A map of Railtown, Vancouver, BC, by Tom Froese.
Located between Chinatown and Gastown, Railtown is a Vancouver neighbourhood with a long history, a thriving dining scene, and a strong sense of supportive community.
During the month of November, an exciting new dining and drinking initiative will be taking place, with proceeds going to a worthy community organization. Not only will you be able to get to know what Railtown has to offer your palate, but you will also be supporting worthy not-for-profit work in the area.
From November 1 to 30, 2019, the Strathcona Business Improvement Association (SBIA) is working in collaboration with nine Railtown restaurants and cafés on the first Dine Railtown.
Basically, each of the nine establishments will be offering a feature item, with sale proceeds of these items going to the Powell Street Getaway. Under the umbrella of the Lookout Housing and Health Society, the Powell Street Getaway has a mandate to help those in the community struggling with mental health, chronic illness, and addiction. The resource centre is peer-led, and doing incredible work.
Dine Railtown is such an exciting initiative because it showcases not only the wealth of restaurants and cafes in the area, but also these businesses’ investment in and active commitment to the health of their neighbourhood and its residents.
The nine restaurants, located between Main Street and Princess Street, and Railway Street and East Cordova, feature everything from artisanal coffee to refined French Canadian cuisine.
Here are three places to get you started with Dine Railtown:
Pallet Coffee Roasters
Photo Credit: Tara Lee
The new location of Pallet Coffee Roasters (395 Alexander Street) is set to launch on November 4, 2019, and they’re hitting the ground running by taking part in Dine Railtown. The space is breathtakingly gorgeous with soaring ceilings, massive skylights for maximum light, and an industrial chic aesthetic. In the back, you can get a glimpse of production and breathe in those heady roasted coffee aromas.
They will be donating proceeds of their pourover coffee ($20), which will come with a 340g bag of coffee beans. The bag retails at $21 alone, and the coffee $5, so it’s a great deal. There will be a selection of feature coffees to choose from, such as Ethiopia Kayon Mountain, which has a lovely fruity flavour, with hints of blueberry and raspberry, as well as lime acidity.
LanaLou’s Restaurant
Photo Credit: Tara Lee
LanaLou’s Rock n’ Roll Eatery (362 Powell Street) has been proudly part of the Railtown community for almost a decade. This eclectic establishment combines a bar and restaurant with live entertainment, making it one of the most unique places in the neighbourhood. Visit them to try their health-packed quinoa and brown rice salad bowl, which also comes with grape tomatoes, greens, avocado, beets, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and ginger tamari dressing ($13).
Photo Credit: Tara Lee
The Belgard Kitchen
Sharing its space with Vancouver Urban Winery and Postmark Brewing, The Belgard Kitchen (55 Dunlevy Avenue) is such a unique hybrid establishment. It’s the only one like it in Metro Vancouver. From its impressive, large front doors, to its vaulted wood ceilings, it’s the ideal space to enjoy a pint of one of their beers, or a glass of one of the many wines on tap.
The Dine Railtown yam gnocchi with lamb and braised pork shoulder ragu, brown sage butter, and sweet peas is the ultimate rustic autumn comfort dish ($19). There’s certainly no shortage of flavour on the plate.
Photo Credit: Tara Lee
Other participating places include Ask for Luigi (305 Alexander Street) with fried cauliflower and chickpeas with herbs, spicy aioli, and parmesan ($15); The Mackenzie Room (415 Powell Street) with their phenomenal Chicken of the Sea dish, which consists of sea urchin parfait, burnt onion nectar, poached pears, hazelnut butter, and squid ink brioche ($19); and Railtown Café (397 Railway Street) with a classic beef stroganoff bowl with buttered egg noodles, flank steak, mushrooms, onions, and sour cream.
You can find a map of the Dine Railtown locations on-line, as well as at each of the participating establishments. The map, which also features other restaurants and cafes to check out in the area, was designed by local artist Tom Froese.
