With a super-sized patio capacity and some deep fried goodness to anchor their menu, The Roost has opened their doors in Vancouver's West End.
Situated steps from the beach at English Bay on Denman at Comox, The Roost is the rebrand/revamp of Centro, an Italian restaurant which opened in 2018, but shuttered in March 2020 as a result of the pandemic.
Tweaks to the decor include COVID-19-era Plexiglass partitions, a menu board created by a local chalk artist, and two patio spaces - one on the sidewalk and the second built-out with bench seating against the sidewalk and on Denman Street.
Centro brought on a new partner for the re-do, a local industry vet who had previously been with Vancouver's Gooseneck Hospitality. The new team at The Roost also includes staff from Centro back on the job after the restaurant's temporary closure.
The eats at The Roost are centred around fried chicken, though there are a number of vegetarian options that will soon be able to be veganized (they're hoping to get the perfect vegan mayo on board for their sauces and spreads).
The chicken, which is hormone and antibiotic-free, is sourced from the Fraser Valley, and things like the buns for their "handhelds" - aka fried chicken burgers (spicy or regular) or po'boys (fried artichoke or BBQ jackfruit) - are brought in daily.
At a pre-opening tasting, The Roost had their fried chicken handhelds available, and both are hearty meals unto themselves and call for napkins at the ready. Both the Dirty Bird (spicy) and the Basic Bird (regular) feature plump and generous chicken as the star of the sandwich. The Dirty Bird has the spices dialled up and boosted from a chipotle aoli that adds a smoky finish to each bite. Both are served on a soft brioche bun with shredded green leaf lettuce, and a thick slab-style pickle spear on top.
The Roost also offers their buttermilk fried chicken pieces in regular or spicy, including in a 20-piece option for hungry groups. Sides include traditional chicken joint options like slaw, fries, and onion rings. The menu also includes snack-style dishes perfect for sharing as appies, bar bites, or sides, like "peaches and cream" corn fritters, "Mac & Chz" bombs (deep fried macaroni and cheese balls), a "Southern" salad and chicken strips. To carry on the southern inspiration, they're frying up beignets for dessert.
To drink, they have beer, wine, and cocktails, including some fun barrel-aged house drinks on tap like a Negroni, an Old Fashioned, or a Boulevardier.
The Roost launched officially on July 18, and is open for dine-in (indoors or patio) as well as take-out - currently you can call in your order for pick-up at 604-722-9331; online ordering goes live July 27. Delivery is available from Door Dash and UberEats.
A summertime launch is spot-on for a spot like The Roost, especially considering how breezy it would be to grab an order to-go from the West End restaurant and stroll down to the beach, or bring it home to enjoy at your favourite park or on your own patio or balcony.
The Roost is located at 1037 Denman Street in Vancouver's West End neighbourhood
