The ever-evolving Restaurant Graveyard series looks back at the countless, long-shuttered establishments that helped to propel Vancouver’s food and drink forward. May they never be forgotten!
We catch up with The Keefer Bar’s General Manager, Keenan Hood, for a recap on the closing of the Keefer Yard, and the successes of the past couple of years…
This cozy, unpretentious Saskatchewan-themed Gastown tavern was a beer- and bourbon-lovers' living room, with a food menu that could have been featured entirely in Scout's 'Comfort Food Guide to Vancouver'.
Goldfish Pacific Kitchen was a professionally-run, West Coast meets Asian restaurant owned by the legendary Bud Kanke.
The 110-seat restaurant and bar specialized in the regional cuisine of Liguria, with seafood dishes figuring highly.
A cash-only spot to the end, the friendly Master Chef Cafe was in operation on East Hastings from 1953 until 2014.
From 2016 to 2021, the award-winning Mak N Ming consistently met guest's high expectations with sincerity and skill.
With its bucket seats and spinning wine machine, Harry Kambolis' Nu Restaurant was a little ahead of its time.
Opened by the award-winning Campagnolo crew in 2011, The Fat Dragon lasted just nine months at 566 Powell Street.
Located at 62 East Cordova St. in Gastown, Bill McCaig's Nicli Antica Pizzeria made AVPN-certified pies for nine delicious years.
Located at the top of Davie Street's west slope, Lolita's served an industry crowd for a dozen years before closing in 2017.
Located at 1459 West Broadway from 2003 to 2012, the award-winning Cru was an inspiration for our Restaurant Graveyard.
The first Boneta was famed for its well-tended bar, industry-friendly atmosphere and French-inspired fare.
Century was a 'Modern Latin Cowboy' themed restaurant located in the old Lola’s/Ballantyne’s address at 432 Richards Street.
The Aristocratic was well known for its cheap burgers, neon signage and 'Risty' character sporting a top hat and monocle.
Cheffed by Keith Allison, Sea Monstr Sushi was connected to the Sharks + Hammers clothing and lifestyle shop on Alexander St.
Harry Kambolis' "C" Restaurant was a game-changing icon that helped put Vancouver’s emerging food scene on the map.
La Bodega was a Howe Street fixture from 1971 to 2014, serving up Spanish classic like albondigas and pitchers of sangria.
The list of brewers who developed their skills at this restaurant speaks to the evolution of the Lower Mainland's craft beer scene.
Chef Liam Breem's promising, 74-seat, French and Mediterranean-inspired Verre lasted less than two years at 550 Denman St.
The 2015 arrival of film director Uwe Boll's Bauhaus restaurant was met with deafening quiet from the community it sought to join.
Previous to Ensemble, the space ate Piccolo Mondo, Saveur and Corner Suite Bistro De Luxe. After Ensemble, it swallowed others.
While it did attract many off-duty cooks, bartenders and servers, to the neighbourhood at large is was like a second living room.
It's been a year since the closure of Mt. Pleasant's Chicha restaurant, but its memory persists for good reason.
Cobre enjoyed a five-year run before shutting down in 2012 with the chef launching Cuchillo a few blocks east on Powell Street.
The city - and most immediately the 100 block of West Hastings - is so much the lesser for the loss of Wildebeest.
Oru Cuisine was the fine dining establishment that operated where Botanist currently excels in the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
The Sardine Can was a small and subtly stylish restaurant that turned out classic shareables like patatas bravas and albondigas.
Opened by Bert Love and John Dobson, the long-serving restaurant's slogan was "From the sea to the pan."