Dominion Bar + Kitchen

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A few years ago when I was still working in Surrey, we never had much food options for team lunches or during Christmas season. This year, a new Canadian restaurant, Dominion Bar + Kitchen, opened its door next to the Surrey Central skytrain station. With the concept of using locally sourced ingredients and making food from scratch, Dominion has an extensive menu for food, handcraft cocktails, and local beer.

Location

Dominion Bar + Kitchen is located right next to the Surrey Central skytrain station. It is convenient by both car and transit.

Post-COVID-19 Dine-In Experience

The restaurant follows strict protocols for dining in. All staffs wear masks properly, and tables are spread out for social distancing. In addition, they are going to have a patio seating area soon, which has a 36-seat capacity (with social distancing). Though we were seated in the private room dining area, I had a look with the table setup, and I would feel safe dining even in the public space.

Menu

Please click here to see the full menu.

Drinks

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Belgian Table Beer from Russell Brewing

Dominion offers an extensive list of wine and local craft beer, and I tried Belgian Table Beer from Russell Brewing, as well as a Wine Flight. It comes with three feature wines (3oz per glass), and you have the option among white, red, or mixed. After the entree, I also tried a signature cocktail, Lemon Tart, which tastes exactly like a lemon meringue pie.

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Mixed Wine Flight / a rotating selection of rose, white, and red wine / $16.50
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Lemon Tart / vodka, white creme de cacao, lemon juice, vanilla syrup, egg whites, lemon twist / $12

Food

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West Coast Poke Bowl (GF) / raw ahi tuna, jasmine rice, cucumber, avocado, pickled carrots, red onions, radish, pineapple salsa / $19

We had a sample size West Coast Poke Bowl for the appetizer. The Executive Chef at Dominion Bar + Kitchen, Rajeev Arora, gave us a live demonstration on making the poke bowl. It has raw ahi tuna, jasmine rice, cucumber, avocado, pickled carrots, red onions, radish, and pineapple salsa, along with a house made sriracha sauce. I found the sauce is slightly overpowering. I also tried the ahi tuna and pineapple salsa on its own, and they taste fresh and refreshing. It would be nice to highlight these two ingredients more, with a less strong-flavoured sauce.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Grill Sundays are offered every Sunday, which locally sourced ingredients are made fresh on the grill. An extensive list of bottle wine is also offered at 50% off for the entire day.

I tried two items from the Grill Sundays’ menu – Prawn & Scallop Kebabs and New York Striploin (8oz).

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Prawn & Scallop Kebabs / grilled local tiger prawns, scallops, peppers, onion / $16

The seafood served on the Prawn & Scallop Kebabs is fresh and cooked perfectly, with a nice, smoky grill flavor. The scallops are slightly under-seasoned, but overall I enjoyed the kebabs.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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8oz New York Striploin / certified angus beef, garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, citrus butter / $27

New York Striploin is perfectly cooked at medium rare. It is nicely paired with garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetable, and citrus butter. You can also choose mushroom cream sauce or red wine demi instead. The meat is tender but I wasn’t able to taste the citrus butter.

Rating: 4 out of 5.
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New York Cheesecake / classic new-york style soft cream cheese, graham cracker base, seasonal berry compote, fresh berries / $8 (right) ; Warm Chocolate Fudge Brownie / salted caramel, seasonal berries, french vanilla gelato / $9 (left)

To end the night, we tried two desserts, New York Cheesecake and Warm Chocolate Fudge Brownie. I am impressed by the beautiful plating and the delightful treats. The New York Cheesecake is light, with a refreshing pairing of fresh berries, whereas the Warm Chocolate Fudge Brownie gives a contrasting flavor. It gives a cozy feeling, which I think it would taste even better in the winter.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Overall Impression

Dominion Bar + Kitchen sets a new standard for the restaurants in Surrey. I enjoyed the hospitality, as well as the food. Though some dishes might need an extra pinch of salt, I think it does not affect the overall dining experience. I also love the concept of using locally sourced ingredients and making everything from scratch as much as possible. It is a nice gesture of this local business supporting other local businesses. I would definitely return and try other dishes on the menu.

Taste : 4/5 • Service: 5/5 • Ambiance: 4.5/5 • Quality-Price: 4/5


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