AnnaLena is an award-winning restaurant in Kitsilano known for their contemporary Canadian fare with a pan-Asian influence.
The restaurant has been owned by Chef Michael Robbins and Operations Manager Jeff Parr since 2015.
Awarded as one of En Route’s Top 10 New Restaurants in its first year of opening and consistently named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants, AnnaLena continues to grow.
In June 2020, AnnaLena decided to focus offering a tasting menu only showcasing seasonal ingredients, local farms and suppliers, alongside thoughtful wine pairings and innovative cocktails.
I visited AnnaLena last month for their “Chapter Fifty Five” menu priced at $88 per person. The reservation was made ahead of time via Resy.
The minimalist, modern interior features some nostalgic, childhood decor.
For drinks, we had the 2018, Kitsch, ’11 Barrel, Kelowna BC Chardonnay and the Fantastic Voyage mocktail (passionfruit, orange, vanilla).
Amuse bouche – Lamb croquette with a crispy other shell with a tender, warm lamb filling.
Summer beet salad, burrata cheese, maple hazelnut granola. The dish had a rich, milky, buttery flavoured, fresh burrata along with sweet, summer beets contrasted with the hazelnut granola.
Wakame mussel vin blanc, ramps, trout roe, torn bread. This dish featured a crisp, toasted pull-apart bread which is used to mop up the savoury, seafood sauce.
Potato ricotta pasta, onion jus, crème fraiche, guanciale. A delicate ricotta-filled pasta in a light, savoury broth and contrasted with a guanciale that has a rich, buttery flavor.
63 acre beef bavette, charred gailan, miso eggplant, madeira jus. The steak was tender, juicy and moist while the gailan had a nice, charred and slightly bitter taste.
Blackberry & yuzu paris breast with oat ice cream.
Finishing off with the Grand Marnier Financiers.
Overall, a beautiful, creative and delicious tasting menu presented at AnnaLena at a reasonable price per person. Service was very good for Vancouver standards. I think they are worth being noted in the upcoming, inaugural Vancouver Michelin guide.
I’d love to revisit them again in the future and would recommend them.
www.annalena.ca
1809 W 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC