The Brave Bull’s House of Steaks

CLOSED PERMANENTLY (
)
The last time I ate here (around mid-​July) was a tough one. My buddy and I had come here enough and was building a rapport with Linda. Not being particularly busy, Frank came out from the kitchen and sat with us and we all chatted. Linda gave us a full history of the place and revealed that they sold the lot to a condo developer at a very nice price. So, I was really glad this sweet couple was retiring with enough money to take care of their grandchildren. They told us that they would probably stay open until October/​November.
But from the text messages and emails I received, early September 2012 was the last stand for this Vancouver institution.
But at that time, Linda said we should come by before they close forever. And I told her that I was leaving Vancouver for the foreseeable future and that was probably I last time I was going to eat there. It was extremely sweet that Linda was a bit sad. Despite making a generous profit from selling their property (this tough old lady really took Omni to the cleaners), she kept asking my friend and I, if she made the right decision. Part of her wanted to run this place forever.
I’m glad I was out-​of-​town the day Brave Bull’s closed its doors forever because I didn’t have to visit again and my last visit was the perfect personal swan song for me. Linda and Frank were taken care of and happy — I got to sit down with the couple that ran this East Van icon and they locked up the doors as soon as we left. It would have been painful for me to go back again.
I suppose the next time I’m back in Vancouver — the restaurant will be long gone — eventually a construction site and then a new shiny condo in its place. However, I will always, always expect to see the Brave Bull’s signage whenever I hit Clark & Hastings.

UPDATE: Sadly, Brave Bulls closed on Sunday, September 2, 2012. These reviews stand as a testament to how unique and special this place was, and how beautiful and dedicated the owners.
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I’m glad they upped the price of their top sirloin platter from 8.95 to 9.95…I woulda felt guilty payin’ that little for a delicious, perfectly cooked, juicy, high-​quality, (though slightly underseasoned) steak.
Who cares if the accompanying veggies are just boiled carrots and cauliflower, or if the appies aren’t really worth the prices (except the Teriyaki skewers!), or if Linda (the hardest working server in Vancouver indeed) took a while to get to our table… they always come through on the meat, and that’s why I go back.
This place is right special, and ya better get there before it is gone forever. Until then, long may he live, the Old Bull, making East Van proud.

The Brave Bull has been dark for a couple of months now. Very sad. Our cosy neighbourhood steakhouse is missed. I did notify Unilocal HQ but see the «closed» has not appeared in the heading.

This place is a diamond in the rough. the very rough. The entire experience was amazing.
We walked in to see a sign that said «CASH ONLY» — we did a 180, right out the door and hunted for a cashmachine — which in that part of town is hard to come by as it is — a bit of a white horse, the mythical cash box in the dodgiest part of town.
We walked back in to the restaurant, to have Owner, Hostess and the only person front-​of-​house, Linda, greet us and seat us by the window. The place had a few other groups dining, most of which seemed like they regularly dealt in «cash only» and may have been working for the mob.
In the back room where the magic happens, I could see Linda’s husband, the other half of this 2 man army, grilling away.
The place was decorated in what could be only classified as the holy grail of tacky. There was a tree with a pink flamingo in it and cheap christmas lights, and a dead cactus sitting on top of the cash register which Linda seemed quite sensitive about when I asked about its untimely demise.
When we settled on our steaks, Linda came and took our orders. She told my dining companion that he was lucky to be there with me, and then disappeared to fetch our soup and salad starters.
I wanted to hug her. She’s like your friend’s mom who seems genuinely excited at the opportunity to feed you.
Our steaks came out and for $ 9.95, I couldn’t really complain. My companion got the $ 14.95 tenderloin and I remember giggling when Linda made a joke about him being a big spender and liking the finer things.
When she came back to clear our plates, she seemed genuinely upset that I didn’t finish mine. Her brow furrowed, lips puckered, and in broken English she asked me why I didn’t finish. I explained that I wasn’t a big eater, and after a few more attempts at insisting I finish my meal, she gave up.
She brought the cheque with 2 candies that seemed like they were from a decade ago and found at the bottom of her kid’s halloween loot bag. I think mine had grains of sand on it.
We went to pay, and after chatting a bit more, had to bite our lips to keep from giggling when she rang up the bill and said «$ 28.13 and BINGO!» in her broken English.
If you like trying your luck at dives and enjoy a more amusing no-​frills dining experience, give them a visit. We chuckled through the entire meal and the experience allowed me to write this hella-​long review!

Definitely a no frills, no fanfare place for the residents (who live around the area) AND foodies. Everyone else can just take their steak snob attitude elsewhere.
This is a two-​person operation run by a husband and wife. The wife does the front-​end operation from greeting and seating guests, taking orders, and bringing the bill. While the husband is at the kitchen firing up the grill with his full chef uniform. If there’s one thing they like doing everyday, it’s definitely keeping this joint open and running.
There are photocopies of an article written about the restaurant hung all over the place which you’re bound to read wherever you sit. It highlights the cheap price for a decent steak. The article was written back in 1995. Looking around the place and checking out the menu, will make you believe you’re stuck in time. The décor hasn’t changed. More importantly, the prices haven’t changed as well.
Fifteen freakin’ years since the article was written and this restaurant doesn’t have inflation in it’s vocabulary. Someone please (please!) make them our finance minister.
Don’t come here expecting swift service. These guys are way past their retirement age and will walk a turtle’s space if they have to get things done right. They could have collected their retirement benefits years ago, but decided to do what they do best in feeding the locals with cheap steak.
I was excited to see Rib Steak on the menu, but wasn’t available. I settled for a T-​Bone and they happily left a good portion of fat on the steak just to feed my yearning for marbled goodness. How does it taste? Don’t go looking for corn-​fed or Cows massaged everyday. All I can say is it’s decent for the price. You get a good portion of meat and it comes with a soup or salad, veggies and baked potato with sour cream and faux bacon bits. Classic blast to the past indeed.
Not up for steak? They serve Chinese food, too. I bet you the 1995 article didn’t see that coming. I tried that as well.
When we got our bill, she took the time to explain what we were charged despite having only two items on it — a steak meal and a Chinese combo meal. And when she gave our change back, she painstakenly took the time to count what she gave only to realise she short-​changed us. So she left and scrambled behind the cash register. We were going to leave all the change anyway. It can’t be that bad. She came back with 10 more cents. 10 cents! How honest is that.
How can you not have a soft spot for these hard-​working proprietors. To come back wouldn’t be about the food or the price anymore, it would be just to keep the place alive.