Inside the Brass Fish Tavern in downtown Vancouver

Things have been looking pretty different at the Marine Building since the Donnelly Group’s newest concept, Brass Fish Tavern, opened its doors there earlier this month.

The 385 Burrard Street space is located in Vancouver’s financial district, and it’s huge.

There’s room for almost 200 people to sit and eat in here, and that includes three different spaces curated for three distinct vibes, designed by Ricky Alvarez.

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When you enter, you walk right into the main tavern area. It’s outfitted to mimic the feels you’d get on a ship with an upholstered bar and nautical nods around the room.

To the right is the izakaya portion of the new restaurant. This space can easily be spotted, as a huge whale skeleton hangs overhead and is pretty impossible to miss.

Up the staircase towards the back of the tavern is the parlour. This space can easily function as a meeting area for semi-private to private gatherings and dinners too.

There’s much more of a cozy library feel up here thanks to the rich leathers and low ceilings.

The culinary program here is led by Chef Clement Chan (Torafuku, Blue Water Café, Chambar).

The tavern and the izakaya have two different menus; the former has a selection of site-specific eats and a handful of rolls from the kitchen too.

Donnelly’s menus have a habit of repeating themselves at any given outpost, but here only the burger is the same, so you’ll be stepping up to a whole new taste at Brass Fish.

From shareable starters like the Fried Chicken served with pickled jalapeno and buttermilk ranch (a must-try, if you ask us) to classic rolls from the sushi bar like Spicy Tuna, Brass Fish is clearly aiming to appeal to all tastes and moods with this variety.

In addition to the array of sandwiches, burgers, salads, and veg-centric starters like the Brussels Sprouts topped with almond and chorizo streusel, Brass Fish offers some heartier offerings that are well-suited for a dinner crowd.

Think Sablefish, Lamb Shanks, and even a Striploin — these dishes are full-sized meals and can also be ordered throughout the day.

Over on the izakaya side of the operation, diners can order snacks such as Shishito Peppers, Crudo, and Pork Belly, to name a few.

In addition to sashimi and classic rolls, Brass Fish has some specialty rolls up for order like the Silken Tofu Aburi made with pea shoots, torched miso, honey, and yuzu.

The izakaya menu also boasts a selection of sake and Japanese whisky too.

In terms of special events, Brass Fish is all about live music and DJs, with acts coming on its stage regularly from Monday to Friday.

And what would a Donnelly spot be without a happy hour? The newest addition to the hospitality company’s roster offers one daily from 3 to 7 pm — which means you have a four-hour time frame to come in and get a taste for a promo price.

We didn’t get to taste the izakaya during our initial visit, but we can confirm the eats on the tavern side are worth trying and the restaurant was pretty bumping for a Wednesday afternoon too.

Be sure to check it out for yourself if you’re in the ‘hood for lunch or dinner soon.

Brass Fish Tavern

Address: 385 Burrard Street, Vancouver

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