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Les Faux Bourgeois
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Cafes French, Cafes [Edit]
663 E 15th AveVancouver, BC V5T 2R6
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
(604) 873-9733
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5:30 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
124 reviews for Les Faux Bourgeois
Review Highlights
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"For entrees, I had the steak frites - yummy." In 20 reviews -
"and their creme brulee is silky and velvety." In 15 reviews -
"French onion soup was delicious, I highly recommend it." In 15 reviews
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124 reviews in English
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Review from Debora O.
Edmonton, AB
5/18/2012
I wish I would have gotten the waitresses name.....5 of us went on a Saturday night for dinner..if I could clone that waitress and brought her back to Alberta I would have..she was informative, witty and accomodating...I had the pear/endive salad for a starter and I had the pork chop special...I just can't cook pork without overdoing it, so imagine my joy when I cut into a juicy deelish chop....creme brulee for dessert....ohhhh heaven I must say.
I even indulged in a glass of pastis..something I hadn't had since I spent a couple of months in the south of France hangin out with a french boyfriend and the old retired man playing Pétanque and drinking pastis...oh la la..
The customers were an eclectic bunch and the atmosphere was warm and inviting...
What a great place! Remember to call well in advance for a reservation. -
Review from Gabby S.
Vancouver, BC
5/16/2012
I like this place although it's been hard to get a reservation at a decent time. I do enjoy an early bird dinner though.
I stick with the same old dishes. Onion soup, oysters, mussels, goat cheese salad and dessert. I don't like hanger steaks done by french establishments. Somehow, they always end up disappointing. I think the filet mignon was decent though.
The service have been good and I can fill up on the bread. I don't have butter at home so I tend to go crazy at restaurants with good bread. And I don't really like bread/sandwiches. -
Review from David R.
North Vancouver, BC
4/21/2012
The nicest things about Les Faux Bourgeois is the fact that it serves unpretentious french bistro food, in a warm comfortable atmosphere. You simply feel good being there. They have nailed that special feeling of classic french bistros as well as anyone in the city.
Had dinner last night with friends who had not been there before. They couldn't say enough good things about it. Started with the pate served with pickles on the side. It was quite light and not what I expected - I was thinking more the heavier, chunky country style pate. It was very smooth and much more subtle. Very tasty.
Went for the classic joules/frites combo for my main course. The mussels were also very tasty and the fries done perfectly, served with garlic mayo which I injected directly into my arteries so that it could get to my heart faster. But it was worth it.
They have a nice touch of having wine specials, offered as "bin ends" which is a bit of a misnomer as there are no bins and the wines featured were large scale retails brands. But I recognized one of them as a very nice California Cab and it was offered very, very reasonably. I have said it before, if more local restaurants offered some good value good wines, they would earn a lot of points among their clientele. This was great and I jumped at the chance to take adventage of it.
Service was not overly speedy, but the place was packed and the surroundings and ambience so good that there was no point in rushing.
Had a really nice night. -
Review from Yvonne C.
3/25/2012
I wanted to try this place for awhile now and I didn't love this place as much as I wanted to. The atmosphere was great, but the food wasn't memorable and I got food poisoning afterwards.
I made reservations for 2 at 8:30pm. My partner and I came on time and we went in with another party that also had a reservation at 8:30. The host was assisting the other party while my partner and I waited for her to finish. When the host was finished helping them, she didn't even acknowledge us or asked if we were with the same party. We literally stood there for 20 seconds waiting for her to say something until I told her I made reservations for 2. That didn't make a good first impression to me or my partner. After that incident, the rest of the service was friendly and prompt.
At the table my partner ordered the seared sweetbreads with celeriac remoulade and watercress to start; and for our mains, we ordered steak with fries and free-range chicken stewed in red wine with smoked bacon, mushrooms with pearl onions. We ended off with a slice of silk cake.
When the sweetbreads came I literally thought it will be a type of bread but it wasn't! It was seared glands from the throat of a lamb. My partner liked it, but he said he had better and I thought it was just okay. Our mains came after we finished our starter. I had the steak with fries; the steak had a smoked flavour to it but I just wasn't into it. They did however perfected the fries; it was crispy and well seasoned. I had a taste of my partner's chicken and it was good. Not good enough to be memorable though. And for the silk cake... Order this if you've got a really big sweet tooth because this cake is super sweet. I loved how creamy the cake was, but not so much on the overdose of sugar. -
Review from Ed S.
New Westminster, BC
4/6/2012
On steak frites, the steak was yum, fries not so much.
On service, it was properly french. I don't think i need to say more. If you aren't used to French service you may be offended. If you have a sense of humour or otherwise appreciate a little bit of excitement at dinner you won't be disappointed.
Would go back and try another dish as i did have a hankering for meat and potatoes that night. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
3/4/2012
I have been wanting to try Les Faux Bourgeois for a while, and I wanted to like it more than I actually did. It's a really cute little place and smells deeelish when you walk in the door, but crikey it was loud. It's awfully hard to pretend you're having a romantic dinner when you're having to shout at each other across the table above the din (of course, if you and your S.O. like to have restaurant fights, it could be just the ticket).
The food was a mixed bag. I loved the baguette basket as well as the tenderloin boeuf my husband ordered. So tender! The appetizer of duck and pistachio terrine was tasty, if a little dry. I did not enjoy my Fruits de la Mer all that much ... the seafood was juicy, but I soon discovered "Provencale sauce" meant tons of olives .... erm, no. Dislike. Our French waiter was hard to understand, and I don't know, but I think he was growing to dislike us toward the end of the evening.
In spite of all that, the prices are right, and if I brought at least a couple more people, we probably would be able to snag banquette seating rather than being stuck in the two-top central aisle. And I'd order something more buttery or stew-y - go rich at Bourgeois, that's my advice.Listed in: Date Night, Bad tables in nice restaurants
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Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
A glass of wine at this little joint will run you at least $10, but it's worth it. My companion had the Malbec and I tried the Pentage - both excellent wines - and the service we received was top notch. We sauntered in about 6:15 and stayed for about an hour. By the time we left the place was packed.
Gorgeous design. The floor tiling is intricate and new and clean and in great condition, unlike all the old hexagonal tiling in Gastown.
I can't eat a thing here, so I'll give it 4 stars, but I have nothing else to complain about. -
Review from Abi B.
2/8/2012
This is my favourite French restaurant in Vancouver. Where else can you find reasonably priced, authentic French food in a cute Parisian bistro setting?
I have been here twice and have not been disappointed.
Highlights so far have been:
Soup à l'oignon gratinée (French onion soup) - Rich, delicious broth with rich, gooey cheese on top.
Escargots de Bourgogne - Perfectly done in parsley butter.
Oyster appetizer (I don't remember the name in French; it was a special that day) - In a word: delicious. I wish this was on their regular menu.
Steak frites with herb butter - The steak was done exactly as I had asked (rare) and the herb butter added richness to the meat. The fries were crispy, not too greasy, and appropriately seasoned.
Filet de porc - Bacon wrapped pork, need I say more?
I look forward to coming back to sample more of the menu. -
Review from Peter N.
Burnaby, BC
4/27/2012
I love this place. The atmosphere is nice and romantic, the service is great, the food i die for. I usually get the duck confit, so delicious. Definitely one of my favourite places to eat. Only thing i do not like is trying to make a reservation the day of. It gets quite busy here, so it doesn't work for spur of the moment dining.
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Review from Daniel L.
3/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a gem, as I ask myself what took me so long to come here... Every reason to enjoy a French meal awaits you here, the service was as expected friendly not rushed with a hint of humour. But the meals and ambience get top scores as well. I would easily say every meal here will fulfil your expectations of classic cuisine and top any top French bistro around here or there. The room was full of all walks of life with a buzz of happiness.
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Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
1/5/2012 ROTD 3/10/2012
Imagine, a dark and stormy East Van evening. The rain is falling thick and chilling you to the bone, you're hungry and looking for a great date spot, you think, why not Les Faux Bourgeois.
Why not indeed.
Les Faux Bourgeois is nestled on the corner of Fraser and 15th and I have to agree with Sam L., I would not have been surprised if people on bikes with baguettes cycled by smoking and commiserating about the local french cinema. The bistro is quite small, and from what I gather always a challenge to get a table at. We were just walking in and they sat us at the bar. The staff, with their thick french accents, were attentive and friendly suggesting the best wines and food for us.
We shared a lovely bottle of Clos du Soleil which went perfect with our pâté. Which I have to say was fantastic. A new meat eater myself, I tend to think of pâté as cat food, but this was delicious!
I had the duck breast which was a featured item and it came with a lovely mushroom risotto which was divine.The duck was cooked perfectly, juicy and divine and my man had the filet de porc which was equally amazing. It came on a bed of veggies including a lovely bed of pureed yams.
We skipped dessert and instead had a cocktail and I can assure you we left happy.
I will go back that's for sure. This place knocked my socks off.Listed in: Hot Eats
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Review from Gosia Z.
Vancouver, BC
1/30/2012
Went here as a 5th wheel (hehe) with 4 fabulous friends to enjoy Feast Van - a great cause (check it out: http://www.feastvan.com/) I really enjoyed it!
I had a goat cheese and beet salad (definitely awesome!) and the scallop special (so delicious - but I needed the lactaid to help me through that creamy awesomeness).
I especially like our server (Theo) who had a great time with us filming him asking us what drink I wanted ;)
Overall - it was a fun experience, I'll be back :) -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
12/7/2011 2 photos
* Good afterthought *
The popular bistro next door (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) which is only open for dinner operates this little corner cafe during the day with a very simple menu of espresso bar, croissants, and pain au chocolat.
The double espresso had a nice crema and a smooth finish. It was pulled a bit longer than I normally like so it was a little weak for my taste, but decent overall. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
The pain au chocolate was superb. It was nicely layered - the result of not being afraid to use a generous amount of butter between layers. The chocolate itself was a nice dark rich chocolate that balanced well with the buttery layers. Photo: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
I was the only person in the cafe - as if not a lot of people are even aware it is open during the day! I could understand that, as it feels a bit like an afterthought to the bistro. But a good one!Listed in: Dentists' Dreams in Vancouver, Vancouver Coffee
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Review from Morna G.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2012
I've eaten here three times now. Went with my S.O. last week and as usual the food was good and the server was a d**k.
FOOD: We had the tarte alsacienne and the escargots to start. Both dishes were good without being extraordinary. The snails were a tad on the salty & chewy side. The bread was delicious and included with the meal, which seems to be a rare treat around town these days. The mains were very good - confit de canard with pleasantly crispy skin and beef tenderloin that was remarkably soft and flavourful. Side dishes were also tasty. The food and wine prices are significantly below what you'd pay for comparable fare elsewhere.
SERVICE: I admit the service was efficient overall but the server was so surly it was laughable. It was crystal clear that he'd rather be anywhere else than there and treated us as if it our presence were extremely irritating. No smiles or friendliness here. He even checked his watch while I was ordering my starter. Wow.
AMBIANCE: Pretty cramped and very noisy. We were stuck in the centre row of tables for two. People kept walking past us on either side and we felt like we were in the way most of the time - avoid these if you go. We moved to a side booth when one was free and that was much better.
PREVIOUS TWO VISITS:
Last year: nothing stands out in my mind so the food & service were good.
Previous year: Had a near-shouting match with the server. Ordered Steak frites with a side of herb butter. The server really wanted me to have echalote (shallot) sauce but I stuck to my butter. The meat was so tough I could barely cut it. I told the server and we had the following discussion in FRENCH: He replied, "Well that's why you should've had the echalote sauce!"
"What!?"
"Yes, the meat is onglet, and you must have it with echalote sauce!"
Now I get it. I've been served onglet a l'echalote, which is a far cry from steak frites as it was listed on the menu. I've eaten in France literally hundreds of times so I know that onglet a l'echalote and steak frites are completely different. Steak is steak and onglet is hanger steak - not what I wanted and not what I ordered. AS IF echalote sauce would have made the hanger steak edible anyway!! Even for hanger steak, this piece was particularly tough. I told the waiter I just wanted steak frites, not onglet. He acted like I was in the wrong and didn't take it off the bill or offer to replace it. Don't worry about this happening to you - they've changed the menu since and now clearly list the different cuts.
VERDICT: Despite the fact that some of the waiters are real little beyotches, I still give it 4 stars because the food is very good and the prices (for wine too) are GREAT. Yep, I'll go back & get snarled at for that, plus it's a short walk from home. Make sure you reserve if you go, especially for a Friday or Saturday - they're booked solid well in advance. Voila. -
Review from Diana B.
Greater Vancouver Regional District, BC
4/27/2012
My boyfriend took me here for Valentines day this past year and before that night, I'd never heard of this place. We were literally the last ones through the door without a reservation, and as such were seated at the bar in the smaller part of the restaurant, almost "next door". The waiter was so attentive to our needs, as we were seated directly in front of him, our water glasses did not run on empty, and he was delightful to make small talk with as he spoke with an adorable French accent! Had I been a single lady, my heart would've melted for him. I had a glass of red wine, and we ordered off the "special" menu for the night, and both had the steak with fries and shrimp. It sounded better in French :P but it was absolutely fantastic! The fries came with mayonnaise instead of ketchup (how European) and the water was without ice-cubes (again, distinctly European!). At the end of the meal, we opted to split the Creme Brulee along with a cappuccino each to complete the meal, both of which were, how should I put this, excruciatingly delicious? Yeah, that about sums it up. My mouth could not comprehend the amazingness that was the Creme Brulee. The cappuccino was perfectly crafted, complete with latte art!, and the total bill came to about $80 for two of us. I don't know if our experience would have been the same had we been seated in the main restaurant area, but for now I'm giving this place 5/5.
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Review from Jesse T.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2012
With a trip to Paris in the planning stages I was anticipating my first visit to Les Faux Bourgeois with special excitement. So too were many of my fellow Vancouverites it seems, as there were absolutely no tables available when we first attempted to visit! We returned a week later, with a quite necessary reservation and I'm happy to report that the wait was well worth it.
Though the packed restaurant felt a little claustrophobic, the service was prompt, polite and appropriately accented. Our Escargots De Bourgogne starter (surprisingly my first experience with snails) was salty and delicious. The Filet de Boeuf Grille was nothing short of a revelation, quite possibly the most delicious steak I have ever tasted.
YUM!
Bring on Paris! -
Review from Brent P.
Vancouver, BC
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is nothing short of amazing.
You'll have to make a reso but if your willing to plan ahead you will not regret it. Classic french Dining at its best.
The Atmosphere is warm, dark and feels like home. The staff are prompt friendly and knowledgeable and the food is always done perfectly.
The Creme Brulee is unreal. -
Review from Sunshine M.
Coquitlam, BC
12/15/2011
Love this place. It reminds my tres chic Maman of her time in Paris (last time our handsome server was from Paris-living in Canada for less than a year-which helped her sensory experience along immensely).
The decor is dark, crowded (not unpleasantly so) and delightfully European. To be clear: this is more bistro style than upscale French cuisine. That being said, the ambience is wonderful and the food is rich and pleasing. You MUST try the onion tart at least once. It is silky with carmelized onions, creme fraiche and wait for it...lardons embedded within like hidden treasure. Oh my, bacon truly does make the world sing!
I want to be adventurous but I must continue to order the steak frites. The steak is so tender (options: red wine jus, herb butter or green peppercorn sauce) and the fries are crispy and so well seasoned. If you get the salad option you can ooh and aah over pears and pecans or goat cheese and beets. The Mussels are a champion dish as well.
Hopefully your dinner partners will order different dishes so you can share tastes. The prices are unbelievably good for French dining. Appetizers run from $8-$12 and mains from $16-$19. A wonderful introduction to French cuisine for students or those on a strict budget. Still, everyone can appreciate this gem! -
Review from Lloyd B.
Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012
Love this place. Great food at a good price point. Atmosphere and service were outstanding. Very busy place, hard to get a table, but worth it
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Review from DocJava F.
New Westminster, BC
2/20/2012
Tomorrow is the beginning of my 12day work week. WooHoo!
So I thought I would treat myself on the way home and grab a bite out.
Well, kinda, I was going for a bite out, and I've seen this place, the Faux Bourgeois, near Fraser and Kingsway.
I always wanted to go in cause it look so pleasantly peasanty.
Turns out the faux was faux. It was pure 14k Bourgeois.
Monsieur le Governoir greeted me at the host podium as I walked through the door.
A quick glance around and I was the only peasant in the house.
So, this is where I doffed my ball cap and politley asked for a seat at the bar.
The place was packed. On a sunday.
They managed to find me a spot between a couple hipster dudes and some aging youths from the interior.
Pretty cool cats all the way around. I broke out of my shell talked some story with them.
The ironic utterance of the night was the comment regarding how unpretentious the place was.
Bit the tip of my tongue off, well not quite, I did mumble a "Ha!" well over my breath and let it go.
This place was just this side of ascot territory. My "just off the boat" look and swagger certainly took it down a tone or two. But it was certainly a Granville gentry crowd hanging tonight.
But what can I say. Pretention is a beautiful thing. For a moment or two. Althought, it is the one thing that should always be faux.
I took a look at the menu and that was when I realized I'd be treating myself for next weeks torture.
Best meal I've had in Canada!
Did I say that?
I did.
Mr Bartender knew his groceries. No real recommendation was made. Joe Friday would have been impressed. Mr. B just shared the facts on the specials.
Made my life easy I went for these perfect Scallops in a mornay sauce with some gruyere. I was fascinated with the presentation as I didn't remember a mention of a pastry shell. Well, just as I was trying to carve through this pastry underlay, I
realized i was a victim of bad eyes and bad lighting.
The pastry was not a shell of flour, but instead a shell of the sea. Quite likely of the scallop variety. I managed to refrain from a commoners comment and proceeded to chow. Twas, so good that I did reconsider leaving the shell on the plate.
Followed by 8oz medallion... okay so it was a patty... of a steak tartar that was seared on the outside and perfectly raw on the inside.
KD (killer diller) the poor steer had been fed red wine for his life. I guess if I was on a suicide mission, I'd prefer the virgins and the booze before I pulled the pin.
I don't know if the ranchers or steer had it right, but the chef certainly did.
Managed to nurse a glass of merlot throughout the meal. Nice, big, fat merlot from the Big Valley. Lodi (you know the Barbara Stanwyck neighbours) as in "Oh, lord stuck in lodi again."
KD
Well I still had more than a few swallows of red left so, what the hell, "Do you have any dark chocolate on the menu"
Oh yeah. KFD Their Chocolate Silk Cake had the consistance of a perfect pudding except I think they put sex in it. I'm not sure.
The cheque, with a reasonable tip, came to the metric equivalent of three Jacksons.
More than I planned walking in the door, well worth disturbing the moths in my wallet for.
With an "à bientôt" and a "I'll be back with my baby!" I was out the door.
I toed the line quite well, but in hind sight i realize it should have been "bébé" baby.
Hopefully, they will let me return, bébé or non. -
Review from Anne J.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 3/18/2012
It's just a bistro, people. The food is okay - not great. The service is much snottier than it needs to be. We walk past almost every night as we live in the neighbourhood - this restaurant is full of extroverted West Siders (and rich drug dealers) who pull up in their BMWs, have a little French food in our neighbourhood, then high-tail it back home!
If you want a really authentic French restaurant, and where they treat you well, and a mix of ages in the clientele, try French Table on Main Street. It is our new favourite. They encourage the locals, they are open for lunch, and with the warmth and liveliness of the owner, you can't go wrong. (Also: French Table doesn't have a big echo-y wood room, so, much better place for intimate conversation).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2011
Les Faux, indeed.
We live in the neighbourhood and ate here a lot when it first opened. However, the… Read more »
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Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Always an exciting atmosphere for dinner, if you want to treat yourself with some lovely rich French food. If I were Bourdain, this is where I'd visit when in town. And the reviews are certainly higher than Les Halles, hisformer NY haunt, so what does that tell you?
We opt to eat and drink at the bar. While the bartender tends to lose his patience with me in that French-sorta-way, he's excellent at what he does.
Service is always prompt and exceptional of course.
We love to indulge in wine here and the pours never let us down. Although they are reluctant to give me a taster (maybe I've asked too many times, but I hate to order a glass before I know what I'm getting) our glasses are always efficiently filled.
Order: any salad with beets and goat cheese. Perfection with healthy greens and arugula.
Tarte: both are amazing but maybe the onion is our more popular choice.
Main: you can't go wrong with anything here, but we tend to favour the heartier choices. The steak is amazing and the potato gratin is to die for. Even the veggies are brighter here.
There is just never enough room for dessert but every single dessert looks scrumptious!
Since we love this place so much, it is tough to go to any other French restaurant in town. The side room is an awesome place for a memorable bday celebration too, as they do book it separately.
I just hate that I have to make up for that rich food the next day...just how do the French do it? -
Review from Annie W.
Updated - 10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here recently to celebrate something. Having been a number of times already, I was prepared for excellent food and indifferent service.
Everything we ordered was indeed excellent with the exception of the escargot which were surprisingly bland given the copius amounts of garlic and butter in the dish, and the chanterelle brioch which was also underwhelming.
So why two stars? Because while I was expecting aloof service, I wasn't expecting our waiter to be a total ass. The people I were with had never been to LFB, so they asked him for some recommendations. A perfectly normal question, but he gaped at them like they were retarded and in an offended and incredibly condecending tone said "Recommendation? You should know what you like." We were all really taken aback.
It's a pity that the food here really is quite good, because until the reviews start to indicate that their service standards have improved I won't be coming back.Listed in: Yelp 30 Day Challenge 2011
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/3/2011
Four stars because while your fancy french accent may make me swoon, the snooty attitude that comes… Read more »
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Review from Theresa W.
Vancouver, BC
Looooooooooooove. I've been eyeing this place for a long long long time, so what better time to try it than YelpEats? This place is the perfect casual-but-classy restaurant - the prices are reasonable, the wine selection is fab (thank goodness we had Luisa D to give us an overview of the wine!), and the food is ah-maze-ing.
First off, the service here is TOP NOTCH people. We came in with a group of 10, but half an hour rolls around and three people are no-shows, so we had to do the talk of shame and tell our server that we won't be needing one of the tables. They were completely okay with it, which is so awesome for a restaurant that's always 100% full. Secondly, the restaurant normally requires groups of 10+ to order from a set menu, but now that we were 7 people we could order whatever we wanted! But the set menu was so good, how could I resist? Escargot and Rabbit and Creme Brulee? Yes please!
The food came out at perfect speeds, no long gaps between dishes, no one person waiting forever while everyone else sat around awkwardly staring at their meals, everything was hot and well plated. And the french fries! Oh the french fries *swoon*. I have never had such delicious fries in my life. IN. MY. LIFE. I will gladly come back here to just order a plate (or two) of fries - I have no shame.
Not too far of a trek from transit lines (catch the 19 or the 8) with street parking around the area. In other words, no reason to NOT come here. Ever.
And again - french fries. Do it.Listed in: 2011 Best Of, YelpEats 2011, ROTD!
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Review from Luisa D.
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wonder if most bistros in France even do food this good. The price points are fantastic especially when you could easily have enough to take home for a snack.
I had the escargots which were just tender enough and HAVE to be eaten with the garlic croutons they're sitting on. Such a tasty combination. Then I had the steak frites. When I saw how much 'frites' were on my plate my nervousness was twofold; would they really be giving me so many fries if they were amazing AND could I resist eating them all if they were amazing? They were amazing and I managed restraint. I couldn't even eat all the beautiful steak but passed some to the student at my table as I knew he'd really appreciate it in a sandwich for lunch. I would have too but I was feeling generous.
My husband also had the steak frites but started with the beet salad and ended with the lemon tart. He shared tastes with me and they were both perfect.
We washed it down with a bottle of Domaine de Beaurenard Cotes du Rhone - perfect match and added more French to the evening. Our waiter was from near Bordeaux so had the accent to really make us feel like we'd been transported directly to France. Merveilleux!Listed in: Top of the food chain baby!
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Review from Angela L.
10/1/2011
I'm breaking my self-imposed rule of not reviewing a restaurant before I eat a full meal there, but breaking it for my lovely experience at Les Faux seems worth it. I feel like Les Faux Bourgeois is one of those places that I loved before I even visited, because I so enjoy the idea of reasonably-priced, non-pretentious, Euro-styled "fine dining".
I dropped in for a drinky on a weekday evening, and we sat at the bar (by choice). The bar seats here are delightfully comfortable, and they actually have backs (limits the risk of toppling!). The bartender, who noticed me clutching my handbag on my lap, helpfully informed me that "zere are hooks unzer ze table for your bag". I had that primary-school induced panic of groping around under furniture hoping not to run into a dried up wad of gum, but instead I was greeted by a nice sturdy hook. Ladies (and gentlemen with murses), rejoice!
The beverage selection is concise, and we also ordered a cheese selection and nibbled at a side order of potato gratin. You really can't go wrong with cheese and buttery potatoes, and I enjoyed my charmingly named "Sweet Water" (vodka, soda, and lemon). The bar experience here was top-notch, and I certainly look forward to returning for dinner one day. -
Review from Amy T.
Updated - 9/20/2011 1 photo
Was back for a birthday party and again, I was not disappointed.
We had a huge communal table going and I tried the seabass, tenderloin, escargot, pate and onion soup. The verdict? Amazing, yet again!
Les Faux Bourgeois, I love your consistency, service and most importantly, food! Thanks for the great night and the wonderful memories.
J'espere De vous revoir! (Thanks for helping me with the grammar, Abi B!)Listed in: Date Night Suggestions, My Faves
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/10/2010
Oh Les Faux Bourgeois... I've missed you since I've moved to Burnaby. You used to be a mere walking… Read more »
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Review from Lionel K.
Vancouver, BC
3/16/2012
Great spot
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Review from Dru C.
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here for the Yelp Eats Charity in 2011. We decided to have the set menu since it was easier for the waiter/kitchen and it was cheaper than the original menu as well.
I had the baked escargot in cheese and bread, with the steak and frits. I can for sure say I was totally full by the end of the night. I had to take most of it home.
The baked escargot was baked perfectly as the plate was nice and warm. The cheese was amazing and full of flavor. It didn't taste like plastic to me. Amazing escargot.
The steak was perfectly made as I asked my medium well. And 3/4th of the dish was just piled with fries and more fries. I was pretty happy that their fries were perfectly moist and fresh. I enjoyed that a lot, another note is that their gravy they used on the steak was perfect with the fries, screw the ketchup.
The service here was great!! Oh and the eye candy, wow!! :3 tall blonde and brown hair guys with packed muscle arms who speak French, OMG :O
The cocktail I ordered was good too. It came so quickly right after I ordered too.
Enjoyed a great time with everyone there and thanks for Crystal for organizing the event!! I will be going back to the establishment for booze, food and great eye candy ;)Listed in: Yelp's 30 DAYS of AWESOMENESS
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Review from Megan S.
11/3/2011
Our in-laws took us here to celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary, and it was an incredible experience. I'd been wanting to come here for ages, but it seemed like a special occasion was in order...I know better now - if you don't have a special occation, make one up!
We started with the escargot and crab cakes to share. The crab cakes were good, nothing special, but the escargot were lovely - very tender. I must admit that I prefer digging them out of the shells, but they were delicious nonetheless.
I ordered the seared snapper with fingerling potatoes and zucchini in a beurre blanc - it was divine. The snapper portion was perfectly cooked and VERY generous. My brother-in-law ordered the lamb with ratatouille, and he was totally blown away - it seemed to be the favourite dish of the table. My husband had the steak frites, which he liked well enough, but was disappointed when he saw the caliber of the other dishes. He said something to the effect of, "It was good - it was like, the best steak and fries I'd ever had, but it's still just steak and fries..."
For dessert we shared an apple tart and creme brulee - both were very good. My husband ordered a decaf espresso that unfortunately, was terrible...extremely bitter and sour.
The service was impeccable - very attentive and not snooty in the slightest. Our waiter stayed on top of clearing plates and refilling wine glasses, which is always nice.
We'll definitely be back!Listed in: Date Night
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Review from Nina I.
Burnaby, BC
12/6/2011
Went out for a special occasion and was completely underwhelmed. I'd like to give this place another try some day but not for a while.
Just returning from a trip to France in October, I was craving some nice French bistro that was casual. Eating out many evenings in a row along the restaurants on Rue Mouffetard in Paris, maybe I'd been spoiled. But I'd heard that this was one authentic French bistro in Vancouver!
For appies our Alsaciene Tarte Flambee was possibly the best thing I had that evening. (So just get this and drinks - the bartender is pretty cool!---and leave j/k) The escargots lacked flavour and were just a bit chewy and heavy with butter - which I usually like- but this I'd skip next time. We also had the scallops...which cooked nicely but were tasteless and covered in maybe a bechamel and cheese.
My main was the Canard Confit...and the duck was juicy, skin fairly crispy, and the sauce was pretty amazing. The escargots were so heavy as an app I was too full to enjoy most of my main. And thought I should leave room for dessert and tea/coffee.
The experience to this point was 3.5 stars...to be nice as it was my first experience. But seriously, the waiter swooped in, took our plates and quickly brought us the bill. Really...no dessert menu...no coffee or tea offered? Really??? Kind of a basic faux pas? I don't get upset too easily, but really...I was pretty annoyed. [LFB - please ask your customers if they want dessert - all of them!]
We had the later seating time so there were no other customers waiting to be seated. Another waiter kindly came over to fill our water glasses and by that time I was so annoyed at the other waiter that I didn't have the energy to ask for the dessert menu, but asked for a cup of tea. (Our waiter never offered us more drinks throughout the service either...his mind left work after he served us our mains.) Sigh.
My dashed dreams of French wow local cuisine. -
Review from Emma G.
8/8/2011
I asked my foodie friend, Anita, to take me somewhere fantastic while I was in town, and Les Faux was her suggestion. I'd seen it loads of times before and heard great things, so I was really excited to try it.
We didn't make a reservation, but that's okay - the whole bar was open! I was able to get a spot right away; my understanding is that the bar is always a no-reservations zone. It's a great place to sit and get fast service, too!
To drink I had the French Martini, which is a tasty pineapple vodka concoction. For an appetizer we split a meat and cheese charcuterie plate. This was literally the first time that I had blue cheese and enjoyed it! Everything was tasty, fresh and flavourful.
For a main I had a salmon, that came with potato salad and asparagus. I really enjoyed the salmon and asparagus, wasn't crazy about the potatoes but that may have just been me.
We also split the dessert special, which was a chocolate caramel tart. It was absolutely delicious - the crust was flaky and yummy, plus hello - chocolate and caramel, hard to go wrong.
The only slight issue I had, which wasn't really a big deal, was that towards the end of our meal, the bartender's wife came along with their toddler. Not a big deal, except that the child was scribbling on the specials board, standing on her bar stool, sitting on the bar, clanging her knife and fork together...I feel like a grumpy old jerk, but it seemed out of place for a nice joint like this. If it was a patron's child, I'd probably just give the family a little glare, but because it was an employee's kid, I thought they should have kept her a little more calm. Again I feel like a grump saying it, but it did kind of take away from the lovely atmosphere of the place.
Overall, though, it was great food and an adorable restaurant that I'd be happy to go back to. -
Review from Meana k.
1/28/2012
I enjoyed my meal. Prices were decent. Service was good. Yep, I think I'll come back here.
That said, there are comparable or better French restaurants in this city. I wonder why I didn't walk away from it with a 5 star outlook like so many others? I look forward to trying some more items on the menu next time I'm here and hope that makes the difference.
Tonight, we had the Florentine tart which was amazing, and the sweetbread to start off with. Both were quite lovely. Next time I will again order the tart and the escargot. My friend had the steak frites with herb butter for her entree, and I opted for a special which was pheasant, duck, and rabbit confit in a meat pie in some sort of sauce with mushrooms. My meal was quite well prepared, tasted good, and was very filling. However, it lacked that je-ne-sais-quoi.... Don't get me wrong. It was good. But I wasn't rolling my eyes back and emitting foodgasmic moans with each bite. It might be my own fault because I had duck confit on my mind all day leading up to dinner but was talked into ordering the special by our waiter. My friend's steak frites was alright. The fries were great, actually, as I kept stealing them off her plate. The steak itself was pretty good but I think it got cold really fast. In fact, it may never have been that hot to begin with since the blob of butter on top of the steak wasn't even close to melting. Taste-wise, it was nice.
For dessert, we had the creme brulee that everyone has been raving about. This was really nice. The creme brulee had a perfect sugar crackle on top that was a great compliment to every creamy bite. The consistency was surprisingly more pudding-like than I expected, but I actually found this to be really pleasant. The bottom of the dish had quite a bit of vanilla bean. I can understand why people consider this to be among the best creme brulees in Vancouver. I'll go back for that.
Lastly, I want to mention that there's the restaurant, and the cafe next door. Marc D called it a nice afterthought in his review of the cafe. It's a tiny little space with just a few tables and a few seats at the bar. This is where the overflow from the restaurant is seated. Same menu, different atmosphere. In fact, possibly a bit more cozy and relaxed. The restaurant itself was packed to the max, so I was happy to enjoy the ambiance of the cafe. It felt a little more.... like a bistro. Homey. Comfy. Welcoming. Next time, I'll likely ask to be seated there. Service may not be as posh, but it's more my style. -
Review from Justmarried i.
Vancouver, BC
2/12/2012
Service - cool
Food - French onion soup was delicious but entree turned me off dessert, the mussels were too salty and fries soggy
In short - Overrated. -
Review from Jason K.
Vancouver, BC
12/2/2011
Was my first time eating at Les Faux Bourgeois, and I have to say that I will be back.
It reminded me of a typical local neighbourhood Montreal restaurant, and it made me think of home.
The selection on the menu was great, and the daily dinner special was an interesting mixture of meat and seafood, with a vegetarian option as well.
We ate on the bistro side of the restaurant which was smaller and more intimate, and a great place to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and company.
The service was prompt and very informative, and the server has a lovely French accent.....and refreshingly not a Quebec accent....but a French accent from France.
The meal was a delight, and the portions were perfect, a very rich and well balanced meal.
I hope to return very soon. -
Review from Vincci L.
7/7/2011 5 photos
500th review! Another milestone calls for a special occasion review.
I've been wanting to try this place out forever, so the opportunity presented itself when I needed a venue for my birthday dinner. I gave them a call 3 weeks in advance, just to make sure that they can accommodate a larger party. I was elated when I was told that I could have their cafe side all to myself, which would fit 15 people. Perfect.
Everything was set up and ready when the day came, it was great to find out that we had our own dedicated server, complete with French accent.
We all ordered from a set menu. Items ordered:
Appy: Escargots de Bourgogne,with parsley and garlic butter. This was lacking a bit of flavour, but I love escargots, so this dish good.
Main:Pan roasted wild Salmon with kale, roasted garlic potato salad and dill mustard seed crème fraîche. Fresh soft salmon, with lots of flavour and
Dessert: Crème brûlèe. They even put a candle on it! Smooth, creamy, a little too sweet than what I'm used to, but I can never say no to creme brulee.
Our service the whole night was excellent; it was great that we had a dedicated server-no need to flag anyone down. Our water glasses were always refilled, drink orders were fulfilled, and plates were cleared off our tables in a timely manner.
With their reasonable prices and good food, I can't wait to return to try their other dishes on the menu!
And a double birthday tequila shot, on the house? Yes, I had a very happy birthday. -
Review from Seth W.
10/23/2011
Very good food, very nice atmosphere, at a not-ridiculous price.
Good for your romantic night out :) -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
Our friends from Toronto were here and they love this restaurant so of course I made reservations ahead of time to make sure we would have a table for our group of 6.
Spot prawn season had just started the day before and I was surprised that LFB would be serving it as a dish (didn't realize it could be transformed into french cuisine, but glad it was!). For $12, we ordered the last two dishes available - six prawns on each table with delicious bruschetta like sauce, onions, cilantro, a few bitter greens that allowed for lots of bread dipping. Escargot was rich and cooked perfectly, and the crisps that it sat on had a good crunch, complimenting the softer texture of the snail.
For mains - everyone was nice enough to share bites of their dishes with each other. The salmon wrapped in phyllo was on special and it seemed like a modern day salmon wellington. The wild rice was very grainy but not in a bad way. The sauce on the salmon was very dill, and as much as I'm not a fan, it was pretty tasty. I tried fiddleheads for the first time and I was told that they were rolled up and a cross betwen asparagus and gai lan... pretty spot on I must say. With lots of garlic sauce, nothing really could've gone wrong.
The lamb was soooo tender and melt in your mouth, with a hefty creamy portion of mashed potatoes. I was taking it a little light and wanted to try a traditional niciose salad. It definitely didn't disappoint. The dressing was not overly powerful, and it was accompanied with all the toppings - potatoes, tomatoes, capers, olives, egg, and of course lightly seared tuna that was melt in your mouth sashimi grade quality. With two pieces, I honestly wished that there was more because I can never get enough of delicious tuna!!!!
I was leaning towards sharing a lemon tart for dessert but the other couple was planning on ordering it so we decided to get the creme brulee instead. Hands down the best CB I've had EVER. everyone agreed that between the brulee, lemon tart and chocolate mousse, that the creme brulee was the best dessert. The chocolate mousse was decadent, no doubt.. just nothing mind blowing. The lemon tart was in a round biscuit crust, too much of it that it seemed like there was not a lot of lemon tart. The creme brulee however was so incredibly silky smooth that I was surprised that it could even be cooked to this texture.
We definitely ordered lots of lovely wines - our friend is a wine connesieur, and this bordeax red wine was my favourite. The whole night was great, our waitress was polite, and accommodating and definitely changed out all our wine glasses, plates and utensils several times. Visitor, or regular, you can never get tired of this place.Listed in: Vancouver Magazine's 101 Best…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2010
Celebrating Valentine's Day a month late, my bf surprised me by taking me to Les Faux (although I… Read more »
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Review from Yunn A.
7/6/2011
My best friend was in from out of town and we had made our reservation for 8 people almost 2 months in advance to be sure we got to dine at this restaurant while he was here. Thank goodness it did not disappoint!
Our server was pleasant, friendly, authentically French, and knowledgeable. This restaurant is an excellent choice for those who'd like to dine French without paying the usual high prices that accompany French restaurants.
The dishes I got to taste were:
LES TARTES FLAMBÉES - ALSACIENNE: Caramelized onion puff pastry tart, lardons, crème fraîche and ricotta,
- - this was a square pull pastry flatbread with bacon on it. Absolutely sinful.
FAUSSE NIÇOISE - Our version of the Niçoise classic with seared albacore tuna.
- - A great classic. Did not disappoint.
CANARD CONFIT - Crispy duck leg confit, du puy lentils, green beans and grain mustard jus
- - I really am running out of words to describe delicious dishes.
I'm looking forward to going back and trying more of the menu. And at the prices they're at, I can afford to do so! Best advice though, plan in advance and book early - this place books up fast and with good reason. -
Review from Ellie V.
Vancouver, BC
8/26/2011
DELICIOUS.
This place is literally packed with mouthwatering food.
Just go and check it out! You will NOT be disappointed. It's one of the best places on dumpy Kingsway.
