1931 Gallery Bistro is a new and unique dining experience located in the iconic Vancouver Art Gallery. They have an expansive 120 seat licensed outdoor patio space overlooking Robson Square. 1931 Gallery Bistro in Vancouver iss the perfect spot to enjoy the gorgeous sunny weather we have been having. They are open from 10 am – 10 pm every day and they have brunch, lunch, dinner and a fantastic happy hour. They have an assortment of food options as well as oysters for only $1 each! It’s one of the best deals in the city for oysters.
On this occasion however, I stopped by to enjoy their dinner offerings. It was a very romantic experience sitting in the shade of the majestic art gallery enjoying their lounge seats. It was a bit awkward to eat with the low tables, but they have high top tables for an easier dining experience.
Cocktails
For our drinks we went with the Emily’s Aperol Spritz ($14.00) and Bansky on the Rum ($13.00). All their cocktails are a nod to various artists, which is quite fitting as we were enjoying them next to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Appetizers – West Coast Inspired
To start, we had a half dozen of some of the freshest Oysters (MP) I’ve had in a long time. They were plump and fresh and didn’t need any accompaniments. During the 1931 Gallery Bistro Happy Hour, they have oysters for only a dollar each!
Next we had the Foie Gras ($28.00) and Beef Tartare ($24.00), and Miso Cauliflower ($6.00). It’s hard to choose a favourite because every dish is delicious in it’s own way, but I kept coming back for the beef tartare.
The beef tartare is one of the best I’ve ever eaten. The entire dish was so well balanced with shallots, pickles, mayo, cured yolk and the Asian twist with sweet soy and sesame was perfect. The kettle chips it came with was so addictive – I couldn’t stop snacking on them!
The foie gras was so unbelievably rich and smooth and went perfectly with the toasted brioche. The tart berry compote is the perfect foil to the rich foie.
Mains
For our mains we had the Sablefish ($38.00), Duck ($36.00) and Mushroom ($26.00). The standout dish of this trio was the duck. The duck was so tender it could be cut with a butter knife! This dish features a Fraser Valley duck breast, five spice, potato croquette, heirloom carrots, porcini, and berry jus. The potato croquette was delightfully crispy on the outside with a creamy potato interior.
The sablefish was moist and flaky, but it would benefit from a sauce. The dish was a bit dry to eat, but overall still very enjoyable. The sake and soy flavours were very prominent and the squid ink mash was very unique.
The mushroom risotto was very visually stunning. The grilled king oyster mushroom was the perfect touch. The risotto was well made and there was a plentiful amount of mushrooms. I found the risotto slightly under seasoned in comparison with the other dishes, but it went well with the sablefish.
Overall I had an excellent experience. The patio is spaced out well, and is its own little oasis away from the city. The food and drinks were excellent and I will definitely be back for more! The 1931 Gallery Bistro is an excellent place for Happy Hour or a long catch up with friends. 1931 Gallery Bistro will also be participating in the summer edition of Dine Out Vancouver – Dine OutSide with a $45 set menu from August 21 – September 21!