SUYO Modern Peruvian has been on my ‘to-go’ list since their opening late last year. Since then, they have received no shortage of accolades, including most recently a Vancouver Michelin Guide recommendation. This unassuming restaurant is hidden away on Main Street with a very simple entrance. But once you walk in, you’ll be transported to a gorgeous lush room filled with plants and plush seating. The dimly lit space is perfect for a romantic dinner or an intimate gathering with friends. The menu at Suyo is a fusion of traditional Peruvian flavors and modern culinary techniques. The menu is divided into four main parts: Ceviche Bar, Small Plates, Large Plates and Dulce. We decided to try one from each section and a couple cocktails to get a sampling of the menu. Check out my full review of Suyo Vancouver below!
SUYO Vancouver – Main Menu
I’m by no means an expert in Peruvian food. In fact, I think I’ve only had it a few times at Ancora, so this was a brand new experience for me. For our dinner we went with:
- Ceviche Clasico ($27.00)
- Octopus Anticuchero ($33.00)
- Arroz Con Pato ($62.00)
The Ceviche Clasico features Haida Gwaii halibut, red onion, aji limo, cilantro and leche de tigre. Normally I find that ceviche in Vancouver, the seafood comes in smaller pieces, but here the halibut was in lovely large chunks. It really let me appreciate the texture of the fish. There was plenty of lime as well and the sourness was just perfect. It was a great way to start the meal and really open up my appetite.
Next up we got the Octopus Anticuchero. This dish features aji panca, yam fondant and chimichurri. The char flavour on the octopus was incredible and the octopus itself was so tender! The chimichurri was brigh and refreshing and helped to balance the richness of the dish.
Last, but certaintly not the least the star of the evening – Arroz Con Pato. This was our main for the evening and it features duck breast, confit leg, cilantro-beer rice, duck egg and huancaina. This is a must order dish. Every year, I do a top 10 of the best things I ate and this dish is definitely on that list (quite possibly in first place!). The dish is gorgeous, and every component was perfectly done. The duck was tender and flavourful, the cilantro beer rice was an aboslute revelation and the duck egg was the crowning glory of the dish.
SUYO Vancouver – Cocktail Menu
In addition to their new spot on the Michelin Guide, Suyo’s Bar manager, Max Curzon-Price was also awarded the Michelin Guide Vancouver 2023 Exceptional Cocktails Award this year. Of course with such a great distinction, we had to try a couple cocktails! We went with:
- Threads ($18.00)
- Drift ($18.00)
Threads features pandan vermouth, sugarcane blend, sweetgrass campari, grapefruit and soda. This cocktail is a lovely red colour and is light and refreshing.
Drift features akuavit, green apple, strawberry, fino, kombu honey, clarified milk and samphire. The cocktail is very smooth and quite fruity on the palatte. The SUYO ice cube is a lovely touch.
Worth a Try?
Absolutely yes! We made a reservation weeks in advance and we are glad we did. The space was absolutely hopping on a random Tuesday night and the vibe was impeccable. Given the small space of the restaurant, it did feel a bit crowded at times, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. The service was immpecable and our waters were constantly refilled. We really enjoyed our dinner here, and we will definitely be back. However, next time I think we will try for a bar seating for a different experience. Overall, I think you need to add Suyo to your ‘to-go’ list ASAP. Reservations are absolutely necessary at this point, and trust me you won’t be disappointed!
Suyo Modern Peruvian
Address: 3475 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M9
Website: http://www.suyo.ca/