It’s been fifteen years since Jules Bistro opened its doors in Gastown.

The past few years have been a rollercoaster for everyone in the restaurant industry. Chef/Owner Emmanuel Joinville felt it was about time for him to try something new with the menu and refresh the Jules Bistro dining experience. He has poured his heart into an exciting new chapter for the beloved Gastown restaurant by bringing the classic Parisian bar à vin (wine bar) experience to life at the local enclave this fall.

While the beloved classics such as the Duck Confit, Escargots Bourguignonne, are still available, the new additions will transport guests to the heart of Paris with its casual-yet-elegant noshes, boards and small plates and special weekly features available Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30AM to 9:30PM—all paired with a list of carefully selected wine from France and British Columbia.

We had a chance to try the new boards and share plates and were delighted by the selections and pairings. The Cheese board (with Dauphin, Roquefort, aged Comté, tête des moines, and raclette) features a variety of textures and flavours, from creamy and light to sharp and pungent blue cheese—cheese lovers will rejoice as they nibble on crackers and cheese while sipping on the curated new additions to the wine list. One insider tip: have the piping hot, bubbling raclette first to warm up!

The other crowd-pleaser would be the House Smoked board. Where do we even begin? Let’s start with our favourites: the sablefish and the salmon were hands down our top choices. For those who are fans of oily fish that packs a punch, you wouldn’t want to miss the curled mackerel strips on the side of the board. I love more intense flavours, and even just recalling the concentrated flavours of the duck magret makes my mouth water. If I were to visit again, I might have to have the entire House Smoked board to myself!

Jules will also feature a daily Happy Hour service from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. that offers guests an opportunity to say ‘à votre santé’ with friends and indulge in celebrated and little-known wines from French vineyards and BC’s backyard alike, available by glass and bottle at discounted prices.

“When I think back on the past couple years, what comes to mind is the proverb ‘Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose’ — ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’,” says Joinville. “That has served as a true inspiration for all of us at Jules and made us ever more grateful to continue sharing our joie de vivre and spirit of hospitality that has been a cornerstone of Jules since we opened our doors.”

Joinville began his kitchen career in 1984 in his hometown of Dijon, France as an apprentice at Chef Rene Villard’s 3-star Michelin restaurant Chateau Bourgogne, and climbed the culinary ranks to earn his stripes as an acclaimed and well-respected chef and restaurateur prior to emigrating to Vancouver with his family in 2000 and opening Jules in 2007.

Despite two-plus years of unprecedented pandemic pivots that wreaked havoc on the tourism and restaurant industry at large — and Gastown businesses in particular — as well as an unexpected spring closure after the catastrophic fire at and subsequent demolition of the Winters Hotel across the street, Joinville’s resolve remains as firm as it was when he first opened Jules.

“Jules has been a labour of love since day one and the steadfast support of our long-time guests who have become like family and those who are new to Jules keep our spirits high and hearts full,” he says. “I’m so blessed to be able to keep the flame bright and continue to offer a space to be among friends for a classic French bar à vin experience here in Vancouver.”

We hope Chef Emmanuel Joinville and his team continue to serve the Gastown community and beyond with their classic and authentic French fare for decades to come.

VISIT

Jules Bistro

(604) 669-0033

216 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC