So I accidentally deleted this restaurant review in a frantic panic that would take too long to explain. So I’m going to try to do it justice and re-write it the way I remember it. I wish there was a ctrl + z button for everything in life. Augh…
After attending another fabulous performance of Shadow Machine (sorry it’s over, you snooze you lose) directed by Alvin Erasga Tolentino, I had been fortunate enough to catch him after the Q&A and ask him whether he’d like to go for drink with my friends. As my friend, I know that he usually can never eat before a performance so he was starving and wanted to go somewhere with food. The closest place we could have gone to (just around the corner in Gastown) was the Revel Room but being Friday night at 9:30pm, it was packed. There was another place that Alvin had gone to, just down the street basically and I knew we were in the right place just as we stepped in. Alvin always has such great taste.
Oh Jules, how I am so glad to have met your acquaintance. I had never heard of this restaurant before that night! (I know, I should have known, but common leave me alone, I only recently moved back to Vancouver!) We were promptly greeted by a soft spoken host that 
As soon as we crossed the doorway into the dining room, I marvelled at how beautiful the chandeliers were, hanging like water droplets from the ceiling in such a beautiful delicate way. The little square tiles on the floor really played down the grandeur of the decor and the modest, beautiful dark wood bar added a rustic feel to the room. The best part of the design of the restaurant was the attention to detail. As soon as we were seated, a server brought us a glass bottle of water, poured it into beautiful glass cups and left it at the table. I love it when they do that! You never have to wait for more! They also took our drink orders right away, and brought us a basket of the best French Baguettes I’ve ever had. Well…maybe they weren’t the BEST, but I was 
The drinks were done up beautifully and quickly, and a friend of mine didn’t quite know what she wanted, so she ordered something gingery and lemony from the bar, and she got a delicious concoction with a cherry in it!
The food! The food was great. I got escargot (snails, yes) with garlic and parsley butter and it was delicious! I’ve had escargot before when it would be a little chewy and tough, but no. These were melt in your mouth tender with great flavour and texture. Yum! I mopped that up with some more bread. I also thought the French Onion soup was among the best I’ve ever had because it had a great caramelized onion flavour, good quality beef stock but didn’t have the overly salted, peppery flavour like I’ve had before. I’ve made it (took a while to caramelize the damn delicious onions), and I’ve also had it before on many occasions whether it be in France, in restaurants in Canada that only pretend to be French and some where they find it necessary to add bacon pieces to it to enhance the flavour. This one is modest, really pays respect to the bold sweet flavour of the onion and the ooey gooey melted cheese on top with the bread that’s soaked up all the delicious juices doesn’t hurt either. They have a great selection on their menu, including steak with mushroom or peppercorn sauce, duck confit, salmon, roasted chicken breast with cous cous, so many more authentic French fare. Yum!
I’ve only been to French restaurants that really hurt the budget or only dreamed of going to (like Crocodile) that are WAY beyond my budget. I was very please to have had an after dinner snack and dessert.
I only know now, after I did a little research on Urbanspoon and Yelp, but I’m glad I didn’t know before I went for fear that it would have tainted my first experience of Jules, but apparently there have been instances where diners have had very bad customer service. There’s one claim where apparently a customer got yelled at for sitting themselves at a table that was unset, and another lectured after they sat down in a group only for dessert at 8:30 and didn’t tell the host until after they got seated. I can’t imagine having had an experience like that, and I probably would have put up a bad review myself, if I had been treated the same way, but I guess I would do what I always do and give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he had a bad day?
The fries were delicious, and they came with their own little bowls of ketchup and mayo.
216 abbott street vancouver bc V6B 2K8
tel: 604-669-0033
Hours of Operation - Open Monday to Saturday - Closed Sunday
Lunch: 11:30 - 2:30
Afternoons at Jules: 2:30 - 5:30
Dinner: 5:30 - 10:00
Great review of Jules Casual Bistro. Your Fondant au chocolat looks delicious. It must be a great place to eat affordable French food.
ReplyDeleteCathy
French Course