PiDGiN had a very rocky and public beginning back in August 2013, when the new restaurant was targeted by (professional) protesters for daring to open up on Vancouver’s downtown east side and gentrifying the neighborhood. The location, across from Pigeon Park, was rife with troubled folks, drugs and problems, and having an upper scale, modern and cosmopolitan restaurant open resulted in angry NIMBY’s and a rock through the window. Thankfully, that passed within a few months, and the neighborhood grew acclimatized to the little restaurant that bridges east and west Vancouver much in the same way it does eastern and western flavors.
In a multicultural city like Vancouver, it can be tricky to typify cuisines. PiDGin is Asian-influenced for sure in dishes and elegance (Japanese, Chinese and Korean elements noticed), but dishes are afforded French technique, local ingredients, Canadian sensibility and a stylish modern backdrop.
Chef Shin Suzuki is now running the kitchen, and had a bustling house of hungry Dine Out mouths to feed when I sat at the bar earlier this week. A quick glance at the chic menu explained why; an innovative family style menu (two diners minimum) that included onsen egg and picked kombacha as well as soft shell crab and octopus chips. Throughout, the bartender was able to offer up cocktail suggestions and wine consultant Neil Ingram was constantly out on the floor, offering up smart wine selections to pair to dishes like miso roasted beet with dark chocolate crumble.
On a future trip I would take advantage of one of their sake, shochu, soju or Japanese whiskey flights, or dive deeper into the interesting, adventuresome, ever shifting wine list—available by glass, split or bottle. Or if I’m around late into the night, I can share the bar with many of Gastown’s industry folk taking advantage of their After Dark cocktail and bao bites.
PS – This year for Dine Out, PiDGiN gave back to their community and invited camaraderie in a creative way. Any table that wishes to participate is encouraged to switch off their cellphones for the night in exchange for a $1 donation from PiDGiN to a Downtown Eastside organization that will be crowdsourced post Dine Out online by patrons. Diners have a chance to give back as well as disconnect from life’s chaos and enjoy great food and great company.
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