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

David Wolowidnyk Does ‘The Dishes’

The international award-winning bartender and Resurrection Spirits GM maps out his favourite spots to eat and drink around town.
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David Wolowidnyk Does ‘The Dishes’

The Dishes is a repeating Scout column that asks Vancouverites to walk us through a map of their ideal day and night on the town. We’re talking breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner and late night cocktails. Tax and tip included.

Today for The Dishes, we ask international award-winning bartender and current Resurrection Spirits GM and Distiller Apprentice David Wolowidnyk to give us the goods on his favourite spots to eat and drink around town.

Good morning! What’s for breakfast/brunch?

When time is limited I love stopping at Batard Bakery for the “Croque Batard”, a delicious little twist on a French classic, but if there’s a little more time – and a few people to dine with – I want to order all the dim sum at Western Lake, especially the sticky rice wraps with dried scallops, the pan-fried eggplant with shrimp paste, some Shiu-Mai dumplings, and BBQ Pork Buns.

Batard Bakery 3958 Fraser St. MAP
Western Lake Chinese Seafood 4989 Victoria Dr. MAP

Where should we meet for coffee/tea?

Never a bad cup at Revolver. Depending on my mood, I’ll have either an espresso, a macchiato or an Americano.

Revolver Coffee 325 Cambie St. MAP

Now we’re hungry again. What’s for lunch?

For a quick indulgence, let’s have a Hot Chicken Sandwich at Down Low Chicken Shack or the Mexican Club at Las Tortas. If there’s a rare moment to sit down to eat, we’ll head over to Linh Cafe for some chicken livers and steak tartare.

Linh Cafe 2836 West 4th Ave. MAP
DownLow Chicken Shack 905 Commercial Dr. MAP
Las Tortas (Closed) 3353 Cambie St. MAP

Who has you figured out at Happy Hour?

I wish I had time to drink in the afternoon/evening but I’m usually picking my kid up from school or working. The last time I enjoyed a happy hour was at the Fanny Bay Oyster Bar for fresh oysters and an icy cold beer with every intention to return soon for a repeat.

Fanny Bay Oyster Bar 762 Cambie St. MAP

What’s for dinner?

There are so many great dinner options in Vancouver but I can’t seem to get enough of Maenam. If I was there right now I’d start with the grilled Thai sausage and crispy rice salad followed by the 8 spice lingcod.

Maenam 1938 W. 4th Ave. MAP

What’s for dessert?

Diplomat Cake from Notte’s Bon Ton.

Notte's Bon Ton 3150 West Broadway MAP

Where are you taking us for late night cocktails?

Warm up at Resurrection Spirits with a Barrel Aged Martinez and then over to The Keefer Bar for a Manhattan. If I’m also feeling peckish then Rangoli for its killer late night food menu and a Tesseract cocktail.

Keefer Bar 135 Keefer St MAP
Resurrection Spirits 1672 Franklin St. MAP
Vij's Rangoli 1480 W 11th Ave MAP

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