Once again, Vancouverites have weighed in with their choices for which restaurants, bars, pubs, and cafés make this city one of the tastiest places on Earth. And you’ve done an amazing job, so thank you for that.
But what about the so-called experts? Who did they vote for?
Since the public has had their say, we thought we’d pick the brains of Westender’s resident gastronomic authorities, and ask them who they picked with their votes.
We gathered wine expert and consultant Michaela Morris, veteran food and drink writer Michael White, restaurant reviewer and columnist Anya Levykh and myself, Robert Mangelsdorf, certified Level 1 Cicerone and BJCP Apprentice (and editor of The Growler, the best craft beer magazine anywhere).
So here’s our take on who we think should have won. Bear in mind, these are our own personal opinions, based on no specific criteria whatsoever. Take with a very large grain of salt.
–Robert Mangelsdorf, editor
Best Craft Beer Tasting Room: R&B Brewing
54 East 4th
RAndBBrewing.com
When R&B Brewing opened their tap room at East 4th and Quebec earlier this year, it heralded a return to form for one of Vancouver’s OG craft breweries. But with all due respect to R&B, the beer isn’t why it’s my favourite craft beer tasting room.
In a short span of time, we’ve seen dozens of breweries open up in Vancouver, and they all seem to follow the same interior design playbook: polished concrete floors, whitewashed walls and a complete absence of colour. It’s minimalism taken to boring and sterile extremes.
Not so, R&B’s tap room. The space oozes personality and comfort. There’s an entire wall of vintage stereo speakers, a bookcase full of old National Geographicsto thumb through, a record player inviting you to play DJ. Everything is warm and inviting: even the exposed pipework snaking across the ceiling has been yarnbombed.
It’s as cozy and familiar as a ‘70s basement rec room, and it’s easy to spend hours here. It reminds me of Main Street’s much-missed Rumpus Room, but without the threat of catching bedbugs from those sketchy couches.
The fact that it is two blocks from Westender HQ is a welcome bonus, as is the pizza, which sets it apart from many kitchen-less craft beer tasting rooms.
Best Craft Beer Selection: Alibi Room
157 Alexander
Alibi.ca
In many ways, we can trace Vancouver’s craft beer roots back to the Alibi Room. For more than a decade, the Alibi’s 50 taps (!!!) have proven to be a gateway into craft beer geekdom for many Vancouverites (myself included). There’s always something new to discover here, and with the constantly changing lineup, it’s pretty much impossible to work your way through their tap list.
Best Hot Dog: What’s Up Hot Dog!
2481 East Hastings
WhatsUpHotDog.ca
Everyone needs a local, and mine is the best damn punk rock baseball hot dog bar in Vancouver. The “Wrigley” is the best Chicago dog this side of Lake Michigan, and it might be the only restaurant in town with a drum kit in the washroom. ‘Nuf said.
