Downtown's Copper Chimney may not have been on your radar, but with a recently revamped food and bar menu, it's time to take note.
They've got an expansive "Bread Bar" showcasing house-made clay oven breads (including kulcha, a stuffed naan that's like an Indian grilled cheese sandwich) and an expansive array of gin and tonics for your mixing pleasure, as well as a unique take-out lunch program--all on top of a robust menu of traditional and modern Indian fare.
Photo courtesy Copper Chimney
Situated on the ground floor of the Hotel Le Soleil Vancouver, Copper Chimney has been around for many years, but has recently been refreshed. It's still a great spot for business lunches and after work eats and drinks, however they have a lot more to offer.
From their clay ovens come breads made to order, which you can order up in a number of ways. Stick with classic or garlicky naan with your choice of chutneys and hang onto it for that all-important sopping up of delicious sauces, or try some kulcha, which comes stuffed with your choice of cheese, bacon and cheese, beef, or veggies.
Dips, like raita and tamarind chutney, can also be mixed and matched, and have modern variations like blue cheese or avocado raita, for a bit of a flavour twist.
Naan and kulcha (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)
Unsurprisingly, there is much to choose from among the dishes on the lunch and dinner menu. Lamb chops are incredibly tender and succulent, while the restaurant is also known for their calling card yogurt-marinated salmon, too.
Curries, as well as small bites like pakoras and sides like the addicting coconut green beans, are excellent choices, or you can get the best of it all with a share-able thali platter.
Lamb chops (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)
For lunchtime, though, Copper Chimney is doing something very old school, but also decidedly modern. They have a tiffin box program, which is perfect for grab-and-go daytime eats. A tiffin is a metal lunch box made of stacked circular food containers carried by a handle--perfectly portable and re-usable.
Your initial tiffin buy is $15, which includes the tiffin box itself, and the daily curry meal. Wash and return your tiffin and fill it with your next daily curry meal for just $9. You're reducing your eco-footprint and saving bucks, too.
Mixing gin and tonic drinks (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)
If you have some bucks to spend at the bar, however, Copper Chimney has really upped their drinks game with the introduction of their gin and tonics collections.
The restaurant has launched the program with 18 local and international gins, including Vancouver's Long Table and Victoria Distillers' selections, with a half-dozen tonics, including several from the Fever Tree line, and other small-batch producers. Put together your ultimate G&T to sip alongside your well-spiced Indian feast.
A thali platter (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)
The Copper Chimney is located at 567 Hornby Street, in the Executive Hotel Le Soleil. They are open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 pm.
