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Climb 21 steps, and you enter this winning second-storey restaurant in Whistler. 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar would be a hit in most any city. But tasty and reasonably priced food in Whistler?
Tasty places are easy to find in this foodie mountain town, one of North America’s top ski resorts. But reasonably priced is hard to come by.
Which is why 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar is all the more noteworthy. So take note :-).
Tapas to tempt your tastebuds
You can order traditional main plates. But go for the tapas – that’s what this resto-bar is known for. On a recent rainy evening, we went as a group of four, sharing several small yummy dishes which range in price from $5 to $12.
There’s a huge selection to choose from. Our faves? Fried goat cheese with honey and walnuts. Also the star anise and orange braised pork ribs with Chinese mustard.
The tiny bacon-wrapped beef filets are probably the chief crowd-pleaser. Dipped in a white parsley sauce, they’re not too salty (which often happens when bacon is added) and not overcooked.
The “21 salad” with tomatoes, orange slices, nuts and other goodies satisfied our veggie craving.
Oh, and the bread is great too at 21 Steps. (A good way to judge a restaurant is by its bread, we think.) Fresh, crusty French baguettes, warm from the oven, are served with pots of garlic butter.
Sit by the window in summer
The atmosphere is just right. Polished wood floors and wood tables. A lively buzz. And huge windows on three sides that open all the way – in summer you can look down on the goings-on in Whistler Village below.
It’s casual, but not kid-casual. Yet sophisticated enough to serve wine in decent-sized glasses (not those dinky old-fashioned ones – a pet peeve of ours).
Consider a cocktail in the attic
If you climb a few more steps again, you reach a third-floor “attic.” You’ll find mainly young locals up here, lounging on leather couches and sipping freshly poured cocktails.
21 Steps is award-winning
But don’t just take our word on 21 Steps. Pique Newsmagazine readers voted the restaurant tops in the Best of Whistler 2012 (Food and Drink) “appetizers/tapas” category. So until the 2013 awards are handed down in December at the end of this year, 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar is the tapas leader in Whistler.
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It’s packed with lots of great info on unmissable destinations, wineries, secret places, other cool things to do in BC (like storm watching in Tofino!), epic hikes, taking the ferry between Vancouver and Victoria, the best time to visit and more…
Do you like tapas? Do you have a favorite restaurant in Whistler?
Looks like a great addition to the Whistler restaurant scene – and you’re right about the place needing more reasonably priced meals. I have had many fine meals at Araxi.
Araxi is great too, but it’s one of the pricier restaurants – 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar is more mid-range.
the Star anise and orange braised pork ribs looks awesome. I think 21steps is a small price to pay to reach heavenly cuisine!
The restaurant should probably have steps to climb upon leaving to burn off some of those calories!
I came so close to having an opportunity to make to the Olympics that I wanted so badly but just was not able to pull it together. Then there was a cooking reality show in Whistler for an episode or two last year. I’m completely in love with the place and I haven’t even been there! Those tapas look amazing and I’m a total window seat person whenever possible. Wonderful post, Janice and George! :)
Sorry you didn’t get to make it to the Olympics! (You probably got a better view on TV anyway :-). Whistler is a fun place (the restaurants are just one part of the picture). Hopefully one day you’ll get to see it for yourself…
I’ve never visited Whistler but this is one more reason to go!
Best, Irene
Whistler has a ton of really good restaurants – you won’t go hungry there…
Great post – I can hardly believe that it’s been nearly twenty years since I was last in Whistler! I must get back there!
You should revisit Whistler! You’ll find it’s changed mightily in the past 20 years. No longer the rustic mountain town – it’s quite cosmopolitan and sophisticated now, especially in the height of ski season. (Of course, some people may hanker for the old Whistler…)