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Glowbal Grill Steaks & Satay
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Steakhouses Canadian (New), Steakhouses [Edit]
1079 Mainland StVancouver, BC V6B 5P9
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Yaletown
(604) 602-0835
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat-Sun 10:30 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
131 reviews for Glowbal Grill Steaks & Satay
Review Highlights
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"For one, start with Kobe beef meatballs." In 7 reviews -
"...with honey caramelized bananas and white chocolate mousse." In 3 reviews -
"While the smoked salmon eggs benedict was perfectly done..." In 7 reviews
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131 reviews in English
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Review from Ying Ying L.
Vancouver, BC
5/19/2012
Glowbal is one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver and it continues to woo me every time I go back. The service is what makes it stand out from all the other great restaurants in town, plus having delicious food doesn't hurt either.
We went there once for an untraditional Thanksgiving dinner of prime rib with poutine and it was fantastic. The service was excellent and the manager, Kyle, was superb. -
Review from April B.
5/8/2012
I was visiting Vancouver with friends and we just hopped into Glowbal, the atmosphere was super fun. Loud music that made us feel like we were at a club, fun energy and great table right in front of the kitchen where we could watch the chefs in action. We had a great waitress named Erenee who offered great recommendations and great service!
Best $25 spaghetti and meatballs I have ever had! Four huge Kobe beef meatballs covered in marinara sauce, while the actual spaghetti has a truffle cream sauce. It was amazing! Also, get the brussel sprouts, they are to die for. My buddy had the striploin which was cooked to perfection and so flavorful.
I can't wait to visit Vancouver again and come to this place! I highly recommend it. -
Review from Vici W.
Burnaby, BC
4/21/2012
the wait staff was great. on the ball for the most part. Drink service was a little slow to start but then it picked up. The food was delviered super fast and the waiter joked about how he "knew people" which was cute. When he got really busy with a large party table he came over and let us know he might not be checking in as much becasue he had such a large table (probably about 25 people) which to me was totally acceptable. I hate when waiters don't let me know and I'm sitting there wondering what the hell happened to them,
the atmosphere was pretty good. We sat outside because the hostess said it was chilly in the resturant but the heater lamps would keep us warn outside (which they did)
The prices were..... alittle over the top. my sister had the poutine it was $7. it was your typical run of the mill poutine. The cheese was not melted though so I'd take points off for that. I had pasta... it was $20 for a fairly small bowl and 2 pieces of garlic toast. It wasn't anything I'd write home about.
I'd go back and maybe check out some other menu options mostly beacuse the staff was so friendly. -
Review from Alison T.
Burnaby, BC
3/30/2012
I visited Glowbal during Dine Out this year and was pleased with my experience. We made reservations on Open Table and were seated immediately when we arrived. We sat across from the bar which was a little squishy next to two other two person tables. The atmosphere of the place was modern and similar to a lounge I would say.
We both ordered from the Dine Out menu which was $38 and turned out to be a very good deal. I had the beef tataki to start while my bf had the shrimp cocktail. The beef tataki was all right, nothing really special to me where as the shrimp were very large and came in a good portion. I chose the tenderloin for my entree and he got the cod. His fish was quite salty and the portion was fairly small but maybe he just eats a lot. When my steak came out well done, I notified my server and he quickly exchanged it for the medium rare that I ordered. We only had one option of dessert which was a chocolate creme brulee which I really did not like much at all. At first mine came out completely liquid so that also had to get exchanged.. In the end the manager came and spoke to us about the issue and dealt with it accordingly.
Overall my favourite part of the meal was my steak and I would like to come back and try some of their other items. -
Review from Sharon S.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I came here the other night, my first night in Vancouver in fact.
I stopped as I was walking by to look at the menu posted outside, and one of the waiters/hosts/employees came over when he noticed me there and explained the menu to me. I thought that was nice since it was out of his way to do so.
The menu has about 9 different satay options, I ordered 5 of them. My favorite of all was the Albacore Tuna Tataki, which was cooked perfectly and just delicious. I also had the Kobe Meatball, the Mushroom tempura, the Salmon Blackened Spice, and the Lamb Shish Kebob. Of all of them, the only one I probably wouldn't get again is the Lamb, I thought it was a little tough. Plus, with so many other delicious ones - why bother getting one I don't love...
The other thing I liked was that each kebob was only about $3-4, which was a good deal for what you got.
I definitely will have to come back again. -
Review from Mike P.
3/10/2012
Yaletown on Friday night, I always expect a crowd. Restaurants seem to struggle managing this properly. Glowbal was no exception, as many tables as possible shoved into a very tiny space including two tiny oval tables (thankfully we didn't get either of those). Our poor waiter was frantically overworked, they should definitely consider adding more staff to ensure their diner's experience will match the prices we have to pay.
I would definitely recommend the satay platter for an appie to split, so many different delicious tastes, I actually enjoyed this more than my main. My wife had the Kobe meatball spaghetti which was quite good, would probably order that if I return.
I ordered the sea bass special, not bad but a little rubbery. I was expecting it to cost about the same as the rest of the seafood dishes but it turned out to be more than most of the steaks on the menu (I guess my bad for not asking the waiter for the price when he described the special).
The understaffed floor meant no bread on the table until we asked a couple of times, a beer poured with some left in the bottle that was hurriedly taken away, an error with the satays on our neighboring table and a forgotten drink order.
Beer lovers be aware that there is no beer on tap (only bottles).
Would probably return on a less busy night for a more pleasant atmosphere. -
Review from Taylor K.
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came for brunch yesterday. The hostess asked us if we had called in to make a reservation. This is probably what they are trained to ask but who makes a reservation for brunches unless it is planned in advance; usually for us brunch is a last minute decision.
They usually give you a complimentary mini donuts and this was no exception. My little son loved them so a good start.
Our server seemed to be fairly new at this because she forgot few things but she always came back to check on us and to refill our water glasses.
I got the waffle, my hubby the yaletown brunch and our friend had huevos rancheros and their crepe.
It was fairly busy time so the dishes took little longer than usual but the meals were all delicious so no complaint.
The vibe is pretty cool but I do think they stuff way more tables than they should. They had managed to put in couple tables behind us and it looked so awkward and I felt bad for people who were seated there.
One tip I have is do get their gift cards at costco because you get $10.00 free when you purchase the gift cards. I think it is at least 10 so it could be more. Not a bad value if you plan to go to any of the Glowbal group restaurants (Coast, Society, Glowbal and Italian Kitchen, not sure if Black and Blue is included since it is fairly new). -
Review from TheHungryNomad E.
3/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Brunch at Glowbal was A-Ok. It wasn't anything extraordinary nor was it awful in anyway. It just so happened that our service was slow: our food took an hour to arrive from the moment we ordered and when it arrived it was cold. However when the staff became aware of this fact they offered to remake our meal and in the end gave us a discount which I thought was very nice.
The food was good. I imagine it would have been tastier if it was served hot. The prices were en par with other fancy brunch spots around town. We ordered two eggs Benedicts: the smoked salmon Benedict served with dill cream cheese, hollandaise sauce on a cheddar biscuit with a side of potato hash and salad and the Atlantic lobster Benedict served with poached eggs, hollandaise, crispy pancetta on a cheddar biscuit. We also ordered the Wild blueberry panettone French toast served with a milk chocolate 'shot', and a organic rosemary honeycomb (see menu).
By the time the food arrived I had already filled up on the complimentary mini donuts we were served once we sat down. I would go back just for those mini donuts. Tender and crispy on the outside yet soft within and soaked in oil topped with powdered sugar. -
Review from Awesta M.
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoy Glowbal's brunches. I could have brunch there at any time on any day that they do brunch (Yes, I know that limits it to Sat/Sun, but go with me here.)
The freshly deep fried donuts that come out with the perfect amount of sugar and god knows what else coating, perfection! Unfortunately, I do not have amazing metabolism so I limit this wonderfulness to no more than 2.
The benedicts which is where my eyes tend to fall are always prepared just right. The staff is always perfectly attentive and courteous. The coffee pots that are left at the table which is great idea so we can over-caffeinate to our hearts content.
Everything here is solid. I go back because of Glowbal's reliability. And that's saying a lot because so many other places don't have that figured out yet. -
Review from Edward L.
Tried their brunch menu with Vincent N.
The menu selection is quite good. Food costs a touch more at $13-16 for a breakfast, but the quality is decent.
The server, Scott, was excellent. Everything was prompt, and he was very professional.
For drinks we had some mimosa. This is hella expensive, but quite good. Champagne mixed with orange juice.
I had their smoked salmon benedict. The poached eggs were pretty much perfect. Smoked salmon was a bit thin, but the taste was good. The hash browns and salad were okay but nothing special. One thing worth mentioning are the super cute Heinz (one time use) mini-ketchup bottles they serve now. Guess this is easier to deal with than the larger bottles, though that's a ton of garbage they're now creating.
I also had a chance to try the steak sandwich. The meat was definitely too salty. Some other people in my group tried it too, and we all had the same conclusion. Unfortunately, this was also the case for the fries (top layer). Looks like they just sprinkled some salt on top. Had to shake down the bowl to get rid of some of it.
To be honest I was pretty torn. The service is excellent, but the food was really just mediocre. Looks like the place is hit or miss.Listed in: 2011 Ed's Picks
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/30/2011
Normally I'm not a fan at all of fine dining, but I must say that Glowbal has left such a great… Read more »
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Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2012
I've been wanting to try Glowbal and finally went with a few girlfriends last night. Typical Glowbal collection restaurant and yaletown atmosphere, super trendy, upbeat, open kitchen concept. One downside was the music, it was a bit loud and quite hard to have conversation, and funny it was getting louder past 9pm.
I had 4 satays, 1 appetizer, and dessert:
Mind you, the satays come in only one piece each, don't expect a long skewer.
- Tiger prawn - Perfectly grilled, very fresh, and fragrant with herbs. Recommend it.
- Short rib - Not impressed. A little tough, and couldn't taste the truffle aioli as stated in menu.
- Kobe meatball - The highly anticipated dish and indeed it's good but I'm not amazed, it could be a little more tender (as how kobe beef should be). But you should try it if you haven't.
- Salmon - The surface is black because of the spice, but it's good. Portion is too small.
- Lobster ravioli - Loved it. The lobster pieces were visible. Appetizer size, only 3 pcs priced at $16, I would say $12 sounds more reasonable.
- Chocolate bread pudding - It was very good but portion was "insanely" huge (It's a full dinner). I'm a big fan of bread pudding but after having this one, I won't crave for bread pudding for next 2 months. My girlfriend had warm chocolate cake and it was decent size and it's very good.
Overall it was good dining experience, checked off the list. -
Review from Emily C.
2/6/2012
When thinking of my favorite brunch places in the city, Glowbal definitely comes to mind. So i'm surprised i haven't yelped this yet!
I've only been here for brunch/lunch and maybe once or twice for drinks (its connected to another bar in the back, Afterglow). For drinks, it's not really my scene -- the faux-chic yaletown yuppie thing, i try to run from like the plague. But food wise, it's definitely not bad. The brunch is good -- I recall this lobster or crab benny that was delicious!
They have a heated patio that is great during the usual gloomy days. We had a steak and a soup last time I was in town with visitors. Did not disappoint! -
Review from Jeffrey Q.
Vancouver, BC
2/27/2012
Went in for brunch with a group. The atmosphere is vibrant and chill and greeted with a complementary strawberry banana smoothie shooter which was nice.
I ordered the dungeness crab benedict-got it with the cheese biscuit instead of the english muffin. It tasted alright. The cheese was definitely a better choice to get more flavor. My poached eggs were a little overdone and I really didn't taste much of the crab.
The service was excellent, our server, Scott was very professional. The food overall was so-so, but I'm definitely wanting to give this place another chance and come back to try the other dishes. -
Review from Tara G.
Downtown, Vancouver, BC
3/23/2012
Had lunch here on a sunday. Waitress was really friendly and provided us with a lot of free samples. Lobster grilled cheese was really good! Music was a bit loud for a sunday afternoon but would definitely return
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Review from Betty L.
1/25/2012
Had a really lovely brunch at Glowball Grill with my brother while the 25% discount off the bill during their little weekend promotion. The food was yumo and the deal was just SWEET!! They kept my reservation eventhough I was a bit late. Awwww....
Our server was friendly and pretty efficient even though the place was packed. Right off the bat, I started my morning with a mimosa. It was pretty good. I ordered the lobster eggs benedict while my brother ordered the Belgian waffles. I really liked my dish, I could see lobster pieces in it and the cheddar biscuit that served as the base was fluffy and warm. I loved the richness of the pancetta sauce. I polished my dish in no time!
Since our stomachs had space, we shared a dessert of frosted beignets and apple fritters. It came with vanilla custard and salted butterscotch sauce. Those beignets and fritter were light and non-greasy. I could taste the apples inside the fritters. The custard and sauce were velvety, rich but not too sweet. I thought I went to dessert heaven!!
It was a good place to have a little bonding time with my brother. -
Review from Harsha J.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 12/10/2011
Update - Dec 9 2011
It seems I have got confirmation that my previous observation was true.
Three friends and I decide to meet up at Glowbal for dinner at 7PM on Friday, I call them up at around 2:30PM and ask for a reservation, the manager says they don't have any reservations till 9PM. So I go on Opentable and I see a spot for 7:15, I make the reservation. We show up at at 7:15, the place is deserted. We get a great table right in the heated patio. Our food comes in and after a few bites, the manager comes over and ask me, how is the food and specifically points at the potatoes and asks how is that, I say "it's just ok, but everything else is great".
He says "YEAH WELL WE CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE"
Wow! Now I'm pretty quick at retorts but I was so surprised I didn't really know what to say for a few seconds, before I could turn around he was gone.
Needless to say, I don't think I'll be coming here again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2011
This place was my favorite restaurant until about mid 2010 and I would have given the place 5 stars… Read more »
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Review from Michael J G.
4/2/2012
We had a Sunday night dinner at Glowbal Grill and were very impressed.
The menu looked good overall and we highly recommend sampling some of the satay options as an appetizer - the mushroom and the lamb were particularly good. In addition, they were offering some Aussie specials when we visited so we enjoyed sampling that menu. The table next to all us had the prime rib and it looked wonderful also, especially as the plates were all wiped clean!
Good, solid wine list and we enjoyed some Canadian reds which we had not tried before.
The staff were very welcoming, attentive and knowledgable. Our congrats to our servers Greg & Shane - a credit to this restaurant.
If the weather is right, sit on the patio and watch the passing parade! -
Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2012
Very good food. I particularly love the satay sampler. Hard to find something to complain about.
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Review from Lily S.
9/23/2011
WOW.
Who knew that kobe beef meatballs and spaghetti w/ truffle oil could be so a) AMAZEBALLS and b) super rich?
Yeah, I was in denial about that too.
But I indulged and split the meal w/ one of my girlfriends and downed that shit!
Well, I tried to. I ate one meatball and part of my truffle'd pasta and could not eat the rest as it was so rich I had to stop. But holy moly - it was, hands down, one of the best plates o' spaghetti I've ever experienced.
And hot damn, I'd do it again if we visited Glowbal once more! Only I'd go the entire day without eating to be able to finish the entire plate! -
Review from Jenny K.
10/19/2011
3.5 stars
Hip and trendy. This place seemed like the happening place to be on a Saturday night.
I liked their creative drink menu and ordered the Sanafir Lights - vodka, cointreau, cranberry Red Bull, marachino cherries, champagne - which was the perfect night out on the town drink.
To eat, my girlfriend and I shared the satay platter. The platter had all of the satays offered on the menu: lamb shish kabob, mushroom, albacore tuna tataki, tiger prawn, buttermilk chicken, kobe meatball, short rib, fried oyster and wild salmon. Served with Thai slaw, ginger white soya and hot Chinese mustard.
My favorite satays were the fried oyster (herb crust, garlic aioli) and the albacore tuna tataki (soy glaze). I wasn't thrilled with the short rib, wild salmon or kobe meatball. The lamb shish kabob I made no attempt to eat. The mushroom was overly greasy and salty. And the tiger prawn was very average.
I think ordering entrees would've been a better indication of their food taste and quality but overall I wasn't disappointed by my food/drink/service experience and would consider returning next time I'm in Vancouver. -
Review from Adrian V.
Richmond, BC
11/3/2011
Chic and fun, this restaurant is one sevenths of a restaurant group called The Glowbal Group. Although I haven't dined at all 7, I've been impressed by the few that I've dined in.
My friends and I decided to go for Taste of Yaletown some time ago and ended up here. But instead of ordering from the Taste of Yaletown menu, we ended up ordering from the regular menu. We got the lobster benny, the chorizo benny (was on special that day), the mushroom satay and kobe beef satay and desserts (creme brulee trio and frosted beignets & apple fritters. On top of the yummy food, we were served not one, but two complimentary dishes! Well, I wouldn't say dishes.. it was probably more amuse-bouche (albeit a very casual amuse-bouche).
With friendly and very chatty servers,delicious food, and a trendy atmosphere, this place hits the Yaletown vibe right to the core.
Would I come back? Most certainly. I only had their brunch menu! I need to try all their other menus -
Review from Purdy J.
10/5/2011
Great location and the "go to" place for a trendy lunch in Yaletown. Service, food and quality is always consistent and reliable. An amuse bouche/appetizers are usually always provided complimentary while you're deciding on your meal.
We went for a work lunch on a Tuesday, and it was busy during the lunch hours but is generally quiet afterwards. Make a reservation if you're with a large group so they can prepare your table before you arrive.
I was sad to see my favorite lamb shank risotto gone from the lunch menu. Their daily lunch specials are always a good deal. Feedback on the food I've tried:
-Papardelle was fantastic.
-Rigatoni Bolognese: Average, nothing special. You can make it at home so try something else.
-Steak Salad: just okay and I was still hungry afterwards. Meat was on the fatty side and for some reason came with tomatoes instead of potatoes but they were quick to give me a side of potatoes when I asked.
If you're looking for a consistent, delicious $20 meal ($30+ if you have steak), it's the place to go. Perfect for business related meetings/meals or short on time... Just let them know and they'll speed things up for you.
*If you need your veggie fix, like most restaurants there aren't many greens in the meal. Order a salad or eat some greens at home before going.
**They don't have many options for those with allergies but are very accommodating. If you're lactose intolerant, vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, there aren't too many exciting options as they are a grill and specialize in meats. Check out their menu online before going.
***Outdoor patio is super warm... warmer than inside the restaurant and the outside world.Listed in: Vancouver's Bests!
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Review from Herman E.
11/29/2011
It's been a while since I've come to the restaurant that started everything for the Glowbal Group. I've never had anything disappointing here before. Nothing really has changes other than some reno's and menu changes.
There are things that I miss b/c they are no longer on the menu.
Crab cakes - I swear these were the best I've ever tasted.
Lobster risotto - right up there with the one at Le Crocodile.
Veal Chop - really really tasty and prepared well
The menu has changed over the years, and I noticed there are now 3 pasta dishes. Hmmmmm, ......... I wonder why???
Personally, I would stay away from the pastas, not that they are bad but, I can eat that at the Italian Kitchen's of the same family of Glowbal restaurants.
I will say that the salmon here is prepared well. It's not over cooked and is moist.
Atmosphere is the standard Glowbal carbon copy. Chic young and trendy.
Downside is that it tends to be loud in the evenings. -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
10/17/2011 4 photos
A truly Yaletown restaurant that offers a west coast menu with satay and steak options. Customer service, menu to ambience, it offers an experience that satisfies - ideal for sophisticated yuppie crowds and entertaining business clients.
Bustling with people on a sunny Fall afternoon, my business partner and I came for their weekend brunch. I enjoyed the Smoked Salmon Benny, which was delicious with creamy hollandaise and a cheese biscuit (perhaps a wee bit salty). The potato hash was perfectly crisp and seasoned.
I've been quite a few times for lunch and dinner. I'd recommend the Satay Platter to share and the mushroom risotto as well. For me, this is a second favourite of the Glowbal Collection after Coast. -
Review from James I.
Abbotsford, BC
2 for lunch so of course they want to sit us at an afterthought skinny table. No thanks. No ice drink arrived with ice. Seriously how hard is it to not add ice. Refill came in carafe so at least not paying just for ice. Mini doughnuts were brought to the table; very tasty. Two shooter size banana mango smoothies arrived unrequested and were quite nice too.
Only wanted a light lunch so I ordered French Onion Soup. Different taste than I expect from F Onion soup but still good & lots of Cheese (yum). Lunch partner had tuna melt and fries. Fries looked overlooked to me, but partner enjoyed them. Melt was on sourdough and had a goodly portion of tuna & cheese.
If you don't want to have a conversation with the one you're with give this place a try. Food average but that's about all. -
Review from Christine C.
Vancouver, BC
12/15/2011
While I'm a huge fan of the consistency of any of the Glowbal Restaurants, I find the steakhouse lacking something... a certain je ne sais quoi in the food.
Don't get me wrong, the food is solid, just unimaginative for the price and ambiance. I've recently had a seafood risotto special - prawns, mussels, salmon and halibut, I'm sorry to say that the fish was overcooked (pretty chewy) and the risotto only tasted of butter (very safe). Again, I ate all of it so I'm not saying it was bad, just that I wish there was a little bit of a kick, or at least rarer fish and less butter (I never thought I'd ever ask for less butter).
Our server was very attentive but hit a few of my pet peeves. I'm not really into pet names when they come from my friends and family, and I'm definitely not into pet names when they're coming from my server.
Overall, the food is consistent, the atmosphere is great, the service is attentive and while I won't be hesitant to go if it's someone else's idea, I won't be suggesting this place any time soon. -
Review from Tiffany T.
10/13/2011
Me (to the waiter, Greg): I'd like the spaghetti & Kobe meatballs please.
Greg: Sure thing.
Me: This is a very filling dish, right?
Greg: Yes, but you can always take home what you can't finish.
Me: Yes, I'll do that. Thank you.
No, I did not do that. That's because by the time I was finished with the entire plate of four large Kobe meatballs covered in tomato garlic confit and spaghetti noodles oozing truffle cream, there were only a few noodles and a forlorn chunk of meatball left. Shamefaced, I couldn't barely make eye contact with Greg as he whisked away my nearly empty plate.
Definitely order this dish if you're a Kobe beef/truffle oil fan, but eat it on an empty stomach because it's so rich, creamy, cheesy and meaty all at once, you won't be able to stand more than a few bites unless you're famished. -
Review from Shawn T.
Vancouver, BC
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Its OK but there are way better restaurants in Yaletown for the price.
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Review from Sarah M.
10/24/2011
I was a little disappointed by this place. I had heard such great things about it but unfortunately our experience fell short.
The restaurant was on a really cool, quiet street in Yaletown and I was shocked that this place was so bustling since everything else appeared to be dead/closed. We made a reservation for brunch on a Sunday afternoon at noon and were seated right away on the patio. The host (who could have been a manager) was super friendly and hospitable.
However, we were seated, the service went downhill from there. The server was super pretentious and from the start made it clear that we were not worth her time. Granted she was swamped but we felt like an afterthought the whole way through our experience. We received free smoothie shots but all of the other tables had received free donuts as well and we realized at the end that we hadn't gotten any. :( The service was slow and while the server seemed content to engage with the customers around us, it took forever for her to take our order and wasn't particularly friendly when she did so. The food took a really long time to come out and once it did, it took a while to get our check. Normally, we wouldn't have minded but our meter had just run out and since we were planning on leaving soon anyway, it didn't make sense to put more money in the meter.
One thing that I found to be odd but that others might appreciate is that the servers put napkins on everyone's laps. Some might see it as a nice "extra touch" of customer service but at first, I took it as an etiquette hint to my husband that he did was being rude by not putting his napkin on his lap. After I realized that he wasn't being targeted and that the servers did this to everyone, I warmed up to the idea a little but was still a little put off.
The restaurant itself is really cool. I love the outdoor patio, it's super trendy yet pretentious. This is obviously "the place" to be on a Sunday for brunch and everyone seemed to know everyone. The crowd is very young, hot, and hungover. Probably the wrong place to go to for a touristy brunch.
For food, I had the infamous spaghetti and kobe meatballs. They were definitely good, don't get me wrong...but I expected to be WOWED which I wasn't. It came with three meatballs and a decent sized portion of spaghetti. It was a little spicy which I liked and a little garlickly but there is nothing that was really distinctive about it.
The smoothies are good here - definitely try one of those. They push mimosas on you but I already had a headache and champagne just doesn't do the trick for me.
All in all, this was a fun place and might be a better place to come to with friends than on a date. Definitely get a smoothie and sit on the patio. -
Review from Meana k.
10/23/2011
I came here for brunch as part of a Meetup group -- there were 10 of us and we were seated at one of the round tables inside. Our server was Matt, and he was delightful. A perfect mix of attentive, friendly, and not obtrusive. Service from Matt was excellent, and the food was pretty great as well.
Let's start off with the complimentary strawberry smoothie shots. What a special and sweet welcome to the restaurant. My Ceasars were delicious, and I had a couple -- with prawns, no less. I do think they should take better care to de-vein the prawns. I don't personally mind it but know that would be a turnoff to many.
Then let's talk about the complimentary baskets of sugared begniets, of which they're happy to bring more once you've devoured them. Try them while they're still warm. It's a taste of heaven melting in your mouth -- even for someone like me who doesn't typically have a sweet tooth.
Not sold yet? Okay, how about the complimentary amuse bouche that was served up. Just one look at the delicious waffle covered with strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and mint, and I knew I would be too full for my food when it came out. Not complaining -- in fact, considering I am much more a fan of savory foods over sweet options for breakfast, this was a perfect little taste of what I wouldn't normally order. I certainly enjoyed every bite.
For my actual meal, I had the lobster benedict with crispy panchetta over cheddar biscuits. The eggs couldn't have been cooked more perfectly. There was a fair amount of lobster meat on the bennys, and the dish came with a bit of salad which offered a nice acidic balance to the meal. The cheddar biscuits were okay, but not really my favorite part of the meal. But then again, I don't expect good biscuits outside the South.
I knock them one point simply because while the food was good and Matt was great, the other servers who came by our table to fill up waters/coffees and bus plates away were just downright cold. That, and the manager (?) was a bit weird.
Otherwise, I'd go back here for brunch, and based on these reviews, I feel like I'm going to have to try the Kobe meatballs and spaghetti sometime. -
Review from Ryan R.
Vancouver, BC
2/26/2012
Extremely disappointed with the service at Glowbal. We received extremely poor service, and had major issues with both our server and the manager, Kyle.
We had a major complaint and they both brushed us off as if it was nothing. Eventually we just left ( not even having finished our meals ) because it was such a stressful situation, made worse by how management handled themselves. Very disappointing.
On a side note, it is not very comforting to see Vancouver Police gang unit walking through the restaurant on a regular basis. Perhaps this restaurant just appeals to a different type of individual. -
Review from Jada S.
Burnaby, BC
4/11/2012
Love glowbal and any of the other glowbal restaurants. Food is great and the price is great too!
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Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
So the other day, I just had the most expensive burger of my life. Was it worth it???????? Well, I wouldn't have gave it 2 star if it was!
The Place:
The place has a pretty nice patio space (probably great for summer time), and the inside has a very contemporary look. They have a bar and beside the bar is an open kitchen and the cool thing that I noticed was the aging cooler for their meats. You don't see something like that very often.
My Food:
Soooo I'm browsing through the menu and it felt like it's a burger day today. Prime Rib Burger: Pancetta, over easy egg, monterey jack, grainy mustard mayo $16.95. Sure, I'm sold!
So the food comes and the burger is served on a wooden board with fries in a small metal bowl and a small pea shoot salad. It's quite a massive meal from just looking at it and it was.
The sesame bun was toasted, cheese melted over the burger, and fried egg, which was more medium (but that's not a bad thing), on top. Seeing all that grease running from that patty, mmmmmmm, it looks promising!
I picked up the burger, grease running down my arm, took a bite and.... meh. Really? The patty was super fatty, egg unseasoned and overpowered by the pancetta. I expected a lot more for $20 (+tax), the value didn't add up in flavour, but instead... size. Prime rib may sound good and taste good, but perhaps not in a form of a burger. It was just was to greasy. Grease on my arm, grease sogging up the bun, and all on that wooden board. Good thing the wooden board got a trench around it, otherwise that fat would be all over the table and on our clothes.
Fries were pretty good, and the salad was a good acidic balance to the dish... too bad it was only 3 bites. Totally not worth it.
Service:
Meh. The server was not very attentive and nor was it busy when we stopped in. We had to ask other servers or even the manager for things; more drinks, ketchup, napkins, and bill.Listed in: Yelp, why me?
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Review from Victoria C.
Updated - 6/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Man, I hate to admit it, but the sole purpose of my trip to Canada last weekend was to consume the kobe beef spaghetti and meatballs that I first enjoyed two years ago. Either my memory was wholly inaccurate, or the place has gone downhill since then. Probably the latter. (EDIT: check out the trend graph--it's gone downhill fast. Crazy.)
Sure, the place seems to be the trendiest place in town. People were dressed to the nines, the service was excellent (they even put your napkins on your laps for you), and the environment SUPER swanky. But, the food failed to impress. It doesn't matter how amazing everything else is, if the food is mediocre, I will surely have a disappointing experience.
1. The kobe beef meatballs were tougher than usual. It didn't melt in your mouth like it should, but was kinda grainy and chunky. And, the noodles? Not in a truffle oil red sauce with herbs. No, it was coated in a thick white, cheesy sauce. Kinda weird considering the meatballs were covered in red sauce. It just wasn't that great.
2. My bf's prawn linguini was horrible. The prawns were not de-veined and tasted really tough and rubbery. Very unpleasant in taste and texture.
3. Overpriced. $25 for a bowl of 4 meatballs and a serving of bland spaghetti.
My dinner companions agreed with me. Just not that great.
Man.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/17/2010
I seriously make the 2+ hour trek from Seattle to Vancouver just for this restaurant. No lie. It's… Read more »
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Review from Claire S.
Surrey, BC
12/7/2011
*Warning: this review may be offensive to vegan's, vegetarians, etc.*
The best part by far was the view of the raw meat from my table. Conversation with the girl sitting across from me was a challenge because of the massive cow carcass hanging behind her.... calling my name... "Claire, eat me... eeeeeeat meeeee!"
Clearly, I do not belong to any of Vancouver's non-meat-eating groups, vegans, vegetarians, what have you. But for those of you who aren't interested in having a look at your pre-cooked animal, I'm pretty sure our table was the only one which had such a view.
For once in my life I did not order steak... (we were going dancing after and I didn't want a pound or two of beef sloshing around in my stomach). I ordered the Tuna Tartar and actually it was AMAZING... nice and light, full of flavour, and great presentation. I also snuck a taste of a friend's linguine frutti di mare and it was pretty fabulous too.
Atmosphere and service was a 10/10 and there's a fab little lounge in the back that's definitely worth checking out. -
Review from P M.
Vancouver, BC
5/10/2011
I am in LOVE!
A couple weeks ago, I came here with a group of friends (5 of us in total) for our graduation dinner.
Besides one of the highlights being that we sat next to Red Forman (Kurtwood Smith) from That 70's Show, the service was also excellent, the atmosphere was great, and the food was amazing!
I was able to try
calamari (lightly breaded, very crispy, placed on top of a delicious red sauce--best I've had!)
French onion soup (made with beef broth, very sweet but also delicious and quite filling!)
Kobe meatball and pasta (best ever. I've been craving this dish since I've been to Glowbal! The meaballs were moist, extremely flavorful, and paired perfectly with a light cream sauce pasta)
and... the sangria.
We all shared a pitcher of white wine sangria. It was a perfect mix of citrus and wine. It also came with large pieces of fruit (oranges, cherries, etc.)
This is a MUST TRY if you are in or coming to Vancouver. We took the Skytrain to get here, which was a very easy trip to make! -
Review from Dee B.
8/14/2011
The service, provided by Greg, gets 5 stars. He was fantastic dealing with 7 women at a birthday party and went the distance to keep us all happy :)
The food gets 3 stars. It's presented well, but the flavours are very run of the mill and typical.
I had the nicoisse salad which was good, but totally overrun by potatoes. My friend had the special and her sausages were overdone, and, as a result, very dry. Too bad since they are made in house! -
Review from Linzi M.
3/20/2011 ROTD 7/5/2011
Dear Glowbal,
If I could eat one dish forever, it would be your truffle oil spaghetti. You won my heart with your lobster topped baked potato. Sure, we might have fallen out when my steak came out more rare than medium. But brownie points to the charming general manager who wooed us and offered to send it back to the kitchen. Anyone who knows me knows that you cannot pry food out of my hands once I have it.
Your waiting staff are educated on the menu and not afraid to be honest in their recommendations. Sorry I turned down your chocolate dessert, but that creme brulee was winking its flirtatious eyes at me. And boy, did it deliver on that promise.
I'm a frequent visitor to AfterGlow, but I only wish that your restaurant and I could spend more time together. This is a love affair that I can only hope continues
Kisses
Linzi -
Review from Jacob K.
8/3/2011
Glowbal Group you never fail to impress. This time with a real change of scenery - the brunch at Glowbal. With already too much choice on the menu (yes, I almost did have the lobster grilled cheese as my first meal of the day), I opted for a more traditional breakfast of a crepe by Crepe Master Nathalie.
A crepe stuffed with goat cheese, walnuts, arugala and drizzled with honey is a most delicious way to start my day. Not a big fan of arugala or rocket because of its spiciness, the green did provide a nice counterbalance to the sweetness of the honey. If I order this dish again, I will order it sans arugala.
As usual, the service the Glowbal Group provides is most excellent. Never did I go for want of water or coffee. -
Review from Sebastian P.
Vancouver, BC
6/18/2011
Love this place for their perfect mixture of fancy inventions as well as pointed classics.
The prices are sometimes a bit high depending on the items but if you know what to order I would say it's worth it in the end. This is not the place where I order a burger (and I LOVE a good burger) because too many other goodies are flirting with my eyes from the moment I open the menu.
I should say that their desserts are to die for!! Again, creativity prevails.
Personally I like to come for either the brunch on Sunday's or during non-peak times. Reason is that I try to avoid the Yaletown Hyper Hyper when I'm just out to enjoy a nice brunch/lunch/dinner.
Otherwise there is always the bar for the later hour.
Parking is also very convenient with the usual (rip off) metered Street Parking right in front or around the corner. Alternatively at your disposal are a Valet and a bit further a garage.
Enjoy!
-S
