Exile Bistro

Laid back sophisticated atmosphere but casual and friendly. The food is inventive and delicious and the staff very attentive. I had the beet salad and the ravioli. Yum! A good selection of BC wines as well. Will definitely return.

Really laid back and yet elegant dining experience. I had the elk stew an Apple tart. Both were delicious. The wine list features lots of nice local wines. The waiter on this Tuesday evening gave the the attention I needed, to make my experience wonderful.
This is high end dining experience in a rather diverse west end neighborhood.

This place is really great. I came here for a romantic dinner with my now boyfriend and then we went back again for Valentine’s Day a few months later. It has an intimate atmosphere with only a few tables so it’s a perfect little spot for a special date. The food is excellent and if you’re also someone who totally buys into all that locally sourced, free range, organic type hype, you can’t go wrong with their menu. Plus their vegan green algae caesar is awesome — I also like trying new unique/​odd things, so everything about this place from the drinks and food to the ambiance was fantastic.

Oh. My. Goodness. I’m not a Unilocaler, but when a review is called, for it’s called for.
Where to begin? Great service. Our’s gave us honest opinions and great advice. Our drinks were AMAZING, and just the start of the delicious wonders headed to our table. The Emerald Lake was a robust, tart freshness that bursts on your tongue, my friend’s Hemlock Highball was perfectly fruity, light, and refreshing yet un-​weighed down with sweetness. Quick sip of another friend’s «classic» Manhattan was anything but; the thickly seasoned traditional flavors were offset with bourbon soaked things that resembled cherries but were almost a drink in their own right. And that was simply the start.
Our food arrived in an incredible display of artwork. The kale was perfectly cooked with a springy texture that was beautifully complimented with a strong– but not overpowering– kale flavor we all aim for (but often fail at) in our home cooking. My beet salad, a personal favorite dish, has been given a higher standard due to the citrusy freshness that so perfectly accompanied my algae drink. The nutty pine bed under beets cooked to just the right firmness combined with the creamy goat cheese will be a seriously hard meal to compete with. I quote my friend when I refer to the ravioli with, «That shit was legit.» A combination of flavors completely unexpected but whole heartily appreciated, I doubt we will ever encounter it again.
Wondering if you should come here? Stop. Just go. There will be no regrets.

This is really as good as it gets… quality, presentation, ambiance, service and creativity. Exile has it all!
I discovered and have been going to Exile for a year and a half now (not sure why i waited so long to review it). It has been my go to place and have come back here more than anywhere else in the city. I just love how real the food is. all the flavours are well balanced and the most importantly the quality on which they never compromise, I can eat here any day and trust that I’m eating delicious food that is also good for me.
This is the first place i bring anyone who comes to visit and it has become a favourite place for many of my friends.
Last night me and two friends shared the Cedar smoked potatoes, lentil & nut pâté, Vegetable harvest and the poached pacific cod (new!)…oh and definitely some drinks, all are really good ;)…got it all gluten and dairy free
I highly recommend this place to everyone I meet. Try it and you will love it!

Casually elegant, this place delivers all the elements of a great dining experience without any pretension. Found it on a random Unilocal search while visiting and intrigued by the game meat gave it a go. Started with the Root Sour and was blown away by the use of yam juice. All of the cocktails were spectacular — creative and excellently executed — which speaks to the entire menu. Sampled most everything on the simple yet precise menu. When the 3^rd plate arrived I exclaimed «Damn, this plate is straight out of my dreams!» The ambiance was cozy, hip and welcoming. Great design. This will be an experience I remember for years.

Drinks are super creative (like pine needle and mushroom juice in cocktails?) and amazing! So was the food, we just had appetizers and they were all unique creations (I had the potato dish and the beet soup). Good options for vegans and vegetarians. If I lived in Van this would be one of my regular go-​to spots!

Dine out. A huge letdown. The elk soup was great, but the bison was a bit dry and bland, risotto very poorly done, and the crème brûlée was a bit too watery. Friendly staff though. One of whom resembles a better-​looking version of Napoleon Dynamite.

I have established a supper club with a good friend of mine where we eat at a new place that we both haven’t been to and catch up. This month’s edition of M&S Supper club was at Exile Bistro on a stormy fall evening.
The location is great, right off Davie street where parking is scarce but has a neighbourhood feel. The décor is very minimal and the place is quite small and cozy. We were seated by the window where you have more privacy and also a chance to people watch as that corner is quite busy.
Our server was very friendly and nice and quite attentive. Food and drinks arrived just at the right time.
I started off with a NEOgroni, which had great presentation. A huge ice cube and a curled up orange peel to garnish.
We started off with Warm Kale which was just steamed with lots of nuts as decorations and gave it a nice crunch. Then we ordered the Bison Ribs which had great presentation and the meat was tender. The accompanying yogurt sauce was the perfect complement to this dish. Our last item was the squash ravioli which was made fresh in house and again scored an A+ in terms of presentation.
Overall all the drinks and food was presented great but the taste was just ok so hence the 3 star review.

Started with a cup of Borscht and immediately wished I had ordered a bowl. Had one of the specials which was a Shiitake Mushroom Risotto and the plate was almost too beautiful to eat. Awesome flavors and just had to force myself from eating too fast. Also ordered the Cedar Smoked Potatoes and they just melted in my mouth. The service was great, the music that played in the background was very cool and the cozy setting was very warm. Will definitely be back.

Service is ample and friendly — loved the delicious, unique offerings too: homemade infused Ginger turmeric tonic, black barley and celeriac soup, lentil nut pâté with yam crackers, pickled celery, onions, walnuts, beets and sea asparagus. Somethings are a miss: the juniper berry mustard had too much of everything going on.
This is a sweet, cozy spot to curl up for solo dining, or for a quiet gab with a girlfriend.
The food and wine are on the pricier side, but I think it’s worth it once in a while.

It’s a good, small local for Davie street, which is not known for its food. I came here on a Thursday evening by myself as I had a long day at work and been socializing all week, so wanted a quiet place to eat. I liked the atmosphere, and given the square footage, they did a good job with the décor.
They have a small kitchen, so kudos to the chef here. I ate the elk stew, which was good in flavour profile, and my only complaint (and it is minor) is that for my taste, it was slightly over salted.
It’s a place I’ll try again for sure

We had a super delicious dinner last night at Exile. Farm to table dining at its finest and only two blocks away from my house! It was Monday so the restaurant was pretty quiet, us and another eight person party being the only guests. The service was quick and attentive and the ambience was cozy. We shared mussels in white wine to start which were super light and fresh. For our mains I tried the elk stew which I loved, my boyfriend had the bison burger which was good but a bit gamey (maybe he didn’t realize he was eating bison!) and my mom had the kamut kabocha pasta with cashew cream which she devoured. It was DF and vegan which was very hard to believe! The desserts were almost better than the mains — we shared the lava cake which paired with spruce ice cream, and the incredibly creamy vegan cashew crème brûlée! Highly recommended!

Loved this place. Great hip food, Cory was super great host & tourist helper. Such Devine Botanical Drinks. I could bearly deal with going back into the rain.

Stopped in for brunch on a rainy day. Wonderful healthy but inventive food. Alternative options like gluten free and vegan but still artisan meats.
Super creative cocktails — beet juice, with high end tequila for example …
Corey was a great host. Highly recommend!!! Can’t say more high praise!

This is my new favourite little brunch spot! This charming café has laid back staff and a comfy vibe. They make many of their ingredients in-​house, such as their ketchup and apricot jam. I had a delicious cappuccino made with hazelnut milk they receive from a Davie St. neighbourhood supplier. It’s the touches like that which make a place special.
The menu ranged prices were very reasonable — $ 12 for my brunch. I scoped out the dinner menu as well and was pleased to see some unique vegetarian options for in and around the $ 20 mark. I will definitely be back to try their dinner.
I also could not believe how quiet it was considering how crazy brunch in this city can be! My friend and I held down the fort as the only customers at 12:30pm. The quality of food and atmosphere certainly cannot be why. It is close quarters inside, so some may find it squishy if there is a full house. I like that, but not everyone might.
Go try this awesome little place! Don’t expect posh service — it’s no chain restaurant and thank goodness for that!

I went there for dinner 3 days ago on a Friday night.
I didn’t really know what to expect of this place in the middle of Davie street. Let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised!
Every single dish we ordered was delicious. They use a lot of herbs like spruce, in their dishes and it definitely gives them a nice kick.
Our waitress was very friendly and efficient.
I didn’t get a chance to try their cocktails, it’ll be for next time! I am going back for sure!

Truly a gem in the West End. In a neighborhood that’s packed with sports bars and dance clubs I was so happy to find Exile. There are very few places you can feel comfortable to just go have a drink and enjoy the atmosphere.
Speaking of drinks, the cocktails are truly inventive and vibrant! I’ve nearly tried them all and can’t say there’s a bad one in the group.
They do wonders in that little kitchen of theirs, using the best of their prep cook and the space they have, they have come up with a truly unique and delicious menu. Try the «oysters» (mushrooms) you won’t be sorry!
But as good as the beverages and food is, I really can’t say enough about the lovely staff here. Genuinely good people, welcoming you into their home and serving you with love.

I came here for brunch one Sunday morning. When I arrived, they were just receiving their food delivery for the day and I had to maneuver myself over and around boxes that were around their very tiny dining area.
Our server was a bit out of it. She couldn’t remember what the specials were and someone at our table, who had heard the specials from another person, had to correct her. While it seemed like she was trying to make it come off as being cute, it didn’t at all. It was cringe worthy listening to her try and remember the dishes (there were only 2!).
I ordered their eggs benedict which that day had kale and boar bacon (I think). It came with a side salad. I did not like my eggs benedict. The top part was okay. I quite liked the boar bacon — that made it very unique. The egg was cooked perfectly and the holladaise was pretty good too. It was the biscuit that I really didn’t like. It had a strange grainy texture and an even weirder flavour. I’m a huge texture person when it comes to my food and this didn’t cut it. The salad was okay, but didn’t have much flavour. It was all leaves and I had one half of a cherry tomato (not really a salad in my mind). I think the server said it was a blackberry vinaigrette, but you couldn’t really tell.
Between the food and interesting service, I really didn’t enjoy my meal here. The music was much too loud, especially first thing in the morning. Perhaps the rest of their non-​brunch menu is better, but I won’t be returning to find out.

Had lunch here the other day, and It was delightful. I had a roasted beet sandwich with a sprout salad. Portion size was good, but the menu only had 2 items on it… perhaps because they just opened?
When I first came in, I had assumed they were vegan/​vegetarian but when I went to pay, I saw them carving up chunks of meat for the dinner service… Kind of a turn off for a vegan. All in all, I would totally go back and try one of their other dishes… Just as long as it is vegan. Great little spot in the west end.