Cacao

Wow! From the time you enter this place to the moment you say goodbye, you know you're in a world class restaurant. The dining experience is one I've only experienced once in Vancouver. And that is what this place offers. An impeccable dining experience. The incredible amount of passion for the food is displayed on the plate as well as on your palette. Chefs Alvaro and Marcela have brought the high end European dining experience with traditional Latin American flavours to our beautiful city! The Civiche is probably the best I've ever had. Better than in the Latin American countries I've visited and incomparable to anything you'd find in this city. The Elk Tartare with the Tomatillo flavours bring a beautiful rich smokey profile to your tongue. The octopus as well is perfectly done with a slight smoke flavour as if the meal was made over a traditional fire. Duck breast with a Mango Jus that highlights the delicious fatiness of the meat with the delicate acidity of the mango. The pickled beet brings balance to the whole plate. Lamb shank with the baked and pan fried Yucca is phenomenal! The melding of colours and flavours in both deserts was just magnificent! Their menu is changed weekly so I'm excited to go back more often! Such beauty and heart food is created here, Marcela and Alvaro put their hearts on display. It was an honour to dine here. Thank you.

Had the opportunity to try their Taste Test Tuesdays--a 10 course meal where you basically try foods that may be a part of their menu. There were some that I liked, and some that I didn't like. Overall atmosphere was cozy and intimate. You also have the opportunity to see your food being made. Staff were friendly and accomodating. Would definitely come back to try their regular menu. Parking within the vicinity can get pretty difficult.

It is Latino fusion and a lot of Peruvian ingredients. I tried the Vancouver dine out here and the taste is good and very flavorful. The only drawback was the portions were small so it felt I could have another dish after the dinner.

In our first visit to Cacao, we decided to go with the Chef Creation Degustation menu, described as a seven-course journey. The dinner started with a couple of amuse bouches – an intense fried anchovy and a slightly sweet polenta fritter. Both were interesting, but later we learned that these two starters counted for two courses, which changes the perception. The next course, queso a la plancha – a slice of grilled halloumi cheese with pear and marinated bell peppers – was tasty and well-balanced. Ceviche that followed raised the bar even higher. The real star of the evening was pan seared branzino, beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. The last savoury course of the menu, duck and plantain, was completely ruined. The duck was overcooked and dry. It deserved to be returned to the kitchen. Disappointed by the main course, we were hoping that a desert restores the balance. Alas, we found the guanabana cake rather unpleasant. To sum up: it was a five-course menu with a couple of exceptional starters, an unimpressive desert, one excellent and one disastrous main course. The experience at Cacao didn't meet our expectations, and we can't find any reasons to repeat it.

The food in this place is amazing. They know have to bring Venezuelan flavours into modern cousine. The ambiance is excellent and so it's the service. Also good to bring your Spanish speaking family as I don't have to translate everything to them hahah

Chef Alavrez is an excellent chef, really great food, cozy place. If you can book in advance and let him know you want to go off the menu and do an 8 course tasting menu, it is worth it to be surprised by his team of talented chefs.

Been here before I remember then it's quite stiff and formal. This time around, I find it less formal and quite relax. Service was swift, attentive. Started with tamarind and soda drink which was I expected, sour and sweet. They gave you tiny pieces of soft bread with beans inside which something different. The queso a la plancha, the way it should be and served with thin slices of pear was refreshing and chewy. For main, whole Bransino was perfectly grilled and quite substantial was served with root vegetables, etc. All in all, very pleasant dining experience.

Very good vegetarian tasting menu. 7 courses of really interesting dishes where you aren’t over stuffed by the end. Great service and nice atmosphere. Want to try out their rooftop next!