With a new patio and affordable summer menu, Black’s business is booming
There are not many restaurants and bars in Whistler that can claim to be "something for everyone" but Black’s is the famous phrase personified.
On any given day, or night, you’ll find happy families and hungry sports teams filling the pizza and pasta ristorante downstairs, while upstairs loud locals and tenacious tourists flock to the newly built patio attached to a well-stocked pub with a huge selection of beers.
Wander in, look around and choose your level. Where ever you go, one thing is for certain: no attitude. And no rush. People sit, sip and stay at Black’s for hours. No wonder really, with a reasonable price point and one of the best views of the bike park in town, why would you leave?.
"Many of our customers come for lunch and end up staying well past sunset," said general manager Willy Jang.
As a regular muncher about town, I too can testify to that. I stopped in last weekend to watch the Gravity Festival in full swing and got pleasantly more than I bargained for. While it was the fast, fresh and delicious caesar salad with grilled salmon that drew me in initially, it was the margaritas, the amazing sunset and the friendly vibe that kept me there well into the night.
Black’s Pub has been a familiar landmark on the Whistler landscape for 11 years and was a case of love at first sight for owner-operator Lawrence Black. The Toronto businessman happened to come to Whistler by chance on a weekend away from meetings in Vancouver and saw the original site was for sale.
"I literally came up for a day’s skiing and went home with my own restaurant and bar," recalled Black. Soon after, he packed up shop in the east and propped his camp here for good.
Originally the restaurant took up both floors, but considering Black is the sociable sort and knew a thing or two about the type of people that come to Whistler, he turned the top level into a pub soon after.
Looking out at the downhill bike park, beyond his week old yet already packed pub patio, Black said: "I just knew this place was special. I love it here. Everyone does. It’s a lot of happy people. From the young workers experiencing the best years of their lives, to the families that are now established here to the tourists just enjoying a well-earned break. When I go away I appreciate it more. There’s nowhere like this place."
When Black’s first opened for business there was nothing east of the restaurant. "No Pan Pacific, no Dubh Linn Gate and not a single house on the Benchlands. Now it’s as busy for us in summer as it is in winter. It’s been amazing to witness the growth."
With the English style pub upstairs and the Italian style ristorante downstairs, one might think Black is unsure of what he wants to be. But nothing could be further from the truth.
"A lot of people ask me why I have two different themes going, and I’ve thought about converting to one overall look, but I like giving people options. With an English style pub, it’s a place that anyone can go, whether you’re 22 or 62, and with the overseas tourists, they know in an English pub they can get all their favourite beers. We have 99 available in fact. With the pizza and pasta fare downstairs, we can keep our prices affordable, our meal portions hearty and be a place where groups can go."
Black is well known in Whistler for having an eye for good ideas. He previously owned Zog’s, next door to his restaurant under the stairwell and also Uli’s which is now Casa Tapas and Wine Bar. For now he’s focusing his energies solely on the pub and restaurant in an effort to turn it into a summer and winter hangout, and his efforts seem to be working.
Getting former Whistler-Blackcomb food and beverage manager, Willy Jang on board was an excellent move. The popular local who has had the enviable position of spending winters in Whistler and summers in Maui for the past seven years, signed up full time with Black’s last year. The lovable, softly spoken character clearly had strong ties with the mountain as one of their long-term faces. But not to worry, all Jang’s friends and a large chunk of the mountain’s staff are now regulars at his new place of work. Club Shred, the mountain’s social club, consider Black’s Pub their second home.
"Because Black’s has been here so long it’s got the reputation, I think, for being a friendly place to hang out," said Jang. "We like to make sure it feels that way too for the staff as well as the customers. If it’s a social place to be all round for everyone, then people will come back and that’s what we love to see. That’s why we are here."
With a new patio comes a new menu and Black’s is taking full advantage of the sun with cool, lighter choices. Think lots of fresh salads with ingredients like Thai chicken, watermelon and hazelnuts, grilled seafood additions and an assortment of wraps and sandwiches. Slushy iced drinks and fruity cocktails make the perfect accompaniment.
In the evening, there’s a whole new range of pizzas being presented in three sizes for the masses. The White Pizza features an Alfredo cheese sauce and the Belly Burner is one for those who like it hot and meaty. They’ve also introduced individual size pizzas for those who don’t want to share.
Black’s Pub and Original Ristorante is located in the village at the base of the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas, in the Westbrook Hotel. The ristorante is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations can be made for dinner only by phoning 604-932-6408.
