The Emerald

Might be 2.5 stars, but that’s probably cause my expectations were too high. Everything was all right. Food was okay, some dishes not great but presented in fancy way. Tables were sticky. Uncomfortably dark inside. Smells weird, can’t place finger on it exactly what. Photos on blogs make it look fancy, so it felt a little run down in real life.

Our group ordered the food at least fifteen minutes before the end of happy hour, but when our server came with the bill, it was full priced. When we asked him about it, he was insistent that we ordered after seven, even though our bills had the correct time. For 18% automatic gratuity, would have expected better. Also, for a group of seven, they put us in a booth, which was incredibly tight. The rest of the place was completely empty when we got there, no idea why they didn’t put us at a larger table.
Food here was alright, wings were right amount of crispy and flavoured. Two stars because food quality okay, and in the end they corrected the bills.

really wanted to like this place, and so did my 8 other friends who joined me. unfortunately, it went downhill rather quickly, here’s why:
1. the server’s attitudes were terrible
2. the drinks were watered down with mixer
3. the «shooter» girl doesn’t really make sense in this environment
4. the server took an order for cauliflower and then brought us another dish instead.
at the end of the meal, the server was like, «well you ate it didn’t you»? wow.
5. my friend’s chicken salad took 45+ minutes to arrive
6. the billing was all kinds of messed up,
on the plus side (there are a few):
1. the hostess recognized that since the resto was packed, we should come back when our reservation started vs. trying to sit in the lounge and get poor service
2. my chicken dish, the cauliflower (when it showed up) were great
3. the hostess was also great when we needed to add 2 more chairs
in a nutshell, only talk to the hostess and get takeout!

Super stoked to have this walking distance from my studio. Staff is always really friendly and welcoming, and the food and cocktails are great. An ideal place for an adult outing.

Checked this place out as Vancouver Urban Winery was too packed and the wait basically bled into last call time.
Lots of seating, loved the theme and the legit old school feel. Reminded me of the Douglas Fir lounge in Portland.
Ordered the Lavender 75 and it was magical and revolutionary. Will definitely try the waffle fries next visit.

I am very pleasantly surprised by this place. It’s LITERALLY half a block from my house, about a one minute walk but I always felt it was such an inconspicuous looking place and uninviting. The doors always closed and there really isn’t a sign that indicates it’s a restaurant or that it’s really even open so I’ve ignored and looked past this place for years. A friend suggested we try this and have a double date night and I actually thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I read reviews and it just so happens that today is Tuesday, and Tuesday is all night half priced cocktails — awesome! There is such a wide selection of cocktails on the menu and they weren’t your average boring drinks. They were very chambar/​the keefer-​esque, definitely up to par with all the other restaurants that are known for their cocktails. Plus at half price it’s a great deal as they average $ 10 – 12 regular price.
The food was great too. Not the best I’ve ever had, but definitely better than the average. Their chicken wings were good as well as their BBQ ribs. My favourite was definitely the waffle fries– perfectly crisp and went amazing with the sriracha mayo. Sliders were decent, and the best food surprise of the evening were the Brussels sprouts that my friend recommended we order. I’m so glad we did because they were fantastic! Dare I say one of the best I’ve had? Why yes, among the top for sure. They weren’t extremely crispy but they were coated in a good layer of cheese and was perfectly salty and paired so well with ample amount of big juicy capers. So good and I believe it was $ 8 and is a great snack while you’re drinking. The dessert we all shared at the end was also superb. I hate dessert and I didn’t want to try it but I’m so glad I did. The sticky toffee pudding (I think that’s what it was) was warm on the top and cold on the bottom and it was a party in my mouth. So rich and creamy I could have ate an entire serving by myself, and coming from a non-​sweets dessert hater like myself, that’s saying a lot!
The décor was awesome and had a man men 60s feel to it. I felt like I could turn the corner and see Don Draper walking up with a negroni in his hand. I don’t know how this is possible but it had a… ‘Old’ smell to the place. At first it was very very weird and off putting but a few minutes later I felt it blended in very well with where we were, and then the smell went away and a sort of incense smell took over. I could also be hallucinating because I did have a drink with absinthe in it… Go figure. Anyway, very happy I tried despite hearing bad reviews and I’m pretty sure you can catch me here on many Tuesday from here on out!

Tuesday night is ½ price cocktails all night.
Start your week right.
This place is amazing.
Shortest review ever?

This place was GREAT — definitely a good secret that I hope doesn’t get out. The bar was awesomely decorated (so much so that a TV location scout was there checking it out) and the drinks were fantastic! I hit their tuesday night classic cocktail special and got some drinks that normally I’d not try and I was rewarded for it. My favorite was their Nightsky Fizz — basically a bourbon sour but w Delirium Tremens added to it — WOW, what a good drink. They had a decent looking app menu, but nothing really appealed that night. I did keep hearing the roasted cauliflower was really delish though. Definitely stop in here if you get a chance — it can be hard to spot since its a second floor place but you will not be sorry.

A lot of the hip bars in Chinatown are see and be seen places, all windows and communal tables, where every word echos off the high ceilings with exposed ductwork. Yawn. Not so with the Emerald. It’s a hideaway, a cocktail lounge, a tribute to the rec rooms people used to have. If that’s your jam, and it’s definitely mine, here’s a place for grown-​ups to kick back with a drink and catch up with a friend, and not have to hear everyone’s every word about their preferences in artisanal beard oil and opinions on local real estate.
My friend and I rolled in just in time for Happy Hour one recent evening and got ourselves seats around the coffee tables in the lounge. Right away, I felt at home with the mid-​century décor, from the cool woodsy room dividers to the slate wall behind the bar that remind me of my circa 1970s childhood. ‘Tis lovely, dark and deep.
The menu features a long cocktail list, mixing classic and new creations priced at about $ 10-​$ 14 (50% off for weekday Happy Hours from 5 to 7). And these are properly made cocktails, no spray gun well liquor bullshit. I watched the bartender do his thing with the shakers and strainers, tasting the result with the little straws, careful craft all around. The drinks took some time, but the results were worth it.
Dare I say it’s a gem? Forgive the lazy writing, but a good place for a quiet drink is all too rare.

Really retro and amazingly chill place to go to for a few drinks and some good ol’ fashioned pub food. Waffle fries? Yes please!
We actually stumbled over to this place during one of their regular Simpsons trivia nights and had a blast trying to conjure up details about Side Show Bob and Fall Out Boy. The beer selection isn’t too bad and they have some decently priced happy hour specials as well.
The staff was very friendly and provided some great service.
I’m definitely looking forward to coming back for round two!

Went here for the first time last night for a friends birthday, I had been wanting to go here for a while and wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t try much of the food, but was happy with what I did have, a friend and I shared the duck lettuce wraps and dumplings and had one cocktail (they are half price on Tuesdays!). The lettuce wraps were very tasty and there was plenty for two. The dumplings were ok, I don’t know what was off about them, I liked the mustard dipping sauce that came with it, but didn’t like the combo together.
There is lots of space for bigger parties and I loved the vibe of the place. The service was a little slow, but we were a large group and it was quite busy, and there was only one server working the whole place. I had heard that they usually aren’t this busy on a weekday and are probably properly staffed for higher traffic nights. It took a friend quite a while to get his drink, and when he asked the server about it she was very polite and had it made right away and didn’t charge him for it, which I thought was a very nice gesture considering how busy she was.
I was, however disappointed that there was a very strong fish, almost garbage smell, near the bathroom area. It could not be smelled in the seating area, but I think something needs to be done about it, it takes away from the place. I don’t know if it is from the Chinatown store fronts (dried fish) or if it is a venting issue, but I think something should be done about it, it was almost off putting.
I will be visiting this place again.

Ok, this place kicks ass!
It’s your parents basement in the 70’s but now you don’t have to sneak alcohol.
I was there for MotownPhilly night with DJ Tastoftee. It was the best dance party I’ve been to in Vancouver!
The drinks are a little pricey, but the vibe is awesome, the crowd is great and the staff are friendly. I’m going to be coming back here more often!

We went there a month ago for a friends birthday. There were about 12 – 14 of us.
The quality of the food wasn’t consistent, some dishes were good, some were OK and some others were quite disappointing. Everyone who got the dumplings agreed that they were not very good. They charge $ 8 for a little plate of steamed dumplings with herbs on it. It was dry and tasteless. For half the price, I can get a whole bag of them at T&T. As a main, I had the Cajun chicken which was delicious, but the sides that came with it not great. The vegetables were very oily and the rice was overcooked and soaking in a weird mix of oil and lemon juice. The mac’n’cheese reached a consensus. For only $ 13 you get a huge amount of it and it is very tasty.

The atmosphere was nice. The service was friendly but not very efficient. I don’t mind waiting for my food when I am with a big group, but some us waited 30 minutes for our drinks, which is a bit long, and had to ask different waiters.
I think they need to focus on the quality of the food more than on the style or the ambiance.
I might go back one day to see if they’ve improved.

Great food and the lounge is a fabulous 60’s vegas throwback. Love the meatballs!

Sigh. I am filled with disappointment. From four starts to the one star I have to give, the Emerald has crashed and burned.
Two weeks ago on a Friday was the first trip back to the Emerald for myself and my Gentleman Caller (GC), since I wrote my good review. We were celebrating and I wanted a nice bourbon. It was busy, I’ll give them that. But when we were first sat in the lounge three servers attended to us, one after the other. Once we gave our orders that was the end of the attentiveness of the staff. It took a fair amount of time for our drinks to come, but when they did they were well made. Our waffle fries were great too. And that’s the end of the good things I can say about our evening. I’d say for the rest of the two hours we sat at our table, we were attended to maybe twice. Drinks sat empty for over half an hour as we tried to get the attention of staff.
I’ve never been ignored like that in a busy restaurant on a weekend night. Don’t you want to make money? Or at least turn the table so someone else can start ordering? No you’d rather do shots behind the bar? Oh ok. Cool. Well I’m glad someone got to drink.
Awful service. No way to justify it. If the staff has enough time to drink, change their shirts back and forth (which one bartender did about 3 times) and socialize behind the bar, they have time to wait on their tables.

I heard about this place from a few people so we decided to check it out for a friends birthday. I was quite disappointed as the place has hyped up quite a bit and their website looked really cool though was misleading to say the least.
Our server was rude to us and was not shy to insult the bartender and owner as an excuse for slow service (even though place was quite empty) in getting our cocktails, as well they «ran out» of half the items on the food menu and drink menu. Was disappointing to know that there was no team there as well as it was very poorly managed.
They did not know what Vegan meant even though they advertised it on their menu. They had mayonnaise as an ingredient in their vegan sandwich and was written on the menu (which is obviously not vegan). We ordered a vegan noodle dish and got egg noodles as well, which had to be sent back. So lack of understanding dietary restrictions and not caring enough to ensure they are prepared correctly is also a problem.
All in all I would say food is ok. Nothing I would have again though. Drinks are decent. Just don’t think this place is what it looks to be online because you will be sadly disappointed.

First time I’ve ever been served meat in the 20 years since I stopped eating it. The server didn’t know there were real vegan meatballs on the menu, and after eating one I wasn’t sure, because its been so long since I’ve eaten meat, I assumed the fake meatballs had gotten really meaty. Good thing I only ate 1! But my friend who also doesn’t eat meat ate one too… Any ways… the owner sent out a pricey bottle of bubbly to make up for it, it was my stagette after all! Just glad I didn’t get sick, but that was definitely the appropriate way to make up for the mistake.
Everything else we ate was pretty decent, cocktails were good, good vibe… too bad it was so dead for a Saturday night… I do hope they stick around.

I really really want to love this place. They get mega points for hiring some of my favourite human beings in the city of Vancouver, but that’s where the celebration ends for me. I’ve eaten two dishes there — neither of which I could finish. Vegetable Chow Mein with Pork and Duck Poutine. The Veggie Chow Mein was actual pretty good — what weirded me out was the very obviously dyed pink pork. Not just a little bit of dye — it looked like it had been soaked in it. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about ingesting food dyes and that tainted my meal a little.
My second meal was Duck Poutine. This was super super rich, made with their delicious waffle fries and loaded with duck gravy and cheesy curds. I actually really liked it — but it was so rich I couldn’t finish it.
I really appreciate what these guys are trying to do at The Emerald — but I can’t get into it. It’s just a weird spot, weird menu, weird smell and amazing staff.
P. S. I think I’d love this place more if it didn’t smell the way it does. The candles don’t help.

Food here is the worst.
Like overpriced BAD fusion– doesn’t hit any of the marks.
Don’t order food. Like ever.
What IS good here? Drinks.
They service solid drinks and it’s an okay bar at which to loiter.
This is also probably one of the only liquor primaries in Chinatown.
They are also a perfect location to host a party, with different rooms.
They have a decent price for full pints– and they serve the full standard 20oz pint.
Great beer selection too. And great drink specials.
Yes, come to water the hole– nothing else.

After being turned away from two places, due to being a Friday, I decided to come here with Mark H. and just chill out and drink, as none of us have been here, this was going to be a new experience. I already knew about this place from reading it on multiple sites, and thinking the last time I was in here was way over a decade when they use to serve dim sum. I really didn’t know what to expect, except the fact that the two of us needed somewhere to just park ourselves to drink, and we found it here. I didn’t see much green (based on the name) on this night in here, but what I found was a pretty cool lounge on any night to just chill in.
This place is what I would call a retro lounge, something you would see in one of those 70’s — 80’s Hollywood movies minus the smoking indoors. It definitely has that classic ambience which really can’t be described until you actually are in here. Coming out the flight of stairs you really don’t know what to expect, as I remember coming here as a child to eat dim sum on the weekends, and this place has been vacant for at least a decade. And once we arrived at the top of the stairs it was a totally different scene from that of below, heck, you could walk by this place a ton of times, and not know that there was a lounge like this upstairs, I wouldn’t call it hidden, it’s just not apparent.
All this place is missing is a disco ball, there are a good two sections, one, the main bar, where there is a ton of standing room only, then there is the other section, with seperate tables, and booths, good for you to bring your crew, and if you don’t like to stand, lounge around. As the place was not overly packed, but busy, we had the leather sofa in between the bar area and the main seated area. This place used a lot of what the old Chinese restaurant had before, with the wood, and pillars, which gives that classic feel… wait. it doesn’t give… it just has inherited it. We sat down, and ordered some drinks, and the music was popping, not too loud, just right, where your head would shake to the beat, top 40’s, lights dimmed setting the mood of this hangout.
We even went as far as ordering some food. as in devil’d and scotch’d eggs. I can’t say for any of the other food. but for the eggs, they were fine. The drinks came in a good amount of time, the waitresses working here were all very attentive, it’s just a place you can just let lose. If you are looking for a new place to drink, can’t deal with the packed craziness of the brewery scene, don’t want to go to some dive bar, I think this really maybe the spot for you! Another place adding to the new Chinatown scene… it keeps on changing but it gives people options.