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C Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
1600 Howe StVancouver, BC V6Z 2L9
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 681-1164
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for C Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Seared albacore tuna with lyonnaise potato, zucchini..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...smoked salmon with corn risotto and green onion relish."
(in 2 reviews)
"Service was great, but limited wine list."
(in 7 reviews)
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Kianosh T.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2012
I tried C Restaurant for the first time tonight. The food and the customer service was outstanding. Very polite staff.
All though they had lost our reservation they had no problem seating me and my wife right away. I enjoyed every bite but i have to say the portions where so small that i had to hit the McDonald drive throw pretty hard on the way back home.
Great food, Great service, not enough on my plate.
I would recommend them because of the friendly service and the remarkable food. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2012
I went here recently for a special lunch with a friend. Given the unexpectedly sunny weather we've been (sometimes) having this winter, it was lovely to sit at a waterfront dining room and look out over the sights of False Creek.
At 12pm on a weekday, the restaurant was nearly empty, so we had a nice quiet space to enjoy.
We both ordered the sablefish. It was served on a bed of kale tossed with lemon and chili, along with octopus bits and "quesadillas" (which were more like savoury oreos filled with celeriac paste). I absolutely loved the combination of juicy sablefish and spicy-citrusy kale. It was like something I would make at home, only way fancier. I'm not sure how necessary the octopus and quesadillas were, but both were yummy and different from what I usually eat, so they were fun to try.
Our service was fine, but nothing special. The food came quickly enough, but for a fine dining establishment, our server lacked personality and polish (as my friend pointed out, she kept serving "on the left", which is a no-no, and she had trouble placing the heavy plates on the table).
In any case, it was a nice experience. I'm not sure when I'll be back again, but given the lovely setting and yummy food, I thought it was a very good meal. -
Review from Ivan C.
11/15/2011
Came here while on vacation and was thoroughly disappointed.
What's with the dining room? It looks like the restaurant was once a failed photo studio or gallery; that was later converted into a restaurant. The owner must have been cheap and decided to cut corners by leaving remnants of the former business there thinking it would add to the character of the restaurant. No... it looks like crap. The ugly walls are masked with ugly boards and the lighting is terribly positioned. If the owner truly believed in his product... he needs to invest some money in remodeling. It looks half-hearted.
The food lacks thoughtfulness. Rather than just throwing ingredients into your dishes, think about whether or not it compliments the food. The egg in the veloute was an unimaginative touch. It was cold and did not compliment the veloute at all. It served no purpose. Your foie gras is as good as whatever I can buy from the supermarket. Did you just buy a tube somewhere and just squeezed it onto my plate?
If it weren't for the nice waiter... I would've sent every dish back and walked out. Your restaurant would never make it in San Francisco. -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a super old draft, but..... here goes.
I came here, many months back, cause I bought some of those 6 course tasting menu for 42 each person.
Walla Walla Onion Veloute, with 2 hour poached egg, dungeness crab, and truffle oil. This this was amazing! I love the texture of the perfectly sous vide egg and it incorporated so well into the soup so well. 4 Stars
Notch Hill Beetroot Salad, Salt Spring Island Goat Cheese. Very typical salad to be on a tasting menu in my opinion. It's something that's over played in many restaurants. 3 Stars
Crispy Calamari, Procuitto, and Lemon zest. My dish lacked any seasoning on the calamari; very bland to me and breading wasn't crispy, but more chewy. 1 stars
Tuna Tataki, Fingerling Salad, Salsify, Carrot, Green Bean, lemon emulsion. Love the presentation of the dish. Flavours were good, but I kept getting a bitter after taste. 3.5 Stars.
Seared Scallops, Confit Pork Belly, Crab Apple Beignet, Burnt Apple Sauce. Some of my fave things on one plate!!!! MMMMMmmmm Very well cooked pork belly. So tender and juicy it just melts right in your mouth! 5 Stars
Lemon Cheese Mousse and Chocolate Petit Fours. 3 Stars.
This place has always been a hit or miss with me. I had a bad experience with them before, but Groupons convinced me to give them another chance. When you go to a nice place and shell out some money for a dining experience that doesn't knock your socks off, what's the point? I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon again. -
Review from Nina T.
10/31/2011 5 photos
I bought a 9 course tasting menu from Groupon for $47. I see they've offered quite a bit of these deals lately, which is never good news for non-Groupon diners.
Here's what we got:
* Wild- and cultivated-mushroom velouté with garlic confit and croutons
* Charred octopus salad with frisée, bacon vinaigrette, and soft boiled egg
* Seared scallop with crushed minted peas, veigi sauce, panchetta, and lemonade foam
* House-smoked salmon with corn risotto and green onion relish
* Seared albacore tuna with lyonnaise potato, zucchini ribbons, and parmesan soubise
* Farmhouse chevre with poached pears, artisan honey, and spiced walnuts
* Cucumber sorbet with pickled ginger and crisp basil
* Chocolate brownie with berry chantilly and lemon curd
* Petits fours
Overall, it was a good experience. We were seated promptly. Service was not speedy - all three times, it took a little longer for our drinks to arrive than I would have liked. But it was fast enough. And I ended up appreciating a little spacing between the courses because it made things feel less rushed. Waiters were attentive, described each course, answered questions, and kept our water glasses filled.
I'd rate the food as pretty good. My dining partner was a little underwhelmed because he wanted more of the dishes to be things that he'd want to order a full portion of. I do agree with that assessment, but I liked the creative presentation and flavors in the dishes, and the seafood was fresh and delicious. Standout dishes for me were the octopus salad (you wouldn't think so, but it was fantastic) and the smoked salmon risotto. I found everything else to taste good. My dining partner wasn't keen on the lemonade foam with the scallop and thought it overpowered the dish. Wine by the glass was on the expensive side, but I liked the pinot gris I had.
I think the food would have to be better to justify the regular price, but at the Groupon rate, it's worth it for a nice dinner.Listed in: Vancouver
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Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
I have been C restaurant 6 years ago, I wasn't like it very much and not be worth going again.
We bought the 4-course dinner on Groupon and was impressed with the offering. In fact, we ordered extra dish from the menu.
Soup: Wild and cultivated-mushroom velouté with garlic confit and croutons
It was creamy, rich and tasty. I was thinking, that's good start and I thought the food quality much better than before.
Appetizers: Seared Foie Gras (Add $15)
It melted at the first bite, it was pretty good.
House-smoked salmon with corn risotto and green onion relish
The presentation was nice and risotto so creamy, that's awesome.
Entrees:
Seared albacore tuna with lyonnaise potato, zucchini ribbons, and parmesan soubise
It looked good on the dish coz the zucchini wrapped on Tuna. However, Tuna was tiny and quite fishy.
Beef Tenderloin (Add $10)
I ordered it in medium rare of beef tenderloin and it came to RAW!! It was soft but it kinda cold when I ate it.
Dessert:
Brownie - SO DISAPPOINTED!! I guess any bakery shop can make better brownie than them. It was so hard and too sweet. -
Review from namit m.
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This truly goes down as one of the worst dining experiences ever in my life. We arrived at the restaurant at 7PM for our dinner. We were seated in the lovely "Romeo and Juliet" table upstairs overlooking the downstairs. Promptly at 8PM someone came by to take our drink order.
Given that I had memorized the Wine list by now we placed our order for wine. By 8.30PM walla a bottle of wine arrives. This was accompanied by a change in our waiter....who apologized for the service to that point.
We then asked to pick from a pre fix menu and did so. At 9.05 our third course came to the table. But there was a catch - we had not got our first or second course yet. We sent it back and few minutes (more like 15) our 2nd course arrived. At this point the situation was becoming a tad bit more comical than frustrating.
This continued and we must say the food was very good - but it was impossible to take anything seriously at this point.
The table next to us went ballistic as they had endured much of the same and we shared our tales of woe.
The only saving grace was the food - if and when it decide to show up.
We tried to complain to the manager and she was nowhere to be found, and then I sent an email to the establishment and seems like it was lost in cyberspace.
Hoping it was a one off night - cause this place seems popular. But when we are shelling out $120/person this sort of stuff is just not acceptable.
What is also sad is that the "creative" force - the Chef and their team - were completely let down by the front office - SO VERY SAD.
C it could have been so easy! -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
6/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've heard about C before, and haven't ever thought much about where it was or anything so when we headed over today for brunch I was really impressed.
The decor can only be described as marine. The whole place has a very boat feel, as if I'd just stepped on someone's yacht, which I have to say, I don't mind the least bit.
They have a lovely patio, nestled right beside the Granville Street bridge and today we got to watch as boats decked out in their pirate garb sailed past.
Our food was great, I really have no complaints. We had the set 4 course brunch menu and it was fabulous all the way though. I was concerned at first as it seemed like a lot of food but it was really spaced out and we could enjoy each course.
I expect if you're in a rush or looking for a quick fix this is not the place. Our server was lovely but it was a bit slower.
I highly recommend the caesar, it was a great mix of spice and yum and it was a lovely compliment to our brunch:) -
Review from Jason D.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2011
Let me start by saying that the food tasted very good. I have no choice but to rate it low because of their accounting tricks they pull.
3 of us dined out with the groupons which got us the 6 course tasting menu. Every course was great. The service was okay, they were rushed and not really attentive. Me thinks their interior is a bit dated and should be updated for a more modern feel.
My only gripe is that they charged HST for the full value of the tasting courses when in fact we only payed $30 per groupon. that means they are charging a phantom tax.
For that reason I likely would not dine their again. -
Review from Allen W.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not terribly impressed.
Went there for mother's day brunch and it was moderately busy when we arrived, but nothing out of ordinary. We were 15 minutes early for our reservation so they asked us to wait, but to expect the table in about 2 minutes. One member of our party hadn't arrived, so we took a seat in the leaning chairs by the window.
After 10 minutes, I started to wonder about our table but knew we were still early. There appeared to be a lot of confusion between servers and hostess as I watched. As the clock tipped past our original reservation, we went up to inquire about the 2-minute table ... and they seemed confused. It took them another couple of minutes to figure it out and finally take us to our table.
Server came by after a few minutes to take our drink order (coffee/juice) and then left. A few minutes later, he returns (without drinks) and asks us if we'd like to have our drinks first or if we'd like to place our orders. WTF?
Get us our drinks because god only knows how long we're gonna be here at this rate.
We eventually order and get our food. I ordered my standard eggs benedict which came with 5 pieces of potato. It just looked skimpy but I was hungry at this point so I dove in.
The english muffin base was so fricken' tough. I sawed and sawed with my knife and it was tiring. I've never really taken issue with an english muffin before but for whatever reason it was surprisingly tough.
Everyone else at our table felt the food was 'just ok'. There are so many great places for brunch that I won't be back here. However, I will return to try the evening menu and see if the restaurant is better on a non-holiday. -
Review from Luisa D.
6/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
i'll admit that it was a groupon that got us out for brunch today but what a civilsed way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
The groupon was for the 4 course brunch menu. Normally we wouldn't have this many courses at brunch but wow, everything was delicious! Even the granola reminded me of shortbread, which means yumalum in my books.
We started with their spot prawn Caesar. Delish and spicy with a delectable prawn on the side. Kicked off our brunch in style. We ordered a bottle of Trimbach Pinot Gris which paired beautifully with every course. I'd be quite satisfied just with the eggs Benny course when I go back. Hollandaise perfection
Our server was lovely and sitting on the patio gave us the gorgeous view of False Creek. If you're going for brunch and you want to do it in style, go here! -
Review from Pow T.
Guelph, ON
11/12/2011
As I read through other people's review, I can see why they wrote such reviews. Me on the other hand, I had good experience with this place and will go back again. But of course, it does cost a bit of money. The price was right for me when I went.
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Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2011 5 photos
Did that brunch groupon thingy today. Paid $40 for two. After 2 coffees, 1 warm glass of champagne ($9), tax & tip it was another $45 for a total of $85. The food was good, but if I paid $40 each for that menu I would have been really disappointed!
The tasting menu is 4 courses and they served an amuse of corn bread. The granola and salad were very tasty. Loved the trout on the salad though I wish there was more! Benny was just like any other and I had to send mine back because my eggs were hard as rock with no running yolk. Then I waited again...the fingerling potatoes served with it tasted like vinegar and were not cooked through. The hollandaise was very good.
The restaurant has a nice view of Granville Island but the restaurant feels old and shabby. The floor, the chairs, the ceiling, the decor...it's not great ambience inside there...and that's being kind.
Service was super slow. Brunch took over 2 hours to be served and it was too long. I tried to be patient since we weren't in a hurry and my son reminded me a couple of times not to stress out about how long everything took.
I've posted photos of all the brunch. -
Review from Jordan H.
4/13/2011
I can't believe how many reviews give 1 or 2 stars and also state that the food is good/great/amazing. Get over yourselves.
We went to C in a group of 4 a couple months for Dine Out. The consomme was the most fragrant broth I've ever had. The lobster risotto was incredible. The wine pairings were really well selected and reasonably priced. The service was perfectly attentive without being annoying.
If I have the opportunity to sample the regular menu, hopefully I can bump it to a 5! -
Review from Emma L.
Updated - 2/4/2011
I'm a librarian. One of the first things we learn when we start working on the reference desk is that if you're busy and there's a long line forming, look people in the eye and acknowledge their presence. Nothing pisses people off more than ignoring them, even if you're busy. A nod and a smile goes a long way.
We had a reservation at C last night for Dine Out. Our reservation was for 7:30, so we came in at 7:25 to an incredibly crowded bar area. The maître d' completely ignored us and everyone else waiting for a good 10 minutes. When he finally did come around to get people's names to check their reservations, he took the names of the couple behind us in line and ignored us for another 10 minutes. Seriously?
When we moved further back to a more comfortable spot to wait, someone did come around with a snack for all of us waiting for tables, which was nice. Some lovely fried thing with a garlic aioli that was divine. We were offered a menu and a drink menu but no one came to ask us if we'd like a drink while we waited.
We didn't get seated until 8:15. The couple who came in after us were seated ahead of us, as was someone else despite the fact that we should have been next in line. Our waiter was relatively fast with bringing us menus and inquiring about drinks but my boyfriend's Dark and Stormy didn't come until halfway though the appetizer course, the oxtail consomme, which was difficult for him to eat because our table was set improperly and he didn't have a spoon. When he asked for a spoon, the waiter didn't apologize but instead exclaimed "I don't know how that happened!" I do. Your restaurant is busy and so somebody messed up.
We had some bread while we were waiting for our meal which was nice, because after 50 minutes of waiting for a table we were hungry, but while other tables were offered more bread, our bread plate languished empty.
The time between courses was absurdly long. We were seated upstairs and my boyfriend kept eyeing all serving staff coming up the stairs with a hopeful eye, but everyone else was served before us. When our third course was taking forever I must have complained loudly about it, because our waiter came over to say it would be right up and offered my boyfriend another drink on the house. Okay, that's nice that you're acknowledging your shitty service, but what about me? I'm also waiting here. If you're going to offer something on the house, offer it to everyone at the table, or offer something that can be shared. Don't assume that the man is paying and that he's the one you should suck up to.
The food was good at least. The trout was perfectly seared and the confit pork belly was divine. Small portions, though. The brownie in the dessert was meh but the white hot chocolate was amazing, and I normally hate white chocolate. We were given small bags of cookies and chocolate to go, and our waiter accidentally brought us another round of them after we put them in our purse and pocket. He told us to keep them after we explained we had already received some.
Our dining experience, which I expected to last about an hour as these things do, took over two and a half hours with all of our waiting. That is absurd. If your restaurant can't handle Dine Out, then don't do Dine Out. It's as simple as that. You know you're going to be incredibly busy, so plan accordingly.
I had a great time last time I was here, but we were also one of only three parties in the restaurant. I guess C is a place where you can only go when it's not remotely busy, otherwise you get shafted.
Definitely not going back. It's not worth it.Listed in: Poutine!, Dine Out experiences
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/15/2010 ROTD 2/17/2011
Yum yum yum. I got taken out to C last night by a good friend for one of his last nights in town and… Read more »
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Review from Stef M.
5/12/2011 5 photos
The food was good, but MAN is that some crazy decor. "Pretentious" and "tasty" pretty much sum this place up. We (like every table surrounding us when we went) used a Groupon for lunch and still paid about $40pp for the lunch tasting menu. So it's certainly not cheap! But the food is good.
Seafood is clearly where they shine - the bouillabaisse that my husband got was AMAZING, and mine steak frites with grilled Romaine was good, but not great. I think the sauce was too overpowering. We had an interesting salad of slow-poached egg with maple syrup, which I liked but the other people at my table just thought was weird.
I have to say that the highlight of our meal was the mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. Someone stopped by at the end of our meal and mentioned that they were opening an ice cream stand based on how much people love their ice cream. I will definitely be back for a cone, as long as it's not $40 :)
Nice location on the water with lots of windows. i like the upper level even though there was only one party sitting up there. Watch out, though - while we were there, a lady up their dropped her menu on someone below! And those things are heavy. -
Review from Chris S.
Vancouver, BC
1/1/2011
So, my wife and tried C last night (NYE) for the first time and I am deeply questioning weather to return. After all of the hype of being touted as one of "Vancouver's best" I am once again wondering how restaurants are rated and have to add this to the growing list of overpriced, overrated restaurants in Vancouver.
The service was quirky, rushed and forgetful. From the moment we sat down we were asked if we wanted to start with a drink, which is normal but instead asked for some lemons for our water while we looked over the drink menu. This is where the poor service first showed itself. Not only did our waiter take 15min to return for our drink order, but he never bothered to make good on our simple request for lemon. In fact, he completely forgot upon being reminded.
So, we finally order, which included the "Award Winning" Rabbit & Spot prawn terrine and Walla Walla Onion Veloute appetizers, with Sablefish and Beef Tenderloin for our main dishes.
As the appetizers arrived, so did our drinks and, believe it or not, lemons! We both were highly underwhelmed by a dish that has been tagged as "award winning". My wife described the rabbit/spot prawn terrine as unseasoned chicken. All I know is it lacked taste and was the first sign of over-complication that I felt was the signature of every dish that we ordered.
Our waiter was inattentive at best and when he did focus on us it was rushed and disconnected. Empty dishes piled up on our table and sat uncleared for 10-15min as we finished our appetizers and I had to stack them to get them out of my space so I wasn't staring at an empty plate.
The moment our plates were clear, the main course was immediately served with very little time between clearing the table and not once had anyone had bothered to ask us if we wanted another drink.
I had the beef tenderloin, which was excellent. My wife had the sablefish, which was average.
To reinforce the obscure service, I had left a portion of my tenderloin to take home and when they came to remove my dish I was greeted with an emphatic and inquisitive "you aren't don with that, are you!?" She didn't ask me if I would like the remains packaged up to take home, which is a what I would normally expect. Just another example of their quirky behavior. To top things off, a different person came back with my take home portion and calmly stated "I have a bag of meat for someone". Really? How is that appropriate behavior from staff when I'm paying $47 for a dish? Ridiculous.
To top it off, we were rushed through our meal in just about an hr and 15min. What I had hoped would be a special, memorable meal certainly turned out to be memorable, but not in good ways. Upon observing our waiter, it was clear that he was more attentive to everyone else in our section, which leaves me to wonder if he decided that we were less important or less likely to be a large bill that others he was serving. Who knows.
I really wanted to love C but I feel incredibly disappointed with the service and overly-complicated, obscure ingredient combinations. It's unlikely that I will return to pay that amount of money for uninspired food and scattered, rushed service. -
Review from Pauline C.
Vancouver, BC
12/12/2010
My bf and his friends have a Christmas dinner gathering every year and this year we voted on the C Restaurant.
We were given a special winter menu - a 3 course meal. I thought it would be a great idea if my bf and I diversified our food options trying different courses.
When you arrive at the place, you can find street parking or pay for valet parking for $7. We chose the second option as we were running a little late for dinner. When we walked in, our group of friends were hovering around the entrance as the "waiting area" was blatantly not big enough to accommodate most of us.
We were seated on the second floor which I found that it wasn't spacious enough for people to comfortably move around. It kind of looked like the attic with the washrooms in a corner but of course, an attic with Christmas lights. The seating arrangements didn't give you the capability to fully pull out your chair so that it doesn't hit the chair behind you or block the pathway for others to wander. Most notably, having 10 people at a very small (which I considered very, very small) table did not help make the night pleasant as I found that people sitting next to you seemed to be bumping their elbows into you or people walking behind you accidentally sweep their jacket or arm into the back of your head.
Here are my thoughts of the food:
-Lobster Bisque: TOO buttery. All I tasted was butter. Next, please!
-Albacore Tuna Tartare: I really liked this salad...although the portion was tiny, it was tasty. The tart pickled shiitake mushrooms brought out the flavor of tuna drizzed in ponzu gel sauce as they were a great complimentary...hmm mmm. I wish I had a second one.
-Crispy Trout: The trout was so delicious as I spread some black truffle puree onto it. I didn't like how soggy my vegetables i.e. carrots and beans were (this usually means that it's been overboiled up to the point in which the protein structure of your veggies are deformed...that means all most of your nutrients are gone). I'm odd but I find it more self-satisfying when I hear the crunching noises as I eat my veggies.
-Roasted AAA Tenderloin: there was something really noticeable about this tenderloin...it had a BIG portabello mushroom with it! I just love mushrooms! =D When the plate arrived, the bf passed the mushroom onto me first since he knows that I love mushrooms. Anyway, right the focus is on the tenderloin, yup. It was juicy and flavorful but nothing spectacular. Except for the portbello mushroom.
-Dark Chocolate Tartlet with pistachio flavor on top: Too sweet. I just ended up eating the crust.
-Farmhouse Cheese Cake: Eh. I've had better.
In general, the main courses were quite delicious; however, I found the desserts to be a little disappointing. I was actually expecting the desserts to knock my socks off. But nope. I would give C Restaurant a B-...if it weren't for the tuna tartare or the crispy trout, I would give it a C just like the name of the restaurant. -
Review from Michele T.
Calgary, AB
4/25/2011
Great view of Granville Island, big windows, comfy chairs. The servers were friendly and so very accommodating. My husband wanted the Chef's Grand Tasting Menu and I wanted to order a la carte - no problem. They even brought me little tastings of what he was eating so I wouldn't be without food between the two courses I had ordered.
They brought us each a glass of Sumac Ridge "Tribute" sparkling wine to start, followed byKusshi, Fanny Bay and royal miagi (?) oysters
- brine brought out the minerals in the wine
- Fanny Bay was my favourite :)
Fresh made bread with Hawaiian volcanic ash salted butter...mmm!
White onion and Riesling Bisque
- gentle onion flavour, a nice warm up to the rest of the meal
Beet salad with house cultivated greens, ricotta shavings, pickled onions, beet pearls (made with agar agar and beets), lemon sorbet, pickled peach?, green beans
- so many earthy flavours and textures, sweet, tangy and tart all in one dish - it was purely delicious.
Candied orange and fois gras, brioche, hazelnut streusel and sea salt (from grand tasting menu) was amazing! Like a little party on your tongue.
Lobster with cognac foam and lobster risotto, topped with fresh cilantro (from grand tasting menu) - so creamy and smooth. Wish I would have ordered a whole plate of this :)
Tempranillo Red, Spain - leather, a little bit of rubber on the nose. Very earthy, slightly pruney on the palate.
Seared albacore tuna with fiddleheads, house cultivated greens on top and a base of eggplant purée and a salsa verde on the side.
- crunchy, earthy, spicy, smooth & creamy, paired with lightly seared tuna...I'm speechless...a dining delight.
Trout with calamari, chorizo risotto and shaved peppers
- zesty lemon rind mixed with crunchy calamari on top of softly seared trout, on a bed of chorizo risotto, and sprinkled with a topping of green pepper- a taste explosion!
Sourdough crisps, blue cheese, and poached pears (also with honey, which I can't have due to an allergy, but that my husband says ties everything together) - what a great plate and part of the Chef's Grand Tasting Menu paired with ice wine. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the mouth watering experience.
Lemon cheese mousse, orange pearls, and hazelnut biscotti
- the flavors and textures go well together. I especially liked the orange pearls.
Chocolate Plate: chocolate mousse wrapped in white chocolate - melts in your mouth...looks like Osso buco, tastes like chocolate Heaven :)
Orange chili and hazelnut biscotti - adds just the riht amount of texture.
Chocolate Grenache with chocolate macaroon - paired with a bing cherry...mmm!
Flourless chocolate cake - rich & creamy, with chocolate ice-cream - tastes like espresso.
What a magnificent meal! The presentation, tastes and smells were all wonderful combinations for the palate and the senses. Hats off to the chef and serving staff. -
Review from Geoff W.
Vancouver, BC
4/14/2011
C is consistently one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. Inventive perfectly cooked seafood.
Ignore the review that mentions Dineout. No restaurant shines during this event, especially one as intimate as C. -
Review from Ray L.
Vancouver, BC
10/17/2011
I didn't even make it through the door. I called to make a reservation and after a minute I hung up on the terrible and rude host that answered the phone. I called to make a reservation for six and asked about the chef's grand tasting menu. The host consistently interrupted me with his answers...which were to the wrong question, because he wouldn't let me finish asking my question! I was making a reso for 6 grand tasting menus, which is $1050 at $175 each before tax, tip, and drinks...and the host couldn't even show me enough respect to let me ask my question and make the reservation? No thanks. I hung up and won't be dining there any time soon.
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Review from Sandra G.
Vancouver, BC
5/11/2011
Service was excellent but the food was disappointing.
Bread - Nice variety but it was all that sort of insubstantial bread that goes mushy in your mouth. They were out of their signature seaweed bread which is the only bread item that stands out.
Appetizer seared scallop with sunchoke Scallops were nicely cooiked but the sunchoke was a bit underdone. It was served on a lemon sauce which was not a good match for the dish.
Main - sablefish with baby artichoke, baby potato served with lemon foam and with a lemony broth. Too much lemon!!! Again the fish and veggies were great but the broth and foam overwhelmed the dish. Sablefish is a delicate fish so a really lemony sauce is not a good match. If the chef was doing any tasting before things went out of the kitchen he should have realized they were too heavy on the lemon in this dish and corrected it.
Dessert - Hazelnut fancier with brandy ice cream and honeycomb. OK but not memorable. C has never been strong on desserts so I did not expect too much on that front.
Overall, it was a nice evening but expensive for the quality of food. I had not been to C for a few years and I have to say that the food has gone down hill. I do not feel it is up to the standard I expect for fine dining.
This is a lovely restauarnt so if any of you C folks are reading this, please take action. I really want to return at a future date and have the same type of memorable food experience I had a few years ago. -
Review from John M.
9/13/2010
Was C the name of the restauran or it's rating?
Tired, dirty and overrated... fish was over cooke.
On a good note the wait -
Review from Jessica W.
Vancouver, BC
4/3/2010
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. -
Review from Amy C.
Vancouver, BC
7/8/2010
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. -
Review from Katrina S.
Burnaby, BC
4/4/2011
The quality of the food is good. The service is alright as well. I have no complaints based on their meals (aside from being much too pricy for the quantity!) but feel this place is targeted to VIP and special events rather than simple dining.
When busy, I have heard they double book their reservations (which explains why we waited over 15 minutes to be seated at our reserved table).
It's nothing special if you're nobody special. Which is too bad since it's in a great location. -
Review from Eric B.
Victoria, BC
10/17/2010
Went to C in a group of 5 to take advantage of the recent Groupon order and had a great time. We were greeted immediately and seated upstairs quickly.
The six course tasting menu included 2 salads, a beet salad with a terrific goat cheese and a tuna tataki/fingerling potato salad - the beet salad was fresh and the little (ok, tiny) heirloom tomato in the tuna salad was awesome. Like Blake Lively's breasts, the tuna was perfect. The clam/mussels risotto was good although I found the risotto firmer than I prefer - no one else at the table minded though. YMMV.
The highlights were the lobster gnocchi and the seared scallop - both were spot on. I love gnocchi and I love lobster so merging the two is like putting snakes on a plane - bloody awesome. The lemonade foam on the gnocchi felt a bit like Kayne's posturing on Twitter but like Kanye, you learn that it's part of the schtick. The scallop was cooked like I like it, a touch rare in the middle and modestly salted with a nice crust to it.
The lemon mousse that wrapped things up was nice - nothing too special but well done nonetheless.
Service was excellent (helped no doubt to it being a quiet night) - attentive, polite and always available in a jiffy.
The retail price on the 6 course is $84 - I'm not sure it's quite worth that but the quality and service were excellent. It was good enough that we didn't even realize that we'd spent 3 hours there till we paid up. (The room doesn't feel like a top tier restaurant though).
I figure I'll return to try the 14 course tasting menu ($175) at some point. -
Review from Scott M.
Regina, SK
5/19/2010
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. -
Review from Shen S.
7/8/2011
i came here after purchasing the groupon for the 3-course lunch!
it's definitely not the easiest place to find...we had to walk a long way from our bus stop to get there, but once i was there i was really impressed w/ the location and interior!
the food was delicious, even their bread! with the exception of the dessert which was a caramelized cone w/ ice cream...it was a bit sweet for my taste! =/ -
Review from Bart E.
Vancouver, BC
7/13/2009
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. -
Review from JuZ B.
5/4/2011
Not sure why the cab driver and our hotel recommended it as a must go for Vancouver. It has limited seafood selection and overly priced. Service was great, but limited wine list. View is nice for a romantic outing, since it over sees the Grandville Island and the location is somewhat secluded. The decor is getting runned down with seating covered with half dressed seat cover. It's not a very upbeat place and kinda depressing. Place feels pretentious.
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Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
8/21/2009 7 photos
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. -
Review from Grant T.
North Vancouver, BC
11/16/2009
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
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Review from Tamara D.
Delta, BC
4/13/2009
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. -
Review from Ahmid B.
Victoria, BC
4/27/2011
We give C an "A+" for the magnificent view of Granville Island and False Creek. This formal seafooder offers an extended wine list paired with a dark and intimate ambiance that works for anything from dates to business to dinner with the in-laws.
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Review from Sarah p.
Vancouver, BC
2/7/2011
We dined last night for the 2nd time in last 4 months at "C". It was really busy with dine out and we waited at the bar and had glass of wine and a very well made spot prawn caesar. We were told it would be a 15 min wait beyond our 8pm reservation and we were seated by 8:15. They served us some great gratis appys at the bar (nice touch) Smoked salmon rolled with cream cheese and prosciutto with caviar...lovely.
The bread came quickly. We ordered bottle of red which was sold out. Kim graciously upgraded our choice.
We loved the dine out menu, added the blue castle cheese platter and hubby subbed the lobster risotto for the trout....OMG amazing!
We had another spectacular meal at C and would return in a heartbeat. -
Review from Natasha L.
10/2/2008
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. -
Review from Katie F.
11/12/2008
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. -
Review from Gaie C.
11/16/2008
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! -
Review from Yan L.
8/11/2008
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.
