Chillin' at Chill Winston

There are 3 different table heights at Chill Winston, and on first entering and seeing the glittery, trendy crowd of rose-sipping socialites, I thought this might be some kind of ranking system. If so, that would explain why we, in our jeans and flat shoes, were seated at a low table close to the door. We actually would have been quite happy with that table regardless of hierarchy, because it afforded views of both the cobble-stone streets outside and the slinky, giggling things inside, but we had come for dinner and as we eat dinner at the coffee table most nights, we preferred to move to a regular-sized table.

Once seated, we got started on the menu, and it's a fun one. Leanne chose a Sofia mini from the drink menu, and I couldn't decide between "The Believer" cocktail (Stoli, Ginger Beer, Lemon and Lime) and the Garry Oaks Fetish Bordeaux Red on the by-the-glass wine list, so I had both. One before and one with dinner.

Sides are served separately, table-style, which is something I'm normally not a fan of, but that worked out just fine here because I ordered the Tomato and Avocado salad and the Butter Poached Pancetta Potatoes, and my girlfriend ordered the ribs and then we split it all up. Also I think the salads and sides idea works much better for the feel of the restaurant, which is really designed for cocktails and snack plates, or maybe dessert. On a return visit, I'd be more than happy with a helping of those potatoes and a beer.

As an appetizer, we had the Alaskan Scallops, pan-seared and large, they were tasty, but there were only 2 of them, so we were happy when the ribs and dinner came. I'm not a rib aficionado (although my girlfriend is), but these were some of the tastiest ribs I've had in a while (and she agreed). Red wine braised and tender, in a smoky barbecue sauce, there was nothing pretentious about them, just excellent flavour. The Garry Oaks Fetish went perfectly. The real winner were the Butter Poached Pancetta Potatoes - and here I can claim status as a lifetime aficionado of potatoes. Rich and carby, the menu touts them as being "a pile of pure addictiveness" and it's unfortunately impossible not to agree. I would have had a second serving, if I hadn't already noticed how the giggly, sparkly things at the next table had watched me stuff my face with the first plate.

Photos courtesy of Chill Winston.

Chill Winston
3 Alexander Street
(604) 288-9575