La Quercia & L'Ufficio

Came here for their tasting menu and it did not disappoint. The place is quite cozy and intimate, perfect for a date night or special occasion. Started off with an antipasto board, it was a good mix of in house products they made, but nothing worth highlighting. Next up was one of my favourites - seared scallops and pork belly. The scallops had a good crust, but the inside was cooked perfectly. The pork belly melted in my mouth as it should. This dish was a 10/10, must try. Next up was an endive and raddicio salad, which balanced out the rich meat prior to. Next highlight were the two pasta dishes. The first was a brown butter sauce with ricotta agnolotti - this was my personal favourite because it felt like quality ingredients making something simple and the pasta was perfectly al dente. The next was a sheet like pasta that had a texture that was hard to explain, but worked well. It was served with ham… flavour was nothing special but pasta texture was great, so yes, you need to try any of their in house pasta’s. Next up was a beef dish served with sunchokes, really nothing special compared to the other dishes, but not bad. Last savoury dish was wild mushrooms with polenta - this was my least favourite dish, just felt overall bland. Last but not least, we got an almond semifreddo. It was the perfect way to end the meal. It wasn’t too sweet with a strong almond flavour, it has some chunks in it too which was nice - I wouldn’t call it ice cream, but it’s a similar vibe. Overall, for $100pp, I’d say the tasting menu was well worth it. Good portion size to make you full, good balance of food, although a bit too red meat heavy for my preference. However, if you prefer a la carte, I would 100% recommend their pasta’s, cooked scallop and pork belly, along with the almond semifreddo. This is a place I’d like to return to because of the great dining experience. The service was good, ambiance great and great quality food.

This restaurant is exceptional! Easily one of the finest Italian eateries I've eaten at in Canada. The food really brought us right back to our recent Italian vacation. The freshness and quality of the ingredients shined through in every single dish, and you could feel the care and attention poured into every dish. Our server, Matthew was fantastic. Super knowledgeable with the menu and accompanying wine pairings and really set the tone for the evening with prompt, professional, yet not at all pretentious. The space was tiny, warm and inviting and filled with intoxicating food scents. We ate family style and were treated to 7 incredible courses and 2 different deserts. We were also lucky enough to have arrived on the very day that their shipment of fresh white truffles arrived from Italy 🤤 Sadly we were too enthralled enjoying ourselves to snap photos of all of the courses. This restaurant is special and deserves your attention and I can not recommend it more highly.

We came here for dinner to try their homemade pasta. The server was so nice and friendly. She explained all the menu, since we are still not familiar with their authentic Italian food name. So, we decided to have: - Agnolotti del Plin - Strozzapreti (with pork sausages) - Spaghetti Quadrati Myself ordered the Agnolotti, the meat filling was so juicy and tasty. The pasta itself was soft and thin. The portion was just right for me. I tried some bites of their strozzapreti and spaghetti as well. The pork sausage was also delicious. The white sauce in the spaghetti was creamy and savoury. The dishes might look plain, but I believe their point was the homemeade pasta. The flavour was so homey and hit the spot. The dessert was something with chocolate cake and rhubarb. They made the rhubarb sour like jelly. I like it.

0/5 if I could. What a laughable dining experience, comical. Don’t believe the high 4.6 star reviews, this business and how they conduct it is nowhere near deserving of it. I left a note with the business when making reservations that we were celebrating our 3 year anniversary for dinner. No mention of it upon being seated, or any hospitality really aside from an overtly-forced smile throughout the night from the older lady. She must have been unhappy that we ordered hot water with lemon to start after being offered “still or tap”. Other smaller blunders throughout the night showcased careless service. The kicker of the night though, was ordering the recommended “Tagliatelle, Chanterelles” on the menu. What we found on the plate was what appeared to be porcini and/or some other type (we had the porcini soup just prior and the taste was similar). The mushrooms were all chopped up into pieces save a smaller piece with a button top. When we noted that with the older lady, she immediately tried to convince us they were chanterelles, then after checking in with the kitchen, she brought out a large porcini to show us the size difference and how the mushrooms on the plate couldn’t be a porcini and were chanterelles because that’s what was offered on the menu. “The yellow colour changes when it’s cooked” was her justification. The visual difference lies in the texture and shape as well, lady. Pasta was tender and toothsome, albeit the second pasta dish came out just lukewarm due to forgetful service. So, guess what? The bill came and the dish name discreetly changed to “Tagliatelle AL FUNGHI”. There was no mention of it from the server. She had folded the menu in half when presenting us with dessert options for crying out loud, so as to not remind us of the pasta dish on the other side. No courtesy “how was your meal?” chit-chat while waiting for payment, or remembering to bring out my coat on the way out (she didn’t even offer to take it coming in). Service would have been forgetful if it wasn’t so distasteful in the way the situation was dealt with. $38 pastas that aren’t what they say they are, $55 for 6 oz hanger steaks with side arugula. The dining interior and level of service left much to be desired as well relative to price point. They’re happy to ply customers with wine, overpriced food and small portions, but experienced diners know what they’re paying for and this, isn’t, it. First and last. Do yourself a favour and look up Magari, Lupo, Savio/La Tana, Ask for Luigi.

We had family Thanksgiving dinner at La Quercia last night, and everyone had a good time and enjoyed our meal. The restaurant is a small cozy place, service was excellent and the food was exquisite.

Amazing. We had the lunch tasting menu & everything was amazing- the quality of the ingredients, the service, and each dish was incredible. A hidden gem that brings Italy to you :)

I have only good things to say about La Quercia (L'Ufficio shares a kitchen). The most amazing and accommodating service and the food was incredible; so much so that they are my new standard for which all other comparisons are made for Al Dente. They got it all right and worth the prices. Tasting menu is 100% worth it.

Service is impeccable. Very small, snug environment, but it makes for a cozy and quaint atmosphere that I quite enjoyed. Felt like staying in a friends cottage, lacked the pretentious air that some fine dining establishments can have. Food was all extremely delicious - I highly recommend going for the tasting menu. And for the amount of food you’ll get it’s very fairly priced!

When I came to dinner with my family last night, while waiting for the table for 4 people to be ready, I saw magnificent mushrooms that had just been picked in the forest, chanterelles, a variety of mushrooms resembling sponges or cauliflowers that grow on the trunk of the trees..., in the garden at the back all the aromatic plants, even strawberries. The tomatoes come from the Trout Lake farmers' market but the market gardeners are already robbed by the restaurateurs at 8am.... I missed these exceptional tomatoes when I arrived too late around 10:00 but I found them on my plate as an appetizer to Querchia. Here the head chef ADAMS prepares a remarkable risotto with chanterelles, pasta of all kinds, exceptional, even the rare handmade bracelet pasta by the chef named LORIGHITTAS, gnocchi with pesto and grilled pine nuts... in the desert a carpaccio of pineapple and orange with a lemon granita... In total one of the best Italian restaurants where I have eaten even in Paris, Berlin or Italy You won't find better

Great charming spot. As a walk-in we were seated immediately with most tables already being full. Menu had a great simple selection, very traditional which we loved. The pasta noodles tasted incredible. The cacio e pepe was great, wish it was a bit richer in flavor, and wished the tagliatelle bolognese had more bolognese. The Vitelli tonnato was so tender, tonnato a bit overly salted and I love salt. The fresh bread was nice and simple served with olive oil- always a plus. The wine options were nice. No room for dessert, but I'm sure it's delicious. Giving 4 stars since for the type of restaurant and for the prices I wish the lighting was dimmed a bit as it was pretty bright - and was looking forward to more richness in the pasta sauces, but still very delicious!

We had been meaning to try La Quercia for years and so finally booked it for a birthday dinner. What a tremendous disappointment. That will be my last experience at this restaurant. We ordered the family style menu at $100/person. At that price point, we expected a unique, delicious and filling meal. It wasn't any of those things. The pasta courses were good, although quite small. But the rest of the meal was, frankly, bad. The first course was a basic charcuterie served with bread, no better or different than what I prepare for friends at my home. The second course was an endive salad, which was watery and unseasoned, though the egg dressing was interesting. These courses were disappointing at the price point, but they were not gross. The meat course unfortunately was. It was "Bollito Misto," or mixed boiled meats, which is evidently a traditional delicacy in northern Italy. Whether or not something so rustic as hunks of boiled meat is a good choice as the signature item on a $100 menu at an upscale North American restaurant is a great question. It probably isn't. But if it is, then it should be memorably flavorable, like the greatest bowl of pho you've ever had. This couldn't have been further from that. When our waiter set it on the table, he said "this will taste better than it looks." It somehow tasted worse than it looked. Eating this dish required fishing around in a watery broth for a hunk of something, guessing what it was, and then trying to eat it. But it was all inedibly tough. For example, the pieces of short rib were so tough that our steak knives couldn't successfully separate meat from bone. Other retrieved hunks could not be identified, but had the texture of undercooked tongue (and in fact may have been). I cannot imagine that this was a reasonable replica of a dish that Italians love. But even a better version of this probably would have been disappointing because part of the fun of going to high end restaurants is having the chance to experience cooking techniques that go beyond boiling (or, in this instance, underboiling). The boiled meats were accompanied by a plate of potatoes and carrots that were cooked to the point of disintegration and seemed never to have encountered salt. They had the texture that the short ribs should have had. They were a startling counterexample to my general belief that Italian cuisine typically prides itself on lightly cooked, al dente vegetables. What a mess. We eventually complained, the waiter apologized, and we were offered chicken scallopini as a replacement. This dish was better, but it was not remotely up to the standard we would expect at a restaurant of this reputation and at this price point. It certainly was no better, or more interesting, than similar dishes I regularly make at home. I was very surprised to find out it's on the regular menu because it was so tremendously ordinary. Dessert was a cannoli that was able to withstand silverware to an extraordinary degree. We couldn't wait to get out of there. The staff was polite and apologetic; they seemed embarrassed to be serving this food. Our dinner was during their last service before a holiday break. I assumed that this explained being served mystery meat stew. Judging by their social media, this is perhaps wrong: this dish seems to have been encountered by the chef on a recent trip to Italy, and so was perhaps not just the freezer-clearing mistake it appeared to be. Either way, it felt like a joke or an insult: if you are in the business of separating customers from hundreds of dollars, you must give them something better than badly boiled meats. I would not go back to this restaurant and I could not recommend it to anyone.

The food was excellent! Fresh, top quality ingredients with creative presentation. Service was top notch, very friendly, attention to details without intruding. The restaurant is small, unpretentious , packed with regulars with a neighbourhood feel.

I have been going to La Quercia for years but it's just not the same, the portions are much too small and price is ridiculous high, it been awhile gone so I was totally surprised by the difference a few years make. I think there is better options and I suggest they rethink their pricing and portions

The Chef Adam Pegg has a Master degree of Italian Gastronomy--the first to do so in Canada. He knows what he is doing. And if you want an advice on vine served here - Karin Lazzaris knows Italian wines as she knows her family. I recommend you try it tonight.

Tried the family style chef's choice for 6 and it was one of the best meals in a long time! Service was excellent and meal accommodated allergies with no problems. Portions generous with good variety. Love the ambiance its got a nice relaxed vibe can have a conversation without yelling or talking over music. We were all very satisfied and will definitely return. Highly recommend!

So tasty! The octopus was tender and slightly roasted. We enjoyed the wide noodles made with buckwheat, a slight bite and a big taste. The duck tapas was perfectly fragrant and tender. The selection of roasted meats was rich and dark. The roasted broccoli was our only veg...no matter- the meats and pastas were wonderful. We finished with the elderflower pannacotta - tasting of elderflower and cream. My companion enjoyed a grappa and espresso. Ambience is great for a date or noshing with a good friend. Conversation is easy. Wood beams and white plaster create cosy. Located at Alma and West 4th. Lots of street parking. Bus stops right in front. A very nice place to relax, chat and enjoy well-prepared food.

Food used to be so much better. The $100pp family style dinner was not worth the price. At the end of the dinner we were like where was the main course? Almost every dish felt like an appetizer. The best dish was the almond semifreddo, delicious!

When thinking of a favourite restaurant in Vancouver, La Quercia always comes first. It is my benchmark for other restaurants.

This restaurant has gone down hill. A better assessment might be that their ego is WAY too inflated for average food. Not bad, but not exceptional either. But more (and most important) the service is DREADFUL. Our server - a woman who has worked there for years on years, seemed not to understand how to give service any longer. We had to ask for pepper over and over - and she left wine glasses unfilled. But the absolute worst - was after we had paid, one of my guests had a bit of wine left in his glass. We chatted as he finished it - and she had the gull to come over and tell us we needed to leave as they had another reservation. What was most ludicrous about this, was the restaurant was empty. Not one other table and no one at the bar (8pm - we had been there since 6pm). I spent well over 400$ and was treated like I had merely popped in for olives. Was brutal. I've never experienced it before. The owner needs to do an overhaul of his staff and lean back into customer service. I will not be going back, and I intend on sharing my experience with others who frequent there. Appalling.

Highly recommend. It's an experience! Sat at the bar and enjoyed *everything, including the exceptional service. Must try!

It was a nice private dining experience! Staff were lovely. For the price, it was good, wasn't blown away by any plate but all very solid.

La Quercia has one of the best tasting menus in Vancouver and what makes it special is that their chefs create a personalized family-style tasting feast for you and your table mates, based on your preferences! We went with the smaller tasting menu ($60.00) and it was more than enough food for all of us. We truly enjoyed every dish that we ate but the most outstanding course was the second pasta dish, their classic lasagna. Even though the portions are on the smaller side, you only need a taste of this lasagna to truly appreciate La Quercia's authentic Italian fare. We also really enjoyed trying the different wines imported from Italy. Our server was extremely knowledgeable of their extensive list of wines and we got to try a few wines that we would normally not be able to order at other restaurants. Even though La Quercia is a bit far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, it is definitely worth making the trek out to the West side for some excellent fine dining! The restaurant is quite small and quaint so you definitely want to make your reservations a few weeks in advance. P.S. Their Tiramisu is amazing!

The menu was on the wall behind the bar and it was all written in Italian. One of the servers who might be the owner, was quite unpleasant & rude when I asked him to explain all the dishes, he was not very friendly and seemed a bit arrogant and impatience when I asked him to explain which pasta dish is made with tomato paste. He replied " None". So my friend & I had to google all the main dishes and translate them into English before we can order. The food was quite good overall and they made delicious cocktails. I would recommend the owner to describe what ingredients & different types of pastas in English before we can order.

This was a slightly disappointing meal, even though most of the food was good (but not all). If you read anything about this restaurant, it's this: they do NOT have a tasting menu of any sort, regardless of what the waitress says! I had originally been recommended this restaurant for their tasting menu. I did read online that they no longer have a tasting menu, but I wanted to be sure, so I called in and checked. They said they still have it, but it's not exactly the same as before. However, the price point was still $60-70 a person depending on what's ordered, some of the dishes would be on the menu, and some not depending on what the kitchen had that day. She quoted that we could share a few appetizers, pastas, main, and dessert. That sounded fine to me, so I decided to go for my birthday dinner. Then, once seated at the restaurant, I again asked the waitress about their tasting menu. She explained pretty much the same thing, making it sound like they have a tasting menu still available and we could list our preferences on what we saw on their regular menu that seemed interesting, and then the kitchen would decide what else to add to the menu. She quoted 3 appetizers, 2 pastas, 1 main, 1 dessert to share between 3 people. We chose 2 appetizers and the main. She said we might get a different special main from the kitchen (we did not). I wish I had chosen more, because when the bill came, it turns out they just ordered us items off the regular menu and it was pretty much exactly the same as if we'd have chosen the items, except they chose 1 appetizer, 2 pastas, and 1 dessert to serve to us. If they were more transparent on what their "tasting menu" was actually, I would have just gone and ordered things that I wanted to have. We did not get 1 dish that was not available on the regular menu. I wish I had listened to the reviews that warned me that there was no tasting menu. The restaurant sounds like they have a new alternative "tasting menu" to answer for why they don't have one any more. I'd rather just have them be open and transparent, then we would have ordered all of the dishes we preferred. Okay, so that explains why 1 star down. On to the food! All of the dishes were very tasty, with the exception of the dessert. They had a prosciutto and burrata appetizer ($25) on special which I highly recommend. They fly their burrata fresh in from Italy. It's so soft and delicious. We also had their parmesan souffles ($16 each) which were SO good, light, fluffy, and tasty. We tried their butter lettuce wedge salad ($15), which was also very fresh, crisp, and delightful. Then, we had their spinach dumplings ($23). Not something I'd normally order, and value wise, not something I'd get again. It comes with 4 pieces. The taste was good, very carb loaded. The second pasta we had was the Maltagliani all'americano ($23). The sauce was really good, so flavourful, and the pasta was fresh and had a good bite. We then had 2 portions of the hangar steak main ($34 each). This was a generous portion, with lots of pieces of well-cooked steak and a nice arugula salad. I did find they were quite generous with the cheese in all of the dishes that had cheese. Lastly, they served us a chocolate cake with poached pear for dessert ($10). This was the most disappointing finish to our meal, as this was not only dry, but there was not much chocolate flavour. It wasn't a very decadent dessert, it almost tasted store-bought. Definitely do not recommend this cake, so minus another star. Overall, if you go in ordering the dishes you actually want to try, and avoid their "tasting menu", I think you'd have a great time. The flavours for their dishes (in exception of the chocolate cake) are really good. If only I had gone with ordering dishes on my own, I would have had a much better experience. I might be back as I hear their lasagna is amazing, and there were a few dishes that were very good. But for sure I do not recommend their tasting menu, and likely won't be back soon.

Excellent food. Service not that warm. Maybe overworked staff. Favorite dish: octopus (so so so soft), tajarin with white truffle ($70.. not cheap but I never tried white truffle before) . Pasta with smoked beet and Cannoli

Love the sandwich shop!! Much needed addition to the neighbourhood, and appreciate that you're open all through the day. Keep up the great work.

This is our second time going to La Quercia. It's a family-style Italian restaurant at 4th and Alma. It's a tiny restaurant that probably has around 10-12 tables. They seem to always be booked way in advance so book early if you want to try the place. La Quercia has been ranked as one of the top 100 restaurants in Canada and it's usually featured as one of the best 25 restaurants in Vancouver, according to Scout Magazine. The first time we went we had their tasting menu, which was unbelievable. This time I don't think they were offering it which was disappointing. I'm thinking they might just do it for groups of six or more. We both started with the Cured Meats. Delicious. They offered seven different kinds of meat, along with their fresh bread. It also cake with asparagus and egg, plus pickled tomatoes. We also shared their Broccoli as a starter. It came with a subtle mushroom sauce. For the main dish I ordered the Roasted Chicken. It came with chanterelle mushrooms on top of the chicken and celeriac pave as the side. I've never had celeriac pave before and it was so good. It's celery and potatoes that are thinly sliced, with some cream. The top was golden brown. Despite the plate being really good, I wish the chicken portion was a tad smaller. I also would've liked some greens or something to be included in the plate. I was so stuffed after eating it that I didn't have room for dessert, although some raisins were given with the bill. I love having little treats as a thank you. It's a small team at La Quercia. You can just tell that there's so much passion for Italian food with the staff. The dinner was around 90 minutes, although they always reserve two hours for each guest. My entire meal was $70 for the main dish plus the two-shared plates. Service was 3.5. Food was 3.5. Overall experience was 4.0.

Had the fortunate opportunity to share a swath of delicious things off the menu with a group of friends here, some of whom are regulars. I'm not going to try to remember the Italian names for the different dishes - just what stood out. The cheese soufflé was exactly everything you'd hope and dream that a cheese soufflé could be. The arancini (deep-fried risotto and cheese) is just superb. We got an antipasti board with deep-fried zucchini that will redefine zucchini for you, a sadly forgettable fennel and radish salad, three kinds of sliced meat (two of which were awe-inspiring, one that was just okay), crackers with a mint & pea topping, some pork crackling, pickles, and pickled veggies. There was a tasty salmon with some kind of onion topping, gnocchi with perfectly-prepared chanterelles, and a few other odds and ends, finishing on a splendid cheese plate. You get the feeling it's run and cared for by people to whom the food and the experience really matters. Service was a little brusque but well-intentioned; it's a tight space that's hard for a server to move about, and it was a busy night. Plus, we ordered our dishes with heedless disregard for what order they would traditionally be in, so we may have come across as uncouth, uncivilized creatures. I certainly wasn't bothered, and would gladly go back.

Wonderful authentic Italian restaurant with a great selection of wines. The atmosphere was cozy as the restaurant is smaller so to optimize space they have bench seating along the walls with tables and chairs towards the interior of the room. Was expecting the set up to be more intimate for the prices. I was slightly disappointed that I was seated right on the corner to the kitchen and bar but I suppose with it being fully booked every weekend someone has to sit there. Morale of the story the food is delicious but the atmosphere detracted from the experience. I'd recommend skipping it for the first date and saving it for someone worthwhile that won't mind a tight dining experience. Highly recommend the Selezione di Affettati misti e to begin with as it's great for sharing and gives lots of variety. The Sformato di Parmigiano was interesting, much lighter than I thought it was going to be, I think it's worth trying but has to be in addition to something. Agnolotti del Plin was cooked to perfection but I was missing a flavour component. While the sauce complimented the dish and I understand why they didn't want it to over power the veal and spinach stuffing, I would have preferred it to be slightly richer. Maltagliati all'Amatriciana was my favourite dish out of them all and highly recommend it. As a side note be cautious of the staff, our server was determined to up sell dishes which was slightly annoying when we had two of the same starter dishes come out and hadn't agreed to it. I understand he may have thought 4 people needed two soufflés but with two tiny girls, an additional starter plate and pasta dishes to go around it was a bit over kill.

Superb, classic Italian cuisine. Outstanding service. Small, inviting room. A little embarrassing moment over the wine. What my friend thought was a $150 bottle was actually $650!! Sure, the wine was incredible (2001 Antinori Tignanello Super Tuscan), but $650! Argh. However, fabulous meal. And wine lol

Repeat customer (pictures from pre and post pandemic: January and August). Went back again and opted for a family-style experience. Felt excited as always.

Quality/price (4/4): Went there and had the family-style tasting menu, which is basically whatever the chef decides to serve you (different tables on the same night can have different dishes). There were 7 courses in total, all of which were delicious. The wine pairing was good too. Although the tasting menu requires 2 or more participants, the price isn't too bad per person. Service (1/1): Service was great. The waitress clearly knew a lot about the restaurant and food was served on time. Would I go there again: YES, but I would order from the regular menu next time. The tasting menu can get a little pricey, even though it's worth the money.

Very rarely do you venture into a restaurant and love everything you had. My glass of Baroso was beautiful in texture and aroma. Our appetizers were simply delicious: grilled squid with tomatoes paired with some potatoes and ricotta stuffed blossom. The olive oil for the bread is the perfect level of 'grassiness' for me. So clean and so fresh. Our raviolo was WOW and then the rest just added to the great experience of the night. We were served the Branzino, presented in such a meticulous way. Truly enjoyed the Torta della Nonna as well and finished off with a glass of Porto.

Best Italian I've had in the city. The pasta was perfectly cooked. Tomato salad was melt in the mouth. Servers were wonderful.

I knew I was going to like this place before I took my first bite. And I was right! Went on a Tuesday evening and the restaurant was booked full. Was told on the phone that a seat at the bar was all that was available all night, even if I wanted to walk in and wait for a table (this was not possible I was told). So we arrived and decided to try the bar seating, which in my opinion was the best seat in the house. The hostess who sat us happened to be the same person who turned me down for a table a few minutes earlier on the phone, and when I expressed my pleasant surprised at seeing the mini half-booth that was our seat, she said: "Clearly you didn't know what you were missing!" She was right. From this seat, you can peek into the kitchen, you can see what everyone else in the restaurant is eating, and you have constant access to the wait staff, who is walking by constantly. Only con was the lack of a footrest, which kind of makes you feel like a little kid whose feet are too short to touch the ground. Service was lovely throughout. We were checked in on and waitstaff was very knowledgeable. Food was solid. Everything we ordered was good and managed to strike a good balance, i.e., food was appetizing without being prissy, and tasted delicious, bold, flavourful, yet delicate at the same time. Didn't love the rose that was recommended, but followed it with a nice fruity red which I enjoyed quite a bit. Saw many dishes on other tables and on the menu that I will have to return to try. Delicious, unpretentious food made with thought, care, dare I say love? :-p Attentive service. Nice date spot. Menu prices are standard, probably cheaper than most Italian restaurants in the city and certainly just as tasty if not much tastier. Didn't look at the final bill was tipsy from the wine and happy from the food. :-D How could I forget to mention!!! The espresso machine that kept us company across the bar all night has got to be one of the most quaint things I've seen in a restaurant (maybe a family heirloom belonging to the proprietor?). I couldn't stop myself from alternating between sizing it up and giving it googly eyes throughout the meal. During dessert, I actually got to witness how the staff uses this charming contraption to make coffee, which was decidedly disturbing to my dinner mate (a coffee nerd), and which process prompted us each to simultaneously look at each other and try to keep our laughter at polite decibels. Personally I found the entire spectacle as enchanting as it was shocking, and I'll leave the details for you to observe for yourself if you get the pleasure of sitting at the bar. After all, this is all part of the appeal of the La Quercia dining experience!

We had a hard time getting a reservation for a Thur night that we had to book for three weeks in advance. I was told that the early seating at 5.30 pm and only dining time for 2 hours. Since the yelpers reviews are rated so high and so hard to book for it. I have no reason to refuse it. The restaurant is very small and has around 10 tables inside. The tables are pretty close together so over-hearing the conversations of the tables on either side should be expected. It was our first time at La Quercia, the 7-course menu was suggested by waiter and we could try most of the dishes on the menu. 3 kinds of tomatoes with cheese - The 1st course was fresh and matched with perfect sauce. Halibut in tomatoes sauce - The 2nd course was a bit disappointed, the halibut served in cold dish. It's overcooked and so rough of halibut. Also, the tomatoes sauce a bit sour. Lamp roll - the 3rd course was arranged beautifully but the lamp was too gamey. We had two types of pasta: gnocchi and agnolotti di guido. Gnocchi were a bit soft but Agnolotti was good. Hanger beef - the 6th course was tasty, each slice of beef was so thick but soft. The salad and dressing with vinegar was matched perfectly. Desserts were a chocolate hazelnut torte, berries sorbet and tart I have No complaints about the food we had, 7-course for $45. I would say it's fair enough for the food quality and service.

Delicious, authentic Italian dishes served in an intimate + unpretentious dining room a few blocks away from the beach. Skip downtown and come here for one of the best elevated dining experiences in the city. In a city awash with mediocre meat boards, La Quercia's reminds you that with an eye for selection and quality, they can be worthy of a spot at any table. I will never forget the veal-stuffed agnolotti. I dare you to find any pasta dish as bursting with flavor, yet delicate. The market fish of the day, a halibut, was fresh and perfectly cooked - flakey and buttery, a very satisfying conclusion to a meal of many smaller dishes (most items are meant for sharing). Service was informed, attentive, and unhurried. I usually don't like to repeat upscale restaurants, but La Quercia will tempt me back soon.

Okay it's silly how good the food is at this place, it's beyond good. Got the chefs tasting, left about 8 lbs heavier, with a big fat smile on face. Farm to table? Yes I even saw the little garden out back. Impressive! Thank you Chef for an incredible night of food made and served with love.

Came here last week after all the hype this restaurant gets and was left VERY disappointed. Everyone had great things to say about this restaurant and it's been here forever but I had a really bad experience. Food: 4/10 Grilled squid: 7/10 Parmesan soufflé: 5/10 Risotto: 3/10 and 1/10 for plating, had to get it redone since the rice was undercooked Bream: 5/10 Venison: 5/10 Service: 2/10 They seemed to be in a rush to turn the table over and when we told them that the rice was undercooked, the waitress says "it's supposed to be like that, that's how we do it here". The rice was still hard and chalky.. Don't recommend. There are so many better options in this city for fine dining. Would not come back.

Really bad impression for the long waiting. 2 pasta and one antipasti. Nearly 1.5h and they were so mediocre. Not worth it. The server was just ignoring you all the time. Vancouver has so many wonderful place for Italian food. This is not one of them. The risotto. So not worth waiting. Agnolotti as well. Disappointed in every way.

La Quercia I love you. Your food is inspired and amazing. I have tasted things here I have only dreamed of. Me and my fiancé have been coming here for 5 years. We had our first date here and got engaged here. I am so disappointed you no longer offer the 11 course family style tasting menu. Absolutely heartbroken! It made the restaurant experience here so Special for us. We may have to take some space and time to get over it. I hope we will be back someday.

Atmosphere: Cute and Cozy with some seating inside. Price: Fair Market Value Customer Service: Beyond friendly and accommodating. Thank you for being patient and accommodating with my specifications. Food: The portions are small but they are of quality. I had the pasta with the base sauce which was amazing. All the flavors just danced in my mouth.

Yummminess authentic Italian food. Coming back here for sure!! Open kitchen so you can see the action of fresh pasta making. Many recommended tasting menu, but we made our own tasting...lol. ‍ #hellohelloeats #eattheworld #foodporn #musteat #livetoeat #eatswithlovedones #withmybb#icjourneys #eatwithcin

Not disappointing at all. I had the pasta with Chicken Livers and it was really flavourful and different. We shared the squid and the Parmesan soufflé - both really tasty. Service was very pleasant and efficient, great cocktails, overall very lovely. Next time going to do the tasting menu - there can't be anything that wouldn't taste amazing I'm figuring !

Most amazing Italian food I've had, including trips to Italy. The tasting menu is very generous, served family style, and tastes excellent. The staff even caters to you if you've had the tasting menu before, switching it up a little bit to make sure you don't have the same thing twice. I almost don't want to write this review in case this place gets to popular as getting a reservation is difficult enough.

We were in town from Victoria for the fireworks festival and really looking forward to a lovely meal, with some nice wine. We made a reservation for 8:15 and arrived 15 minutes early. We were greeted at the door and promptly seated, not really a polite greeting and I guess that should have been our first clue.. The Server came to the table with menus, left came back quickly..asked about a water choice, left came back poured the water..took our cocktail order, meal order and we ordered 2 glasses of wine to be served with our meal..5minutes (yes 5 minutes) later our cocktails arrived and also our meals..another server showed up after our meals with the wine. We watched other patrons in the restaurant be told there were other food choices than what was on the menu, we watched other patrons be served their cocktails and be allowed to enjoy them, we watched other patrons be served a basket of bread...I could go on...but I think you are getting the point. We expressed our disappointment with our experience and a Woman came to the table (did not identify herself), but am assuming she was the manager and offered us a free dessert to compensate, we declined and were taken aback by the fact that she was insulted by our refusal...honestly at this point we just wanted to pay the bill and leave, why would we want to stay longer?? The food was fine...but not the best Italian we have had, so if there is another place you think you might enjoy, please go there instead. Our whole "dining" experience to 30 minutes and that includes the conversation with manager, trip to the washroom and paying the bill...

Wow, just wow... 10/10... probably the best Italian in the city. Duck ragu and the cacia de pepe were out of this world.

I had high hopes for this Italian restaurant as many of my friends have recommended it as one of the go to restaurants for authentic Italian cuisine. They seem to have a bit of an odd reservation system as there were only tables available either around 5 pm or 8 pm no matter how far the future you looked. I'm not sure if this was a bug or intentional for their seating times. There is also a wine bar next door which serves food out of the same kitchen if you want to just drop by as well. The setup of the restaurant reminds me of many New York restaurants with fairly tight tables with some quite close to the door. However, they do have the entrance draped off so it was not too cold or drafty. The service was warm and prompt and they have a good selection of wines and cocktails. The menu was structured in classic Italian fashion with quite a large selection of pastas from different regions of Italy. We tried the octopus appetizer, tajarin with lamb ragu, and ossobuco with saffron rissotto. The food was delicious but the portion sizing for the pasta was quite small for the price. I think this restaurant is definitely one of the better Italian places in town but there are others which are as good if not better and have better value for the money. Worth checking out but won't be a place I go to regularly.

We stopped by La Quercia on a Friday night at 8, and the place was packed (I had to make reservations a couple of weeks in advance). The place is pretty tiny, but nicely and simply decorated, with free parking available around the restaurant. It was a warm night, so they had the A/C on high, which made dining here a little on the chilly side. We decided to order alla famiglia (sharing 3 apps, 2 pastas, 1 main and 1 dessert) for $50 per person. The party two tables from us got the same dishes as we did, so we were able to get a preview of what was coming. We were served: 1st course: asparagus, egg, cotto. The egg was like an Italian version of egg salad, and it was pretty good. This was a light way to start the meal (they also offer good bread and olive oil with your meal). 2nd course: goat cheese and roasted beets. Although decent, this dish was my least favorite since they topped it with brown sugar, making everything too sweet. 3rd course: salmon crostini, smoked salmon, grapefruit, sea asparagus. This was my favorite appetizer: I loved both preparations of the salmon, especially the smoked version. I wished the appetizer was bigger. 4th course: gnocchi, fava beans, mushroom sauce. This was the best of the pasta courses. The gnocchi were light, and the mushroom sauce was really tasty. 5th course: pasta sheets with pork ragu: I also liked this dish, but the gnocchi won out for me. The pasta was light and fresh, and the ragu was good, though. 6th course: hangar steak with greens, pine nuts and parmesan. By this time, I was getting full, so having a light main course was good. The meat was nicely prepared medium rare. 7th course: lemon custard (?) with macerated cherries. Again, this was a good and light way to end the meal (lemon taste was nice and refreshing). I would skip this place if you are in a hurry: our dinner ended up taking over 2 hours (there were some 10-15 minute waits between courses). The service was good, although our main server was busy with a larger party the whole night. Overall, the price of the meal was decent for the quality, and you will leave full but not stuffed. Definitely make reservations in advance and open up your plans for the night if you come here.

A quaint Italian restaurant in a casual setting with professional service and an evolving menu crafted daily by Executive Chefs Adam Pegg and Lucais Syme, located in Kits on 4th & Alma - moderately pricey for casual Italian, but is of good quality. Like Cibo Trattoria, La Quercia offers an evolving menu with daily fresh sheets that are based on local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Fresh sheets are written on the chalkboard for all to read. A+ for atmosphere (upscale-casual comfort) and for service. Our servers were extremely mindful, knowledgeable and professional (cute too!). Tonight we shared the 7-course menu for two ($45/per person). Since it was our first time, we wanted to be surprised - let the chefs get creative and have free range to work their magic. We were presented with delish, wholesome and comforting dishes: - Bread basket with grapeseed oil (i think) - very fresh. - Antipasti with artichokes, salami, brioche, prosciutto - Loved it! - Cheese Soufflé - Creamy, succulent, delicious. - Rabbit gnocchi with Lamb Ragu - My favourite, perfectly crafted. - Sloping Hills Pork Belly Agnolotti - Pork Tenderloin w/ quinoa - Very tender. Wasn't a fan of the quinoa. - Chocolate Linzer Tart with Raspberries - mmmm. - Valle Reale 2009 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($40) / Espresso - (See photos.) It's not typically a spot where you see people taking photos, but I did anyway for Yelp-sake :) The $45 set menu is a really great value comparatively to say the set menu at Chambar or West. I totally recommend it. Overall, the food was satisfying and we had a really great experience. What's more: - It's very small and always packed - book ahead! - La Quercia picked up three BIG VanMag Awards this year: 2011 Restaurant of the Year, Best Restaurant for Informal Dining AND Best Casual Italian - Suggestion for La Quercia: Share your story and add bios of your Chefs to the website. We want to know more about how you came to be and the fabulous culinary team :)

My family enjoyed a family style tasting menu in which the chef decided what we would be eating during the meal. It was a nice surprise every time what each course would be. I could taste the quality of the ingredients used. However, you have to be okay with what ended up on the table. Some of my family did not enjoy the chicken liver pasta as much as I did.

Go for the tasting menu and be in for a pleasant surprise. If you have been to Quince in San Francisco, this place is like a casual version of them. Italian inspired tasting menu. Good service, great food and fun experience. There is an option to go a la carte but that takes the fun out of the experience. We went for the 7-course tasting ($45/person). All dishes come family style and as a surprise. You will not know what you are getting until it comes. Since the menu changes often and everyone gets something different, I'm not going to go into each dish we had (you can refer to my pictures for that if you like). Everything was excellent. Some courses were on the a la carte menu and some were not. The table next to us had a few of the same dishes and few that were different. They ask if there are food allergies when they take your order. We don't have any food allergies but we told them we had preferences. The gf doesn't like undercooked meats so that is what I told them. When the meat course came, they checked in with us to make sure everything was fine. The place is small and the tables are pretty close to each other. They have a very small bar area that seats like two. I think that is for walk-ins. I would not come without a reservation. We will be back the next time we are in Vancouver.

Well. This used to be one of my favourite restaurants. I have been maybe a dozen times. But the last time was a disaster. One of the worst service dining experiences that I have ever had. Ever. I ordered the fixed price menu. My fiancée ordered a la carte. The food was very good. But, after the first 2 courses, the menu ended. The waitress thought I had ordered a la carte and told me, for the first time, that the fixed price menu was only available for groups of 2 or more. So, I didn't get what I ordered, and was charged roughly twice what I expected. Even worse, when I asked for the rest of my meal, the waitress became argumentative and refused to admit her mistake. She just kept insisting that I had ordered a la carte, when I clearly hadn't. She expected me to pay the full a la carte price, and wouldn't bring the rest of the meal that I ordered. I called the manager, but he was useless. So, an incomplete meal, at double the expected cost. Overall, a pretty sour experience. Won't be going back.

Wow. Just wow. I loved the small intimate atmosphere. The food here is so so so good. Northern Italian food with a tasting menu as well as a la carte items that are always changing. We came with 4 adults and a child and ordered so many items: some I don't remember the actual Italian name but are the bolognese, bone marrow, mini lasagna type pasta, cod, tongue and cheek, pork loin, burratta cheese/meat plate, 2 bottles of wine, and lemon tart dessert. Everything was so tasty and well presented and we shared everything. The portions are smaller but perfect for sharing. Service was impeccable. We had to add an extra guest and even though they were fully booked they accommodated the best they could by moving the table with a gracious smile. Our waitress was so informative and efficient and nice. She knew the menu inside out and had great recommendations although you can't really go wrong with anything. My friend was expecting a business call and his phone died and they helped out by finding a phone charger for him. Left satisfied and very full. Will be back !

Little Italian place on West 4th I went to for a friend's b-day dinner. Love it !!! Surprisingly small and narrow place mostly for two people sittings. They only take bookings, one at 5:30 pm and one at 8:30 pm, but at least you don't feel rushed to finish dinner because people are waiting for your table. The atmosphere was loud with friendly chatter and the waiters were super nice. A little on the upscale side. Nice selection of wines, cocktails, and sparkly drinks. Some great yummy things on the menu such as: -appetizer's: watercress soup, prok belly, and cured trout are just a few of the selection -you can choose pasta or a main dish: linguini alle vongole, potato gnocchi sausage ragu, petrale sole 'fruitti di mare', lamb, rabbit, and cornish hen -desserts: lemon cream, tiramisu, sacher torte I definitely don't do justice writing about the food, you must see and taste it !!! Every dish was presented so beautifully. What's great is that you can order the main dish as a half order.

As much as I love this place, was extremely disappointed at their unwillingness to accomodate on their no-show fee. It's $30/person, and they do not give reminder phone calls as most places in Vancouver do. They also gave the table away in half hour, which means they did not actually lose revenue that night, but they claim that is why they cannot transfer this charge to a future booking, which I was fully ready to do. I did not ask for a refund, but simply a transfer of this minimum charge towards the next booking. Having said that, their food is fabulous and I love their parmesan souffle.

Our party of 4 thoroughly enjoyed Chef Adam Pegg's seven-course dinner served family style. Chef chooses the items--the "chef's menu"--based on our selection of red Italian wine, and then the food followed. Appropriate size portions. Inventive dining experience and chance to sample many exceptional dishes. Most memorable items were the Burrata Salad, Stinging Nettle Agnolotti (a stand-out dish similar to Handmade Ricotta Ravioli), Pappardelle with Lamb, and Pork Chop with Sausage and Peas. Service was attentive...not too fast or slow on this Sunday evening. Seating is tight (cozy?) with about dozen tables close together like a New York City restaurant. Would not suggest for a group larger than about six. Dinner with taxes and wine was about $100 per person (not including tip) Located in Kitsilano section on 4th at Alma. Dinner only. Closed Monday. Will open for lunch for private functions. Tip: Book on an off-nite other than Friday or Saturday for best service experience. See pics.