A New Edge in Yaletown: Meet Bevel
Bevel
Neighbourhood: Yaletown
Address: 1165 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P2
Mid May, MeeT in Yaletown formally announced its upcoming closure after 8 years of operation in one of Vancouver’s most bustling neighbourhoods, leaving regulars and passerbys alike wondering what would fill the space on Mainland Street.
The team at Dovetail acted fast. With a few new restaurant concepts already cooking on the back burners, they snatched up the space and started bringing Bevel to life, just a few doors down from Dovetail. While some might wonder what inspired the team to open another concept in such a close proximity - on the very same street, in fact - it all comes down to community. After launching nearly 3 years ago, Dovetail was quick to establish itself as a Yaletown staple, and the relationships they’ve built throughout the neighbourhood are worth investing in. At the end of the day, it’s all about familiar faces.
Moreover, the close proximity to Dovetail will offer them the unique opportunity to collaborate service between locations. Waiting for a bar seat to check out Bevel’s martini program first hand? Well, why not spend that time enjoying a drink and a bite at Dovetail in the meantime?
The name Bevel itself points towards the kinship maintained between concepts. While “Dovetail” likely evokes something feathered from the getgo, it actually alludes to a precise woodworking joint: two pieces cut into complementary shapes and fitted together. Similarly, Bevel is named in reference to an angled edge or surface. The concept is a fitting metaphor for the sister restaurants, with the team continuously returning to the idea of connection, craftsmanship, and separate pieces coming together.
Building upon their counterpart’s comparably laidback, California-style atmosphere, Bevel will offer a more refined approach rooted in East Coast culinary hubs like New York and Toronto. No white tablecloths, white-glove service, or names you can’t pronounce - just a little more polish to the room, the cocktails, and the style of dining.
The team has assured fans of Dovetail that Bevel won’t stray entirely from the familiar. The cult classic Spicy Vodka Pasta won’t be making an appearance - you’ll still have to cross the street for that - but guests can look forward to a Spicy Vodka Pizza that utilises the same fan favourite sauce in a brand new format.
This seems like a good time to pause and chat about the pizza. The PIZZA. With a dough that took Chef Ejner Christiansen 3 years of meticulous research, trial, and error to perfect, Bevel is serving up pies that would make even the most diehard New Yorkers proud. All this deliciousness aside, Bevel’s menu isn’t defined by their albeit show-stopping pizzas. Bevel is a modern steakhouse to its core: stunning proteins, a creative array of sides (including a cacio e pepe cauliflower that’s been making waves since day one), and an interior design that transports you straight to the Big Apple. It’s the New York way - one part elevated (martini in one hand), one part effortlessly casual (pizza slice in the other).
Dovetail’s much adored “Happy Days” happy hour program will also be carried over to Bevel, featuring $40 bottles of wine and $25 pizzas (amongst various other divine selections) from open til 5:00pm. Seems like a perfect pairing to me.
Our own in-house band of Aussies joined the Bevel team for their friends and family, and they’ve been praising the food since. While I’ve come to understand there’s an unsettled dispute between New Zealand and Australia over pavlova’s country of origin, Bevel’s iteration of the dessert has earned a steadfast Aussie stamp of approval from the expatriate division of Chef’s Favourite.
Bevel isn’t necessarily a departure from what made Dovetail work in the first place: it’s more like a sharpening of the edges. Dovetail brought a California looseness to Yaletown. Bevel takes that same instinct for conviviality and turns the dial toward New York: a little more structure, a little more polish, an honest NYC pizza program that has been years in the making, and a room designed to encourage guests to linger at the bar, martini in hand. The two restaurants may have different names, different personalities, and slightly different culinary accents, but the connective binding is intentional in every regard.
Stop by Bevel from 11:00am through to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00am til 1:00am Friday and Saturday. And while you’re there, ask for the Perfect 10 Martini - trust me.
