Salmon n’ Bannock

For Dine Out, they offered a $ 40 set menu and only have two seating times: 6:00 — 7:30pm or 8:00 — 9:30pm. It was a quaint little restaurant, seating was spacious and decorated with many First Nations artwork. Staff were attentive and kind, but it did take them a while to figure out I was standing awkwardly at the door before being seated.
First, I started with their West Coast Wild Sockeye Bake with Smoked Sea Salt and Seaweed Emulsion. Plating was simple and I liked how it was placed on top of a grill where the sea salt could continue smoking the salmon after it arrived. Could definitely taste the smokey flavors and the salmon was cooked perfectly. It also came with cucumbers, nothing special; the seaweed emulsion was too salty and just there.
MaCherie and KHomey ordered the Grilled Venison Striploin with Spinach and Caramelized Onion Salad, Blackberry Vinaigrette. Good veggies for the meal, they felt the venison was very gamey. It reminded me of pork liver. I liked the flavors but felt the meat itself was quite tough. We felt the salad would have been well complimented with some sort of cheese on it (ie. feta or blue cheese).
On the side was, as their name suggested, Bannock with Whipped Butter. Bannock, for those who are unfamiliar, is a Native version of a scone (unleavened bread). It was chewy and moist inside, the outside was crispy. Normally I avoid bread-​like items, but these were good enough for me to order extra for takeout!
Onto entrees, our waitress highly recommended the Braised Free Range Bison Back Ribs with Scalloped Potatoes, so I got it. Glad I did! The bison was not gamey, tender, and fell off the bone. The sauce overwhelmed the flavors of the meat itself, so unfortuneately I could mainly just taste sauce. Scalloped potatoes were tasty, fluffy, and cheesy!
MaCherie went for their Alder Smoked Bella Bella Halibut with Roasted Yam Mash and Organic Cranberry Reduction. I tried some and the halibut was cooked nicely, flakey and moist. I got a chunk with lots of bones and almost choked though xD It went well with the yam mash and cranberry reduction heightened the flavors.
For dessert, a Layered Ojibway Wild Rice Pudding with Signature Berry Compote. It reminded me of crème brûlée because of the crispy sugar coat on top. Flavors were interesting, it started as a creamy mixture that was more watery than your normal crème brûlée along with the crispy texture of the sugar. Then came the tangy flavors of the berries, which I actually enjoyed. I was disappointed with the wild rice however, it felt out of place and didn’t fit in with the creamy dessert. The rice was too hard and felt undercooked.
Overall we enjoyed our first experience of First Nations cuisine. Stepping out of our regular comfort zone in terms of meat, it was memorable. The staff checked on us frequently, they made it feel homey and welcoming!

If they were less expensive, I would eat here at least once a week!
The other day when we went to Shizen ya just few doors away, we saw this restaurant and wanted to try.
I got salmon sandwich. the fish was perfectly cooked. very juicy and soft since it was not overcooked.
side salad was biiig!
really enjoyed the berry dressing.
first the portion looked kind of small, but i was actually pretty stuffed after the meal.
the price is on the high side.
the sandwich with a side was $ 17.
we will come back though. but not like once a week thing:(

My husband and I went to this restaurant last Friday night and we both absolutely loved it. I’m always hesitant to give a 5 star because, honestly, how can a place be perfect, but because I couldn’t come up with something to criticize, I decided to do it. Wait I do have one thing to point out but it is not really criticism since you know about it up front and that is; there is no hard alcohol, only beer, wine and cider. Okay, got that out of the way. I only eat fish but my husband eats meat so we were both happy with the selections. We started with the salmon sampler, yum, and split a salad which came with a wonderful crispy kale topping (which I have now added to my repertoire of salad garnishes). I have to say, the game meat options sounded really interesting and my husband had the featured game sausage, sorry I can’t remember what animal it was, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I had the amazing salmon which seemed way bigger than 6 oz and I ate the whole thing. Finally, I can’t leave without saying how much we enjoyed the bannock! If I can compare it to something, it reminded my of Irish soda bread but sweeter and chewier. I was correct in that it is leavened with baking soda not yeast. Service was welcoming and professional, the ambience was welcoming and chic.

Unique menu. Tried an array of meats, all of which were delicious. Great place to take out-​of-​towners looking for a different local eating experience.

I had heard so many great things about this place so I finally decided to give it a try when my parents were in town for a visit. We had such a fantastic experience!
We started with the salmon sampler and west coast sampler, and both were utterly delicious. We were spoiled with house-​made gravlox, salmon candy, salmon mousse, herring roe on kelp (brined; raw and poached), eulachon oil, and smoked eulachon. So good. For mains we had the elk burger, sockeye salmon burger, and sockeye salmon fillet dinner and they were all really tasty. Did I mention that the burgers were served on bannock? YUM.
What really rounded off the experience was the friendliness of the staff and owner. They came by to check on us often, made sure we had what we needed, and even offered us (get this) the restaurant’s selfie stick with a hilarious rationale to boot.
Highly recommend this place for a delicious and entertaining dining experience!

I had lunch here today with a friend, and the salmon ‘n bannock burger was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had in my life!!! The salmon was literally melt in your mouth and the sweet potato fries that went with it were delicious. The service was really good, too. My girlfriend and I were taking the obligatory pictures of our food and our waitress offered us a selfie stick! It’s a small restaurant but the atmosphere is funky and relaxed. I would definitely go back again.

**Updated after the Owners response.
The food was delicious. The prices were understandably high (though a bit shocking at first). The Indian candy was pretty good. I had it on a salad. My friends ordered the soup and said it was good. Another had the bison burger and thoroughly enjoyed it. Another had the salmon sampler and didn’t find it as fulfilling (in terms of amount, not taste). I had the Indian cheesecake. Overall, we all enjoyed everything. I’d definitely recommend this place to a friend. The hostess/​waitress was super friendly, but a bit overbearing at times. It seemed she wouldn’t leave until everyone ordered. Even though one person just wanted some time to keep looking at the menu. She was also noticeably upset when I didn’t give the greatest review of the cheesecake… I was more ambiguous I think than she liked. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as awesome as she made it to be. But to their credit 2 of the 5 of us loved it!!!
At any rate, overall, I think it’s a great place and I encourage you to support them and try it out. You won’t be disappointed, I think… especially if you know what to expect. Really the food is great. The staff are great. The atmosphere was great.

Came here with a friend during lunch time. The place is small and we were the only table there.
We chose this place because my friend’s colleagues highly recommended it. I ordered the Bannock Salmon burger. Because the salmon burger is named after them, its their signature dish. Its a whole filet salmon. Very tasty and very juicy. The burger came with Sweet fries. This is not the orange yam fries I am talking about. It was very filling. Not bad for $ 17.
The décor is interesting and ok. Its clean. table had a few heated cup stains. The service was great. I highly recommend this place.

2^nd visit to this little jewel in Vancouver. Superb food yet again! However this time the service was lacking and unprofessional to a certain extent, which spoiled our family reunion. If a waitress cannot remember the order, she should write it down! Stop interrupting the clients in the middle of their conversation to ask how things are, if there is a problem we will let her know. Problems there were indeed, but NOT with the food however! A special mention for the French speaking waiter, he was perfect. To be fair, they did arrange things with the bill for us.

Bison strip loin was marvelous, photo doesn’t do justice to the flavours. Wonderful bannock too, also enjoyed the beets. Service was exceptional. Ambiance is pleasant, tasteful, and cozy. Great place for a date, or for savories & drinks with a more mature/​relaxed group of friends. Will definitely return.

Their dine-​out menu was delicious, and the service was great too! I’ll definitely be coming back to try to regular menu.
I like the atmosphere in here as well. It feels homey and comfortable.

Had a delicious meal here tonight. I had to start with the Indian candy, since I’d read so much about it on Unilocal.Totally different than anything I’ve had — sort of like «salmon fries,» but on a bed of fresh arugula and drizzled with a maple dressing. OMG I could seriously fill a swimming pool with that maple dressing and drink my way out of it! At our server’s recommendation, we also ordered the mushroom & brie on bannock starter, which was warm, creamy, gooey, mushroomy heaven.
Ok ok, let’s just stop there. Quit while you’re ahead right? (never!)
So on we marched. I went for the Salmon n’ Bannock burger, my colleague for the bison burger. Both were excellent — if I could eat nothing else all week, I’d go for one salmon n’ bannock burger after another. Fresh, succulent wild sockeye salmon with a creamy cole slaw style topping? Yes, another please! Until I realize that bannock is an incredibly filling bread (think biscuits, fellow Americans…), and realized that I can’t eat another bite of… anything!
The servers were kind, professional, personable, and highly attentive without being oppressive. Perfect. The ambience? At first, it felt a little too… romantic… for dinner with a colleague, but the ambience matched the food, matched the service, matched everything. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Salmon n’ Bannock, I wish I lived closer. But at the same time, I’m glad I don’t… I’d be there every day and surely you would get tired of seeing me. ;-)

To start, The Bannock. I love biscuits and this takes me back to a happy place. Immediately, I’m in love.
The ambiance is like candlelit softness for the solo venturer. I imagine this to be a great date spot.
I ordered the fish special — halibut with a kale/​garlic purée + chorizo mashed potatoes + roasted veggies. The kale/​garlic purée took it over the top for me, it’s the little things :-)
Mixed berry crime brûlée for dessert as I still had some Talon in my wineglass. Good decision.
The service was a success! I truly felt at home. I will be a regular.

Food is average.
service is very good, ambience is good.
my overall rating is entirely for food taste only, sorry that matters to me the most. I usually drive hours to eat in restaurants. I am surprised to see other ratings on this restaurant.
I would rate sushi gen much higher than this place which is a hole in a wall and is much closer to me.

I have had the privilege of dining several times at Salmon n’ Bannock over the past few months. Each time is as good or better than the last. I tend to be loyal to the burgers, Elk and Bison are my favourite, delicious combinations of flavours, fresh and satisfying. I pair with the Kale salad which is delicious and wholesome. And the bannock is excellent.
I’ve been known to go there solo or with family, co-​workers and friends. Everyone raves about their meals. Whether it is the featured fish, Halibut or Salmon are favourites or Bison strip loin a decedent treat everyone has marvelled at the care and attention of the quality, taste and presentation.
And the service is extraordinary. Inez, one of the owners, is often on hand and is so welcoming and gracious. The servers are always so genuine and attentive. The careful attention by the staff to the experience and quality makes Salmon n’ Bannock my very favourite restaurant in Vancouver, maybe anywhere…

I think that this is an incredibly unique restaurant and it certainly deserves much praise. I would categorize it as First Nations fine-​dining cuisine. The soups are so incredibly tasty, the Bannock bread is worth every calorie, and the meats are uniquely prepared.
One time I was ordering take-​out and got into a friendly conversation with the owner of the restaurant (I didn’t know she was the owner at first). She was incredibly friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed that the conversation went beyond a typical superficial chat while waiting for food.
I can’t rave about this restaurant more.

Delicious dishes. Bison and elk burgers with bannock and sweet potato fries are tasty. Salmon dinner is yummy. Beautiful restaurant with wonderful native artwork. Owner and servers are warm and friendly. Perfect spot for a date or night out with friends. Reservation is required for dinner.

I was really excited for Salmon n’ Bannock as I’ve never had indigenous food. Reservation is required. We were very lucky to show up at the right time and we were seated without reservations, but we did see many parties turned away. Place was packed. Very upscale twist of tradition and modern. Modern First Nations paintings on the wall, mixed with other artwork and new age music playing. We were told that the artist is a homeless man and the restaurant helps sell his artwork. So sweet.
Our party had the bison burger, elk burger, vegetarian tacos, and I opted for the wild sockeye salmon with wild rice and mushroom risotto.
The Bannock, which is what they’re known for were very good. Served with Saskatoon berry jam.
Although dishes were good, I was slightly disappointed. I was hoping for a distinctive, exotic, unusual taste. Like someone tasting curry for the first time, or having Thai tea for the first time. Something different. However, food were ordinary. I wasn’t too fond of my dish as my salmon was dry and overcooked.
Overall I had a great dining experience. My friends really enjoyed their food and it is our friend’s (who’s a local) favorite restaurant The owner was very nice to us and I ‘m curious to try other things on the menu.

This was an incredible experience. Watching the various dishes pass by us to the other customers was a certain clue to the wonderfulness to come.
Appetizers were to out of this world. I’m convinced I could live on the Butternut Squash Apple soup. The Sage infused Salmon was perfect. Indian Candy could’ve been any more satisfying. Love how the house made berry jam finds it’s way onto the plates. My beautiful date and I asked for a little more to coat our Bannock scones.
My incredibly lovely date had the salmon which was out of this world and I had the Bison. Both dishes done to perfection. The wild rice and oat risotto was intoxicating. I’m still dreaming of those mushrooms.
Ending our evening was a Rhubarb crunch that just plain leveled us both.
The servers were nothing but perfect. Friendly. Fast. Stars on your foreheads.
I applauded the chefs. Clearly they love food and their sense of style and command of flavor is without match in my book.
We will return soon and often.

Salmon n’ Bannock (1128 W. Broadway) is a cozy 30-​seat restaurant, offering an upscale twist on Aboriginal food. Having been in service for four years, I was surprised that Salmon n’ Bannock hadn’t shown up on my radar of restaurants to try. Fortunately my friend suggested we check out their $ 28 3-​Course Menu for Dine Out Vancouver 2014, and I enthusiastically agreed because I was looking for a menu option which offered something out of the ordinary, and I certainly consider dishes made with Bison and Elk as something unusual.
Our meal started off with the Stewed Bison Tart appetizer. The pastry crust was so incredibly light and flakey and a comforting start like a mini pot pie.
Next up was the Elk Winter Pie with a red wine reduction, served in a double baked potato jacket. The insides of the potato had been mashed with garlic (like at The Keg, when you order the delicious garlic mash as your side) then scooped back into the potato skin and back in the oven again for this perfectly baked, slightly browned texture. The taste is comparable to Shepherd’s Pie, but with a much more creative twist in presentation. A crispy web of cheese topped the dish.
Bison and Elk just tasted like beef to me. Especially when covered with a flavourful sauce, I don’t have the culinary sensitivity to distinguish between different types of meat. Co-​owner Inez Cook explained to us that the way the meat is prepared reduced the «gaminess» of what you may expect wild game like Bison and Elk to taste like. According to Inez, if an animal is stressed prior to being slaughtered, adrenaline flows into their blood, which gives it a less desirable «gamey» taste and a tougher texture.
Meanwhile, my friend ordered the Bannock Crusted Smoked Sockeye which game with crispy smashed potato, purple slaw, and a sea asparagus tartar sauce. In order to truly appreciate the flavour of the salmon, try a bite without the tartar sauce.
Both meals came with bannock and butter, which is an Aboriginal-​style scone.
During our meal, we had the pleasure of meeting Shawna Davis, the newly hired Executive Chef at Salmon n’ Bannock. Talented yet humble, Shawna attributes her first cooking lessons to her Grandmother, years and years before she stepped foot into culinary school. As this year’s Dine Out Vancouver menu is one of her first official creations, we were impressed by her creativity and mix of flavours and ability to give an upscale and modern twist to something as traditional as salmon and bannock.
For dessert, we had Chef Shawna’s Jiits Saskatoon Berry Cake, topped with whipped cream and a dollop of berry compote, which was nice because it wasn’t overly sweet.
I would definitely recommend Salmon n’ Bannock for this year’s Dine Out Vancouver Festival. Beyond that, this would be a great place to bring out of town visitors for a traditional Westcoast Aboriginal meal, yet somewhere which wouldn’t be out of anyone’s comfort zone.