When you think of going out to enjoy an experience at a local restaurant, of course the way the food tastes, the presentation of the plates and the overall value on the cost of the meals comes into the equation. However, so much of restaurant culture is all about the intangibles such as the ambience, the room temperature, the mood lighting, what music is playing, the textures of the furniture and decor and of course how the staff interact with you and communicate. Great staff make all the difference in the world and the best restaurants understand this, including Browns Socialhouse in Lynn Valley. We recently went here to enjoy some lunch and checkout the vibes.
The interior of the restaurant has a very high ceiling with lots of different angles that catch the light and make the room feel grand. With chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and glass separating each booth for space and privacy. The seating is brown leather with hints of black and orange playing within the designs, which is on brand for the company and lends itself to a social club kind of vibe. It’s masculine feeling without alienating the ladies.
Once you get seated they bring drinks to you right away there’s no waiting period which is good, especially during the summer when it’s hot. For the server at the table you get a dedicated one which is nice because they will remember what you talked about for the course of the dining experience and you don’t have to explain yourself over and over again to new servers like some of the other local restaurants do. Plus you really get to know the server and it turns into a friendly experience like you’re dining with family.
We tried out the Tasting Menu consisting of a Spicy Tuna Roll which was fresh in flavour and had mostly Tuna in the roll providing lots of protein for those people who are into fitness results. The Crispy Cauliflower was excellent too with just the right amount of batter coating providing a crunchy texture, it also happens to be the top selling appetizer at Browns Socialhouse. The Chicken Tacos were amazing, the piece of chicken made up the majority of the taco with just the right amount of veggies. The Dragon Tofu Bowl can be made into being Vegan as well by changing the sauce that is put on it. Lastly as a part of the Tasting Menu we ate the Chocolate Brownies, which was insanely good and would go amazing after enjoying a Cannabis spliff.
For the drinks we are a dealers choice kind of group, where we let the servers pick what we drink as they know the menu best, so we ordered a house beer called the Social Lager which was crisp, smooth and refreshing and not too hoppy or heavy feeling. We also tried their Hibiscus Margarita which had just the right amount of ice yet not too much to water it down, and a well salted rim of the glass. This tasted great and was mixed such that you could taste the liquor with subtle notes of Hibiscus.
During the course of the meal Chris Casado, who’s the Regional Kitchen Operations Manager, walked us through the menu of items we were eating and told us about the food culture in the kitchen at Browns. We never knew that they make their own french fries in house and have to change where they get their bulk fries from year round as seasonally potatoes can taste different. Very cool to know how intricate they are in the kitchen while considering the dining experience for customers. The general manager of the restaurant Byron Filippe also spoke with us and answered all of our questions while making us feel very welcome and at home. They were both wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The cool thing with going to Lynn Valley is they have some amazing hiking spots and outdoor activities in the area such as mountain biking, after which you can head over to Browns Socialhouse and unwind on their patio for lunch or dinner with your friends and family. There’s tons of parking in the area plus really good public transit if you need it coming direct from Lonsdale Quay for people arriving from downtown Vancouver. Make a day trip out of it and checkout Deep Cove or Mt. Seymour in the area.
We will be back at the restaurant soon, this time with more people. And don’t forget that they have an awesome private event party space for corporate or staff parties and seasonal gatherings. It’s located upstairs in the restaurant and there’s a photo below to check it out. Great spot for Christmas parties.
Browns Socialhouse is located at 1255 Lynn Valley Road and you can read more by visiting their website and connecting with them using social media apps on Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, and TripAdvisor.
Customer service (604) 971-5299 or lynnvalley@brownssocialhouse.com
Browns Socialhouse Lynn Valley Photos
