Circa Restaurant & Lounge aimed to surpass expectations by leeks and bounds. And man, were there ever a lot of leeks.

Circa is located at 1050 Granville Street and lies in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown core. With a 192-person capacity and 6,500 square feet, it’s a versatile space sporting everything from a fully functional bar, to private dining rooms and upstairs seating, to widescreen HDTVs to watch the game from. With plenty of hidden lighting also hinting at nightclub capabilities, one almost wonders if Circa is trying to do too much with one space.

Of the hors d’oeuvres we were served, the duck and onion tart stood out significantly. Pleasantly fatty without being cloying and balanced finely with caramelized onions, it’s dishes like these that the word umami was invented for. The vichyssoise also deserves an honourable mention, appropriately creamy with only a hint of leek, and strong broth-like flavours that bring comfort food to mind. However, the cured salmon appetizer was lacklustre, allowing the large chunk of leek the salmon rested on to overpower the delicate flavours in the tarragon mayonnaise and salmon itself.

Regardless, it’s exciting to see such a spacious and versatile venue open up in Vancouver, and we look forward to what they have to offer when they open for regular service.

For more photos of Circa Restaurant and Lounge, visit us on Flickr.