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Kitsilano Daily Kitchen
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants French Canadian (New), French [Edit]
1809 W 1st AveVancouver, BC V6J 5B8
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 569-2741
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
62 reviews for Kitsilano Daily Kitchen
Review Highlights
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"Had the 6-course "Culinary Adventure" (inc." In 5 reviews -
"We did the chef's tasting menu and didn't regret it." In 3 reviews -
"...we ordered a flourless chocolate cake that was divine and a..." In 2 reviews
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62 reviews in English
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Review from Vincent N.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was pleasantly invited by @DianneChow for this wonderful dinner.
The fact that it's a daily kitchen, it's going to be hard to talk about recommendations. I had the tasting menu which had five different items, my favourite on there was the scallop. Damn was it good...but overall it was a solid and good 4 star.
And if you check in on Yelp Mobile you get a Free Sangria. Bonus that Chef Fowke knows his mobile marketing.
I ordered, I believe, a porkchop with bone, and I can tell you that it was absolutely amazing. Juicy, thick, flavourful. And considering that I eat a lot of pork, I can tell you that this was hand's down my favourite. It was filling and should be on every meat lover's wish list to try.
Of course the menu changes daily, but the point is, the technique was solid. I honestly can't remember all the details of the food since I'm writing this review about a month later.
I can tell you that this place is amazing, food and service. The staff treat you with courtesy and not pretentious.
Would I recommend, yes pick a day and go!
Will I be back, if I could, I would be back here every week. I probably will when my marketing company lands it's first multi million dollar contract. -
Review from Sam L.
5/12/2012
Let me begin by saying that I will defend KDK to the death.
I came here with my girlfriend one night and despite great service and a nice atmosphere, we left a bit disappointed, which I made a point of saying here on Yelp in a review of the place. The food was good - just not as good as I was expecting (I wasn't harsh either, I think I gave it 3 stars).
The next day I noticed I had received a message from Chef Fowke, who sounded genuinely, personally sorry that I hadn't had an excellent night, explaining a few problems they had had that night, and invited me to come back in, which I eagerly took him up on.
This place has a million 4 and 5 star reviews. Was one 3 star review going to sink this place? Absolutely not. So, we went back a few weeks later and received one of the best meals we've had in Vancouver, which is saying a lot.
This place is pure class, and some of the best food you will ever eat.Comment from Brian F. of Kitsilano Daily Kitchen 2/27/2012
Ouch - no; you are right. We had some 'difficulties' on the… More » -
Review from Peter N.
Burnaby, BC
5/8/2012
Had my birthday dinner here, was able to book a table for 10, with a few days notice. This place is vegetarian friendly, but the options are slim, unless you can eat seafood. Our server was quite charming, and we had champagne, and he was always attentive to make sure no ones glass was half empty.
To start, the chef made us a complimentary salmon salad, it was delicious. I started my dinner with the fiddle heads. I never had these before, so i was quite curious. The dish was quite good, except fiddle heads are odd tasty. But the presentation was nice, and the sauce was good. For my main, i had the Haida Gwaii halibut dish, it was so tasty! The fish was done to perfection, i recommend this dish. In the end, we all ordered desserts, of course, mine came with a candle. Oh, and the cheesecake we ordered, was so good. It came with papaya, strawberries and half a rambutan. It was nice and light.
The place is well put together, and it's the perfect little venue for a birthday dinner of 10. Overall, i was quite happy with my experience at Kitsilano Daily Kitchen. Cheers to the Chef.
P.S. my guests were happy with their experience also. -
Review from Cindy H.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2012
My boyfriend and I had dinner at the Kitsilano Daily Kitchen yesterday and I was primarily really surprised I hadn't heard of it before, it was awesome!
The space is really cool, high ceilings and a bit of an industrial loft feel. But for me what made the whole experience so great was really the service. It's been awhile since I've had great, enthusiastic and *genuine* (key point there!) service. You can just tell they are happy and excited about the restaurant and it makes the whole evening feel like a lot of fun. I heard our server joke that the food is so good he doesn't even have to really do anything and people still have an amazing time, but I would almost say it was the other way around. Luckily both the food and the service were outstanding.
The food was spot on all night. Each dish (even starting with the fresh warm homemade bread) was delicious. Fresh, interesting and very flavourful. We did the "culinary adventure" where you let chef Brian surprise you with 6 courses for $65. I thought it was a very good value with large portion sizes and lots of interesting dishes. There was a lot of food so I was stuffed by the time dessert came (a very nice cheesecake). I think my favourite was the duck..or the heirloom tomato risotto.. or the cauliflower soup with truffle oil.. or or or..
The only small comment I would make (and as you see I still give this a 5 star) would be a question about the choice to include veal in the menu. I'm definitely not an expert so I may be wrong about this, but my understanding is that there really is no humane way to produce the white meat of veal without imposing severe dietary restrictions to the calf- so when this dish came I took a pass. I know veal is still "in vogue" and I see it on lots of menus, so this isn't anything against Kistilano Kitchen, just a general comment while I have a soapbox to stand on. Why do we still offer this stuff?
Anyway - rant over - All in all a thoroughly delicious expertly prepared meal and relaxing evening in a beautiful space. -
Review from Kat S.
Updated - 2/21/2012
Another amazing night hosted by my favourite place in town. Thanks, Kits Daily!
I really mean it when I say that dining here is an experience, not just a meal. Granted, I have come for their "Tasting Events", which really can't be beat in value. Last night we went for their Old World vs New World Wine Series. I learned a lot about wine, while eating the best food, and chatting with awesome people. Once again, I left so full I was in pain. Thank goodness I wore a dress that was loose fitting. I did have to move over a notch on my belt, though. Twice.
The food is simple, real food. Food that tastes the way food should taste. The quality ingredients are allowed to shine, so that you really taste the beef/mushroom/scallop/whatever. There's no silly frou-frou foams, or gels or gimmicks, it's just honest, real food. And it is made with such passion and care, with the freshest of ingredients that you can't help but be amazed by what you are eating.
The staff are all top notch. Nice people, who love their job, and care about the food and service. There is not a hint of snottiness in the place. It's a come-as-you-are atmosphere for those that want a food experience.
From now on I save all the money I would spend eating elsewhere and put it in a jar so I can come here more often. Kits Daily has ruined all other restaurants for me. Thanks, you fantastic, food loving, really sweet, jerks.Listed in: Treat Yourself
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/22/2011
I attended the Beer in My Food, Food in My Beer event last night. Even though it is the next day, I… Read more »
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Review from Jacob K.
Updated - 2/6/2012 ROTD 5/21/2012
Chef Brian does it again. To say it did not disappoint does not do Kits Daily Kitchen justice. This has become one of my favorite restaurants and my favorite change from the downtown core.
As usual, the service was impeccable; the intimacy of the restaurant makes us feel like we are the only ones there. All the dishes were presented beautifully.
The teaser was the amuse-bouche - a chilled dijon spinach puree. Very light; very clean; a nice palette cleanser to start the evening.
The first course was a cream of cauliflower soup with crab legs. The legs were oh so succulent and sweet; the soup so rich and creamy.
A main feature of a braised short rib with a gentle reminder of comfort food with its side of Pemberton mashed potatoes. The rib was perfectly sized; not too big to make one feel stuffed.
The dessert was nice and light - a lemon tart with Mayer lemons.
The only drawback to KDK is its huge advantage - the ever changing menu. If I ever have a hankerin' for that soup again, I am out of luck until the next time I see it. Or it is an enticement to return!4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/19/2011
For anyone traveling to Vancouver, there is no better place to eat than Kits Daily Kitchen. Sourced… Read more »
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Review from Derek L.
Vancouver, BC
4/29/2012
I'd heard of Kitsilano Daily Kitchen a few times, but never had a chance to check it out. Finally made it last night, and it lived up to it's reputation. Known for a limited menu that changes daily based on what the Chef finds in the markets, the menu was really quite creative.
We ended up going for the 6 course "culinary adventure" which ended up being a small tasting of many of the menu items with some small twists. Started with a corn and dungeness crab soup, garnished with bacon lardon - and really, how can you go wrong with bacon? Another dish was a mission fig and bacon spaghetti which actually was quite nice - and perfect portion. The baby beet salad was another stand-out, finished with a goat cheese vinaigrette, the beets were cooked perfectly. The 'main' or final dish was a beautiful veal tenderloin, cooked perfectly, on a bed of wilted greens (baby char maybe?). Dessert was ok - a flourless chocolate torte.
The only negative about the food had nothing to do with the food itself - it was the plates. Everything hot was served on cold plates and each dish ended up being lukewarm at best. Noticed with the first dish (the soup) and thought maybe it was a one-off, but on each course after it was the exact same thing - the cold plates cooled down the food quickly. Maybe the plate-warmer was on the fritz?
Service was very good - friendly and casual without being too intrusive. The waiter seemed to know his stuff, described the items well and made some good recommendations on wine.
This is a great restaurant if you're open on your food - with only 4 starters and 4 entrees it is certainly much more limited to what you'd see in many restaurants, but if you like the idea of a constantly changing menu based on what's fresh it's certainly worth a try! -
Review from Mark H.
2/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Chef Fowke is a true chef. Rarely will you meet a chef who does what Brian does on a daily basis.
Where most places have a fixed menu year round with maybe a couple daily specials, Brian shops local farmers markets in the AM daily, heck even drives to Pemberton to pick up veggies, then creates a new menu every day. Now that's a chef. Super passionate and always a pleasure to learn about the story behind the ingredients.
Local, sustainable and organic ingredients are prepared simply yet magically to create dishes that you will write home about.
My 1st experience here was the Yelp Elite Secret Midnight Dinner party. I won't go into detail, but it created new taste buds for me among others. Shortly after, I returned and had a sloping hills pork belly that would make koshers jealous.
My last visit was for the $38 Dine Out Vancouver menu, which is one heck of a deal to enjoy such caliber of cuisine.
I usually don't copy and paste menu info, but trust me, these words speak a story, read what I ate below and you'll salivate.
Appetizers:
Roasted Cream of Winter Cauliflower Soup - butter poached belly of king crab, Fraser river sturgeon caviar, distilled AOC Italian white truffle oil
'jump-fried' Alaskan Weathervane Scallops - maple - yam, sprouted bok choy, bacon fried rice
Entrees:
West Coast Seafood Cioppino - chorizo, heirloom tomato broth, Vancouver Island nugget potato - Day Boat fresh seafood (MASSIVE portion. Barely finished)
48 Hour Braised Canadian Heritage Angus Short Rib - spiny Pacific lobster & truffle mash, rutabaga butter, onion jam
Desserts:
Lemon cheescake and chocolate torte. Delicious happy ending.
Good food costs money. But it's worth every penny. -
Review from Lilani E.
3/21/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I meant to post this sooner but am now getting a chance to review Kitsilano Daily Kitchen. Without boring you to death, I wanted to share with you a great example of a Chef/Owner taking control of a diner's experience.
We trekked all the way up to Vancouver and I had 2 yelp apps running at the same time to figure out where we were going to have our ONE big meal. (We were doing a quick day trip and back.) Kitsilano Daily Kitchen was the one we ended up selecting. Reservations were made and for the first time in many weeks we were going out for a nice dinner.
Kitsilano prides itself on using the finest and freshest ingredients locally purchased by Chef and Owner, Brian Fowke. The manager sat us down and our server came. Everything was going smoothly and we were given the low down on the menu and also the 6-course culinary adventure. My heart was set on that but my partner is a phenylketonuric (PKU; google it if you have to). Put simply he can only eat very low dosages of protein otherwise suffers from permanent brain damage. He usually orders sides of vegetables to control his protein intake.
The server shot down our request for me to have the culinary adventure while he had plain vegetable stir fry. The server explained that we both had to get the culinary adventure, the Chef was busy, and dining experience's "timing" would be off. Fair enough on his end. We are USED to this and have to do this often, I explained. I usually indulge in 3 courses and he ends up having a baked potato. The server held his ground and at this point, we were OVER IT. I ordered an appetizer to go with my cocktail and we cancelled his order of stir-fry.
Before we knew it, the manager came and had the stir-fry along with my appetizer compliments of the Chef. He sensed we were upset and I hope he reads this review and understands that we were not trying to be complicated by any means. Having PKU is our way of life and each restaurant we go to we have to explain ourselves. Thank YOU, Chef Brian for understanding this. I have every intention on visiting your restaurant again and hopefully getting to try your Culinary Adventure for myself. I of course at this point in time would love to update this review and actually talk about FOOD.
On that note, I ordered the scallop appetizer which was delightful. The scallops were cooked to perfection (not overdone!) and the couscous was a nice light flavor and cooler in temperature. I loved this contrast. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Over the years, Dine-Out has successfully turned me off way too many restaurants. (West, Chambar, Yew and Coast to name just a few).
Last night's experience was the best ever, and thx. to my fellow Yelpers, I gave this place a shot.
Absolutely everything on the fixed menu looked great, but the best choices were: salad, shortrib/cornish game hen with barley risotto (depending on your taste) and either choice of dessert. Do you prefer chocolate or tart? (think lemon/lime, but this was an orange lemon). The soup was probably a bit too rich and the least memorable, even if the weather did call for it.
No matter; our service was superb, the atmosphere was welcoming and the meal itself was an event.
The only "okay" was the wine list; but it's always changing, so I can't speak for your visit.
And minus .5 star for the "ghetto" bathrooms. The men's was always lined up. The women's, ideally, had two stalls. However, one of them was out of order. So when using the facilities, you had to be extra fast while women waited "with" you inside of the bathroom. Shockingly, I was reminded of the near-Dive bars I once frequented in NYC...but I digress.
So, as long as you arrive with an empty bladder, this is my single Dine-Out recommendation thus far.
The total cost with tax and 20% tip with 5 beverages clocked out at almost $200. But I did have an $18 glass of wine.
I can't wait to return and pay double the price when Dine Out is over! Well worth it! -
Review from Alison S.
1/22/2012
After leaving the restaurant, my boyfriend remarked about how much he'd like to return to this restaurant on a regular basis. We've tried to come twice before but it eluded us, so when Kitsilano Daily Kitchen came up on the Dine Out Vancouver list we hopped to getting a reservation right away.
We were drawn in by the menu for DOV and we weren't disappointed. The value for the menu was incredible, and we didn't find any suffering of quality. The cream of winter cauliflower soup had a generous buttery chunk of king crab belly, and the "lobster and truffle oil mash" with my short rib was actually savoury mashed potatoes with a perfectly cooked piece of lobster on top! Delish! My better half had the tomato and bacon salad to start, and enjoyed it very much, even though he doesn't even normally eat a lot of tomatoes. The cioppino had generous servings of seafood with a herb-laden tomato broth.
The culinary adventure looked intriguing, but what interested The Boy more was that on the website it said if you have any special requests to please let the chef know in advance. His eyes widened like saucers and he asked, "Does that mean it would be possible to put mangoes in....everything???"
I think "special requests" probably falls more into the "dietary restrictions" category rather than "pathological obsession with a fruit."
At any rate, when we're going head somewhere special for a meal, I think we're going to want to come back here :) -
Review from Odette C.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The restaurant itself is worth 5 stars. Dineout menu is only worth 4.
7th Dine Out 2012 Restaurant
Comparing to the $65 for 6 courses menu Dine Out $38 for 3 is not really a deal.
Started with Cream of Cauliflower soup with Alaska king crab. Soup itself is great, I was a tad dissapointed with the Alaska king crab, it's a skinny leg (I was expecting a succulent ball of crab belly meat) or even a properly prepared spot prawn would be good as the crab leg was not very fresh. Me being a Chinese we steam the live crab with garlic so I am a bit more picky about seafood.
Entree we had the shortrib. Wow it was a tiny tiny thin piece of shortrib. Measures around 3" x 2" and around 0.5" deep. Fantastic flavour but really small portion. The mash potato was a tad salty to my taste but creamy enough. There is a big portion of onion jam that was yummy with the rib. A very small spiny lobster, as before I'm not a huge fan of the lobster.
Dessert was better than before. The Lime/Lemon tart has the perfect balance between tarte and sweet.
Some dissapointments. Still a very good restaurant.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2011
Culinary Adventure, 6 courses for $65 per person well worth the price.
Let me assure you, this chef… Read more »
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Review from Cyrus G.
1/19/2012
All I can say is the food is amazing here. Every entree we ordered was fresh and first-rate. The dessert I tried was nothing special, though.
Bonus points for being in a very nice, quiet location. -
Review from Scott H.
12/16/2011
Is it possible to write recommendations for a restaurant that changes their menu daily? I mean, I had the duckling on barley risotto and it was...holy ***k it was so friggin good. But by recommending it am I just torturing you because whose to say it'll be on the menu again. But if it is, GET IT!
Anyway, the restaurant is great. The food deserves a 5, presentation deserves a 5, the service deserves a 5, the location deserves a 5, but the ambiance was meh. Not sure why. Maybe it was the night, maybe it was the set up (looked like they were waiting for a big table), maybe it was the clientele, but it was just a little boring. Not sure why.
BUT the food was bloody fantastic. We had Alaskan Crab Belly for appetizer (i didn't know crabs had a belly, but they do...and they're tasty). I will now be sneaking into the aquarium and start licking crabs.
I had the aforementioned duckling (o...m...g) and the wife had the lamb. So together we played child murderers and enjoyed our meals immensely. Some lemon tart concoction for dessert was great too.
I'd like to give it a 4.5 but can't figure out how to do that, so it's stuck with a 4. Any other night, likely gets a five. Great, great place. -
Review from Nancy W.
1/30/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Kitsilano Daily Kitchen located in the heart of Kitsilano right before the Burrard Bridge is owned and operated by Chef Brain Fowke. What's special about this simple yet elegant restaurant is that Chef Fowke sources all his food locally with international flavouring of accoutrments. Ingredients are purchased, prepared and cooked every day sans refrigerator. Fresh. Daily.
The restaurant at first glance is unassuming. If you are trying to find it at night, you may simple drive right past it. But when you enter, it is comfortable, simple, and elegant - a clean, minimalist open concept. Please don't let the down to earth décor detour you to think that it is not fine dining or service is casual. The service you receive here is top notch, attentive, sincere but never intrusive.
What I most find most enduring about place is that the menu is very personal and stems from passion. The food, service and wine are stellar quality and they will never discount the experience or the quality.
Everyday a new menu is created (to find out what the mastermind has prepared click) . Usually offering 4 appetizers, 4 entrees or a 6 course adventure @ $65 / person. Inside the restaurant there is a blackboard and a LCD TV screen that showcases the daily menu.
Complimentary freshly baked bread using organic potato starch served with baby olives, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, and sea salt. Bread is warm and fluffy.
When asked whether we preferred hot of cold water, I chose hot. A cute little pot came with some honey and orange lemon. The acidity of a lemon paired with the sweetness of citrus orange is very appealing. Simply delightful!
For Dine Out this year we wanted to come here and I could not have been more ecstatic. I had be raving about last year's menu and the star quality food.
As we were waiting for our meal to begin, complimentary beet soup was presented. Brightly colored puree of beets with a hint of spice and some spicy cured meats. It was sweet and spicy with just the right acidity level. Definitely awakens my senses and my belly!
In 2011, a rather filling dish of gnocchis was served.
Appetizer
Roasted Cream of Winter Cauliflower Soup
Similar to last year's (click) cauliflower puree soup served with butter poached spot prawn, this year Chef Fowke upped his game with a beautifully present butter poached belly of king crab leg! This giant size leg was prepared just right! Also served with Fraser river sturgeon caviar and distilled AOC Italian white truffle oil. A creamy, rich and refreshingly fresh soup.
Winter Beefsteak & Grape Tomato Salad
So what is a winter beefsteak? It is not part of a cow, but instead it is a type of tomato produce with flat, meaty, juicy, red medium sized. This hearty tomato highlights an entrée sized salad filled with grape and cherry tomatoes, greens, walla walla onions, basil and a golden brown piece of Berkshire bacon, sprinkled with some Salt Spring Island Tomme cheese. A delightful salad brightly colored appealing both to the eyes and to your tastebuds.
When compared to 2011's West Coast Winter Salad filled with a variety of mushrooms, the Winter Beefsteak Salad did not disappoint.
"Jump-Fried" Alaskan Weathervane Scallops
Briefly cooked with a semi-crispy exterior and a subtle sweet richness of seared scallop. It was lightly seasoned to pair with roasted cashews, richness of maple yam, and sprouted bok choys. Served with some form of risotto.
Entree
West Coast Seafood Cioppino
Did the Chef cook a boat full of seafood in this cioppino? The bowl was filled with scrumptious seafood - king crab, salmon, spotted prawns, scallops, mussels, etc. The broth was made from heirloom tomatoes and chorizo. A robust stew where nugget potatoes soaked in the flavors.
Spatchcocked Cornish Game Hen
A single serving sized type of domestic chicken. Despite the name 'hen' it can be either male or female. As a young immature chicken it is tender, juicy and moist. Nicely seasoned with Serrano, the chicken has a nice roasted surface. Barley risotto, sweet potatoes puree and chanterelle mushrooms adds an earthy rustic comfort goodness.
Dessert
The creation of the pastry chefs creation of the day - choose from either a chocolate and fruit based pastry each day
Today the crowd pleasure was orange lemon tart.
Orange lemon is slightly sweeter than your regular lemons that can be both tart and sour. This pie was tart with the sweetness of citrus orange molded into a delicious granola crust. You can taste the freshness of the crust like it -
Review from Chris C.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
We all had the culinary adventure which was 6 courses of yum. The highlights were definitely the cream of cauliflower soup with white truffle essence, the brown butter lobster with the piece de resistence being the Canadian Angus Beef striploin. This last dish was almost crispy on the outside but perfectly rare inside. The accompanying Pemberton mash is something I'd love to have again as well.
So why only 4 stars? While there wasn't a bad dish, the fifth dish which was braised pork was a bit overdone and nothing special and the dessert was "just" a fruit crumble.
I will definitely be back and hope to be blow away by all 6 dishes next time for that fifth star! -
Review from Marje B.
Burnaby, BC
I wanted to take my husband somewhere nice for his birthday. After contemplating, and reading different reviews I decided on KitsDaily! I made reservation online for an early dinner 5pm. When we entered, I we were greeted by a very nice man. we were the first ones at the restaurant (which I like) I felt like it was our private little party. The decor is modern yet compy!
Our server told us about the restaurant and how the chef buys the ingredients locally and on a daily basis. They have a different menu everyday!
I would have loved to try the tasting menu, but we opted for the regular menu. It was still fantastic!
We were served warm potato bread- came with oil and balsamic vin, olives and salt!
We started with West Coast Asparagus: Dungeness Crab with lemon butter sauce it was fresh and i could lick that sauce off the plate!
Main: Ancho Chilli Blackened Milk Fed Veal Chop, with apple compote, duck gravy and duck fat fried chips. I thought it was a big portion cook to perfection, maybe a little too much rosemary for me but it was still delish! The chip was to die for!!
My Hubby: Dungeness Crab crusted Mahi Mahi: clamchower sauce and potato it was both of our favourite main. The sauce was creamy, lick off the plate just like the appy. the fish was flaky, the slaw that came with it had the perfect acidity that complemented the dish really well.
I always look forward to dessert and when the server told us what that had didnt really excite us. SO we passed!
But our server remembered that it was my husbands bday, and surprised us with a chocolate brownie with a layer of cheese (sorry forgot exact description) IT WAS AMAZING!! Very rich and yummy!! The description our server gave didn't do it justice.
The service was excellent, 2 servers both checked up on us made sure we were ok.
We loved it and had a wonderful time, we will be back for the tasting menu! -
Review from Joyce VanFoodies L.
Vancouver, BC
1/21/2012
I like the surprise element (not knowing what's featured on the menu until you get there) of the restaurant concept in general, but I especially like the idea of the "Culinary Adventure" tasting menu. At $65 we were treated to 6 innovative, tasty dishes that you wouldn't be able to get any other day. (Ordering an appy and entree from the regular menu would cost you somewhere between $40 and $60.)
We had:
- Salt-cured Coho Salmon, Spicy Couscous and Charcoal Aioli
- Baja Scallops with Crispy Paella
- White Truffle and Tomato Poached Octopus
- Duck Confit with Mushrooms and Beet Aioli
- Timbale of Bison with Foie Gras, Bacon and Quail Egg
- French Chocolate Mocha Tart.
The 5th course was a bit rich but if you look at the tasting menu as a whole, the progression completely made sense. Details and pictures here: http://vanfoodies.com/... -
Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
If I was rolling in money, I'd come here every night to order the tasting menu just to dine on Chef Fowkes' fantastic creations. I came here for dinner with a friend during YelpEats and was excited as heck after experiencing the SecretYelp dinner.
Five stars for service - our server was amazing and took the time to explain everything about the restaurant and about the food being served. I asked for a sweet wine from their menu, and they brought out one that wasn't even listed because they felt it would suite me better. Quelle surprise!!
Five stars for the food - this was an obvious given. We went with the adventure meal which is 6 delicious courses of the chef's choice. Each course was fantastic - a lot of them had a bit of spiciness that made my lips tingle, but overall they mixed together well and it was a great option. For those who are curious about Chef Fowke's menu, this is the best choice for your meal! We got one of each dessert too, which is always a bonus for someone with a sweet tooth!
Five stars for ambiance - the place is tucked away in a small neighbourhood around such shining stars as Rocky Mountain Flatbread and Patisserie Lebeau. It's quiet and casual and spacious, and has a great open window area by the front. It's a great place for a nice dinner or a special occasion.
I can't wait to head back here for another fabulous meal!! Who's with me? :DListed in: 2011 Best Of, YelpEats 2011, ROTD!
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Review from Joyce P.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2011
I've been so blessed to be having all these amazing meals lately!
Crashed a friends dinner and boy was I glad I did. As Theresa W. says below, if I was rolling in money I'd come here all the time.
What a fantastic wine list! I drank and drank and drank...and then I dreaded the bill....
I ordered the Angus beef bavette and I don't know what kind of crack Chef Fowkes put on there but it was soo sublime. Hard to explain just how amazing it, the flavor of the beef was so succulent and just so flavorful.
My friend's ahi tuna was equally delicious served with spaghetti in avocado sauce. Is that possible?? What an epiphany of an experience! The portion sizes were great and it was a great place to have a nice casual meal.
I can't wait to see what they have on the menu next! -
Review from Pia W.
"What's all this fuss about?" I was intrigued to find out.
So I don't know if you've heard, this place is a "daily" kitchen: It's pretty self-explanatory. The chef goes out everyday to the local markets to find the freshest ingredients, brings it back to his kitchen and concocts the items on the menu for each night. There is simply no question that the ingredients used here is fresh.
We had the seafood cioppino and the beef short ribs: Everything was well-seasoned and the taste of each item on the plate was brought together very nicely. The meat on the ribs just fell right off, and the tomato broth on the cioppino is YUM!
It's just amazing how fresh ingredients can bring new perspectives to well-known dishes such as the ones we had. One can be rest assured that if you looked back in the kitchen, you would not find Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares lurking about.
Simple, modern and clean decor, just a great setting for a nice evening meal. -
Review from Joanne M.
Vancouver, BC
12/4/2011
Blew my mind KDK!
Went there for my birthday dinner and we did the culinary adventure. This review is way overdue so I can't quite remember the specifics but it was something like:
- Squash soup
- Prawn
- Lobster
- Beef
- Chocolate cake
Ok, I'm clearly missing one dish :S I'm sure it was delightful!
Staff was great. Our server was just as excited as we were to see our next dishes. I guess the servers do not know what they were serving? Such a great concept. Novel, good food, and just what this area needed in a restaurant.
Oh, I remembered the missing dish: Ahi Tuna.
What are you waiting for?? Check it out! -
Review from Barry M.
9/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Pictures can't describe the food awesomeness with this restaurant.
Warning: Eating here may actually ruin you from going to other restaurants because of the same attention, care, and love won't have gone into the food you're about to eat.
You know this because the chef's twitter feed told you where he went that morning to buy fresh produce.
You know this because the chef created a menu that day and emailed it out to his distribution list.
You know the staff loves their job because you can see them hanging around for a chat after the last table is out.
You know this because the chef came out from the kitchen and talked about what stuff he bought recently in season and is looking forward to cooking.
Warning: Eating may actually ruin you from cooking for yourself at home when you realize that probably nothing you will ever make will taste better than what you`re eating right now.
The only two things I would improve which I easily overlooked were asking how I`d like my duck done (was served a little rare for my taste, which I realize is the traditional doneness of duck, but medium-rare would have been a little better), and making the front table a little warmer (I think the front door sticks open, not sure if intentional or not). -
Review from Monti S.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have no words, I am a bit of a Vancouver food snob, everything has started to become the same, always good but nothing that pops in my head anymore like brilliance.
I thank Kitsilano Daily Kitchen for changing the trend. I am almost loathe to review them because I want them to be my little hidey hole.
Let me start with the hidey hole part, it IS a hidey hole, tucked away so cute and secretively on 1st Avenue between a few non descriptive businesses. It's a little room with impeccable service. Our waiter, sorry to say, I forget his dear name. He was there, he was personable and he was so not all about himself being the waiter of all waiters (hello Le Crocodile?). Genuine, he was genuine and on his sh*t.
But the crowning glory, the food, ooh la la. The premise is fresh, local organic. The menu changes weekly based on ingredients. So my review now, may not be wahat you encounter next week. They list their menu on their website and I think you may be able to either get on an email list or maybe tweet.
Wait, let me caveat, I went for Dine Out. Who only knows why it has taken me so a** long to get there, my sister had been raving about rolling out of the kitchen for at least a month in food ecstasy. Other embarrassing note, its less than a 2 minute walk from my house. Yes, I cannot stomach my idiocy at times.
OK, so in my opinion, Dine Out is usually OK, compared to going to restaurant sans Dine Out, Dine Out meals normally showcase 3/4 of what the establishment can produce and in minimal portions and middling range of the menu. Most times, they turn me off as opposed to on (can we "C").
Kudos to KDC, I could go back there every night for the DO menu just to have every single option.
I had the seared scallops with bacon fried rice and bok choy, delish. The short rib, melt in your mouth, melt in your belly, make you melt everywhere, with a potato mash. Dessert, was a pressed chocolate tart/pie/sliver that though I was to the point of breaking it was my Monty Python wafer of decadence (inside Monty Python reference, go rent Meaning of Life... NOW).
I had a bursting with flavour Cotes du Rhone, and lovely waiter took the liberty of bringing me tasters as I was being a wee bit of a wine whiner wanting something so specific. I got it bang on and it was nectar to my lips.
Enough, the place is amazing, its going to become a once a month spot for me and though I hate myself for it I cant help but tell everyone about it.
Next, you must read my Flying Pig review because that, as well, is my new heart flutter and belly flutter.
Ciao darlings. -
Review from Linet A.
10/19/2011
My boyfriend and I went to Kitsilano Daily Kitchen when we were studying abroad in Vancouver. This place had seriously yummy food. We did the chef's tasting menu and didn't regret it.
I have only recently begun eating steak, and I had my first veal at this restaurant. From the moment I put it in my mouth, it set a standard that has yet to be matched by any veal I've tried anywhere else since. My mouth still waters thinking about it and it gets 5 stars for that alone!
The other dishes in our tasting menu were creative and interesting (ie: crab stomach), each really delicious on its own. The place was casual and airy and service was exceptional, we had 2 little rambunctious kids with us when we went inside (1 and 3 years old) and they were very accommodating.
The dessert here is also the best desert I've ever had anywhere. I'm not a huge sweets fan, especially after 5 courses, but the milk and vanilla whipped pudding with fresh fruit was amazing.
DO NOT LEAVE VANCOUVER before trying this place. I've had good food but this place has the potential to really blow you away. I still dream about that veal :')
Go to my blog for PICS and to read more about the dishes I tried!
http://myfirstbite.tum... -
Review from Mike P.
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
After reading all of the rave reviews my wife and I decided to try this place out for my birthday dinner. We were surprised to see that we'd already been to this spot before when it was Mon Bella.
We elected to go for the 6 course tasting menu and weren't dissappointed. I was very happy to see a restaurant in our neighbourhood where clearly a lot of thought and care had been put into the customer's restaurant experience.
Anyways I liked:
- I asked for a beer, and they had pumpkin ale, and as luck would have it my favourite pumpkin ale, howe sound!
- The staff, the service was top notch, some of the best service I'd had in a LONG time. The waiter was excellent at describing and answering questions about the meal (impressive considering it changes daily).
- The chef came out of the kitchen, and chatted with the customers, he dared my to eat one of his hot peppers, which i unfortunately did (some of the most potent hot peppers I've tried).
- The chef grows some of the ingredients in his garden and handpicks the rest. He clearly has a passion for what he's doing and it shows.
- Virtually all of the dishes were delicious (except the steak). The portions were nicely sized and I felt food by the time i left.
- For fine dining the prices seemed quite reasonable (except the drinks).
Wasn't a big fan:
- The steak course wasn't very good, I believe it was a rib eye, but it was tough and fatty, I've had much much better steaks.
- My beer was $18, it was a big beer...but still $18 was a bit tough to swallow, but actually it was just what I felt like drinking that night, so not a big deal. My wife's bottle of water was $10.
Unfortunately the price of this place is such that I won't be a regular here, but would likely head back on a special occassion, especially if i had guests in town and wanted to treat them to something a little different. As you can see by my review, the concept is what appealed to me the most. The food was excellent, but not the memorable part of our evening (especially as I'm writing this review about a month after our visit). -
Review from Melanie Y.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2012
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in North America, certainly the BEST restaurant in Vancouver !
Thank-you Brian for creating magic for us each and every time we dine at Kits daily. -
Review from Anna-Marie M.
Hastings-Sunrise, Vancouver, BC
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had the culinary adventure and it was one to remember. It took me and my palette through a variety of flavours. A meal that will not be forgotten. Our first course was a salad with chiogga beets and wheat amd honey and brie vinegarette. The second plate porcini mushroom soup with truffle oil. The third was a seared drivers scallop with butter braised leeks and an aioli (can't rememeber what). 4th course was the lobster risotto. The 5th was abraised lamb shank with a fresh corn salsa and creamed arugula. The last course was a pear stilton cheese tart and goat cheese chocolate brownie. Now after I've said all that, you may not find all of these ingredients on your visit because the chef changes the menu each and every day. I love that all the ingredients are local and bought at a Vancouver farmers market. Our server was outstanding and very knowledgeable. Chef Fowke came and spoke with us, which was the icing on the already great cake. I almost forgot to mention that the wine selection is good. Most is BC wine and are bottles that are very hard to find in both govt and private liquor stores. Thank you to everyone at Kitsilano Daily Kitchen for the evening.
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Review from Priscilla L.
Edmonton, AB
11/25/2011
We had the chef's tasting menu...I came here expecting a lot from all the rave reviews... It was honestly too hyped up for my taste. The food was ok... soup was flavorful and delicious but runny, scallops alright, fish slightly under cooked, beef tenderloin tips were tough, beef striploin was flavorful but I was too full to enjoy it at this point... wine pairing mediocre... it wasn't horrible... it was 'ok'.
The room is a little too bright but the service is wonderful. Very accommodating and friendly.
If u have a large appetite this is definitely the place for you... 5 savory courses and a dessert for 65... it's a lot of food and I'd the kinda girl that believes that less is more. Maybe I'm just hard to please.. then again 6 courses for 65? How do they stay in business? -
Review from Q B.
Vancouver, BC
9/11/2011
We went here for a friends birthday and brought a cake with us. We got the 6 course tasting. At the end of the night we only got 5 courses + the restaurant cutting the cake for us. At $100/person I would hope they would not do something like that.
If the 5 dishes that were served were amazing (or even really good at that) I may have overlooked this point. The food did not taste horrible but it did not come close to matching the price point.
I have been to many high end restaurants and this is not one I would compare with any of them. The caliber of the food served here did not match the reviews given.
Our recent dining experiences at Cafeteria and L'Abattoir were amazing. Even more amazing when compared to this.Comment from Brian F. of Kitsilano Daily Kitchen 9/11/2011
I am so sorry - I had no ideas your group was so unhappy.… More » -
Review from Larry L.
8/28/2011
I loved reading Crystals and Peters reviews of this place and it had me enchanted. After finaly having an opporutnity to try Chef's creations I can now say that I am hooked. I love this place and look forward to coming here again and again.
Don't bother reading my review (oh you already have, thanks :) )
Read what Crystal and Peter have to say about this place.
After talking with Peter about KDK (Kitsilano Daily Kitchen) and hearing his love for the creations that come out of this place and after hearing the passion that the staff and especially the Chef had to say about the food that is so masterfully crafted.
I'm hooked....line and sinker.
Nuff said. Call them, ask them and book your table.
Check out their website.
It is truly inspirational to know that there is someone out there who is thinking and living their passion and loving it. It shows and your belly will be complete and satisfied. -
Review from Ingrid D.
Vancouver, BC
6/24/2011
oh.... my.... god!!!!
This is exactly the restaurant we have been dreaming about.
Only fresh, local ingredients. How awesome is that ?!
It means that the menu is changing daily and that you only get what's best and in season.
The appetizers and entree where amazing (and I usually never use this word, as each time it reminds me of frantic american girls screaming it while agitating their hands....). But they truly were.
Attention to details. Meet and fish cooked to perfection.
Only draw back ? as usual: desert. It was pretty disappointing and would have usually mean a "4" stars rating. But you know what ? the concept, the ingredients, the dishes were so great, that Kitsilano daily kitchen still get a 5 stars :-)
And to make things even better: staff is super nice, and they serve pretty late (being French we arrived there at 9:30pm and left after 11:00pm and that wasn't an issue at all.
Will I be going back ? That's for sure !! -
Review from Linda C.
Vancouver, BC
2/2/2012
After a night of mulling over my experience at Kitsilano Daily Kitchen (KDK), I knew I had to write a review in case future KDK diners have super high expectation like I did . It wasn't the worst experience I've had in Dine Out (Fairmont last year was worse), there were actually some highs, but I think overall, I was expecting a lot more...
I have been looking forward to trying new restaurants during the Dine Out Vancouver (DOV) event this year and after reading alot of reviews, comparing DOV menus and looking at restaurant websites, I decided to give Kitsilano Daily Kitchen (KDK) a try yesterday.
Yelp reviewers have given high ratings for this restaurant - everyone raves about the food and the service. So, I had some expectations for this restaurant.
Let's start off with the good - the service. From the minute I stepped foot into KDK, I was greeted by welcoming and professional staff. There didn't seem to be a waiter assigned to a specific table. The hostess doesn't leave you to be after you are showed your seat - every staff did anything/everything - it was a team and that was what made the service so perfect. I mentioned to the hostess that the complimentary bread was amazing (it was sweet and freshly made) and without asking, a waiter bought us another basket of the amazing delight. My boyfriend loved the bread so much, he actually couldn't stop himself from dipping it into the appetizer and entree sauces. Water was refilled. Hostess and waiters had time to describe the food. I even spied Chef Fowke peering out of his kitchen window a few times and smile. I just didn't have the heart to tell the staff that the food wasn't up to par yesterday night because I saw how much they believed in their food and restaurant .
Now the bad - the food. Both my boyfriend and I had the DOV 'Jump-fried' Alaskan Weathervane Scallops for appy. It was aesthetically pleasing so you can imagine my disappointment when the first bite of rice, yam puree and bak choy I had were COLD. Fair enough, the scallops were warm and fresh, but it didnt make it the warm/cold combination good. The yam puree was quite sweet, too sweet for my likings actually, but my boyfriend loved it. It reminded me of the Chinese sauce put on chicken filet in Chinese cafes. I was expecting spectacular food, but in the end, it was too sweet and not hot enough for me.
I had the West Coast Seafood Cioppino for entree because the waiter was telling me how the seafood was bought in fresh that day. I was eagerly waiting for my entree (while still nibbling on the wonderful complimentary honey bread) since the appy was disappointing. This dish was not cold, it was just rightly temperatured. However, the tomato booth was spicy. It overpowered some of the fresh flavours of the seafood. By the end of the dish, my mouth was stinging so much that I couldn't even taste the sweetness in the bread that I was still nibbling on. The sausage in the broth was so spicy that I had to give every piece to my boyfriend. The only saving grace was the cod.
The dessert. Where do I even start? My boyfriend actually enjoyed his two dishes more than I, but when our chocolate tarte dessert came, we both were majorly disappointed. It was nicely presented with fresh fruit, but the chocolate wasn't chocolate enough and we weren't sure it was Chef Fowke's intention to make the tarte so dry, but we didn't enjoy it.
I don't know whether it was an off day at KDK or whether my expectations were too high or I chose the wrong dishes, but I was disappointed with my experience.
I did ask about the Cuilinary Adventure that KDK offers usually offers and had wanted to try it out before DOV, but now, I don't think with the more-miss-than-hit dishes at KDK during DOV would make me return to try this place.
Was the DOV menu worth $38? If the food was better, yes. But for what I paid for DOV, it's NOT worth it.
As I said, the only saving grace were the super friendly staff and good service, hence the 1.5 stars - rounding up to 2 stars for this review.
Let me mull over this more, but it does say something when I thought my DOV at the Boathouse Whiterock this year was better than my experience than at KDK.Comment from Brian F. of Kitsilano Daily Kitchen 2/13/2012
Dear Linda... Really, thank you for your feedback. I… More » -
Review from Mark W.
9/4/2011
At risk of piling on everyone else's raves ...
Wow, wow, wow. What a find! We are on vacation from Miami and dined there 2 nights in a row (first night was so good that we had to go back). Had the 6-course "Culinary Adventure" (inc. paired wines). We were blown away by the quality of the ingredients and flavors and how the Chef Fowkes really used his passion and inspiration to create unique flavor combinations that we have never tasted before. A few standouts were a saute of fresh morels, a roasted wild boar belly. Okay, the elk rocked our world too. As did the spiny lobster. Okay, and the heirloom tomato salad was fantastic, and I generally do not like raw tomatoes. Plus the all-BC wine list was a ton of fun and surprisingly good (we even were able to purchase a few of our faves at the wine shop located next door (but not affiliated with KDK). Everything was just fantastic. -
Review from Ryan L.
7/28/2011
A-maz-ing. Period.
We spend a month every summer in the West End/Coal Harbour area and dine out frequently while we're here. This is definitely one of the top 2 or 3 restaurants we've ever found in Vancouver.
Dishes are carefully created, that's obvious. Nothing is thrown together with hopes it will turn out. There are so many layers of flavor ... some complimentary, some providing a little zing here and there in each bite. The amount of creativity that goes into coming up with new menu items daily is outside the norm. Most joints can't accomplish the "wow factor" with their tried-and-true plates that this place dishes out in new daily creations.
So the menu changes, but here's my take on what we enjoyed: beet salad (one of the best I've had ... simple, yet simply delicious); duck meatball panzanella (have been craving those duck meatballs and mini heirloom tomatoes since tasting it); spot prawn risotto (so many risottos are gooey and overly cheesy ... not this one; perfect; spot prawns were FRESH); sablefish (generous portion, delicious, and gorgeously presented); wine pairings were perfect and they gave us a generous tasting of a couple so we could decide.
Bravo to the owner, chef, and staff here. Quality product and we'll definitely be back! -
Review from BJ L.
4/3/2012
What a nice dining experience! This restaurant is run by people who love good food and good wine and enjoy sharing it with others. We started with the shrimp salad and buffalo mozzarella salad. And dare I forget to mention the Pegu cocktail which was a great aperitif. For our entrees we had the veal and the halibut. The halibut was among the best pieces of fish I ever had. I have a thing about the skin and the chef removed it for me. Meaty, done just right, seasoned just right- it was excellent. The accompaniments were a great combination of taste, texture and even color. The presentation was lovely. Ask for a wine recommendation and leave yourself in their hands. Oh yes and dessert...strawberry rhubarb cheesecake.
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Review from Robyn D.
1/27/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This place was great! The staff was friendly and helpful and the food rocked. The raving Yelp reviews did not disappoint. We went for the Culinary Adventure and loved the delicious surprises for each course. The chef goes shopping each day and gets whatever great options he can find and then creates from there, so even the staff is surprised each night. A great dinner memory of our visit to Vancouver.
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Review from David W.
Vancouver, BC
1/29/2012
My wife and I and two friends went to your restaurant during DOV for the first time. We were blown away by the service first of all... Our server was funny, attentive and made us feel extremely welcome. Now the food.... what can I say, the food was extraordinary. My friend and I had the cauliflower soup... so delicious!! My wife and his wife had the scallops. Three of us had the cioppino for the main course. My wife had the short ribs... All so wonderful. For dessert we tried the lemon tart and chocolate tart. To top the night off, the chef, Brian Fowke, came out to chat at the end of the meal... Nice touch! I look forward to sharing a Negroni with you at our next visit...:)
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Review from Waylon C.
Vancouver, BC
5/2/2011
Celebrated my wife's bday here on the weekend. Food & service was excellent!
I tweeted the chef the day of and asked for bone marrow or risotto (my wife's fav's).
Chef Fowke put both of them on the menu! The sablefish risotto was fantastic...We will return!Listed in: My favourite restaurants in…
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Review from Rudolf P.
Vancouver, BC
12/29/2011
Very good service! What a relief. Amazing same-day-made potato bread for the table.
