By Megan Cole
In the collective memory of Vancouver punks and rockers, the heyday of the scene so many fell in love with seems like just yesterday. On any given night The Town Pump, Penthouse, New York Theatre and more would be hosting not only some of Vancouver’s most iconic bands like DOA and SNFU, but they’d be also be introducing unknown touring acts like Nirvana and Jane’s Addiction. It was the glory days of live music in Vancouver, part of a past many wish hadn’t left so soon.
One place in Vancouver is paying homage to that time in name, decor and with great food. The Cannibal Cafe, named after a song by one of owner Matt Thompson’s favourite local bands, SNFU, is a living scrapbook of the ’80s and ’90s in Vancouver.
“We go through periods of time where SNFU’s Mr. Chi Pig is in every single day,” says Jen Temple, The Cannibal Cafe’s general manager. “When we opened he was there every single day, but then he disappears for a bit and then he comes back. Sometimes he will be here everyday in his crazy little costumes, drinking beer and eating chicken wings, or something like that. He’s a big supporter of it.”
The Cannibal Cafe (photo: The Cannibal Cafe)
Thompson, who also owns other popular Vancouver restaurants like Elwood’s on West Broadway, grew up in Vancouver in the early ’80s. During that time posters put up around town were the way to spread the news of an upcoming show, and the guy all the bands went to was Poster Pete.
Temple says Thompson approached Poster Pete early on, paying him to put aside a couple posters from each show he helped with, and what he ended up with was a shed full of memories that now make up the wallpaper of The Cannibal Cafe.
“It is really cool because I’ll be working and a guy in his fifties or sixties will come in. He’ll be sitting with his wife, eating, and all of a sudden he’s shrieking and will say, ‘I played in that band!’ and he’s all excited,” says Temple.
Diners often can’t help but take pictures of all the old posters for shows they attended, and the memories spark conversations about those moments they had seeing one of their favourite bands at the time.
While the walls of the Cannibal Cafe may be lined with punk and rock memories, the food and comfortable diner atmosphere draws in families and people of all interests.
“A lot of people are drawn in by the SNFU reference, and that reflects some of what the concept is,” says Temple. “Matt has owned a lot of restaurants and he had diverse menus, but most people would come in and say, ‘I’ll have the burger.'”
The Cannibal Cafe’s American Classic burger (photo: The Cannibal Cafe)
As the classic go-to at most restaurants and bars, the burger was always an obvious choice, but having invested time and money into developing a well-rounded menu, Temple says that Thompson would get pissed off that customers always just chose the burger. Instead of just being frustrated over the popularity of the menu staple, he decided to develop the menu for The Cannibal Cafe around having the best burger.
“Doing the best burger meant Matt wanted to use the best meats,” says Temple. “We use certified organic, BC beef from a place called Blue Goose Farms. We use three different cuts of meat and we cut and grind our meat fresh in house every day.”
Because the kitchen at The Cannibal Cafe is able to control the process of how they cut and grind their meat, they are able to do something that few kitchens in Vancouver are able to; cook a burger to either medium, medium-well or well done.
“Most other restaurants have to do well-done because they are getting beef already processed and ground elsewhere,” says Temple.
The Bacon Bad (photo: The Cannibal Cafe)
Taking pride in their burger and their concept means The Cannibal Cafe doesn’t just serve standard burgers. Every month the kitchen develops a feature burger like the Bacon Bad, which appeared in April 2014 during the final episodes of Breaking Bad.
“My favourite so far has been the Bacon Bad,” says Temple about the feature burgers. “It was two three-ounce patties stuffed with bacon in the centre with bacon on top. The chef made a bacon aioli, a bacon relish and aged cheddar cheese. It was pretty delicious.”
The Cannibal Cafe is located at 1818 Commercial Drive in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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