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Rens Cafe & Bistro

4.1 (29 reviews)
Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

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Soft shell crab curry
Carol T.

Service was good despite being a big restaurant. We had the boat noodles. It came with one serving of rice noodle and there is a refill of one more if needed. The boat noodle broth was flavourful and had a number of slices of beef and beef ball. It came with sprouts and basil on the side and also pork rinds which was interesting. We also had the soft shell crab curry. It was better than expected considering the other reviews. The crab was crispy, curry was on the sweet side. Rice is not included. Jasmine rice was $3 and sticky rice or coconut jasmine rice is $6. Prices are on the high side so took off a star but not a bad option in the Hastings Burnaby area.

Teresa C.

Checked out this Thai restaurant which offers slight twists to some classic dishes. We got the bean paste string beans, beef steak salad, pad thai, and chicken wings. Overall we found the flavours a bit underwhelming or not balanced for the price we paid for. Quite pricey. Think there are cheaper options for similar tastes.

Kathryn W.

Went here with a group of friends and was surprised to see how large the restaurant was. Definitely suitable for large groups. The decor is quite modern and pretty. Overall the food was good and I would go back again. It has good variety on the menu and some great appetizers to share. The staff were super friendly and helped us take a bunch of group photos.

Green Curry with Chicken
Andrea M.

Food was amazingly delicious! We enjoyed the Pad Thai with Prawns, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Yellow Curry. Portions are generous and each dish had the right amount of flavour, not too salty, not too bland. It was very spot on and will be adding this place to one of our top Thai places. We initially ordered the Yellow Curry because it did not have a spicy pepper beside it indicating it's spice level. However, it was quite spicy for us, but luckily we had drinks! The second time we went with family, we requested that it be way less spicy which they were able to do! There was still heat, but definitely more manageable for those who's spicy tolerance wasn't high. Ambiance is very warm and cozy. When you walk in, it feels like you've been taken to somewhere tropical. It was surprisingly pleasant and enjoyable. Staff were very friendly. Food did take some time on both occasions, but well worth the wait! Would definitely recommend trying this place out! :)

Chicken wings
Gabriel Y.

This restaurant has an amazing atmosphere, since from outside to inside. Their menu is attempting, which makes you pick all the options. For this time, we ordered the spring rolls, chicken wings and Tom Kha chicken noodles soup with pasta. All these options were really good, but the soup was divine. Good service, including the robot.

Mango sticky rice
Heize C.

I would have given them 5 stars, but the service was just okay--probably because they were quite busy. The mango sticky rice took about 20 minutes to come out, but it made up for the wait! It tasted really good, and I found it interesting that their sticky rice is a darker color compared to the usual white sticky rice--food coloring, maybe? I'm a huge fan of mango sticky rice, and this didn't disappoint. Their dishes are on the higher end price-wise compared to other Thai restaurants, but the quality is good.

Satay and chicken wings
Carmen P.

They were definitely short staffed that night with a few large groups celebrating birthdays. The mains came out before some appetizers which didn't really phase us but there's a long wait in between dishes. Rice came out towards the end so we ate the mains on its own for a bit. Satay wasn't too bad and the chicken wings were flavourful. The papaya salad unfortunately was a miss as it was quite bland and it didn't help that it was $20+. Short rib, tom yum, pad thai and green curry all turned out great. Great atmosphere and good for large groups as well. Unfortunately, their coffee robot was broken and their robot delivering dishes had a mind of its own which was entertaining to see it wandering around.

Chicken Tofu Pad Thai
Amanda J.

New Thai place that took over a former greek restaurant. Conveniently located near the bus loop somewhat, street parking and they take reservations. Really cute interior with a nature wood greenery type of vibe. Heaters on the ceiling so it can get a bit toasty. Wasn't able to try the robot coffee though was hoping to. Originally stumbled here to have brunch but they didn't offer it anymore. So decided to try some of their other items. The drinks were cute and probably the best part. I'm not sure if it's because the restaurant was so new that maybe it was a one off experience but the food was just average. The curry was also a bit runny and not thicker like how i would have liked it. You have to order rice it doesn't actually come with it. Service was nothing to complain about. They speak english and food came at a reasonable speed. Washrooms were clean and they do take credit card/ cash / debit ..

Seafood medley
Celina L.

My first time here and I loooove the ambience! Sat in the covered patio which was a beautiful nice bright space and it was warm out but not super sunny so I didn't feel hot inside. Service was also good, the waiters were all super polite LOL we got the seafood medley (great sauce!), pomelo tuna salad (so refreshing herby and citrusy!) and the chicken pad Thai (good, flavourful and standard). Definitely will be coming back :)

Green Curry Sous Vide Chicken
Judy J.

Thai Place in Burnaby located in the Burnaby Heights area. Originally came thinking we could get brunch than found out brunch is only on weekdays. I asked when they think they will open up Brunch for weekends but the just kept saying it's only available on weekdays. The menu still says "weekdays only for now". Seems to be possible that would imply possibly on weekends in the future. I digress but figure I'm not the only one that thought the "for now" part was misleading. This place is quite large. Spacious and many tables for larger family style groups. The covered outside portion is probably not ideal on really cold or really hot days. If sitting under the heater, it's going to be overwhelming hot, on a hot summer day, I imagine it to feel like a sauna. Tried a few dishes/drinks with the party. Meat Lovers Platter - Fairly large portions of protein. The grilled squid was plentiful albeit a few pieces were quite cold and rubbery near the end of the meal. I liked the sauce options. Something for everyone. Thai Chicken Green Curry - A bit heavy on the sweet profile and more coconut milk like but still a light spice. Personally prefer more spice, less milk. Chicken Pad Thai - Large pieces of chicken with some tofu pieces. Noodles were cooked right, not too soggy, not overly firm. Again, I think this was too sweet. Was searching for that thai spice profile. Drinks were disappointing for me. I ordered the Rainy Butterfly expecting the drink to at least resemble the pictures. Bear in mind I asked the server if they could actually make the drink look like the picture. She confidently told me that could she I expected it to resemble the picture. It did not. Don't be fooled. What you get will not be blue (light or dark). Drink itself wasnt even that good. It tasted more like fizzy soda. Yes, I asked the server if this was the right drink. She again claimed it was. Thai Milk Tea- standard. Nothing too fault. All in all, happy to see the new spot but price/ flavor, there are other places I'm more fond of. Those looking for fusion may appreciate this place more. I may still venture one day for brunch if I catch it on a staycation day.

Cynthia S.

Came by for a girls night to have their meat lovers platter and tom yum soup. The tom yum soup was divine and full of seafood. But the meat lovers platter wasn't very impressive. The meat skewers were dry, squid wasn't very fresh and the chicken wings could have been crispier.

Front of restaurant~
Edward L.

Solid Thai place in Burnaby Heights. Parking is available on Hastings, as well as on the side streets. The place is split into 3 dining areas. The best seating is on the R side, towards the front. Nice enclosed patio with skylights. Staff here have Chinese accents. I inquired, and they mentioned the owner is Chinese, but the head chef is Thai. Good enough. Staff are friendly and professional. The menu selection isn't the largest here (maybe 10 items at most?), but it's the stuff that everyone orders. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning. Pad kra pow - stir fried pork on rice. Great flavour. Chili gives it a nice kick. Pad thai - sweet and actually tastes like tamarind. I had the chicken option. It was good. Sukho thai noodle soup - slices of meat in curry broth, served with potato, cilantro, and some crispy noodles on top. Also comes with pickled vegetables, onions, and a slice of lime on the side. Tasty. I guess my only complaint is that the portion sizes are a bit small. Hopefully they increase it in the future. Other than that, I'd eat here again. Quality is good. Recommended.

Pad Thai
Caitlyn M.

Been wanting to try this place for a while and finally got the chance to! The decor inside is absolutely beautiful and it was packed with locals! We ordered the pad Thai and Thai basil stir fry pork with egg on rice. I wish there was a little more flavor in their pad Thai which is why I deducted 1 star. I ordered the green Thai milk tea and it was a little too sweet for my liking. After diluting with some water it was better for me. The original Thai milk tea was really good though! I forgot to take a photo of the Thai basil stir fry unfortunately because we were hungry It also looked like there was a robot bartender but was not turned on which is cool and I wonder if it's on only at certain times?? Service was a little bit slow but understandable as they were really busy. Not sure if I would come back here again but they do also have Thai hot pot which look delicious!!

Coffee Robot that got lots of photos but not one order for coffee

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24 days ago

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10 days ago

Really tasty -- I absolutely love the ribs! Tender, juicy, full of flavor, and perfectly cooked.

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6 months ago

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7 months ago

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1 month ago

This is amazing Thai restaurant!!! I love the food and service there! And the environment is also very comfortable.

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9 months ago

Tasty food and yummy milk tea! Cool and stylish atmosphere. The service was very nice.

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The Tiki Bar - Palm trees by bar~

The Tiki Bar

4.2(33 reviews)
4.1 kmGrandview-Woodlands
$$

This bar is SO FUN for a stop with friends while bar hopping along main. The drink options are…read moreendless but beware they are very strong. Every time I come here I try something new and I even hear they have a secret menu of drinks you can ask your server for. If I had to give one complaint- it is that this place is very busy. I wish they could expand or have another location given the demand to get in. Odds are slim on a weekend night with a group and no reservation. That being said, this is a must-try place in Vancouver.

5 stars for this revamped (new management + menu + staff), retro, tiki bar…read more I saw that they had their opening night this past weekend so I dragged a large group of my friends here to enjoy some tiki cocktails. We came in a little before 8 and there was no one there. I had to double check with the staff to make sure they were open. Lucky for us though since no one else was there we were able to get a table for a group of 9 right away. Our server Becca was awesome. She looked after us and made sure our drinks were always filled. We decided to get the punch bowl to share. I'm just going to say that we ended up ordering 3 of these bowls and I woke up the next morning with a Top 5 hangover. These tasted like juice and I just remember my glass never being empty. I also remember having a taste of their mojito, which was delicious. As the night went on the place began to fill up and by the time we left it was packed. A musician came in at some point in the evening and performed some island tunes, which added to the fun island tiki vibe. Overall, the Tiki Bar was a ton of fun and it was a Saturday well spent. I'm so happy that we could be part of their opening night. I'd love to come back to try some of their different cocktails soon.

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The Tiki Bar - John and sue richardson

John and sue richardson

The Tiki Bar
The Tiki Bar

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Bar Corso - Stuffed squid?

Bar Corso

4.3(31 reviews)
3.9 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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Odd Society Spirits - Sour al Pastor cocktail

Odd Society Spirits

4.7(42 reviews)
3.7 kmGrandview-Woodlands
$$

We had the best time at Odd Society, and I am still smiling two days later. Initially perplexed,…read moresince our Uber dropped us off one block away, we had no idea where we were in the dark of the Canadian night. Surrounded by warehouses, did the driver want us to experience a "call of the wild?" However, Odd Society beckoned one block from the corner, and two seats were available at the strange bar. Strange because our view was blocked by a kind of ersatz plastic and wood wagon wheel blocking our view of the servers and bar. It was reminiscent of Utah's Zion Curtain. Later, I was told it was part of Odd Society's Covid protection and helped the bartenders stack things up. Okay, fine, but tear the damn things down. They're obnoxious. Odd Society creates an array of liquors made from ingredients sourced locally by law. It's required by their license. I tried almost all of them, and most were fantastic. Abby and Colin, our servers, were charming, fun, and educational, answering my questions, which became increasingly inane as the alcohol took effect. The distillery also mixes fantastic cocktails, and mine, named Midori, was friggen unbelievable. I had two of them along with my liquor tasting. My Midori was made with a special concoction called Portuguese Sweet Milk, or something like that. It was amazing. I want one for breakfast. The fun kept coming, and I didn't want to leave. Alas, we had reservations at Lunch Lady up the street. We should have stayed at Odd Society. Lunch Lady was a disappointment. Try Odd Society out as both a distillery and cocktail bar. You won't be disappointed about either one.

I have a friend who loves to drink so when he was back in town, I bookmarked this place to bring…read morehim to as I saw many great reviews and pictures. In summary, the place was ok, but noticed after the fact that we were overcharged for the drinks. It's a small space - about 3 high tables, one lower one, each seating 4 to maybe at most 5 people, plus a bar. I reserved a table for the 2 of us at 3:30 pm on a Sunday (earliest reservation they had as they open at 3 pm) and we were seated at 3 pm. They checked our vaccine passports and then seated us. Not long after we were seated, the remaining tables were all taken just after opening for 30 minutes so I would recommend reserving if you prefer tables over bar seating. The waitress brought over a drinks menu and food menu. The menu showed cocktails at $13. We chose our drinks and ordered, then the waitress came by with a second menu that she said was for Sunday only. She apologized and said she normally doesn't work Sunday's so she didn't know this promotional menu was available. This menu had some cocktails on promotion that I would have not minded to try, but I had already received my cocktail. Oh well. I had the Violet and Claire, which looked great and tasted pretty good for the first half. However by the second half of the drink, it started to taste too sweet. It was not bad for a cocktail, overall. My friend said the Smoke Between the Sheets cocktail was alright as well. We got our bills quickly as we had a second place to visit afterwards. After paying, I snapped a picture of the bill at the time but did not notice until I got home that to my surprise, each cocktail was listed on the bill at $14.95. I recalled their physical menu saying $13, and verified this with their menu online. Unfortunately, I did not notice the discrepancy until I was home, otherwise I would have mentioned something. Note that our visit was at the end of November 2021, and at the time I'm writing this review (December 26, 2021), their online menu still has cocktail prices at $13. So, I am not sure if this was a one time mistake when we paid, or if they have just forgotten to update their menu? Either way, this was disappointing. Because of the entire experience I probably won't visit again, especially with all the other options Vancouver has for cocktails.

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Odd Society Spirits
Odd Society Spirits - Specials menu

Specials menu

Odd Society Spirits - Drink local !

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Drink local !

Claudio's

Claudio's

3.8(51 reviews)
2.0 km

it took a few attempts to finally nail down a lunch date with the ladies, but with a lot of…read morepersistence and determination, we made it happen: a party of four with a 1:00 pm reso on a tuesday. claudio's came recommended by a friend, run by the sons of the family behind la roca on commercial drive, many moons ago, and also the team behind pasta amore. the restaurant is named after their dad, claudio, which automatically sets expectations a notch higher. finding the place itself was easy enough on google maps. the parkade, however, was another story. finding my car after lunch turned into a misadventure that no one asked for. inside, claudio's is bright, open, and airy, with soaring ceilings and generous natural light. warm wood tables, a cozy booth with deep leather seats invite lingering, and vintage style photos line dark walls, adding nostalgia. greenery spills down from a ledge near the ceiling, softening the exposed pipes and ductwork above, like a leafy curtain politely disguising the ventilation system. the open kitchen, anchored by a wood fired pizza oven, is a strong visual cue that pizza is serious business here. our arrival, unfortunately, was...odd. one friend became convinced the front door was locked. diners were clearly inside, but she swore a staff member made eye contact and didn't move to help. we circled the building like confused cats looking for a secret entrance before returning to the front door. still nothing. i finally called the restaurant and was told, cheerfully, that the door was open. eventually, another customer attempted entry, gave the door a heroic yank, and voila, it opened. shoutout to that stranger. less so to the brunette staff member whose vibe leaned towards standoffish. once seated, spirits lifted quickly. we were celebrating a birthday and decided to share, which felt right given the generous portions. the table filled up nicely: calamari fritti, a verde salad, and a capricciosa pizza topped with tomato, fior di latte, prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, olives, and artichokes. the spread looked inviting, exactly the kind of lunch you want to linger over. the calamari arrived first and was a highlight, absolutely stole the show. lightly breaded, crisp without being greasy, with a mix of rings and jalapenos and a side of pale, creamy aioli, it was the dish everyone kept reaching back for. if there's one must order at the table, this is it. the verde salad, dressed in a pinkish vinaigrette and sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts and shaved cheese, leaned a bit heavy handed on the dressing and felt slightly wilted, though the flavours were there. the pizza arrived last, rustic, with a blistered, wood fired crust and toppings scattered generously. the crust was thin and pleasantly chewy, not oily, though a touch soggy in the centre. still, it held its own and disappeared quickly. we shared an affogato with gelato, espresso, with crumble and a generous portion of tiramisu with a dusting of cocoa powder spelling out happy birthday was a thoughtful finishing touch. both hit the sweet spot without tipping into overly rich territory. all in all, it was a lovely afternoon, good food, plenty of laughter, and the easy comfort of catching up with old friends. claudio's has a lot going for it: a beautiful space, standout calamari, and solid pizza. the parking maze and the great door mystery were 'character building', to say the least. i'd definitely come back, though next time, i might bring a crowbar.

Claudio's ls located at 103-4402 Skyline Drive,Burnaby,BC…read more This was our first time visiting Claudio's, and it was a very pleasant experience. The restaurant looks clean, comfortable, which made me feel relaxed as soon as I walked in. The food was very good and easy to enjoy, even we are not familiar with Italian food. The dishes were well presented and looked fresh. The pasta was cooked nicely, not too soft, and the sauce had a rich and comforting taste. The flavors were balanced and not too heavy, which made the meal enjoyable from start to finish. The service was friendly and attentive. The staff were polite, patient, and helpful when explaining the menu. They made sure everything was okay and did not rush us, which made the dining experience even better. Overall, Claudio's is a great place for a casual meal or a nice dinner with friends or family. It is a good choice if you want to try Italian food in a comfortable and welcoming environment. I would be happy to come back again.

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Claudio's
Claudio's - Mezzi rigatoni 'nduja

Mezzi rigatoni 'nduja

Claudio's - Linguini al fruitti di mare

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Linguini al fruitti di mare

The Keefer Bar

The Keefer Bar

4.3(358 reviews)
6.0 kmChinatown
$$

While in town, we put the Keefer on our places to visit because of it's reputation and we're glad…read morewe did because it didn't disappoint. Although we went on a Sunday with no reservations, we were lucky enough to grab two seats at the bar since they had just opened. The place is officially the best cocktail bar I've ever been to, and coming from L.A. that says a lot. The bartenders were both geniuses and the cocktails we tried were all original, tasty and slightly exotic. The place is small with limited seating but definitely keeps that exclusive type of atmosphere.

Let's just say they weren't named one of the best bars in Canada for no reason…read more As an aspiring cocktail aficionado, the menu here was like visiting Disneyland. Each drink had a fun name with an ingredient list that read like a cocktail encyclopedia in the best way possible. When something didn't quite make sense, a few questions yelled over the awesome house sound to the bartender brought thoughtful and helpful responses that had us landing on cocktails that quite literally spoke to our souls. I see why this bar not only sells shirts and hats, but also the menu itself. I snapped some low light pics but every drink in there was a masterpiece and I wish I'd been able to try even more. Reservations are absolutely recommended. We walked in to a wait, but after a brief moment at a standing side table, we were able to grab a couple seats at the bar. I appreciated the low key vibes here because they allow you to focus on the craft of the cocktail. No flashy distractions. Just a rock solid spirit selection, innovative, thoughtfully constructed, and properly prepared cocktails made by passionate people who are preserving this art form for us all to enjoy. This is a must.

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The Keefer Bar - Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The Keefer Bar - Sesame espresso martini

Sesame espresso martini

The Keefer Bar - Entrance

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Entrance

Rens Cafe & Bistro - thai - Updated June 2026

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