As regular readers are aware, Kitsilano’s Fuel restaurant served its last customer last night. There was little time for ceremony, however, as its metamorphosis into Refuel, a casual and significantly less expensive operation, is slated for quick turnaround. Opening dinner service is in two days. Wednesday.

From what I saw tonight they’ve already achieved plenty. The menu also seems very much squared away, together with a fat new selection of quality hard-to-hook-up beers (I did enough product sampling to disorient a bear).

The room has already undergone enough re-imagining to make it hard to remember what it looked like just a few days prior. It’s pretty cool. Check the photos below for more of what I saw. Perhaps I’ll see you Wednesday.

All Anticipated Openings

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It has since closed, and now will transmogrify into Refuel, a casual restaurant of refined comforts at accessible price points. It opens on Wednesday (that’s the new logo to the left).

Times are tough, and when the going gets tough, the tough adapt. If they don’t, well…they die, and dying isn’t very tough, is it?  The change is a smart, necessary move, and the new food menu looks mighty fine, making Refuel a story of prudence I’m particularly looking forward to reading eating.

A couple weeks back we broke the sad news that Fuel Restaurant would be closing down at the end of the month in order to re-open as a new, casual restaurant with lower price points and a more casual environment. We have all the menus and details on the new place, dubbed “Refuel”,  after the leap…

From a press release soon to make the rounds…

Vancouver BC | Accomplished Restaurant Owners Robert Belcham and Tom Doughty of the critically acclaimed Fuel and Campagnolo Restaurants, announce refuel, a neighborhood restaurant and bar specializing in Casual Northwest Cuisine. The name “refuel” pays homage to its predecessor Fuel Restaurant and its philosophy towards quality, seasonal ingredients and impeccable service. Fuel will perform its final service on Sunday, November 29th, 2009, and refuel restaurant & bar will open Wednesday Dec 2, 2009 at 5:30pm.

Refuel restaurant & bar welcomes with a hip yet relaxed space by designer Marc Bricault that evokes a neighbourhood atmosphere where guests can sit back, socialize and be themselves. Guests may watch the kitchen brigade while sipping a handcrafted cocktail at the 12-seat bar, or gather around a table with friends while listening to music compiled by the experts at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records.

Refuel’s food philosophy focuses on affordable and honest, down-to-earth Northwest fare that celebrates seasonal, local ingredients. Open for lunch and dinner daily, with special brunch features on the weekends, the refuel menu has an incredible selection of snacks, sides, starters, mains and plates to share that utilize quality ingredients and offer excellent value.

Guests may linger over weekend brunch or cap off an evening with a fun, late-night snack such as devilled eggs or crispy pork rinds. The starters menu includes dishes such as creamy onion soup and charcuterie from The Cure, while buttermilk fried chicken and hand rolled potato gnocchi star on the comforting mains menu. Share plates include dry-aged Alberta Prime ribeye steak and whole confit Polderside duck, while the desserts include apple and pear crostada and peanut and chocolate parfait.

At the bar, the focus is on thoughtfully prepared, classic cocktails, along with craft beer and approachable wines. A special reserve wine list is available upon request.

Along with Chef and Proprietor Robert Belcham and Sommelier and Proprietor Tom Doughty, the refuel team is rounded out with Chef de Cuisine Ted Anderson, Sous Chef Jane Cornborough, Restaurant Manager Katharine Manson, and Bar Manager Rob Scope.

Refuel restaurant & bar serves affordable, casual Northwest cuisine in a comfortable neighbourhood atmosphere. This welcome addition to Kitsilano encourages diners to relax, have fun and enjoy simple, honest food. Gather around a table with friends in the dining room or sit at the bar and watch the kitchen brigade while sipping a classic cocktail and enjoy music styled by the experts at Zulu Records.

Refuel is open daily from 11:30am – 12:00am and is located at 1944 West 4th Avenue (at Cypress), Vancouver BC. For more information please call 604.288.7905.

refuel menu

Snacks

Marinated Olives 6
Spiced Pork Ribs and Bits 7.5
Devilled Eggs 3
Pork Rinds 5
Warm Hazlenuts 3.5
Foie Gras Croquettes 7

Starters

Creamy Onion Soup, croutons, herbs 6.5
Crispy Squid, fresh chilis, lime, scallion 9.5
Fresh Local Oysters, ½ dozen, classic mignonette 15.5
Lemon Risotto, parlsey, shallots 13
The Cure’s Charcuterie and Cheese, apricot mostarda, rye bread 16.5
Escarole Salad, ox tongue, ravigote sauce 11.5
Roasted Bone Marrow, green apple, maldon salt 12.5
Spaghetti Carbonara, guanciale, black pepper 14
Crunchy Scrapple, fried egg, toast 9

Mains

Buttermilk Fried Chicken, jalapeno biscuit, aj’s gravy, coleslaw 18
Dry Aged Beef Burger, cheddar, bacon, fries 14.5
Pan Roasted Ling Cod, swiss chard, pearl onions, bacon 21
BC Coho Salmon, manila clams, rouille, leeks 22
House Made Potato Gnocchi, roasted mushrooms, fresh herbs 17
Sloping Hill’s Pork, slow cooked fennel, apple cider vinegar 20.5
Seared Rare Albacore Tuna, romaine lettuce, green olive, orange 17.5

Plates to Share

Dry-Aged Alberta Prime Ribeye Steak, 18 ounce cut, fries, creamed spinach 55
Whole Confit Polderside Duck, braised red cabbage, roasted apples 55

Sides

Fries 4.5
Swiss Chard 4.5
AJ’s Gravy 2.5
Creamed Spinach 5
Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese 6
Seared Foie Gras 21
refuel Potatoes 9
Green Salad 4

Desserts

Vanilla Creme Brulee, candied citrus 6.5
Apple and Pear Crostada, sour cream ice cream 6.5