Longtime Kitsilano resident and restaurateur Bill Kerasiotis longed for a place in his hood where he could catch up with old friends, watch a game, and feast on good grub. And so, with able assistance from a couple of like-minded individuals, he decided to build just that.
The result is Colony, a 100-seat watering hole at 3255 W. Broadway that Kerasiotis — along with co-owner Alvaro Prol and executive chef Brett Turner — hopes will become the go-to pub-and-grub hub for Vancouverites looking for a place where everybody knows their name.
"I've been in the neighbourhood for many years, and a lot of my friends live in this neighbourhood, so I thought Colony would be a great place to bring everybody back together," said Kerasiotis during a recent media preview night.
Kerasiotis and Prol (along with Chris Kerasiotis) own Blueprint, an entertainment and events company whose other holdings include the Charles Bar, the Dover Arms Pub, and Celebrities Nightclub.
Blueprint completely re-imagined the space long inhabited by Kitsilano Billiards, which itself was owned by members of the Kerasiotis family. Steampunk bulbs dangle from exposed beams. Cement walls and a sleek bar are a post-industrial contrast to wooden tabletops and soft leather seats. Vintage bus route signs and large-screen televisions hang on the walls.
As for the food, the emphasis is on comfort. Highlights from the media night included Turner's award-winning wings (stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in maple bacon, deep fried and grilled) and spicy wok-fired squid. On the beverage front, the fully stocked bar features ten beers on rotating taps.
Weekday diners are encouraged to order from the $10-item lunch menu and return on Friday and Saturday nights for DJ-spun tunes.
"It's not pretentious, it's quality food, and it's fun," said Kerasiotis. "There's something here for everybody."
