Bistro 101

We very much enjoyed our 3 course lunch. Bistro 101 offers good value, a quiet and well appointed room, with very tasty, well prepared and presented food. Even though the lunch menu is a set 3 courses, there are several choices for each course. The servers are students from all over the world who have to learn the front of house procedures as well as the food preparation. Nice touches such as a variety of breads, amuse bouche, and a little treat at the end of the meal.

The Pacific Culinary Institutes Bistro 101 was a wonderful spot to visit. The Students work so hard, and really did a great job. Food was very nice, all three courses. Service may have been just a little slow but it wall all good. The only negative was the chicken in my entrée was under cooked with blood next to the bone.

We have been here twice in one week. We started with a great dinner. The food was excellent, the service was great even though the students are learning and sometimes a bit nervous. They provided free sample appys as well as free sample deserts. Supper was only $ 30, a great value for the quality of food. We returned a few days later for lunch and basically got the same quality and quantity of food for $ 22. This will be on our list anytime we are in Vancouver.

Impressed by quality and flavour done by the students but if I were to evaluate on restaurant quality it’d give it a solid 3.5 stars. Also a sneak peek into the Dine Out Menu which is essentially their regular menu for the month. Each month Bistro 101 offers a set lunch and dinner menu done by their students. The students designed the menu themselves and because it’s two different class, you cannot substitute any of the items from the lunch menu to the dinner menu and vice versa.
My partner and I ordered:
Appetizers:
–Steamed Clams with Ginger, Chili & Cilantro
–Applewood Smoked Duck with Pear & Celeriac
Mains:
–Arctic Char with Herbed Couscous, Broccolini & Red Pepper Coulis
–Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with Rosemary and Lemon, Fingerling Potatoes & Squash Purée
Desserts:
–Ten Layer Chocolate Cake, White Chocolate Crumble, Mango Sorbet
–Dessert of the day: Swiss Roll with butterscotch ice cream (not on the Dine out Menu)
Drinks: Fentiman’s Dandelion & Burdock
Both appetizers were season well and delicious. I would have preferred the clams to be steamed for 30 seconds less to be juicier and a small dollop of cranberry sauce on the side for the duck (that’s how we had it in Europe).
The mains were better than we expected. The Char was nicely cooked. Seared on the outer layer and a little undone in the center to keep it moist. The chicken was done perfect. Even at the bone area it was not bloody at all. The rosemary wasn’t too strong which I liked and there was a simple hint of lemoniness to it that opens up the appetite for more. The potatoes were yummy and the squash purée went well with the dish. I even got some broccolini’s which was also nicely done.
Both dessert was nice but the dessert of the day was the clear winner. The swiss roll was not overly sweet or heavy. The cream was light and the sponge was fluffy. The butterscotch ice cream was exceptional. We both couldn’t have enough. As I’m not a chocolate fan, the ten layer cake didn’t really the spot for me, but my partner liked it. The mango sorbet was nice and refreshing, though I never saw the combination of mango and chocolate working out.
Complimentary bread basket had cornbread, a Mediterranean crisp (not sure what it’s called), mini buns, cheesey bread and two slice of baguettes. The Dandelion & Burdock drink tasted similar to a grape/​cassis Fanta.
My partner was impressed enough to suggest coming every month to try their changing menu.

We went for the three course $ 30 menu on a rainy Monday night.
It’s a nice location with a view of Granville Island. Service is very friendly and helpful if a bit slow at times. But that was fine, they are all students working hard to provide a wonderful dining experience.
They have a couple of different wine taster selections, which we ordered. For appetizers we had the beet and orange salad, and the Celeriac & Pear soup. Both were excellent.
For entrees, we had Rosemary Turkey Breast and Red Wine Lamb Shank. Both were also excellent although the turkey was a little bit overcooked but still tasty.
For dessert we both had the special for the night, a selection of three items — German cheesecake, a waffle and raspberry sorbet. All were very good.
Portions were generous, and they also included an large basket with a nice selection of bread. They started us with an amuse bouche and finished with a small plate of sweets, including excellent truffles.
Overall it was an wonderful and very fun dinning experience. The value is tremendous and the quality is excellent. We intend to return.

Definitely a value for your money. Food has been greatly so far (3^rd time trying) but patience might be required when visiting early each month as new menu item is introduced and they may go through some learning curves with a new menu. Overall a great place.

During lunch hours, the 3 course set menu is $ 25 and you can view this online before you go since they change it up every month, The culinary students who train here get to work in a real life setting in a restaurant. All the food is cooked by the students and even the servers are students. It’s a pretty neat concept!
The interior of the restaurant is actually quite nice, but it’s actually pretty much fine dining. The students learn to correctly place the cutlery and how to pour water and wine in the glasses. The view from our table was the catering kitchen, so we got to see some chefs prep for their cooking.
We were served two batches of complimentary artisan bread. Each piece of bread was a bit different. My favourite was the cheese balls since they were fluffy and full of cheese flavour. We also enjoyed the flatbread type cracker which had a variety of seeds and grains. Crispy!
Shortly after, we were served a platter of Amuse Bouche, which we were not expecting. They were Raw Beet Juice Shooters topped with a slice of strawberry. (No alcohol in it by the way!) I was hesitant at first since I’m not a fan of beets, but it tasted surprisingly good and refreshing!
StevieD got the Goat Cheese Salad, which he thought was a bit odd. There was a lot of goat cheese, but also some fruits. He said the cheese was too strong for his liking and he thought the fruits didn’t go too well with the dish.
The rest of us got the Lamb Meatballs. The meatballs were wrapped with eggplant slices and topped with cheese. A marinara sauce was placed under for dipping. These were actually pretty good and the lamb wasn’t too gamy.
Everyone at the table except for me got the Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin for their entrée. We found the piece of beef to be rather small, but it’s probably because of how expensive beef is now. The ones who asked for medium rare had their beef cooked more to a medium. I guess we can’t complain too much since the students are still in training. Beef was still very tender and flavourful.
Since I wanted to try something different from everyone else, I got the Pan Seared Halibut. This came in a light miso broth with an abundance of vegetables. The skin was crispy and the fish was cooked to moist. Very delicious!
For dessert, some of us got the Tiramisu, which had a strong coffee flavour. The mascapone cheese was smooth and the cake was moist.
For myself, I got the 10 Layer Chocolate Cake. It came with a scoop of mango sorbet. The cake layers of mousse and was rather dense, but I really enjoyed it. If you love chocolate, this is perfect. The sweet and sour flavour from the mango also complemented the chocolate flavour very well.
Overall, we were quite pleased with Bistro 101. The portions are a bit smaller than what I remember in the past, but you still get pleasantly full for $ 25. Our server was a bit shy, but you could tell he was probably just really nervous. Overall, I think it’s pretty good for a restaurant run by students. Worth to give it a try and the price is quite reasonable for a 3 course menu.
Pros:
— Reasonable price for 3 course menu
— Ambiance is pretty nice
Cons:
— Service is a little slow because student run
— Food consistency can be a little off sometimes

I would love to give 4.5 stars but it is not an option on Unilocal.Visited Bistro 101 on Aug ²⁸⁄₁₅ and the west coast buffet is now my favourite buffet in GVRD! We thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers and entrees offered. The dessert selection was good too, but it is a hit or miss. As it was Asian fusion night, there was a lot of repetitive mochi dessert offered in which we were not overly fond of. However, the macarons and the Japanese cheesecake were amazing. Would definitely return if able to get a reservation in advance (as they turned away many customers that walked in without a reservation)! Also, please do not expect superior customer service as this is a culinary school so all servers are just learning to perfect their skills!

I had a ton of fun trying out their various entrees but I think the most interesting items here are their desserts. For the main course, we had options likeHerbed Prawns, Risotto, Seasoned Chicken, Tuna Ceviche Salad, and Sweet Potatoes. Generally an eclectic selection of western fare, this was great in presentation but in taste the ceviche tasted the freshest while the chicken was quite dry.
Moving onto desserts, there was quite the selection of cute little gems and larger cakes. My favourite was this Golden Cocoa Truffle which looked very luxurious with the golden glaze on top of the chocolate.
Also very unique was thisVanilla Mousse served in a tall glass. This was a little too creamy for me but it looked very inviting.
This combination of Layered Cake and Bacon Top Tart were also very good and I loved the savoury mix of the bacon with the salty caramel tart.
If I had to choose a loser, it would be this Snowman Macaron. Essentially this is vanilla on the outside and chocolate on the inside. The design is cute but the flavour isn’t as exotic as what you’d find in pretty much any bakery that makes macarons.
Overall the food was okay. The presentation was great but maybe I’d do better with an actual menu rather than a buffet. A comparable restaurant would be Hidden Tasting Bar which is a little more expensive but the food is better (on most of the choices).

My friend and I ended up in the Grandville Island area for lunch while we were siting seeing and heard that Bistro 101 the student run restaurant was a good value so we decided to check it out. The hostess came across very rude and arrogant it was kind of a turn off. He seemed annoyed we didn’t have a reservation yet there seemed to be plenty of open tables and the bar was empty. Once seated our server was very nice and attentive, a little on the quite side but at least she wasn’t snooty like the person who sat us.
The bread wasn’t very good, it looked so nice too. There was a variety to try we just didn’t seem to like any that much. My appetizer was kind of like a spring roll, it came in a that clear rice paper stuff it look nice but need to be wrapped better. For the main meal I got the salmon which looked like it might have been over cooked from the outside but once I cut into it was cooked perfect. My friend who got the trout dish, hers was a little over cooked; I took a bit it was a little dry. The tart I got for dessert was delicious.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice and it was neat to be able to watch the student put together the dishes if you so pleased. Something’s needed a little work but this is a school so that’s understandable.

The food was certainly great but these kids need to understand that they aren’t only learning to COOK. A good culinary experience is half food, half SERVICE, and these guys completely lacked service experience. I know that they are students and they’re still learning so I want this review to be taken as constructive criticism.
1. If there are a LOT of empty seats, do not seat a couple near a large and LOUD party.
2. KNOW your menu. The girl who waited on our table had NO clue what was on the menu and when we asked about specific dishes, she couldn’t even give a straight answer.
3. Please remember who ordered what. Our entrees were placed in front of the wrong person.
4. When the customer pays you in cash, PLEASE give them change that includes small change instead of big bills they can’t break… you know, so they can TIP you.

Amuse Bouche ⁴⁄₅ — A slice of cucumber with tuna on top. Nothing to complain about. Very nice of them!
Complimentary bread — There were a few variety for us to choose from. Many tables took the bread with them. I was just wondering if they were leftovers from the bakery (that was why there were so many types)
White Onion Velouté, Crisp Cauliflower, Lime Yogurt 3.5÷5 — not a big fan of cream of onion. The onions were quite strong too. I couldn’t really taste the cauliflower and yogurt.
Dungeness Crab Salad, Shaved Fennel, Lemon Foam ³⁄₅ — it was a little boring for me. I couldn’t find any fennel. I remembered seeing them from other people’s photos. It was also smaller than the pictures too (but still reasonable).
Pan Seared Scallops 4.5÷5 — this was on their daily special menu. I was really happy that they were making an effort of offering on top of Dine Out. OMG 3 pieces of scallops! Many restaurants give you 4 pieces of scallops and they call it an entrée. It happened to me before and I was still hungry when I left. They were cooked perfectly with red and yellow pepper sauce on the side.
Roasted Halibut, Spinach Risotto, Lemongrass Emulsion 3.5÷5 — the halibut was overcooked and the risotto was a little too cold. We were wondering if it was waiting for the lamb because it was super hot. I couldn’t stop eating the risotto and I was stuffed after. We got a cucumber wrapped with pumpkin. That was good! 3 pieces of oranges made it very refreshing.
Lamb Navarin, Grilled Polenta, Braised Shallots and Dates — I tried the sauce and just tasted like a stew. The polenta was a little too cold and hard.
Pear, and Chocolate Pave, Tahitian Vanilla 3.5÷5 — a little too sweet for me. I was expecting a scoop of vanilla ice-​cream.
Cheesecake Mousse, Pineapple Sorbet ⁴⁄₅ — The cheesecake was simple and plain with a very refreshing sorbet. I wish there were more. I liked the nuts on the side the best.
Hazelnut Tart, Blood Orange ³⁄₅ — the tart was too sweet. We thought there might be pieces of nuts in it. The raspberry sorbet was good.
I was a little worried about service but everything was fine. Food came out quickly and many of them asked how were our food. This is the best $ 18 Dine Out Vancouver menu for sure. Everybody was envy that I could get a reservation at this place. They have done a really good job on the sorbet (not sure if they were in-​house). Sitting in front of the kitchen and watching the food being prepared was the fun part. There was also a TV if you were not lucky enough. I just found out they are offering the same Dine Out menu for lunch at $ 18. I wish I could make it.

Since my last review. I have been here for lunch many times. The staff have changed over time. Current Staff are helpful. Soups good. Sandwich Choices can be limited but if you find something you like the quality is always good.

I came here with my culinary meet up group the other day for a 3 course quality chef inspired 4 — 5 star meal for $ 26 plus tax and tip. This is student driven so patience is required as they are learning, however, all went smoothly. They were patient in addressing some of my dietary concerns, the food was plated awesome and the taste (s) were amazing. I had the salmon which was flavorful and tender. While eating you can watch the students prep your food. It is like watching a food network reality show without a lunatic yelling and screaming f-​words at you. We ate at the Bistro 101. I will come back to try their bakery.

I eat out quite often and never thought about Bistro 101 until my friend posted some pix on Facebook and have a positive comment of it.
I checked it out the website and found the French Event from Jun 10 – 13, so decided to try it out.
It’s casual dining restaurant which run by students and under eye watchful of the instructors. The menu change constantly and have special Event every few months.
They serve 3-​course dinner at $ 26/​person on Mon-​Thu and buffet dinner at $ 33/​person on Friday. Such a low price and can’t ask for more! I would suggest if they could run it more restaurant like… food and service wise, it would be more successful.
Let’s talk about food:
Complimentary bread — The cheese stick was soft and not cheesy.
Complementary appetizer — Grilled pork belly with cabbage salad. Pork belly was very fatty and served in cold, the cabbage salad quite bland.
French Onion Soup — Cheesy but too sweet.
Scallop & Mushroom Vol au Vent — Good pastry shell and light green peppercorn and chive sauce. It passed!
Sockeye salmon filet — So disappointed on presentation! It served liked a home-​make dish!
Duck Leg confit — I doubt if the duck leg was slowly poached at least until cooked, or until meltingly tender.
Grand Marnier Soufflé — White chocolate soufflé with hazelnut orange macaron. I rarely see the soufflé collapsed when it served and macron sweet like icing sugar.
White chocolate matcha cheesecake — It’s nice presentation and strong taste of green tea but just a bit too sweet.
But, all their hard work is appreciated.

Jan 21, 2013
I’ve been to PICA a handful of times. Bistro 101 is student-​runned so don’t expect to get a waiter who knows his stuff, or can read your mind. Saying that, it doesn’t mean Bistro’s service is bad, I’m just asking you to be more tolerant than usual.
While eating, you can watch the students prep your food live. You can also see when your food is just sitting on the counter, waiting for the student/​waiter to pick it up. I felt like I was in Hells Kitchen minus the Ramsay, the swearing, the sweaty chefs and the beef wellingtons/​risottos.
The Boy and I chose different appies and entrees to experience the different dishes Bistro offers. The dishes are a hit or miss, but when the dishes are done well, they are done VERY well. For example, my Boy’s Seafood Chowder was amazing. It had bacon, seafood, potato and a piece of fresh baked naan bread. It had the perfect consistency and taste. The Boy was very reluctant to share his soup with me. It was that good.
My scallops appy was cold, the purée had an earthy note to it, but the kale salad was heavenly. I was super envious about The Boy’s appy. As I said, Bistro is a hit or miss.
The Boy had steelhead as his main and I chose the duck. The duck was cold (mainly because I saw it just sitting on the counter for 5 minutes waiting to be picked) and I once was super envious of The Boy’s entrée because the fish melt in you mouth, it was hot, it was seasoned well.
Dessert was different in a bad way for me, but a good way for The Boy. I like my chocolate pure, not infused with a spice.
The Boy and I decided the best thing we had was the bread basket which contained a variety of freshly baked buns and cheese sticks. Varieties of butter. It was just pure joy.

When people ask me where my favourite place to eat in Vancouver is, I always tell them at Bistro 101. I love that you can go somewhere that is training future Red Seal chefs, and get an outstanding 3-​course meal for $ 24 (or on Friday evenings, they have a buffet!).
The first time I visited was for Dine Out Vancouver, and I have been a repeat customer ever since. Make sure that you make reservations well in advance as they book up very fast.
I love the bread selection that you get to start. So many unique types and all so fresh! Wednesdays also feature 50% bottles of wine (and they have a great list of local wines to boot). The menu here differs almost every day which I see as an additional plus — new choices!
I always notice the great private space they have at the back of the restaurant which is fantastic for larger groups which is an additional plus for Bistro 101

I have always wanted to dine at a culinary school, and was so excited to have stumbled upon Bistro 101 on the way to Granville Island. Three course lunch for $ 18? Sold! My DH had kale soup, chicken saltimbocca, and lemon semifreddo as his three courses. I had a lamb chop with goat cheese, yam-​crusted salmon, and triple chocolate cake for my dessert. The lamb was wonderful, and the other dishes were very solid. It was a great experience, and service was very friendly. I loved seeing the students work and really put a lot of effort into serving the guests well. Definitely try it, especially since it’s for a good cause.

A co-​worker suggested to have lunch here 2 years ago and it’s been my restaurant list since. Not only have they the best forever dineout deal in town, not just during the month of January (Boo!), but also they make good gourmet food. Please know that the 3-​course price is possible only because the students need to make a lot of practice. Some of the good things I had were:
— Cheese cup salad with coconut curry prawns
— Carrot and parsnip soup
— Osso bucco with saffron risotto
— Cherry chocolate cheese cake
— Deconstructed red velvet cake
I love their white wine selections too. Recently they renovated the interior, wine cooler etc. It looks very upscale now! With the delight of watching the students cooking and baking through the kitchen glass window.

Bistro 101 — A Hidden Gem, Great Food — Full Dinner $ 24
It’s one of the best deals in town — dinner at Bistro 101.
This small intimate, recently refurbished, dining out spot, serves a three-​course dinner for a mere $ 24 a person.
And why are prices so low you might well ask?
The bistro is run by students — both in the kitchen and the front of the house — of the Pacific Culinary Institute, under the watchful eye of their instructors.
The menu is constantly changing so that students gain the skills and perfect the art of fine cooking.
We have eaten there numerous times.
The food is always spot on although the service (and this is to be expected) can be a bit slow at times as is readily acknowledged on the bistro’s website.
But do not let that deter you from eating at Bistro 101.
After all where you can get a fine meal at near to cafeteria prices?
Our latest foray started off with three generous Halibut cheeks, pan-​fried with a light brown crust, sitting atop a delicate tartar sauce, devoid of the usual heaviness; instead it was light with a hint of citrus, perfect for the dense Halibut.
This was one delicious appetizer.
One of the mains, Catfish with rice cake and Chinese broccoli, was a delicious down-​to-​earth satisfying dish.
The fish, perfectly cooked; the cornmeal crust with a nice crunch when you bit into it.
A Tamarind sauce reminiscent of Malaysian street food, sweet and sour, was robust and earthy, enhancing the flavour profile of the light and moist fish.
The rice cake was in the same vein — the outside crunchy, the inside light and fluffy.
An order of Kai-​Lan, also known as Chinese broccoli, steamed and seasoned with garlic and ginger, completed the dish.
The flat iron steak with Polenta fries and fresh sweet corn cut into medallions was hearty deliciousness.
The steak, cut into strips against the grain, was hearty goodness enhanced by a myriad of flavours after marinating in a variety of different spices.
A Mexican light cream sauce, hints of lime zest, juice and cilantro, went perfectly with the steak.
The Polenta fries were deliciously crunchy on the outside and smooth and almost creamy on the inside; a nice complement to the hearty steak.
The sweet corn medallions, sweet and juicy, were a perfect accompaniment.
The chocolate ganache, with a dollop of whipped cream and a tart raspberry coulis was the ultimate desert. The chocolate rich and creamy with that real, somewhat bitter, chocolate taste.
Likewise the Panna Cotta, a classic Italian desert, met its mandate of being creamy and light and the citrus flavours of lemon and lime gave it a nice enhanced light flavour.
Reservations are a must and you can do that on-​line.
Lunch is only $ 18 for a three-​course meal.
You can view the lunch or dinner menu on the bistro’s website.
And one more thing, they have a bake shop on the premises where you can buy fabulous pastries, cakes and artisan breads at really low prices.
And if you buy one bread the second one will only cost you 50 cents.
Bottom Line: Bistro 101 serves excellent food at really low prices.