After learning that my friend has never been to Ellipsis, and seeing that we were in the area now, I insisted that we go.
Located in the famed art meets commercial space of the waterfall building, Ellipsis is one of those coffee shop to bar ideas that makes use of their space day to night. However they offer they make available both of their food and drink menus throughout the day. Coffees and tea with pastries from their showcase from the counter on the right; to cocktails, bar snacks and full dinner plates from the kitchen out of the counter on the left.
We were seated under the glowing sun feature and watched it in anticipation as day turned to night.
As an ideal first taste we ordered from both cafe and bar, starting with the already made and ready to plate raspberry and black sesame croissant cube. We found it surprisingly soft for something made fresh earlier in the day and we were only getting to it now for dinner after 7pm. It isn’t easy to eat and its shape is definitely for show, but it certainly works because it had us purchasing it. Surprisingly the bread was purple at its centre, loaded with a speckled cookies and cream coloured cream filling. The fragrance of black sesame was lovely, and brightened by the tartness of the ripe berry frosting topping.
For drinks we didn’t want the caffeine so late at night, so instead looked to their cocktails. Although ironically I ordered one with coffee in it. I had to get the Kaya Toast Please. Hailing from Southeast Asia I love, but don’t often see pandan, let alone Kaya which is the jam it can be made in to. I was curious to discover how one of my childhood favourite snacks would transition into a cocktail with a pandan and salted egg flavoured vodka, coconut, and coffee. This was like a Malaysian breakfast in a glass. It is stronger at 23% ABV, but honestly you couldn’t tell. It was more floral pandan than buttery toast or savoury egg. Light and refreshing this was a wonderful one to have alone or pair with our food below as an in between bites palate refresher.
My companion ordered the Are We There Yet with Benromach 10yr whisky, peanut butter cream, cinnamon toast crunch, strawberry jam, and peanut sesame crunch. I have had this one before and remember it fondly as a clever play on peanut butter and jelly with a nutty overture that was well executed.
We also had a couple of more filling small plates, following our sweet dessert above with something a lot more savoury. First was the Chicken Liver Parfait. A small ramekin of chicken spread topped with agrodolce shallots and pickled mustard seeds. Alone, the paste is much and in need of the toasted brioche slices it is served with. This base allows you to appreciate the boldness of the fragrant chicken liver. Its texture peppered with the freshness of the greens and the crunch of the seeds. I was surprised that this paired well with our drinks and it wasn’t too combative.
My guest loves rice so we got the only rice option with their menu. The Pork Belly over fried rice, topped with a sunny side egg, and chilli hoisin glaze. I loved the look and the taste, but found the rice could have been crispier, if not drowning in all the excess oil. This made the natural gristle of the pork belly a little overwhelming. I would have preferred the pork over plain rice with a pickled side for some needed acidity. Although like this, this was a show-stopping plate befitting of the locale.
Overall I enjoyed our time here tonight. I have always liked their drinks, but today found their food better than I remembered. I will no doubt be back.
Ellipsis
1540 W 2nd Ave #205, Vancouver, BC V6J 1H2
ellipsis.ca
