Sunday, January 9, 2011

Provence Marinaside

Provence Marinaside is one of my go-to restaurants for brunch in Vancouver, partly because of its aesthetically and gustatorily pleasing variations on morning eggs and partly because of the view of, you guessed it, the marina. Should you find yourself in Vancouver in need of a midday combination meal, stroll through trendy (and yes, yuppie) Yaletown in search of this Provençal-style destination.

THE GOOD: The entrées are large and prepared with fresh ingredients; Omega-3 eggs come with a selection of fruit you`ll actually eat, unlike at most other restaurants. The excellent menu is one that will leave you torn between, say, the Croque Monsieur Eggs Benedict (poached eggs, black forest ham, gruyère, sundried tomato butter on foccacia, $14.00) and the Seafood Crêpes (salmon, baby scallops, shrimp, spinach, velouté, $16.00). The French sky is the limit. Besides, there's nothing like leisurely lunching on the heated patio (both artificially and naturally heated, on sunny days) in January, looking out at some rather impressive yachts.

THE BAD: This spot tends to be pretty busy on weekends, so the service lags and lacks that je ne sais quoi, if you will (I`ve never been one to care about this, but it can be a deal-breaker for some).

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you want something special for your Brunch Bucket List, Provence Marinaside is the place to go - and return to again and again. They also offer gourmet picnic baskets, ideal for out-of-towners, and frequent exclusive promotions for return customers (I have been known to take advantage of these culinary temptations). In (fittingly French) conclusion: Allez-y, goûtez!



 Vegetarian Eggs Benedict (poached eggs, artichoke and bell pepper spread, arugula, on baguette, $14.00).
Provence Panini (goat cheese, pesto, sun dried tomato, prosciutto, $13.00)

4 comments:

Jen HaHA said...

I'm hoping to plan a trip to Vancouver again this spring. This sounds like a great place to try because I loves me some Eggs Benedict. Well, I prefer Eggs Florentine so hopefully they have that?

Any 'little known secrets' you mind sharing for food and/or attractions? A kocal's tour if you will? Kid-friendly. Ooh, and stores/boutiques I can't miss? I didn't shop last time and I know everyone finds great shoes in Vancouver. I know I want to find a Joe Fresh and Zara because I've seen so my bloggers tag these stores.

Thanks much!

Jen Hemming and Hawing Again

From Suns To Moons said...

They do have Eggs Florentine! Please check out their menu, I've linked it (an excessive) 4 times in this post. I had planned on doing an entire post on the best restaurants in Vancouver, neatly categorized, so stay tuned. I'm not much of a shopper, unfortunately, but I will certainly do some research for you. It sounds like a fun challenge!

BarelyVogue said...

I love Veggie egg benedict! That food looks uber classy. Thanks for sharing

xx
Sahi
www.barelyvogue.com

Anonymous said...

I have never been to Canada, but my husband and I hope to visit for our anniversary. Thanks for showcasing such tasty food and where to get it!!


ps. Now I'm hungry..lol