Ubuntu Canteen: Cooking up a community, not just dinner

The intersection of Fraser and Kingsway is quickly evolving into one of Vancouver's go-to destinations for dining.

 Now, a new restaurant is looking to make its culinary mark a little further south in Fraserhood.

Ubuntu Canteen, housed in a bright yellow building, sets out not just to make delicious food, but also to build a greater sense of community. 

"The team wants it to be a place for people to engage with each other in the world," said CBC food columnist Gail Johnson to On the Coast guest host Margaret Gallagher.

To achieve this, they've designed things a little differently.

Inside there are a couple of booths, but, mostly, there are large communal tables.

Johnson says there's also a kid-friendly area with lower seats where parents can let their children play while they enjoy a glass of wine.

"Don't get me wrong, it's not like an Ikea ballroom or jungle gym in there," said Johnson, adding that Ubuntu Canteen's owner Dave Gunawan is a new father.

"He wanted a place to go with his family for good food, without feeling self-conscious."

To top it off, the restaurant has no wifi, to further build a sense of connectedness.

"We hear about Vancouver being a tough place to live, a lot of people find it hard to make friends. So the team wants it to be a place for people to engage with each other in the world," said Johnson.

Locally-inspired menu

Gunawan has built a name for himself in the culinary industry as a chef who cooks with seasonal, organic food from several local farms and producers, which means the menu is constantly in flux.

Johnson says the menu can even alter throughout the day.

At breakfast, you might be treated to an einkorn porridge, which is one of the most ancient grains of wheat, while lunch could see you biting into a smoked salmon tartine.

As for dinner, Ubuntu Canteen has its own rotisserie going throughout the day, meaning a whole roast chicken isn't out of the question.

"The whole through-line in his career is the use of whatever fresh produce literally shows up at his door from local farmers each day," said Johnson.

And that sense of sustainability and community is on show every Sunday night at its family dinner series.

Each week, a new chef takes the reins, creating a new Sunday night menu and serving all the food at a long family table until it all runs out.