Cozy comfort food restaurants in Gastown
Your shoes have been permanently wet for weeks, you’ve just lost your iPhone to a puddle, been splashed by a truck while running for the bus, and can’t remember the last time you saw blue sky (was the sky ever blue?). It can be tough to beat the winter blues in Vancouver, but you can find some warmth, an open seat, a welcoming bar and some of the city's best comfort food in Gastown. [Photo courtesy of Six Acres]
Tuc Craft Kitchen
60 Cordova St W, Vancouver BC V6B 1C9The kitchen at Tuc delivers comfort not in spades, but by the shovelful. You can’t go wrong with the long list of meat heavy dishes here: think tender ribs, pork belly crackling, crispy eggs and bacon wrapped and fried in a tempura batter. Pair with a whiskey drink and the rainy weather outside will seem like a distant memory.
L'Abattoir Office
242-209 Carrall St, Vancouver BC V6B 2J2While some still hold true to the adage that the French don’t get fat, that won’t stop the chefs here from dishing out hearty portions in an attempt to pack a couple pounds on to you. Serving up some of the city’s best French cuisine, L’Abbatoir offers shelter from the hustle and bustle of Gastown with a delectable cocktail list (my personal favourite is the avocado gin gimlet) and a seasonal menu that never disappoints. The bread basket alone will have your mouth watering, but save room for duck confit, steak, crab, baked oysters and much more.
Meat & Bread
1033 Pender St W, Vancouver BC V6E 2M6If you somehow still haven’t checked out Gastown’s Meat & Bread, do yourself a favour and make a beeline there the next day it rains – today even! The Porchetta is THE sandwich in the neighbourhood, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. This signature Sammy delivers a decadent portion of pork belly including mouth watering crispy skin bits with salsa verde to cut the fat and a thick, chewy bun (plus a dollop of mustard on the side). Just go.
Six Acres
203 Carrall St, Vancouver BC V6B 2J2Six Acres sits perched on Gastown’s most picturesque corner, where Water, Alexander, Powell and Carrall streets meet. Head past the statue of Gassy Jack out front, and you’ll be greeted by the bar’s cozy, offbeat charm. Here you can pair house fries with cold micro brews, poutine with whiskey on the rocks, and beef or veggie sliders with any cocktail your heart desires. But of all the comforting foods Six Acres serves, the melted cheese Gorgonzola hot pot is the winner, hands down. What can go wrong with melted cheese, after all?
Nuba Gastown
207 Hastings St W, Vancouver BC V6B 1H7The best thing about digging in to the comfort foods at Nuba is that you are simultaneously allowed to feel healthy while doing so. The Lebanese inspired cuisine here is vegetable forward, with Najib’s special (blackened, crispy cauliflower tossed in salt and lemon) as the must-have item on the menu. Follow it up with a warm bowl of red lentil soup, the mujadra (stewed lentils with crispy onion bits on top), house-made falafel (served with tahini, a fresh green hot sauce, avocado and pickled cabbage) and let the warm fuzzies sink in.
The Irish Heather
210 Carrall St, Vancouver BC V6B 2J1Grab a group of friends and head for the epic long table at the Irish Heather on a cold, wintry night. This (obviously) Irish pub serves up classic pub food to wash down with pints of (obviously) Guinness, poured perfectly, every time. You have your choice of the classics: crispy fish and chips, bangers and mash, or the Holy Grail: Guinness Pot Pie. A round of whiskey shots for the whole gang is another sure-fire way to beat the blues this winter.
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