The Darkness

It’s January 23, our anniversary. Kjirsti and I are spending a few days in the Vancouver area with our toddler for a much-needed mid-winter getaway. The weather feels heavy. Moody, slate gray clouds sulk across the sky, and periodic showers keep trying to interfere with our outdoor time. The mercurial conditions relegate us to an afternoon of window-shopping and raindrop dodging, and the air temperature hovers in the neighborhood of “gloves, hat and extra coat required.” As what little daylight the clouds permitted fades into January darkness, we check into our overnight accommodations and set out in the bleakness to find comfort food and warmth, like bears seeking out a den in which to curl up all winter.

Speak Friend, and Enter

We select a front-row parking stall in a sparsely-filled lot, take a few strides toward an unassuming building frontage, and enter. We are greeted by a space all at once industrial and elegant, with exposed brick walls and bold, black ceilings. Blue neon trims the well, call and top shelf behind the bar, highlighting dozens of bottles of prominent label spirits. The draft tower is a stately gold that matches the trim on the throwback-but-modern bar seating.  Ed Sheeran croons out the lyrics to “Bad Habits,” and the interior takes on a moodiness of its own, completely different from that of the low-ceiling nimbostratus outside. Above the main throughway, light yellow neon declares: “This must be the place.”

This place is Richmond, BC’s Sector 7 Kitchen + Bar, a cozy sanctum of culinary arts, where every moment is part of the experience. In their own words, Sector 7 bestows a “high-quality, diverse, and distinct dining experience that reflects the rich tapestry of flavors and cultures found in our community.” 

The Grand Tour

As our toddler grooves in his high chair to the synth-pop spilling from the rafters, our own sensory experience begins. Placed in front of us on the live edge and black epoxy table are the Fruity Loop and the Sector 7 Old Fashion. The former comes in a gold-rimmed highball, peach-colored and topped with a rainbow of Fruit Loops. Contents include pineapple, cranberry, coconut syrup and lime. As Kjirsti takes her first sip, the smoke top is removed from my rocks glass, and charred oakwood smoke oozes over the rim. Inside, the chai tea-infused demerara syrup dances with bourbon (I opted to upgrade to Angel’s Envy over the standard Woodford Reserve). Smooth and rich, it has just a whisper of smokiness and the nose of a fresh orange. Poetic and complex, both drinks live up to the Sector 7 decree that “Every sip tells a tale.”

Settling a little more into our seats, we move on to our meal. Kjirsti dives into The Bullseye, a simple yet refined Angus burger with smoked cheddar cheese and charred onions, tucked under the lip of a fluted metal dish filled with steaming Truffle & Herb Fries.

Constantly chasing the high of a perfect Southern-style chicken sandwich, I nosh on The Nashville Hot. Featuring a chicken thigh brined for multiple hours and blanketed in a house-made blend of 11 spices, the sandwich is completed with creamy slaw and black garlic aioli. With both high expectation and reservation, I pounce into the sandwich, and immediately am overcome with a wave of contentment. This is the flavor I’ve been looking for. While the overall taste doesn’t quite hit the impossibly high mark of my favorite chicken sandwich ever, The Nashville Hot absolutely earns the #2 spot on my chicken sandwich list. (Spoiler: none of my top 3 are located in the American South, apologies to my Southern friends)

Epilogue

At the end of the night, we are satiated and relaxed, very much at home in the laid-back atmosphere of this simple gathering place. Our total bill (2 entrees, 2 drinks) comes in at around $78 CAD before tip, which works out to around $56 American with the current exchange rate. For such an esteemed culinary journey, I would assert the price is incredibly reasonable. Beyond just dollars though, the memory of smoky bourbon and spiced chicken calls to me regularly, like a siren of food luring me back with her enchantments. 

Sector 7 Kitchen + Bar is open daily for lunch and dinner, plus happy hour with food and drink specials (Tuesday features all-day happy hour pricing). Find their menu here, or check out their blog for a deeper dive into their culinary realm.

All photos and content © Eric S. Allan 2024

For media and publication inquiries: eric@corneroffirstandadventure.com