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Araxi Restaurant + Bar
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
4222 Village SqRR 4
Whistler, BC V0N 1B4
(604) 932-4540
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
89 reviews for Araxi Restaurant + Bar
Review Highlights
"The Foie Gras Parfait and Duck Terrine was amazing."
(in 3 reviews)
"Vancouver Island Octopus."
(in 6 reviews)
"We ordered 3 appies, 4 Beach Angels oysters (OMG AMAZING."
(in 24 reviews)
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89 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley H.
Whistler, BC
1/12/2012
Perfect Perfect Perfect.
Service is incredible.
Truffle fries are yummy
Venison is tender
Mojitos are marvelous
Huge wine selection
Beet salad fresh and local
5 stars every single time -
Review from JAMES D.
1/8/2012
Everyone in town seemed to be raving about the "Araxi Anniversary Special" :
5 Course Prix Fixe a la Hells Kitchen ? Winner?
It was - all interesting - and lite and good.
It was rather interesting to see how many macho men of the slopes pass out at the site of french delicate fare. Lite but good. Nothing stood out in particular as being the most exceptional. I think the desert did it for me. -
Review from Kelly K.
Vancouver, BC
12/28/2011
Had three meals in Whistler over the holidays at La Rua, Quattro, and Araxi. La Rua was my favourite meal whereas Quatrro had the best service (and the meal was a very close 2nd). Araxi was a distant 3rd which is unfortunate as it was our Christmas dinner.
I frequent and enjoy other restaurants in Vancouver by this same group, so was really disappointed to have a bad experience my first time at Araxi. It's a really simple complaint, but I'm embarrassed for the restaurant for the way they handled it. I ordered a whole lobster. It comes out, and without really paying attention I cut and bite into a piece of the claw only to realize that it's basically raw. It took about 2 minutes to get the attention of our waiter who then only needs a quick look at it to realize it isn't cooked. That's fine - mistakes happen. By the time they bring it back the entire table of 6 is already done their dinners. They finished the same lobster in the steamer, and although I'm ok with that, it did look a little funny to bring out the same half eaten piece on the plate - was kind of gross. Then I was very surprised that they didn't offer to take care of it - not even an offer of a desert or drink or anything. I guess if your $100 meal at Araxi comes out uncooked and raw then you just need to wait until everyone else finishes their dinner, then finish yours, pay for it and leave.
I will not return to any of their restaurants as this speaks volumes about their customer service. -
Review from Mark W.
2/8/2012
Excellent night out. Great service, great food. I had venison with polenta and 'whatever that fancy word is for brocciflower'. I still think about the polenta, and we ate there in August 2011. Fun and tasty cocktail concoctions. All in all, a very fitting place for a big night out in Whistler.
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Review from Martin H.
2/5/2012
Had a great time at the bar, tried several different drinks from the menu and they were all amazing, especially the ginger mojito. It was pretty impressive to see how much work the bartenders put into each cocktail. Our server Dale gave us the best service we'd had all weekend in Whistler, which is saying a lot because everyone treats you great. Only tried the truffle fries because we'd already eaten earlier but they were awesome as well. Wish we would've discovered this place before our last night because the menu looked amazing and the prices weren't as high as I would expect from a place this nice. We only had a few drinks each but they must have been quite strong because my girlfriend left her purse behind. We were walking back to the hotel a block away from Araxi, around 11pm but still tons of people outside and Dale manages to track us down to return the purse. Amazing. We will definitely be dining at Araxi next time, and will recommend the experience to anyone we know because the combination of atmosphere and service are unparalleled.
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Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
12/20/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Hands down one of my absolute favorite fine dining establishments. EVER.
It's pricey, as is expected, particularly if you go all out and order oysters, wine, dessert and after-dinner drinks. But if you are going to come to a place like this it's most likely a treat or special occasion so don't be stingy...go big or go home!
Service is always fabulous, as are the oysters. Boyfriend had prime rib which he claimed was 'like butter' it was so beautifully cooked, and I had pork loin chop which was bordering in orgasmic...pork chop? Orgasmic?!? Who knew?!
Our desert was this chocolate-lava cake with house-made Earl Grey ice cream. If I could buy the ice cream in bulk, believe me, I would. I considered holding the chef hostage to obtain the entire supply.
Fact: Whenever I eat here, it feels like I'm falling in love. -
Review from Janice F.
Updated - 10/31/2011
Killer deal alert - $30 for 5 courses, Sunday thru Thursdays for a limited time!
Couldn't resist a revisit with that kind of deal. You get a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. The 2 non-negotiable courses were a sweet corn & basil soup, and a neon orange tomato sauce with gnocchi.
For appetizer I had the Quebec foie gras parfait ($6 supplement), creamy and light - not gamey at all, sprinkled with salt and served with 2 small slices of brioche and rhubarb.
Also sampled the tuna tataki with cucumber pearls - fresh, but not memorable.
For entrees, I had the duck breast - succulent, tasty, asian inspired tastes with soy sauce and sesame oil dressing. Great potato puree garnish.
The alternative steelhead entree was barely cooked through.. almost raw, but at least it was moist and delicate. The mascarpone risotto came undercooked in my opinion - risotto is not supposed to be crunchy! They did bring another bowl of risotto that was more cooked through. It was tasty.
For desserts, they haven't changed a bit - the earl grey ice cream with dark chocolate lava cake is still delicious.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/2/2009
A solid choice for good food in Whistler. I'll admit, I've never had much food in Whistler beyond… Read more »
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Review from David N.
1/1/2012
Solid food. Good environment. Good to eat at the bar, or at a table.
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Review from Marc M.
9/18/2011
My wife and I were only in town for the weekend and we wanted a special 'romantic date night' during the visit...Araxi did not disappoint!
Good
-Very nice atmosphere
-Sushi was top notch
-Great food (we ordered the scallops and live lobster, both were exceptional)
-Desert was great...especially the unique Earl Grey ice cream
Bad
-We had a late reservation on Saturday so many dishes were out (dungeness, ribeye, and a few others). That was acceptable given the late seating on a busy night, but the server didn't tell us until after we had decided and started to order. That one faux pas kept them from getting 5 stars ;(
-Cocktails and beer weren't anything to special, but we should've guessed that would be the case with the immense wine list -
Review from Maggie L.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2011
Went up to Whistler over the Canada Day long weekend and Araxi was a FOR SURE on our list of restaurants to dine at. Many of our friends have raved about this place and I guess it helped knowing we were dining at "previous" Hells Kitchen win.
Location first off was at its prime. Situated right in the centre of the dining district in Whistler and a beautiful patio that I wish I got to enjoy but due to the weather, we opted to sit inside. Super romantic and dim lighted--perfect!
Our waitress was very attentive and informative. She really took the time to introduce us to the specials and answer any questions we had. She definitely deserved our tip and I just wish I got her name.
We ordered 3 appies, 4 Beach Angels oysters (OMG AMAZING!), crab roll in egg crepe and the special of the day--spot prawns sashimi style. The love really enjoyed the crab roll in egg crepe and I must admit..it was melt in your mouth goodness. It had this really buttery texture/flavour that I haven't tasted before. Spot prawns sashimi was very fresh..but being a Vancouverite..I have had better. Not saying it was terrible, but I have been WOWed elsewhere. The Beach Angels oysters...where do I even start? I don't even think I've ever heard of this species?type? before until Araxi. Super plump, and the perfect saltyness. It was so delicious I wish I had ordered more.
For our mains we ordered the Beef tenderloin and the whole lobster with a side of scallops. The beef tenderloin was very moist and cooked to the perfect medium rare (just the way we like it) and the scallops side was HUGE! 3 large scallops grilled to perfection. With all the appies and these 2 dishes, I was already pretty full by the time we got to the lobster. I like my seafood on its own so I just squeezed a bit of lemon juice and ate it. Really juicy and fresh.
We decided not to go with any dessert because we wanted some COWS icecream but from neighbouring tables..it seemed like it was quite delish. Our bill including tax and tip came to about..$225? with no wine or anything. Not bad considering we ordered so much.
I definitely recommend this restaurant if youre looking for a nice romantic night with your loves or a celebration with your family. It's a fantastic place! -
Review from Alison N.
1/10/2012
We went here for dinner one night whilst in whistler. The wine list was so huge we didn't know where to start! We went for a local BC wine and it was amazing! But also came with a huge price tag ($115+) our appetizers were amazing! I had prawn cocktail and he had the sushi roll (the best sushi he has ever had) we both opted for steak and they were cooked to perfection. We regretted ordering desert they were very average and I found the sorbet and chocolate fondant did not go. Overall it was a great dining experience!
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Review from Sheryl D.
8/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
"It's a small, small world full of lots of cash, so grab your SUV and your brick of hash.." Here's my Whistler theme song, sung to the tune of...you guessed it! "It's a Small World"!
This song began playing in my head at our third dining experience at Araxi. I've never been known to like a place so much that I'd go to it three meals in a row, but I did. And it's not the Hell's Kitchen hype; the food was serious business and the service so outstanding I didn't even have to think about what I wanted or needed; they just expected everything and delivered. (Bread and tapenade, check. Oyster utensils, check. It's-a-raspberry-mojito-kinda-day? Check. Two kinds of ketchup? Check. Blanket for a cooler summer? Check.) I haven't been this enamoured with a restaurant since Cioppino's and the price point is a tad lower here (still considered fine dining I suppose *shrug*).
I was here twice for lunch and once for dinner, all times perfect. I survived on oysters, seafood platters and cocktails on those days and it was brilliant. (Confession: I developed an addiction to their berry mignonette --for the oysters). I almost forgot to mention, we fell in love with Up the Creek cocktail as well! They have a spectacular patio right in the middle of the square and a correspondingly awesome cocktail list. One of the few places in Whistler that overpromised AND overdelivered. Definitely a must go-to. -
Review from Conner W.
7/25/2011 2 photos
Araxi is located in the heart of Whistler Village, so right away is was very convenient and pleasurable to be walking around the Village one moment, and the next the hostess is taking the name of our reservation.
Our reservation was for an inside table, but the weather broke and on arrival we asked for an outside table. Even though there were only two tables available outside - both for 4 people - the hostess went out of her way to very quickly turn a 4 person table into one fit for the two of us. We couldn't have been more pleased. The people watching from the outside seating area is awesome.
From the moment our server introduced herself to us I was confident that we were going to be taken care of in every way possible. She was very pleasant, kind, and helpful - the kind of person you want to go hang out with after you pay the check. The only unpleasant part was waiting for out bill for about 10 minutes after we had finished our drinks. Luckily, the people watching kept us busy.
We had the halibut and venison and both were out of this world. We also tried the tomato soup, prawns, and white truffle fries. I recommend all and would absolutely take an order of fries to go for a late-night snack.
Overall, Araxi was a great experience. I highly recommend going here if you are in Whistler/Blackcomb. -
Review from J H.
3/14/2011
Definitely in the top 10 meals I've had my whole life.
We started out with a 3 pair raw oyster sampler. I am not an oyster connoisseur, but this experience certainly made me consider a career as one. Each had a distinct texture, tanginess, and aftertaste. My favorites were the Saw Mill bay. The lettuce aftertaste on the Black Pearls were a trip too.
As for entree, although I'm not a heavy red meat eater, I had to go for the Elk that was offered on the menu. Did not regret that decision one bit, and can even recall the taste of the baby organic carrots that accompanied the tender, smooth fillet. My only caution is after having elk, you might not be able to go back to steak.
Of the meals that week in the Whistler Village, Araxi was the most expensive by far. However, it was 100% worth it. -
Review from Jess C.
2/21/2011
Loved Loved Loved the ribeye (and I was doubtful because I didn't see any cows near the mountain =P)
Lovedddddd the scallop ceviche, so delicate and tasty!
The artic char was good but paled in comparison to the rib eye.
To end we had the lava cake. Either I was too drunk, or the lava cake was not very memorable, or maybe both. It was decent, just not the best I've ever had.
P.S. Ask the sommelier for advice, she knows her stuff. -
Review from Jason L.
3/8/2011
This was a terrific meal, although the price is nothing to laugh at; three of us ran up a $600 bill without a whole lot of trouble.
- Wine list = Just epic, across pallets and across price ranges. And a knowledgeable staff can help you if you're unsure about anything.
- Fish = Brilliant. The preparation was right, the options were very interesting, and the fish was absolutely as fresh as you expect fish to be in the Northwest.
- I do think you are helped by ordering locally. Our dishes that were only quite good all involved fish shipped in from elsewhere.
- Ambiance was nice, although it's not as quiet as many might expect. A little extra acoustic dampening would go a long way.
- Staff was uniformly knowledgeable and friendly. Tough to be in a bad mood when you're in Whistler, but still worthy of mention! -
Review from Ninette C.
4/17/2011
My friends were really excited to come here because they had seen the chef (Dave) on "Hell's Kitchen"! We made reservations and got to sit in the back room with the cool wine walls.
First, we received a complimentary amuse bouche: squash soup with cheddar. This was excellent.
Little did we know that each plate would go down by the course...
Next, was the raw seafood tower which came with tuna, oysters, shrimp, roe, yellowtail and a few other things I don't remember. This was nice and cold.
For main courses, we ordered:
-Gnocchi- my friend hated this. I didn't think it was as bad as she did, but it was rather bland.
-Lobster and shrimp risotto-my friend who ordered this also hated it; it didn't look very good either
-Venison with a broccoli/cauliflower/sprout thing- my friend loved this; perhaps the vegetable was a hormones experiment gone wrong?
-I also had a vegetable soup which was ok (sorry I can't remember anything else about it). It wasn't too exciting.
We had some other friends who ate there separately the same night and said their food was good. I don't know: did we just have an off-table?
All in all, the meal was rather disappointing and flavorless. It definitely wasn't fine dining material.The room was cool, but my "Hell's Kitchen"-fan friends were disappointed. -
Review from Katie F.
11/9/2010 ROTD 7/30/2011
I love the Top Table family of restos and am glad to finally have eaten at Araxi.
Convenient location in the village and the service is top notch. OUr server was excellent and the manager even came by to talk to us and bring some petit fours after dessert.
The decor is only OK but I like the open sushi area as you're coming in, similar to what they have at Blue Water in Vancouver. We ordered a la carte. Bread service was excellent.
I had the spicy tuna roll to start (Excellent! I love their modified soy sauce which I'm told has a bit of orange juice and water added to it - loved the tuna and crispy onions texture/taste). I went with the elk tenderloin as my main - the tenderloin itself and the apples were fabulous. It also came with some sausage that I found a bit greasy and the cabbage was too salty. I sampled some of hubby's truffle gnocchi which was fabulous... the truffles and hazelnuts were amazing.
For dessert, the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant is their version of the lava cake... you can substitute the ice cream for one of their other flavors if you'd like. This was excellent! I'm partial to the original Jean Georges one, but this uses the excellent Valrhona chocolate that gives it a great taste and smoothness.
I'm definitely coming back next time I'm in Whistler and it lived up to my expectations based on the others I've been to in the Top Table family. -
Review from Paulene K.
3/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great restaurant right in the village for seafood (especially oysters) and wine lovers. If you aren't totally against raw oysters, they have a great selection and staff is very knowledgeable of the fine differences in flavors.
I went with 4 people and we all got different dishes and everything was great! -
Review from A. B.
11/26/2011
it was a perfect perfect meal. as good as any i'd get in Seattle. which was a pleasant surprise as my 'i'm out in the boonies so don't expect the same exacting standards' radar was totally on & i was totally expecting the meal to be a let-down. the oysters were juicy, sweet, briny & fresh. the beet salad was perfect & the octopus was tender & perfectly cooked. my husband's burger was juicy & delicious & paired with a spicy ketchup. for dessert we had some ice wine & home made chocolates. the service was some of the best we've encountered through all our meals at some of the best restaurants around the world. this place fully deservers its 5 stars & i'll be happy to be back the next time we're in town.
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Review from Gregory P.
5/9/2011
A very good experience at Araxi during our visit to whistler. The dungenous crab roll with spherical mint cucumber was unparalleled. I enjoyed my lamb confit, but my wife's brown butter gnocchi were much better. Be prepared to shell out some dough. With appetizers, drinks, mains, and dessert we were on the upwards of 275.00 U.S.
But hey, you gotta live a little. -
Review from M P.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2011
Here are the good, the bad, and the rest... yours to judge.....
Good:
- Welcoming hostesses.
- Wide selection of wine. We ordered a full bodied Malbec of BC. It was a delight, and even more so once it's aired for more than 40min.
- Chicken breast with pasta for kids. Something ordinary made extraordinary.
- Truffle ricotta gnocchi. The taste of truffle was strong without being overwhelming. Yums!!
- Earl Grey Ice Cream. Definitely the highlight of my evening.
Bad:
- Two-tier seafood platter. A-ok, at best. Oysters were tasteless, muscles, ordinary, jellyfish wakame salad was alright, the rest couldnt be that great because I dont remember what there were....
The rest:
- Service was quite good. We had a Frenchman served our table that evening. He was kind and professional, but honestly we had trouble understanding him at times due to his sexy accent =P
- L'ambiance was just ok. I expected just a little fancier.... The crowd was so loud tho, I thought I was in Chinatown
There you have it..... I do recommend you to try this resto if you are in Whistler, just dont expect too much. You might be pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Frankie L.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Fab! Just a wonderful restaurant. Crab sushi roll was best ever. Salmon on special and truffle fries were seriously good. Merryvale Starmony Chardonnay and Line Shack Cab Sav book excellent.
Service was very friendly and super efficient. Great location. Best in village. Bar outside facing inward to the inside bar is a great design.
Look forward to returning (tomorrow!) -
Review from Peter S.
6/30/2010
A case of expecting a bit too much left me with a satisfied tummy but a feeling of huh?
I appreciated the half bottles of wine on the menu. Great for a table of two.
The local ingredients were also a pleasant addition to the night. But overall I left with a sense of "what's the big deal about this place?"
I think they really need to reno the restaurant. The low ceilings scream 1980's, and the rest of the decor does nothing to create any sort of atmosphere. Not worth the $150 at all, especially since we had the set menu.
The only reason why I am not giving them two stars is because it was my birthday dinner, the server was awesome, and I was still on a high from the Zip Trekking! -
Review from Zee K.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2011
My friend and I wandered in here at around 10:40pm on a holiday Monday, dying of starvation and looking for an open kitchen to get a decent meal. In spite of the fact that their kitchen closed at 11 they served us willingly and didn't rush us at all. It's been two years since I was there, but my friend and I still remember it as the best dining experience of our lives.
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Review from Adam G.
Edmonton, AB
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
I had high expectations going in to Araxi - not just because it's part of Vancouver's Top Table Group; or because it had been consecrated by that jealous culinary god, Gordon Ramsay; or even because my parents were paying - but because, as anyone who's wandered the faux-cobblestone streets of the Village can attest, it seemed so clearly to be *the* place to eat at in Whistler, if you can swing it.
Well, swing it we did, for a conveniently timed quadruple celebration, and though it certainly wasn't a disappointing experience, it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have, or should have, been either.
The evening started ominously enough, with a rogue midsummer hailstorm that caught everyone by surprise. Once safely ensconced inside, we got some feeling of what it must feel like to eat there during the much busier winter season, sheltered from the cold, but I still think our midsummer meal was missing some of the warmth of an après ski.
A prominent (if pricey) leader of the "locavore" food movement, Araxi is itself seasonal, tapping into all the bounty the Fraser Valley (situated just within a 100 mile radius) has to offer. Almost despite the summer climate, I ordered a hearty three-course meal that started with hot pea soup, a surprisingly sweet mixture that stood well on its own. I then moved on to a delicate, uncomplicated risotto before finishing with a sort of pork sampler that included "slow cooked belly, housemade sausage and pork cheek ravioli." Not surprisingly, the belly was the most accessible (and delicious), though the ravioli gets more points for creativity.
Apart from a bit of undercooked salmon, the food was very good for all six of us, though that is the par at a place like this. For me, the experience was tempered by the service (just OK) and atmosphere (just too uppity). Of course, that streak of exclusivity is what sets all fine dining establishments apart, and what makes the jet set feel at home, but the best ones do a better job of pretending that they care about their more "aspirational" guests as well.
One last note: the wine list here is embarassingly expensive, even by Vancouver standards. There are only a handful of bottles of red that aren't in the triple digits, and precious few are available by the glass. Drinker beware! -
Review from Nela D.
8/7/2011
Great food and atmosphere. We sat outside, a bit cold despite the heat lamps, and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. My husband had the tasting menu of soup, beef, and duck (all delicious) and I had the gnocchi (awesome) and venison (also great). We also started with a selection of oysters which were really good. Overall, a fab meal although quite honestly the service was just a tad slow and our wines came late with each course. But that did not ruin the experience. Loved it!
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Review from Katrina R.
Burnaby, BC
9/11/2010
Ridiculously expensive, for food that couldn't compare to food that I get locally.
The pasta was undercooked, not "al dente". Everything just seemed bland, and every few bites I bit down on something small and hard that could have been coarse ground salt, but I've never had trouble with it before. That happened to me with both dishes, and being afraid to eat the food doesn't really make for a great dining experience.
I didn't get to see the decor of the inside, as the only tables open were outside with plastic deck chairs. The flowers were nice, though.
Maybe I'm just not refined enough? I mean, I felt bad when I got sauce on the extremely white tablecloth. -
Review from wendy c.
4/19/2010 1 photo
One of the best restaurants tried, ski resort or anywhere else.
Upscale environment with first-class service, yet it was completely comfortable and unpretentious (people showed up in ski wear, croc shoes).
Food is the star! (and the staff who created them as well as those who knowledgeably recommended and served them) -- tried smoked sablefish risotto; Arctic Char with miso/seasame vinaigrette dressing; Seared scallops in a curry/mustard/chorizo infused sauce. All dishes were fantastic.
During skiing season, make a reservation in advance to avoid disappointment. -
Review from Andrew K.
3/9/2011
The rib eye and the scallop ceviche was amazing. If you have the chance, definitely get both of these.
The lava cake was small and pretty mediocre, and the arctic char was kind of boring. -
Review from carrie L. B.
8/7/2008
The prettiest patio on the Village Stroll right in the heart of all things cool.
While the 2 nut-jobs in my family went for a canoe ride, I decided to take my dear friend Anna Karenina out to lunch at Araxi.
The gazpacho was heavenly. The gnocchi perfectly tender. The crisp sauvignon blanc my adorable waiter recommended went perfectly with both. Well done, adorable waiter.
I sipped, ate, read and people watched the afternoon away. I especially love it when the downhill cyclists walk by like giant armored beetles covered in mud.
Later that day the nut-jobs accompanied me for dinner at Araxi. We'd all worked up quite an appetite by then! -
Review from Jenn W.
7/17/2009
Araxi is my favorite restaurant in Canada (well, second to Splendido in Toronto, so let's say that Araxi is my favorite restaurant in Canada that doesn't cost over $400 for two). They used to have a vegetarian menu if you asked for it, they didn't have that anymore on my most recent visit, but there were still several vegetarian options on the menu.
The service at Araxi is consistently excellent. On this visit I decided to order the white cheese souffle (served with red sorrel, lemon thyme cream and toasted almonds) and the stuffed squash blossoms (ratatouille, eggplant puree), both small plates, as the vegetarian main was spinach ricotta gnocchi (I've conquered the making of gnocchi so I no longer order it in restaurants). Before she took our order, our server noted that the kitchen had 86ed the squash blossoms. She could tell from my face that I had planned on ordering the squash blossoms and she rushed back to the kitchen and put the last two on hold for me before returning to take the rest of our order.
The souffle was excellent, custardy, and paired well with it's accompaniments. It unexpectedly came topped with frisee, which I usually pick out of the containers of mixed greens as it is much too bitter for me. Paired with the souffle however, it was not just edible but actually really delicious.
The squash blossoms were excellent, and I suspect that I was given a slightly larger portion of them as well as the plate I was given seemed entree sized.
All in all a fantastic evening with exceptional food and service, consistent with every past visit to Araxi.
Should note, I'm not sure if this is new or not as I believe I've only eaten there in winter before, they have a nice patio set up and are serving brunch/lunch now.Listed in: Bright Shining Stars (BC)
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Review from Tracy P.
Vancouver, BC
8/8/2010
I give it 4 stars, if only because there's no "3 and 1/2 stars".
I succumbed to the hype, and decided to make a reservation for our party of 11. At 5:30pm, on a Thursday, because there were apparently no other options during our stay in Whistler.
Considering the price and location, I think this is one of those restaurants that you should visit once, just so you know what it's like, but I don't necessarily feel it's as amazing as everyone touts it to be. The decor wasn't anything special, it looked very "Whistler". I thought it was a tad reminiscent of Blue Water Cafe, which makes sense, is they're owned by the same restaurant group.
The dishes are tailored to showcase the fresh ingredients available in Whistler, and thankfully there are no tacky mentions of Hell's Kitchen. Probably due to the fact that Dave Levey no longer works there.
I started with 2 fresh oysters, one topped with rainbow trout caviar and the other with ponzu pearls. The ponzu pearls were amazing, but I found the rainbow trout caviar to be a bit too overpowering for the fresh flavour of the oyster. My fault for adding it, I suppose.
Shared a Canadian Prime Beef Carpaccio, which was pretty standard, carpaccio-wise. The peppery arugula, and umami-packed pecorino were perfect compliments.
Amazing lingcod main. I almost expected the peaches and cream corn sauce to either taste too creamy or kind of tacky (can food taste tacky?), but it turned out to be a very mild sauce, and went well with the perfectly cooked fish. I loved the crisp skin!
However expertly plated, my dessert was very underwhelming. A simple rasberry napoleon, it certainly wasn't anything special.
The service was impeccable, and our waiter was kind enough to suggest a club to visit. He gave the name of the bouncer he knew, and let us know if we said "Ron sent us", we might be able to get in cover free and hop the line.
I found it amusing that they made sure to angle the lights above us, just perfectly, in order to cast a favourable glow on our food.
If you've got the money to burn, it is certainly a nice, one time experience. -
Review from Thanh H.
2/6/2009
Thinking about this meal made me happy. We chose small plates and I think picked the best things off the menu: octopus, mussels, sashimi salmon were perfect.
Another must: chocolate beignets, not chocolate covered (which is what I was expecting), chocolate, light sugar coated GOODNESS.
I have to thank our waitress too, she helped make this a top notch dining experience. This definitely lived up to the hype. -
Review from Amanda A.
2/28/2009 3 photos
This place is awesome!!
To start out I had the Endless Summer cocktail...tasty, delicious and a cocktail in Canada that I could actually taste the liquor. (Most places drown their liquor with water here...Araxi does not!!) The drink consisted of Bourbon, Grand Marnier, fresh grapefruit juice, lime, lavender, and citrus zest. Very, very tasty.
To go along with the cocktail I ordered the 3 cheese tasting. Very very good cheeses!! I ordered three local Canadian cheeses: Salt Spring Island Montana Goat Cheese, 5-Year Aged Cheddar, and a Gouda (Gorman's...can't remember the name now but it was my least favorite and I'm a serious Gouda lover.) The "Montana" goat cheese was amazing layered on a slice of apple...the best way to try it. It had a smooth goat cheese flavor but it was mild and nutty enough that even someone who doesn't really enjoy the grassy flavor associated with it would highly enjoy it. The aged cheddar was amazing!!!!! I paired it with a slice of nutty, sweet bread and sweet fig/plum spread...it was a perfect combo to bring out the richness of the cheese and the sweetness of the bread/fruit. I would strongly suggest the cheese plate if you love cheese!!
Then our second plate was the Wild Sockeye Salmon Sashimi (see the pics). I could have eaten a gondola sized serving of this stuff!! It was some of the best salmon sashimi I've ever had. Incredible flavor and the most buttery texture ever!!
For our last dishes we ordered the albacore tuna roll and the BC salmon role. I loved the salmon role but didn't really care for the tuna roll. I love cucumber but not heavily takin' up space in my rolls. It took away from the taste of the tuna. The tuna in Canada was some of the best tuna I have ever eaten so I was pissed about the cucumber's presence on my plate.
Next time I go...I will try the oysters because they looked and smelled amazing but I just didn't have any room for them because I was stuffed! I'll have another Endless Summer, and eat nothing but sashimi and oysters.
PS the bread wasn't the best...way to hard and crusty...I like a little spongy softness on the inside.
As for atmosphere, it was beautiful. Nice ambient lighting, great acoustics...despite the restaurant being packed I could still hear my husband speaking and it felt very intimate. I really enjoyed myself and strongly recommend this place if you want a nice "date-night" with the special person.
Then -
Review from geraldine g.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2009
Gosh, golly! I am perplexed about the review I am writing.
I really want to write a stunner because all the other reviews I have read have been so good but the opposite from what I have heard from my friends experiences at this place.
It really is a 3 star review for me for the following reasons. It has a reputation to keep and it does. It's a beautiful place and its situated in a prime Whistler location. I reveled in my people watching that saturday. It has the notoriety of Gordon Ramsay and Hell's Kitchen in its pocket. In my brain as I watched the show - I have been to the place these contestants are vying to win a spot in.
The food I had, the BC spotted prawn and penne pasta was reminiscent of my experience at Yaletowns Amacord. The flavour was fresh and seasoned very lightly. I guess, the problem I had and so did my dining partner had was that we both thought it had a fresh flavour but lacked any seasoning. I wish they weren't so shy in adding a little more zip to the dish.
I have to say, I would like to go back and try more dishes. I haven't given up!! -
Review from Alexandra E.
2/7/2010
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Whistler. For me, the best part of my vacation is sitting at the bar with a glass of BC Pinot Gris and a platter of delicious, perfectly cleaned, sweet, fresh oysters served with raw grated horseradish and mignonette. All of their other food is usually good and I recommend the pork trio, octopus and foie gras.
When Araxi gets packed it is noisy and a little overwhelming but the servers always do their best. If your are without kids, try to sit in the bar area, which is definitely quieter.
For Hell's Kitchen fans, the winner of last season, Dave, was at Araxi but he was relegated to shucking oysters only and he didn't look too pleased about it. -
Review from Brendan G.
4/22/2010
From what I understand Araxi is often acclaimed as the best restaurant in the Whistler Village. While it is the only restaurant that I have eaten at in the Whistler Village (so far), I can wholeheartedly concur with the masses.
This was a surprise dinner that my girlfriend planned & reserved long in advance & I have to hand it to her, this was a Grand Slam. I always knew she had impeccable taste!!! ;) -
Review from Dan T.
5/1/2010 4 photos
Kudos to chef Walt for his commitment to locally sourced ingredients - you really can't take two steps through the menu without tripping over something that is "BC" or "local" or from up the ways in Pemberton. The shame, however, is that I feel like said ingredients were not allowed to shine as much as they could.
Don't get me wrong: throughout the $45 three course prix fixe, there are definitely highlights. The BC celery root and golden apple soup was a perfectly lush and creamy concoction, with the toasted almonds and salsa verde providing perfect accents of contrast that cut through the richness of the soup. However, I think the same could have been accomplished with celery root of any ilk.
Likewise with the BC farm fresh oysters - definitely presented as advertised: fresh and bright with flavour, nicely accompanied by freshly shaven horseradish and local (there it is again!) raspberry vinegar and lemon thyme mignonette. But again, fresh oysters sourced from anywhere could have achieved this same effect.
Another favourite of mine was the smoked BC sablefish risotto - really quite delicious. I thought this was a very nice way to showcase one of my favourite fishes, as succulent pieces of black cod peppered the creamy risotto topped with two chips of thin and crisp sunchoke. My only complaint was that the underlying mustard sauce was too strong for the dish as a whole - either the sour edge of the sauce could have been cut back, or the richness of the risotto dialed up to create more of a balance between the two.
I was sorely disappointed by the orca and green bean salad. Sauteed ramps and crispy shallots were advertised and indeed appetizing, but instead all you ended up with were mouthfuls of soggy, vinegar-drenched bleh.
I was also expecting big things from the braised Pemberton beef and stinging nettle gnocci. The pasta was cooked perfectly, with each piece a toothsome joy to eat. The braised beef was also nicely cooked, but when mixed in amongst the mushrooms and sauce, you ended up with a very monochromatic flavour and texture profile that could not be rescued even by any amount of "essence" of truffle or wild arugula.
I will say that the arctic char was executed perfectly (uber crispy skin, flesh cooked through but still moist and just a tinge rare in the center) and the spiced cous cous was a nice textural contrast. The miso and sesame vinaigrette was a bit too much like soy sauce to my liking as a pairing with the char, but hey - toMAYto, toMAHto.
The Fraser valley free run chicken (local!) was fine - moist, but almost to the brink of dryness. The prosciutto within which it was wrapped felt more like a staid crust, although the sage was a nice touch. I felt the risotto in this case did rescue the chicken from falling completely over the edge into the realm of "man this is why I hate ordering chicken in restaurants". However, the soy sauce-esque sauce within which it was bathed had me breathe another sigh of disappointment.
So all in all, there was definitely some well-cooked food and a few great moments to be had. However, a bit of that local pride within me kind of wished that of the great moments, there could have been a few more. -
Review from H G.
5/24/2011
From the moment you arrive you know you are in for a delightful experience. The Foie Gras was incredible. The oyster appetizers fresh and succulent. The Spinich salad was spectacular. The braised shortrib was the best piece of meat I have ever had. It was succulent and flavorful. It basically melted in your mouth. The ambience of this restaurant is spectacular. The service is as good as it gets. I will go out on a limb here; I would say Araxi is among the finest places in the world to eat. I compare it to NOBU, Jean Georges, SPAGO, etc.
