Pidgin - Vancouver

Came here with a friend and it was so good that I texted my partner during the meal to tell her I'd like to take her sometime soon. Less than a month later, my partner and I had a lovely date here. Shootout to Ryan who was so friendly and made our meal so enjoyable. Honestly one of the best staffers we have encountered out of all our dining experiences in Vancouver. The space is beautiful. It's one of those places you could book out for an event such as a wedding, birthday, engagement etc. The food...oh the food. the mushroom tempura was amazing. The rice flour they use makes it so crispy. It was so good that while we were eating it, we ordered another one. They should consider having it on the menu full time. Making it a special is just torture because I'd want it every visit. the cabbage dish was delicious. Much better on my first visit but still good nonetheless. wasn't a huge fan of the chicken wings sorry to say. same goes for the celeriac salad. Just not as amazing as the other dishes. the vegetable and oka cheese gratin was ungh. Just. Amazing. is the $110 ribeye worth $110? Yes. It's so simple, so tender, so amazing. You look at it and wonder if you're crazy paying that much; but once it enters your mouth, you'll immediately feel your hand patting yourself on the back for making such a good decision ordering this dish. the star of the evening is the Szechuan peppercorn beignets with miso salted caramel. It's gluten free so my partner got to enjoy it. We enjoyed it so much we ordered another because it's that damn good. It's tingly but not spicy and everyone tastes something a little different. All I know is it's delicious AF. Hot tip: be careful when walking to and from the restaurant due to the neighborhood. What I mean is look down while you walk because there's a lot of poo.

We discovered this restaurant through Reddit recommendations and decided to try their tasting menu. However, we were slightly disappointed. The tasting menu for winter 2023 included 6 out of 10 dishes. One issue we had was that some of the starter dishes were served on a single plate for the table to share, which we found awkward as we had to separate it ourselves. As for the food, I personally enjoyed the tempura veggies, duck breast, and vanilla bavarois dessert. The rest of the dishes were either bland or just okay. The fish on toast was not memorable due to the soggy brioche, and the salad was difficult to eat. The soba noodles and sturgeon were average, with the sturgeon being a bit dry. The service was acceptable, though the food took a while to arrive. The cozy ambiance of the restaurant was a plus. Overall, I would not pay the price for this meal again. It was a one-time experience, and we do not plan on returning.

After enjoying a fantastic meal in 2018, I recently returned to this restaurant and was pleased to find that the experience was just as wonderful as I remembered. My partner and I decided to try the tasting menu, which was a steal at only $89 CAD. The amount of food we received was truly impressive, and it was difficult to choose a favorite dish. However, the standout was the sturgeon wrapped in prosciutto - a unique and delicious combination. The service was top-notch, with the staff being very knowledgeable about the local wines on offer. The cozy interior created a welcoming atmosphere, despite the mixed vibes outside. This restaurant remains one of my go-to spots when visiting the city.

We made a reservation for a group of 7 on a Saturday, about 2 weeks in advance, to celebrate our birthday. The food was mediocre; many dishes didn't come together well. The brioche was supposed to be toasted, but it didn't have that toasted flavor. It seemed like it may have been prepared too early and left out for too long. The salad was a disappointment with ingredients that didn't complement each other, a strange taste, and watery dressing. The octopus was cooked perfectly, with an okay salad on top. The Matsutake tempura was the standout dish - lightly battered and not greasy. It was the highlight of our meal. I tried sturgeon for the first time, and while it was good, I don't have anything to compare it to. I wasn't a fan of the lentils. The duck breast was standard; I've had better, but it met my expectations. The service was decent, and our water glasses were constantly filled. The restaurant had a nice ambiance, although the surrounding area was a bit sketchy.

Excellent service but portions were small and some dishes were too salty for us. When we first entered the restaurant, there was a really heavy chlorine smell. It did go away after a while. Although small portions, the food was mostly delicious! I loved the white asparagus salad, mushroom fritters, and amuse bouche from the tasting menu. The tasting menu is small, I wasn't full afterward. Some of the dishes were also too heavily salted. Fyi, if you're walking there, just beware it's not the nicest walk. Carrall St is a little sketchy and smelly. If you can, avoid Hastings street as well.