3 minute read
JESS’ RESTAURANT & BAR
Downtown Dining in the Heart of Kerrisdale
Jess’ Restaurant & Bar is a unique dining experience; envision a café by day offering a lunch and an afternoon tea menu, happy hour is woven into the late afternoon, and by night it becomes a place to enjoy French-Asian fusion cuisine and a bar to meet up with friends.
Last autumn the former Bean Brothers Café was gutted from floor to ceiling—no expense was spared. The restaurant officially opened on January 8, 2021.
The transformation is remarkable; the elegant space creates a feeling of Art Deco meets Futuristic. A combination of blue and orange dining chairs pair with benches covered in royal blue brushed velour cotton from France. Bling is a central theme throughout, with mirrored walls that reflect the light from a variety of chandeliers that are also imported from France. Marble tables complement Italian marble flooring. LED lighting with different colour choices instantly switches up the restaurant’s mood.
Customers are impressed with the futuristic washrooms. The women’s washroom features gold wall tiles, ornate mirrors, and the toilets have heated seats; this is a washroom you are not going to want to leave.
Like all B.C. restaurants, Jess’ shut down indoor dining for two months in late March in compliance with the B.C. government’s COVID-19 orders. This was challenging for the new business, which does not have a patio; however, they managed to look for the silver lining. The kitchen was busy testing the summer menu, and staff got to meet a lot of people as they walked by. Jess’ is extremely grateful to everyone who supported the restaurant by placing take-out orders.
Executive chef Pierre Vuylsteke trained in Michelin restaurants in France. Everything the kitchen prepares is made from scratch and food is sourced locally whenever possible. Pastry chef Chloe Lee is also Michelin trained.
All desserts and afternoon tea selections are made in-house.
The three-tier menu includes egg toast, salmon gravlax canapé (the gravlax is cured and marinated in-house), jumbo seared scallops, homemade scones with local berry compote, and an assortment of sweets including choux, house-made chocolate, lemon tart, financier, and macaron. Some of the popular lunch selections include the French onion soup and mushroom linguine. Guests are blown away by the lobster avocado timbale.
The sliders are known for their tender meat and delicious sauce. The roasted duck breast is a favourite, and fish dishes such as Japanese pan-fried cod are equally well received. All dishes are exquisitely presented.
In the short time Jess’ has been open it has earned a reputation for both its fine food and service. Customers are thrilled that they no longer have to travel outside of the area to enjoy a meal that compares in consistency and quality to downtown restaurants.
Now that the B.C. government’s circuit breaker restrictions have been lifted and indoor dining has resumed, guests are invited to come in and discover why those who have already experienced Jess’ are celebrating the arrival of this much-anticipated restaurant. It’s time to arrange a dinner date, raise a glass, and experience Jess’!
Jess’ Restaurant & Bar 2179 W 41st Avenue Vancouver, V6M 1Z6 Telephone 604-269-0103 www.jessrestaurant.ca
