In 2000, I signed a contract with a Toronto publisher to write Frommer’s with Kids Vancouver. I was a freelance journalist with three kids under eight, and part of the job was to road-test every activity and restaurant and side trip included in the book.
Story from: Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
After the first week, my kids were begging to stay home. But I remember they really enjoyed the Tomahawk Restaurant. And why wouldn’t they?
Founded in 1926
The Tomahawk was founded in 1926 by Chick Chamberlain and is now in the hands of his son Chuck and in its third location. Part restaurant and part museum, the building is filled with woodcarvings, masks, small totem poles, woven cedar baskets, hatchets, pots and drums. Some of the items date back to the Depression, when Chick had a close relationship with First Nations people and traded food for handicrafts.
The totem poles out front were carved by Chief Mathias Joe for the restaurant on Marine Drive. It was moved to the current location on Philip Avenue and repainted by the Chief’s grandson. The restaurant also celebrates its Indigenous connections with burgers named after Chiefs Joe Capilano, Simon Baker, August Jack, and others.
CBC broadcaster Grant Lawrence’s band the Smugglers launched their tenth-anniversary album at the Tomahawk in 1998. They’d formed the band while attending West Vancouver’s Hillside Secondary School. According to local lore, another rocker and North Van high school student Bryan Adams, washed dishes at the Tomahawk in the ’70s.
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29 comments on “The Tomahawk Restaurant”
Excellent operation and well worth the visit, even if you do not eat, but please do – fantastic menu.
The Menu
https://www.tomahawkrestaurant.com/menu/
which Ms. Lazarus didn’t post.
Great story, could there have been more to tell?
So much more to tell! Chuck Jr, who owns the place now, sat with a friend and I and told us the whole history of the Tomahawk. I got the impression that he would be happy to do the same for anyone who asked. This is a watered down version that is missing a lot of great information.
My dad use to work there with Bryan Adam’s back in the day he’s got so many stories
Honestly, can you think of a more interesting (appropriate) place to take a visitor from afar. The Tomahawk Restaurant has it all. There is a delicious menu of super big burgers as well as a visual delight of indigenous art created locally on display while your meal is being prepared. The place is packed with carvings that fill the wall and welcome wonder.
Love your stories, Eve.
Thanks Cliff!
Great story! Don’t forget the breakfasts
Great place to eat.
I had the experience of having my first job in high school here 1983 , washing dishes. The food was great and filling. Nice place to work.
The best pancakes in town! We take there all the visitors we get. It is worthy!
It’s an Iconic establishment.
I made a point of it to bring my
daughter and her best friend there.
The food never dissapoints!
The service is always pleasant as well. 🙂
I was a flight attendant for 34 years. I made sure to recommend Tomahawk to passengers. Many times I had passengers with the menu as a souvenir and listened to their praise of the food, artifacts and homey feel
♥️
The Tomahawk was a favourite restaurant we went too. I remember at a very young age between my excited about going. My favourite was the Dagwood. (Sp). Several years went by before I returned to Vancouver. First stop was the Tomahawk. Fantastic food. Servers are excellent. Plus talking to Chuck was a bonus. I recommend that visitors eat at the Tomahawk and take in the history. Fond memories. Enjoy
[feels the tap on the shoulder he’s been waiting for, and the coach leans in… “You’re up. Get in there.”]
The Tomahawk Barbecue placemat has intrigued me for years. If you haven’t seen the menu, it is a cartoonish map of Canada that exaggerates BC in both size and importance, with little doodles indicating how all elements related to BC.
I’ve pored over it, examining all the details and snickering at his amusing take on British Columbia. I asked the Tomahawk staff the story behind the menu, or who the illustrator was and no one knew.
You can see the placemat in detail on this Reddit entry https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/i9l4o/a_north_vancouver_restaurant_uses_this_image_as_a/
The Illustrator was William Morton Buckley (1882-1965). He had his own commercial artist business in Vancouver from 1924-1928, and also from 1932-1933, with a stint at Spencer’s Department Store in between. After that William seems to go to Ontario and continues with his commercial illustration work, however, I can’t find any more of his art.
You can see another one of Buckely’s illustrations that focuses on Vancouver from about 1926 (dated by the reference to Vancouver police switching from helmets to caps) at the Vancouver Archives link below.
https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/7/9/7/7977f7d4b26060922b5ce3219eaa7a05f824c9f8ac1ba90b9bc850825c1c9c1b/fd489d53-ef79-459a-9dac-b87fd5ba6d30-MAP318.jpg
The Tomahawk has such incredible memories of breakfasts with my grandparents, and the family. We moved away when i was a young teen, so it was always the first place that we went with my grandparents when coming to visit. I now take my kids. A trip to the city isn’t complete without a visit to the Tomahawk.
Hi Mike,
I’m looking for information on Buckley, and the Buckley Studio in Winnipeg circa 1916-1921. Hal Foster who created “Prince Valiant” worked for him during that time. Please email me at bmkane1@aol.com.
Brian M. Kane (Foster’s biographer)
Oh yeh…that was just the biggest treat in the 1950’s. Our whole family would enjoy a trip there. I remember it so very well. Hmmm…and we could still go there today! How exciting.
Great place to work i work there for 13 yrs
I really nice man took me there for breakfast in the 90’s it was lovely.
Bryan Adam’s wahed dishes here in the 70’s
In May, 1968 my friends took me to the Tomahawk late at night, at the end of My wedding stag party. We ordered the Yukon style breakfast .
The bacon is to die for. Specifically cut just for the Tomahawk. You can’t buy the same in any store. All of the food is amazing. The staff and of course Chuck are so friendly. Love going here.
I had my 21st birthday there and went there after picking up my husbands ashes,a good go to place.
I do have to say though that last time I was there the breakfast wasn’t as good,hopefully it was just an off day
Good food and great place to bring family and friends.
Staff is very helpful and accommodating.Many years working as a dishwasher and cook 1971 – 1974. Thanks Chuck for the memories you and Chamberlain family. Brad Griffiths
Hey Brad did you ever meet a guy there by the name of David Morgan? If so that was my dad and he still talks about that place even till this day!
worked there between jobs back in the early 70’s as a dishwasher. My brother met his future wife there when they both worked for Chuck
I grew up in north Vancouver went to capilano elementary school , and I went to cub scouts in the church behind the tomahawk ! My whole family were regulars , what kid didn’t like hamburgers, and they were great hamburgers.