217 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-1701

Web:  http://www.labattoir.ca/

Twitter: @ LABATTOIR_VAN

Advice: No reservations, try to sit by the bar if you are having drinks or in the atrium if you are having dinner.

After attending the opening party a couple months back, I knew this restaurant and bar was going to win me over, I finally had an opportunity to pop in for dinner the other night. I was seated in the atrium at the back of the restaurant which is one most unique rooms in the city, there is also a front of house bar and lounge, and an elevated dining room.

As I was eating solo, I was only able to enjoy one main dish and dessert far from the usual dinner out. I was served a complimentary bread basket to start and immediately fell in love with the Anchovies twists. I skipped the starters and went straight into the entrée which is the main event here, the kitchen team is creative and Chef Lee Cooper is a master running that kitchen. For my entrée I had the beautifully presented and flavourful Poached Halibut with Mussels and Spinach Dumplings ($24) Ragout of late summer vegetables and basil, garlic sabayon and this was delicious. The menu has a great selection of starters and entrees and this is foodie heaven, you are going to want to try each and every dish.

Of course I had to finish the meal with some dessert and I had the Upside Down Cake ($9) with Plums, mascarpone cream. The desserts are varied and again presentation is the key here. For cocktails, with Shaun Layton at helm, he is one of the city’s top bartenders and he has created quite the memorable cocktail list. There is a nice wine list which has been well thought out in pairing up to the entrees if you choose to wine and dine. I am looking forward to my next visit to try the next dish!

Review by: Richard Wolak

217 Carrall Street, Vancouver