Earlier this month, Lips Resto in the West End closed temporarily and papered up its windows to renovate and reopen as Village Bistro. Lips initially opened in May under the ownership of former Fish House chef, Curtis Demyon, and some may even remember the restaurant being host of the official after-party of the Vancouver Pride Parade.
After seeking community engagement and incorporating feedback from the neighbourhood, Lips realized sophisticated sharing plates and international cuisine was not as appealing as initially thought. Thus, they decided to rebrand to cater to the liking of area residents and underwent renovations in September. Village Bistro now offers casual fare with a focus on Canadian comfort food.
Demyon remains behind the culinary helm and has redesigned the menu with a focus on dishes made entirely from scratch. In addition, entrees are all affordably priced below $20 and includes grilled Sakura Farms pork tenderloin with confit turnip, carrots, Swiss chard and maple dijon jus, herb roasted Fraser Valley chicken, and homemade brown butter gnocchi with mushrooms, blistered tomato, smoked parmesan cream, and melt-in-your-mouth beef croquettes.
For those seeking even more casual fare, the menu offers sandwiches such as the Lemon Grass Fried Chicken with pickled daikon carrot, cucumber and cilantro pesto, and a portabella mushroom wrap with truffle aioli. The beverage menu also offers value, with a focus on more local wines and beers, along with classic craft cocktails.
Currently, Village Bistro is only open for dinner service from 4pm to close everyday. However, there are plans to offer brunch service once again. In the meantime, why not stop in for one (or both!) of their Happy Hours (from 4-6pm and 10pm-12am daily) offering $6 food specials. An even “Happier” menu: for the entire month of October, Village Bistro is offering $3 sleeves and $6 double highballs all day long. All the more reason to make a visit now!
Village Bistro is located at 1143 Davie Street in the heart of the West End. For more information, visit villagebistrobc.com.
