Today we were celebrating Cinco de Mayo at The Pawn Shop, and the timing just happen to coincide with their 10-year anniversary.
To celebrate both occasions they threw a private event in their hidden and enclosed back patio. I didn’t realize that they had this private space and another available for booking.
We arrived and was immediately drawn in by how fun the space was with spiky balloons, disco balls, light up signs, paper banners, and their in-house DJ dropping sets.
As guest arrived we were able to take a seat on one of their colourful picnic benches or mingle on their artificial turf. It really felt like outdoors – in, with heating lamps and/or fans, should the space require either.
For refreshments guests were invited to either pick a bottle of ice cold Coronas with limes from a bucket, or look to an individual cocktail from one of their margarita trees. Either pineapple, mango, guava, and/or lime were hanging on display. Looking for something spicer they also had jalapeño mango margaritas being mixed at the bar.
And to get the party going, Obsidian Art entertainers were dressed in pink like flamingos, handing out shots of tequila. They also lead a conga line all throughout the restaurant and patio, then back into our private patio. I, myself was able to head the line.
For food there were small bites from the Pawnshop kitchen to show their updated menu that included tacos. Sadly, I only got a taste of their chorizo, but from what little that I had I found tasty with plenty of zesty flavour. Enough that I would love to come back to try more.
The chicken taquitos was stuffed with shredded chicken and wrapped in a crispy tortilla roll. It came with a creamy cilantro sauce that gave it its flavour.
I enjoyed the street corn tater tots as a nice side snack. Crispy potato tots topped with sweet corn and all the fixings for an elote. It could have used more of the creamy mix of mayonnaise, sour cream, chili powder, and tangy lime. I loved the pops of flavour from the salty Cotija cheese and cilantro.
The chicken kaarage were chunks of white meat chicken dressed in a spicy sauce that actually delivered on the heat.
In short, this was a fun party, a great way to celebrate their 10 years, and doubled as a preview of what it would be like watching the upcoming FIFA in the space.
The Pawn Shop YVR Taco Bar
1117 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1M1
(604) 687-7474
thepawnshopyvr.com
