Pick’s birthday was coming up so Grick and I took him out to dinner at the Smoking Dog Bistro. It is located at Kits at 1889 W. 1st Ave right at the corner by Cypress. It came highly recommended by several people and even has a $25 set menu in October.
Despite the lure of the set menu, I was even more intrigued by their dessert menu so decided to spring for the a la carte items. 
Grick however, decided to try the set menu.
Both Pick and I ordered the French onion soup. The only other time I had French onion soup, it was way too salty and I did not enjoy it at all. This time, I could taste more of the onion and the broth was nice and light. The cheese and the crouton on top though made this quite a heavy and filling dish. I don’t think I am much of a French onion soup person…but Pick enjoyed this.
Grick had the apple and squash soup. I liked this much more than the French onion soup. The combination of the apple and butternut squash gave this soup a great Fall feeling and was surprisingly light.
Along with our soups, our server also brought us some baguette slices, fresh and hot from the oven. This was one of the best baguettes I had eaten other than in France. The outside was crispy and crusty while the inside was warm and chewy. I could have munched on this all night.
Pick had the lamb shank, which was braised in a red wine juniper berry marinade and was served with spring vegetables and some mashed potatoes. He enjoyed this very much and noted that the meat just flaked off the bone.
Grick’s set menu choice was the chicken alfredo. Despite what seemed to be a small dish, it was so rich and creamy that Grick could not even finish his whole dish!
I went light and chose the niçoise salad. It had seared ahi tuna, roasted bell peppers, green beans, roma tomatoes, olives, and anchovy fillets. The ahi tuna was tasty for the most part but some pieces were grilled a bit too much for my taste. I also would have liked it if the anchovy fillets were broken into smaller pieces as the entire fillets were too salty when that’s all you got in one bite.
By this time, we were all quite full. However, we figured we would be doing an injustice to ourselves if we didn’t have dessert. I had the lemon sabayon tart, which came with a side of berry sorbet. The lemon sabayon was very light and the lemon taste was perfect. I found the crust to be too floury though and a bit on the dry side.
Pick had the Grand Marnier creme brulee. This was quite good although Pick and I both found the sugar topping to be too thick. Grick said he liked his creme brulee like that though.
Grick’s set menu dessert was creme caramel. I had a little taste and this was basically the creme brulee without the sugary topping. It was very tasty and creamy and the light caramel syrup was not too sweet.
Overall, dinner here was not bad and I would likely come again. There were a few items that did not meet my expectations, but maybe it was because those dishes just aren’t for me in general. Grick and Pick both enjoyed their dishdes and the set menu in particular was a great deal. Service was also prompt and friendly. Even though we were there on a Thursday evening, the restaurant was pretty much full.
Details:
1889 W 1st Ave, Vancouver
Tel: 604-732-8811
Summary:
Food: 
Service:
Price: $$
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December 8th, 2007 at 1:06 am
On Dec 7 I attended a UBC Christmas dinner at the Smoking Dog. After waiting well over an hour for the staff to take our orders, one of the attendees went to ask how much longer it would be until we could order. The owner was very rude and told her that his kitchen was very busy…WAIT. This was an advance booking and the restaurant did not seemed prepared for our group. We finally had our orders taken and a small quantity of bread was delivered to the table. After a spill at one table, a fresh napkin was requested. The server was rude and very reluctantly filled the request.One of the guests had their foot quite heavily stomped on enroute to the washroom. The waiter first asked if their foot was ok and then chatised the guest for getting in his way.The washrooms were a fire hazard, a shelf with burning tea lights was positioned almost directly under the automatic paper dispenser. The food was mediocre….a strip loin steak less than a quarter inch thick (with fries), salmon with no flavour and tough chicken. The deserts were poor and not what was indicated on the menu (custom menu for the group). No one was offered coffee. The few people that did manage to get coffee (which was supposed to be included) only managed to do so by finding staff and specifically requesting it. When the liquor bills were presented an 18% tip was added as well as a charge for coffee. When one guest queried the gratuity charge (he mentioned that no one was even offered coffee), the owner told him to get out of his f***ing restaurant. Another person asked if she could speak with the owner and she was brushed off and told to get out of the f***ing restaurant. When her husband asked the owner not so speak to his wife that way, he was challenged by the onwer to “take it f***king outside). This was a group of 40 mature professionals who at most had two drinks each. DO NOT EVER GO TO THIS RESTAURANT. THE SERVICE IS POOR, THE FOOD OVERPRICED AND THE OWNER HAS SERIOUS ISSUES. IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF THIS RESTAURANTS “INNER CIRCLE” YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. IT WAS BY FAR THE MOST UNPLEASANT AND OUTLANDISH EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN A RESTAURANT.
December 9th, 2007 at 1:51 am
Hi Renee,
Wow, sounds like you had quite the bad experience there. I’ve only been to the Smoking Dog once myself and my experience with their service and food was quite good. From your post though, I can understand why you would not be making a repeat visit!
December 10th, 2007 at 11:56 am
COMPLETE DISATER! DO NOT GO TO THE SMOKING DOG BISTRO!
I attended this “Bistro” with my staff for a Christmas party. We were all seated for an hour before any orders were taken. One lady asked when the orders were to be taken and was verbally assaulted by the waiter. That was the start of the disaster then the rudeness only worsened. I asked what their house wine was and the response was, “we have red and white” and the waitress pointed at the wine list. She didn’t know the difference between a Chardonnay and Champagne. The staff does not have a clue what products they sell. My wife went to the washroom and the waiter accidentally stepped on her foot. He asked if she was OK then informed her to “not walk in front of me.” I have MANY more examples of this but I think I’ve said enough to convince you not to waste your time at this establishment. Not once did any staff member say ONE pleasantry. The behaviour of the staff is a good basis for a National Lampoon movie.
Then there is the food. I would classify it as “bad pub food.” My New York steak was well done when I asked for a medium-rare. The steak was less than 1cm thick. The squash soup was watery. The caramel dessert tasted like a Jello product. Comments from my table included “the chicken is rubbery,” “the asparagus is chewy,” “the salad has no dressing” and “I’d expect a place like this to not use FARMED FISH.” If it wasn’t farmed it was prepared in a way to make it taste like it was.
There was to be coffee included with the dinner packed my employer negotiated. Well, the Smoking Dog charged each person $2.95 for a coffee, and then to add insult to injury charged another $2.95 for a re-fill…that is if you were lucky enough to get coffee. I could not find a staff member to serve me coffee. We were to pay for our drinks, so I got a bill for myself and my wife. What an insult that was! It was almost $50 for two beers, two glasses of wine and a coffee. It was already overpriced, but the mandatory 18% gratuity was the salt in the wounds. I found the owner and told him my feelings, at which point he wanted to “get the F@(K outside and we’ll settle it there!” It was obviously a physical threat. I did not stoop to his level and fight. I paid my bill and left knowing that I will never go back. I have never in my life experienced such a pitiful excuse of “fine dining.”
December 11th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Hi Brian,
Sounds like you were at the same party as Renee. It’s really too bad that the two of you had such a bad experience there as my own experience there (and I’ve only been once) was actually quite enjoyable. I hope your next Christmas event will be more pleasant!
I wonder how other people’s experience has been here? The only reason I tried it out myself was due to the recommendations of others so I am rather surprised at the two negative experiences listed so far.