Vancouver Good

The restaurant biz is not the most straightforward path to fame and fortune. Case in point - The Corner Suite Bistro Deluxe. I noted in my calendar last year that the Corner Suite was scheduled to open in July 2009 with Canadian celebrity chef Anthony Sedlak (of the Food Network’s “The Main“). It opened in February 2010 with no Sedlak, who had moved onto other projects.

Vancouver Magazine featured the restaurant last summer before they opened, and the numbers they quote are quite telling of how tough the restaurant business can be, forecasting a break-even date of five years from now!

Once open, they’ll have to manage expenditures tightly. Each month, $12,883 will go to rent, strata fees, and taxes. (Hydro, heat, air conditioning, garbage and recycling pickup, maintenance, and one parking stall are included.) Four phone lines, Internet, alarm, interest, and insurance plus licences and permits add $6,018, and they hope $5,100 will cover miscellaneous costs (laundry, janitorial and office supplies, vehicle expenses, and so on). The big dings will be $77,000 in salaries and labour, $42,000 for liquor, and $39,000 for food. All told, they’re looking to spend no more than $182,000 per month, or $6,066.70 a day. They project an average revenue of $8,500 a day (they’ll close only for Christmas and New Year’s)–a gross of $3,085,500 by the end of year one. They forecast a steady climb to $4,049,991 by their fifth year, at which point they expect to break even.

Anyway, enough about numbers. Given the hype and delays, the Corner Suite was a long anticipated opening for many foodies. And the good news is: the food (and drink) are great!

First the drinks. Your options are plentiful, starting with the beautiful, 30-page drink menu – The Genuine Article – full of classic, modern, and new takes on cocktails. Our table indulged in several cocktails, the classic Old Fashioned being the highlight of the evening.

The food menu is a small, but eclectic mix of options, all well prepared. Some highlights:

• Cod brandade with crostini. At $5, it’s a generous portion of flavourful, smooth, and salty yumminess
• Seafood chowder – rich, thick, and full of smoky bacon
• A light salad of delicate greens, a fried patty of goat cheese, poached pears, nuts, and a fruity vinaigrette
• Foie gras torchon, with an orange compote and brioche. I didn’t try this dish, but my dining mates deemed it worthy
• A croque madame full of ham and cheese with freshly fried truffled potato chips and arugula salad
• Mussels and fries – fresh mussels with an aioli for dipping the fries
• We skipped dessert, but you certainly have several sweet options plus a two page menu of cheeses to choose from
• The restaurant also offers a 2-course menu for $24.70 each day – expect something different every time

Service was attentive, but the restaurant was not overly busy – likely suffering from the Olympic hangover that’s happening around the city.

The room is fun! Another room that manages to use turquoise and black and make it look cool (Nu being the other). They used some kind of rubberized turquoise paint on the chairs, which gives them a vibrant finish.

Overall – we’ll be back. Food is good, drinks are good, prices are good…it’s all good.

The Corner Suite Bistro Deluxe
850 Thurlow Street, Vancouver (@ Haro)
604 569 3415