Where to Eat in Vancouver: Tap and Barrel

The residents of the Olympic Village, myself included, are bubbling over with excitement now that the Tap and Barrel has established itself in what is perhaps the best patio spot in the city. With awe-inspiring views and an expansive outdoor seating area with plenty of heating lamps they are positioning themselves to take on the cooler months while still providing a cozy patio dining experience. According to the manager, as the weather cools you can expect the patios to be enclosed in a way that keeps the heat in, but the cold air out. If you’re wondering where to eat in Vancouver this fall, Tap and Barrel is it.

23 Craft Beers and a Lending Library

It helps that the Vancouver restaurant has over 23 craft beers on tap, my favourite of which is a wheat ale, Watermelon Wit. At $7 a glass it may seem a bit pricey, but the Tap & Barrel serves an honest 20 ounces per pint, hard to come by in this town it seems. And they are the first restaurant in town to offer local wine still casked in barrels and delivered via tap straight to your glass. If you’re overwhelmed by the beverage choices you can sample before you commit to just one.

There’s been a lot of hype around the soft opening and for the most part, Tap & Barrel has not disappointed. They’re working on the fall menu now and are asking customers what they’d like will probably have their official grand opening celebration soon. I like that Tap & Barrel asks for customer feedback which brings a friendly neighbourly atmosphere to their corner of the Olympic Village. Their lending library draws those who love the idea of borrowing a book without the worry of late fees. For us, we loved that they had a selection of children’s books to keep our little one occupied as we waited for our meal to arrive. And they’ll be installing a change table in the washroom soon! When you’re deciding where to eat in Vancouver with kids, little touches like that go a long way.

Where to Eat in Vancouver for Lunch

Tap & Barrel is now offering $10 Lunch Specials, Mondays through Fridays. With choices like Chicken Frittata with home cut fries to a Roasted Veggie Calzone you’re sure to find just the thing you’re looking for. Phone ahead and have it ready for pick up and spend every minute of your lunch break at the water’s edge for a lovely village experience.

If you’d rather eat inside, the best burger on the menu has got to be the PB&J with chipotle peanut butter and bacon jelly. The subtle combination of salty peanut butter, bacon and cheese is a perfect compliment to the home cut fries which are lightly done with an herb sprinkling. There is a kid’s menu on offer but I found it a bit pricey at $9 to start. My little one can nibble off my plate for that price. The most interesting dish by far is the Sticky Yam fries with Burnt Marshmallow. It sounds odd but shared with a few friends this sweet addition to the menu is worth tasting. Add a bit of salt and you’re good to go.

Free Kids Meals in Metro Vancouver

Where to Eat in Vancouver for Brunch

Weekend brunch is now being served at the Tap & Barrel between 10:00am-3:00pm. With sure to be favourites like the PB, Maple & Bacon Pancake stack or the standard 2 Eggs Your Way, there’s plenty to ease you into a weekend filled with food, fun and a fabulous view at our new favourite digs in the Olympic Village.