We kicked off the first night of our recent, relatively short three-night stay in Vancouver with a fabulous dinner at Black + Blue, a high-end steakhouse with a modern, downtown Vancouver vibe. With its upscale menu, lovely wine list, terrific service (and great background music playlist), dinner was delicious, relaxing, and “feel good” all around. Plus, at a short 5 minute walk from our hotel, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, our dinner experience was as easygoing as it comes.
Shortly after placing our steak-centric order, we were surprised with a complimentary offering from the kitchen, a delectable prime rib stuffed puff pastry morsel (pictured above) to whet our appetites. The mini bite of beef was flavourful, juicy and tender, and definitely got us looking forward to the main course!
A mini disappointment, quickly rectified, occurred when we were informed that our chosen bottle of Amon-Ra Shiraz listed on the wine list was not available. After a chat with the very knowledgeable sommelier, we went in another direction afterall and ordered a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Clos du Val). Rich, silky and deep, it ended up being a stellar choice to accompany what was to come.
For salad, we chose the heirloom tomato with buttermilk blue cheese dressing. The salad itself was very tasty though, in our opinion, a bit overly dressed. Other starter choices on the menu included reliable steakhouse fare such as Tableside Caesar Salad, Crab Cake, and French Onion Soup. Fans of classic upscale steakhouse menus will not be disappointed!
The star of the show was of course the beef. Black + Blue prides itself on serving only the choicest beef, with dry-aged Prime cuts, Japanese A5 Wagyu and Japanese Kobe on offer. We opted for Prime beef this evening – a bone-in, “Chicago Style” rib-eye for him, and for me an 8 oz. tenderloin. Cooked and seasoned beautifully, the entrees did not disappoint.
The two noteworthy sides we added to our meal were the sautéed wild mushrooms and crispy Brussels sprouts. Served in charming copper pots, the sides were hot, delectable and the portions very generous.
For the highly-unecessary but always fun dessert course, we enjoyed a rich slab of chocolate cake. A hearty portion after such a meal, but nonetheless – Delicious!
A glass of tawny port topped off the evening as well as our first day in this spectacular Canadian city.
Overall, Black + Blue was a great place for a terrific steak meal and set a wonderful tone for our trip. Prices were high, but so was the quality – well worth it for those who love traditional steakhouse fare but who also appreciate a more contemporary atmosphere.
Black + Blue is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, at 1032 Alberni Street. For more information or to make reservation sat Vancouver’s Black + Blue, visit www.blackandbluesteakhouse.ca