Claim your table before the locals beat you to it...
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterIf you’re making the day-trip to Bowen Island from Vancouver this summer–and you should–you’ll want to know about the half-price tapas hour at Artisan Eats, a fun new restaurant at Artisan Square, just a short walk up the hill from Snug Cove.
Between 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, all the delicious small plates are half-off.
The offerings change from week to week, but highlights from a recent menu included:
Do the math: at 50% off, that’s just $22.75 for a full-on feast. (And adding on spirits won’t break the bank either: the simple, well-chosen wine list ranges from $28 to $50.)
The locals are already wise to this–the choice tables with a view of Howe Sound are gone by 5–but it’s a big place and there’s plenty of room indoors and out. So grab some friends, hop the Bowen Island Express from Granville Island or the Coastal Link Ferries from Coal Harbour, and live large on a small budget.
James
on July 23rd, 2009I read this after I came back from Bowen. Artisan eats was very disappointing. Rude and ignorant (my server didn’t know what some items were) service and the food was all from the Bosa counter. Go to Bosa instead! I also went to Blue Eyed Marys and Bowen. It was the best meal I’ve ever had! The chef is the real deal and the service was excellent and ………..fun! You should try it.
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Hi James,
huh, interesting: my many experiences at Artisan Eats have been completely the opposite. I hope you let your host/server know that you were displeased; I’m sure the owners, Julie and Christophe, would have been interested and responsive. As to the food being from the Bosa counter–yup, some of the food (olives, eggplant, etc.) in the deli counter is definitely the same delicious stuff that Bosa supplies, but hey! You don’t have to go all the way to Burnaby to get it! But the breads and desserts and tapas items are all made on site–and they’ve been consistently great for me (and apparently for the many other people who are queuing up for the Friday/Saturday night special).
I haven’t actually eaten at Blue Eyed Mary’s but have heard good things about it too. Who is the chef there these days?
James
on July 24th, 2009Well the food I had was okay for the bargain basement price, and bargain basements are always busy.
According to their website the Chef is and always has beem Carol Wallace. I just read your tourism piece. Blue Eyed Marys has been on Bowen for ten years and you have never been there?
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 24th, 2009Nope! My husband is an outstanding chef himself–used to own a Bowen restaurant called The Beggar’s Purse–so we eat very well at home and when we go out, it’s usually ethnic in the city. But I have mentioned BEM many times in articles about Bowen Island based on word-of-mouth! (I thought Carol was the chef there–based on your previous comment, I thought you were suggesting there was a new chef–sorry ’bout that.)
Julie - Artisan Eats
on August 21st, 2009Any comment is a good comment if it helps us keep on our toes.
It should be noted that Bosa is an importing company that also has their own store. They deliver goods to all sorts of delis and restaurants in Vancouver ie. Granville Isl. as well as us. They did not cook or grow their olives and artichokes, they were imported from Italy. As for the rest, you are right Julie O.C….our chef Thierry makes his own bacon, duck confit, country bread, tarts, soups…..etc. We take pride in using quality ingredients, even if they are more expensive. We also try to keep the staff well informed, but alas, every employee is ‘new’ at some time. I hope I don’t sound bitter, in fact – as I said above – it’s important to get all opinions, good or bad.