Vancouver - restaurant tips please
Vancouver - restaurant tips please
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Grey Ghost

Original Poster:

4,611 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
Mrs Ghost and I are off to Vancouver later in the year and would like any tips on restaurants, specifically steak houses and sea food.

For steak houses we prefer steaks cooked over wood based pits, french fries and salad and for sea food we are looking for freshly caught local white fish without over the top dressings.

So, over to you good folks who can provide some pointers biggrin

havoc

33,459 posts

265 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
quotequote all
A chain-place and not cheap for a chain, but The Keg in V'couver is supposed to be one of the better Kegs (which have a pretty good rep for steak, ribs etc.). Expect loud music and a busy bar, but the food we had (in Montreal not V'couver) was genuinely good 'steak & chips' fare - my only comment being that the meat was a little over-seasoned.

Better was a quiet family-type place called Bistrot Bistro on West 4th - a little outside the main tourist area but taxi wasn't expensive and the service was very good.

We were also recommended (and should have been booked by our hotel but they were crap) Le Crocodile (next to one of the hotels over by Burrard, just opposite the Theatre), which is a proper fine-dining place and has one of the best reps in the city.



If you've never been, you'll LOVE Vancouver - we wanted to spend a whole week there, really nice place. You must do the park - really nice to stroll around. Granville Island also quite interesting, but parking is almost impossible when they've stuff going on.

Oh, and if you haven't already, book ferries over to Vancouver Island (plus ideally overnight accomodation in Victoria - we did a day-trip and felt like we missed out), and a whale-watching trip. Saw mother-and-calf Humpbacks, about a hundred seals/sea-lions, and quite a lot of a couple of pods of Orca - highlight of our holiday, fantastic day! biggrin
We used Eagle Wing who were very professional and had a quick, modern speedboat which meant they could cover more ground. They also didn't watch the clock - the morning tour got back 45mins late giving them 15mins to grab a burger and refuel before taking us out, and we actually got back to harbour just after sunset, probably 1hr late!

weeowen

119 posts

235 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
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We had a week in Vancouver last Summer.What a great city,you'll love it.
We tried this place one night........ http://www.glowbalgrill.com/
Not the cheapest place but very nice & friendly.
For a nice value meal try here.We went to the one near the coast..........http://www.urbanfare.com/
We had a great rib of beef with all the trimmings for about $12 each.A bit cafeteria style but very nice food.

sawman

5,170 posts

260 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
quotequote all
just try to avoid Tim Hortons no matter how thirsty you might be - there may be a huge queue at the drive through but his doesnt mean its any good, stick to starbucks and 2nd cup for coffee breaks

Maxf

8,444 posts

271 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
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weeowen said:
We tried this place one night........ http://www.glowbalgrill.com/
I was there at Christmas - I second glowbal grill - very nice.

dj_mdma

101 posts

249 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
quotequote all
Go to the SandBar on Granville Island, for some great seafood. I recommend the Arctic Char. That is an amazing bit of fish. Try and get the table right in the corner that overlooks the bay...

Joe Forte's which is just on Thurlow near Burrard is a fantastic restaurant, but pretty pricy...It does have a really nice roof terrace with an open fire that is very cosy.

Chambar is a cosy restaurant with a modern European menu, which is very good, but not as good as the finer French places in London.

Finally, Seasons in the Park, has some great food and atmosphere topped up with some incredible views! The beef carpaccio is to die for. There is also an outdoor terrace with open fires which has views that overlook most of the city and it looks spectacular at night.

benmc

546 posts

278 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
quotequote all
Keg is a nice steakhouse.

Also look up this place

http://www.dbbistro.ca/

Nice food. Working a try

Ben

A993LAD

2,138 posts

251 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
quotequote all
I remember dining in the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower in the city centre. The food was nothing special bit it was ok and the view on a summer evening was fantastic.




Grey Ghost

Original Poster:

4,611 posts

250 months

Wednesday 9th February 2011
quotequote all
Great stuff folks, all appreciated lick

Egbert Nobacon

2,835 posts

273 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
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Yex, give my Father a ring - his sister has lived in Vancouver for 30+ years and would be able to point you in the right direction.

Easty-5

1,423 posts

220 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
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Make sure you tip the waiter regardless of food quality and service. It's expected of you. smile

Grey Ghost

Original Poster:

4,611 posts

250 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
Egbert Nobacon said:
Yex, give my Father a ring - his sister has lived in Vancouver for 30+ years and would be able to point you in the right direction.
Merci my good man. I'll be out for a beer or 8 with your younger sibling in few weeks so will pop in then biggrin

mcflurry

9,190 posts

283 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
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The Keg is an awesome chain IMHO smile

NailedOn

3,118 posts

265 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
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The restaurant atop Grouse Mountain does a great lobster menu. Dependent on your itinerary, you may want to book. Fantastic views and a memorable cable car ride too.
One of my favourite places.

Super Slo Mo

5,374 posts

228 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
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mcflurry said:
The Keg is an awesome chain IMHO smile
I'd second that.

It isn't seafood or steak, but Sophies is worth a visit if you fancy a bit of a change. It's a kitsch old school american diner, but the food is pretty good. They do a mean club sandwich, if you do manage to finish it, you'll be struggling to walk afterwards, it's huge.

http://www.sophiescosmiccafe.com/

Otherwise, there's a nice Seafood place down near the airport in Richmond. It's probably a 10 minute walk from the Urbanrail station at Bridgport.

Haliatus

331 posts

202 months

Friday 18th February 2011
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Perfect location with cocktails, fresh seafood and steaks. You got to head to The Boathouse. Right on the front corner of Burnaby Street and Beach Avenue.

Whoozit

3,881 posts

299 months

Friday 18th February 2011
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I second the Boathouse, nice location too.

Also I ate very well at CinCin and Diva at the Met a few years ago. Tojo's has a great reputation for sushi but I've heard is rather dear for what it is. I haven't tried Blue Water Cafe, but it is consistently mentioned in the press and is a sister restaurant to Araxi in Whistler which is spectacular.


anonymous-user

84 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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+1 for The Keg.

For seafood, try Coast (coastrestaurant.ca). Very, very good food.

Cardero's is a great location if the weather is nice.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 19th February 10:27

Grey Ghost

Original Poster:

4,611 posts

250 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
Marvellous stuff so far biggrin

Might have to declare myself as exccess baggage on the flight home thumbup

Roo

11,504 posts

237 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
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Any tips?

Minimum of 20% or they'll chase you out the door calling you a cheapskate.









Sorry, my mistake. That's America, not Canada. ;-)