Burdock & Co is one of the few female chef-owned and operated restaurants in Metro Vancouver. Chef Andrea Carlson opened the restaurant in 2013 and the concept is sophisticated dining in a casual setting, with an evolving local and organic menu and naturalist wine program.
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The restaurant has received many awards and accolades including named one of Canada’s top 100 restaurants (rank #66) and named Best Brunch and Best West Coast in Vancouver (rank #1) by Vancouver Magazine.
I had been to Burdock & Co a while back for a media event sponsored by Burpee Home Gardens where Chef Carlson crafted a creative menu incorporating Burpee vegetables. Yesterday, David (vangourmetclub.com) and I decided to visit Burdock & Co for brunch.
Note: None of the food and drinks in this review were complimentary. This review is done anonymously.
Burdock & Co Brunch Menu
The brunch menu is small, focused and features a few vegetarian and vegan dishes. There are some recognizable brunch favourites but with a twist like Gluten-Free Eggs Benny, Vegan Avocado Smash, French Pancake, and Crispy Fried Chicken. Brunch plates are $15-$16 with many options for adds-ons and sides.
What We Tried
David and I both enjoyed coffee ($4) by Elysian for brunch. I had the Crispy Fried Chicken ($16) with a poached egg ($3) and David had the Hot Smoked Salmon Frittata and Soda Bread ($16).
Crispy Fried Chicken
The fried chicken was very good. It’s a dish that the judges for the Vancouver Magazine restaurant awards swooned over. The dish came with small, morcels of chicken which had a wonderfully crispy batter on the outside while still being moist and juicy on the inside. The highlight for me was the potato pickle mayo which is kind of a cross between a potato salad and mayo. The mayo had bold flavours and the pickles gave it a nice tangy twist. Really delicious but see my comments on portions below.
Frittata & Soda Bread
I sampled a bit of David’s hot smoked salmon frittata which had a wonderful light, fluffy, and springy texture. The soda bread was a standout being dense, but still moist and crumbly.
Portions
The one gripe I had was the portion because I really felt that the amount was too small to be a hearty, weekend brunch. I should have taken a clue at the beginning when the server asked if we wanted to start with a scone as this is what many people would order before the actual brunch plate arrives. When I looked at Burdock & Co’s Yelp page afterwards, I did notice several reviews commenting that the portions were small for the price. I know that Burdock & Co is known for shared small plates but I wasn’t expecting that to be the case for brunch as well.
I would have gladly eaten David’s frittata as I was feeling pretty hungry at the time. However, David noted that the portions were just right for him. To each their own. If I were to redo it again, I would have ordered another brunch entree to share between the two of us.
Overall Impression
I thought the brunch dishes we tried were elevated but approachable. The flavours were good; they were nicely crafted with quality ingredients. Unless you really want a light brunch, my recommendation would be to order at least 1.5 entrees per person. You would be looking at a spend of $30-$40 per person for brunch based on that. Rating: 3.5/5
Burdock and Co
Address: 2702 Main St, Vancouver, BC
Website: www.burdockandco.com