Pub or Restaurant recommendation please

[vegemiter]

My friend and I are having a joint birthday dinner/ catch up with a group of friends 10-15 people mid September in Vancouver or area.
Half of the group will be from out of town and want to find a place were we can have great food and talk. So loud music or super rushed service is a bust. I also need to keep the cost reasonable so $40 for appies and drinks would be the max. Good drinks are more important than good food but the group are adventurous.

The group has no major food allergies or dislikes. No where super fancy and not a hipster hangout please! We are trying to stay away from Irish pubs because that seems to be our fall back. Either on a sky train line or within walking distance of it.

I have heard Steamworks or Nuba are good places, any other recommendations?

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Nuba Cafe
322 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6B1K6, CA

[kinnickinnik]

The Rogue Kitchen and Wetbar right at the Waterfront Skytrain station may fit the bill. They have a pretty decent beer selection, food is good on the whole and they're able to accommodate large groups.

[brokentelephone]

I would suggest heading to Main street and drinking up and down the road between 12th and 1st!

There is a GREAT little bar which has sort of a hidden entrance called the Narrow which I would highly recommend for some drinks but it gets darn loud on the weekends. I have gotten massively drunk a few times there!

[fmed]

Maybe Irish Heather and Shebeen? Not too hipsterish, food is ok. (edit: oops! No Irish Pubs!)

If an underground supper club is an option then I recommend NFA. The drinks are as good as then ones you bring.

[J_Bone]

I'm not sure Nuba is what you're looking for... the one near Main St. at least. It's a smallish restaurant and not really meant for hanging out for extended periods.

I was also going to suggest the Alibi Room because I really like that place, but I guess they can't accommodate a group your size.

There is the Kingston- the food frankly is nothing special, but they can handle bigger groups, it's centrally located, not hipster and should have something for everyone.

Although it's a chain, Joey's on Burrard is nice- but it's been a few years for me and I don't know what the prices are like nowadays.

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Nuba Cafe
322 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6B1K6, CA

Alibi Room
157 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A1B8, CA

[KarenDW]

What about Hamilton Street Grill? Close to a Canada Line station, have R&B Brew on tap, full bar, and a short but sweet wine list. Def. not a hipster hangout! LOL. Maybe I'm biased because I live 4 blocks away, but... worth an advance-recon visit.

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Hamilton Street Grill
1009 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2R9, CA

[jerkstore]

If you're into beer, I'd recommend either Alibi Room (edge of Gastown, about 10 mins walk from Waterfront Station) or St. Augustine's (right next to Commercial/Broadway station) - the two best selections of taps in the city for my money. The food is pretty decent at both though I mostly go for the brews. In my experience the latter is quieter and more conducive to conversation.

Any of the city's quality izakayas (Kingyo, Zakkushi, any Guu location) may also be a good food-centric option though perhaps on the upper end of your price range. I'm a big fan of the food (and patio) at Guu Garden (Howe & Nelson, walkable from Granville station). IIRC most (but not all) will take reservations.

Steamworks has half decent in-house brewed beer but the food is mediocre at best. Haven't been to Nuba so can't comment on that one.

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Guu
838 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC V6E1W2, CA

Alibi Room
157 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A1B8, CA

[peter.v]

Alibi would have been my bet too, but they will not reserve groups larger than 10 and the downstairs is not reservable.

[cdnprairiedog]

Alibi Room is great, but it can be loud, especially downstairs.

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Alibi Room
157 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC V6A1B8, CA