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Hmm, finally tried the Mackenzie room for my boyfriend's birthday and hmm, well, it was just okay. I went in with high expectations and the food notes did not quite hit. I give the food 3/5, but wine and service 5/5. Highlights - chicken of the sea. Great uni butter paired with the squid ink brioche. Lowlights - everything had a purée or mushy element. Seasoning was also a little off. For example, the cod fish - the lemon sauce was just too overpowering. However for the beef - it needed some pepper and salt.
This place took me by surprise. I was in Vancouver for the weekend and I was in search of an omakase experience. A Reddit post drove me to this place. Now... I had a late reservation and I was not aware of where this place was located, but it was not in the best part of town. Being my first time in Vancouver I was pretty set-back and almost decided not to go, but this was the one time I was glad I went against my gut feeling. I enter and the place it's packed! The ambiance is warm and inviting. I was greeted at the door taken to my seat at the bar. I was informed of their menu, and what they suggest "Have It All". So I had it all and then some. It would take way too long of a review to go into depth on every plate but to put it in short each plate was art in how it was presented. Every plate had its own individuality no one plate could compare to the next. Just when you think you had the best plate another comes and tops it. You think, "did I overestimate my hunger? How am I going to get through the next course?", but the you take the next bite and you can't stop. The Filet O Fish was by far one of the best plates I've ever had. If you're ever in Vancouver carve out some time to visit this place. You will not regret it!
On my list for an insanely long time because this place requires reservations in advance, a trip up to Vancouver as I am not from here, and total of 4 people to try the whole menu. As a foodie, I cannot settle for less with the 2 person tasting menu so lots of patience culminated to this very moment on a Sunday. The 4 person tasting menu, famously dubbed as the "I want it all!" menu, features everything listed on the board for the menu, served across 5 courses. 89CAD per person, so it is an amazing value. I put as asterisks the ones I loved, for those that opt to do a la carte or the abridge tastings. Showstopper salad - not really showstopper but pretty delicious nonetheless. Fresh arugula with creamy ricotta *Chicken of the sea - for the longest time, thought it was chicken but it is actually uni. I love this dish as it is unique with squid ink brioche (super flaky and crunchy) and hazelnut and black garlic puree for a flavor explosion. The look makes it seem like the dish is not for the faint of heart, but trust me, it is so good Beets by Charley - nicely named dish, not really anything stood out for this dish Big Dipper - white fish rilette with croquettes. I am not big of a fan of the vinegary taste of the gel in the bowl but it is a unique experience and does cut out the fattiness of the croquettes Mi Amore! - beef tartare. It has a bit strong of pickles and the pickled egg wasn't really my preference but works well here with how they prepared the fresh raw beef. Buffalo Bill - another salad with chicken skin and gorgonzola. Leans heavier than the Showstopper Salad and Beets by Charley, and it is for good reason as part of the cadence into the entrees in the upcoming courses. *Filet o Fish - an expensive Filet o Fish, just kidding. The fish preparation here is spot on - fresh, soft, and tender. It comes with crispy potato that combined feels like the inverted Filet o Fish sandwich that is apparent in a fast food chain. *Steely Dan - steelhead trout. Very fresh, soft, and tender. Some of the best fish preparations I have seen in these upscale places! *Cherry Bomb - duck breast. We opted for a $25 supplement for foie gras (total for the whole table, and we split the foie gras into 4 afterwards), which is decently seared but not the best I tried. The duck breast is really flavorful and the dish is prepared with flavor profiles leaning Asian fusion. I love their use of the candied cherries that you see in some drinks. Piggy Smalls - pork collar. Not really my favorite as I don't really prefer Southern US style food and this dish is prepared as such. But it was still done well What's up Doc? - carrot cake. Nice dessert to finish off *Wolf of Wall St. - financier. I like the naming of this dish. This one was pretty hearty and more innovative in comparison. Overall, the value is amazing and the food is good, but there is a large fraction of dishes that for those with even a sliver of hesitation of trying a particular dish or has certain aversions, you wouldn't really have a good time, particularly the first half of the menu. Service is good and is similar to that of a Michelin star restaurant, with complimentary coat check and bag check as needed, to ensure a comfortable dining experience.
The food and services exceeded expectation for two picky eaters. We did the pescatarian version of the tasting menu for two with chicken of the sea addition. Almost all the dishes delivered. Starting with chicken of the sea, definitely worth it, visually impressive and tastes even better. My favorite was probably the vegetable dish: Gailan with chili oils and fried garlic. Bold but well balanced. Makes me crave more. The restaurant was next to a rough looking park but inside it's warm and inviting. I would go back again to try new dishes.
We had a family dinner on a trip to vancouver and I have to say this place did not disappoint. Hannah our server was unbelievably thoughtful. Her service was amazing, always checked on us, and also gave us a list of recs for other restaurants to try out. My whole family thought the meal itself was special. The best weve had all year. Really great quality and a great modern twist on classics. Highly recommend checking out this unassuming restaurant. Very cute interior as well.
Came here on Valentine's Day with my partner and had the Valentine's Day tasting menu. It was very pricey and they upcharged the tasting menu for Valentine's Day, but overall everything was so good and I would gladly come back. For the amuse bouche, we had some sort of biscuit with an olive and fish on top.. it was good but nothing really special to note (I don't like olives). For the appetizers, the BBQ'd gailan was good but there were a lot of elements here that didn't make the dish particularly better than any regular Chinese restaurant's standard garlic gailan. I don't think the coconut vinaigrette did any favours for me here. The beef tartare was really good and I really enjoyed the egg yolk on top! For the mains, the star of the steelhead trout dish was the delicata squash. It was so delectable, I wanted an entire plate of just that. The fish was cooked to perfection. The endives were meh and I would've rather not eat them. The lamb two ways dish was the best dish of the night for me. Wow. The lamb was absolute perfection. The mushrooms delicious. The celeriac puree was quite good, but holy cow.. the celeriac foam on top of the lamb ragu was phenomenal. One of the best things I have ever tasted in my life. For dessert, whatever we had was quite interesting.. I don't know if I liked it, but I didn't not like it. The mignardise was more to my taste -- I think it was passion fruit-flavoured. Something sweet and tart to end the night. Service was really great. It's kind of dark in the restaurant, and can be quite loud. Tables are really close together.
FOOD: We did the prix fixe menu, but in case you are contemplating the a la carte option, I have put an asterisk next to the items I recommend. *Amuse bouche: Fried potato with creme fraiche and caviar. Salty caviart that contrasted well with the cool freshness of the creme fraiche. I wish the piece were bigger. *Chicken of the Sea: Buttery sweet ink brioche as the vehicle for the sea urchin pate. I am usually neither a fan of sea urchin nor pate, but the melding of the two was perfect and not overwhelming to the palate. The poached pears add a sweet and bright contrast to the dish Reed's radishes: Pickled watermelon, crunchy radishes, and crisp bread crumbs made up this salad. The buttermilk ranch was light and did not overwhelm the flavor of the dish. I liked it, but my partner felt like the radishes were just big hard pieces of raw vegetables. *Hidden gem: The gem lettuce was steamed or cooked, which I am not familar with (I've only ever eaten it raw), and it tasted kind of strange and bitter. That being said, the salmon was SO tender. It looked to be less than a 6 oz piece, and I am not sure if you get a larger piece when you order a la carte. Down the rabbit hole: Tender rabbit meat wrapped in crisp chicken skin. Actually, the whole thing tasted like chicken. We are in general not huge fans of rabbit. The sauce moutarde was too salty. But the buttered brioche was warm, fluffy, and delicious. I would pass on this dish. Blue velvet: I wish our meal had come with the chocolate-based dessert instead. The rye chiffon cake tastes like punishment, some whole grain healthy version of cake. I liked the hint of plum flavor in the blueberry compote, but the sweetness did not offset the bitter taste of the brie cream cheese. It was not a great note to end the meal on. Ambiance: I enjoyed the music playlist, but it just seemed so noisy in the restaurant. Service: The waitstaff was friendly enough.
We came with reservations for 6pm. We were promptly seated in a very full restaurant. I ordered the pearl martini. It was a little too strong for me and had a bit too much onion flavour. We got the I want it all! For 89$ per person. The showstopper salad with legumes, cheese and salsa Verde. It was really fresh tasting. very big portion. The chicken of the sea was complex and delicious. But I was really disappointed with the black squid brioche. It lacked the fluffiness that you usually get with the brioche. The texture just wasn't right. But the sea urchin with the hazelnut was a really good combination. I liked the addition of the fruit as well to help cut through the sea urchin. I would recommend this dish if it wasn't for the brioche. The garden state was probably one of the best dishes of the night. I loved the puree on the bottom. It was really good and addictive. It needed a tad more chicken skin for a bit of extra crunch but other than that. I also loved the asparagus. This was perfect. The faux tartare was disappointing. The beef had no beef flavour. I liked the crackers. Very crunchy. But other than that it was disappointing. The pierre Elliot credo with the hamachi was okay. Nothing show stopping but the flavours were there. Needed a bit more sourness for it to taste fresh The straight outta comte was not bad. I loved the fingerling potatoes and the endive. The arctic Charley was okay. Not my favorite. I loved the crispness of the skin. I didn't think the sauce Vin rouge went with it. The de la sole with leeks truffle and pate brisee was okay. It needed way more truffle flavour. The Cauliflower cakes were creative but didn't tie well with the sole inside the pastry. The sole itself was very flaky and light. A bit too seafoody for us. The down the rabbit hole was quite interesting. The mortadella inside the rabbit was very interesting. The chicken skin wrapped on the outside of this dish was pretty good. I loved the contrast of textures. The mortadella was a bit tofu feeling but interesting. The full English with the morel mushrooms was okay. The lamb didn't have much lamb flavour but this dish tasted pretty standard, nothing special. The desserts pear necessities and pink chiffon desserts were okay. The pear necessities was kind of one dimensional and tasted mostly like chocolate. The chocolate part on the bottom had a kind of weird texture. I didn't have enough room for the pink chiffon . The creme diplomat was delicious though. Overall the service here was really good. The food started great and ended on kind of a disappointing note. If I visit again I would not get the I want it all because it's just too much food. Off their current menu I would recommend the garden state, chicken of the sea, straight outta comte and down the rabbit hole.
Finally here to celebrate my birthday and they did not disappoint! Totally worthy of all the accolades. The restaurant was cozy & comfortable. All the service staff were fun & attentive. I highly recommend their tasting menu "I Want it All" $80 per/4 ppl. Basically the entire menu, built for four. Every course was sumptuous and we definitely did not go home hungry! We will be back
The Mackenzie Room was full of surprises, and all great ones. We tried things we loved that we initially didn't expect to like, we had supremely accommodating and friendly service, we ran into people we knew in a city we had never been to before, and we entertained a menu concept that was right up our alley. When we finished our last few bites here, I remarked that the food here was subtly unique but I couldn't put my finger on how. Maybe it's because I don't have much exposure to Canadian cuisine, which is very similar to American cuisine but not necessarily the same. We had been in Whistler for a wedding for a long weekend and wanted to spend a night in Vancouver, a city neither of us had been to before. I looked up a zillion restaurants for dinner, of course. A good number of them were closed because it was Sunday, and I ultimately chose The Mackenzie Room because it a) was open, b) had a great pre fixe concept, c) had an amazing-looking menu, and d) seemed relatively central. As soon as we walk in, who do we see but another couple who had been at the wedding that weekend, two of the few people we actually knew there. Great minds (they also loved their meal). The ambiance here is warm and inviting, and very down to earth considering how refined the food is. Though not posted online, the cocktail menu here is a formidable one. Clearly everyone dining here thought so, because the bartender was working nonstop while we were there. It took a while to get our first round of drinks so our server brought us a little glass of champagne. After that, I had the Werewolf in Vancouver (odd society mongrel, chili, maple, black walnut bitters) which was a rich and spiced old fashioned variation with unaged rye (essentially moonshine). A delicious winter cocktail. I then got the featured cocktail which I did not take a picture of but I know it was made with pork fat-washed bourbon, a complex whiskey sour. My partner loved his drinks too (he got a gin sour-type drink and a tiki-style drink with calvados). So food-wise, Mackenzie Room offers a pre fixe set menu of five courses for two people. I saw each dish listed up on the chalkboard with accompanying prices, making me think that a la carte was an option, but they said it was not. You can ask to maybe swap one thing out but otherwise you've got what you've got. We ended up swapping out pork for quail but otherwise kept the menu as is. I was sad to miss out on a few things (we also weren't intending to get dessert) but most of what we got was seriously great. Eats, below: Amuse bouche - something delicious on top of a gourmet tater tot. Can't remember much else other than it being a sign of great things to come. Chicken of the Sea (sea urchin, hazelnut, squid ink brioche): A+ This is their signature dish, the only one you are absolutely forbidden from swapping out. My partner is not a fan of sea urchin so he was nervous, but ultimately he may have loved this dish more than I did. It was rich, savory, umami, altogether decadent. I have a gluten sensitivity so I ate it by the spoonful which was just fine by me. Root 66 (parsley root, almond, salsa verde, radish): A I believe they said this was the only vegan dish on the menu. Such a beautiful and creative winter salad, with perfectly roasted yellow carrots, thinly sliced parsley root and a nutty salsa that brought it all together. Arctic Charley (salsify, split pea sauce vin rouge): A Stunning cook on the fish (said in a Gordon Ramsey voice), with a flavorful shallt puree, raw cabbage, delicious roasted mushrooms and a light but flavorful sauce. You've Got Quail (root vegetable pave, mushroom, currants): A+ Another spectacular dish, with chicken sweetbread-stuffed quail that melts in your mouth. The root vegetable pave nearly won out as my favorite component of the dish. The Pear Necessities (chocolate, salted caramel, peppercorns): A- The only A- of the night because the chocolate cake itself was a bit dry. The other components were excellent. When our server asked how the meal was we gave a rave review but my partner mentioned the cake -- our server said he had heard this a few times already so perhaps it was an off night for the cake. Speaking of our server - this guy was so kind, friendly, and generous. This sort of thing really does make a difference. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing about our travels. He gave us a little bit of Montenegro as a digestive to close out our meal, a perfect way to end our short Vancouver adventure.
Came here with a large party which we were glad they could accomindate considering how small the dining room is. I was open to trying this place but honestly wasnt to optimistic as the menu was all over the place for me. We tried the full menu and the restaurant did its best to make adjustments for us as we had a lot of dietary restrictions. My party had mixed reviews of the restaurant. There were hit and miss moments. I personally did enjoy the duck and the salmon. I have to be honest about the desert portion of the experience. It was one of the worse desert culinary experience I have ever had and my whole party agreed. The "Golden ticket" which includes chocolate and banana mousse was an epic NO. I couldnt even swallow it. No one at my table ate it. Not sure I would return but glad I was open to experience it.
Came here on the first night of a bachelorette. We had to make 2 reservations for 4 at 8pm and 8:15pm since they did not allow more than that online but would not pick up their phone or answer any emails. Immediately we were greeted extremely poorly and accused of bypassing the appropriate reservation system. That they would need to stagger our orders and would not even listen when we tried to explain that we wanted to make reservation for large group. Ok well we're hungry and tired from flying in so we just take it. Then we're told that we have to order the tasting menu which our group initially didn't consider cuz of certain food preferences and allergies and we would have been forced to try all the dishes on the menu. They were very unaccommodating and frankly pretty rude about it that we didn't want to make a fuss and just do the tasting menu. Dish highlights: Chicken of the sea dish was absolutely scrumptious and I never heard of squid ink brioche buns but they were delicious! Sashimi Not was also quite good as well as the pigs in a blanket. Never thought I'd enjoy deep fried sweetbreads but here we are. The other dishes were decent but nothing I'd necessarily go out of my way for. The halibut was overcooked and the bend and snap salad had way too much harissa. Desserts were also pretty meh. I'm not a huge fan of rhubarb so I was particularly disappointed. The service really deterred me from ever wanting to come back here despite a few very good dishes. I think it's very trendy and they lean on unique ingredients and preparations for the experience which is ok but not something I'm willing to dish out so much money for if the core taste is not there ($85CAD/pp). Ambiance was also way too dark and loud for me to enjoy.
Super rich meal! The chicken of the sea was definitely the show-stopping highlight. I couldn't believe the explosion and variation of flavor in just one dish. Strongly recommend. Next up was the duck dish - super delicious, felt almost decadent. The cabbage paired so well with the duck; it was definitely the second-best thing we had ordered. The pork chop left a bit to be desired, given that it's an homage dish for the Chopped episode for which the exec chef was recognized (or so we were told?). read more
2 years ago
I'm not usually one to take the time to write a review, but this place is seriously amazing! If I had had to pick my final meal, best believe this would be it. My fiancé and I had the tasting menu and I would highly recommend it. They brought out multiple courses that simply blew us away with the balance of salty, sweet, savory flavors. The sea urchin pate was unlike anything I've ever had and I can't stop thinking about it to be honest. If you have one night in Vancouver, don't miss the Makenzie Room! read more
The tasting menu for two was one spectacular dish followed by four average dishes. The first appetizer, Chicken of the Sea, was astoundingly good. Other reviews already praise it abundantly. It was interesting, intense, and very addictive. The second and third dishes, the Oh My Gourd! with spices (Indian-ish tasting?) and the Big Tuna with beans (Italian-ish tasting?) were unimpressive. The ingredients were solid. The pairings were new, and they worked, but that's as far as they go. Do I feel like I love tuna with beans, as opposed to, for example, in a poke or in tataki style or in aburi style? No. Did I think it was new and palatable? Yes. Would I have it over and over (like I might have poke)? No, I think it gets old fast. The dessert, Orange Ya Glad?, a more ordinary panna cotta with crumble, was so sweet that we hardly wanted to finish it. I would individually rate the five courses 5, 2, 2, 3, 1, respectively. See the photos for the menu! At risk of sounding repetitive, we thought the menu opened way too strong. The Chicken of the Sea may be one of the best appetizers I have ever had and I would happily eat it at a Michelin 2-star restaurant. The other dishes were nice but weren't remotely close. I know that some chefs like to impress at the start but I think a better menu might take the meal to new heights with every course. Consequently, I would say Mackenzie Room is a fantastic experience at its price point, but would struggle to stand at a higher price point. Ordering suggestion: if you come here as a party of two, instead of two appetizers and two mains, I might suggest just ordering five or six appetizers and none of the mains. The mains are larger portions of meat and honestly not that interesting. I would dare to say you came here to try interesting dishes, not fill up on meat. (The quality of the mains is good too, but they are twice as expensive and fills your stomach.) read more
What a wonderful experience. While the space is rustic and comfortable (thankfully an exact opposite of white tablecloth restaurants and snobbish attitude), the food presentation and knowledgeable service has an absolute fine dining vibe. The tasting for 2 was beautifully crafted and served on stunning Lineage plates (obsessed). The chicken of the sea was a mind blowing intro to the entire experience. Crazy delicious. The tuna dish melted on the tongue, and the duck was such a perfect comforting winter course. The gourd was our least favorite, but that doesn't really say much in the context of such an impeccable array of dishes. We are bummed we don't live closer to this gem, but every time we visit our friends, Mackenzie Room will be a must-to-visit. read more
3 years ago
A clearly overpriced place. No options of wine for less than 90 dollars. The dish Crabby American costed us 108 dollars, because we added lobster at 50 dollars. the lobster was presented as half lobster, but in fact was a small tale of a baby lobster. of course, no word about a price when suggested to add lobster. the dish Squid game was very tasty but less than 100 gr. we paid 260 dollars for 2 people with no wine. I took gin tonic and my partner bier. the location is weird. 10 min walking east from gas town. you see interesting characters there read more
Had an amazing dinner with some of the best farm to table dishes! We ordered the "I WANT IT ALL" menu: * Showstopper Salad: quite possibly the best salad I've ever had. Makes me think I can be a vegetarian * Veggies from the Garden: Delish. Makes me want to convert to a Vegan * Chicken of the Sea: Uni Pate with Squid Ink Brioche * Shrimp and Kohlrabi * Heirloom Tomatoes, Tahini, Chimichurri * Beef Heart Tartar, Morels, Egg Yolk, Aioli * Poached Halibut * Seared Rockfish * Aged Duck Breast and Confit * Sausage and Squid * Rhubarb and Meringue * Tiramisu Sketchy part of town, so don't leave anything in your car. Staff are awesome - from explaining all the dishes to keeping our wine and water glasses were always filled. I look forward to returning for the amazing farm to table creations! read more
Came here for my friend's birthday. I don't think I would ever discover this restaurant if my friend didn't pick it. The restaurant is directly behind Oppenheimer Park which is not an area that I would go to especially during night time. They have 12 dishes menu which changes from time to time and also offer a tasting menu for all the dishes at a set price. I think the menu is very creative and unique. They have dishes like uni pate with squid ink bread and boar belly. The dishes are delicious. Their board belly is very tender and the trout skin is nicely done with crispy skin and not over cooked. I also like the addition of salt on their chocolate dessert dish to balance the richness of the chocolate. There are street parking around both paid and free. The staff are very friendly. The service is very good. Our plates and utensils are changed after every courses. The only thing that I don't like about the restaurant is the location. read more
6 years ago
Great first time take out experience for one of my fav restos in Van. Easy online ordering process. Checked in upon arrival and decided to wait outside. Great service as usual. Showstopper salad needs to be assembled to keep it fresh. A bit messy but worth it. Chicken of the sea was beautifully plated. Had to retoast the brioche at home but all good. Elk tartare with mushrooms was flavourful as is and also beautifully plated. Maybe more tartare to balance out the mushrooms and the addition of more texture. Although I miss the service staff and the restaurant experience, this take out option will become part of my routine. read more
I make an effort to dine at The Mackenzie room at least once a year, usually during the fall or winter as these menus appeal to me more than the spring and summer (the menu is always changing). Except for two dishes that's is always on the menu, Chicken of the Sea and Showstopper salad. I've been coming here since they first opened and it is definitely my favourite restaurant in Vancouver! I remember in the beginning when chicken of the sea (chicken liver and uni mousse) was not permanently on the menu yet, so I was at the restaurant quite often. I was obsessed and didn't want to miss out. Every dish is bursting with flavour. The best bite, a little bit of everything on to your utensil: protein, sauce, sides. Perfect bite! I made the mistake of only taking a piece of pork chop, it was just okay. But when I took a little piece of everything on the plate with the pork chop, amazing!!! It was my first time trying the "I want it all" feature. The dishes did not disappoint. However, the desserts were mediocre to me. Personally, I'm not a dessert person. I could've done without and had another savoury dish. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
One of the best meals that I have ever had! We were visiting Vancouver for the first time and I chose this place based on their yelp reviews and made a reservation. We walked from our hotel by the convention center and while the area close to the restaurant isn't that great it was quick walk. We had their four four course meal which was good for two people and loved everything. Specially the chicken of the sea as it was our first time trying it. Even their non-alcoholic drinks were great!! Overall really pleased with our experience. read more
6 years ago
We had an awesome meal here about a month back. We did the 5-course dinner for 2 which was a steal at $100. Portions were bigger than we expected, too. Everything was delicious. Sunchoke dish was very interesting, a version of a potato salad. I also really liked the cod dish. Service was excellent - our server was attentive and gave great explanations of dishes and suggestions for wine. He also brought me tasters of the 2 wines I was considering so I could make an informed decision - much appreciated! Our plates and cutlery was cleared in between every course which I love. Interior of the restaurant is warm and cozy. I can't wait to come back here (once we are done with social distancing of course). read more
3 years ago
Popped in for a glass or wine (or 2) with my neighbour. It was so tempting to sample the menu but I had dinner planned chez friends. Logan is ... "excellent" and "superb" (into one word). I love exploring wineries and appreciated the knowledge that he shared. Excellent service, ambiance and (Thank you Logan) for introducing me to a lovely local wine - It's nice! I will be back again, and again. read more
3 years ago
Okay, so after more than 5 years I decided to come back again for our anniversary dinner. I have to post an update because everything has improved so much that it is well worth a revisit! The one change I noticed is the drastic redirection from pan-Canadian flavours and approach to a more innovative, daring, regional and seasonal perspective on ingredients and combinations. Bravo, Mackenzie Room, on making such great improvements (in my opinion) and really transforming into a top notch culinary destination in Vancouver! If you look at the menu it's quite small but I can assure you everything is worth trying! Just simply listing the ingredients does not accurately reflect the outstanding composition and combination of each dish so definitely try them all if you can (they do, conveniently, have a tasting menu that I think would be great for every visit!) We decided to go the a la carte route just in case, the dishes we had were: chicken of the sea, teacher's pet, and full belly. One thing I note that has stayed consistent from my previous visit is the richness of each dish, but gone is the overwhelming combination of strong tasting ingredients, replaced by a more balanced freshness to each dish that really stands out on its own. Chicken of the Sea is a MUST HAVE, just get it, it's nothing like anything I've had before. The squid ink infused brioche is rich, and delightful, and the sea urchin pâté is an ultimate umami bomb, I would honestly have it on toast every morning to start off my day if I could. Teacher's Pet was good - the perfectly cooked octopus was a highlight but paled in comparison to the other 2 dishes. Full Belly was nothing like I expected - a wonderful, rich lamb belly with pork stuffing like an unassuming meat loaf, such a wonderful surprise and the perfect amount of richness (side note: I'm so glad they gave up on the pork and oka cheese combo of the past). For me, the highlight of this dish was the perfectly cooked potatoes, so delicious that I think I could eat a whole bowl of it on a daily basis and still be blown away each time. I really love the subtle Indian flavours in this dish - I would have never in a million years thought it would be a good combination but I think coming to The Mackenzie Room is about being surprised, and delighted by each dish throughout the experience. Like I mentioned, everything is rich rich rich in flavour here, so you really can't have a lot of everything and therefore sharing each dish is the perfect way to enjoy all the delicious delights The Mackenzie Room has to offer. Their cocktails and wine list are fantastic as well - I love how well curated their wine list is, and how knowledgeable their staff are with each offering - highly recommend going for the pairing for each dish. Attentive service, and close attention paid by server and sommelier for an outstanding experience. Really glad they made some changes here compared to my last visit. I can't wait to come back again. Next time will have to save room for dessert! read more
AMAZING!!! AMAZING!!! Well it didn't start that way. I walked here from waterfront station and yes the location is not idle, located across tent city in east van. Some might not feel comfortable walking in this area but it's not so bad. I arrived and the place was just opening, felt a little uneasy waiting outside, but it was all good door opened within minutes. We had reservation, sat me down right away was able to wait for the rest of my party no problem. Once you're in you forget where you are. Lovely, cozy and charming decor invite you right in. I started with a cocktail Busy bee, warning 3oz of booze wasn't to my liking. Too boozy, but some who like to booze it up quick might! I ended up ordering wine instead it was perfect and went well with my meal ended up drinking 2 glasses. The food, omg where do I begin. We ordered Just the two of us, $100 can also comes with wine paring $50 if you choose. We started with Beets by Sean, come on what a way to start the meal, this isn't your ordinary salad. The beets are tender, the goat cheese brings it creaminess and the sorbet brings it all together. If you're not a beet lover like me you will be after eating this dish. 2nd course: Chicken of the sea. This sea urchin pate is amazing. I love pate and come with squid ink brioche topped with hazelnut and poached pears. 3rd course: Cod & Clams, the cod was perfectly cooked clams and tomato sauce went well together. I thought the spiced chickpeas were ok, texture was a little off but the dish as a whole was still pretty good. 4th course: Pork-belly, just melt in your month goodness. This was so good. 5th course: Dessert Gin & Spruce: Grapefruit Custard, fresh fruit, and ice cream. Very fresh and light dessert great way to finish a wonderful meal. Overall, the meal was amazing! I cant wait to try out other menu items. Our server and other helpers were fantastic! They knew the menu inside & out. Made our experience memorable, and we will be back no question. read more
A girlfriend and I came here for dinner on a Friday night and had the best time. We ordered the tasting menu for two. $100 for two, 5 courses, is a great price -- especially since every course was so amazing and great ingredients. Their dishes are so whimsical and really play with your tastebuds. The chicken of the sea, rockfish, and pick me up were shared dishes. The shrimp and celtuce and sausage and squid were separately plated for us. The shrimp and celtuce salad was such a delightful start. It was refreshing but also rich with the shrimp head/tail. The chicken of the sea was SO GOOD. Who knew a uni pate was a thing and squid ink bread! Wow. Their wine and cocktails list was very good and reasonably priced. I enjoyed a glass of sauv blanc and my friend liked her a gin cocktail. Service was above and beyond. Our server was friendly and the perfect level of attentive. He came right away whenever we finished up a dish, always asked us how was the dish and replaced our cultery with each dish. We had drinks but our waters were always full as well. Our reservation was at 5:45 and we were there for more three hours. It was close to 9 by the time we paid but we didn't feel rushed at all. They didn't rush food out or hurry us along. I appreciate that they don't overbook their seatings. I'll definitely be back. read more
5 years ago
One of the best dinners I've ever had! These aren't chefs, they are magicians!! The staff was so sweet and friendly, we loved the whole experience and vibe. We got the Two of Us, but my boyfriend was allergic to seafood so they replaced some of the dishes. All of the food made us involuntarily go, "MMM!" The Showstopper salad with housemade ricotta had the best ricotta I've ever tasted. The pasta with duck confit had an explosion of flavour with each bite. The mezzaluna was our first time trying rutabaga, and we loved the bitter earthiness. The full belly was lamb belly stuffed with pork, and I'm pretty sure was laced with some sort of black magic because it tasted supernatural. The eclair was light and slightly sweet, with beautiful tart strawberries and rhubarb. The wallflower was our favourite cocktail! Honestly, this place is a good time, and an amazing experience. We ended up paying $230 after all the food and drinks and tip. A bit steep, but SO worth it for a birthday/special occasion, or if you're just tryna treat yo'self read more
3 years ago
This place was just a nice gem, every dish offered very nice surprise. Our waiter was great & explained every dish very well. Despite location is a bit sketchy, but we'll worth the visit. This easily one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. Pricing is unbeatable with the amount of food they provided in fixed menu. Definitely worth dining there when you are in town. Highly recommended read more
7 years ago
We ordered: - Showstopper salad - Chicken of the sea - Sausage & squid - Aged duck - Pick me up Chicken of the sea (aka sea urchin) was AMAZING. The duck was very good, too. The other dishes were well prepared and tasty but chicken of the sea sets the expectations very high from the beginning. For drinks we got the punch, a light, lemon-based option for two people. read more
7 years ago
This was a spectacular restaurant Ordered the course menu "for the two" Each dish that came out was thoughtfully made by the chefs. It was amazing how one of the chefs came to deliver and present the dish itself. Who ever knew their was a diamond place like this The service is amazing I am so wowed about this place, the location may not be the ideal but trust me on this. It is worth it I would definitely come back here again read more
9 years ago
We were already parked out front to attend a jewelry making class and decided to try it out for dinner and what a nice surprise!! Fresh seasonal ingredients really well done and unexpected. We decided to forgive the chefs menu and chose our own to share. We began with the A Rad Dish salad with thinly sliced radish and apple tossed with frisee and a light vinaigrette dressing. It was light and refreshing and the apple added a touch of sweetness. Our second Sophie was the Chicken of the sea which was a uni pate served with octopus ink brioche. The flavours were delicate and complimented each other very well, I highly recommend this one! The last appie we shared was the Funghi, it's a mixture of wild mushrooms both cooked and raw served with an egg on top. This too was delicious! For our mains, we went with the octopus which was good but the pieces are quite large and by the time I finished my portion it was a bit overwhelming for me. The octopus was perfectly cooked but larger than I thought... lots to chew on! The other main dish was the Peasant. Again perfectly cooked but by then we were stuffed and couldn't order a desert to try. Next time we are going to have the showstopper salad, the skate and the pork shank and a desert! This is a little gem! Sit near the middle of the room or by the wall, it's less drafty. Staff is very good and know their stuff! read more
Went here last Friday evening for a 6 pm reso. Realized that chef/owner used to work for Glowbal but unfortunately we just missed him. As others have mentioned, the area is DTES, so took a taxi to the front door. I booked online only about a week or so prior.i appreciate being able to book bar seating - very few places have this as an option. The room is very elegant and well put together. It wasn't too busy when we arrived but did start to fill up as the evening wore on. We opted for the two of us tasting menu with wine pairings. Everything was delicious with layers of flavour in every dish and a mix of seafood, meat and fish. For us, it was a lot of food and we were quite full by the last course which was delicious short rib. We ended up taking our dessert home (carrot cake for breakfast was delicious!). The standout was definitely the Chicken of the Sea (photo). The textures and flavours were so complex and complimentary. Sea urchin can be tricky to get right but this was a gem - rich umami uni butter. The bread was light and fluffy inside and warm and crispy on the outside - almost like a savoury toasted cake. It's not that the other dishes weren't great - this was just such a standout. Most everything seemed to be local, sustainable and in season. Service was great - the wines were all local (dessert paired with a local amaretto). While I appreciated the wines were all local and many from boutique wineries, I didn't feel the same sort of symbiotic enhancement as other places. The wines definitely "matched" the food and vice versa bunt for me personally, they didn't elevate each other as I've experienced at other tasting and pairing dinners. Also, I felt the pours were a little light, especially considering the cost of the add on. Frequently I had an empty wine glass before finishing our share plate (except the last savoury course was plated separately). It definitely is a great meal and very reasonably priced. Not sure I'd do the wine pairings again. It's a thoughtful but small list! read more
7 years ago
I first heard about The Mackenzie Room from my super foodie mom and she insisted that she take us out to experience all that this restaurant has to offer. When we first rolled up onto Powell street, the road was blocked off by police and there was some sort of protest going on so we had to detour around to get to the place. There is also a tent city directly across from the restaurant, which gives it a distinct character that is oh so East Van. Interesting start to the evening to say the least, but I've eaten at some great restaurants in the area and I know not to judge a restaurant by where they're situated. After walking through their doors, it was like I left the city behind and stepped into another world. The restaurant felt warm yet had an edge to it with the wood and brick combo and the staff were quick to seat us. But enough with the off topic stuff, let's get to the food. The best thing about this restaurant is that you can literally order EVERYTHING on the menu as a pre-set combo or "I Want It All" for $58/person (4 person table). I have always wanted to do the classic "we'll have one of everything" and I can now say I've done it. This little tidbit already gave a bump in my mood, and I can't help but think it's quite thoughtful of the restaurant to add to the experience like this. The first 3 courses were fresh vegetables. I'm honestly not a veggie guy. I know...blasphemy in this day and age, but wow this stuff was good. The Farmer's cheese in the Show Stopper Salad was bombbbbbbb and the Gremolata was great with the beets and radishes. What came next may have been the star for me though. The "Chicken of the Sea" dish. Give the chef a round of applause. The sea urchin pâté had such a great deep flavour without it being overpowering and it went so well with the Ink Brioche. This bread was so good we ordered more. This may be the best bread I've ever had and gives Ana Lena's bread a run for its money. The only miss of the night for me was the halibut, but I think this may have been because there was a lot of flavour around the dish. The halibut was bland, but the accompaniment had a lot of the salt and acidity the fish was missing. Take this critique with a grain of salt (pun [not?] intended), because at this point in the meal I was already getting full and I had to choose what I could ingest so I could survive the rest of the evening. The steelhead trout that came at the same time was really great and the crisp salty skin was bang on. The succotash was pleasant as well and I MADE room for that. What's next? What better way to transition to land animals than to use squid and sausage. The sausage was a flavour champion. I wish I could buy these and just have one every morning, lunch, 2nd lunch, supper, dinner, before bed, in bed...you get the picture. The squid was nice and there was some spice on the dish but I couldn't concentrate anymore as the duck arrived. Another winner. The duck was cooked to perfection and just blew my mind. My gluttony pretty much prevented others from eating any of this, sorry fam. And finally - the sweet treats! The gin and spruce was super interesting. I imagine some guys only job in the back is to make this perfect grapefruit juice/syrup that pairs so well with this "sticky" spruce ice cream. Light and delightful. Then we have the Chocolate Mousse with Mascarpone and it's like having a tiramisu in a jar. This dessert was a flavour bomb. There's so many flavours that just explode in your mouth. I'm not sure how they make the bombs go off at different times, but you get this bitter sweet chocolate mousse followed by a strong liqueur flavour and then POW! You get the salted caramel foam and your done ladies and gentlemen. Game over. I'm out. Pair that with a nice espresso and call it a night. read more
6 years ago
Making this post during COVID so I know they're trying their best but personally, we did not have a great experience at The Mackenzie Room. We chose the restaurant to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, and there was nearly no acknowledgement of that (we later found out there was a small card for the birthday but it wasn't conveyed so we thought it was a reserved sign). Also, it is usually a nice gesture for a restaurant of this level to have a small dessert for the birthday girl, and nothing of that sort of presented. The food apart from chicken of the sea was lackluster. The seafood entree was too salty and too sour, and I made the mistake of not sending it back (that was my bad for not speaking up). The short rib while tasty was decidedly small portioned for meat for its price- the entrees in general seemed focused on dollar-margin. The ambiance was nice. Given the reviews not sure if it was an off night but was expecting more from a place asking for a pretty penny & ranking a good spot in a lot of Vancouver dining lists. read more
My friend and I decided to check out this restaurant after a couple of friends recommended it to us. WE WERE BOTH IN AWE TO SAY THE LEAST. Yes, our bill was about $250 for two people, but it was worth it. We decided we wanted to get a lot of food and alcohol, so we ordered a bottle of wine, 3 appetizers and 3 mains instead of the chefs recommendation (which is 3 appetizers, 2 mains and 1 dessert for $65/person). So here is the breakdown: - Showstopper salad (4.5/5): This salad apparently has over 50 ingredients, and for a frikken salad, it was pretty amazing. The cheese is good, but honestly, the pistachios and the dressing of the salad is what makes this salad particularly flavourful. - Chicken of the Sea (5/5): THIS CHEF IS BRILLIANT, I TELL YOU. Squid ink brioche, sea urchin pate, pickled pear with nori dust, and hazelnuts... this is one hell of a creative combination. You cannot leave this restaurant without ordering this dish. It is complex, flavourful and so perfectly crafted, you have never had a bite like it. - Tuna (3.5/5): I love tuna, thats why I ordered this dish, but quite frankly, it wasnt as memorable as the other dishes. - Insalate de Fruits (4.5/5): Shrimp was so perfectly cooked and the tomatoes were delightful. I have not had shiso before and I have no idea why! Its such a beautiful minty herb and complimented the shrimp and tomatoes so well! - XOXO Duck Girl (5/5): When I first saw this on the menu, I immediately cancelled it out.... I am so glad Bailey, our amazing waiter, convinced us to put it back on our radar. The congee is like nothing I have ever tasted before. It was so beautifully spiced, and the duck had an amazing crust on it. Please order this dish, it will blow your mind. I would get this dish again and again and again. - Smoked Brisket (4/5): I mean, brisket is delicious. It was paired with a chimichurri sauce which is CLASSIC. If you want a more traditional dish, this is the one. It was good, and the flavour combinations were solid. I probably wouldnt order this dish again because when I come to the Mackenzie room, I want to be shocked with creativity. Still a solid dish though. Service was absolutely perfect! Thanks Bailey and of course Chef Sean Reeve for making our night a memorable one! Mariam read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
Came here for a Christmas dinner. There were 10 of us and we had the chefs menu. Certain dishes like the salads were served generously, and the "tasty" dishes like fish/meat were really small portions. It's all family style so it was a bit of a challenge to share certain things, especially meat dishes. The last course was either pork or boar and there were 2 pieces of it that we were somehow supposed to share between the 10 of us. The chicken of the sea lived up to its popularity. So delicious and the squid ink brioche it came with was amazing too. I also really enjoyed their duck and fish. The dishes were all either hit or miss. I did not like their dessert. There was a popcorn ice cream which I found odd but everyone else enjoyed. Cocktails were great. Overall for the price I don't think it was worth it. Most portions were too small and it was difficult to share. Maybe if it's just 2 people it'd make sense but I assume the portions. read more
The Mackenzie Room has been on my list of must-try restaurants for a long time. It's intimate and trendy without being pretentious. The menu was interesting and full of dishes I wanted to try. So when we booked a table for my friend's birthday, we had to get the "I Want It All" for $52 a person, which allowed us to try a little of everything on the menu. Most items were good, but there were 3 stand out dishes for me: The Showstopper: Legumes, Farmers cheese and pistachio. I love all 3 of these things and Mackenzie Room did a fantastic job of combining them together. It looks like a big pile of rabbit food on a plate, but I assure you it's more than that. Don't Talk Back: Yak tartar and instead of using crostini, they used fried chicken skins! They also used clams instead of an egg in the tartar. I wish there were more skins and clam though. Duck in a Pie: Duck pie with foie ice cream. Oh my! The pastry was flaky and the duck was flavorful. This dish sounds too rich, but by making the foie ice cream, it definitely isn't and you'll want to eat the entire thing yourself. read more
Excellent! Every dish we ordered was amazing. Food was plated beautifully, too! Professional staff, impeccable service. The first dish was the showstopper salad. It was literally the best salad I've ever had. It's a tower of greens with a cute pink flower on top. Lots of greens, lots of beans hiding inside, some chickpeas. Loved it! The second dish was the Rockfish. Again, wow! I don't think I've had rockfish before. I'm glad I tried it here for the first time! The fish was soft and chewy, but way more upscale than fish you get from mainstream restaurants. Well done! The third dish was the XOXO Duck. I don't eat duck much but this one was tasty. Soft and tender. I don't recall having duck this good before. Last dish was the dessert, Movie Night. The chocolate cake was too dense for me. It was good but was just too rich. The popcorn ice cream tasted like half popcorn half vanilla. I think it was a perfect balance of sweet and salty. I highly recommend every dish listed above. 10/10 would come back again. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Arguably one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. For first time guests I recommend the "I want it all". It gives you the opportunity to try every dish, our favourite was chicken of the sea however, we loved every dish. Very filling, reasonably priced, and extremely delicious. The menu is changes seasonly but you'll be guaranteed to have fresh and delicious ingredients no matter what time of year it is. We were visiting family in Vancouver and found our new favourite restaurant. The staff was amazing and the service was excellent. They even helped us plan out our bar crawl for the night. Thanks again to Alexia for being an amazing host. read more
6 years ago
Excited to visit amidst the positive reviews. We arrived on a Friday evening, and found the interior exuded a quiet, coziness...like we had just walked into someone's home, in stark contrast to the physical location of the establishment, across from Oppenheimer Park, littered with tents. The aromas that hit us as we entered only served to amp up our expectations. We opted for the Five Course for Two, without the Wine Pairing. The first two dishes did not disappoint, the third, a Spring Cod, was slightly overdone, but the biggest disappointment was in the form of the fourth dish, a Pork chop that was a tad on the pink side, but edible away from the bone, but closer to the bone, it was, to me, obviously raw...the colour and texture clearly displayed that (see appended photo). I brought it the attention of the server, and she went to speak to the chef, and a short time later, returned, informing us that the chef stated it was "...fine to eat, and that we would not get sick from it..." (which she reiterated at least 3 times). She informed us that the pork chop had been cooked via a water bath (sous vide), which, according to her (and the chef) meant that the pork was fully cooked through. I informed her that I was familiar with the sous vide method of cooking, and mentioned that despite use of this method of cooking, meat closer to the bone sometimes still remains under-cooked, depending upon the temperature set, as was the case in this instance. Then she said, it had also been marinated, which may account for the pink colour. I remained unconvinced and left the portions that looked suspicious. Despite their assurance that we would not get sick from ingesting it, they were incorrect, as it resulted in evening plans cut short, accompanied by significant physical discomfort and the balance of the night in la salle de bain. One other point, before making an assertion that the meat was fully safe to ingest, I would have expected the chef to come out, or have the dish taken back, so that he could have inspected it firsthand...the texture really was that of a raw piece of meat (again, refer to the appended photo). So disappointed as it was a night we were looking forward to for quite some time... read more
7 years ago
Six of us went and did the "I want it all" which is normally a set for a group of 4 but they slightly modified it for the 6 of us. Definitely an delicious experience for $58! Would recommend because you will get to try a bit of everything. Portion sizes were reasonable. I was full at the end but not stuffed. Service was excellent. read more
8 years ago
We celebrated my friend's birthday here and we chose the 'We want it all' which includes 3 appetizer, 2 entree and a dessert from the menu board. We had: -4/5 - Veggie from the garden - this is the restaurant's version of veggie and dip. While the dip was very good, I am not sure if it would be my choice of starter if I ordered a la carte -5/5 - Frosty's Nose - tender roasted heirloom carrots in light pesto. Very tasty sauce without overpowering the taste of carrots. -5/5 - Chicken of the Sea - sea urchin pate with ink squid brioche. Very original. We love this dish. -5/5 - Taste of rainbow - rainbow trout was perfectly cooked. -5/5 - Boar'n Ultimatum - sous vide wild boar was veg tender. -3/5 - Movie Night - the dessert was chocolate cake with ice cream and popcorn. 5+/5 - Service - Service was exceptional and very attentive. The server came to follow up on the taste of the food, our plates were changed frequently and water was refilled very often. Hands down to the bartender, he created a warm non alcoholic drink and it was very wonderful surprise. Very original and tasty. read more
7 years ago
Imagine an excellent chef was invited to your grandma's dilapidated 60's house to cook for 40 people - that's the Mackenzie Room. Food was excellent and service was down to earth and welcoming. read more
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The Mackenzie Room - newcanadian - Updated July 2026
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