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The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
850 Thurlow StVancouver, BC V6E 1W2
Neighbourhoods: West End, Downtown
(604) 569-3415
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
55 reviews for The Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe
Review Highlights
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"I really love that they have purse hooks under the table." In 3 reviews -
"And then there was the cocktail list." In 8 reviews -
"I actually loved the decor & the blue chairs." In 7 reviews
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2011
I'm terribly sorry that my review did not get posted before the death of this lovely bistro, but in support of the wonderful Corner Suite, I say thank you for one of the BEST meals I have had in years.
The service was unbelievably attentive, the food sublime (with an excellent price-point) and the cocktails...where do I begin? Epic and intuitive.
It is a sad day when the city loses a truly lovely establishment that barely had the time to get its feet off the ground.
Best of luck to everyone at Corner Suite, we hope to see you soon.
XO -
Review from Kari C.
Updated - 1/6/2011
Update: To be clear and follow YELP guidelines, after my review of Corner Suite, I wanted to work in their kitchen. They hired me. Then, unfortunately, they had to close before my start date. Here is a eulogy that I posted on my blog.
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Corner Suite, you will be missed dearly.
Thank you for having a seasonal, Oceanwise menu, and offering vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, oh glory! Thank you for being a wonderful space to my friend who worked in your kitchen, a veritable safe haven in an industry rife with hierarchical madness. And most of all, thank you for having the best crème brulée that I have tasted yet, and had used as a litmus test for our potential friendship. From the moment that the spoon made contact with my tongue, that was it. Instant love. My taste buds cannot tell a lie, and my heart knew the truth lay in that adorable mason jar of custardy goodness.
You gave me one of the happiest days of my life, making nothing but desserts in an environment that was clean, bright, filled with Korean pop music, and talented people. I wiped down your stand mixer proudly, vowing to take care of it in the future. Your chef was refreshingly nurturing, and incredibly modest for his talent, your kitchen team was hilarious, and helpful to me, in a way that was genuinely nice, and not creepily flirtatious as kitchen men have a tendency to be. It felt like home.
Your tall windows and glittering lights filled my heart with romantic Parisian whimsy, and your slick, black leather upholstery spoke to my inner sasspot. To anybody who ridiculed your outrageously bright, ornate chairs, I have two shirts, a cardigan, a scarf, a dress, sneakers, earrings, and a pair of glasses in that colour. Clearly, your dining room was unfit for boring personalities, and we were destined to get along famously, with a sense of thoughtfully understated timelessness that contrasted with our shameless displays of glamour.
I looked forward to many mornings of sharing coffee and pastries with my sister at your bar, and many nights of raucous laughter and tapas with the kitchen staff at your neighbor, Guu, my other favourite spot. Just like me, you had a shaky and infamous beginning, before finding your way, and your grit ended up stealing mon coeur. Whatever concept is to inhabit your old space, I will not be able to look in their direction without a genuine twinge of sadness and possible resentment.
Farewell, Corner Suite. My journey continues, and if I ever have the opportunity to run a kitchen, it must be as fun, supportive, and ingredient-driven as you were, or else my venture into the food industry will have been for naught.
With love,
Kari
PS: Anthony Sedlak, I curse your name in my sleep.Listed in: Surefires, Faux Nostalgia
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/22/2010
I am a lover of cheese and French desserts, which is what finally drew me to Corner Suite. That and… Read more »
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Review from Anthony F.
Vancouver, BC
12/27/2010
Background: I've lived a block away from this place for months and, overshadowed by nearby Guu most of the time, this was the first time I actually made a beeline for the goods as I have some friends who highly recommend it. I've never been to France but I'm familiar with most of the key spots in Vancouver.
Food: Fresh baguettes. Hearty and delicate french onion soup. The entirely separate extensive cheese menu. Delicious, tender, subtle steak tartar. Creme brulee by the book. This place is standard French fare done to the tee.
Ambiance: Quaint. That one word best describes the baby blue leather seating and napkin hook tables.
Service: Our waiter was French (but not snobbishly so) and was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, as if he designed it himself.
Pricepoint: Dinner for 2 with a bottle of malbec set us back about $120.
Overall: This is standard french bistro done awesomely well, and I can't recommend it highly enough. -
Review from beki L.
Vancouver, BC
10/1/2010 3 photos
From outside, this place looks pretty happening. Once inside, whatever thoughts you had are confirmed!
Dark, funky vibe setting with pretty chandeliers and chairs dipped in blue rubber! You got a chic higher end restaurant look with a mellow carefree unpretentious lounge atmostphere.
My friend and I decided on some dinner last minute before heading to the Fashion Week Show. We were seated by the window, great view to people watch outside and restaurant watch people inside.
They had a mammoth of a book to house all the different drink orders (I teased myself with taking a peek..I lasted about the 3rd or 4th page before putting it down in defeat).
I was extremely pleased to see that they had menu options for the gluten sensitive! I ended with the starter duck rilette, crostini. served cold in a little jar-- it was a duck pate! i smeared the paste on my gluten free crackers for a yummy crunchy treat!
for dinner, i had the lingcod with mussels, potatoes, and onions in a saffron broth. beautiful plate...flavorful broth...nice light meal.
my friend and I shared the sorbet trio for dessert. we got to sample, white peach, rhubarb, and brandy apple. (all very good, the white peach was the best though!)
Super service, great lounge....perfect for light dinner and more drinks! -
Review from Tania Y.
Vancouver, BC
9/2/2010
First of all, without knowing what The Corner Suite is, it already made it on my list of restaurants to try... just based on it's chic decor. Where else can you find an eloquent space, accented with AQUA colored chairs?! Absolutely eye @#$%ing fabulous.
Before I rave about the delicious halibut and mussels in broth (their 24/7 special of the day for $24.07) and the extremely tender, "melt-in-your-mouth-instantly-oh-where'd-it-go?" beef tenderloin with pesto sauce cooked to perfection (which by the way is the BEST steak I've had in a looong time. Yes, I haven't been steaked for a while).....
I will drool.
(Mainly because I forgot what I was going to say.)
Corner Suite also has a HUGE selection of cocktails... so if you like to drink, drink on! I can't remember what I had... I can't even remember what alcohol it had in it. Heck, there were so many choices I didn't even choose for myself. I just remember it was pink and fruity.
They have a lot of cheese too. Tons. Some might make you smell funny after though. You know what I mean. -
Review from Kat S.
8/30/2010
Any place that has two full pages of cheese on their menu is good in my books.
The drinks menu, or bible as they call it, is HUGE. It would have taken me all night to read through it all. It's a bit overwhelming, but you can browse by type of alcohol, then choose the drink you want, then the brand of alcohol. I had a pisco sour, and it was pretty darn good. Not the best ever, and the drink was a bit heavy on the ice, but it was a good size portion and only $10, as opposed to $12 at Pourhouse. The wine we had with dinner was delightful, a syrah-viognier, but they kept running out of the more moderately priced wines, (were out of the malbec to start which was $8/glass, then ran out of the syrah-viognier which was $10/glass, so by the end of the meal, our options were the $12/glass of red wine or the more expensive options).
The food. Oh, the food. The bread and herbed butter that was comp was lovely. And then my meal came. I ordered the duck, and it was fall-off-the-bone tender and the large grain cous cous was flavourful and perfect. My meal didn't look huge, but I was pretty full after eating it. But there had to be room saved for the cheese menu, so it was a perfect amount of food for me. I had a bite of my friend's cheese tart and wow, it was rich, filling, and so good.
The cheese menu. I am a cheese addict. I love cheese. I love the stinky, strong cheeses. I love the delicate and mild cheeses. I love it all. So we tried 3 different cheeses, and got the fig jam to accompany. We tried a roquefort blue sheep cheese, which was supposed to be the mild one, and was soft and lovely, but too strong for my friend. It was spreadable and I ate it all. We also had a mild, earthy, rind washed cheese from France, and a cloth-wrapped aged cheddar. Both were good, though I liked the cheddar better, which was rather hard and surprising. The fig jam had a very strong licorice taste to it, which was odd. It went very well with the blue cheese, as the flavours balanced well, but it was too overpowering for the milder cheeses, especially the rind washed cheese. That cheese would have been nice with some honey.
Service was decent, and while the waitress helped us pick some cheeses, a recommendation on the jams and sides would have been useful. We also had to ask for fresh bread with our cheese, which should have been a no-brainer.
The decor is cute, and I like the blue chairs (one of which they are raffling off), but as my friend mentioned, there seemed to be something missing a little from the atmosphere. Maybe because it got so dark in the evening, I'm not sure. It's a neat place to people watch, though. The bathroom also left something to be desired. It was tiny, cramped, and could have used a little cleaning. And there were no bag hooks. I really wish more places would put bag hooks in the stalls.
Overall:
Excellent food, which despite looking small, was pretty filling.
Cheese!
Great drinks.
Okay atmosphere and service.
Disappointing that they ran out of the moderately priced wines on a Friday.
Thumbs part-way down for the bathroom. -
Review from Jules M.
Vancouver, BC
8/17/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Simply put, I love this place. And I don't make these claims wildly!
I brought my parents here for brunch, and immmediately fell in love. The service was impeccable and accomodating, even with my parents' demands (...and my father's questionable humour!) The brunch itself was delicious, perfectly cooked french toast with a rhubarb compote, savoury sausages with just a hint of sage, completed by several rounds of mimosa.
Since then, I have been back. Many, many times! Whether it's sat in the gorgeous aqua-blue chairs, or holding court at the bar, I have always had amazing service from the wait staff, with the managers (and owners) always making a point to ensure every customer is well taken care of. Steve De la Cruz has put together an incredible cocktail list, and staffed his bar with an impressive crew of cocktologists - personable, knowledgeable and passionate about their craft.
And on those nights where you just need a little bite to eat to accompany that French 75, they also serve the best croque-monsieur outside of Paris.Listed in: Best Brunches in Vancouver
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Review from Eric B.
Vancouver, BC
11/15/2010
The Corner Suite Bistro is a very decent restaurant. The decor is classy and cozy. It reminded me of the classy bistros back in Quebec. The Corner Suite Bistro has it's roots in French culture for sure. Cheese list obliged.
The food is excellent but the list is short and don't expect to be full on a 50$ bill (per person). The prices are the same as other fancy, perfectly cooked-food restaurant, but the portions are cut in more than half which probably makes it the most expensive place on the west side by the ounce.
The drinks are on an endless list so talking to the waiter is mandatory. And drinks are good.
Service was a tad slow that day, but it looks like it's the normal wait time, bistros are like that usually. You go there to enjoy company for more than an hour, so taking your time is mandatory as well.
I'll go back when I'm GM or CEO of some big corporate. -
Review from David L.
Vancouver, BC
12/12/2010 3 Check-ins Here
For me, this place is all about the bar. While the blue seats are a nice dramatic touch, I always skip past them and take a seat at the Corner Suite bar. Seriously, except for maybe the Four Seasons Hotel, this is as big as they come (and Four Seasons is in an L shape, so I guess they don't really count)
Stainless steel topped and black fronted, this is a swath of Gastown in a neighborhood surrounded by Izakaya's and hotel bars - the latter of which better step up their game because the cocktails here are 5$ cheaper and 10times more inventive and tasty.
I rarely check in here, and haven't written a review because I kind of want to keep this place to my self, but since I get treated to a free glass of champagne every time I saddle up to the bar I think it's time for a return on their investment.
As stated the cocktails are top notch, but I also enjoy the bartenders here, each with their own unique style and investment in their craft. Their isn't a dud in the bunch! They know their stuff and are able to take you through the history and design of the beverage you happen to be consuming while leaving a bottle of its main ingredient for your perusal while you sip away.
The cheese and charcuterie menu is a pleasure and breeze to work with and I like to pour absinthe from their vintage tower now and then to cap a night. With a thirty second walk from my door to theirs I can imbibe as much as I want without committing vehicular manslaughter on the way home. MAJOR BONUS. So, in short, this is my Corner Suite. -
Review from Adam G.
Edmonton, AB
9/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Whether you like classic cocktails, fine cheese, or French cuisine, this is the place to be on a Friday night.
While at first glance the furniture had me thinking quel fromage, my partner reassured me that the trademark chairs were a classy "Tiffany Blue" ("Every girl knows that!") and not some sort of displaced dollhouse decor.
In fact, the only thing cheesy about Corner Suite is the cheese menu -Vancouver's largest selection, don't you know, and featuring all Canadian products. I didn't take note of all the options, as I went straight for the aged cheddar (a particular weakness of mine), and the Britannia 5-year from la belle province didn't disappoint.
But first things first: let's talk cocktails. Now, I'm no mixologist, but I know what I like, and I really liked my Chicago Fizz. Ditto for A.'s "Holy Toledo" (the house specialty, apparently). Well made cocktails are never cheap, but at around $10-$12 each, these were well worth the dough.
Not to be overlooked, the food was outstanding. For my grand plat, I had the pork belly (one of my favourites), while A. opted for the ling cod and a too-cute miniature bowl of French Onion Soup (or, as the French call it, Onion Soup). Then, to put a perfect cap on the night, we finished with a pair amazing chocolate truffles.
Admittedly, our tab this time was subsidized by a sizeable Groupon, but I will gladly foot the bill in its entirety next time. Of all the gin joints in all of Vancouver, I will definitely be walking back into this one again. -
Review from ruggy j.
3/10/2010
I know I'm going to sound like a total Bay Area snob, but in context to San Francisco style eateries, I don't think Corner Suite would be a 5-star restaurant. BUT in Vancouver, this is about as 5-star of an experience as I had while zooming around the Winter Olympics host city. I know, I know... I hate me too.
To my knowledge, it's a new outpost that's received plenty of fanfare since opening its doors downtown just a few weeks ago. It's a swanky joint that serves up some quality mixed cocktails (insert an obligatory "but not as good as San Francisco" reference here) and they've got a fine wine list. Personally, I stuck to gin pretty much the entire week, and they had a pretty solid selection of distilled juniper berry drinks on hand.
Food-wise, we had a group of 6 at the table, so there was a lot of mixing and matching going on (which is my favourite way to dine!). The FOS (French onion soup) was on point, but I couldn't help but wonder how they refer to the dish in France. Do they just call it "onion soup?" What about French bread? Is it just "bread?" Life's little mysteries. I digress.... We also sampled the tuna niçoise with fingerlings, egg, tomato, haricots verts, olives, lemon & olive oil. It made for a pretty pleasant way to start off an evening of fine Canadian nosh. While others around the table opted for plates laced with fatty meats, I chose the lighter route with a dish of mussels & fries with white wine, lemon, and butter. The mussels were as big as Apollo Ohno's hamstrings, and they tasted as though they'd just been plucked from the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Good stuff!
As for desert, I made sure to dive into the sticky toffee pudding. That might have been the highlight of the entire night. Nothing like ingesting hundreds of additional calories after a big meal, but this baby was so good, it left little room for guilt and remorse.
For Vancouverites, I have to imagine this will end up being a total scene. A go-to spot for fine food and fun people watching, as it's essentially a higher-end restaurant that pumps some pretty dope beats (Phoenix, MGMT, Franz Ferdinand, being a few artists I remember hearing throughout the night) all staffed by hipsters with funny haircuts.
In second thought, maybe this place would go over pretty well in San Francisco!Listed in: Vancouver Olympics
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Review from Katy H.
4/27/2010
Need a sexy place to set the mood for a sexy date? Come here!
The neighbourhood itself is quite cute (I'm not from 'round these parts) and when I walked into this new spot I was pleasantly surprised. It actually reminded me of parts of France! (Maybe because it was dark outside? Who knows!)
Before I get to the food though, I must mention the decor and the bathrooms. Who couldn't love a place that's got aqua coloured high-back chairs?! The decor is wildly modern with a very classic touch. Clean lines, classic furniture, modern colours. I think the black wood and chandeliers look stunning with the aqua coloured chairs. The bathrooms are very clean as well and everyone at our table remarked that the soap smelled like pixie sticks. Yay for clean, yummy-scented hands!
The small dishes here were exquisite. I've always been a fan of leeks, potatoes, and brussel sprouts. You'll find many great dishes here that feature awesome, locally grown veggies. For meat lovers, fear not! They have duck, steak, pork belly, you name it - they killed it! Ok... maybe they bought it dead, but still, it's yummy and fresh!
The overall theme I think of when I recall my dining experience here is variety. They had a great cocktail list, a great wine list, a great entree menu and even a great dessert menu. I couldn't think of a cuter spot to take someone special.
PS - I'm from the US but Yelp gave me the Canadian version of spell check. Please note my usage of the letter 'u' in color and flavor! -
Review from Renee C.
10/9/2010
Corner Suite Bistro, darling, I've got my eye on you.
This whole dining experience was downright peachy (with sugar on top). Our waitress was this wonderful dame who was so friendly helpful and down-to-earth. And the food....ahhhhh the food. It was absolutely "top drawer" (said with an uppity New York drawl). The Croque Madam was incredible - they even substituted tomatoes for me instead of ham. Those onion rings were not your regular onion rings....more like "You've got my number" kind of onion rings.
And then there was the cocktail list. Oh, the cocktail list. First of all, I learned more about drinks that night than I did in my arguably impressive history of drink sampling. My drink was like a warm cozy night by the fireplace up at the cabin. Only with a little kick.
And then the decor...I love it when decor actually deserves a mention (in a good way). Corner Suite, darling, you are dressed up like an eclectic and fashionable broad.
Ring-a-ding, Corner Suite Bistro, you've got my number and luckily I have got yours. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
Step inside this enchanted neighbourhood bistro with aqua (leather?) chairs in a Queen Anne (maybe?) style set a whimsical tone. You might be thinking this review will be all about the dinner and drinks, but no, that's next time; this was all about brunch, and how divine it was!
With an impressive looking espresso machine that screams to be percolated, I ordered my standard americano and delighted in the cane sugar cubes and steamed cream that accompanied the strong and smooth shot. Could I be sitting in a Peruvian cafe? Je pense que oui!
A well appointed brunch menu featured a flavour for every palate: granola and yogurt, a smoothie, eggs and bacon, waffles and eggs Benedict. Lucky for me, I got to share the waffles and eggs benny. Magnificent! The eggs were just slightly undercooked when they arrived at the table, and by the time we dug in, were perfect. The hollandaise-light, a touch of tang and set upon a piece of brioche with fingerling (love these!) potatoes on the side winning the meal top spot in my brekkie loving heart!
The waffles were the perfect consistency - crunchy and sweet outside and soft and crumbly on the inside. Topped with warm maple syrup, vanilla sour cream and preserved pears, they definitely are giving Medina's some competition.
I knew that I was truly starting to fall in love with other touches throughout the space.They've really thought things through: tables with hooks in the centre for purses, bathroom stalls have two hooks with "purse" and "jacket" photo frames, our water constantly filled and the billfold was crested with the Corner Suite logo, instead of the standard Visa jackets you see so often.
Mais attendez il ya plus (means something like "but wait, there's more," thanks google translator) Corner Suite has not only raised the bar high for foodies, but behind the bar is a range of spirits set to impress. Steve Da Cruz saw us looking up at the bar and came over to ask if we had any questions about the spirits - another great touch. I can already feel those plump bar stools tempting me back for a caesar (with a bacon wrapped quail's egg). Perhaps I'll sample the cocktail list while testing out their 24/7, kitchen special, which looks like it costs $24 and 7cents. -
Review from Peter S.
3/6/2010
A full five glowing stars for the Corner Suite.
Maybe it's two times lucky, but they've delivered perfectly so far.
Lazy Sunday Brunch - Eggs Benny and waffles were a delight.
Latte - Smooth as silk.
Casual Dinner - Veal Cheeks - Wow. Definitely a first for my culinary adventures. I tend to avoid all things with Veal in the title, but this is now a valid exception. Full of flavour, and just the right size portion for this rich entre.
Drinks - Done right. Take a look at the ingredients behind the bar. Some obscure names there for sure. Extra points for the spiral egg holders.
So... maybe it's three times a charm? I shall return soon for my next course. -
Review from Annika R.
Vancouver, BC
11/29/2010
I've been to Corner Suite three times now. Dinner, brunch and lunch. I love the set-up and look of the place but have to say that my last two experiences weren't the best.
Went for dinner, right when they opened and loved it....great service, great drinks, great food.
Went for brunch and my friend ordered the $10 pancakes. Now, pancakes are not that hard to make and at that price point I am expecting garnish, fruits, or at least something. Nothing. Then we figured these pancakes must be sooo amazing that they won't need any add-ons. Well, turns out they were undercooked. Too bad. We sent them back and got the same pancakes back, now properly cooked, and they were pretty tasty. Yet, I was disappointed. We did not pay for them at the end and were sent some truffles which is nice but still, I just think pancakes are very basic and a resto should have those down.
Went for lunch which was perfectly fine but nothing special, service was quite slow but I did not care since my friend and I were chatting away.
So, one awesome experience one bad, one so la la experience = 3 stars. I think that's fair. -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
6/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
I had already eaten and was stopping in to visit a birthday party so I ordered the $5 French Onion Soup. Also because I'm poor, haha. Let me tell you, that was dang good soup. TINY though-- the bowl it is served in is HALF the size of a small mug with and came with the smallest spoon I have ever seen. The whole size situation forced me to savour every minuscule bite. Loved it. Take me here for the big meal, please!
The service was good, and one of the managers did a FAB job of making us feel at home. Looove it.
The decor is what I'm in love with though-- the tiffany blue furniture with white and black surroundings-- that is money, my friends. Take your woman here and I promise she'll show you a little wrist!Listed in: Best Atmosphere
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Review from Debbie P.
9/19/2010 1 photo
This might just be my new favorite restaurant in Vancouver. Their wine and cheese selection is as impressive as the melt in your mouth entrees.
Tonight dinner consisted of chicken liver paté crostinis, terrine de campagne, honey & thyme dijon, fruit & nut bread, dungeness crab cake, bacon & quail egg salad, peach purée and beef tenderloin & frites, blue cheese butter, arugula. My taste buds were dancing with delight. My only complaint was they ran out of the veal bone marrow crust for my steak.
On a side not tweet and retweet if you decide to order their 24/7 special for free dessert.Listed in: Vancouver's Best
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Review from Janice F.
1/4/2011
The food is good. The service leaves a bit to be desired.
I enjoy their functional furniture (napkin slots in the table, purse hooks underneath) but not so much the bright turquoise blue barbie doll chairs.
We arrived 15 minutes early to an empty restaurant. They chose to seat us at a table closest to the door. When asked if we could be moved to another table of 6 away from the door, they responded with a "No, sorry we are booked to capacity tonight" ...... I don't understand what that has to do with switching tables of an equal capacity..?
I also completely forgot about their 24/7 menu which is a 2-course tasting menu every day for $24.07 - nor did the waitress volunteer any information about it. Oh well.
We had to ask for bread, and when it arrived it was cold and stale.
Here's what I did order:
Baby French Onion Soup $5 - it really is baby tea-cup sized! I liked the tastes actually, and I don't mind the portion size but I can imagine quite a few shocked looks about the it. It's served with a sugar spoon!
Croque Mme - also an itty-bitty slice, but the tastes were spot-on and I liked having a tiny sunny side up quail egg on it.
Beef tenderloin with veal marrow crust & blue cheese butter - Well, they forgot the veal marrow crust and when it came back, it was cold, crumbly and not flavourful. The steak itself is OK, a small portion - about half the size of your palm. The blue cheese butter is great though.
They also have a mammoth-sized novel of a drink menu. If you're lacking for conversation, at least you've got tons of reading material in front of you. Unfortunately, the Meyer-lemon cocktail that I ordered tasted exactly like lemon water. With maybe a hint of vodka. -
Review from Gina I.
3/10/2010
I'm conflicted. The dish I had was great (a croque madame). It's not really that hard to make a croque madame, but this one was good. The truffled chips didn't taste truffley at all & that was disappointing.
The drinks: HUGE drink menu. Huge. It's nice to be able to have so many choices, but I think it's too big & it took me way too long to decide. I recommend the El Presidente, Horse's Neck & the Sloe Gin Fizz.
The service: Our server was... okay. She was nice enough, but really slow & didn't seem like she could handle the few tables she had. It took 10 minutes to get one drink & that is unacceptable. I just didn't really like her service at all. She would ask how everything was & seemed too rushy.
The manager and one of the owners? Awesome. They were really wanting to hear what you thought about the food and also if you had any suggestions about what else they could put on the menu. I suggested garlic fries & he came back with 'how about fries with garlic aoili?' Sure!
I think this place has mega potential - but it's not a 5 star restaurant you guys. It's a good place to come & eat & be merry, it's not 'fine dining' and that's fine with me. -
Review from Katie F.
3/15/2010
Great brunch find in the West End!
Had Sunday brunch with Crystal and Reena - nice atmosphere, quieter area and NO line-ups - yay! Love the purse hooks under the table and in the bathroooms.
The decor is unique... and those who know me as a Tiffany gal, how can I NOT be a fan with those Tiffany-blue chairs???
The brunch menu is a bit small but what we had was very good. I had the dungeness crab benny that came with a side of fingerling potatoes and green salad. Mmmm. My only complaint is that they could put a bit more crab in it, but otherwise great taste and textures. We also shared their belgian waffles - pretty good! The batter is a little heavier than I like but the taste and exterior with a touch of crunch and sweetness is fabulous.
Average service - friendly but ran low on my water a couple of times.
This is a solid place for brunch but doesn't get the elusive 5th star.
Portions run smaller here and brunch items are around $12-15 each... I don't know if I was starving, but I definitely needed 1 1/2 dishes that morning!Listed in: Sunny Side Up!
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Review from P G.
Richmond, BC
11/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Simply amazing. Had the 24/7, entree today was duck. Was perfect. Compliments to the chef! Make a resv to avoid waiting, actually on a busy night I got the feeling a reservation is mandatory.
Drinks are awesome, their specialty is cocktails. They have about 10 pages of them, in total there's probably well over 100! If you're indecisive this can make the choice difficult, I suggest starting with one of the 10 on the first page. It's titled "Favorites" or "Specials", something along those lines. -
Review from Namit M.
12/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Had been on my to-do list for a while and this place does not disappoint.
The decor is warm and inviting - not to casual but not to neighborhoody. The service is warm and friendly. The wine list is well done, but a tad bit on the pricey side.
Ordered the French Onion Soup - and this one was as good as it gets The broth was rich and sweet, the cheese nice and gooey and the bread crunchy.
Followed that with a small plate of Steak Tartare. It was well presented with a raw egg on top. The beef was coarsely chopped with a nice crunchy crostinis. Again pretty darn good.
The GF ordered the scallops and a mushroom soup which were also extremely good.
The vanilla bean Creme Brulee was workmanlike.
Need to come back here to taste other items and eat some cheese - the selection looked amazing. -
Review from Cara P.
11/26/2010 6 Check-ins Here
I've already had too much to drink. How terrible is a quick stop at The Corner Suite for an Aviation or two before bed? Not bad at all if I say so myself!!
I love this place! Good food, awesome drinks (though a proper Aviation on the menu would be nice - it's called an Aviation because of the Creme de Violette. Sorry Steve.)
One of my favourite places by far. Good food, fabulous drinks, gorgeous staff, late hours, everyone knows you by name... heart heart heart
I think I may just go there for brunch tomorrow! Delicious!
And the chairs remind me of Weird Science more than anyone could know. Again... heart -
Review from Kevin N.
Vancouver, BC
4/24/2010
My hubby wanted to take me out for my birthday on Wednesday. It was my choice of places so I decided on the Corner Suite Bistro. We had walked by the restaurant many times both before their opening and after. If nothing else the electric blue chairs were intriguing and a factor in my choice.
On our arrival at around 7ish, we were seated immediately as there was only a couple other tables occupied.
We started with beverages. I went for wine. The list was limited in selection but did have some nice choices. I will say, what the list lacked in content was not lost in price point!! WOW, they don't give away their wine!
For food we started with appies. We shared the Bacon & Onion Alsatian Tart and the Dungeness Crab Cake. Both were very tasty. The tart was a nice size for sharing but I must say the Crab Cake was a huge disappointment. It came nicely presented but without a doubt the smallest crab cake I have ever seen. It should be re-named a Crab Bite. And for $14 they should be ashamed.
For the main course be both had the Line-Caught Halibut. It was pan seared then finished in the oven. The fish was delicious and cooked to perfection. As the menu clearly stated, the halibut was served with "kabosha squash ravioli". Note the single tense in ravioli. YOU GET ONE!! The dish overall was very nice but once again.....very small portions for the price point.
As you have probably already guessed, I was still hungry so opted to go for desert. I had the White Chocolate Crème Brulée. There really isn't much for choices on the desert menu. My partner had casually mentioned that it was my birthday so the server presented my Crème Brulée with a b-day candle inserted. Woohooo! It was actually a nice sized serving and quite yummy.
Overall we enjoyed our dining experience. Loved the room and the food was great. Our only real complaint was the portion sizes, especially the crab cake. Even by Vancouver standards, Corner Suite has reached a new low on quantity vs. quality.
I think we will try CSB again, probably for brunch, but before we go we'll probably have a light snack first. -
Review from Vincci L.
5/18/2010 4 photos
A dinner date with an old friend calls for some Corner Suite. Called in to make reservations with no problem.
We were seated right by the window, overlooking Thurlow & Robson street. I like the decor. Sleek black leather banquettes, bright aquamarine (aka Tiffany blue) chairs, in a Victorian fashion. A large bar overlooks the restaurant, and the windows surrounding allow lots of natural light to come in. ...
The cocktail/ drinks menu is very impressive. A very thick book of 30 pages, of martinis, classic cocktails, contemporary cocktails...all listed in alphabetical order. It was very intriguing, and I wanted to read the descriptions of their drinks.
The menu is divided into 'petits plats' and 'grands plats' ..and three pages of cheeses. The server did ask us if we had anywhere that we needed to go to next, which was a good gesture.
Our food then took a very long time to arrive. We waited, and waited, for about 40 minutes. My friend and I got to catch up with each other, but we were both getting hungry. Finally, the food arrived.
We started off with a petit plats; the house-made gnocchi, English peas, mint, bacon, poached egg. This was wonderfully delicious. Almost like a carbonara, but even richer. Bits of bacon added saltiness to the dish. The house-made gnocchi was also great.
For the main, I got the bouillabaisse in saffron tomato broth. This is one of the better bouillabaisse that I've had. large spot prawns, dungeness crab, large juicy mussels and clams, fish, and a bite of octopus. Fresh seafood, simply cooked in the saffron broth.
Attentive service, and a good atmosphere. A great place for drinks, and I've also heard great things about the croque madame... -
Review from Billy C.
Richmond, BC
12/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great French bistro that is almost on par with those in Montreal. The food was delicious... maybe a bit on the salty side... but still tasty. Portions were a bit small for the price but hey... it's French! I had the cassoulet... a slow-cooked mix of beans, sausage, duck confit and braised pork with crispy skin. If you're a meat lover, this is as good as it gets.
Ambiance was very nice. The dim-lit romantic surroundings contrasted with the bright blue chairs. Nice touch. I liked it.
Service was probably the only sore point. The waiter appeared overworked and in charge of too many tables. Consequently, the service was noticeably slower and it took a while before our order was taken. When he did arrive, the waiter was courteous and friendly. He had no problems answering our questions and translation requests.
Overall an excellent bistro with great food. Whether it's a date, a get-together or a party this is a great place to be. -
Review from Lisa L.
Vancouver, BC
3/24/2011
So sad that the Corner Suite opened and closed so quickly. It was an interestingly decorated place, with black decor and plush aquamarine seats. The bar was enormous and the wine selection enviable. I'm not a big fan of cheese, but had to admit that their collection was impressive. Great servers and subtle French ambiance. A great loss to Vancouver!
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Review from Adam P.
Vancouver, BC
9/12/2010
This has to be one of the freshest French restaurants in Vancouver. When you enter you're greeted with a fantastic decor which stimulates your senses immediately. We knew at once that we were in for a treat.
The ambience was just right. The music was obvious but not loud. The staff were welcoming and curteous.
We started off with a selection of cheeses. Be prepared to wait 15 minutes after ordering (this is important if you come in famished or plan to have the cheese selection as an after dinner treat. The reason for the wait is that their vast selection of cheeses (and it is vast!) are brought out to you at room temperature. Like many foods if cheese is consumed in cold state it does not allow you to experience the vast array of flavours. In any event, once the cheeses came out they were amazing.
A fine selection of earthy cheeses, abundant flavour and a modest selection of breads to accompany the cheese.
For an appetizer we shared the duck rillette. This saltry dish came out in a small mason jar. The flavour just exploded in your mouth. Not for those timid of duck fat, this is pure decadence.
Following this we had the Tuna Nicoise and the Station 7 Burger (the Station 7 is interestingly named after the local fire hall. Apparently the boys there came by the restaurant prior to its opening and entreated the owners to come up with a menu item that would be to their liking. I can't say if the firemen like it but I sure did!)
The only lull in our experience had to be the wine. Not that it was bad. We started with the house white. A crisp, fruity auromatic choice, it paired well with the cheeses. We were so smitten with it that we decided to have a second bottle, however the restaurant had run out of the house which was disappointing.
All around. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It was a hip twist on an old classic and a great concept.
Bon Appetit! -
Review from GB R.
Surrey, BC
5/3/2010
We were there on Saturday evening. What I loved about it was the 'pace of service' - they didn't rush us in, rush us out. They took their time and allowed us to enjoy the food and drink.
We got there around 5:45 PM and it was almost empty - and by about 8:00 PM - it was packed with people.
Would definitely go back. -
Review from caroline l.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 7/8/2010
Ever had a sides that are so wow, you keep on repeating "OH THESE ARE SO GOOD, WOW!" Well the highlight my halibut dish was not the Halibut, although it was very good, it was the cherry Tomatoes.
Tomatoes, really? you may say
Yes tomatoes. Once you put these in your mouth they pop and juices just flow out. Just try it and you'll know what I mean.Listed in: restaurant reviews
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/26/2010
Food
This place should be known for the oustanding drinks menu, the variety of drinks was amazing. I… Read more »
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Review from Jordan H.
3/17/2010
I love this place. Best Sazerac I can remember. The Pig's Ear and Beef Tartare was great too.
I've been back a few times but only to visit Donnie and have him whip me up another Sazerac. -
Review from Reena M.
5/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Food: The crab eggs benny I had were were quite nice. So were the waffles. However, portions were quite tiny, I don't think I would have gotten full off of just my eggs benny so I was glad we shared waffles too. Everything they serve is obviously of high quality. Their drinks list looks impressive.
I really love that they have purse hooks under the table. I wish more people had them. The colour scheme is gorgeous and somewhat of this place. But it does remind me of the menu colour scheme for Cascade Room. The bathrooms were pretty nice--primarily the faucet.Listed in: Sip & Grub in Downtown…
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Review from Jenna H.
Vancouver, BC
3/25/2010
Ok, maybe it was because my expectations were too high but I really did not think The Corner Suite was that great. It looks lovely inside and I adore the turquoise french style furnishing and decor. The service was charming and very attentive but the eggs benedict I ordered for brunch was pretty average especially for $12. The eggs where totally undercooked and the biscuit thing they were on was very dry and flaked everywhere when I cut into it. I also thought the menu selections were limited and not too exciting or inspired.
To be fair, I was also on a first date with a dude I wasn't that into so that made have skewed my experience ever so slightly! But still.
Even though my brunch experience did not wow me I will definitely be back to try the dinner menu which I heard is outstanding. Hopefully it will be on a better first date ;) -
Review from Shawn C.
Vancouver, BC
11/8/2010
This review is purely about the brunch... when I heard the Corner Suite was opening for brunch, I was hopeful, optimistic even; but after ordering the eggs benny (vegetarian option) on Sunday, I left still feeling hungry and ripped off. Portions were small, I was charged the same for the veggie option as if it had been the standard ham benny, and the menu was very limited.
Full review: http://bit.ly/b7UimM -
Review from TOMICA D.
Vancouver, BC
9/27/2010
I was really excited when this place opened up. I read about it on Vitamin Daily and couldn't wait to try it out. Interesting menu, great décor... This should be good. So I decided to make reservations and hoped for the best.
I absolutely loved the blue Louis XIVth style chairs and the vibe in general - but unfortunately that's where the love fest ended. We were on time for our reservation but they weren't ready to seat us so we had to wait an additional 40 minutes! We had a seat at the cramped bar and my hunger pangs soon developed into a headache. When they were ready to seat us they gave us a table next to the bathroom. Eww. Service was slow and just not that great. Food was OK. Prices were on the higher side and I was prepared to pay the price but great service should come with those prices. I was hoping for a 5 star dining experience but ended up a little disappointed. This was a few months back so I'm not sure if any of the staff has changed but according to other reviews it seems like everyone really enjoyed it and had a great experience.
Just a thought for restaurants to consider - if you're running late on someone's reservation, maybe give the customer some free appies to snack on? They will feel taken care of and most likely leave you a great tip (instead of complaining about late service)! -
Review from Dru C.
8/9/2010
This restaurant is AMAZING!! I love their style of French Cuisine. The bar is not a French Style, but they make great drinks!! Little bit pricey, but very unique and delicious hard liquor.
We started off with cheeses and we tried at least 7 different types. It was an amazing experince because the Epoisse was extremely stinky. My favourite cheese will be the Brie de Meaux. A very nice creamy taste with the bread.
I had a GREAT Beef Tartar and it was really savory to the touch. It filled my palette with amazing flavors. That was only just the starter of my meal! Their cold dishes were amazingly put and well made.
I had the scallops later, and the amazingly presented food was spectacular! The aroma of the vegetables really fused out, and the peas that was placed beside really complimented the scallops very well.
I enjoy the service the waitress gave us, she was very willing to always refill the bread basket and she was very nice and intutative with our group.
We will for sure go back again! -
Review from danna m.
Victoria, BC
5/3/2010
I have been waiting for this place to open all last year. Then I was waiting for a reason to go - but really, with a cheese selection like theirs (over 50 varieties) you don't need a reason. Just go!
I had the mini french onion soup that begged me to have more (I'm thinking lunchtime large size would be fab), followed by the green salad that was definitely more than just your mixed greens - beautiful bacon and walnuts make for savory happiness. And of course... cheese. delicious. cheese - with date bread.
The staff are knowlegdable and very accomodating especially about the novel-sized cocktail menu and cheese.
Did I mention the cheese? -
Review from Mandy R.
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just got word that this place has closed down. You are tearing me apart, Corner Suite! I was only maybe 10-20 drinks into the menu! I only lived within drunken-stumbling distance of this place for two months! The bartender once lit my manhattan on fire! My words make none of these because I can't see the computer machine through all the tears!
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Review from Rosemary L.
Vancouver, BC
5/12/2010
I went to this restaurant twice in one week. 1st time I went with a girlfriend and we had a great experience. We went on a Tues, was seated right away but had to wait a little while before the waitress came to get our drink orders. But the rest of the experience was very pleasant. The food was fantastic, knowledgeable staff and service was very friendly. It was so good that I decided to go back on Sat.
This time there were four of us. Again the food was fantastic but I cannot say the same about the service. The place seemed short staffed and it took a long time before our food came. The female waitress that serviced us was not that friendly and it took forever to wave her down and get our bill. Anyone wanting to go, I'd recommend you go on a week day when it is less busy. But I will most likely go back again for the food.
