Gudrun

Stopped in on Friday for some dessert and holy moly! I love this little place! The cheese and wine selections were excellent. We went with the sticky toffee pudding to share and I indulged in a tiger blue cheese plate because cheese is life!
The aesthetic is lovely and the restaurant itself is tucked away from the main strip making for an intimate setting. The sticky toffee pudding ($ 10) was incredible and the cheese plate was abundant with grapes, smoked almonds, rhubarb chutney and two different kinds of bread… And only $ 8! Insane!
I am an avid lover of charcuterie and Gudrun is such a pleasant find for me. I can’t wait to come back try their whole menu. The only downside for me was them charging $ 6 for a small French press coffee. It seems a little outrageous considering it was the equivalent of one cup of coffee. Other than that, I am beyond impressed and would recommend this as the perfect spot for a date night, gals night, or even just a night when you wanna get real friendly with a big ol’ plate of cheese!

Excellent food, service and atmosphere! Shared a bunch of plates, and it was an excellent experience.

I’ve visited Gudrun a few time already with a few groups and just recently went with my wife. I love that Steveston finally has a nice small plates tasting room type restaurant with nice cheeses, meats and wines. It’s a great little spot (though a bit pricey for the offering). However, if you are a vegetarian here, it can be difficult. Your choices are already limited because of the small menu so what vegetarian choices there are don’t seem very inspiring or delicious.
We ended up getting a trio of cheeses, bread and pâté, as well as their soup. The beet soup concoction was just okay and their cheese selection hasn’t changed in quite some time. For some reason our order got mixed up and we got a salad delivered to us and when they corrected it and brought the meat and pâté dish they didn’t give us any bread until we asked for it. A bit unfortunate considering it wasn’t busy at all.
Aside from that though, it was still an enjoyable evening. Also, the meat dishes that I have tried in the past have been very tasty!
Overall, it isn’t a bad place to just chill out at, but I do feel there is much more potential for variety that could be integrated into their menu especially if one of their main focuses involve charcuterie plates.

Decided to go here for my bday on a last minute decision and it was quite good. The polenta and artichoke on the Ragu was amazing. The sopresseta sandwich was quite nice as well. The cauliflower soup was good but lacked a bit of oomph. Overall I would still come here again on a special occasion.

What an amazing little wine bar tucked into a little corner of Steveston. Felt like we were in Yaletown!
Such an amazing wine and beer selection, and the food is so fresh and to die for!
A must eat while there is the sticky toffee pudding! Best. dessert…ever!\
Staff are so friendly and helpful. I loved the sauce on the sticky toffee pudding so much I asked if I could purchase it, the chef came over and gave me some in a container to take home complimentary.
Highly recommend this gem!

I know places like this are going to be expensive for what you get, however I also expect service to make up for it. A charcuterie plate should not take 30 minutes to prepare; especially when it’s only 8 pieces of meat and 3 pieces of cheese. We constantly needed to ask for drinks and to place food orders. We asked for our bill and still had to go up to the bar 10 minutes later at which point I stood at the bar for another 10 minutes while I reminded our server what we ordered. At which point he also included a 20% tip on our bill. For an experience I could have had by going to IGA or Thrifty’s (notice I didn’t say Whole Foods) for a fraction of the price, Gudrun straight up doesn’t deliver.

I’ve came here with my boyfriend one day and first let me say how beautiful the décor is. However, maybe I was just out of luck with my experience. First, I can’t drink alcohol because I will get rashes on my body. I can already feel the server judging me for not ordering wine. Second, the cheese fondue was anything but exciting. It literally looked like someone I can make at home. Maybe my expectations are too high/​I ordered the wrong things. But the service was also extremely slow and it looked like they didn’t want to help us.

Over the past months since my last review, this is the place I come for great food. The ever changing fresh sheet always keeps me excited to try new things that Paul comes up with. I still constantly crave their Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Everyone needs to try this place at least once!

Love this place. I always get the cheese plate and the waiter helps us with choices for meats and cheese. We love just going there for wine & cheese and fondu, but everything looks great in there! It’s a nice date, not cheap, but worth it.

Snobby, hipster place. Don’t come here hungry. Nice place to sip some wine with some cheese and charcuterie on the side.

Down a side alley which opens up into a tree shaded court yard is Gudrun. Gudrun has a cool modern design with floor to ceiling windows accented by restored old growth lumber.
The menu is dynamic and filled with exquisite selections from local farms. The selections are prepared with great care and are irresistible to pass. Every dish ordered tasted delicious and was perfectly plated. Service is fantastic and Patrick a welcoming host.
Experience rivals restaurants in New York. Looking forward to returning for the Saturday night super club which is a reservation only multi course evening. Watch for details on Facebook.

I keep going to Gudrun and it just gets better and better.
The best part now? Their mac and 5 cheese is now a staple on their menu. I WILL BE THERE SO OFTEN THEY WILL ALL BE SICK OF ME!
After a disappointing dinner somewhere else, my friend and I ended up going for 2^nd dinner (starving after a 3 course meal? Weird, right?). I had the mac and cheese and she had the leek soup. Her soup looked amazing and my mac and cheese was perfect, as usual. After finishing, all I could do was let out a happy sigh.
Even just thinking about the mac and cheese, I want to give a happy :sigh:
Then after Patrick reminded us that they’re closed on Sunday and Monday, my friend ordered a sticky toffee pudding. I wrangled a bite (and I ate the apples) and: happy sigh: again. It has been so long since I’ve had sticky toffee pudding.
The only thing that would make my friend happier? Chicken and bacon waffles.
And a plus? Their servers are so good. Low key and friendly, they always seem like they’re happy you’re there which, surprisingly, is difficult to find most places.
Thank goodness for Gudrun, their food and staff for rescuing what was otherwise a disappointing food night.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Great for dates, girls nights, whatever. Its fun, casual and they have a fantastic selection of wine. Just writing this review makes me want to go back right now.
Hit this place up for sure!

Easily one of the best food & drink in Steveston. Weird to find a spot like this in the area since it seems like it was transplanted from gastown, but it’s definitely refreshing for the younger crowd.
For a pub-​style space the food is borderline fine-​dining, really unique dishes and sounds like the menu switches up based on whats good for produce and protein locally. Had the beef stroganoff with egg noodles and man was it something else, a great twist on the dish.
Gudrun also has your thirst covered with a beyond impressive beer list, with at least half the options being beer from the other side of the world. Sure there’s a premium price on them, but you’ll find drinks here that you wont find anywhere else in Vancouver.

Hidden within the main street of the village, in a little courtyard, this wine and cheese place is almost a direct copy of Salt Tasting Room. I like the courtyard out front, and the restaurant inside is a long narrow room, with a large communal table, as well as some individual ones.
I noticed the prices were a bit high for the cheese/​charcuterie plates. We ended up getting a fondue. A classic Swiss fondue, with appenzeller, emmental & gruyère, dash of kirsch and fresh nutmeg. This was only served with chunks of regular bread to accompany it. It was kind of a waste to dip just bread with it.
Service was great throughout, attending to us as needed. I like the space and how it is enclosed within the courtyard. Not sure if I’d come back if I have to be paying so much for cheese.

Three words: chocolate bacon waffles.
Yes, I was apprehensive as well, even as a waffle, bacon and chocolate lover, I did not think this was a good idea. Bacon waffles with maple syrup? Yup. Chocolate waffles? You bet. All three? I do not think so.
I was mistaken. Even though the waitress really did not do a good job at describing the dish, it was AMAZING (albeit slightly burnt). The chocolate was actually coco nibs which makes a big difference and she should have known that. The bacon were small little bits that just added a nice smoky, saltiness that merged really well with the coco and maple syrup. Topped with a bottomless cup of coffee it made for an amazingly indulgent sunday brunch which I really needed after almost being pecked to death by a sandhill crane at the Reifl Sanctuary… I’ll get to that in another post.
Anyhoo, the reason for my 3 star was not décor, cause i love the eco-​modern feel with communal table. I also love the outdoor table which would be amazing in the summer. My problem was the staff.
When we showed up there was only one other table who left about half way through our brunch. There was a staff of about 4 people, and having worked in the service industry, even if there isn’t one customer in the restaurant, professionalism is key. People can you see joking around and basically having a party playing with your little electronic wind up bugs (seriously, no joke) from the outside and may not venture in. This is NOT your house people!!! At one point I freaked out because I thought there was a mutant fluorescent giant cockroach about to attack my leg! It was one of the staff’s toys and they thought it was hilarious. You know I’m a pretty chill person but this was redunculous.
So there you go Gudrun… coulda been 4 but you’ll have to settle for 3. And i’m feeling generous…

After a comedy of errors, we ended up at this tucked-​away wine & cheese joint. The music from speakers outsides beckons you in and you’re greeted with a blackboard menu, long wooden communal picnic table and cozy seating for couples.
We were starving and unfortunately did not have a Groupon, but still had a good time at this place. The ambiance and service definitely fits the bill for a first-​date kind of place. Unfortunately again, I was with a buddy.
Onto the food, we ordered half a dozen oysters — quite good, not cheap at $ 2.50 an oyster.
The cheese fondue had way too much cornstarch in it — or something that made the consistency not stringy or gooey at all. It kept breaking apart. The bread was nothing exceptional either.
The salad was really small but good. I remember pumpkin seeds, mandarin slices and goat cheese.
What was really good was the black currant beer — delicious and 750 ml was perfect for sharing.
The bill came to a whopping $ 80 for all of this (6 oysters, a small cheese fondue, salad and a large beer). Way, way, way over-​priced.
It is a nice place though, but the value’s just not there.

Let me try and explain Gudrun in a way people will understand it.
Part apartment, part school, part kitchen, and part wine cellar where a bunch of friends (the staff) hang out, eat and drink gourmet, while dancing (yes, they did dance) to music on Friday nights. Oh, and the place is a FROMAGERIE. Fromage = Cheese in French. So yeah, they specialize in cheese.
Though a small joint, yes, you will feel the yuppie Yaletown vibe when you come in. I liked it for what it was.
Guys: Gudrun’s a major score if if you take date to this place and she hasn’t been — and especially if they (or you) know their favourite cheeses, ’cause I sure as hell didn’t and definitely needed some staff recommendations from the owner Patrick.
But, if you’re craving a steak ‘n potatoes type meal, dine out somewhere else in Richmond first and then come back here for cheese, wine, and maybe even dessert. And don’t complain about how much everything costs.
When my boyfriend Leo took me here, I just wanted food. And a non-​alcoholic drink. I was eyeing the French Lemonade (the closest thing to juice) but it’s $ 12. And I would have rather spent that money on the cheese, which we did. The staff gave us their latest 3-​cheese combo from Canada ($ 22 with Sfilatino Italian baguette, assorted fruits, nuts, and preserves). I was a bit confused because I thought all the cheese came from Quebec (their monthly offerings are written on the chalkboard wall), but Patrick said two of them were actually from Italy and Spain.
Thank Wikipedia for knowing its cheese so I could get this right.
Garrotxa — The exotic dancer from Spain. My fav on the plate. Rich and didn’t need a companion except for a piece of bread to partner her with.
Tallegio — The rare, dark and mysterious character from Italy. Alone, dry, but when combined with the flavours on the plate, a tiger in the bedroom of your mouth.
Ile au grue — The reliable cheddar from Quebec, fine alone, but better with some bread or second flavours.
Now I am a woman who likes a party in my mouth while still feeling substantial. And a party indeed it was. I also ordered the veggie panini with side salad ($ 12) and since we sat at the bar, we saw the chef prepare everything. Salad — so simple and refreshing, a good cleanser for my palate in between cheese tastings. The panini, with grilled mushrooms, cucumber, and zucchini, doesn’t sound substantial, but all held together with gooey camembert cheese (Where from? Who cares?), it gave me the 5^th star for this review.
If you’re intrigued by the — er — intrigue of this place from what everybody else is saying about it, just throw your wallet-​watching to the wind and give it a try. Aside from the food and incredible wine list (a rare beer selection too), they have some nice artwork, lighting fixtures and a chalkboard full of stuff you won’t be able to pronounce. Tip: Friday special for January ’11 is Blue Cheese Sliders.
If you’re the type that wants a stomach-​filler and doesn’t give a crap about what you taste in your mouth, have your Steveston fish & chips and call it a day.

I so want to give this a 4 since I love the concept of a Salt-​type place in Steveston, but the service and technical issues are huge.
It’s a great spot to spend a night — lovely wine, cheese and meat menu and the décor is lovely.
I was happy that Groupon had a promo for a cheese fondue with wine. We took advantage of that and shared one of their charcuterie platters. The menu was awesome, but a bit steep. Without the Groupon, the wine/​fondue combo would have been $ 55, and we spent another $ 38 on the charcuterie platter.
There were problems… agree with Miranda L… what was up with the cheapness on the bread? For the fondue, they give standard white bread, and we were fully dunking and obviously still needed bread refills but had to ask for it each time.
Then with our charcuterie platter, I was expecting some nicer bread or thin crackers, but we were still given the white Wonder bread style bread at first! It had a ridiculously small amount of bread and to top it off, they also sent out the wrong meat/​cheese platter.
Eventually we got the right platter and discovered an awesome Hungarian sausage and learned that goat milk gouda tastes a lot more like goat cheese than gouda!
THere was some delay in heating up the proper/​nicer bread which we got towards the end of our meal… much more appropropriate than the Wonder type bread.
All in all, a lot of potential, but Gudrun needs to get some kinks worked out. Definitely a disappointment given the awesome menu.

What else can I say, we came we saw, we drank and ate and liked… No loved. Well, it can be pricey, but the wine and beer pairings were good with the charcouterie. Love the cheese and meats. yummm.
But, as much as I liked it, we do this at home alot as well.
It was nice to get out and enjoy the atmosphere without having to go all the way downtown for this.
Nice music, great friendly staff and warm concrete ambiance.