Bar Susu

What a great experience! Bar Susu was the last place that we visited on our hometown visit and it was GREAT. What a wonderful way to punctuate our trip especially after some disappointing experiences at some ‘stars’ in the city this was refreshing. Every dish was great conceptually and executed seamlessly. The wine menu was strong and the staff were super helpful even in light of our pickiness. This is Vancouver Gem. Deserving of all the hype.

The food does not stand out a bit, it is either too salty or too bland. The bread is perhaps the only bright side of the items we have ordered. We’ve had high hopes for Bar Susu and left extremely extremely extremely disappointed especially with our server ignoring us the entire time. We can’t place order, we can’t ask for more napkins, we can’t even pay the bills because they are too busy cleaning the tables. We have come to celebrate anniversary and this has utterly destroyed our night. I sincerely hope the management team can teach them priorities.

First time here and was blown away by the meal and the wine selection. Our server was amazing and had the best recommendations. Only gripe is that I could have probably eat more but good thing como is around the corner.

We came here for dine out. This is a cozy wine bar with an interesting layout and stylish decor. However, due to it being very busy at the time we came in, it was pretty loud, so it was hard for us to converse without raising our voices, which isn’t ideal. The staff were all very kind and great at giving us detailed descriptions of our dishes. It was nice that they had vegetarian options, as I was a bit limited on what I could eat. I liked the milk bread, and the chocolate mousse. The kfc maitake was a bit too salty, and the grilled mushroom salad was quite sour and acidic (I liked it, two other people in my party didn’t). Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy the squash risotto, it was a bit bland for my taste. My friends also found the coppa steak overly salty. Due to the dine out menu being limited, I assume there are other items on their regular menu that I would’ve liked more. I will most likely try this restaurant again, maybe on a less busy day or at a less busy time, as I do really like the look of the place and I’d like to try more of the menu.

The environment of this wine bar is beautiful with the tall ceilings. The servers were knowledgeable about the different type of wines but not that easy to understand. We were able to get a table for 6 as a walk in pretty easily. The food servings were small but still meant for sharing. The price is justified if you are splitting between two or three people but a bit overpriced when just ordering it for yourself. For example a small loaf of bread and a table spoon of butter for $16. They have a rotating list of wines by the glass but bottles ranging from $80 and up. I am happy that I tried it and went but it definitely is just for the vibes rather than the food and prices.

My husband and I came here last night for the first time, for our wedding anniversary and we couldn’t have loved it more! The natural wine was some of the best we’ve had and all the food was amazing too. Highly recommend the steak and crudo. We will definitely be back!

My friend and I loved this place so much, we visited two days in a row. The crudo and steak are amazing. Sorbet and strawberry tart are delicious. We found our favourite natural wine (De Sol a Sol) here thanks to the very knowledgeable server we had on Saturday evening. We came back to share dessert and wine on Sunday and were also given great service by Natasha. Great staff and amazing food/drink. We'll be back for sure.

Their menu features a diverse range of dishes, revolving around locally sourced produce, that has been carefully crafted to complement our wine selection, creating a perfect pairing experience. Embracing the beauty of seasonal ingredients.

Finally had a chance to come here before they officially closed May 31st. A cozy space with an intimate vibe. This place was spacious and dark (lit by candlelight) but also very warm at the same time. The service was a bit slower than I'd like. The waiter gave us plenty of time to review over the menus and we actually had to flag him down at one point. It took a while to get the bill but I'd like to think they were embracing a slow dining approach, where you can chat and sip to your own delight. The food was quite good. When we went, they had a pop up menu collaborating with a local chef. We had 2 honey crullers and the spot prawn entree. Their approach to food was really good. It was balanced and unique. 'Playful with their food's as the waiter said. We also tried some of their drinks. At first, we ordered their flight selection of Amaro. It was strong and had a surprisingly different array of flavors. They didn't have a wine menu so we had to ask the waiter for some options. He was generous for giving us a sample of some wines before we ordered our glasses. Bar Susu specialized in organic wines, which have a bit of funk, but it was a lot of fun getting to try them. Will miss the ambiance and the food.

End of an era at Bar Susu as they will be closing for good in 3 weeks. Decided to do a Friday date night there and will miss the vibe in the neighbourhood as it reminds me of a cute tapas bar that could be found in Spain where there's good drinks and small plates to be enjoyed. They have a very sealed back menu due to their upcoming closure and they only had 6 food items left on the menu - we got one of everything except for the Wardolf salad as it is pre mixed and has green apples that I can't eat. The drink menu is still extensive though. We got one each of everything else on the food menu - sourdough bread with butter, beef tartar served with homemade chips, Hamachi credo, deep fried matitake, marinated cucumber, and Brussel sprouts. The sourdough bread was warm and fresh and butter was homemade with a bit of salt - yum but slightly pricy for $10 for 4 pieces of bread. We decided to get another order anyways but they were out. The cucumber salad was deliciously refreshing and had a slight kick to it - we wanted another order of this too but were sold out. The beef tartar was, at best, average. There wasn't any particular flavour that stood out and the texture was only so-so. The Brussel sprouts were also quite average but the tonnato sauce it was served with was nice. The Hamachi credo was fine except it was hard not to compare it with Hamachi sashimi. The scallop that was served with it was solid though. Finally, the deep fried mititake was the star of the night - perfectly fried with a well seasoned batter. My boyfriend hates mushrooms due to its slimy texture but he ended up eating half the dish claiming it tasted like deep fried cauliflower. Drinks were solid and service was friendly and nice, though food and drinks took longer than usual due to them being understaffed and busier than they were expecting. We also ordered the baseless chocolate tart for dessert and this was solid - not overly sweet and the tart shell was beautifully done. For all the mentioned food plus 4 drinks (2 non-alcoholic and two alcoholic), it worked out to be $219 including taxes. We left just satisfied. Farewell Bar Susu!

We had a lovely evening at Bar Susu trying their $75/pp Chef's Menu and enjoying the view of other patrons on their 2nd level seating. Part of the meal included the sweet and fluffy Butter Bread that they also serve at their sister restaurant, Published On Main - delicious. They provided a nice variety of dishes for us to try. Only complaint was the steak was a bit tough and underseasoned for our taste. The finishing touch with the Lemon Tart (1 large size to share between 2ppl) for dessert was fantastic. Sad to see they are closing at the end of this month (May 2025). Try them out while you can!

Cute little date night vibes with great food and lots of wine options! They also have happy hour between 5-6pm with 35% off bottles of wine and 20% off select menu items! We ordered the shishito peppers, beef tartare, carrots, crudo, maitake and chicken. The crudo and the fried maitake were the highlights!

Menu was quite limited and portions were very small considering the price. The food was alright. Service was fairly slow. The restaurant is very cute and aesthetic.

Went there with the family on Thanksgiving. The service and food was very good. A very nice food and wine selection with a friendly intimate atmosphere. Price was kinda high for portion size. But, Definitely a must try

A cute cafe turned restaurant that is known for their "natural" wines. Didn't know what that meant before trying this restaurant out, but turns out it's organic wines that are fermented without additives. The vibes here are immaculate and a great spot for girls night or date night. Snake River Farms Wagyu Tartare (4/5) - $22 Taste: A pretty decent wagyu tartare, nothing too special or different from normal beef tartare but overall a solid choice! You could really taste the mustard seeds! Portion Size: Small sharing portion for two people Kentucky Fried Maitake (4/5) - $20 Taste: Deep fried mushrooms that have a crisp batter, paired with a delicious house kewpie sauce. This one's worth trying! Portion Size: Small sharing portion for two people Grilled Octopus (4/5) - $38 Taste: Small grilled octopus tentacles with a pumpkin puree and fingerling potatoes. Nice char and grilled flavour. Portion Size: Small sharing portion for two people Crazy Creatures Gruner Veltliner (4/5) - $70 Taste: Delicious light, refreshing sipping wine that has a fruity taste and pairs well with all types of dishes. Portion Size: 750 ml [Value for Money] Everything was quite delicious though I think you're primarily paying a price premium for the ambiance. Portions are small so don't expect to leave feeling too full. However, this spot is perfect for small bites, a bottle of wine, and a spot to chat the night away!

With Dine Out Vancouver Festival coming to an end soon I was fortunate to sneak in a reservation on a busy Friday night at Bar Susu to try out their DOVF menu. In the menu we tried the following : Pork collar with wild mushroom sauce and shishitos Beef Tartare with red miso, caperberries and taro chips Susu Bread + Butter Endive Salad with orange miso dressing, spiced rice cracker and comté cheese Steelhead Trout with nduja cassoulet and seasonal greens White Chocolate Mousse with sunchoke, dulce de leche and aerated milk Overall I found the flavours unique in each dish but some ingredients didn't work as well together as I thought it would and the for the pork collar dish the meat was a rather fatty piece that I was surprised they served. But I really did enjoyed the vibe in the restaurant with the dim lighting, beautiful plating and lovely service that really shows how they are very focused on your experience there. I'd like to visit here again to get a better taste of their regular menu as well.

We came on a Friday night with reservations. We got the chicken liver rosette ($6.00 each), kentucky fried maitake (mushrooms) ($20.00), snake river farm wagyu tartare ($22.00), scallop crudo ($26.00), grilled octopus with pepper sauce, pumpkin, fingerlings and sourdough crisps ($38.00), grilled pork collar ($36.00) and carrot cake (spiced carrot ice cream, sea buckthorn buttercream, carrot caramel)($12.00). The chicken liver rosette was one of our favourites of the night. It was crispy on the outside and filled with creamy chicken liver mousse on the inside. Very addicting and not too decadent at all The Kentucky fried maitake dish was another favourite of the night. It almost tasted like meat. It was crunchy and savoury. Would definitely order this again. The beef tartare presentation was interesting. It was hidden beneath the taro chips so you can't really see it in the photo. The tartare was nice. Texture was good and flavour was good. My biggest issue with this dish was the taro chips. They weren't very crispy and felt kind of stale. The Pork cheek with shishito peppers was okay. Not a show stopper. I liked the shishito peppers. The pork cheek seemed like an afterthought. Not super tender. Would pass on this dish Scallop crudo was another favourite. Very fresh tasting and not seafoody. Texture was good and snappy. I would get this again The octopus was strangely enough too fishy. I usually love octopus and have to order it on every menu but the one hear had such a strong octopus sea flavour. Before it even got to the table I could already smell it. I would pass on this dish The carrot cake was the most carroty carrot cake I've ever had. It's layer of carrot cake with a thick slab of buttercream. Interestingly enough I did enjoy it. The buckthorn buttercream gave it some sourness to balance it off. It's not too salty. I thought the carrot ice cream would be overkill but it really isn't. If you like carrot cake you will love this dessert. Service was really friendly and helpful. They were accomodating and quick. The ambiance is nice for date night. It's too dark for photos but if you are looking for an intimate place this is where it's at. Overall I thought the bigger dishes were okay. The smaller dishes like the chicken liver, scallop crudo and kentucky fried mushrooms were really good and would order again. I love that their menu has a huge array of dishes. I would come back to try their other dishes

Great course dinner. My favorite was the cheese curd with shredded cheese on top. Next would be the chicken liver dip which was presented in a flower/pretzel-shaped crunchy bite. The eggplant spread with wbread was really nice. The Trout was a little too soft and soggy. Squad was great. Great sauce. Beef tartar was scrumptious and refreshing. The scallop was an odd texture but tasty. Fresh. Not my fav. The cheesecake was sublime. Subtle but sweet. The pork with peppers was good including the peppers around it. Very kind service. Nice mood lighting. Food melt coming. 4 stars because while some meals were standouts, some were ok. Like the scallop, cheesecake, squash, trout. Good dishes, but nothing traffic-stopping.

Came here for the first time tonight. The food was good. Service was excellent. Staff are friendly and attentive. Haven't done dine out vancouver in years. This was surprisingly good but portions were tiny. The susu bread and butter was amazing. The restaurant is very nice and a decent size. Parking in the area is terrible though. Took me a while to find a spot.

My reservation followed after a foodie's post on Instagram. I did not check out the menu online and since it's the holiday season, I just quickly booked it to secure a restaurant for dinner together with family. The restaurant is located in Mt Pleasant and ambiance is hip. Parking around the area is plenty and convenient. Menu is surprisingly simple. Five of us got the Don's Choice. I would say food is quite good and creative but portions were extremely small, more like a bite menu than a tasting menu of 7 mains and 2 desserts. For $400 it wasn't quite worth the price we paid.

All dishes were executed very well and everything was tasty! I have wanted to try Bar Susu after hearing they were opened by Published, which I haven't had a chance to try yet. It was easy to make a reservation online via Tock for 5 pm and when we arrived, we were the only customers. I would say during our meal, it was less than half full. The menu is not too extensive, and they said they usually change out one or two dishes weekly. Writing this review about a month after, I see all of the dishes we tried on their current menu except for one. We estimated the value of the Don's choice and we think the tasting menu would have included an additional dessert (plus a chance to try a few dishes curated especially for that menu). However, we preferred to be able to choose our dishes, so we ordered à la carte. Duck liver parfait ($6 each): probably my favourite dish this meal. It is a tasty fried donut made to order, slightly sweet, with a decadent duck liver on top. I would order this every time. Charred onion & eggplant dip ($14): all the reviews raved about this dish. The bread is from Fife bakery and grilled to provide a nice flavour. The eggplant dip was super tasty and flavourful. It was nice that the bread provided was a generous portion as I find sometimes restaurants don't provide enough bread for dishes like this. Kampachi crudo ($18): Slices of raw kampachi lined with celery root. The flavour was very celery-forward. I would pass on this next time. Smoked trout with wasabi ice cream ($19): my second favourite dish of the night. The ice cream is not sweet at all but has the texture of ice cream. That and everything else on the dish paired well with the fatty, smoky tuna. Roasted lamb belly ($32): this was a very fatty piece of tender lamb. I feel like it would have benefited from some sort of carb on the side as it was very heavy on its own. Flavour was good. Service was really good. Our waitress constantly came by to check if we were enjoying each course and refill our water. One thing I would note is we felt that the waitress was a little pushy in suggesting that we order drinks - she asked a few times after we initially declined. But I guess the restaurant's thing is to have wine pairings with each dish. Overall, I would try this restaurant again when the menu is completely new.

I had really high expectations for Bar Susu, knowing this was a sister restaurant of Published on Main; however, it was met with a really mediocre experience.  First and foremost, I'd like to speak about my mom falling down the last step of the staircase.  Several people seated around the staircase checked in to make sure she was ok; however, no server seemed to see or addressed this issue. Dim lighting is great when you're looking for something intimate; however, not when you have a slim staircase that leads to an extra odd step. I was truly appalled by this experience. When no server can witness/hear the fall -- this is an issue. In terms of the menu, I enjoyed our starters and our drinks -- particularly the fried mushrooms (KFC). We ordered every main dish on the menu but none of them were memorable.

Came by for a nightcap yesterday evening after hearing great things. Bar Susu is a great destination in Mount Pleasant for late-night bites, dinner, as well as natural wines and cocktails. From the team that brought us Published, this spot definitely checks off all the boxes for an intimate date night spot. It's in the old space where The Whip used to be, and they've made it their own with the addition of side-by-side patio tables for two, as well as old wine bottles adorned with candles lining the windows. I love that the options for natural wine are growing in Vancouver and Susu reminded me of the Vin Van popups, which I also highly recommend. FYI they offer a late night happy hour after ten. Unfortunately we were both already stuffed, so stuck to late night bevvies. My boyfriend went with an amaro cocktail that had passionfruit kola in it, and I went with a glass of rosé that was on their weekly features board. Both delicious and a wonderful way to round out the evening. Our server was lovely and attentive without being overbearing. The staff here definitely are passionate about their offerings and will kindly assist you in making a selection - I'll definitely be back. Can't wait to people watch on their patio while having some sips this summer!

Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Food & drinks: 4.5/5 Overall: 5/5 I passed by this spot a lot since they opened and finally decided to check it out! I love that they take resos online - we came on a Thursday evening around 6 and there were definitely tables available inside but we managed to snag the last patio table outside. By around 7:30PM all of the tables were full and people were waiting outside so I definitely recommend making a reso if you know ahead of time! In terms of ambiance the patio is cute but the tables are super small so keep this in mind if you plan on ordering a lot of plates since the indoor tables are bigger. The service here was absolutely lovely! Our server started off by explaining that all their wines are natural and asked what types of wine we typically like and brought over two recommendations. He nailed them - and this was pretty much the theme for the night as all the dishes he recommended ended up being our favourites! They have a ton of wines that they sell by the bottle and a few on rotation that they give by the glass so keep that in mind as your perusing the wine list. As for the food, they recommend share plates so between the two of us we got the charred onion & eggplant dip, falafel, and torched mackerel. I have to be honest and say that the falafel wasn't my favourite but the eggplant dip and mackerel were delicious! We ended off with the lemon balm genoise which was super unique as well. Overall a great experience and I'd definitely return here again to try some of their other wine!

BY THE PEOPLE BEHIND PUBLISHED ON MAIN it's a more casual environment with smaller dishes and lots of wine! The service here is very friendly, our server was lovely. The hot smoked trout was doused in dashi butter sauce. It was cooked but still so tender so it melted in your mouth. The kale salad had miso citrus dressing with bits of rice crisps and jicama. It was refreshing! That sablefish was my favourite though, the fish was buttery and fatty. It's a small portion but so worth the cost. I really wanted the butter that read out SUSU but I didn't get that. Such a nice spot, I would come back again.

It was such a great experience from start to finish. Each dish was meticulously presented and I absolutely love the contrasting texture in many of the dishes. It seriously made the entire dining experience very exciting. Flavours were bang on.

Just because you couldn't get a seat at Published or Vignette, doesn't mean you should write off Bar Susu! Came for the tasting menu on a Tuesday night and was quite pleased! Coming in at $85, you can't expect too much but you also don't expect little nibbles - Bar Susu came through just right and possibly even above my expectations. Apart from some dishes tasting on the saltier side, everything was quite near perfect. Comparing this tasting menu to the "Family Style" option on the menu, the extra $20 does seem to go quite far and is worth the investment. We opted to add the black truffles to our Morel Risotto for $15 but this seemed to give the kitchen an excuse to produce a sub-par risotto but hey, it was covered in truffles. Strongly recommend complimenting the tasting menu with "The Experience" that gives you several half glasses of natural wine with your meal! Smoked trout was the best out of the menu but make sure to save space for desserts, also outstanding and a wonderful way to end your evening! Service was immaculate and the ambience is quaint and cosy - although you may smell a musty old funk and no, that's not from the natural wines. Came back again on Friday evening to test out the a la carte items and was also very pleased. The experience overall was good and I strongly recommending coming out for a visit! Food is good, but wouldn't blow you out of the water. Great spot for date night or a chill evening to try their well curated selection of natural wines!

Very disappointed with the food and wine this time. I give the sommelier the trust to recommend wine to pair with the food. Not a chance for highway robbery. Any decent sommelier would mention the price of the bottle if over $100. A professional recommendation would be along the average price bottle off the wine list unless the customer asks for something special. Will not return.

Recommend this place if you're looking for a unique wine bar experience! Entire wine menu is made up of natural wines and if you're familiar with this type of wine, you'll appreciate the thought they put to their selection. If like me, you're not, you'll appreciate the way the servers help you navigate the experience. Echoing other reviews that service here is excellent - even on a busy weekend night, they were great about checking in with our table and taking time to help us pick some wines. They are playful with their food and they feature some unique presentations and flavour and texture combos but don't come too hungry. This place is more about the wines and the food is meant to compliment that experience. Decor and ambiance is super cute! Recommend for dining for two or a small group.

From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is chic and modern. They had a great selection of wine and my group was recommended a bottle of natural wine to share. Our server was helpful with the selection and was very attentive with coming back to pour the wine and refill our waters. The wine itself was so good that I took a photo to try and find it in stores. I'm already planning my next visit!

Perfect service: advice on the extensive campari and vermouth menus, drinks delivered by the bartender with extras descriptions, wine recommendations, water refills all day, perfect timing on everything. Even in the temporary relocation at the coffee house during the rebuilding of bar susu after a fire, the atmosphere was perfectly comfortable yet upscale. The wine menu on the chalkboard was hard to see so maybe take a looksie on the way to the table. Highlights - sourdough with yeasted brown butter, beef tartare unusually flavorful with the added caper chunks and miso, scallop crudo with several textures, don't miss the Kentucky fried maitake unique with perfect fry and soft mushroom interior, smoked trout perfect cook with pronounced smoke, pork collar rich but not fatty though the promised potato puree didn't come through, skip the chocolate cake for the light and fruity fresh eton mess.

Worst steak tartare ever , usually a simple dish , just get good fresh meat , this one had soft mushy beef infused in a sweetish sauce , posibly just on the edge of going off , and was covered with some sort of pop corn as a filler , Who needs Fillers ? the "cooks" might want to visit Le Crocodile and see how it is done right Boy do I ever miss the Whip who made a fantastic burger served with an honest pint (20 ozs)

A big thing here is ambiance. We went for the tasting menu which we didn't realize has no substitutions. Although this was our miss it's inconsiderate when a dietary restriction is due to religion. The food is very creative. It's good but not amazing. For the price you'd expect it to be the most impressive meal. Service was the worst part. Not sure if our server had too many tables or she preferred serving the table of men over the rest. Service was extremely slow. After waiting 15 min for the bill I got up & asked for it myself. Is place is all hype but if you're into that you'll love it.

I had a 5 star food experience on Main Street! The scallops appetizer with fresh strawberries were like butter and the pork entree with grilled jalapeños was so tender. The desert of meringue, cream and raspberry sorbet was not sweet- perfect. All the food was absolutely delicious. The gin cocktail was delightful and rose wine paired with our desert choice. All the staff were friendly and checked in constantly. The decor feels country nouveau French. They took away the leather couch in the front window, which was nice to hang out in, but I can see they need more seating. I want to try more on the menu! Recommended over restaurants downtown.

We tried The Dons choice. Easy Street parking, nice staff. Food and cocktails are amazing. Will go again. Highly recommended

I'm a fan of Published, so was very intrigued. Came with a gf on a weeknight for dinner. Ambiance is very laid back and although decor is dark, there's large windows for natural light and is warmly illuminated inside. We ordered a few appys and entrees to share. The eggplant dip was really delicious with generous slices of bread and plenty of dip. The sablefish was also a star. Being a cilantro hater my whole life, I was pleasantly shocked that I actually enjoyed the lovely green sauce that complimented the cod so well. We wrapped up our meal with the chocolate mousse. Light, decadent and a perfect sweet for a warm summer night. Service was friendly but rather slow and hesitant. Prices weren't outrageous, but $33 for a humble piece of sablefish was pretty steep. Despite that I'd be happy to return.

The food was amazing and the service was phenomenal. But I'm giving it 4 stars as the hostess was very rude and made the start of the night sour. Hostesses need better training on hospitality and kindness to guests.

We had a fantastic meal at Bar Susu. We are very discerning diners from San Francisco. I am an avid cook and my spouse is a retired chef. We ate at Bar Susu for our anniversary. Initially we booked at Hawksworth but friends of ours went there a week before and they were not impressed. We cancelled Hawksworth and booked Bar Susu instead. That was a very good decision. Our server Elle was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Started with an orange wine from the Okanagan. Fantastic. We had the chef's menu which was wonderful. The food had Japanese and Korean elements but the food really was not "fusion". Just very imaginative ways putting different disparate tastes together. One has to be a bit adventurous at Bar Susu. One of the best meals we had in Vancouver.

Four of us had a lovely meal there last night with good service. We had the shared sampler menu basically a series of small plates shared between two. Our only quibble was a small dessert where four of us had to share. That is a tiny amount. We felt they cheapened out of us. It wouldn't have cost them to serve another very small plate of rice pudding for a bill that cost $400, hence 4 stars instead of 5. A. F. Shearer