A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Diner

DINER: Chef Dale Mackay’s “Ensemble” To Officially Open On Tuesday At 850 Thurlow

Portrait

by Andrew Morrison | I took a look inside the soon-to-open Ensemble this afternoon. They were up to their eyeballs in menu fiddling and construction, but the highly anticipated restaurant from former Lumiere chef and current Top Chef Canada competitor Dale Mackay appears to be coming together nicely. They plan to softly open this weekend with the first ever reservations being accepted for Tuesday. Read more about the restaurant here and here. I’ve added a few new photos below, none of which give the whole place away. Break a leg, fellas!

  • Outside Ensemble - signage going up in the next few days
  • New black mirror finish under the bar
  • Old tables, new tops.
  • Love the new lights
  • Finishing the new light fixtures
  • Interior work in progress
  • Inside the kitchen

ALL ANTICIPATED RESTAURANTS

There are 4 comments

  1. That place has “the curse”. I don’t doubt the execution of the restaurant itself, but I’m skeptical soley for the reason that it’s that spot.

  2. How you livin’, Koo? Long time!

    PS. They said that about Boneta’s location, too.

  3. I’m great. Definitely been long. Met up with the Stangers a few weeks ago. We ought to get together and talk shop over a pint.

    How are you doing?

    I remember when I was at Le Crocodile (3 years) I would walk by Saveur all the time and I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a soul in there. Then when Bistro De Luxe came along they didn’t fare much better. The best of luck to the new guard. I think they’re going to need it.

  4. How long was Piccolo Mondo there? A decade + I think. The only place I would say was truly cursed was the little building on 4th that housed Coco, the Ordinary, the Sierra Grilland a half dozen others. The wrecking ball performed an exorcisim a year or so ago.

Diner

See more from Diner
Diner Kitsilano

Outtakes From a Maenam-aLena Staff Meal

We love a good family-style staff meal. Last month, we caught wind of a variation on this theme: a staff meal exchange between neighbourbood restaurants, Maenam and AnnaLena.
Diner

Field Trip: Tagging Along for a “Glorious” Tomato Appreciation Feast

Inspired by their love of tomatoes and everything that farmer Mark Cormier and his farm crew put into growing them, the team from Say Hey Sandwiches head out to Aldergrove on a mission to cook a feast for the Glorious Organics team...
The New Breed Main Street

Reverence, Respect, and Realization: What The Acorn Taught Me

At 21 years old, I'm still just a kid and relatively new to working in restaurants, but I grew up umbilically tied to the hospitality industry. My father was a food writer, and my mother is a photographer. Their careers meant that most of my early years were spent in kitchens and dining rooms instead of on playgrounds and soccer fields; consequently, I learned my table manners before I could count past one hundred.
The New Breed Gastown

Amanda MacMullin Talks Seeking New Challenges and Becoming a ‘Grizzled Old Bartender’

Rhys Amber recently sat down with The Diamond bartender to catch up, swap 'war stories' and discuss the minutiae of the crazy, hospitality life.

The Scout Community

Become a member