My brother had raved about this French bistro for weeks! Finally, he offered to treat my family for dinner as he received a promotion of sorts, and I was super ecstatic to try, as I had read wonderful reviews about this restaurant everywhere, and I couldn't wait to try the lava cake. He made a reservation a week in advance for 7:30pm tonight. We got there at 7:30, and told the staff that we had arrived and we were told that we were a tad early, so we left and waiting in the car. At this time, there were several small tables empty, and one party sitting at a larger table. Perhaps they thought that the big party was to leave soon, but they started filling the small tables with couples. When our entire party had arrived and returned to the restaurant, they only had three tables with three chairs, as the previous small tables had been filled (we had eight people in total). When we talked to the lady again, she told us that she had left my brother a message to go later (we did not get the message until 7:45). They didn't have two extra chairs. By this time, it was almost 8pm. The smaller tables had all been filled with small parties that had just started or were just waiting for their meals, and the larger party was working on their dessert. The waitress told us to wait another ten minutes, as she said that the larger party was about to leave (from our perspective, it looked like they had just started on their desserts and were not about to finished any time soon). In the end, we got sick and tired of waiting after having booked a reservation well in advance. The waitress had given the tables to walk-in customers instead. I have no doubt that the food is delicious, and that my family would have enjoyed the experience under difference circumstances. Unfortunately, I don't think we will be returning, especially because of the blatant lack of respect for the reservations. The waitress was very apologetic. However, I think everything could have been avoidable. If they had given us the tables first (since there was a reservation), I'm sure the walk-in customers would have no problems waiting for the large party table. If I were a walk-in customer, I wouldn't have minded waiting longer for a delicious meal. I'm just overall very disappointed. Why accept reservations if you don't honor them anyways? read more

This is one of my favourite restaurants. The food is consistently excellent, and the staff are welcoming and attentive. The classic decor is warm and inviting. The options are limited to three items per course but the menu rotates frequently, which is a good reason to come back and try something new and delicious on subsequent visits. The bread is always the same, and that's a good thing as it's warm and wonderful. Since I live nearby, I have walked in by myself on several occasions without making a reservation ahead of time, and the staff always do their very best to fit me in. Sometimes this means a swift meal with not much time to linger before the table is needed again but I am informed of this up front and the food is worth it. If you're dining with friends or family however, reservations are always recommended, and pretty well essential on a Friday or Saturday night. read more

First time coming into this restaurant, I am totally impressed by their service. The lady there definitely made me feel like she went above and beyond. I tried out the soup, beef carpaccio, and the pork. Absolutely delicious. Creme brûlée was one of the best I've ever tried. Would definitely come back and recommend! read more

My recent dining experience here was so outstanding I think Absinthe has now become my favourite Vancouver restaurant. We had a 7:30 reservation, but when I phoned to ask if we could be seated earlier, we were told yes - to come at 7:15. We got the table, as promised, and I was enchanted by the cosy atmosphere and French decor. Our server was charming and attentive. My friend and I shared a delicious chicken liver terrine appetizer, served with warm, tender bread. My lamb shank, a favourite dish of mine, was the BEST I've ever tasted - with rich depth of flavour and falling off the bone. My friend ordered pork belly and loved it. For dessert we shared a chocolate lava cake with banana ice cream. Our meal was rich and wonderfully satisfying - a great way to blow calories! This is a tiny bistro with a small menu, but there is passionate attention to quality at unpretentious prices. Bravo, Absinthe! Don't change a thing. I'll be back soon! read more

fabulous service. personable and memorable. the food was decadent and delish as usual. highly recommend.

I've lived on the Drive for almost 3 years and have walked by countless times until tonight. I don't know how I didn't know this place existed! We instantly felt like we were back on the streets of Paris... We did the three course set menu and it was amazing!! This place is now my favorite place on the Drive... and the scallops are my favorite meal on the Drive! We'll be back again! read more

What a gem. The service and food were amazing. It is a travesty that they had an empty table. What are you Vancouver people thinking?! There should be a line out the door. read more

I absolutely adore this place. My boyfriend and I tried it out over the weekend for his birthday and this is our new favourite restaurant. We left with nothing bad to say about it. The food was fine-dining quality without the over-the-top downtown pricing, cozy atmosphere and awesome service. The owners even took their time to visit our table and have a few quick words with us! Highly recommend this place. Will definitely be back for sure! read more

The best. Ever. The owners are so beatific and sweet. They remember all of our names, even though we only come in once a year or so. The food is always spectacular. Love love love. read more

I came here with my significant other on new years eve for dinner. We each had the pre fixe dinner. The food was very good and the creme brulee was delicious. The waitress was very nice and friendly. I would recommend this restaurant. read more

This place is as good as advertised. My wife and I were in Vancouver for a few days and had a wonderful dinner here, Every dish was superb (I had scallops and my wife had slow braised beef). We tried two appetizers (marinated tuna and dungeness crab with avocado): Both were outstanding. Molten chocolate lava cake dessert was perfect. Highly recommended, if you are visiting Vancouver or lucky to live near this gem. read more

My wife and I were in town from Toronto for our anniversary and I had booked this restaurant based upon yelp reviews. I was in touch with Juliana in advance to organise a split of champagne to celebrate with and she personally went out to purchase one for us and had it ready. Very nice touch. The ambiance of the place was really nice and I loved the open kitchen on full view. The fixed price menu is short and simple and changes daily based upon what is fresh and available. You either order two or three courses which are priced accordingly. Three choices in each course. We both had the pork belly which was excellent. Highly recommended indeed. read more

This place is great. Service is good. The atmosphere feels very much like you could be in Paris. Good job on the interior. Food is very good. I had the foie gras and duck confit. The duck was well cooked and tasty. I thought the potato puree could use a bit more seasoning but texture was good and still tasty. My wife's scallops were cooked and seasoned well. Dessert was very good. Would definitely return. read more

This place is worth every bite! The food just melts in your mouth. I plan on coming back when I come back to Vancouver.

My colleague recommended this place. I should say I love the food , we tried the $35 for 3 course meal. The duck was really good. My hubby and kids ordered the absinthe drink , interesting for them. The owner was really nice, she came by the table to ask how things are. I look forward to our next visit with new menu. read more

A wonderful dining experience, the four of us had a great time, food was delicious, service was superb, atmosphere was pleasant, warm and the staff made us feel we were welcome and treated like honoured guests. Prices were very reasonable and we felt very satisfied with our choice. This bistro is absolutely on my list of favourite paces to visit in Vancouver and definitely my choice for my birthday dinner. Try the Absinthe - light , pleasant, tasty and fun to watch it prepared. They also took the time out of their busy schedule to write a Happy Birthday note to my friend read more

We went with the set 2 course meal appie+main & main+dessert. To start we were served with some baguette bread and housemade butter with chives (the chive butter is to killlllll for seriously!). We ordered the salmon seviche as our appie which was super light and just perfect for the summer weather. I personally dont like raw salmon but the salmon in this seviche was sooooo good! Then we were served with our mains: duck confit & braised lamb shank. The duck confit was such an amazing treat! It went magnificantly with the red wine sauce, mint purée, leeks, and pureed potatoes which had a strong coconut taste (nevertheless deliciousss). The braised lamb shank which was delicious itself, came with a stack of thinly layered potatoes which were AMAZING! For dessert, we ordered the crème brulée and it did not disappoint..it was one of THE BEST crème brulées I have ever had! I would even come back just for the dessert :) The service itself was superb, as our server/hostess was extremely attentive and pleasent. This place is an absolute gem for french cuisine in Vancouver. Cant wait to revisit! read more

After having two spectacular dinners in Vancouver (the top seafood and the top Italian), we decided to leave the confines of the Yaletown area and try something different. After reading Trip Advisor and lucking out in Toronto with a highly reviewed small family owned cafe, I thought let's try another "different" eatery - small and again family owned. Yes this was a delightful experience in which we ate from a small choice of entrees and desserts. Oddly we all had the same inexpensive but well prepared three course meal consisting of the shrimp cake, the beautiful to see and taste scallops and the chocolate lava cake. The first two courses were great, no complaints from all three diners but the chocolate lava cake was too rich and gooey. I think that a cool sorbet and a cookie would have been better to cleanse the palate and finish the meal. We met the owner's wife who was extremely delightful and told her that we enjoyed the experience. read more

My family and I went to this restaurant yesterday evening. Everything was perfect. The fresh food was as beautifully presented as it was delicious. We took the later seating so we could take our time. And, just like in Parisian restaurants, you are given a pause between courses to enjoy your wine and dinner conversation. The service was excellent. Juliana (co-owner with her husband, Chef Cory) was pleased to discuss the wines, as well as what you were eating. Even the red wine that we ordered, Juliana said she had two bottles, one either slightly chilled or one at room temperature. The attention to detail and the pleasure you can see that they get running their restaurant makes it a totally highly recommended place for an unforgettable meal. read more

Attempted to place a reservation through their website a couple of months ago. Vacation is now a week away. Called to confirm reservation. They couldn't find our reservation. Lady on the phone kindly told me if I could find our email confirming our reservation, then to call back. Then she hung up on me. She did not close the phone call with a good bye, nor wait for me to close the phone call. I'm not sure what happened with our reservation, but we will be eating elsewhere on our vacation. read more

4th time Ive been here but this is the last time. Server showed no personality, we felt like we were inconveniencing her if we needed anything. fish was good but beef was like stewing meat- tough. 3 of each course to choose from and none of the appies looked appealing at all. We had a great seat on the deck- that was the best part. read more

The pate en croute and duck confit was fantastic. Lava cake was a must have. Great service- attentive staff, we were seated quickly and food was on time read more

My wife and i went here for a bite before heading over to The Cultch. The service was excellent, the food delicious, and the atmosphere was unassuming. prices were also reasonable - not the usual bill shock to kill my wine buzz. read more

Intimate, professional, tasty, cordial and appetizing. The owners and the staff are so friendly you will want to enjoy the food just to show your appreciation. The cost for the meal you will enjoy is about half of what you should really be paying - we tipped generously. I don't like French food but I like this place and if you're a foodie then this is a place to put on the bucket list. read more

What a gem of a restaurant. I brought a friend of mine who is newly widowed and deserved a lovely dinner out. The staff were extremely kind and one of the owners spoke extensively with my friend (in French). I love the option of 2 courses; appy & main or main & dessert. This way, if you share with your date, you get to try everything! The fresh baked bread and whipped bread was fantastic. That seems a redundant thing to say but usually, free bread before dinner is just 'whatever' but this bread was superb. Soft, warm, chewy... We had the chicken terrine with foie gras - delicious! We both enjoyed the scallops with beurre blanc (and thank you for the extra beurre blanc!!! You can never have too much!) and roasted cauliflower and then we finished with the chocolate lava torte, vanilla ice cream and caramel. I find lava torte 'a bit 90s' but this one was delicious. It's probably the best one I've ever tasted. The ambiance is perfect too - not too loud. The kitchen staff finished off the night with a glass of wine with their boss which I thought was quaint and nice. I will be back!! read more

Visiting from Michigan and had read about Absinthe Bistro... They did not disappoint! Small restaurant with open kitchen so you could see the 5-person staff cooking/prepping. Beautifully prepared food and great service. The menu is limited to a few apps, entrees and desserts each which was a nice change from menus with endless options. I wish we lived closer so we could return! read more

Loved this little place. Food was amazing. By 600 it was full so make sure to get a reso.

Finally had the chance to check out Absinthe Bistro after months of walking by and being tantalized by the aromas coming from this restaurant. We made reservations for the early seating and were glad we did as others who didn't weren't able to get a seat. The atmosphere is lovely although the room is small and can be a bit loud, also the open kitchen means that it can get a bit stuffy. We started with a couple of absinthe drinks. I had the absinthe martini which I enjoyed, the Mr had the Absinthe Citrus that he thought was a bit too sweet. Both tasted strongly of anise so if that's not you thing, don't get an absinthe drink. For appetizers, I had the tuna tatare with Asian Flavors and the Mr. the gazpacho (which came in a huge bowl). Both were delicious. Bread was also delivered and it was wonderful, still warm and lovely with a nice crust and soft inside, just like French bread should be. I particularly liked that we were offered seconds on the bread, I hate it when restaurants skimp on bread. For the main course, I had the scallops which were fantastic and the Mr. had duck confit in puff pastry. For desert, we shared the chocolate lava cake, yum. The portion size is generous, I hate paying big $$ for tiny portions. Service was friendly but we seemed to have three different people serving us so that was a bit confusing. Although it was a bit of a splurge for us, I'm happy we went. Great food served with a smile. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at this wonderful little Bistro on "the drive". The food is wonderfully prepared and the service is anything but pretentious. Excellent value and we will definitely be putting this in our must return to restaurants. Limited menu so make sure you check the menu to make sure there is something you like and definitely make a reservation. Very small restaurant. read more

My wife and I are so glad to have found this great little French restaurant on the drive. We had heard really good things and we had tried to get reservations a few times before we actually made it here for dinner. The place is quite small, I believe they only do two settings of twenty two covers each night. So glad that we persisted and got lucky with a reservation on a Sunday night. The place was packed but the service was fantastic, both friendly and warm as well as efficient. The decor is very reminiscent of a French bistro, white ceilings, black & white tiled floors, and funky lighting. The food was fantastic as well! For appetizers I had the gazpacho which has to be one of the best I've had ever! My wife had the terrine which was also amazing. For mains we had the scallops and the halibut, both were great and we couldn't decide which we liked more. We decided to try all three deserts, chocolate lava cake, creme brûlée, and the salted Carmel rice pudding. All three were delicious, but for me that rice pudding won hands down! All this with a couple of drinks and a nice bottle of wine for &150.00. Seriously got to be one of the best price for quality deals in Vancouver. We will definitely be back. read more

The pan seared scallops were the best I've ever had, and my boyfriend said the same about his lamb shank. The only slight disappointment was the pâté en croute, which I found a bit bland. read more

This French style bistro puts the vast majority of the pretentious over priced mediocre restaurants down town Vancouver to shame. Superb cuisine and first class unpretentious service. Comparable to some of the best small bistros I visited when I lived in France. read more

Went there for my daughter's graduation from UBC celebration. Everyone had a fantastic meal and the service was great.

so delicious!!!! we went there for my brother's birthday dinner, and i'm so glad we did! the food was amazing and very reasonably priced. it's a prix fixe menu with a few choices, so if you're looking for a large menu, this is not your place. but the food is exceptional and for $35, you get 3 courses! it also helps that the service was impeccable. highly recommend this bistro! oh, it's pretty small, and the ambience isn't that great (not a good place for a romantic dinner), but everything else is fantastic! read more