Meo Announces Fraser Crawford as New General Manager

The Goods from Meo

Vancouver, BC | Meo, Vancouver Chinatown’s destination for provocative food and drinks, is excited to welcome Fraser Crawford as its new general manager. With more than two decades of experience spanning front-of-house operations and bar program management, Crawford brings an incredible wealth of expertise to the team.

Most recently, Crawford spent four years as bar manager of sister restaurant Kissa Tanto, where he was honoured with the 2024 Michelin Guide Vancouver Exceptional Cocktails award.

“Fraser’s dedication to excellent hospitality, as well as expertise in the cocktail experience makes him the perfect fit to lead Meo,” says Tannis Ling, who operates Meo and award-winning sister restaurants Bao Bei and Kissa Tanto together with chefs Joël Watanabe and Alain Chow. “His vision for creating memorable guest experiences in restaurant environments aligns well with what we envision for Meo. We’re very excited for his commitment to making Meo a destination for not just great cocktails but also for exceptional dining.”

Fraser’s entry into the industry was serendipitous—a part-time dishwashing role at White Spot during high school sparked a lifelong passion for the industry. After university, he transitioned from the kitchen to the front of house, gaining a hands-on understanding of restaurant operations.

His career path includes pivotal roles such as bar manager at Bacaro Food and Drink in Kelowna, where he honed his creativity and leadership skills, and at Vancouver’s Hawksworth Restaurant, where he trained under acclaimed bartending legends and furthered the art of elevated service.

“Meo is a unique space with a lot going for it – the people, room, food, cocktails, and overall concept each hold an incredibly high standard,” adds Crawford. “I hope to help harness and organize all those things into a one beautiful being. I want to be able to give Vancouver an experience they can not only count on but are excited for and maybe didn’t expect.

Crawford’s go-to cocktail at Meo? “The Dirty Lychee Martini by our talented Denis Bykov. While my standard Martini order is straight up with a twist (ranging from dry-wet depending on the gin and vermouths available at the establishment). This cocktail using the brine from fermented lychees and the beautifully complex Peddlers Shanghai Gin has the salinity you’d expect from a dirty martini, a layer of fruitiness emanating from lychees and yet is still gin forward letting the base spirit shine.”

Meo is open from 5:30 p.m. until 12 a.m., Wednesday and Thursday; from 5:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday; and 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sunday.

To stay up-to-date on Meo news, please visit @meochinatown or www.meochinatown.com.