Scallops and shredded duck confit at Twisted Fork, Vancouver

The east-to-miss entrance to Twisted Fork on Vancouver’s Granville Street

It was my first day in Vancouver. After a long day of traveling, I was hungry and willing to eat anything within walking distance. Near my hotel on Vancouver’s Granville Street, I discovered Twisted Fork, a French-inspired bistro offering dishes with a Canadian twist.

Twisted Fork is a no-fuss, non-pretentious bistro that prides itself on making everything in-house from scratch. They use seasonal ingredients, which results in fresh, high-quality dishes.

I knew little about Twisted Fork except for a few reviews I read on Yelp. But with great reviews and an intriguing menu, I decided to try the place out for myself.

In 2020, Twisted Fork closed its location at 1147 Granville Street and moved to 213 Carrall Street in Gastown. I have yet to visit this new location.

Therefore, this review will focus on my visit to their old location.

Interior of Twisted Fork

The narrow and dimly lit interior, Twisted Fork, Vancouver, Canada — The narrow and dimly lit interior

When I walked inside, the restaurant was quiet. I quickly snagged a seat at the bar as people started trickling in for dinner.

The bartender mentioned that some days are busier than others. He said there was no rhyme or reason for this, but to be safe, try to arrive sooner rather than later on weekends.

The restaurant’s interior was simple, dimly lit, and narrow, lined with tables on one side and a bar on the other. The wooden accents and bright red colors were inviting and comfortable.

Just past the bar was a small open kitchen where I could peek at the chefs preparing dishes.

If you are looking for a great date night restaurant in Vancouver, Twisted Fork could be just what you are looking for.

Twisted Fork Menu

The Brunch Menu at Twisted Fork, Vancouver, Canada — The Brunch Menu

The menus at Twisted Fork have changed since my visit, and they will most likely change again when you visit. The menus change with the seasons, focusing on seasonal ingredients.

You’ll find French-inspired dishes with a Vancouver twist featuring local seafood and meats regardless of when you visit.

As of March 2024, the Dinner Menu features Finger Foods (Fingers), Small Plates, and Feeds (Main Plates). Also on this menu are Happy Hour specials and Bartender’s Brunch specials.

The Dinner Menu including Happy Hour and Bartender's Brunch specials — The Dinner Menu including Happy Hour and Bartender’s Brunch specials

On the Brunch Menu, you will find an assortment of classic dishes, such as Scrambled Eggs and Egg Benny, as well as more unique items, including Shakshuka and Croque Monsieur.

Because it is brunch, there is also a good selection of drinks, including draft beer, mimosas, cocktails, coffee, tea, juice, and mocktails.

To view the current menus, be sure to visit https://forkandfriends.ca/menus.

Marinated Scallops

The first dish to arrive was Marinated Scallops (CAD 12 or about $8.82) served with caramelized onions, potato puree, local double-smoked bacon, and corn relish.

The presentation was stunning. I felt like I was about to destroy a work of art with just my fork, but I was hungry.

Four scallops were on the plate, which was quite generous considering how expensive scallops can be. The scallops were cooked, seared, and seasoned to perfection.

Underneath the scallops was a puree of rich, creamy, and silky potatoes. These delicious potatoes got better as they soaked up the flavors of the scallops and the sweet, smoky bacon.

Placed around the potato puree were large chunks of locally sourced bacon. The bacon was thick, sweet, and smoky, adding a crunchy texture.

I enjoyed how the sweetness of the corn relish, the smokiness of the caramelized onions, and the bacon complemented the saltiness of the scallops and the creaminess of the potato puree.

I don’t usually eat scallops at restaurants because they can be challenging to cook. Twisted Fork definitely knows what they are doing.

Without a doubt, I can say that this dish was probably one of the best and most thoughtfully presented scallop dishes that I have ever had.

Duck Confit

Next was the Duck Confit (CAD 13 or about $9.56) with bacon-braised cabbage, jus, and pickled pumpkin served with rolls and butter.

This dish featured tender, fall-off-the-bone pieces of shredded duck meat similar in texture to pulled pork.

Hidden under the duck were large chunks of pickled pumpkin. The soft, golden pumpkin pieces were extremely sweet, thanks partly to the massive amounts of butter used to make them taste so delicious.

Mixed in with the shredded duck were pieces of slightly crunchy bacon-braised cabbage. A sweet jus sauce brought the whole dish together.

Service at Twisted Fork

The staff at Twisted Fork was highly attentive, friendly, talkative, and helpful, from the hostess to the bartender to the chef. On multiple occasions, the staff, including the chef, asked how I enjoyed the food.

When done with a plate or drink, servers immediately cleared plates and glasses, explaining why the restaurant was so clean.

Though the restaurant was quiet when I visited, I would expect the same excellent service on a busy night.

Conclusion

What I liked most about Twisted Fork was that it was warm and inviting and served delicious, homemade food. The prices were affordable for the area, the food was fresh, the staff was friendly, and the beer was good.

Both dishes were beautiful and tasted even better. I did notice a common theme. Both dishes were sweet instead of salty, thanks to Canadian maple syrup. Being in Canada, I enjoyed this. If you want salty flavors, just add a little salt.

Twisted Fork proudly stands out from other restaurants in the Granville Entertainment District area. I will definitely return to Twisted Fork on my next trip to Vancouver to sample more tasty dishes.