RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
/LE CROCODILE BY ROB FEENIE
by Jacqui Birchall
(click images to enlarge)
Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie is now open for lunch, and it’s well worth a visit! If you want to try this restaurant and can’t afford the dinner prices, then their lunch is a great alternative.
Celebrated chef rob feenie now operates the west end’s Le crocodile.
When I visited on a dull and rainy Tuesday, I thought, ‘do I really need a reservation?’
Yes and no.
It turned out that the Tuesday I chose was the busiest lunch for Le Crocodile ever! Fortunately for me, I was able to successfully beg for a seat at the bar. If you are travelling alone, a bar seat is great. Bartenders tend to be friendly and talkative, and you can chat with other bar stool patrons.
The bartender on that particularly busy Tuesday afternoon was the super charming and friendly Johnny. Le Crocodile boasts an extensive and creative cocktail list and a selection of wines for a variety of palates and budgets. Very tempting.
Lunch mains range from $28 to $78, the former a boursin and chive omelette with frites and a delicious frisée house salad, the latter a ribeye in a truffle wine jus or peppercorn sauce.
Other choices include Swiss chard and ricotta ravioli ($30), prawn and clam linguini ($36), duck confit ($38), burger de maison ($34), steak frites with peppercorn sauce ($40), and grilled veal medallions in a morel sauce ($55).
The perfect omelette. (Jacqui Birchall Photos)
I chose the boursin and chive omelette. It was, of course, perfectly prepared. Simple as they are, a perfectly prepared omelette is difficult to find. Should I order it again, I would cancel the frites and ask for a double portion of the delicious frisée house salad.
To top off my meal, I had a lychee sorbet on the house. A palate cleanser, Johnny murmured. Absolutely delicious. For me, that’s a perfect dessert.
The restaurant has recently gotten a charming facelift, making it even more attractive and comfortable. Early this year, former owner Chef Michel Jacob announced he was retiring and selling the restaurant to a former employee.
Fans held their collective breaths.
The “former employee” turned out to be Chef Jacob’s long-ago sous chef and now famous Chef Rob Feenie.
The perfect new owner, Feenie has introduced new dishes and retained favourites. Many former staff members have also returned, including Pastry Chef Mark Pugsley. “Is Chef Feenie here a lot?” I inquired of Johnny. “He’s here all the time. His passion is palpable,” Johnny responded.
As I was leaving, I peeked into the busy kitchen and observed the kitchen staff surrounding Chef Feenie, who had a huge smile on his face.
The Details:
909 Burrard / on Smythe between Thurlow and Burrard
Lunch, Tuesday to Friday 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Dinner Monday to Sunday 5 to 10.00 p.m.
Menu and reservations here.
RESTAURANT NEWS UPDATES
News and information about restaurants previously featured in this column.
España Restaurant … Are you a member of the West End Seniors’ Network? Memberships run from November to October for only $10 annually. There are many benefits. My two favourites are a membership to the Vancouver Art Gallery and a monthly lunch at España Restaurant on Denman.
I was lucky enough to experience the latter in October.
The WESN holds a raffle for all those interested in attending. 160 WESN members applied, and 24 names were randomly chosen.
On their day off, España owner Edward Perrow, manager Jessica Hotvedt and sous chef Chris Allen served 24 of us a four-course lunch: heated mixed olives, Manchego cheese, and Serrano ham served with Spanish-style bread, zucchini carpaccio with bruschetta and goat cheese; and the best paella, served with saffron rice, pork belly, clams, and prawns. Ed even sent us home with a big, gourmet chocolate chip cookie.
Edward Perrow provides all this at no cost to participants at the WESN.
The Bayside Lounge … The Bayside Lounge will hold its 45th anniversary party on Friday, November 8, from 7 p.m. until 3 a.m. Regulars are asked to send a message recounting their favourite Bayside Lounge memory. I was lucky enough to attend last year. It is a not-to-be-missed event! Details on their Facebook page here.
Tom’s Sushi … The staff of Tom’s Sushi and his Broadway location Tozen Sushi Bar, took time off in October and headed for Cancun. Rumours are it was for a very special wedding!
