There’s a new bird in town. Perched on a bustling stretch of Main Street at 23rd Avenue in Mount Pleasant, Old Bird brings a modern and fresh take on authentic Chinese street food to Vancouver’s restaurant scene.
Opening her own restaurant has been a long-term goal for Old Bird Owner & Operator, Sophia Lin. She has always longed for a place where she could find good, authentic Chinese food in a fun atmosphere with awesome service and great drinks. Things started coming to life when she moved to Vancouver 3 years ago and began the hunt for the perfect location for her dream to take flight.
Sophia was able to land the old Nomad Restaurant, and luckily enough we had great bones to work with in the two-level space. With some creative design work by Sophia’s husband, we worked with the duo to update the space to match Old Bird’s big personality. One of the biggest challenges, surprisingly, was the high ceilings in the space. On one hand it keeps the restaurant bright, airy, and open. On the other hand it posed challenges when it came to creating the cozy, intimate neighbourhood space that Sophia dreamed of. The answer? Sophia and her husband sourced some incredible lanterns from China that allowed us to recreate the feel of lowering the ceilings without having to incur any extensive construction or costs,
We worked with Aaron Gullmes for the millwork in this space, adding some beautiful new banquettes with more angles and seating, and re-finishing the impressive live-edge slab bar that anchors the room. All of the millwork throughout the space was done in ash wood, chosen for it’s natural colouring and youthful feel.
The name “Old Bird” in and of itself is a bit sassy. It comes from the Chinese translation similar to “having balls”, or to be courageous. And that it is. At the helm of Old Bird are Sophia, Chef Deseree Lo, and General Manager Shawn Jones. The all-star female team has created a space that exudes personality, ambiance, and will keep you coming back for more. With a delectable sharing-style menu rooted in farm-to-table, fresh ingredients and a to-die-for cocktail menu, the attitude of this Old Bird will delight you from the moment you walk in ’til after you leave. And you are bound to have a laugh or two along the way – just pay the washrooms a visit for some cheeky signage.
Old Bird is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. Check them out on Instagram and peruse their tasty menu on the web.
Photos by Josh Woodman.
