Sapperton District Taphouse — Restaurant in British Columbia

Driving through the historic Sapperton area of New Westminster one day, I noticed Sapperton District Taphouse and made a mental note to visit them one day when I had the chance.

I like that they have some hightop tables located in the front with the big window as it lets light in. The first dish I ordered here was the Brisket Mac & Cheese ($14). This is an extraordinarily cheesy dish with super tender beer-braised beef brisket. While they use rotini as opposed to macaroni, it does help to pick up some of that cheese. And you’ll find yourself getting some of that cheesy pull hitting your chin if you eat like me.

On my next visit, I tried their German Schnitzel ($18). I found the schnitzel was a bit dry (perhaps overcooked a bit?) and the martini vermouth sauce was a bit more runnier than I would have preferred (I usually like a creamier sauce with my schnitzel). Aside from that, the meal was pretty good and the fries turned out perfectly crisp.

In late November, I came back and ordered the Great Sapper ($16) which is an homage to the area. Kind of like a burger/sandwich hybrid, you get an Angus beef burger with bacon, cheddar and Swiss cheese, garlic aioli, fried onions, lettuce, tomato, and dill pickle all layered between two thick slices of Texas toast. Yes, this was a mess to eat but it was well worth the mess. While I found the burger patty to be a bit dry, it was quite meaty and I liked the crispness of the bacon. The accompaniment of more of their crispy fries completes the meal.

On my next visit, I was feeling like having a lighter meal so I picked one of their salads… the Caesarmari Salad ($15) and realized that this is really a big bowl. To be honest, there’s not a huge portion of calamari here (which is probably for the best)… more like a small appy size portion of crispy calamari along with the salad portion which was made up of romaine, feta cheese, Caesar dressing and chopped bacon (although I felt the bacon bits seemed a bit too artificial). Aside from the bacon bits, this was a nice, crisp salad but if you’re in the mood for a traditional Caesar salad… this isn’t it.

On my next visit, I wound up ordering the Jambalaya Rice Bowl ($16) just because the original dish I wanted to order wasn’t available. Served with 2 skewers of shrimp, I found this jambalaya to be rather spicy (probably from the added Sriracha sauce) with a pleasantly creamy serving of rice, sausage, chicken, peppers, and onions. The shrimp, while originally appearing to be lacking a noticeable char colour to the exterior, actually turned out to be cooked perfectly as they were plump and had a nice snap to the bite. Definitely a filling dish.

Overall, the food is pretty good here and service is friendly. I also like they playlist that they have rocking out during...

Slow/rude service, loud and raucous crowd on a game day, and overpriced. Ambience is good being recently renovated. L shaped bar with high chairs, diner style booths along the walls. Good social distancing and clean overall. But that's about it.

The place is terribly understaffed with just one bartender/manager. When I asked him where I could sit, he said take any seat. Most of the tables had the earlier patrons dishes and glasses. Nearly 20 mins passed before I could finally place my drink order. It was nearly impossible to get his attention for a repeat too. However the regulars were served quite attentively and chatted up. Couldn't even make eye contact, and in the end left without ordering food. All the food delivery apps drivers waited for more than 10 mins, and none of their orders were ready. They need one more person up front and in the kitchen as well. When asked where they could wait, he was quite rude as well.

What really left a bad taste was that when paying with a $100 bill at the counter which also is the bar, a visibly intoxicated older guy made a cheap remark in a poor taste. As I didn't want to get into an argument, I ignored it but it seems this place is only for regulars. They clearly don't have a policy to stop serving to inebriated regulars. Owners need to look into the operations on a daily basis like hiring new staff and training existing one on sensitivities.

Definitely won't recommend especially if you're new and in a group for sure. Gino's next door is a quiet place with Italian and Greek food and serves alcohol with a homely feeling. Or Browns Socialhouse around 500m to the south, near the RC Hospital. Much better than the boorish commotion here. Other closest options at the Quay in downtown New West or North Road in Coquitlam. $25 before taxes and tips for 2 whiskeys for this level of service is laughably ridiculous.

For someone who isn't from here, New West is cliquey and exclusionary enough as it is - but this place exemplifies...

I ordered delivery for Mother’s Day and I’m so glad I chose this restaurant! One of the very best restaurant pubs in the city. I ordered the taphouse prawns and Canadian poutine for the appetizer. The prawns were breaded and so fresh, and came with the best chipotle aioli I’ve ever had. The poutine was mouthwatering with delicious crispy bacon on top. For the salad I ordered the house with chicken- the best! Their house made apple vinaigrette was one of the most special things I’ve ever tasted. I ordered the district classic burger with cheddar and bacon and it tasted buttery and melt in your mouth, like wagyu. Hands down the best burger I’ve ever had. Also, the fries at this place are soooo fresh and good. For the main I ordered the brisket Mac and cheese and I thought the burger was the star of the show but this was just as good! Rich and cheesy with tender brisket and melted cheese on top. Lastly I had the five layer chocolate cake for dessert and it was pure heaven. It was a little bit small, but oh well. All in all, I can’t wait to order from here again. The brisket Mac and cheese will be on repeat, that’s for sure. Try this restaurant, you won’t be...