There's a time and a place for everything, including Metro Vancouver hotel restaurants needing to change things up. A recent renovation and rebrand finds the dining option at Burnaby's Hilton Vancouver Metrotown hotel rooted in a new concept called Time & Place.
Increasingly major hotel chains have been finding ways for their in-house restaurants to better reflect the food of the region in which the hotel is located. Giving chefs more flexibility in crafting menus that best serve their clientele and give guests an additional option to taste what the location is best known for, hotel restaurant menus are working in more local ingredients and flavours in Vancouver.
Inspired by the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, Time & Place's menu was created by Executive Chef David Ferguson, and features fresh options for anytime of day, including weekend brunch, happy hour and dinner.
"With Time & Place, we've pivoted our concept to celebrate the best of what is around us," says Ferguson.
Dishes like a BBQ platter and hand-made pizzas are must-trys at Time & Place. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is AwesomeFresh B.C. seafood, like salmon and shellfish, are plentiful on the menu, as are health-focused items and dishes for plant-based diners. The dishes are all very approachable, taking familiar classics like a hearty Cioppino and using it as a platform to showcase beautiful salmon, ling cod, clams, and prawns in an aromatic broth made with fennel and saffron, for that light, fresh PacNW touch.
There's a full section of BBQ eats on the menu, too, perfect for sharing with a group. The "Low and Slow BBQ" option is priced at $65 and includes an impressive feed: Saucy pulled pork, tender beef brisket, roast chicken, and grilled Italian sausage teamed up with sides like roasted potatoes, charred green beans, creamed corn, roasted vine tomatoes, green salad, and slices of housemade bread - perfect for soaking up sauce.
They're also firing up the pizza oven at Time & Place, for hand-made pizzas that you can enjoy in the restaurant, or, if you happen to be staying (or staycationing) at the hotel, they are ideal for carry-out and enjoying in the comfort of your room; currently the in-room dining program at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown is using a pick-up model from Time + Place on the hotel's renovated third floor.Other restaurant highlights include their happy hour, which runs 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Drink specials include $5 sangria, draught beer and well drinks, and small plates priced from $5-15 include the aforementioned hand-made pizzas, as well as pub staples like chicken wings, and their "Hipster" Vegan Sliders.
The Farmers' Market Savoury Vegan Bowl - with an egg - on the Time & Place brunch menu. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is AwesomeCome brunch, which is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the Time & Place menu features some familiar pieces of the all-day menu with an a.m. twist. Base your Eggs Benny on their "low and slow" beef brisket, for example, or get some of their BBQ pork as an add-on. Sweet tooths will love the Nutella crepes served with tasty caramelized bananas. A satisfying more healthy option is their Farmers' Market Savoury Vegan Bowl, which is loaded with veggies, tofu, and quinoa - and you can un-veganize it with the addition of eggs.
From the bar, there's an in-house cocktail program launching with summer-centric sippers, and of course mimosas for brunch. On tap is a special Time & Place Lager made by local brewer Central City.
Hospitality is at the centrepiece of an experience dining at Time & Place, as well as if you're a guest of the hotel. In the restaurant, expect to see regulars who made the prior concept a familiar stop, and staff who make everyone feel welcome - the latter made a little harder when operating under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. The hotel is an anchor in Burnaby's rapidly changing Metrotown area, which is nearby to not only the SkyTrain, but also terrific local attractions like the Burnaby Village Museum and Deer Lake. No matter what brings you there, the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown warmly welcome guests for overnight stays or simply to come in for a meal.
Nutella crepes on the Time & Place brunch menu. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome
A juicy, loaded burger from Time & Place. Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is AwesomeTime & Place is located on the 3rd floor of the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown at 6083 McKay Avenue in Burnaby. Dinner is served 4-9 p.m. Thursday–Saturday; Brunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Starting in September, dinner service will be offered Tuesday – Saturday.
