For those in need of a little bolstering - maybe a dose of welcoming cheer - a new chill hangout with some seriously easy-going vibes has just opened its doors along Hastings in East Van.
Called It's Okay, the concept is up and running as of Jan. 13 at 2481 E Hastings St, in the space vacated by Bad Apple Vegan (and What's Up? Hot Dog! before that).
The venture is the project of local industry vets and biz partners Colin Canning, Alex Dulong, and Michael Sanderson, and the trio set out to create a cozy, unpretentious spot that showcases reliably enjoyable drinks and eats with a bit of a throwback mentality.
The group made fairly short work - all things considered - of revamping the space, which still features a central bar flanking one side of the narrow room with booths down the opposing side. There are a few tables and chairs, including some prime window seats, and the decor walks the line between basement rec room and modern bar hang without veering into being gimmicky or overwrought.
What's on the drink and food menus at It's Okay
On the menu are several beers, wines, and some cocktails. Dulong told V.I.A. the guiding principle in curating the brews was to simply offer drinks he and his fellow co-owners really personally enjoy. Right now, It's Okay is pouring from six taps, including brews like Strathcona's Big Sexy Funk (a dry hazy IPA) and their own It's Okay lager, while in bottles and cans you can get a broad range of beer and cider, like Pacifco, Miller Lite, or Phillips' Iota - a non-alcoholic option. On the wine side, offerings skew to the more natural side, with an emphasis on easygoing European imports with some B.C. stars, like A Sunday in August, in the mix.
For cocktails, the It's Okay crew brought in a local bartender for a consult who came up with a fun, albeit short, list of drinks that will hit nostalgic notes and familiar flavour profiles, right in that sweet spot of modernized throwbacks. To that end, you'll see a Manhattan and a Penicillin on the menu alongside a decidedly non-kitschy Pina Colada, made with coconut-washed Wray and Nephew rum, Bacardi spiced rum, lime, pineapple, and coconut milk (no blenders or little paper umbrellas here).
Since It's Okay is not liquor primary there is a good selection of bar grub to enjoy with drinks, including a number of classic snacks, like a salty-savoury bar mix with nuts and crackers, house-made chips, pickles, and wings, as well as a sandwich menu, with approachable selections like a grilled cheese with caramelized onions or Chicken Schnitzel with mushroom gravy and slaw.
Although it may seem like by design that It's Okay is kind of low-key, Dulong says the idea was to have a menu and space that was more than - pun allegedly unintended - just "okay." The block, and the Hastings-Sunrise community overall, have been quite welcoming, attests Dulong, and he is hopeful that It's Okay is part of what will make the area increasingly appealing for people to visit or for locals to frequent.
@forkingawesomevia Everything’s gonna be okay. #vancouverbc #forkingawesome #bar ♬ Super Jazz Music - Super Jazz Cafe Music
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