Chinois Yaletown restaurant opening in Vancouver

Chinois restaurant opening Nov 9 2011

– text by Shawn Conner/photos by Robyn Hanson

Vancouver foodies and media descended on Chinois for the Yaletown restaurant’s launch party last night.

Signature cocktails and champagne, along with wine and beer, were served, along with selections from the menu. The restaurant offers a West Coast update of traditional Chinese dishes like fried rice (served at Chinois with their signature spice “XO” sauce), sweet and sour chicken (with a cube of pineapple), spring rolls (with tofu and coriander) and prawns (with walnuts). The cocktails included the (Cazadores) tequila-based Girl With the Green Eyes (with cucumber) and a Scotch-and-Drambuie mix with a pickled plum garnish called the Chairman Mao.

The Chairman Mao cocktail at Chinois photo

The Chairman Mao cocktail at Chinois restaurant in Yaletown. Robyn Hanson photo

The original wood beams (the space used to be two retail stores) have been retained. Brick walls, hardwood floors and brass lanterns give Chinois a dark, after-hours feel, not unlike the Keefer Bar, as noted by photographer Robyn Hanson. At the beginning of the night we were taken into the back room, a champagne and vodka bar called Pierre’s, that seems designed to attract visiting celebs.

Wallpaper at Pierre's in Chinois restaurant, Vancouver. Robyn Hanson photo

Chinois is owned by Peter Girges, formerly of the Glowbal Group. The executive chef is Ryan Mah, who has worked at London’s Fat Duck, Toronto’s Canoe, Vancouver’s Wild Rice and most recently was executive chef at Goldfish, just up the street (Mainland) from Chinois. Chambar alum Wendy McGuinness and beverage director Jimmy Shelton are responsible for the cocktail list. Local agency Evoke (Irish Heather, Electric Owl, Commune CafÃ©) designed Chinois to look contemporary; local artist Vince Dumoulin added wall art “crafted from old cassette tapes add a hint of rock and roll”, according to a press release.

Chinois restaurant wall art. Robyn Hanson photo

Chinois is located at 1035 Mainland Street. The restaurant is open for dinner service nightly from 5 p.m. until midnight with bar service extended until 1 a.m. on weekends. For reservations call 604-629-8808. Visit Chinois on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChinoisRestaurant.