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The Refinery
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants Tapas Bars Restaurants Modern European Wine Bars, Tapas Bars, Modern European [Edit]
1115 Granville StVancouver, BC V6Z 1M1
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
(604) 687-8001
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 1 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 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, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
Craft and Belgian beer, small-batch and organic wines, handcrafted tapas.... and painting. Take a deep breath, sit down, make yourself at home. Choose… read more »
75 reviews for The Refinery
Review Highlights
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"Cocktail Kitchen is once a week." In 3 reviews -
"and more drinks mixed with the house-made bitters." In 2 reviews -
"...pate, stuffed portebello, and tuna crudo, The pate was so..." In 4 reviews
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75 reviews in English
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Review from Spike S.
4/13/2012
Visiting Vancouver, looking for a place to drink and maybe grab a snack, we really wanted good drinks. Instead we got great drinks, some of the best. Joel is a nice guy and really creative mixologist (I still haven't got used to the word, but bartender does start to sound pedestrian) and the drinks, especially mine which was tequila-based, were stunning. The food was also very good - we had a flatbread, seared tuna and a salad. The salad was probably my favorite of the three, but I'm prejudiced because it had blue cheese. Service was very attentive, the only thing I didn't really care for were the club beats, something a little more chill would suit the quality of the food and drinks.
Oh, and if you're going for the first time, it's really confusing because there's two spots owned by the same people. The one downstairs (Sip) feels like a sports bar, take the stairs to the right of Sip to get to The Refinery. -
Review from Andrea R.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2012
I wish Yelp let us give half stars. I wouldn't give it a 4, but I would give it a solid 3.5.
Highlights:
1. The menu has some great choices, I love the options for small/big tapas and I feel like it has something for everyone.
2. I REALLY like the decor. It's got old school wood stairs leading up, and I just think the atmosphere was chill and old-style modern (if that's even a thing?). It's not modern and sleek, but it is in a rustic-kind of way. I think it would make a fantastic date place, and I would likely come back.
3. The fried risotto balls - oh my god. Just give me like 30 of them and leave me be. I don't need anything else!
4. The portion size for the lamb chops was great, 3 big pieces, although they were pretty fatty in my opinion.
5. Our server was nice and attentive, not too in-your-face, not absent, but at the same time not overly engaging (not that it is necessarily a bad thing).
Lowlights:
1. It's pretty pricey... the seared scallops are like $14 or $16 and you get 3 tiny pieces, like tiny. Definitely half-bites...see #2
2. The portion sizes don't seem to be standard across the board... the lamb was huge, pricey but you get a good chunk of meat while the scallops were basically the same in price and if you put all 3 pieces together your mouth still wouldn't be full.
Basically, the food was good, but I am demoting them from a 4 to a 3 because of the random portion sizes for pretty expensive dishes. That being said, I would go back, but be mindful of what I ordered. -
Review from Brittany D.
4/2/2012
My girls and I had always wanted to go to The Refinery but in the past there were problems with reservations so we usually ended up at the resto/lounge downstairs, Sip. So we were stoked to try it when the Groupon came out, and made plans to have a nice dinner there before seeing a play.
The restaurant has a cozy layout but it's quite small. In fact, they use the seat cushions as storage so my seat was a little unstable, although my friend's seat wasn't. The dining room really gave the feel of a nice restaurant except for the servers who were dressed overly casually, like a bright striped oversized sweater and leggings that looked like pajamas more than something you'd serve in. They definitely seemed out of place considering the atmosphere and the garb of all of the clients.
Speaking of the service, it put a real damper on the night. The first man who greeted us seemed enthusiastic until we mentioned our Groupon, to which he replied "Of course, everyone has a Groupon." This is kind of a pet peeve of mine since the service should actually be better in this situation given that most Groupon users are first timers. Customers shouldn't be punished for getting a discount.
Sure enough, we heard several other patrons using their Groupons, which seemed to be a confusion for the staff since each server told us different restrictions for its use. Also, we were waited on by no less than 4 different people, and I honestly couldn't tell you who exactly they were but none of them were any better than the others. They lacked personality, or even politeness, taking our orders with stern faces and nonchalant nods of the head.
The food was delicious, although really pricey for it was. The desserts were heavenly! I had the pot de crème and my friend had the cinnamon bun cheesecake. The drinks were really complex but really great. You might need someone to explain some of the ingredients to you if you're not a bartender, or maybe just look them up on your smartphone since it'll be more helpful than the servers.
Bottom line, I'd rather go downstairs to Sip than go back here. -
Review from Erin U.
5/9/2012
Went for some late night drinks after dinner at sip, was super empty but it was a weekday and it was really late. We were ridiculously silly drunk and the staff were awesome and laughed with us(or at us more likely) nonetheless we had a blast! haha Will definitely have to go again to give it another chance and remember it better this time but I know the decor was lovely, the seats were comfy, the drinks were good,the staff were happy and fun, and the music was killer!! Luckily I was in the best company in the world so it didnt matter that noone else was there :-)
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Review from Paula P.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2012
I have been to the Refinery twice - once for Cocktail Kitchen and once for Dine Out....I had an amazing experience each time. Let me be honest - I like to say I'm a wine drinker....but then I also enjoy a lot of different beers (Vancouver Craft Beer Week - I'm talking to you!) but then again, I can really get down on a good cocktail and this place has 'em in spades.....
Cocktail Kitchen pits local bartenders against one another week after week with a specialty menu that requires pairing. To make things a bit trickier, each cocktail pairing must contain one of the Refinery's house made bitters (that's what's in those glass jars decorating the walls people) and often a secret ingredient.....
It's a fun and exciting challenge and a prix fixe meal that includes your drinks (they are a bit small - I'd recommend trying that fantastic cocktail menu while you wait!).
For Dine Out there were wine or cocktail pairings - these suckas were not small - full sized cocktail pairings with each course (plus the two I had before dinner) made this a great night. My dining companion Muffin Cat and I decided to lie to her boyfriend about how much we spent on booze at a Dine Out dinner....but I'm pretty sure by the time we got to him, it was obvious....
Anyway, I digress - come to this place for the cocktails, stay for the food (and more cocktails). They make some beautiful flatbread pizzas, great pasta and have the one thing I require out of a restaurant - carpaccio.
I will return AND recommend!Listed in: Great Dates!
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Review from Amy T.
3/12/2012
I've never eaten at The Refinery and what better way to try out a place then with a LivingSocial coupon. The deal was for 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and 2 alcoholic beverages (you can go for non alcoholic, but why would you do that??) for $44.
My husband and I ended up sharing everything and here's the verdict:
Appee
Beef Carpaccio - needed a bit more flavor, maybe more salt and parmesan?
Seared Ahi Tuna slices - perfect amount of capers, shallots and olives. Seared perfectly, but a bit too much olive oil
Entree
Gnocchi - cooked with spinach, bacon, pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes and parmigiano. It was the best dish out of the bunch and had a nice crust on the outside of the gnocchi, while remaining fluffy inside.
Halibut with barley risotto - the halibut was a little overcooked, but the risotto was plate scraping good.
Dessert
Cinnamon bun cheesecake - came with 2 slices and was surprisingly good. Not too rich, but was delicious.
Walnut brownie - warm on the inside and not overly sweet topped with sangria ice cream. Yum!
The place is great for a date night out as it was lively and fun, but never too loud where you can't hear your dining companion. I base how much I like a place by thinking to myself, would I come back and pay full price. The answer is yes. -
Review from Ben C.
3/10/2012
Look, do you want quality or quantity?!
---------
Relax, you can have both here and with the service to go with it. The Refinery is located right in the middle of some of my favourite places to have a meal. It's staff are stylish and capable.
The mixologist behind the bar knows what time it is, try anything on the Special cocktails list and i'm sure it'll have you saying "hmm, never had this - BUT I LIKE IT!"
Don't forget about the brownie with the sangria ice cream, it's the perfect end to a fantastic meal. -
Review from M R.
Greater Vancouver Regional District, BC
5/11/2012
Went here after work with a few girlfriends...and had a great time! I was really impressed with how friendly and nice the staff was. My iphone actually ran out of battery and one of the managers/workers(?) overheard me and brought me a charger!! Granted it wasn't busy...I don't expect they would do that when it's busy...but it was a little gesture that made me feel like a valued customer.
The food is a lil on the more expensive side of things...but delicious. Overall, I thought it was a great atmosphere with good food :) -
Review from Caesar R.
4/1/2012
The place felt like it was trying to be clubby yet farm to table. There was a very odd dichotomy with jars of pickled and preserved vegetables and other produce separating the front rustic room from the back broom with a more clubby feeling. Service was super friendly from the time of arrival to leaving, therefore on this aspect alone, FIVE STARS!
We tried a few dishes. All were tasty. We tried the prosciutto flat bread, the meatballs, the scallops (less than stellar) and a larger course of lamb that was on the specials menu at the time. This lamb dish proved to be a difficult one for the kitchen to get out in a timely manner so the manager was kind enough (5 star service nod) to swoop in with a gratis plate of beef carpaccio.
For my first dining out experience in Vancouver, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this place and would recommend it to others headed to the area. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I remember the Refinery fondly as the "Sugar Refinery." For those of you young 'uns on yelp--ask the bartender about those days. it was ultra-hip and cool and well, fun...from what I can remember. Yes, those were the days (sigh).
But not unlike the clientele from back then, the Refinery is all grown up. (However, the clientele now is just as young and cool). The staff is welcoming and friendly. The wine selection was great and reasonably priced. The food looked delish, and I must remember to return again to try it out sometime.
The place was warm and welcoming, but the windows to the street were shaded by a "partition of sorts" when I visited on a bright week night. In spite of the Granville "cheesiness" I found this to make the place seem a bit dull and claustrophobia- inducing; this was probably the opposite effect of what was intended.
It was pretty quiet inside compared to so many neighbouring bars, and I suspect this might be the reason why. I get the "hidden" aspect, but do you really want to serve only two sets of customers on a weeknight during a busy Spring Break?
I found it odd that there was only one female b.r. too.
Other than that, I'd return, but next time, I hope that they keep the front area open, as it just might lure in some more customers. The Refinery is a cute little gem, and with all of the new places opening up in Vancouver, I hope that it keeps "refining" itself, too. -
Review from Antonia U.
Burnaby, BC
2/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
My Yelp buddy and I decided to come here during Dine Out and I'm glad we did.
The beef carpaccio starter was delicious and served with olive oil, garlic aioli on top of arugula. The roasted halibut was perfect: it was so soft on the inside.
The table next to me had a plate of the cinnamon bun cheese cake and it looked so good that I had to get that as my dessert. I thought that they were just sharing the plate and each of them had a slice, but no, my dessert came and there were two slices on the plate! It was so smooth and sweet, but not too rich. I was sad when I finally finished the dessert. The dinner was definitely a good size since I wasn't left hungry nor was there food leftover.
My cocktail for the evening was a Chambord Manhattan which was paired on the menu with the beef carpaccio but I took my time sipping it because it was so good. -
Review from Edward L.
Came here for a private party.
Parking along Granville is a free-for-all during most evenings. Good luck.
The front entrance is quite difficult to locate. We walked right past it. It's located literally directly above Sip, if that helps.
For food, our host had an appetizer platter made. It was mediocre at best. The vegetables were all soggy. Somewhat disappointing.
I had the bartender mix up a "strong drink". It was a shot of JD mixed with something out a green mystery bottle. Hopefully it wasn't antifreeze. Came to $4.50. Not bad!
My biggest problem (though this is not the only place guilty of this) is that the music is too freaking loud. I couldn't hear anything, and had to shout in people's ears. Yes there's a DJ there (and he's quite good, hello Snoop Dogg, blast from the past), but seriously, please turn it down a notch.
The other thing I didn't like is that the interior is quite plain. Yes, it's supposed to look like a refinery, but putting 500 glass jars filled with random food items on the shelves on the wall doesn't cut it. It makes the place look like a 1800s supermarket instead. This place needs some help in the branding department.
Overall the experience was okay, but it was nothing memorable at all. There are better places in town. -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
1/29/2012 1 photo
If you like the nightlife vibe, come here during the week for a toned down version! Located above its sister restaurant SIP Lounge, Refinery is the only spot on Granville that offers a cocktail kitchen with exquisite, hand-crafted cocktails by Mixologist Graham Racich and a surprisingly delicious menu of share plates and mains - perfect for lounging in a trendy-casual environment for dinner and late night to some house music back beats.
I`ve been here a few times for casual drinks, but this was the first time I ate from their menu and I must say, I was definitely impressed by the food! We ordered one of the Dine Out menus and a few items from the regular menu:
- Smashed Peas & Prosciutto bruschetta - Recommend!
- Beef carpaccio olive oil, garlic aioli, aged cheddar, arugula - Very fresh
- Seared Tuna Albacore Tuna
- Braised Beef Short Ribs - Tender and deliciously soaked in onion gravy!
- Chocolate Pot de Creme
- My Marma -Lady. Well-crafted, giving us an usual first taste with the peach bitters, but brilliant aftertaste.
- Lavare - Vodka, lavender syrup, grapefruit
Overall, their tapas and share plates are very well portioned and reasonably-priced - I'd say they're quite 'guy-friendly' (aka. good portions).
We unintentionally confused the server with our order and she was extremely accommodating, helpful and generous to us. Great experience, and I definitely recommend it. Will be back!
Comparable to: The Diamond, but with better custom cocktails, food and music. -
Review from Eric C.
Vancouver, BC
2/22/2012
Let me start off with saying, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Here is a recap of my experience at the Refinery:
I went in for the Living Social Dinner for 2.
The hostess sat my girlfriend down and explained to her the menu, but the way the hostess was standing prevented me from sitting down, and she was not facing me, so when i finally sat down, she had left and I had heard 0 words from their conversation...not very professional, but hey...I was a server and host before too...let is slide...
Food is just OK (not horrible, but not great). The Duck Appy was not tender and was slightly overcooked...very slightly...it was a bit chewy but acceptable. The Halibut was overcooked. The risotto they make here is hit or miss; The one with the Halibut was nice and original. The one with the Duck Confit was undercooked and tasteless. The salad...well...just a salad... definitely not stellar. Also how come our meals got delivered with a random order of appetizers and main courses? I guess its treated like a Tapa's menu...fine ok.
Now our server...we asked for the bill cause we had to be somewhere in 10 minutes...well that 10 minutes definately passed, and another 10 minutes passed before we asked her again...not only can you tell she was trying to hold her attitude in...but for the past 5 minutes she was just chatting with another employee...
We proceeded to only give her a 10% tip on the total before the coupon because of the poor service, and more attitude came our way.
There's plenty of restos in Vancouver, and this one is definitely a non repeat for me -
Review from Aaron H.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Brilliant service. During the wait we were served Champaign and hors d'oeuvres, and even treated to a wonderful cocktail from the owner himself. The food was excellent and fun atmosphere. They love what they do here! Definite returning customer.
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Review from Nick R.
Burnaby, BC
12/17/2011
The Refinery is really awesome (despite all the Granville mayhem going on around it). It's not a cheap meal, but you definitely receive good quality food and service.
I've been back a couple of times, and on each occasion the food was top-notch. I particularly recommend the flatbread (simple, yet bloody amazing), the bacon wrapped scallops, and the fried scamorza cheese. I'd come back here and eat fried cheese here every day, but then I'd be dead in 5 years. I'll have to settle for once in a while.
My friends and I came on a Tuesday, so bottles of wine were 40% off. That's a great promotion 'cause you can pop a couple bottles open without worrying about the cost too much. More fun that way. =)
Lastly, our server was a rockstar. He totally nailed every aspect of the evening. -
Review from Rhett W.
Vancouver, BC
2/21/2012
Great, affordable food and creative cocktails. Very friendly staff.
You can see my full review on my blog (view my profile). -
Review from Suzanne D.
New Westminster, BC
3/29/2012
Carmilized Onion and Goat Cheese Bruchetta - OMG Heavenly! We went to The Refinery last night with a living social voucher. The staff were warm and welcoming and very helpful with suggestions as thier cocktails are not your regular fare. Both our cocktails - mine from the dessert menu - Paddington Station? - and my husband's were very tasty and strong. This is a good thing as I like to get a bit of a buzz on.
The tapas were also delicious and the chocolate cheesecake dessert huge and wonderful with it's caramel sauce but the winner by far was the Bruchetta or Bruchette that was recently added to the menu. The onions melted in my mouth and the mix of sweet onions, raspberry flavour and goat cheese with the crusty bread had my husband and I fighting over the last bite! We actually had to order a second order it was so great! Had me inspired to pay more attention to my own cooking as the flavour creation was what made the difference. Bravo to the team at The Refinery. We will be back! -
Review from Andrea L.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2012
I love most of my dine out experience aside from the fact that it was quite rushed.
LOVED my seared tuna appetizer.
It's a cute quaint little place to have a nice dinner.
No better time to try it than Dine Out Vancouver! :) -
Review from Alicyn C.
3/5/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Now this was not the first time I had been here but this was the first time that I actually had a full meal at The Refinery. We came during the dine-out Vancouver and ordered off of the set menu. The food was ok, not the greatest but it was ok. Would I go back for a full meal, probably not but I would go for appy's and of course a bevy or two.
I absolutely love the space and they get extra points for their simple yet beautiful interior design.
Now here comes the kicker. The most entertaining part of the evening. So after our meal I decided I should go and use the washroom. Nice little washroom it was until I went to leave. I went to turn the door knob to have the door knob break from the door and no means of getting out of the bathroom. It was quite the entertaining dilemma. Those who were with me had already left the restaurant and were waiting for me outside on Granville Street and well the washrooms are right across from the kitchen so no one would hear me in there. So my solution.. call my friends thinking that someone will pick up their phone. First call, no answer, second call, no answer, finally on my 3rd call my friend picked up and I said I have a bit of a problem. I am stuck in the washroom and have no way of getting out. So my friend goes back upstairs and talks to someone working there and says we have an issue, my friend has called me and she is stuck in your washroom. Finally, someone from the restaurants knocks on the door and opens the door for me. I handed him the broken door knob, he apologized for what had happened and I said no worries and went on my way.
I left the restaurant with an amusing story and a good laugh. -
Review from Robin M.
8/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Let's think about this for a moment, shall we? I'm not a Granville kinda girl. I'm just not. I don't like being herded into one specific area of a city to do all of my drinking, fooding, wining and dining. Entertainment district, my ass. You know what it's really called?
It's a ghetto. The Granville Ghetto.
But in every ghetto is a bit of fabulous - that twinkle, that bling, the little bit of sparkle that brightens up an otherwise predominately uninspired and intensely vapid street. Once I walk up that long flight of familiar steps at the Refinery, I know that I'm about to be taken care of. I know that my cocktail awaits.
Or wine. Either or.
Arguably the best seat in the house, the bar is most definitely *the* spot to get the intel on the what's-what of the drink menu (and if you're lucky, the what's-what on the "unofficial" menu as well). Craft cocktails may be in their infancy in our fine town, but the bartenders here have it straight-up locked. down. Fuzzy what now? So long as it's cool, crisp and clean I'm game for trying your drink. And try I do.
Don't want a cocktail, but in the mood for wine? There's a right answer for what I want. Bet you didn't know that, did you? They did. Yet to be led astray, I trust my taste-buds in the capable hands and creative minds of the (wo)man behind their bar. It's that good.
Inevitably the enticing plates of tempting food that make their way out the kitchen door, past the walls lined with wine bottles and finally to the table full of fancy women enjoying their "girls night out" will lure me in. Seasonal, fresh AND a cured meat option? I'm having my own ladies night just thinking about it.
This is no aspiring ghettofabulist, my friends. No, the Refinery is the real deal. -
Review from Ellen L.
12/1/2011
Came in on a Mad Hatter Wednesday. The restaurant staff and some of the patrons were sporting some interesting headpieces. The rooster was pretty memorable - how cocky! :P
I wasn't feeling the best and to be honest, the food had TOO much flavour for me. I know I know, like what?!?!?!?! It had too much going on, and the sick me couldn't take it - the herbs, seasoning, spices, etc. Bf was happily munching away though, so I can only imagine the normal me would love the food here. So take this review with a grain of salt. My favourite was the Duck Breast. Great balance of lean and fat; but could be more tender.
Portion is small and on the expensive side. If you're also going to drink, be prepared to drop some loonies. Not sure if I can say it's worth it. -
Review from Roanna Z.
9/30/2011
As we climbed the unfinished wood stairs up to The Refinery, I recalled a similar impression from a previous visit. I asked myself the same question; why would you want your entrance to be so blah? Maybe it's all about setting our expectations low so that we can be super surprised by the dramatic ambiance and the amazing food upstairs! (Yeah, that must be it.)
As you arrive at the top, you almost immediately forget where you are. From the first site of the finished driftwood column, warmly lit at the bottom, to the wooden slats, sleek bar, the wall of wine and the rows of jars with curious herbal concoctions, the room takes form and you know you've arrived at a place of significance.
The Refinery prides itself on serving delicious and well presented meals that have been created with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The service is pleasant and informed.
Our table enjoyed the Gnocchi, with it's aged cheeses and truffle oil undertones, the Pork tenderloin medallions served on a bed of blanched Brussels sprouts and astonishing pear puree.
In my opinion, The Refinery deserves the accolades it seems to receive. -
Review from Laura B.
11/25/2011
We picked the Refinery to launch a girls night with dinner/ drinks for a weekend away in Vancouver. It's a very nice place on Granville, and seemed more like a bar that belonged in Gastown.
The cocktails were really good and our waitress was fantasic at recommending them. This place is a bit pricey - we racked up a hefty tab between the 3 of us, but for a night out - it was worth it. The tapas style food was great. I loved the spice oft the salami flat bread especially.
The only odd thing about this place is we made a reservation for 5:30pm on Open Table and the place was dead! They didn't have any reservations available in the 6 - 7 o'clock hours, but no one seemed to come in during that time. I think Canada doesn't quite get happy hours, because it seemed like this place needed one to get things going a little earlier in the afternoon.
Loved the decor too.Listed in: Weekends Away
-
Review from Evilyn T.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I met up with two of my girlfriends here after work to kick-off the holiday season. Nothing says Xmastime more than stuffing your face full of food until you feel sick, so why not get a head start? I was pretty stoked to check this place out since I had read so many positive reviews online. I gotta say, I probably woulnd't have even noticed this place (or found it) if I had not read the reviews about the little door that was not marked. There was a small sanwhich board outside, and a lady all bundled-up moved in front of the door when I approached it. Confused, I pointed to the door since she didn't say anything but just proceeded to block me from enterting, and since it was my first time coming to the Refinery I wasn't sure if this was the right door or not. I was just about to ask if I could come in when she asked me "Refinery?" to which I mummbled "uuuuhhhh yea?"
She walked in front of me to the top of the stairs and stopped, and then she took my jacket for me and hung it up. There was no one at the top of the stairs, just a long bar with some guy behind it, so I was a bit confused as to why there was no podium for reservations, or signage saying "please wait to be seated" so I kinda peeked my head around and walked in wondering if I should just seat myself? Then a lady approached and I saw that my friend had been seated so I stroled over to the table to sit with her. We ordered a round of drinks (most cocktails start at about $11) mine had pear in it and was pretty ok. We ordered up some spicy green beans, hummus, risotto balls, and prawsn (for the meat eaters). The hummus was kind of bland, but they did bring us extra crackers when they saw that we ran out. The green beans were good, and definitely spicy, but the risotto balls were my favourite, they were veggie, but I can't remember what was in them?
The Refinery was okay, I liked the decor and the way the restaurant was set up, but I gotta admit I didn't feel super welcomed when I first arrived. I mean, when you only have a door with no ground level signage and people aren't sure where you are, its probably a good idea to make them feel like they are in the right place, rather than making them feel awkward and unsure. I would like to go back and try some of the other veggie options cuz they do sound good, but its not the first thing on my to-do list. -
Review from Kai C.
Vancouver, BC
6/15/2011
If you are a flavor-lover and flavor analyzer, you're going to love The Refinery. The art and science of flavors gets top attention here.
In my opinion, they have the best original and intricately well flavoured drinks are made here. Lauren Mode does a great job of the mixology with her own house-made liquors and infusions that gets your taste bud and foodie brain sparked with flavor and intrigue. The drink list changes periodically, to reflect the season or ingredients.
I love knowing that I'm getting drinks that I know where the ingredients came from and made recently in house, made by passionate artists and crafters, such as Lauren and Graham. My friends and I were treated to the Casa Bella shooter on our last visit, which is a delish recipe created by Graham. One of my friends who normally isn't big on mixed shooters actually exclaimed, "wow, that was the best shooter I've ever had!" Now, if you knew him, you'd know that is a huge compliment!
The bonus? Food is wonderful as well, seasonal and local, pairs well with the drinks. I was fortunate enough to share a variety of appetizers, all well made and flavored, my favorite being the BC Spot prawn ceviche tartar.
Also, they have a great cozy atmosphere that is chill while the sun is out still, and gets cozy at night. DJ on friday nights energizes the space.
Look forward to my next visit, friendly team and atmosphere, what's not to love. oh, and getting to hear Lauren's awesome sultry voice too! haha I still think she could be a singer or somethin' ;) -
Review from Kat S.
Updated - 3/16/2011 1 photo
I have now tried the delicious food here, and a couple more delightful cocktails. The Woodlands Sour is cramazing (crazy amazing).
The gorgonzola gnocchi kicks ass. The cheese is a little crusty and gooey at the same time. The gnocchi is cooked just right. I just wish there was more of it, because sharing this was difficult as I wanted it all.
My friend and I also tried the veggie flatbread. This was also delightful, though I thought the price a tad high. Overall, very good.
The bathroom is nice and clean, but watch the lock, it's a tough one.
I will be back, especially to check out their Cocktail Kitchen series. Mmmm.Listed in: Vegetarian Friendly Options, Treat Yourself
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/9/2010
I stopped in here on Wednesday for a quick cocktail with a friend on a rainy night. Thankfully they… Read more »
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Review from Matt C.
Vancouver, BC
5/6/2011
The Refinery gets 5 stars just on the cocktails created by the amazing Lauren Mote alone. The drinks at refinery I would have to say are top 1 or 2 in the city. They are unreal, thanks to the incredibly acclaimed Lauren and her team.
The Refinery also has one of the most innovative concepts in Vancouver's food/drink scene: Cocktail Kitchen
Try to keep up here:
Cocktail Kitchen is once a week. Each week is new bartender. The bartender has to create three cocktails that are paired with three dishes that have been pre-selected, and run for a one month duration. The alcohol (a specific brand of vodka, gin, tequila etc) is also pre-selected for the month, of which they must create the pairing cocktails with. So once a week you can participate in this and get three courses and three amazing cocktails all for $30..huge win. -
Review from Vanessa D.
Vancouver, BC
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good stuff!
Hand crafted, gourmet cocktails and charcuterie, two of my favourite things! My stingy, cheap-ass, inner American still cringes at an $11 drink though.
The service was fantastic! The waiter was helpful, friendly and funny.
We ordered the pate, stuffed portebello, and tuna crudo, The pate was so tasty it sparked a week long craving. The mushroom was was cooked the perfect amount and the stuffing had just the right touch of spice. Perhaps I have been spoiled by living in Vancouver, but the salmon was merely adequate (the accompaniments were great, but the tuna was simply another chunk of fish).
Our cocktails were lovely, the Woodland Sour and the Gunpowder were the most memorable. Mixed perfectly! I will certainly be ordering them again! -
Review from Sarah O.
2/2/2011
So I've been here many times before but only for drinks and a few appetizers. The elite event here last year was awesome (read: MAKERS MARK flowing all night long! Absolute heaven) and I remember enjoying their food (esp.the flatbread).
Last night I revisited this old gem to try out their dine-out menu. Now, with all 3 course meals, my judging criteria tends to become more lenient due to taste-bud confusion tactics, but more importantly, I have never found any place that had 3 consecutive courses come out exceptionally delicious. At the Refinery, it was yet again the same old song.. I enjoyed the meal okay but again, nothing really stood out.
For the first course, I tried their award-winning tuna dish and yes, I have to admit that I need to stop ordering tuna because I don't really like tuna.. but this one is something I would not order again. The fennel root was super duper sour and everything on the dish had such a huge contrast in taste from each other. Imagine: raw, soft tuna, extremely sour, barely cooked fennel root, limp pear, sweet tangerine and garli aioli.. how do I eat this? They won some best tuna dish contest for this.. so probably I'm the one with the problem. If you're an adventurous tuna-lover, maybe you should go try this...
On to the second dish: Braised short rib with spicy polenta. Sounds promising. But the portions were tiny and the polenta was very dry.. a little underwhelming. The dessert and my wine was maybe my favorite part, some kind of upside down pie with tart cranberries, paired with my Gamay Noir. Our server was terrific and I always enjoy the atmosphere here, but as far as value and taste of food goes, I might just pass next time. A better place for post-dinner drinks.
However!
On Wednesdays, they have a 3 course meal special WITH 3 wine pairings, all for $35... that sounds a little too good to be true.. I'll have to investigate, next Wednesday.Listed in: Oat Sodas And Good Company.
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Review from Reena M.
2/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
What? I didn't review the Refinery yet?? Largely because the two other times I had been there, they were for events (Yelp Elite Event and VCBW). But I enjoyed the experience thoroughly because of the venue. The food they served at both events were superb and the cocktails prepared by Lauren, the bartender were so friggin' amazing that I wanted to come back.
So I came for Dine Out earlier this week, as well as to celebrate. We shared a Dine Out 3 course and a prosciutto flat bread. The appetizer was a tuna crudo with a marinated fennel, lemon aioli, peach slices, and parsnip (maybe?). It was so delicious! I'm even drooling right now ask I type this. The flat bread was fantastic as well! What an amazing combination--prosciutto, pear, gorgonzola, caramelized onions! So delicious!
For mains we shared the braised beef short ribs.. it wasn't quite as tender as I was used to--it was a little more together, than flaky. It was good, but not my favorite. The polenta fries it came with were quite delicious, on the other hand.
And for dessert, we shared the profiteroles. They were good, and you could tell they were house made as the creme/custard inside tasted very fresh. But I think in retrospect, I would have preferred the Tarte Tatin which was made with pears.
Oh, and the cocktails? We got 4 different ones between the two of us. I started with the Tung Ting Fizz which was quite delicious and perfect to start with. It had a good balance of sweet, tart, and alcohol. My dining partner had the N'Orleans which was really strong, and I think it would have looked better served in a shorter glass because it was in an already short glass, but was only half full since it was concentrated in liquors.
The second one I had was the BC Woodlands--fantastic! It wasn't too sweet and definitely had a woody character to it. My dining partner got the Jamaican Diablo, and that was perfect! It was spicy, sweet, tart. Everything.
Refinery, I shall be back.Listed in: Sip & Grub in Downtown…, Yelpage, Date Night in Vancouver
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Review from Gale L.
Vancouver, BC
4/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Project: Please those wanting to watch hockey and those wanting to eat before attending Obakki's fashion show - The Refinery's lounge fit the bill.
Plates were nicely presented and tasty. Fries, perogies w/ sausage and calamari w/ corn and black bean salsa were good.
Service was terrific and the atmosphere pleasant. -
Review from Jules M.
Vancouver, BC
8/16/2010 4 Check-ins Here
There are not many places that will get me back out on Granville Street on a busy night, however The Refinery is just one such place.
First introduced to me by a friend last year, my only disappointment was that I hadn't discovered it earlier. GM Lauren Mote runs an impressive bar program, sourcing local and organic products to create an ever changing seasonal cocktail list... as well as making her own bitters to complement whatever concoction is being brewed.
The restaurant was designed with the environment in mind, so not only is the menu sustainable, so is the space it occupies. Whether you're sat at the "long table" in the middle of the room, or tucked into a booth, the space welcomes you, as you sip one of Lauren's famous cocktails (I'm a sucker for the Sake Sour or for allowing Lauren to decide!) or tuck into their 'market-style' menu. I'm a huge fan of charcuterie and cheese plates, accompanied by a glass of wine and conversation, and this is the perfect place to meet up with friends, or simply grab a quick nibble and a cocktail. The staff are attentive and friendly, and it is just one of those places that makes you want to keep coming back. -
Review from Allison F.
10/25/2010
Came here on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday party. Thankfully we had made reservations as the front of the restaurant was booked for a private party and the back only has a few tables available.
The restaurant itself is very modern but homey. Giant displays of wine bottles separate the front room from the back and there's an Olympic torch encased above the walkway.
The wine list is fairly extensive with a good variety of both by the glass and by the bottle selections. We chose the Pinot Noir by See Ya Later Ranch and the Gamay Noir by Dessert Hills. Both were fabulous and definitely worth the $40/bottle price tags. The cocktail list is very unique and I like that they
The food menu has items that seem like tapas but portions for some definitely act as full meals. The charcuterie boards come with tons of meats and cheeses and accompaniments, along with what looks like 3/4 of a baguette. Pizzas arrive on long wooden boards and everything is under $20.
For dessert, I would highly recommend the profiteroles. Heaven. 5 plump 'cream puffs' arrive in a mason jar, drizzled with chocolate and amaretto sauce. They were almost like Timbits and it kinda made me sad that I chose to share these instead of hoard them all to myself. Definitely save room for these!
The restaurant itself gets to be super noisy and so it's not best for intimate dates, though we did see quite a few be seated while we were there. Overall everything was fabulous and I would definitely return for an evening of drinks and delights!Listed in: Wine = Mine
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Review from Ramon V.
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow. Bartender attitude as soon as we walked in. And it didn't get any better.
I would have left immediately if it weren't for the fact that the four of us were meeting another table of 6 already seated.
We told the hostess that were hoping to join another party that had already been seated. She informed us that we couldn't squeeze in next to them, but would have to wait, or take a table at the other end of the restaurant. We were fine with it, but before she could finish, the burly bartender yelled "They can't sit there!". That silenced us, and we sheepishly asked if we could site at the 4 lone seats at the bar instead. No niceties from the bartender while we entered his arena. After a round of drinks, we noticed that the table beside our other group had opened up. It had been vacant for 5 minutes when someone tried to make their way over there. That wasn't too well-received by the bar guy and again he yelled over everyone "You can't sit there yet!". Again, we were silenced, and waited another 10 minutes before the waitress finally gave us the green light.
There are too many other options close by to make me even think about returning. -
Review from Miranda L.
Vancouver, BC
7/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I normally avoid Granville St. at night like the plague, but I'm happy to brave the rowdy crowds to get into this place.
The Refinery is tucked away up on the second floor, and is home to what I consider to be the very best cheese & charcuterie tasting room/market style eatery in Vancouver.
The experience starts when you walk in the door - the design of the space from the floor up is simple and complete eye candy for anyone who appreciates beautiful interior design. Then comes the food... while tasting plates seem easy, there really is an art to pulling together the right pairs. I highly recommend letting the chef choose your options rather than going it your own, you won't be disappointed there.
In addition to your meat and cheese boards (depending on how many of you there are and what you're sharing), starting with one of the many salads is a good choice (I loved the raspberry ginger salmon salad when I had it recently), and adding one of the savoury flatbreads is a good addition as well.
Finally, at the end of your meal, please please do not leave without ordering the Goat Cheese Cheesecake.
I don't hand out "my very favourite..." often - and I mean it when I say that something is the best there is. This dessert is the best way to end a meal in the entire city.
Handmade goat cheese cheesecake with a caramel almond crust and sour cherries... it sounds so simple, doesn't it? Nothing I can say in words can describe the contents of this little plate, and the fact that everything else is incredible only adds to it.
We've had great service every time we've been, and the prices are on the high side but for me completely worth it for a great night out.
So - Go! Go for dinner, and if you can't make it for dinner, head for drinks and the cheesecake if nothing else. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2010 6 Check-ins Here
oooh, grrr! I didn't want to like you, Refinery! This used to be a dark, moody coffee shop/bar when I was a goth teenager and we would come here to smoke clove cigarettes, write poetry and drink endless espresso. I wanted to hate this gentrified, upmarket lounge/restaurant for re-opening and commandeering the beloved old name and jumping up and down on my old memories. But I can't!
S and I walked in for a drink on a Friday night at 9pm, and were seated right away. The decor is a little "Las Vegas Italian restaurant" for me, but it has its charm.
The staff were extremely knowledgable and friendly! S was boring and ordered a Krusovice (a little excessively priced at 9 bux) but I wanted something unique. I ordered the "Bittered Sling" - a combination of citrus, egg white and one of about 10 housemade bitters, with the spirit that they then feel is best with your choice.
I went for the grapefruit and fennel bitters, and asked for vodka, but the waitress lovingly and reassuringly told me to trust her - she would make me like gin (even though I loathe it.) Not convinced but wanting to appear game, I capitulated - and I'm happy I did! A frothy, lemony delight arrived, and I the gin mixed so well with the lemon and grapefruit that I truly was not offended by it. My only complaint was the lack of fennel taste - it was so subtle as to not even seem to be there. More fennel please!
A great experience for drinks, with great music playing - I will be back to try what looks like a fabulous menu. My goth teenaged self, however, will be grumbling at me for selling out. Does it ever do anything but? :)Listed in: My Very Favourites
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Review from Jena J.
Vancouver, BC
9/26/2011
i liked the music, decor and the service was great... the only thing was the menu was not to vegan friendly not that that's a bad thing, i just have food allergies. BUT that aside it was lovely!
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Review from ruggy j.
3/10/2010
I had a chance to sneak into The Refinery during one of the craziest weekends in Vancouver history, so it's really hard to balance this review accordingly. Perhaps a second visit will do the trick, which I look forward to immensely.
Situated right, smack dab in the centre of they city, they sit atop a glam-sleazy nightclub that attracts young men sporting tight v-neck tee shirts and scantily clad women with a penchant for apple-tinis and glasses of chardonnay. I really don't know if the two spaces are owned by the same group or not, but The Refinery is definitely yin to their first floor neighbour's yang.
Being that the craft cocktail scene is in its infancy around the streets of Vancouver, The Refinery is getting into the game early. Of course, NY and SF lead the charge in this arena, but in the lower mainland of British Columbia, there are but a handful of spots whipping up these kinds of cocktails.
I must admit, I can't remember exactly what made up the contents of my adult libation, but I do know it tasted damn good and contained egg whites. It wasn't because I was too sauced to remember, but because the bartender took it upon herself to make us a mystery cocktail, and I couldn't quite decipher what the drink was called, because it was as loud as a Nick Jonas bris in the middle of a junior high school quad. Again, being that it was the host city for the Olympics, the chaos was to be expected. My pals who were also in attendance gave their drinks the ol' nod of approval as well (and we're all pretty critical when it comes to fancy pants drinks), which leads me to believe they're doing big things over there at the Refinery.
Not sure when I'll return to Vancouver, but I'm anxious to see how this place fares when the town isn't overrun by world travelers and a bunch of turds from Surrey. I'm guessing it'd quickly become one of my new favourite bars in the Great White North.Listed in: Vancouver Olympics
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Review from Don B.
2/25/2010
Refinery is a nifty hidden wine and cocktail bar that sits upstairs from Sip on clubby Granville Street in downtown Vancouver. The space itself is outfitted with a lot of wood against some industrial cement/brick producing a slick but warm/cozy design-heavy feel. The space is fairly small and seems to be inhabited by an upscale crowd. I visited this spot on a Friday night during the Olympics, so I'm guessing that the feel and vibe were skewed, so I'll just focus on the drinks.
We rolled in late night with someone who knows the bartender. We did what we usually do at a bar that offers high-end cocktails and we gave the tender a spirit and flavor profile and told her to impress us. And impress us she did. She rolled out some bourbon sours with foamed egg white that were dangerously drinkable. I had to throttle back on consuming my delicious treat since a) I had to drive a car at some point later in the night, and b) cocktails this good and at this price point should be sipped, not chugged.
As we kicked it and enjoyed our cocktails we surveyed the scene. Delicious-looking plates of food were being delivered to tables all around us, the walls were decked with wine bottles, there were 2 big screens (temporary?) in the back showing the Olympics (every bar in the Van has TV's right now), and an official Olympic torch was in a display case above the nook in the back. Overall, it was a lively scene but looked to be filled with primarily locals.
The clientele were mostly well-appointed folks in their 20's and 30's... lots of tan, blonde, fancy clothes, and pretty people. That would be my one downside to this place. Sounds that that's the average crowd, which is not really my crowd. Too uppity. But if that's your thing, or if you're like me and good drinks can outweigh the surrounding environs, then you'll be just fine here.
I look forward to coming back and trying the food... and more drinks mixed with the house-made bitters. Yum!Listed in: Oh Canada...., Molecular Mixology, Diggin' the 'Couve!, BC Boozin'
