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Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Live/Raw Food Seafood, Live/Raw Food [Edit]
1095 Hamilton StVancouver, BC V6B 5T4
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Yaletown
(604) 688-8078
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
183 reviews for Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Review Highlights
183 reviews in English
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Review from Lily M.
North Vancouver, BC
Updated - 5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I come here every year for our wedding anniversary because we know that we always get the service and quality. The wait staff is extremely attentive and social which just adds to the experience.
I love Sablefish and Blue water cafe knows how to do sablefish. The ingredients used enhances and compliments the fish so well that by the time you finish your meal, you're craving for more because it was so addictive.
You know you're getting fresh seafood when the sushi chef pulls live Crustaceans from the tank and prepares it on the spot. Then to watch him peel back paper thin continuous layers of daikon for sashimi was an art form. We didn't expect dinner and a show, but we got it.
There's a reason this place gets on average a 4-5 star rating. It's that good!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/10/2010
"Bravo" Fantastic food & service (no joke, our waiter remembered us the second time we went).… Read more »
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Review from Jon Y.
Updated - 5/23/2012
It's been about 2 years since I last visited Vancouver and Blue Water Cafe. I'm happy to report this place is still a 5-star establishment for me. My favorite seafood spot in Vancouver and just a solid, solid experience.
A few of the highlights of my last visit (Monday):
+Large selection of a la carte oysters. The Kusshi was my favorite of the night.
+Braised kobe short rib. So I had beef in a seafood joint...the good news; they do non-seafood well too.
+mixed ceviche.
+spicy tuna rolls.
+that red pepper spread on their complimentary bread. Not as happy about the seaweed butter.
+long island iced tea(s)(s) ;)
+the service was friendly and extremely helpful in making the right recommendations for us. Thanks Jennifer!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/10/2010
So I thought I would like this place...the crowd, the bar, the food, the ambiance...
little did I… Read more »
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Review from KL C.
4/21/2012
I have read quite a few reviews about this place and that's why my sis & I made reservations about 2 weeks before coming out to Vancouver. I am sorry to say that we were less than impressed.
First, the very good: the service was exceptional. We ordered a dozen kushi oysters and they were amahzing. They were out of our first choice for wine but the server recommended something else that was delish. I started with the dark & stormy cocktail and that was probably the best one I've had. We shared the warm chocolate cake and that surpassed expectations.
Second, the okay: I have had better nigiri in the suburbs of Maryland. I had one piece each of the toro, hamachi and red tuna and I was not impressed to the point of being underwhelmed. Regarding fish, both raw & cooked, I was expecting much better in Vancouver. For our mains we shared the arctic char and the sablefish. The sablefish is the most popular item in the menu & while it tasted fine I have had sablefish in DC that was exceptional & cost about half the price.
Overall the flavors are there and the service is great but the price tag could be taken down a notch. And if you are into the flavors of raw fish I would suggest staying away from the sushi. If you come from a city that has great restaurants then you can skip the visit to Blue Water. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Vancouver, BC
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yes, this really is the best seafood restaurant in Vancouver.
Yes, you really need to come here and try it.
The food is phenomenal, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is welcoming = The Best Dining Experiences I've Ever Had. And that's why I keep going back. -
Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
3/22/2012
I think Blue Water Cafe is the only place in Yaletown so far that meets fine dining criteria i.e. classy setting, complex dishes, quality food, taste, and presentation.
Of course it's super pricey so make your choices wisely. Sushi? Nah. Give it to the real Japanese restaurant. Here I stick to sable fish, arctic char, or scallops which in my opinion are worth splurging on. And there's always room for dessert. I have unexplainable addiction for the white chocolate bread pudding. Thanks to the chestnut semi fredo, these days it's very rare to find good ones. -
Review from Sam T.
Vancouver, BC
5/2/2012
Went out for a wonderful dinner with my husband for his birthday.
This place was amazing!
The food was great, waiter was wonderful, wish I could remember his name.
Was quite pricey but well worth it for the special occasion.
Cant wait to go back :) -
Review from Amal P.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
People that work here are great! Our server (Adam) was awesome. Never had jellyfish before, but this is something you have to try at blue water. So good! And the warm chocolate cake it was delicious! I like the interior of the place. Some people say its overpriced. But it's Yaletown! Everywhere you go there is overpriced if you compare to home cooking.
I would definitely recommend this place. -
Review from Dan P.
3/4/2012
I can honestly say this was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The service was superb, and the food was great.
The moment my party of four walked in, we were welcomed immediately, and helped with our coats. We checked in for our reservation and a minute later we were being seated.
Our waiter, Dermot, was very pleasant and helpful. We ordered a bottle of white wine and he made sure to keep our glasses filled and the wine chilled. I never saw our water our wine glasses ever empty... That's impressive to me. Dermot was very clear in what the additional items off the menu were as well as letting us know which six oysters were available as well. We ordered up a storm as we love to do, and nothing was wrong or prepared wrong.
We ordered some oysters, uni sashimi, and toro sashimi, beef sashimi, and truffle frites... Everything came out in good time dispite the packed restaurant. The toro was some of the best cuts I've ever had!
As an entre I had the duck special Dermot told us about. That was a good choice! The slices of duck were perfectly cut and seared to perfection. It was paired with some gnocchi, sweet potato mash and veggies that were off the charts. Compliments to the chef!
For dessert I had the maple syrup panne cotta.... HOLY COW!! This was delicious! I really highly recommend this if you love panne cotta. It come with a side of sorbet on an apple frite with was also pretty damn good, but the panne cotta.. Holy s^*t! Im gonna miss this!
I am so glad I traveled over 900 miles and ate at Blue Water Cafe. It's not cheap in any means, but if you are interested in having a really nice dinner, I highly recommend this place. Good atmosphere, extraordinary food, and excellent service. What else can I say, but FIVE STARS! -
Review from Shannon M.
Burnaby, BC
3/15/2012
I had high expectations for Blue Water Cafe but I don't think they lived up to them on my first visit.
We were kindly greeted at the door and seated promptly. We had an idea of what we wanted on the menu but were eagerly waiting for the waiter to give us the specials...but he never did. I'm not sure if it was because we didn't order any drinks but we only had limited service throughout our whole meal. The restaurant was pretty busy but it still took him 10 minutes to come to us even though our menus were closed for much longer. We asked him specifically for what oysters were in for the day as well as the daily special. Shouldn't he be telling us this? He definitely had no intention on doing so by the way he took our order.
Our meals were delicious. We had oysters to start and then had the chicken and scallops. Oysters were great. No complaints on either dish. It did take longer than expected but it may have been how busy it was.
We never really felt that welcome on this visit. Service was polite but minimal for a fine dining restaurant. I know we didn't order any drinks but it seemed like that put us at a different, lower level of service. I did want to like Blue Water Cafe but this visit didn't do it for me. -
Review from Julie L.
4/16/2012
Make sure you have reservations or else you will be waiting for awhile! This place is very cute and classy! Huge wine list to choose from! I recommend getting the Painted Rock Cabernet which is local based in BC. We killed the whole bottle to ourselves! The Beef Tetaki was amazing! Ask for your waiter/waitress recommedation and they will point out the specials and best selections with your wine. Located in the cute little hipster street of Yaletown! Recommed Cabbing or dropped off as there is limited parking.
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Review from Tanya B.
2/6/2012
Ordered the seafood tower. Impressive selection and $128.
The scallops were delicious, the sablefish was moist, the jellyfish was very flavourful.
Principle Plate warning: Don't order the Ling Cod wrapped in proscuitto. It was so overdone that when it arrived I had forgotten what it was. The proscuitto just looked like black, burnt plastic. The fish was too dry to eat. No main dish for me:-(
Service was...artifcial. Pleasant but not sincere. Abrupt at times. No warmth.
Wouldn't go back. Even if you wanted to treat me. -
Review from Dan W.
Pitt Meadows, BC
2/12/2012
My wife and I came here for a birthday dinner. Neither of us had ever been, and we wanted to try something new. I have to say that this is now one of my favorite restaurants. The food was amazing. We tried the lobster and sable fish. Both were perfect. One of the best meals I have had. For desert we tried the macarons; those were so good I wish I could have brought home two dozen. The banana macaron was unbelievable! So good!
The service was second to none. Our waitress was one of the best I have ever come across. It felt like we were celebrities the way we were treated. Such a great experience.
I also love the look and decor. Such a great atmosphere.
If you have an upcoming special occasion I would recommend coming here. One of the best eateries in Vancouver! -
Review from Priscilla T.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2012
I've wanted to check this place out, and my boyfriend and I came here-he surprised me by making reservations for our 6 month anniversary. First thing I noticed was the revolving doors, I loved this-because it was a chilly night, and there was a little bit of a wait for our table because we arrived early.
One of the waitresses was quite nice, smiled often and offered to take our jackets. Another one however seemed to look quite unhappy - not sure as to the reason why, but she just gave a very unwelcoming vibe.
We were seated, and bread was delivered quite fast. My boyfriend and I ordered quite quickly-the Sablefish, the Artic Char and the Mushroom Risotto. The artic char was crispy-yet melted in your mouth, while the sablefish fell apart very nicely- and the sauce for the sablefish was amazing! I enjoyed all 3, particulary the Char-while my boyfriend didn't touch much of the risotto. He normally enjoys it, just did not enjoy this particular take on it.
The service was great-even though the restaurant was busy-there was a sufficient amount of staff so no one was waiting for too long, and there must've been many cooks in the kitchen as well. Our meal was much faster than anticipated.
Wine is a bit pricey here, I had a fairly small sized margarita for $13, but looking over the dessert / ice wine (my fav!) selection - I decided not to order as I pretty much had the same wine sitting right at home.
All and all, great experience. Funny enough, my date is not a fan of seafood-but I am hoping to come here with a group of people so I can try the seafood platters I didn't get to. Will come back for raw oysters too :D -
Review from Richard G.
5/13/2012
Fantastic food, superb service, terrific ambiance. Couldn't ask for a better meal and a more enjoyable evening. The waiter was attentive and did a great job of explaining each item. I am a well traveled food snob and I cannot find one thing to fault.
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Review from Meana k.
12/4/2011
Food - excellent
Service - excellent
Price - expensive, but not outrageous
Ambiance - comfortable
I came here with a meetup group along with six other people. I spent $130 including tax and tip on myself alone. This is a lot of money for me, but the quality of my food left me feeling fine about my bill at the end of the night. I ordered half dozen oysters: kusshi, read island, and sawmill bay, and then I had the Sablefish which came highly recommended via Yelp and others who have had it. Followed that up with a dessert: maple pecan panna cotta and some honeybush vanilla tea. Oh, I also had a couple glasses of wine which was a quarter of my bill.
Oysters -- fresh, delicious, and perfect. A little higher priced per oyster than some places but overall not too excessively priced for a nice restaurant.
Sablefish -- I was worried this wouldn't live up to the reviews, but I was wrong. It was so good, so fresh, and so light and healthy that I don't think I spoke during my meal because I was too busy savoring the dish. The fish was cooked to perfection. Each cut with a fork sliced off a good chunk that had just the right texture and flavor. The fish is flavored with a faint miso sake glaze and sits in a light bonito dashi broth with scallions, quinoa, edamame, shitake mushrooms. Incredible. At $36.50, I wouldn't have minded another side or something filling along with it, but man, it was tasty even on its own. After I finished every bite on my plate, I was happy they had brought me a spoon to finish all the broth as well.
Maple Pecan Panna Cotta -- although I'm not a huge dessert person, since it was a group outing I decided I wanted a little something. The maple pecan panna cotta came with a side apple tart with sorbet. This part of the dessert was certainly nice, although I think I would have been just as happy with just the panna cotta. It was really creamy and had that cozy feel-good flavor that just can't be beat. I would go back for this dessert alone.
Our server was so gracious to provide us with separate checks (which we asked for in advance) and had been so attentive all night. She wasn't overly friendly and chatty which was nice because we certainly had enough conversations going at the table. The food was well timed -- everyone's meals came out at once, there was just enough of a break between appetizers and entrees and dessert menus. As an added bonus, the check came out with additional little treats -- miniature banana bread sweets for each person. That was a nice touch.
I loved this place and look forward to coming here for special occasions. I most definitely plan to bring my family here when they come to visit me.Listed in: Places to take out of town…
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Review from Paola S.
3/27/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We dined at Blue Water during our day trip to Vancouver. I'm a seafood lover and after reading the reviews, I knew this was the place I wanted to go. We started off with the Shellfish Plateau which had a single tier with oysters, prawns, mussels, clams, jellyfish and scallop ceviche- all delicious! For our main course, we both ordered the sablefish which was miso glazed and melted in your mouth. And for dessert we had took our waitresses recommendation and ordered the chocolate praline tart- yummmy!! Service was wonderful. Our waitress was super attentive and really nice! It's definitely on the pricey side, but a great place for a special occassion.
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Review from Amol P.
12/25/2011
After reading the rave reviews, we decided to give this place a try during our recent trip to vancouver. This restaurant is located in trendy yaletown. The place was buzzing even on a thu night as we walked in. The brick facade on the walls reminded me of the pearl district in portland. The open kitchen was interesting to watch from a distance since it was a busy night and there was a lot of fire burning in that kitchen. They serve complimentary bread with seaweed butter and hummus. The hummus was delicious and the seaweed butter is an interesting concept though my palate did not take a liking to it.
We ordered their signature cocktails both of which I highly recommend.
Highland Tipple - famous grouse, house made grilled pineapple chili syrup
fresh lemon juice and orange bitters (coupe)
Perfect balance of sweet and spice.
Jaco's Ladder
ginger basil infused beefater, orgeat and fresh lime juice
finished with chartreuse and sliced cucumber (rocks)
Very refreshing, I must admit that I am a fan of cucumber based alcoholic drinks.
Both our entrees were 5 star dishes.
West Coast Sablefish
miso sake glaze, baby bok choy, edamame
quinoa and shiitake mushrooms, bonito dashi with soy and yuzu
I cannot stop dreaming about this dish. The fish was beautifully cooked, very moist and buttery. i had apprehensions about the miso glaze since it tends to be overpowering at times but the sake glaze and the dashi helped it give a perfect balance as far as flavor profile is concerned. The portion size was also adequate, it leaves you with that feeling of being satisfied.
Pearl Barley Risotto with Okanagan Goat Cheese
morel mushrooms, artichokes, pearl onions, madeira reduction
This is the only vegetarian dish in the principal plates menu and since this is a seafood restaurant we were in two minds but we were so glad that we did order this dish since it turned out to be a great choice.
Dessert was delish !!!
Maple Pecan Panna Cotta, Maple foam
apple brioche tart, green apple raspberry sorbet
Words cannot do justice to the heavenly feeling that you experience with this dish. The panna cotta was creamy and we were in canada, so we gotta have maple, correct? I did not really care for the brioche tart and it seemed a bit disconnected from the other components on the plate but was good on its own.
We would definitely come back to this place the next time we visit vancouver. -
Review from Fernando O.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2011
Too expensive for the Food if you walk 2 minutes you find places with same quality, or better for way cheaper.
Besides this the reason for one star is:
when I went there the card machine was not working the guy said "for the entire day" but they didn't told me that before, so he asked me to go to the bank to withdraw money (my bill was 200 dollars), and I went the bank, and my girlfriend was waiting there they didn`t even offer a water to my girlfriend on this time I never would go back there or recommend this place.
they really don't care about the customer and they overprice you guys should go to another restaurant near have lots of better ones -
Review from Mark H.
12/20/2011 2 photos
I visited the Blue Water Cafe on two occasions during a recent trip to Vancouver. An amazing selection of oysters were on the menu - the 2 varieties I tried were very fresh. I had the edamame and Dungeness crab salad, both of which were flavorful (had the salad both times I was there). The Beni Sake (salmon) sashimi delicious as were the sushi rolls. Obviously the food here is some of the best in Vancouver - so why I am giving Blue Water Cafe three stars?
The service was atrocious. Sitting at the raw bar, none of the sushi chefs (both times) acknowledged my presence. On the first visit, my waiter showed up after a lengthy wait. Not a welcoming first impression. When I returned, my waiter was very friendly but it took a lengthy amount of time to place our order. I also asked the chefs where (and how) they sourced the fish they served (given that the restaurant touts its Ocean Wise membership on its menu). Some of the sushi-grade fish that *could* have been sustainable was not - but I only determined this after quite a bit of discussion with the chef.
Blue Water Cafe is a beautiful restaurants with some very good food - a bit more of a focus on service would make it a more enjoyable experience. -
Review from Jason A.
Vancouver, BC
2/1/2012
I don't know what I can say here as this place is my favourite restaurant in the city.
I guess I could say I'm not that rich, so unfortunately I can only visit here maximum two times a year. Otherwise, I would be here way more often!
I've been here for dine-out, with friends, with family and I've yet to be disappointed. The service staff are top notch and treat you so graciously and with class.
I was just thinking about this place, which is why I wrote this review and it reminded me that is is about time to go visit here again very soon. Can't wait! -
Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2012
This is the best sushi that you can buy in a western restaurant and Yoshi's departure to Ki doesn't seem to have hurt it. Don't ask me about the rest of the restaurant. I always sit at the bar, eat sushi and drink jizake (fine sake).
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Review from Mer L.
3/27/2012
Blue Water is our favorite Vancouver restaurant. Actually, it's one our favorite restaurants ANYWHERE. Yes, it's spendy, but it's worth every penny, and I don't say that about many restaurants. The service is without a doubt the best we've experienced in Vancouver or elsewhere. On our most recent visit, we sat at the bar. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Our courses were timed impeccably. At the end of the evening, we asked him to recommend a place for lunch the next day, and he wrote out an entire list! And of course, the food is amazing. I am obsessed with the spicy tuna rolls. The scallops were probably the best I've ever had. Great wine list, too!
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Review from Ben B.
3/22/2012
Best restaurant in the Northwest and worth every $!!! Don't miss the oysters or the 3-stories-plate of shellfish. Great sablefish and absolute sublime half-raw tuna! Chef Frank Pabst is a living cuisine legend!
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Review from Candi W.
3/16/2012
Food was pretty fresh and it was yummy!
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Review from Cassie N.
Calgary, AB
12/8/2011
I don't even know how to explain your first impression when you enter into this restaurant other than a Jaw-dropping "Oh, my god" type reaction. It is absolutely stunning, when you first walk in you're greeted by a lovely hostess who is as friendly as ever. Then you are brought to the dining area that is elegantly decorated with an open floor plan for you to see the chefs in their kitchens, along with other dining customers. You read it right, 2 chefs! There were maybe more chefs working in two separate kitchens, but I wasn't there to take a head count. Blue water Cafe is a seafood and raw bar, thus its reason behind having separate chefs and separate work stations one for Seafood, the other for Sushi!
There were 7 of us at our table, so not a huge group, but it would keep our waitress running at a consistent pace. She was also fantastic, super charismatic, bubbly, and excited to have us. Her positive attitude really resonated with me. She suggested what wine's to have with certain dishes, and incase you were wondering? She wasn't a Sommelier, I asked if she was and she said just enjoyed educating her customers on what goes well with what. Double thumbs up!
I'm a bit hazy on the wine we ordered as it wasn't me who came to a final decision on those, but whatever they were, they were delicious. For our starters I ordered some Spicy Tuna roll (sushi) with some Edemame. The Sushi was probably the best sushi I've ever had in my entire life. It was so fresh and so delicious, the thought of adding soy sauce would have ruined the "giant O" my mouth was having. They added a bit of spicy mayo-mix sauce on top that really gave you that pop of heat. I, myself love heat, but that was a touch too much. The Edemame was enormous, for a starter it really could have been shared with two, and each would have had a very reasonable portion size. I'd love to tell you what the others had as starters, but I was enjoying mine too much to take notice, that said, I really don't think they ordered anything.
For my main I ordered a Beef Tenderloin and its a toss between a Wagyu Beef + Sezmu Beef since there was a limited availability along with fingerling potatoes with rosemary and fleur de sel, french beans romesco sauce with pine nuts, red wine reduction, to sum all that up... Amazing.
Dress Attire for this restaurant is certainly not jeans and a t-shirt which we all wore. Had I known the type of restaurant we were going to there is no way on this earth I would have stepped foot in wearing a BC Lions Jersey and Jeans. They were understanding through, with it being Grey Cup night and informed us that half of the restaurant looked the way we did, and not to be worried. I will certainly be back the next time I am in Vancouver, it is amazing to see the hospitality that these people showed to us, and it is proof that Great Customer service still exists. Bravo Blue Water Cafe, and thank you for an amazing night that I will remember for years.
The restaurant also has Valet parking as well, so you need not worry about running through Vancouvers common weather, rain, ruining ones hair or clothes in the dash from the car to restaurant. As far as cost on that goes, I haven't a clue, we walked from a Condo a few short blocks away, so Valet parking wasn't a concern to us. -
Review from J H.
4/29/2012
The best restaurant to dine!
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Review from Siri W.
11/16/2011
Well would you look at the raving reviews up in this place. Not surprising, it seemed to be doing very well!
Went here for a lovely dinner the other night. The place is gorgeous, very Yaletown chic, and the service was very good. The waitstaff know what they're talking about and are super attentive, which is always nice.
We had some oysters, which were delicious and suuuuuper fresh. Drool. I could have eaten about a thousand of them I believe (on recommendation, they were the beach angels and the kumamoto. Yum. So very yum. Go here for the oysters alone.
Then had the sushi - scallop, spicy tuna, dynamite (YUM) and salmon. These were really good - not the best sushi I've had mind you, but still very good.
So I have no real qualms about my experience here (except for the waiter taking my sushi plate away before I could eat all of it...I was just waiting for my second wind dude!) The only issue for me was, it as amazing as I thought for the price.
Of course it could totally also be that we just ordered the wrong thing. But with drinks at 17.00 a pop (!!) it comes to an expensive night out if you don't know what you're doing. Which apparently we did not...again...very good, but not amazing. For this price...you kinda expect amazing!
However...definitely would go back for the oysters, and would love to go back and be proven wrong with the rest! -
Review from Phoebe K.
3/12/2012
I came by myself and had a great experience here. I ordered the nigiri sampler, which was delightful--generous and expertly cut portions of sashimi. The wait staff was wonderful, very friendly and kind. Of course fresh tuna sashimi costs a lot, and honestly it should. But you wouldn't come here every night. It's special.
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Review from Paul L.
3/12/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Fancy decor with a Japanese twist. seafood is good but fill up your pocket before you go. Lafite and Margaux are on the wine list.
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Review from Jeffrey K.
2/25/2012 1 photo
This is the end to a great trip. We wanted to get a great meal before we left the area, and being the northeast we wanted some great seafood. Blue Water cafe had great service and all around great food. We started with that sampler which allowed us to try four different dishes. We had some good sushi rolls and then topped it off with sable fish and scallops. We also had some great deserts. Not a single course fell short of our expectations. This will be on our list of places to visit when we come back to Vancouver again.
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Review from Linda C.
11/5/2011
Our dinner was basically a seafood/raw feast.
We had the two tower seafood appetizer. The smoked salmon left much to be desired, but everything else (oysters, shrimp, etc) were solid. The Japanese jellyfish dish was fantastic -- great texture and flavors.
For the main coarse we got a boat load of sashimi.
Toro was OK. Not particularly fatty, but pretty good.
Regular tuna was solid.
Hamachi was great.
Salmon was delish.
The one complete miss of the evening: the salmon entree. It came highly recommended by the waitstaff. The fish itself paled in comparison to the salmon sashimi we were having at the same time. The sides it came with were also pretty un-spectacular.
But overall, still a really tasty meal for quite a decent price. -
Review from V R.
4/24/2012
Sablefish is to die for and the Scallops were so flavorful. Went to Vancouver for a 3 day weekend and celebrated our anniversary there. Definitely recommend.
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Review from Yvonne P.
Calgary, AB
3/13/2012
Great location, great atmosphere - a little bit more formal, white tablecloths, lots of suits but still felt comfortable in business casual. Waiter was a little backed off for us, not much help in recommendations on wine, menu etc. but we stumbled through and made some good picks. Good fresh oysters, good fresh fish entrees. On the higher end so while it was good, it didn't have the full package for us likely will try other places before going back.
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Review from Ellie I.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2012
This is what I call a proper seafood restaurant! The food is always exquisite and well presented here and I really appreciate the variety offered. . I don't patronize some restaurants in this neighbourhood because if the type of clientele they attract but Blue Water seems to not attract as many unsavoury types and that's always nice.
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Review from Sunshine M.
Coquitlam, BC
12/10/2011 4 photos
Ours was a group of 10, celebrating various wedding anniversaries. The restaurant feels like an enchanted place the moment you step inside. We were dressed formally and felt comfortable as did other diners who were dressed more casually.
On one side the kitchen is open and on the other side you can watch the sushi being prepared. There is a TV screen you can watch if you are not able to see the sushi chef from your seat, and it is fascinating to see the artfullness involved in this.
We ordered oysters, salmon rolls, sashimi and salads for appetizers. All the first plates were resounding successes. Make sure to ask to try the exceptionally tall breadsticks on the bar also. They have a subtle kick and our table preferred them to the bread offered.
For principal plates our group tried the lobster in cream, the shortribs, the cherry chicken, the arctic char, the pacific ling cod, the scallops and the pomme frites with truffle oil and parmesan.
The two dinners that made the biggest impression were the Arctic Char and the Cherry Creek Chicken. The rest of us agreed that although our meals were delicious we had absolutely adored our appetizers and on a return visit would order sushi for the entire meal. The house prepared wasabi is to die for.
The service was elegant and gracious. We gladly deferred to the servers in the matter of wine. One of my favorite 'tastes' of the evening was a sip of my dinner companion's BC ice wine. Ummm, I can still taste it.
This is not an inexpensive dinner (averaging over $100/person) but you will not go home hungry. The restaurant is clean and modern and the food is plated beautifully. The sides are interesting and substantial. The value is on par with what you are receiving.
If I was going to make one suggestion it would be to add a good steak to the menu. They do offer shortribs and beef tenderloin, however many steak lovers do not enjoy beef prepared in that manner. One member of our party -who was not a total seafood lover- would have really enjoyed a good steak.
If someone had a strong aversion to fish I do not think the night would be enjoyable for them, due to the smell. For us, it was fine as we love fish.
We were too full for dessert but they brought darling Petit Fours which were delicate, delicious and the perfect size. A total crowd pleaser!
Parking can be iffy in Yaletown but the Blue Water Cafe does have valet parking. We took cabs which was inexpensive from where we were and allowed everyone to be able to drink without worrying about driving after. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
7/6/2011
Really doesn't need another review, but try to go for a special occasion with a group of six or so.
A must have-three tier seafood tower. $150 or so. Sushi is definitely some of the best I've ever had. Even the oyster was good, and I don't always do oysters. (Apparently that's a girl thing?)
Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris- $85 or so a bottle, but not all restaurants carry this so take advantage. The winery itself served me one of the best meals of my entire life.
Entrees-miso halibut was one of the best things I had ever tasted. Scallops were not as memorable, but perfectly cooked. Everything else was good.
Chocolate/coconut trio dessert-Top Chef Quality most definitely. Apparently, all of the desserts are that delish!
Sitting outside-absolutely perfect around 8pm at night; no heat lamp needed; maybe a light sweater, though.
Total bill for two-$300 and up but well worth it for a one time occasion. Next time, I'd just stick with the raw tower, however, as an entree is almost unnecessary, and that would cut costs, too.
Also, don't be fooled and eat the lobster head of the tower! My guests almost sucked me in. Perhaps someone eats it.... -
Review from Rolando R.
1/21/2012
One of the best meals I've ever had...... Flew in from New Jersey and drove from Seattle to Vancouver just to eat there, well worth the trip. Will do it again.
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Review from Heather I.
Calgary, AB
6/21/2011
Flew into Vancouver and my BF suggested we go here for dinner. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was hungry and it was close to his place.
We sat in the corner at the bar which offered excellent people watching and a bit of an intimate experience (which we wanted).
The bartender was extremely knowledgeable about their wines and recommended two different types that we both enjoyed. We started off by sharing the BC Tasting for Two. Yes, it's pricey, but worth it. It comes with Dungeness Crab Salad, Smoked Salmon Terrine, Scallop Ceviche, and Tuna Tartare. I honestly don't know that I can select a favorite.
The Scallop Ceviche was simple, but loaded with flavor and used grapefruit as the main citrus - something I really enjoyed.
The Smoked Salmon Terrine was beautifully presented and literally melted in my mouth.
The Dungeness Crab Salad was served in a small bowl with an apple foam on top and I believe creme fraiche in the bottom. Each bite yielded a surprise as the other ingredients slowly were revealed - peanuts, raisins, red pepper. It was delicious.
The tuna tartare was served in a crispy wonton and was perfectly balanced.
Our main was a simple dinner of sushi and sashimi and both were exceptionally fresh and well prepared. I am pretty picky when it comes to the preparation of sushi rice and if there was a flaw to this meal, it's that the rice was only 8/10.
We had several glasses of wine throughout and all were paired perfectly to both our individuals tastes and to the meal.
During my 5 day trip, this was definitely the culinary highlight. I will definitely be back. -
Review from Karen R.
We decided to go out with a bang for the last dinner club of 2011 so we came here. This was a great place to celebrate the end of our second year of the club.
They took our jackets and umbrellas - I advise you to take your umbrella with you to your table, the coat room is a bit of a gong show and it would be very easy to lose an umbrella there. Our server was very cute - obviously new, but really friendly and because they have so many people working TOGETHER he got better as the night went on. It's very interesting - they have quite a well oiled machine - I've never watched a restaurant turn over tables so quickly and efficiently. They worked fast, without dropping or breaking anything...anyway, the service is great, they are attentive without being intrusive.
The wine list is a little overwhelming - even knowing that it has been voted as one of the best wine lists in the city - but there's lots to choose from and they actually have quite a few options if you want to order by the glass. I opted for a cocktail this time and chose "A Weekend in May." One of the best in the city - it was really great to have a martini presented with the proper amount of alcohol, I find that a lot of places tend to use too much mixer. This one had Grey Goose, chartreuse, sake, yuzu juice and shizo leaves - it was a refreshing, bright and delicious citrus drink and worth the $12.50 it cost. The DDs ordered a really pretty non-alcoholic drink called the Pablo Honey - again, fruity and fresh - a nice alternative to soda or juice. The other alcoholic drink that was ordered was the Persica which was a peachy drink - a little sweet but had a tart aftertaste. Overall both the cocktails and the non-alcoholic drinks were a great introduction as to what was to come.
To start we ordered a couple of sushi rolls. The vegetable roll was good, pretty standard. The Stamina Roll was fantastic! A crabby, eely, smoked salmony roll of sweet soy goodness! A definite must if you're a sushi person.
Then came the mains...I ordered the Arctic Char which sat on a bed of of the most flavourful combination of leeks, fennel, dungeness crab sitting in a pool of couscous trout caviar in a beurre blanc sauce. The crispness on the top of the fish was perfect and the meat was flaky and moist - perfectly cooked. The other mains ordered were the scallops, the white sturgeon and the lingcod. Everything looked amazing and we were all really happy with each dish.
No dinner club meal in complete without dessert so we split the lemongrass creme brûlée (which came with a carrot cake) and the dark chocolate lava cake with ginger ice cream. The creme brûlée was smooth and creamy with a very crispy sugar crust and the chocolate cake wasn't too sweet but extremely rich - better to share that one.
At the end of the meal they came out with little cookies topped with a smooth dark chocolate ganache. A perfect way to end a fantastic meal.Listed in: Dinner Club
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Review from Jen L.
5/22/2011 1 photo
This is the 3rd time I've been here, and it's phenomenal for seafood. Be ready to spend $$$$ for smallish portions!!
- The warm bread with the butter and hummus is lovely.
- BC Tasting for Two: 4 extremely small plates. I love the qualicum bay scallop ceviche $18.50 per person
- Arctic Char: $29.50 - light and flavors are complementary.
- Sablefish with miso glaze- so tasty, soft, buttery $36.50
- Scallops - delicious with a perfect sear. $32.50
- Fries with truffle oil - yum but the truffle flavor is too mild $9.50
- Shellfish Plateau (single tier)- great as my entree. Everything is chilled and fresh (except sometimes the clams) on ice. I loved the jellyfish ceviche. $28.00
Service is perfect. Decor is nice.
