When renowned Broadway star and all-round good-time girl Mamie Taylor asked a bartender in Rochester, New York, to concoct an original cocktail for her in the late 1800s, little did she know that it would lead to a restaurant bearing her name in Vancouver, British Columbia over a century later. "We wanted a name with two words,” explains Simon Kaulback, one of Mamie Taylor's two owners. "I found the name in a classic cocktail book and it just sort of stuck."
Simon and his long-time friend, Ron Oliver, opened the doors to Mamie Taylor’s in August 2013. Describing the menu as "comfort food, elevated," Simon says it can best be classified as modern American. "That leaves us lots of room to experiment and allows us to go basically where the mood takes us."
Gaining a reputation for its menu and taxidermied permanent residents, Mamie Taylor’s offers a creative selection of house-invented cocktails, too. They also craft daily Boilermakers (beer cocktails!) so be sure to ask what’s on tap that day.
Open late throughout the week and into the early-morning hours on weekends, Mamie Taylor’s is an easygoing spot for a late-night dinner for two. With a focus on modern American cuisine, the kitchen turns out Southern comfort food dishes such as octopus jambalaya, Cajun dirty rice, and juicy fried chicken with sweet potato waffles. Stuffed animal heads adorn the exposed brick walls throughout the space, providing a great talking point when the conversation starts to lull. Keep the date-night banter flowing with a round of bourbon-based drinks and end the night with a slice of Mississippi mud pie to share.
From its location in ever-changing Chinatown, to inventive meals and decor (including taxidermy ducks mounted on the exposed brick walls), Mamie Taylor’s offers a unique experience you’ll want to savour. Ideal for groups with sharing in mind, small plates include a surprisingly savoury brussel sprout salad and the trademark “Cajun dirty rice,” while the pork belly Cobb salad and cauliflower cannelloni are filling (and delicious) on their own. With modern, hand-made craft cocktails, intimate tables, and dark, moody lighting, Mamie Taylor’s is upscale southern dining done to perfection.