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ReFuel - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Barbeque Barbeque [Edit]
1944 W 4th AvenueVancouver, BC V6J 1M5
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
(604) 288-7905
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
57 reviews for ReFuel
Review Highlights
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"Just do it, Ya Fried Chicken." In 19 reviews -
"liked: foie gras croquettes, leek risotto, ribs." In 3 reviews -
"On their menu include roasted bone marrow and several..." In 3 reviews
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Katie F.
12/19/2011
Finally made it to ReFuel!
It's been on my places to try list since it opened and I've had a Wagjag from last year that was expiring, so I finally made it. Service is a little spotty (they got our reservation mixed up with someone else with the same last name) and cutlery was missing a couple of times during the meal, but otherwise everyone was pleasant and friendly.
I really enjoyed this place - casual dinner spot and liked the menu. We both went with the $38 prix fixe... loved the salumi starter I picked which came with some super fresh bread and some great salamis. My fish was a ling cod and was well done and nicely seared with some potatoes and veggies on the side. To finish, the peanut butter and chocolate parfait was perfect.
Great value and casual atmosphere. Would definitely come back!
(They are doing a gift card promo right not for the holidays at 10% off if interested) -
Review from Ysabelle R.
Vancouver, BC
3/12/2012
The group consensus was: extremely underwhelming food and inconsistent service. We went for brunch on Sunday afternoon, just a girl's day out with my mom and sisters, and were pleased to find that it wasn't terribly crowded. I ordered the salumi plate, which came with 3 rows of 3 different types of salumi, mustard, a small cup of pickled vegetables and a slice of bread (why one slice if it's for sharing?). I also ordered the salad, yet somehow received the soup. After the food came we couldn't flag down our server, so we ended up talking to the other server on the floor - she quickly remedied the situation, but our server was AWOL until we were nearly done.
Someone in our party ordered the mushroom on toast, which was a slice of bread with sauteed button mushrooms, a bit of cheese and a fried egg; another ordered the burger with fries; and the last ordered the brioche french toast. The consensus among us was: the toast was overpriced for what you actually get, and kind of bland; the burger was fine but the fries were extremely salty; and the french toast was overly sweet. I enjoyed my salad but felt that they were a bit stingy on the orange slices - it was a bed of arugula with walnut pesto and maybe a quarter of an orange. Still, I think I chose the clear winner out of the four of us. I bet not many people say that about salad.
We also ordered Americanos. Somehow we only got 3 when we ordered 4. That about sums up what our experience was: just a sense of, "Really? This?"
I live a few blocks away, and I definitely won't be returning, nor will I recommend this restaurant to others. The best I can say about ReFuel is that it's okay. So unless you just want okay food, I'd say go elsewhere - at least for lunch/brunch! -
Review from Kenny L.
Burnaby, BC
1/18/2012
Dinner Club - ReFuel edition
The first Dinner Club of 2012 was a visit to ReFuel. Judging by the other reviews the dish to have should have been the fried chicken. Unfortunately for us the fried chicken is only available on Fridays. The special for the day was roast chicken which I'm feeling should have been the go to dish for the night.
The dishes the Dinner Club crew sampled included the potato leek soup (2x) and arugula fennel salad for starters and dry aged burger (2x with and without foie gras croquette), duck confit (2x), and mushroom & crème fraiche ravioli.
The potato leek soup didn't muster many great comments. My friends basically couldn't remember what the soup was and thought it might have been broccoli, my wife thought it was OK but not spectacular. I would say the arugula fennel salad was probably the better of the two starters but I think I would think twice before paying $12 for it again.
The burger was rated quite good with the foie gras croquette. The burger without the croquette was left undecided mostly because the consumer was sick during this outing. At first glance the burger looks a tad on the small side but it does work out to be a decent sized burger.
The common theme with the duck confit was salt. Salty, salty, salty. While the duck leg I had was cooked quite well, our friend's edition was considered overcooked. I believe the duck leg was supposed to have some sort of dijon crust but I could barely make it out due to the overall saltiness. To top it all off the buck wheat spatzle that the duck leg was served on was overcooked.
The mushroom ravioli with smoked shallots, watercress and radish sounds great but the end result was just "OK". Looking more like a salad than a main the only thought that stuck from the ravioli was "it left a weird after taste".
It was a alcohol free night so the drinks included Fentiman's "Botanically Brewed" sodas (Ginger beer and Dandelion & Burdock) and an in house "Not so Dark & Stormy" soda. The dandelion & burdock can only be described as a carbonated Chinese medicinal drink (reads not very tasty). The "Not so Dark & Stormy" was a little underwhelming considering it was a $5 soda.
Like I mentioned at the beginning I think the dish to try is the fried chicken or roast chicken so start with those and maybe you'll have a better time at ReFuel. -
Review from Sam W.
3/31/2012 2 photos
Dinner was average but their brunch and lunch were standout IMHO. Their pear & quince mimosa = delicate and a nice twist on the standard oj/ champs combo. Caeser = great saltiness with a piece of sausage. Not too busy (easy to grab seating) and casual/ laid back/ modern atmosphere. They also do fried chicken fridays; i haven't tried it yet. Will look into making this a regular spot...
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Review from Stefan P.
Vancouver, BC
4/10/2012
Refuel was a long time favorite but has closed recently. The owners sold the place and opened a new restaurant called The Fat Dragon, a Chinese BBQ.
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Review from Kirk C.
Vancouver, BC
2/22/2012
Amazing prix fixe menu with delicious wine pairing. Had the arugula, orange and walnut pesto salad, the crispy polenta and creme brule. Have since been back and also tried one of their soup specials; the leek and potato, which was fantastic! Even though I'd only been once, the waitress recognized me. The staff have always been super nice.
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Review from Vincci L.
7/3/2011
Fried Chicken Fridays!!
Fridays just got even better with the discovery of super delicious fried chicken. 3 big pieces of Polderside Farm chicken, buttermilk marinated, so juicy and tender. The skin, with just the right amount of crispiness. Also comes with a side of coleslaw, and a biscuit. And of course, a side of gravy. So good!
Also got a salumi plate to share-dry cured chorizo, coppa, and fennel pollen salami. Everything was good, but wished it came with more bread.
Like the atmosphere-clean, simple decor with a relaxed atmosphere.
Service was great, they always came in at the perfect times, never interrupting our conversation.
I'll be back soon! -
Review from Awesta M.
Updated - 8/14/2011
They did it! I went back recently and ordered the marrow with the table and out came these beautiful, delicious pieces of bread. They had switched it up from the anemic looking little pieces that they'd had before. These were beautiful toasted baguettes. I could spread tons of the deliciousness that was the marrow all over my yummy bread. I was in hog heaven. It was as perfect as it could get.
Let me sidestep for a second, I had the fried chicken again and I think last time because I was so distracted by the bread I didn't quite capture the amazingness of the fried chicken. It is amazing! Seriously!! All I want to do on Friday nights is go to Refuel and have fried chicken. It should be the go to place for everyone. (Or not, because I don't want them to run out of fried chicken.)
But yes, Refuel I accept your peace offering and will be returning over and over again. Friends!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/12/2010 ROTD 2/24/2011
This is an open letter to Refuel's Management:
I loved your food. The charcuterie plate was delish.… Read more »
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Review from Armaghan M.
West Vancouver, BC
9/18/2011
Such little portion for big cash!!!
Food is Ok! But u can get same or better quality for less price @ cactus or any other restaurant!
6 super small veggue ravioli's for $21! I dont think so!!!! -
Review from daisey d.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2012
I'll second everything in the other reviews about the great simple food and comfortable, friendly setting. One thing to add: there are more vegetarian options than there used to be.
Favorites are: the fried chicken ( of course), the mushroom appetizer with egg, and the risotto with seared tuna and anything they do with beets. The marrow bone is impressive, but not really my kind of thing. -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
2/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Meat and bread anyone?
I'm not talking about the hip new sandwich shop, I'm talking about the dry-aged beef burger at ReFuel. The moist bun (a housemade bap) enveloping an intensely flavourful gourmet patty topped with cheese and bacon made my eyes roll back...whoa. My arteries said no but my mouth said 'ohhhh yes'.
I'll admit it felt a bit...unhealthy to be eating a burger sans lettuce or tomato (veggies on a fatty burger allow me the illusion of health) but the decadence of this handheld meal was worth it.
Perhaps share with a friend and split a salad just so you don't go into full-on meat sweats. It's one rich snack.
I can't wait to go back and try their famous chicken. Mmmm. -
Review from Kate W.
Vancouver, BC
3/22/2011
Our 3rd time for dinner at refuel tonight. Better than ever!! As as vegetarian who is wheat sensitive and avoids lactose to find a place who will accommodate my appetite is a big deal. I've had a lot of risotto in my day... THE BEST EVER, like whoa.
The tuna salad, duck, both soups, and spot prawns were all delicious too. (apparently)
Had two 30th birthdays being celebrated and they truly spoiled us, an amazing experience. Can't wait to head back! -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 6/18/2011
I remember the first time I heard about this place and their chicken wings - it was great! We had a triple date and had some great food and great company.
This time - I was lucky enough to win a gift cert to the restaurant through twitter and was really looking forward to another great meal.
It was ABSOLUTELY POURING RAIN that night and we walked in soaked at around 7:30. There were two large parties that night - one with about 12 and another 8. All the other tables were filling up fast with 4's and 2's... good thing for reservations.
The waiter knew everything spot on as he repeated the special items very robotically and forced, in my opinion. We had the ramp risotto to share as an appetizer and it was delicious. Creamy, and had pieces of tuna that surprisingly went very well together. The textures were interesting, and the flavours filled your mouth with every bite. I wanted to lick the bowl.
For mains, we shared the BURGER, which I have heard great things about, and the steak salad. The aged burger, medium raw, was too raw for me... but none the less still very delicious. There was no lettuce or tomatoes of that sort - just straight up rich and cheesy. The fries were good too. The steak salad, which I believe was mistakenly a large portion, when I ordered a small, had a generous portion of steak. The tidbits that came with the salad gave it a lot of depth - from crunchiness, chewiness - all that jazz. The dressing was a little bit heavy for me, but that's my fault for liking things bland.
Although the food was really good, and I mean REALLY good - service was terrible throughout the evening. There were two servers on staff for a full house and after our appetizer came out, it was more than 45 minutes before our main courses came out. I watched our waiter bring our food to another table, put the plates down .... and then after a minute went back and picked them up because they had gone to the wrong people... walked halfway back to the kitchen, turned around and then brought those exact same plates to us. Bf said that the other couple never touched the plate of food, but it just made me feel a little uncomfortable upon receiving it, if you know what I mean.
The waiter throughout the night was in a frantic rush - I could feel the wind as he zipped by me because someone else was wondering where their food was, someone else had run out of water, and the requests went on. I know that you cannot expect large parties, but it's also not my responsibility to deal with it. Who know a rained out night could have been so busy. Guess no one did.Listed in: Crustaceans and Mollusks…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/10/2009 First to Review
FTR YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!
I've been super excited to try out this place.. for three reasons… Read more »
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Review from Brent B.
Vancouver, BC
11/18/2010
It is with great disappointment that after all the rave reviews I've
heard about Refuel........ two thumbs DOWN are in order.
Not only what we ordered was mostly disappointing but the service lacked
emotional involvement on all accounts of our experience......an unenthusiastic vibe.
We started with a crispy pork terrine which was visually appealing but lacked
the pork belly texture and taste that I have come to crave.....was just plain bland.
We than had Dougs crispy pork ribs with homemade bbq sauce.....well as it turns
out Doug forgot to make these pork ribs crispy as well as when trimming to prepare
removed the meat instead of the fat.
The sauce had the texture of too much smoked paprika......grainy.
The crispy duck leg was stringy and dry.
On a positive note......we did enjoy the bone marrow as well as
the wild arugula salad, wine and bread! -
Review from Daniel L.
10/24/2010
What came first the Fried Chicken or the egg... I came and left with a purpose of chowing down on their Fried Buttermilk Chicken to go.
What a treat, this is probably the best fried chicken Ive ever had, 3 pieces that are cut different than regular chicken cuts in a cool way, the meat was ready to fall off the bone, sort like it was baked first then fried in a lite fluffy crispy buttermilk batter, each bite was full of meat that fell into my mouth, perfectly cooked..... with a crazy gravy for dippin which really screwed my head up cause I didn't know which direction to go: dip or not.. both ways tasted so good. Just do it, Ya Fried Chicken!!
I have to say I am very please with the whole experience and was happy to pay the premium price. A simple phone call for a pick up order that was ready in 10 mins (pre-lunch rush), and the pleasure of indulging in fried chicken in the comfort of my own place, ahhh. -
Review from Q B.
Vancouver, BC
11/13/2010
Best burger I have had in a long time.
The rest of there food is quite good.
Very casual space. -
Review from Namit M.
11/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came in with high hopes left with absolute disappointment.
We stopped in here lunch/brunch so I could get my hands on the notorious Fried Chicken.
First all the place is modern and offers a killer beer selection. After settling in for a large bottle of weis beer I was rubbing my hands in anticipation of the fried chicken. The SO ordered a bacon and egg sandwich.
The fried chicken was somewhat under cooked and lacked even a modicum of flavor. The batter was so disappointing that I did not know what to make of it. The waffle was cold and soggy and the coleslaw was so ordinary that we were baffled.
The bacon and egg sandwich was very ordinary. There was not even a smudge of garnish, just two under-toasted pieces of french bread, decent eggs and OK bacon served with very pedestrian fries.
Being a connoisseur of good southern fried chicken - I can safely say that reFuel will not get a mention in my not so soon to be published book on the best places to get Fried Chicken. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
[in a southern drawl] "We've heard (on this here site) that y'all have some mighty fine looking buttermilk fried chicken. We'll take two orders, and don't skimp on that there gravy."
3 perfectly crispy pieces soon arrived complete with a jalapeno biscuit, some cole slaw and a dish of gravy. I can't say that it's the most ladylike meal to bite into, but dang, was it ever tasty.
After all that grub, there was no way I thought I could handle a dessert of any kind, but of course, I was tempted by the cheesecake. And what a cake it was. Tart, yet sweet, creamy, soft but light, this was heaven, garnished with a raspberry sauce that was lick-the-plate worthy.
The service was well timed and not in-your-face. My dinner date was almost 1/2 hour late, but it made no matter, they fixed me up with my wine and not one look of judgement was passed while we lingered chatting before even considering ordering. I don't usually wish this, but I wish that the lighting was just a bit lighter, if only to see the menu a little clearer.
Loved the menu separations, with starters, entrees AND snacks, perfect if you're thinking of partaking in one of their cocktails. The menu appeared to be well-appointed and classic, however, it was cold and I was all about the $7 melbec. But if anyone wants to meet for a drink and a snack, name the time, I'm there. -
Review from Tom G.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2010
With all of the amazing restaurants this city has to offer I am very surprised that ReFuel pulls in so much attention and acclaim.
I've been twice and was underwhelmed with my meal both times.
Service was aloof. Pricing was as per usual at fine dining restaurant in Vancouver however with the food being so poor the value was not there in the least bit.
This place is absolutely a media hype up. I would have to say ReFuel is the very definition of over rated! -
Review from Dave K.
1/9/2010
Oh my greasy goodness! What have I just done to my body? I'm short of breath, my blood's turned to gravy and it's circulating like bubble tea through a straw.
I've just had a two-course meal at Refuel. Woah.
The two of us shared squid and spice-rubbed pork for starters. The squid was delicious, a perfect texture, with a nice light batter, and the cilantro and chili added the ideal garnish. Meanwhile the pork had so much flavor packed in - that spice mix was addictive.
For mains, we ordered what I gathered from previous reviews are the signature dishes: the burger and the fried chook.
The burger totally kicked my arse. It's a simple plate - one massive beef patty, topped only with melted cheese and bacon, but that's all that it really needs. It's one delicious heartattack. It also comes with a mountain of fries. My suggestion to the guys was to have a housemade sauce rather than the store-bought ketchup. I hope they look into that once they've settled in with the new menu.
The chicken came out as dinosaur bones - freaking huge. The meat was tender and the skin crisped up just so. But by this stage we were both paralysed from the stomach up. There was no way we could finish this all off - the overload of fried meat was giving us some kind of toxic shock. So we just had to concede defeat.
Gotta say that the hosts were awesome too - I wish them all the best with the new joint. Oh yeah, the Nebbiolo was delicious too.
I'm unsure exactly how to rate the meal: I'm feeling 3 stars at the moment - but then again I gotta take the responsibility for overeating and wiping myself out. This much deep-fried batter and meat is probably not my style - maybe I've grown soft from focusing on sushi and stir fries lately. But if that is your thing, then I can see where all the 4 and 5 stars are coming from.
Now I need to go lie down. -
Review from Grayce E.
6/22/2010
My wonderful friend took me out for dinner tonight and we both agreed refuel is not a place we'd re-visit.
First off, the oysters were the hands down the best part of the meal ($3 each). As for the rest of the dishes, they all seemed to be missing something..no WOW factor or MMMMMMmmm response.
We ordered the dry ribs which were quite bland and there were some darker pieces of meat that we think were ribs but we weren't exactly sure. I had the organic beet salad and it wasn't bad, but again it was lacking flavour, not to mention a few more croutons because I think I got one crouton, split in 3 pieces.
My friend got the fried chicken and it was meh. The coleslaw was really salty and "aj's gravy" just didn't hit the spot. (If you want fried chicken go for the wings at Phnom Penh)
Even looking around at the other plates that were being served we didn't think anything looked overly appealing and I didn't see any dish I wish I had ordered instead (maybe the burger but there are a lot of other places to go for a burger).
hmm....what else can I say..the art on the back wall was cool? -
Review from Pamela L.
8/18/2010
I came here when it was Fuel and I liked it then and I like the reincarnation of the restaurant. They have great service and the servers know the dishes enough to give you thorough advice on what to order based on what your mood is or what pleases your palette.
Are you a vegetarian? You might want to skip this place. On their menu include roasted bone marrow and several different type so steaks and other grillables. I'm a pretty healthy eater and stick to mostly vegetables and protein her and there for health reasons. I took a look at the menu, felt myself drool like a Pavlovian dog and forgot about the restrictions of my healthy lifestyle.
I chose the Duck Confit and because it was a dish that serves two I convinced someone who was part of our party to enjoy it with me. AHHHHH.... duck, you are a wonderful bird and love eating you. The duck was flavourful and had a great zing to it (from the green apple and mustard). I'm usually used to something a bit more savoury such as morrocan or asian style duck so this was a great surprise.
I stole a piece of the hand rolled gnocci. Then I stole some more. It was just right - the right texture, the right taste. If you're also looking to stick to your diet - forget it. This place provides you food that brings you comfort that leaves you satisfied and smiling. I didn't dare try the fried chicken but I heard that it's more than just good - I heard it's divine.
I'd give this place 5 stars if I knew the food didn't wreck my healthy lifestyle but as for a place where I can be a glutton - this place is where I would go to spoil myself. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
7/29/2010
Lured in by ReFuel's sustainability ethic, I brought the bf here for supper on his birthday. We both chose the set menu options, which at 35 dollars was a great deal!
We shared two different items from the appetizer list - the garlic scape risotto with porcini mushrooms and scamorza cheese, and it was creamy, smoky and perfectly al dente. S had to hold me back from licking the plate! For a touch of healthy, we also had the watercress and new potato salad - which didn't blow us away, but was nice and simple.
We opted to both go for the line caught fish of the day - which was ling cod (one of my absolute favourites - the texture reminds me of crab meat) served on a bed of wilted greens with a chanterelle jus. In a word, it was delicious. The greens were slightly bitter, which was balanced perfectly with the umami flavour of the chanterelles. The fish itself was perfectly seared on one side, and had the lovely slight-fishy taste that I appreciate with cod.
For desert, 2 different choices - I had a decent cheesecake and S had the peanut butter and chocolate parfait - both were nice, but not spectacular.
With a bottle of Zin, the meal was well priced and the service was spectacular. I can't give a 5 out of 5 because I found the dining room icebox cold (in that clammy AC way) and a bit dark, and I didn't love the desserts. I will be back in the future to try again! -
Review from Renee C.
1/12/2010
Since the restaurant re-opened after Fuel...Refuel has taken up a more casual dining experience with small plates and entrees easy for sharing. :)
It's under the same management and kept the same chefs but our server told us that they changed up the entire menu for a fresh start.
Ok...for appetizers we shared the lemon risotto (creamy and tangy), the pork cheek terrine (with scrapel(sp?) and a fried egg of top...this was my least favorite), and the fried squid..aka calamari (tender but a little bland). *_*
We shared the wild BC salmon and the seared albacore tuna salad for the entrees and I wasn't that blown away, but the fishes were very fresh! The tiny piece of perfectly cooked salmon on top of a few clams and cubed taters was $22 alone...I thought that was extremely overpriced for the portion we got compared to the other dishes.
The dessert was the best part! The peanut butte mouse with dark chocolate swirls and cruncy honey comb was fantastic! This really was the highlight of the night! I took pleasure in every little bite I took! YUM! @_@
I'm always happy when the dessert is the best course because then I leave with good vibes and smiling of course! -
Review from C C.
Coquitlam, BC
2/4/2010
Great value!! Stand-out dishes include the bone-marrow, crispy-skin ling cod, foie gras croquettes (party in your mouth), and the uber-delicious gnocchi (melt in your mouth).
Not-so-great dishes include the fried chicken (too salty, but maybe it was a one-time thing?), and the deviled eggs (too mustard-y, again, maybe a one-time thing?).
Regarding the whipped lard...it was hard to get past the idea that I was clogging my arteries with just a tiny dab of lard on my bread.
Skip dessert, they're better at savory than sweet...
They had a lot more hits than misses and I'll be sure to go back for my faves! -
Review from Alexander Bromley Clark D.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2010
I still regret that I did not dine at the original, unadulterated Fuel. The prices set by the cocky yet capable Alberta-bred ownership were too steep for Fourth Avenue, and definitely too steep for Fourth Avenue during a recession, so the restaurant was revamped in December, 2009. With a shift towards comfort food and charcuterie, ReFuel has a diverse and undeniably creative menu, but every dish that was ordered at our table was a bit "off".
First, the Aged Beef Burger was raw and cold in the middle, despite a request for a "medium" yet "cooked-through" patty. This was brought to our server's attention and she assured us that there were no health risks based on the way that the beef is ground and prepared in-house, but cold ground beef is *never* pleasant in texture or consistency.
Second, the ingredients in the Seared Albacore Salad (which I ordered) were unusual and complementary, but my fish-to-greens ratio was off by a few degrees. The chefs were generous with the tuna, which I definitely cannot complain about, but I did not have enough blood orange and crushed picholines to tame these ginormous slices of fresh fish. I actually left some of the tuna (gasp!) because I sensed a seafood overdose coming on and really felt that I needed more greens to resolve this "f-issue".
Third, the Hangar Steak Salad was elegantly presented (deep reds of rare beef juxtaposed against lush arugula like rugosas in a Tuscan garden) but contained an overpowering amount of blue cheese. A sprinkle would have tied the room together, but this downpour of Devon Blue left the room flooded and inhospitable. Lastly - and this only counts as a quasi-criticism - the Buttermilk Polderside Fried Chicken basically consisted of an entire (!) chicken, with a teeny dish of slaw and a tiny jalapeno biscuit. Again, appropriate ratios would have been appreciated, by our palates and arteries.
Yikes. I hope I haven't been too mean to ReFuel. Robert Belcham and company definitely have crazy skills...and the service was attentive...and the food was well prepared, but - like the mismatched and random decor - things didn't quite click. I don't think I will go out of my way to dine here again, but if I do end up at ReFuel in the future I will focus on the playful and rare starters, such as the Roasted Bone Marrow and the Foie Gras Croquettes (which I ordered as my appetizer and was highly amused by). -
Review from Patrick T.
9/7/2010
Was here for a "No Adults Only" pre wedding dinner. Booked up the whole place.
Refuel did not dissappoint other than not having fried chicken for us (I blame this on the groom)
The Bone Marrow was awesome! I think i jumped tables and ate 3 of these myself.
Cured meats were awesome. I think it was the first time I had horse salumi. Interesting but not bad at all.
Salads came out were very fresh and the owner told us they are a very sustainable restaurant which rings big pluses in my head.
The bar was great. I drank so many old fashions i lost count.
I forgot everything we ate due to the amount of tasty libations I had.
Can't really say I had a single complaint.
I will give it a 5 star. Will update again next time I go when I am a bit more sober and with less people
But definitely worth a try! -
Review from Tracy P.
Vancouver, BC
4/10/2010
Went to ReFuel, because they had fried chicken, and I'm eternally searching for a place that has good fried chicken. Unfortunately, this was not the place, but good try? It wasn't bad, just...not what I was looking for.
I did, however, have an epicurean orgasm over the roasted bone marrow appy they had. I also had the "crunchy scrapple", which wasa pork cheek meatloaf, on toast, with a fried egg on top. On the side, the most buttery sauteed chard I've ever had.
Ambience wasn't anything special, your standard dim lit, trendy artwork on the walls, small space.
I'd visit again, definitely. -
Review from Tolga E.
3/7/2010
ReFuel was mentioned in the New York Times' "36 hours in Vancouver" article released just before the Winter Olympics. Noting that, and subsequently going to the Olympics, I figured I should give this place a shot. The paragraph written on Refuel was done so with the seeming reverance for the purity and simplicity of the food. Sounded great to me.
Refuel calls itself a "neighborhood bistro". I asked the bartender what is it about the place that makes it a "neighborhood bistro" and, while I greatly enjoyed his pontification on the issue, I don't think he made a convincing case (something to the extent that the neighborhood is both upper and lower class, older and collegiate, and the food was made to cater to both). While I don't see why it's a neighborhood joint, I could definitely call it a "BC bistro". The menu items were painstakingly selected to show off the best of what local BC fish and farm have to offer. Major credit to them for that.
The food is upscale comfort food, think of it like a "New American" restaurant and it would probably define what "New Canadian" would be. Homey, comfortable, self-deprecating, but generally tasty and satisfying. Just like Canada. I had the pork shoulder, which was again an ingredient-of-the-moment and the pig was supposedly from a farm nearby. It was tender, juicy, but shockingly uncreative. After the initial rush of crispy wonderful porkiness, I found the plate to lack any layers, as the remaining ingredients just didn't add much to the experience. That, combined with the somewhat stiff price, didn't impress me.
That said, I like this place. It's honest and it works. But it didn't meet the high expectations that precede it. -
Review from lucinda k.
Vancouver, BC
6/30/2011
Really good food, service and atmosphere- I had the Celebration Salad which is actually appropriately named- the beets, pickled ginger, hazelnuts and herbs melded together perfectly for a wonderful mouth sensation... The Crostini with Salmon (usually with smoked trout but different today) was AMAZING!! Freshly caught salmon, again perfectly seasoned with capers, dill and lemon... The only thing more I'd say is this is definitely a carnivore haven, with a very few veggie options.
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Review from Lucinda C.
Vancouver, BC
1/31/2010
A very unique menu. There was deep fried pig's skin, ox Tongue salad and whipped lard!
I ordered the cream soup which was pretty good and French fries. I'm not going to order the French fries again. I ended up with a lot of small ends and it was dry.
Service needs a lot more work! I was with a few friends for dinner and some of them were going to pay with their credit card. The serve was completely absent and did not even ask if anyone will be paying with credit. -
Review from Caprice B.
Vancouver, BC
7/11/2011
This was our first time at ReFuel and I have two words: fried chicken. If you're a fried chicken lover, you will love their version. It's three generous pieces of fried heaven with a side of gravy, jalapeno buscuit (sounded strange, but was very good), and a slice of watermelon for $18. DH had the special, spotted prawn and ravioli, which he said was just good. The server mentioned that it was a small portion, but it was appetizer size and for $23, it would have taken three orders to make up a meal.
The server and service in general was very good. The menus was simple and I personally felt like the restaurant had a mish mash of entree types. For example, there was a burger, a moo shu pork type entree, steak, fried chicken, cured meats, pasta, fish, etc. I suppose it's good that there's a variety in that regard, but it seemed odd to me that there wasn't a theme so to speak.
We would definitely go back again, but felt the value lacking. The meal wasn't expensive, but for the amount of food you get in DH's case, we would consider other restaurants that offered better value. -
Review from kath r.
Updated - 3/7/2010
Enjoyed brunch @ ReFuel yesterday with friends.
The brunch menu is tight (Egg Sandwich, Omelette, baked eggs, waffles and egg/sausage/beans/toast combo), likely bc they offer their regular menu too. Brunch items come with a choice of green salad or delicious fries (or for $2, 1/2 & 1/2 split).
We decided on mimosas and spicy house Caesars to wash down our egg sandwiches and goats cheese with herbs omelettes. Omelette was light, filled with goats cheese and sauteed to a light golden hue, and with a good cracking of pepper, offered a nice kick. The sandwich though was the hands-down winner: 2 fried eggs and hand cut bacon between thick farmhouse toast; a true two-hander and a great way to start the day/fend off a hangover!
What I'd like to see on the menu is an egg's benny; yeah yeah, you can get it anywhere, but it's always nice to see different spins on a classic and I was craving eggs benny with the Cure's meats. Perhaps next time?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/28/2010
Gotta say, I was more impressed than I expected to be.
I thoroughly enjoyed my evening spent here,… Read more »
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Review from Xixi L.
Vancouver, BC
3/13/2010
It's surprisingly difficult to find well-executed, non-pretentious food in this city at a reasonable price. I have a special place in my heart for this establishment because even in its previous incarnation as Fuel, the food was fabulous and the kitchen staff friendly and helpful. I even scored a piece of lardo from the chef that they cured themselves, I'm pretty sure.
Now that the atmosphere is more relaxed and the menu more affordable, I think I fell in love with them a little bit more. The previously lunch-only menu items such as the buttermilk fried chicken is on the prix fixe menu. The burger is amazing and the wine list is more reasonably priced. The most important thing is that they still don't compromise on quality and execution. -
Review from Kim S.
West Vancouver, BC
12/8/2010
After reviewing several different restaurants on line, we picked Refuel for a special family get together. We have been careful about money, so this was an occasion for us. It ended up being the worst restaurant experience we have had in memory.
Severely overpriced for what we got - both in terms of quality and quantity. Few vegetarian options. Even the bread was charged for. The venue was crowded and the noise seemed just to reverberate around the room, so we were not really able to chat.
When we left, we all felt ripped off (but people tried to be polite), however I felt the worse because I suggested it.
This was a really poor experience for us all. -
Review from Adam F.
1/21/2010
Well I never made it to Fuel and had an opportunity to try out Refuel with an out of town visitor (from St Louis) to showcase some Vancouver cuisine. Which it did admirably, with a few shortcomings, most notably that not only did they charge for bread, but also for butter! Or whipped lard, if that is more to your liking. And four pieces were brought out for the four people in my party. A little tight, IMHO. There was a great selection of beers, local, US and global. Also, the wine list, while substantial, had nothing below the $40 mark.
We shared the 'piggy puffs' for starters, which are kind of pork crackling popcorn, served in a paper bag. Salty and good, and they arrive with a bottle of vinegar with some red chilli peppers inside. One of them that I ate turned out consist of gristle, but other than that they were quite tasty.
For my main, I ordered the ling cod with Swiss chard and onions, which was perfectly done.
So overall, great food, great decor, a little noisy, and oddly tight with the bread.
4 for the food, minus one for the shortcomings. -
Review from Carmina B.
12/20/2010
The special of the day was the dry aged beef burger and a beer for $15.50. The burger alone is the same price without the beer. The beef's quality was excellent- flavorful and moist but still think it was overpriced. Expect no lettuce, onion nor tomatoes, but the bun, patty and mayo. A side of fries accompanies your burger and you have the option to sub it for a side of salad (all arugula tossed in a light olive oil dressing). For an additional $3.50, you can have the poutine. This was a dissapointment as the cheese curds were still in solid chunks scattered throughout the dish. We were better off with a side of fries and gravy. Glad we tried the burger, but would not return.
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Review from Michael S.
Vancouver, BC
6/19/2011
Our best dinner ever tonight, better than 2 prior visits, learned there's a new chef. Spot Prawn and Trout appy, Spot Prawn and Steelhead mains, all perfect. Request adding their lovely bread, and we found the $50 half litre Merlot worth it after tasting the $23.50 Malbec and $30 French wine. Perfect servcie too. Room is loud, but we usually sit at the bar and will return to the bar. Bon appetit!
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Review from PaiPai l.
10/21/2010
Having been to this place when it was Fuel, and now to ReFuel, I can appreciate the attempt to become affordable, but I must say the quality has also been significantly compromised.
First of all, having a 35 dollar steak on the menu isn't what I would call "affordable" as the sandwich board says in front of the restaurant. I got a better, bigger, and cheaper steak at the Keg. The flavor was awesome, i will admit the dry aging did good stuff to the meat, but it was FULL of gristle and fat which got stuck in my teeth everywhere. After the thin steak had the gristle and huge chunks of fat trimmed off, a supposedly 12 oz steak (which i doubt it was) didn't have much left to it.
The sous vide fried chicken was all the hype. It was crispy and tender, but under seasoned which was not helped by the also under seasoned gravy which was pasty, thick, gloopy and tasted floury... . Not to mention there wasn't barely enough gravy for the amount of chicken. The coleslaw was hugely under seasoned, so bland you wonder if someone made a mistake somewhere. The waffle that came with it was dense and cold...not impressed.
Dessert saved them. The rice pudding was delicious and the coffee was wonderful. But the dessert menu could definitely be a little more creative than apple tart, rice pudding, and a chocolate pot de creme......I mean....hundreds of other restaurants serve these very three items..
Will probably not go back, it was definitely not worth the money. -
Review from Anita B.
Burnaby, BC
5/30/2011
Excellent lunch at Refuel last week. The service was great from the moment we walked in the door right up to paying the bill. Very attentive but not too in your face. We had the chef create a taster menu for us and I enjoyed everything! A few that really stood out though - beetroot salad, gnocchi and the peanut and chocolate parfait. Will definately be back next time I am in Kits!
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