An anchor in Vancouver’s culinary landscape, Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar is lauded as the City’s definitive destination for seafood. Executive Chef Frank Pabst brilliantly executes innovative West Coast plates, insisting on using seafood from wild and sustainable harvest. At the raw bar, cut master Yoshi Tabo has his own dedicated following for his expert sushi and sashimi..
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Reviews
Added Nov 2, 2009 by JooJoo of East Vancouver (63 Reviews) Expected more but still good.
Service was good, we were greeted immediately as we entered, as soon as we sat down our waiter appeared! The vodka cocktail was weak though, did not enjoy my drink at all, kinda bland and too much ice! I really enjoyed the selections on the 2 tiers of seafood tower! The oysters were really good, jellyfish salad was okay, smoked salmon was average, scallops and mussels were good, shrimp was okay. I loved the plating and decor on the tiers! Not sure about my entree, had the Arctic Char, the mushrooms were way too salty to my liking, but I enjoyed the mini pearl pasta around the dish. The Beef Tenderloin was cooked well but nothing special, it came with a fresh baked macaroni and cheese with spinach, it was creamy and had a crunchy top. Dessert was good, cheesecake was light and sweet perfect to end the night, but I did not like the super sour mandarin in the cheese cake though, it was way off!! Yikes! Overall dinner was okay, guess after all the great reviews we expected more. |
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| Added Aug 28, 2009 by foodranger of Vancouver (4 Reviews) Never Lets Me Down
This is short and sweet...Blue Water never lets me down. The service is always amazing and the food is incredible. Sat at the Sushi Bar last week and didn't want to leave. I have nothing negative to say about Blue Water and can only hope that other restaurants will rise to this level. I can see why they win so many awards and have such praise. I have sent many people here and when I can't think of anywhere to go, I end up back here! |
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| Added Aug 28, 2009 by shellyBjolly of Vancity (13 Reviews) Always a sure bet
Upon many many visits over the years, we've always been happy and more than satisfied with this restaurant. Great service, a phenomenal ambiance and a great menu. There's a reason why this place is always busy even on weekdays.
Had fresh s sushi made from the sushi bar and my date and I spent our evening with a couple of nice bottles of wine.
My number one spot in Yaletown. |
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| Added Aug 21, 2009 by klotcheedawl of N Bby (1 Reviews) Best restaurant in Vancouver
I treated my husband to a birthday dinner here last year, and it was by far the best meal of his life. I had never seen him that grateful towards me before! =) The food is a bit overpriced (what do you expect in Yaletown?), which is why we will only come for special occasions. My husband was blown away by the extensive Scotch selection (the menu claimed it strives to have the best, largest selection in British Columbia), the quality and taste of the seafood item he ordered, and the overall elegant, simple, classy atmosphere. The sushi items were delicious but way overpriced. I ate ahi tuna and beef tataki, and both were equally fantastic. We will definitely be back for his next birthday! |
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| Added Jul 30, 2009 by ac2001 of downtown, Vancouver (3 Reviews) The wine list is great!
We really enjoyed the Blue Water Cafe. We were 6 people around a nice size round table; it was very convivial. The food was very good and the plates presentation were very nicely done. Also, they had very fresh half shell oysters. atmosphere was both warm and vibrant, as we could see from the dinning room all the cooks in action in the kitchen. They have a very nice, if not impressive, wine list. I was in the mood for great fish and I was totally satisfied with my salmon dish. The three-level plate of sushis and raw fish assortment that we ordered for the table as an appetizer was amazing |
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| Added Jul 23, 2009 by cortani of vancouver (2 Reviews) Consistent
we went to BlueWater for 4th time an they are consistent with their service and quality of food.
excellent "Seafood Tower " which consisted of FRESH seafood and sushi which is a favorite of ours.
Parkings a little problem in Yaletown but theres always Valet.
It was extremely busy so the server could of been alittle more attentive |
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| Added May 9, 2009 by ic_bu of Vancouver (2 Reviews) seriously overrated
We are a couple that LOVES sushi and tried almost every notable japanese restaurant in vancouver. We found this place on this site and decided to try it out. First of all, we had the lobster soup as a starter.. did I say lobster? Me and my gf's bowls had NO lobster at all. Apparently, they are "minced" into the soup.
Ok, on to the sushi. So you might expect something different if they are charging you $10+ for a roll. WRONG. We tried the dungeness crab roll which had almost no flavour to it, and the dynamite which was nothing special either. And the nigiris.. ok they were fresh, but they tasted just about the same as other decent japanese restaurants. The only good thing I remember was the sablefish, I mean sablefish is always good anyways.
Since we came here we decided to have dessert as well.. which were of course in the $10+ range. We had no drinks whatsoever and the bill came out to $130.
The food was decent as best. Was it worth the price? NO. At a top restaurant like this, you should feel full and delighted despite the price you pay. We had none of that feeling whatsoever. In fact, I felt like I was scammed.
Will not return ever.
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| Added Apr 22, 2009 by jbadhu of vancouver (1 Reviews) Seriously? Worst Value ever.
So me and a few girlfriends went out to try this place. We had all been meaning to try out Blue Water for some time. Well let me tell you...WASTE OF MONEY! The room is pretty decent but a bit cavernous (The place is huge). As for the food, it was decent but not even close to being worth the money we paid. Oh, and the service is average at best. Our waiter was snooty and reeked of cigarette smoke. EW! With so many new restaurants out there that offer value I don't know why anyone would eat at a place like this. I musn't be alone in my thinking as the place was also pretty slow, with like 20 waiters/waitresses all standing around looking bored. I might try Blue Water again...but only if I won the lottery. |
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| Added Feb 28, 2009 by peppe of Burnaby (23 Reviews) 5 bottles of wine and 2,000 bill later...
We were recently invited along with 5 other guests.
Food
Oysters' lovers heaven! We had a good selection.
We had a chef's best sashimi selections. It was very well presented, very fresh.
Wine
The host made the choice based on Sommelier's recommendations, all excellent. I'm not a wine expert but even I can taste how good those choices were.
For Entree I had the ‘Kobe Style’ Beef Short Ribs, it was deluxe, hard to describe how good it is. I had a good wine to go with that too.
They presented a good selection of bite size dessert and fruit platter. I even made a special request to have a chocolate fondu dip for the fruit and they gladly accommodated.
Server is very knowledgable, about different kinds of oysters, also made great recommendations.
Place is pricy but in my opinion worth every part of it for the outstanding culinary experience. |
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| Added Feb 22, 2009 by Sakura of Vancouver (2 Reviews) One of the best services we had
My boyfriend and I were there for DOV for the first time and we were happy with our choice.
Although there were people lining up, but we got a pre-booked table the moment we walked into the place. Lots people already commented on the foods so I wont mention much about it. The only thing was that my boyfriend said he was not really full afterwards ( I guess it happens with lot places during DOV).
One thing I love about this place was the service. The waiter was very courteous and checked back with us frequently although it was very busy, and always had eye contacts with us when he asked us how things were and everytime we said thank you. One of the best services we had during DOV, or even just regular dine outs at other places. |
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| Added Feb 3, 2009 by anton of Greater Van (20 Reviews) DOV experience
So many people already commented on their DOV experince, so I will try not to repeat. Yes, the tuna tataki was divine. So fresh, and the dressing complements very nicely with the fish. The pork did seem to be on the dry side, but mainly due to the part of the pig it came from, and the BBQ sauce did tasta a bit store-bought. Desserts are not bad, but I was not wow-ed by it. However, no one had mentioned the complimentary bread basket, and the delicious chick-pea dip, with free refill. I got to say, they definitely did not skimp on the food portion. I was really full after. I personally quite like the decor of the restaurant. You can see the details, but you don't feel a ounce of pretention, and you can get into a lively conversation with friends without being afraid of disturbing other patrons. Although it was very very busy, with continuous line-up, we never felt any pressure to get the bill and give back the table. |
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| Added Jan 30, 2009 by feel100 of richmond (30 Reviews) Almost Prefect
This is my first time go there for DOV. First impression, a lot of people there.
Food is excellent, cannot even complaint anything. Must try the Osyter, so fresh. Even i am not the person who like eating Osyter, i love it. Start, main course and dessert is prefect.
Service is very friendly, they treat you like high value client. Also, I can see all waiters are fully trained. They know everything on Wine and Osyter list. Impress, Not so many restaurant can do that.
DOV menu is good price. However, the side order is very expensive.
That is not a restaurant for candle dinner. But the atmosphere make people feel very comfortable.
I am extremely satisfy the service and food. And i will strongly recommendate to my friend go there for sure. ** MuSt go back **
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| Added Jan 27, 2009 by frugalgourmet of Vancouver (73 Reviews) Solid DOV 2009 experience
I arrived about 45 min late for my DOV reservation due to parking difficulties/Canucks home game night, and my friend was made to feel comfortable by our waiter. Good start! SInce she was told by the hostess that there would be a 1.5 hour maximum for DOV diners.
The Tuna tataki starter with a ponzu and mayo dressing was lovely - quite generous in their portions too.
Arctic char was nicely cooked. Really loved the bed of belgua lentil, pearl onion and vanilla butter that accompanied the fish.
Key lime cheesecake was on the tart side, but the house made maple ice cream was a good counterbalance to the tart with its sweet, creaminess, heavenly!
Altogether a worthwhile and memorable DOV experience! |
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| Added Jan 22, 2009 by Balmy of Burnaby (50 Reviews) Good Value DOV 2009
We were a group of 8 people who went to the restaurant for the DOV menu. The ambiance was really great. Very romantic atmosphere. Since the meal was $38 for the three course, it was a great value compared to the regular menu items. I ordered the Matane Shrimp Salad, Kurobota Pork and Apple Raisin Bread Pudding. The shrimp salad was okay. I didn't find it impressive as the other two appetizers. It was basically lettuce with shrimp, grapefruit and avocado. I didn't finish my salad and gave the rest of it to my friend. He was hungry enough to take my offer. Next item was the pork. It was really tender. The cornbread was a good texture to match the meat. The sauce went well with entree. The Hazelnut + Almond Meringue was a better choice than my Bread Pudding. I found my dessert to be average. It tasted okay, but the presentation for all of the food was amazing. Their regular menu is actually better than the DOV one. However, the price made it worth the visit. Service was fast. A number of people came by and cleared all our plates shortly after we were done with each course. I got the impression they were really trying to get us out before the 1.5 hr that was set for DOV customers. We were told before we were seated that only that much time was alloted unless we were eating off the regular menu. I guess they were trying very hard to maximize the number of people eating at the restaurant. If you haven't been to this restaurant before, it a good way to try their food. However, you should just eat off of the regular menu. |
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| Added Jan 20, 2009 by fluffyyy of Vancouver (2 Reviews) Poor service and decent food for Dine Out 2009
My boyfriend and I decided to go to Dine Out at Blue Water Cafe as there very good reviews on dinehere.ca about the restaurant. It was our first time there and we enjoyed the atmosphere as we were seated in the cozy wine-cellarish dining room. However, the service that we had expected at a high-class restaurant was severely lacking. It appeared that the staff simply wanted to get us in and out as the staff had not frequently checked up on us to ensure we were okay and they did not try to make small talk with us at all. I am not sure if the Dine Out courses are reflective of a regular meal at Blue Water Cafe, but the only dish that we found exceptional was the Tataki (appetizer). The rest of the dishes were decent. |
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| Added Jan 18, 2009 by qky of Vancouver (4 Reviews) Delicious Modern Japanese Food and Very Nice Ambience
The place has a very nice decor and is definitely suited most for a romantic dinner for two, although it will be a very nice place to take your good friends too. Service was prompt and excellent. The food was very nice Japanese food with a bit of Modern touch. The tuna tataki was very delicious and not fishy at all; the sauce was also not as sour as the other tuna tataki's I've tried. The kurobuta pork entree was simply outstanding, although my date and I thought the desert was so-so. They also have a very nice selection of wines. Overall, I would definitely come back to taste the other food in there. |
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| Added Jan 16, 2009 by zach_food of Vancouver (32 Reviews) Standard DOV - worth it, if you aren't expecting the real thing
Contrary to the previous review, I had a solid to outstanding (using dinehere terminology) outing last night at Blue Water. First of all, the outstanding side of the visit. The service was as good as I’ve had for regular dinners and the room had a nice buzz last night as early as 6:30, no doubt due to Dine Out and some pre-Canuck people. Dine Out is a decent value but it still costs $60 per person for food, wine, tip/tax, and parking (at a $38 dollar joint) and there are enough restaurants where I can do that and order what I want, that DOV isn’t tops on my list of must dos. Food was what I expected. Well prepared but not extravagant. I thought the veloute was a nice, rich soup, with the salty pancetta and earthy truffle oil playing nicely against the white bean texture. The salad looked OK but nothing special there. The Artic Char was actually quite rich with the sauce, and the fish and vegetables were perfectly cooked. The Braised pork shoulder was tender (I only had to use a fork), and the jus and BBQ sauce had a nice kick to it. The vegetarian dish was a big hit, great saffron sauce and a well-built vegetable tian made it the surprise of the night. Desserts, however, were the low light. Cheesecake was sour, not key lime, and marshmallows did nothing for the dish. The meringue had average flavour, though the texture contrast was nice. They were also more than willing to sub in a dessert due to dietary restrictions. All in all, what I would expect from DOV at a restaurant of Blue Water’s pedigree. For $38 dollars (just slightly more than the price of an entrée on a regular night or less, in many cases), you can only expect so much and either you except that and enjoy or have unrealistic expectations and leave disappointed. They did a good enough job, in my opinion, to entice a patron back for the real thing, knowing there is still more to experience on the food side of things. |
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| Added Jan 15, 2009 by vwou of vancouver (24 Reviews) Bad food DOV
I knew the food quality is bit worse during DOV but I didn't expect this bad.
1) White Bean & truffle Veloute: first impression in my mouth: taste like alfredo sauce with bacon bits. what? where am I, Denny's?
2) Artic Char: very average..bleh
3) 24 hr braised pork shoulder: dry like hell and no flavor,felt like eating a boiled thick piece of pork. braised for 24hrs? in what? water? had to wash it down with a glass of water
4) Lime cheese cake: all I could taste is super sourness, no lime or cheese taste. Got bits of charred mini marshmellow on top. what the heck? it doesnt look good nor did it complement the flavors. Did some apprentice dreamed this up sitting on the toilet?
Service was not bad but I left feeling totally ripped off for $38 + tax + tips per person. |
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| Added Jan 14, 2009 by breitlingman of vancouver (2 Reviews) I love the seafood here
I've always loved coming to BWC, and whenever there is a special occasion, this is my restaurant of choice. I like raw fish and seafood, and in Vancouver there are very few that have the quality that Blue Water does.
I have not had their non-seafood dishes ever before, so I can't comment. Perhaps I will have the opportunity when we go to the DOV later this month.
The Tuna there is fantastic, with the Ahi Tuna carpacio one of the best raw tuna appy's I have ever had. A bit heavier on the sauce, but that is what makes it different and makes it something more than just standard ahi tuna. The Boulliabase is the best I have ever had, and is an outstanding value at under $30 for this kind of restaurant. My favourite appetizers here are the sashimi dishes, however. The Tuna Gomaee is AMAZING. I don't know what else to say about it besides that. It is such a great tasting dish, and the fish is fresh. The other Sashimi appy that is really good is the Scallop Sashimi. It is mixed in a sort of japanese mayo with flying fish roe spread throughout... and it is melt-in-your mouth good.
Every time I go here it does not disappoint! Great atmosphere too if you like something with a little more energy and on the casual side of fine dining. |
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| Added Nov 18, 2008 by cmor35 of vancouver (1 Reviews) Very Disappointing
I don't mind dropping some dollars on dinner but when I do, I expect good food. Entrees on this dinner menu are extremely overpriced and the food was disappointing.
The lobster ceviche appetizer is just killed with spicy chili mayonnaise. Served with a garnish of deep fried garbanzo beans that disintigrate when you bite into them and taste like whatever was in the fryer just before them. What a let down.
The quail appetizer gave us hope for the rest of the meal and did indeed turn out to be the best part.
The tenderloin was certainly tender. A nice steak and a tasty jus. No complaints there but the stilton mac and cheese au gratin was severely disappointing! Browned panko crumb on top of mushy pasta sautee...does not a gratin make. That side dish could be fantastic, but wow, you really missed the boat on that one.
For the inflated price of that entree plus the additional charge for a side of vegetables, it should've been fantastic!
If it wasn't for a lovely dessert, especially the Mont Blanc, some good wine and aperitifs and a charming server, the whole evening would've been a waste. |
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| Added Nov 4, 2008 by itadakimasu of Bby & VanCity (40 Reviews) Great but not unique
Two of us dined here on a weeknight and place was 80% full while other nearby spots were nearly empty. Sat near the sushi bar and started out with raw oysters which were great; good selection of west and east coast. Next went with sushi which is as good as it gets in Vancity (but New York prices; $5+ for one red tuna nigiri) but limited selection. The entrees were salmon which looked good, and shrimp cocktail appy which was kind of bland. dessert and a beer, wine and sake and the bill is $260 + tip. Overall a good meal and setting but way over my budget if it were not a business meal. |
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| Added Sep 28, 2008 by terutt of Point Grey, Vancouver (1 Reviews) Phenominal meal, some nitpicks
I'll keep it short and to the point, Blue Water has a well deserved reputation. The waiter was cordial and knowledgeable when asked questions, the busboys were near invisible, like it should be. The open kitchen allowed us to see the cooks at work, and they look like virtuosos indeed. The fruits de mer were artfully presented, and the oysters (you get an assortment) were very fresh. My mother's sturgeon was perfectly cooked, and my tenderloin was well seasoned, and juicy, also, the accompanying chanterelles were sweet as almonds, and the blue cheese macaroni gratin, was sharp and fragrant. Brilliant wine list too. I didn't go overboard with the wine selection, but the ones we got (suggested by the waiter) were beautiful.
And now for some nitpicks: The first thing I noticed was that the music was wrong. It was bassy, beaty hip hop. I'd get it if I was dining was Cactus Club, but not a place like Blue Water. It almost blew the ambiance for me, but the rest of the room was very well done, and the open kitchen had me sold, so not a huge thing. I was focusing on the food mostly anyway. Also, I ordered a Hendrick's Gin and Tonic, it's meant to be garnished with a cucumber, but it came with lime. I suppose if you stock the gin, you should know how to present it.
In conclusion, aside from a few hiccups, the night was sublime from start to finish. |
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| Added Sep 12, 2008 by Waldorf of Vancouver (1 Reviews) One of the worst dining experiences ever...
Without going into every gory detail of this unacceptable dining experience, I'll just say that:
1) We got thrown out of a list waiting for a table inside, while we were waiting on the outside patio.
2) Got an "apology" from the manager and were asked to stay, (my suspicion is that they just didn't want to throw out the food that we already ordered for the inside (and have repeatedly told them so).
3) To amend for mistake one person from the company was offered, and indeed got a free drink, but not the rest of the party. The manager must think she's really smooth.
4) Now, you would think that with such abysmal service we would at least get tolerable entrees. NO SUCH LUCK. The sushi were warm, and when asked for baked oysters, they even ambitiously attempted to cook Oysters Rockefeller! Or at least that's what they called them. I imagine that nasal discharge tastes better.
5) The ambiance inside was very nice indeed (music, lighting, washroom...). For outside, a place such as this should have sufficient number of heating lamps. They also need a new manager, and new hostesses. |
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| Added Aug 6, 2008 by garammasala of North Vancouver (6 Reviews) Good all around
The previous critics don't lie, it's a pricy place but it must be paid for the BWC.
The food is top of the line. 2 of us went and started with sushi. I've been to my share of good and bad sushi restaurants and this was among the top. Had the beef tenderloin (strange considering I was at a seafood place, but anyways..) and it was cooked to perfection. The dishes are a bit smaller but we had come in on empty stomachs and after the few dishes were full.
The raw feeling of the restaurant is what makes it special. Most Yaletown restaurants do have that same brick feel, but the way the BWC was lit up and table placement, etc. it really is a great environment to be in.
The service was good. Not incredible, but good. It wasn't a busy night so I expected more from my server, but didn't get it.
Dinner for 2 plus drinks came to under $150 incl tax & tip.
Highly recommend. |
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| Added Apr 21, 2008 by bitemebaby of Kitsilano (7 Reviews) Great ... but you get what you pay for
If you spend $80,000 you get a great car. If you spend $300 you get a great meal. Don't freak when you get the bill. It is expensive but the food is fantastic. The Tuna tartare for example is the best I have tasted. The sushi puts the beats on other high-end places like Tojo (which serves their sushi too cold). The entrees were all great. The service is excellent and holy smokes do they have a big scotch list. Very impressive. I live on an expense budget so I am fine with dropping $300 every now and again ... but once again ... don't be fooled by "cafe" in the name. This ain't no cafe ... its valet. |
| Added Mar 21, 2008 by sinner of North Vancouver (74 Reviews) Excellent place for a corporate event...
Hosted a supper here with 10 clients a couple of days ago. The crew at Blue Water do a great job of accomodating requests. We had a couple of seafood towers - shrimp, oysters, scallops in shell, all on ice. I had the beef tenderloin which was cooked to perfection. Everyone else loved their dish - white sturgeon was the other choice...
What is great about this restaurant is the ambiance and the service. The service is professional and attentive. The decor, with the exposed brick and the wall to wall wines makes quite an impression. The evening came to 180 dollars per person but was definitely worth it. |
| Added Mar 19, 2008 by krikihana of Vancouver (3 Reviews) Expectations Exceeded!
Unlike the other ratings we did not go for DOV. And each meal came to 4 times as much as the DOV price not including wine. But, it was worth every penny! This is what you expect when you go out to eat!
The food was absolutely amazing. We each had a 5 taster starter - RAVE reviews. Followed by oysters that we heavenly. Following, I had the tuna and my husband had the sable fish for our main course. Everything about the food was stellar!
Service - it was service I would expect from a mid-range restaurant. The waiter did not place my napkin and removal of the cutlery was distracting - at one point we were interrupted and a waitress asked me to pass her the refuse from my chopsticks! Unacceptable in my opinion.
The ambiance is nice. If I were to be picky I would say that it is a bit outdated and could use a revamp. But, that would be being VERY picky! It is nice - no complaints! Kind of coastal cute. |
| Added Jan 28, 2008 by mayo of Burnaby (18 Reviews) Lovely oyster
Went there for DOV 08 last night with my parents. We ordered 3 courses from the dine out menu, and a dozen of oyster from the chef's selection.
For the dine out menu, food were great overall. My mother's Kazuo Tataki was very fresh. But my Seafood Trio was great on the look only; taste is just ok, and all 3 preperations were room temperature....... I expected clam fritter would be hot (at least warmer than room temperature), and scallop ceviche would be chilled. For the main, Arctic Char dish was impressive, everything on the dish was nicely balanced. Dessert was awesome. My father isn't a dessert lover, but he couldn't stop on his piece of cheesecake.
And about the oysters. A guy (not our server) probably from the raw bar came to our table and presented to us. So he told us which is which and where they are from. But when I asked him about what one we should start with, he was confused for a second or two. And he said we could start with the ones from local west coast first and then the east coast ones. But the direction he gave was a miss.... Generally you would go from mild to strong, but last night.... it was like random; salty, fresh, mild (which became favourless after the nice fresh one), and sweet. I know oysters can taste different all the time and that's why I asked before I ate. It would be better if they know how their oysters taste like THAT DAY before they serving them to customers. Especially you called it "chef's selection".
But overall, outstanding oysters and great DOV experience. |
| Added Jan 27, 2008 by 148jules of Quebec & 18th (31 Reviews) Most impressed!
Dine Out (DO) is not the best occasion to review restaurants but this being my first time here (booked by someone else before the opera) I can't believe what I've been missing!!!
The DO menu had a nice variety (can't understand Warsaw's complaint below about wanting more seafood options!?!? as 3/7 of our party ordered the beef striploin). Portions were not small and the presentation was superb. They were not stingy with the bread rolls (other DO restaurants that were charging for bread or not offering the basket at all). I had the Seafood Trio of prawn, scallops and a crab fritter (yes it was flavourful); the Arctic Char was incredible (I took my time eating it as I wanted to savour it) and the Pumpkin Panna Cotta (a complex dessert of panna cotta, tahitian(?) angel food cake and ice cream) ... the dessert was the weakest link (the cheesecake was a hit with the others) but overall I had a fantastic meal. The rest of the party thoroughly enjoyed their dinner.
The service was impeccable! No attitude at all and the servers worked like clockwork bringing the various courses to the table. I was most impressed!
I appreciated the fact that there was a limited ala carte menu as well as many items from the fresh seafood bar. I will definitely be back! |
| Added Jan 25, 2008 by feebs of Yaletown (4 Reviews) DOV '08 - Elegant Dining
The Dineout menu looked very yummy so we decided to give it a try. And we always had a urge to try it when we walked by.
Food: We gave the oysters a try and it was quite interesting. I had a bad oyster experience previously elsewhere but this was much better than i expected. I had the Seafood trio, which was good. Presentation was good, but not that much taste. Next i had the Albacore char with rice. It was the best choice i think. The rice was soft, not like normal caucasian rice, which i was greatful for. Dessert was average... I've forgotten what i had. So i had to check. I had the Cheesecake, which was okay... but nothing i couldn't find frozen in the Superstore aisle.
Service: GREAT! I have to admit, to a previous poster, cassey, we went on the 22nd as well and our table was probably yours because we were running like 25 minutes late and stayed 20 minutes later than was allowed. Sorry! But the servers showed no sign of impatience, and the hostesses did not seem annoyed that we were late. It was pleasant all around.
Ambience: Not crowded at all, pretty bright, full view of the kitchen, and not loud!
I would definitely go there again, but maybe on a special occasion. |
| Added Jan 23, 2008 by dineoutvancouver of vancouver (4 Reviews) This place is a MUST-visit!!!!
It was my first visit to the Blue Water Cafe, thanks to the DOV!
My boyfriend made a reservation at 7:30pm and they didn't make us wake when we got there. They had a very friendy and warm atmosphere, I percieved as soon as I sat down and lasted throughout the time I stayed! Kazuo Tuna for appetizer was delicately done with its just right sauce, while Seafood trio was somewhat less tasty than the tuna. The Roasted Beef Striploin entree was tender but kind of felt nothing so special about it, and the dessert was great. Also the timings between courses were just great--not too short that you have enough time to chat with your company or too long that you start wondering 'when will be the next dish served?'.
On the top of the food, the service was incredible provided by our server, Jeremy C, very friendly and listens to customers' need very carefully. And I have no doubts that any other server in the restaurant would do pretty much the same.
I think a great restaurant cannot only be defined by its quality of foods, but also the great services they provide. And this place is the whole pakage! I loved my first experience with the Blue Water Cafe!!!
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| Added Jan 22, 2008 by casseybanks of Burnaby (8 Reviews) Excellent DOV 2008 Night
went with the hubby to Blue Water for Dine Out 2008. We had a really good time. the place was busy, but we expected that. We had to wait for our table, only because the customers ahead of us had not left yet. No matter, we had a drink at the bar first. Our sever was very attentive and knowledgable. Even though it was busy we were not made to feel rushed, which was much appreciated.
Definately worth the visit. Will be back again. |
| Added Dec 14, 2007 by DawnTart of Burnaby (47 Reviews) Lives up to its reputation
Went for a lunch with the department from a mid sized law firm. There were 15 of us for lunch. We were able to choose from a set menu of three appys, three entrees and two desserts.
We were given four seafood towers which were quite unbelievable. Everything was on ice and very fresh. Cooked mussels (plump), scallops and prawns (could have been a little less cooked). Raw oysters, two types of sushi (good but nothing spectacular as the rice was too stuck together). Jellyfish, smoked salmon and ahi tuna were outstanding. Oysters Rockefeller appy was ordered and I had one and it was tasty.
Appy was the dungeness crab and potato cake. It came with avocado and was very good. Flavours were really nice.
Entree was sablefish aka Alaskan Black Cod. Cooked to perfection on a small bed of mashed potatoes and pea sprouts (really amazing).
Dessert was chocolate cake with a dollop of ice cream. Cake was really rich and couldn't get through all of it. Would have been better if it wasn't a lava cake. It was served with caramel and a thin fortune like cookie. It didn't need the caramel as it was overdone to me. Sorbet looked like it was a much better choice.
Everything was beautifully served and service was excellent. Servers were professional, unobtrusive and extremely attentive. They took great care to give us excellent service.
Would definitely like to come back as it was probably one of the best higher end restaurants I have been to. |
| Added Dec 2, 2007 by omg of Surrey (3 Reviews) OK, this is pretty good.
I hope the management doesnt decide to add 20 more tables to the restaurant( add more, lesser the quality, not ALL the time)
The kitchen staff are all from one point or another from EARLS(Weird, theres a similarity to the "fine dining" restaurants) so the cooks are used to High volume restaurants.
Out of all the high volume restaurants, this one is probably the best.
Now if I can only find a romantic restaurant(40-120 seats) that gives this much effort to their food and customers.
By the way, the kitchen is clean(from what I saw at least)
Tip: Never eat in a restaurant that has a dirty kitchen, a microwave, or one that has no discipline!!!) |
| Added Nov 12, 2007 by Zanzibargirl of Yaletown, Vancouver (11 Reviews) One of Vancouver's finest
I ate here twice in October 2007 and was impressed both times by the quality of the food, the ambience, and the service. Waitstaff are professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. The food is very well done. The ambience is good and they are one of the few good restaurants on the street that serves after 10 pm. It's expensive but it's worth it, a great place to take someone you want to impress. |
| Added Nov 10, 2007 by Jhanson of Vancouver (3 Reviews) A classic that doesn't grow old
We have now enjoyed Blue Water Cafe for a few years and never had a bad experience.
We love the fact that you can have sushi but also great European food and both of the best grade.
Service is always attentive well trained and knowledgeable. A big difference with a few places who say they do fine dining.
Love the wine list one of the best in the city and the wine room show the fact they pay attention to the storage of it.
Keep the good work and we will be back
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| Added Aug 23, 2007 by foodinvancouver of vancouver (7 Reviews) Love the Sushi bar
Blue Water is one of my favourite restaurants when I visit Yaletown. I love to sit at the Sushi bar and watch the chefs at work. On my last visit we had a few Citrus Bomb martini's and a selection of sushi. I have to admit that I don't recall everything we had because the martini's definately got me "bombed". I love the decor in the room and the buzz. Looking forward to coming in for a dinner in the dining room. |
| Added Jul 20, 2007 by foodiebabe of Victoria (18 Reviews) Fresh, contemporary flavours
Yes this place is expensive, but we thoroughly enjoyed the food and felt that it was worth the high prices, if only for the imaginative and well-crafted flavours. We ordered the daily special appy to share, which was a persimmon and fennel salad, with fresh, clean summer flavours. We both ordered a special of the day - jumbo scallop for me and dry-cured steak for hub, and both were excellent. The steak was a good portion, but the scallop dish had two scallops only. I know they were jumbos, but still, they weren't gigantic and I think at that price they should have served at least four! Dessert was the lemon tart with raspberry sorbet, which was also very tasty, but small. We usually find that most restaurants are generous with their dessert portions - not here. Definitely too small to share. Overall, the food was fabulous, and hats off to the kitchen for creating those flavours.
Service however did not match up. Although knowledgeable and attentive, it was insincere. The wait staff seemed to be trying quite hard to be as snooty as they could be. They should learn to smile. A 'fine dining' establishment doesn't have to have snobby servers. So we give service a rating of 3.
So overall, expensive but we really enjoyed the food. |
| Added Mar 15, 2007 by David Lee of Richmond, Vancouver (26 Reviews) Unbelievably Expensive!
So I took my SO to this highly touted seafood restaurant.
Here's the food review.
We ordered a lot of food. Not because it was THAT good, it was because it was THAT small, and very, very overpriced.
Beef Sashimi - It was yummy, a hint of smokey flavour, but $20 for 7 paper-thin slices? It was good but I could have easily got 3 orders of 'also pretty good' Beef sashimi at most Japanese restaurants for the same price, that's a lot more beef.
Wild Prawns - Wow they were the biggest prawns I've ever ate, very large and quite juicy, but was it sitting in salt water too long? It was a bit salty even though the oil/sauce they used for this plate wasn't salty. 4 pieces for $17, you be the judge.
Ahi Tuna - I felt that the toppings didn't mix very well with the tuna. The tuna itself was flattened so much I couldn't really taste it that well.
Swimming Scallops - Tasted pretty good. It had a little bit of bread crumbs(?) on top, good texture, quite a fine dish. Only qualm was, once again, so much for so little. $15?
Fresh Oysters - Can't really mess this up, very fresh 'n clean. It had a very refreshing sauce to go with it too, not sure what it was, some vinegrette and shallots?
Lobster - Quite juicy, this dish was very good albiet a bit rubbery but maybe I'm just overly picky since I eat out a lot.
Dessert was not very memorable, except for the fact that it was 10+ dollars.
The white that the waitress recommended to us was actually quite enjoyable. She was also fairly attentative to fill our glasses quiet promptly.
Ambiance was nothing spectacular. I like how they put up a TV at the bar showing what's really going on in the kitchen + sushi bar.
Overall the night was pleasant but holy what a dent in my wallet! The bill was over $300 for the 2 of us!
Don't get me wrong I am definitely not 'cheap' but it's just that I've ate at many places and I've had much better for much cheaper. |
| Added Mar 10, 2007 by mottel of Prince George (1 Reviews) Inconsistency detracts from quality
A poor overall rating would be appropriate when compared with previous visits.
The food is not half-bad, unfortunately some is served in miniature portions, some is served well below foodsafe temperatures. This could be partly due to abominable service during the last visit, when the waiter could not get his priorities straight and left food to sit for a lengthy period before deigning to serve. The ambience has not really changed, but the noise level in the restaurant is on the verge of being intolerable. Near my table several tables were moved together to accomodate large groups of people, who would have fit in better at a pub or banquet hall. The Blue Water Cafe appears to place profit above the comfort of dining patrons. Overall the food served, the poor service, and the noisy ambience were not in keeping with previous standards, of what now seems to be just another overpriced hangout for would-be gourmet snobs. |
| Added Feb 25, 2007 by YumFresh of Vancouver (3 Reviews) Simply Fresh
At Blue Water, not only will you get great service, you also get to sample some of the fresh variety the sea! We have recently had one of the best oysters as well as the sockeye salmom sashimi in town. They have a variety of sushi rolls that are very tasty as well! If you are looking for quantity, you're in the wrong place. The price is fair consider the quality of food. The winelist is extremely extensive. A good seafood restaurant is determined by how simple they serve their dishes, it's really the only way to taste the freshness of the ingredients.
Blue Water is similar but has a less clustered menu than Joe Fortes. Dishes are better prepared and well coordinated than The Boathouse or Sandbar. Fresh, Clean, Contemporary. This is definitely one of the best seafood restaurant and raw bar in Vancouver.
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| Added Feb 6, 2007 by foodhedonist of East Vancouver (12 Reviews) One of our new faves
The Mr. & I dined here during Dine Out and we were both really impressed. Each course was very good to excellent. Service was attentive but not intrusive. We were seated in the wine room, a quiet and intimate retreat from the busy main dining room. The only thing we didn't care for was the roasted red pepper hummus which accompanied the bread rolls. This is one of our new favourite restaurants. Unfortunately, we can only afford to dine here during Dine Out :( |
| Added Feb 1, 2007 by DaGasMan of Vancouver (18 Reviews) very nice....
went here for dineout with a few friends...nice decor, nothing outstanding special, but quite inviting and warm...lighting was dim, but not too dark...the restaurant was quite busy, almost all the tables were full. I had the tuna takaki which was very good and fresh. The main was the beef ragout; nothing that special, sort of a beef stew with some fettucine noodles...but the beef tasted very rich...the dessert was a green tea cheesecake with wasabi ice cream; the green tea cheesecake was nothing spectacular, but the wasabi ice cream was quite interesting. The service was very friendly and prompt...had a good experience, but was not blown away...definitely above average in both food and service. |
| Added Jan 15, 2007 by justright of Port Moody (2 Reviews) One of the Best in Yaletown
The Blue Water Café was great. The service was amazing (maybe because we went so early), the food was nice and the desert was great. The Beef Tenderloin was a very nice cut and cooked to perfection, but it lacked the presentation that other entrees had. It was very tasty, but there was too much oily sauce sitting at the bottom. But oh well, I loved it anyways. The Sushi bar also created amazing concoctions. They were very tasty and well worth it. The desert was by far the best. The Crème Brule was amazing, which came with remarkable ice cream and the lava cake was the best I’ve ever had. Overall, the Blue Water Café has it all. A menu that suits everyone, a prime location and great people. I’d also recommend going here before a Canucks game; it is in perfect walking distance. |
| Added Feb 21, 2006 by cakone of Richmond (54 Reviews) Loved it...
I think the only reason I tried this place was because of the gift certificate I won. WOW, was it ever good!
We ordered the lobster in cream sauce which was absolutely to die for! I was not impressed by the lack of selection on their beer menu, but this is the kind of restaurant where somewhat 'classier' drinks are to be ordered.
Serive was great & the ambiance was good. |
| Added Jan 13, 2006 by whataview of yaletown (66 Reviews) Overpriced seafood in Yaletown
The seafood options are unique and esthetically pleasing but not worth what they're asking. I have been there a couple of times in small and large groups and find the service inconsistent. The seafood tower is tasty but not great value. My last experience there was in the private room with clients - many of them grumbled about the service and mediocre food. If my customers aren't impressed, I never take them back. |
| Added Dec 11, 2005 by dlishusfood of Downtown, Vancouver (31 Reviews) Max out your card
Been meaning to go here for a while and was not too disappointed. The noise level was perfect and the atmosphere was tingling. We decided to start with a spider roll and clam chowder followed by the Ling Cod w/mussels and black rice and my partner the tuna. The soup was only OK and still not sure if there were clams in there. The spider roll at $17 was good but not exceptional. The starters were soon to be forgotten as the mains arrived. Nice presentation and both perfectly cooked. Loved "em both. We shared a creamy nutty desert which polished off the evening nicely. Not a place to go unless you have a min of $250 for 2 including tip to go splurge and many seem to have, as it was a full house on a Wednesday!! |
| Added Nov 15, 2005 by foodie of vancouver (7 Reviews) Absolutely great food.
I had great experiences at Blue Water Cafe. Their sashimi is incredible. Juicy, sweet prawns and scallops, every piece of fish has distinct flavour. Ahi tuna, sea bass and oysters are wonderful too. Service is attentive. Can't complain. Try as many items on the dessert manu if you get the chance, they're fantastic. |
| Added Nov 12, 2005 by tender of vancouver (11 Reviews) blue water is wishy washy
Have been to this popular spot twice and disappointed both times. It's a lovely enough restaurant with it's big patio and spacious and warm interior...good looking menu albeit nothing terribly daring and wine list as thick as the yellow pages. Unfortunately, for the price, they gotta do a lot better.
Started off trying to find a sparkling wine in the categorized-by-country epic wine list...it was far too onerous a task so we tried to enlist the help of the waitress who i swear had over-medicated on her prozac. She knew nothing about wines so we asked if the sommellier could help, apparently he was MIA so we defaulted for a wine we knew. This first exercise took about an hour to complete thanks to our dazed server. What is it with the service in this city...either they wanna be your best friend or they're just OTL.
Food was generally well prepared but ruined with some hack sauces. If you're a purist like me, make sure you ask for straight soya sauce and wasabi with your sashimi or else you'll get some gloppy worcestershirish concoction. On the upside, the creme brulee trio was up to the standard i expected of this place.
Overall, this place reminded me of a cactus club minus the chirpy wait staff and priced way out of its league. I was so disappointed that i even emailed them (first time i'd ever complained to a restaurant) and instead of acknowledging my concerns, i got a too bad so sad response. Will definately not return to those murky waters. |
| Added Nov 1, 2005 by madddskillz of Burnaby (58 Reviews) meh...
Went here a couple of years ago with a group of four and the waitress was quite rude to us. We sat there for a loong time waiting for someone to come and clear our plates after we were done. When we complained the restaurant was very apologetic and offered us a bottle of wine. Sat on the patio which was nice, but it's hard to achieve a good sense of the ambiance this way.
I don't remember much else except that the food was average and not memorable. |
| Added Apr 2, 2005 by rusheat of vancouver (1 Reviews) Great food & amazing wine list
We started with the seafood tower which was great, the sommolier was on had to recommend a great bubble cant remember the producer but it was a german sparkler. Our friends enjoyed three entree's which we shared, Cod, Lobster and Spaghettini all very strong dishes. Service was good but we had a waiter that was very chatty, my friend asked him what would be a good point of interest to explore the City. Well he stood there for a good 10 minutes talking.
Desserts rank near the best I ever had some sort of Chocolate Fondue yummy.
Overall I would definatley go back they have it all, food, wine, atmosphere and service. |
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