Archie Montrose10 Best French Restaurants in Vancouver
Look, we get it; sometimes we crave something specific, and it just so happens that your flavor of the day is French. Lucky for all of us, we don’t have to book a flight to Paris just yet because there are plenty of French restaurants in Vancouver.
1. Au Comptoir
Au Comptoir reminded us of the “old times” when people used to gather in small cafes to enjoy a cup of coffee.
This French eatery is furnished with a vintage tile floor, wooden tables and chairs, and a comfortable bar area. All of which we took advantage of while chatting for far too long before actually placing our food orders.
We’re not exactly food connoisseurs, but the Confit de Canard en Salade really hit the spot. Our first bite of the meat in the dish was so tender, and we only later found out that it’s actually duck meat, which we were a bit surprised about, but it was delicious, so there’s no use in overthinking it.
Whoever thought of mixing duck meat with veggies deserves a pat on the back. The juicy meat and the fresh vegetables complement each other well, and you’d be missing out if you didn’t order this dish when you visit Au Comptoir.
For dessert, and we’re saying this after a 15-minute debate, our top pick is the mille feuille. Believe us when we say that we felt like a kid on Halloween, devouring every bit of this sweet and creamy pastry.
2. Les Faux Bourgeois
So apparently, “Les Faux Bourgeois” translates to “Fake Middle Class,” so we took that as a sign to visit this French restaurant along E 15th Ave.
The place was so retro with its vintage decor and dim lighting that it felt like we were transported back to 1920s Paris.
We rarely say this, but the steak frites at Les Faux Bourgeois were one of the best we’ve ever had. Even though it was in the middle of the afternoon, we broke our rule and ordered some beers to go with it because it was just that good.
The French Onion Soup was also massive, and we devoured it until the last drop. But if you’re looking for dessert after having those steak frites, the pain au chocolat is probably what we would’ve gotten if we weren’t so full already.
3. Le Crocodile
To our utmost relief, there weren’t really any crocodiles at Le Crocodile, but they did have these adorable chocolate crocodile desserts that we thought were funny because they looked like they were all kissing.
Immaturity aside, it’s with great confidence that we recommend you order the “Jarret d’Agneau Braisé façon provençale en cocotte”.
It just rolls off your tongue, eh? If we’re being honest, we didn’t actually order this on our own. One of the servers recommended it, and we’re glad they did because we loved it.
This dish has everything you want from a hearty meal: meat, veggies, oysters, and a lot of flavors from thyme, sage, rosemary, carrots, onions, celery, leeks, and garlic confit.
We also got this pretty dessert called “Mousse au Chocolat Maison”, which tasted as good as it looked with its smooth and creamy texture and rich chocolate flavor.
4. Absinthe Bistro
We heard that Absinthe Bistro’s menu is very exclusive, as it only has three starters, three main dishes, and three desserts that change frequently. So we knew we would need to dine there at least three times to ensure we got a taste of everything.
First off, you would want to start with the pan seared scallops and potato. It’s a great starter to your meal, and it’s very light, so you still have a lot of room for your main course.
While their duck confit was divine, we highly recommend you order the “Pork hock terrine”.
Believe us when we say that this dish is so juicy and filling we didn’t talk for the entire time we were eating it. It’s sweet, it’s savory, and it’s best paired with red wine!
5. St. Lawrence Restaurant
It’s a good thing we researched before dropping by St. Lawrence Restaurant because we didn’t want to be underdressed. This French restaurant is the epitome of fine dining, with its elegant ambiance.
You remember those fancy restaurants your parents used to take you to when they had business meetings? This is it. Except you’re all grown up now, so you’d have to order for yourself.
The duck confit is our top pick. I mean, would you look at that? It’s almost too pretty to eat. But we were hungry, so we absolutely gobbled up this dish.
The taste was just as incredible as its presentation, and we felt kind of guilty for destroying such a work of art, but it was worth it.
Here comes another pretty dish, and we’re already salivating at the sight of it. Get the lemon tart with meringue and lavender if you’re one of those people who like dessert but prefer something not too sweet.
6. Café Salade de Fruits
Café Salade de Fruits’ interior was simple enough, except they have these two huge mirrors on the wall—or is it a television?
We’re not quite sure. All we know is that we felt very cozy dining here, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a lot of light into the restaurant.
The menu was also straightforward, and we had no trouble placing our orders as the French dishes were accompanied by an English translation that outlined the main ingredients.
This time, we decided to go the seafood route and ordered the “Spinach and Crab Omelette”, which we highly recommend.
The omelette was sweet, the crab meat had a salty taste, and the spinach was bitter; all of these provided a balance of flavors, and we topped the omelette on toast.
We decided to go all in and ordered mussels and fries. If we’re being honest, it wasn’t the best combination, so we suggest you eat them separately.
7. Tableau Bar Bistro
We walked into Tableau Bar Bistro with an open mind and a hungry stomach. The word on the street is they serve classic French staples with a West Coast influence, so we decided to give it a go.
The first to land on our table was the “Escargot Special”, which tasted a little bit like garlic butter heaven. We’re big fans of garlic, and this dish did not disappoint.
The main course, perfectly cooked steak frites, was also a hit with its crispy fries. You can never go wrong with steak frites at a French restaurant, so make sure to order this.
8. Ça Marche
Don’t think about it any further; get the Prosciutto Crêpe at Ça Marche! We ordered this dish on a whim, and we’re convinced that it was the best decision we made that day.
The prosciutto’s saltiness was perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the crêpe, and the addition of arugula and tomatoes heightened the flavors.
We also ordered a bunch of sweet crepes, and we narrowed the winner down to the Pomme Crêpe. The caramelized apples were so soft and luscious that we almost forgot about the crêpe under it.
9. Restaurant Vignette
Restaurant Vignette served fair portions of French food, so we decided to order one of each item on their menu so we could get a taste of everything.
Actually, none of us was particularly hungry before our orders arrived, but once they did, our appetites skyrocketed.
Just to be clear, we didn’t share each dish; we each had our own plate. Now, our first recommendation would be the “Scallop Crudo”. Trust us, it will prepare you for the next dish.
Next up, we have the “Welsh Rarebit”. We misread this and expected a cooked rabbit on our table, but thankfully we were wrong.
This dish actually has a savory sauce that includes cheese, mustard, and butter, and we think we tasted a hint of beer or ale in there somewhere. Anyway, this sauce is poured over toasted bread, and we loved the savory and bitter taste of it!
10. Chez Michel’s Restaurant
We’re always big fans of the classics, so when we heard about this classic French restaurant that has been around since 1979, we knew we had to check out Chez Michel’s Restaurant along Marine Drive.
The “Special Moules Frites” are likely the best thing you can order here. The fresh flavor of the mussels and the lack of a rushed cooking style made this a welcome change from our usual meat consumption.
We also got the French Onion Soup, and as you may have noticed, we did particularly like ordering this as an appetizer. It’s just that good, okay!
If you’re still up for it, we have also tried out different cuisines, all conveniently in the city as Vancouver’s food scene is pretty diverse. Don’t believe us? Check out these articles:
