A New Charcuterie Bar Is Opening in the Back of Seaside Provisions

As a notorious oyster lover, I’m probably on Seaside Provisions’s Watch List: someone who has pushed the limit of the buck a shuck enough times to make the serving team nervous (will this be the day I totally deplete their bivalve supply?!). So maybe that’s why they invited me for an early peek at their new charcuterie-focused concept room—trying to convince me that there’s more to life than slurping down as many half-shells as possible during happy hour.

The restaurant has always occupied the ground floor of North Vancouver’s Seaside Hotel hotel, but the back of the property was previously the Larry’s Market grocery. But with the closing of the plant-based market, the Seaside team now has a little more room to stretch its wings, and has refurbished the space into an extension of the main dining room that puts a spotlight on cheese and meats sourced from all over the world.

If you needed one more excuse to hop on the Seabus and get to the Shipyards, you’ve got it. The newly renovated room is bright and pretty, with long, high tables perfect for yapping away the evening over a big ol’ board of high-end snacks (complete with crackers galore and perfect little bowls of olives, housemade compotes and fruit, of course—the team here knows what’s up). There’s also a private room for a dozen-plus people in the back for more intimate affairs like birthday parties or cheese-forward business meetings.

The star of the menu here is the make-your-own-charcuterie board, of course: choose two items for $19, three for $28 or five for $44. Stock up on ash-covered Le Cendrillion Canadian goat cheese or velvety Brillat-Savarin from France; there’s also range of house-cut meats on the menu, sourced from North Van’s own Two Rivers (think duck, bison and prosciutto) or far-flung locales (hello, Iberico ham). These goodies will be available to grab-and-go, too, should you prefer to consume your treats on the Shipyards’ patio.

For folks who want something to snack on outside of the charcuterie world, find small, shareable plates like chili garlic calamari ($19) or truffled Caesar salad ($22), and bigger mains like scallop risotto ($39) or whole-roasted chicken ($49). The wine selection here is going to be extensive if the wall of bottles is any indication, but cocktails—including pitchers of sangria—will be flowing too, with classics sharing space on the menu alongside Provisions originals (like the Aperol-splashed Pisco Disco).

The buck-a-shuck happy hour oysters aren’t going anywhere, but these new offerings from Seaside Provisions certainly give this seafood lover some pause. Maybe a girl can’t live on mollusks alone… but mollusks and a custom cheese tray? There’s only one way to find out.

Seaside Provisions’ new room opens September 27.
125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver