Sapperton District Taphouse: Gastropub Eats

Driving through the historic Sapperton area of New Westminster one day, I noticed Sapperton District Taphouse and made a mental note to visit them one day when I had the chance.

Twisted Taphouse and Kitchen: Perogies and Fish Tacos

Generally speaking, I avoid eating at bars for a number of reasons. However, I found myself at Twisted Taphouse and Kitchen one day in late August and decided to give them a try. I believe this place used to be called “Oliver Twist” (the attached liquor store is still called “Oliver Twist”) but the bar changed names a while ago.

Advertisement

Chaise: Gastropub Eats

Contrary to what you might think, Chaise on Main isn’t a furniture store where you can find an assortment of lounge chairs… it’s actually an eatery in the Riley Park area of Vancouver with a gastropub concept. It does have a bit of a bar vibe going on… complete with a waitress that’s a bit on the gruff side.

BierCraft Tap and Tapas (Commercial Drive): Belgian Mussels and Frites

During our July staycation, we were getting a hankering for some quality mussels and we headed down to our old stomping grounds on Commercial Drive only to be disappointed that our destination (Carthage Cafe) was closed despite their hours saying they should have been open. After a hurried Google search, we headed 7 blocks north to BierCraft Tap and Tapas because their menu said they offered mussels.

The Heritage Grill: New West Eats

Located at the corner of Columbia and Church in New Westminster, The Heritage Grill is a bar that serves up typical casual eats as well as breakfast until 3pm. I dropped by for lunch during the weekday and didn’t find it very busy.

Cinnamon Bear Bar and Grille (Whistler 2018): Loaded Nachos and Hot Wings

During our stay at the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa in June, we decided to try out the dining options in the hotel. Originally, we were planning on eating at the Cinnamon Bear Grille but found out that their small restaurant was closed for a private party. Instead, we headed over to their Cinnamon Bear Bar which had more of an après ski lodge feel to it.

El Furniture Warehouse (Whistler 2018): You Get What You Pay For

El Furniture Warehouse is an oddly named bar located in the heart of the Village Stroll of Whistler, a block north of the Village Gate Blvd overpass. Arriving in Whistler around 3pm on a late and rainy July weekday, we decided to stop by here to grab some appies (a lot of the big restaurants are closed around this time of the day).

Match Eatery & Public House (New Westminster): Average Bar Eats

Match Eatery & Publish House is a modern gastropub located outside of Starlight Casino in New Westminster. The interior is fairly dark and industrial-looking but they do have some skylights which lets in some natural light. I was actually surprised at how large this place is and it’s filled with large, flat screen tvs. I’m sure that it must get busy here during weekends or sporting events but it was fairly quite when I came here for lunch during the weekday.

Bells and Whistles: All Day Breakfast

In today’s terminology, “Bells and Whistles” usually refers to something that has a number of additional attractive (not necessarily useful) features. Nobody really knows the true origin of the phrase, but some believe that it harks back to a time long ago when bells and whistles were used to draw attention to something (such as at fairgrounds). In any case, the Bells and Whistles that I’m referring to today is the newish gastropub offering from Gooseneck Hospitality (the same group that brought us Wildebeest, Lucky Taco, and Bufala).

Kelly O’Bryan’s Restaurant: Average Bar Food

Back in the day, the iconic former CPR station located at the convergence of Front and Columbia streets in New Westminster used to be home of The Keg. That is, until The Keg closed these doors in 2013. For years, it sat idly by until recently a new tenant, Kelly O’Bryan’s, decided to call this place home. Interestingly, the founders of Kelly O’Bryan’s worked in The Keg at this location back in the 70’s.

Village Taphouse: Mac and Cheese

While summer has officially come and gone in Vancouver, we stopped by the Village Taphouse in West Vancouver after a fun hike around Lighthouse Park on the last sunny day of September. I suppose it made architectural sense since there’s a large lighthouse right outside this pub located in the heart of the Village at Park Royal.

Maui Brewing Co. (Hawaii 2017): Happy Hour Appies

Early this year, Maui Brewing Co. opened up a brewpub right in the heart of Waikiki. We noticed it right away as it was close to the new International Marketplace and they open early at 7am. Since they offer 50% off appies, we made sure to check them out during our visit.