Don at Kitsilano is a brand new restaurant that just opened on West 4th in Vancouver. This stunning restaurant is decked out in greenery and wood accents and it feels like you’re stepping into a different world when you walk in. Located right next to Their There, this spot can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. However, it is very much worth the visit! I came by earlier this week to try out their brunch offerings and (spoiler alert!) I was incredibly impressed by the presentation, the flavours and the ingenuity in the dishes offered. Check out my full review of Don at Kitsilano below.
Don at Kitsilano – Brunch Menu (Starters)
Don at Kitsilano has an Asian fusion focused menu, and that is very clearly highlighted in their brunch menu. The best way to get a comprehensive taste of the brunch menu is to try out their $55 Prix Fixe menu. It is four courses and includes:
- Two pieces of Duck Yolk Garlic Bread
- Cured Salmon Tartare
- Choice of Main (+$10 for Braised Beef Short Rib)
- Choice of Dessert or Drink
However, there were a few items I wanted to try in addition, so we opted to order a la carte. For our brunch starters we went with:
- Cured Salmon Tartare – Egg yolk served, prawn dusted rice crisps
- Honey Pear and Pecan Salad – Radicchio, kale, tomato vinaigrette
The Cured Salmon Tartare has the most beautiful presentation, with a bright orange egg yolk on top of fresh salmon. The rice crisps were so light and airy and was a great crispy contrast to the rich fattiness of the salmon. This is a must order dish for me!
The Honey Pear and Pecan Salad is a typical salad, but it was a good way to break up some of the heavier dishes we ate. The tomato vinaigrette was really acidic and packed a nice punch.
Don at Kitsilano – Brunch Menu (Mains)
For our mains we went with:
- Hennessy French Toast – Kaya jam, bacon, pecan, cherry, Hennessy maple syrup
- Breakfast Platter – Sausage patty, maple soy bacon, dashi butter scrambled eggs, miso butter toast, sour roasted tomato
- Short Rib Poutine – potato nuggets with short rib and gravy
The Hennessy French Toast is the perfect combination of sweet and savoury. The bacon adds a nice saltiness and the kaya jam was generously filled in the toast. The toasts are like soft pillows of sweetness.
The Breakfast Platter is a take on an English breakfast. I love all of the Asian twists on typical breakfast items. The stand out by far for us was the sausage patties. They were so flavourful and juicy! The dashi butter scrambled eggs could give Gordon Ramsey a run for his money. They were silky smooth and decadent.
The Short Rib Poutine features light and airy potato nuggets topped with a delicious gravy and ultra tender short rib. This dish was spectacular and I highly recommend you try it out.
Don at Kitsilano – Brunch Menu (Desserts)
We were full to the brim, but we couldn’t resist dessert. We tried both brunch desserts on the menu:
- White Rabbit Creme Brulee – White Rabbit candy, caramelized sugar
- Hojicha Pecan Pastry – Hojicha jam, warm puff pastry, pecan crumble
The White Rabbit Creme Brulee has a smooth custard that isn’t too sweet. The White Rabbit flavour comes through nicely.
The Hojicha Pecan Pastry is a must try for all hojicha lovers. The hojicha flavour is so strong and it pairs beautifully with the crisp puff pastry. A lovely sweet end to a delicious brunch!
Worth a Try?
Yes! I was very impressed with all the dishes that I had at brunch. It definitely has me curious about the dinner menu (which I will definitely be going back for!). Each dish is made with so much care and attention and you can tell from all the little details. Also, as a huge plateware and drinkware person, I just want to say Don at Kitsilano has some of the best plates and cutlery of any restaurant I have been to in recent memory. The next time you’re on West 4th, give this spot a try and treat yourself to an excellent brunch!
Don at Kitsilano
Address: 2186 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N6
Website: https://www.eatdon.ca/