Barbara in Vancouver

Beautiful little spot with amazing food and great service. Dietary restrictions: They were able to accommodate a Celiac pescatarian, who also eats eggs and dairy. It was a very enjoyable meal. Food : 5/5 |

Everything was (obviously) awesome. Chef Hennessy was extremely kind and funny. Hoping to come back soon!

One of the best meals we have ever had

Quiet and humble, small but mighty. I havent gone out in Vancouver for quite some time and found this winner called Barbara to take my brother out for his birthday. I dont see the Michelin icon posted on their site, but let me assure you, the food will tell you. Upon arrival, we were quickly greeted by the host/server/experience master. He was very pleasant, and never skipped a beat as he glided around the restaurant. 2 people that run the house - thats it, including the chef! Amazing. Although the venue was small, I much prefer something more laid back and non-pretentious, but its not to say I didnt notice the modern, quiet wood paneling and how clean that restaurant is kept. Makes for a comfortable dining experience. We were at the counter, so were able to see the chef prepare all the beautiful dishes. I have a smaller appetite, but with the amuse, 3 main dishes, a snack in between and dessert, it was abundant, but I didnt feel grossly and overwhelmingly full. I particularly enjoyed the beef tartare, pork belly, Arctic char, aged striploin...and those eggplant fries! All food was premium quality and fresh, prepared perfectly in my eyes. I will be back on my next trip! And this time, will definitely have to try the cocktails. Jewel of a find!

Anyone who cares about food will be disappointed. The food was mediocre in terms of both taste and presentation, nothing amazing. About half of the food (including the complimentary snacks) was too salty. Sometimes I really wonder what Michelin s criteria for deliciousness are...

We took our friends to Barbara this February. We were very impressed with everything the restaurant had to offer. The young Asian chef did such a wonderful job! Our recent visit to the restaurant, however, was a big disappointment! The beef tartare and pork belly lacked the flavour and texture of their traditional quality. When we talked about this to the owner, he said okay ! And then got quite defensive. That is most unusual of a Michelle Star restaurant attitude, or not of any restaurant service attitude. I must say though, other servers were very friendly and helpful . Of course that will be our last visit to the restaurant and we will advise our friends and family not to go there.

Everything about this place is delicious! Its small, so its best for parties of two, but thats not a complaint. We had to book a couple of months in advance, but it was worth it. The menu was incredible so flavorful and we even got to watch them prepare some of it from our seats. Don t walk run!

Everything was absolutely delicious and the servers went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our experience- will be back!

Awesome meal. Awesome drinks. Pretty reasonable cost for a starred restaurant.

This was such a delightful find, and an amazing value. Sit at the bar (most people have to, as there are I think just 14 seats and more than half are bar seats) and you can watch the staff doo the cooking.

I will never stop raving about Barbara.

This is the best restaurant in Canada. Dine here and you will have an unforgettable experience. Not sure in talking about value in terms of gourmet dining, but if that does exist - this place offers it. Many thanks.

There are too many highlights from our evening to write about. If you want to experience great food that will wow anybody made right in front of you this is the place to be. Everything you receive is made right in eye site with an explanation of how it is made. Choose from a fixed menu that changes all the time depending on what local ingredients are available. The owner (chef) is happy to answer all your questions while preparing your food making it a great and memorable evening

My go to place for an amazing meal! Never disappoints!

First off good food, not enough of it. We do tasting menus all the time and I just left feeling hungry still which is not typical. Great use of ingredients but incorrect cutlery served to eat the dishes in my opinion. Felt awkward eating some of the dishes with a fork trying to scoop up the tid bits on the plate. I loved the originality of the desert although it didnt really hit the spot for me. It was a citrus sorbet with mirangue. The items in the menu were original and that is what drew me in to choosing this place. The duck hearts were my favourite but overall there was no real wow factor for us and I have had better meals. I wish I tasted something that was worthy of a star. Perhaps I missed something. However for the fact that its only two people in the kitchen they put out good food. Would I go again? Sure if it was an invite for a birthday or something but Im finding it hard to put this place up against other greats. 3.75 out of 5 from us but that wasnt an option.

Best dinner I have had in Vancouver. Absolutely amazing food and service

Super cosy restaurant with friendly staff. Food was good bur nothing that particularly stood out, except for the eggplant chips - sooo crispy and delicious

Amazing. Highly recommend this place! Killer food where each dish has clear purpose and flavour profiles and stellar personable service.

Updated review: Returned to Barbara and I am changing my earlier 5 star review to 2 stars. The initial review is still below. The reason is they no longer allow guests to use cameras to take pictures of their food. The explanation given was that flash photography can be distracting and a camera can be distracting in their small space. However, they do allow you to use your phone to take pictures. I am not sure what the distinction is between a phone and a camera when my camera is compact and does not use flash. I mean, have you seen some of the giant phones out there now? People can be discreet and fast with a camera and people can also be obnoxious and take a long time taking photos with a phone. I suggested that we move from the bar to a table in the corner with everyone elses backs to us so no one is facing us and there is no way we can be distracting but they still said no. The main issue is that there was no advance notice of this no camera policy and we were told after we had already sat down. There is an expectation and communication gap here. If they had communicated the policy prior to making us making reservations then I respect that and I would be able to consider whether or not make the reservations. My suggestion to Barbara would be to make it very clear that they have this no camera policy when people make reservations so there is no expectation gap, disappointment or confrontation. This is a shame because the food is beautiful in addition to being tasty. Anyway, the summary of this updated review is do not bother bringing a camera of any kind and if you read this review then at least you are forewarned. Initial review: I was blown away by the food here! No wonder they have one Michelin Star now. When I go to a restaurant and order food, there is usually something that is just average. At Barbara, everything was amazing, tasted delicious and executed well. They have a three course tasting menu and three options for each course a meat, fish or vegetable option. We decided to go for all meat and fish this time. The highlights were the octopus, pork neck and arctic char. In addition to the three courses, they also give you an amuse bouche and snacks in between the courses. It would have been nice if they had a dessert course as well but dessert is extra. The ambiance is dim and intimate. It is a good place for a date or special occasion. Parking can be a challenge and be aware this is not the best part of town but that adds to its character. Highly recommend that you check out Barbara it is worth it!

All in all, outstanding. I had a fully veg menu. My only criticism is that the cauliflower dish and squash risotto overlapped a bit too much in flavor, with the yellow emulsion, although they were technically excellent. Also thought the fried cauliflower after the fried eggplant snack (which was also excellent) was a tad of an overlap. The ambiance is surprisingly and delightfully cozy and casual. I think thats really part of the charm. But these are details. I will try to return next time im in Vancouver!

Thank you to the team at Barbara s for the unforgettable meal. You truly elevate the restaurant culture in Vancouver. We loved the food and very much enjoyed the perfect timing with which every course was brought out - by lovely people.

Everything was perfect, the right portions, the mix of flavors and textures too, I would definitely return on my next visit to Vancouver

Michelin star restaurant located in Chinatown, the dining room is cozy and intimate. Sitting at the bar offers guests a visual of precision and attention to detail. With only a sous and a bartender, all three share the hosting duties. Food is incredible and beautifully presented. Snacks offered in between courses are a nice surprise and definitely add to the menu. Highly recommend a reservation.

4.5 Stars (visited in 2023) A really unique experience and thoroughly enjoyable. Dishes came out promptly. Food was mostly great - there were a couple of elements that didnt quite hit home for us but every dish was presented and explained well. If you sit at the bar, you can see the chefs finishing off the dishes before serving, which is cool. The restaurant is very small, make 15-20 seats. I loved this. They have cultivated a lovely atmosphere with the decor, lighting and old skool hip-hip in the background. Its a cozy, intimate environment, without the stuffy pretence you might get in other fine dining establishments. The service was personal, and they were happy to answer any questions. We tried some local wine, which havent seen anywhere else before - and it was truly fantastic. I like Barbara and will definitely go again in 2024

TL;DR: An arrogant restaurant with mediocre food and horrible service, I wouldn t go back even if they pay me. About service: People usually go for fine-dining not to enjoy food (come on, who would actually trust Michelin guide?), but to celebrate special dates and get unique experience. My girlfriend and I went there to celebrate her birthday, and we entered birthday in the occasion section of our booking. However, there were no preparations for her, nobody even said happy birthday. But that s not the worst, we brought our own birthday cake to enjoy after the dishes and the chef ridiculously informed us we couldn t have it there! We had to brought the cake back home, which messed up our birthday plan. If you don t prepare anything for customers, not even allowing birthday cakes in the restaurant, why not save us some hassle and just remove all occasion options? Moreover, we were asked to put away our SLR camera but were allowed to take pictures with phones. I don t see any difference between SLR camera with flashlight off and a phone camera. This absurd and sudden restriction was not shown anywhere in our booking either. Overall, this restaurant s arrogant restrictions made me wonder if I was actually the customer that paid for dining. Its dining rules reminded me of my grandmama. This is my second time giving 0 tips to a restaurant in North America, so that s also a top2 achievement, congrats Barbara! About food (overall 5 of 10): This is a Michelin restaurant so I ve lowered my expectation, I know I ll likely be disappointed otherwise. And the food was just as mediocre as I expected. The first dishes on image 1 were STRACCIATELLA (8) and BEEF TARTARE (5). STRACCIATELLA was the best dish tonight for its brilliant combination of hazelnut with other ingredients. BEEF TARTARE is what it is, it wasn t bad but nor good. There are restaurants with better BEEF TARTARE. The second dishes on image 2 were Crispy Octopus (5) and Chicken Liver Mousse (2). The octopus was cooked just to the right point but the hummas base broken the balance of the dish, ended up with a weird salty yet sour flavor. The chicken liver mousse was a complete disaster, it had a super oily taste when mixing with the bread and I could only eat half of it. There are plenty of Italian restaurants that can cook chicken liver far exceeding this. Image 3 and 4 were Arctic Char (4) and Duck (3). Arctic Char had the same hummus base as the octopus and I would rather just have the char only. The duck was cooked to medium and had some stinky blood smell that should get rid of. This is absolutely no match to other duck houses.

Small restaurant and great vibes. Enjoyed watching the chef and bartender doing their magic. The foods are delicious and always makes me feel happy, mocktails are good too. Glad the Michelin let me know this gem.

We overall enjoyed our visit to Barbara, the food presentation was fantastic, service was amazing and on point, however we were left feeling like we wanted a bit more once we were done our meal- the portions are quite small, and we offered to pay more to get some items a la carte that we could eat but it turns out we had already tried everything in our tasting menu. The food itself didnt feel like it had a type of cuisine, it was a mix of middle eastern and east coast American along with some items I wasnt sure.

Interesting experience! Arctic char was wonderful .Choose the bar seating

What a wonderful experience to eat at Barbara. Every single bite of the food was delicious. Very well executed, beautiful presentation and we loved the cozy/cool atmosphere. I almost gave 4 stars for how much we all smelled like a deep fryer when we left though. But just expect that and then it wont surprise you. This is because of the open kitchen which by the way was so much fun to watch the chef and bartender in action. Everything tasted so perfect, I definitely want to go back. Vegetarian options: Each course has meat, fish and vegetarian option.

Great restaurant in Vancouver. Not many restaurants like Barbara in Vancouver.. great ambience, excellent service, delicious food.

I have been going there since they opened. It s great to see how they have grown to be one of the best restaurants in the city. I highly recommend people go there if they can even get a reso.

Absolutely incredible experience. The flavours are amazing and service is top-notch!

My partner brought me here as a surprise and I ve never heard of this place. It ended up being such a wonderful experience! Everything was prepared with so much care and detail :) one of my most memorable dinners.

If not the best in the city, at the very least, it s tied for number one. Very impressive stuff, world class all around. Small team, small restaurant, changing menu, high quality every dish, local (BC) wine list, fantastic cocktails, creative. Great vibe, great music, hands on friendly staff. As good as it gets for value, especially in North America. Do yourself and others a favour and come here, if you can get a reservation .

Our friends raved about this place so my partner made a reservation for our anniversary. I found that our experience did not resonate with theirs. There are three courses, we each got different dishes from each course to share. Out of each course I would like one but dislike the other. When it s good it s really good. The beef tartare is delicious.

The food was undercooked and overly salty.

I was fortunate enough to get a spot reserved for Valentine s Day. Barbara is a small restaurant which was recently awarded a Michelin star. There are two small tables for two people each and the rest is seating right by the kitchen, facing the chef who is hard at work. My partner and I were the first to arrive for dinner service and elected to sit at a table as we prefer a more private dinner. The meal was spectacular. There are multiple dishes on the menu, and the goal is for each individual to order three different items which could be shared. We therefore tried 6 different dishes not including the dessert. Not every dish was to my particular taste, specifically I wasn t a fan of the Sweetbreads which tasted a little burned, but as a whole it was great. The beef tartare was otherworldly and I would eat it off the floor of the sky train station if it was the only option. The only dessert available was the (grapefruit) granita which felt disappointing compared to the rest of the menu, as it was an extra cost. The food also came out remarkably fast, which is a great accomplishment especially since I stuff down food. Whenever my partner and I finished the dish, the next one came out in a matter of minutes. The Chef and his team are clearly paying close attention to the guests. Service was also great with no complaints on my part. Thanks for a great experience. I would recommend Barbara to anyone.

Had dinner recently and I really enjoyed it arctic char was perfect and the puckering/vibrant granita to end the culinary journey made me smile.

What a charming restaurant and a wonderful all-around experience. For a foodie that enjoys creative combinations of food and drink (if youre into cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails, or pairings), then this is a fantastic place to geek out. If you dine with someone who will share with you, you can try up to 6 dishes and you can purchase the seasonal granita afterwards. Its such a small place with mostly bar seating, this is really best with just one other person in my opinion. I definitely enjoyed the Arctic char dish, the fried eggplant surprise snack, and the tartare that people have already pointed out in reviews. But Im going to give some more unusual shout-outs. For example, I loved things like the crisps made of rye and spelt for the tartare, brushing something with beef fat, cool pickly things in a couple of the dishes, the spice and complexity of the two non-alcoholic cocktails, lots of interesting local liquor choices as cocktail ingredients, everything perfectly seasoned, and how there were lots of new combinations and ingredients for me to try. Even things that were familiar were not exactly familiar. So thats why I think this is particularly best enjoyed as a foodie. For example, the Arctic char dish reminded me both of a classic Hanoi (Northern Vietnamese) fish and dill dish while at the same time being different enough to be its own dish because it was served with hummus, pine nuts, etc. that wouldnt be in the Vietnamese version. The fish was so perfectly cooked - I really enjoyed the soft texture inside with the pan-fry of the outside. I have no idea what the chefs actual influences were, but as much as Ive had things that involve those ingredients, it was still a different dish and something to try. Fun! But heres the thing, as much as creativity in food and drink impress me, it means nothing if people are snobby about it or are cold when youre trying to have a good time. So the warmth from the people (Chef, GM/Bar Manager, and other chef) and the wonderful service (perfect timing included) will make it worth coming back over and over...if I can get a reservation. :) They book up. I was quite worried that I would get sick last minute and have to pay for the last-minute cancellation if I couldnt find a replacement, but it looked like there were only about 12-15 seats in there and theyre getting all this attention now (partly because of the star) so they get a pass for having that system in place even though I would prefer that it was not needed. If they can swing it, I would say a little extra surprise at the end would be lovely (since dessert is not included in the three courses and there is just the granita). Doesnt need to be huge - maybe a house-made candy, biscuit, or piece of cheese with a bite of fruit, or a few bites of fruit, for example.

From the moment I walked to the moment I left, it was nothing short of wonderful! Pat chose all my courses and cocktails/wine to accompany. Hit it out of the park on everything. Thank you so much. Do yourself a favour and book a seat asap....youre welcome ; )

Not worth to try Food are super salty No service at all

Everything about this place makes you want to scream YES! Food is delicious, service is down-to-earth, yet on point, and the intimate atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. Loved how it was mostly bar seating where you could watch everything being prepared. Will definitely be returning.

Great food and an interesting atmosphere - not your typical fine dining restaurant, but Barbara definitely has a unique experience to offer. Insanely good food, my friend and I enjoyed every bite, with our favorite being the beef tartare. The seafood menu is still extremely good!

The beef tartare is just out of this world!

What a lovely restaurant! great food and drinks! Great ambiance.. but most of all I loved the chef and his small team! will be back there for sure

Small and cozy, this michelin-Star restaurant offers an intimate food experience. The three-course menu allows you to choose from three categories, vegetable, fish or meat. We did a surf and turf menu (3 dish plates+ 3 meat plates) that didnt disappoint at all. We were welcomed with an amuse, then we had our first course, the halibut Ceviche (fish) and the beef tartare (beef). Between courses, the restaurant offers an interlude that keeps your palate company and prepares you for what comes next, which in our case it was a crispy fried eggplant dish, with honey drizzle. My second meat course was the fried chicken hearts. Our meal reached its climax with a crispy skin artic char, with hummus, mint and dill from the fish and a lamb dish with baba and tabouleh from the meat plates. We added a rose and pomegranate sorbet as our desert. Would visit again

Small and minimalist environment. Was great to chat with the chef who has worked at many high level restaurants and it shows in his work. While every dish was interesting and done with quality, I didnt love every dish, although I did try to keep my selections eclectic. However the main downside was that the portion sizes felt small and I was not fully satiated at the end of the meal.

Simple fresh ingredients.

I understand that the menu changes, so my review is based on an experience on Aug 11, 2023. Overall the food was solid, but it felt like it was missing the wow factor that I typically expect from a Michelin restaurant. We went with all meat + fish options. There seemed to too much repetition in the flavours and textures to give it 5 stars. For example, we had two dishes that had dill. They were good, but it was a bit too similar.

Well deserved Micheline star.

My favorite restaurant I ve ever been to.

Great service, fun to watch your food get prepared very quickly and delicious

when I find a spot in my hometown like this its exciting! Had a great evening here.We will be back!

We had an amazing time at Barbara. The intimate space was even better than we had expected and we were lucky to be seated at the banquette where we could watch everything Chef Pat did while he prepped the outstanding food. I have eosinophilic esophagitis which often prevents me from eating in public and enjoying social gatherings around food. I was happy that I at least made it through to the final course, and the attentive and very skilled front of house was kind enough to get me a container so I could bring my food home. I feel it is part of the experience to enjoy everything there, and I was sad I couldnt, but I did appreciate that I could taste the final offering eventually. Every bite of anything offered at Barbara is an experience on its own. We will absolutely be returning.

Very tiny and cosy space. Great food, with vegetarian option. The staff is very nice, we had a great evening. I highly recommend this place, and I cant wait to eat there again! Food

Amazing food and better experience! We had a wonderful time here with the food and watching the chef cook from the bar. We came as a party of 2 and tried 6 different items from their 9 item menu and was amazed at the taste and quality of each dish. The dishes contained a lot of ingredients I do not enjoy eating on a regular basis, but the chef really made each so delicious that I ended up eating everything. The portions may look small, but overall the meal was very filling. Would definitely recommend making reservations here quickly as they do fill up.

Very disappointing in every aspect. Really bewildered that this place has a Michelin star.

If Barbara wasn t awarded a Michelin star last year, my review may have been different. The expectations were high going into the meal service, but the dinner just missed the mark. Going with my wife, we opted to each choose a different dish from the three courses (3 options for each course with one being vegetarian). The amuse-bouche was a cucumber tart, which was fresh, but didn t show much creativity or flavour. For the first course, I chose the tartare and my wife had the Dungeness crab over cocktail tomatoes. A snack of fried eggplant accompanied by pickles came next. For second course, I opted for the lamb croquette and my wife had the squid on a crispy potato cake. For the final course, I ordered the dry aged strip loin over a tomato carpaccio and my wife got the arctic char. Dessert is not included, but they offered a $7 granita. The highlights were the tartare with crispy onions and the char over hummus. Both dishes were tasty, had a mix of textures and were well-executed. The lowlights were the crab and strip loin. I m not a tomato-hater, but in both dishes, the tomatoes overshadowed the proteins. For the crab, the orange blossom vin was not noticeable and for the steak, the big choron dollop was too much over a pedestrian strip loin. Not having dessert integrated made the dinner feel like it came to an abrupt end. Even a small sweet made in-house would have left a much stronger lasting impression. Instead, after we finished and paid, we left without anyone thanking us for coming in and the last impression was a lingering flavour of tomato bernaise on the palate. When I made the reservation, I indicated we were celebrating my wife s birthday and when we ordered our drinks, the server asked if there was a special occasion bringing us in. I let her know once again it was a birthday. She congratulated my wife, and that was the end of that. With a Michelin star, I feel like there should have been just a small something extra. At Bouley in New York, it was a lemon load to take home. At Published, it was a small glass of bubbly. Heck, even at your standard middle-of-the-road restaurant they will write happy birthday with some sort of sauce on a plate. At Barbara nothing. The small 15 seat restaurant was cozy, and seeing Chef Hennessy work was great, but that just wasn t enough to meet the expectations we had going in. Having a Michelin star is about the consistently providing the full experience and this just missed the mark. Vegetarian options: For each of the three courses, there is a vegetarian option

This is, without a doubt, one of the best meals Ive ever had. The vibe is unique and amazing; its very small, so you get to talk to the chef while he prepares your food. The cocktails are fantastic. And the food is just incredible. I couldnt recommend it more.

Amazing meal and experience

Cozy tiny space, my friends and I came in to try the set menu. The food was very good. Small plates but do not under estimate it because in the end we were full! One of our favorite things were the beef tartare Definitely worth and recommend to go and try them out if you have not. Also, watching chef Patrick cook was very calming.

Loved the whole experience!

Restaurant charged us $200 ($100 per head) for cancelling the day off due to a positive Covid test. We sent them the PCR test but they wouldnt waive the cancellation fee, or offer any kind of workaround at all. The only workaround was to keep the reservation and potentially infect the whole restaurant. I understand the plight of small fine dining restaurants in this economy, but this kind of behaviour isnt the solution. The professional thing to do would have been to charge us $100 i.e., half the cancellation fee. I dont want to downplay the cost of ingredients they might have wasted, or the kitchen staffs time, effort, and labor, but theres a thing called customer service. I guess they dont care that theyve lost a potential customer, forever.

The best restaurant weve been to in VC so far! Amazing flavors, great atmosphere, cozy, with very few seats. Needs a reservation. Vegetarian options: All courses have a vegetarian option

This place is absolutely amazing. The food definitely lives up to the reputation. The service is unreal and everything we had for food was so good. We definitely recommend checking out this spot out.

Food is good. I don t think the food is very innovative. But if you care about Michelin dining Barbara provides good value for your money. Their memorable dish is the Arctic Char - must get. Current seasonal risotto is not good.

This restaurant, despite its small size, creates an incredibly warm atmosphere. The experience at the bar, savoring the preparations, is simply exceptional. The small team of 3 ensures impeccable service, and the Cake Walk cocktail was a pure delight. We had an extraordinary time, especially considering the superb menu offered. We are looking forward to returning in a few weeks to explore the new menu and relive this memorable experience.

What a gem! Had a fantastic time here. Food was excellent, small and cozy environment was a joy, and service was impeccable. The set menu is great value and getting to watch Chef prepare dishes was such a treat. You re in for such a wonderful experience.

I have eaten at a number of fine dining establishments. All have been lovely affairs and I admire the dedication and work that goes into owning and working in these establishments. I honestly had not encountered poor customer service at one until today. After being unable to attend my original reservation on 12/12, the owner was reasonable and able to move my reservation to Friday 12/15. However, after letting them know today, 12/13, I would be unable to keep my reservation they still wanted to charge me a cancellation fee even though it was more than 48 hours away from the reservation time (which goes against what was stated by their policy). Very poor customer service - when a restaurant puts the bottom line before their desire to bring customers back and leave them with a positive experience whether theyve dined or not, it says a lot (other open table reviews about Barbara seem to fall in line with this notion as well). There are better options in Vancouver with better fare and more pleasant owners.

A phenomenal meal from start to finish. It feels just like being at the kitchen island in your chef friends house. Pat - the chef and part server - prepares the food right in front of you. And its delicious. The steak tartare, which Im assured is perennial, is subtle and delectable. Served extra with the tasting menu was a dish unto itself, crispy eggplant with honey and chermulla. The octopus was crispy yet delicate and the aged striploin full of flavour. Perfect date night for food-lovers or just treat yourself. The OpenTable reservations are open literally until the last minute - they dont have a phone - which makes it reliable to secure a spot in this tiny joint. Cant recommend enough.

Had a fantastic birthday dinner here tonight. A true bargain at $70 per person for meticulously prepared food. Every morsel was delectable and I knew immediately that copious amounts of preparation had occurred prior to my arrival. Highly recommended, best meal of 2021 for me and my girlfriend. Now I understand why Barbara has a 4.8 rating. Bravo!

Every single course was immaculately prepared and equally delicious. The intimacy of the space let s you see everything that s happening and how much work is put into each plate. Cocktails were amazing and you can t miss on the wine list. One of the best dining experiences I ve had in a very long time. Thanks Pat!

Quite possibly the best in the city. This restaurant shot up to #1 in my book. Its an intimate space with only one chef so a reservation is needed. Went here for my birthday and I loved every dish. I think my favourite was the oysters which was served in a way Id never seen before. Even my partner who doesnt like oysters changed his mind after having them. Everything was cooked to perfection and plated beautifully with care. If you want a special dining experience, I cant recommend this enough. I told all my friends after!

Long overdue review of Barbara, but had to because this place is fantastic! Definitely chef centric, so if you can get a spot at the bar to watch the magic happening, its a treat! You get your choice of a first, second, and third, and although the portions are small, you leave feeling pretty satiated. Standouts were the beef tartar and arctic char. Fun place for date night!

This space is so well designed and intimate in all the right ways, it feels like this exclusive experience you are sharing with just a few other guests because it is! Watch your food and drink get made right in front of you. The service and menu are incredible, highly recommend. Also an added note, the music was at a great volume for conversation. 11/10 would recommend and go again.

One of the best meals I ve ever had. The atmosphere was relaxing, drinks were great and every course was so well prepared and delicious. Highly recommend!

Intimate setting. Delicious dishes, but not filling. Be prepared to spend if you come here. Better value elsewhere.

I dont usually leave reviews but this was the best meal Ive had in a long time! Every dish was so thoughtful and creative. People mention the portions being small, but the dishes are quite rich and we were definitely full despite being big eaters. Its a lovely intimate space and is perfect for date night. Highly recommend

Great food and friendly service. Love a shareable menu and plating! Can t wait for them to change the menu so we can try new things.

MUST GO What an amazing experience, superb service and delicious food

I want to call this experience next level. Every dish was fantastic. Loved the hip hop sound track. Looking forward to my next visit.

Loved this place. The food, the drinks, the service were Great! 10s, 10s, 10s across the board. Intimate high-end experience

A true delight. An intimate dinner that feels as if a friend is hosting you for the dinner party of your dreams. Chef Hennessy composes a beautiful meal right in front of you, all the while chatting and sharing his passion for each dish, each of which is thoughtfully balanced and unexpectedly complex. Favourites were the tartar (flavour explosion), the arctic char (cooked perfectly), and the duck. Cocktails and local skin contact wine were equally delicious. Menu rotates so repeat visits are worth the trip. A really, really special place for something truly different.

Everything was excellent! Treat yourself and go before all the tourists find out about this place.

Great vibe. Amazing food. Friendly service. This is one of the rare small restaurants that is not like most, but hard to beat anywhere (not just in Vancouver).

The chef uses herbs creatively in the 3 courses dishes. It also offers great BC wine choices.

Patrick and the team put together a ridiculously good 3 course meal with a few surprises. Being a small cozy restaurant the staff goes above and beyond to be welcoming. This is best restaurant in Vancouver.

Exquisitely curated menu left our tastebuds feeling

Delicious food, super friendly staff, not rushed, allowed us to take all the time we needed for lunch.

There is no comparable restaurant to Barbara in our city. Pat, the owner and chef, has taken a practical dream and turned it into his reality - perfect food, perfect experience, perfect everything. The best Vancouver relies on people like Pat. Cheers for a great night out!

Pat is an artist and master chef. The combination of flavors he puts together is out of this world. There is something for everyone. The menu is always evolving so there s always something new and divine to try. It is a really cool intimate experience sitting at the bar while watching him prep everything in front of you. You must experience.

Interesting combination.

Great Dinner! Thanks Guys

My new favourite restaurant. Food was absolutely delicious. Menu was creative and the presentation was gorgeous. Each of the 3 courses was timed well, and the service was great. Will definitely be back!

very intimate, a true hidden gem a lot of care was put into our meals, everything was very well timed beef tartare was amazing, will definitely go back for a la carte

Amazing dinner experience! Arctic char was amazing, would recommend 100%

Wow! You have to go! The food is amazing, but its also a show - watching the incredible skill & mutli-tasking of Brilliant Chef Pat. When we went, Wonderful Celia was there to make it all extra special! A tasting menu with lots of choice and every course works with the other. Sooo delicious and ....smart...just an incredible experience. Pat said we made his night, but honestly, he made ours. After a month of touring B.C., I can honestly say, this was our best meal! He is doing something special. A Vancouver treasure! We only wish we lived there so we could have this unique, tasty experience all the time! Well miss you! You made our trip. Thank you Pat.

This has got to be the best overall food experience I have had thus far! Great food, great atmosphere, great music, great...everything. I loved it all. The chef, Pat, is super cool and the music was my jam. ALL the food was amazing from start to finish. Super lucky to have gotten in to try this place. It went above and beyond my expectations!!!

Had a great time, nice intimate setting. Love the fact that you can watch Patrick Hennessy (chef and owner) prep your dinner. The food was fantastic, certainly one of the best meals Ive had this year. Highly recommend it.

Small place prob seats less than 15 , the food is good but not exceptional nothing really left an impression, I did not know about their michelin star until after the dinner, guess the judges like the food. One thing about the portion size, can it get any smaller I felt like I had a few appetizers and left without having the main course, and I am not a big eater I dont eat much more than the average men. I left the place half full had to stop by macdonald for a burger..... 4 stars is for the food, the portion size is 1 star.

This is a small and cozy eatery in the downtown east side that recently got recognized with a Michelin star. I was fortunate enough to get a booking here and it did not disappoint. The food prep was astounding, there are a lot of extras on top of the tasting menu, including some snacks, so you will be full after the 3 items. The cocktails took a bit, but it s a small operation where everyone does everything. The server is also the bartender, the head chef is also a server, so if you re looking to go in and out, this isn t the place for you. If you re looking for a 2 hour dining experience, then this is the place to be. We went with all the meat and fish dishes and they were fantastic. They switch their menus every season so I will definitely come back to check out their next menu.

Really great spot. Service from Pat and his crew was top notch. Pacing on courses was spot on. Wine list was really solid. Ever changing menu is an incredibly hard to execute concept but everything we had was cooked perfectly and flavours were spot on. Will be back for sure. One of the better spots in the city and doesn t get much more intimate.

Best for groups of two. Great dining experience and delicious cocktails

This a small but amazing restaurant. All the dishes are beyond my expectation. Will definitely recommend it! The servers are very informative and friendly.

Amazing, we went for NYE dinner and it was simply amazing. We had two tasting menu and each of our dishes were incredible ! The staff was very friendly and very knowledgeable ( the chefs playlist was very good too) . Will 100% recommend !

Tiny restaurant tucked in Chinatown with incredible flavours! I got seated at the bar where I had a front row view of the chef who prepared all of my meals! I had the anchovie, squid, fried potatoes, and pork belly dishes as part of the tasting menu and everything was delicious great balances of saltiness and sweetness in each dish, absolutely incredible! Can t wait to return to try all the other dishes on the menu!

Beautiful experience ...food and service was exceptional! Thank you.

This place is fab! Love how small and intimate this restaurant is. My boyfriend and I went for my birthday back in September, and we still rave about how great the experience was! The server was super friendly and took care of us when we brought in our sparkling wine to celebrate. The food was very unique and delicious, which was made right in front of us that added a delightful experience to see how the chef prepared our meals. Also, side note, the music was bomb!! Such great taste to the chef, both musically and in your food creations. Every time we listen to your playlist we get tons of friends and passer byers alike asking for the playlist! Thanks again for the great experience! :)

A beautiful space with amazing dishes that are thought out and prepared with the utmost care to detail. You can tell Pat is passionate about creating the best experience for you to dine and discover amazing food. His curated playlist is also amazing and Celia is such a sweetheart! Great service all around. Highly recommend getting the tasting menu to try multiple dishes - you wont regret it.

Very nice service and the food was very good, the owner used to work at kissa tanto (another really good place to grab a delicious bite) will definitely be back for more.

What a wonderful surprise this place was. My wife really wanted to go, so we went. I do think reservations are a good idea as I believe the place only has capacity for 10 - 14 people (dont quote me, just an eyeball measurement). It has a bit of a omakase feel. Most seatings circle the kitchen and you get to watch your food prepared and have great conversation with the chef. I do recommend going for the tasting option as you do get to try a good selection of the menu and portion sizes are just right for this experience. Just to be clear the food and cocktails at this place were excellent. Every item had us looking each other in the eye and going wow. Presentation packs a very appealing punch and the flavours are spot on. A simple item like the beef tartare was a stand-out favourite , while a more complex item like the chicken liver mousse pate had a few different items in the mix to provide a harmony and balance (grapes!). We even ordered a seventh item just cause we wanted to try it all! The service was top notch. Lots of good conversation with the chef, good recommendations from server on cocktails and wine, and the restaurant is absolutely COIVD compliant. And get this: after our second course we had an option to pause the third course just to take a breather and relax. What a concept! I think the biggest take away was everything on the menu and the presentation has a lot of thought put into it. A very intimate and memorable experience. Bravo.

This restaurant is tiny but oh man does it pack a punch. The food and service provided by Pat and Celia is flawless. My boyfriend and I tried this spot out for the first time last night and were really happy with the food. You are getting great value for your money. We got the $55 tasting menu, where you can choose an item from three tiers as well as receive some complimentary side dishes. I m doing a veggie February and found that the veggie dishes all packed a lot of flavour and textures, which is sometimes hard for restaurants to achieve. I told the chef many times that food was on point. We will definitely be back soon, I m sure the meat and seafood options are going to be fire also. You won t regret giving this spot a try. Thanks for a lovely dinner Barbara!

I like the vibe, the intimacy, service, etc is all spot on. Portions were Small, but good.

The food here was really good. Seemed like it was just the chef and one server during the entire service. They did such an amazing job running the show. Server was super friendly and helpful but we didnt get her name. She has bunch of tatts. And we had a brief interaction with the chef Pat who seemed to have a lot of fun plating the food. Highlights - softest squid ive ever tried - pate dish was sooooo melt in your mouth delish Gonna come back to try the rest :)

WOWWEE! I wasnt quite sure to expect with a space so small however that wee but mighty kitchen can pump out some remarkable dishes. Husband and I both sat at the bar and opted for the three course tasting menu. The flavours were bold but balanced and plated like a masterpiece. We loved the carrots so much that we ordered another plate as our dessert. Book in advance and support this little gem if you can. Quaint spots like these offer a charm that cant be beet by the big guys.

This is probably one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. The food and drinks are fantastic. Have the tasting menu when you re there, you won t regret it. Celia is the perfect host with top notch service and exceptional product knowledge. Patrick s gracious demeanour almost makes his exceptional food seem effortless (which if you ve tried it, you know there is a lot of skill involved). Our go to spot for all our special occasions.

One of our favourite spots in the city! Celia and Patrick are super friendly, knowledgable and attentive. The food and drinks are amazing! If you appreciate high quality food, drinks and top notch service then this spot is a must on your Vancouver restaurant list.

If you re looking for an intimate dining experience visit Barbara. The food was phenomenal and it was exciting to watch the chef (Pat) create the plates in front of you. The cocktails complemented the amazing food. This is the best dining experience I have had in Vancouver!

This is a cute little restaurant tucked in a small corner of Chinatown. My girlfriend and I saw the high reviews and came with high expectations. We ordered two tasting menus and sampled every protein. In our opinion, the food was decent, and the plating was nice, but nothing stood out. My biggest complaint is that the sauces did not compliment the dishes.

YES YES YES to Barbara! One of my new favourite restaurants in Vancouver. They are currently accepting reservations for their 3-course menu dine-in only due to COVID plan ahead! Within the 3-course meal, there are 3 selections within each course (1 vegetarian option per course). Some crispy potatoes were provided on the side to complement the meal. Our only complaint was that we were expecting a bit more extras to be included to balance out the courses. For our first course, we chose the oysters and beef tartare. WOW, the oysters were amazing. They were out of the shell in a vichyssoise (leek soup). It was easily our favourite dish of the night. So much flavour with the leek and paired so perfectly with the fresh oysters. For our second course, we chose the squid and chicken liver mouse. The chicken liver was the winner between the two very similar to a foie gras. For our third and final course, we chose the arctic char and pork belly. Everything was cooked to perfection! Service was friendly and spot-on. We were well taken care of! Compliments to the chef, Pat!

My girlfriend and I came here to celebrate our 9th year together. Everything was outstanding - food, drinks, lighting, ambience, service. We were treated very well and given lots of attention. We loved the cozy and intimate atmosphere. We definitely felt cared for. Two big thumbs up! :)

Best restaurant experience weve had since the start of the plague.

Amazing culinary and dining experience. Chef Patrick and our server were attentive and truly added to our incredible evening, going out of their way to accommodate us. The restaurant surpassed our expectations and was the best meal we ve enjoyed in quite a while. 10/10 - would recommend to anyone looking for extraordinary food and an amazing atmosphere. It was well worth the wait and these two hungry patrons left stuffed. So looking forward to our next visit.

This is my second time at Barbara. Pat is a rare talent and easily rubs shoulders with the best of the best chefs anywhere. From my first bite of Tuna, to my last bite of blood orange granita, every dish is just extraordinary. Eating food like this is a both a sensory and emotional experience and I could not provide a higher rating. What Pat and Claudia are doing at Barbara is changing the standard for fine dining in Vancouver and I can not wait to eat here again.

A gem unlike any other. Chef Pat and co are serving up some of the best dishes I ve enjoyed, well, ever. The menu features creative takes on timeless fare, like Barbara s beef tartare featuring just a hint of cassis. Other menu items, like the asparagus, will leave you fighting with the woman you love over who can have the last bite. I don t know what makes this place so magical but it s unlike any other dining experience I ve had in recent memory. It s a cool place offering the diner the time they need to enjoy incredible food slowly, or quickly but make sure whatever you do, you finish with a granita.

Barbara was recommended to me by my cousin and its by far the most tasteful food Ive eaten lately! Everything was so fresh. We can see how they love what theyre doing. Theyre are simply very nice, courteous and professional. All the dishes are delicious and extremely well managed on the texture and taste level. Would definitely recommend and go again!

Fantastic restaurant, great place for a date. Only people in the restaurant are the chef and bartender. Service and food were fantastic. Tasting menu came with some bonuses.

Had the tasting menu and everything was great and a few of the dishes were truly delicious. Definitely worth trying this place out. Missing one star since the place is quite small and groups bigger than two will likely be seated at the bar. Service was also excellent.

Small and very quaint, very personable, food was awsome, was able to watch the chef prep and cook every dish, very friendly.

We emailed them to ask if they can accommodate a party of 4 for the following week. A person named Pat sent us a snippy and terse reply to indicate that they only have 1 table for 4 each night. Pat made no effort to be helpful or nice (e.g suggest a date in which they could accommodate us). Businesses like this make it more difficult to support local businesses, and Pats exemplary customer service skill will certainly not motivate us to dine there, as spectacular as their food may be.

A fantastic intimate meal and drinks. Would love to attend again.

This place is really special- one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. Every dish we had from the tasting menu was very unique, beautiful, and (most importantly) delicious. Our server was very lovely and made us feel very comfortable. Really top quality place, we will be back with regularity!

A sheer gastronomical delight. A diamond in the rough a real gem! If you have a true love for food and an appreciation for flavor you need to absolutely try this place. Chef Patrick is a culinary genius and truly understands food and its impact on the senses. Patricks food takes your senses of sight, smell, taste and sound to the next level. Yes, sound, as his playlist marries well to the gastronomy experience. If you are in YVR on your next visit or if you are a local who hasnt tried his food it is well worth your dime and time!

Absolutely phenomenal experience! What a cozy atmosphere, with the food that s out of this world! Many compliments to the chef Pat. Definitely one of our fave hidden gems in Vancouver

Awesome experience. The food was great although portions werent huge but its a good price for a tasting menu. The atmosphere was cool and the service was great.

Had the most delicious dinner at Barbera for my friends birthday. Staff were friendly and very talented in the kitchen. Will most definitely come back!

A small cozy restaurant, my friend and I went and had their tasting menu. The food was so good! Smaller plates to share, but it was just enough, we were stuffed by the end of the meal. Definitely recommend coming here for the amazing food, awesome service and for the intimate ambiance. Awesome date spot!

Delicious and inspired tasting menu, very reasonably priced for what you get. Intimate and cozy setting, and the service was great!

Just had the most fabulous meal here. Its a very intimate restaurant with seating for 12. Theres only two people behind the counter & if youre lucky enough to be one of the eight people seated around the open kitchen you get to see the magic happen. Chef Pat is truly a magician in his kitchen. Every dish is well composed, beautifully plated & absolutely delicious! His partner (sorry we didnt get her name) works harmoniously next to him, making scrumptious cocktails, refilling water glasses & being his right hand person. He has the timing down perfectly. He knows just when to serve each course. Even when hes busy he is engaged with his diners & an overall wonderful host. If you are looking for an incredible dining experience look no further than Barbaras. It will be an evening to remember! @inspiringfoodie

Nearly everything we ordered Id happily order again (s/o to the albacore ceviche). Great dining experience during a difficult time reminded us of why we miss going out so much. Thanks for the great time, well be coming back without a doubt.

Ive had the pleasure of dining at Barbara twice now, and cant wait to go again. The ambience is very home-like, which makes for a unique experience, and the food is incredible! Highly recommend the Octopus & Arctic Char - delish. The cocktails are great too. Pat & Betty will make you feel right at home. Definitely check it out for your next date night or night out with friends.

Tasty food, attentive service, and great music.

Great cocktails and unbelievably tasty food in a small cozy space!! Definitely worth a visit!!

Just visited today, and everything was cooked to perfection! I just can t get enough of their food! I would ve done a one of everything if I didn t feel sick earlier. Love how they designed the restaurant where customers can see everything that s going on in the kitchen. Will return very soon!

Great food and cocktails at this new gem of a restaurant and would come again to try the whole menu. Tasting menu is perfect amount of food. Recommend reservations due to small size.

Absolutely delicious food, would love to dine there every night, and amazing cocktails! Its the perfect place for a date night or to treat yourself with friends

This was our first date night after a long period of not going to restaurants and bars. We had a wonderful time, and was reminded of how much we missed the experience. The place is small and cozy, but they still adhere to social distancing rules (spacing out and clear plastic windows at the bar). It s quite intimate as we sat at the bar and it was literally just the chef and bartender running the entire place. The food was really good! We did the tasting menu and the portions were not to small and not too large. The menu tasted fresh and light, and also very reasonably priced. The cocktails were amazing! Order on the menu list or off the menu (with the usual classics) as long as they have the ingredients. We definitely are looking forward to going back!

Really great space! The food is amazing, new and fresh. Highly recommend and definitely going back!

The best

I had the tasting menu and every dish was excellent. I really enjoyed the corn dish. Small intimate restaurant.

Casual Fine Dining The restaurant is tiny, but smartly decorated with murals by a local artist, and tasteful wood shelves, bar, and panelling. We both ordered the tasting menu, which is just choosing a dish from each tier (First course, second, and third). Because they are small plates, if there are two people, you can each choose a different dish, and end up with six dishes a good way to try more things on the menu. Extras are promised with the tasting menu, and in our case it was a small bowl of perfectly deep fried and seasoned potato cubes, with a side of hummus and two types of pickles. This was a nice side dish that complemented the whole meal. For our First Course, we shared the Heirloom tomatoes with Stracciatella, and the Beef tartare. Nothing beats heirloom tomatoes in season; the fresh flavours just burst in your mouth. The tartare is lightly dressed which makes it more interesting than a standard plain tartare, and it came with a side of buttery, crisp crackers. For the Second course, we had the octopus and the sweetbreads. Now, sweetbreads are not everyone s thing , but if you enjoy them, these are very good ones. Octopus was served with chorizo and Castelvetrano olives, and was very good. The Third courses were Artic Char and the duck. The arctic char was perfectly cooked crisp on the skin side, buttery flesh. But what made this dish stand out was the addition of the lemon brown butter sauce and fresh mint and dill herbs, making it surprisingly bright. The duck was tender, full of flavor, and dressed with pureed peach and roasted peaches again, an unexpected combination that totally elevated this dish! Dessert options were limited to one: a raspberry granita, but that, too, was an excellent and refreshing finish to the meal. Service is excellent, and I can recommend the cocktails. Wine list is short, but all decent wines showcasing standout BC selections at a decent price. Looking for a cozy, casual fine dining experience? This is the place. It is a bit of an odd location, right on the edge of Chinatown, but once inside, you can just sit back and let the very competent duo at Barbara take care of you.

This restaurant is a refreshing addition to the Chinatown food scene! It is an intimate setting which has a very thoughtful design aesthetic. The service is run by an impressive two person show: Pat (Chef and Owner) and Betty (Manager and Cocktail Artist). We started with cocktails out of Bettys cocktail program. They were amazing... I might had two before our main course! She also pair wine with the meal we were having. We ordered the tasting menu, this is highly recommended. It is a great way to taste the Chefs thoughtful creations. Throughout the meal I had many moments of food pleasure followed by OMG this is so good! I highly recommend Barbara!

Great place for a date night and easily one of the best meals I ve had in Vancouver this year. From the cocktails to dessert - every aspect of the meal was so thoughtful and well executed. Stand out dishes were the ceviche (with dried watermelon!) and the Arctic char, but truly every plate we had from the tasting menu was delicious.

Delicious, fun dinner experience, I can highly recommend doing the tasting menu & trying a variety of dishes.

A truly fantastic experience, from the ambiance, to engagement, to each thoughtfully crafted dish.

What a lovely space, quaint and tucked away for an intimate time. Plates are shared and well curated, wine list is local and well thought out. Looking forward to many more visits.

Best dining experience in the city and a level of culinary expertise that is light years ahead of the local food scene

We had an amazing dinner experience at Barbara. The chef was knowledgeable and open to share his techniques. Humility and friendliness goes a long way.

This new restaurant is hidden away in Chinatown. A small space with a really cool decorative wall. Makes for an intimate atmosphere! I love how the bar seats face the chef/kitchen so you can literally watch him prepare your meals. I came for dinner with a girlfriend of mine and we did the tasting menu each. We made sure we ordered a different dish from each section so that we could share and try everything. The cocktails are also amazing! I ended up having a cocktail that wasnt even on the menu (I explained to the bartender that I wanted something fruity so she put together something different for me). I highly recommend making reservations far in advance! I will definitely be coming back again as the menu is also seasonal and changing.

Good value decent food

Fantastic little spot near Chinatown with a small menu of creative and delicious food. I tried the very affordable tasting menu and chose between 3 courses... so good I added a 4th In addition to the complementary crack potatoes . YUM! Beef Tartare was exceptional and enjoyed the perfectly prepared sweetbreads. The crispy octopus was perfectly cooked and don t sleep on the wonderful cocktails. Will definitely return to this little gem.

Wonderful drinks and bites. I would come again, even if it s just for the cocktails

Wonderful cozy and stunning flavors. A beautiful meal filled with great tastes and we were so nicely taken care of

Barbara is a really cute, intimate place that Im looking forward to visiting again really soon. Amazing service and cocktails!

highly recommend for date nights. both the tasting menu and cocktails are perfect.

Excellent time at Barbara over the weekend. We did the tasting menu and shared what we ordered. We had the Sardines and Beef Tartare to start. The sardine dish was really tasty and the Tartare was one of the best Ive had. For 2nd we had the Octopus and Sweetbreads. Both also really good but the texture on the Octopus was so amazing. Definitely try the Octopus. For the 3rd course we had the Squash Flan and the Pork Belly. Both really good but the Squash flan was the standout. We sat at the bar and got to talk to Patrick a fair bit - I was curious to learn how he prepared the Octopus. He also has amazing taste in old school hip-hop and has his own playlist playing throughout. Great ambience. Cocktails were excellent too. Superb service all around. Will definitely go again to try the rest of the menu.

Food and service is amazing. Will definitely be coming back.

Excellent tasting menu. Cozy spot. Do yourself a favour and come here!