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Bridges Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Seafood, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
1696 Duranleau StVancouver, BC V6H 3S4
Neighbourhood: Granville Island/False Creek
(604) 687-4400
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
55 reviews for Bridges Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Bf and I split a caesar salad and a smoked salmon pizza." In 4 reviews -
"Its another beautiful sunny and cool day in Vancouver." In 13 reviews -
"...inside, close to the water, and easy to get a table." In 3 reviews
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Caren L.
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't get why this place gets low ratings. Maybe people are put off with the prices?
Still, I found Bridges to be a lovely restaurant in the Granville Market area that serves up some seriously yummy stuff! A bit pricey yes, but you get what you pay for.
Best pizza in the place (according to my 5 year old). The salad and salmon were seasoned just right, good serving sizes too. The Sugar Bar also serves up a varied choice of gelato which gives you a perfect way to end a meal.
Great views, parking a bit hard though especially on busy days. -
Review from Deanna S.
5/22/2012
Yikes. For the price, this place is totally not worth it.
I sat out on the patio because it was a sunny day... but it wasn't that warm when you're out on the water like that. They had heating lamps... but of course the one right beside our table wasn't turned on. Just my luck. This restaurant sits right between the Granville and Burrard bridges (hence the name), and has a lovely view of the city and water. The hostess let us know that the kitchen was running a bit behind, which is okay and I appreciated that they kept us in the loop.
Our server was extremely awkward. At one point he pointed to some people on one of those boat things that you pedal like a bike to get around, and laughed saying he hoped they fell into the water... I didn't appreciate this. While my boyfriend and I looked over at it and thought, look! That's neat! He comes in and just puts them down... Why? Why are you being so mean?
About 20 minutes passed after we ordered our food, and it was definitely feeling like it was taking a long time. Then a hostess sat a couple down beside us and I overheard her telling them that it was about an hour wait for food. AN HOUR!? NO ONE TOLD US AN HOUR!? I was expecting like maybe a few minutes more than normal but AN HOUR!? I was so disheartened and worried that I wasn't going to get to eat for another 40 minutes!!! Luckily, our food came in about 15 more minutes, so we were waiting for only 35 minutes, which I didn't mind because we weren't in a rush... but still. That's a long time. I sincerely hope that they were just having an off-day. Or that they pay their cooks more so that they are more willing to come into work!
I ordered the calamari with a side of fries, and my boyfriend ordered the crab burger with salad. The calamari was okay, but not the best. I like that it came with a pita bread as well. But there was not nearly enough tzatziki sauce for all of the calamari and pita bread. Nothing ruins a meal more than when there isn't enough dipping sauce! The fries were a bust and I regretted ordering them. I tried a bite of the crab burger and it was delish! If I found myself back here, I would probably order that instead.
I probably would have preferred the fish and chips, but it totally didn't sound like it was worth $24, which was why I ordered the calamari with fries instead. I'd rather get a steak at the Keg for that price... let alone fish and chips! I price fish & chips at $13 in my head... and anything over that would have to be pretty remarkable to be worth it. Nothing on the menu struck me as remarkable, and judging by the other reviews here... I'm not alone in thinking that.
So after a ridiculously priced meal that took 35 minutes to come out and an awkward and rude waiter... I couldn't bring myself to tip very well. I hate that tipping is considered "necessary" or else I'M a huge jackass. I tipped a few dollars but not nearly "enough" compared to the price of our bill...
On the way out, we brushed past our waiter and he murmured, "Fuck off," to me in a tone.
Yes. My waiter told me to fuck off. I'm pretty sure it was because of my sucky tip... but needless to say, a tip is a tip and I gave him enough to buy atleast a coffee at Starbucks. I couldn't believe it and being the drama queen that I am, I stopped in my tracks and exclaimed to my boyfriend what the jerk just said to me. Unfortunately, there were little kids sitting at a table beside me who had to hear it. Clearly, this was not a time or place to be yelling out swears, so we made our way out, stopping to ask the hostess the name of the server. Tip or no tip (or half-tip, as I did), you should NEVER tell your customers to fuck off. That was just downright unacceptable, and rude!
I hope I am giving this place the benefit of the doubt with 2 stars. I really hope that they were just having a bad day, and the wait times aren't always as atrocious. I would go back for the crab burger alone... I just hope I get a different server next time!!! -
Review from Sahra G.
4/2/2012
The food was just ok for the price.
We had oysters to start, I had salmon and kale and he had chicken and kale. My salmon wasn't hot when it came out, it was warm. Which whatever I'll eat it but it sucks that I am paying that much for warm salmon.
The oysters needed horseradish and bigger lemons served with them. Even a selection of types would have been nice. You are in Granville island no?
The cosmo I had tho. That was awesome. I would have had another one but after the booze and oysters I was ready to um... heh... get out of there. ;)
I prefer Rodney's if I am going to drop this much on a meal. Wayyyy better. -
Review from Chris K.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012
I have always respected Bridges for its reputation and food. I have returned every year to taste its Dine Out menu with favorable results. Unfortunately that favorable result has vanished this year.
To start off, the service was lackluster. I waited for quite some time for my bread to arrive. During that time, i carefully observed tables that were seated after us, received their bread before us. The bread we got was tasted quite good but was not warm, it felt lifeless and reused the way it was cut. The butter that came with the bread was straight out of the refrigerator as it was solid and cold. Now, cold bread and cold butter is quite a poor combination. It instantly gave me the impression that they just didn't care. Please note this was 2 days into Dine out on a Sat. That was a pretty bad start but maybe they can redeem themselves with appetizers.
Our appetizers were the salad, mushroom bisque, and crab&scallop croquettes. The yams in the salad was good but would have been better hot as they were soggy. The croquettes were piping hot and very good, well portioned aswell. At that point, i felt that they have redeemed some points lost due to service. The appetizers were well made and hot aside from a minor gripe about the salad.
The main course was certainly a highlight. My guest had the Sablefish, and i had the lamb. The entrees were very unproportionate that i personally felt that i ate 2 entrees instead of one. The sablefish was sized to 1x2 inches vs. my 2pcs lamb rack and brisket. My guest doesn't eat much normally but the serving of her entree was so unproportionate and small that she even cleaned the plate, void of sauce. Myself on the other hand was so daunted at the large portion i received that i gave in after eating the 2 pieces of rack.
Finally...dessert. My forte and usually the least looked forward to after a meal because usually people dont have the stomach after a good meal. Ours were the tiramisu and brulee which to be quite honest, the best part of the meal. If the dessert is the best part of a diner's experience, something is fundamentally wrong with your establishment and practices.
Returning to the service, the staff had neglected to pick up our check several times, even when there was money clear within sight. Looking at the night, i would of given Bridges a lower mark on the day of, but writing this review now at a later date has allowed me to think clearly and give proper feedback. The biggest question is: Will I be a returning customer? Its hard to say but most likely, probably not. Thank you for the run Bridges, but Its time for me to move on. -
Review from BB C.
Vancouver, BC
5/7/2012
Yesterday (Sunday) was apparently the first day the patio was open. Sunny day but they didn't account for serving the amount of people seated on the patio. Took over 15 min before the waitress came over with our waters and then 30 min before we got our drinks and still no food. The waitress was not once apologetic for the slow service. Poor management when there is 3 hostesses in the patio area and another 4 inside loitering around. Maybe they should hire more kitchen helf instead! I saw other customers complaining about the service and heard the same excuse "didn't account for that many people today".
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Review from Michael N.
Richmond, BC
4/17/2012
Bridges is a really classy place. They have the potential to become a great restaurant. Beautifully set in Vancouver's Granville Island, bridges really embraces its west coast roots. It's menu is beautifully set up so that each item is complimented by a wine.
Their prices are reasonable for the meal you are served but can get quite pricey if you get carried away. The service is friendly and they really make sure you get what you want and make sure your meal is paired with a great wine.
The downfall of this place unfortunately is the exteriors. Although the area has a lot of foot traffic, the building doesn't look like somewhere you'd go to eat. It looks more like a toy store or a warehouse than a restaurant. But this doesn't accurately portray the elegant setting they have created on the inside. Parking can be tough in this area as well as there are many adjacent restaurants and theaters in the area. -
Review from Michelle M.
Port Moody, BC
3/19/2012
Not much to say. My spinach salad was ok...heavy dressing, and blue cheese which I'm not a fan of, and the crab and whatever burger was alright. There was no taste explosion, so my words will be few. Dissapointing for a restaurant with an A+ reputation.
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Review from Jewel Y.
I'm shocked to see so many terrible reviews.... am I being too generous giving 4 stars?? I had to question myself based on how majority of the local yelpers have given this restaurant 1-2 stars, maybe 3 stars at most. I've noticed that most of the complaints are about the pricing. I admit it's slightly overpriced, but it's not that bad.... For example, steamed mussels were about $17(and they are big and juicy) and halibut with the Asian noodle and veggies was about $25, and desserts were around $10. Maybe because I'm from NY, these prices didn't seem that unreasonable, they are within the standard bistro price range. You pay for the location, and therefore make sure you dine on the deck by the water or otherwise you lose half the experience. The overall quality of the food was satisfactory, everything I've tried had predictable taste but not disappointing.
As everyone admits, the location of Bridges Restaurant is superb, you come here to enjoy the magnificent view of the downtown skyline across the river, the mountains, the yacht harbor, and of course, the bridges(duh!). The ambiance is festive and romantic, and yet still casual. It's an ideal place to chill and watch the sunset over the bay. It reminded me a bit of Gladstones on PCH in L.A., where people go for the view. However, Bridges serves better food for sure!
Food: 3.5 stars
Ambiance: 5 stars
Service: 4 stars
Value: 3.5 starsListed in: Vancouver
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Review from Mike P.
5/28/2011
I can't believe I've never reviewed Bridges. Since it's located on Granville Island it's a place that I've often visited when showing guests around town, so have many fond memories involving bridges. Some of my favourite memories:
- Swiss house during the Olympics - overpriced, but they took a stab at serving real Swiss food (so raclet). Not super authentic (was hoping for an experience closer to something I'd experienced in Switzerland), but still memorable in the euphoria of the Olympics.
- Post wedding meal with some of our out of town guests. They LOVED the sunny patio at Bridges and loved Granville Island.
- Various enjoyable visits to Granville Island that sometimes warranted a bite or a drink at Bridges.
- A recent lunch with my boss that was very enjoyable, nice day, nice to chat away from the office, and a nice walk through Granville Island to get there from the office.
You'll notice that none of the above really involve Bridge's food/service or ambience. The food is average, the prices are high, but I'll keep going back. -
Review from Tatiana M.
8/20/2011
At Bridges, the view is the only thing worth writing home about, though there's a lot to write about it. Nearing death by hunger, we went here for lunch during a day-trek to Granville Island because it's literally the first thing we saw (hard to miss). (Honestly before we approached the view, I thought it was going to be Canadian Skipper's). We sat on the beautiful porch overlooking False Creek with a view of all the glass buildings. Very photographic view.
My niçoise salad was pretty good; if not a little too large. It'd be better if they offered both appetizer and dinner sized portions for people at lunch. Beer was standard, but overpriced. Fish and chips were decent, also overpriced. Do you see a theme here? $60CAD is too much to spend on a decent lunch. But, I guess it's the price you pay when you can't walk the extra 100m to the market and eat there. I've read that upper level is even more expensive, but I have nothing to corroborate that.
Only go here if you want to appease someone with bland taste who has an affinity for beautiful views. Incidentally you board the aquabus from this porch as well. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
6/22/2011
1 star for patio
1 star for okay service
But seriously, I'd rather give it none.
It was a busy, sunny day that a friend of mine and I decided to split a pitcher and some nachos on the patio. After a lovely walk along the sea wall and False Creek we had the brilliant idea to drop in at Bridges.
*error noise* wrong. Boy were we ever wrong. First of all the pitcher, yes, one pitcher was $28. SERIOUSLY? And it was Stanley Park Amber Ale because we refused to get the Granville Island bs. Seriously.
Then the Nachos. The food was okay, they were over priced and under cheesed but they were okay.
I should know better than to go to the one very blatant tourist trap in the city.... even if all I wanted was a nice afternoon on a patio. -
Review from Carol S.
Whistler, BC
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great view !!! Bad food, overpricing and the worst service ever !!!!
2 beers + nachos =$45
20 minutes to received my beer and 40 minutes to arrived the nachos!! 18 dolares for the worst nacho I ever ate. -
Review from Greg M.
Vancouver, BC
7/7/2011
Well the food sucked, but hey at least I paid too much.
Went to The Bridge last night since we had just finished a sailing lesson since it was convenient. Been years since I've been here but i never remembered the prices being so stupid. They beer-battered fish and chips on the menu for $22. No YOU shut up, I'm serious!
So anyways, we were starving so decided to stick it out. Just stuck with mussels, a pizza, and some wings. The food was about up there with food court quality, not even as good as your typical Cactus Club or Red Robin. Pretty weak standards and significantly more expensive. I guess the view off Granville Island pier is supposed to justify the premium. Wasn't really overly impressed with all of it myself but they keep busy so i guess yummy food isn't everything.
I recommend staying away. If you want the experience just take a stroll along the Sea Wall with a bag of microwaved food and then when you get home light a stack of money on fire. If you have somebody nearby that can kick you in the sack what would add a touch more authenticity to the evening.
No thumbs up.
(maybe one finger though) -
Review from Yawen C.
6/23/2011 2 photos
WAY too expensive for what it is. I like its patio and how it's right against the pier, but other than the view, no thank you.
Bf and I split a caesar salad and a smoked salmon pizza. The salad was so bland for a caesar, and it definitely needed cheese. We kept asking for more pepper so there would be something to taste. The smoked salmon pizza was better, but still not worth $20+. The pizza had a bit (not a lot) of cream cheese, and was layered with smoked salmon, topped with 2 rings of red onion on each slice, and then sprinkled with capers. Ew to the capers. The salmon itself was good, but I thought it could use some more cream cheese. And onions for that matter, but that's probably only cuz Im a huge raw onion fan. The meal was enough to fill the two of us, but we still left unsatisfied.
On top of that, our waitress never came back with our change! I suppose she presumed that all of it would be her tip...but that's a pretty generous tip.... -
Review from Sy M.
Vancouver, BC
6/10/2011
Drinks are expensive (all the drinks there including the pitchers are pricier than anywhere else that serves the same drinks), food is nothing to rave about, and most of all, the service sucks! We sat there for 10 minutes and not one server came over to even say hi.
The only good thing is the big patio. It's always packed because people like to sit there for the view, but really, it's nothing special.
We ended up leaving. -
Review from Liz M.
Vancouver, BC
8/2/2011
This place has only lasted because of it's location. The food is terrible. Really! Terrible.
The patio is nice in the summer, but perhaps just go over to the pub side and have a drink. Don't waste your money on a very expensive meal that will leave you feeling furious.
My $19 Nicoise Salad was disgusting. No flavour and the grossest piece of tuna that was tough. Wait staff don't give a damn either. Imagine putting great grindings of pepper on a pizza for a 3 year old.
This place is a big "turn-off". Try the Sand Bar instead. -
Review from Peter T.
10/22/2010
[ Food: 3/5 ] [ Ambiance: 4/5 ] [ Services: 3.5/5 ]
Prices $$$ (avg $25/person)
Its another beautiful sunny and cool day in Vancouver. We were checking out this area and instantly fall in love with the market. There were so many food stalls to choose from but the only problem, you will have to eat inside with the crowds or sit outside on the bench and possibly get attack by the pigeons and seagulls (remember "The Birds"? :). So, we decided to go for a quieter and nicer place where we can sit outside, enjoy the views and get serve...
Seafood soup (tomato base) $10: Generous amount of seafood with reasonable taste.
Ceviche $12: A little too sour (too much acid), very little spice and doesnt taste right, i dont feel the soul of Latin America in this dish, thus, skip it!
Salmon burger $17: Amazing piece of thick smoked salmon, still pink inside. A little cold & the tartar sauce a little overpowering. The thick cut fries were very good.
If you prefer to be served and wanna avoid the hassle of choosing what to buy from the market, and if the weather is beautiful, this is THE SPOT! And everything else will taste a tad better with the view and beautiful surrounding... -
Review from Mark H.
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Views come with a price. Whether it is worth that price is always the question.
Having been to Sandbar and Monk McQueen's, Bridges' view places 3rd. For starters, their house bread was addicting, though I was starving. Although I hate oysters, I figured what the hell and shot a fresh one. Still weird taste, but better than chewing.
I had the Lingcod atop coconut rice and bok choy (misfit). Alright, but nothing crazy.
Finished off with the chocolate mouse cake or something. Average chocolate fare. -
Review from caroline s.
Burnaby, BC
10/17/2010
You go for the location. That's it folks.
Husband said 'my Fettuccine seafood pasta was utterly delightful'. My children's belly's were full with burger (it tasted great) and double portion fish and chips. My crab cake burger was actually pretty good, but next time I will order a salad, as the fries was carb overkill.
Expectant and prompt service.
$90 for 4 entrees (one child meal) and 1 Pale Ale reminds me why we hadn't been back for a while... too pricey.
It's that damn view that makes it the must-go lunch venue on a sunny, blue-sky day. -
Review from Emily S.
Vancouver, BC
11/1/2010
Why is this place so overpriced for tiny food?? It must be the rent.
So I give 3 stars for location. Location, location, location. It makes it an easy tourist spot for leisure and for business. And they always have a decent wine selection. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
12/11/2009
2 star? 3 star? Definitely not a 4 star? But I round up - 3 stars it is.
Their canary yellow exterior might make for an obvious meeting point on Granville Island but since I've lived in Vancouver proper, I've only actually gone inside twice.
For the view and the ambiance it's hard to beat. But when you mix ridiculously priced bland food, it definitely knocks its allure down a few pegs.
Foolish, foolish me. I ordered a halibut burger and fries. I should know better than to assume that the fish would be battered like fish and chips or grilled. Bridges has turned theirs into a patty and mixed it with crab: resulting in the consistency and texture of California roll innards. The lettuce, tomato: fresh and crisp; the sauce tasty, and the bun was toasted and moist. The poor little fries limped along, underdone and bland.
Had this been a burger shack on a street corner, I would give it at least 4 stars, but with a $17 price tag fixed to it, I actually think it deserves all of 1.
Kudos and good going on my latte, though. The presentation might have been touristy and old fashioned (think cruise ship all the way) in a clear tall glass, but the espresso itself was well made, without a hint of bitterness.
I wonder if I'd be asked to leave, while just sitting on their patio, in the summer sipping tap water and watching the world go by. -
Review from Tee D.
7/21/2009
Sunny days are great.
I imagine leisurely lunches, lounging patio-side, with an icy cool drink in my hand.
The guy and I decided we'd spend on sunny afternoon on Granville Island, you know, eat lunch, have some gelato, people watch.
Since Bridge's is obviously noticeable from the freeway, we decided, "Hey! Let's eat there!"
You know, sometimes those spontaneous dining choices can work against you, but today, it was a pretty safe, albeit expensive, choice.
I had the seafood caesar salad, which came with chunks of salmon, shrimp, and halibut. All the "seafood" were cooked nicely and fresh. The only minor complaint was that the salad dressing was super thick and slightly chunky. Isn't that bizarre?
The guy ordered the lobster, which took a bit of work to eat, but ended up being pretty good.
Anyway, lunch was probably one of the most expensive lunches we've ever had in a while, but overall, the company and the patio were pleasant, so I'd say it was worth every penny (even if I didn't pay the bill!). -
Review from Anita C.
Vancouver, BC
6/1/2009
preface: this review is strictly for the patio and patio service during the day and not the dinner service for weddings--which i love)
Beautiful view with a beautiful 300-seater patio! perfect for the summer. I give it 4 stars for this but decreased it to 3 because the service and the food were mediocre. Seems like there are many waiters/waitresses strolling around but there never seems to be any service!
The pitchers of drinks very pretty expensive given the alcohol content in them.. you could barely taste any alcohol and we had to ask them to throw a few more shots in there which we were obviously charged for. We ordered the nachos to share and I'm pretty sure that I could make them better and cheaper at home.
At the end of it, for four of us (still pretty sober), 4 pitchers of drinks and plate of nachos plus the extra shots it was just under $200. eeks!
But if you have the extra cash, and you want an amazing patio with an amazing view..t hen this is the place to go! -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
1/14/2009
Bleh. I definitely agree with the people who think little of this place.
Bridges has some breathtaking views and probably is on the best spot on Granville island when it comes to placement. I don't doubt that if you got a seat on the patio and loved the look of the city, you'd really have something to enjoy.
That said, otherwise, the food and the prices are the pits. The food isn't bad, it's just middling, and for an island that tries to have some funky and interesting eateries, that just isn't great. I've strangely not had fish here, so I pray at least that's good.
Otherwise, unless you're in it for the view, I'd say try somewhere else on the island. You can certainly get better bang for your buck , if not better food as well. -
Review from Anthony F.
Vancouver, BC
3/16/2010
Background: Apart from the Sandbar, this is the most recognizable restaurant in Granville Island.
Food: West coast flair with not too much imagination. One thing's for sure, the crab burger is minced too fine and has a mushy, rather gross babyfood texture to it. It comes with way too many fries; I'd rather have 1/4 of the fries and a tiny bit of salad. Calamari was a good texture, although the batter kept falling off.
Ambiance: We asked specifically to sit at the bar beside the fireplace and it was fantastic. The dining room is just meh, probably more impressive at night.
Service: Good but not great.
Pricepoint: Mid-range I would say.
Overall: This place is pretty average in most aspects. Since it's one of only a handful of sit-down restaurants in Granville Island, I think it gets more business than it probably merits. -
Review from Wendy L.
8/10/2008
My friends rented out the upstairs of at Bridges Restaurant for their wedding reception. My Canadian friend told me that Granville Island was very touristy; I didn't have a chance to walk around the area much but I get that sense.
Bridges is a nice restaurant that has views of....the bridge, though it's more than just the bridge. The view is lovely because you're overlooking the water, the boats and the city of Vancouver. My friends were married on the deck upstairs which made for a nice setting (despite the rain).
As for food, we had many courses (four, not including dessert) and lots of choices - I had the greens with berries and shallots to start, salmon cake, ahi tuna and the rib eye. The salad was served with a light vinaigrette (tasty), and the fresh, ripe berries (raspberries and blackberries) were a good addition. My favorites of the evening were the ahi tuna and the rib eye. The ahi tuna was served in small slices as a rare tuna steak and then also in a more traditional tuna tartare form, chopped with fried won ton things. I preferred the rare tuna steak as it seemed to have more flavor while the tuna tartare didn't seem to taste like much. The rib eye was nice and marbled - yum.
It was easy to get there from downtown (~10 minute taxi ride), and even late in the evening, there were plenty of cabs to get back downtown. -
Review from Reena M.
1/20/2010
This restaurant really could step it up a notch. The location is great. Service is great. The food is... alright. Not inspiring to me. I got the chipotle chicken soup special which was a good idea in concept, but I could barely taste the chipotle, and it was pretty thin. I also got the Hunan style pulled pork sliders with a side salad and I was expecting them to be so much more exotic. The asian slaw in them barely had any flavour. The salad was just mixed greens tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. I mean, where is the flair? Some sunflower seeds? Dried cranberry? A little goat cheese perhaps?
And Crystal H. is right: It is overpriced bland food.Listed in: Granville Island Must-eats…
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Review from Tara T.
BC
11/21/2008
This restaurant occupies one of the best spots on Granville Island overlooking the harbour and a marina full of boats. This is the perfect dining destination on a sunny summer afternoon. Order a jug of one of their best cocktails (the lemonade with vodka is extremely refreshing) and lounge with friends on their huge patio, glass in hand, sun on face, and watch as the world goes by.
They have a fabulous menu with a selection to appease even the fussiest of diners. Choices including their signature smoked salmon pizza, ahi tuna, rib eye steak, salads, nachos, calamari, oysters, fish & chips, lobster, mussels, crab & halibut burger, prawns, and more. I've had the nachos in the past, which were delicious and I've also enjoyed their snack food of which I'd recommend the sweet pepper and spinach dip with tortilla chips and pita bread. This is perfect to share between two.
Bridges is a pricey joint, but it's worth every cent. It can get very busy, especially in the summer months, but stick it out and you'll be impressed and well satisfied. This is a restaurant that I keep coming back to time and time again. -
Review from Gourmet Princessa L.
10/6/2009 1 photo
Date of Visit: Oct. 3, 2009
We learned about Bridges Restaurant from a very kind hearted Vancouver resident while we were waiting for the bus at downtown Vancouver to Granville Island. We took her recommendation and had lunch there.
This charming restaurant by the water is the perfect place for a casual, elegant sit down lunch. We walked in on a later afternoon after visiting the famous Granville Island Public Market that is adjacent to the restaurant. The cool color tone wall is decorated with pictures of the restaurant taken from every corner of the island. Floor to ceiling windows surrounding the restaurant bring in natural light and providing the view of the city across the water.
We studied the extensive lunch menu that covers a variety of dishes from thin crust pizzas, to hamburger and main course served with fresh seafood or meat. We split the seafood and corn chowder and halibut and Dungeness crab burger with delicious thick cut fries. The chowder is hearty, filled with lots of shrimps, fish and shellfish covered in smooth, creamy broth with corn kernels and vegetables. Is a perfect start to warm our stomach on a cool Canadian autumn day.
The halibut and Dungeness crab hamburger is very delicate and rich. The better way to describe the burger is like a crab cake sandwiched between 2 pieces of burger buns. The halibut and Dungeness patty is perfectly flavored and pan fried to golden, crispy panko outer crust. The burger buns spread with creamy, slightly tangy aioli sauce with the patty, tomatoes slices and lettuce is hearty, flavorful and very satisfying.
Being a curious foodie, I can't help but to peeked over my neighbors at the table next to ours to see what they ordered. They had ordered the smoked salmon pizza with fresh slices to tomatoes and scallions, which was on my list of consideration. Her companion ordered the fish and chips with the traditional British thick cut fries which looked very tempting also.
Fair prices for the quality of food, services and ambiance we got. We left the restaurant satisfied and wishing we had more room to taste other dishes. Yes, we'll be back.Listed in: Thank You, Vancouver!
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Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
9/23/2008
As a non-tourist, I thought it might be nice to try the patio for the view & lunch one nice sunny day. I made reservations. The view was great. That is the only good thing I can say about this restaurant...
I had a ceasar salad with shrimp for $17. What a rip off! And terrible too! Wilted lettuce, dressing that was almost inedible, etc. etc. My friend had the fish & chips at $22 and that was not impressive either, greasy, terrible chips, etc. We both agreed we would NEVER step foot in this place again. -
Review from Lauren N.
1/29/2009
My friends and I decided to grab some dinner at Bridges before a show at Granville one night, as it was the first restaurant we happened to see. One point for Bridges for being really big and bright, so it's easy to see even at night.
I was somewhat disheartened with the food though. I ordered the mussels and they weren't that great. I think they used white wine sauce in it, but they must have added a little too much because it overpowered the dish. Plus, the mussels didn't taste all that fresh (surprisingly for Vancouver).
My friends ordered the fish and chips, steak and salmon pizza. The pizza got good feedback, but the fish and chips were said to be greasy (even though they are what they are) and the steak was another story. My friend was getting to the end of his steak when the last part of it looked like it was raw and congealing. Definitely not appetizing for a steak. Needless to say, he did not finish it.
It took awhile for our food to be brought over too. I don't think it was that busy, just steady, but we must have waited a good 20-25 minutes for our food. Bridges gets one more point for good service though. Our waitress was sweet and joked along with us, so that counts for something.
The last star goes to the restaurant being just plain nice. I love that the restaurant is surrounded by large glass windows all around, so you can see out to Granville Island. Beautiful view at night, because you can see all the lights and boats out on the docks. Relaxed and romantic atmosphere, with plenty of seating. The upper floor is even more decked out, making it appear that it's more for formal and corporate parties, or larger groups. Unfortunately their good looks and 'meh' quality make it another restaurant that just jacks up its prices for not-so-great food.
Funny but irrelevant story: as we were approaching the restaurant, my friend told me that the restaurant was actually built from five different salvaged bridges. It's not true, but being as gullible as I am, I believed him. Now that I think about it, it's kinda stupid, because who would want to dine at a place built from natural disasters? -
Review from L L.
6/29/2011
We went there early (around 6 pm) thinking it will get crowded... but found ourselves the first ones there. We went to the "formal" dining room on the 2nd floor. In my opinion, the food was average. We probably get more value by sitting down-stair (I think). Nevertheless, the view was great and we enjoyed the services. The great part was its location where we took a nice walk browsing the food establishments and great shops next to the water front after dinner. Make sure that you check out the "floating houses" nearby.
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Review from Philippe D.
Montréal, QC
7/20/2011
I have to admit, the location is awesome, but the food is bland and overpriced. Although we sat on the lower deck where prices are lower, so I don't know how is the food is like upstairs... But when you are disappointed by such an easy thing as a fish and chip, that goes for 22$, it just does not make you want to try the more expensive menu upstairs. Note that I was there with the family and tried their plates too and wasn't more impressed with what they were having. Too bad, I loved the view, but seems like this was first and last time for me.
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Review from Karen R.
The last of my Dine Outs for this year, I was really excited to finally try Bridges. For food, I definitely give it 4 stars, everything was fantastic. For service it was lacking....a lot.
Service: The hostess was a bit icy - I know everyone has bad days but I think if you're the first person patrons come into contact with you should at least fake it. Our waitress was pleasant but in general the servers were apathetic - they didn't even ask us if we wanted coffee or drinks with our dessert...oh well.
The food was excellent though...
The amuse bouche of 2 clams filled with panzanella and prosciutto were a nice start. The bread basket was also a highlight - light and fluffy and herby and fresh. The glass of wine I ordered was a pinot blanc - quite refreshing, too bad I don't remember what it was, hahaha.
We both had the sablefish fritters with an aioli - delicious. Hot, fluffy and delicious.
Entree #1: Sesame crusted salmon with bok choy and a dunganess crab and fennel salad on top. The fish was perfectly cooked and a good sized portion. The orange reduction sauce was also a really nice touch.
Entree #2: Beef tenderloin with polenta and asparagus. My friend really enjoyed it and said the beef was cooked perfectly.
Vanilla creme brulee - nothing to write home about but nice nonetheless.
Swiss chocolate torte - holy hell, I'm not a chocolate fan but this was delicious. The cake was moist and the ganache inside was tasty.
Overall we had a nice time. -
Review from Claudia L.
Burnaby, BC
2/3/2009
If you're looking for a beautiful outdoor spot to sip drinks on a sunny afternoon, Bridges welcomes you with open arms and waterline view of the city. However, if you're looking for decent food or service, run away.
It saddens me that formal dining was my first experience here (it should have been a casual afternoon beer instead): the food was bland, lifeless and disappointing. Based on principle, Bridges should honour its awesome surroundings with an awesome (if not, at least, a decent) menu. And it doesn't, slowly killing the foodie in me.
Usually, I can forgive a restaurant for crappy service if dining there is an experience in itself (e.g. gorgeous location and view) but their watery Caesar salad and tasteless seafood broke my heart and I haven't returned since. Feed us better food Bridges - pretty please *teary eyed*? -
Review from Ingrid D.
Vancouver, BC
6/16/2010
Wednesday night is baby-sitter night !... yayyy !!!! :-)
So that's why the review are flowing in those days ;-)
But let's come back to bridges....
As my mom is in town, and we have this monsters-free night, I was looking for something with a nice view... and nice beer !
So we decided to go to Bridges, and try it out.
The view is as nice as it gets.... especially in the evening.
The service was also very good. Full of nice attention and very friendly.
As it is a little pricey for the food you get, stars went from 5 to 4.
Let's talk about the food now.
It was actually pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised, especially after reading some reviews. But I have to admit that we always run away from burgers and fish and chips, so I guess that it helps :-)
Out of three entrees, two were very nice, but one of them was overcooked. And an overcooked fish, being french, removes one star !
So that's why I went for the three stars and not the four stars.
May be a little bit rough. Especially because we were nicely surprised by the deserts.
One cheese cake and one chocolate tart. both of them were very good (even though i'm pretty sure they are not done by their kitchen).
Overall a very nice evening. A tad over priced, but such a nice view.... -
Review from SUSAN R.
7/17/2009
We were definitely sucked in by that most fabulous location, sitting outside on the dock on a warm sunny day- what could be better for a tourista? And our server was friendly and nice and took our photo. And everyone elses photo around us! Good being the operative word here....
The food is fairly average, the drinks are good and not overpriced. So, if I had to do it over, I would go back in nice weather. The warm bread was good. I had greasy battered halibut and chips- the fish was good. We shared fried calamari and it was pretty good. My hub had a fried oyster sandwich. It was kind of small and I was not wild about it. We were too full for dessert. Besides, with Granville market right there with its fabulous bakeries- why not explore? -
Review from Vanessa G.
9/27/2010
Located in one of the most touristy areas of Vancouver.. Granville Island, it sure has a prime time spot for suckers. This is not a place that locals go unless someone from out of town suggest's it. It definitely wins all sorts of points for location but it really could do some much better if it pushed there menu a bit. Prices are really high for what they offer. Pizza's for $22? Ok they are nice, thinly sliced pizza's, but still. It's high. You can share it with someone as a light meal or appetizer. Drink prices ran around $7 which isn't bad but they sure could use some specials. Oh wait i forgot, you don't need specials when you have the best location on Granville Island! They do have a midweek happy hour on appetizers from 4-6pm but the prices basically seemed normal at half price. Service was good none the less.
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Review from food-voice l.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 4/19/2011
It's almost summer; it was a nice sunny Sunday, my first trip to Granville Island this year and my first visit to Bridge; as you know I really like their Mussel with Thai curry sauce dish and Hot seafood salad as mentioned in my blog many times in the past. Its very disappointing when you expect of the unexpected, they always served good Mussels (the mussels are big; juice and tasty) in the past but not this time, the mussels are very small and a lot of empty shells and salty, I almost want to return the dish which I should have; the Hot Seafood Salad as good as usually. Inconsistency is one of thing that I hate go to any restaurant; its very frustrated and disappointed, I have to rethink in choosing another place for food when visit Granville Island this year.
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9/28/2010
During the summer months, I went to the Granville Island 3-4 times a week, and go to Bridges at… Read more »
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Review from Walker S.
2/10/2007 1 photo
We took a taxi from the Pan Pacific to Bridges located on historic Granville Island. Bridges serves the freshest seafood Vancouver has to offer and is perfectly located for shopping, looking, enjoyment. It is near the Arts Club Theatre and great Maritime Market. The views of Vancouver's waterfront, mountains and city center are great. Bridges Bar, Bistro and outdoor dining are the quintessential Vancouver. Terrific food.
