Want to start an underground restaurant in Vancouver? Think twice, authorities say

If you read my story on underground vegan restaurants in Vancouver, you might be tempted to start your own dinner club.

However, officials with the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health caution against doing so.

Viviana Zanocco, spokesperson for the city, confirmed that underground restaurants based in people’s homes are illegal. In an email, Zanocco wrote:

The City of Vancouver doesn’t have licences or policies that apply to underground dinner clubs or secret suppers. Essentially, they are commercial ventures operating within residential areas, and not permitted to do so by residential zoning. We understand there is a fine line between having people over to one’s house, and having those guests share in the cost of a meal.

The underground dining scene generated a few complaints last summer. In those cases we contacted the organizer to let them know that these were not approved uses or licensed so they should discontinue; in these situations, they stopped advertising and no further complaints were received....

I’m not sure whether the organizers of these events have considered the liability to themselves if someone gets hurt or sick at their paid event.

Meanwhile, Anna Marie D’Angelo, spokesperson for the regional health authority, warns patrons that underground dinner clubs are not inspected. In an email, D’Angelo stated:

Underground establishments have been operating for a number of years across North America. Health Protection at Vancouver Coastal Health has been aware that they are operating in the Lower Mainland but we don’t search them out. We can confirm that these establishments are not inspected nor permitted. Patrons of these establishments should know that they are taking a health risk by dining on their premises as Health Protection cannot confirm that:

• the food ingredients are from an approved source;
• proper food handling practices are in place;
• there is adequate temperature control for the cooking and storage of foods;
• the overall sanitation of the kitchen is adequate for food preparation;
• a food safety plan is in place.

Since these establishments are not licensed and operate without official sanction, there is little we can do unless someone complains.

If we receive a complaint, we will act on the complaint with the view of having the establishment comply with food safety laws. Also the City of Vancouver will be notified as they enforce business bylaws.

Patrons of unregulated establishments should know that the high standards of food safety that Vancouverites expect in our licensed restaurants may not be present, and again, there may be a health risk.

Mérida Anderson, who has run the dinner club Vegan Secret Supper in Vancouver, New York City, and Montreal, offers this advice to prospective underground restaurant operators: get FoodSafe-certified.