- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Judas Goat Taberna
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Spanish, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
27 Blood AlleyVancouver, BC V6B
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 681-5090
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Judas Goat Taberna
Review Highlights
"...I did - the foie gras with rhubarb foam borders on genius."
(in 6 reviews)
"Beef Brisket Meatballs in Spicy Tomato sauce."
(in 7 reviews)
"...in love with the Braised Pork Belly with Onion & Pine nut."
(in 6 reviews)
Loading...
36 reviews in English
-
Review from David P.
Burnaby, BC
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a fan of this place. We were introduced to it last night by a new client. The young lady who tool care of us really knew her way around both the wine list and the menu. So much so that we just let her and the chef create plates for us. She made the evening smooth and relaxing. The atmosphere had excitement in it which made the evening a very positive one.
Although this place is a bit on the pricey side, I felt it was worth every penny. It isn't often that you can be pampered without giving direction, but on this point they were masters. -
Review from Kas D.
Vancouver, BC
2/12/2012
Teeny tiny little place in blood alley.
Perks:
-It's cute
-Friendly staff
-Tasty food
-Solid drink list
Things that made me go "meh":
-Kind of pricey for what you're getting
-Made reservations over a week in advance, and still sat at a stool at a communal bar by the window. The place is busy. And small.
-Went for dine out and was super disappointed when I realized the menu was virtually identical to the Irish Heather. C'mon....creativity people! Exact same starters. Exact same desserts. Some variation on the mains. Tiny portions. Loved the root soup. The lemon sponge was nice, although a bit tart. And for the main I had the vegan cauliflower dish which was "meh" at best (and almost cold by the time I got it).
Would I go again? .... I'd give it a shot for some small bites and a drink or two. -
Review from Jason G.
1/29/2012
This place is loud. Not in an enjoyable, its packed and everyone is talking and I feel a part of a good party. It's small, very small and the acoustics are horrible.So it's like you're on the inside of a ringing bell or something. The seats are also uncomfortable. I'm a small, in shape dude, so I'm not complaining because my butt is too big to sit on a smaller bar stool, these things just sucked. They are metal and the place where you can usually put your feet is a little awkward. You also need a giant key to go to the restroom, which I can't decide is fun or weird.
I love tapa's, so I was pumped to try this place. If you're just trying tapas for the first time, and you've chosen to come here, don't let this be the only place you ever go to. Tapa's restaurants in the US I've been too are 20x better. Usually you can order anything, and it's great. Bring out a pitcher of Sangria, and you're having a good night or start to the night. I read the yelp reviews and people talked about the meatballs... I don't get it. They are dry, yet covered in a sauce. That was actually the most notable thing we ate. I guess I just have my bar raised so high by Andina in Portland that anything else is bad by comparison, but I couldn't help but be pretty disappointed.
They share some of their specials with Salt next door, and since the ambiance at Salt is better, I would say go there if you are really bent on trying one of these two. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
9/17/2011
Cool, fresh, tapas capitalizing on the success of Salt and the Blood Alley effect.
Plates are small; prices are high.
Service is good. Atmosphere--just okay.
Meatballs were great. Salad was tasty but non-memorable.
Tables are small; no privacy here. But that's part of the "look" right?
You will spend a lot here and will still leave slightly hungry, especially after imbibing in the wine.
But...
Fine to try once if you love this sort of thing, (and usually I do!) but I would not go out of my way to return due to the pricing; it's just not worth it for what you're receiving, even if you factor in the "coolness" of the "alley" view.Listed in: The Overrated Drinks/Dinner…
-
Review from Vincci L.
10/6/2011
It's a tiny space, probably great for dates, and it's just something different.
Keeping to a simplistic black and white decor, an open kitchen and bright yellow chairs bring out the fun in this place.
Specializing in small plates, their menu is inspired from Spanish tapas.
Food is in extremely small portions. You should really have a real meal elsewhere before coming here.
If you haven't been, you could come here to grab a glass of wine and for the atmosphere, although its really not too special considering all the other choices available in Gastown.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge.
-
Review from Jess L.
9/17/2011
Mixed feelings about this place.
There are a lot of good things, but also a lot of caveats.
I do like the atmosphere here, it's a tiny place hidden away in Blood Alley in Gastown so it only seats about 20-30 people. But that being said, on busy nights there is a time limit on your stay, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of a share plates/tapas bar.
The food was good, some of the favourites here were the beef brisket meatballs, maple sugar sable fish, and the lamb cheeks - but the portions are teeny tiny. The last time I was here for a girls night out, we ended up going to Vera's after to get a burger for some sustenance! Sigh :( -
Review from Karen R.
Judas Goat was our July pick for our monthly dinner club. We went into this knowing that the portions would be small, shareable and not meal-sized. First off, our waiter was awesome. He was really friendly, coached us with the menu and even ran back and forth from Judas Goat to Salt to go get us the wine we wanted. The four of us were there for 4 hours - they didn't hurry us at all, granted it was a Thursday night but still... the pace of the meal was good. We'd eat a little, drink a lot, eat some more, drink a lot more...haha.
The sangria was a delicious summer drink - chock full of fruit and quite boozy but not overpowering. It also had that great clove taste to it to give it that bite.
The food was great!
The bacon and egg bite was a good way to start the evening. The quail egg was perfectly cooked - the yolk popped in your mouth and the richness of the egg and the salt of the pancetta and the crispiness of the bread was a winning combination.
There were 2 dishes I had issues with when it came to portion size and value for the price. The pieces of cheese were tiny and they charged about a dollar an olive. The bright side of those dishes was that the olive oil they served was very flavourful, lots of fresh floral notes. The salami plate, again the meats were good but at $18 the price was steep for a few slices of cured meats.
The brisket meatballs were tender and the tomato sauce was hearty. The maple sugar sablefish was plump and we all could have eaten one each. I also really enjoyed the fried polenta salad. It was delicious with big pieces of fresh corn and herbs with a nice arugula salad on top. The beet salad was a little on the bland side (needed salt) - the beets were bland and the goat cheese on top was good, just too mild for the dish. The foie gras on toast was massive. It's enough for 4 people because it's like an ice cream scoop of foie gras that is extremely rich. Good but huge. The mussels and clams were good too - lots of flavour and the meat was tender.
We finished with liqueur 43 and the dolce de leche mousse. For all of the food and booze we had this was a great end because it was light. They threw in an extra scoop too!
Overall, this is a fun place to go if you want to kick back with great friends to enjoy a good wine list, great sangria and lots of different food bites.Listed in: Dinner Club, Girls Night Out - Downtown…
-
Review from Luisa D.
What a cool little spot! I'd called to see if they were busy and guess my name popped up as the super bubbly server guessed it was me when I walked in and used my name. She was really helpful at guiding us through the menu and portion sizes.
Three of us went and shared a bunch of tapas and a bottle of Las Rocas. Everything was beautifully made and presented. I'm still dreaming of their empanadas... -
Review from Maria S.
10/15/2011
Ambience is indeed super cool and this place is hip to trot! I went here right after visiting the neighboring bar next door. I love the beef brisket meatballs! It's a cool tiny spot for little plates (tapas) and sherry. I went here on a food tour and enjoyed the hospitality of the wait staff. I couldn't say how the other food items compared to the tapas restaurants I've been to back home in Chicago or in Spain.
-
Review from April R.
9/25/2011
Great spot! Very small place so you better hope they aren't busy when you try to go. The service was great, they explain everything to you when you sit down and check on you often. They have a small beer and wine selection. The food is very high quality. We had an order of the marinated olives, they were decent, just regular Greek olives. We had the braised lamb collar with radish, mint and celery leaf. This was great, wonderful flavors and the lamb melted in your mouth. We also had an order of the beef brisket meatballs with rustic tomato sauce. This was our favorite dish. The flavor was amazing and the meatballs were so soft you could eat them even if you didn't have teeth.
-
Review from Maya M.
North Vancouver, BC
1/11/2011
I really like the idea of Judas Goat and I think that along with Salt the location is pretty cool; the view outside is really unlike anything I have seen in Vancouver and I don't mean that in a sarcastic way - it's quite pretty looking at the old brick buildings across the street at night. Quiet and kind of eerie.
Anyway the restaurant is very small; I estimate it seats about 20 and there is a time limit on eating there (they kick you out after 1.5 hours). I looked at the alcohol selection and it wasn't badly priced and the food selection looked quite good at first glance but was a bit of a disappointment.
First, likely because the kitchen is apartment-sized the selections for every table are cooked at the same time. For example, if you order the pimento marinated short ribs you may not get them for 1/2 hour because they don't cook when you order them but when enough tables order them (this was my impression because when they brought our orders of each item out they had orders of the same for other tables too). The food was really unfortunately quite flavorless and needed salt and the olives tasted quite funny. The cheese selection was excellent though.
All in all the atmosphere is really nice but I can't say I recommend the food at all and I won't be returning for that reason. Sorry, Judas Goat! -
Review from Adam Q.
10/3/2011
Great little place. Tasty food and a decent price. Love the stools and off-the-beaten-path location.
-
Review from Justin L.
8/26/2010 6 photos
Mixed feelings. First of all, don't expect anything particularly Spanish about this "taverna." Next, the portions at Judas Goat are definitely tiny, as other reviewers have commented. While we relished the delicious pork belly, lamb cheek terrine, and squash salad, the other items were not extraordinary enough to warrant what we felt was a high price for a nibble. We did not feel compelled to try other dishes, but instead thought about where else we might hit up to finish off our dinner.
The menu is divided into different sections: Bocadillos; Hot; Pessed, Potted or Cured; Salads; Condiments; and Sweet. Like on an all-you-can-eat sushi or dim-sun place, you just write down how many of each item you'd like to order. Here's what we sampled--and you really feel like you're just sampling:
[BOCADILLOS: meh]
Not sure why these qualify as bocadillos. My concept of a bocadillo is the iconic Spanish sandwich made with a slit-open short baguette-like bread. These were just little bites, like hors-d'oeuvres; nothing at all to do with a sandwich. We tried the BACON AND EGG ($3), which consisted of a miniature slice of brioche topped with a fried quail egg topped with crisp pancetta morsels. Sort of like your breakfast in a cute little stack. While it looks cool, it seems rather expensive for what is, after all, a very familiar taste. The MANCHEGO AND FIG ($2) consisted of a cube of cheese on the same toothpick as a portion of dried fig. That's it. Manchego is one of my favorite cheeses, but I could hardly taste it next to the concentrated fig.
[HOT: hit or miss]
The SABLEFISH ($9), slow cooked in smoked paprika & lemon with Israeli cows cows, was tender but not particularly flavorful. The BRAISED PORK BELLY ($6), on onion puree with pine nut and orange gremolata, was much better. Soft and tasty, it melted perfectly in my mouth; the gremolata provided the perfect textural counterpoint.
[PRESSED, POTTED OR CURED: more interesting]
The FOIE GRAS with rhubarb foam ($9) came with a toasted brioche slice on which to spread the foie gras topped with the pink cream. The flavor was nice and subtle, though it would've been nice to have a bit more rhubarbness. Much more satisfying and interesting was the WARM LAMB CHEEK ($8) with savoy cabbage and white truffle oil. It was pressed down, probably into a terrine and sliced. Very cool. It looks great on the plate and both lamb and cabbage were super soft. Definitely one of the highlights.
[SALADS: nice, but still just salad]
Both the salads we ordered were very nice. The CRISP PROSCIUTTO WITH SQUASH, ARUGULA & MANCHEGO ($8) was the best one: all components were tasty and perfectly prepared. The ENGLISH PEA WITH PECORINO ROMANO, MINT & LEMON ($8) was nice and green, very refreshing with the mint and lemon. The only issue was that some of the peas were slightly larger than the rest and had that unpleasant "raw pea" taste. -
Review from Curtis R.
Vancouver, BC
Little nosh on way home. Kronenbourg with a banana finish was great. Having my Bacon and Quail Egg Bocadillo, Marinated Beets with shaved Manchego and aged sherry vinegar and the Foie Gras with Rhubarb Foam.
Now I can go home feeling good on a cold rainy night.Listed in: Best Tapas Vancouver
1 Previous Review:
-
9/11/2010
One of my neighborhood haunts. Great tapas menu and cool mini space on Blood Alley Square.
-
-
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
OK - first and foremost: heed the warnings that this is NOT a place to come for a meal! This is a schnicky-schnack destination - but oh what snacks! :)
The BF and I arrived at 6pm on a Friday and stayed until 8 and it was only half full the entire time - maybe because it is a long weekend? The 400 square foot space is interestingly decorated in a modern, splashy pop-art style (I loved the nod to Gastown historiana -the tiled floor marked with the restaurant's name.)
I did the ordering, and chose for us a few items from the Bocadillo list - these are small amuse-bouche sized morsels served on toothpicks. The manchego and fig was a delight - I will be making this at home! The other option, the seared tuna with subtle Spanish olive, was a dream, draped in a luscious sauce that nearly had S licking the plate.
Next up, the potted shrimp with pistachio butter. I disagree with the reviews below that wish for more bread - I think that this one is all about schmearing on a HUGE amount of the spread so that the toast takes a distant backseat and the nutty, wonderful shrimp is the star. The dish had 4 shrimp, which themselves were of extremely high quality, reminding me of spot prawns. I will be ordering this one again!
Gin compressed watermelon with salty cheese, fennel and radish was a refreshing plate, subtle flavours mingling together and making us want more!
Finally, we shared the "salmon pastrami" and it took some getting used to. The salmon was a pretty shade of jewel pink, and the way it had been cured (perhaps brined?) left it the texture of a jelly candy. The peppery spices of a pastrami had indeed been imparted on the fish, and a bite of it on its own was fishy, vinegary and a tad offensive. However, when we ensure each forkful had a bit of each component (pickled shallot, golden beet and mint) it was delicious. Perhaps a nod to the molecular gastronomy of Spain's Ferran Adria here?
We shared a bottle of Meiomi, a lovely California Pinot Noir (I will seek this out in the Liquor Store) but my main tip is that you only order by the glass. Reason being - the food is a) not filling and b) comes out extremely quickly. We were finished with the food portion of the experience in 20 minutes, and thank god they weren't busy or we'd have been rushing out the door, pounding back good wine. One glass would have been enough.
The bill was high (due to the wine) for how full we were, but the food is too good for me to not come back!
Ideal Judas Goat experience? Have a glass of red and one or two tapas before heading on to another restaurant, or come here for a light afternoon snack. But this is NOT a supper restaurant. (We had to get a poutine afterward.... not that there's anything wrong with that....)
Service, ambience in my beloved Blood Alley Square, decor, creativity - all a 5 out of 5. I will be back again to heed my own advice and hopefully to update this review to full marks! -
Review from Pete S.
Vancouver, BC
7/19/2011
this place is pretty neat, but the tapas really miss the mark. it's a tiny joint with only like 30 seats. the wine selection is interesting and the servers make great recommendations.
my beef is with the tapas. they are miniscule. i get that tapas are supposed to be small plates, but for $10 you are left wondering what you just ate. all of my favorite spanish tapas experiences come from barcelona and san sebastien, and even though the plates are small, the flavors are huge.
also, there is a lack of deep fried selections, which i think are critical for tapas success.
all in all, great concept, lacklustre execution. -
Review from Thu N.
6/25/2010
We braved it and came to blood alley for an early dinner without reservations and it worked :) There was room for 4!! From the hooks under the table for our bags to the glass jug of water (just like in Barcelona), the attention to detail in this place never ceases to amaze me. They used every inch of this tiny place well.
Alright, we basically worked our way down the menu - some things that really stood out for me: Braised Pork Belly, Warm Lamb Cheek, Gin Compressed Watermelon. You must order these!! Other things that were pretty good were the veal sweetbread, sablefish, potted prawns and the bacon and egg bocadillos.
So yes, this is not a cheap place to eat but I do love sharing and trying all sorts of dishes with friends and this was perfect for that. I still can taste the truffle oil on the lamb cheek and dream about the pork belly that was made perfectly.
Yeah, the prices are steepListed in: The best places to take…
-
Review from Janice F.
3/27/2010 ROTD 6/11/2010
I have a lot of respect for someone who can take a 300 sq ft place in the middle of a urine-soaked alley and turn it into a trendy, foodie-bound money-making machine. While I haven't been tempted to try out Salt, my love of tapas drove me venture into Blood Alley for this experience - I did indeed feel like I was following a Judas Goat.
And, I'm glad I did - the foie gras with rhubarb foam borders on genius. While the foie is rather bitter on its own, hence likely duck and peppered with salt - when paired with the slightly sweet, slightly sour rhubarb foam (more like a cream) it makes for one decadent taste experience. (The foie is a terrine/pate). Easily their most successful dish of the ones I tried.
Also enjoyable was the lamb cheeks with savoy cabbage and white truffle oil. Brisket-like lamb wrapped with cabbage resembling a terrine and drizzled with white truffle oil. Not bad - but to be picky, the lamb could have been more tender and the cabbage was an interesting, bitter pairing. There was also a too generous sprinkling of salt on this dish.
The braised pork belly is suitably unctuous, soft, meltingly fatty and nicely paired with an onion puree. If you are a fan of pork belly, you won't be disappointed at this dish for $6. One of the better valued items in my opinion.
The saltimbocca, veal sweetbreads with brown sage butter were tasty little circles of glandy goodness (could have been heart). A gentle introduction for those unfamiliar with sweetbreads. For some reason, it worked a lot better paired with the accompanying frisee salad.
As for the misses, the beef brisket meatballs weren't memorable, nor were the chorizo bruschetta. A bit better luck with the stewed mushroom bruschetta.
The experience once inside is such a juxtaposition of refined dining in such a crummy location. And that's what impresses me the most.Listed in: Restaurants worth a second…
-
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
Pay no mind to the bros waiting in line for the Blarneystone who seem to think Blood Alley is their own private urinal. Conceal yourself!
I look past this public display of disgusting and venture through the door just east of Salt for a little slice of Europe right in the heart of Vancouver. If you sit at the bar facing the window, and squint, you'll be transported to Vancouver, circa 1890. The cobblestone, the lit rooms and fire escapes. The only thing that will bring you back is is the shopping carts that occasionally roll through. If you don't grab a seat windowside, make sure you face the side wall. Robert Chaplin's mural is entertaining if you can read it... if not... you can read the tale painted on the wall right here: http://rchaplin.blogsp...
Aptly named after the goats that lead cattle to slaughter, this tiny tapas bar serves up big flavoured share plates. Ticked on our order and brought to our cozy little high top table:
-Beef Brisket meatballs
-Potted Prawns
-Bruchetta: carmelized onions, chorizo and dark chocolate; sardines
-marinated olives
-quails egg and potato salad
Brought in water glasses: one baby beer. I've never been served a beer so small, outside of Spain. A lovely touch to go along with the small bites. I'm someone who is happy to pay for high quality bites, but I would say, if you've got some major hunger brewing, you best step across to Irish Heather for a more filling meal.
A few minor tweaks for my taste buds, and Judas Goat would be an easy five star!
-The potted prawns could come with more bread. Especially when all four slices we were served had large holes down the centre. Is it possible to serve the spread at room temperature? Its spreadability would have been increased 10 fold.
-Diving through olive brine with a regular fork or fingers made for a sloppy task. Next time, drained olives for me, please.
-And the sardines on the bruchetta were well flavoured, but there was so much of it. Perhaps I need to be schooled in fish schools, but I found that two sardines on one small piece of toast was almost too much.
There's no doubt I'll be back to sample the rest and give into the cravings I already have springing up for the potted prawns and meatballs -
Review from Alexander Bromley Clark D.
Vancouver, BC
5/29/2010
Last week, my friend came up from Bellingham for good eats, craft beer drinking, and a concert. During our lengthy evening of carousing, we hit-up three restaurants in and around the Downtown Eastside's lubricious Blood Alley. In the midst of an inevitable gentrification, this once-perilous locus has evolved into a gourmet, gritty smorgasbord of tapas and charcuterie eateries. Our final, and most disappointing, stop of the evening was Judas Goat.
I have a fairly small stomach and a fickle appetite, so I am never one to complain about portions. Having said this, the portions at Judas Goat were ridiculous considering the prices. With the same owners as Salt and The Irish Heather - which serves hearty, bold pub food just a block or two away - I wrongly assumed that Judas Goat would also offer the same value with their Spanish-themed tapas. All of the items that we ordered were creative and delightful (especially the foie gras with rhubarb foam and the braised pork belly), but they should have been 1/3 cheaper. Nobody, and I mean nobody, should pay $2.25 for one thin slice of baguette with a sparse spread of salsa verde and a few puny, pea-sized blobs of white anchovy. This isn't bruschetta! It's a joke!
I agree with many of the reviews here with regard to the kitchen's skill and the owners' passion for unique tapas, but the high prices, tiny portions and max capacity of 28 people just aren't a winning combination. Judas Goat won't last...you heard it here first! -
Review from Nai G.
6/4/2011
Lamb cheeks was amazing. So soft and delishously flavorful.
-
Review from Shelley B.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2010
Janice F did such a good job of explaining the place that I'll be quick about it.
I occasioned to Judas Goat last night for a late night snack and drink - we felt superly pleased: the server took care of us, the space was exciting for it's smallness and the food was delish. I went specifically for the foie, and it didn't let me down! The chorizo bruschetta with dark chocolate was an awesome unexpected combo, and I loved sitting at the window watching the occasional beamer drive by amongst a swirl of possible street urinators and skittish rats. We made a plan to stop by there on a coming sunny day bike culinary tour, and we'd most DEFINITELY get the goat-cheesecake again. It was like amazing apple pie combined with the sweet cheese of a dreamcastle cloud.
Five Baa's for Judas Goat! -
Review from Michael S.
8/18/2010
This was our first stop on a four-restaurant tour of Gastown, so we hit this place for its specialty: tapas. We were not here for a full meal, so we weren't disappointed about leaving hungry. And because we were planning to eat quite a bit more that evening, we only tried 3 or 4 dishes here. But they were all quite delicious, and if anything, were disappointed at the end of the evening that we hadn't spent more time here.
Really creative use of a TINY space. They've done well with what they have. Service was also good. I definitely recommend a visit (though it's a bit hard to find if you're not a Vancouverite). -
Review from Alisa B.
4/1/2010
This is a tiny little place in blood alley. I'll give you non-Vancouver people a little history about blood alley. Its brick laden everywhere and building walls and the ground which slopes downward forming a sort of basin in the alley. The alley itself is behind the famous meat market which is also historical and used the alley as a slaughter yard. So yeah the entrance to the restaurant is in a historically creepy area of town.
You'll feel plenty enlivened when you get inside. Light green metal bar stools (very uncomfortable but very modern, along with the rest of the place... very modern. Dark atmosphere with bright lights over the counters and work area, which is completely open and quite pristine. I love open kitchens because it shows me that the guys working in here are good enough to keep this place clean and beautiful for everyone to see. The server was pretty good and the food came quickly but not so quickly I wondered about quality.
The food? It was tiny... it was petite... it was adorable... and oh it was sooooooo good! And very original! Sweetbreads done in a saltimboca (compacted and wrapped in prosciutto), scallop tartar which is basically spicy scallop ceviche accompanied by pork rinds, Foie Gras with rhubarb foam and crostini (foam was more like whipped cream but still very good). I very much so loved this place and plan on going back when I can. The prices you ask? It was a little on the steep side for the small portion but it was damn good food, I'd say worth it.Listed in: Places You'll Find Me in…
-
Review from Katherine V.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2010
Meatballs are a must. Warm lamb terrine with savoy cabbage and truffle oil too. Beet salad, squash and prosciutto salad both very satisfying.
Ask for the Zaco Tempranillo (only $38, comes and goes off the wine list). -
Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
5/8/2010
I don't get to Gastown too much though I have been down more recently with all the good food that is now popping up there. And while I know about Blood Alley, I didn't realize I'd have so much problem finding it! It really is just an alley with no signage. There was a crack deal going down while I strolled the alley to get to Judas Goat. It wasn't anything to worry about, but I'm not sure if I'd be comfortable late at night strolling there by myself. I really say this in the eyes of a tourist and how they would feel. I know what I saw wouldn't make me comfortable in a strange town.
Now onto the good stuff....the tapas! I didn't have high expectations for Judas Goat. I don't find tapas good here in Vancouver and to top it off I just got back from Key West where I had some of the most amazing tapas ever at a particular bodega...
So this was a great, pleasant surprise! The restaurant is small and suited for diners of 2 or 4. Our table of 9 was really packed in and squished. It looks like the whole restaurant might only seat 30 people tops so I might make a reservation if my heart was set on going.
What we ordered was almost everything. When I go out for food, the one thing I look for is a good balance in flavouring. I like the seasoning to be perfect. It really happened here and every bite was delicious! The stand out dish for me was the salad of Crisp Prosciutto with Squash Arugula and Manchego. I also loved the sweetbreads, pork belly and meatballs. Another diner, told me she had never tasted Parma ham as good as this and another said the fat on it tasted like buttah. I would have liked to try all the bruschettas but the chorizo was very good on the one we did try.
There isn't really a kitchen and it looks like the food items are done in a sous vide machine. Pretty neat! I highly recommend this place! The only reason not 5 stars is the uncomfortable seating (bar stool) and the teeny portions on some of the tapas. Some portions were fine. It was a very enjoyable dining experience and I'm very happy I went!
PS. The wine by the glass is great! I tried 2 out of the 3 reds and they were absolutely divine! -
Review from Adam F.
4/19/2010
For my last night in Vancouver (a Friday), we decided to make our way to Blood Alley, and either Judas Goat or the Salt Tasting Room was our destination. The Goat seemed a little more to our liking, so we snuck inside and got two spots at the bar looking out the window after 5-10 min. Love the artwork telling the story on the wall. Ordering is like dim sum, you put down how many of each item you want on the menu. In fact, I stole a copy of the menu on the way so I would remember what I had.
Lamb cheeks were to die for, melt in the mouth deliciousness. Nearly ordered another round of them! Also delicious was the fresh pea salad with sheep cheese. Wine list is good and surprisingly affordable, we started with sangria, which varies night by night.
Couple of gripes include the wait staff being a little too quick to take away the plates and a little too slow with the drinks.
Goodbye Vancouver, you've treated me well for two and a half years. I'll miss you! -
Review from Tom T.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2011
We enjoyed it - fun, small and friendly, good food. Sure, the seating isn't designed for a 2 hour kick back and relax session, pricing seemed reasonable, but not inexpensive. Can't comment on the timing of food, as someone mentioned before, as we went when it was very quiet. But I'd certainly return before going back to Salt (why not just go to Oyama and DIY), even though they're owned by the same people.
And Blood Alley is a neat spot, OK so I have a skewed perspective. Can't wait to see if the rumours are true, someone please correct me if I'm wrong, a Kiwi bought up Blood Alley with the intention of cleaning it up!? -
Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
5/27/2010
Now that the window is open the place seems much bigger!!!! The small plates are great the pork belly and the pressed veggies with gazpacho were wonderful, I like the wine list though it is much smaller than Salts, it did have a sweet sherry to pair with the goat cheese and almond cheese cake.
4 stars because it is too small and I often end up at Salt (that's not so bad). -
Review from David L.
Vancouver, BC
4/16/2010 3 Check-ins Here
This is going to be really fun in the summer when they open up the windows and we can mingle with the local colour of the alley. Hahaha, I kid. Seriously though, it's gonna be awesome on a hot summer night. They have this bottle of Rose' wine for like 22.00 and pair that with some olives and meatballs, and your gold. Welcome to the ideal Friday night setup. The bruchetta needs to be rethought however, and the pork rind things that they serve with the scallop tartare will destroy your mouth and render your party inaudable from the booming crunch sounds they make. Something softer please.
No big deal though, this place is a keeper. -
Review from Pamela L.
Vancouver, BC
8/16/2010
This place is no more than the size of a nook set in the center of blood alley. It was a hot day and blood alley isn't the prettiest smelling hood. As expected, roaming the tucked away alley were some vagrants and lined along the pathway are a couple of large industrial trashcans. Luckily, the smell did not invade the restaurant and the vagrants provide interesting people watching opportunities.
The decor of Judas Priest is a feast for my eyes; the decor resembled the kitchen of some artist-type featured in the Euro Decor Mag, Living Etc. This is a tapa style restaurant with small tables and is meant for people to grab a bite - not have a feast. There are eye catching dishes such as beef brisket meatballs, rabbit and lamb cheek dishes. The proscuitto salad was excellent. The neighboring table ordered the beet salad and it looked rather divine. The lamb cheek wrapped in savoy cabbage looked like a piece of fois gras but but had a pleasant texture yet I yearned for more flavour. The use of white truffle oil balances out the gamey-ness of the lamb to provide a sophisticated finish to the oily nature of the meat. We ordered the sable fish that which was garnished by israeli style couscous. The grains were terrific - flavoured by freshly grounded cumin seeds. However, the sablefish, itself, was disappointing - the temperature was neither hot or cold and the poor fish required some salt to keep it alive in my mouth. The beef brisket meat balls were terrific - the sauce was savory, the meat was soft and flavourful. I quite enjoyed the rabbit - the carrot pana cotta was a terrific surprise with it's citrus accents.
Service was excellent - we were early for our reservations but they showed us the hand written reservation sign. I thought that was a nice touch. Our server described each dish as if he had crafted it by himself.
I must admit, I expected the flavour of these dishes to pack more of a punch (which is what I am used to eating at La Bodega) but I'm willing to try it again when they change their menu for the next season. I've been told the pork belly is a treat, so I would definitely order that dish over the sablefish in the future. -
Review from Rebecca J.
Vancouver, BC
3/25/2011
Went with a girlfriend for a catch-up evening last week. Service was fabulous, friendly and informed. It was the second time I'd eaten here and I love tapas so would go back again. The meatballs are yummy, as was the foie gras. I wish the seating was more comfortable, but we seemed to fare OK; we got through three bottles of wine between the two of us and managed to leave without falling off our stools.
-
Review from Jason K.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
for you that feel Salt next door doesnt have much selection to eat try Judas Goat. A place this small can serve such good food and drinks its great. I have been a couple of times and will be back soon for the scallops and foie gras
-
Review from Daniel L.
This little happy Judas Goat will lead you into a refreshing world of culinary delight... Getting to know the Taberna of the Goat is just half the fun!! Set right next door to its Sister "Salt" makes it easy to find. I love the story book art work on the walls here, The room is very intimate and oh so cozy and comfortable. Black & white tile floors and lots of marble counters & tables. We were very lucky to be one of the first few through the front door on opening night.
All of the menu items are tapas style and can be ordered one heavenly 2-bite-sized morsel at a time. With a tasty old world traditional foundation transformed with new world infusion, we were transported to the villages of spain sipping on traditional tumblers of wine, while surrounded by a modern hipster vibe. We attempted to try everything on the menu, but due to the constraints of our tummies found ourselves leaving a few entries on the menu untouched. oh well, a culinary hound has to have something to look forward to, afterall! The list of delicacies is too long to include, but I will name a few of our faves;
Lamb Ceek & Truffle,
Beef Brisket Meatballs in Spicy Tomato sauce,
Rabbit Rillette with Carrot Panna Cotta
Potted Pistachio Prawns,
Saltimbocca Veal Sweetbread Sage butter..
and fell in love with the Braised Pork Belly with Onion & Pine nut.
All of the Buschetta are win win. Plus the Salads are a total hit... one in particular Arugula Prosciutto & Manchego...
We all will be venturing down the lane to Judas Goat again very soon. -
Review from Tom M.
North Vancouver, BC
4/4/2010
Aptly named as I took my date to a slaughter. Ambiance is decent with a few small tables and seating at a long bar looking out into blood alley, though the bar stools are of a hard plastic.
The server was knowledgeable of the wine list and did fill up our glasses though I did have to ask him to take away some plates when we were done. We ordered 7 dishes and as it is tapas, the first 5 were brought out at once and I had to stop the server from bringing the remaining 2...
1. Chorizo bruschetta: (2 for $5) 2 paper thin slices of chorizo served on top of onions. No flavour at all.
2.Sablefish - ($9) - thinly cut but actually very tasty and the cous cous accompanied it nicely.
3.Braised pork belly with pistachio - very boring and no trimming of the fat - pistachio was on the fatty party of the meat. When braising, add something into the pan other than pork!
4. Rabbit Rillete -$6 - very good gamey taste though luckily the accompanying carrot panna cotta was bland as it did not go at all with the gamey taste. - I'd recommend a pear compote or cranberry gremolata with this.
5. Scallop Tartare with pork rinds. $7 - absolutely awful. Chopped scallops with pesto. The pesto was dumped on it and I'm pretty sure the pesto was store bought, it totally overpowered the delicate taste of the scallops. Accompanying pork rinds -- really?
6. Marinated beets with shaved ricotta. - pretty good.
7. Crisp prosciutto with squash, aragula, manchego - $8 - pretty good, with a good amount of proscuitto and manchego though it had more endive than aragula and the bitterness of the endive did not go well.
I've lived in Spain and except for the North know it well. None of these dishes have anything to do with Spanish tapas. Had high hopes. -
Review from A K.
Vancouver, BC
3/18/2010
food is a bit salty and over priced, but love the foie gras w/ rhubarb form anyway.
