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Finest At Sea Seafood Boutique
Category: Food Specialty Food Seafood Markets Seafood Markets [Edit]
4675 Arbutus StVancouver, BC V6J 4A3
Neighbourhood: Shaughnessy
(604) 266-1904
- Hours:
Mon-Tue, Sun 10 am - 6 pm
Wed-Sat 10 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
10 reviews for Finest At Sea Seafood Boutique
10 reviews in English
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Review from Justin L.
8/7/2011
I've enjoyed a couple of lunches at this unassuming little neighbordhood seafood shop. Since Finest at Sea is nowhere near the water, you wouldn't think of seafood in this part of town. Which is precisely why it's a pleasant surprise to be able to find some decent fish and mollusks here. Of course, if you're familiar with their smokery in Granville Island (next to Lobster Man), then you know they're the real deal. But here on Arbutus, they also operate a dine-in or takeout deli and bistro.
The prepared food on the deli side looks delicious. The house cured salmon (peppercorn coho, sockeye, sockeye with dill, candied, etc.) look absolutely top-notch and the sliced terrines (especially the octapus) look amazing. However, I've never actually tried these items, since every time I've come it was for the fish n' chips.
Over all, it's a decent fish fry, and one of the better ones in the city. I do agree with others that the fish is too bland -- a little seasoning beneath the batter would help tremendously. FRIED SABLEFISH is good, though the sablefish seems too delicate and naturally oily for such a preparation. It retains its moisture, but falls apart too easily so that you end up eating most of the batter and fish separately. FRIED HALIBUT is surprisingly moist (I often find it too dry elsewhere) and the FRIED LINGCOD is okay, too. Again, just bland, so go ahead and reach for the salt.
FRENCH FRIES are average thick-cut fries, the ones that taste like they were frozen from a package. A quality package, to be fair. COLESLAW has a hint of "Asian" flavor (sesame oil?) but is otherwise bland.
CRAB CAKES are pretty good and worth of try if you like 'em. As for the PAN-FRIED FANNY BAY OYSTERS, I didn't like the cornmeal batter: too coarse for such a delectable and delicate bivalve. Still, for $12, I was surprised to see that many oysters on the plate (about 8 or 9), along with fries and salad.
WEST COAST CLAM CHOWDER ($5) is tasty enough, though I still prefer the primarily cream-based New England variety. SEAFOOD BISQUE is okay, too, but not particularly memorable.
Anyway, I'm a fan of this place, especially since it meets a need in this part of town, but I hope a little zing and pizzazz will find their way into the food. Freshness is often best left alone -- I agree -- but I'm also all for some appropriate enhancement. -
Review from Cathy S.
6/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
As far as retail sales are concerned, I really love Finest At Sea. Their fish, although on the pricey side, is always extremely fresh. During spot prawn season you will always find a tray of the freshest tails for a reasonable price per pound. They stock the usual broad assortment of fresh BC fish as well as smoked fishes, terrines, crab cakes, salads, soups and pastas. With a fish purchase you can choose to have your fish marinated with one of their five complimentary marinades.
The store itself is divided in two sections- the retail counter and then a bistro section with cafeteria style service and seating.
To summarize our experience at the bistro part of the store in one syllable, it would be "ewww". With that said, I am happy to report that the friend that I coerced into having lunch with me there still likes me despite of the meal.
I ordered the "Japanese Style" Salmon Filet on Caesar Salad and my friend ordered the 2 piece Sable Fish and Chips with fries and coleslaw. My salad was overdressed within an inch of its life and my salmon was prepared apparently for carbon dating. My friends fish and chips were so oily that we were tempted to call in Halliburton to clean the spill on her plate.
This was my second (and final) time to dine there. The first time was a few years ago at dinner time and the place was dead. If I recall, the food was okay, but not great. This time at lunch, the room was packed with people waiting to place their orders and for tables to free up. I find it hard to believe that we were the only ones with tragically bad food but they had no shortage of customers so one would hope that the others were having a better experience then we did. Normally we would return the meals to the kitchen but the place was so busy and we were in a bit of a time crunch so we simply walked away hungry and close to $40 poorer. Lesson learned, never again for the deli.
Retail Counter 5. Deli 0Listed in: Train Wrecks, Better Than BP Medication
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Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 10/8/2010
* The bistro has slipped *
While the fish counter still has a really nice selection of lovely fresh seafood, the bistro counter has seriously dropped in quality based upon my latest visit. This is really sad, as it used to be amazingly good.
I had/tasted:
- Cod fish and chips: The breading was soggy and way too thick, the chips were an odd consistency as if they had been fried 3 or 4 times, the coleslaw it came with was not fresh tasting. Not what it used to be at all!
- Clam chowder: This was super watery. The clams (the few that were in there) were very fresh though. It came with a corn muffin which was dripping, and I mean DRIPPING with oil. It was not edible.
- Smoked sablefish: They gave a crappy tail piece, and it was tough. Very tough. It came with an overdressed salad where the greens had not been dried properly so they made all of that excess dressing very watery. It also had a small rice serving which was overcooked and mushy.
I'm sad. This place used to be a great spot to grab a casual seafood bite. Not any more.Listed in: Something fishy (hopefully…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2008
Finest at Sea operates a fleet of fishing vessels based out of Victoria. The founder, Bob Fraumeni,… Read more »
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Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2008 2 photos
Bob Fraumeni bought his first fishing vessel in 1974, and he hasn't looked back since. After selling for many years to the Asian markets, Fraumeni yearned to have his product available to folks locally, and Finest At Sea was born. This of course, is the very abridged tale but for all intents and purposes, it tells it as it is. Fraumeni now owns and operates eight fishing vessels off of British Columbia's coast, while employing over one hundred local fisherman and upwards of twenty five local service staff for its stores and the like.
The Granville Island location serves as a commercial processing and smoking plant, as well as a retail store, lucky for us! My first visit was met by two ladies who were busily preparing the Finest At Sea Christmas store window, an annual tradition (and competition) amongst businesses on Granville Island. The twinkling fairy lights and shiny green holly made for a beautiful vision and created a lovely atmosphere. Yes, you can create atmosphere in a fish shop, believe it or not!
After having a poke about, to their refrigerated section that held prepared bouillabaisses, soups and mayo's, amongst other items, to the bottled import olive oils and balsamic vinegars, and jarred Okanagan fruit, I finally perused this area enough to work my way over to the fish counter. Along with a prepared fish section with hot smoked teriyaki salmon strips, escabiche (Portuguese style ling cod) and of course, very fresh fish! Finest At Sea is responsible for supplying much of the fish you eat in restaurants in BC and therefore, quality is of top priority.
There is also a deli counter here, serving up various items for lunch or dinner, from fresh seafood bisque to seafood salad items and grilled fish as well. I ordered a container of the escabiche after sampling it and I have certainly found a new food item to obsess over! The staff were so friendly and gracious, I look forward to coming back again. -
Review from Katrina S.
Vancouver, BC
8/17/2010
I just went here on recommendation from a friend as being "the BEST fish and chips in Vancouver", and she was not exaggerating! It definitely beats out some of the pricier places I have been to on Granville Island and in White Rock.
Two of us shared the two piece halibut and it was more than enough for a very reasonable price. The fries were also delicious - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect in my opinion!
While this place does not have the waterfront scenery (it's the reason I rated it as 4), it is still a delicious option for lunch or an early dinner. There is even a deli where you can purchase fresh fish to cook at home and I noticed you can get free marinade with your purchase. -
Review from David F.
Vancouver, BC
5/25/2009
I have had the fish and chips (halibut) there 3 times. I have found the fish fairly bland. Fries were good and I really liked the coleslaw.
Go Fish, the little fish and chip place on Granville Island have way better fish and chips in my opinion. Bud's on Denman used to be awesome, went downhill when they went fish and chips/Korean and I haven't been there for a long time. -
Review from Eloise S.
Vancouver, BC
3/21/2011
One Word.. AMAZING!
Finest at Sea does 4 things really well and from what I hear soon to be 5.
1 The Fish: Stunning selection of sustainable BC fish(no unsustainable marlin or swordfish in sight! phew!!). Fresh fish may not always be in season, so they carry their own FAS (Frozen at Sea) Fish, which is just as good if not sometimes better than fresh. Live tanks with large dungeness crabs at a reasonable price (usually a few dollars cheaper that the Granville Island fish markets) Clams Mussels and Oysters, all sourced locally. They smoke their own fish at their Granville Island location. Their smoked sable is absolutely stunning!!! I could go on...
Ah yes don't forget the amazing complimentary marinades (5 to choose from) that come FREE on your fish! And they don't just come out of some heinz bottle, they're fresh and home made like the rest of this place.
2 The Deli: Their deli food is all made in house and is absolutely scrumptious! Constantly reinventing itself under the creative mind of Bruno. A very talented chef who's been in serving Vancouver his amazing food for over 30 years (saucier by trade), you've got to try his salads, soups, sauces and fresh mayos!!
3 The Bistro: The fish and chips are good, but the home made tartar sauce is to die for. The salmon caesar is my favourite with caesar dressing from scratch and a Japanese marinated, sesame crusted salmon fillet.... um yum!! I've had most of the menu, and haven't been disappointed yet.
4 The Groceries: Finest at Sea carries the most interesting selection of groceries i've seen in a little place. But what makes it truly shine is the selection of Bruno's Best! It's their own house label where Bruno puts his magical hands to the creation of jams and jellies, chutneys and relishes, antipastos and wild BC mushroom tapenades, and not to forget his canned preserved fruit! Honest to god how my grandmother made it.
5 The Produce: Small selection of carefully gathered fresh produce mostly veg and herbs, really compliments this little store. They say that their expanding this soon, so we'll have to see what they can dole out!
All in all my favourite foodie shop in vancouver, complimented by a cleaner that clean shop (absolutely no stinky fish smell like every other monger in Vancouver) and wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable staff who always have a good idea for tonight's dinner!
Note: this is a really popular spot, so make sure to grab a number when you arrive, the products and service are well, well worth the wait. -
Review from Melody M.
8/14/2010
I had my doubts when I first entered the place. I mean, this deli had live seafood, cooked seafood, and a coffee stand inside, but hey, the place was awesome. It's like Go Fish, but not. The live seafood is reasonably price, and the takeout menu is yummy. You can get a halibut dinner which comes with roasted potatoes and mixed greens for $15. Next time I'm trying the Manila clams, or the Mussels with Frites, or the steamed Sablefish. Yes, I will be back.
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Review from Kat D.
3/19/2011
I come to Finest at Sea, in a tiny strip mall in Kerrisdale, for the prawn and avocado salad with olive oil, sweet onion and tiny diced pieces of red Bell pepper. So scrumptious, especially the firm, meaty prawns which have a delectable texture. If they were machine peeled, that machine did a good job with minimal water. On one side of the shop is a long glass case for fish, seafood, salads, antipasti and frozen items they make like canoli with seafood filling. Customers buying fish or staying there to eat order at the main counter and pck up their hot food near the kitchen. The fish and chips is good but I prefer the rich, brown seafood bisque with a bit of what looks like aoli in the centre of the bowl. It is the perfect food for a cold, rainy day and the stock is made from fish bones. Also recommended is the gelatine strata (terrine) of octopus. I like the fact that the kitchen staff, visible behind the counter, is consistent. Sitting at a table you can watch well-heeled women park their expensive cars and come in to buy fish and various seafood salads, seemingly without considering the prices. The shop also has a few shelves of prepared food like homemade crostini, olive oils, spices and fresh bread. There is soup and stock to take out in a refrigerated area. I am very disappointed that when eating there one can't order prepared food on reusable plates and everything cold is measured into plastic takeout containers with lids.
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Review from Mike O.
Port Moody, BC
9/3/2008
I'm a seafood fan. I love fresh prawns and lobster. It must be the east coast in me that adores the food of the ocean...
Then it must be the Korean in me that loves the karaoke machine...
It must be the German in me that loves the schnitzel...
Wow! Enough stereotyping already.
If you have a little Newfie in you that loves the sea, check out The Finest at Sea. They have fresh seafood all the time and have deli dishes that you'd usually find in a regular deli, only here they're made with seafood. Like crab meat shepard's pie or wild spot prawns that are so rare and delicious. You can have a bowl of lobster bisque that will have you saying "Argh Matey!".
The seafood is so fresh there that you may cringe at the taste of something that has come directly from the ocean to your plate, but give it a chance. It's reasonably priced ($4 for the lobster bisue) and your heart will thank you for eating healthy and well.
