Was a little hesitant to walk down "Blood Alley," but really wanted some good wine and a snack before my dinner reservation elsewhere. I came across a door with a question mark on it and figured it was worth a shot. I was seated at the bar, which was so fun because I could watch the chefs at work. So many fun garnishes! Their wine list is so fun. Pet nat, orange wine, all the things. My waitress, who was incredible, suggested the vinho verde and SHE WAS RIGHT! So good, and not something you can get just anywhere. I got the olives, which are stuffed with boursin and drizzled with hot honey. I have not stopped thinking about them since. Oh my god. This place is so vibey and feels like an intriguing secret. Candle-lit, dark, moody, delicious. This is a place you would be excited to impress your friends with. read more

Super charming, cozy candle lit place with lots of character. "Is That French?" is intentionally a question. The restaurant itself basically says: Is it a wine bar? An oyster bar? Is it French? The food is built around Pacific Northwest ingredients and whatever culinary influences fit. However, the menu definitely has a French influence. Chef/owner Kovic Prévost is from Montreal and trained on classic French restaurant cooking I don't know if it's French or not is almost exactly the reaction the name is designed to provoke. The food overall was very good although we thought a couple of dishes were a bit too rich for our taste. My favorite dish was definitely the. Hamachi Tiradito, Nikkei Leche De Tigre - Smoked Trout Roe. The richness of the Hamachi paired very well with the bright Leche de Tigre sauce. We finished the meal with Bison Back Ribs, Patty Pan & Anchovy - Whipped Bone Marrow. We were hoping it would be a star of the night although the flavors were good we thought the ribs could've used a little bit longer cooking to wear. It was fall off the bone tender. Happy eating!! read more

This is always my family's late night spot when visiting Vancouver. The ambiance is top notch, the menu changes, and the wine is delicious. I've been here 3 times and it's consistently great. The staff is friendly and extremely helpful. Don't be fooled if you visit for your first time and you're wondering if you're lost. The entrance is in an alleyway! read more

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Tucked and hidden in an alley way is a small but classy bar. It took a while to find it but the food, drinks and vibe were worth it! read more

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Lovely wine bar. Great selection of wines. We had a glass of white and red each. Delicious and nice spot to chit chat. read more

Is That French - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I was recommended this place by my boss and decided it would be a wonderful girl's date night spot. We made a reservation for 9:15pm and upon arrival, I was already enamoured by the candle decor (which I wish I got a picture of), and fresh tulips displayed on each table. The interior is dark, moody, and romantic, but it is not quiet or intimate as the bar is filled with joyful chatter. Despite it being a wine bar, they also serve various small dishes for share and I had received news that this place had wonderful food. The server was nice and explained the menu and wine list to us. With her help, we ordered 6 dishes and wine flights to share amongst the 3 of us. Everything arrived promptly and each of the wine flights were explained in detail. I'm not a wine drinker normally but I enjoyed the recommendations given to me (the riesling was delicious!!). Now onto the food...The sourdough was a great starter paired with the warm and rich miso butter. My favourite was the cold scallop dish and the aubergine dip with sous vide egg and sesame crackers! The scallops were very unique as they were paired with a sort of curry emulsion, a combination I never thought would pair well. The curry is so delicious that I mopped it up with leftover bread afterwards. Next, the aubergine presents a sweeter flavour profile and soft texture. I think the sesame cracker was a wise choice to bring different textures. All of us agreed that these two were the best dishes of the night. Followed by that, the foie gras parfait was also a great dish. I liked the presentation and the pairing of different textures (this is something this place does very well!). The bread that paired with it was a baguette of some sort and buttered so nicely. Finally, the bone marrow and bison tartare were the last dishes to arrive. Maybe because the previous dishes all presented explosions of flavour and texture, but we found these last two dishes just okay for our liking. The tartare was good but could definitely use a bit more acidity while the bone marrow had unique presentation but there was no actual bone marrow on the bone. I'm sure if I read the menu (and could understand it), I would have known this...oops. Everything was also bread heavy as per French dining so be mindful if you don't enjoy bread! Overall, everything was really delicious and service was smooth and prompt. It can get quite pricey but I think it's well worth for an occasional splurge. I would definitely love to come back as I hear the menu rotates quite a bit! read more

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Visiting from California and had the most wonderful dinner with my family here. Thank you Jesse for the amazing suggestions and service. I would def recommend for a date actually. Thank you again! read more

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We came here for dinner during our trip to Vancouver. We wanted to love this place so much. Although service was incredible and the wine list was impressive, the food didn't meet the mark. The dishes were good, but lacked just a little something. We had: -Red prawns (favorite bite out of everything we ordered) -Waygu/Ikura/Uni toast: Ikura might have been too overpowering, didn't let the uni or Waygu flavors shine -Scallop: the spices were too salty and strong for the scallops, it took away from how fresh it was -Oysters (solid oysters) -Beef tartare (the biscuit served with this didn't pair well, tasted so much better just on its own) -cheesecake (loved this) We still have high hopes for this spot, and hope to come back in the future. Tip; located in the alley with a big question park on the door read more

Is That French - Oysters on happy hour - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We finally got in and what a great treat. Interesting location in an alley-guns not needed. Friendly staff that provided an excellent selection of dishes in a great romantic setting-too bad I was with my buddies. I'm torn between a 4 and a 5 rating because the experience was just different, but great! You could definitely charge a lot more for your food because your creativity and complexity challenge the pallet. read more

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Came here for jazz night and it didn't disappoint! 6-8PM for jazz night and we enjoyed whiskey and a glass of wine with the foie gras as jazz played. No cocktails but they have wine and other spirits. The only downside was the open door that brought fruit flies inside...I killed 2 and that wasn't pleasant. Service was fine and def recommend for the jazz! read more

Is That French - Foie gras - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Cute industrial space with a few flowery or romantic touches, including spoons with hearts engraved and dangly attachments. The wine selection was fantastic! The oysters were very nice, and shucked cleanly. However a lot of the food was pretty mediocre, or had some very weird adds to it that didn't seem to go. I understand trying to push the envelope and be innovative but food should still taste good and not just unique. I especially was not a fan of the beef tartare which is my favourite dish almost anywhere. I would go back and try again, but can't really recommend right now. read more

Is That French - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Literally down a dark side alley. The best way is to walk around the coffee through the alley leading to Meet. They also have live music, but of course come here for the wine. They know their wines really well and have food accompaniments. Service was good and the vibe is nice. A great date spot or to hang out with friends. read more

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Came for Valentine's Day dinner and was very pleased with our experience! 100% a date night spot - intimate surroundings with light bites. Wine selection was excellent, we had a bunch of great recommendations from our server who was so welcoming. She also made great recommendations for food pairings with the wine we chose! All in all a great date spot tucked away in blood alley. Bites are small but extremely well done. My only takeaway is that the uni toast is honestly kinda hyped up and very average. Favorites were the scallop crudo and beef tartare! read more

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a cozy spot tucked away in blood alley. staff was accommodating and attentive for the whole night, and the interaction i got to eavesdrop between the chef and the couple sitting next to me (i'm not the most outgoing person myself) was a nice addition to the night -- clearly a group of passionate individuals that exemplified the vibe of the place. initially ordered the oysters and scallops -- i was seated at the bar so i was lucky enough to watch everything be made in real time. the scallops especially were made so that the texture and flavor of them were brought out to their full potential. also ended up adding on the sweet corn / lobster dish after hearing someone next to me rave about it, and as a fan of cheese corn sides at kbbq it fully hit the spot. eagerly recommend this place and would love to come back if i ever come back to vancouver read more

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This cute little place is hidden literally in an alley. My friend suggested we try this place for drinks. I am happy to have tried this place. The staff was friendly, the service was good, there was live music and the shared plates we had were a great choice too. We had tuna sashimi and burrata cheese plates. The plates were paired with bubbly and white wine-- which was perfect and under the recommendation of the server. If you want to have a fun girl's night, I would suggest this place as the overall experience was pleasant. It is literally a hidden gem. read more

Is That French - Burata and tuna sashimi - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Food is well pair. All the presentation is great. Wine bar is also many options as well. We will be back read more

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Lovely spot with surprisingly delicious food and a great selection of wine We had: cured scallops, halibut, roast carrots, and trout. Everything was truly delicious - but if I had to pick, the trout was my favourite, cooked to perfection. Flavours were on point also. They do wine flights of 3 for half pours at 1/2 the price of the glass. The server was really knowledgeable about the wines as well which is really nice in a wine bar. I particularly liked the Scout Riesling and the Roche Pinot Noir, both of which were his suggestions. Ambiance is intimate with that classic Blood Alley exposed brick kinda vibe. It sounds like they rotate their menu (and possibly their wines?) regularly. Looking forward to returning and trying more things! read more

This is a great wine bar with a focus on BC wines! The interior is very cute and the atmosphere is perfect for a date night spot. Their menu rotates frequently, but everything is amazing - for a place without a full scale kitchen, you wouldn't know it from the great flavours and creative dishes that they serve. We ordered based off of our server's recommendations, an approach I'd recommend (kombu cured scallop, carrot and gremolata, dungeness crab russian salad, ahi tuna ceviche, half burrata and romesco, nostrala cheese and burnt honey, candied salmon and yuzu, omaha duck and truffle pate). Our personal favourites were the burrata and romesco dish and the dungeness crab russian salad, but you can't go wrong. Overall, I'd definitely come back! There's a great spread of food and wine, so that everyone can walk away satisfied with their night. read more

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Got oysters during happy hour for $1 CAD off. On the smaller side but plump with a nice amount of fat on them. 'Summer love' was sweet throughout and the 'sweet select' was more vegetal with a briny finish. Your selection will probably be different than mine but the taste notes are fairly accurate and concise. The oysters also came with a shishito pepper hot sauce and a more vinegary sauce in little droppers. They were a nice touch that everyone at the table enjoyed. More of an upscale dining experience but we were able to snag a table without waiting on a Sunday. A nice place to stop by for a silly little snack. read more

Is That French - Happy hour oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Cute intimate wine bar located in the blood alley. The service was friendly and the ambiance is great for a date night. Nothing really stood out to us for any of the food items. If I have to pick one item I would suggest the uni toast. Would come back to enjoy their wine, but probably won't be back for the food. read more

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Service by Juliet was amazing- she was patient explaining the menu, chatted with us and made the evening (along with the amazing food) very memorable. It is tucked away and walked right by it originally- look for the "?" On the window with no other signage. Pricey but a great date night! read more

A hidden gem tucked away in an alley. Pleasantly surprised and would come back again. Highly recommend sitting at the bar for a great experience. We spoke with the chef and learned about each dish/wine. Very cozy and intimate experience. Restaurant will do a wine flight where you can pick any 3 wines. read more

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Outrageously small portions. Mediocre flavours. Extremely noisy. Service good. Would never return read more

Phenomenal! Went here for dinner on N2 of the Eras tour. Was skeptical at first as it was done a dark ally menacingly called "blood alley". Excellent complex flavors and unique tastes. read more

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Wow wow wow! This place is putting out some GREAT Food. They have a tiny kitchen, but food is on point. The Uni Toast is one of the best bites I've ever eaten. Each of the dishes was delicious, complex, and unique. The sauce for the smoked albacore...I could eat it like soup. Also had beef tartar, halibut crudo, & mushroom with pasta. Best of all this place is using all local ingredients to include a BC wine list. What more could you ask for from a small business you have got to try this place. read more

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Waiting in a sketchy alley was totally worth it. This place doesn't disappoint. The boarded up front window adds to the candle lit ambiance and the service was top notch. Every recommendation was delicious. Definitely a must if you haven't been yet read more

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Great BC wine list, excellent tapas (we had the marinated mushrooms and salmon tartare). Jazz night tonight too so live music. Super nice staff. What a find! read more

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Such a delightful surprise to find in Vancouver. Smart food, changing menu, very personable owner and crew. My new favourite place to go for imaginative great bites and wines. Kovic is very hospitable, knowledgeable and charming as well. Highly recommend a visit or three. read more

We had an amazing culinary experience here. The namesake wine was unique but fabulous, and brought out tremendous character in the food. The food was creative, and perfectly executed. They had a tiny space when we went, but they were doing miracles in it. The wait staff were also deeply knowledgeable, extremely professional. If you want a culinary experience that will make you feel different things about food than you probably ever have, that will push your boundaries and be exciting, I think it's worth trying this place. read more

Came here for the first time and I can tell you I won't be coming back unless I desperately want to have a wine night - sans their food. We found a live squirming worm in one of the oysters and immediately flagged this to their manager who quickly replaced our dish of oysters with a fresh batch. He also provided us with a $20 giftcard. When the bill came, the initial order of oysters wasn't comped which was shocking. I would consider basic good service to have also covered the initial order of oysters since it had a worm in it! Besides the oysters being ...contaminated and uber small. Their cheese and cracker dishes are severely lacking. They serve everything on broken dish pieces that are supposed to be aesthetic but this incredibly reduces portion sizes. Nothing about their food is worth going home raving about let alone pay for. Location of this place is in the middle of the alleyway so it's a bit hard to find. It can be a bit sketchy at night. Giving this place a 3/5 at best. read more

Absolutely fantastic. If you're a "foodie" with an appreciation for detail. I highly reccomend coming here! We had such a great experience. Their hospitality is warm and welcoming and they are clearly passionate about what they do. Shout out to Shauna who was an absolute delight and her wine reccomendations were spot on! There was a great wine list with unique and natural wines. The food was on point. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, we even ordered a dish twice!. The vibe of the place is exactly what we look for in an intimate wine bar. Rocky and the gems were playing Jazz through the evening and they are incredibly talented. Such a wonderful night. We will definately be back next time we are in Vancouver. read more

Beautiful wonderful 10/10! Would go out of my way to go again. Server was nice and wine was lovely.