Family-style dining in Vancouver
There’s something about passing large platters or reaching forks across the table to spear a piece of food that promotes lively conversation and evokes lively family dinners of old. These restaurants are bringing that nostalgia and tradition to your table. And the best part? You don’t have to do the dishes. [Photo courtesy of La Pentola]
Tavola Restaurant
1829 Robson St, Vancouver BC V6G 1E4With an à la carte menu and daily specials, your choices at the West End’s Tavola are endless. Luckily, this is big Italian dining and your decisions needn’t be restricted. Your server will ask if your party would like to dine family style to which you respond “yes.” From there, the kitchen will prepare plate after glorious plate of salads, crostini, charcuterie, pasta, gnocchi, meats and fishes. You may find it difficult to keep up. But soldier on — this is delicious, lively eating.
La Quercia Restaurant
3689 4th Ave W, Vancouver BC V6R 1P2Another Italian gem, this high-end restaurant on the west side understands hospitality and impeccable food. Here, simply suggest your preferences and identify any restrictions and the chef will take it from there. Boundless creativity oozes from the tiny kitchen (get a great view as you wait for the one restroom to vacate), where classic technique meets innovative flavours, both of which are welcome on your dining table. Seven courses make up your shared meal, each more exclaim-worthy than the last.
La Pentola
350 Davie St, Vancouver BC V6B 5Z6From the partners who brought us La Quercia comes La Pentola inside swank OPUS Hotel. As with their sister restaurant, dining famiglia style is encouraged any evening. But their Sunday Supper Series, which has you and your party join a larger group of strangers — soon to be friends — at one table, is a true communal feast. The menu centres on one key ingredient over 10 impressive courses. At only $55 per person, this is the best money you’ll have spent all month.
Memphis Blues Barbeque House
1342 Commercial Dr, Vancouver BC V5L 3X6Nothing brings friends and family together like a backyard BBQ. But why not leave it to the experts to satisfy your Southern food cravings. It starts with their basic Memphis Feast — all the meat they offer plus their signature sides — and just gets better from there. The Elvis Platter simply includes more meat than the Feast and the Pricilla even more than the Elvis, plus oysters, shrimp and catfish. Bonus: since this isn’t your backyard you don’t have to deal with everyone’s meat coma.
Maenam
1938 4th Avenue W, Vancouver BC V6J 1M5Like many cultures, the ritual of gathering around the family table to enjoy a meal and converse is rich in the Thai tradition. Angus An’s hugely popular modern Thai restaurant applies this principle, offering two types of family-style dining experiences. The Chef’s Royal Thai Dinner is the grandest, with nine or more dishes expertly composed and timed to arrive at your table in delicious sequence, each dish hitting the perfect notes of sour, sweet, spicy and salty. Opt for the wine pairing, too. Outstanding.
Bao Down Snack Bar
221 Carrall St, Vancouver BC V6B 2J2This lovely little neighbourhood bistro in Gastown is known for its smallish share plates of fish and seafood as well as vegetable sides and meats. But if a family-style meal is what you’re looking for, their well-priced offering will delight. Depending on your appetite, the chef will create four or six courses for your table. With only a few large tables comprising the entire dining area, this is a great option for an intimate dinner with a larger party.
Campagnolo Restaurant
1020 Main St, Vancouver BC V6A 2W1While not overtly stated on their menu, Campagnolo is happy to serve your table of four or more a family-style dinner. For only $30 or $40 per person, you’re treated to course after course of delicious northern Italian cuisine. Antipasti, which alone would satisfy some diners, pizza, pasta, fish and meat, all generous portions and capped with a selection of desserts. With their affordable wine selections and an espresso to aid digestion, this is one of the better value feasts in town.
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