Amidst the chaos and construction in Nelson Square, Relish Restaurant has been transformed into Relish GastroPub & Bar – a classy, yet relaxed and unpretentious neighbourhood gastropub serving modern pub fare and Canadian comfort food.
While the Relish name remains (a nostalgic nod to the restaurant’s loyal clientele) the rest is entirely new. The once massive 160-seat restaurant has been completely gutted and rebuilt into a casual 85-seat pub. Vancouver’s M-Studio (Hapa Izakaya, Burgoo, Earl’s Paramount) has designed a stylish room befitting a Canadian pub, with a slate-tiled bar surrounded by deep dark woods and plenty of rich brown leather.
The new Relish is a casual and comfortable neighborhood watering hole that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but is serious about great food. The new menu, created by Chef Patchen Gallagher (Deacon’s Corner, Glowbal Grill), features “Patchen-sized” portions of modern pub fare, and includes dishes like a Shortrib Shepherd’s Pie, Gnocchi Poutine, Duck Fat Steak Frites, Tourtière, Duck Confit Salad and Fried Oysters – with nothing over $15.
There’s also a “Market Bar” that features fresh oysters (which are a-buck-a-shuck between 3 pm and 6 pm), as well as artisan cheeses, and locally sourced and house-cured charcuterie.
Relish’s front-of-house operations are managed by Jason Sohor, whose 17 years of restaurant experience ensures a healthy dose of neighborhood charm. Relish’s bar program is in the capable hands of Todd Angman, a 15-year bar veteran, who has put together a back-to-basics list of classic cocktails and martinis.
Relish is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, and thanks to its liquor-primary license, is open for drinks until 2 am Sunday through Thursday, and 3 am on the weekends. On Friday and Saturday nights, after 10 pm, local DJs take the helm and Relish’s reputation for being a lively late-night hangout lives on.
For menus and more information, please visit www.relishthepub.com or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/relishthepub.
Restaurant Information:
Relish GastroPub & Bar
888 Nelson St., Vancouver BC
604.669.1962
www.relishthepub.com
