Lunch in Steveston Village — French Bistro Plates & Patio Seats

Steveston Village runs on tide schedules and tourist feet. By noon the boardwalk is thick with people coming off the Cannery tour or the Garry Point trail, and the smell of fried batter from the fish-and-chip windows mixes with salt air. Vogue Cafe sits on No. 1 Road where the village widens — heritage gable, string lights, a dog bowl by the door, and a covered side patio hung with greenery walls and red-checkered cloths. The dining room is deep-red walls, wood tables, a small bar, and the printed menu taped to the front window so you can read it before you commit.

Lunch service starts at 10:30am and runs straight through to 8:30pm; brunch items stay on until 3pm. Fully licensed, so a glass of Côtes du Rhône or a Kronenbourg 1664 pint at 1pm is normal here.

Quick plates that feel like lunch in France

The café plates arrive fast and hot. Croque monsieur — European ham, cheese, brioche bun, side salad — $17. Croque madame adds a fried egg on top, same price. Croque veggie swaps ham for sautéed spinach. Quiche Lorraine (egg, European bacon, cheese) and spinach quiche (egg, spinach, Brie) come with the same salad. A classic croque is built on brioche, not sliced pain de mie; the butter in the bun toasts against the grill and the cheese pulls in strings. The quiche crust holds its flake because the custard isn't overbaked — call (604) 370-4444 if you need a gluten-free or dairy-free version; the kitchen will tell you what's possible.

Buckwheat galettes — savoury crêpes, $17

Thin buckwheat pancakes, nutty and crisp at the edges, folded around fillings. Five versions: European ham, cheese & egg; sautéed spinach, feta, tomato & egg; beer sausage, tomato & cheese; sautéed mushroom, spinach & egg; sautéed mushroom, beer sausage, tomato & cheese. Buckwheat contains no gluten, so the batter sets fast on the bilig and crisps where wheat crêpes stay soft. Eat them with a fork and knife — the filling stays inside the fold.

Baguette sandwiches on house-made bread — $20

Six baguettes baked in-house, split and dressed. 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: choose spinach, lamb, chicken, beef, ham or sausage; tomato sauce, cheese, olives. The crust shatters; the crumb is open enough to soak the butter or sauce without collapsing.

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 creamy mushroom sauce. Ratatouille (veggie): traditional Provençal stewed vegetables with three-colour rice. A proper bourguignon browns the beef in batches, deglazes with wine, then braises low until the collagen turns to gelatin — the sauce clings without starch. The navarin treats lamb the same way; spring vegetables go in late so they keep colour and bite.

Starters that work as a light lunch — $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, toasted baguette. Brie en croûte: baked Brie in puff pastry with sun-dried tomato. Charcuterie plate: dry sausage, beer sausage, prosciutto, frankfurter sausage, pickle. Marrow bones give the onion soup body and sweetness that stock cubes never match; the cheese crust forms under the salamander in seconds.

Sweet crêpes and desserts if the day calls for it

Sweet crêpes $14 — thin buttery French pancakes: Nutella & banana, chocolate strawberry, sugar & lemon, apple & house-made caramel, sugar butter & cinnamon, Suzette (orange sauce, Grand Marnier). Desserts $10 made in-house: caramel chocolate tart, strawberry tart, lemon tart, éclair au chocolat, coffee éclair. The Suzette is flambéed tableside in a proper pan; the alcohol burns, the orange oil stays.

Drinks at lunch

Espresso $4, Americano $5, latte $6, cappuccino $6, macchiato $4; iced versions $5–$6. Tea $5. San Pellegrino 750ml or Evian 750ml $7. Soft drinks $5. Wine by the glass 6oz $11 / 9oz $15, bottle $45 — reds, whites, rosé. Import beer $9 (Kronenbourg 1664, Heineken, Heineken 0.0). Local Barnside Brewing draught and flights. Cocktails $13: Aperol Spritz, Hugo Spritz, Paris Spritz, Kir Royale, Chambord Royale, Cognac Highball, Gin & Soda French Style, Shaft, Caramel Café. Spirits single $6 / double $9.

Space and logistics

Heritage storefront with own parking out front. Bar-height tables at the front windows. Covered side patio with greenery walls and red-checkered tablecloths — dog bowl by the door. Dining room: deep-red walls, wood tables, small bar. Reservations via online form or phone; confirmed within two hours. Private dining 7–10 guests; 10+ is an event enquiry. Liquor licence runs to midnight for late-evening bookings by arrangement. Hours: Mon–Sun 10:30am–8:30pm; brunch until 3pm. Address: 12251 No 1 Rd #130, Steveston Village, Richmond, BC V7E 1T6.

What people ask

Is there a vegetarian main at lunch?

Ratatouille with three-colour rice ($29), spinach quiche ($17), croque veggie ($17), several savoury crêpes ($17), feta salad ($17), and baguette pizza with spinach ($20) are on the printed menu. Call (604) 370-4444 to confirm current prep.

Can I bring a dog?

A water bowl sits by the front door on the patio side. The covered side patio is where dogs settle; the dining room is people-only.

Do you take reservations for lunch?

Yes — online form or phone (604) 370-4444. Confirmed within two hours. Walk-ins welcome; the patio fills fast on sunny weekends.

What's the price range for two people sharing a bottle?

Two café plates or crêpes ($34), a bottle of wine ($45), two coffees ($12) — about $90 before tip. Add a starter or dessert and you're still under $120.

Walk in, grab a patio table if the sun's out, or call (604) 370-4444 to hold one. The menu is in the window — read it, pick, sit.