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El Mercat

4.0 (1 review)
Open Open 24 hours

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5 years ago

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Bar Corso - Stuffed squid?

Bar Corso

4.3(31 reviews)
1.9 kmThe Drive, Grandview-Woodlands

What a lovely discovery. I had walked by this place a number of times and never stopped. Foolish…read moremistake! Four of us went for dinner and had the tasting menu. We weren't sure what to expect especially because the price was so reasonable. The food was absolutely delicious. Each course was innovative and delicious. The service was fantastic. Finn and our waitress both made it a memorable experience. We all thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back. Highly recommend.

We visited Bar Corso during happy hour. It was nice ambience and service was very good…read more What we ordered: Crostini - Wagyu(Wagyu tartar Smoked bone marrow emulsion, onion ash and pickles) Tonnato(Confit Albacone tunnel belly Fried capers) Stacciatella(house stracciatella, balsamic,Perl's and basil) Tapenade(olive, sun dried tomatoes, roasted pepper and Calabrian chill) Wagyu was the best. It was full of flavor and wagyu was tender. Great item. Tonnato was also good. Very solid item. I did not have stacciatella. Tapenade was sour side, with strong olive and roasted pepper flavors stand out. Vongole(savory clams, fermented Taragu mares chilli white wine and parsley, squid ink linguine) Highlight! Clam and Vongole sauce were very delicious! Squid ink linguine was also good. It was good to have sauce with bread. Bistecca(Babette steak, Amaro jus, garlic scapes, frisee and hazelnuts) This item was also very delicious. Medium rare steak was tender(a bit chewy) the garlic scapes, hazelnut and frisée combination was excellent. i really enjoyed having together with meat. Overall, I really liked this restaurant. I would like to visit late night next time.

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Bar Corso
Bar Corso
Bar Corso

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La Boqueria

La Boqueria

4.3(31 reviews)
1.2 kmChinatown

5 pintxos for $32. We shared a plate of 5 + a slice of tortilla and that was enough for 2, athough…read morewe were not very hungry. It is a tapas bar, limited options. They have 8 kinds of pintxos, cheese, charcuterie, and some side dishes. So for a light dinner or pre dinner, this is a good place. It's casual so don't expect fancy service. Staff is nice and welcoming. They had live music (Spanish guitar soloist) which was a nice touch. Rating is more like 3.5, food and value is ok, but venue and ambiance is one of a kind.

The last time I had visited La Boqueria was during its soft opening, which seems like so many years…read moreago but I'm very glad to say that i was able to come back post-lockdown for another unforgettably great meal! We had begun our night at Bar Gobo and just was not feeling it, so we decided to come to La Boqueria instead for dinner. We were able to get a table right away with a quick phone call, and they saved us a table upon our arrival! We mainly came here for wine and the delicious Pintxos, and between the two of us we shared a bottle of the Blasted Church Hatfields Fuse, and a platter of 5 Pintxos (great date meal!). Due to the current circumstances they seemed to be understaffed so the food was taking longer than usual so they offered us a complimentary dish of Pulpo a la Gallega - perfectly cooked giant octopus with potato, mayo and paprika - if I knew how delicious it was I would have definitely ordered it as an appy! The Pintxos are to die for - perfect for sharing. Our favourite was probably the negitoro, and the ultimate sardine. The platter of 5 is a perfect portion for 2 people and a great way to try a selection of Pintxos and a delicious explosion of variety of flavors. This place is a must-visit for seafood lovers, and such a unique offering comparing to the many tapas options in the city. My only feedback is I would have probably liked a more extensive list of red wine; maybe more full bodied reds? The cocktail list also looks amazing as well but sharing a bottle of wine is such a great date idea that we decided to leave the cocktails for our next visit. If you are looking for an unique romantic date night spot, I would highly recommend La Boqueria because it will be sure to delight and surprise your date with a great meal, ambiance, and great service. Truly a hidden gem in Vancouver for seafood and wine lovers. They are only open for dinner service for now so be sure to make a reservation.

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La Boqueria
La Boqueria - Blue cheese and red tasting wine

Blue cheese and red tasting wine

La Boqueria

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España Restaurant - Galician style grilled squid

España Restaurant

4.2(269 reviews)
3.8 kmWest End
$$

So good from start to finish. Everything we ordered hit, and I already know I'll be back to try the…read morerest of the menu. Service was great. Our server was attentive and around when we needed something but never interrupting, and his recommendations ended up being some of our favourite dishes. The anchovy olives were a standout, super crispy, packed with flavour, and not overly fishy at all (great if you're a bit hesitant about anchovies). The mushroom toast was rich, savoury, and full of umami. Just a heads up not to let it sit too long since it softens the bread. The tuna tartare was fresh and well-balanced. Not my personal favourite served on toast, but still really enjoyable overall. The paella was excellent, perfectly cooked shrimp, tclams, and crispy pork belly chicharrón that added the best salty, fatty crunch. The roasted cabbage completely surprised me and was easily one of the best veggie dishes I've had in a while. I could have eaten a whole plate of it. We wrapped things up with churros and shared a pitcher of sangria. For three people, it came out to about $68 each before tip, which felt very fair for how much we ordered. Would definitely recommend.

The service was friendly and prompt but we were a bit disappointed by the food…read more We ordered the meat and cheese plate and they did say one of the options was fattier, but it was essentially a strip of fat (as you can see in the photo). As well, the manchego was so tiny it was like a shaving . The bone marrow amounted to about three teaspoons of marrow. We were so sad and dissatisfied. The patatas bravas was okay. Unfortunately we do not have a reason to return.

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España Restaurant - Exterior

Exterior

España Restaurant - Grilled hanger steak

Grilled hanger steak

España Restaurant - Roasted spiced eggplant

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Roasted spiced eggplant

Published on Main - Complimentary sweets - jelly, and flax seed caramels

Published on Main

4.3(198 reviews)
2.0 kmRiley Park

Published on Main was hands down the best restaurant I've eaten at in Vancouver this trip and…read morehonestly in a long time. I ate at two other tasting menu spots while I was here and this place was a clear winner. It's a one Michelin star restaurant and absolutely lives up to the hype. We did the tasting menu and every single course was delicious. There were a lot of flavor combinations I'd never had before, and the presentation was on point. They took the time to explain each dish, which I really appreciated. The chef clearly focuses on seasonality and local ingredients, so the menu changes by season. This tasting menu was themed around "Preservation," which made the experience even more interesting. The ambiance was top notch. The space felt warm, intimate, and thoughtfully designed, which really elevated the whole experience without feeling stuffy or overdone. The pacing was perfect, about two hours total, and I left very full and very happy. Can't wait to come back.

We have put off visiting the restaurant for almost 3 years since moving back to Vancouver after an…read moreabsence of 10 years so we decided it would be time to pay a visit for our anniversary a week before Christmas. Service was exceptional. Both the maître d' and our server were friendly and helpful. We opted to order from the regular and seasonal à la carte menus for dinner: - Brezeln - The pretzel buns were soft and warm and we could not resist putting a big glob of the honey cultured butter on every bite. - Octopus - The tentacles were tender and springy at the same time. The slight heat from the sauce was perfect in cutting through the richness of the meat. - Chicken fried maitake - The coating was very flavourful but we found the the seasoning a bit too heavy. - Scallops - They were fresh and sinfully delicious with the sauce. - Sunchoke Dumplings - A dish with simple ingredients but it was easily the most flavour rich and balanced dish of the evening. - Hunters Chicken - I like that both dark and white meats were served on the dish. Although I generally stay away from white poultry meat but all the pieces were tender and juicy. The seasoning was a bit on the saltier side for us though. - Hay - The custard dish was interesting and we were told it's been the most popular dessert offering since the restaurant doors opened. It reminds me of a deconstructed tres leches cake from a restaurant on the North Shore years agar when I was hoping for a good piece of cake.

Photos
Published on Main - Interior

Interior

Published on Main - Ableskiver $19: three savoury danish donuts stuffed with stewed herbs and served a top a fresh herb emulsion

Ableskiver $19: three savoury danish donuts stuffed with stewed herbs and served a top a fresh herb emulsion

Published on Main - Pasta in herb sauce

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Pasta in herb sauce

Bodega On Main - The Seafood Paella

Bodega On Main

3.9(244 reviews)
0.7 kmStrathcona
$$

2nd time visiting after several years and this time our party of four had the HH food and drink…read moreitems as well as food items that were on the dinner menu. Overall I felt the dishes were solid but some such as the calamari could have had cooked longer to show some browning on the outside of the rings as the outside of the calamari looked anemic. We were fortunate that our party of four was able to be seated comfortably in the booth next to the front window which provided a view of the street. Four stars for today's experience and five stars with the Host and server who was assigned to our table.

Been to Bodega on Main for a few visits. Tried their happy hour (3pm-6pm daily, 10pm to late…read moreSunday-Thursday). They're next door to Torafuku. Happy hour consists of 9 items and drinks. Service was okay but had to ask for water multiple times. - La hora del vermut ($10.00 HH) - doesn't beat any house vermouths in Spain - Ensalada mixta ($12.00 HH) - plain - Patatas bravas ($8.00 HH) - standard - Arroz espanol ($14.00 HH) - seafood rice pilaf (basically a mini paella) was bland - Jamon serrano ($14.00 HH) - paper thin slices - Calamares fritos ($15.00 HH) - serviceable - Montaditos de lomo ($13.00 HH) - two pieces of pork on bread. Not what we were expecting - Pollo frito ($12.00 HH) - three overcooked wings - Churros ($11.00 HH) - lacked a satisfying bite. Chocolate sauce had an odd after taste

Photos
Bodega On Main - Dining room

Dining room

Bodega On Main - Mussels.. I like the sauce but we have no bread to dip in the sauce

Mussels.. I like the sauce but we have no bread to dip in the sauce

Bodega On Main - Potato, traditional, great texture

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Potato, traditional, great texture

The Refinery - golden duoro

The Refinery

3.9(158 reviews)
2.3 kmGranville Entertainment District, Downtown
$$

Hosted a surprise birthday party which was unforgettable. Organizing and booking the venue was…read moreseamless. Servers and bartenders were very attentive and service was great. Guests mentioned the appetizers were flavourful. I would highly recommend this venue.

Came here for a private party…read more 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.

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The Refinery - L'epice verte

L'epice verte

The Refinery - Flora and fauna cocktails

Flora and fauna cocktails

The Refinery - Flower sour

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Flower sour

Casa Molina - ARROZ NEGRO (SQUID INK) PAELLAS

Casa Molina

4.2(21 reviews)
1.0 kmMount Pleasant

I have to give my husband credit for finding this little hole in the wall…read more Being a long time foodie, aside from the food itself I tend to lean towards experiences and this was one of them. From the outside,it looked like a normal house in an industrial area. But walking through the doors, I was greeted by what felt like family! The decor was minimalistic but packed with so much flavour ( just like the food). We got the fois gras which was unlike any other I've had. It was covered with a sugary brûlée crust that added so much more dimension to its flavour and texture. This was also served with bread from the local bakery. We also got the seafood paella, which was super intimidating at first the platter looked HUGE on the table next to us, but turned out to be a good size. Really happy with the experience.

We had reservations for a Wednesday night at the tiny but inviting Casa Molina on Manitoba Street…read morein Mount Pleasant. The cozy converted house was full but not loud with dim lighting and close‑set tables for an almost home‑dinner vibe. From my visit, we shared three standout plates. The alcachofas con jamón paired confit baby artichokes with roasted onion and jamón Ibérico. It was a good balance of textures and classic Spanish seasoning. The ensalada de ajo blanco con tomates asados y atún semicurado brought a creamier, richer profile: silky almond‑garlic dressing on fire‑roasted tomatoes with chunks of semi‑cured tuna and a drizzle of ash oil that added a nice aromatic note. The arroz negro arrived with seafood mixed into deeply flavoured squid‑ink rice; it was hot, savoury, and rich, perfect with a squeeze of lemon and garlicky aioli. Service was a definite high point! It was warm, knowledgeable, and paced so we weren't rushed. Portions were generous enough for sharing among two, especially with the more substantial rice dish in play. That said, the overall meal trended toward the rich and dense, so pairing with a couple of the lighter salads or crisp wines next time would help round things out. Would recommend for for date nights, small groups, or anyone curious about Spanish flavours. Lighter eaters might want to mix in a salad or a vegetable forward plate to balance the richer offerings.

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Casa Molina
Casa Molina - Atun semicurado

Atun semicurado

Casa Molina - Espresso

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Espresso

El Mercat - spanish - Updated May 2026

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