Perhaps the greatest restaurant that I have been too. The food was excellent. The service was outstanding. I just wished that I lived near this. Unassuming place but powerful combo! Get there and enjoy. read more

My fiancee and I came here to celebrate on the last day of my bar trip. In fact, it was quite literally the last thing we did on our trip! We went straight from the restaurant to the airport. We arrived about 3 minutes late for our reservation, with our suitcases in hand. They were great about it, and immediately took our suitcases from us, assuring us it was totally fine. They sat us immediately and were very attentive. The host and the server explained that the dishes are for sharing and to order 2-3 dishes per person. We ordered 4 dishes total and, to be honest, we could have done fine with just 2-3 total! It was more food than we bargained for. We LOVED the fried chicken and the pasta. We could have done those two things and been happy! I enjoyed the mussels, but the best part was the bread that came with them. The chocolate dessert was great, but there was a flavor of ice cream I really wanted to try that was listed as part of an affogato. I asked the server if I could have just a scoop of the ice cream, as I didn't want the caffeine, and he was very accommodating (and the flavor was great - it's escaping me now, maybe marshmallow or smores?). There was a little bit of an issue with the timing of the dishes. We thought we left plenty of time to eat and get to the airport, but one of the dishes had a pretty notable delay, which caused us to be a little short on time. I explained the situation to the server, and we had to rush through the end of the meal and hop in a cab. The staff were very apologetic about the delay, even removing that dish from our bill, which was a really nice gesture on their part. They helped us get out the door quickly when were a little stressed. Overall, it was a great experience, and we would return! read more

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Located in the lovely area of Kitsilano, AnnaLena is a modern Canadian restaurant that serves up locally inspired dishes with a West Coast flair. All of their dishes are meant to share which is nice so you can try more things. We started off with a couple of oysters with foie gras. These are raw oysters with a bit of apple, jalapeno, and foie gras shavings on top -- basically an elevated oyster. This was SO good. The foie gras just melted in my mouth and the oyster was so fresh... I could've had another one or two but these are quite pricey at $5 a pop! If you enjoy oysters, this is a must try. I really wanted to try the torn bread after reading so many reviews raving about it so we ordered the mussels ($21) which comes with a side of their special torn bread. The mussels were off the shell, plump, and juicy. The torn bread was AMAZING, and even more so dipped in the lovely garlic and thyme broth. I can't even properly describe it. The texture of the bread was incredible. It had crispy edges all around yet it was soft and fluffy inside. This was by far the best bread I've ever had. The torn bread (with or without the mussels) is another must try! For our second entree, we ordered the 36-hour Wagyu Short Rib ($48). At such a steep price and the most expensive item on the menu, we were expecting this to also be amazing but sadly, it fell quite short of our expectations. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but it wasn't worth the $48. The beef was not as tender as we had hoped it to be, nor was it very flavourful. The red wine jus was lacking in depth. I was still feeling a little peckish so we also got dessert to share. It was a beautifully presented Semolina Flour Cake with Lemon, ice cream, and honey cream. The cake was moist and I loved the honey cream and the tartness of the lemon. This light dessert was the perfect end to an overall very delicious meal. Food - 9/10 Service - 9/10 Ambiance - 9/10 Value - 7/10 read more

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Definitely a 5 star experience. Service was excellent. We sat at the bar but never felt like an afterthought from the server. He gave us lots of info about the menu, recommended dishes, brought me a few samples of wine to try when I was choosing a glass (including one that wasn't on the menu) etc etc. Could not have been better! The food was also excellent. We had the bread (torn and fried, really delicious), tuna (great, loved the different textures), quail, halibut, and chocolate-cherry dish for dessert. My favourite was definitely the tuna but the others were also good, and portions were all LARGE. Loved all the greens with the halibut dish since often a fish/meat main doesn't have a lot of vegetables. This restaurant is on the pricier side but I do think it's justified based on the quality, service, and portions. Overall a great experience and can't wait to go back! read more

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We had an unreal experience here at AnnaLena. We've been meaning to try this place forever and finally glad we got to try it. The service was unreal, our server Cherish was so friendly and amazing. The food is insanely good. The experience is set menu only which changes monthly. It was an absolute pleasure dining here and we will definitely be back again. read more

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AnnaLena is one of 20 BC eateries that make Canada's 100 best restaurants list: https://www.google.ca/amp/vancouversun.com/life/food/20-vancouver-eateries-make-canadas-100-best-restaurants-list/amp I also have been wanting to try this restaurant since last year. Finally I came here with three friends for dinner this week. This restaurant is good at tapas, so people can share dishes. There were 12 dishes on the dinner menu. We literally nixed 4 dishes out of 12 on the list. We tried everything except oysters, beers, grains and beef. All the dishes tasted extraordinary delicious especially the bread!! The bread looked simple but once we had a bite, we were addicted to it!! The restaurant changes the dinner menu on a regular basis, so you should come and try their dishes instead of just one or two. The portion of each dish was small, so it would be best to order more dishes to share and fulfill the stomach. The customer service was extraordinary well. Our server always paid attention to our table, made sure to clean our table on a regular basis (i.e. Cleaned our table and took away our dirty plates, forks and knives after each dish) and gave us new plates and cutleries. He was awesome! We were too full at the end, so we only tried and shared one dish of desserts. We ordered chocolate (dark chocolate coffee ganache, passion fruit gel, vanilla yogurt sorbet). We liked it especially the vanilla yogurt sorbet. Our server gave each of us a banana jelly along with our bill in AnnaLena's envelope. Although the bill was more expensive than the regular ones, it was worth to come here at least once to try this restaurant. read more

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Wow, what an amazing dinner experience. Tasting menu only and they confirmed whether there was any dietary restrictions when confirming the reservation. They were busy and fully booked so even if you arrive a bit early, they do not have the room to seat you earlier than your reservation time. Everything was delicious and the waitstaff were very professional and synchronized in that everyone at the table were served simultaneously as well as the dishes were cleared simultaneously. Good was excellent and the flavours were delicious. The torn bread, which is extra charge, is delicious and so soft - definitely worth paying extra for it. The beef was so tasty and tender. Everything was good and definitely would return to this restaurant. read more

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Place looks amazing Love the lego storm troopers it made my day Bread was so soft, crispy and flavorful and the homemade butter was delicious Fried chicken was great as was the pasta (best part from the pasta was the kale, other than that it was just basic). Ended the night with the fried chicken skin covered in chocolate. It was interesting Service was outstanding from everyone who made contact with us. Didn't wait more than 3 to 5 minutes for anything. Timing of each course was excellent read more

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Great patio for a sunny day. They have daily specials that are all seasonal. The cocktail was good. The ceviche was so good would definitely go back for it. The calamari was good, could have been more flavourful though. The fries were great, I definitely got why they're known for it! read more

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Over-rated. The food was ok. The service is decent. It was extremely loud. My guest and I cannot hear one another.

I want to give this place 10 stars. Visiting from San Francisco and from LA, I've dined at most of Eater's top rated restaurants, and AnnaLena is now my favorite meal of the year. Every dish was balanced and full of flavor. Every ingredient belonged. The bread is THE BEST I've ever had. Each bite was mind blowing and as good as my first bite. That all would make it a 5 Star place but then the service was above and beyond. On top of their game, dishes cleared and glasses filled like ninjas as they connect with you personally. We were treated like good friends instantly. 10 STARS... This experience was so amazing that the next night, we had dinner at another restaurant and once we paid the bill there, drove directly back to AnnaLena and had second dinner and dessert. read more

AnnaLena had the flavors and innovation. THE AMBIANCE: We went for dinner and the restaurant was dark and dimly lit, which gave it a romantic and fancy feel. I loved the decor on the walls and they have this fun, large mirror for photo ops. The restroom is one person at a time and spacious. THE FOOD: Amazing food! Everything that we tried, we loved. We had the Foie Gras Oysters - super different - it's shaved Foie Gras and it melts in your mouth; the steak tartare - came with cereals - had a crunchy element; the mussels off the shell - by far my favorite!! the flavor of the broth was rich and the bread was fantastic for dipping; the boar belly with mustard and smoked carrot puree - the best pork belly I had ever had at the time - like butter in your mouth; and the desserts we're WOW too. I saw fried chicken skin covered in chocolate and I said, yup we're trying that. Did not disappoint. Crispy, salty, and chocolate - Yes. Order this! The other dessert, the chocolate bar, was also delicious and well thought out in presentation and texture. THE TIPS: Would definitely come back! Make a reservation! read more

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Came here for a special event and to try the tasting menu. According to server , it changes every spring and fall. Loved all the dishes served. Definitely worth a visit for special occasions. Mussel with bread dish and oyster appetizer a must! read more

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My friend and I came here to celebrate our birthdays and were truly amazed. First we tried to make a reservation mid week but only had the 9pm slot available so we decided to go at 5:30 walk in. We were greeted right away and said they had room for us yay! We knew we were going for the tasting menu. I liked how our hostess introduced us on the menu. It was a nice touch while we waited for our server to see us. He brought us each an aperitif which was really tasty. Can't remember what was in it but was gingery and fuzzy and I could have had more. I ordered the Pushing Luck cocktail which is bourbon based with notes of plum. It was delicious. Even garnished with gold foil! Now to the food. Oh mannnnn! - amuse bouche- raw oyster with compressed apple and shaved foie gras. Who would have thought of this combo? Amazing! It sure makes you wanting more, just the way to open your meal 5/5 - heirloom tomato and burrata salad with shaved watermelon. So fresh light juicy and oh so perfect. And really colorful too 5/5 - buttermilk fried chicken. Delicious. I was looking forward to this since this is their award winning dish. And it had the best crust I have ever had on fried chicken. Light airy and crispy. Not at all greasy. Can I have a bucket to take home please? 5/5! - mussels off the shell with garlic cream sauce and tarragon oil and torn bread. Probably my favourite dish tonight. I love that I don't have to get my fingers dirty peeling away shells. And the sauce is unbelievable. You'll need every bit of your toasted torn bread to sop up all the juices 5/5. I'm coming back just for this. - maple glazed boar belly with smoked carrot puree and mustard spaetzel. I wasn't a big fan of the t. I felt that the fat wasn't rendered down enough so it was still too jello like for my own liking. I loved the smokiness from the carrot puree and the spaetzle was good too. Fried to crispness and not oily like I've had at other places 3/5 - beef bavette - this was perfectly cooked. Tender juicy succulent. Yum! And the jus was delicious. Also one of my top choices. 5/5 - dessert- our server was awesome. He brought each of our desserts with a candle. So sweet! The blackberry sorbet was so amazing. I love blackberry anything. I thought the lavender chocolate cremeux was a bit too dense for me. However it's a small piece and I ate alll of it! 4/5 Just when you think it's done.. wait! There's petit four! So cute I didn't want to eat them. Given 3- chocolate cupcake which had an interesting after taste.. coconut lime sorbet thingy so good! And I think a red currant jam bar. I can't remember haha I was so stuffed by this point All of the food for under $75 is a good price in my opinion. I'm definitely coming back and have my favourites to order off the menu now. read more

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This place was on my list to try for awhile. I finally could book a table for the dine out. I think I created pretty high expectations based on reviews and few friends. In the reality this place is not as good as I thought. Starting with the decor. Not sure what is the theme and the connection with the name. I was pretty confused. The name seems too mature for the childish decor. Also I think muny dolls are kind of overused and not trendy anymore. Or maybe I am just being picky here. The food was ok. Every dish was well presented but a bit tasteless. I tried beets salad and beef. The steak was pretty good, but not impressed with everything else. The dessert was not different. The sorbet with some kind of chocolate brownie did not match altogether. Service was kind of slow, but staff were nice and pleasant. Overall, not impressed. Not a place to spend $130 on dine out for a couple. Sorry! read more

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I'm updating my previous 5 star review to 4 stars due to a few hiccups summarized here and gone into more detail below: * Forgot that it was a birthday celebration * Slow food service * Very disappointed in the beef striploin We came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday on Sun, Dec 30. I had made reservations online and also called to inform them of the birthday and asked if they could put a candle in the dessert which they happily agreed to do. Unfortunately, when the time came for dessert, they had forgotten about this request and no birthday "flair" was presented to my disappointment. We opted for the Tasting Menu (December 2018 - $74 per person), here's my breakdown and rating for each dish: 1. Oyster with shaved foie gras (FIVE STARS) - A single oyster with shaved foie gras, two of my favourite things paired together that you typically think wouldn't go well together but HOT DAMN it's so good. So good that I ordered an additional two more for us to enjoy! 2. Salad (TWO STARS) - This was one of the least impressive dishes out of the menu. It included greens, chickpea panisse, tahini, miso eggplant, pickled beet and dukkah. The selected greens were bitter and hard - it felt like eating tough grass. 3. Fried Chicken (THREE STARS) - Fried buttermilk chicken with lemongrass aioli and pickles. My bite of chicken was quite nice, juicy and crispy on the outside. My boyfriend mentioned that his piece was over-battered and he didn't get much chicken. 4. Mussels with torn bread (FIVE STARS) - OK, so besides the oyster with foie gras, this is my next favourite dish. HOLY DAMN, the torn bread is what I imagine crack cocaine to feel like. They take a loaf of sour bread, remove the crust and put it back in the oven. The result is all the light, fluffy goodness of the inside of a bread loaf with the extra awesomeness of the crispy edges. Dipping this bread into the delicious broth was singlehandedly one of the best thing I've eaten in a long time. I will definitely come back here to have a full serving of this dish TO MYSELF (sorry, I refuse to share). 5. Sablefish (FOUR STARS) - Another fabulous dish. Excellent flavours. The fish was cooked to perfection and was so light and buttery. The smoked whisky foam on top was AMAZING! 6. Beef striploin (TWO STARS) - Very disappointed in this dish as we had set our expectations really high at this point. Don't get me wrong, the flavours were quite good but the cut of striploin was terrible. It was full of gristle and incredibly tough to chew and eat. We had to spit out a few pieces that we could just not get down. I let our server know our disappointment and he graciously provided us complimentary dessert wines to compensate which was much appreciated. 7. Dessert, chocolate brownies with grapefruit ice cream (THREE STARS) - Good but the grapefruit ice cream overpowered the other flavours (coming from a grapefruit fan!) 8. Dessert, three different dessert bites (THREE STARS) - Chocolate truffle, piece of caramel and a beignet. The beignet was our favourite! The kitchen food service in between each dish was noticeably slow. We found ourselves wanting more and getting hungry as we anxiously waited for the next dish to arrive. We nearly finished the entire bottle of wine before the last dish (which was beef); I had to consciously save some red wine to pair with it! :P Front of the house service was excellent throughout our time here. We were offered complimentary coat check, our bottle of wine arrived in good time, our glasses were never empty, our napkins were folded during washroom breaks - all things which don't get unnoticed! Great work considering this place was PACKED on a Sunday night between 7-9pm. Overall, some highs and lows during our experience here. Like I said, I'd still come back for those mussels and torn bread. read more

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I know Dineout is over but AnnaLena is consistently amazing. I find that restaurants overlook bread a lot because it is not a "main course" of the meal and oftentimes it is served free. HOWEVER - you must get the torn bread here! This was the highlight of the meal. It's been a few weeks since I had it but my mouth is watering as I write this. I came here with a friend to celebrate a belated birthday and they were so accommodating with throwing something together although the date has passed (by a month). They greeted us with free champagne and a small dessert at the end with a candle which I thought was very thoughtful. For the appetizers I had the beet salad with carrot, sumac dressing, candied pumpkin seed and whipped ricotta. I liked it but I found my friend's fried chicken to be more delicious; it was buttermilk fried with chilli mayo and pickled radish. For the main course, I went with the trout and the pickled shallot beurre blanc was so creamy. Paired so well with the steelhead trout and garnished with leeks, braised fennel, baby squash and swiss chard! I tried both desserts, the chocolate miso ganache tart and apple pavé with caramel cream, buttermilk crumb and sour cream ice cream. To my surprise the chocolate tart ended up being my favourite even though I usually do not order chocolate dessert! I did not recall tasting sour cream in the ice cream and it would be a lie to say I did not raise an eyebrow when I ordered it. I don't eat oysters but my friend had one for $6 with foie gras shavings. If you are an oyster fan, it maybe worth trying to have one or a few or a dozen here! read more

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finally got the chance to dine at this fame restaurant which has gotten lots of rave reviews and must try recommendations from various friends and acquaintances...let me just say...it is hard to get a reservation here as they seen to get booked up really quick. when i got a table we were very happy and our expectation was set very high. let me just say, AnneLena did not fail us. This place exceeded our expectations and then some. the ambiance was very eccentric. the owner must love video games, sports memorabilia, and figurines. the whole place was nice decorated with such but in an intimate fashion. for appys: classic signature torn bread with whipped butter rendered in beef fat. bread was baked and charred at the edges to perfection. so tender and moist, yet crunchy at the edges. perfect balance of textures. the butter was so rich and creamy. you can taste the essence of the bone marrow expertly mixed into the dairy. its table bread taken up a few levels. so good and a must try. we also tried the oyster with foie gras. simply amazing! no other words best describe it. so fresh and simple, yet sophisticated in taste and flavours. the foie gras added just the right amount of saltiness and contrast to the flavours of the sea. it was melt in your mouth goodness worthy of the King of Atlantis! for mains: we tried the signature fried chicken, sable fish , and the seared scallops. fried chicken was the best chicken fingers you will ever have in your life. the chicken was tenderized and coated perfectly. despite being deep fried, the chicken was so tender and juicy and breading was seasoned well. when dipped on the chipotle mayo dressing, it was 5 stars in ever bite. never though chicken fingers could taken to this level ever. the sable fish with whisky foam was another winner. tasted fresh and light and the whisky foam provided a good flavour contrast. no need for salt and pepper...it was perfect the way it is. the fish was delicate, meaty, yet fork tender. guaranteed was not cooked from frozen. the pan seared scallops with caramelized pork cheeks for me, the best dish of the night. on the outside the scallops were seared to perfection to lock the juices in. inside, it was firm enough to hold its shape, but flaky when eaten. the chef behind this is a maestro as it was cooked perfectly! each one was, not just 1!! the pork cheeks was a surprise as i was expecting a salty flavour profile. but instead, it was caramelized thus a bit sweet, providing a good contrast to the scallops. but heres the kicker, the pork despite being fried to a crispy perfection, was so juicy and tender inside. each bite was a delight. juicy pork with a crunch in every bite. the chef took it out of the fryer just at the right moment of creating a masterpiece, and not a second more! service was outstanding as well. our water goblets were always refilled and our needs attended to. i had a few questions which were all adequately addressed. tells me the staff are well trained and versed in their craft. there is team work and cohesiveness here which provides diners with an unforgettable experience. i overheard the couple next to me tell the server that they came from chicago and only had a night in vancouver, and had to come and try AnnaLena before flying back. wow! next time again for sure. highly recommended to all! i must try in Vancouver. cheers! happy eating! read more

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Foods good and good atmosphere . Been there multiple times and defined would recommend.

Pretty sad to see Kitsilano Daily Kitchen is gone. This spot took over by Anna Lena now. The chef/owner is from previous executive chef of the Oakwood Bistro. Ok... what should I expect? Casual and comfort food? I'm not sure why they got high-rated on the review, but, based on my experience I feel bad if I rated them less than 3-star! The menu was simple but good enough for sharing. Heirloom tomato salad with cured bacon and arugula - We had to cut into a smaller piece or bite size heirloom tomatoes and bacon. Gilled octopus and fingering potatoes - Octopus boiled and grilled, it was a bit chewy and mediocre Wagyu short ribs - Was dry and over braised. Pork belly - Well marinated but too fatty and salty! The staffs were friendly, they gave us good recommendations when we ordered. However, it's below our expectation and we didn't' bother to try the dessert. read more

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This is a fantastic addition to the Vancouver food scene! I came here with a couple of friends and we were so impressed by the food, ambiance, and service. But let's focus here on the most important element - the food. Deliciousness! Let your taste buds delight! We started with the fried chicken and it was perfect - tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and not too heavy at all! Then we had the mussels with torn bread. This was my favorite dish of the night! The bread was amazing. I can't even describe it properly. The best bread I have ever eaten in my life! Seriously. Talk about elevating a common food. It's like they removed the crust and crisped up the outside while leaving the inside fluffy and soft, then drizzled it in olive oil. Perfect for dipping in the mussel broth or even eating alone. We also had the pasta, sablefish, and duck. All of them were good but the pasta definitely stood out. I was so full but I could have had another agnolotti bc it was so tasty! Everything here is designed to be shared so it's perfect if you come in a small group. Next time I come here, I want to try everything else on the menu - with a side of the bread, of course. read more

AnnaLena - Canadian (New) Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I've been here twice for brunch and once for dinner now. We were gifted a certificate and it's worked out well. Brunch is fantastic, probably the best eggs Benny in town, and that says a lot for Vancouver! I've tried the trout and beef brisket, both were very delicious and it's a coin toss as to which would be my go to. As for sides, we've tried the asiago cheese fries and the banana bread. What I'd love to see and what would make this 5 stars for brunch is a few more traditional sides. Some kind of hash brown offering would be welcomed. They have unlimited drip coffee, unlike some other trendy spots that only serve espresso styles. Well priced at $10 per Benny dish, you can't go wrong. As for dinner, a lot of effort and technique goes into every dish which is evident and appreciated. They suggest their food is 'tapas style' and while I agree that all diners should taste the dishes that come out, it would make more sense to me to divide the menu into entrees and mains as that is what it felt like as the dishes arrived. We tried the scallops, mussels, lamb and trout. All were very tasty. We were pleasantly surprised by how good the trout dish was and I'd order it again in a heart beat. As for the mussels, the bread is so addictive I just want more! Delicious! I definitely recommend trying AnnaLena if you're considering it and will be back for brunch! read more

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Boyfriend took me out here for a date night, and oh I have to say this is by far my favourite restaurant in the whole universe. We made reservation probably about 2weeks ahead. Service was really good, waitress was really friendly and gave really good recommendations! The food was super delicious and I was amazed by their Pasta, it's vegetarian but it's nothing like your regular vegetarian dishes (I LOVED IT even though I'm not vegetarian myself). Chicken was also finger-licking good, it's buttermilk fried, served with hot mustard sauce, super yummy. Totally recommend ya'll to try this restaurant if you haven't! read more

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My girlfriend and her guy friend wanted to have dinner with us and decided to take us here. Reservations are available and there is street parking with meters. We ordered 3 oysters, chicken, pate, clams, and daily vegetarian pasta dish. Everything was good except for the daily vegetarian pasta, there just wasn't enough flavor. We were disappointed but thank goodness the other food we ordered was good. Their oysters were ok, not bad, however I prefer West restaurants oyster. I loved their pate and too my surprise, the chicken was delicious! We also loved their mussels that came with fluffy sourdough bread for dipping. The mussels were small, but who cares, theres fluffy bread and hella sauce! Our server was amazing, he came by our table several times to check on us and very attentive to our water glass. We will definitely be back to try the other foods we didn't get. read more

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We had a fantastic night out at AnnaLena! I've been looking to come here for the last year but always found it hard to get a reservation. This year for Dine Out Vancouver I smartened up and booked a dinner rezo 2 weeks ahead. We loved the ambiance, the wine list is exceptional, and while they were add-ones to the dine out menu, our server highly suggested a couple starters. First up, the oyster with shaved foie gras ($5/oyster) and then the torn bread with smoked beef tallow butter ($6, comes with 3 large bun sized pieces of bread). Both were my absolute favourites of the whole meal! Of the Dine Out menu, we both ordered the buttermilk fried chicken first course which was great and a large portion. We had the beef and trout second courses between us, which we were happy with too. The only course we didn't love was the dessert. We ordered 1 of each option available (miso chocolate and apple pie). Both were deconstructed which was interesting and the apple pie was fine but the miso chocolate was really just...not very good. Maybe "better foodies" than us would love it, but we found the miso flavor an unappetizing addition to the bitter chocolate. But did I tell you about the oysters yet? Just get another one of those for dessert instead! read more

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One of my favourite restaurants in the world; it's also rather difficult to describe what type of cuisine this is. Every time we go, it really is a culinary adventure. Fantastic as always. Foods you normally hate? They will make you love them. Bread better than any we've tried in Paris (the best croissants and macarons are there, though) Don't order what you know. The tasting menu is the way to go. But add chocolate covered chicken skin. You will not be disappointed! We've dined there several times; 5 stars each time. $$$$ though; our most recent visit was $75/person w/ out drinks. read more

This review is only for brunch and I would only give 3.5 stars if I could. I rounded up due to excellent service and reasonable prices. We shared their Asiago fries, banana bread, fish (tuna belly) confit benedict and breakfast sandwich. The benedict was quite good but definitely not comparable to the fine dine restaurants such as L'abbittoir or Hawksworth. The eggs were poached to perfection and the dill Hollandaise sauce was delicious, but their English muffin was just mediocre. The Asiago fries were definitely very tasty while the breakfast sandwich was just good. We felt that the plate was simply too large for just two benedicts, and that they could have added a mini salad or fruits to make it more presentable. The most disappointing part of the meal was their supposedly famous banana bread, which was quite dry, tasted a bit stale and was very salty. We did not really enjoy the strange maple butter that was smeared on the plate either. Even the banana bread that I hastily put together myself at home tasted much better, but perhaps I'll come back someday to try their lemon cake. read more

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Ok wow...... This is everything I thought it would've been and more. My bf and I have been talking about going to this place for over a year and we finally went! We ordered the set menu (with Covid, you have to get the set menu and I believe this is to ensure the Chef has enough ingredients and everything prepped for the night). 1. Fried chicken, chicken pate, olive purée 10/10 This lived up to everyone's hype.. SO GOOD. Perfectly crispy but so juicy. 2. Zacklan farmed greens, burrata, smoked dill and beet dressing 11/10 The flavour in this dish was out of this world..... still can't stop thinking about them. 3. Mussels, chorizo oil, garlic broth, torn bread 11/10 We loved loved this dish. The broth was everything. So savoury and just yelled umami. 4. Side stripe prawns, pea agnolotti, fava beans, prawn bisque 5/10 This was probably our least favourite of the night.. the prawns were cooked perfectly but, the flavour was a bit off putting for us, kinda tasted like ocean water but in food form.. 5. Aged beef striploin, port jus 7/10 This was good but, wish I went with the fish option. Both of our meat was over cooked so it was a bit dry in my opinion. 6. Aerated Brie, sourdough, lavender, truffle honey 8/10 I'm not a huge dessert person but, this was a very interesting dish and flavour profile! 7. Miso chocolate, ginger ice cream, ginger crumbs, charcoal meringue 6/10 Not my favourite dessert but presentation was beautiful as always! read more

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Food was great, wine was great, service was great, ambience was great. Great anniversary dinner

Their appetizers were the real winners, while the main dishes were just mediocre. A nice restaurant situated in a nice neighbourhood. Easy to make resos online. - The best thing I had must have been the torn bread. Whoever's job it is to tear up that bread...I want your job. The bread was nicely toasted and the butter was deadly amazing. And I never put butter on my bread! It was a good portion size to share among four people. - The next best thing would be the oysters. They were quite small but packed full of flavour. - The pate was also quite tasty and I am usually not a fan of pate because I get tired of the taste and texture. - The chicken was a big portion and crispy, nothing spectacular but would be a crowd pleaser. The mains however were a disappointment (and seems like the kitchen really likes to use foam). The pasta dish, average. The halibut was sadly dry and the gnocchi was the ricotta kind. The duck was good, once again nothing to write home about. read more

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Delicious food! Terrific service. Gorgeous setting in a fabulous neighbourhood. Worth the Michelin Star price too.

This is such a great restaurant! Everything is delicious and they are very good at accommodating dietary needs. The atmosphere is sophisticated and cozy at the same time. It always feels like a treat! read more

Last year this time I celebrated my birthday by taking myself out on a date at the much talked about AnnaLena. And what an incredible treat it turned out to be! . My one word to describe AnnaLena would be EPIC! Service by EVERYONE was warm, personable, informative, and professional. Every single person from hostess to bartender to wait staff just have such a way about them that make you feel like you're the most important and dear person, which really warmed my heart. . I started off at the bar as they were seating non-dine out diners there, but I arrived late enough that they were able to move me to a cozy table pretty soon. I think I ordered the Absolute Darling cocktail, which was absolutely tasty! . I knew I wanted to do the $75 Tasting Menu, and boy was it a great value! . The opener for this 7-course meal was an oyster amuse bouche. That's shaved foie gras on top. I repeat: shaved foie gras on top! Underneath the foie gras was compressed apple and a jalapeno mignonette, which were just POPPIN. The foie melted straightaway on my tongue to create this luxurious cream which was chased by the mignonnette and immediately a fresh, plump oyster with that sweet apple. This amuse was the PERFECT way to start the meal: it really got my appetite and palate wanting more . The first appetizer was a bowl of salad...but not just any salad! Picked beets, a delicious miso eggplant and a chickpea panisse (like a chickpea polenta) on a bed of greens, with tahini and dukkah. BAM! Can you say flavor town?? . Third course was this delectable fried chicken morsel. Buttermilk fried chicken on a lemongrass aioli with chili lime and topped with nam jim pickles. This is a signature AnnaLena dish, and I have to hand it to them...I had no idea fried chicken could be improved upon...but THIS was EPIC. . The entree courses started off with a warm, fragrant bowl of plump shell-out mussels swimming in the most incredible preserved lemon+garlic+saffron fennel+tomato+thyme oil broth with their famous torn bread on top. My server made sure to point out that the torn bread is coated in duck fat and then toasted to give it that extra layer of pure decadence and indulgence. I still dream of this dish and would eat it every week if I could! It's one of those dishes that transports you to your own secluded food universe where only you and this meal exists. Would I put tis on my list of life-changing food experiences? Absolutely. Comforting, packed to the gills with flavor, and no crumb or drop to be wasted! . The fish dish was a pan seared sablefish with little nubbins of roasted turnip, salsify & carrot, wilted greens, pickled shiitake, potato puree and a smoked whisky foam. The fish had that nice crispy skin on top and the flesh was perfectly jiggly and juicy while still coming apart with each flake, so big points there! The roasted veg were okay, but the pickled shiitake really stole the show! I don't even know how to describe it...but it was a whole new experience for me! . Course 6 was the final entree: beef striploin atop silky smooth celeriac mash, kholrabi and broccolini, and perfectly melted cipollini onions with sherry jus. That hearty celeriac with those two strips of beef really was filling...especially since I'd already eaten 5 courses prior! Celeriac puree can get quite gloopy once it's cooled down so you have to make sure to eat it fast. Luckily with the melted onions and the jus it was able to stay yummy till the last bite. The beef was tender and at perfect temp, the onions were soooooo flavorful and beyond the presentation and technique by the time I cleared my plate my lasting impression was that it was a good, honest plate of dinner. . Dessert was a fun chocolate, banana, blood orange petit four. Dark chocolate and miso cake with a banana caramel and bold and bright blood orange segments and a quenelle of blood orange sorbet and some pink sponge shards. The cake had to have been flourless as it was on the dry, brittle side. But it worked because of all the other components! I'm pretty sure there was some miso in the caramel...but whatever it was they did to it it was heavenly! A very umami sweetness and richness that contrasted perfectly with the blood orange. I was SO STUFFED at this point...but I took my time and you bet I finished every last bite! . And to top it all off, 3 delightful sweet bites as I'm paying the bill. Am I a sucker for little details like this? 100% you bet I am! . Thanks again, AnnaLena for such an incredible first experience. It ranked #1 on my food experiences for 2019 and I would have written about it much sooner if I hadn't gotten side-tracked by life. read more

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Gets really busy so book at least a day in advance. It's a small place with a small variety of dishes. Everything is meant to be shared. Their cocktails are delicious and very boozy, but I felt that the portions were too small. The pate was alright. Tried the oysters with shaved foie gras which were delicious but not worth $5/each. For main we shared the mussels which were really bland and the beef. The mussels came with their house made bread. This is the best bread I've ever had my whole life. Must order the bread!! The beef was very very tender and wasn't to my liking. read more

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I honestly thought this place was just mediocre. A lot of their dishes were more on the savoury/heavy tasting and oily side so that isn't much my preference. The main problem was with the service. Although the steep price point, it's a rather casual restaurant. There was no coat check or anything and we were seated at probably one of the worst spots in the restaurant (even with a reservation), by the wall near the hallway to the washroom. Kind of disappointing. There was another guest coming in at the same time which looks to be one of their friends. I was shocked at the difference in treatment compared to regular customers. Those guests were greeted with big smiles, had their coats hanged and seated at the booth. This puts me off entirely... The food was mediocre in my opinion. Oily and savoury. Cocktails were strong in alcohol (no complaints there ;)). Overall, I probably won't come back as my expectation the first time around was way too high. read more

AnnaLena - Fried chicken and bread - Canadian (New) Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Like they say, classic never die! Good solid menu. Wonderful meal, so many taste and texture. You don't stop playing when you're old -- just like this place. Food, bearbrick, Jordan, Supreme, LEGO and Star Wars. It is an art collection! read more

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It was fabulous, the service was amazing and the food was delicious! Highly recommend doing the wine pairings, you get a really nice history and explanation of the wines to round up your dining experience! I can't wait to go back! read more

Celebrated our anniversary at this very popular spot on 1st Ave. It's a very trendy and unique venue with the most fun and interesting decor, toys such as storm troopers. Not an overly large restaurant but many seats inside. Some of the seats are too close together in my opinion and I hate it when you can't have your own conversation. Luckily we were seated against the wall so we had our own space. The high, open ceilings unfortunately make it quite loud inside and I had a very hard time hearing the service staff. We had questions about the beef dish and my beau thought that the server said the beef was made from cow's stomach lol. She was trying to describe the cut of steak but with the noise level.... Lol Service was pretty good but it seemed a bit slow to get our dishes. Reservations are set for two hours but that doesn't mean I want to take two hours to eat my dishes, especially when smaller tapas style. The menu is small. I appreciate smaller menus but I also like options, especially with a picky eater as a partner. My guy had a hard time with the menu and it was a bit comical for me, he isn't much of a foodie. It would be nice to have a couple more options of the non seafood variety, even though I love seafood not everyone does. We ordered the bread, tomato, beef and chicken. The bread was fantastic! 5 stars. Warm, fresh, flavorful. A nice smokey butter for spread. Very happy with that and priced well at $6. The tomato was a salad with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, burrata cheese, and watermelons. Very nice, very fresh, and a great blend of flavors. I felt this dish was a little pricey for the size at $15. The chicken was breaded and buttermilk fried. Nice and crispy. I was a little disappointed with the flavor of the chicken and found we had some pieces of just fried breading, not actual chicken. The sauce was a mayonnaise based (I think) sesame something. I couldn't hear the expeditor when he explained it. I didn't like it. The amount of chicken we received in this dish was decent for the price of $15/$16. Last we had the beef. This was a incredibly tender cut if steak and very juicy. The man loved it. It came with some potato and veg. Small amount of course but great flavor. I'm not nuts about steak but I thought this was done very nicely and cooked Perfectly. $32 Other notes to mention. The server asked us if it was a special occasion and we let the her know it was out 3.5 years. We both figured she probably thought it was funny but we simply done always remember to celebrate on the right date lol. Anyhow we were given a complimentary bevi to toast. A bourbon based drink with orange something. Was very good and sweet. I asked her what it as but again it was hard to hear anything more that Bourbon and orange. At the end a very tasty and cute Carmel bite I wish I took a pic of lol. This is a lovely place for a special occasion. Just make sure any big eaters like my 6'3'' 200lbs man eat before you go lol and be willing to spend a bit more. read more

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Initially, we were a bit sceptical about some of the menu items.. but all the dishes we had was fantastic. We had a great dinning experience. This place is a bit small, so, be sure to make a booking ahead of time. This was one of the best meals we had in Vancouver! read more

AnnaLena - Canadian (New) Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Went here for our first indoor date night since Covid started. We sat at the bar which, as a pleasant surprise, was fantastic. We got to sit with the bartender and were right next to the kitchen. It's a really beautiful space and anywhere would be a great place to sit. They do have patio seating but we waited to see the menu before booking. If you want outdoor seating book well in advance. We started with 2 cocktails but as we were at the bar we could see all the cocktails being made. Ours were delicious and I'm sure all the others are too. The tasting menu was amazing and the portion sizes were pretty good. We did the wine pairing which we highly recommend as there was clearly a lot of thought put into each pairing and all of the wines matched the dishes quite well. The star of the night was the seared scallop in a lobster velouté. This was the single best dish we have ever had. You could eat a bucket of the lobster velouté with that torn bread. All of the other items were amazing too. The salad was a sneaky standout with the burrata and the basil vinaigrette. We finished with an amazing dessert, the chocolate namelaka with glazed strawberries, citrus caramel and strawberry sorbet which was was paired with a wonderful ice wine. It was the perfect way to cap off a beautiful evening. We will be talking about AnnaLena for a while. We cant recommend it highly enough. Enjoy! read more

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