Reviews of Absinthe Bistro (Restaurant)

Wayne T

Had a great meal with my friends. The food was fantastic and the service was good. Would go back again for sure.

Rafaa Dautzenberg

Best on the Drive!

Shubneet Bharwani

Great food and service. Go and you will not be disappointed.

Spark Knight

Friendly service..great food. Relaxing atmosphere

Riya Sharma

The food was good, but it was the service that truly made our evening memorable. Our server was exceptionally sweet and kind and made excellent wine recommendations to accompany our meal.

Cary Chan

It's the kind of place that I found myself asking, "How crazy would I look if I licked my plate clean?"

Paul S.O. Barbeau

It is very addictive just like Absinthe..

Shane Hebert

Service

Yusuf Murphy

Great service and tasteful French cuisine. It is cooked traditionally, though, so don't expect quirky flavors.

Foster R

Excellent food. Courteous service.

James Lee

Fabulous food! Very professional service with beautiful presentation. Great evening and will definitely be going back.

Nara Yang

Super friendly service and delicious dishes to choose from! Would be back soon.

vmtan vmtan

When birthday day dinner happens with everything right ♥️

Miller Foster

This spot is worth a try. They serve big portions for reasonable rates. Consistently clean and with great mood. Highly recommended.

Stephen Barker

Great food great service, window table had a great view.

Frederick Bernier

Delicious food, great vibe, friendly staff ❤

Justine Hsieh

Excellent food, friendly staff. Like the design of the menu, 3 choices of appetizers, main courses and deserts. Easy to pick what you want.

Erika Santana

Good place with delicious and taste food! My fiancé and I loved it!

Mark Giesbrecht

Went in for a nice dinner without the kids. Small concise menu which makes it easy to choose. I skipped a starter but my partner had the tuna options and she enjoyed it. I had sea bass entre and it was delightful. For dessert I had the lava cake with house made ice cream. It was so rich but was exactly what I needed. Also the staff were friendly and attentive. Will return for dinner in the future.

Kevin Zeese

Four of came here on a family member recommendation . It lived up to billing . Great service , nice room . Duck pate was wonderful as were the scallops . I am not eating dessert but the Creme brûlée looked terrific . Decent prices .

Lisa Marie

Such great food ... Amazing even, Super friendly service Such a fun night @ this bistro Thank you !!

Gazhagayns Bimaadiziwin

The best food I’ve eaten since we were that region earlier this fall and very reasonably priced too.

Vivian Wong

My husband and I go back to Absinthe Bistro every year in Feb for our dating anniversary since 2011. And it never disappoints! The food, atmosphere, and service is always so GREAT. Everything is delicious! I hope they bring back the lobster bisque because that was sooo good.

Matteo Saletti

A small, cozy, delightful place. Great food, good wine and a very friendly staff. Menu is quite small but everything is delivered with exquisite care. Definitely recommended!

GreatYear Auto

Consistently fantastic. New location, quite a bit more seating and a patio about to open soon. A standout on the Drive.

이도현

Fantastic every time.

Ed Carbery

Amazing food and great service. This little French restaurant is a hidden gem on Commercial Drive. The starter, main and dessert were all excellent, as was the coffee and wine. I had the steak as a main and it was the best I've had in a long time.

Erin Brown

Great service and the food was delicious.

Rachel Wong

Such an underrated place. Amazing service and it looks like it's run by just three people. I like that they do a few dishes but they do it well. Frequently changing the menu will definitely make me come back to try new things. You can tell they really care about what they do, it's great.

Hassan Callahan

I've been here several times over the years and it simply gets better and better. Do yourself a favor and book a reservation for one of the best meals in the city.

O Carr

Great ambience, great food, great owners and service. What more can you ask? Love the new location.

Dax Krueger

This restaurant is my favorite restaurant. Of all restaurants I know I prefere it most. I always suggests to my friends to go to visit this place. when I want to go to a good dinner, this restaurant comes instantly to my mind. fresh and diverse food and a rich cuisine.helpful team, and agreeable ambience. In addition to that, the charge is fair. I tell about this place with no doubt.

Mosya Golden

Dine in

Yuko Takino

We went to this restaurant for me and my partner's anniversary dinner. That was a great decision to come here, the food was absolutely delicious. The service was wonderful, too. Juliana was such a lovely person and she cared about us kindly at right timing. Everyone waved hands when we said thanks and bye and gave us great smile, it was such a lovely, warm, cozy, feel like friend's home place.

Mike Ong

I love this place even since their smaller location. The service and staff are phenomenal and the food is seasonal menu so it keeps it much more interesting. They have some staple dishes but overall one of my favorite places to eat at and will always be stuffed afterwards.

Damien Ryan

What a great French meal we had. .. there was 5 of us there for a delicious Friday evening dinner. Our hostess was a true delight. .. as was her chef husband.... Look for the fun photos in the Restroom that highlights the background history to the restaurant

john perry

Authentic French food. Delicious

Maksim Bushuyev

Fantastic and tasty food, I like the mood the place has, and the cashiers were nice. Will definitely come back again.

James Qi

Excellent and fresh food, I liked the vibes this place has, and the cashiers were super nice. Will surely come back.

Tiffany Pal

This place has the most delicious food!! Every time I go, no matter what you order you will not be disappointed. Their scallops dinner is amazing. Staff is very friendly and helpful!

Elsy Chow

This place is great. Food was delicious. You choose from 3 appetizers 3 entrees and 3 desserts. Drinks were really good. Service friendly. We will definitely return. Only negative is no air conditioning. We went there on a hot day and we were sweating. So will return on a cooler day.

Jacqueline Livingstone

If you’re trying to decide where to eat, stop. This is where you belong. The food and atmosphere is seriously one of the best you’ll find in Vancouver. You will not regret it.

Tyler

Hard to explain just how bad it was. The whole experience. Start to finish. It was our 5th year anniversary dinner and I can't even explain how underwhelming it was; we honestly just had to laugh and shrug the whole thing off at the end. It was far and away the most expensive bill I've had in 2021 for the worst dining experience of 2021. Very unfortunate. Without having said anything, I would've expected something to be comp'ed given how bad it all was (the insanely long wait for the dishes on a SET MENU with only 3 options lol - like 60+ minutes for the mains to come out, only for it to be the chewiest rubber tire duck with zero taste whatsoever); and the server body language indicated they understood (not even one person asked how everything was haha - they knew). It just left a really sour taste to have spent so much for absolutely nothing - Note: the desserts took so long (30+ minute wait for a creme brule after asking them for a rush lol) that we actually had to ask them to cancel them all-together haha - literally the one saving grace was going to be the dessert but it took so long we had to actually cancel them.???? Really, just hard to express the overall disappointment on such an important night, but whatever. No comps, no enjoyment, just a poor experience all-around. I never even write reviews but it was just that bad lol.

Lisa Gimenez

Lovely dining experience! Juliana was an excellent hostess. The bistro is charming, quaint and the bathroom is decorated with photos of the owners! We had the tuna starter, lamb shank for our main (the meat fell off the bone) and the creme brulee was the best I've ever had!!

Peter Cross

We had a lovely evening here with friends. The service was excellent, our server was attentive and very personable. Our food was excellent as were the cocktails and wine. A very enjoyable time. We will be back.

Ibrahim Watkins

Lovely intimate bistro. Food was superb and our server was delightful. A lovely place for a special occasion. Tremendous value.

Tiffany Ann Cooley Maples

Great quality food, great service, just a wonderful place to have dinner overall. My picky husband tried the traditional absinthe and I've included a picture of the process.

Gabriela Pawlowski

Amazing service , amazing food and just an all around welcoming and very enjoyable experience!! I treated my mom and family here and now excited to treat friends here!! Tip, get the absinthe and water tower drip; very cool experience and delicious!

muxy23

Excellent food

Cassandra “CassNyanDra” Siedschlag

Very good atmosphere, food, drinks and service!

Tadeo Willis

Surely a place worth stopping over, the food is excellent and well prepared, the costs are fair and it is consistently clean here. Fantastic work.

Robert Long

Really on point service, delicious and well presented food.

Markus Akert

Great food, wonderful service, great atmosphere!

Carlos Uribe

Fantastic restaurant, phenomenal food, stellar service.

Robert Gibb

Friendly service and fabulous food, we will definitely be back to try more!

Grahame Rainey

A small, family run French Bistro. The food is amazing, with a lot of attention to both taste and detail. Set menu with a choice of 3 staters, 3 mains and 3 desserts every night. Reservations are essential as it is always busy.

Joruro Jobana

Very good service with decent French food.

Nicolas Martin

Great atmosphere, food & service! Will be going back.

Hayley Mah

Was actually let down a bit after seeing so many great reviews. My tuna starter was bland and didn’t really taste of anything but a slight hint of horseradish. The lamb shank was my highlight of the meal but it sat on a bed of overly sweet caramelized onions that were basically mush. Nothing wrong with the lava cake but personally I wish it didn’t have the crumble as I’d be taking a nice smooth bite and then my teeth crunch down on what feels like sand. Maybe I expected too much? The conciliation however was that they didn’t charge me for my starter (I took like 2 bites and said nope) and I thank the staff for that. I’m sad cause I really wanted to like the place but I don’t think I’ll be coming back for now. Their menu changes so maybe it was just bad timing for me.

Alex Tazi

Courteous service, appetizers were great.. Unfortunately, the Chilean sea bass was severely undercooked for the three of us who ordered it. They replaced mine gracefully, and it was still borderline. I felt nauseous almost immediately.

Sweepy McSweeperson

Great food. Sensational service. Reasonable prices. Reservation a must though.

John Su

Such a hidden gem on the drive and DEFINITELY one of the top restaurants on the drive. Our hostess Juliana was the spirit of the place! She personality added so much "French charm" , she does exactly what a server should do. As for the food it reminded me of home cooking tasty. Wasnt fancy prentious food that people think French food is, was simple,tasty and well executed knowing what tools they were using. Great wine at reasonable price also!! One point of elevation: INCREASE YOUR PRICES! TOO GOOD for that price!!

Yuko Johnston

Absinthe drip? What a concept for their signature drink. Love the cozy atmosphere for a French Bistro! Not pretentious at all. Can go there for a date night, dinner with friends.. this place has well prepared, good food with very nice presentation. Food tastes amazing! They have prixe fixed 2 or 3 course meals, priced right for the quality of food. I really enjoyed my 3 course menu tonight with friends!

Patrick Lefebvre

Service was relaxed but personal and attentive. A limited set menu, but if you are open you should find something enjoyable. Ceviche was awesome, the mains were rich, and the lava cake was a personal favorite. Recommended for a night out with good friends.

Richard

Corey, the owner, was very welcoming and hospitable. I liked the previous location. This venue is even better. Very calm and attentive staff. We enjoyed the gazpacho, tuna & salmon tartare,sea bass with a delicate sauce. The duck was very good. I think the server should ask how the guest wants ithe duck cooked. Mine was arrived quite rare but I didn't mind. The creme brulée was delicious. Another review said the portions were small. We found the portions were just right. Essentially we liked everything. Corey was very helpful in suggesting wines. Service was relaxed and we did not feel rushed. The Mexican server was reserved possibly due facility with English. The other server was outgoing and friendly. We will definitely come back another time.

k K

The owner’s service was rude. We had a bad experience at the restaurant. We had a reservation on Saturday at 6pm for a birthday celebration with a requirement of having a table close to the window. When we 5 minutes late,we gave the restaurant a call to let them know that we were going to be another few minutes late. We were late because of a train crossing the railroad tracks with was just 2 minutes away from the restaurant. When we arrived at the restaurant, the table that was supposed to be beside the window had already been occupied, and the owner said that table is occupied because we were late. We accepted another table far from the window. We ordered starters, entree, dessert and drinks for 4 people of a total of around $300. The delivery time of the starters, entree and dessert was unacceptable. We always had to question when our food would be arriving. There was only one waiter, which was the owner, for the whole restaurant service and all the tables have been occupied. We brought a birthday cake with us to the restaurant and we were planing to eat the cake after dessert. We also gave the cake to the owner to put aside for us. After dessert, the owner just gave us the bill and we told him that we did not even start eating the cake. The owner did not even prepare plates, forks, knives for us to eat the cake yet. He also told us that someone else was waiting for our table and the owner blamed us that we arrived at the restaurant late. So then, he quickly grabbed only plates for us to eat the cake without forks. But the fact is that the delivery time for our food was just unacceptable as I mentioned before. Towards the end of the dining, the owner was more rude, in terms of his service. In the end, we didn’t have enough time and felt rushed and unhappy. We still paid tips, but we felt like it was not worth it. We would not recommend this restaurant nor we would come back.

Liam D'cruz

amazing

Jacques Marjaq

A LITTLE JEWELL ON THE "DRIVE": We like this place... It is relaxing, simple, warm and we feel comfortable. It is a fantastic value for what you get served and so far we have not been disappointed with the food nor the service. You can get very good food for less than C$50.00 and when I read individuals complaining that it is not as good as a French restaurant, I am a little dumfounded as you would pay much more in Paris. In fact, being Parisian myself, I am glad that they are not the same … I prefer their Vancouver “bistro” atmosphere. The menu is not sophisticated and changes every season. The owners (The chef and his wife) are now serving the food) and you get the cooks helping from time to time. So, if you have any type of complaint you can address right there with them as they are opened and willing to accept suggestions or critics. When I read the reviews from few years ago it looks like the service has greatly improved although we were there from their opening days and did not have a complaint at that time. The new location is more spacious, and tables are further apart which gives you an increased privacy. Parking is a little difficult as they are located at the top of Commercial drive, south of Venables in Vancouver.

Jan Kappers

Great friendly service and amazing food. Ambiance is a 4 out 5 but they tried hard with the limited space that they have.

Virgile Machenaud

Finest spot to get food when in a rush. The service is fast, pricing is reasonable, fantastic ambience. Highly recommended

Dominic Watts

This place is wonderful and roomy, the meals was yummy and the prices were very economical. fast, effective service and very friendly staff. I recommend this place.

Adam Colborne

Lovely food. Expensive but worth it. The service was a smidge slow but the place was full so I understand. A great little nook of fine dining.

Molly Angel

My favourite restaurant in Vancouver!

Kent M

First time here. Fabulous meal. Small restaurant which is probably why its so good. From out of town so can't say if I'll ever be back, but i think this is the first 5 star rating I've given.

Melanie K

Fantastic meal at a great price. Friendly service and a great atmosphere. Would highly recommend this great restaurant.

Sam Cleaver

This is the best chocolate lava cake in Vancouver. Oh but wait what about 'blablabla' no. Come here. The owner is fantastic, the vibe is friendly and this cake is FANTASTIC.

Monica Moore

What a truly phenomenal restaurant. The food was absolutely top notch. I had the crab cake, the sablefish, and the lava cake and it was all perfect. The bread was super fresh as well with a really unique apricot and chive butter. The atmosphere was very romantic with really nice mood lighting from candles and chandeliers. It was much nicer than the photos which was a pleasant surprise. Couldn’t recommend this place anymore highly.

Hakeem Macdonald

Really great atmosphere, I always love eating here when I lived near by. Get any of the deserts !!

Debbie Leung

They have a seasonal menu with option of starter+main for $39 or starter+main+dessert for $48. Exceptional service by the staff which consists of 2 chefs and a server who are extremely attentive and considerate about our dining experience. As others have mentioned, it feels like home and a personal touch that the server addressed me by my name during the meal. A gem on The Drive!

Daniel Stevens

Fantastic place, great atmosphere, awesome food, and amazing service! We will definitely be back - this is now one of my favourite places on the Drive to eat! Absinthe has an intimate, personal feel, and has a great vibe. You can certainly tell that the small team preparing and serving the food love what they have created in this space. If you haven’t been, check it out!

Mike Loehndorf

A great east van restaurant. Always a treat!

Bruce Gillespie

Absolutely my favourite, my family celebrates every important occasion here, just Sublime

Sapphire Dumaresq

Such a fantastic place. Always amazing food and fantastic service. They remember us from last year, which was so nice. They also put a candle on our desert because it was our anniversary, so touching. We will continue to go back as long as they are open.

Arun & Jayati Singh

Went there today to celebrate my Birthday. I loved the food, service and care I got. We chose from the fixed menu and each dish was carefully crafted and tasted out of this world. I will go back again and enjoy the tranquil ambiance and excellent food. You must go and try the food there. They do change the fixed menu, so there is always something new for the tastebuds to enjoy. Merci beaucoup Chef!

Cindy Lo

Amazing experience there. The food is good and the staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating. We felt so taken care of. Definitely felt like they went above and beyond to make our time enjoyable.

Michelle Little

Easily one of the best meals that I’ve ever had for dinner. Excellent service from everyone that I encountered in the restaurant from start to finish.

Julia Matthew

Great food!

Mel Chan

A fantastic and romantic place. It lives up to expectations. It is owned and operated by a lovely couple. They completely accommodated my husband’s intensive food allergy list without hesitation or grief. They are just wonderful people with a real passion for food. On top of the great hospitality, the food is amazing! It’s so cool that they change up their menu weekly which means their food is always evolving and fresh. Ready to be dazzled! I highly recommend this place.

Ben Colver

Went to this restaurant, craving French cuisine. The soup was excellent, as was the Lamb main course. This is a very small unassuming restaurant with a limited menu, but what they were serving was delightful. I would go back when I’m in Vancouver again

Warren Patrick

I call this excellent place many times as I love the special air that is exist in this place. The team is exceptionally loving and professional. The service is extraordinarily rapid. Most important, the food you eat is outstanding. I have been there often and I was always satisfied. The payment is modest. I highly suggest this place to all my friends.

Ekaterina Titova

Delicious food and friendly service.

W

The chandeliers. They symbolize this place: elegant, refined, dazzling. The food is beautiful to behold and pleasing to the palate, how I wish I could cook at home. And the service is genuinely caring and friendly.

SL 300

Very nice husband and wife, super nice! We did take out and their food was amazing, I highly recommend you try everything on the menu. I think I will ask for extra apricot and chive butter with baguette next time, gave me goosebumps.

julien berard

Went there with my wife for her birthday. Everything was perfect. Pate en croûte is second only to my father's one. My wife had the lamb shank and was really happy about it. I had the scallops and prawns with the excellent sauce au beurre blanc. The lava cake was also just perfect. Service was the perfect balance between attention and privacy. And you could feel the staff was smiling behind the mask! Highly recommend!

Thomas Park

Love the new location, a lot larger, tables are spaced out nicely... The food was absolutely amazing and the service was impeccable! I highly recommend! We also need to support all the small local businesses... Enjoy!

Mara Cesar T

My husband and I chose this place by google, without pretension of any but by the sympathy of the pictures. The place is cozy and charming .The service is simply perfect and the food is the most delicious I've eaten so far in Canada. Congratulations to all of this amazing place. It’s super recommended by me.

Z Macdonald

Very well organised and accessible restaurant. They offer generous meals and for inexpensive rates. I liked the food a lot and the waiters were super welcoming and informative. Recommended.

Zachariah Stevens

This spot is worth visiting. They have large portions for reasonable rates. Constantly neat and with fantastic mood. I highly recommend this place.

Jabari Middleton

The food was amazing, the staff are extremely kind, the whole experience was perfect. Love this place!

Nik Kontrimas

AMAZING cute bistro on Commercial drive. The owners put their heart and soul into their menus and it certainly shows. I keep on coming back here whenever I’m in Vancouver

Roger Chang

Looking so good on the dishes and taste is so delicious, services also so nice, should go again when we have times.

Donald Blanchard

One of my preferred places to grab something to eat. fantastic location, clean, and excellent customer service. I recommend this place!

Kevin Ao

Great restaurant with a seasonal menu. You get to pick from three from appetizers, entrees, or desserts. The best were the scallops and pavlova dessert. The cocktails were also very well done. I recommend coming here and it’s bit fancier than I anticipated as well.

Pongo

Dinner service felt calm and relaxing. Food was delicious; especially the sea bass with roasted pepper sauce. Only nitpick was that the portions could have been a teeny bit bigger. The 2/3 course menu is still a decent deal (even with the price increase).

Ray Amberly

This place is a real diamond in the rough. I don’t know where to begin on this amazing experience. The place is owned by a lovely couple who are so personable and take up every roll from Host to server to cook. As a result of doing what they love and taking on every roll you really feel the love they pour into each part of the experience. The food is out standing! French food Is my favourite, and I find there are a lot of places where high-end French places “cut corners”, but not at this restraunt. Flavours and textures are dynamic and executed perfectly! I also love that the menu changes up, because you know every visit is going to be filled with surprises and that what you are eating is true art. We will be back again!

Steamworks 604

Stellar little place. Simple menu and great quality, with a very nice atmosphere. Perfect for romantic dinner

Jillian Robertson

Limited menu but the food was good and the service was great.

Eric Rannaud

Good service, cool vibe, and fantastic food

Sarah Wong

I had to change my 5 star rating (previous dining experience last year) to a 3 star one. Perhaps it was the menu selection, perhaps it was an off night, but no matter what it was, it wasn't good (and neither "perhaps" listed is a good enough excuse for such a drop in quality). The rabbit was dry and the sauce was so salty I couldn't even tell what was in it. Creme brulee was just normal. There aren't that many excellent French restaurants in this area, I'm sad there is now one less. My other dinner companions agreed with my take on the food tonight: "Now I want to catch a rabbit and make myself and do a better job than this."

Sandra H

Absolutely divine.

Noel Hodnett

A little reluctant to let others know about this place... It's wonderful.

duncan shields

I regularly arrive grabbing some food in this place. I loved the rapid customer service and well prepared dishes. Keep it up.

Sara Pedlow

Their menu is pretty limited, but everything on it was fantastic. I won't bother saying what I recommend, since I'm told the menu changes quite often and is based on whatever inspires the chef with the fresh ingredients that come in. We came here before going to a play at the Cultch and even though my diet was restricted because I was pregnant, I was fine with the menu. I ordered a cold beet soup which I was unsure of, since it was the only pregnancy-safe starter that week. It was incredible. The chefs obviously have a lot of passion for what they do. Also, as an aside, the decor in the washroom is adorable and lends a family feel to the ambiance. I can't wait to go back here.

Salvatore Jacobs

Excellent food, kind staff members, regularly excellent character. They charge reasonable prices and the food quality is fantastic. Kudos.

James Falk

The food was good but the service was so bad I felt like Ashton Kutcher was going to jump out tell me I’d been punk’d. Arrived for our reservation at 8 and were shown to our table straight away so all good there. The waiter came over and told us about the menu and said he’s be back for our orders. Then he seemed to vanish into the ether for half an hour which I put down to the understaffing issues (some of the kitchen staff were running to tables too) which is fair enough in my books and slow service isn’t really an issue given the current COVID climate and all. The problem came when the restaurant had cleared out a bit but the waiter seemed to be doing everything possible except coming to our table - focussing instead on one single diner and then a larger table which I assumed to be owners or at least friends based on one of them letting themselves in behind to bar at one stage to grab something. That felt a little strange but things got really out of hand around 9:30pm when the waiter pulled up a chair and started having a glass of wine with the aforementioned larger table leaving us to our own devices for the rest of the meal. It’s a shame because the food was good but I don’t think there’s many dishes out there that are worth the embarrassment of having to walk across the restaurant to ask the waiter if he’d mind taking a break from his wine and conversation in order to get our bill.

Jen and Dave Braun

We’ve been coming to Absinthe for years, and it is always a fantastic experience. Corey is an exceptional cook, and he always makes an effort to connect. Hands down the best restaurant on the Drive!

Jennifer Nuce

Delightful French bistro. We ordered the octopus, tomato soup with prawns, duck, bouillabaisse and creme brûlée. The food was simply delicious. Everything was just right, not too little or too much of anything. Normally I love Saffron in my bouillabaisse, but the simple well prepared dish allowed me to really enjoy the seafood. Service was wonderful. Vancouver really needs places like this and I am so happy the Abisnthe bistro is here. ❤️ definitely try the Absinthe. ????

Izaiah Santos

We like a lot to go out. Yesterday we went to this excellent place which friends recommended to us. We passed a lovely time there with great food and an efficient team and a great chef. We added this venue in our phone list and we will surely visit again very soon. We highly recommend.

Jesse Spencer

Excellent food lovely environment. Great service.

Alden Bautista

The food is always well prepared and yummy, cashiers provides fantastic service. I love the cleanliness and character. Keep up the good work.

G. C.

This is a wonderful place. We’ve always had a great experience here and my wife wants this to be our anniversary and birthday restaurant. The flavours are bang on and the creme brulee is the best I’ve had. Sooo good The owners are also a wonderful couple. Love the new location.

Vincenzo Melandri

Exceptional place to have food when in a hurry. The service is speedy, pricing is reasonable, great ambience. Will visit here again

David Svendsen

This restaurant alone is worth a visit to Vancouver. Every bite of their food was incredible. Cory and Juliana put a passion and dedication into their work that must be experienced to understand. I cannot recall when I've eaten a meal this good.

Rowen Keller

I absolutely liked the food and service, good location to my apartment. The staff members are always very friendly. I highly recommend this place.

Lucy

Fantastic restaurant serving French affairs on Commercial. The apricot and chive butter was a surprisingly delicious combo and every course we had, we enjoyed. I would recommend going earlier as they do get busy around 7pm.

Judith McLean

Recommend Pork Cheeks vs Rabbit Leg. Don't leave before chocolate lava cake

Andy Sandberg

Wonderful food start to finish, excellent service, really warm ambiance.

Leftos Aslanoglou

Great menu, wine, service. Wonderful meal. Will go again.

Sher Boudreau

Amazing food! They did an awesome job!

A A

Quiet little place on The Drive where you could actually enjoy your meal and have a pleasant conversation at the same time. Food was excellent, bread was very fresh, service was great!

Duyoo Gong

Nice food..fair price

Bryant Beard

I had an awesome in this restaurant. We loved the first-rate environment and the meals. The staff are super affable. I’m glad we eventually managed to visit here.

Francesca Marrello

Amazing place and food! Went here last night for dinner. I had the starter which was the seared octopus and main Chilean sea bass. Everything tasted amazing and was presented so well. I would defiently go again to try their other menu options.

Sandra Bao

Love this cozy and warm atmosphere restaurant! The service was great and food was tasty.

Anna Mikhelson

Fantastic restaurant! Extremely delicious food, amazingly kind service and lovely bistro decor. Will definitely continue coming back.

Alice Lesmana

Definitely one of my all timr favorite restaurant. One of my best friend took me here and I usually visit them every 2-3 months once. Cory and team is awesome! They made you feel at home, treats you like a family and most importantly, the food are all really delicious. Haven’t had anything bad here. They changed their menu every 2-3 months once. Very reasonable price too for a 3 course meal, definitely nothing like absinthe!!! Go check them out and support local if you’ve never been and you will not be disappointed!

Natalie Morris

My absolute favourite restaurant in British Columbia. Amazing food, phenomenonal service, great wine selection, just all around outstanding. Make a reservation because it is a small place, but completely worth it.

Alannah Lori

Great food, great atmosphere and welcoming staff!

Helen Jordin

Small, intimate family-run restaurant with prix fixe menu (2/3 courses, 3 choices for each) and outstanding food! We felt welcome from the moment we arrived and loved every dish and also the wine! The lamb shank, in particular, was very rich and flavourful, falling off the bone. A very pleasant evening indeed!

keding zhu

Unfortunately, a disappointing dining experience. Food was quite good; however the service was subpar at best. Server was cold and hurried. Never once were we asked how the food was. It's not like it was busy - there were only 2 other tables! She was attentive to the other table next to us though. One example was that when their fries (complimentary, seems like everyone got them) were served, they were asked if they wanted ketchup or other condiments, while for us, she pretty much just dropped the fries on our table. Not sure what we did to offend her. :/

Jon Bokic

Delicious food and an ambience that makes you feel like are in a Parisien bistro.

Harvin Bharwani

Delicious

Joyce L

The service we've received at this place was AMAZING! Our server was very friendly and attentive. We got carried away and stayed a bit after their business hours. They were very understanding and told us don't feel bad about it. They even offered for us to stay inside if we needed to wait for a cab since it was a rainy evening. Just for their service, they deserve 5 stars. Food was very decent as well. Although it's a set menu, it's very flexible in terms of if you want just appies + entree, or just entree + dessert, or all three. We had an amazing time and we will definitely go back!

Lenka Vaskova

Not much on the menu but everything on the menu is worth your visit!! Not big portions, but delicious and tasteful portions!! Even the bread is worth it...go!

Quentin Hart

I adore this spot! They have high quality meals, their menu is decent, The chef in that restaurant is a professional, I like very much trying all their dishes. The food is always good, the service towards the visitors is helpful. I go often to this place and I was never disappointed. I recommend it with no hesitation.

Fred Lee

Superb food, faultless. Good service.

Michael Coderre

Cozy and authentic. Tasty meals.

Boris Kazarez

Great food, warm service and cozy atmosphere. Will definitely come back :)

Art One Translations

French with nico ni Co ni

Kitty Lau

Excellent food and service! Will be back for sure. Thank you Julliana and Cory!

Steven Choy

We had a wonderful dinner experience at Absinthe Bistro. Terrific and friendly service, excellent food and good wine selection. We tried the set menu option and it didn't disappoint. The highlights for me were the carpaccio, sea bass, and lava cake. Will definitely be going back!

Dylan Baker

Dinner

Randy Norman

Super fresh, creative and delicious French food. Small cute room with really good service. Eat here.

Federica

Absolutely delicious!!! I went there with my fiancé..second time for me and first for him. It didn’t disappoint. I got the sunchoke soup and the scallops with leeks and rice cake... I cannot describe how delicious it was. I had an explosion of flavours in my mouth.. a piece of heaven. He got the beef ribeye on mushrooms sauce and it was so soft and perfectly cook (rare) it was melting in our mouths! But so far Extra points for the scallops.. unforgettable. We got then the lava cake and the creme brûlée as desserts .. I could eat more and more . We will come back again... surely! Merci beaucoup !

Erika G

The nicest restaurant on Commercial Drive in my opinion, a true fine dining experience. I would rate it 6 stars if I could. The owners are wonderful people and the love they put into the food is outstanding. Some of the most delicious meals I've ever had. I can't recommend this enough! Please get your resos in early and start mentally preparing for the amazing wines, desserts and entrees!

Kate S

They serve large dishes and for convenient prices. nice staff. Kudos.

Alicia Nowakowski

amazing food, great service, cool atmosphere. i highly reconmend to anyone who finds themself in vancouver.

Scott Sommerville

Easily some of the best food I've had in Vancouver. The menu changes often and it's always a treat. During pandemic times, they're doing patio dining and takeaway appointments. The service is always impeccable and friendly. My partner and I have been coming to Absinthe for our anniversary for seven years now and we'll keep coming back.

Gisela Atkinson

Food and drinks were great! Friendly service.

Matt S

Amazing food and very homey, there’s not a lot of space here so you will have to make reservations well ahead of time! If you want to take your women for a romantic dinner and like French/fancy style foods then you won’t be disappointed! I’ve now been twice as they rotate the menu every so often and I was very impressed both times!

John Milton

They have a fixed course menu, changed regularly. We enjoyed prawns and scallops.

Laurent Grimal

This place never fails to impress. They have fresh dishes for affordable pricing, there are no long waits even when the place is busy.

Gerald Epp

The pork was very flavourful, and the crême brulee was absolutely amazing. My wife had the fish stew which wasn't that flavourful. Small but elegant place.

Michael Csercsics

Such a dope spot!!!

Foodie C

they never disappoint (apologies for the double negative)

Sean Lynott

enjoy everything

Ryan Brodie

Excellent, all three courses!

Sarah “The Thot Slayer”

The absolute best place for absinthe in this city. You'll be delighted to find great local selections and even absinthe cocktails tailored to each particular variety. The food, although expensive, is worth every bite. This is a must-try!

Ryan Harrison

Each dish had unique flavor profiles that in my opinion were well prepared. The food would not necessarily be labelled at bold, it was more of a subtle blend. The location was quite spacious but I would consider the general din to be loud, why do restaurants never seem to invest in some soundboard! It could certainly use a little bit to cut down the underlining conversation noise. Overall I believe the restaurant delivered exactly what was promised and deserves my five stars.

Philip Hui

Great service, lovely ambiance, good portions. Simple 3 course menu to choose from, family run. Really yummy bread, the apricot infused butter was a nice touch. Scallop was cooked well as was the duck confit. Lava cake was a tiny bit chewy on the outside but anything chocolate we are sold! Wife and I happened to be dining on their 7th year opening anniversary - wishing them all the best~

Will G

Would absolutely recommend visiting this place. Excellent character, delicious food, great service. Keep up the good work.

Marlo Muscutt

We treated ourselves to Absinthe for New Years Eve 2016. Some friends had recommended it to us. I was so impressed by the quality of food - a mouth watering delight starting with beef carpaccio, followed by duck leg confit and finishing off with creme brûlée. The service was attentive and friendly and the timing of food delivery was perfect. Absinthe Bistro is definitely on our list for repeats and this is a very short list for us!

Joe Tian

Always delicious and love the relaxing atmosphere and quaintness. Food offered here rotates often, so you always get to try something new. Owners mariana and cory are a dynamic duo, knowledgeable of the food, kind and attentive, its like being dinner guest at a friend's. Some of what we had this evening include a roasted rabbit leg with gnocchi, and an grilled octopus starter. Both simply but well done.

Gretchen Ferguson

Beautiful ambience. Food is presented beautifully. I love the three course menu but with flexibility...you can order all three courses...or two...or one. My meal was delicious. Veggie entree available on request which was great as I took my vegetarian friend.

Christopher Brodie-Smith

A delicious 3 course menu with great attentive service. Started off with a prawn and avo salad, then had the duck, followed by the creme Brule. Good food and a greet evening

Thomas

The food is good. Recommended to make a reservation

lauren leupen

The food is not the greatest, bad service and price doesn't justify the food's amount

Nehemiah Knox

This place is one of my favorites! Affordable rates, considerable dishes and the employees are regularly very kind.

Olga Zasenko

Great food and atmosphere. Reasonable prices and the best crème brule around!

Ashley W

This place sure knows how to please their clients. Constantly with a very kind mindset. The food is conveniently priced, constantly fresh and neat.

Brandon Bodnarchuk

Overall cute little French restaurant that offers traditional French food. The food was amazing, but I must say the Creme Brulee was not as good as at The Faux Bourgeois, and the menu was too simple compared to The Faux Bourgeois. Overall though it was a nice touch to have the chef come bring you your food.

Lynne Cregg-Guinan

Meal type

J W

Delicious well made food. It's good French cooking with creative flare. [Addendum: Upon a second visit, I noticed the same dishes were inconsistent - the plating affected the taste. Not a big deal but the food was the tastiest on my first visit. Wonder what it would be like third time around?] Minimum menu with the right amount of variety that makes it so easy to choose. The wait staff were just perfect in being friendly, helpful and authentic without being overwhelming. At the same time it's not a place to eat at everyday (it's a little more upscale than casual dining and the cost of the meal reflects that). This will be one of the places we'll go to treat ourselves on a special occasion or in this recent case to cheer ourselves up with good food after a bad day.

Ursula Sanchez

Great ambiance Great service GREAT DRINKS, you'll like everything. We had the salmon, duck breast, gazpacho, escargot, sorbet, and crème brûlée and we had no complaints.

Sophia Chen

Nice atmosphere with delicious foods ????

Nic Scott

There are no words capable of expressing how wonderful the food here is. And the owners are delightful. So glad I finally tried it!

Ken Tsang

My top 5 for dinner. Everything delicious!

Olivia Holm

UNBELIEVABLE FOOD and ambiance was just exactly what my group of 3 was looking for at this quaint eatery. My friend described it by saying "Atmo- One hundo" Meaning the atmosphere got 100% rating. =) We had one night in Vancouver and the recommendation to eat at Absinthe was the perfect one! If I ever find myself here again, I will definitely come back. The owners of this place are doing it right, with fabulous wine and incredibly beautiful dishes. Every course was exceptional. I cannot praise this place enough.

Wai Keong Chan

Price is very resonable. Food and Cocktails ate good

Moshe Zvi

TL;DR: Excellent food, friendly service, unpretentious prices. We went yesterday evening for my spouse's birthday. The place is absolutely charming - it's quite small, casual in a relaxing way. The food was good - only a small selection of dishes on the daily menu, but executed perfectly. Goat cheese terinne and tuna sashimi starters were excellent. Osso buco main was lovely. The duck confit was very good, but could have used some longer cooking (felt more grilled duck than actual confit). The créme brulee was the showstopper. I'm usually not a fan, but this one was absolutely perfect - not too sweet, with a hint of salt and generous with the vanilla underflavour. Perfect. The service was exceptional - extremely friendly and just lovely. Will definitely be coming back.

Margaret Good

Another excellent meal at Absinthe. Love the simplified menu, changing regularly. Great service and atmosphere.

wesley tom

The food was very good and the price is absolutely reasonable. It's a small menu, but that just allows the chef to really focus on the quality- and it shows.

Peter Vandergrient

Great place. One of my favourite restaraunts in the city.

Matt R Knez

Great choice of two or three course meal. Owned by a. Couple great drinks.

rob nuez

Flew in from Montreal for business. While in Vancouver had time to dine at Absinthe with a local friend of mine and had an exquisite dining experience. Food was on the mark, wine selection was great, and service was flawless. Add to that a very cosy ambiance and reasonably priced. Met the owner and he was extremely personable and accommodating. Plan to return :)

tommy wong

Great service and unique experience. Delicious 3 course meal!

Anne Marie Cameron

What a great French bistro. The food was fabulous, staff helpful and very friendly. We heard about this little gem before we left Australia. We had the scallops, plump and great flovours, and the duck was moist with classic flavours. Lamb shank was coated a shiny deduction sauce, perfection. We shared the brûlée and chocolate volcano pudding which were sublime. Thank you

Alan McGregor

Fabulous food, friendly owners... Definitely will go back

Michael Lee

Stunning . Food and Service. Highly recommended

Wyatt Anton

The food was very good, presentation was excellent, and the staff worked very hard to keep up quality service. Would definitely recommend this restaurant though it is a tad pricey.

N Van

I can't say that I frequent a lot of French restaurants, but I do know good food. I loved how fresh everything was, presentation was beautiful and the food was served at the expected temperature (gazpacho was cool and entree was hot). I would say it was a 4.5 experience overall as there was a slight hiccup when we were brought the bill after 2 courses instead of having our order taken for the 3rd course. We had mentioned at the beginning we were ordering 3 courses, but hadn't decided on desserts yet. Then when our main plates were being cleared my smoker friend said we needed some more time. 15 minutes after that, we got the bill and that was awkward. It did get resolved and we got our dessert (with a birthday candle for me) so all good.

Himright

Very happy place. Small portions.

Klara

(Translated) Perfect from start (foie gras) to end (crème brûlée with real Madagascar vanilla pods)! (Original) Parfait du début (foie gras) à la fin (crème brûlée avec de vraies gousses de vanille de Madagascar) !

Scarlett

This is my first time writing a review, I just couldn’t let it slide and everyone I spoke to encouraged me to share it on here. I came here for my boyfriend’s birthday dinner. I’ve never had French cuisine before, so I’m not very well versed with the dishes, but I have never liked cauliflower (in any cuisine). My boyfriend ordered the cauliflower soup and forced me to try a sip even though I insisted that it wouldn’t be my cup of tea. He kept insisting so when I tried a sip just so he would stop asking me, expectedly, I didn’t enjoy it and made a face privately to him at our dinner table to let him know “see, I don’t like it”. Immediately after, the owner of the restaurant said aloud in front of everyone in the restaurant, “did you really have to make that face? Is it really that bad?” I studied Hospitality and worked in the industry for years, so I understood that that behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional, to shame a customer for their own palette and personal preferences. Completely understandable if I was a rude customer to have ordered something I knew I wouldn’t like and made a fuss and complained about it openly to everyone, but this wasn’t even my dish that I ordered, and it was between my boyfriend and I’s private conversation at our table. If he truly wanted my feedback and constructive criticism (which again, has nothing to do with their soup, I’m sure anyone who enjoys cauliflower would drink it), he should have came up to our table to ask if there was something wrong with soup instead of openly saying that in front of all the other customers and employees, bluntly shaming me in a condescending manner. I hope the owner will know that not everyone has the same palette, and everyone is allowed to have their own preferences as long as they’re not openly bashing it to everyone in a rude manner. Safe to say that it was a truly disappointing birthday dinner, we went home without eating anything else and ended the night with a bitter taste in our mouths. Truly hope that no other customer will have to go through what we went through that night.

Shay K

Good ambience, lovely set up and decor. The food was good, though when we received our dishes they were lukewarm. Couple of things (octopus) were a little too salty, but still decent. The service was friendly, but really quite slow. They seemed understaffed - the chef served us the food herself. Would return again to try something new.

liz lee

Super flavorful food very creative with good portions. Definitely recommend!!! Read about this restaurant in LA Times article on AAA best places for favorite summer destinations. Prix fixed menu either 2 course starter+main course ($36) or 3 course with dessert. For two of us we chose one 2 course and another 3 course so we can share dessert.

Dom Smith

Amazing restaurant, amazing food, I seriously cannot say enough good things about this place. The fellow who runs the joint/kitchen is named Corey, and he is a culinary expert in my opinion. I was so relieved and genuinely happy that their business was able to flourish with take-out orders during the pandemic lock-down, and I hope the community continues to support this local gem of a restaurant :)

Galib Bhayani

Awesome decor! And just really good vibes

Fa R-O

Great ambience, the food was delicious and service was amazing. Will definitely go back. My parents are from out of town and they also enjoyed the experience a lot. Highly recommended!

Samantha Le

This is my favourite French restaurants. Love love all the main entries

Jennifer McCreath

Great food and a wonderful staff that was very welcoming and attentive. Absinthe mojito was pretty cool.

Charl L

Absolutely Excellent

Jeff Johnston

We had a great dinner tonight. Corey was great overseeing our table and recommending a great wine. We enjoyed one of everything on the menu between the three of us. First time for us at the newest location. We are full and enjoyed our experience. We definitely come again next time in town. Great to see you again Corey. Thank you from Shannan

Jens Hennings

Perfect French cuisine! Don’t let the limited selection on the menu fool you — every dish is fantastic and tasty! Highly recommend!

Kelvin Lau

Wonderful French restaurant with choices out of the ordinary. Limited seating so be sure to make a reservation! Probably not great for larger parties.

Keith C

Every plate I had this night was simply delicious. From appetizer right through to dessert. Scallops cooked perfectly, and the pork cheeks leaves a taste in your mouth that you keep remembering. The host, and I believe owner, is very friendly and kind to explain things through dinner. I highly recommend. You really need to try to understand what I mean.

Todd Dixon

Each menu is a perfectly balanced repertoire of flavors. The chef, who trained in France, brings fresh ideas to every meal with a hint of South American cuisine by way of his lovely Colombian wife. The prices are more than fair and the atmosphere is charming and intimate.

Cindy

The food was just okay. Went in for dinner with high expectations from seeing all the 5-star reviews, however our experience did not match that. Not sure if it was just an off day on their end but we probably won’t be coming back to find out.

Joe Madigan

Lost to why someone would give this restaurant anything less then 5 stars. They serve great food, have a great atmosphere, and you can bring your own wine in as well! Server was extremely friendly and recognized us from the last time. This establishment represents the epitome of Vancouver food culture.

John Doeski

Excellent food, lovely atmosphere and the service was fab! Will definitely be back.

Elizabeth Lubin

Very good food. We had the duck breasts on wonderful sliced potatoes on a superb sauce. Fantastic bread with delicious apricot and chive butter. Nice they don't charge for the bread. I had the Pavlova, my husband had the lava cake. I'd go for the lava cake next time. A couple of negatives: 1) Like so many restaurants, I find the price of glasses of wine outrageous, their cocktails are pricey, too, so I ordered a Cappuccino for $5. I found it watery and only half the cup was filled! Really? You couldn't pour in just a bit more cheap coffee? 2) I found the service very amateur. I’ve heard that good, experienced people are hard to get now with places re-opening after the worst of Covid, so it’s understandable and they were very busy, but I think before opening, it would have helped if the manager had done a bit to a lot more training considering the prices people pay here. e.g. Warm greeting by wait staff, someone asking how the food is, asking permission before taking our plates away, not practically throwing our dessert spoons at us, perhaps wiping down the table connected to us when food had fallen on it. Again, I'm sure they're short on staff, it was busy and everyone looked harried, but at least train the staff you have by doing some role plays or something.

Mariya V

Only the best to say about this place! Juliana and Cory (and Kelsie) were incredible. For two - we had tuna tartare and crab soup to start (amazing), fall-off-the-bone lamb shank and sea bass for dinner, and the lava cake for desert. Even the chive whipped butter for the starter bread was delicious. Cannot wait to return and try their unique rotating menu. Do not hesitate to try! Still talking about our meal the following morning :) Resos highly encouraged. 2 years later - finally came back except this time with a hectic party of 9! New location is lovely and still cozy as ever. Julianna, Cory and their team are unlike any other. It is so evident that they pour their heart and soul into their beautiful French restaurant. Everything we had was delicious (pretty much the entire menu) - beef carpaccio, cauliflower soup, squid (appies), lamb, hangar steak and cod/scallop dish, and then they treated us to 3 desserts as we were in to celebrate 2 special occasions. Huge thank you from us for treating us so well and blessing us with your beautiful dishes! See you soon!

Pablo Gimenez

Fantastic Bistro! Juliana was a sweetheart and made sure my wife Lisa and myself had an unforgettable experience. The food was excellent and the desert unforgettable! We are definitely going to be regulars now!!!

Alina Bychkova

The food tasted great, the kitchen staff were very quick to bring it out and were very attentive. The reason we won't be going back is that I wish I could say the same about our server. We didn't see him much for during meal, except when it was time for our bill! My partner needed a few minutes to decide on his drink, but after he brought me my beer he never came back to take his drink order, nor did he offer me another drink or ask us if we were doing ok even once during the entire meal. We could see him chatting away to other tables and it wasn't too busy, so we definitely left feeling neglected.

Wes Carter

Don't like the service

Michael Kehl

We moved to Van from Europe and this is hands down the best food we have eaten so far. We will be back again.

Joyce Poon

Food and service are good. Will recommend my friends to try.

L E

Folks, perhaps my palate is just too simple for the culinary sophistication that is Absinthe, maybe I want to walk away feeling satiated after spending $55+ for a three course meal plus a drink, or possibly, I simply don't "get it". But what's the fuss about? Five tablespoons worth of a barely-warmed pureed mushroom soup (weird grainy texture), three chunks of pork in a sugary Asian-esque "gravy" with ice cold pickled....er....noodle thingies? The espresso was good. This, I'll concede. But for the price tag and the flavors? I recommend checking out some alternative "finer dining" in the area. Absinthe is all style and little to no substance. I knew going in what I was likely getting myself into, with the try-hard decor that was ostentatious in its attempts at elegant minimalism, and it's conspicuously simple (have I mentioned way over priced) menu. For my expectations going in, Absinthe, sadly, did not disappoint. Guys, I'm off to Belgian Fries. Who is with me?

Hiromy Guin

A pretty comfy place. Excelent place to have a warm and peaceful dinner, loved the food and the service. A really really good place to go.

Reina Kang

Excellent food, service and drinks at Abinsithe. A must try if you enjoy an elegant and tasteful experience.

Erickson Yan

So I’ve been here before and they definitely left an impression the last few times. This time with a new location not to far from the original, it continues to amaze! Pros: - owners husband and wife serving and greeting. Not a lot of places can say that - ordered all their main dishes cause it looked good and my god it was - the washrooms showcased their hard work during the new location renovations by the owners. A great touch Cons: - decor was unique, it could be better for a more romantic experience. But seriously this all I can say bad about this place, cause everything else was perfect. Recommendation: - perfect date place, try all their dishes and desserts, guaranteed to score big and win their hearts!

E Nelligan

Such a great place. Food is fantastic! Service was amazing. Great wine selection. Very cozy and romantic!!!

George Amsel

Good food, great ambience, friendly professional staff

Alberta Rose

Did not meet the expectations I hoped:(

Ohmi Tierra

Such a really good restaurant! Lovely food, the owner is really kind and all the service was awesome. Seriously, if you are in town and you are looking for a really good experience, this Bistro should be on the top of your restaurants to go list

Helen Sefton

Very expensive but great service and excellent food

michael gruner

Oh my god, a slice of French heaven with the gentleman explaining and helping us with everything from the sourcing of their food and drinks to the secrets that give it such beautiful flavors. The scallops sauce was the most beautiful thing to touch my tongue in years. I felt like I was falling I love with the atmosphere and food and will be back soon. The husband and wife working here care and love what they do. I love how interesting their stories are and how they spent almost a decade in France. They brought a piece of the world I am grateful to experience. Hearing the stories behind the sourcing of the absinthe and which selections have stronger and softer flavors. Thank you for an unforgettable experience. I was having a terrible evening and you made it into a dreamy one.

Gina Chang

Delightful plating, delicious food, wonderful service, reasonable price. The apricot and chive butter was so amazing that we asked for more bread and ended up eating way too much for the night. Scallops & prawns were fresh and the sea bass was very juicy. We especially loved the thoughts they put into the colours of the food & plates - a feast to the eyes in itself. Would definitely come back!

Jane choi

I like the place has neighborhood style that fitting Commercial Dr. area. The menu showed good French food variety but the food delivered without French presentation style. Food quality was average.

Katie

One of the best meals I've ever eaten. Excellent service, staff, and amazing food. The gazpacho starter was light and tasty, perfect consistency with feta to complement. For the main, the duck confit was flavoursome and well presented- it literally fell off the bone.. amazing. To finish, the crème brulee was sweet with a good consistency- perfect end to the meal. Service was as sweet as the food. Best place I've been so far in Vancouver!

Linda G.

First time here and we felt so welcome. The 3 of us had everything on the menu. Excellent food! Fantastic service! The sable fish was my favourite and the yuca root was delicious.

Derrick B

Unfortunately the owner of this place does not understand customer service. Even after he was told a dish was not good, he refused to do anything about it! He also won't accommodate any modifications. The service is slow with only 1 staff attending to tables. The owner is arrogant and does not care if you enjoy the experience or not. Really wanted to like the place but it left our group disappointed and we won't be back!

Alexis Cadberny

I go with my wife to this great restaurant quite often! This is my favorite restaurant to eat. I go there frequently. The cooking is excellent, the workers are polite and the prices are fair. I enjoy going in this restaurant to have a tasty lunch.

Cheryl Kathler

(Translated) Very authentic French cuisine, the proprietress is very warm and entertaining, every time the cuisine is carefully crafted, it is very worthwhile to give 5 stars! (Original) 非常道地法式料理，老闆娘非常熱情招待，每到料理精心製作，給予5顆星是非常值得！

Harriet Huchelmann

I went here with my husband (who is French) for our wedding anniversary and had a great meal. It's a small operation, 2 in the kitchen and two upfront but they were friendly, attentive and we were waiting the perfect amount of time for each course. The limited menu is great as it allows them to concentrate of the quality of food and the sauces were AMAZING (a must for a French restaurant) we were wiping our plates clean with very good bread. We will be back! If you're not a try new foods and flavours kind of person this is not for you.

Eryk Jeznach

Small yet comfortable restaurant run by a very sweet and attentive couple. The food was classic well executed French. Ideal for taking less adventurous eaters or those you gradually want to turn into foodies.

Jimmy Leonard

I've been living in a cardboard box on Hastings since drinking here a week ago. I'm seeing green fairies everywhere. I've given up on bathing trying to scare them away.

Baru Spear-Ross

A wonderfully cozy place with attentive servers and a small but tasty menu. Highly recommended!

Juliana Bedoya

Went there for my birthday (October 4th) and it was absolutely delicious.. I am originally from France and I can really say this restaurant and the owner have definitely the sense of hospitality and reception. Service was incredible, after 2 years in Vancouver, it's the first time we felt so good, almost like at home! AND the food quality is excellent! We will come back for sure!

Matty Robinson

So good! All the meals tasted great and the wine was amazing. Staff was kind and considerate

Andy Dorfmann

A wonderful dining experince. Warm, inviting and with attentive service.

Peter Landovskis

Always perfect!

Werner heinrich

An excellent takeout meal including a warm baguette and delicious specialty butter. Thank you, Absinthe, for continuing to offer high quality and delicious food at reasonable prices.

Pascal Pillot

I remember when the restaurant opened 5 years ago and with every visit it is a new world of flavours that opens up. Local ingredients and a mastery in marrying the most subtle flavours make it a place to come back to regularly.

Charlie Chiu

Wonderful French bistro food.

Chase Pedersen

This might be my favourite restaurant in the world, (and I've been all over.) While they only have a few select dishes each one will change your life, even the starter bread alone. Not kidding.

Andre Anzarut

High expectations but underwhelming delivery. Best thing we ate was the bread with chive butter.

Sonya Tremblay

The owner gave an excellent service and the way they serve the absinthe was unique and the food was amazing. We've been treated very well. I would definitely recommend this place!

Ryan Douglas

My first time trying French cuisine. Also my first time trying absinthe. I was not disappointed. I love the minimal menu. It makes deciding soooo much easier. The food was phenomenal. The absinthe was very strong. The staff were extremely friendly. I will definitely be coming back

John Morris

Great food and atmosphere! Nice quiet, intimate setting. Very helpful and friendly staff.

William Liu

Amazing and flavorful French food from a limited menu. Service is warm and welcoming. Cannot ask for a lovelier dinning experience than this.

Georges Laurent

Very authentic French food. The menu has a lot of variety and the service is excellent!

Jacqueline Wong

Host was super entertaining and liked to crack jokes. Food was good and not overly salty. The lava cake is a flavor bomb and one of the best I've had, but a tad too sweet as I prefer savory foods to sweets.

S G

An exquisite experience. Everything was delicious, the service was awesome and the place is beautiful! Highly recommended, if you are visiting the town or if you are local, you cannot miss the experience of coming here.

Mik

You can't find nicer people. Their food is excellent and the service is even better. I had the octopus appetizer last time...was unbelievably good. Always enjoy the food and prices are very reasonable for the quality.

Randy Bamford

Nice concept, great execution and service.

Stuart Thomas

Absinthe Bistro has been a favourite dining spot in the neighbourhood for years. Can't go there now though, so decided to order takeout and pick it up from the new location at 952 Commercial Drive. The pickup experience was comfortable and confidence inspiring. Julianna had thoughtfully arranged the space and procedures of payment and handoff to make her concern with effective safety evident. That's true hospitality. Dinner was wonderful. Cory had presented the appetizers in their carry-out containers as if they'd been plated in the kitchen and I was able to do a pretty good amateur job of retaining that arrangement. The flavours Nd appearance of the appetizers, main courses and desserts easily survived the trip home making the whole experience our major entertainment for the day and the culinary high point of our isolated week. I'll be back.

Sarfraz Khan

We were very disappointed with our experience. First of all we found the servers seemed absent and didn’t bother to make any kind of connection with us or show any excitement for the food. Which I could understand when I tried the food, all of which was bland and seemed like frozen food that was just warmed up and plated. We are shocked at how high the reviews for this restaurant are given the poor experience that we had. We will not be returning.

Dylan Jones

Delightful meal. Talented chef, well executed. Just marvelous. Highly recommend.

Melody

Food was perfect! Plated beautifully, seafood was cooked perfectly and flavours complimented eachother. Service was friendly. Would go back in a heartbeat.

Cliff Rogers

Excellent food and service, always

Suzie

We chose bistro absinthe for my boyfriends birthday dinner, and could not have been more pleased with the experience. We tried two different starters, mains, and desserts and each was just as delicious as the next. Our server was positively cheerful, and knowledgeable about each dish being served. The chef also thanked us on our way out, which does not happen very often at most busy restaurants. We will definitely be coming back!

Adam S

Really happy with the meal. Rich French cuisine in a cozy setting. The deserts were huge! Share size. I enjoyed the absinthe experience. I saw a very content looking woman have a nice meal by herself - this is a place you can treat your self too

Francesca Carbonneau

The food was thoughtfully plated and perfectly executed. Service was intimate and charming. We could not have asked for a better evening. The Sablefish was made peerrrrfectly and it is the best chocolate lava cake I've ever had!! We will definitely be back! Not to mention all the fun cocktails and absinthe bottles to choose from. Highly recommended!!!

Melissa Thompson

Very good menu and charming staff - magnifique ????????

Teo O.H.

It's always a great dinner whenever we come here. From the simple, yet elegant menu, to the delightful cocktails, there are no unnecessary frivolties. Chef Cory Pearson and his wife Juliana offer a casual fine dining experience that's very much like you've invited for dinner at their home. Definitely better to get a reservation, it can get quite busy and deservedly so. The food is well worth the wait.

Art

Beautiful dining experience! This place is easily the best restaurant in Vancouver and also its best kept secret. Run by a husband and wife team, this cosy place requires a reservation. The menu is always fresh and seasonal and the food is delicious. If you go to one place on Vancouver, go here.

Mike Adamski

Amazing service, atmosphere, and the food is genuinely 10/10. Have been here 4x now, and I will definitely be returning in the future. Would recommend to anyone looking for a cute place to go on a date or have a family dinner. It is pricey, but very worth it.