Chambar

Added Nov 14, 2009 by culinarydelights of vancouver (5 Reviews)

One of the best places to try
This was my second time at Chambar but this time, a bunch of friends and I decided to come here for dessert. I have to say that this place delivered a solid plated dessert at a reasonable price. I tried the Bleu et blanc. The combination of flavours was very well done, especially the plum and mousse. I did, however, find that the proportion of plum to mousse was lacking. I found the mousse to be quite heavy (blue cheese/white chocolate) and it needed more of the plum element to balance it. I did sample a bit of the Le gateau poire from a friend. The texture of the cake/pear compote was wonderful. I did feel that the compote could have had a bit more pear flavour, as it finished with the taste of plain sugar in the mouth. This was also the same with the lemongrass ice cream. Could have been more lemongrass and less sweetness. Nevertheless, great quality food, over the top service and atmosphere, will definitely come back soon!

Added Oct 1, 2009 by CoastalCook of White Rock (11 Reviews)

Well Worth the Investment
Four of us decided to head to Chambar on a Saturday night. With just two days notice we found a reservation a bit on the early side - 6:00 p.m. (only other available was 8:30) but this place was already half full. The dining area is really just a hallway with tables on one side, sharing a wall length banquette opposite a half room length bar. All night long the servers and patrons go past your table. To use the ladies room you have to move past the waiters waiting to pickup their bar orders. The noise level rose to high as the evening went on - this is not a place for an intimate meal. Servers were attentive and helpful. We started with the olives and the bread as we waited for out fourth. Followed by the mussels in white wine cream sauce and frites. The very best part of the meal and I'm not usually fond of mussels. Could have and should have stopped here but we continued on, each having an entree. All portions were very small but well presented. Almost like four small appetizers on each oblong plate and at $26+ per entree is a bit on the pricely side. Coconut risotto least favorite of the meal. Fish was good, skin was crisp. Did not share plates with the others so cannot comment on their meals but there was not a morsel left. We followed up with the share dessert plate which is just a small amount of each of their three desserts plus special coffees. Amount for four with tip was just under $400. This included two cocktails, one bottle of wine, a few specialty beer, appy's, entrees, dessert and coffees. Will likely go back but stick with the mussels and perhaps an appetizer or two.

Added Aug 17, 2009 by mrsjorge of vancouver (11 Reviews)

good first time experience
My friend and I have wanted to go to Chambar for a long time. In fact, one of her co-workers tease us that we always say we're going to go, but still haven't managed to for the last 1.5 years. Finally, with the hubby and son not with me, we were off to Beatty St to try the much touted Chambar.

We did not have reservations, as the on-line "Opentable" reservations option was not working for me the day before. We were told that if we try to get there when it opens for 6pm, we still should be able to get in. That Saturday, we forgot that there was a concert at GM Place so it was a bit busy downtown, and the parking lots had "event parking" prices. So we had to drive around a bit before we found parking. By the time we got to Chambar, it was closer to 7pm and it was quite busy. Because it was just 2 of us though, there were seating options still available by the bar or "kitchen seating" ,where they had these tall bar stools and tables right in front of the chef area, so we could see all the action going on. We chose the latter.

As I've already mentioned in some previous reviews, sometimes having your eggo being preggo limits your cuisine choices, Chambar was no exception, but I was mainly super excited for the mussels and frites anyways. Our server was kind enough to mention all the things that I should be aware of, such as the raw egg in the aioli for the fries, and the unpasteurized cheeses and other foods that I wouldn't be able to touch when I pointed to the big belly. So we settled for the "Les tomatoes artisanales" appy--Artisan tomatoes, spiced honey vinaigrette, arugula almond pesto & feta spring rolls to start, and the Congolaise Mussels and frites-- cooked with a tomato coconut cream and smoked chili and lime sauce with fresh cilantro. We got our mussels with a side of the bread to dip into the sauce.

Before we started to eat, I already asked for the dessert menu, as I thought we would have more than enough room to share a dessert. Much to my chagrin, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. The appy was quite good, although for me the star was the not springrolls themselves, but the sweet and fresh tomatoes that came in the salad-yummo.

The serving of mussels was huge, a big steaming pot full of them in a savoury broth. It wasn't too spicy, which was fine by me, and the flavours all went together beautifully. With the bread to dip into our sauce, I was a happy camper to plug away at the pot. My girl friend was too nice to me, she kept spooning the mussels into my bowl first, not realizing that she was giving me the largest mussels, and she was saying that the mussels were good but she noticed that they were too small. So I had thought that the Blue Fig Martini was not only making her face the horrible red that Asians get drinking, but also making her vision slightly off, not realizing that she was just giving me the biggest ones :) It wasn't until I stopped munching and she got to finish the pot that she realized that there were some much bigger suckers in the pot! We had originally asked for our frites to be "poutined", but our server kindly pointed out that the poutine had blue cheese, which baby and I couldn't eat. So we had the normal frites, and to my chagrin and most likely the server's, I wanted ketchup for "dip" since I couldn't eat the aoili, and instead of telling me what an epicurean faux pas I was making, the server just whispered that they didn't have ketchup, and that I would find dipping my frites into the mussel sauce would probably give me that "zing" I was looking for.

All in all, good food with good service. You get what you pay for, we enjoyed ourselves, and my half of the bill as I didn't have any alcohol, including tax and tip-- came to $23. My friend's was higher because of the martini, which she said was exceptional. So for $23, I could handle going back there again, maybe after baby is born so that we can try the duck and beef tartare.

Added Jun 26, 2009 by NBgirl of North Vancouver (1 Reviews)

Recent dinner
We had looked forward to dinner here for a long time and perhaps Father's Day was the wrong evening to try, especially with a concert at GM Place as well. Most of the items we had were good, especially the mussels, but the portions were very small and the men in the group all left hungry - and they are not especially large eaters! They were impressed with the Belgian beer selections though. For the prices, I was surprised that they charge $3 for each small portion of bread ordered - it is one of the few places in town not to include bread. The service was pretty standard - the waitress did not seem especially interested in us, but we did not wait an inordinately long time for our food. The room was extremely noisy, but I would give it another try, perhaps on a quieter night.

Added Jun 17, 2009 by tasteofvancouver of Vancouver (16 Reviews)

Great for pre-game or pre-concert!
We made a reservation at this restaurant because of its location near GM place and we were going to the Russell Peters show there. We got our menus and our server came by shortly after to take our drink orders. They have a wide selection of Belgian beers and so we asked for a suggestion for a beer to start. I had a Tripel Karmeliet and my boyfriend had a Kwak. Both were excellent.

We ordered the mussels to start since I had read good things about them on DineHere. For our mains I ordered the halibut and my boyfriend ordered the duck. Our server came by to take our second drink order and we asked him to give us surprise beers that would pair well with each of our dishes. The halibut was served 3 ways: roasted on lemongrass risotto, on top of shitake and lemongrass casserole and ceviche. I liked the roasted halibut on lemongrass the best, but it was nice having it served 3 ways since all were so different. I tasted my boyfriend's meal and the duck was very flavourful and perfectly done. The beer pairings were delicious. We were completely stuffed after all that food and did not have dessert.

This restaurant is on the pricier side but I felt it was well worth it. Service was attentive and our server was happy to recommend beers. The only downside to coming here is it's a bit noisy since there is a lot of brick which doesn't absorb sound well. I would return as the food and beer were excellent.

Added Mar 16, 2009 by nche of Vancouver (3 Reviews)

Pretty good
My boyfriend has been waiting to try Chambar for over a year now, and we finally did for the Dining Out for Life Event on Thursday.

The food was good but not very much the value, We had the rabbit cannelloni, there were really little meat not even a table spoon, way too expensive we thought.
I had the lamb for entree and thought that it was pretty unique on what it was served on and how it was presented it you, and it was a little interactive as well, where we choose to either dump the couscous in or not. Furthermore, the lamb was a really good portion size. My boyfriend had the duck and that wasn't as good. it came out a little cold and the portion size was sub par, it was not a good value at all, again.

For dessert we had the baked Alaska, it was excellent, it was our best course there.

I would definitely go back to try the mussels there.

Added Feb 24, 2009 by food-queen of East Vancouver (28 Reviews)

i <3 Chambar!
Hands down, Chambar is one of my favourite restaurants and never fails to impress. The first time I was here (about 3 years ago, we saw Pierce Brosnan! But that's another story...lol)

Excellent excellent moules & frites (definitely the tomato/coconut cream sauce one is my fave), as is the steak bourguignon.

They recently (?) expanded into the adjacent section...and have installed crazy-powerful hand-dryers in the washroom! (Try it for yourself, lol)

Added Feb 16, 2009 by Bonka of Vancouver (290 Reviews)

One of a kind, however falls short of sensational
I celebrated Valentines Day here with the gf, and about time as I've been raving to her about a few of their standout dishes I've had here in the past.

Reservations were a must on this evening and we were seated immediately upon arrival with our coats checked. Decor is fantastic and can suit either a quiet or noisy dining experience, though this restaurant has taken upon the latter. Ambience continues to be borderline loud. I wouldn't say it's unbearable nor would you have to shout across your small table but a truly quiet evening out would be out of the question here (perhaps I am biased as I noticed they played a lot of my favourite music: Earth, Wind, Fire, Temptations, Isley Brothers). People must remember that this is not a fine dining establishment and compare it to others as such. This is most definitely a hotspot for the Downtown hip crowd therefore there are touches of ostentatiousness here and there.

We quickly picked out our dishes: the Venison Shortloin Carpaccio to start, the Congalaise, Artic Char and Lamb Tajine to share with the Pear Toffee Pudding to finish. My gf had the Blue Fig Martini while I had a bottle of Celis White. The venison was subtle and was accompanied well with the mild root vegetable julienne and chevril. The mussels are impeccable. Our Congalaise had a generous amount heat from the chilis while the lime and tomato pairing toned down the richness of the coconut milk. Copious amount good to share with 3 people. The frites on the side are not enough to sop up all the sauce - order the fresh, crusty house roll to soak up the rest. The Arctic Char was buttery smooth, and the lentil ragout was again a nice pairing, however ragout being a misnomer as the butter sauce was fairly thin. The fall-off-the-bone lamb shank was unlike anything you'd normally see done to lamb. The honey, cinammon and figs steer the lamb into a rich medley of sweet and savoury flavours, with the yogurt and African red chili pairings on the side help offset your tastebuds with a cool or hot linger. The toffee pudding could prop itself better as a finisher for our meal but was overall a nice, light offset.

Prices lean on the expensive side though the few standout dishes are worth the extra coin.

The service could step it up some to align itself with the better restaurants in town, but I'd hardly call it terrible. Service is somewhat casual though the ambience tends to call for it. Our server was polite and followed up after every dish (they sent out one dish at a time which we really appreciated).

What makes this restaurant so good are the unique pairings of ingredients you wouldn't normally find elsewhere, with a few dishes that make them memorable. To be truly above the pack refinements can be made all over though I think they're happy with how it is now. Their only flaw might be their hype.

Eminently good. Highly Recommend.

Added Feb 13, 2009 by chanjcm of Langley (2 Reviews)

Great Food. Too Noisy
I have been to the Chambar a few times now. Every time, the service has been good. Nothing to complain about, and nothing over the top. One note however: after being asked to wait an extra half hour for our reserved seats, we were offered our first round of drinks for free.

The food at Chambar is excellent! Every dish I have sampled (almost all of them) have been prepared excellently. As already mentioned, their moules frites are very good. Also, I enjoyed their brioche bread.

The mussles are also done very well. Each of the three types of mussels taste great, and I would recommend it to anyone. These are great to share or to have even as a meal. I would also suggest trying their appetizers. I have enjoyed all of them immensely.

The main courses are excellent. I especially enjoyed the venison, lamb, and arctic char. Not only are the meats prepared well, I really enjoyed the garnishes and sides that come with them.

As I am usually stuffed by the time I get to the dessert, I have not much to say about the dessert except that I enjoy the thin pineapple slices that comes with the bruleed pineapple.

Overall, amazing food. Good service. Quite pricey. Really noisy.

Added Jan 19, 2009 by rlf of Downtown Vancouver (11 Reviews)

Moules Frites...wonderful! The rest needs work.
We stopped in at Chambar after the hockey game because we had a hankering for a beer and moules frites. We stopped going here about a year ago because of a bad service experience (i.e., being asked to leave our table on my birthday because it was "reserved" at 9pm...), however the moules frites are truly outstanding so we decided to give it another try.

As expected, the service fell flat on its face and the moules frites were fabulous. For $20, you will not have better mussels in the city. It's a bit of an insult to be charged $3 extra for bread, but the mussels are truly outstanding. The beer list is great, if not a bit expensive (most come in around $11/beer). We also had the carpaccio, which was not exactly inventive, but was tasty.

The service is a sore point, though. Our waiter seemed more interested in the leather-clad blonde at the next table - case in point - he walked straight past our table carrying our beers (and only our beers) and carried on a 5 minute conversation with this woman before bringing back our beers. The other waiters seemed to catch on and ended up doing most of the service for our table - we would have died of thirst before this guy filled our water glasses again!

Overall - good appies, great beer list, bad service, pretty pricy.

Added Jan 10, 2009 by robuc1 of north vancouver (3 Reviews)

mixed feelings
i'll keep it short. the place is very trendy, which i like. the service sucked. the food was good, but took FAR too long to get there. 1/2 hour from ordering a bottle of wine to getting it to the table. again, part of the service. service is almost as important (to me) as the food. 2 out of 5 for me.

Added Dec 31, 2008 by incognito of downtown (26 Reviews)

Most over rated
Chambar has to be the most over rated restaurant in Vancouver. The food is easy to prepare, at a level of Cactus Club. Even so, they have trouble with the basics. A restaurant that serves the quantities of mussels they do should at least get their suppliers to provide them with calibrated sizes. In a dish of mussels at Chambar you will get some mussels that are huge (3 inches) and others that are tiny (half an inch) and every size in between. Service is harried and the room is too noisy. Their other restaurant, Medina, is better value.

Added Dec 17, 2008 by nowayto of Vancouver (1 Reviews)

Another visit to Chambar
Overall, a great experience again. We enjoyed everything, but the prices obviously could be a bit lower.

I usually get to dine out once a week, and chambar always has very interesting patrons, they are diverse and different, usually friendly and up for some unexpected side conversation!

Appies and desserts were nice. I am still disappointed they no longer have the petit filet, and it's been a while since its been gone.

Added Dec 15, 2008 by xhypn0tizedx of North Vancouver (14 Reviews)

This place is awesome!
I am always excited to go here because the service is excellent and the food is even better. The waffles are to die for. I have tried many desserts and they are all so tasty. I don't have anything bad to say about this restaurant. Great place to go before a hockey game, it gets packed but they will try their best to accommodate you. I definitely recommend Chambar to anybody.

Added Dec 11, 2008 by gti303 of Richmond, BC (45 Reviews)

Love It!
The first thing you notice about chambar is how its hard to find, and dark inside. It gives a great european feeling where all the good places to eat are down narrow alleys and such. The decor makes you feel very comfortable, very warm.

For the most part, most items on the menu are good...but its the mussels I enjoy the most here. They rate a 4/5 in terms of taste and quality, but the atmosphere accompanied with a bottle of wine completes it. Desserts are here excellent...I strongly suggest you try the dessert here if you get a chance.

Added Nov 8, 2008 by thejman of westend (3 Reviews)

I see why people love this place
WHat a wicked restaurant!
Took a date here and it sealed the deal!
Great cocktails and beers.
Our server was a guy - alister? What a cool dude!
I thought the food was amazing - but a little small on the portion size.
I had the Mussels and they were really good! The freis were great too and they came with mayo which is always a plus.
BEautiful room as well.I really liked the leather couches and the cool blown glass lights.

Added Aug 24, 2008 by azn_msfyt of Delta (174 Reviews)

Floated away on a chocolate cake...
Food: My dining compadre loved the veal (close to ordering a second portion!) and I wasn't that hungry and so ordered the Congolaise mussels for the both us which turned out to be quite good and with a large portion of mussels. Dessert was the highlight - we ordered the passion de chocolat and it was sublime. Rich chocolate cake with a sorbet on the side - a great way to end the night. The people sitting beside us raved about their desserts and now I can see why.

Service: Friendly and attentive but not overbearing - the perfect balance.

Value: portions were small - if I had been hungry, our wallets would have been in trouble. Large plates, small cuts of meat and very few filler veggies. The veal was described to have fingerling potatoes and what we got were 4 small little discs of potato, that all added up would have amounted to just 1 single small fingerling potato! Drinks were ridiculously overpriced for what was received. The saving grace is that the mussels were actually quite plentiful, so don't miss out on those.

Ambiance: great space but not acoustically pleasing - everything was very loud and the way the tables were packed tightly together meant that we were in listening distance to others and it made it difficult to carry on an intimate conversation. A whole mish mash of people, many of whom who thought they were god's gift to the world (to the couple sitting beside us who laughed when a young girl slipped and fell, if you're reading this, you guys are douches and we can all see that you guys are posers, evidenced since by your ugly wallpaper patterned shirt and cheap Breitling model watch and your girl wearing a cheap Guess top thinking she was so classy).

Overall, I would return to this place and recommend others to come as well since the food was very good. I would, however, choose to sit in the corner if possible to distance myself from the mega douches that seem to be multiplying in this city.

Added Aug 6, 2008 by chris84bloom of Vancouver, BC (17 Reviews)

Quite a special place
I'd seen how hard it is to make a reservation at Chambar through Opentable.com and it made me wonder how good it really was. Chambar wasn't anything like I had imagined, but I enjoyed it anyway. I was expecting some traditional Belgian/French cuisine but it turned out to be a pleasant mixture of contemporary & fusion food.

I really liked apple salad, which was sour just a bit, but it was a great starter for heighten our appetite. We ordered tomato & peach salad as well and it turned out to be pretty different, but in a good way. What really surprised me was that all dishes were very fragrant and one of the cocktails we ordered (it was customized and didn't have a name) had peach, chamomile and lavender and it smelled and tasted very nice.

Unfortunately the lamb I ordered turned out to be a bit of a let-down but steak bourguignon and the salmon was excellent. All of them were cooked medium rare and it was just perfect.

the dessert section was also different from traditional ones. We were a party of four and each of us ordered a different dish. Mine was a parfait and tasted like yogurt and gave a perfect finish to the main course.

Since the main meal I ordered was less than great so I'm still undecided regards to the matter of returning to Chambar. Still considering the excellent service and other main meals I sampled from my friends, I may venture once again into Chambar. I think the place deserves a second chance.

Added Jul 12, 2008 by a9302240 of Downtown, Vancouver (2 Reviews)

Top 10 in town...
We had a wonderful dinner here the other night. Had forgotten about how lovely a room it is - both stylish and comfortable, which seems to be a rare combination. Service was excellent, just missing 5 stars due to a some confusion between servers but otherwise perfect. Dinner was very solid. We enjoyed the feature appetizer, which we strangely noticed was on the menu as well and at the same price. It lovely, as were our entrees and dessert. The wine list was quite smart, and although we didnt indulge in any beers or cocktails, they certainly looked fabulous on the menu and on the tables of the guests around us.

That makes 4 for 4 in terms of successful dinners at Chambar, and I dont think you can ask for better than that.

Added Jun 18, 2008 by gourmetbride of Vancouver (18 Reviews)

Too loud
Came here with some friends about a month ago. The menu isn't bad but I found it to be quite rich, lots of cheeses in their courses. We ordered their infamous moule frites. The flavours were good, however, for a restaurant that's know for their mussel dish, you'd think the shellfish would be extremely fresh but it wasn't. I found the decor nice but way way too loud due to the echoing of the room. I would go again but it's not my first choice.

Added Jun 8, 2008 by abevyforbev of Kitsilano, Vancouver (11 Reviews)

It just works.
I came here for my birthday earlier this year with a small group and the food was incredible. The famous mussels didn't let us down, the appetizers were a treat, and everyone was satisfied. Our waiter was professional but not exactly friendly - understandable, they're busy. The decor is just right - not over done, small and intimate, yet trendy in the most appropriate way. I will be returning soon for a 2nd round!

Added May 3, 2008 by feevo of West Vancouver (4 Reviews)

like spicy?
If you like your food to have a bit of kick, and aren't allergic to paprika, the food here will probably be to your liking. There's no indication on the menu that most of these dishes are served with spicy components, so if you have to go here because of a group you're with and this isn't your thing, you'll have to ask a lot of questions which may make for too much work for the staff and too much embarrassment for you...
There's paprika in the butter for the bread (lovely moist bread), paprika seasoning on the fries (golden and yummy) some kind of chili kick in the vinaigrette over the scallops appetizer (3 scallops served). The veal is marinated in paprika or cayenne pepper, the duck was commented upon as being spicy, and the steak, well, online it said it was served with bearnaise sauce, which I adore, but I guess there was a menu change that went unnoticed by me, because it is actually served with a generous splash of what looks , smells and tastes like a chili powder laden BBQ sauce, but I was told was "actually a peppercorn horseradish sauce".
The steak wasn't as tender as I expected and had that char-grilled flavour, which may or may not be your thing. Finally, with the "cafe cafe" desert, the largest component by far is the cheesecake, the other bits including the sugar crusted, not "dusted", cake donut/beignet are tiny.
Everyone else at the table who like cinnamon flavored meats (ie duck/lamb) and hadn't a problem with spicy seemed happy enough, but it was very difficult to hear anyone who wasn't sitting immediately next to you and yelling at you, which is why I rated the ambiance as "poor"; I like to be able to talk to the people I'm out with and hear their reply, and our waiters had to bend with their ears right next to our mouths to discuss dishes and orders etc, which made me even more reluctant to have an interaction over menu choices.
Service seemed capable and friendly, although my waiter's efforts to protect me from the spicy food I asked to avoid were ultimately unsuccessful and I had to send my entree back and give up which seemed to make him avoid me for the rest of the evening. Since food experience is very much a matter of personal taste, I can see why this buzzing, busy, noisy, spicy place is popular, but I do not see why it is so highly reviewed as the second best place to eat in Vancouver; I won't go back.

Added Apr 30, 2008 by chococat1209 of Fairview, Vancouver (4 Reviews)

Loving it!
I came here once with a few friends and am sooo pleased with it. We came here for dine out Vancouver, and the food was better than expected. Although at the end of the meal none of us are full due to the small amount, but the foods are absolutely speechless. I have never tried German foods before in my life, and to be honest, after this experience, i absolutely fell in love with german foods. The soup to start with tasted a little wierd at first, but eventually turns into a flavoraful delight after a few more sips. The ambiance? it was great. Even thought the table that we have to sit in was a little small for 5 people, but everything turned out fine as the dished came one by one. The desert was the BEST part. The waffles that we had were amazing, the plating was soo pretty too. I am so satisfied with the experience and definitely will come back again when i can.

Added Apr 3, 2008 by MrMushi of Vancouver (8 Reviews)

Must add my 2 cents....
Went here for dine out back in January...

Absolutely TERRIBLE experience, had resos at 9:00pm on a Sunday night. Arrived 8:45pm, but wasn't seated until 9:30pm.
When we arrived, the Maitredee said that the people were just about to leave, that was at 8:40pm. By 9pm when we still were not seated, we asked her why it was not ready and she said they were setting up the table. Ok, so we waited....until at 9:25pm, we asked her again, then she said it's just about ready..
At 9:30pm, she FINALLY takes us to our table....when we arrive at our table, the cutlery and napkins are not even set!
The maitre d’ then takes us away from the table and says we should wait for the table to be set, she doesn't take us to back to the waiting area; instead she guides us to stand in front of the open kitchen hole in the middle of the restaurant. There we are, the five of us plus the maitre d’ waiting in the middle of the restaurant watching 2 couples eat. Completely awkward and in the way of traffic, we wait for 5 minutes for our table to be set.

Fortunately, that was the worse of the dining experience. The server was nice, the food was OK, nothing that spectacular...

Overall, absolutely worst service, I don't understand why people rate Chambar with high ratings. The food was not impressive....

Overrated and do not recommend to anyone!
One of my WORST dining experiences!

Added Mar 11, 2008 by foodiephil of Richmond (49 Reviews)

Lovely place to try - once.
Overall, we had a good experience. We did enjoy ourselves. But the food and prices didn't match the service and ambience.

My lamb couscous was ok. The lamb tasted good, but I found the sauce was not sufficient for the couscous, which absorbed it all quickly - rendering the dish dry.

My fellow diners were NOT impressed with the mussels - neither the Congolais version, nor the white wine version. Comments were that the sauces did not allow the mussels to play a role in the dish.

Appies and desserts were good. Not outstanding.

I have no qualms spending big money for good food. For the food you get, it's big money. I think similar prices can get you far superior culinary experiences. My impression is that the food concept takes the piss a bit - i.e. it takes its own name, Chambar, as a high-end brand and charges accordingly. But as for me, I've never been impressed with something just because it's expensive.

Added Mar 9, 2008 by kewpiebaby of Vancouver (119 Reviews)

Cheers for Chambar
Wow! I LOVED this place! We had a super expensive meal for a Sunday night ($120) but worth every penny. From beginning to end - Chambar was top notch. The different Belgian Beers really piqued our interests, and when we can afford more, we'll definitely try out the rest of the beer menu. Of course you can't forget trying one of their signature dishes Moules-Frites - Congolaise: Mussels cooked with fresh tomato, smoked chilli & cilantro with a touch of coconut cream and lime. So yummy! Even after that large dish, we both ordered an entree each - I had the black cod/sablefish & my hubby had the duck. Very unique side pairings and the taste & texture very good. Above all the best thing that ended the evening was the Gaufre Liegoise - Belgian waffle with housemade white chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, blueberry compote & cocoa tuile. OMG - we've never eaten a dessert this quickly - it was sooo delicious! They took it off the regular menu but our super awesome waitress somehow sneaked it in for us. =) What a great way to end the meal. Can't wait to go back for more!

Added Mar 4, 2008 by vanfoodman of Mount Pleasant, Vancouver (7 Reviews)

We will be back, with (no) reservations.
First time here, Sunday night 6pm, no reservations, just the two of us. Let me start by saying I almost always make a reservation, but this being early on a Sunday I didn't think it was going to be a problem and the place was not busy. Well, it wasn't really a problem, but not having a reservation relegated us to sitting at the front of the restaurant in the "cheap" seats. The red leather seats facing the window is close to a foot lower than the seat opposite it and makes it hard to reach the table. This made for an uncomfortable start to the evening, as I had to employ a nearby pillow to be level with my date and we're both average height. The same problem appeared at all surrounding tables. Now settled in, however lumpily, it was on to cocktails, which were inventive, refreshing and suited to most of the food options. The Foie gras terrine was simply outstanding, one of the best dishes I've ever had, highlighted by it's rich, fat, smokiness, countered by a lovely Kriek granita (ice crystals from cherry beer!) and preserved cherries served with eggie, squares of off the chart, Truffled brioche french toast. This was all so good we didn't think we could go on to the entree, but we did and it was almost as good. The Braised lamb shank showed a Moroccan influence with strong flavours of honey, fig, cinnamon and a little too much salt. The meat was very tender while the cous cous and zalouk provided nice textual balance. Dessert, yes we fit it in, a Green Tea ice cream that was sooo smooth, light and not too sweet. Service was personable, attentive and knowledgable. We will be back, with (no) reservations.

Added Feb 27, 2008 by Chardonnay91 of kits (7 Reviews)

Money for Mediocre
I have been here twice. I love the modern style fused with touches of victorian style. Although the interior design is impressive, i find that the food is only ok. Nothing special. Service was up to par, and dessert was nicely presented.

Added Feb 8, 2008 by Klu of Vancouver (10 Reviews)

Belgium beer haven
Chambar is tucked away on Beatty street, seemingly hidden in between deserted lofts above and an even quieter street below. But once inside, Chambar rings with chatter. We had scallops to start, moules frites and a duck dish. Scallops were sweet and succulent. Mussels were big and juicy. Fries were awesome! And I was told the duck dish was delectable. Perhaps most impressive is the restaurants large selection of imported Belgium beer. Lists and lists of them for the thirsty traveller. Many that are difficult to get elsewhere in the city. Service however was lacking. The dining room is small with lots of tables packed in. Service was slow and somewhat unattentive. I think the server came by at most 3 times. Overall a solid dining experience with unique beers!

Added Feb 4, 2008 by arsenic_girl of Burnaby (33 Reviews)

One of my favourite places delivers a GREAT DOV
I've decided I'll be back here every year for DOV. Although I frequent this place several times a year, I just can't say enough about their DOV menu. First of all, it's $25 - WHAT A STEAL. Seriously. The food is still excellent, and not lacking in quality one bit. You could not tell that it was DOV at all - which is always the way I judge a truly great restaurant during DOV time. The only complaint I would have about the food is that the mussels should include the pomme frites as it does when you order it on the regular, non-DOV menu. The mussels were HUGE, even larger than when I've had them during non-DOV times haha. The beef short ribs tasted fantastic, and although I'm impartial to the Belgian waffle... wow, the matcha pot de creme was FANTASTIC.

Added Feb 3, 2008 by WeekendChef of Burnaby (27 Reviews)

Amazing!
Seated promptly upon arrival and the room was amazing. Larger than I had thought and an beautiful view outside the back window. A delish crab and corn soup, a urn of mussels in tomato coconut sauce (enough to feed all 3 of us) with the matcha pot de creme for dessert. Now I am not normally a fan of matcha (too strong of a flavour usually) but this was very light and a very soothing end to a very delish meal. The hubby had the venison carpaccio which he greatly enjoyed, the braised shortrib (which he LOVED!!) and the belgian waffle (which he also loved!). Our server was very friendly and charming. It was crazy busy but we never felt neglected and that was very appreciated. We will be back for more for sure!

Added Jan 25, 2008 by feebs of Yaletown (4 Reviews)

DOV '08 - A personal favorite
This was my first time going to Chambar after hearing amazing things from others. As others stated, ambience was lovely; VERY Soho; Loud but conversation is more than managable; and not too crowded.

Food: I had the crab soup (creamy with spicy kick), Mussel (How can you come here and NOT get mussels? Delicious!!! I was hesitant about the portion. That thought was blown out the window when i saw the huge bowl they came in. I got like 25 Mussels, more than enough), and for dessert, i shared with a friend the pot de creme (light and tasty) and the Waffle (Best dessert i've had for all DOVs this year and more memorable).

Service: Very quick. But i must say we got our food before the table beside us that sat down before us. The server was nice and girls next to us were hitting on him. Also, they did not try to rush us out at all!

I would go back for non-DOV anytime.

Added Jan 24, 2008 by reese of downtown, vancouver (4 Reviews)

My Favourite Vancouver Restaurant
I've been to Chambar 4 times now, and it is always flawless. Our most recent experience was for dine out, so of course it was packed, but our server (James?) was still attentive and helpful. My boyfriend is really into Belgian beer, and the server took the time to discuss their wide selection of beers with him, even though he was slammed. The server recommended beer pairing for my boyfriend's dinner, which was a perfect match. The food was excellent, as always. I had the ruby trout, which was the best trout I've ever eaten. It was perfectly prepared. It was really nice to see that even though it was dine out, the food and service was the same quality as always.

Added Jan 21, 2008 by diningd of vancouver (27 Reviews)

food is good but kind of noisy
Went here on friday for the dine out menu. Its was a good menu but the ambiance of the restuarant is kind of hard to pinpoint. We were put right at the entrance so it was a pretty busy spot. I have sat in the back during previous vists where it is more like a restuarant vs a bar and the music was loud and went from headbanging to jazz.

The food was solid and tastly but in the future I would ask to be put at the back of the restaurant. The mussels are definitely the menu item to ask for at this establishment.

Added Dec 31, 2007 by piratemaki of East Vancouver, Vancouver (16 Reviews)

Perfect Restaurant if you're not on a time schedule
I've been there twice to Chambar, and have dined in the back room twice.
My major complaint is that the waiters take forever to notice you, or pay attention to your needs, and kitchen is so slow, you could be stuck in this restaurant for hours. But that being the only bad part, I love the unpretentiousness of the staff, the relaxed atmosphere and ambiance encourages hours of conversations, and portions are definitely tiny and small, but every bite is just bursting with flavor and perfection to the tastebud. I haven't had a bad bite yet. The mussels are delicious, and braised short rib appetizer are 2-3 bite sizes each, but worth it.
For dinner, we had the memorable, La choucroute de la mer
Pan roasted black cod and smoked sablefish. I have never eaten fish so soft, and cooked to perfection...the combination with the mashed cauliflower, was something out of this world...
The dessert was equally as memorable. It was the Passion de Chocolate, warm chocolate brandy cake, white chocolate lime ganache & passion fruit sundae --Also, something completely unique, and the passion fruit sundae, was not your standard overly sweet type of creation, but the sauce was just...divine... this dessert has created a whole new craving/addiction for me. I will be definitely be back for more!

Added Dec 14, 2007 by kenjisan10 of vancouver (2 Reviews)

Steady
Went to there the other night as a repeat visit and I must say this is still jsut a good place for a dinner and a drinks. We like this place cause it 's just a "happening place" . Will go back for sure

Added Nov 7, 2007 by cherrybomb143 of Surrey, bc (154 Reviews)

I love their Tin Tin Pear Martini
I'm a big fan of their mussels steamed in white wine. I also tried the duck and while it was done perfectly, the flavours weren't really anything new. All in all, a great place with consistent quality.
The blue fig martini is really good, albiet a little strong for me.. I prefer their pear martini (which isn't on the menu anymore but if you ask the bartender will make it)

Added Oct 23, 2007 by epicurian of Kerrisdale (43 Reviews)

Absolutely Delicious
Popped by here for a quick meal prior to the game. As the previous reviewer stated, it was a bit drafty and I would have probably been uncomfortably cold if I had not worn all those layers of clothing. The food was fresh with seasonal local ingredients which I think deserves extra points! Their mixed drinks were absolutely fabulous. Why drink wine if the bartender knows what he's doing? I rated the service as solid instead of outstanding because although the waiter did everything he could, we felt a little lost for a bit. I suppose it didnt help that the restaurant was filled with fellow Canuckers all dining at the same time & leaving at the same time. All in all what good food should be about

Added Sep 26, 2007 by Florentine of Yaletown, Vancouver (17 Reviews)

Come with no expectations
We unexpectedly showed up at Chambar with a group of friends after eating a large meal (and drinking several bottles of wine) at another downtown restaurant. We had no idea we'd be at Chambar, otherwise we would have saved our appetite!

I knew of the noise, the menu, and I had walked past a few times before, but all things considered, I expected nothing when I walked through those doors. Needless to say, everything was perfect.

The decor was warm and inviting. Trendy? Sure, but it works. Steps above the typical trendy try-hard scene you'd find elsewhere in this city. Lots of deep reds and gold. Very classy.

Service was fantastic. Prompt, professional, friendly, and attentive, but not snobbish or annoying or forgetful.

The blue fig martini is divine. Comes with a side of Danish blue cheese. The sprig of anise on plate was a beautiful touch.

The Belgian beer selection was tempting.

We shared the duck foie gras. The foie gras was perfectly firm and absolutely scrumptious. It was served with frozen berries and the most delectable toasted briche flavoured in truffle oil. The brioche was like eating the most delicate cake ever made.

The fresh bread and butter served before the entree was fresh baked out of the oven and the smell was addictive.

For the entree (keeping in mind this was AFTER we already ate at a previous restaurant), we decided to share the venison, after spying on our friend's plate. Tender morsels cooked perfectly rare. The sausage was juicy and flavourful and the mushrooms/bean concoction went very nicely.

Too full for dessert, but the dessert menu will certainly be taken advantage of next time. We did have a nice espresso - the perfect end to a great night.

Added Sep 2, 2007 by serendipityfood of Downtown (19 Reviews)

The very best in Vancouver
Got there on a Saturday night at 7:15pm with no reservations - full house - the hostess was very gracious - asked whether we will like to sit in the lounge. Comfy leather seats, low light, flickering candlelight, cool music - the tables were tight - but didn't feel crowded at all - more like among good friends - it was a warm and cozy room. I told my wife several times during dinner I didn't want to go home - one of the best ambiance in Vancouver.
Now the food - we had the coquille saint jacque - wow! very fresh scallops. went well with our Hoerhargan. next up - the mussels in tomato cream broth with fries - double wow! The mussels screamed Fresh Fresh! - so tender and juicy - I savoured every bite - and the soup was really flavourful with fresh spices. Went really well with our stellas. Last up was the duck - cooked medium rare - and this is where they missed - the duck was a little too rare to the point it was too chewy. The rice pilaf and spinach side was very good though. And because of this - I can only give them 4 stars - otherwise it would have been a 5.

Added Jul 25, 2007 by jezzme of Burnaby (65 Reviews)

Wow.
You know the restaurant is good when you're waiting for your food and you and your companions exclaim, "I am SO coming back here for *that*!" while patting you on your arm.

The food was amazing at Chambar. I had the Arctic Char and followed up with the cafe cafe cafe dessert - a trio of coffee-infused desserts, presented beautifully with their own separate garnishes.

My companions had the mussels, lamb tagine, and another had the meat (can't remember what it was). The rest had the Arctic Char. The entree was *so* good. This is one of those restaurants which leaves you wanting more, so that you play into their sly, crafty, little hands and order more food, more dessert, and beverages.

I'm not complaining. If I was independantly wealthy, I'd be a regular at Chambar.

The restaurant is designed in a trendy manner. It looks nice, but does nothing to absorb any noise. As a result, you have to shout or repeat yourself throughout the meal in order to carry on a conversation.

I'm going back for mussels / lamb tagine, and the peach and rosewater dessert (a brule and a pastry, I believe).

Added Jun 20, 2007 by WinerDiner of Vancouver (5 Reviews)

Love the Taste of Belgium
Having traveled to Belgium and loved the food there it was fun to try out Chambar. Nice ambiance, great Belgian beers, and the plates we enjoyed were as close to Belgian cusine as I will get this year. The place had a nice buzz to it with a good crowd and fun atmosphere. I especially enjoyed my asparagus appy which was a play on an old classic I remember having in Brussels. Well done. I will be back as soon as I need another Hogarten off the Tap.

Added Apr 20, 2007 by smarven of vancouver (3 Reviews)

Great food. Too Loud.
It didnt strike me until I went in there how load it was. The food was incredible, I had the veal and mussels, the mussels weren't as good as I have heard, but the veal on the other hand was amazing. Our server was moderately attentive, but thats cause he had a million people asking him for things. I never knew it got as busy as it was on a Monday no less.

Added Mar 27, 2007 by duckygirl of West Van (8 Reviews)

Expected More
After an earful about the amazing food, and the see and be seen crowd, I've been twice now with mixed results. The room is very hip, but the service lacked a little, and the food was really great the first time, and fair/poor the second. Inconsistant, but good.

Added Mar 18, 2007 by Bobby_Filet of coquitlam (6 Reviews)

Awesome dining experience
I'd been waiting a while to check this place out and the wait was well worth it.

From the moment our party of four walked through the door we were made to feel welcome by virtually every server we passed while being shown to our table.

Our appetizers arrived no less than 10 minutes after ordering them. I had the 'Congolaise' mussel dish and it was superb.

Our server enthusiastically described the various Belgian beers this restaurant specializes in and what beer worked best with each dish.

The entrees were cooked to perfection and expedited quickly despite the restaurant being busy. I recommend the lamb tagine and the venison dishes highly. Portions were perfect in the sense that after an appetizer and an entree we were all very full.

'Full' meaning no room for dessert which none of us had any intention of ordering but due to our waiter overhearing we were there for a birthday celebration (we did not advertise this fact), the kitchen sent over TWO complimentary dessert platters.

So for all the negative reviews I've read on this board about Chambar, I don't know what these people expect when dining out because this was definitely an experience worth ranting about. And I don't rant easily.

5 stars in every category and well deserved at that.

Added Feb 9, 2007 by Dagwood of North Shore (39 Reviews)

First rate DOV experience
Our recent Dine Out dinner at Chambar was 4 stars across the board and I'd rate the overall experience a 5 based on the incredible value at $25 per person. All 3 of our party thought the food excellent and the DOV deal ans exceptional value.

The fork tender beef short rib stacked on creamy garlic mashed potatoes and topped with a caramelized onion was the highlight for me and my brother. My wife loved her mussels and, because the portion was a very generous one, I got too sample some too. We enjoyed the wine pairings very much as well. Dessert was the Belgian waffles all round.

I think there was a nice mix of a few items from the regular menu and some were DOV specials. It showed off what the kitchen is capable of producing within the DOV price range. We will return soon.

Service was unrushed and low key. I had heard the back part of the restaurant was very noisy but that was not our experience,

Added Feb 5, 2007 by BillyJack of East Van (1 Reviews)

I really enjoyed the service
I know that Chambar occasionally gets hammered on online reviews for its service. I paid my first visit last night, the last evening of Dine Out 2007.

Despite arriving 15 minutes before our reservation the two of us were seated immediately and made to feel welcome. First surprise.

As my dining companion is pregnant and I rarely drink neither of us ordered alcohol. I had expected a bad attitude in return but we were blessed with a very lovely server, I believe his name was Ben. There was no attitude whatsoever.

The timing between courses and the plating was splendid. For an appetizer my companion ordered the butternut squash and apple soup with creme fraiche, wonderfully light. Just one spoonful for me and I was longing for more.

For the main course we ordered the Truitte aux almondes. Beautiful and for me the first few bites were highly flavourful and really quite exceptional. Though this feeling did not last throughout the process of eating the whole piece of fish it was a very nice dish. Although I am never satisfied with portions my dining companion was more than satisfied as she slid half of her fish over to me.

At this point, while awaiting the arrival of dessert I felt a slight high that I might normally associate with mild drunkeness and this sensation only confirmed that I was enjoying a good meal.

The finale was a bit of an event for me as I had not eaten a sugary dessert for 15 years. We had both orderd the Belgian waffle with vanilla-bean ice cream. Let me say right off that the presentation was absolutely gorgeous. Hestitantly but with no small amount of anticipation I started with the waffle and it was fantastic. I savoured the waffle, the ice cream, the chocolate and the other small elements and fell into a quiet reverie which concerned my companion. There was no need for her concern.

Our server at several times during our meal showed a warmth that surprised me and which really topped off the evening for me.

Added Jan 25, 2007 by Barcelonaguy of Yaletown (47 Reviews)

Got the drinks and eat elsewhere
Love the room, cocktails, and beer selections but the service is horrid and the room too loud. Tagines are not what they are cracked up to be and not authentic. Beautiful plating and presentation but otheriwse disappointing.

Added Jan 13, 2007 by Tachikoma of East Van (9 Reviews)

Great place off the beaten path
Upon arriving at the restaurant, we realized it's not visible from any major street, so if you're not looking for it, you won't really see it.
The atmosphere is ambient. The front of the restaurant is a bar/lounge. Take a walk through the corridor where the kitchen service desks are, and you arrive in the back room, which is a dining room bustling with people. The explsed brick walls and city view through the huge windows are beautiful. The tables are a little small, squished in too close together, and not very comfortable.
Somehow the lounge in the front is way less noisy than the dining room in the back. My boyfriend and I could barely hear each other from across the little table we were seated at.
The servers were polite, knowledgeable, but not very attentative as we tried to get their attention a few times without avail. The food and wine service were slow to come and it was a nightmare to try and get our water glasses refilled.
All said and done, the food was great, the service solid. I'd definately go back, but would stay in the front of house instead of stepping into the back dining area again. Albeit the view of the city is better back there.

Added Nov 28, 2006 by viann of Kerrisdale, Vancouver (5 Reviews)

good times
As always, good service, but this time it was a little off, took a rather long time for the waiter to notice that our table watned to order our food. Usually a big Hoegaarden fan, but this time decided to venture and try Leffe, sweet and crisp.

Started with the phyllo wrapped duck confit, went down wonderfully with the sauce and cranberry dressing. The mussels congalaise was amazing as usual (it's the best dish there I'd say), the flavours blend together to create an intoxicating experience. The poutine was exceptional with the use of blue cheese, gastronomical! Had the lamb shank as my main, but found it rather, big and although the texture of the meat was good, it tasted like...meat?! The spices and sauces outplayed the shank itself, hence resulted in an unbalance of flavours. I personally really enjoy the side dish, the sweet&tartness of cranberries and apricots in the couscous makes it a perfect pairing for the shank.