Published On Main

Oh my god... What an amazing experience. Published on Main is my best friend's favourite restaurant, and I truly see why. We came by for a belated celebration, to indulge in the tasting experience they offer. With each dish came a brief, knowledgeable, but also accessible explanation-- and the beverages paired fantastically with each course. The servers took time to curate this wonderful experience for us balancing between making sure we are taken care of, as well as giving us time to enjoy the moment between ourselves. I was also super happy to nerd out about wines with one of the sommeliers, since we found out that we both have a background in Microbiology.

At the end, we were given a mini menu card with all of the items that were on the tasting menu which I thought was a lovely touch! Overall-- this was a 10/10 experience and I cannot wait to be back heheh

We booked the tasting menu in advance of our trip and we really wanted to love this experience. Unfortunately, it was a big letdown. The minute we declined upcharges of adding caviar or foie to our menu, and wine pairings (I don't drink and I was surprised at the lack of interest in non- alcoholic options), it felt like we didn't matter. I did try one of the mocktails (mushroom soda) and didn't care for the odd taste. At no point did any server ask if I liked it or noticed it sat untouched for well into three courses (it was removed from our bill in the end).
There were moments of delight with the food -- the amuse were creative and diverse bites; the steelhead trout had lovely texture and rich flavor; the blueberry panna cotta was memorable. But many fell flat.
Additionally, on making the reservation and pre-paying for the tasting, the restaurant communicated they absolutely cannot accommodate allergies or restrictions. That was a-OK with us. Yes, I have a scallop allergy and knew it could appear on the menu, but was OK with giving my dish to my dining partner who loves them. Then, as we began, our server asked about allergies and when I said I could not eat scallop, suddenly it became a big deal that the kitchen would somehow have to come up with a replacement -- a replacement I wasn't expecting and didn't ask for. I did ask, though, if my partner could still enjoy the scallop course, but was told no, it would be too difficult for the kitchen. Instead we got one of the strangest cold tomato dishes I've ever had.

In all, we left envious of the diners around us who ordered off the à la carte menu and seemed to have a better experience. If you go, I would certainly only recommend that route.

I booked the half tasting menu via Tock about a month in advance. At the time of booking, the restaurant charged my card in full including service fee.

Food was overall tasty. Some highlights and some just ok dishes. I wish they would include more details of each course on the printed menu, because 1) many of the servers spoke softly and I couldn't catch everything and 2) they talked about many ingredients that I can't remember the details of now!

"Snacks"- 7/10 (right to left) cucumber with mousse and elderflower jelly w lemon verbena, smoked steelhead trout, speculoos cookie sandwich with mousse and hibiscus, herb-filled doughnut with herb sauce. The 2 on the right is give 8.5/10, the 2 on the left 6/10.

Chawanmushi- 8/10 nice tomato water and the herbs and herb oil were punchy. Beautiful presentation, especially layering the tomato water over the steamed egg.

Scallops- 8/10 so fresh and served raw, but the sauce was just ok.

Steelhead Trout- 9.5/10 served medium rare with tomato dashi and summer beans. This was my favorite course. Cooked perfectly, tender and buttery. The dashi tasted more cheesy than tomatoey but it worked well, and the beans were a great crunchy element.

Beef- 8.5/10 served with charred cabbage, chanterelles, carrots, turnip purée. Beef cooked perfectly and flavors were well developed, but all the elements were really salty and the dish was a bit overwhelming as a result.

Dessert 9.5/10 - blueberries with stewed blueberry sauce, panna cotta w lemon verbena. Great balance of flavors.

One small note that we arrived early for our 6:30 reservation, and were seated by 6:20 and walked through the meal by our waiter immediately. However, the first course didn't arrive until 30 minutes later so we were just sitting hungry and waiting.

We had a just about perfect experience at Published on Main during a few days visit to Vancouver. It's not a vegetarian restaurant, but their vegetarian offerings are fantastic and we're still salivating about what we ate.

It's not downtown so if you're based in a hotel downtown and wavering about whether to visit, it's well worth the rideshare to get there. You'll feel like you've discovered a local gem with plenty of elevated and delicious food to eat for every diet.

The cocktails are creative and beautiful too...I had the Breakfast Special Cocktail (I don't see it on their website menu so not sure if that's not up to date or if it was a seasonal special.) It was gorgeous to look at, fluffy with an egg white, and by the end of it I was definitely happy I ordered it.

Highlight from our vegetarian choices where the Chicken Fried Maitake Mushroom - This especially is the dish we keep thinking about week's later...raising existential questions like should we fly back to Vancouver just to eat this etc. REALLY GOOD! We also had the Green Asparagus which they made for us without the meat stock it usually comes with...fresh and delicious, and the Bee Pollen Buns which we're fluffy and pretty...but otherwise just bread...I didn't get so much honey or pollen on my palate from them...but that could also be the influence of the Breakfast Cocktail.

All of their desserts, we were told, have gelatin in them so not suitable for vegetarians and we were headed off to explore some of Vancouver's ice cream options anyway. They did give us a couple of house-made candies to end which was a nice treat (and suitable for vegetarians.)

We would 100% come back to Published on Main again if we were in Vancouver...that Chicken Fried Mushroom dish will stay with us forever.

Cannot say enough about this place. It's #1 in the country and was awarded a Michelin star for a reason. Make a reservation, ideally at the bar where the friendly and talented team took great care of us. They were happy to describe the menu items and made suggestions for how much to order. They are pros at coursing and pacing the meal, so you don't feel rushed.

Baby gem salad and roasted carrots were my faves, though the milk buns (with salty butter!) and sockeye were tasty, too. The chocolate peanut butter dessert was rich, not-too-sweet, with all the contrasting textures (creamy and crunchy) and temperatures (warm and cool) that I love. Great selection of wines by the glass including a fab Canadian pet nat.

Prices are reasonable and everything about the experience was fantastic. Recommend!

Service is great. Smiles all around. They build a bright atmosphere in the dimly lit setting.
Prawns: good, like ceviche but whole.
Buns: amazingly fluffy and sweet but not too sweet. The butter is a bit like cream cheese
Chicken fried maitake: the batter is truly like a country fried steak, but I don't like that. It's too thick for the light, thin fans of maitake. Also, the maitake is too wet, an issue with mushrooms so a fried batter comes off so easily.
Rotolo: the description for this dish was lacking, but overall the dish is very slop-like. The thickness of flavors doesn't really let anything really get through to you. It's kind of just cheesy and gooey.
Abelskievers: these are pretty good.
Winter squash: this was well prepared. The squash is cooked to a smooth texture and it matches with the smooth milkiness of the koji sauce.

One of the best dining experiences I've had in Vancouver! I can see why this is a michelin star restaurant, the customer service, ambiance, and food are nothing but exceptional.

They have a little coat check when you enter the restaurant which I think is so amazing considering we live in rainy Vancouver. My boyfriend and I were there to celebrate our anniversary, when we mentioned that to our server he surprised us with a glass of bubbly on the house. If that wasn't nice enough, the staff also got us a personalize menu based on our dietary restrictions! It made it so easy for us to go through the menu and see what we can have as well as cross reference what can be shared. I loved this little detail!

For cocktails we got their pina colada and SEMI-FORMAL FIZZ which were both amazing! I preferred the semi-formal fizz because it was sweeter. For appetizers we ordered their milk buns, carrots, and chicken fried maitake.

- Milk buns: not too sweet, soft, and the whipped butter was the cherry on top. They were Japanese style milk buns.
- Carrots: roasted carrots with a cashew cilantro sauce and a coffee, cumin condiment. So unique and delicious! They transformed something so simple as carrots into a delicious app!
- fried maitake: this was by far the best!! It was super crispy but not greasy and came with a garlicky ranch sauce.

For mains we got their SUNCHOKE AND CHÈVRE ROTOLO and truffle perogy. Words can't describe for decadent, earthy, and delicious these were. We did not talk for a good 15mins because we were so busy enjoying the food.

Last but not the least, their dessert! Our server highly recommended their chocolate dessert so we got that, but we also tried their sunchoke dessert... it was sooo unique. Such good use of sunchoke and rose! It came with 3 different types of sorbet.

For 3 apps, 2 main courses, 2 desserts, and 2 cocktails the bill was just over $200! I thought the price was very reasonable for a michelin star restaurant which such fabulous food.

I can't wait to go back!!

I'm genuinely surprised at how underwhelming this place was.... And shocked that it has a Michelin star. Maybe from the other meals but I can't say this specific menu was the best thing I've ever ate. And I personally wouldn't go again.

We reserved for the price fixed tasting menu. The plating was beautiful and the customer service was exceptional. The taste was okay, nothing spectacular or out of this world. Some of the dishes were innovated, and some flavors did not mesh well together.

Like other reviews, there were lots of questionable wait times and long pauses between each of our dishes or even waiting for our bill.

Oof also the drinks we ordered ... we're not great.

POM is one of the few restaurants at full capacity on a cold winter post-holidays January night. Shocking but true, their "legacy" trucks on. Like last time here, the place is still bursting at its seams.

I for one am not going to knock something that is on top for the mere sake of knocking it.

We had 6 items but paid about the same as last time of eight items. Though that is no definitive way of certifying "inflation", but like the old adage- if you got it flaunt it, it this case, charge it. And people happily lining up to oblige.

Our server this time took a different route than the previous. Instead of being attentive, deferential and respectful, this new server thought he try sarcasm, and tardiness. Comedy is a difficult art form, when isn't worked out thoroughly, it sounds sarcastic and mean. After we ordered our items, we asked the waiter, do you think this will be enough. To my surprise, the man responded, "how do I know I just met you." Since we were in a jovial mood, I chalked it up he trying to be funny and failing miserably. Seemingly, the server disappears for long stretches of time without poking his Lochness out of the water. We sat for over 15 minutes after our meal waiting to get our bill. In the end we gave up and flagged a bus person for our bill.

The scallop dish was the surprising winner IMO. Though the presentation was spectacularly bland, the flavour profile was mind blowing. Smooth, delicate, refined and delightful. The XO sauce was the knock out punch.

The schnitzel was very underwhelming. Having had schnitzel in some of the top German restaurants, this POM's version was like jerky. When I queried our dear waiter, why is it so tough and chewy? His reply was, "our chef is German". Not knowing exactly what he implied, again our positive mood led me to think-POM's chef was rebelling against the traditional way of making the schnitzel tender he opted to serve the dish tough and gamey. Wasn't a positive step in evolution, if I say so myself.

The ribs. When you fuse the popular Chinese/Asian style BBQ to a new thing, you better to it damn well, otherwise you will hear critics. Philosophically I was thinking the two lines of cooking, - innovation/fusion and traditional. Kind of like playing a classical piece exceptionally well, or write your own damn pop song. The POM's ribs, for me although tasted exceptionally familiar to Chinese BBQ ribs which I had gazillion times, is like meshing Beethoven with drums and guitar. Very so so mediocre results.

It really doesn't matter if I tell you POM is not that creative, or their prices have inflated 30% since a year ago, folks will still line up to come. .

Will I come back? Probably not unless they shake up the menu..... Surprise and impress us, and not rest on its laurels.

On our first night in Vancouver, we lucked into a reservation here. It was everything you could ask for in a restaurant. Great drinks (I got a cocktail with Sunny D-- fun and tasty). Great service (our server was friendly, attentive and helpful). Great atmosphere (cool vibe without being too loud or pretentious).

But most of all, the food was delicious. Hard to pick a favorite but the duck was pretty awesome. Get it with the foie gras and you get lots of flavors with it. The gnocchi were also a standout. Really, you can't go wrong.

Totally worth the Michelin star and the price.