Bar Corso is a new addition to the vibrant and bustling neighbourhood of Commercial Drive. This spot is a chef-owned and operated Italian tapas restaurant and bar with a variety of wine, grappa and cocktails to choose from. Helmed by Executive Chef Luke Boswell, Bar Corso has a small but tight menu of innovative dishes that combine classic techniques with modern flavours. They have a small patio area that is perfect for the last few weeks of Summer. However, if you’re not a fan of the heat, they have a cozy and intimate air conditioned restaurant space to enjoy your delicious bites. I stopped by earlier this week to try out a few dishes and drinks. Check out my full review of Bar Corso below.
Bar Corso – Cocktails
Bar Corso has an excellent selection of alocholic beverages to choose from. We chose 4 to try and all of them were excellent. They don’t mess around with their cocktails. All their cocktails are served as doubles and their Negronis are 3 ozs. On the table:
- Ananas Negroni ($14.00) – el jimador tequila, pineapple infused campari, sweet vermouth
- Burnside Avenue ($16.00) – the botanist gin, strega italian liqueur, lemon, ginger-honey syrup, topped with prosecco
- Monte Monte Marg ($16.00) – montelobos mezcal, monteagro amaro, cointreau, lime, salt & tajin rimmed glass
- Amalfi Sour ($17.00) – empress elderflower rose gin, st. germain, lemon, grapefruit cordial, egg whites, & kiwi sumac bitters
Bar Corso – Small Bites and Share Plates
Bar Corso offers a ‘Menu Del Giorno’ for $75 per person and it features chef’s selection of snacks and larger courses, compiled of items on and off the menu. We weren’t super hungry, so we decided to try the follow instead:
- Salumi e Formaggi Alla Corso ($37.00)
- Pasta of the Day (MP)
- Bisonte ($38.00)
The Salumi e Formaggi Alla Corso is Bar Corso’s take on a charcuterie board and it features a selection of imported meats and cheeses, house preserves, crostini, crackers. There was a large selection of house made pickles and 3 meats and 3 cheeses. It was a gorgeous platter and the perfect accompaniment for our cocktails.
For our main dishes we went with their Pasta del Giorno (pasta of the day) which was a spaghetti in a light olive oil sauce and BC side stripe shrimp tartare. This was a light pasta and the spaghetti was a perfect texture.
We finished off with the Bisonte which features a 6 oz Bison striploin, medium rare, turnip & parmesan puree, balsamic jus & crispy rosemary. The bison was tender and went well with the turnip puree. The crispy rosemary adds a nice textural contrast to the dish.
Worth a Try?
Yes! This charming Italian spot is perfect for date night, girls night out, or even just a casual drink at the bar. The space was absolutely hopping on a Tuesday night and I can see why this spot is a local favourite. Their cocktails are spectacular and I will absolutely be back soon.
Bar Corso
Address: 1566 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3Y2
Website: https://www.barcorso.ca
