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I vote that C Restaurant is in the top 10 for summer patios in Vancouver. The view from the patio is impeccable, the patio furniture is comfortable (Vancouver's patio furniture has a reputation of being sub-par), service is attentive and the food is fresh. Now, the dish you choose is key - when I went I had the halibut - DELICIOUS. The appies were also fantastic. My friends ordered a scallop dish for their main, and while the flavour was good, they both agreed that it would have been more suitable for a lunch item, versus dinner item.
All in all - since their renovations, the place is a lot warmer and more inviting. Must try the patio at least once this summer.
My first visit to C in November 2009 was forgettable at best, but in spite of that I didn't argue strenuously when one of my friends suggested a group of us go there for dinner this past Saturday. For some reason this restaurant continues to receive strong reviews from food critics and I let this influence me to be less vocal in arguing against going to C. What a mistake.
The restaurant wasn't busy but it took our server more than 20 minutes after we were seated to bring our first drink. When my first drink finally arrived it crossed my mind to order my second drink immediately - but I didn't. That, too, was a mistake. Good luck on trying to get a refill of an overpriced glass of wine that has a ridiculously small pour. Our server was remarkably consistent in slow service. In hindsight this slow service was helpful as it kept my bill from being "crushingly overpriced" to just "stupidly overpriced".
I love seafood. I had high hopes that my first experience of a bland dish last fall was just a bad night for the kitchen. Nope. The kitchen, too, is very consistent at underperforming. Based on the prices C charges one would expect a "wow" or "delicious" to be voiced by the table; however, that's very difficult to say when my tiny piece of halibut is completely devoid of any deliciousness.
Avoid this restaurant. Vancouver has many excellent restaurants to choose from...........this is not one of them.
Not really sure what the fuss is about. I've eaten in some of the best restaurants in Toronto (where I'm from) and this doesn't compare.
If you like cat food eat here. I'm not a cat so I don't particular enjoy the place.
The only saving grace is the gorgeous view on the patio. I adore outdoor dining on a hot summer night. I might consider coming here for Shirley Temples.
one of thepinacles of the buisness in the city and top of sustainability. Great summer time pit stop
Decent wine selection. Food was mediocre at best for the price point. My entree was served once (wrong) and then re-served as a replacement but it was the same as the first. Perhaps it was an off night. Not the best. There's better in Vancouver.
My favourite foodie friend was in from out of town and wanted sea food. Usually, we avoid restaurants that are highly acclaimed as they almost never live up to their hype (and are often full of themselves - yes, Bishops, I'm talking to you).
My friend in particular is a very tough room when it comes to food. A pitch perfect palate and a critical mind have made for scathing commentary in more than a few restaurants. Imagine my surprise when, halfway through the meal, she started to gush about how wonderful the food was.
We were enchanted by the food and service at C. Possibly one of the best meals we have had. My critical friend gives it a 9 (she doesn't give 10s). For my part, I resolved to come back as often as my bank balance will allow. After all, perfectly done duck cannot be taken for granted anywhere, but especially not in this town.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
Patio is spectacular in summer and food is as well. Had the 'cooked sticks' for appetizer and it was unique but definitely worth it. It's bit sized servings of some great options such as tuna tartar that are served on bamboo sticks. Very good. Halibut was terrific and so was the wild salmon. Service was knowledgable and friendly. The entie staff works as a team so you never wait for anything. They are all very attentive. Highly recommend C Restaurant for it's rare combination of great food, view and service. They are leaders in sustainable seafood harvesting and green initiatives as well.
Since I've been in town, the single restaurant meme has been "C". This is supposed to be the best place, the happening place, the shit. Well, I'll agree somewhat on the last. This is an early contender for worst meal of the year. I don't say this lightly. My distribution of stars awarded on Yelp tends to run to the 3.5 to 4 area. I eat out most every night and eat all over the world so I have a base to judge against. I went to C with high expectations (especially after a mediocre meal at West...the other "great" restaurant in Vancouver).
As we were seated I reviewed the cocktail list and decided to go to my old standby...a Belvedere martini. The waiter brought the drink. The glass *may* have been half full including the displacement of the healthy twist. They should have skimped on the lemon peel and offered more vodka. Here's a tip to C. In the early post-war days in Japan, Sony invented the transistor radio. They wanted to say it fit in a shirt pocket. Because it was just a bit too big, they got shirts with larger pockets for their sales people. Same here. If you insist on tiny portions, pour it in a smaller glass. The waiter insisted that he "saw the bartender pour two ounces." Great. Marketing 101 folks....if you want your clientele to have a good time, beat expectations early. Your prices are exorbitant enough that you shouldn't scrimp on the first drink. What are you thinking? Piss 'em off early and put it on the waitstaff to make things better? Wake up.
From there I ordered my appetizer. A "study" of ahi tuna. Great. The three preparations were mixed. The seared ahi was too much. The cucumber was crushed by the not-too-savory flavor of the tuna. The other two preparations were fine. I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir from New Zealand and it was fine. (The wine list was a thoroughly mixed bag. Mostly misses and overpriced.) Then it was on to the main course. I went with an herb crusted salmon. Problem was, when I got it, there was no herb crust but rather a green paste covering the fish. This was not what I wanted and not what was described on the menu. I sent it back. I did not want this for dinner. Luckily I'd ordered a side of carrots. I was content eating them until they got too cold to eat.
I felt bad for the waitstaff. They did their best to make good and covered the bill appropriately. Nice folks. I could go on but it would do no good. The management here clearly doesn't know what they're doing. They need some help. Places can coast by only so long on a manufactured reputation and a certain level of subtle intimidation for folks who don't regularly dine in a "fancy" restaurant. Unfortunately here it's emperor's new clothes. So...if you do decide to dine here I'll offer one tip. Figure out where you want to eat after dinner at C.
This sad excuse for a restaurant brought me out of yelp retirement. I won't waste another minute of my time with it except to say it is a pathetic excuse for "fine dining". Undercooked scallops at a restaurant specializing in seafood, I mean, come on!
Sub-par food coupled with the fact that it the entire circus is managed by the biggest nitwits on earth. This type of place wouldn't last a day in New York and I know there are far better places to eat in Vancouver.
Jando, you asked why I was so nice when reviewing, I guess I've never encountered a reason for a one star review...until now!
A restaurant serving delectable seafood using the bounty of BC. No traditional endangered species served here such as blue fin tuna or swordfish, only sustainable wild caught seafood. What's not to love?
Came here for wifey's birthday last winter. Though patio and view at this time was dismal, we came here for the food, happy to support ethical values and environmental standards of the chef. Dinner started off perfectly, sadly went downhill thereafter...
We opted for a tasting menu with starters as lobster bisque, smoked trout salad, and seared scallops, all outstanding. Main entrees were first rate, fantastic flavour combinations, and unique cooking techniques. Presentation was phenomenal. Wine list had extensive local selections, and cocktail concoctions tempting.
However, as the late evening crowd builds up, so does our frustration as the good service begins dwindling away. It was clear that the wait staff seemed to focus more on the bigger groups than ours. It was a challenge just simply making eye contact, and I have to succumb to the shameful hand raise to call their attention. Dessert? Epic Fail. If we weren't disappointed enough with the service and raring to leave, we would've complained how dry and tough that brownie was. I would've been better off buying something at Capers. A rare occasion whereby I left the table, dessert unfinished. I tell you, rare. Two stars lost there from lackluster service and mediocre dessert.
Having said all that, I still support the restaurant's commitment of serving local ingredients from renewable sources only. If only others would follow suit and refrain from serving wild sockeye salmons (millions of which were discovered missing in Canada's Fraser River recently). As such, I don't mind returning, just not on my own accord.
This restaurant came highly recommended, and delivered the goods. The view was excellent of false creek and granville island. Make sure you get a good table -- I saw some upstairs that would have no view at all.
Cocktails were very inventive. Iced blueberry tea was a perfect warm up. Menu creation was distinctive -- think of a grid where you cross reference main/starter/taster with your animal of choice eg fish/shellfish etc. Wine list was long and with some reasonable choices price-wise.
Extra amuse bouches and distinctive bread started things right. Service was exceptional and so we barely noticed that we spent nearly four hours at dinner! If you want a real fine dining experience highly recommended.
Our first visit in 2000 was spectacular.
Our second in 2008 was not quite as good but the experience remained
special. On the second visit, my wife's entree was uniquely mediocre- when informed of this, the staff very quickly replaced it with a dish not on the menu for that night but stunningly good AND provided extra goodies for all at the table for our extra wait time. Service recovery is the sign of a truly professional establishment, be it a restaurant or any other.
We are keen to return to C.
My experience at "C" was phenomenal. The food is fantastic. We have a condo in Whistler and every time we go up to visit, we always stop by Vancouver to eat here. Their 5 course meal is phenomenal. With their top notch service, and 8 servers who bring out the food for 1 table, I can't rate them any less than 5 stars! The portion size is perfect, the food is fresh, and the ambiance is beautiful. I highly recommend eating here =]
I went here for our firm's Christmas dinner party. I can not speak anything bad about it.
The food was to die for. The textures and flavours mixed together like a marriage of aromas. The Service was amazing and you could definately taste the romantic atmosphere when you walk in.
You are automatically greeted at the door and asked if they can hang up your coat.
If you are looking for a good place to take your date, then I would definately suggest this place.
I must have gone there on a good day! Despite all the other reviews, I had an excellent meal here. Pricey, yes. Service? Excellent.
The meal was creative, well prepared, and just all around exquisite. Everything was of the highest caliber taste wise and was worth every dime. The view is beautiful and we enjoyed the experience all around.
I dont know what happened with the other reviewers! Im sorry your experience wasnt as good as mine!
I am sorry but no matter how good this place is and after reading the reviews it is ok; I still won't go because of the chef. He is a joke. I attended one of the big city outdoor food events that happens every summer and he was the rudest chef I have ever encountered. He was blunt, ignorant and looked at people like he didn't trust anyone when we were told to drop our tickets we purchased for the sample. He looked like he was doing you a huge favour by sampling his food. I think not.
C and Be Seen
Lingering over dinner at C as the sun set over False Creek was definitely a highlight of a terribly romantic weekend jaunt from San Francisco with a new beau. Beautifully presented food, interesting wine pairings, lovely location, nice service. Tasting menu with wine for 2 around $300 US.
Place. Choosing between the small but airy curved dining room or the many dock-side tables, we decided to stay indoors with its generous white table-clothed tables, funky wool-suited chairs and light-wood clad walls. A nice buzz without being too loud; the spot lights were a bit bright; but still a pleasant environment next to the water. A middle-aged and older clientele; we were happy to inject some youthful fabulousness.
Food/Wine. When we visited in June, the 6-course tasting menu was the "spot prawn festival." The prawn carpaccio started us off with its spectacular presentation: looked like a modern Japanese painting with silky slices of prawn accented by grapefruit and watercress. The halibut with white truffle foam and prawns was rich and delicious, as was the earthy smoked duck breast with prawn sauce. Not as interesting were the tuna tartare, and the lukewarm prawn soup; and a bit disappointing was the seared foie gras which was way over-cooked (by local law dictate? earlier in the day, we were told at another restaurant that all meats have to be cooked well-done.) The chocolate mousse with hazelnut "caviar" was a nice ending to an overall fine dining experience. A pleasant, albeit safe, wine pairing included generous pours of local sake, riesling, sauterne, chardonnay, pinot noir and port.
Service. Friendly although a bit disjointed. Not sure why we weren't treated to an amuse-bouche while other tables were, and why the wine service didn't keep pace with the food service. Nevertheless, overall good, unobtrusive service.
One of my favorite seafood restaurants anywhere!
They use fresh fish from renewable sources and a lot of local ingredients. Service is excellent and non-obtrusive. Nice clean decor with spacious windows and nice spacing between the tables inside. The food was amazing and well-presented... the scallops here are amazing and one of my favorite dishes. Flavors come together beautifully.
Listed in: Making the most of your…
Simply one of the best restaurant in Vancouver. The dishes were simply excellent. We had the halibut which is perfect, paired with the best risotto I have ever tasted. The only disappointment was the soup, which is much less sensational than the other dishes. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable about the wine selection.
The location is amazing. If you have never watched the sun slowly setting in Vancouver, this is one of the best (commercial) place to do it. The ambiance was pure romance.
I remember when I went to C for dinner during the time when it was one of the worst Winter Vancouver ever had.
The restaurant is right at the Bay. I remember it was very gloomy and been raining on and off before the snow came in a few days later.
My friends and I made a reservation for 4. The staff was very friendly and professional. I love the simplicity of the decor.
The food and service was very good.
I had the lobster bisque, the scallops(to die for) and some sort of fish(which was cooked to perfection) for the main course. The scallop and fish was extremely fresh and very tasty. I totally forgot what I had for dessert but it was very enjoyable.
When the weather suck, but the with good food and good company, the food taste a lot better!
This restaurant will be great for a romantic date in my opinion.
If i go back to Vancouver, this will be the first place I will go for seafood!
Very solid, high-end modern seafood option in Vancouver.
I had a group dinner here and really enjoyed my tea smoked sea bream and lobster knuckles. Great service and incredible view from the upstairs loft.
i went here for my birthday and my friends birthday. despite the large number of guests to handle, the service and food was great.
the lobster bisque was delish, and so was the fresh kushi oysters with tobiko side.
the view nice, but not from the upstairs, cause it's hard to see. this place is definitely formal, and is a great place to wine n dine your date, or to take your gf for an anniversary dinner.
When you can spot celebrities, business tycoons and the who's-who of the world at the restaurant and there isn't a major event going on in the city, you know that this is the place to be. It's expensive, but it's an experience you need to try at least once. Despite the pomp-and-flare, you can feel relaxed, comfortable while you eat. And you will eat well, if you the right things. I would suggest the tasting menu and the chef's creations of the day. Because the menu is seasonal, as it should be I probably can't recommend one great thing to have. But any of the salmon dishes should not disappoint. I would stick to the seafood dishes as in forget about the salad and the soup. Go for the fresh seafood -- and save room for the Tequila inspired dessert.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
I am new to yelp but joined today because I feel very strongly about writing this review before anyone else falls for this trap and has as disappointing an evening as C will provide you. My husband and I recently spent a weekend in Vancouver. We are huge foodies and had been hearing wonderful things about what this beautiful city could offer our stomachs. Seeing as how we were surrounded by so much water, we found ourselves in the mood for some fresh, local seafood.
With the help of our hotel concierge and previous yelp reviews, we headed out to C with high hopes. We knew we would probably end up paying on the more expensive end but could only imagine it would be worth it. Unfortunately we were wrong.
The night started out with a problem outside really of the restaurants control-namely we were sat next to an obnoxiously loud party , which clearly killed a big piece of the dining experience. We were very impressed with our waiter and management when they swooped in to move us. There is no question that you receive great service here.
But on to the food...yes, it was "good" but not since a movie filmed in 1984 have I seen such tiny portions presented in such a pretentious manner. Honestly, the best meals today are not frou-frou: (sauces and decorations that drown out your foods organic deliciousness). When food is good you don't need to cover it up and you certainly don't need to put 4 scallops on a plate and charge $40 for them (which is what my husband ordered). I would happily pay a lot for a meal that is worth it and sadly, there is so little of C's food served up when you dine there for one to judge that. To top it off, my husband's chair broke while he was finishing dinner. Now my husband is not a big man so that was not the problem! Our waiter told us this has happened before...so really makes you wonder where all that money you spend is going if they can't even provide you with a chair to sit in.
We learned that weekend that there are a lot of overpriced restaurants in Vancouver, just sad that C has to be one of them. I would suggest you grab some dim sum during the day and frankly forget about dining out in the evening, unless you like overpriced, formal, disappointing meals.
It's been Hot and Cold lately, I loved C when it opened, as I love and eat mainly seafood, with a few exceptions. But lately it has been running cold for me, the consistency it had for years is not there any longer. I go for the view and the wine list (more like a book) these days or don't go at all. It was a 5 star place not for me anymore.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Fairview Slopes
Neighborhood: Downtown
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