Purple Olive Grill replaces ensemble restaurant at tricky Thurlow Street location

Perhaps a large menu with dishes no more than $16 will be the key to success for one of Vancouver’s toughest restaurant spaces. Purple Olive Grill (850 Thurlow Street) opens today (November 1) in a location that has seen several restaurants fail over the past few years—most recently, Dale MacKay’s ensemble.

Purple Olive Grill, which states “You will see that good food does not have to be expensive” on its website, lists nearly 50 dishes on its menu. Starters and sharing plates ($3.95 to $10.95) include traditional pub fare such as chicken wings, potato skins, chicken strips, nachos, soups, and salads. Sandwiches and burgers ($5.95 to $11.95) are all served alongside roasted potatoes and salad, while pasta dishes ($7.95 to $10.95) come with a choice of chicken or prawns and include a side of garlic bread.

Entrées ($11.95 to $15.95) range from Greek-inspired chicken souvlaki and garlic prawns served with rice, potatoes, and pita bread, to Cajun-spiced salmon, and barbeque ribs. Daily specials are surprisingly affordable, at just $5.95 for lunch, starting at $7.95 for dinner, and starting at $4.95 for late-night bites, which are available from 9 p.m. to midnight.

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