Last weekend I paid my second visit to The Refinery on Granville Street, a small and intimate restaurant in the Entertainment District that focuses mainly on tapas and wine. I always like to come here for a casual meal that’s a bit more elevated. Not only do they have a neat selection of tapas and an extensive wine menu, but they also play some great music with guest DJ’s coming in from time to time.
The inside of The Refinery is furnished with modern oak decor. I like how this dining area is comfortable but also pretty trendy.
My friend and I started off our night with a bottle of Malbec - our current go-to wine. I really recommend this wine for beginners because it’s light and easy to adapt to.
Glasses of Malbec
For our first tapas we got the Deviled Eggs. I was pleasantly surprised to see this homestyle dish on the menu. The eggs were fairly delicious with the sweet sauce and dressing on top. But for just two eggs, I felt that they were a bit pricey.
Deviled Eggs ($6)
The next we got was the Hummus. I’m a huge hummus fan and this one wasn’t disappointing at all – it was thick with noticeable hints of lemon and olive flavours. I wasn’t too big on the thin crunchy bread though, I think that a regular flatbread or focaccia would’ve been much better.
Hummus ($6)
The Meatballs were probably the best part of our meal. These meatballs are a blend of pork, beef, and cheese. I noticed that the mixture of cheese inside them made these guys extra soft and delicious. The house-made tomato sauce that was the cherry on top of it all, since it was very tasty and fresh.
Meatballs ($10)
The last dish we got were the Beef shortribs, which unfortunately didn’t meet my expectations. The sauce and flavouring on these ribs wasn’t bad, but the meat was just not super tender. It took more than a bit of effort to rip the chewy meat off the bones.
Beef Shortribs ($16)
For dessert we got the rather interesting Flourless Chocolate Cake. It looks like a meat loaf, but it really isn’t! This cake is actually composed mainly of chocolate ganache, raspberry compote, and coconut milk. It’s a super thick and heavy slice of dessert, so although the portion was small, I was still quite satisfied. It’s great for anyone who likes a sweeter dessert that doesn’t necessarily melt-in-your-mouth.
Flourless Chocolate Cake ($9)
I would definitely come back to The Refinery again since I’m such a fan of its laid back but elevated atmosphere. I’m also loving the tapas idea; there aren’t too many spots around town that do the wine and tapas combo. On Wednesday they do a Tea Party event that I’m very interested in attending as well. So next time if you’re looking for a nice casual meal with wine, The Refinery is where you should be headed!
- Great wine selection
- Tapas are fun and generally delicious
- Neat casual atmosphere
- A bit pricey for small portions
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