Nightshade, Vancouver’s newest plant-based restaurant, is now open in Yaletown. The restaurant explores the boundaries of vegan cuisine, focusing on hyper-local, farm-to-table ingredients with a global twist.
“We’ve drawn on techniques and flavours from a lot of different places, including India, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. The kitchen will also be using some strict Japanese techniques in certain dishes” says opening Executive Chef Chanthy Yen. “It’s not exactly molecular gastronomy but the restaurant is looking at ingredients from a different perspective.”
Yen is an Ontario-born chef with Cambodian roots who trained at the NorthWest Culinary Academy in Vancouver and apprenticed at Spain’s two-star Michelin restaurant, Maguritz. After cooking alongside notable local chefs like Jefferson Alvarez and Ned Bell, Yen opened Montreal’s award-winning Fieldstone restaurant and the pop-up Touk. Since launching Nightshade, Yen has taken a position as the personal chef for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family.
Nightshade’s menu features dishes like Braised Salsafy & Burdock with garnishes of puffed wild rice, garlic, and lavender oil; Fennel Congee/Rice Porridge with sake and scallion dressing; Jicama Ceviche with kelp infused cucumber, dill and salsa verde; and Fried Cassava and Lotus Root with mint puree, sweet red curry, and coconut.
The bar menu includes wine and vegan cocktails made to order as well as some, like Old Fashions and Rum Aged Manhattans, on tap. While the menu is predominantly vegan, Nightshade offers some dairy and egg options for those who wish to add them as sides to select dishes.
“While the focus is on plant-based food, the menu is designed to be savoured by vegans and non-vegans alike,” says Yen. “The goal is also to look beyond the ingredients and flavours while being mindful about our footprint. The team at Nightshade is committed to reducing the impact on the planet and being thoughtful about what we consume.”
The 150-seat restaurant also features a private 20-seat wine bar and tasting room at the back. Lightshade, an intimate speak-easy-inspired setting, is a phone-free zone, giving patrons a quiet space to enjoy and relax. A 30-seat patio will be added this spring.
Nightshade can be found in the former Glowbal and Wildtale space on Mainland Street in Yaletown. The room has been designed by Sean Sherwood, a former restaurateur turned furniture maker. The sophisticated decor gives a nod to flora-inspired motifs while still paying homage to Yaletown’s traditional brick and beam architecture.
