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Prestons now has a home in Vancouver’s financial district, located at West Pender near Bute Street (a second restaurant is located in Chilliwack). The restaurant has been described as “West Coast with Mediterranean and Asian flair”; having glanced at their full menu, this is a well-suited description.

[Braised BBQ pork sliders with gorgonzola coleslaw]

Several Canadian comfort foods such as BBQ pork sliders and pulled pork poutine find their way on the varied menu alongside Gyoza dumplings and Thai red curry.

Local media and bloggers were invited earlier this week to sample a selection of dishes from Prestons’ new fall menu. Granville Island beers, Therapy Vineyards wines (Pinot Gris and Freud’s Ego), and two cocktails were served: a Venetian Spritzer prepared with Aperol Herb liqueur and brut over crushed rocks, and a French Martini with vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice.

[Seared shrimp and vegetable dumplings]

[Mini poutine with pulled pork: Quebec cheese curds, Rickard’s Red gravy]

[First crack at this year’s GIB Lions Winter Ale]

[Therapy Vineyards Pinot Gris]

The modern, interior space contains pink accents with a assortment of designer lighting. A small heated outdoor patio with sofas is located just to the left of the bar. Washrooms are also well looked after in the design department, and are located outside of the restaurant, a short walk down the lobby.

The wine list contains both a BC and an international selection. Both classic cocktails and Prestons own concoctions can be ordered either from the bar or at your table.

I was happy to learn that Prestons’ seafood is Oceanwise certified.

[Dungeness crab cakes, tomato vinaigrette, fried capers]

Chef Alessandro Vianello has worked in both fine restaurants and hotels across Canada, the UK (Fairmont Hotel St. Andrews), and Italy. He’s also had the unique opportunity to work with Chef Francesco Lagi at Tuscan vineyard restaurant Castello Vicchiomaggio in Florence.

[Chef Alessandro Vianello with Prestons General Manager Steve Billyard]

The busy restaurant also hosted Facebox Media, purveyors of fine and funky photo booth fun.

Prestons is located at 1177 West Pender Street and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week, plus weekend brunch.

Hours of operation
Breakfast: 6:30 – 11 am, lunch 11 am – 4:30 pm, and dinner 4:30 – 11:30 pm.
Weekend brunch service on Saturday and Sunday: 6:30 am – 4 pm. The bar is open early for morning Caesars and Mimosas, at 9 am.

The restaurant is also available for private parties with space for up to 100 guests. With the holidays around the corner, I’d consider this the perfect venue to host a company gathering of that size.

More photos from the event can be viewed here.