Absinthe Bistro

This place is as good as advertised. My wife and I were in Vancouver for a few days and had a wonderful dinner here, Every dish was superb (I had scallops and my wife had slow braised beef). We tried two appetizers (marinated tuna and dungeness crab with avocado): Both were outstanding. Molten chocolate lava cake dessert was perfect. Highly recommended, if you are visiting Vancouver or lucky to live near this gem.

After 3 months of travelling through south west Usa and californian coast and having tried various restaurants along must say that our dinner at Absinth was by far the most satisfying food, service and atmosphere wise. Really a gem. Fully worth the price. Its limited menu allows for higher quality while maintening price reasonnable. We really likes the formula. En passant, the crème brule was by far the best that I have tasted outside of France.

Wonderful experience at this small but eloquent bistro. We sat outside to enjoy the lovely evening and people watch. We ordered the full on meal which started with Dungeness crab, avacado, and a peanut brittle and for me the tuna with a lemon sauce and a lovely reduction. The bread was perfect too. Main course was grilled scallops with pureed potatoes and another fantastic sauce. And… finally dessert consisted of the crème brule and lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Hungry yet! It is a must have on all counts!

Loved this little place. Food was amazing. By 600 it was full so make sure to get a reso.

This place is worth every bite! The food just melts in your mouth. I plan on coming back when I come back to Vancouver.

Such a great place. Food is fantastic! Service was amazing. Great wine selection. Very cozy and romantic!!!

We always wanted to try this restaurant, but you have to phone or email to make a reservation. I admit that if I can’t do this online, I’m slow to do it and then it can be hard to get in.
The service was prompt and polite. The food arrives very quickly. The portions are a little on the lighter side (I had the scallops entrée and it came with three), but the food is so rich both my husband and I left full. I found the prices very reasonable for such high quality food.
The restaurant is very small so the tables are quite close together but overall, if you’re looking for quality, flavorful food, you won’t be disappointed.

This place is great. Service is good. The atmosphere feels very much like you could be in Paris. Good job on the interior. Food is very good. I had the foie gras and duck confit. The duck was well cooked and tasty. I thought the potato purée could use a bit more seasoning but texture was good and still tasty. My wife’s scallops were cooked and seasoned well. Dessert was very good. Would definitely return.

I came here with my significant other on new years eve for dinner. We each had the pre fixe dinner. The food was very good and the crème brûlée was delicious. The waitress was very nice and friendly. I would recommend this restaurant.

The best. Ever. The owners are so beatific and sweet. They remember all of our names, even though we only come in once a year or so. The food is always spectacular. Love love love.

This is one restaurant that is worth the hype. Stellar service and absolutely spot on food at a great price point. Unpretentious and delicious the way french food should be. I’m french and this meal was better than a lot of dining experiences I have had in both Paris and Lyon. We had a couple good cocktails followed by the pâté en croute (which I have never found in Canada); the duck which was fall off the bone tender (though it’s actually the accompanying braised cabbage that stole the show!) and crême brulée for dessert. Typical bistro fare that was uncommonly well executed. Just plain perfect. And boy was I was glad to be able to walk home as I was so full!
Just one little thing: we had a reservation for 7:30 and didn’t get seated until nearly half an hour later. Other diners could see we were waiting and still took their time. Yes it is a wonderful culinary experience worth savouring, but we were a little bit surprised to have to wait outside (though the lovely server did offer to heat the patio for us) and surprised by the attitude of other patrons. Delicate situation and we understand people couldn’t be asked to leave, but this was a special meal for us, an anniversary and put a bit of a bad tasted in our mouths (which the rest of our experience did redeem.)

My wife and I had our anniversary dinner there and it was really wonderful. The service was excellent and the value for the price I thought was great. Plus, it was great to be able to walk home after a meal and wine. The corkage fee is high, but other than that I thought it was a near perfect experience.

We came to try Absinthe strictly based on it’s status as Vancouver’s highest rated eatery. We came away absolutely convinced that it’s lofty status is richly deserved! It’s a tiny space, 10 tables inside, 2 out, with 3 chefs & 2 waiters turning out exquisite dishes for adoring diners for the insanely cheap price of $C 35 for the three course prix fixe. Awesome!
Every dish we ordered was amazing and at a brilliantly affordable price point. Perfectly seared scallops, sous vide flank steak with chimichurri sauce, potatoes Anna, lava cake, rice pudding with salted caramel sauce, and a wonderful garden fresh gazpacho appetizer. We were sorely tempted to lick each plate!
Suggestion: the noise level was fairly high. If they would hang some red (to match the red wall) swags from the ceiling it would hide the pipes and soften the sound profile.
You must, absolutely must try this place before the masses discover it; you won’t be able to get in soon!

Amazing. Had the shrimp gazpacchio, seared scallops then lava cake for dessert. Also had the green tree absinthe to drink. Others at my table ado raved about their respective meals.
Honestly do not have a single complaint. A must go.

One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been in period. The scallops are to die for!!! The owners are very kind and the service is personable and outstanding. This shows that a restaurant can have spectacular food without being pretentious or way too expensive. Even though the portions may not seem big enough, you will be full! The quality is excellent you can taste it. Everything I tried was just scrumptious #foodporn to the max!!!

This is my very first experience going to a French restaurant. I don’t know why it took me this long to go! The restaurant is small and open concept with the kitchen. A simple décor but an intimate feeling with the lighting. The staff is welcoming and friendly as soon as you walk through the door. Attention to detail was also spot on. Water and bread was always being refilled. The bathroom was interesting as they have pictures of when the owners went to Paris and also of the construction of the restaurant.
The menu is based on a three course meal and small French portions. I didn’t think the portions were really small at all as I was so full when we left.
FOOD:
Tuna Tartar with french bread — Delicious! So tasty.
Chicken liver terrine with french bread — Very good all the flavors work and not overly livery tasting.
Braised pork cheeks with penne gratin — The cheeks were so tender and good but I think the pasta was too much.
Pan seared scallops with mash potatoes — So amazingly good and cooked perfectly.
Crème brule — Licking the bowl when your done amazingly good!
Chocolate lava cake and vanilla bean ice cream — Hot and cold sensation all at once. Creamy and chocolaty.
DRINKS:
Absinthe drip — Not overly powerful tasting of liquor mostly taste like licorice.
Absinthe citrus martini — Very good and refreshing.
Be sure to make a reservation as the restaurant was packed and people couldn’t get a seat as they walked in. Great for a date night!

This place is amazing! My bf brought me here for my birthday dinner and it didn’t disappoint. The duck pâté and glazed tuna salad were delicious. The show stopper was definitely the scallops. Don’t know what was in the sauce but it was so good I could have drank it. The parsnip purée with the lamp was very unique and delicious. The lava cake was made with a dark bitter chocolate and I loved how it wasn’t too sweet. Also had a bite of the crème brûlée which was good but a little too sweet for me. Overall, I’m so happy I came here. The décor and the fact that you can see the kitchen is so cool. Service was excellent also. Will be sending my parents and all other couples here because it makes the perfect date!

A friend and b/​f wanted the wife and me to join them for a dinner, and they had made reservations here. Had never been, had never heard of it… so was going in with a pretty open mind…
Reservations are pretty important… I like that they had a sign out front letting people walking in from the street know when the next available seating was (we had a reservation for 6:30pm, and the next seating avail. was 8:30pm on the sign when we showed up). The place isn’t very big. so it will fill up fast.
I had read a few reviews here about the place before going in, and had checked out there menu online before arriving… I had set my mind on the 3 course fixed price menu choice… I went with the goat cheese and beet appy, the pork cheek main, and the panna cotta dessert.
The appy was small, but a great size to get the appetite started out… the beets were cooked well, with a little bite left in them so as to not be all mush… the goat cheese was a hit all around as well (even from a non-​goat cheese liking person).
My main was super super tender… the accompanying mash potatoes were so smooth as to be a paste… and the accompanying veg mixed in (carrots) were like the beets… cooked, but with still enough bite to have crunch and texture.
The dessert was not overly sweet, and it complemented the end of the meal nicely… I left feeling full, satisfied, and happy with the overall service (outstanding), quality and quantity for the price.
Would definitely recommend giving this place a try… however until the menu changes (which it says it does frequently), I think I’ll wait… I’d like to try some different choices before going back again.

Here’s what I didn’t like:
–Small portion sizing on the appetizer which consisted of four thinly sliced pieces of roast beef with four capers and drizzled with some kind of mustard sauce.
–Set menu pricing of $ 28 for groups of eight or more with the standard 15% tip
–The two hour limit the restaurant gave our group of 15 to order and finish our meal
–The $ 2 per person charge if you wanted to bring your own birthday cake
Here is what I liked:
–My main course of lamb with potatoes sent me to heaven! OMG, it was amazing!
–My server and Julia were very attentive in the service, constantly checking if we wanted to buy more drinks or order dessert.
–limited menu selection made choosing my meal easier.
What I found interesting:
–the way they would try to keep up-​selling us. Ie: would you like the sparkling water or tap water? Only one in your group ordered dessert. Would anyone else like it. Their business process was very clean and polished and I think that’s going to make this place survive here.
–Very interesting décor. The gold framed mirrors contrast with the white walls, and brown accents and large wood clock. The chandeliers match the tables and floors and if you look up, the ceiling is painted white! I haven’t seen that in a long time, usually everywhere else I’ve been going lately has black ceilings. It’s an interesting style.
–I also thought the Absinthe fountain was very cool and an interesting sight.
All in all it was a positive experience. It is a very classy upscale restaurant along the drive and they’ve done a very good job with it.

I wanted to give this place 5 stars, I really do. Here’s a little tale of my dining experience.
My lady and I arrived on a Saturday night about 7PM. The place was half full, mainly because of a small wedding celebration in the back. Seated instantly.
We opted for the three course menu for $ 35 per head. It’s a pretty good value for the quality of food you receive, with decent portions. French food is known for quality vs. quantity, and I didn’t leave the restaurant hungry.
Here’s what I ordered:
First off, I need to mention that the bread was FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC! I seriously could’ve eaten a whole loaf for dinner and been satisfied. I do note that I wish they had regular salt that wasn’t placed in a simple shaker. It would be cool if they had fleur de sel or lavender rock salt. #pretentious
First course I had the Fresh Herbed Goat Cheese Terrine. Arriving with pickled beets, it was bit too rich for my taking and I ended up spreading the terrine on the bread. I had a bite of the Salmon tartare with crushed avocados, and I highly recommend that! It’s basically great sashimi.
Main course was the Duck Leg Confit with mashed potatoes and zucchini au gratin. The zucchini took the plate here! It was perfectly baked and had just the right amount of cream sauce. Enough to flavour the zucchini thoroughly, but didn’t leave a pool of cream at the bottom of the bowl. Mashed potatoes were as expected, with the duck leg having a crispy skin, and sufficiently fatty to keep the meat moist. It was consumed with vigor, and the slightly sweet citrusy gravy.
Had a bite of the scallops, and they were one of the best scallops I’ve ever eaten. Worth it.
Dessert was a fabulous crême brulée. Just what I expected, and enjoyed it.
For drinks, we both had an Absinthe Martini and a glass of red wine. The martini was done well, and left ice cubes in the glass to sweeten the absinthe as they melted. I preferred it if they left the ice in the shaker. The red wine was appropriate for the meal, and at $ 12 per glass they are generous pours. Good enough to last two or three courses.
The main thing preventing me from giving the place 5 stars was the service. It was friendly, but forgetful. Both of our dishes were mixed up, and the waitress forgot to bring the wine. After a reminder, she brought the wine but the wrong bottle. It was a simple mix-​up, but I took notice because a) the resto was half full, and b) I expected better service for the price of the plate.
Will I be back? You bet, the food is too good not to notice. It’s a welcome addition to the Drive.