Reviews L'abattoir Restaurant

Name: L'abattoir Restaurant
Address: 217 Carrall St, Vancouver, Canada, I-V6B 2J2
Telephone: +1 604-568-1701
Rating: 95

Marye-Pier Simard

All is very Good i take the prawns for starter, steak diane and for dessert i take lemon meringue and la very good the service is very Good To and i very like the décoration and the place where is the restaurant in the gastown i love this place

Jonathan Violand

What a great dining experience in Vancouver! Attentive staff and a fun & lively atmosphere. The 90’s hip hop/rap playlist made any possible pretentiousness of fine dining disappear. Food was innovative and perfectly executed NW art on a plate with a French flair. Cocktails were delicious and the wine list was expertly curated. The Maître D’/Sommelier/Manager Nick really made the night special. Thanks for a memorable and enjoyable dining experience!

America Turner

The food was AMAZING. Honestly, the price is worth every penny. Cocktails are great too (try the avocado gin cocktail) . Highly recommend this place. Make a reservation because it was crowded!

A Anjelica Jennette

We took a group of almost 20 (with advance reservation notice). They put us in a room by ourselves, with 3 knowledgeable wait staff who's great attitudes showed at every step of the wonderfully, attentive service. The food was awesome, too. Highly recommend, and we will definitely go back next time in town. ~Ron

John Matheson Belbeck

The name got me in and didn’t disappoint. Everything was fabulous. Oysters, sweet bread, tartare, steak Diane and more ! Local BC Brews and their Red were delicious. And service of course. Highly recommend

Jass Tee

This is a fab restaurant with super attentive staff with great customer service. The food is always delicious, and the staff do their best to accommodate your needs where they can. The atmosphere and the decor of the restaurant is modern but warm.

Matt Mull

It felt like the end scene of the movie in Ratatouille. When the first bite hit the food critics mouth and his mind transcends to the moment of his childhood where nothing else mattered. A single tear of joy will fall from your eye and you will know your life is complete. Oysters then Duck.

Charmaine Louiszoon

It was definitely a lovely experience the room was amazing!staff were very attentive never a empty glass impressed! All around

Elisabeth von Marks-Plesse

Outstanding little spot. I can highly recommend it - the food is fresh, creative, and high quality. Same goes for the drinks - interesting creations and good liquors. Every time I visit from Victoria I try to get a table, but sometimes it's so busy you have to wait forever. If you want to go there on a weekend, make sure you make a reservation. If not: it's totally worth the wait too!

James Sat Nam

Fantastic location, ambiance and service. Baked oysters and duck plated to perfection. Chocolate dessert sublime and delicious. A must do in Vancouver, hands down.

Paul Solowoniuk

Went for dine out ! Loved the Pate app and smoked char main and lemon dessert the best out of the offerings s !!

Natalie Grunberg-Ferreira

This is one of the best restaurants in the city, if not the country!!! I love sitting at the bar with good friends, or enjoying brunch upstairs. The food is always a step above the rest and the drinks sooooo excellent. Love the professional staff!

Sue Scott

Vibrant atmosphere, excellent service, knowledgable and friendly servers and most of all - superb food! The chef is imaginative and super-skilful and his kitchen produces high quality and mouthwatering food - attractive to look at and amazing to eat. A great experience.

Jelizatin Eats

4.5. The food here is excellent! Make sure to order the oysters, they are a must. We had the fish and steak for our mains, both delicious. The complimentary bread is awesome as well. Service was excellent. We would recommend and repeat.

9 months ago

Darren Huston

This is a good place recently we had dinner meeting here. They have amazing private dine area although prices are bit high but when you taste food at this place you don't found it expensive at all.

Sep 24, 2019

Chanelle Dupre

Wow, was very impressed by the menu selection and presentation. The tastiest meal I’ve had so far this year. Every plate from the freshly baked bread basket to the appertizers, to the entree and finally dessert was unbelievably delicious. All the flavours blended well. This was a great choice for a special occasion. It’s a very pricey menu but certainly worth every penny. Meals are between $45 - 60 per plate. I discovered a chardonnay that is my absolute favourite now and apparently limited quantities. Large wine selection. Contemporary ambiance with fine dining experience. Love this restaurant.

Aug 30, 2019

The Girl With Curly Locks

This place is a really good option to dine in and they serve really tasty food.the prices are also reasonable and the ambience of this place is perfect to have your dinner or lunch.

Jun 23, 2019

Absolute Foodie

We started with a fresh warm basket of bread.....very nice. Though the food was well prepared, the flavours didn’t wow us as it did on our 1st meal here. At the table we had, the halibut, ling cod and the lamb. The halibut was seasoned nicely, well prepared but it didn’t leave a lasting impression, the ling cod was okay, the lamb had nice flavours but still....lacked a bit of something.

Service was 5 stars on this occasion as it was the last but wished the food matched. Maybe an off night?

May 29, 2019

Sarah

+4.5

Fancy brunches are meant for this place. Fabulous interiors & top class service!

Say yes to nibbling on the daily bakery specials as you wait for your food.
A must try are the scones with cream & jam.
The scone has a sugar dusting coating on the top that’s crispy and the scone itself has a moist softness to it.

May 26, 2019

Curmudgeon

I arrived a little early for our 5:30 reservation, and the restaurant wasn’t open yet. I wanted to get a later seating, but the restaurant is busy under normal circumstances, and during Dine Out, reservations are basically limited to very early, or very late seatings. We started with a daily bread (this was not part of the prix fix menu, but offered on top of it).

Apr 18, 2019

Erika Golem

When it comes to dining in Gastown there isn't much dispute about which restaurant is the finest. Serving French-inspired West Coast cuisine, L'Abattoir (a French word that translates to slaughterhouse, a nod to the 19th century's meat packing district where the restaurant now sits) has made a strong name for itself over the years. But don't take my word for it, the mountain of accolades speak for themselves:

Maclean's magazine put them on their The 50 Best Restaurants in Canada 2012 list. You'll find them on enRoute magazine's Dining Guide 2016. They were featured in the hilarious Day of Gluttony: 24 Vancouver Restaurants in 24 Hours video. Vancouver Magazine awarded them Best Gastown/Railtown 2017. Westender magazine named them #1 Best Restaurant in Gastown/Downtown/Yaletown 2017. Lastly, and biggest of all (otherwise known as Canada's equivalent to the Michelin Guide); they landed at #17 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2015, #13 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2016, #24 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2017, and #21 on Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2018.

The space is gorgeous with a decidedly rugged and elegant aesthetic. The refurbished brick-and-beam heritage building feels nothing short of sophisticated. Soaring glass, exposed brick, glistening wood, modern acrylic seating, and impressive tile work. The main floor houses the beautiful bar while an ascent up the stairs leads to the main dining area. The atmosphere feels very cosmopolitan, yet captures the vibe of rustic and coastal Vancouver with ease. It's quite the quintessential experience.

We visited on a Sunday evening to celebrate my husband's birthday. Quickly seated at a cozy table for two, the staff was warm and welcoming. Experts at their craft, everyone who served us was friendly and informed.

We were offered our choice of sparkling or still water and I jumped straight into the fascinating cocktail menu. The list of libations are nothing short of a mixologist's dream come true. I also appreciated the fact that they serve some truly interesting non-alcoholic concoctions as well! Cucumber Thyme "Kombucha"? Yum. I decided to splash out with the Foie-La (Foie gras fat-washed bourbon, bianco vermouth, bitter herbal liqeur, px sherry. Bittersweet palate-coating decadence - $17.00). Can I first say that the vintage tumbler was amazing?! I wasn't entirely sure of what to expect with this drink. Was it going to be overly strong and boozy? The answer is no, it was amazing. Unlike anything that I've ever tasted before, this savoury beverage really impressed me. It was sweeter than I expected, perfectly combined with bitter notes. The flavours really did coat the palate in a deliciously lingering way. And the olives? Smoked, of course. Incredible.

Known for their cut-above bread program, I waited in anticipation! Everything that the people say is true. This bread delivered on the next level. There was a papadum-esque cracker covered in spices, a flaky-buttery anchovy twist, and a bacon brioche. Each one was unique, warm, and lovely, bursting with flavours.

As for the menu, it was actually fairly straight forward. There are three sections; cold dishes, warm dishes, and main courses. Starting from the top, we had a pretty easy time selecting the Terrine of Duck Foie Gras (Coronation grapes, wine jelly, toasted brioche - $25.00) to begin. The presentation obviously speaks for itself. I tend to feel a bit weary about terrine (just give me a full-on seared foie gras slab!) but this dish was a pleasant surprise. The foie itself was gloriously buttery and velvety in texture. Although this plate is listed in the cold dishes section, it almost felt like a warm dish because of the perfectly toasted brioche. The sweetness and acidity from the grapes balanced the fattiness from the foie well. The gelatinous (and fun!) wine jelly made a lot of sense with the grapes. It all worked. Probably the most elevated of the dishes that we ate, I felt like I really got to see the kitchen's chops on this one.

We also ordered a dish from the warm dishes section and were informed that it is one of the plates that the restaurant is the most known for. Pan-fried Veal Sweetbreads on Toast (Pickled shallot, sauce gribiche with veal tongue - $17.00). I can see why this is one of their most popular dishes as this plate was magical. Probably my favourite thing out of everything that we ate! In case you're unfamiliar with sweetbreads, it's the culinary name for the thymus (neck meat) of the animal. These ones were deliciously tender and fried to a golden perfection. I loved every component on this plate and was especially enamoured by the creamy gribiche, a mayonnaise-style cold egg sauce, that created a cream cheese-like consistency. Every bite was to die for and I could've licked the plate.

Each dish arrived in a perfect orchestration of timing. Just when we were ready for our next plate, it arrived. For my main course I considered the honey glazed duck. But in the end I landed with the Lamb Loin with Sausage and Bacon (Cauliflower and cheese - $42.00). One of my favourite proteins, I was excited to see what they could do with lamb. The dish was fun and put together well. I immediately noted the gorgeous cook on the lamb, a perfect medium-rare. The tender melt-in-my-mouth lamb meat was wrapped in sausage and then wrapped in bacon... And if that's wrong I don't want to be right. The addition of crispy fried cauliflower and dots of liquid cheese only added to the whimsy and I appreciated the brussels sprout leaves, one of my favourite vegetables.

We managed to cram in a dessert because we couldn't miss out. Of the four choices, I let my husband decide (it was his birthday, after all) and he picked the one that I would've chosen anyway: Opera Cake (Chocolate, coffee - $13.00). Fittingly, it arrived with a birthday candle on the plate, a sweet and thoughtful touch. A French dessert made with layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup, layered with ganache and coffee buttercream. Covered in a chocolate glaze. This one was served with a generous heap of chocolate mousse on the side, you know, just in case there wasn't enough chocolate already involved. Gold leaf adornment on top? Check! This cake was nice because it wasn't too sweet and it was the ideal dessert to share.

Welp, I guess L'Abattoir is one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver now? I don't see how it couldn't be after having such a wonderful experience and enjoying such excellently crafted plates. Each dish was well executed and thought out. I loved the combination of West Coast ingredients and a French flair, which all made sense so seamlessly. Yes, the prices are up there, but once in a while you've gotta treat yo self. And they do brunch on the weekends! Can't wait to try it.

Oct 24, 2018

Ceci

L’Abattoir is one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver. I have been here multiple times for dinner, but I’ve never been able to get a good photo of their amazing food because it’s usually quite dark! I was really excited to finally have the opportunity to try their amazing food during the day at brunch.

Aug 20, 2018

Arjuna Thira

Amazingly co-ordinated flavours and textures. However, I would consider it economically ill advised to come any time other than their happy hour, but be there first as they only serve happy hour at the bar, which has nominal space.

Jul 13, 2018

B & E

L’Abattoir is a perennial favourite for casual fine dining in the heart of historical Gastown.

The multi-level space is handsomely designed, and a covered atrium behind the kitchen is pleasant.

They served beautiful plates of impeccable quality and inventive food - that is enough to appease the real foodie clientele like both of us.

The price is definitely a little higher - however it is definitely worth your money.

The service is outstanding - attentive without being intrusive.

This restaurant should definitely be in your list!

Feb 04, 2018

Picky Diner

It was another successful stop for our Gastown Cocktail Crawl, with a taste of French cuisine in a hip ambiance. The Avocado Gimlet paired with the Pan-fried Sweetbreads on Toast offered me a nice dosage of sensory pleasure during this memorable visit.

Oct 07, 2017

Gastrofork Dee De Los Santos

+4.5

For our 7th (!!) anniversary, Brian and I had dinner at L’Abattoir, a highly respected restaurant here in Vancouver known for it’s thought out, flavourful dishes. The cuisine is West Coast with different fusions to the meal – particularly French cuisine. The restaurant itself is beautiful and stunning, very iconic Gastown with the bare brick walls but made modern with warm wooden elements and exquisite tiling and decor.

Oct 08, 2017

Coastal Foodie

Decent food, always a good meal. But pasta was boring, halibut, lamb and deserts were great. But for the price point there are better restaurants. Needs a few good killer French traditional dishes done amazing for me to go back.

Jul 06, 2017

Dennisthefoodie

+4.5

L’Abattoir’s happy hour has actually been in effect since July 2014 but flew under my radar. Definitely one of the BEST dining values around, matched with assured execution, balanced and flavourful dishes, and experienced professional service. Recommended!. Note: we were busy talking the entire time, so my descriptions below don’t get into as much detail as I usually do. Doing proper reviews actually takes a lot of focus and attention!

Jul 01, 2017

Alicia.e.knight

+4.5

fantastic! it was on my must try list since it made 'Canadas Best 100' this year and i see why...Each dish was so unique in flavour but the quality was consistent throughout. The service was great as well! The only thing i found to be less than perfect was the cocktail list; they were certainly all unique but all very powerful or sweet - it would have been nice to see a lighter more refreshing option

Apr 18, 2017

Hungry Hungry Hippos

+4.5

Really enjoyed this spot! The service was exceptional! The restaurant it's self is a must see and is very well designed. The food was delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant!

Apr 06, 2017

Reservation Under Cindy

+4.5

Sunday in Vancouver means brunch time! Located in the historic Gastown, L’Abattoir has been consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in the country by Canada’s 100 Best. Fairly new to the brunch scene, L’Abattoir offers a small but satisfying selection of French meets West Coast brunch staples along with unique items on their menu that will appeal to just about everyone.

Mar 20, 2017

It was hard to get a table here, but we managed to get one for three people on a Saturday night, albeit around 8 pm. Lamb neck braised in Moroccan spices, with cucumber, charred eggplant, and yoghurt. For my appetizer, I went with the lamb neck. The lamb was delicious. The gamey flavour was quite subtle, and the braised meat was very tender. It went well with the cilantro and yogurt, although I think the pieces of cilantro were too big.

Mar 21, 2017

Shemomedjamo.yvr

This restaurant is beautiful!!! I came here for dineout and was pretty impressed with everything. First off, i was very happy with the service because we arrived pretty early but they sat us at the bar for drinks as we waited. When our table was ready they shifted us over, i was very happy with the food considering most of the dineouts i went to were pretty mediocre. OVerall, this would be a great place for a date night!

Feb 21, 2017

Karen22

Best Brunch in town. Love their scone and pork belly benedict. The duck sausage is very good too. I sat in the lower part of the restaurant and it's very relaxing in a solarium like room.

Feb 09, 2017

Kris Chow

My girlfriend and I hopped on the opportunity to try this place during Dine Out 2017, as we have heard nothing but good things from this restaurant. The excellent service started with calling us one day prior to our reservations, to changing our reservations times as we were running late, to being on the ball during our meal.

The dine out menu was the typical fare, three appetizers, three main courses and three desserts, choose one each. I started with the Lightly cured steelhead garnished with dill, fried potatoes, smoked yolk and mustard greens while my girlfriend got the Lamb neck braised in Moroccan spices with cucumber, charred eggplants and yogurt. If you're looking for something lighter, I'd recommend the cured steelhead, the dill and mustard greens pairs well with the saltiness of the smoked yolk and the cured steelhead to give a fresh flavour that prepares the diner for the main course. The lamb dish could have been an entree if it was garnished a bit more and had some more ingredients in it. To me, it was on the heavier side for an appetizer, but it was definitely still a delicious dish. The lamb itself was extremely soft and paired well with the underlying bedding of vegetables.

For the entree, both of us got the Steak Diane that was paired with Pomme fondant, caramelized onions and peppercorns. The entree was where we had some issues with the food. Both of us found the steak a bit saltier than expected and I struggled a bit with the utensils, as the knife I as given was not sharp enough to cut through the steak. However, those are minor details when compared to the deliciousness of the food being served.

Last but not least, we ordered two desserts from their Dine Out menu. We ordered two different desserts, one was the Orange olive oil cake with White chocolate custard and a grapefruit sorbet , and the other one was Dark chocolate cremeux with passionfruit and cream cheese mousse and caramelized white chocolate. Both desserts have their charm, with the olive oil cake being more fruity and carrying a bit of a bitter taste blaanced the overly sweet tones of the dish. The dark chocolate cremeux, due to combination with passion fruit also made the dish easier to consume.

Overall, L'Abattoir lives up to its reputation and offers some class service and flavours. If you are ever around that area with the lady and want to go somewhere fancy, look no further than L'Abattoir.

Jan 25, 2017

FOODGRESSING.COM

+3.5

It’s no secret that L’Abbatoir has quite a reputation of being one of the best restaurants in our city. In 2016, they were ranked #13 in a list of Canada 100’s Best Restaurants. Offering French influenced West Coast fare, L’Abbatoir is a popular place to enjoy cocktails, dinner and brunch. This holiday season, they are offering lunch service from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm on December 7 – 9, 14 – 16 and 21 – 23 only. On a snowy day yesterday, I decided to try out the special lunch offerings of this highly regarded Gastown restaurant. It was also my first visit ever to L’Abbatoir.

Dec 11, 2016

Selina Lo

+4.5

"So is brunch a thing of yours now?" What are you talking about, it's always been a thing of mine! (As evidenced by my brunch-crazed phase circa 2015.) And I'm pretty sure we can all agree that brunch is the bane of every Vancouverite's existence (in the most ironic of ways.) As demonstrated by the ridiculously long lineups outside of Medina come Sunday morning...

Brunch is a swell time during the week...ain't it? I reckon that most of you look forward to it (I know I do) whether it be in the form of some hierarchically ranked har gows or instagram worthy quiches. A time when one can extravagantly squander away the wee hours of the morning, without an incessant care in the world; expertly pressed drink in hand, fat sausage in the other.

Oh, something that I have yet to mention to you guys is that my allergy treatment sessions have been going well, so well in fact that I can eat raw veggies and fruit now!! I'm finally free from the suffocating chains of Oral Allergy Syndrome!! (Literally.) Remember when I had to request for servers to omit anything remotely raw from my plate? Not only was it heinously awkward, it was horribly tedious for both the waitress and the kitchen staff who were on the receiving end of things!

Man oh man, am I relishing in the fact that I can indulge in salads and fresh fruit now! Come summer, don't expect to see me without a cold pressed juice in hand (spirulina and all.)

Nov 22, 2016

Went there is June for a celebration. Food was amazing! As was service. They have us a great table as we had a great view. Best table in the house. Loved it!

Sep 25, 2016

DanoRama

The hype is real here. All pieces together this is definitely one of the better restaurants in Vancouver. You definitely pay for what you get though as prices are quit higher than surrounding restaurants, however well worth it. The service was attentive, professional, and the presentation and complexity of the food was both unique and well executed. I especially love the greenhouse room in blood alley. This truly is unique to Vancouver.

Sep 25, 2016

MMDC

+4.5

The ambience and service were both delightful. The food was fantastic with bold flavours. The duck was absolutely amazing and I have tried a lot of duck at many different restaurants. We enjoyed the fish as well and all of our starters.

Aug 22, 2016

Maggi Mei

+3.5

The last stop on this Gastown cocktail crawl with “Drunken Noms” and “Picky Diner” was at “L’Abattoir”. This was another one that made it on to the “Noms'” must try list. Here, we had great unique cocktail to end our successful crawl on. The restaurant is most memorable for its bold tiled flooring and its dance floor worth of space entryway. Here, the lighting was a series of bulbs in mason jars. We were directed under it and up the flight of stairs to the left. Without the need to wait, we were given a seat on their second level. Atop our perch we had a overlooking view of the bar, the additional height allowing us to enjoy the pattern of the flooring all the much more.

Jul 26, 2016

Steak Me Out

A sleek and modern concept interior that was oddly isolating and warming at the same time, the ambiance was similar in concept to the menu which I found very reassuring, a contemporary and refined cooking and plating of homely yet machined dishes.

May 21, 2016

The Tila Diaries

+4.5

It's been a minute since I had dinner in Gastown, especially at L'Abattoir. A little gem that serves up French food in a relaxed casual atmosphere. I come here for some cocktails and a good dinner, (or brunch!!) not a fan of cocktails myself but these guys sure know how to whip up a drink. My favourite bread are still here... like cheese bread! WHAT. I come here just for these freshly baked pastries.

Apr 27, 2016

Pork_ninjas

You always hear that fine dining in places are pretentious and the sometimes the food isn’t that fantastic as really the ultimate star of the show is the food so if the food doesn’t speak volumes then nothing counts. I found this place though to not be any of that and the food actually was quite pleasing to the palate all the while looking like works of art on the plates.

Apr 16, 2016

Natasha Beauchamp

Small gem in the heart of the Gaslamp district. Lots of options for appetizers and mains. Dessert menu could improve for the lactose allergy individuals.

Been to this restaurant 4 times now and I am happy to say that it's one of my favorite ones in Vancouver-will definitely return. Staff is knowledgeable but could be a little friendlier.

Apr 07, 2016

Jessica Tong

I love French-inspired West Coast cuisine and had been looking forward to trying L'Abattoir. We were initially seated in the dim upstairs mezzanine of the restaurant, but I requested to be seated in the back room instead. This area is encased by large glass ceiling panels and glass windows overlooking the alley.
We were offered baked goods to start, which included flaky twisted bread, buttery rolls with bacon bits, and seeded flatbread crackers with cumin. These were served warm and were impressively comforting (but you'd have to love bread as I do). For appetizers, we had the baked oysters and the yellowtail ceviche. The baked oysters were enveloped in whipped garlic butter and topped with truffle - rich and savory. The yellowtail tasted so fresh. The radish, avocado cream, and grapefruit made the dish very light without being overly-acidic. We had a good balance of one heavy appetizer and one light appetizer.
For my main, I had the potato-crusted salmon. The salmon was cooked to a perfect medium-rare but the overall temperature of the plate was sub-par. My friend ordered the roasted duck breast and her plate was so cold that it was ruining her experience. Unfortunately, on second attempt, the duck still wasn't hot enough.
For dessert, we had the dark chocolate cremeux. This was heavenly! The slightly-sour mango and yuzu notes balanced the deep cocoa flavour. This certainly helped redeem the meal after the unsatisfactory entrees.
Overall, the service was great and the restaurant's ambiance was lovely. Worth visiting!

Mar 19, 2016

Schisari

+4.5

I've been trying to get here for a very long time. We'll worth the wait. We arrived without a reservation and got the weirdest table in the restaurant. ...I should have taken a picture it was amazingly weird and right next to the chefs window. Good view for scoping the other fellow diners though.

We started with a very expensive bottle of wine that was a very solid choice, it was well needed and then followed with our very enthusiastic waiters suggestion to get the baked oysters. Can I just say to die for...the sauce was amazing and I havebt had better baked oysters.

For our mains I got the lamb with gnocchi and he got the rockfish. Both dishes were incredibly tasty. They really know what they are doing! Small plates but I still loved it and it was enough to satisfy me!

Instead of dessert I finished with a cocktail which the waiter chose for me. Can I say yummy!

I left very happy and well liquored...I'm not gonna lie it wasn't a cheap bill but you only live once!!!

Feb 28, 2016

BitterSweetLife Food

+3.5

Onto third and last Dine Out this year at L'Abattoir. Thanks for Adorables' connections were we able to get a table tonight! We sat at the back of the restaurant, which was quite cute but a bit chilly.

They had an option of bread service of $3 per person, but as we looked around and felt our tummies growl.. we decided to just wait for our dishes to arrive. For her appie GirlNextDoor decided on their Grilled Squid Stuffed with Pork and Herbs. I believe it was paired with a mint and cucumber creme sauce and squid ink. The plating was a bit bare, but neat and tidy. Squid itself tasted good and pork had lots of flavor, I had a giant grain of salt in my bite which was disappointing. Did I mention there were only 3 pieces of squid about the size of half a wine cork?

I ordered the Cauliflower and Boudin Blanc appetizer which was plated with foie gras, parsley, and crispy chicken chips. I feel this dish was quite nicely plated with the selection in the middle. The pickled cauliflower contrasted well with the fatty foie gras but was unexpectedly tart. Foie gras was rich and smooth, but not much flavor to it. I liked the boudin blanc, but it lacked texture besides being mushy. Strong chicken flavor! The chicken chips were great with the foie gras and boudin blanc, added some crisp to the soft items.

Feb 06, 2016

Hungry Coco

+3.5

The last time I went to L’Abattoir, I had an amazing birthday dinner. Last night, I went to try out their $40 dine out menu as my 5th restaurant so far. It’s in Gastown, right beside the iconic “Gassy Jack” statue. We had a reservation for 7pm but we arrived 10 minutes early and were told that our table wasn’t ready yet so we walked around outside for a bit. When we came back, it still wasn’t ready so they just let us sit at a table for 4 instead of having us wait even longer, which was nice because the tables for 2 were very cramped.

Jan 29, 2016

Camera Gourmet

+3.5

L'Abattoir

Food: 3.5/5
Services: 4/5
Special Features: Breads

The food was well presented, but either too salty or lack of favourite. Breads provided were extremely delicious.

Seating was very close together. Meal portions were very small. We ordered the scallops and boneless wings, and received 3 small scallops and 3 small wings. Essentially, we felt hungry after having it.

Dec 27, 2015

Justinintofood

+3.5

Went for dinner for two November 11th, ordered 3 courses each:

-Elk pate, lamb saddle, chestnut cake
-Stuffed pasta, Duck, spiced apple

Firstly, starts and mains were delicious, elk pate was full of balanced flavour, pasta was very buttery. Mains were even better, proteins were expertly cooked, duck had just the outer 1mm layer of browning with the rest pink. Saddle was equally superb.

The main problem were the desserts. Chestnut cake was deconstructed into bite-sized chunks, lacking in significant chestnut flavour. Who wants to eat cake that has already been ripped apart? Secondly they gave me the WRONG dessert. I ordered the spiced apple (regular menu) after hearing about their daily dessert special being something also with apple, cream cheese and foam. So the dish comes and the server, obviously knowingly, gives the description of what I ordered instead of was actually in front of me thinking that I was none the wiser. At that time I didn't know it but after the first few bites I knew it wasn't what I ordered. Sure I could've inquired further, even sent it back, but the fact that server lied in front of my face is somewhat insulting. Back to the dish itself; it wasn't palate cleasing/refreshing like a dessert should be. The texture was mushy like baby food and the components hardly chilled. Needless to say neither desserts were any good so asking for the correct would likely be a waste of time.

TLDR: Starters & mains = good, desserts = terrible.

Dec 01, 2015

+4.5

I'll keep it short and simple. Went there for brunch today and I found myself thinking back to the tastes and flavours of the food I so enjoyed at L'Abattoir all day. The service (by Alex) was impeccable and food was on point. Well done, guys! I'm looking forward to visiting the establishment again.

Nov 02, 2015

EatmyWords

+4.5

L'abattoir makes me feel good. Actually, when I leave it makes me feel great! I went there recently and it was as good as it was when I had gone a couple of years ago. I went pretty balls out and ordered a lot of food. Started with the Foie and the tuna, then the octopus and the scallops and boneless chicken wing, the sweet breads and then went to the lamb and the beef. The only let down in this meal was the Lamb... Which was lackluster, but not enough to say oh this deserves less than 4.5 as a rating. In a meal, not everything can be the star of the meal. It might be a puree, a pickled component or just an overall bite which gets the spotlight, so I cannot demerit the lamb, just it just couldn't compare to the beef or the sweet breads. Man, those sweet breads, best damn thing I ate. I should have ordered 2! Or just dined by myself and not taken a date (which was a waste of money, but that's another story). Our server was quite attentive, which was a plus. Never had a water empty during the meal and offered up wine pairings for our mains, which I'd expect at Lab. My bill ended up being 210 with tax but enjoying the experience I tipped to about $310. I mean the experience was worth it. Minus the crappy date. Lesson learned, go to this place when you're in a relationship!

Oct 27, 2015

Soheyl

Great food, great cocktails, great service. The inside was a bit chilly, and the portions could be a bit larger. Nice overall experience. Will go back.

Oct 17, 2015

Allermanger

Best Restaurant in Gastown!. Today’s post is the most recent restaurant I’ve visited so far- in Vancouver! Ken and I jumped at the opportunity to go restaurant hunting when we visited our hometown, and he graciously let me pick. We actually wanted to go to Hawksworth Restaurant, but I decided to save the best for last, for the next time we are in Vancouver, and decided to go to L’Abattoir, which has been on my go to list for…ever. This restaurant has been recently voted Canada’s 17th Best restaurant in the nation, and is owned by the executive chef Lee Cooper and general manager Paul Grunberg. Both come from Market by Jean Georges, a superb fine dining restaurant also in Vancouver, BC.

Oct 25, 2015

Donnolochlainn

+4.5

Great food and very friendly staff. Well tbh it's my favourite restaurant in Vancouver. I remember the first time I dined here, the waiter accidentally dropped my starter as it was coming out. It was a busy night and I was enjoying myself so it didn't bother me at all. They staff quickly apologized and brought me a beer on the house to make up for the minor delay. Great customer service. We've been back since.

Oct 09, 2015

Hungry Coco

+4.5

NW took me out for dinner at L’Abattoir to celebrate my birthday. It was supposed to be a surprise but of course, I figured out where he was taking me when we got to the Gastown area. XD I was still super excited though since I hadn’t been here before and I had been wanting to eat here since I saw their Dine Out Vancouver menu earlier this year. They combine French and West Coast flavours to create unique dishes.

Sep 16, 2015

Mary Sheridan

+4.5

Brunch is one of my favourite meals: where else can you get the goodness of breakfast with the satisfaction of lunch? and Vancouverites are well known for liking their brunch. You might say we have elevated this meal and made it a bit of an art form. Enter L’Abattoir. . Located in Gastown, in the historic meat market district, the restaurant offers brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It can get pretty busy, so make sure to make reservations.

Aug 30, 2015

NOMSS

+4.5

By Nancy August 25, 2015 Breakfast / Brunch, British Columbia, Canada, FOOD, French, Location, Vancouver No Comments. L’Abattoir Vancouver is an endearing modern French restaurant in Gastown. It is located on Carrall Street, with the back of the building as part of Blood Alley. L’Abattoir meaning slaughterhouse, comes from a colorful past. The restaurant was built in the 19th century as the site of Vancouver’s first jail in the city’s main butchery and meat packing district.

Aug 27, 2015

BJ G.

+4.5

OMG this is my current favourite French restaurant in Vancouver (dethroning Le Crocodile). I have yet to try their brunch menu but I've been here thrice for dinner and so far, every experience is memorable!

To start, their avocado gimlet is a must try! Thanks to other yelpers' recommendations... even their house-made bread basket is delicious!

I've tried the baked Pacific oysters, the halibut, lamb shoulder, and duck confit... Wow! Every bite was amazing... Staff is knowledgeable and friendly without being pretentious.

Would definitely recommend!

Aug 24, 2015

Shari11

A nice french restaurant with friendly staff and great setting. I went on a weekday at 9pm and the place was packed. We even had to wait a little while because they were just that busy! I love their appetizers, especially the baked oysters, they are so tasty! They also have a good selection of the entrees and desserts. I can't wait to go back and try their brunch!

Aug 14, 2015

RICKCHUNG.COM

L'Abattoir continues to offer a fairly appealing, French-inspired, upscale/fine dining experience in a narrow but welcoming and impeccably decorated environment that's full of character.

Aug 13, 2015

Dreaming In Foie Gras

August 3, 2015 · by ThatShanghaiGirl · Finally made time to come here for happy hour! Last time I was with my friend for brunch, which was amazing so I was super excited for this visit! Service was great as usual and as well as food! I do like brunch even better tho!....

Aug 16, 2015

Nia

+4.5

Had dinner here several times. Phenomenal restaurant, good for special occasions, edgy interior, noisy but with a good vibe and very citified. They offer nice warm pastry basket, delicious and exquisite dish, some of the menu items change monthly and featuring seasonal ingredients.

Dinner: Pan fried veal sweetbreads on toast, Roast scallops & gnocchi, Roasted duck were superb.
Dessert: Panna cotta (ingredients change constantly)

Highly recommend!

Aug 07, 2015

Foodology.ca

L’Abattoir offers up a delicious weekend brunch in the heart of Gastown. Of course their dinner menu is stellar as always, but with their brunch menu, the mix comforting staples with hearty, unique entrees. Always try to make reservations in advance since L’Abattoir is one of the hottest restaurants in town. You can still walk in without one, but it’s always nice to not have to wait. When we were here, we didn’t see it pick up until around 12:30pm.

Aug 07, 2015

Foodology.ca

Aug 07, 2015

Foodology.ca

Aug 07, 2015

Jenny

One of the best ways to kickoff the weekend is to have brunch at one of the top spots! This weekend we went to L’Abattoir. I absolutely fell in love with their decor. They are neighbours to so many amazing restaurants so don’t have to worry about not finding a spot for good food in Gastown! L’Abattoir has different parts of the restaurants, the front part where you first walk in, a upper level, and also past the kitchen is another seating area (where we were). I loved the seating area we were in- full of windows like a greenhouse and had so much natural sunlight coming in. While we were eating we noticed behind us was also another building that had L’Abattoir’s name on it and turns out to be another part of their kitchen!

Aug 06, 2015

Foodology.ca

I came here for brunch with my sister. The brunch menu is quiet hearty and will get you seriously full.

The eggs benny, big breakfast and the burger were amazing! I'll definitely be back for more. nom nom nom.

Aug 02, 2015

Joanna Wong

fabulous drinks, ambience and crowd. has a great mix of casual fine dining with style and well put together, well executed creative french dishes. surprising combinations of food like escargot and chicken skin make it a fun foodie place to hang out for drinks or go on a date

Jul 30, 2015

Styledomination

This restaurant is mind-blowing. A culinary experience to end all culinary experiences. Be sure to have the smoked fish, pork-stuffed squid and lamb and duck. I was honestly BLOWN AWAY. Just go. Don't read any reviews. JUST GO. The restaurant is gorgeous, service is top-notch and food is cray-cray.

Jul 25, 2015

Amanda Hamilton

+4.5

Great location in Gastown and looking forward to dining in the other areas of the room as the restaurant offers so many diverse placed to dine. We were seating in the mezzanine overlooking the bar. The space was lively, service was attentive and personal and the food was incredible. Loved the deconstructed cheesecake.

Jul 13, 2015

Vanessa Choot

Best known for its French-inspired fine dining for dinner, L'Abattoir in Gastown also started offering weekend brunch about six months ago with a menu mixing comforting staples with hearty entrees. The brunch service begins with a basket of baked goods, where you can select a pastry to start off your meal.

Jul 09, 2015

Dreaming In Foie Gras

April 12, 2015 · by ThatShanghaiGirl · First Easter brunch from last weekend! Finally got to try this place out, its won all kinds of awards and topped so many lists. I had very high expectations, and it didn’t disappoint!

Jun 07, 2015

Buddy_love

+4.5

Nice place. We had fun with a friend, but I'm not sure we'll be back. Our first round of drinks took a really long time and the restaurant wasn't half full - good cocktails. My roasted scallops and mushrooms were amazing, and my sweetie enjoyed the sweetbreads. My friend really enjoyed the stuffed tortellini. The mains were not as successful. My grilled pork was good, but my sweetie and my friend's halibut was overcooked. They both liked the beans. We took a pass on dessert. Nice room, uneven service, good food overall.

Apr 28, 2015

Dreaming In Foie Gras

First Easter brunch from last weekend! Finally got to try this place out, its won all kinds of awards and topped so many lists. I had very high expectations, and it didn’t disappoint! Everything we ordered food wise was great, and service was friendly. Also I love their tiled flooring on the 1st lvl!

Apr 22, 2015

Crissy

+4.5

My friends decided to treat me to brunch here on my birthday. I could not have asked for anything better. The service was great, the food was great and the space was great.

The servers were just the right kind of attentive where they made sure you were okay and we had everything we needed but not to the point of coming to our table after every bite asking “how’s everything so far?”

My friends and I ordered the scones with jam to start. Already. Mind blown. Then my sister and I split an order of the pork belly poached eggs and an order of the breakfast burger. Both were really great but the pork belly won me over. It was the cheddar sabayon!! I have dreams about it.

Must...go...back!

Apr 28, 2015

Holly Snowden

+4.5

Love this place! Have actually only been for brunch but will definitely go for dinner! I love the space, simple yet so awesome. The staff are incredibly friendly and super efficient and knowledgable. THE FOOD! It is incredible! The poached eggs with pork belly and cheddar sabayon! Get it!

Apr 18, 2015

Zed

Delicious. Great vibe! Noisy restaurant, simple and trendy decor, friendly and efficient service. Food and drinks were impeccable, as seemed the plates served at the tables next to us. A must in Gastown.

Apr 10, 2015

Tonaaay

Best fine dining I've tried so far!!. Bold title, but it's well deserved!! My girlfriend ordered the duck and I had their pork chops, and both dishes were amazing. I can honestly say that they were the best pork chops I've ever had. We also ordered the Venison Tartare as an appetizer and enjoyed that as well.

Feb 16, 2015

LoveMyVancouverFood

+4.5

Absolutely delicioius!!. Had the opportunity to visit this beautiful restaurant for dine out Vancouver. Service was spot on and the food was absolutely delicious - I recommend trying the bread basket - three different types of bread, all of which were so fresh they didn't even require butter. Tried the duck ravioli as a starter and it was melt in your mouth. I highly recommend you check this place out!

Jan 22, 2015

Mlatorre

+4.5

Best service in a long time!. Excellent service. Very impressed. Some of the food was over salted and the chairs were not the most comfortable. The service made up for it all. Friendly, attentive, personable, explained before ordering and as the food arrived at the table exactly what was in it. I would highly recommend this place again. On a side note we called them telling them a story how another restaurant messed up our reservation for a birthday dinner and they fit us in last minute on a very busy night. Bravo!

Dec 30, 2014

2sandrineramoisy

+4.5

Perfect lunch!. Went to L'Abattoir today for an office lunch, perfect experience from A to Z. Warm greeting, attentive service, delicious food (on the smaller side but sufficient for lunch and full of flavor). The room was bright despite a gloomy day, and we were able to carry a conversation without screaming.
We were treated very well and will definitely return.

Oct 31, 2014

No Dessert Im Full

+4.5

Deep Fried Jalapenos. For starters we had the bbq squid. they were a good sized diameter for the tentacles I'm used to, a tad tough but still grilled perfectly with a nice assortment of sauces, loved the deep fried jalapeños that come with it.

Steak Diane was pretty good, I couldn't put my finger on the type of cut it was??? it was fairly thick, sauces were good, really liked the weird mushrooms they came with and the caramalized onions.

Very nice atmosphere and a incredibly polite and knowledgeable staff.

Sep 23, 2014

Damian Paton-Gay

+4.5

Easy.. It's easy because they do a great job of service, uncomplicated but good food, and a great atmosphere. It's energetic but not too loud to have a conversation. Had the halibut, which comes with sauce around the plate (not smothering the fish....thank you to the chef).

Although I've only been there once, I get the impression that this is a dependable, accessible place which makes it a great date venue or, at least, a good place to have in your back pocket.

Sep 17, 2014

Darrellbanks

+4.5

A little rushed. Food was great but the service felt a little rushed. We paired wine with appies and mains but ended up getting our main wine when we still had appie wine and were finishing off the appies.

Aug 26, 2014

Mario Rossi

+4.5

Mmmm. Chef expertise shows at this place. I recommend the octopus appy.

Jun 15, 2014

Yihsuanlee.tw

+4.5

Awesome. Nice service, nice food, return?! Yes! Yes! Yes!

May 29, 2014

Mfabram

+4.5

Excellent experience. As advertised. Excellent food, interesting menu and superb service. One caveat, no green vegetables with main course, no vegetables of any kind. That said, it would be my only critique.

May 28, 2014

Yyc Food Guy

+4.5

One of my best meals ever. Well perfect begins to describe L'Abattoir. Our server was amazing. Perfectly timed, inconspicuous, almost invisible until needed. Wine paring were delightful and the meal itself was perfectly executed. Exotic and well pared flavours in every dish. Couldn't ask for more

Apr 25, 2014

Shannon P

+4.5

Great Find. Awesome French food - not pretentious. We enjoyed a great evening with friends, great food, delicious cocktails and awesome service. The atmosphere is urban and chic. Loved it!

Apr 06, 2014

PortmoodyFoodie

+4.5

Wow, wow, wow! I am stunned, a true gem! Inventive and simply delicious! A feast for the senses! Octopus, steelhead appies, pork shoulder and sole for mains and lemon and chocolate for desert! A Vancouver Must!

Mar 25, 2014

Alfaquad

+4.5

This is one of the best restaurants I have ever eatin in the entire world. A must go !!!! Spectacular. !!!!

Mar 25, 2014

Hungrygirl

+4.5

Best dinner I've had in vancouver! I ordered the scallops and my date ordered the steak Diane. Both are must tries.. Steak Diane was incomparable to any other steak I've had! The bread basket was warm and delicious and the earl grey pot de creme wasn't exactly what I was expecting but tasted good nevertheless. The cookie inside was a little crumbly and dry.. Maybe I was expecting more because the rest of the meal had been so amazing. I will return until I've tried everything on the menu! Great service as well.

Oct 22, 2013

Mina

A memorable dinner! The steak was one of the best steaks I ever had. The meat was like a butter melting in mouth. The fish was so lovely, and the idea of grapes with fish was so innovative to me. The desserts were one if the best parts to me. I see myself coming back just for having them again. The staff were super friendly and helpful, too. It might seem a bit pricey but totally worth it.

Squishy Carol

We tried the Gaoler's tasting menu last night and we were wowed! Each dish was so well composed and unique, with delicious and some unexpected flavor combinations. You can see, taste and feel the amounts of thought and skill put into each item. My favorites were the baked oysters and the duck. The service was impeccable and atmosphere in the glass enclosed dining area was elegant. If you're looking for a fine dining place to impress someone, L'Aabattoir is it!

Bonnie S

Highly recommend the scallops and the oysters! For mains, we had the steak and halibut. The steak was quite good. Cooked to perfection and amazing garnishes. Not really impressed by the halibut, bit salty and the vegetables that it came with reminded me of something you’d get out of a bag of frozen veggies from Superstore.

tina tag

Service, ambience and flavours were all phenomenal. My only complaint would be that both our dishes were on the colder side and that the steak Diane and Arctic char would have been a little more enjoyable if they were a tad hotter. Other than that, had a super enjoyable experience!

Alexandra L

Probably the most creative restaurant in Vancouver that uplifts and mix ingredients to create a new taste you have never tried before. Plating is very elegant and polished, ambiance is great (although it can get a bit loud). L’Abattoir never disappoints whether it is on cocktail choices or food.

Anne

exceptional duck! scallops were also presented beautifully and the chosen flavors (addition of pineapple) paired nicely. servers were very kind, knowledgeable, and helpful and the atmosphere of the restaurant was lively and welcoming. i would definitely return for the gaoler’s menu :)

L S

Amazing spot! Love the historic building that has been redone. Butcher block tables and exposed brick. Large windows. The space is very nice. The food was excellent. I had the butter poached cod with polenta fries. It was excellent. For starters we shared the oysters, beet carpaccio, and trout...all tasty and good for sharing. All the food was delicious! Finished with coffee and the chocolate torte. Rich and delicious! The wine and cocktails were delicious. Recommendations were great for our food.

Raquel Austin

Wow! Friends and I were visiting from out of town and decided to splurge on the Gaoler's menu. I had to be persuaded, but thankfully I was. Wonderful food, unique combinations, even the courses that weren't each of our favourites were still far and away delicious. Incredible wine pairing recommendation from our server, he was a wealth of information on not only our meal but the city and other restaurants. The rest of the staff were also knowledgeable and doted on us throughout the dinner. Over the top service, and over the top food. Make sure you go HUNGRY because the courses are RICH and if you aren't used to delicious, fatty, protein-focused meals, you might slow down by the end. And that would be a shame because the desert deserves a shoutout it its own right.

Reviews L'abattoir Restaurant

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