The Apron at The Westin Wall Centre Richmond
byEarlier this month John and I met Executive Chef Hamid Salimian behind the scenes at the Westin Whistler. He recently invited us to check out his restaurant, The Apron, located in the Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport in Richmond (just off Sea Island Way).
I didn’t know what to expect (or how to get there) at first so I looked up a few other food blog reviews:
If you are a food lover, and enjoy dining out as an experience and not just sustenance then this is a must visit for you. Eating this meal I couldn’t believe that I was in Vancouver, it felt like one of those restaurants you book months in advance for your next vacation to New York, LA or Europe. I know I am repeating myself here but if you appreciate craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detail when dining out then plan a visit to the Apron and ask if Chef Hamid will come out and say hi. – VancouverSlop
During our dinner John quoted this blog post and said he agreed whole-heartedly and couldn’t stop raving about the butternut squash soup (with apple pearls). This is a small lobby restaurant in an airport hotel and the dishes we were served were – to sum them up in one word – impressive.
Our server, Justin, was friendly and helpful (especially when it came to suggestions on how to eat some of the creative dishes). I had never seen a puffed fois gras, a powdered popcorn crumble on an amuse bouche, fried salmon skin that tasted like wood smoke and marshmallows, or a shrimp bar with soy caviar and squid ink garnish. Even the classic beef tenderloin was topped with a buckwheat crisp. The dishes burst with flavour and made a conscious effort to combine textures playfully.
The Apron is accessible by transit or vehicle and the walk back to the Aberdeen Canada Line station took us about 10 minutes. If you’re at the airport, heading to the airport, or want to find a dining destination in Richmond, I highly recommend checking out this gem. The price points were on a bit of a higher scale but for the presentation, creativity, and quality of the food, it’s well worth treating yourself.
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I can honestly say that the food here exceded expectations when the bar was already set at a high level from our visit to the Westin Whistler a few weeks back. When you see this place, you don’t expect such exquisite, decadent food.
Simply put, I was beyond blown away. Certainly among the top 5 places I’ve eaten in the Vancouver area.
The simple green setting is very welcoming and comfortable. The food was amazing. Each dish left a memorable taste on my palate. Creative use of ingredients assures you that the Execitive Chef has definitely earned his gold medals. It’s a hidden gem but not for long because people are talking about the magnificent food that is served here. Trust me you have to eat here.