West Restaurant (05-15-2011)

West Restaurant
Sunday, 05-15-2011
South Granville, Vancouver BC, Canada
http://www.westrestaurant.com/

 

 

In anticipation of my short trip to Vancouver, I researched the most popular restaurants to get a taste of the city's dining scene.  West Restaurant seemed to fit the bill with its contemporary cuisine just outside of downtown in South Granville.  Two different 5-course tasting menus are offered.  Picture below is the chef's tasting menu.

AMUSE BOUCHE: Warm Celery Soup with Weisswurst

BREADS: Dark Rye, Potato & Chives

YA MON, Organic Banana, Goslings Black Seal Rum, Navan Giffard Caramel + Pineapple

ALBACORE TUNA, Nicoise Vegetable Salad, Sake Kasu Emulsion

SPOT PRAWN, Spring Onion, D-Original Chorizo, Sauce Vierge

CUTTHROAT PALE ALE, Tree Brewing, Kelowna BC, Canada

THIESSEN FARM QUAIL, Roasted Breast, Confit Leg, Beets, Mushrooms, Double Smoked Bacon, Pineau de Charentes Jus

28 DAY AGED CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF RIBEYE, Forgotten Vegetables, Onion Consomme

PADDYWHACK IPA, Nelson Brewing Company, Nelson, BC, Canada

INTERMEZZO: Elderflower and Lime Sorbet, Pear Poached in Hibiscus

VANILLA ROASTED RHUBARB WITH FROZEN LIME CURD, Toasted Elderflower Marshmallow and Graham

PETIT FOUR: Banana Jelly

VERDICT:

Chef David Gunawan produced many various modern dishes with fresh local ingredients.  For example, multiple proteins were prepared in two ways: the albacore tuna as a raw dish and a confit, and the quail with a roast and confit.  At the moment, he also seems fond of using sausages for its salty flavor and firm texture, as evidenced by the weisswurst in the soup and the chorizo in the spot prawn dish. 

Two highlights are worth mentioning:

1. Great service-- I dined solo at the bar and the two bartenders provided great service.  They clearly understood not only the drinks but also the dishes prepared in the back of the house.

2. Bar-- Apparently, West Restaurant's bar and bar manager has won multiple awards for both their wine list as well as their mixology.  Though I only had one cocktail and a couple local brews, all were top-notch and paired well with the tasting (as recommended by the bartender).