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Pair Bistro
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
3763 10th AveVancouver, BC V6R 2G5
Neighbourhood: Point Grey
(604) 224-7211
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 1 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
17 reviews for Pair Bistro
Review Highlights
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"I got the bison ribs with a sage cole slaw and chili..." In 4 reviews -
"But what I did have (yam fries for appetizer, and scallops..." In 3 reviews -
"The bannock is a great starter." In 4 reviews
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17 reviews in English
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Review from Lauren B.
8/15/2011
I searched Yelp for "farm to table" restaurants in Vancouver and this was one of the first to show up. My husband and I had stayed in Vancouver for part of our honeymoon and ate here on a Wednesday night. There were only a few tables of people in the restaurant. It was very small and quaint- the view is nothing to brag about, but the interior was nice.
We started off with a glass of wine and the duck and apricot pate for a starter. It was served with thin slices of crostini and dried apricots and figs. Simply put- amazing.
For the main course, we ordered "the feast for two." this was perfect because it featured a few different proteins and lots of different vegetables and was only $57.00. It arrived and we couldn't wait to dig in. The feast included elk medallions with a cherry and chocolate glaze over rosemary- roasted potatoes, a chicken and mushroom roulades over sautéed mushrooms (all different varieties), seared halibut over a roasted vegetable medley (asparagus, squash, green beans, etc.) and a mixed green salad with smoked candied salmon. Everything was to die for! It was the perfect amount for two of us and we even had a tiny bit of room left for dessert. We shared the cherry and hazelnut tart with homemade pear ice cream. Our waitress even brought us each a complimentary glass of port since we told her that we were on our honeymoon.
The food was great and the service added to the overall pleasure of the meal. Our waitress was fantastic and friendly and the other waitress working stopped by to chat with us (we compared some great hiking stories). -
Review from Edwin C.
Vancouver, BC
3/6/2012
My wife and I got a last minute opportunity to ditch the kids and go out for dinner. This is one of the few places nearby that had a table for us.
The restaurant was nicely done out. The meal started fine. The appetizers were tasty if a little on the small side. Our server asked us how it was. We said fine.
The main courses arrived. I ordered lamb T-bones which consisted of two small, thin and very stringy lamb chops on a even smaller pile of veggies. That was it! Our server did not ask us how it was. However the girl clearing the table did. I told her about how minuscule I felt the main course was and that the last time I was served such a meanly portioned meal I stopped going to that restaurant. Her response was maybe it wasn't one of their heartier mains and that she'd pass the comments on. At $27, which is the highest priced main course on the menu, I'd expect something pretty hearty! She obviously did not pass my comments on because our server did not mention anything and there was no adjustment on the bill or any kind of apology.
Needless to say I won't be visiting this place again anytime soon. Maybe there is a reason this was the only place we could get a table at the last minute. -
Review from Reena M.
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's small, quiet, but it does the job... well! The servers at Pair were very friendly and grateful for our business. I decided to have a birthday dinner here with a few friends. We got a couple of appetizers to share (yam fries and oven roasted garlic) and they were executed well. However, they aren't exactly "share" type dishes. So 2 appetizers between 5-6 people did not go far. We all got our own mains, but there isn't a whole lot by way of vegetarian meals other than getting a couple sides to pair as the mains. I got the bison ribs with a sage cole slaw and chili cornbread. It was really delicious! I expected the ribs to be on the sweeter side a bit, but it was still good.
So while I really enjoyed my meal here, and especially the food and service, I thought the portions were quite small and the prices were quite high. But the quality is quite good. If the portions were increased, the price would be acceptable (to me). Otherwise, everything else was great. -
Review from Darren N.
Vancouver, BC
1/4/2011
If you haven't noticed, I tend to give out reviews for two reasons: to punish bad service/food, or to reward great food and experiences. Happily, New Year's Eve at Pair Bistro falls into the latter category.
This was my third visit to Pair and as always the food did not disappoint. I finally made my way to the Bison ribs, which were excellent, with just the right hint of Blackberries in the BBQ sauce (which was light). The shank of Lamb was also delicious, though surprising (to me at least), the Ling Cod stole the show. Last, one of the desserts, I believe it was homemade vanilla ice cream with a hint of blue cheese, really finished the meal off nicely. Who knew blue cheese could go in ice cream? Overall, the flavour pairing is immaculate at the seemingly aptly named Pair Bistro.
The only surprise of the night was that the restaurant had a few empty tables even after we arrived for our 8:30 meal. I guess the quiet ambience of the place does not suit the revelry most normally associate with New Year's Eve. All the better for those of us who no longer do. -
Review from Anne R.
Vancouver, BC
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I always really enjoy the service here. They aren't suck-up's clamouring for a tip, they aren't inexperienced, they aren't over-experienced, and they've eaten and drank everything that's offered.
Very solid wine list (Black Hills Nota Bene, yum!). Interesting daily food features-- I recently had a blue cheese ice cream dish (omg.), as well as an earl grey creme brulee. Amazing. Also of note, great long-standing menu staples like bannock, bison ribs, elk medallions, yam fries with cinnamon sugar....local ingredients without being hippies about it.
This would likely make it onto my list of top ten favourite restaurants in Vancouver, if I ever stopped to try to formulate that! -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a very special birthday celebration. It was definitely a "quiet, intimate" atmosphere as we were basically the only table left after our appetizers arrived, and the servers spent most of the night trying not to stare at us while they waited for our food to arrive. Welcome to Point Grey on a week night, I guess. However the service was excellent and the food was very high quality. My only issue was I felt the portions were quite small, especially given the fact that the prices were a bit on the high side. But what I did have (yam fries for appetizer, and scallops combined with mushroom risotto as a main) was really delicious. I wouldn't exactly rush back here or recommend this place for a mid-to-large-size group, but it would be perfect for a date night for a couple that lives in the neighbourhood. Solid wine list too!
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Review from Allison G.
Vancouver, BC
8/10/2010
We've gone here a couple of time for family birthdays, and always love it!! Their food is prepared with such care and attention, the service is outstanding and personable, and everything is fresh and most of it is local! This is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant you want to eat it, because you're supporting people who genuinely care about the food they're serving, who care about supporting the local economy and trying to preserve the environment at the same time.
My fiance is a ("retired") chef, and she states that the food here is just beautiful, everything is cut and prepared to perfection.
Make a reservation, come often! I love this place!!! -
Review from Claudio B.
4/6/2010
I agree wholeheartedly with the previous reviewers. This is a true neighbourhood gem!
The food and the service will make your time at Pair go by quickly and you will look forward to come back at the earliest occasion. -
Review from caroline s.
Burnaby, BC
9/15/2009
The photograph doesn't do the venue, the food, the service or the restaurants philosophy - any justice.
Friendly service. Great wine list. Food from the local area (they get many ingredients from UBC Farm), so my friend and I could feel a sense of love, with what the staff and the chefs set out to achieve.
We only had some giant cinnamon sweet potato fries and a selection of cheeses, to accompany a fantastic bottle of Okanagan red wine - served at a temperature where you could actually taste the fruit.
If I had to introduce a Frenchman to any restaurant in Vancouver, I would forget about C, forget about Sandbar, forget about any of the places which are on the Top 10 list, which I've done, and simply take the person there to slowly enjoy the food and the very pleasant service for a few hours, without wondering if the grass is greener anywhere else. I'm wondering if Pair Bistro's is one of the best kept secrets in Vancouver?
A happy time in a very happy place. I hope the philosophy, the service and the food continue to delight. -
Review from Andrew F.
Vancouver, BC
6/23/2010
I was trying to decide between a 4 or a 5-star review. I think when it comes down to observing the restaurant as a whole and not nitpicking about inane details on a Woody Allen level this place is pretty much perfect. The biggest surprise about this restaurant is how few people I know are aware that it even exists. I am actually torn on whether I want this place to be justifiably more popular or remain the somewhat quiet treasure I've come to find. Either way Pair Bistro is probably Vancouver's best hideaway restaurant alongside Les Faux Bourgeois.
Pair Bistro is a quaint 30-40 seat restaurant with first nations decor and paintings adorned around the room. Come dressed to fit into the Point Grey crowd, which is to say somewhat formal (Perry Ellis sweaters and loafers come to mind). The bar is quite small which makes sense. This is definitely a sit-down-and-relax-with-a-few-friends type restaurant. The staff are always gracious, knowledgeable and welcoming. The menu is heavily dependent on local, seasonal, sustainable and organic... almost to the level of restaurants like Raincity Grill. I like the modesty of the menu - smart with its choices of ingredients and flavors while keeping the dishes approachable to both foodies and non-foodies alike.
After eating here about a dozen times there are some mainstay dishes I always order: the mushroom latte and the bannock bread. The mushroom latte is super cheap ($3), super small but packs a flavor punch. Silky smooth, super rich mushroom soup with a crispy asiago wafer that is heavenly. The bannock bread is a first nations fried bread that comes with two condiments. I highly recommend you ask them for cedar jelly - and lots of it - if they have it. My wife's vegetarian options for entrees are usually limited to a pasta dish, so she usually opts to have a bunch of side dishes and appetizers. I have tried their salmon dishes many times and have never been disappointed. The desserts are amazing, and their cocktail list will convert just about anyone.
This is a place you should bring people from out of town. The food is exceptionally BC and so tasty that you can't help but leave appreciating the vast abundance of our local terrain. The servers, managers and cooks all deserve whatever accolades come their way. -
Review from Kay C.
Vancouver, BC
11/22/2010
This has become our go-to spot for special occasions. It's a small, cozy, beautiful space with gorgeous First Nations artwork and a genuinely west coast feel to the menu. All food is sourced as locally as possible and on at least one occasion our waiter told us that the greens in the salad had been picked at the UBC farm just that morning.
Service is outstanding, and full of those little touches that really make a restaurant experience. Our first visit was for our wedding anniversary, and we were treated to complimentary dessert wines. As relatively regular visitors we're often given little samples or tasters in between courses. All the staff there seem to care enormously about the food, the menu, and the importance of shopping locally.
The food itself is fabulous. We've never had any dish at Pair that's less than exceptional, and they elevate standard menu items (like a burger and fries) to a new level. Their drinks list is also admirable, with great wines and some really unusual cocktails. Their caesar is also the best in Vancouver by a considerable margin.
I honestly do not have one bad thing to say about Pair Bistro - every visit there seems to cement our first impression that this is one of Vancouver's great culinary treasures. -
Review from Rhiannon A.
8/25/2011
This is one of my favourite restaurants. The food is fresh and local, the service exquisite. The bannock is a great starter. I do wish they'd change their menu sometimes -- just for variety.
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Review from David G.
Vancouver, BC
6/29/2011
Love love love this place! The first time I went to Pair I had some massive ribs that were absolutely delicious. The portions were surprisingly large and prices were reasonable. Amazing salad as well.
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Review from Benson H.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011
I'm not especially a fine dining person and I'm not sure what qualifies but for a delicious and nourishing and very enjoyable experience, I will definitely come back. Portions are just right - not too small, and all ingredients taste extremely fresh. Everything came together on the plate as the sides accompaniments were perfect. Best of all, I don't feel like I paid an arm and a leg for just "an experience" because we definitely felt nourished and extremely satisfied on the way out.
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Review from Nene F.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2009
Near an intersection better known for a strip mall and the B-line bus stop at 10th and Alma, Pair Bistro is one of the classiest, innovative and downright tastiest restaurants in the city. The food is sourced locally, and the cuisine has a northwest and sustainable flair without being pretentious. Everything I ate here will result in future cravings, from the seared scallops and the bison ribs to the lemon tart. I can't wait to go back to try everything else on the menu.
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Review from Sarah Jane M.
Vancouver, BC
11/29/2009
We've been here 4 times and the staff are exceptional. Food is local and very good (although meat is sometimes cooked inconsistently and the Indian candy isn't for everyone's tastes). Good BC wine menu, great ambiance, awesome staff, and overall very good food makes this Bistro worthwhile. Try the oysters and crab cake. Bannock bread is YUM. This is a neighbourhood gem; a classy place without pretension.
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Review from Louanne R.
Vancouver, BC
6/26/2011
My brother and I had dinner there last night. It was soooo delicious. A fabulous waitress and great service. The food was exceptional. Prepared with great care and absolutely delicious. The desserts which they don't advertise on the menu were wonderful. I had a chocolate molten cup which was to die for. Love the local fare, organic, sustainable and all within a reasonable price. No mini meals either!
