In its 15th year, Dine Out Vancouver is back and its fans know the drill – scrolling through all the menu options, booking up tables at lightning speed. The annual festival returns January 20 – February 5, 2017, with 284 participating restaurants offering up price fixed set menus at $20, $30, and $40 price points. In addition, there is a full 17-day schedule of culinary events that include guided dining adventures, brunch crawls, cocktail masterclasses, guest chef dinners, BC VQA wine and craft beer tastings, street food markets and more.
That said, there are plenty of locals who just aren’t that into it (read: avoid at all costs.) And that’s totally fine, because while DOVF is happening in those 284 restaurants, this is your time to score a prime seat at spots that aren’t participating. Take advantage of distracted deal-seeking foodies and head over to some of these favourites, new and old – chances are you’ll find shorter queues and quieter ambiance than usual. Go on, book in a date night and linger longer over dessert, you clever person.
Our Dine Out Vancouver alternatives:
- Ask for Luigi / Italian / 305 Alexander Street, Vancouver / $$
- Au Comptoir / French / 2278 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver / $$
- Au Petit Cafe / Vietnamese / 4851 Main Street, Vancouver / $
- Ajisai Sushi Bar / Japanese / 2081 West 42nd Avenue, Vancouver / $$
- Corduroy Pie Co. / Pizza / 758 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver / $$
- Dinesty / Chinese / 1719 Robson Street, Vancouver + 3 other locations / $
- Dixie’s BBQ / Barbeque / 337 East Hastings Street, Vancouver / $$
- Espana / Spanish / 1118 Denman Street, Vancouver / $$
- Guu / Japanese / 838 Thurlow Street, Vancouver + 4 other locations / $$
- Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen / 2054 Commercial Drive, Vancouver / $$
- Kingyo (and sister restos Raisu or Suika) / Japanese / 871 Denman Street, Vancouver / $$
- Kissa Tanto / Italian-Japanese / 263 East Pender Street, Vancouver / $$$
- Les Faux Bourgeois / French / 663 East 15th Avenue, Vancouver / $$
- Mamalee / Malaysian / 3144 West Broadway, Vancouver / $
- Miku Vancouver / Japanese / 70-200 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC / $$$
- Mr. Red Cafe / 2234 East Hastings Street & 2680 West Broadway, Vancouver
- Osteria Savio Volpe / Italian / 615 Kingsway, Vancouver / $$/$$$
- Phnom Penh / Cambodian & Vietnamese / 244 East Georgia Street / $
- Pourhouse / New Canadian / 162 Water Street, Vancouver / $$
- Salade de Fruits / French / 1551 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver / $$
- Suika / Japanese / 1626 West Broadway, Vancouver / $$
- The Mackenzie Room / New Canadian / 415 Powell Street, Vancouver / $$$
- The Oakwood Canadian Bistro / New Canadian / 2741 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver / $$
Where’s your go-to Dine Out-free spot? Let us know in the comments below!