What happens when a community-driven concept takes over a beloved Mount Pleasant diner space as their second home? You get Wild Thing, a cozy new spot with real hang-out vibes that does brunch by day and share plates and drinks by night.
Wild Thing opened at the very end of October in what was previously the Wallflower Diner (2420 Main St). The Wallflower was a special spot to many in the neighbourhood, and was known not only for its flexitarian menu but also its role in supporting local arts.
The team behind Powell Street's Wild Thing Snack Bar made short work of transforming the shuttered diner space, marking also a quick jump from opening their debut spot and having a second restaurant on the go.
The Wild Thing crew is made up of longtime hospitality and arts scene pros, including Ezra Kish (The Boxcar, The Ellis Building), Erin Rideout (former GM of The American), Todd Graham (HandTaste Ferments), Kody Abrams (Greenhorn Cafe) and Rayne Williams (East Van Roasters). These busy folks have criss-crossed over the years - for example, Graham has done HandTaste Ferments pop ups at The Boxcar - and all have a focus on creating welcoming community spaces, with great food and drink.
What's on the menu at Wild Thing on Main
To that end, the cozy diner space has a minimalist rec room vibe and the menu provides plenty of options for all sorts of guests - the plant-based eater, the omnivore, the comfort food seeker or the adventurous palate. At brunch that means a run of Bennys with a killer good Hollandaise sauce, a tofu omelette that deploys housemade kimchi, a solid beef burger with melty cheese and a juicy slice of bacon-style pork belly, and sweet treats like beignets.
As further evidence of Wild Thing's ties to other Vancouver businesses, the restaurant has collaborated with the venerable Odd Society to create a mushroom whisky, a one-of-a-kind spirit infused with porcini and candy cap mushrooms for a lively, complex sipper with a long finish and notes of toasty caramel and a gentle earthiness. Wild Thing is pouring the collab whisky, and it happens to go great with a sweet nibble like their beignets, but its also in a cocktail they're making called Ol' Wild Thing.
Though I've only tried the brunch, the evening menu runs the gamut from duck meatballs to a white bean dip with sourdough, croquettes with a flavour profile based on what's fresh and in season, to things like a vegan fried rice or their signature burger. Wild Thing also has a 3 to 5 p.m. snack selection and a late night eats menu, too.
Wild Thing on Main offers tables first-come, first-served (no reservations). The restaurant is open Sunday-Monday and Wednesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Follow @wildthingonmain for more info and updates.
Video: Checking out Wild Thing on Main for brunch
@forkingawesomevia Vancouver loves brunch! This is a cute new spot to check out. #forkingawesome #vancouverbc #brunch #brunchtok ♬ Wild Thing (Re-Recorded) - Tone-Loc
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