Giovane Bacaro is a Northern Italian-inspired wine-and-cicchetti bar experience hidden inside the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel. Giovane Bacaro is a stylish spot to enjoy an array of chilled Italian vermouths and drinks inspired by traditional Italian culture. They have a fantastic menu of small bites, handmade pasta and some larger dishes to accompany their extensive drink menu. Escape the dreary weather of Vancouver and enjoy some wine and delicious eats in a cozy and stylish atmosphere. Giovane Bacaro is a must try hidden gem for Italian food in Downtown Vancouver.
Drinks and Cicchetti at Hidden Gem Giovane Bacaro
To start we had one of their signature bottle cocktails – Spritz Veneziano ($14.00). This drink features Aperol, prosecco, and soda. It’s super light and easy to drink. It goes fabulously with the housemade Potato Chips ($6.00). The chips were airy with a nice salty kick. A great way to whet the appetite for a delicious meal to come.
The number one must order dish here is the In Carrozza Classico ($12.00). Essentially this is a deep fried cheese sandwich. It was crispy on the outside and absolutely oozing with cheese. Additionally this comes with a spicy tomato jam. Slather that on your sandwich and you have yourself an excellent snack.
Dinner at Giovane Bacaro
After our snacks, we had some more of the substantial offerings on the menu. The Amberjack crudo ($19.00) features coriander, pistachio, mandarin olive oil, chili, olives. Unfortunately this dish did not hit the mark for me. The overall taste was too fishy, and the orange just didn’t work with the fish. I would not order this dish again.
Following this we had the Spaghettini ai ricci di mare ($29.00) which features sea urchin, kale, and pangrattato. This dish was so good! The uni was prominent but did not overwhelm all the other components. If you are a fan of uni this is another dish you need to try.
The Moscardini ($28.00) which features baby octopus, white beans, saffron, olives, and preserved tomato was another interesting dish. There were two skewers of baby octopus which I don’t see often in Vancouver. There was a good char flavour and the white beans were soft and tender. However, I would not order this dish again because I’m not the biggest fan of olives and there was quite a handful in this dish.
Worth a Try?
Yes! I love the laid back and stylish vibe at Giovane Bacaro. It’s a great place to grab a drink with a girlfriend or a date night. They will be participating in the Dine Out Vancouver Festival, so it’ll be a great chance to try the menu at a great price.
