So here I am. Vancouver! Relocating in the midst of the pandemic was not an easy journey. After months of planning, packing, unpacking, repacking and more unpacking, settling down in a new home feels like a well-deserved break.
My first night in Vancouver was good enough of a reason to celebrate — and what could have been better than a little taste from home after years away from home? After a quick internet search, Provence Marinaside in Yaletown seemed like a solid option.
The Atmosphere
We had a furry friend with us so we sat down at the street patio overlooking the Marina. The street was rather quiet and the traffic was light, so it was the perfect setting on that warm and sunny evening!
The Food
As its name suggests, Provence Marinaside specializes in dishes from Provence — a region located in Southern France. Their menu features a lot of seafood, but they also have a good variety of meat.
Herbes de Provence Crusted Goat Cheese ($16)
We started with a few appetizers to share. The goat cheese was my favorite. It was served hot on a toast with a dash of balsamic vinegar. The cheese was mild but the butter sauce brought out some nice flavors.
Provençal Sampler ($14)
The Provençal Sampler was a trio of delicious dips. My favorite was the anchovies and tapenade (far left). The red pepper and chickpea purée (middle) and the white anchovies and garlic (far right) were tasty too. Overall, it was a good selection of Mediterranean flavors.
Crispy Calamari ($13)
The Crispy Calamari served with aioli were average. The calamari were a bit too greasy for my liking and the aioli was lacking flavor.
Curly Endive and Asparagus Salad ($16)
The Endive and Asparagus Salad was good, but in my opinion it could have used a tad more of the shallot vinaigrette.
Te Mana New Zealand Rack of Lamb ($44)
The Rack of Lamb was fantastic. It was crusted with mustard and herbs, and cooked to perfection. It came with some potatoes and fresh vegetables, which were also extremely enjoyable.
Seared Duck Breast with sautéed asparagus and pommes gaufrettes ($38)
I ordered the Seared Duck Breast. Overall it was good, but the dark berry sauce was a bit bland. Its bright red color had me expect more. I was also a little disappointed with the side of pommes gaufrettes. I would have been happier with just two or three plus a more generous side of vegetables.
Prawn and Scallop Spaghettini ($29)
I did not try the Prawn and Scallop Spaghettini, but it was apparently well done. The least I can say is that it looked good!
Free Run Half Chicken Provençal ($32)
I was impressed by the size of the Free Run Half Chicken Provençal that came with a side of vegetables AND French fries. I don’t know if one person needs to eat that much, but in any case, it was good. The lemon herb pan jus that came with it paired very well with the meat.
Raspberry and Blueberry Pie ($12)
The seasonal pie was a mouth-watering Raspberry and Blueberry Pie. It tasted absolutely fantastic — not too sour nor too sweet — and the coulis was amazing.
Fondant au Chocolat ($12)
When the Fondant au Chocolat arrived, I thought there was a mistake with my order. It just turned out that Provence Marinaside call their chocolate mousse “fondant”. I am not going to lie, I was disappointed. Had I known, I would have ordered something else… But I will be fair, the mousse au chocolat was well-done.
Clafoutis aux Fruits Rouges ($12)
The Clafoutis aux Fruits Rouges also looked surprisingly different from a regular clafoutis. Yet, Provence Marinaside did a good job with it, it was an enjoyable dessert.
Overall
I had a good dinner at Provence Marinaside. The atmosphere was nice and it is an ideal spot for a date or a nice dinner out. If you go there on a sunny day, the patio is definitely a plus.
The service was good, our waiter was extremely pleasant, but I was served a dirty plate at the beginning of my meal. Although I know this can happen, it was not the best first impression.
Regarding the food, some dishes were absolutely delicious, and others were just average. Personally, I was disappointed with their misleading dessert names. The menu was rather authentic, even though it was not 100% Provençal.
I was not mind-blown by their cuisine, but I would consider going back. However, note that Provence Marinaside is on the expensive side, so you may be able to find better options in this price range. I’ll be back shortly with some good alternatives!
Provence Marinaside
Opening hours: open everyday from 10am to 11pm on weekdays and from 9am to 11pm weekends
Website: click here
Address: 1177 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3
Telephone: (604) 681-4144
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
