McMenamins East Vancouver — Restaurant in Vancouver

I had a reservation for The Lost Lounge with my husband and I's date night before celebrating our 20th anniversary in December and wanted to take him to his first "speakeasy". We went on a weeknight that wasn't super busy, but enough to make it active.

Atmosphere is okay. Love the changing lights in the ceiling every 15-20 minutes, the water feature in the center, and the seating. Lights in the booths (with the exceptions of the corners) are SUPER bright and take away from the whole experience. If they were dimmed just a little, or a wall sconce like the corners of the room, it would be MUCH better.

Now for the real issue with my 1 star review. Despite our reservation and sitting down, our server was super kind. Service however needs to be improved, as well as the flavor of drinks being REALLY heavy to the point that they were without flavor. The menu giving the levels of alcohol was great - the one I had was mid-level but it was HEAVY after ordering it. I couldn't finish it. My husbands "full moon" alcohol level drink was definitely an overpour also.

It took FOREVER to get an order in for drinks and food to arrive. We only have 90 minutes to sit there -- and it took almost that long for us to even get our food and drinks. After our food arrived, almost cold, we let them know about the issue of time and they were happy to seat us out in the main bar ... but we couldn't take our drinks with us? "Keeping the theme of the room and secrecy within the room." The "secret" tiki mugs that drinks were served in are also in the case - so there is no keeping it secret that way.

I didn't even want to order new food to replace the cold food. Especially at the price everything was listed at. Staff were adamant that we could not take the drinks we were paying for out, and other patrons near us were in the same boat. My husband had to CHUG his drink, along with another patron behind us with his BEER, to finish it to not waste money and then leave the bar.

I would understand if McMenamins were trying to keep to this whole aesthetic of a true speakeasy and make the experience a one of a kind thing (like Trader Sams in Disney Resort hotel in California), and I know they've only been open three weeks or so, but the lack of service and strict rules regarding the amount of time you have to sit being a huge disconnect to the point it's actually not a good experience. With McMenamin's ability to create some magical places and experiences, this is hardly any of that which is both surprising and...

5/22/20

I just want to say Kevin went above and beyond today. We called in our order which was a pizza, tots and some beers. Got there a little early. Food wasn't quite ready. After a few mins one of the employees came out and said the pizza got messed up a little and they wanted to give me $10 off. The pizza was still eat able so it wasn't a big deal but Kevin insisted on it. Well another few mins later Kevin came back out and asked for my address. I was a little confused but he said the pizza was stuck to the pan and they had to remake it. (Still not a big deal for me. I could wait.) Kevin said he was going to personally bring the pizza to my house. (First off they already did enough) I insisted it was fine I could wait but he wouldn't let me. Kevin shows up at my house with the pizza. I tried giving him the $10 back since he delivered the pizza which he didn't need to. He refused but I finally convinced him. I then told him I didn't mean to be a pain but we ordered tots as well. Kevin said I'll be right back I told him no, you have already done way too much. I told him to just take them off it was not a big deal. We go here every Sunday but happend to go there today since I was off today and we didn't want to wait till Sunday haha. I thought was the end of the fantastic customer service but 20 mind later there is a knock on my door. I open the door and it's Kevin holding my tots. He told me not to get mad haha. But here is fresh tots. I told him you could have just taken them off it was not a big deal and he said we did take them off your bill. Kevin went way above and beyond. I did not expect any of this from them especially since we are going through a pandemic right now. I am beyond grateful for his deeds today. I was never upset with the pizza being messed up and was willing to wait and most places would not provide this kind of service especially for something that was never really a big deal to me. I want to thank Kevin and everyone at this location. You guys are always great. I will see you all next...

Like the McMenamins out of the way. You have to find it, and once you do, you'll be glad you've arrived.

In outdoor ambient low-light conditions, all of the hanging amber glass lamps give it a bygone patina. Maybe sometime in teh (LOL Cat) late 1960s through to the late 1970s. Yet non-descript and asynchronic. The exterior is a strip mall, and some may complain, yet it works for me and it fits well in the NE Vancouver area where it may be a McMenamins la ment to East Vancouver, WA urban sprawl. If you can call it sprawl. (Go to Spokane or some urban regions in Texas. Mixes with the heat each of those locales gasp in.)

The ales on tap are standard McMenamins with a unique kickers brewed on location. Though the era of Captain Neon's Fermentation Chamber passed some time ago for McMenamins (founded at the McMenamins Fulton Pub) the ales are still good. Yet it's not 1989 anymore there or for Sierra Nevada.

The seating is plentiful at the long, long, long bar and in the dining area. And Thursdays through Sat-Your-Days from the afternoon well into the mid or so evening are full of revelers including the McMenamins East Vancouver in their social plans for the day. Also gets busy during weekday luncheons. The menu has the familiar McMenamins offerings. My fave is (Ken's) Communication Breakdown Burger.

The tater tots. I cannot go wrong with the tater tots. Such a sweetness about tater tots that you may recall as a child. Well, I do. It chokes me up sometimes to be able to get the tater tots like you can at McMenamins and no where else.

The salads are really good to. It's not all burger and fried potato fare!

Like all places NE West, from like Yreka, CA all the way up, the place can be full, and it's not like loud-loud. You can speak to people with nearly a normal voice. The music McMenamins is quite alright and not ever too...