Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie

French restaurant · West End

Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie

French restaurant · West End

909 Burrard St #100, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2N2, Canada

Highlights

Long-standing destination for Michel Jacob's traditional French cooking in an elegant space.

909 Burrard St #100, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2N2, Canada Get directions

lecrocodilerestaurant.com

@lecrocodilerestaurant

$$$$ · Menu

Reserve

@cntraveler

"Le Crocodile, which has chef Michel Jacob running the show, has been a fixture on Vancouver’s fine dining scene since it opened in 1983. The restaurant isn't trying to reinvent French cuisine. It is, however, hell bent on creating classic dishes that stand the test of time. From escargots and pan-seared veal sweetbreads to roasted duck breast with foie gras and Provençal-style lamb shanks, this is the kind of cooking that would make Escoffier himself take notice. The service is friendly; the servers, approachable. The cliché of the snooty Gallic waiter is nowhere in sight. The room is elegant and understated, much like the cooking itself, which has landed the restaurant on local "best French" lists year after year." - Guy Saddy, Nicole Schnitzler

21 Best Restaurants in Vancouver

View Postcard for Le Crocodile

@exploretock

"Our story began in Strasbourg, France where Chef/Owner Michel Jacob was born. As a young apprentice under Chef J.Letzer of Zimmer, Michel and his fellow chefs were often taken to restaurants for firsthand experience of the local dining scene. One day, Chef Letzer took the entire brigade to Restaurant Au Crocodile. The chefs were served a meal “like nothing they had ever seen or tasted before”. Everything was under the expert hand of Emile Jung, who came out personally to explain the philosophy of his cooking. It was at that meal that Michel Jacob set the standards for his own culinary path. Chef E.Jung became his ‘inspirational culinary mentor’. In 1983, Chef Michel opened Le Crocodile in Vancouver. Initially located on Thurlow Street, we quickly gained attention and had to move to our larger current location. Thirty nine years later, with some of the original staff still here, we are grateful to still remain in Vancouver as one of the city’s most acclaimed and visited restaurant."

VANCOUVER CITY GUIDE

View Postcard for Le Crocodile

Alisa Cooper

Google

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner at the newly re-opened space. The food was elegant, not overly heavy, with plenty of options that make you think “next time I come, I want to try that”. There were the French classics but also other contemporary options which I appreciated. Highly recommend the halibut and endive salad. I rarely have desserts out but I’m glad I did here. Alsace tart was A++. The service was excellent. Our server Jesse, made us feel welcome, was engaging without being overly so, and truly elevated our whole experience. All the staff we spoke with were warm and you could tell were working hard to make sure everyone’s dining experience was top-tier. Thank you to the team for a special meal. Looking forward to our next visit!

Kingramen

Google

Lucky to get a table before owner changes hand! Top notch French food from start to finish, every dish was solidly executed and delicious! Especially enjoyed the frog legs and the duck confit. Hope the new owner will continue the great quality and success!

tikki

Google

Got to visit the new Le Crocodile during the grand opening week! The space felt more bright and spacious than before and we found it interesting how it was separated into two areas with different vibes. They introduced a few more creations to the menu while keeping some of the classics, and we really enjoyed the seafood dishes!!

Gerard Lee

Google

I’ve wanted to dine at this place since I first heard of it back in 2003. It’s now run by Rob Feenie, who took over from Michel Jacob in May 2024. The first thing we noticed were their management and staff … they’re a well-oiled machine. Courteous, gracious, unobtrusive, yet attentive. I perused their extensive wine list and chose a 2020 Pommard 1er Cru ‘Les Chanlins’ from Monthelie Douhairet Porcheret ($390). It was full of red fruit, earthy, with hints of clove. Bread and Butter ($7) were next while we continued to read through the menu. Even the butter was formed into a “kiss”. Our server (Miguel) noted some specials, and I opted for one of them ...Breaded Sweetbreads in some type of green sauce ($28) while my sister-in-law (SIL) chose the Escargot de Bourgogne ($30). For entrees, we chose the Seafood Medley ($70) and the Grilled Veal Tenderloin Medallions ($55). SIL demurred on trying the sweetbreads, which I found to be sublime. I love sweetbreads! But it was the sauce! My SIL used bread to sop up every bit of sauce from my plate … It was that good! She didn’t really care for her escargot; the Pernod parsley garlic butter didn’t have enough garlic for her (or me). SIL’s seafood medley was a beautiful presentation of lobster, Hokkaido scallops, prawns with pieces of zucchini and asparagus. Our server finished the dish by pouring in the tomato saffron broth. My veal medallions came in a sea of morel sauce … It was so flavorful and delicious. My SIL sopped up the sauce from my plate with more bread. There’s always room for dessert and we chose the Classic Le Crocodile Alsatian Apple Tart ($14) and the Tarte Robuchon ($18). The apple tart was the more successful of the two, more a slice of pie than a tart (to me); it came with a quenelle of brown butter cardamom ice cream which I gave to my SIL. Her Tarte Robuchon was a visual treat … A round of chocolate ganache served with a scoop of chocolate sorbet. I finished my meal with an Americano Coffee ($6). What can I say? To me, it was a Michelin star worthy experience. The food, service and atmosphere made this one of my best meals of 2024.

Google

Wow! Food was delicious and beautiful! I was excited to try it out during the restaurants soft opening (ready to forgive a bit if needed) and the entire experience did not disappoint. Thoroughly enjoyed an outstanding evening. I'll admit, fan of RF since being wow'd by his flavours in the 2000's but I think anyone should be able to clearly taste the deliciousness resulting from the care and attention that goes into them. So there'll be a set of longtime Le Croc regulars who will be loudly missing exactly the way it was, but please do not listen. This is a new era and it's fabulous (and still pays abundant homage to the previous). Especially with a soft opening, I'm going to include feedback and suggestions for areas in the spirit of being helpful to the restaurant. However, as a fellow diner, I have no hesitation in fully recommending this restaurant (provided you can afford it, but I think for me, it's good value for this level food and service. So many staff involved). My personal favourite was the saucing (so much flavour) but everything was beautifully cooked too and flavours made sense together. Possible tweaks: consider, even if it's not very traditional or very French, to include spoons in the cutlery left for dishes with a lot of that beautiful sauce. I've been to some high-end restaurants around the world, so I don't think it's tacky. I wound up having to ask for our table and then ask again (something a top-level server might anticipate for the next course). At this price point, felt possible coldness when I asked for a cup of ice for my water when I was looking for something that felt like "absolutely no problem" and when I asked about my checked purse, "you'll have to talk to the hostess." Maybe checked visually, but I didn't feel like our main server asked me how I enjoyed each dish, not as personable. I had to ask her to describe a dish after she put it down and started leaving. This is just one person and maybe she'll feel more relaxed in a couple of months. However, when I was greeted and was hoping for a spot at the bar, a few staff at the front were exceptional. Maybe best in Vancouver! Lots of staff around, so in the end, I still feel the service was accessible and very special, but brand new staff may need a little seasoning. I loved the sweatbreads/morel stuffed with shrimp paste?/truffle ? jus special (specials might change weekly). Veal medallions came with generous amount of amazing sauce, morels, and with a lovely mixed veg on the side including cute and yummy Tokyo turnips. I like a decent amount of veg with my main and enjoy the more unusual ones. Used to getting just a tiny bit, so the side bowl was unexpected and appreciated. And the white chocolate creme brûlée with black pepper, coriander biscuit was so creamy and delicious with a beautiful thin burnt sugar top and I loved the spicing on the biscuit. Proportions were perfect - it was wide/thin instead of deep/narrow, and garnished with nice berries. I tasted my dining companions dishes, no losers. But I loved mine most. Other possible tiny tweaks: bread and butter was $7 (Good. Tiny. Small Victory bread and PEI butter? Some in our table of 4 only had one slice) but I blame those low carb people for killing the complimentary bread basket in Van. Le Crocodile's influence is French, so what is more French than having baguette offered freely and refilled? You could always require that tables order it to get it in the first place, and then only charge for the refills. Or maybe for the comp basket, don't outsource and have simple puff pastry twists and charge for the other basket. Also, would love to see complimentary amuse bouche. Cost can be considered kitchen training/enrichment/reducing food waste/testing ground. The palate cleanser sorbet that we received was a delight (pear, Calvados). Thank you! Cocktails were nice. I loved the energy in the room - lots of excited, happy people, one you can feel comfortable in and not so formal that you find yourself whispering. Hoping they continue to feel free to explore new dishes! Excited to return.

Louie Parker

Google

Visited after the chef changed to Rob Feenie. Great service, delicious food. The menu got a lot shorter. Generally more modernized compared to before. Need a bit more finesse to become a really special place.

Ryan Luk

Google

From welcoming to the vibe, it was just wonderful. Sarah, our friendly server, was amazing—her warm service and great recommendations really stood out throughout the meal. The food was great —Oysters, Seared Foie Gras and Escargot de Bourgogne were all spot on, and I had the best steak of my vacation here, a 20 oz Côte de Boeuf. Took me a while to finish it, but it was really good, with no regrets whatsoever. Will definitely be back for more.

Panteha Ebrahimii

Google

During my visit to Le Crocodile, a kind staff member, a gentleman, surprised me with a specially curated vegetarian appetizer. His thoughtful gesture showcased the restaurant’s commitment to exceptional service and made my dining experience truly memorable. The food is delicious, with classic French dishes and modern twists. The staff are friendly and helpful, making you feel right at home. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfect for a special night out or a casual dinner with friends. Le Crocodile is a must-try for anyone who loves French cuisine!