Returned to The Mackenzie Room last night for the first time in a few years, drawn back by their limited-run collaboration with Say Mercy!, a spot that shuttered a couple of years ago. The collab runs for the next month.
We did the set menu for two but added their signature Chicken of the Sea as a supplement.
The Meal
Hushpuppies — Paired with pesto and nduja, the nduja giving the dish some extra kick.
Chicken of the Sea — Sea urchin with squid ink brioche. This dish has lived rent-free in my head since I first had it years ago, and it absolutely holds up. The richness of the uni against the ink brioche is still one of my favourite bites in the city. Phenomenal.
Blackened Tuna — Came with a buttermilk dill accompaniment. Probably my favourite dish of the night.
Shrimp & Grits — Tiger prawns with humboldt and fennel. Solid, well-balanced, comfortable.
BBQ Bolo (Smoked Pork Shoulder) — The one miss for me. The sauce is built on Dr Pepper and peach nectar, finished with confit garlic and grana padano. I found the richness tipped too far.
Short Rib with Dirty Rice & Endive — The beef was succulent. The endive ran bitterer than I expected and the balance felt slightly off as a result. A minor gripe on an otherwise well-constructed plate.
Dessert: Olive Oil Pie with Olive Ice Cream — A nice way to land the meal.
Notes
We were dining with our 10-month-old daughter and went early (5:30pm). The team was warm, accommodating, and genuinely happy to have us in with a heads-up.
Overall
The Mackenzie Room remains one of the more underrated rooms in Vancouver. The Say Mercy! collaboration is a fun concept and worth a visit while it runs. Would love to return and sit with their core offering again soon. Always an inviting space.
by Vanfancy