Restaurant

Dovetail

Name: Dovetail
Address: 1079 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5P9, CA
Telephone: (604) 336-1088
Price range: value

Global•Strathcona•value

Dovetail is one of the best global restaurants in Vancouver for dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Strathcona.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Dovetail has a concept with actual internal logic — the name references both the woodworking joint and the idea of ingredients dovetailing together in the kitchen, which tells you something about how seriously they take the whole project without taking themselves too seriously. The room leans into a modern boho aesthetic that, by most accounts, avoids tipping into Pinterest-board territory. There's a private dining space in the back — a former disco concept called Lightshade, now reportedly bright and airy with its own separate entrance — which signals that the hospitality thinking here goes beyond getting bodies into seats. It's the kind of place that works equally well as a date-night spot or a post-work table of four splitting plates, a combination that's genuinely harder to pull off than it sounds. Vancouver Magazine's 2025 Restaurant Awards flagged Dovetail as a happy hour finalist, which tracks with the price level: this is a room where you stop doing mental math mid-meal. The menu runs seasonal and global, built around sharing, and the three dishes that keep surfacing in diner conversation are worth taking seriously. The mushroom pasta is reportedly the standout — described consistently as balanced and restrained, nothing competing for dominance. The spicy vodka pasta plays a completely different game: forward and assertive, the kind of dish that diners apparently treat as a standing order once they've had it once. The tuna tartare is the smarter opener than it might first appear, known for clean, unfussy flavors that let the kitchen communicate its sourcing priorities without a lecture attached. Practical note: the main room books up, so a weeknight reservation beats hoping for a walk-in at the bar. If you're planning a group of fifteen or more, the private room with the separate entrance is worth a direct call rather than relying on the standard online form.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Vancouver guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Cheap Eatshidden gem dinnerlocal

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

1,002 reviews

Vancouver

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 1,002 reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Strathcona | 1079 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9, Canada

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.0/10

Phone

(604) 336-1088

Watch

Dovetail on video

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Menu and ordering

Dovetail menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Dovetail is listed in the Good value price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Mushroom Pasta

Spicy Vodka Pasta

Tuna Tartare

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Dovetail worth the move

Dovetail is a clean first click in Strathcona in Vancouver when you want a global option you can trust. If Dovetail Restaurant is your kind of order, that is a good sign. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,002 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 1,002 Google reviews

Best for

dinner and Cheap Eats

Style

Global in Strathcona

Spend

Good value

Best for

Cheap Eats hidden gem dinner local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 1,002 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Dovetail Restaurant

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Dovetail

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 1,002 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Dovetail yet.

Let's clear up the obvious first: Mr.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 1079 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P9, Canada
Phone: (604) 336-1088
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.0/10
Google rating: 9.2 (1,002 reviews)
Cuisine: Global
Neighborhood: Strathcona

Read guide

Restaurants in Strathcona

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Dovetail serve?

Dovetail is a Global restaurant located in Strathcona, Vancouver. Dovetail has a concept with actual internal logic — the name references both the woodworking joint and the idea of ingredients dovetailing together in the kitchen, which tells you something about how seriously they take the whole project without taking themselves too seriously.

What is Dovetail best for?

Dovetail is best for cheap eats, hidden gem, dinner, local. Dovetail is a clean first click in Strathcona in Vancouver when you want a global option you can trust. If Dovetail Restaurant is your kind of order, that is a good sign. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,002 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Dovetail?

Dovetail is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.2 from 1,002 reviews

What should I order at Dovetail?

Start with Mushroom Pasta, Spicy Vodka Pasta and Tuna Tartare. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Dovetail worth visiting?

Dovetail holds a 9.2 Google rating from 1,002 reviews. Dovetail is a clean first click in Strathcona in Vancouver when you want a global option you can trust. If Dovetail Restaurant is your kind of order, that is a good sign. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,002 Google reviews.