Business Lunch in Richmond at Vogue Cafe

Steveston Village runs at a different pace than downtown Richmond. The boardwalk empties out after the weekend crowds, the Cannery tours wind down, and the fishing boats tied up at Fisherman's Wharf become a backdrop instead of a spectacle. That's when a business lunch works best here — Monday through Thursday, 11:30 to 1, before the brunch crowd turns over and after the morning coffee rush settles.

Vogue Cafe sits at 12251 No 1 Rd #130, in the heritage-style storefront with the gable roofline and "FRENCH BISTRO" lettering. The dining room runs deep: deep-red walls, wood tables, a small bar, and a printed menu posted in the window so you can scan it before you sit. A dog bowl by the door signals the covered side patio — greenery walls, red-checkered tablecloths, bar-height tables at the front windows. Fully licensed, liquor until midnight, open daily 10:30am–8:30pm (brunch until 3pm). Reservations confirmed within two hours by phone (604) 370-4444 or the online form.

What the kitchen sends out at midday

The menu is built for a working lunch — prices that don't require an expense-account justification, portions that don't put you to sleep, plates that arrive fast enough to keep a 45-minute window.

Chef Signatures — $29

Beef Bourguignon — stewed beef and vegetables simmered in red wine. Navarin d'Agneau — tender lamb stew with seasonal vegetables. Creamy Mushroom Chicken — sautéed breast baked in a creamy mushroom sauce. Ratatouille (Veggie) — traditional Provençal stewed vegetables with three-colour rice. A classic bourguignon is browned in batches, the wine reduced until the alcohol burns off and the fruit concentrates, then the collagen-rich marrow bones and gelatinous shank melt into the sauce while it braises low and slow. The navarin follows the same logic with lamb shoulder. The mushroom chicken gets a hard sear first so the sauce clings. Ratatouille cooks each vegetable separately — eggplant, zucchini, pepper, tomato — so nothing turns to mush before they meet in the pan.

Café Plates — $17

Croque Monsieur (European ham, cheese, brioche bun, side salad). Croque Madame (same, plus a fried egg). Croque Veggie (sautéed spinach, egg, cheese, brioche, salad). Quiche Lorraine (egg, European bacon, cheese, salad). Spinach Quiche (egg, spinach, Brie, salad). The quiches bake in a buttery shortcrust until the custard just sets — wobble in the centre, golden at the edges. The croques use brioche, not sandwich bread; the butter in the crumb toasts faster and gives that lacquered crust.

Savoury Crêpes — $17

Thin buckwheat pancakes (galettes, technically — buckwheat contains no gluten, so the batter sets lace-thin and crisp at the edges where wheat crêpes stay soft). Fillings: European Ham, Cheese & Egg; Sautéed Spinach, Feta, Tomato & Egg; Beer Sausage, Tomato & Cheese; Sautéed Mushroom, Spinach & Egg; Sautéed Mushroom, Beer Sausage, Tomato & Cheese.

Baguette Sandwiches — $20

House-made baguette, crust shattering, crumb open. Parisienne (prosciutto, European ham, cheese, butter, lettuce, tomato, pickle). Agneau (roast lamb, cheese, lettuce, tomato). French Onion (slow-cooked beef, caramelized onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle). Poulet au Brie (sautéed chicken breast, fresh mango, Brie, lettuce, tomato). Saucisson Frankfurt (sautéed frankfurter in tomato sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle). Baguette Pizza (choice of spinach, lamb, chicken, beef, ham or sausage; tomato sauce, cheese, olives).

Starters — $17

French Onion Soup à l'Ancienne — beef marrow-bone broth, cheese, crouton. Salade Parisienne — European ham, assorted cheese, mixed greens, hard-boiled egg, mushroom, tomato. Salade de Chèvre Chaud — toasted goat-cheese baguette, tomato, raisins, almonds, mixed greens. Salade de Feta — mixed greens, walnut, feta, tomato, cucumber. Duck Pâté — velvety smooth pâté, toasted baguette. Brie en Croûte — baked Brie, puff pastry, sun-dried tomato. Charcuterie Plate — dry sausage, beer sausage, prosciutto, frankfurter sausage, pickle. Marrow bones go into the onion-soup stock for body and sweetness; the onions cook down until they're jam-dark before the wine deglazes the pot.

Wine, beer, and the bar

Wine by the glass: 6oz $11, 9oz $15, bottle $45. Reds — Côtes du Rhône, Merlot Pays d'Oc, Mouton Cadet Red Bordeaux, Country Vines "The Queens" Gamay (BC), Country Vines Cabernet Franc (BC). Whites — Mouton Cadet White Bordeaux, Country Vines Viognier (BC), Country Vines Back Forty sparkling (BC). Rosé — La Vieille Ferme. Beer: Kronenbourg 1664 and Heineken ($9 import), plus Barnside Brewing Co. draught from Delta (Hazy IPA, Pilsner, Honey Comb Amber, Dutch Red) and flights. Every cocktail on the list is $13 — the three spritzes, both royales, and the espresso drinks alike. Aperol Spritz, Hugo Spritz, Paris Spritz, Kir Royale, Chambord Royale, Cognac Highball, Gin & Soda French Style, Shaft, Caramel Café. Spirits single $6, double $9.

Private dining when the table matters

Seven to ten guests books the private dining area by arrangement; ten plus becomes an event enquiry. The licence runs to midnight, so a business dinner that starts at 6:30 can stretch without pressure. Occasions supported: birthday, anniversary, business dinner, proposal. Call (604) 370-4444 to lock in the room and discuss menu options — dietary needs are handled case by case, so ask when you book.

What people ask

Is it quiet enough for a call?

Weekday lunch, the dining room settles into a low hum. The side patio is covered and separated from the street. No private booths, but corner tables give breathing room.

Can we expense it?

Itemized receipts print automatically. Most plates land between $17–$29; wine by the glass keeps the bottle math simple.

Do I need a reservation?

Walk-ins land fine at 11:30. By 12:15 the room fills. Book online or call (604) 370-4444 — confirmations come within two hours.

What if someone doesn't eat meat?

Ratatouille, Spinach Quiche, Croque Veggie, Salade de Feta, and several savoury crêpes are vegetarian. Vegan and gluten-free needs — call and ask.

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Next step: reserve a table for 11:30 or 12:00, or walk in and ask for a corner. Phone (604) 370-4444, online form at voguecafe.ca, or stop by 12251 No 1 Rd #130 in Steveston Village.