing. :(
I was warned not to go here, but I did, and now I will know to never go back. I should have taken my friend's advice and stayed away in the first place. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
I still think that the service and food deserve a five. The fried skinless chicken burger and fries were amazing. The salad was delicious, especially with the fried onions that DM is known for.
But upon returning to the restaurant after it has had time to work out the kinks, the atmosphere is just...lacking.
I didn't appreciate being charged 50 cents extra for mayonnaise when my sandwich was too bland without the spicy mayo. It's unfortunate as I would have rather topped up the tip, instead.
And the fruit flies in the bathroom just have to go.
Unfortunately, for these reasons, I'm lowering my rating slightly.Listed in: Casual Places to Perk up the…, Where would Wimpy Go?, Lunch, Anyone?, Because There's Gotta be a…, Places to Grab a Post-Dinner…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/8/2011 First to Review
Yay, the new Feenie's...er...Ensemble Tap... is open! Dale Mackay has done it again, and "tapping"… Read more »
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Review from Lisa Marie M.
Vancouver, BC
This is a fairly new place that is located steps from where we live. We decided to check it out on a cold Tues evening.
The space itself is stark and slightly cold in atmosphere ( kinda reminded me of Salt in Gastown ) but it had 2 levels and lots of TVs ( which were too loud ) we had to sit side by side in order to hear each other talk. Even then, the volume of the game was so high it was hard to keep my train of thought.
We hadn't been seated for 60 seconds before the waitress asked us what we wanted to drink. We hadn't even checked out the menu yet, so we asked for a chance to check it out first.
If your a fan of beer, then interesting choices await. However, I don't drink beer. The wine selection was limited, and at $9 a glass, I opted for the only cider they offered. Rock Creek $5.50 a bottle.
We waited, and waited, and still no return of our waitress. Hmmm. Ok we decided to check out the menu. My girlfriend wanted to share the ribs. We love dry ribs ! I decided on the chicken burger, she wanted the beet salad add tuna.
Finally, the waitress re-appeared, we ordered everything at once.
Our drinks arrived, and the ribs came shortly after. The presentation of the ribs was interesting, but I really didn't enjoy them at all. The flavor and the texture left so much to be desired. I had 2 ( only because I was so hungry ) but left the rest to my girlfriend.
So far, not overly impressed. Sigh!
Well lucky for me, the chicken burger arrived ! Yey! It was delicious !
It was a yummy chicken breast, on focaccia, with bacon and avocado.I opted for the salad instead of fries. The side salad was yummy.
My GF's salad with tuna was ok. She finished the tuna, but not the salad. She took the remaining ribs with her to go, but not the salad. I guess that should tell you about the salad.
All in all, I am not sure what to think. It's fairly new, so there is room for improvement. I would return for the chicken burger for sure, but I would hope they would expand on the cider choices. May I suggest getting Marydale cider on tap ? Or even Strongbow ? They could even try a few other bottles, like Extra green apple or mango. Not everyone likes beer !Listed in: Downtown Vancouver, Yummmmm, Cocktails a plenty
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Review from Jenn C.
Downtown, Vancouver, BC
I finally made my way to try out this new place in my neighbourhood. We went in on a Sunday night and there wasn't a lot of patrons. The restaurant itself was pretty big with stairs up to a 2nd floor. I came with the recommendation of 'amazing nachos', so of course I ordered that, along with Albacore Tuna.
The Nachos were topped with pulled pork, and we added Guacamole as well. When it came, the cheese and Guac were melted and piped onto the chips (i think, or so it looked that way). I thought that was interesting - haven't see nachos come this way before!
The Albacore Tuna itself was OKAY to me, and it came with salad with oranges and enoki mushrooms. I enjoyed the salad quite a bit, i thought it was an interesting mix.
I thought the service was OKAY - she seemed a little awkward when she came to the table but the service wasn't bad.
I think i will make my way back here for another meal, maybe to try the sauage platter or the mussels? -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
1/25/2012 3 photos
* Low chef *
One of TOP Chef Dale McKay's places in town with a focus on pub food.
The feel of the spot reminded me of one of the large family chains like Earl's - very generic and very little character.
One of the staples of pub food is a burger, and I love a good burger, so I just had to try the house "Tap Burger" to see how TOP this chef was.
The burger was described on the menu as being topped with mushrooms, caramelized onions, swiss cheese, and a horse radish sauce. But when it came it was instead topped with lettuce, tomato, and raw onion (like the lower priced "Ensemble burger" on the menu with mushrooms added). No swiss cheese, no caramelized onions, no horseradish. WTF?!?!? Not impressed by the blending of the two burger options without asking and the loss of some of the more desirable ingredients.
The actual burger patty was not rested properly before serving so it let most of its juice out once I bit into it. Meh. To TOP things off that juice basically destroyed the black and white checkered piece of paper the burger was served on so it started to shred apart. Not a good plating option for a non-rested burger. I think the burger was a bit overworked as well as the consistency of the meat was way too dense. Overall a pretty disappointing burger. The fries were fairly generic, did not taste fresh cut, and were a bit mealy on the inside. Meh. The $15 for this burger plate felt like bad value considering the quality. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... and http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
A bad combination - LOW quality food with TOP prices. Meh.Listed in: Vancouver Burgers
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Review from Steven S.
1/30/2012
I tend to avoid places by TV Chefs or celebrity chefs at all costs unless the chef in question is actually in the kitchen. Ensemble Tap drops the beer ball on a few fronts in what seems to be the usual way for the above mentioned celeb chef owned or conceived joints. I love beer and love a good beer bar, I would drag myself on bloody stumps to the Alibi Room and am willing to sell my liver to St Augustines (even though the food is rubbish) So I was excited when I saw a beer bar was opening in my hood. Finally a place I can drink good beer in a relaxed place and be close enough to crawl home. Or so I thought.
First it looks like a earls or cocktease club. I am not a fan of cookie cutter breasteraunts, which this city has too many of anyway and that is the feel you get from Ensemble Tap. It has no soul, it could be anywhere run by anyone. The food is Ok, not inventive or interesting just ok. I was hoping a young chef who claims to love beer would bring out the wow factor. there was no wow. It seems he and his investors did not want to take a risk, push the beer and gastro envelope.
It is easy to screw up a beer bar, by removing personality. Sticking with mostly safe microbrews and beers from Belgium, as to not freak out the wine crowd and ilbeerliterate. Hell any beer bar which sells Budweiser and Coors Light is not a beer bar, any beer bar that tries to word up the descriptions of said water like they are some retro swill is intellectually dishonest.
He celebrity chefs, unless you are truly passionate about beer and I mean borderline insane, stay away and do what you do best. Make food for pop TV foodies. -
Review from Dru C.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had to come to this place since it was a branch from Ensemble (Chef Dale McKay). Yes I am a huge Top Chef fan, as I have been saying in the past. I love my TV shows and for sure Top Chef is one of my shows I watch every week.
I had to come here to see the new bar/loungue that Chef Dale McKay have made. It is located in the same building as the theater, and a couple steps away from Earls. A huge competition, but knowing Chef McKay, he can conquer Earls anytime. Anyways, when I first entered I saw the BIG E in front of the bar. It was beautiful. They are giving themselves a label now to take over Vancouver. Which they should... But one thing I didn't like was there was barely any room to move between tables... I just had to SLIDE right through *NOTE TO SELF LOSE WEIGHT* COUGH COUGH. It was there, I felt it, and they made me self conscious. Those bastards. The waitress was very attentive with our table, and I didn't notice when she fills up my cup of water.. She does it so, ninja like.. o.O;; Don't DO THAT. It scares me.
Onto the food... I ordered the Pull Pork sandwich. I already tried the smaller version at Ensemble. This time, he paired it with a small chili bowl, wasn't exciting at all, and some fries, and the BBQ special sauce. The Chili bowl really needs something more exciting for the taste. It was so plain and bland. UGH. The seasoning for the pull pork was perfect. It tasted perfect, which was very good. I enjoyed it. The special BBQ sauce for the fries was delicious. They added mayo... *drool*
Anyways, I will be coming back here with friends for an awesome time this summer and have tons of amazing food!! -
Review from Ross C.
Vancouver, BC
4/25/2012
After a less than stellar expereince at Ensemble, I thought I'd give Chef Dale another chance with Ensemble Tap.
room - cavernous
food - unimaginative
service - this is the bullpen for ensemble.. we we instrusivley overserviced - which struck us as "If I work hard enough, I'll get to go to the Big Show at Ensemble"
pass. -
Review from Sophia C.
Vancouver, BC
1/21/2012
I've been to Ensemble Tap a total of three times now so far, and have enjoyed each and every experience.
My first experience was a fun drinks night with a colleague. We shared a couple appies and had some cocktails. The thai chicken wings truly are amazing. They are flavourful and have the right amount of crispiness. The dipping sauce complemented the wings very well. The popcorn prawns, though, were not what I expected. When I think of 'popcorn anything' I think of deep-fry. These were definitely more elegant, but didn't have the crunch I was expecting. However, the prawns themselves tasted good. I enjoyed the spicy mayo dip.
My second visit was for dinner with a bunch of friends. A few of us ordered the Flight of Beers, which includes four different beers (they ask you what your preferences are in terms of taste) for only $8.50. That is definitely well-priced and pretty much a bargain. I'm not a huge beer drinker but had to order it. Red Truck and La Chouffe were my favourites. I normally like sweeter beers and those made with wheat.
We didn't order an appy, but the chef was super nice and treated us to a new item on the menu, the steamed buns. Yes, they were free but I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true, wow!! This IS the dish to order. Made with seared albacore tuna, fresh kimchi, and mama Cho sauce (kind of sweet and tangy), we all agreed it was a winner.
For mains, funny enough, most of us ordered the much talked about crispy chicken burger. People compare this to the McChicken, but it's definitely not the same - it's a much more sophisticated version and uber delicious. Topped with bacon, avocado, romaine lettuce, and smoke paprika mayo on a bed of focaccia bread - I would order this again and again. The chicken was crispy but not overly oily at all. Same goes with the sauce. It was the perfect amount. The accompanying fries were good and salted right.
For dessert, we shared the banana split. I have a soft spot for banana splits because I grew up with them. This was a great banana split! It had all the trimmings - sprinkles, cherries, chopped nuts, and whipped cream. They even glazed the bananas for a bit of extra crunch (just a little). The requisite chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream was scooped in the middle. However, do maybe ask for less whipped cream because some of the ice cream melted a bit and you can't see where the ice cream starts (the cream is on top).
For my most recent visit, I was there for a friend's birthday. I wasn't completely adventurous and ordered the thai chicken wings, banana split, and steamed buns again. However, I did try the $6 chicken strips (doesn't include fries). Delicious!! For $6, you can't go wrong. I think it was a chicken breast sliced up, so probably the healthiest chicken strips I've ever had. My husband and I also tried the hot wings. Our server noted we can do half orders, so we ordered half hot and half thai. Pretty yummy. He had the pulled pork and loved it.
Sure, the ambience is definitely more of an upscale bar, but you know what, I love it here. The service is great and the food is consistently good. If you sit upstairs, it's much more quieter and you have all these TV screens to yourselves. Oh, forgot to mention, you can always request a specific sports channel if they have it. We did and were able to watch basketball! -
Review from Vincent N.
Vancouver, BC
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Like some of the reviews I was part of the large Yelp party that came by. And I would give it more of a 3.5 stars. I'll start off with the good.
The server was attentive and she did a wonderful job with everything. Had a good sense of humour, she made sure my coke was never empty. And only asked on my third glass if I wanted more out of courtesy. So the service deserves a 4.5 star for sure.
The food was good. It was good pulled pork sandwhich, nice moist and tender. And People seemed to love it at the party. For me it was considered good hearty, meaty tasting pork. Some bbq pulled pork contains more tangy citrus flavours which are my personal favourite and more to my liking. But definitely I can see a lot of people liking it. The buns were soft, and there was quite a bit of pork. It's really deceiving because I looked at it...."Wow that doesn't seem like much" and then BAM your full.
And in this town is probably the second best I've had.
The beans were a great addition, I like the subtle flavours that came through. a 3 out 5.
The fries were good and if you like crispy fries with that great crunch then these are for you. 4/5
And for what I had I found the price was reasonable at $13 plus tax and tip for large parties. Rogue charges the same price for their pulled pork and it's nowhere near the quality that Ensemble does. But for tangy, citrus bbq flavour head to Re Up.
Overall the experience was good and I'll go back and try some of there beer next i'm in the neighborhood.
Some of the downfalls: Since we were near the end of the meal I decided to let them know we were Yelpers because they asked if someone was a foodie or food blogger earlier I believe.
I had to admit, it was kind of weird that within 1 minute that the GM came over and started chatting with us. Which was nice, but then I went to see if he was going to talk to any other tables after us, and nada. Which to me says a lot.
A good GM will treat every table the same regardless if we're Yelpers or not.
And I honestly don't know who does their social media, but it's extremely rude to RT my positive comment without actually thanking me for coming in first. I didn't like the fact that they were addressing people by their Twitter name that were THINKING about coming in. But not thank me, an actual confirmed customer. And what happened. They RT 5 people in a row, without even addressing them.
When a customer goes to a manager and says thank you for the wonderful service and told about 1000+ people, and that manager pauses and turns around and yells out to the restaurant...THIS PERSON THINKS OUR PULLED PORK IS GREAT.
And then stands there and stares at that person blankly. How do you think that customer feels? How does the customer perceive what you feel is more important? The customer or the testimonial?
Does it sound harsh. Of course, this is the social media age. And restaurants need to be on top of the small things. And if I sound angry about it, I am. Because social media customer service is my passion. Just like most great chefs could never stand the site of poorly prepared food. -
Review from Shaz K.
Vancouver, BC
4/7/2012
Went to restaurant as friend had glowing reviews. Mediocre service. Sub far food. Ate the beef brisket and was not what I was expecting. Friend had pulled pork sandwich, same result. Will not be going back, but glad I tried.
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Review from Allan-ester D.
Vancouver, BC
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
i dropped in here Saturday for the 1st time...it was not what i expected it to be, but i was pleasantly surprised. The service was very good...the food was very good...the environment was the same...i will be returning
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Review from Meana k.
1/13/2012
* 2.5 stars *
Atmosphere = Ehh. There was something like 16 flat screens on the walls which felt a bit overwhelming considering a) the place isn't that big and b) more than half of them were showing some really stupid show about dumb things people do on wheels. Really? That's what you want to air while we're eating dinner? Stunts-gone-wrong crashes? I resorted to following my hockey team's final period on my iPhone. Clearly, I wasn't in a sports bar, although I'm not sure what exactly Ensemble Tap considers itself. Either way, it felt off-putting.
Thankfully the service was great. Our server, Randi, was an absolute sweetheart, super friendly. She told us upfront about the 18% gratuity on large parties and was honest about not knowing the answers to a couple of questions and quickly checked with the chef rather than fumbling her way through some false information as sometimes happens.
The menu didn't have a lot of appealing healthy options, but I quickly opted for the pulled pork sandwich I'd heard good things about. It was yummy. Surprisingly, the bun was tasty and had perfect thickness. The sandwich wasn't soggy or sloppy. The meat was tender, delicious, and not overly BBQ-flavored.
The sandwich came with beans and fries, and I also ordered the Tap sauce for an additional 50 cents. Okay... I kept reading how awesome the fries are.... but no. They're really not. Or at least they weren't for me. Nope. Not even close to awesome. They were just okay. Then there's the beans. The beans were lacking in seasoning and could have used a bit more onions, peppers, and salt. Personally, I would have loved some jalapenos in there and some hot sauce.
Tap sauce... worth 50 cents? Sure. It's good. Still, I think the whole meal would have benefited from some hot sauce. Even the pulled pork! Man, now I want to go back and do it up right with a bottle of hot sauce in hand.
The beer/bourbon/wine selection was pretty good. The dessert selection was pretty lame. I'd like to see more/better options for dessert as their menu evolves. I'd also like to see them offer more/better teas in the future.
Lastly, it was funny that less than 1 minute after the server learned that our table of 8 were all Yelpers, the GM rushed over to our table to greet us. It was a nice touch and it was great to feel welcomed, but at the end of the day, I'm still going to write what I feel. Our reviews are meant to help businesses grow, and Ensemble Tap is so new that it has every opportunity to blossom into a great place to hang out, especially for a big game that I want to be able to watch from every angle of the restaurant. I just hope no one is ever there on game-nights in hopes of having an intimate dinner and conversation. This would not be the place. -
Review from Catherine G.
Vancouver, BC
5/9/2012
I am a vegetarian and not a beer drinker so this place held little appeal for me. I have been twice to accommodate my friend's requests but will never go back. The meat lovers amongst us got the meat plate - good but very small and overpriced. My friend got the falafel - dry and tasteless. I got the pasta, it was bland with jalapeno peppers in it which didn't seem to go at all - very disappointing. The second time I felt I had very limited choices unless I wanted a salad, and $17 for nachos seemed like a complete rip off. So I just had some heart attack bread and fries - nothing that great about either of them. While the service was good, the food was bland and vastly over priced go to the pizza place next door much better!
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Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012 6 photos
It was good. Nothing more, nothing less. Good. I know my expectations were high because I watched him on Top Chef. I actually liked him. I was looking forward to dining at one of his places.
Our server was good. We had no complaints. I thought the wine was pricey but the choices were ok. We had a nice bottle of Pinot Noir.
I was expecting more for "Heart Attack Bread" like sinful thick slabs of bacon on it but no, it was cheese bread. We ordered a special of the day which was beet salad and it was a surprisingly large portion though not very exciting either. Good. Between the three of us we had the ribs, bangers and NY steak. We all tried each others. My fave was the fat on the NY strip! :-) I've included pictures of all the meals.
I'd go back if in the area but I certainly wouldn't rush back for the food.
My friend emailed the restaurant as at the bottom of their web page (left hand side) it says "emsemble tap". They thanked him but it still says "eMsemble".
http://www.ensembletap...
3/14/12 - I see they've fixed it now. :-) -
Review from Rick C.
I hopped downtown to finally try Chef Dale MacKay's Ensemble bar spinoff. Surprised, it was entirely different than the upscale offerings at the main Ensemble location with French cuisine a block away.
Ensemble Tap features a pretty standard selection of bar food (of which I'm a fan) with sports playing all around. A quick Twitter poll recommended we try the Thai chicken wings. I can confirm they were pretty tasty and delicious.
I was a little annoyed because I asked for the Tap burger sans mushrooms, but they gave me without onions instead and with mushrooms. I dislike mushrooms and do like onions.
The fries were really good and crisp with special sauce. The burger was solid but nothing spectacular. I was more intrigued by the chicken burger which looked huge and crispy on ciabatta bread.
The whole meal was okay, just satisfactory. I may come back but am undecided. I was impressed and happy about the beer selection particularly on tap. Too bad only a few are available in pitchers. All in all, things were not bad, but not all that memorable either. -
Review from Quinn O.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2011
I'm a little surprised at the rave reviews of the food. It was good, often great, for sure, but at the end of the day it's still just well-executed bar food. There are some non-traditional bar food elements (like the sea asparagus that comes with the popcorn prawns), but, in Vancouver, it seems like every bar is obligated to sprinkle its menu with "eclectic" ingredients--the upscale pub food concept isn't particularly novel.
The beer menu is really solid, but if you're a beer nerd, the Alibi Room, St. Augustine's, Six Acres, and BierCraft have their tap/bottle list beat, handily (I'd even say, the Whip's rotating selection, while smaller, was better). It still was't hard to find a pint I wanted to sample though.
I mention that because I think you'd be disappointed if you made it a destination strictly for the food/drink. If you're in the neighbourhood, you could do far worse, for sure, and being right next to the ScotiaBank Theatre, it would be a great pre-movie dining spot. But, there's not really any compelling reason to head across town strictly to sample what's on the menu, which is what I would think, reading what most other people have said so far.
That said, as a sports bar, it's stellar. There's a ton of TVs and it seems like the sight lines are great from nearly everywhere in the place. And, as mentioned, the food's well-executed, which can be rare for a place that has an ample amount of screens and is willing to crank up the sound on the Canucks game.
Would I trek from Fairview to downtown just for the grub? Probably not. But, if I were nearby, I'd definitely consider it and when playoff time rolls around, I'll be rushing over post-work to try and grab a seat before puck drop.
The staff were all very lovely, but there were a few service hiccups. Considering that they've just opened, I imagine they'll get that sorted out before too long though. -
Review from Matthew C.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a bad place to be really. Great selection of beers, decent selection of cocktails (including a pretty good variation on the Old Fashioned) and the food is tasty too. Convenient location right next to the theatre too, so that post movie drink doesn't have to be at Earls or Winking Judge if you don't want it to be. It's a bit loud, but other than that it's a decent bar!
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Review from Edward L.
Swung by a visit after hearing about something about delicious pulled pork.
This restaurant is located around the corner of the Scotiabank Theatre. As a result, parking totally sucks unless you shell out a few bucks. Or know someone who lives in the condo tower upstairs.
The inside looks trendy (typical Earls or Cactus Club type decor) but bland. There were TVs all over the place (I counted 11), but all but 2 of them were showing the same channel for some reason. What's the point of that? And they were showing the Speed Channel instead of a Canucks game (it was a game night).
Their beer selection is greater than many other places, and they have foreign brews such as Belgian lambic beer, but they don't hold a candle to dedicated places such as Biercraft. And therein lies the problem. You'd think this place would have a decently wide beer selection based on the name, but this is sadly not the case.
As for the food, their pulled pork sandwich is definitely worth a mention. Warm and squishy would be the best way to describe it. Mmm.. Some of my friends didn't like the beans that came with the dish (they all thought it was too bland), but actually it did have a subtle and complex character. I liked how you could taste the various bits that went into this thing.
One other special mention: you can get Tap Sauce which is a mix of ketchup, mayonnaise, and I think jalapenos. This sauce goes very well with the fries, which are also nice and crispy.
Overall the food was decent, but it isn't enough to bring me back anytime soon. -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been looking forward to giving this place a try since I saw it on the way home from the December Elite event, so when the opportunity came up to go for a casual meet-up, I couldn't say no (even in my sickly state). The seating was a bit crowded for our long table despite being in the middle of the restaurant and not up against a wall. Our server was chatty and gave us plenty of time to get our drink orders in while we waited for people to show up.
The reviews are true - that pulled pork sandwich is to die for. I will gladly come again for seconds / thirds. One day I'll try that tap burger. One day. But it's hard to say no to that little bowl of baked beans: so cute looking, you just want to eat it up. Literally.
I ordered the Tree Beer Winter Ale, which was alright, but I'm sure there were better ones on the list.
Overall, a good time. Three stars for the experience, and a bonus for the sandwich. I cannot wait to go back and have another!! Who's with me?Listed in: Work Party Eats
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Review from Angela L.
12/14/2011
Booooo. High expectations + mediocre execution = disappointment.
A friend took me to Ensemble Tap as a preemptive birthday gesture. I had been fairly excited about trying Ensemble Tap and/or Ensemble, but instead of the tried and true Ensemble we decided to take a walk on the wild side and give the newly opened Ensemble Tap a try instead.
We were seated by the window, which provided for some interesting people watching but was also exceptionally drafty. The beer was cold, but so were my legs! And so was my reaction when I looked over the menu! As a semi-vegetarian/pescetarian, there was very little that I could actually eat on the menu. What I could eat didn't sound particularly exciting or innovative, and what's worse, many of the items marked with the "vegetarian" carrot identifier were not really so. Clam linguine? Albacore tuna? Vegetarian? Maybe so in my world, but I don't think seafood = vegetarian is a universal standard. From memory, I think there were only two truly vegetarian items on the menu, one of which was a sandwich and one of which was a pasta dish. Hugely bummed.
The drinks list is also poorly laid out, in my opinion, as a long, multi-page document with a top flip. Granted, it's the easiest way to compile an extensive beer selection with both draught and bottle options, but I'm the type of person that likes to weigh my choices before settling on something, and this menu made that hard. Wait, what was on page 1 again? Flip-flip-flip. Oh god, what was that I just saw on page 3? More flipping. Wine and cocktail options are very limited.
Being left with little choice (it was too late to bail and eat somewhere else), I finally just ordered the albacore tuna, which came nicely seared but with too much sauce. The "salad" thing on the side was very cilantro heavy, which I didn't mind, however, it seemed a touch excessive considering the amount of people who aren't fond of cilantro. My meat-eating dining companion seemed to fare a little bit better, but there was a general lack of enthusiastic commentary. Nothing on the dessert menu appealed to me.
Service was extremely awkward. Many of the other staff that we encountered over the course of the evening were friendly and helpful, but our particular server that evening just seemed kind of stunned.
Gambled and lost! -
Review from Megan S.
12/23/2011
Looks like Mr. Fine-Dining-Mackay knows how to do pub food!
Came here with some co-workers and we ordered calamari and some drinks to start. The calamari was delicious - sliced thin and super lightly fried so it was still extremely tender. It sat upon a nice roasted red pepper sauce and had onions and green olives tossed in the mix -the olives were unexpected but quite nice. I had a porter beer that was really good, not as thick as a Guinness but slightly sweeter, and my colleagues ordered rootbeer cocktails and white wine. Everyone liked their drinks, though I personally thought $9 for a glass of wine was a little steep...the beers are more reasonably-priced.
For mains, 3 of us had the pulled pork sandwich and one person had the clams and linguini - everyone was drooling over their meals. The pulled pork was perfectly done (yes, better than my homemade version!), nice complex sauce that was well-integrated into the pork so it was saturated without being too goopy. The coleslaw was tangy and the bun was pillowy and soft - so, so good. The sandwich was served with a side of fries (really good, though I found the sandwich so filling I hardly ate more than 5 or so fries), smoky meaty beans and a slice of pickle. For $13, this is a steal.
The only thing that bothered me about the place was the borrowed Earl's/Joey's/Cactus Club décor and ambiance. Everything was clean and super modern, but completely lacked in originality. From the light fixtures to the tables to the scantily-clad-false-eyelash-wearing serving staff, everything but the food felt like it was merely an extension of the Earl's around the corner. Some people like that vibe, but I think Ensemble Tap deserves a bit more personality.
The four of us were so full after we left the restaurant that we almost had to roll ourselves back to the office...a far cry from having to buy McDonald's after an expensive but underwhelming dinner at the costlier Ensemble. I'll be back!Listed in: Sammiches!
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Review from Caitlin P.
Surrey, BC
4/5/2012
If I could do zero stars I would. Our server disappeared for what felt like hours at a time. One of the people in our party ordered food that never came and she just end up leaving and went home. I showed up towards the end of the night and had to chase down the server for a beer and was there for an hour and a half and she never asked me if I wanted another one. Hopefully they can work on their service because they have the potential to be a fantastic establishment with proper management backing up their service team.
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Review from Rick Z.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2012
I was pumped to try E-Tap after watching Top Chef Canada. Dale clearly knows food; his attention to detail and passion for making the highest quality food was levels beyond any of his competitors.
The highs...
*Very inviting little spot. The decor is welcoming and warm after tromping around raincouver all afternoon. We hit it right after a double feature at Scotiabank theatre. I could definitely see myself relaxing for a while and enjoying a beer or five.
*The local beer selection is wonderful, though limited. I tried the Howe Sound Winter Ale, and Belgian style blonde. The beer left little beer streaks on the glass; the mark of a properly cleaned beer glass. Note: claiming that you're serious about beer, and having Budweiser on your menu is a bit of a contradiction ;)
The mids...
*Food. I have a serious soft spot for menu with German influence, especially if it's well executed (see La Brasserie).
We ordered an appy and main to split. The seared tuna was a huge miss. The fennel spiced rub was waaay too heavy handed and had the dish had no balance. Also, if you're going to serve Tuna, it better be fresh. This was really mushy, like it had been sitting for a while, and gave a somewhat unpleasant texture. The salad was a bit bland for my tastes, but was my girlfriends favorite part. Grumble grumble grumble. Perhaps it was an off night.
The Reuben sandwich was delicious. The meat was tender, succulent, and didn't eat like a salt lick. The salad was a nice counterpoint to the sammich, but nothing spectacular. However, if you have a sandwich with fatty meat and dressing on it, it doesn't need to be coated in butter. It made it kind of greasy.
The lows...
*Service was alright... granted they made a point of fitting us in on a booked night, our waitress was not sure what to tell us when we asked for recommendations. Chalk it up to growing pains (oh if Boner could only see us now).
When you charge high end prices for pub grub, you set the bar higher for yourself. I will definitely be back down the road to see how the place evolves, but for the price, it was ok. Optimistic 3.5 stars -
Review from Tricia F.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/16/2012
Loved this place! The chicken burger is likely the only chicken burger that I have eaten at a restaurant that was PERFECTLY cooked! So yummy!!! A full breast of chicken (not mashed or pounded) topped with yummy avocado and other goodness. Mmmmm
The servers were friendly and prompt. Great beer list, and so many tv's for game night.
Perfect place before a movie, for a game, or for a delicious casual dinner with friends. Great prices and so much better than nearby chains.
Check it out1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/14/2012
Loved this place! The chicken burger is likely the only chicken burger that I have eaten at a… Read more »
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Review from Sean N.
Vancouver, BC
Top Chef Canada winner and hometown hero Dale MacKay has opened the doors to his second restaurant this week and all I can say is the boy has been busy building a dining empire and all this success has happened within this year.
The new space is big and open, the flat screens all around the restaurant shows the games of the day and there are 17 different beers on tap here hence the name~Ensemble Tap.
The menu is focused on upscale pub food and when you stop and think about what big chain restaurants charge for food Ensemble Tap's prices are right on par with the big guy's but the quality of food is leaps and bounds above the big guy's.
I started out with some beer and the staff here are knowledgeable about the different beers here and were happy to recommend this based on what I like in beer and boy was it a great choice.
For my appy I went with the classic French Onion soup for $8. This was a classic french onion soup topped with Gruyère cheese, the broth was rich and full-bodied,the soup was packed with caramelized onions like any great French Onion soup should be. One benefit of it being served in this camp style bowl was that I was able to pick it up and tilt it to get all that yummy stuff out of it.
For my main I wanted to try the recipe that won him a challenge on Top Chef Canada and is also served at his other restaurant Ensemble, the Pulled Pork sandwich with apple horseradish slaw, served with a side of Baked Beans and a cup of trademark Ensemble Kennebec Fries for $13.
The fries were cooked perfectly and not greasy yet totally crisp, these were some of the best fries I've had in a while and reminded me of Belgian Frites. he baked beans were not overly smokey and had pulled pork in them, they were a delight to eat and I would have licked the ramekin clean if I were alone!, The pickles on the side also were tart and crisp like a good dill should be.
Now for the star of the show!, a nice soft bun that held together nicely, delish apple horseradish slaw and saucy smoked melt in your mouth pork,,,I'm hungry for one right now!, as far as pulled pork sandwiches go its one of the best I've had and is a must try for anyone coming to the restaurant, the slaw wasn't to strong with the horseradish.
I'm really happy Ensemble Tap has opened it's doors and I think it's going to be one of those classic go to local restaurants for many years to come. -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
2/11/2012
Why isn't there a rating scheme that equates simply "totally unenthused"?
I dunno. Maybe it is time for me to move to the boondocks...i'm just over what Vancouver seems to be offering these days. From the huge disappointment that was Bitter Tasting Room to this latest "effort" by chef Dale McKay.
I'm over these not-quite-a-restaurant/sports-bar/club/family-spot /date-spot. It just makes me feel like the brains behind the venture aren't really sure what they are doing and have very little inspiration beyond the mighty dollar. Try to please everyone, therefore, please no one while at the same time demonstrating your complete lack of personality.
A few more things i'm "over":
- nouveau-chic pub food - look, calling it "Tap" sauce does not mask the fact that it is basically a mixture of leftover condiments. also, if you have resorted to fad serving dishes (see mussels served in bucket) we are not friends and you are cheesy with the imagination of a 15 year old...please go away
- screens screens screens - god forbid we actually engage in a real conversation, with eye contact. look i get that there is a huge market for hockey/sport fans but why not have them available for big games but then, i dunno, TURN THEM OFF!!!
- snotty waitresses - lady, you seem to forget that you are paid to be here. and that you work for tips. 'cause while it took you 20min to come back after serving us our bill, your tip decreased by a good 8%. oh and "i can't split the bill" = "i don't WANT to split the bill". i'm onto you.
- character-less ambience - *cricket*
- feeling like i should have stayed at home and invited people over BYOB style and made a homemade pizza.
STOP TRYING SO HARD TO BE NOTHING VANCOUVER! find yourself, go on retreat, tap into yourself, go travelling, figure out what makes you hot and then give us THAT. until then, i'll find solace in the awesome, character-laden establishments on Haida Gwaii.
- signed Nouveau Grumpy -
Review from Kalina M.
North Vancouver, BC
1/2/2012
Shall I say Yummy Fries and Outrageous Tap Sauce!
I went here the other day for lunch. Service was great, food was yummy! I had Asian Salad and of course the fries... a definite must try. Even though I don't drink beer, they had a beer selection that was astonishing and I was introduced to some beers that I even had to admit were quite good! (Belgian Beers: Triple & Double?) I'll have to go back and ask again... :-)
My friend ordered the Mussles with Chorizo, she said that they were so great she was dipping out the sauce!
Definite great paring with a movie or a fun hang out! -
Review from Kate W.
Vancouver, BC
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great craft beer section! Even a couple my beer nerd husband hadn't tasted (rare). He had the pulled pork, said the beans were the highlight. I must say his fries were phenomenal.
I had the falafel sandwich wich was simple and tasty but a bit mushy. The fried onions on the salad were pretty salty, but a nice surprise none the less.
What really made our experience was our server, Sarah, and the manager. They were happy to chat with us and genuinely interested in our feedback. They were great fun, and mostly the reason we'll return (not the insanely priced small portioned nachos, shocker right?).
There are lots of nice big TV's and lots of beer, great happy hour, date night, or game night place.
Cheers! -
Review from Will H.
Vancouver, BC
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I think Tap is a great idea this area needed a high end pub with unbelievable food!
Amazing pulled pork sandy and I'd know I have them everywhere I can. The fries came with chili dip too, nice touch! I was concerned because my date doesn't drink beer and I wasn't sure if they'd have anything for her, but we were pleasantly surprised. I can't remember what mix drink she had, but it was top notch and she knows as a bartender. We also tried the popcorn prawns which were also delish and a very interesting taste, almost citrusy and very good.
A great date spot in my eyes and a great location for a nice pub. I wouldn't say the decor is cozy, but it is high end.
The best part was the bill was the same as if I went to joeys or earls, etc. but the food was unique and top notch.
I also live in the building Tap is in so I often walk by and see Dale making the rounds. I'll have to try the regular ensemble now...
try it! -
Review from Gord C.
Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC
3/3/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Had the "bangers and spatzle" for lunch, awesome and huge! My buddy had the smoked pork chop, it's fun to watch someone but the smackdown on great food. Great beer selection too. Not really a pub atmosphere, kind of industrial but I think it's the nature of the space. Definitely my new downtown lunch spot. Not too loud to have a casual business conversation either.
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Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
1/12/2012
Ensemble Tap
990 Smithe Street
Atmosphere: The ambience lacked originality and as a fellow yelper pointed out, mimicked the stylizing of an Earl's. Given the creditability of the place you would think more effort to be memorable in the décor would be on the agenda. The ratio of dining space to the over saturation of the TV monitors created an unflattering lighting. Let's be honest, no one looks good under the television glow. I was there for a Yelp meeting event and appreciated that the music wasn't blaring and that I could have actual conversations with some of my other table mates.
Service: Was good, nothing to complain about. Everything came out in a timely manner as requested by the party. I was a little put off by the mandatory 18% tip since we had a large table. I understand that this seems to be the city standard, however, one of my pet peeves is expecting a reward. If a tip is automatically added than it gives an excuse to the service staff not giving a shit. Thankfully this wasn't the case but still a turn off none the less. The waitress was very friendly with us and warm and it didn't feel as though we were being served by a C's, J's or E's highly glammed "I don't give a shit attitude" waitress. It was a breath of fresh air. I found it weird that after the waitress found out that we were a Yelp party that the GM came out 30 seconds later and introduced himself. The gesture was appreciated, however, the lack of subtly was more amusing.
Price: Standard fair pricing, however, $3 for tea? It wasn't even Tazo or other grade B tea. I think I received something grocery store generic. Other than complaining about the mandatory tip as stated previous, the pricing was within industry standard range.
Food: The menu didn't leave very much options for those that are 100% vegetarian or trying to have a gluten free diet. I finally managed to find something that was compatible with my dietary needs and still held the establishments signature claim which was the best pulled pork. I had the pulled pork nachos, however, refused the cheese. When you have a star like the pulled pork, the last thing you want is a co-star whom over takes the show. The cheese was left back in the dressing room. The Nachos were a huge portion and normally I would doggy bag half, however, the pulled pork was as addicting as crack that I couldn't stop eating. After I felt as though I needed a wheel barrel to get me out the door. The salsa had a good mixture of spices, however, it lacked heat. Even a little heat would've really pushed this in the lime light it deserved. The platting on the others looked like something that White Spot would throw together. I understand the kiche in comparison to the décor, however, it was a mark that failed. It was as though Earl's and White Spot had a drunk night of passionate love and spawned this platting inspiration. -
Review from Robert H.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Beer is still Awesome!! Now I will comment on the food... This is where I get confused. The place is setup more like a sports bar, and just like a sports bar it is LOUD when it is busy, so loud in fact that you almost have to yell across the table to be heard by the people you are with. I am OK with that. But the food, is not topical of something you would find in a sports bar. It is fancy, display is obviously important, and the small portions and big prices mimic that of a fancy (or posh as my GF says) restaurant. When I feel like eating fancy, I go to a nice upscale restaurant where everything is polite, peaceful and relaxing. Not what I expect to have in an aggressively loud sports-bar. They made this a more sporty version of their actual restaurant, but didn't change the menu... ??? Their Nachos are AWESOME, they have an Awesome Beer selection, this is what I will go here for and I have given a 5 star rating for that previously. Not for food, they do have a few burgers which are pretty good, but most of the menu is a little to "Posh" and over priced for the "look and Feel", it doesn't fit, if I want that kind of food I would go somewhere else. Change the Menu, I love your beer and Nachos and would hate for you to close if you can't find enough people like me.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2012
I am a beer connoisseur, more then a beer drinker, and one of the main flaws of BC is their LACK of… Read more »
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Review from Vicky L.
Vancouver, BC
3/26/2012
This is exactly that - "Meh. I've experienced better." I came here for brunch over the weekend. The restaurant wasn't busy at all. I ordered the beef brisket benny and my partner ordered the crispy bacon pancakes. The meal was really nothing to write home about. It's not terrible, but it's not great either. I've had much better benny elsewhere. My partner's pancake was fluffy but rather blend. We have had better pancakes elsewhere before. For the food, I'd have given it 2.5 star. It got half a star taken away because I found the server was a bit standoff-ish. Our server wouldn't even look at us in the eyes when we were ordering. After paying the bill, she just simply walked away without saying "thank you and have a good day."
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Review from lisa b.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2012
I wanted to like this place because it's the nearest pub to our apt. Unfortunately, it's rather cold, impersonal, LOUD, and just, trying too hard to be cool. There are a zillion tvs playing sports (but if you want to watch the game, what good are 35 tvs and no sound?), LOUD music playing such that you have to shout at your friends across the table, which is extremely annoying. Food is okay, good even, but not good enough to make up for an ambiance that leaves me irritated at it's irrationality.
Dear restaurant/pub owners: people go to clubs to listen to stupidly loud music, people go to pubs/restaurants to CONVERSE - for the love of all that is good, please stop cranking the music so loud! -
Review from Robby M.
Vancouver, BC
12/27/2011
I was there last week the food was nothing special ,and after hearing how great the pulled pork sandwich I was expecting better room is also kind of a mess with just a sea of chairs and no out standing features .........dont think its worth the prices, bin 941 blows it out of the water
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Review from Dontcallmeafoodblogger D.
West Vancouver, BC
1/27/2012
This is like a chain restaurant. Chain restaurant food, chain restaurant service, and chain restaurant atmosphere. What it does not have is chain restaurant decor since the chef + financial backers probably can not afford to spend millions to decorate a single restaurant like local chains. And being like a local chain is not a bad thing since chain restaurants in the Vancouver area are generally much better than chain restaurants in other American and Canadian major metropolitan areas. So 3 stars for a generally good meal at an acceptable price with friendly and helpful service.
