Dine Out Vancouver Festival 2017 – The Butcher & Bullock
It’s a Saturday night during the first week of Dine Out Vancouver and my first stop is a downtown after work favourite The Butcher & Bullock. The first sense upon entering The Butcher & Bullock is the casual atmosphere. If you’re a sports fanatic then look no further, this restaurant pub has no shortage of televisions playing all different sports available alongside a large screen projector. It is in the financial district of downtown Vancouver and next to a Holiday Inn making it the perfect watering hole for those looking for a laid back hang out for any time during the day. Adding to its laid back atmosphere is their selection of games. Pool, pinball, darts and even Skee-Ball! There’s no wonder this place was packed as the night progressed.
The pub itself is self-seating but upon entering we were promptly greeted and taken to our reserved table. Right away I noticed an array of cards placed on the table advertising their themed nights of the week such as trivia night on Tuesdays or $6 wings and $5 beers on Wednesdays. Along with those cards is their cocktail feature of the week. That week’s feature was called “Measure for Measure”, a mix of Glory Juice Co.’s #18 (notes of ginger and lemongrass) and tequila. The GM, Brett, warmly greeted us and was happy enough to have been along side us during our entire Dine Out experience.
But First, Refreshments
To start our night, we decided on two of their exclusively made cocktails. I was instantly drawn to their first option “Rose All Day”. My first sip took me back to the warm days of summer sitting on a patio with notes of watermelon, basil and mint. My friend had the “P.S. I Love You” and upon receiving this drink, Brett excitedly explained the gin used in this drink as a classic west coast gin distilled by Phillips right here in B.C.
Let the Feast Begin
For our first course, I had the chopped winter salad and my friend had the wild mushroom chowder paired with their wine suggestions. Brett was thrilled to fill us in that the chopped winter salad was going to be a regular item on their menu, something that I will definitely return for as the flavours blended beautifully together. A bite of salad and a sip of soup, our taste buds were eager for more.
I chose to go with their Shepherd’s Pie and was eager to dig into it even before I sat down for the night. A mix of lamb as well as beef to take away from the gamey taste of the lamb filled the dish. The beautiful gravy and the smooth mashed potatoes on top did not leave me unsatisfied. The second entrée chosen was the Butchers Rib Roll along side a generous amount of French fries. The meat was tender mixed with house pickles inside a soft roll with a little spicy flare.
And for Dessert
To end our meal was a fresh baked double chocolate brownie and a poached peach tres leches. Both were topped with a whipped cream creating a well-balanced dessert. Just as we thought our night was over, Brett kindly brought over two glasses of Fernet Branca, “The Bartenders Handshake”, an Italian digestive bitter with a similar taste to Jägermeister. It soothed our throats and warmed our now full bellies.
The hospitality shown to us by Brett and the staff left me wanting more of Butchers & Bullocks, and with their Dine Out menu at $20 is an absolute steal! If you’ve been there before for a beer or their cocktails try out their food menu, it won’t leave you disappointed. When you’re done your meal and looking for a place to hang out, look no further as they even provide you games!
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