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

50 Seater “The Mackenzie Room” To Open Facing Oppenheimer Park This Summer

IMG_7015

A new 50 seat restaurant called The Mackenzie Room is coming soon to the ancient Parke Place Coffee Bar location at 415 Powell Street.

Parke Place was the awesome old school diner that faced onto Oppenheimer Park on the Downtown Eastside. It was home to grilled cheese sandwiches, road breakfasts and hot coffee for as long as I can remember. Meals were in the $5 range, and not at all bad (excellent hash browns). The long lunch counter had the coolest swivel stools in the city (pictured below), though they were more often than not vacant…

12625691793_a238615b89_k

I was sad to see it go. From what I understand, the owners retired early last year, and the landlord knocked down the wall between it and the space next door, making more than enough room for a new restaurant tenant.

The Mackenzie Room (a family name) is the passion project of first-time owners Andrew & Katie Jameson and chef Sean Reeve — all Toronto imports.

Industry veterans Andrew and Katie met while working the front of house in the heart of downtown at Richmond Station, the restaurant belonging to Chef Carl Heinrich (winner, Top Chef Canada, Season 2).

As if opening a new restaurant wasn’t difficult enough, they’re expecting twins in September.

Sean was the chef at both the Toronto and Montreal locations of Bistro La Société. He was once upon a time a chef de partie at Cioppino’s, and did some training at Parma’s La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana. I’m looking forward to trying his cooking for the first time.

The concept for The Mackenzie Room sees a locally and seasonally-minded, technique-driven, dinner-only eatery serving up honest and simple West Coast food from a chalkboard menu listing 12-16 dishes a night. The bar program will be similarly inspired, with three cocktails and two punch bowls (plus many classic) offered per service.

Opening day is slated for some point this summer. Take a look at the construction shots below…

  • IMG_7015
  • IMG_7098
  • IMG_7091
  • IMG_7080
  • IMG_7076
  • IMG_7069
  • IMG_7064
  • IMG_7060
  • IMG_7057
  • IMG_7056
  • IMG_7054
  • IMG_7051
  • IMG_7046
  • IMG_7045
  • IMG_7040
  • IMG_7037
  • IMG_7033
  • IMG_7029

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS

Osteria Elio Volpe Officially Opens In Cambie Street Village

The time has finally come: Osteria Elio Volpe will open at 540 West 17th Avenue this Thursday, March 14th - take a look at what you can expect...

New Chinatown Bar, Meo, Set to Officially Open March 13th

The highly anticipated retro-inspired cocktail bar brought to us by the team behind Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto (Tannis Ling, Joël Watanabe and Alain Chow) is on track to open doors next week.

Good Thief is Coming to Main Street

Scout has toured Good Thief, a new concept by Amélie and Vincent Nguyễn, the sibling duo behind the celebrated Anh and Chi. Although we're sworn to secrecy on the finer points, we can confirm that the "thrilling extension of their vision" will be very, very cool.

Slo Coffee Aiming to Bring a New Pace to the Fraserhood by Summertime

By late spring or early summer, Fraser Street is expected to welcome the new café inspired by the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi and the universal desire to just slow the fuck down.