Botanist Restaurant Dinner Menu | Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver

Last night I returned to Botanist Restaurant at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel to continue my week long birthday celebration with a dear friend of mine. After attending the media opening party, I’ve wanted to come back and truly enjoy a sit down meal in their gorgeous dining room. The botany aesthetics, airy vibe and pastel hawthorn berry pink hues is so Instagram worthy.

This #plantlife decor with soft pink aesthetic is designed by award-winning Ste. Marie Design (Kissa Tanto, Savio Volpe, Mosquito) with with brand and identity developed by Glasfurd & Walker (Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie, Ask for Luigi, The Juice Truck).

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Executive Chef Hector Laguna’s menu is Pacific Northwest focused rooted by seasonally abundance, sustainably sourced seafood and organic agricultural. You will find lots of root vegetables, oven-roasted halibut with spring vegetables and crab emulsion, and herb crusted lamb rack with green garlic panisse, fava and shallots.

The menu is accompanied by wine director Jill Spoor’s boutique terroir-driven wine program that supports sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming and winemaking practices.

To start, we ordered two appetizers to share. It is the first time I’ve seen pasta as a first course.

HAND-CUT TAGLIATELLE 19: al dente pasta tossed and lightly coated with cream sauce, morels, mushroom soil, crispy piave. The flatten grilled cheese was delicious and I could eat this forever.

CHARRED OCTOPUS 19: char grilled whole tentacle with a subtle spicy profile. I loved the charred bits and the drizzle of chilli oil. Majority of the tentacle was perfectly cooked. Unfortunately, there was some rubbery bites towards the thicker end. Served with asparagus, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and spicy chorizo.

SEARED SABLEFISH 38: deliciously cooked flakey fish with a nice sear. Served with onion nage, fermented vegetables and puffed tapioca. We originally debated whether the puffed tapioca was fried fish skin. I could easily pass for it. I love the contrasted texture and the dash of balsamic on it.

MUSTARD-CRUSTED CHICKEN 34: A tender and moist piece of chicken with a tangy crispy skin. Garnished with smoked potato, leeks, and fennel mousseline

MEYER LEMON POLENTA CAKE 12: apple, honey, angelica brulée, lemon buttermilk ice cream. A nice airy lemony cake with tart pickled apples. If you like citrusy desserts. This ones for you!

Botanist is still in its soft-opening is in full bloom albeit still in its infant stages. There are still lots of improvements to be made for it to become a well-oiled machine. Dinner service can be slow between courses. However, we see potential. The place is bumping still at 10:30pm on a weekday with guests celebrating life over food and drinks. I can't wait for fall to arrive. I think the seasonal changes in the menu will be phenomenally exciting!

more: Botanist Media Preview | Mott 32 Vancouver | Cibo Trattoria Spring Menu

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