It was a cloudy day, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying a meal outdoors, on one of Gastown’s most historic patios.
For the duration of the summer the Lamplighter barbecue will be lit a flame, grilling up a rotation of summer time classics like burgers and hot dogs to maple wood salmon.
This weekend we walked into tacos on a Sunday. Carne asada with avocado, cilantro, pickled cabbage, and a salsa verde. The fresh char broiled flavour in the chewy steak made all the difference, balanced by the freshness of the herbs and flour tortilla. Who does not like watching your food made to order?
Sunday brunch isn’t the same without a Caesar so we ordered a couple of doubles made with vodka, Walter’s caesar mix, tobasco, lea & perrins, cucumber, onion, olive, thyme, and rosemary. I liked the way it tasted, but would have liked to see them make their own tomato juice cocktail and not rely on a pre-made bottle mix, considering their pedigree as a long standing bar and social house.
Wings are always a good idea at any pub, and is it no exception here coated in red chili sauce and served with a sriracha parm dip. Each wing was so large and juicy, that you could clearly taste the quality in the chicken. And if things got too spicy, give it a dunk in the cheesy sauce to help tempter the heat.
I have said it many times and I will say it again: I have and will never turned down a fried Brussel sprouts dish, especially this one that is new to their menu. Includes greens on top of crispy Brussel sprouts coated in chili pecorino, pickled onions, and sourdough crumb. This was incredibly satisfying to fish forkful of. Slightly bitter, and mostly cheesy with a subtle crunch. I would have liked the serving all sprouts, but the leafy greens did so well to soak up the dressing.
For mains we looked to their Classic Burger, another bar/pub staple that they have done well. Brisket, american cheese, pickles, and Russian dressing; all between a potato roll. This was a solid burger with a juicy patty, but the highlight is definitely the soften potato bun that melts and sticks to the roof of your mouth.
For its side you typically get regular fries, but here we upgraded them to a poutine. Nothing out of the ordinary with this one. Thin salt gravy and melty mozzarella cheese. I would recommend the smoked ham hock one instead, for more punch.
Or better yet, they’re popular rosemary fries, like we did with the beef dip below. Shoestring potatoes, grana padano, and curry aioli. The ideal thickness for easy snacking. This is one of those bowls of fries I always end up finishing. I prefer it with the classic tangy ketchup, but the curry mustard is a nice switch up in between dips.
The Beef short rib dip was another one that new on the Lamplight summer menu. A club sandwich with braised beef, spicy horseradish dijonnaise, greens, and peppercorn jus. The filling ate like a thick stew and was quick to have the bread feeling soggy and dense. Hearty and rich in a peppercorn and onion sauce, which was in contrast to the bitter greens. This ate heavy and I would have liked something to add some freshness to it on the side. As is, the serving felt incomplete.
I was surprised by how much I liked the Coconut chicken salad. This is another new one for summer with romaine, green bean, kaffir lime, mint, cilantro, and peanuts. The chicken was tender dark meat seasoned with curry spice and finished off with a coating of lush coconut cream. It ate tropical and fresh with the peanut adding depth and a nice crunch. It reminded me of a papaya salad, but with a softer textual make up.
In conclusion, Lamplighter has a great patio to people watch on in Gastown, with plenty of features and reasons to have you stopping by this summer. The likes of trivia nights and the upcoming celebrity sports appearance.
The Lamplighter Public House
92 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K8, Canada
+1 604-687-4424
freehouse.co
