Is That French is a hidden gem located in Gastown’s historic Blood Alley in Downtown Vancouver. Is That French has an ever changing menu that features dishes made with fresh and seasonal produce. They also feature an extensive raw bar menu with plenty of high quality sustainable seafood. The restaurant name is a playful nod to the bar’s varied offerings. In addition to their delicious food menu, Is That French also has an extensive wine list that features a range of minimal-intervention BC wines. Check out my Is That French review below!
Is That French – Food Menu
Is That French is constantly changing their menu, so what I had may not necessarily be available when you go. However, I am confident that you will have a great meal. The food menu at Is That French features locally sourced small dishes designed to go with wine and good conversation. On our visit we had:
- Sockeye Salmon Crudo – sea buckthorn, ikura and lobster oil ($16.00)
- Organic Beef Tartare – oyster emulsion, Coligny Creek Egg Yolk, Urfa Biber and Crocantinis ($18.00)
- Smoked Rainbow Trout Dip – pickled red onion, trout roe and Ritz Cracker ($14.00)
The Sockeye Salmon Crudo features lovely slices of salmon that is covered in lobster oil and a green onion sauce. I haven’t had sea buckthorn previously, but I don’t think it was actually in this dish. However, the overall dish was very delicious and there was a distinct soy sauce flavour that reminds of the soy used to steam fish in Chinese cooking.
The Organic Beef Tartare was divine. The egg yolk was so gorgeous, and it shone even in the low light of the restaurant. The menu says that there was Urfa Biber in this, but I didn’t detect any heat in this dish. There was however, plenty of pickles (which I love!). This was served with Pringles, which was a novel approach. I would prefer it with a crusty bread or a cracker as I found the saltiness of the Pringle didn’t really work that well with the rich creaminess of the tartare. The oyster emulsion was also a very unique touch, it had a strong briny flavour that pairs well with the pickles and beef.
The final dish we had was the Smoked Rainbow Trout Dip. I had something similar at Wildlight a couple weeks ago, and when I saw this on the menu I knew I had to order it. It was so delicious! The trout roe adds bursts of saltiness to the dip and the Ritz Cracker was a nice solid base for this lush dip.
Worth a Try?
Yes! The food is expertly prepared, with a focus on quality ingredients. The service is friendly and attentive, and the ambiance is cozy and inviting. We went by on a Thursday night, and we were able to get a seat with no issues at the bar. Is That French also has a local jazz artist every Thursday to play live music that really adds to the mood.
Note, Is That French is truly hidden down Blood Alley. Our Uber wouldn’t drive down the alley, so we had to walk a bit to reach the spot. It can be a bit daunting in the dark as it is a mostly unlit alley, so I do suggest cutting through the Inner Courtyard on Water St (where Meet is located) so you don’t have to walk the entire alley way.
Is That French
Address: 45 Blood Alley Square, Vancouver, BC V5B 0C4
Website: http://isthatfrench.com/
This article is a great introduction to Is That French, a hidden gem in Gastown. The menu features local and seasonal small dishes and an extensive wine list – sounds like the perfect spot for a night out! What are some of your favourite dishes on the menu?