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La Brasserie
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
1091 Davie StVancouver, BC V6E
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 568-6499
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11:30 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
100 reviews for La Brasserie
Review Highlights
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"Suckling Pig - oh dear lord this was awesome." In 20 reviews -
"buck a shuck oysters after 9pm, tasty beers, great food and..." In 6 reviews -
"The poutine is so good my girlfriend and I wanted to cry." In 26 reviews
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100 reviews in English
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Review from Meana k.
1/5/2012
One of my favorite places in Vancouver. A perfect place whether dining solo or with friends. I imagine this would also make for a great date spot, now if I could just land myself a nice date!
I love sitting at the bar and watching the chefs at work. They are so meticulous in their methods. Each dish is prepared to order with special attention and consideration to presentation. Like any good chef, they taste the foods throughout the process (of course observing all hygiene and safety practices). You can be certain that whatever you order isn't coming off an assembly line. This restaurant knows how to treat food as art.
It was here that I enjoyed the best steak tartare I've ever had. Perfectly seasoned and just the right texture and consistency. As well, I really love the truffled poutine. The essence of the truffle oil warms my soul as each bite is better than the last. Just the right proportions of all that makes a perfect poutine.
As far as mussels go, they're not the best I've had and there are so many great choices on the menu that I'll likely opt for something different moving forward. However, you can can order them with either a saffron broth or white wine and garlic. Both options are equally good. Also, do note that the mussels again come with fries which might be just a bit much upon having devoured poutine already.
The duck two ways is great. The real reason I come here, however, is the buck-a-shuck oysters special after 9pm wherein the daily oysters are a mere $1 a piece. What a deal!
Finish it off with some pressed coffee and a lemon tart, and you'll walk away happy.
Two more things I'd like to add -- from the perspective of someone who grew up in the restaurant business:
The kitchen breakdown/cleanup/putaway process is impeccable. These chefs clearly have pride in their workplace that you see as they're cleaning up and preparing for the next day.
Lastly, and not at all relevant to your enjoyment of food, but perhaps moreso to the appreciation of the kind of people who run this place (and let's face it, that matters), I've seen the chefs prepare a special plate for the dishwasher at the night's end with the same level of attention and care they do for the customers. Guarantee that dishwasher is touched by this as much as I am -- not enough places where you'll find this level of respect and care.Listed in: Places to take out of town…, Dining Solo
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Review from Amelia Y.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2012
Been here twice - once for brunch, once for dinner, both within a week. I liked their dinner menu more than their brunch and enjoyed dinner more as well. I had their infamously tall and large burger for brunch. It was aesthetically pleasing to look at but I must say that the taste is mediocre. I am fan of meat patties that taste like real meat and not mush. Patty was a little tasteless without a lot of texture - felt like they over-minced their meat. I tasted my friend's omelet and that was quite 'normal' tasting as well - nothing phenomenal. Another friend ordered French toast and I had a bite and that actually tasted pretty good. Can't beat Jethro's Grub's in term sof taste and indulgence but worth going back.
For dinner, I had their truffle poutine with steak tartare - both I really, really liked!! I love the truffle smell/taste in the poutine. They could have been more liberal with their cheese curds but then again, I can never get enough of cheese!! Hahaha. The steak tartare tasted very good and fresh. Raw, fresh, with good seasoning. Yes, I had dessert here as well - lavender creme brulee. A generous portion and even though it was more runny that any other creme brulees I have tasted, I didn't mind it. It was yummy and I would definitely go back for it. -
Review from Rick C.
We were peckish and wandered down Davie Street for some grub. Kevin was swayed to order the suckling pig and seemed content yet slightly disappointed (possibly because of dish envy). It looked quite appetizing with house made sauerkraut and schupfnudel (skinny German dumpling).
Someone had to try the roasted lamb cheeks (available on special only on Thursdays) with mashed potatoes and carrot puree. It was highlight of the night and garnered everyone's jealousy.
I had a strong desire for the truffled poutine to nibble on. The strong smell of truffle oil wafted the air. I enjoyed the generous amount of cheese curds and was pleasantly surprised at how many fries there were in the small-looking side dish bowl.
A bit pricey, La Brasserie is a nice, intimate dining experience with quality food and ingredients serving French cuisine with flair and style. I'm interested to return, try again, and sample a full meal. -
Review from TheHungryNomad E.
2/14/2012
La Brasserie is a 35 seat small cozy Franco-German restaurant located on Davie street between Thurlow st. and Burrard st.
If you feel like French food with a twist of German you will love La Brasserie. Everything from the decor, the wine and beer list and food will take you straight to a french bistro.
I have been there a few times and it has been hit or miss each time. Some times the service is amazing...other times like my last visit the service is off. Sometimes the food is fabulous other times its nothing above average.
Things started off with a serving of onion soup which was less than amazing... it had no real flavor and was too watery, not enough salt and not enough cheese on top. But to make up for the soup was the delicious warm bread, butter and chicken pate paste which was served as a starter. I didn't touch the soup and instead went straight for the bread. For those who know me well it just goes to show how tasteless it really was because I rarely pass up food.
On a brighter note, for our main dish I ordered the 'steak onglet and fries' and my friend ordered the moules-frites. The steak was great (although a bit chewy) but I guess that is really dependent on the type of meat served rather than anything else. I LOVED the mushroom sauce and the fries were really good. My friend's mussel and fries were in her words 'very average' but just more expensive. -
Review from Christina Z.
Hastings-Sunrise, Vancouver, BC
They have the BEST poutine in town!!!! Thank God we got La Brasserie
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Review from Drach V.
4/24/2012
Excellent.
A bit cramped and I had to wait a while for a table, walking around the block to kill time. My fault, not theirs. :)
Had the suckling pig. I definitely liked this place. Cool, dark, cozy atmosphere.
Low risk. :) -
Review from Ernesto G.
Updated - 1/27/2012 2 photos
Thursday is Lamb Cheeks Day!
Super succulent and even more delicious with kale, and mashed potatoes and yams. I love the fact that La Brasserie is consistently good. My new go-to place when I'm in town.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/27/2011
Crazy Good!
I have wanted to go to La Brasserie for a VERY long time, so last night I stopped by with… Read more »
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Review from Carol L.
1/5/2012 6 photos
A cozy Franco-German restaurant. We went here for my birthday dinner, and it did not disappoint. We had the lamb cheeks (a special every Thursday), the suckling pig, their burger, their French onion soup, and the truffled poutine. We also had oysters, which are "a buck a shuck" after 9pm -- not as good as Rodney's Oyster House, but at $1 an oyster, well worth it.
Poutine. A Canadian creation that you must try while in Canada, just because it's... well, Canadian! Poutine is basically fries, covered in gravy and cheese curds. And here, it's TRUFFLED. Here is a pic: http://s3-media3.ak.ye... Pro tip: if you are getting the burger, ask them to make your fries into a poutine instead of ordering it separately. That way you don't end up with two sets of fries!
The burger is ridiculous, and is in-house ground steak piled HIGH with onion strings. Check it out! http://s3-media4.ak.ye... This was my favorite dish that we had. I also recommend the suckling pig: http://s3-media2.ak.ye... , but the lamb cheeks were not as amazing as I had hoped.
You can also get a full liter of beer here. Epic. http://s3-media2.ak.ye...Listed in: Vancouver Eats
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Review from Andrea L.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012
Ended up wandering into this La Brasserie instead of the other I had reservations for by accident.
Stayed and had a delish-superhuge-crispy onion-y burger.
It was a serious mountain for a burger that was served with a little bowl of fries and 2 dipping sauces. One was a chilli/horseradish-y tomato-paste-y-look-alike. The other tasted like mayonnaise with melted butter..it was creamy and pretty rich for a fry dip.
For $17, not bad not badddd :) -
Review from Pete S.
12/2/2011
yep. yes. WOHOOOO.
buck a shuck oysters after 9pm, tasty beers, great food and phenominal service. this is what a neighborhood bistro should be.
tell your friends, tell your girl, tell your mother. conference call your crew so they can tell each other.
la brasserie is where it's at. -
Review from Jess L.
9/24/2011 ROTD 11/30/2011
This place is triggering some major Europe-nostalgia!
It's a small restaurant on Vancouver's West End that serves simple French and German dishes. We tried the suckling pig with sauerkaut and schupfnudel (rolled noodle) and the parsley mussels and frites (there is saffron, white wine & garlic/lemon, or parsley, garlic & cream broths to choose from), and the truffled poutine (yeah for Canadian fare!). All winners! And of course, in Bavarian fashion, they had a good selection of beer too :) -
Review from Dee B.
Updated - 10/22/2011
I LOVE La Brasserie, so it' kills me to do this...
I was there two nights in a row this week. The first night I had oysters (before buck-a-shuck hours) and mussels and everything was perfect. The second night I was there for buck-a-shuck and I don't know what happened, but those oysters were not very good: they tasted a bit fishy, were on the big side and had a very odd texture.
The wine, as usual was divine and my husband had the poutine which looked really good. It not being cheat day and all, I didn't indulge.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/12/2011
This is as good as brunch gets! They had me at French Press.
My friend and I ventured here this… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer L.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
my group got there at 6:30pm on a Friday and we had to wait about 30min.
Each of us ordered a different thing..
C ordered the burger - it was deeeelishious.
I ordered the special - bouillabaisse - very tasty - smaller tho
D ordered the suckling pig - zoo good
A ordered the steak... it looked pretty standard but like all steak, its hard to disappoint.
The best part of the meal was the poutine - definitely would be perfect with a nice pint of french or german beer.
Oh and the Pinot Noir wine on the menu was excellent. I'm thinking of going back again just for wine and poutine... yyuuummmm -
Review from Reena M.
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious brunch options! I had the oeufs du jour, which was that day, an eggs benedict essentially but with suckling pig instead of ham, and on a puff pastry instead of english muffins. It was rich and delicious, but I did get a little saturated with all the richness after a while. I am glad it came with a small side salad. They only have one selection of tea--earl grey.. that's unfortunate, since I am not the biggest fan of earl grey.
Overall, the service was great, we were not rushed to pay the bill when we were done even though it was busy so we could sit and chat. I would come back. -
Review from Ashley C.
10/15/2011
We came here for brunch one morning. We looked at the menu and sat down. At first, the menu didn't blow us away. There weren't all that many options. After seeing a few dishes come out, we knew we would stick around.
I had the oeufs du jour, an Eggs Benedict but made with Elk. It was amazing and delicious. I wasn't sure what to expect with the elk, but it was juicy and tender and melted in your mouth. It was a good portion size and was served with breakfast potatoes. Our group tried the same or an omelet which was enjoyed by all. The food was fantastic.
The service was so-so. It was a little slow and uneven. However, she was friendly and was great at offering suggestions. The place is a bit small so it fills up quick, but it has a nice quaint ambiance. -
Review from Elizabeth T.
Travelers usually need to watch their budgets, but since it was the last night that my traveling partner was in town, we decided to spend a bit more on dinner. We chose La Brasserie based on the Yelp reviews.
La Brasserie is a small restaurant and has a warm and intimate ambiance with the soundtrack from Amelie playing in background; a little cliche for a French place, but I like the soundtrack so no problem with that cliche :)
The talk of mussels specifically turned me on to this place, so I ordered the mussels with cream sauce with fries on the side. In hindsight, I wish I'd opted for the wine sauce. The mussels were fresh tasting, but didn't wow me with their flavor :( Sorry, but they were fairly bland, even though they were swimming in the cream sauce. Les frites: good & fresh tasting; would've loved these with regular ketchup as opposed to the in-housemade ketchup; that's just my preference. I used the truffle mayo as a dip instead... still would prefer some good old Heinz 57.
The waitress was friendly and the busgirl graceful and hospitable. The washrooms were fairly clean and the food service was very prompt. The prices were about average for dinner - my friend's burger looked really good but they need larger "paddles" with which to serve the burger. The fried onions were falling off and getting all over the place, haha :)
Nice place, but still looking for flavor... -
Review from Doug G.
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
How many times have I walked past this place in the past 20 years. . . and missed a true gem.
Small, comfortable, good service, and the food . . . wow. Suckling pig was excellent. Everything was just right - definitely worth four stars in my books. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
I'm officially declaring La Brasserie as my favourite restaurant in Vancouver!!!!!!!!!
I never like going back to the same resto because I'm afraid of it's lack of consistency, disappointment from the original WOW experience, unexpected wait times due to no reservations, and just wanting to try something else.
Not La Brasserie though - it's a sure fire option, and this last time was no different... probably one of my top 2 experiences here!
Of course - taking advantage of buck-a-shuck, we came after 9pm and the oysters tonight were pretty big and juicy! The kitchen was pretty busy so it was a while before they came out but good conversation kept us going.
I was craving for the truffled poutine but was afraid how heavy it was going to me as we ordered the half rotisserie chicken to share - so instead, we just asked for a drizzle of truffle oil that came with the fries for the meal. For a small upcharge, we were ok with it.
This chicken I tell you was loaded with sauce, sauce, and MORE sauce. As I watch the awesome chef spoon the sauce onto the chicken, the gim lighting made this chicken glisten and look like a superstar! On top of a bed of red cabbage, I could taste the richness of every bite. The chicken pretty much just fell off the bone as you cut and it was never ending. For the two of us, it was an absolute treat.
The truffle oil on the fries was so aromatic, and perfect. Even without the cheese and gravy, it was still delicious.
So the service can be off an on sometimes, and you may have to ask for the bread if they have forgotten....... but other than that, it's pretty spot on.... and if you like arts and crafts - I've seen them wrapp up leftovers in the shape of an aluminum foil crane. How classy is that?Listed in: Vancouver Magazine's 101 Best…, Unique / Top Knotch / Must Try…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/27/2011
I think I have been to La Brasserie 4 times and I've only reviewed ONCE???? well probably because… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently tried this place after my friend and I decided to venture out from our fave brunch spot. I immediately liked the classy yet welcoming and non-pretentious atmosphere (hey, it is a French bistro, I wasn't sure what to expect...) The place is definitely popular as it was packed, but we were able to snag two seats at the bar right away.
As far as service goes, our server was very friendly and prompt, and kept our water glasses topped up. I was also impressed by the fact that, although the menu is on the smaller side and not terribly celiac friendly, they did make me a delicious vegetarian omelette with mushrooms and cheese, even though that wasn't the omelette du jour. The omelette came with a side salad with a light citrus dressing that complemented the savoury flavours in the omelette.
Probably someone who is more a true fan of French food would appreciate the delicacies they offer here more than I did (ie., many menu items included suckling pig, and I'm not a huge fan), but I would definitely return for brunch to mix things up again. -
Review from Michael N.
9/10/2011
Vancouver's food continues to impress me. La Brasserie is a cute French place on a super busy Davie Street.
The one thing that you must try here are the mussels. Omg!! Every single mussel they served was ginormous and full of flavor. You can get their mussels with garlic or saffron (both ate infused with white wine and an assortment of herbs). I had the saffron mussels and they were delicious. When I get the chance I really want to come back and try the garlic mussels..emphasis on WHEN I get another chance to be in Vancouver.
Rack of lamb is outstanding, with a slightly crispy crust. Yumyum!! They have a different special everyday and I wish I could come everyday to try each of themm!!
Drink-wise, they offer a nice selection of wines and European beers. It really gives this place a European feel and at moments I forgot that I was in Canada. There's corner seating for couples to drink and cuddle, and as night approaches this place turns to quite a romantic place. -
Review from Larry L.
Vincci L told me about this place and it was everything she made it out to be.
And yeah, I'll be generous enough this time to give it a five stars.
For such a small place, the offer up such big meals!
I've had some pretty decent beer pairings here as well.
Great service, busy staff but always attentive.
Love the open kitchen so you can see and hear the action.
It always seems to get crowded when I'm here.
If I can, when I'm in the neighbourhood, I'll keep coming back for more.
If only we had places like this in Richmond!!!!! -
Review from Bronwyn G.
North Vancouver, BC
I'm a big fan of their appetizer poutine, their parsley moules frites, steak w/ mushroom sauce, half-chicken, bratwurst, and their suckling pig are all amazing. Go early-ish (6 and 6:30).
It gets pretty busy and there are a small number of tables. If you're in the right mood, this translates into excitement and great people watching. Regardless, the service was good & I can't wait for an excuse to go back.
Pro tip: If you're a party of 4, arrive before 6:30 or after 8:30pm or you'll wait for an hour. -
Review from Ty T.
5/31/2011
Poutine. Et ça suffit.
Crunchy, scrumptious frites; rich, lightly herbaceous gravy; and globs of chewy cheese curds, with dashes of truffle oil ... this isn't junk food, it's Canadian comfort food on a higher tier. (You might even call it a classy hangover cure.) My 9-year-old brother could barely decide how to alternate bites of this and his ultimately satisfying onion soup.
Hell, I could barely decide what to focus on, with samples of family's plates on my own. The food here embodies the essence of its eponymous style of cuisine - hearty, soul- and body-warming French/German pub fare, only accentuated by a well-chosen beer list. And the draft brews are served in their rightful trademark glasses, which should give any true hophead worth their wheat a giant beer boner.
The French onion soup was filled more than halfway with deeply caramelized onions, in a homemade beef broth so rich with collagen I had to apply lip balm to keep my lips from sticking together. Lamb cheeks were decent enough, but the accompanying pommes purée and garden veg (I effing love parsnips!!) outshone the meat, which needed longer braising time.
Housemade bratwurst, topped with a giant tangle of fried onions, seemed almost too mild at first but kept the flavor going with a great garlicky aftertaste, and its bed of sauerkraut, white in thankfully true German fashion, couldn't have been better.
And humble poulet rôti, perhaps the quintessential bistrot entrée, was flavorful and moist even in the breast, and went terrifically with its brasserie bed of stewed red cabbage.
The little 35-seater is more intimate than clamorous, and though you maybe initially deterred by the high-ish prices ($10 for onion soup, $20+ for entrees), just have a meal here and you will agree with me and most of the critics below that they're fair considering the city, quality and generous portion size.
If you don't, well, I feel really bad for you. -
Review from Alice A.
8/6/2011
Four stars for the quaint french ambience and pleasant customer service.
Three stars for the breakfast poutine for a lazy Saturday brunch. I like my cut fries crispier and less mushy in the middle, the poached egg was pretty average and didn't add to the poutine, and the bacon chunks weren't crunchy enough.
Three-point-five, La Brasserie. Poutine in Montreal on a frigid snowy winter night set the bar high, but hey this is Canada. -
Review from Vincci L.
Bumping it up to a 5 star because of its consistency is its food and leaving me a happy customer every time.
Came back for another visit and tried out their steak tartare, and their famous Rotisserie Chicken.
The steak tartare was soo good, served with crispy bread, cornichons, and a small salad. It's like a meal in itself.
The chicken: I'm almost at a loss for words because it was just amazing chicken. It's actually a half a chicken (big portion!) on a bed of red cabbage, and with a side of fries as well. The chicken was juicy and tender, and so flavourful. Even though I was only able to eat half of it, I enjoyed every single bite.
Desserts here are also great. I had the brioche bread pudding with raisins, apples, cinnamon and caramel, and served with a dallop of a honey cinnamon mousse. It's too good to say no to!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/25/2011
So these buck a shuck after 9pm is probably the best thing ever. Especially after you have just been… Read more »
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Review from Evilyn T.
2/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This would have been a five star review if there were more veggie options for us, since the only items available for our consumption were the daily specials not even listed on the menu. I had the veggie quiche, which was made with goat cheese, kale, green beans, and red onions. It came with a side salad which was seasoned perfectly. The BF had a veggie scramble with asparagus, which did NOT come with hasbrowns, is it just me or is that weird? It also came with a side salad and a piece of what looked like garlic bread? He thoroughly enjoyed his breakfast though and was not put off at all by the missing hash. Potatoes are usually my least favourite part of breakfast so I was thinking next time I should be ordering up some omelet action.
The service was good, they refilled our water with water from a wine bottle, which I guess was supposed to look fancier than a pitcher? The brunch plates ranged from about $12-$15, so it was a little pricier, but it was totally worth it. Since it was Valentine's weekend, we decided on having a creme brule after breakfast. Totally normal, I know. It was a vanilla bean creme brule, with a few strawberries and blueberries on top and I highly reccomend it, after breakfast or dinner.
Overall my experience was lovely, and I really want to give them five stars, but I feel like if I hold out with four maybe they'll consider adding a few more veggie options to the menu, so I have more options to chose from. I mean, I could go back and eat the same thing every day it's that good, but I have a feeling after a few years I might get a little bored of it.Listed in: Beers, Steers and Queers
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Review from Brittany G.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2011
Great little French restaurant on Davie.
Truffle Poutine! Need say no more...
Good for both lunch and supper. Nice date location, cozy feel, and great non-intrusive service. -
Review from Sophia M.
7/22/2011
That was one bland piece of halibut, dear chef. The thick overbaconed sauce did not really help it.
Potatoes were undercooked (crunch, crunch, crunch). And not like it was undercooked because you were so hurried to feed me. No. It took 45 minutes of waiting, just to be rewarded with undercooked potatoes. Overall, the flavours did not marry; the dish was poorly executed.
So, what's up with bacon? Bacon, bacon, bacon. I thought, bacon is supposed to give an intelligently subtle allusion to bacon flavour, not the bacon orgy! It wasn't just the halibut, my friend's burger had a giant lump of bacon folded in half. Other than the bacon issue, the burger was alright.
I strongly recommend rethinking the bacon approach and do some serious tweaking to the fish of the day (halibut). -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
Happy Dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance.
Picture me shaking my money maker and wiggling around the room, happier than one of the delicious clams in the delicious bouillabaisse.
I have been here for lunch and supper, and it is one of my favourite places in the city for French food. While not as affordable as Les Faux, La Brasserie serves up Franco-German food with a Canadian twist - um, truffled poutine anyone? HELL YES.
My bestie Xstina and I almost wept as the poutine gravy crossed our lips. "It tastes like Christmas and magic and everything right with the world" she exclaimed. She was right. The seafood dishes are similarly amazing.
All I can say is that it is a good thing that I have moved away from Davie Street, otherwise I would eat that darn poutine every day and start to resemble a big German bratwurst rather than a petite French tart.Listed in: My Very Favourites
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Review from Kyle S.
Vancouver, BC
1/15/2011
Okay, what is going on at La Brasserie? Back when it opened, it was a delightful and long-overdue addition to the West End's middling restaurant scene. I recommended it to everyone. I remember the room, food and especially the service being fantastic. Now, unfortunately, it seems to have slid down to the level of other offerings in the neighbourhood.
The room is still charming, but the food and the service have really lost their way. I'm not sure why this has happened. The dishes that I've sampled recently with friends have, to put it simply, lost their subtlety and flavour. Portions are huge (my dining companion ordered the roast chicken not expecting a HALF CHICKEN to show up in front of her), but quality trumps quantity any day. We both made it through our meals without anything standing out.
But what's really dismaying is the quality of the service. I remember shortly after opening having very fun/friendly conversations with the knowledgeable serving staff, making us feel welcomed and special. They've now been replaced with servers who seem either woefully inexperienced or teetering on the verge of rudeness.
Our male server (likely the same guy mentioned in other reviews) was abrupt, dismissive and unfriendly. It was a Tuesday night, so the room wasn't especially busy, but he still made it seem like he was doing us a favour by serving us. Requesting a small food substitution and not ordering wine (my companion is recently pregnant) seemed to put us on his black list for the whole night.
A real shame, because this place was once at the top of my list for memorable, local dining. -
Review from Annika R.
Vancouver, BC
3/7/2011
I love poutine. A lot. And if you serve me poutine for breakfast I might just want to marry you on the spot. Although I can't really marry a restaurant, I guess I could have a poutine reception?
La Brasserie serves brunch on the weekend and I've been many times now but the only dish I've ever had is the Breakfast Poutine. I am addicted to it. Fries, gravy, cheese, bacon and a perfectly poached egg + hollandaise. Most likely I'll have a heart attack eating it one day but you know what - I'd die very, very happy. As a matter of fact I dream about that poutine and I am not kidding.
Can't wait for next weekend where you'll probably find me at La Brasserie! Go try for yourself and don't blame your addiction on me afterward! -
Review from Grace L.
Amazing. We walked by the street cart and kept La Brasserie in mind. Then we walked down Davie street and saw La Brasserie again and decided we had to stop and get dinner here. I'm so glad we did because it was such a treat! Between the boyfriend and me we ordered the following and were filled to the brim:
- pate de campagne - this isn't the spreadable kind of pate, this is the meatloaf kind. The slice is large and could be shared by 4 people as an appetizer! It came with toasted bread - like slices of croutons, yum!
- Free run rotisserie chicken - The chicken was served on a bed of cabbage with a side of frites and was MY FAVORITE of the night. This was half of a chicken that was practically to die for. I had enough left over for another meal the next day. I don't think I've ever had a juicier chicken at any other restaurant before.
- Tuesday special: Pork tenderloin - The pork tenderloin was served on some kind of pasta with mushroom in the mix. The dish was great, but still paled in comparison to the rotisserie chicken.
If only I had more space left in my tummy I would have tried everything on their menu. Next time! -
Review from Ty C.
5/23/2011
French Fantastic.
Quick and painless very convenient. Our server was beautiful, bright and friendly a rare combo in wait staff. We had brunch. Quiche / french press coffee poached eggs /brioche. all very good. -
Review from Brooke M.
5/5/2011
Came in on my last night in Vancouver, just looking for a quiet place to have some good food. Edward was instantly welcoming and perceptive to the fact I was eating alone and looking for bar space with a view. My expectations were surpassed in pretty much every way from here on out. ps. I would bottle Ed if I could - we need more like him in SD.
Got the poutine on recco from here - very Canadian and very yum. Then German Butcher Board (to save room for the 'buck a shuck' oysters), which came with an amazing red onion jam that I asked the sous about - surprised when she gave me the recipe so I could try to recreate at home. Really? Then oysters. God the oysters. Thank you for oysters like this. It makes the chilly winds that blow through jackets more understandable.
The ambiance is perfect. Perfectly suited to match whatever you need, that is. My friendly bar neighbor found the recco as well and we shared travel stories before dessert and grappa. I cannot wait to come back on my next trip here. -
Review from Christina B.
Port Coquitlam, BC
11/2/2010
OH YUMMMMM!
I first came here over a year ago. I ordered the scallops (special of the night) and they were the best I've ever eaten. I had the lavender cheesecake for dessert and I was in heaven.
I have since been here for brunch (amazing!) and lunch. The poutine is so good my girlfriend and I wanted to cry. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the tomato relish on my burger. It just wasn't to my taste but everything else about it was great.
I highly reccomend La Brasserie for brunch or dinner with a date. -
Review from Nestor B.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2011
This review is about three and a half years too late. That is about the time for which the Brasserie has been my favourite restaurant in Vancouver, bar none. But perhaps that's been my problem. How does one write a review about their favourite restaurant - in a city full of great restaurants, no less? How does one write a review about a restaurant in which, quite literally, every single dish they've ever had has been stellar? I guess the answer is: I don't know. Hence the absence of a review for so long. But I can't go on any longer without at least throwing my five stars in the mix for this great place and I'll at least try to tell you why.
Disclaimer: I'm German. Second Disclaimer: I loathe German restaurants. That is, at least the ones that cater to the 'heritage' crowd with both their ambiance and their menu dripping of stereotypical Germanophilia. Unfortunately, that covers just about every German restaurant in the GVRD, possibly in Western Canada. Every one but the Brasserie. Granted, this is really an Alsatian restaurant and the definite French influence makes a big difference. But a large number of their dishes is nonetheless essentially German, as is the chef. As I said, it's difficult to write about any dish in particular, because everything I've had there has been spectacular - both for brunch and dinner. I am, however, especially partial to their selection of small plates and the Pate de Campagne at the Brasserie is quite likely one of the best things I've ever eaten. Between the consistently amazing food, the extremely pleasant classy yet casual atmosphere and the great service, the Brasserie is everything anyone, from gourmets to gourmands (with the likely exception of vegetarians), could ever look for in a restaurant. Nouvelle cuisine it surely is not (which, just for record, I also enjoy now and then), but it is a selection of simple but outstanding ingredients, prepared to perfection every time. If you have not been to the Brasserie yet, you have been missing out on an enormous scale. Come for the buck-a-shuck ($1 oysters every night after 9pm), stay for everything else. -
Review from Raymond T.
Vancouver, BC
8/2/2011
Very average. Quite disappointed with the meal. Order steak and fries with the mushroom sauce. It came with a lot of fries but the steak was very average and the mushroom sauce had five small slices of mushroom. My friend order the same but ask for mash potatoes instead. The meal arrived with fries and the server made a lame excuse instead admitting her mistake. Another friend order the roast chicken and it arrived over done. I wouldn't go back.
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Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
8/29/2010
This is my second visit to La Brasserie, home of one of the best burgers I've tasted in my life! Sadly, on this second visit, I am left unimpressed. I don't mind waiting 30 minutes for a table, but when the food/service is mediocre, I have to reconsider my dedication.
A recap of our experience:
Lobster bisque --- Bitter tasting, unpleasant
Onion Tart--- Average. La Gavroche's is better
Mussels with cream sauce--- Fabulous but took a long time (people who came in after us were served before us)
Suckling Pig--- spicy stuffing, average tasting.
Service--- slow, awkward
Come here for the burger or be willing to wait 40 mins for the mussels ; )Listed in: Food that's safe for your…, Oodles of yummy noodles
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Review from John T.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2011
Great little restaurant! Great food, great service. A nice little gem in the heart of Davie village. I recommend stopping by after 9 for buck oysters. One of my favorite restaurants.
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Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
8/29/2010
I'm giving 4 stars because the experience was awesome. Service was great. I liked them very much and they helped make dining very pleasurable.
I just went to La Brasserie on Thursday for the burger. I give it 3 stars. All the ingredients were top notch and fresh. The bun was absolutely perfect for the burger. When I cut it in half, juices ran out and I was drooling. The onion straws were mile high and it was a sight to behold! The burger looks amazing when it is served. Everyone in the restaurant couldn't help looking at it, and I could see everyone changing their orders to the burger.
However, it was absolutely tasteless! I was shocked! I could taste the aged cheddar, that was it. I could see the bacon which looked great but could not taste it. I tasted no seasoning on the burger at all, did not taste the burger a bit, just felt the texture in my mouth. Even the onion straws lacked flavour...
The fries (fat) were ok. I only had a couple. The truffle aioli did not impress me, nor the homemade ketchup. I did dip the hamburger in both trying to get some flavour but it didn't do it for me. I ate my meal and it was not bad, it just didn't wow me like I was expecting it to.
I would come back and try something else though. I really was impressed overall.
