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Revel Room
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges Canadian (New), Lounges [Edit]
238 Abbott StVancouver, BC V6B 2K8
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 687-4088
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
68 reviews for Revel Room
Review Highlights
"A proper Mint Julep should be served in a metal cup."
(in 3 reviews)
"I would recommend their pulled pork sandwich, yes yes i do."
(in 7 reviews)
"...drinks, but damn you must try the Secret Garden cocktail."
(in 2 reviews)
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68 reviews in English
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Review from Brad K.
Port Moody, BC
1/22/2012
We stopped in here to burn up our hour long wait at the shitty and much overhyped Nicli's. We definitely should have stayed! Your fantastic staff bent over backwards to get us a table, apologized for our 3 minute wait and then proceeded to get us quickly and gloriously drunk in the most delicious manner possible.
Fantastic cocktails, I've been looking for a place that serves as good as some of my favs in SF and looks like I've found it. Really warm, awesome service that hustled to accommodate us.
Will be back for the full experience soon! -
Review from Curtis H.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 1/25/2012
So I"m just updating this review, because I was contacted by the manager of the Revel room. She seemed genuinely concerned about the service I received the last time I was here, and she offered a gift certificate to me in order to give them another try.
This was almost 4 weeks ago.
I have yet to receive said gift certificate. Maybe it's out having slow motion drinks with the slow motion waitress that served me last time.
Good bye Revel Room...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/14/2011
Normally, for the service I received tonight, I would give the Revel Room 2 stars, but because I… Read more »
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Review from Robin M.
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Muh. I dunno what it is about Revel Room, but it's just okay. And I mean it -- *just* okay. A totally passable bar on any given night, and absolutely a last resort when everything else has closed their doors, Revel Room does nothing special in a town that's really hit its stride when it comes to mixing some mean cocktails.
But then again, nothing really sparkles in Revel Room -- not even that pretty chandelier.
The service is always decent, the libations are entirely drinkable and the atmosphere is usually... okay, but this doesn't really seem to be anyone's scene. I've yet to feel any sort of character from the place. It's just a bar that happens to be located in a neighbourhood that just so happens to be one of the better for nightlife in a city that needs (and I mean, NEEDS) more late night drinking establishments.
All of that said, I will be back. Very late at night. In need of a ten dollar drink. I will be back.Listed in: Which town? Gastown., Goings On and Going Out
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Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Been here several times - because this is the official 'last resort' in Gastown being open until 2AM (everday except Sunday). Never really ordered food here or was eating here in a state that I really cared. Beers are $6.50 a pint (no pitchers) and they have a big selection of cocktails for (~$10). Beer selection is decent and cocktails were alright - but (shrug) nothing great compared to Pourhouse or Keefer Bar.
... so in short, it was passable - 'inoffensive' is that best word to describe this place for me... never really liked or hated this place and it's open late...
... that is until my last visit. Was entertaining some out-of-towners who wanted to grab a quick nightcap (or two) and we were around Gastown - so Revel Room was the default choice as all the other bars in the area were on last call.
I'm not usually one to complain about service, but wow - the server we had was rude. Service was slow and she pretty much vanished after delivering our first round of drinks and food with no utensils
One of my friends tried to order a lychee martini, the waitress snootily told her that they don't have lychee liquer because they "make as many ingredients in house as possible - so everything is fresh." Umm.... okay - why don't you suggest something similar instead of being haughty bitch about it? She made it seem like we were offending her by ordering an off-menu but common drink. My friend orders a drink off the menu - hates it. Then orders a kamikaze - which tasted horrible (had to really force it down for a drink that is pretty much otherwise impossible to fuck up) and was served in a shot glass.
A shot glass. Really? Maybe we should have clarified we wanted a cocktail. But come on, who orders a single shot whenever everyone else is having a beer/cocktail? We were scrubbed out, but we're not college kids. Around the table was a physicist, a lawyer, a banking executive and... oh shit... I was there. Nevermind. She must thought I'm Lil Jon and was waiting for LMFAO to show up.
The food was expensive, small, and wasn't very good. After a quick huddle, we grabbed the bill, got the fuck out of there and went over to my other ultimate 'last resort' on the other side of town. It was worth the lost time, racing against the 'last call' clock, because the service just agitated us that much.
To be clear, the bourbon cocktails I've had here are decent and the focus is definitely on creative cocktails. But come on - tone down the attitude if someone wants a popular drink. Whose battleship do I need to suicide bomb to get a decent Kamikaze? What? Too soon?Listed in: A Compendium of Fine…, Shots Fired
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Review from Heather A.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2012
If you and your date don't want to part ways after dinner, this is where you go. If you haven't seen your best gal pals in weeks and a catch up is needed, this is the spot to perch. If you want a fancy cocktail and the long list doesn't tickle your tastebuds, this bar will mix/shake/stir something you'll like.
This little spot is not a pub to watch the game, it's not the place to drink a gallon of beer; it's sophisticated fun in a relaxed setting.
Visiting every so often for a few years, I've never had a complaint. With live music on Sundays, warm cookies served before closing and the way they're involved in the local community, this little independent ensures a great night out.
I have to question some of the other reviews... If something is not right, say something. They overheard me whine that I've never been able to stay until closing ~I'm an early bird~ but that didn't stop the management from turning on the oven early to send me home with warm cookies. Isn't that nice?
Gold Stars for Revel Room. -
Review from T N.
12/26/2011
My gripe isn't particularly with the Revel Room, because it is an interesting place, I suppose. Looks to be an alright place to grab a beer and chill with your boys. Although, this place doesn't have pitchers, so you can nurse the pint in your hand like new born baby if you so desire.
Alright, here is where the misstep happens. It didn't come across as a cocktail friendly place. Neither of my drinks were close to being described as good, and the second cocktail was suppose to be easy regardless if you left out the additional juice. The cocktail did not taste right.
I wonder if there was something lost in translation because of the surly waitress, or if it was the bartender. I'm leaning towards waitress since I'm skimming over the other yelps.
Yes, I'm from California and I have experienced service ridiculously more irritating, but its Vancouver. The standards for Vancouver are different in my opinion. The woman came across surly, in comparison to the other place I visited. In any case the second stop to a lounge/bar that was open even later looked to be inauspicious, but turned out otherwise. The drink was decent and I was happy.
Look at me I'm all grown up! My first time "bar hopping" and in a different country to boot! -
Review from Amy T.
12/7/2011
Revel Room is a casual and decent priced pub to grab a drink in Gastown.
I've never sat downstairs, but the upstairs portion can fit about 60 people. A good place to gather your friends or coworkers for late night drinks.
We decided to come here after a Christmas dinner and stayed for 2 hours. The atmosphere is relaxed and we could be as loud as we wanted. The drinks weren't watered down, but also not too strong.
One of our waitresses must be having a bad day because she didn't smile once. The whole time she took our orders or dropped off drinks there was no smile or eye contact. It's not like we were being rude or only ordered water. We were drinking for 2 hours.
Anyway, the other 2 waitresses were friendly and saved the night a bit with their enthusiasm. Lucky the 2 happy waitresses were helping as well because Ms. Sourpuss was getting on my nerves.
The place is clean, comfortable and well priced. -
Review from Dustin H.
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
An old friend and I stopped by here for a post-concert drink after seeing the Foo Fighters at Rogers Arena simply because it was the first non-sketchy looking bar we came across on the way back to her place.
The drinks were pretty well mixed, and service wasn't terribly slow (though it wasn't great either), the prices seemed to be about comparable with (or perhaps a touch higher than) the other Vancouver bars I tried, and the decor was pretty nice... but in the end I kinda just left myself wondering what was supposed to make it stand out.
I ended up having a great time there, but that was more a result of the company than anything influenced by the Revel Room itself... in fact, the bar seemed to just become a distant backdrop, which I doubt would have been the case if there was anything particularly special about it.
25/30 -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
11/11/2011
Small portions (well, it is tapas style) and average fare at high prices. While the atmosphere is somewhat welcoming, it is just an unmemorable place.
It's fine to try once, I guess, but I can't say that there is anything about this establishment that I'd recommend.Listed in: The Overrated Drinks/Dinner…
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Review from Rebecca S.
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friend and I ended up here randomly when all the other bars in the area were too crowded.
They had an impressive list of cocktails, but I had it in my mind that I wanted something with strawberries and tequila, so I told them and they made me the most magical drink in existence.
I was satisfied drinking my strawberry tequila drink all night, but at last call, the bouncer came around with a plate of fresh baked cookies. Does it get any better?Listed in: Vancouver, BC
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Review from Reena M.
Updated - 11/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Amazing cocktails. I came here for a celebratory dinner on Friday night with my BFF. We made a good dent on the cocktail list. My favorite specialty cocktail they make was the Irish Bliss Sour. Their Caiprinhas are also nice because they have flower extracts! I love flowery drinks. I would like to see an elderberry flavoured Caipirinha. I got the Violette flavour and it was lovely. Based on Dan J.'s recommendation, I got a Mint Julep as it's the real deal here, with Maker's Mark bourbon (my favorite). It was very tasty!
The service here is great. Even though they had a little blip with the food... they handled it very well. They even replaced my Julep when I accidently knocked it over.
We shared the prawn tacos to start and they were soooo delicious. I could have eaten 10 more! (okay maybe not... but they were yum!) I got the Black Bean Veggie burger and it was really tasty. I loved the avocado salsa (which I wonder if it's just a glorified name for guacamole). The only thing I would do next time is see if I can switch out the potato wedges for something else. I didn't really like them. They were too starchy/potatoey... and I know that's obviously what they were supposed to be, but I don't like them.
Overall, it was a great experience. Now, if only I could stick it out till last call....Listed in: Get y'er drank on!, Sip & Grub in Downtown…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2009
I think I had quite high expectations for Revel Room before going in. Actually, I also just really… Read more »
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Review from Trudi C.
10/6/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Close to work, had a friend in town, why not? The decor inside was certainly very nice, was impressed. Alas, we couldn't go upstairs as there was some sort of function taking place. A pity, as I thought it looked nice up there! So we were left to grab a table near the door. It was pretty chilly this evening and we asked if we could close the door, but sorry no, the people upstairs will get too hot. What about the cold people downstairs??
We chose a mix of apetizers which took a while arriving, perhaps because of the group upstairs. I had a nice, decent sized white russian. My first choice had been a coffee and Baileys, but it turned out they were out of coffee (I can never understand how a restaurant/bar can be out of anything when they're near enough opposite a supermarket, but anyway).
So yeah, maybe I'd come back again, hopefully not to be cold by the door, but cozy upstairs, with an alcoholic coffee ;) -
Review from Simon K.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I thought I walked into another place, with the brick walls, the dim lighting, the old rustic chandeliers I thought I walked into a drinking place that may be suited more for the East Coast, and I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere really made for the night, as I was here for a going away party, and they did a marvelous job of allowing us to have a good time on the upstairs portion of this place. Pleasantly served drinks and food throughout the night, while some live music was going on downstairs, I started to look above the bar, and saw a row of Stay-Puft Marshmellow men all lined up (yes, from Ghostbusters!)
A great place for a party, as you get the upstairs, but still are not separated from the main entrance as you can stand along the railing and view all that is on the main floor. The food wasn't bad, the drinks are all the same, but the setting, and where this place is located, I will be back. -
Review from Gina I.
Updated - 8/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I still hate paying $8 for a drink, nevermind $10.
Vancouver, please stop charging so much for booze. It's getting old.
The mac & cheese was tasty, though!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2010
I desperately wanted to like Revel Room. My friend took me here.
Honestly, small menu and the drinks… Read more »
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Review from Michael G.
Vancouver, BC
10/19/2011
As good as it can get for a small, unpretentious place with reasonable prices! A small good selection on tap, a small menu of great food, and they close every night at 1:30am except Sundays.
Had the Oyster Po Boy and it was delicious! -
Review from May C.
Vancouver, BC
8/29/2011
I've stopped by a few times for birthday parties (3 in the last year), and I can say that the service was good. They usually give you the top floor for your party so your function can be a little more private.
The bartenders are pretty talented, although their Summer Tipples cocktails were $10 each. To make up for it, they serve 2 oz cocktails. I ordered a Pimm's Cup, and a couple of their non-alcoholic coconuty drinks. A friend of mine was sipping on one and offered me a taste.
I later found out from the waitress that this drink was not on their menu, and that it was something whipped up on the spot by the bartender! Oh, and there was no coconut in it at all! It was comprised of whipped cream, lime juice, and amaretto syrup (not liqueur because it was non-alcoholic).
I've ordered food a couple of times, but it wasn't anything spectacular. I've learned to eat before I come, and just order drinks. It's a good place to go to for late night drinks in Gastown.Listed in: Good Place for Drinks
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Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
11/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ah, Gastown on a Friday night. After a few failed attempts to get into packed hot spots without a reservation, we finally lucked out at Revel Room. Apparently I had been here before, but was, ahem, unable to fully appreciate the experience due to too much pre-Revel Room yelping at another venue. No matter, I was ready to redeem myself this time. Right??
The best part of RR is by far the awesome cocktail list. My favourites were the Papa Doble, Irish Sour and Secret Garden. All delicious, refreshing and super tasty. Yes, once again, I took one for the team and sampled a few of their drinks, all in the name of providing the Yelp community with a thorough review. I am nothing if not dedicated!
The southern-inspired food and service were awesome, too. It turned out the food menu was larger than what was posted on the door outside, which was a pleasant surprise. We started off by sharing the prawn tacos, which were absolutely delicious, and gluten free! I had intended to have the empanadas as a main course, because it was specifically pointed out to me as one of their gluten free options, but it turned out that our server was mistaken about that, so after a couple of bites of that (delicious, too, by the way), she switched my meal to a jambalaya without chorizo sausage. Luckily my fellow diner caught the inaccuracy before I ate enough to feel ill, but it could have been a bad situation if I were severely symptomatic (I know celiacs who have ended up in the hospital from eating something that came into contact with trace amounts of gluten). However I have to say 1. the jambalaya was delicious, even without the chorizo; and 2. most importantly, the staff dealt with the situation perfectly. They clarified with the chef himself what I COULD eat, brought me a truly GF meal quickly, apologized, and comped a couple of our drinks.
So it turned out the evening was overall a great experience, despite the initial menu mixup. Definitely will be back for more fancy cocktails! -
Review from Leo H.
8/21/2011
New Southern-influenced small plates.
I attended a party here which was so loud I lost my voice even though I was only here for an hour! Fortunately, I came back for dinner another night and was pleasantly surprised to get yummy small plates including cornbread, hush puppies, beef ribs, and so on to go with our local microbrew. Cocktails got good reviews from other although I didn't try one. Definitely an easy choice in Gastown. -
Review from Mandy R.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
A few criticisms, but overall I would say this place was pretty great. My friend celebrated her champagne birthday here this past weekend, and I inquired about the price of a bottle or two. Since we had a group of 14 people, our server came back with a price but suggested buying 2 bottles, and I told her I would check it out with a couple of friends to see if they would chip in as well. She returned about 5 minutes later with 2 bottles and I was a little surprised, as I hadn't yet found enough people to chip in. She turned to me quietly and said that the restaurant would like to offer the champagne on the house, to say happy birthday. I thought this was a very lovely gesture. It's pretty common to give a free dessert as a birthday gift, but two bottles of sparkling wine was above and beyond what I had expected. The birthday girl had a WONDERFUL time, and they had no problems with splitting the bills, despite the large group.
I don't want to get the restaurant in all sorts of trouble by making everyone think they can mooch free champagne off them as well! I just wanted to post a review saying that this place seems nice for a date night, a great place to grab some higher-end cocktails before a night dancing, or a wonderful place to host a large party. We were one of two large birthday groups there on a busy Saturday night, and everything went smoothly. -
Review from C A.
Vancouver, BC
11/10/2011
I have been here several times and will keep going back, as the night time atmosphere and service is great. AWESOME drinks. Especially the mojitos with ginger. Wow. BITE. The food is really hit and miss. Some great items, like the pork sliders and wedge cut potatoes. But don't let the food deter you, this is a great late night venue, do give it a try if you're in the gastown area.
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Review from Kelli R.
Vancouver, BC
2/13/2011
When organizing my 19th anniversary of my 21st birthday I researched Yelp and the Revel Room was my first choice for
1. cocktail list,
2. menu selection,
3. location and
4. decor/music/vibe.
Having never been there before and only going on reviews and pictures, I figured I go with my gut instinct to accommodate my friends.
Confirming details with G via email made it completely effortless, (even when the number of guests kept climbing). G was helpful with every aspect of the planning. She even suggested to have a staffer make a special trip to meet us early in the afternoon so we could drop off balloons, which we didn't end up needing to do but I thought the offer was super sweet. She was quick to respond to my email and very pleasant to deal with. So far so good!
Our group of 20+ took up the entire downstairs area on a Saturday night. They also had 2 other large groups booked upstairs but never would have known because we were served like we were their only guests. Our server did a fabulous job! In fact all the staff were super friendly and considerate. I felt they really wanted to make my birthday memorable. The owner made an effort to welcome us and wish me a happy birthday.
We really enjoyed their mixed cocktails. I didn't get a chance to meet the bartender but wow! Awesome concoctions! The food was equally as yummy! We had a great time, really enjoyed ourselves and left feeling pretty good. So yes I'm starting a new decade *sighs* but had a fabulous birthday and so happy we celebrated at the Revel Room.
A couple of days later, G followed up by email to thank me and say, "its very tough in Gastown with the amount of competition so its really important to me that we hit all the right notes with big bookings. People's bdays (especially milestone birthdays) are really important to them and I want them to be memorable for our guests, its what we strive to do best."
It's a chill place with delicious cocktails, great food and awesome service. -
Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
It's a warm summer night and you're a bit parched. What are you craving for a nightcap? An ice cold beer? Maybe. But you know what would be really great? A Mint Julep! Wait -A Mint what?
In Vancouver, most bartenders have never heard of a Mint Julep. I was told that the bartender here was very knowledgeable but I've heard that before. A bartender from another watering hole once served me a freakin' Grasshopper! Ever had a Grasshopper? It's vile. I guess that "knowledgeable" bartender figured as long as it was green it was close enough.
A Mint Julep only has four basic ingredients. Bourbon, crushed ice, mint and simple syrup. Sounds simple enough, but it's all about technique. A proper Mint Julep should be served in a metal cup. So I was bracing myself for some sort of weird lab experiment when, unexpectedly, my drink arrived perfectly prepared in a pewter chalice. You heard me. A pewter chalice. I was stunned! Spot on delicious -icicles and all. A tad sweet, next time I will ask for easy syrup.
Everyone in our group received excellent creative drinks. Had a great chocolate mousse dessert. All the desserts were great and the server was efficient and friendly. The decor is warm and sophisticated without being pretentious. Excellent service and one of the best bartenders in Vancouver. A bit pricey but you get what you pay for.Listed in: Watering Holes.
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Review from Shaun L.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2011
A local fav, Sunday`s entertainment during brunch and dinner are a CAN`T MISS!
While the menu is small, so are the prices. This is one of the most reasonably priced restaurants in Vancouver for top quality food.
Also a good late-night hangout. -
Review from Joyce P.
Vancouver, BC
9/21/2010
My 26th birthday party took place at the Revel Room. I'd never heard of the place before, I don't like planning my birthday, my gf wanted to book Chill Winstons for me but by the time we decided to have a party they were completely booked. So, Chill Winstons, being their friendly Gastown neighbor, recommended this establishment to us. We called, they had room, DONE.
I don't remember too much about the night. I know they handled my reservation very well. I had booked for 20 people, then 25, then they said it was pushing it, but about 30 showed up. Sure some people had to stand, but we had the upstairs which was cozy and convenient for everyone.
I don't recall the food being excellent. I do however remember quite enjoying their cornmeal crusted chicken wings.
I don't normally enjoy girly drinks, but damn you must try the Secret Garden cocktail. Fresh pressed apple juice makes everything taste oh so good!
For food, I probably wouldn't come back, but for a drink before going out? I'm in! -
Review from May B.
Vancouver, BC
2/20/2011
So I ended up here after a friend and I left Six Acres, bumped into a group of San Francisco-ans, and decided to tag along to the Revel Room. We walked in around 1.30 so things had died down, but it was still open when the respective bars we were all at before hand had closed up.
Last call was coming when we came in, but this was probably the sweetest last call I've ever seen - literally. Serving us chocolate chip cookies and then informing us of last call is way too cute. It made it alright that this was the last drink of my night.
Anyways, that all being said, I wasn't there for a FULL Revel Room experience. Taking a look at the drink menu, I was put off by the pricey cocktail menu ($10+) and $6 for draft Red Truck lager? Seriously? But from the chill vibe and c'mon, who can resist free cookies (I can't) I'd definitely pop back in again when I'm in Gastown and the bar I was just at has closed. -
Review from Karen R.
So we walk into the Revel Room really early (5:30) and are immediately greeted by the bartender who informs my friend and I that soonish 20 dudes will be arriving for a stag party and that it should factor whether or not we wanted to stay. He sat us at the window table, away from all the stag guys.
As we are waiting a young guy comes in with his resume and the bartender grills the hell out of him. We overhear the conversation and soon realize that this guy is passionate about what he does and I find that really refreshing. The cocktails did not disappoint - I ordered the Cherry Pie Bellini. I know I know it sounds sickly sweet, no? Nope. Not at all - the cherry cordial is tart and pure. The bubbles make the flavour bite and it simple and delicious. My friend ordered a punch of some sort that was a lot more boozy but still very flavourful, and as strange as it sounds, you can taste the care that was put into the creation of both.
The food was tasty - upon reading the reviews of the pulled pork sandwich, we both ordered that. It was wonderful - the pork was tender and moist - the sauce was just enough and the bun was crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The jojos that came with it were piping hot, again crispy on the outside and hot and fluffy on the inside.
The service was fantastic and even though we were running late they really took care of us. I can't wait to go back.Listed in: Girls Night Out - Downtown…
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Review from Kate S.
Vancouver, BC
9/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am in love with the Revel Room. We went two nights in a row, a couple of weekends ago - on the Friday for dinner and a beer, and back for cocktails on the Saturday.
For dinner on the Friday I ordered the black bean burger. I was a little dubious that a burger could be good without meat, but I love black beans so thought it was worth a shot. I was not disappointed - the burger was fantastic. I actually can't remember much else about the meal now, except that the burger patty was the best think I had ingested that week. The chips were really good as well, and they have a good range of tap beers.
Amazing discovery number two came on Saturday night. After trying a few other cocktails on the menu, a friend and I each ordered the Hansel & Gretel. Basically, it's a gingerbread cocktail. It is amazing. I don't have any other words for it, but I really can't recommend it enough.
Service is great here - servers are friendly and chatty, and are attentive without being overbearing. Atmosphere is really nice too, and you can head to different parts of the bar if you feel like being somewhere quieter or louder.
This is definitely one of my new regular haunts. -
Review from Janice F.
12/11/2010
Casual, woodsy, lively pub - not so much a restaurant. Their drink menu is definitely more innovative than their food.
Still, a decent time to be had here - comfortable, friendly buzzed patrons and pumping music.
Their food menu is somewhat Mexican/Latin/Southern. We had the beef brisket taquitos to starts - nothing special. Deepfried spring roll with not enough beef filling.
Their cheese stuffed chicken breast with sunflower crust was fairly tasty, but the best part about it was the mac & cheese side that came sprinkled with bacon.
The pulled pork sandwich was spicy! And overly carbed - the proportion of bread to pork did not work for me. However, their huge potato wedges did. I like fluffy potato wedges :)
Would come back during their live music performances to nurse a few cocktails. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 6/17/2010
I've been waiting to try their pulled pork sandwich for the longest time. I already know all about H's fancy cocktails and in this classy but casual restaurant. We walked in around 7:30 to see the lower level was almost full, so we walked upstairs to a close to empty dining area. We got the corner table where we could look down and see the jazz musicians perform.
To start, we ordered the jambalaya with shrimp, chicken, and peppers. It came out quickly, piping hot. There was full of flavour, and loaded with the promised. I was very impressed and definitely got a good kick out of it. Perfect for sharing.
The pulled pork sandiwch came out on a ciabatta bun, acommpanied by 5 large potato wedges and a wedge of pickle. At first.. I was thinking that it was a very small portion of fries...... WRONG. They taste larger than they look, and they are straight out of the deep fryer. I think I might have burnt my tongue even with a large dollop of ketchup on them.
The more I ate the sandwich, the fuller I got but I was not going to put it down, and let it go to waste. The ciabatta was soft and the pork was tender. I was scared the BBQ sauce was going to be overpowering, but none of that happened. It was juicy and the coleslaw was creamy. I don't know how to explain it but it was absolutely fabulous. Yes, I would like to come back for another one tomorrow.
The jazz was a perfect addition to the night. The voice of the lead lady was soothing and had a wonderful voice. I think they have jazz nights on Thursday too. If only I didn't have to work the next day.. I would be drinking H's cocktails all night.... it's quite an art watching him craft up different pieces of work at the bar.Listed in: Let's go to Gastown Instead...
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/4/2009
After coming here and trying 'H's' cocktails.... i had to come back... I had been told he only works… Read more »
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
7/18/2010
I really don't know what to think of this place. As many other reviewers who have emerged out of this place with an "a-ok" review, there were just too many things that were not up to par to actually get excited about coming back.
THE GREAT:
-the layout is nice- the lounge and bar area are nices places to sit solo or with a date. the upstairs is an intimate venue where you can book small parties or make resos for a larger group.
-The bartender is one of the better ones in Vancouver- mixin up super creative drinks and puts a lot of..vigour..into his bartending
THE GOOD
-the vibe is just relaly chill. I like how nothing about this places is scenstery in gastown, that is quickly adopting the gross aspects of the granville drag.
THE BAD/confusing
-so... my friend asked for the EXACT same cocktail that was poured for another guy at the bar. A different bartender made it and he looked thoroughly confused on how to make it. Ended up with a COMPLETELY different drink. Like... the difference between a martini and a hi-ball. Like it was a comPLETEly different drink in everyway but they served it up to my friend anyway. I was SOOOOO confused.... and so I thought it was my duty to point out that it actually is nothing what we expected/ordered and there was little apology for the mistake.
And in my books you also don't CHARGE a person when you give them the wrong drink. They did. And we paid. meh.
confused.
-The food. Is so very average. And this is being excessively picky- but who uses iceberg lettuce in a salad anymore?
Just in general I was underwhelmed. again, I REALLY wanted to like this place but... oi..I just didn't.
Worth giving another try but I can't see it improving that much more. -
Review from P G.
Richmond, BC
6/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Englishman in Kentucky, must try!
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Review from Michelle H.
Vancouver, BC
8/18/2011 1 photo
Went for dinner with few of my girlfriends last week. We got there at 7pm on a Sunday night and the restaurant was still pretty empty. Ther server was really friendly, went through the drink menu with us and recommended a few drinks. We love our cocktails. I had the fawlty basil which was just the way I like it. We shared the Mac & Cheese which was soo yummy. I had the pulled pork sandwich as it was recommended by the server. It was filling but a bit on the spicy side if you can't handle the heat. Everything was pretty good at the place except that as the night goes on, the restaurant got really busy. Even though they have 3 servers running around the restaurant, it was very hard to get their attention to refill our water...
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Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2009 ROTD 4/17/2009
If I am allowed to give an extra star simply because I had a fabulous and ridiculous evening, then I'm going to give that extra star to the Revel Room because it more than deserves these accolades.
Fabulous: our first (unofficial) Yelp event organized by moi and a few of our other ab fab Yelpers from around the globe and just happen to be living in Vancouver these days. Fab wine list, of which I indulged in, fab food, of which we shared a few small dishes including duck rolls and beet salad.
Ridiculous: After said fabulous wine has been drunk in relatively copious amounts, such things as posing, flailing and generally running amok become of the norm. This includes taking provocative photos involving an art installation of pixelated clouds.
Fabulous: freshly baked, warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies and wine are a pairing I had no idea about until this moment. Also, drunk cookies are pretty amazing. Also fabulous? Our service! The young woman who put up with our ridiculousness was attentive, friendly and accommodating.
Ridiculous: How many people DIDN'T show up for this sheer fun...next time folks, next time!
Fabulous: last call shots, making new and amazing friends, sidewalk karaoke. -
Review from Jenn W.
7/5/2009 ROTD 7/17/2009
Stopped in for a drink this afternoon and my my my was I impressed. We opened the place, sat at the bar, and had the bartender's complete attention. I barely glanced at the cocktail list before saying to the bartender "you decide".
"H" seemed quite pleased with that idea and sprung into action, putting on quite a show and telling us about every ingredient as he added it. Best. Bartender. Ever. (not a bad mixologist either).
$10 for a cocktail may seem like a lot (well, actually, it doesn't, this is Canada, liquor is expensive here); the Revel Room has exceptionally good value - my amazing artisan drink featured two whole shots of Makers Mark and was garnished with practically an entire serving of fruit.
Of course, the two shots also meant that if I were to be responsible, I should be on my way after the first drink - so off I went. I'm very much looking forward to returning for dinner in a couple of weeks, and am eager to see what the cocktail menu features then (it changes every week).
Besides the amazing cocktails, the Revel Room also has several wines by the glass for $9-12 (as well as by the bottle of course) and a few beers on tap. My husbot had a Red Truck Ale for $5.75 (which is less than the actual brewer's restaurants charge for a pint)!Listed in: Vancouver Favorites, Bright Shining Stars (BC)
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Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
10/4/2010
I was very underwhelmed from my experience at the Revel Room. Granted, I was here with a large group, but everything just wasn't up to par. We were seated in the upper area Service took forever. We weren't given our water for at least 30 minutes. We didn't get our food for almost an hour after ordering. Yes, I can understand you're busy, but that is just a ridiculous time to wait.
Once the food came, it wasn't very good. And it was expensive for what was offered. I ordered the salmon entree. Parts of the salmon was very tender and other parts were overcooked. It wasn't seasoned very well - it was very salty in parts, and others had absolutely no flavour. The rice that it was served with seemed like it was instant rice. I could make better rice at home. The only redeeming item on the dish was the tomato salsa which was a good mix of acidity, sweetness and spicy.
I also tried two appies - the shrimp ceviche and the shrimp and grits. The shrimp and grits were okay, but nothing special. I really liked the ceviche though - lots of flavour and the tortilla chips that were served with them were delicious.
Their drinks looked really good, but expensive. They were very unique. The bartender was great with all our drink requests - they even set up a jagger bomb train for us.
I don't think I would come back here for the food, but for drinks, they're a good choice. -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
2/6/2009 ROTD 9/25/2009
Doesn't look like much from outside (what's with the nasty green neon sign?) but once you get in there it's sleek, the service is top notch and the food is inventive (duck rolls ... meatballs ... beet salad ... mmmm) and the wine list is delicious (loads of fine BC finds) and the room is sexy.
Nothing much seems to happen there until after 10pm, although it's a restaurant. They go til 2 and at last call -- warm cookies. WARM f'n COOKIES! We're talking chocolate chip, gooey, warm cookies delivered by the Pillsbury Dough Boy himself. (OK, that was an exaggeration, but he was the kinda guy you'd like to poke in the belly).
Go there! Go early and stay til last call and enjoy all they have to offer. Music is great, you can talk over it no problem, you could take a date there, you can meet with friends there ... it's an all-purpose venue. Book out the upstairs room for your next event!!Listed in: Singin', Shakin' and Downing…
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Review from chelsea k.
Vancouver, BC
1/20/2010
Revel Room - coolest lil snuggy cocktail bar PROPER around. Bartenders in bow ties? check. good music? check. good cocktails? DOUBLE CHECK that!
Not only did "H" the slick talking, drink builder of dreams make my friday night, he entertained my lone self at the bar, and at my request to make me a drink something "not to sweet and caipirinha-like" he took about 10 minutes to make a drink that would put any regular caipirinha to shame!
This is a cool spot to bring friends from out of town, very impressive....
And the cookies at midnight, BRILLZ!!!!!!!! -
Review from Shawn C.
Vancouver, BC
6/24/2011
We were looking for a place to hold a small (15 - 20 people) party. Genni and the rest of the Revel Room staff were hugely helpful, not only providing us with the upstairs/mezzanine room but also supplying us with simple but delicious appetizers and some great, customized cocktails. The Revel also has a decent beer selection along with their cool cocktails. I wouldn't hesitate to go back or recommend this to friends/out-of-towners.
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Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
2/6/2009
The Revel Room has it all: good looks, good food and drinks, and good service. And fresh warm cookies at the end of the night. With melty chocolate. And to really kick us out the door with a stumble in our step - a thank-you round of tart-n-fruity girl shots. Yum.
The occasion was the inaugural Vancouver Yelper meetup, so of course, the company was fantastic. We spent over five hours enjoying cocktails and wine from the short but well-put-together drink menu. I started out with a couple glasses of a citrus-orange flavoured drink called the Lady Clementine, but switched over to wine when I noticed a bit too much ice was being used in the cocktails. Our server was so great, too - I don't think I ever had an empty glass in front of me, except when I was done!
The food was designed for sharing - I ordered some crazy little Mexican meatballs served with a fiery sauce and a garnish of coleslaw with tiny strips of tortilla. I also sampled some of the tea-smoked duck spring rolls. Lovely, not greasy at all, like some spring rolls you'll find.
What's interesting about the Revel Room is that it's not only in a reclaimed heritage space, but a lot of elements in the decor were salvaged from other heritage sites and demolished buildings in the neighbourhood (a sidebar on the menu explains). One of the owners worked in the film industry too, I think as a lighting designer, so if you look around, you'll definitely notice they've done a lot of neat things with old fixtures and glass and recessed lighting and so on. I loved the collection of Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man figurines (Ghostbusters!) above the bar.
As Sheila mentioned too, the music is really great (very eclectic selection) and it's not so loud you have to get all shouty or walk out with your ears ringing. (The bed spinning is another issue altogether...) The Revel Room was good times with a grown-up vibe.Listed in: Ladytime, Good times and great drinks
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Review from Amber H.
Vancouver, BC
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
*Update - 08/12/11*
I was contacted by Revel Room to offer an explanation on the below situation and to invite me back to try their new menu. They have a new chef, new menu and had worked hard on their staff so I was definitely interested in giving it another try!
First off, our server was fantastic - he chatted with us off and on through the meal, making jokes and even singing at one point. His attitude was infectious and made the whole night even more awesome!
We ordered the bacon wrapped tuna and duck quesadillas to start - both were delicious, but the quesadillas really stood out for me. Definitely a must order!
I had the catfish and my husband had the blackened chicken. The catfish was lovely and moist with a delicious crust and the jalapeno tartar sauce was just perfect with it! Fried fish can be iffy, but this was some of the best I've ever had.
The blackened chicken was fantastic too from what I tasted - I really liked the sauce it came with and the cornbread was perfect!
All in all, I was seriously impressed by the entire experienced and I will definitely be coming back - it's now on my permanent list of places to frequent!
My old review:
I was really excited to try the Revel Room as I've been desperately missing a little southern food in my diet since my recent visit to Portland. When my husband shot me the menu as an option for our date night, I was practically out the door with my coat before I replied. Finally, something with a southern flare!
When we arrived I was immediately surprised by how dead they were - it was prime dinner time, yet we were the only ones in there. That sort of thing usually rings warning bells for me, but we decided not to worry about it.
I opened the menu and was disappointed to see it wasn't the same as what was listed on their website - I had been looking forward to getting some chicken and collard greens but instead they had changed to green beans for the side. "Oh well" I thought - I was sad not to get my fave southern side, but could accept that it was different.
Well, my dinner arrived and instead of the green beans my side was sauteed mushrooms! I think the thing that bothered me the most about it was the lack of communication the server had with me about the substitution - she never came to check if it was an ok change to make while it was being prepared and likewise never mentioned it when she popped it down in front of me. If it's not what's on your menu, you should communicate with your customers as to the change!
Aside from the 'not ordered' mushrooms, the meal was ok but not great. My chicken was a little dry and my macaroni and cheese was acceptable. For $20 I would have expected a little more flavor from it.
All in all I think I might be back for drinks at some point in the future, but as far as going out for a nice dinner I think I'll give it a pass.
