Noshwellmenu

[rating:3]

Eight 1/2 Restaurant Lounge is located on East 8th avenue, tucked away in a cute hundred year old building that once held Bains Chocolate making house. The sleek, cozy decor with open bar gives the dining room an intimate ambiance where people can enjoy with company or freely at the bar.

Tre and I arrived during brunch. Eight 1/2 wasn’t busy and we were told to sit wherever we liked. Our friendly hostess/waitress handed us our menus and advised us of the daily special. The menu looked delicious and promising; we had a hard time deciding on what to order. I finally settled on a Prosciutto and Camambert panini with chips and salsa. Tre opted for the classic eggs benedict with hash browns. We accompanied our meals with two cups of coffee.

(Clockwise: 1. Hash browns. 2. Lime infused ice water. 3. Classic Eggs Benedict swimming in hollandaise.)

Our entrees took what seemed like forever (a little over 30 minutes to be precise). Both dishes arrived lukewarm. My prosciutto and camambert panini was a bit over toasted and slightly (cut the roof of your mouth) hard. The salsa was good and tasted freshly made, but the tortilla chips were stale. Tre’s benedict was okay, but nothing overly special. The hash browns were neatly cubed yellow potatoes with a little sweetness and were seasoned nicely.

(Clockwise: 1. Prosciutto and Camambert Panini. 2. Chips and Salsa. 3. Happy, Shiny People.)

Our bill including taxes and tip came to just under $26. The service was good, but our entrees could use some tweaking. We would like to return and try the small plates and the dinner menu. The atmosphere at Eight 1/2 is cozy and we hope they iron out any wrinkles on our next visit.

Perfect for: Casual, Saturday morning brunch.

The Details

151 East 8th Ave, Vancouver
604.568.2703
eightandahalf.ca

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