We had been enjoying some early spring sunshine while dog-sitting for friends in the Yaletown district of Vancouver, BC, but the weather had turned back to the grey and cold that March often brings to the west coast. So, our thoughts of seawall walks and patio lunches turned to a craving for cozy rooms and a comfort food supper. Neither of us felt like cooking, so we turned to OpenTable for inspiration.
After filtering the options to display our preferred area, price range and type of food, we narrowed it down to three places. They all met our criteria, but one place jumped out at me as I had walked past it numerous times and admired the lovely heritage building. That place was the Homer St Cafe & Bar. Not only did it tick the boxes, but it had great reviews and was only a five-minute walk from our condo. We booked a table for 7 p.m. and asked for a cozy corner for two.
The Location
Daylight Savings had been the week prior, so it was still light as we approached our destination, and I was able to again admire the building. The Homer St Cafe & Bar holds court within trendy Yaletown in two buildings; the historic Homer Building and the newer Beasley Building. The exterior is painted in a mix of cream and brick-red colors and is trimmed in black. It’s quite striking, especially with the backdrop of towering glass buildings.
We used the entrance on the corner of Homer and Smithe, which brought us past the open kitchen where the large, red hot rotisserie was slowly roasting whole chickens. The sight and the smell told us we’d picked the right place for comfort food. The reception is in the other half of the restaurant, which is up a few stairs leading to the livelier bar area.
The Seating
As requested, we were led to a cozy table sitting in a window that looked out onto the street. It was in the half of the restaurant where we had entered, so we also had a good view of the open kitchen.
On the OpenTable booking form, there are several options for seating; standard, counter and high top. We had chosen standard, which, as you would expect, was a regular height table and chairs. Counter seating was set along the “Chef’s Bar” in front of the open kitchen. High-top tables were scattered throughout, in both sides of the restaurant.
It was a Monday evening, so it was difficult to say how things would be on a busier night, but we found the room we were in (with the open kitchen) to be much quieter. If that is indicative of every night, then we would suggest that area for a date night or for easier conversation. The upper area in the other building would be great for groups or solos looking for a lively atmosphere.
Tip: There is a lovely booth near the entrance we came in that would be a great spot for four people. There is also a small private dining area overlooking the bar in the other half of the restaurant that would be fun for a group.
The Service
Our server’s name was Tina and she was the perfect balance of friendly and efficient. Tina started by asking if we wanted still or sparkling water and then helped with recommendations for a pre-dinner cocktail. I chose the Key Lime Cosmopolitan which was as delicious as it sounded with just the right mix of sweet and tart. Nathan went with the Kentucky Mist; a tasty blend of Maker’s Mark, Grand Marnier, Earl Grey syrup and lemon topped with frothy egg white.
Thank goodness the menu isn’t huge because we were tempted by several items, including the Lamb Shank, the Mussels & Clams and the Homer Cobb Salad. However, after a Q&A with Tina, we went with our other draw; The Full Monty. Side note: I really love a server who will take the time to help me make up my mind, which is not an easy task.
The Food
The Full Monty is a comfort food feast of some of the best items on the menu and is said to be good for 2-4 people. The meal consists of half a rotisserie chicken, a full rack of ribs, 2 biscuits, mashed swede, Crispy Potato Salad, coleslaw, ranch dip, au jus and a bottle of HSBC Hot Sauce that you can take home with you. Also included are two very large butter tarts for dessert.
It was a Monday evening, so there was no waiting for our meal. Our food came hot and fast and looked as comforting as it sounded. The ribs fell off the bone and were covered in a tangy BBQ sauce. Swede had been mashed to a puree with butter and cheese, which was amazing and made us thankful that we had taken Tina’s advice not to substitute it out. The Crispy Potato Salad consisted of fried baby potatoes tossed in a dressing and the biscuits were baked to perfection.
We tried to savor each bite, but it wasn’t long before we were pleasantly full and feeling cozy. I would say if you got the Full Monty for more than two people to share as dinner, you would need an appetizer and/or another side.
If I had to call out one thing for not being perfect, it was the chicken. Having said that, Nathan would disagree, as he found it to be just to his liking. For my taste, I would have liked the skin to be crispier. But, I’ll admit that the meat was nice and moist; it just so happens that crispy skin is my favorite part of rotisserie chicken so I was a little disappointed.
We were too full to eat the butter tarts at the restaurant, so we packed them to go, along with a piece of the Basque Cheesecake. The cheesecake was enjoyed later that evening while watching a film and it was quite possibly the best I’ve ever eaten. In all fairness to New York-style cheesecake, this is an entirely different animal. It is crustless, and the texture is much lighter and fluffier, almost like souffle.
The Drinks
As mentioned earlier, we tried the Key Lime Cosmopolitan and the Kentucky Mist and can highly recommend both. The standard cocktail list is not large, but there is something to please most people and the bar is fully stocked, so they can probably make any traditional cocktail. They also have an additional changing menu with a couple of other choices.
I chose a glass of Syrah to accompany my dinner and Nathan had a dark ale that was on the special menu. We also finished off with an Espresso Martini which was a perfect end to a lovely evening for under $200 Canadian with tax and tip. If you’re looking for restaurants in Vancouver with comfort food and amazing service, Homer St is a winner.
A long-time resident of Bristish Columbia, Sarah is a writer, traveler, wine & food lover and co-owner of Discover the Pacific Northwest and Live Dream Discover.
