A couple of Fridays ago we ventured down into my personal favourite neighbourhood in the city, Gastown! And what’s better is that we wer down there because The Modline was granted the good fortune of experiencing the tricks and treats of the fairly fresh and new, Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar. The formerly upscale Transcontinental Heritage Restaurant underwent a transformation just half a year ago to become a more hip, comfortable resto-lounge for patrons of every walk to wind down and indulge in.

With the bevy of restos that populate Gastown, it’s truly difficult for the average patron to choose where to grab a bite. Eye-catching décor is a must at any eatery and Rogue definitely takes that concept to another level. There’s 6 sections to Rogue, from the patio to the den, the main room to the wetbar, the east side lounge to the upstairs dining, they all seem to play into a dichotomy of both privacy and openness. Big and small chandeliers adorn both the den and the main room and curtains subtly seperate the seating areas for a little seclusion for each table. The den with its cool sliding, wooden slab doors and the small, intimate east side lounge & bar offer some isolated fun for smaller parties. Or you can seat larger functions in the upstairs dining area complete with a balcony that overlooks the entire restaurant. It’s all meant to let you free from the bustle of the restaurant if you want it to be.

The setting is meant to be quite elegant and catering to the refined crowd, however the cuisine is meant to please both the princes and the paupers. The food reaches all audiences and ah yes, let’s not forget about mentioning the food shall we?

As we sat for a late dinner we were greeted by a casually amiable server, in fact their servers have the freedom to wear any outfit they desire. I’d go so far as to say that Rogue is truly the hipper, no frills sibling of their sister restaurant next door, Steamworks Brewing Company. We went for quite an array of dishes, including the hand cut “Fries x 3″, three generous cups of pomme frites with three delicious toppings: (1) gorgonzola cream & bacon (2) poutine and (3) truffle oil & parmesan. After that, we moved on to the tasty, caramelized Korean short ribs that curbed our hunger till the main plates. I’m kind of a freak for good Fish Tacos and Rogue’s did not disappoint one bit; the seared halibut, avocado cream, mango salsa, and fennel coleslaw in flour tortillas just continued the party in my mouth (get your mind out of the gutter folks). Mario, our Creative Director and fill-in photog for the night, had his sights set for the sweet & spicy, Sticky Caramel Chicken, he’s usually the man with the picky palate but judging by the silence at the table I’d say he was overly pleased and content. As for their Wetbar menu, it’s probably as extensive as the liquor store down the street. We let the taps flow steadily with some IPA’s and Pale Ales that I hadn’t heard of till that night.

From the eats to the looks to the vibes, Rogue Kitchen absolutely stands out as a welcome addition to the ever-expansive Gastown dining experience. A big thanks to Rogue for the warm invite, hopefully we’ll be visiting again soon. Oh and if you’re worried about the horrendous parking downtown, have no fear because Rogue is conveniently connected to the Waterfront Skytrain/Seabus Station! Just another reason to head down!Written by: Justin LintagPhotos by: Mario Soriano