I was looking forward to going out on my bday. The food is not that great and the atmostphere was okay. Our waitress was very nice and friendly but not experienced. If friend ask I won't recommend this place. read more

Went for dine out. Food was very mediocre. We were party of 6. Some ordered same thing and portion was NOT very equal. I had to give my pork terrine to my husband cuz it was bigger piece. Pork belly was dry & chewy. Only thing I enjoyed from menu was cheesecake. I felt little cheated on with menu as everything on dine out menu wasn't on there REAL menu (other than octopus carpaccio). The guys in grp felt like whole dinner was appetizer for them. And I felt unsatisfied, considering we ordered a tasteless prosciutto flat bread on top dine out menu. read more

I had my birthday at The Refinery with a party of 10 people. I made several changes to my reservation and they were extremely accommodating. This was my first time here and I couldn't be happier with my choice. Keith was our server that night and he was amazing! He was on top of his game the whole night - I actually appreciate the fact he learned all of our names that evening. It was pretty loud, but there were a lot of celebrations going on that night, plus it was a Friday. It was a great vibe, not to mention the awesome old school hip hop playing in the background. They had great menu options for their drinks and tapas. I will definitely be back! read more

Giving the cocktails four stars, but the rest of the experience ruined it. The music was too loud & repetitive techno, that inhibited having a talk with someone sitting next to you. Ordered the chorizo, pork belly & cucumber salad, all at the recommendation of our server. The pork belly had all the creativity of boiling fatty bacon strips & throwing on a plate. There was a substantial pile of fat piled up when the server finally took the plate away. They should feel ashamed serving that dish. The chorizo was simply flavorless & with zero creativity. Mixed a lot of boiled potatoes with too little chorizo & there you have it. No spice, no flavor. The server claimed she ate both of these dishes regularly, but couldn't recite the ingredients or seasonings. Finally, our salad came out last. The dressing was supposed to be a garlic-mustard vinaigrette, but just tasted like olive oil, with no salt, pepper, vinegar, flavor, etc. Again, the server had no clue about the ingredients, although "we serve this ALL the time" was the direct quote. Very disappointing. read more

Great service and excellent food! Highly recommended. Me and my boyfriend like to come here for brunch. They serve the best brunch and it's always fresh. read more

Worst place Ive been too. Sat there with my wife for 10 mins with no one even looking like taking our order. There was only one other group in there. We got up and left and they didn't even care. read more

Stopped by for some drinks on a Friday night, and it was packed! Good, chill place and friendly staff.

I booked a birthday here and the staff was so accommodating for us, I would recommend them to anyone if you're planning a large function. It's a quiet place, on some Fridays they have a live DJ, which adds to the atmosphere. Get the friar tuck. read more

Ive always been a fan of ordering small plates and sharing with my friends, which is one of the reasons I love this bar. The cocktails are great, and one of the bartenders was able to pair my food up with a whisky he recommended. I never thought of pairing a port cask single malt with cheese, and prosciutto thanks guys... read more

We attended The Refinery for our wedding anniversary and were not disappointed. Keith ran the whole service area, drinks, orders, bar tending and was very cheerful. He also takes great pride in customer service which can be clearly seen. The food was great! We had the cheese platter and a prosciutto flat bread. Both perfect for sharing and having with some delicious cocktails. We will definitely be back! read more

Went for some late night drinks after dinner at sip, was super empty but it was a weekday and it was really late. We were ridiculously silly drunk and the staff were awesome and laughed with us(or at us more likely) nonetheless we had a blast! haha Will definitely have to go again to give it another chance and remember it better this time but I know the decor was lovely, the seats were comfy, the drinks were good,the staff were happy and fun, and the music was killer!! Luckily I was in the best company in the world so it didnt matter that noone else was there :-) read more

If I could add a star to my update I would! Unlike the places that have been losing stars due to auto-grats The Refinery's menu actually states that 18% will be added to your bill. Fair enough - we've been warned. They didn't add it to ours though so I'm guessing that this is a safety net to be used at their discretion. The service was wonderful and they were hopping busy. We didn't have to line up like everywhere else on Granville and got a seat within minutes. We started with cocktails - I had to have the Tea Marteani! Then we had a bottle of Quintay Clava Sauvignon Blanc that was perfect with the Chef's Board of cheese, meats and other tasty treats. We finished with a bottle of Matchbook Syrah which went well with good conversation. Lauren Mote was her always smiling self, loving the adrenaline of the hustle-bustle. Our server was there when we needed him and managed his section like a pro. Their menu has expanded as well so this place should also work if you need some food to stick to your Olympic celebrating bones! Next time I'm trying the Grilled Cheese sandwich. Thanks Refinery for taking care of business without lowering your standards. read more

We came here during the olympics. I guess it's a little off the beaten path but was only a 5 minute walk from where we were staying. The food was excellent. I had the beef pot pie and she had the veggie flatbread. Both coupled with cocktails. The thing that really made it was the service. 5+ stars. So friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Highly recommended. read more

This place was so flipping cool. Honestly! After walking down Granville and feeling like we were too old to be there (we're not even 30 yet!), we hit up The Refinery after reading a couple of good reviews. This spot has great music (they had a DJ), ambiance, and crowd. The hostess walked us up the stairs to be seated, the waitress was nice, and the view of the street was pretty cool. They had expensive drinks and wine, but we still wish we had gone to this place first and made a night of it. The food smelled delish, even though we didn't eat. This is a big-time recommendation from our group of 4. read more

I must say, The Refinery is an absolute hidden gem on Granville St. The service here is the best I have ever gotten. My boyfriend and I decided to check out The Refinery on a special date night. After we expressed how special the night was for us we were brought complimentary glasses of champagne to "Toast to our love" and our server recommended the best cocktails for us throughout the night. After noticing my boyfriend wasn't overly thrilled with the tapas plates we ordered our server (wish I remembered his name!) asked what his favourite meal was and brought him a special made order (not on the menu) of perogies! I can't express how much we appreciated the service we received here. I recommend The Refinery to all of our friends and out of town visitors, and I can't wait to go back. read more

We had a private party here on a friends recommendation and we found exactly what we were looking for. Good vibes, intimate conversations & great drinks. Ray the owner seriously went out of his way to make sure he sorted us out. He listened to our needs and took exceptional care of us and our guests. We would definitely book an event here again. Best party/lounge venue we've come across in a while. Great staff and service. Thank you Ray! We will see you again!! read more

Dined here a couple of days ago - the food was excellent, and so was the service. I was seated at the bar, and it just seemed like the staff were having a good time while doing their job well. The cocktails were fantastic as well - definitely worth going back. Ben does a great job mixing up cocktails, and Lauren, the master mixologist has a good menu lined up. read more

Oooooh la LA! What a great spot. Service friendly and knowledgable, cocktails to die for (William Wallace is not just a Scot revolutionary but a wickedly tasty cocktail). Food was truly notable, the gnocchi perfectly done with chunks of seared pancetta, pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes - holy. And for someone who looks at vegetables exactly like a picky four year old, the zucchini was amazing! Will absolutely be back! read more

The food is overpriced and mediocre but the bartender is great. If anything, eat somewhere else and then come here for drinks.

My husband and I went to The Refinery for a friend's going away party. We had the whole back part of the room, which was great. We went in the evening and one of the first things we noticed was the very loud music that kept getting louder as the night went on. I know that this is not unique to this restaurant and my low rating is not based just on that issue. We ordered one small plate (potatoes and chorizo) and one "large" plate (filo wrapped scallops). The potatoes were ok but the scallop dish was very disappointing. It was one scallop wrapped in heavy filo and tasted of burnt oil. My friend's scallop was cold and ours was very hot. We found it odd that the described big plate was smaller than the small plate. The last insult was that this single scallop was $16. In addition the wine portions were very small. We won't be back. read more

Came here on a Sunday night and it was the best decision of the day. The food was great, fresh and locally sourced. The service was quick but didn't feel rushed. The drinks were well crafted and tasted great! The best part about this place was their staff. Emily was awesome and very friendly! We were from out of town and she gave us some good insight and direction on places to see and things to do. read more

I have always had a great time at the Refinery! The commitment to quality and unique, amazing cocktails are a great mix!

Have a wonderful dinner in this nice and quite restaurant. Food was great. Friendly environment. So relax to have dinner in this restaurant, and will recommend to other people. read more

If I had to sum up the Refinery in seven words they would be, "I am truly disappointed with the Refinery". Granted we could have come on an off day, but the service was lousy and our waitress missed our cue that we wanted to order. The food was alright if you enjoy eating child sized portions. This experience was anything but refined, I advise you to search elsewhere. read more

I recently booked The Refinery for our company Christmas party. The venue and staff are amazing (if Keith is in, he's the best)! The drink selection is exceptional, with many great recommendations from the bartenders and waitresses. The food was quite good, we had expected larger quantities of food, so some people were still hungry at the end of the night. Besides that everything was amazing. We will definitely be booking again for our party next year. Thanks, guys! read more

2 thumbs up to their dine out menu!!!!!!!!we went here 3 nights ago and i am already looking forward to my next reservation. i'm salivating just thinking of the braised pork belly!yummmmmmmmyyyyyyy read more

The cocktails were excellent, and I really enjoyed the tapas. Keith took my reservation over the phone and was extremely friendly and helpful. And the server we had for our table of 8 was attentive the entire evening. All in all, an enjoyable evening. I will be back! read more

The cheese board was perhaps the best we've ever had. Cocktails were great too. Service was great. We will surely look it up again when we're in the area. read more

Went here with a large group and was underwhelmed. They jammed our group of 8 into a table that would have been tight with 6. Service was hit and miss, food ranged from mediocre to down right bad. We tried the tapas with the prosciutto and it had an off flavor and taste. Most of the other tapas selections were "meh", I've had much better at other restaurants. read more

Ray the owner was a great host. We ordered the flatbread with blue cheese & fig which was great and a healthy portion. Not only were the cocktails tasty , The Royal Melbourne and the Smooth Criminal, but he offered us tourists the whole rundown of Vancouver and its neighborhoods. Thank you Ray, you are not only an excellent host but a fine ambassador of your city! The Refinery was a wonderful start to our vacation. read more

Probably about the worst restaurant I've ever been to. Portions are ridiculously small, prices high for what you get and the service.... agh. First the menu is complicated, there is no real explanation as to what it is. We finally ordered and the waitress came back to tell us they were out of one of the dishes but then left before we could even order or ask about a replacement dish. I ordered the white bean and mushroom chowder and it was the smallest bowl ever made with two little pieces of dry toast for 14 dollars! Between my husband and I we had the chowder, a cheese flatbread and a tonic soda and it came to almost 40 dollars with tip. I think its a rip off. At least when you go somewhere like the Keg you know you'll be paying 30-40 per person but will be satisfied. Wouldn't recommend the Refinery at all. read more

The food is not bad, but really nothing special. Grossly overpriced for what you're getting. The ambiance is ok, but again not special. I would have rated it 3 stars if the food had been reasonably priced. read more

The atmosphere was nice, but the service and the menu were terrible. The drink menu is probably good for those who like all the new fancy modern cocktails at around $12 each. I couldn't find any decent main entrees. I think this is just a wine and cheese bar, I was hoping for a restaurant with some decent meals on the menu. Waitress would come back saying they don't have what we ordered (ran out of mint so no mojito, ran out of beef pot pie), so as we were about to ask for another menu item she would just quietly and awkwardly walk away. Food was boring and way overpriced. $18 cheese board was just three measly thin slices of cheese (blue, brie and aged cheddar) and some bread. At the end, to pay debit we had to go use the bank machine downstairs to withdraw cash, because the restaurant's debit machine was out of order. My experience seemed to all be out of stock, out of order, and outrageous prices for small tastes of olives and cheese. read more

let me start by saying that granville street isn't that scary crack-haven infested area, littered from side to side with porn shops anymore... now, it seems that the inevitable crowding of international tourists during the upcoming olympics has pushed the city into "clean up the crack" mode. granville street looks great, it's really coming along. walking with some friends by SIP lounge, we saw the entrance to the refinery - a place i have heard much about over the past several months through reviews, including a glowing article in the globe and mail last week. i walked up, not realizing that this was actually the very place i spent countless nights years ago at the sugar refinery. now, a fully green and sustainable space, boasting all market-fresh cheese and charcuterie, the refinery reminds me of a sea-side eatery in europe somewhere - unpretentious, comfortable and delicious. i have been to both salt and au petit cavignole before, and both are great restaurants. the things that really separated the refinery though (apart from the fact that i think every neighbourhood needs a cheese and meat place) was the fact that there was a dedication to the environment, really super nostalgic 80s-90s music, boutique canadian wines other than joiefarm, and finally a cocktail presence that i instantly fell in love with. the servers were funny - running around in the their vests and converse - they looked the cast from "grease". chad - our server in particular - was hilarious. there were about 20 people in the room when i got there - great energy! in the end, i thought the portions were bigger than the other places i had been to previously, and the flatbreads were AWESOME. try the sopressata one - it's to die for. read more

oh my god the lavender cocktails!! beautiful food and home made cocktails or ask the bartender to mix something special for you. the decor is really interesting with all the jars around the walls. they really think about the food and drink ingredients. this is a great place!! read more

We hosted my girlfriends bachelorette party at the Refinery this past Saturday, we reserved the private dining room and wow! It was the best decision we could have made. The staff were amazing a catered to our every request. We communicated with the manager ahead of time who put together a family style menu for everyone to share, made things really easy for us! They really know what they are doing and all the ladies were highly impressed with our dinner and the great private room. The drinks were another thing completely, I started off with one of my go-to's (a whiskey sour) and it may be one of the best ones I have ever had. The Gazebo was also amazing! Once all the guests arrived they brought out a round of champagne for toasts and proceeded with the food from there. The staff was fantastic at communicating and very attentive (drinks always full, plates all cleared in a timely fashion). 20 tipsy ladies is hard to coordinate so their assistance was very much appreciated! Bachelorette success!! read more

This was my first time here and by the service I got, probably the last. Their menu has a total of maybe fifteen items to choose from (give or take 1-2). We left feeling hungry and had to eat somewhere else before we got home. Our party of 15 was prebooked in advance, and yet when we ordered dinner we were told there is another party who the manager says we have to serve first. Apparently they were more important than our party. One of our friends has a medication she needs to take at a certain time and when she tried to order she was told at least half an hour. Even after she explained her situation, she was told she would have to wait. Then I jumped in and said the rest of us can wait the half hour plus, but could they please get her meal out asap and she said the would try. Luckily twenty minutes later she got her meal and ours came out twenty minutes after that. I would avoid this place next time. read more