Vancouver’s Hy’s is the ultimate remnant from the heyday of the dark-paneled rooms and special occasion beef-centric dinners. The Hy’s legacy began in 1955 in Calgary, but it wasn’t long before founder Hy Aisenstat took his restaurant and his family further west to Vancouver. First came Hy’s at the Sands in the West End, then Hy’s Encore, which remains in the same location, with many of the same furnishings.
Gotham is a modern, sexy steakhouse. It’s a great spot for a romantic night out for a pair of carnivores (there are steaks priced to share), and the service is consistently stellar, which makes it worth the spend for a special occasion steak meal. Order the bone-in ribeye for the ultimate Gotham steak experience.
Joe Fortes does put the seafood first in their name, so the “chop house” side of their menu is sometimes more unsung. Bridge the gap with their Surf & Turf, or go right to the Steaks & Chops section of the menu to fine AAA Canadian beef aged 28 days and cooked to order. For an affordable night out, select their $38 three-course dinner, available Sunday through Thursday, which includes a 7 oz sirloin steak as an entree option.
The Keg is a well-established chain with locations across Canada and even in the U.S., however its humble roots tie it back to some pretty hefty steak royalty in B.C. In 1971, George Tidball opened The Keg & Cleaver in North Vancouver, and was helped by his friend Hy of Hy’s steakhouse fame. Ultimately The Keg dropped the “Cleaver” (now they’ve adopted Steakhouse + Bar to their moniker) but what hasn’t changed has their commitment to a quality product and an excellent customer experience. No matter what cut of meat you get, just save room for the Billy Miner pie. It’s as fun as you might remember.
The youngest kid on the steakhouse block doesn’t always have the chops as far as the dining experience goes, as the reviews are overall quite mixed. It’s a luxe, sexy atmosphere at their three-level restaurant meant to conjure up the “Golden Age of Steak” (their words) and an old Chicago-style steak house. Service can be problematic, but when the meat is good, it’s very, verygood.