Erica R.
Yelp
LOOOOOOOOOOVE this restaurant. A friend and I picked Elisa as the restaurant to take my mother to for her early birthday celebration dinner (during our short visit to Vancouver) and I made reservations pretty much as soon as they became available online.
Such an excellent ambience, and, as my mother said, those folks in the kitchen must be magical... because the ingredients and flavors they put together on each plate were so deliciously and wonderfully combined. I also love that dining is recommended as family style, so you order plates and sides for the table and then have the opportunity to share everything. Our server (who was lovely and answered plenty of our questions about the menu) specifically noted that each person could select their steak and then the kitchen would slice up each cut so that the individual cuts could be shared amongst the table. With that in mind, each of the 3 of us ordered a different cut of steak - from a different producer - and we asked that they be sliced so we could all individually try the various cuts. In the process, we were able to savor the nuances of each of the different steaks - the flavor from the aging, for example, or the different types of marbling.
We also ordered 2 different types of oysters for the table, the roast sea scallops (with thai style salsa with tomato, chili, lime and cilantro), and split various sides, including the wild + foraged mushrooms, brussels sprouts (fried, brown butter, parmesan), and the mac + cheese (burgundy truffle, comté cheese). All were amazing... A++++++ to the kitchen staff, for sure!
And whoever makes the creme brulee (with vanilla, salted caramel, apple, bergamot gel, dulcey crust)? It was divine. That dulcey crust beneath the custard (along with the classic caramelized sugar topping) was a delightful combination of textures and flavor.
TL;DR. While this restaurant may be on the more expensive side, it's because dining here is an experience. Between the location in Yaletown and the efforts of all the restaurant staff? Elisa should NOT be missed.