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Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1118 Mainland StreetVancouver, BC V6B 2T9
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Yaletown
(604) 689-8318
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Goldfish Pacific Kitchen
Review Highlights
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"Sablefish and salmon were both very good." In 11 reviews -
"Also had the short ribs which were amazing." In 10 reviews
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"Jasmine infused creme brulee." In 4 reviews
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Melissa C.
Richmond, BC
So after my hour work-out with my friend Andrea P. at Barre, which is a 2 min walk away. We decided to treat ourselves to happy hour. Have to replenish those calories we just lost - makes sense!
We started off with from oyster shooters - they were slightly small but still fresh and delicious with no sand. It came with a lovely, sweet seafood sauce and lemond. Slurp-burp goodness. Next we had the cheeseburger springrolls. It's as mouth-watering as you think - crispy springroll with warm, cheesy beef goodness in the middle, topped with green onions was a fresh touch. Next we tried the salmon sashimi, which was a disappointment because it was such a small platter - the sashimi was small and tasted common. To top off our happy hour we split a Hello Kitty cocktail - very subtle alcohol taste, fruity and lovely with a piece of lychee at the bottom of the glass.
The service was pretty good, our waitress was kind and attentive when needed. Overall, they put the happy in that hour for my stomach. A return to happy hour will occur. -
Review from Jayne K.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2012
I went here for Dine Out, so the experience was a bit more sterile than I'd imagine it would have been otherwise. This restaurant is really spacious with neat decor. I also noticed that they were playing really great music. The atmosphere isn't too fancy or too casual. It is however pretty expensive.
I had a delicious salad (can't go wrong with nuts and goat cheese), pretty commendable fish and chips, and an excellent chocolate lava cake. The service was decent, but midway through there was a change of server because the original one "wasn't feeling very well." I kind of wish they hadn't given an explanation.
I think I'd give this place another try, if the inclination to have an expensive, well-atmosphered dinner in Yaletown ever strikes again. -
Review from Brendan M.
North Vancouver, BC
2/1/2012
Two Fridays ago, we decided to do a dinner out with some fun friends, so we wanted to go somewhere with an equally "fun" vibe. Goldfish was on my short list of active, social, energizing venues. We managed to get an 8:30 reservation since it was the first night of Dine Out Vancouver. I remember thinking "At least it won't be dead" followed by "I guess I'm lucky I got a reso at all".
I should mention that I have made reservations at Goldfish a few times in the past, usually in summertime and upon arriving we were the only customers in the place, so we left both times. No one likes to be that one werid couple sitting quietly in a totally empty restaurant. But this night was the complete opposite. We arrived at 8:00 and it was hopping. The place was filled to capacity and I could see the wide-eyed looks on most of the server's faces as they scurried around entering orders and delivering drinks at a frenetic pace.
I immediately liked the vibe and the energy and felt happy to be there right away. I have always really liked the decor of Goldfish. The bar / lounge area is particularly funky and comfortable. Dim lighting and steady, groovy house beats at just the perfect volume kept the flow moving and provided a perfect tempo for the night.
After a few rounds of cocktails in the lounge we were asked if we would like to be seated in the dining area so we followed. We passed up the deep, oversized booth which made us all feel like Munchkins and opted instead for a tighter, more conventional four top which was much more engaging and comfortable - a great call.
Our server was that perfect blend of casual and genuine with none of that forced waiter persona which really tends to gross me out. She was attentive and calm in the midst of a bustling dinner rush.
The food verged on unbelievable. But I had comsumed a fair amount of wine and I was also extremely hungry. Still, it was very tasty, I had the Halibut Cheeks for the main and a tempura shrimp appy. I gobbled them both back and felt very satisfied.
I would recommend both.
Not many negative things to report on this experience, other than the fact that they ran out of their reputable Scallops Main Course at only 8:30 on a busy Friday night, which I thought showed rather poor planning seeing as they had reservations booked from 6:00 until 10:00 solid.
However, if your looking for a cozy, fun yet intimate night out, Goldfish delivers the goods and you'll have a good time. Prices were a touch on the inflated side, but this is pretty common these days. -
Review from Beverly W.
Vancouver, BC
My first and last review of Goldfish Kitchen as they are apparently closing this Sunday (Feb 5).
We had the classic Salt Spring Mussels which were tasty. Next, we had the handmade ravioli along with fish and chips. The ravioli was delicious with a nice soft texture. I actually liked the fries in the fish and chips because they weren't very salty and were crispy.
The service is very good; the servers are friendly and chatty. The decor is modern and chic. There were lots of people inside the restaurant when we were there at 10 pm on a Monday night! In the past, every time I walk by this restaurant, it has been pretty happenin' inside! -
Review from Monti S.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I feel like I have reviewed Goldfish before but it seems to have disappeared. I used to come here a lot when they first opened years ago when Yaletown was becoming Yaletown.
Its changed tenfold since then. I noticed my last time there that the menu has completely gone from Goldfish Kitchen Asian inspired to pure continental boringness Goldfish Seafood and Chops. Seems they've been taken over by Joe Fortes, or maybe they've always been owned by Joes and they decided Asian wasn't their thing,
Best things about it, bar/afternoon appetizer menu and afternoon bites. End of the bin wine prices. This is the best best thing, their appetizers are delicious. Prawns short ribs, carpaccio is my favourite, and scallops.
Dinner menu is OK. I don't recommend it, head to Flying Pig instead but come to Goldfish for pre dinner drinks and some appies.
Kind of a cool space but its getting dated now.
You know, I don't have enough to say,. Go for drinks and bites, nothing more. -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Guess them closing, it's easier to give them this rating lol.
Well, I always liked this place just for the drinks & atmosphere, but wasn't there for the food. It's no different westcoast than the dime a dozen out there.
Any resto you feel for that's going out of business, but these guys at Joe Fortes, they're well-financed ;) just another write-off, and onto the next resto venture: kudos for them... -
Review from Ieva K.
12/15/2011
My friend and I went to Vancouver over Canada's Thanksgiving weekend. Our hotel recommended Goldfish so we went on our last night there.
We were very happy we went. The atmosphere was very nice, the staff was excellent and the food was delicious.
We ordered a bottle of what seemed like never ending wine, appetizers, dinner and dessert! Everything that came out to our table was perfect. The fish just melted in your mouth. Seafood being my favorite food, I had nothing but positive things to say about my meal. The portion size was perfect and I left the restaurant very full.
Everyone at the restaurant was very warm and friendly from the hostess to our waiter to the manager who was walking around talking to everyone. I will be back here to eat every time I get up to Vancouver.Listed in: Food
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Review from Wendy C.
West Vancouver, BC
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
What kind of over priced mediocre food bullshit is this??? The party planner chick is not only rude but caused unnecessary stress to the birthday girl by telling her they will charge $20 for each person not there by exactly 9pm.
The salads looked like they were the pre bagged kind from save on foods. The spare rib meat jumbo macaroni dish was basically meatless. The 16oz rib eye steak that I ordered had SO much More fat than meat on it. Also the waiters and waitresses never once smiled and when we wanted to order drinks for the birthday girl one of the waiters said "we have some really good cheap drinks." bitch we can afford expensive drinks! Not only that they rushed us asking when they can bring the cake out at least 6 different times WHILE we were having appetizers.
Definitely NOT coming back here ever. EVER.
Staff are rude, food is mediocre and overpriced. -
Review from Linzi M.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
4 dozen oysters, please.
And so began happy hour at Goldfish Kitchen. If I know anything, it's happy hours. Pour me a cocktail and let's get this done. But for food? Good thing I had power-eaters Colene, Rick, May and Dennis to guide me. Happy Hour at Goldfish is just an incredible deal, because, damn, that place is pricey. But buck a shuck and $5 glasses of wine and you are living it large, my friends.
I'm a relatively novice oyster eater so I held back. But when the lobster flatbreads, fries, jumbo prawns and calamari arrived, I was in food heaven. The combination of ingredients and sophistication of the food is nothing spectacular, these are just appies, after all. However, they are delicious and I would love a handsome man* to take me there to sample the full menu. I wasn't blown away by the oysters, I think we have had better toppings at Rodneys**. And Colene sent back the calamari after we deemed it too salty, really it tasted like chipper fish and chips. At $18 I do not want to be tasting something I could get down Brighton seaside for a fiver.
The staff were gracious, prompt and treated us very well the whole time we were there. It's a classy place and it shows. More, please.
* Handsome men who love seafood, wine and outrageously funny dining companions, just call me. I'm available.
**Oh Rodneys, stop flirting with me, you saucy minx. -
Review from May C.
Vancouver, BC
8/19/2011
This was my second time at Goldfish in the span of a month, and I'm a fan of this place. They've recently re-branded their restaurant, and they have happy hour from 4-7pm.
I went there with a group and made reservations through Open Table. Just about an hour before we were to show up, they phoned me and asked if we would like to be seated in the lounge area or patio. I was impressed by their level of service already.
Being that we were there for happy hour, we ordered 4 dozen oysters to start between the 5 of us. We ordered a glass of pinot grigio each to accompany the oysters. They let us know that they'll need to bring them out in batches because the staff need time to shuck them. It was reassuring to know that they don't pre-shuck them.
We then ordered a few more items on their happy hour menu: fries, jumbo prawns, salmon sashimi, and lobster flatbread. The fries were fresh, and the prawns were mega-sized. The salmon sashimi was okay, but the lobster flatbread was amazing! There were actual lobster chunks, with pieces of roasted cherry tomatoes and avocado pieces. It was so delicious we ordered another!
This is a great place to visit if you're looking for good seafood during happy hour.Listed in: Best Happy Hour
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Review from Jacob K.
11/9/2011
With its Taste of Yaletown menu, this restaurant redeemed itself in my humble opine.
While at first scared away by the $35 price tag, the value received was well worth it. The portions, especially the beet and spinach anti-oxidant salad and the short rib and mash, were quite generous.
Of course, more a bad thing is not a good thing and at Goldfish, this was not the case. The short rib and mash was exquisite; a short rib cooked to perfection and a mash every so delicious.
The highlight of the night of course was the lava cake - ever so moist on the inside, the chocolatey goodness just oozed out onto my plate when I pierced the cake with my fork.
The service was wonderful. -
Review from Shah S.
10/9/2011
Excellent service and wonderful food!
Had the pleasure of dining at Goldfish with a group of my co-workers last week. We had a large party (22) and the folks at Goldfish did a great job taking care of us. The service was impeccable and the food overall was excellent.
I had the steak and prawn special which was very good. The only miss was was the Tuna Poke which was a little soggy. The creme brûlée for desert was wonderful.
Definitely would recommend Goldfish and will try again when I am back in Vancouver. -
Review from Rick C.
We started off our night with happy hour at Goldfish after the tweetup there. We ate a lot of buck-a-shuck oysters. From there, we wandered to random places, events, and parties (relatively sobre) for a fun, random night on the town. Relive it here told entirely from photos taken and posted to Twitter throughout the evening.
The usuals were there, Dennis, May, Colene, Linzi, and I. We dined on appetizers and various treats. The garlic fries were surprisingly good.
Colene was hankering for a ton of oysters. I had a few, saving myself for the cooked treats.
The prawns, spring rolls, and so were all good. The deep fried calamari was kind of tasteless and lacking. We had to send back our first order after its simultaneously salty and bland taste.
The lobster and avocado flatbread is superb. We had three. It's definitely a must try.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/5/2011
A few of us have started a tradition of eating oysters and talking shop. So we decided to hit up… Read more »
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Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
10/23/2011
How have I never been here before ? I feel like a fool now that I've had my first experience !
My first visit was on a Friday night with some friends which we enjoyed while sitting at a bar table in the lounge - there was a dj in the corner adding nicely to the overall vibe of the place. We enjoyed the food immensely, we had a selection of oysters and as well as a beet salad and a bunch of other yummies that were all plated well, not to mention delicious.
I recently went back again for just drinks and had another great experience, the staff is fabulous and attentive ! I think Goldfish will continue to be a go to spot in Yaletown for me :-) -
Review from Edda O.
9/11/2011 7 photos
Buck A Shuck!! How can one say no to that.. Let's cut to the chase:
I tried:
Oysters - pretty darn amazing! briny, fresh n delicious. Didn't care much for the mignonette tho~
Dim Sum - meh... pretty pedestrian
Salmon Sashimi - delicious!
Lobster flat bread - amazing! large chunks of succulent lobster, avocado on a crispy flat bread. yummm...
Tuna Poke - not good. bland with soggy taro chips
Ribs - There is no grill flavour on the ribs at all. It was more like braised short ribs with soft tender fall-off-the-bone meat. Very good
Service was disappointing. There were a lot of servers & busboys working but I felt like we were constantly searching for someone to help us. It took forever for someone to grab our orders, even longer to bring our drinks. When we needed more drinks, it takes another 10 minutes for someone to get to us eventhough we got the usual "Be right with you".
I guess with enough oysters and alcohol, most could ignore the crap service... -
Review from Cyndi H.
Vancouver, BC
2/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was a warm Saturday night and my sister, Ainsley D and I went for a evening walk in Yaletown. We were dressed in our most casual of duds (anything short of heels and chic clothes feels out of place here) when Ainsley decided that we needed a drink. He needed a Guinness and he needed it now!
Well since my dear friend rarely craves Guinness so we decided we should get on this, expecting that he'd want to go to the brewpub or the like. Instead, he insisted that we go to Goldfish. Whoa. At first we protested, I mean I love it there, but I'd prefer to go when I don't look like a contestant on What Not To Wear. He insisted (huge fan) so we sheepishly obliged.
Upon entering, I truly expected to get some kind of strange look from the hosts for looking so... you know...under-dressed.
They greeted us warmly as if we were royalty.
I felt confused, I mean, the restaurant was packed--and I do mean packed--with sexy people dressed to the nines. We three ghetto superstars (minus the stardom) rolled up to the bar and enjoyed a drink. Though we were bringing down the cool-factor by 800% they treated us like any other valued guest. I was impressed.
Yaletown, sometimes you make me feel like you're not just for the yuppies...and I dig that. Thank you for letting this little East Van girl feel at home : ) -
Review from Justinne R.
Richmond, BC
12/29/2011
My situation:
It was a very important evening as it was the 5th annual Christmas play/dinner with my beau. We'd decided to go with Goldfish Seafood from the Vancouver Playhouse's DINING PERKS list. Goldfish has always looked so cozy from the outside, so I convinced my boyfriend that this is a Goldfish opportunity presenting itself.
Ambience:
We arrived at Goldfish after having a fabulous time at "La Cage Aux Folles" at the Playhouse. It was around 10:45 pm when we arrived, and from the moment we stepped in, the restaurant was vibrating with energy. The crowd was full of people in their 20s, accompanied by a live DJ. It was a very loud place that my boyfriend made a comment that he felt like we were in a club. It was a very loungey atmosphere, and we were seated in the midst of it all! We definitely wanted a more intimate night, where other diners could see us much, so we had requested for a booth. The friendly Jason Segel-uesque server had gladly ushered us to a huuuuuge booth meant for a party of 6+. This was pretty much the only problem we'd encountered since the booth was so big, the servers were having a hard time placing our plates in front of us. Nevertheless, I thought that was really accommodating of them to have granted my request on a busy-ish night, filled with pals having their Christmas dinner. Already, my experience with their service was looking up.
Food:
The Playhouse DINING PERK from Goldfish consisted of a 3-course menu. It was $28 for appies, main, and dessert. I ordered the Roasted Butternut Squash soup, which was creamy and tasty. My boyfriend had the Local Greens Anti-Oxidant salad, which he liked fine.
As for the main course, I had the Braised Beef Macaroni (mushrooms, cauliflower, cream, truffle oil) which was amazing! The portion was quite big, and the meat was very tender. It was very filling that I only had half, and had to take the rest home. But then again, I don't really eat thaaaat much and rarely finish my plate at restaurants. My boyfriend had the Short Ribs and Mash (braised beef, cashew brittle, radish, scallions, mashed potato). I thought that the presentation was neat. He thought that the portions were quite small, yet when he finished his meal, he felt that it was alright after all (he wasn't super full, nor was he still hungry--it was just perfect).
Finally, we were served the Chocolate Lava Cake. This was really filling (or perhaps savouring the meat previously had caused us to feel fuller?), and very delicious. I wish I wasn't so full so I could've enjoyed it more. Anything chocolate is a winner for me!
Service:
The service was excellent! From making my reservations, the Twitter shout-out, the cooks' work, the happy servers (though it was a late dinner already!)...I felt like the whole Goldfish team worked well together!
Overall Experience:
I (insert intensifier here) enjoyed my evening! The play was spectacular, and the dining experience was awesome. The music wasn't too loud in the booth anymore, so my boyfriend and I were able to hear each other. The value was great for the food we had, and the service was wonderful. I definitely recommend Goldfish! Also, you can use the DINING PERK option until May 5th, even before or after your Playhouse date, just present your ticket.
Gold star for Goldfish! -
Review from Jacqueline T.
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
The two star rating is what I give Goldfish for their Taste of Yaletown menu. 1 star is for their Calamari, and Short Rib. 2nd star for the ambience of the entire restaurant.
I came here with a lot of friends, and we ordered everything there is to serve on the menu. And here is my review on their 3 course:
- Appies: Salad was a salad, fair enough. Clam Chowder: very bland, almost a watered down creamy stew, with almost no clams. Calamari was actuall decent, but it did not come out piping hot nor cripsy. Was luke warm, but was still uniquely delicious. Almost like they defried it in McDonalds deep frier.
- Entrees: Their Pasta was a Bouillabaisse. I don't think the wide noodles went very well with the seafood stew. Taste was also very bland. It was like eating pasta with flavorless soup. Only perk is that they had quite a bit of seafood in it, but they didn't filter out for dead clams. Friend had quite a bit of dead closed clams. SOo much, that he wanted to try one.. so forcingly opened a dead clam, and have a whole bunch of sand poured into his dish. The only flavorful entree was the short rib and mash. Tender and tasty, but downside that it wasn't the best cut. Full of tendons? or bits of too gammy muscle that was unchewable.
-Dessert: Cremebrulee was nothing notably different or delicous. The lava cake, was mostly lava goey liquid with no cake... or more like chocolate syrup. Apple tart was not too shabby, but I've had better elsewhere.
Atmosphere: Beautiful! Love the lightings, seating and planteries. Definitely a more classier joint in the heart of yaletown.
Service: Friendly
Ice Tea: Is not refillable? Had to pay almost $4 for each glass.
Would come back to try other things that aren't on the taste of yaletown. And definitely won't be ordering more Iced Tea. I definitely hope that their taste of yaletown menu, is NOT their cover of what Goldfish can truly dish. I expect better. -
Review from Melody M.
5/23/2011
I have loved Goldfish years ago, and I still love going to this place.
Came here for a b-day dinner party. The tables were spacious and super comfy. Lots of room so you don't seem pack or hear anyone else's conversation. Everyone is dressed up.
The appetizer that arrived is not bread but ahi tuna. All the dishes were elegantly presented as works of art. I had the sablefish which was done to perfection and my friends had the cod,and ahi tuna. The cheescake and lava dessert were light but yummmy. They offer a variety of wines and cocktails. I liked the sparkling cocktail Hello Kitty and the passionfruit mojito. Price ranges from $31 to $51. -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
10/15/2010
Your typical Yaletown hotspot where you can always expect exceptional service, yuppies, a decent meal and a fine glass of BC wine.
Taste of Yaletown is on right now until Oct 31st - 3 courses for $35. Last night was my first time here for dinner. They have a great selection of seafood. I tried the Tuna Poke, King Crab Tempura (recommended), Lois Lake Steelhead Salmon with a white BC Pinot Gris, and Chocolate Lava Cake.
I was with a friend with lactose allergies. Our server was knowledgeable and made helpful recommendations to my friend.
As always, a great experience with a satisfying meal. -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Another wonderful experience that may force me to partially revise my opinion that Yaletown hotspots should be avoided because they are too cool for basic things like servers, or service.
This is an ultra-hip Asian fusion restaurant that specializes in seafood, and after trying the miso sablefish, I was thoroughly impressed. The fish was melt-in-your-mouth tender and had incredible flavour. Seriously one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. The baby bok choy that came with was also fantastic.
The other two highlights were the wine (a very lengthy list of great wines) and the service. Our server was the consummate professional, able to recommend wines that complemented our food, but was still friendly and relatable enough to talk to us about traveling. The manager was also very friendly and stopped by for a brief chat. Overall I would definitely come back again for dinner, especially because there were several things on the menu that I wanted to try. -
Review from Torstors D.
4/29/2011
Our concierge recommended this place to us, and boy did it not disappoint. Besides how great the food was, honestly the service was some of the best I've ever experienced. Our waiter was so prompt and attentive...it was incredible. To eat, we had the short ribs (a must have...so tasty), lobster spring rolls (a must have), taro chips with cilantro hummus (good), duck confit rillette (excellent), and tuna poke (good, but not amazing). Our group wasn't starving, so that's where our ordering stopped, but so many other things looked great on the menu that I wish we had ordered too!
During our stay in Vancouver, we heard both good and bad things about the restaurant including the pretentious crowd the place attracts. All in all, I found it to be a good restaurant. The vibe there is trendy, so expect a scene and most of the locals there I think are only there to BE seen. With our party being a bunch of tourists, we could care less. -
Review from Chad G.
BC
11/21/2011
Food and service is great. I have never been disappointed by a visit yet. Would highly recommend it!
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Review from Megan S.
1/13/2009
The service is great here. The wait staff is always able to help with recommendations or offer great descriptions when I tell them I can't choose between two items. I've never been disappointed.
My water glass is constantly refilled, in a discrete quick manner. You know how sometimes you go to a restaurant and the water refill causes the whole conversation to stop? You hand them your glass, you wait, you thank them. Here it just happens, and I barely notice. The staff has always been observant and they move quickly to make you happy.
For meals I've had a stir fried beef plate before and maple chicken. Both were wonderful, and I had enough to bring some home. -
Review from Katie F.
3/1/2010
Came here for the post-gold men's Olympic hockey celebration and it was one of the few places I could get a reservation at the last minute for a group of 8. Great decor and vibe.
However, the food was BLAND. That was really what killed it for me... I had one of the salads to start - romaine was nice and crisp, but the dressing lacked in flavor and they used the most odd tasting bacon I've had in awhile.
I also sampled the calamari which was so-so. I then tried the duck spring rolls... sounded great in theory, but again, NO taste! How is that even possible when you use duck?
My main was the wasabi pea crusted seared albacore tuna - this is normally one of my favorite dishes, but the tuna lacked in texture and considering the supposed crusting of wasabi peas, it was tasteless. On the plus side, the server did ask what I thought of it and said he would pass it onto the chef.
Hubby had the tenderloin stir-fry - generally quite tasty, but I think they were cheaping out on the meat cuts/didn't cut it well as there was a few pieces with gristle :(.
Sides were average but hubby really enjoyed the fries.
The service was quite good - we had some issues with our wine service and as a result, the manager offered the group of us a complimentary dessert platter - lychees, white chocolate creme brule, chocolate/coffee cheesecake and deep fried bananas. Overall quite a tasty dessert platter.
Unfortunately, the quality of the food is what matters to me... prices as a whole are average here for Yaletown ($10-15 appys, $25-$35 mains, $10 sides) but definitely NOT worth the money... LOL, maybe that's why I could get a table on short notice since my usual faves were booked up!
This is a weak spot of the Glowbal family - I definitely wouldn't take a foodie here! -
Review from Fulgencio M.
1/2/2010
It was a cold, Friday night in Vancouver, and I decided to put on my best v-neck and venture out into the restaurant scene. I was supposed to meet my Venezuelan pyschic, Iberiana, for dinner. I was long overdue for a tarot reading and my matchmaker Hadassah had "not" been doing the best job of finding me a Jewish husband.
I wandered into Goldfish and was placed at a little round table in the middle of the restaurant. As I waited patiently for Iberiana (psychics are always late), I did the unthinkable: ordered food.
"Oh my God" was the first word out of my mouth when my crispy tofu arrived alongside some glass of red. Was it wine? Vodka? Manischewitz? I don't know, but it was red and at least 13% alcohol by volume, so I drank it.
The crispy tofu was in fact crispy. Crisp-ily delicious, too. The inside was a bit tender, but satisfying. For my entrée I ordered the sablefish with a side of jasmine rice. Since Princess Jasmine is one of my fave Disney celebrities, I just had to order her brand of rice.
After tofu and two drinks, while waiting for my entrée (and my psychic), I noticed that the whole back part of the restaurant was being occupied by a party. And... I was not invited! How this happened, I don't know. But my mouth was watering as I looked at the serving table full of open bottles.
Forget about the delicious sablefish with its gentle hints of coconut, coupled with Princess Jasmine's rice; the rest of my night became about party-crashing the liquor stand. I even flirted back with our server, who had been hitting on me since the moment I sat down. Unfortunately when I was about two flirtatious smiles away from free dranks for the rest of the night, Iberiana showed up and scared him away with all her Mardi Gras beads and her crystal ball.
Since I was depressed and Iberiana is always hungry, the two of us ordered the banana spring rolls for dessert. And I adored it! And hEllO, when I actually eat and like a dessert, you know it must be good. Because I never eat. Especially not desserts.
Goldfish is a cute place, but don't try to crash a private party. Instead, enjoy its cool vibe, its youthful serving staff, its modern décor, and those--mmm--those banana spring rolls. LoVe it!
This has been a Review by Fulgencio -
Review from Barry M.
9/30/2009
Trendy decor, I have to give it a low 3 stars for:
Server roulette - no thanks we don't want another drink, 2 of you friends just asked us in the last 5 minutes
Overpriced - expecting you to get a couple sides with the entrees... this isn't a steakhouse??
My bbq pork entre was like 1/3 fat. I know fat gives taste which I will eat in small bits but I clearly had a bad piece compared to my friend whose I didn't see any on.
Portion size.. Entree + 1/2 a side + appetizer and I was still hungry... though it could have been I cut off the fatty bits and didn't eat them... -
Review from Mike P.
5/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
My wife and I visited here for dineout and really enjoyed it. I guess dineout sort of implies you're getting some sort of deal, the staff admitted that they scaled back on the portions slightly to accomodate the dine out discounted price, knowing this we shared a salad and this was the perfect amount of food.
To start we had extremely delicious oysters.
The surf and turf (which i sampled from my wife's plate) was delicious, the veal perfectly prepared.
I ordered the sabelfish, which was easily the best version of this dish I had ever tasted.
Dessert was amazing, some sort of apple chocolate cake with gelato, so good that i could've had a second helping.
The service was perfect from start to finish, which will bring me back here again for sure.
The price was more than our average night out, but the combo of great service and yummy food is sometimes a hard thing to find in my neighbourhood, so there will definitely be occasions that call for a return trip to goldfish. -
Review from Norm F.
West Vancouver, BC
10/9/2011
Went there last night for the first time with my wife before the Lions game. We really liked the ambiance. The salads and seafood were excellent. Service from the front desk to the servers were top notch. Will definitely go back.
-
Review from Janice F.
12/8/2008
The setup at Goldfish is great - plush booths, nice bar with flat screen TV's, a mini lounge area, a more general dining area - a nice patio in the back and very important looking VIP room. This place is good for just about any occasion you can think of... except for having a good quality meal. Can't win em all, I guess?
"Lemongrass scented fries with ginger aioli" - good in theory, not so much in execution. The fries were overcrisped and definitely not lemongrass scented. The ginger aioli was best left untouched - it smelled and tasted rancid. A bland steamed sablefish was not worthy of it's $28 price tag. Not much luck with the dessert there either, a maple syrup cheesecake was mushy and overly sweet (I know, it's supposed to be - maple syrup, right? There's still such a thing as subtlety) And the chocolate souffle cake is borderline false advertising - simply serving chocolate cake in a souffle ramekin does not a souffle make.
I really do like the room itself though - it certainly ups the coolness quotient of Vancouver, service is efficient as well.. maybe i'll go back one of these days for their happy hour. -
Review from Vincci L.
4/21/2010 3 photos
A cool concept that is now taken over by other places with cooler concepts. I remember when we first came here in Summer of 2008, when it was freshly opened. Everything was so new back then-a modern interior, and large bar, and a large patio in the back, that has well designed furniture.
Within a couple of years, other restaurants caught on, and there are more of these 'hip' Yaletown hangouts. I did use to come here quite often, and then I started to resort to other places too.
Had some special dinners here-NYE, mom's birthday, and they were both great. We have always gotten great service.
Highlights of this place:
Their patio is really sweet. Comfy lounge chairs, within a little garden. Their bar looks amazing! A large slab of marble serves as the backdrop, and I am in awe every time.
Food is consistent, and their menu has a blend of Asian inspiration.
Recommendations:
1)WOK TOSSED TEMPURA SQUID crispy garlic, fresh scallions, thai bird chiles
2)HOISIN SAKE GLAZED SABLEFISH caramelized onion & black bean tapanade, coconut jus
3)BACON FRIED RICE scallions, garlic, organic quail eggs-this is a side dish, but add it!! It's delicious!
4)LEMONGRASS BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS hoisin glaze, 5-spice roasted peanuts. A nice hint of the lemongrass makes this dish unique.
5)For dessert, try the Warm Banana Spring Rolls- cashew butter, caramel sauce, and lychee mint salad. I like banana in any dessert!
They also have lots of different drinks. "Refreshments" are non alcoholic iced drinks. My favourite is the ginger lemonade. Cocktail list is also great,and of course, my favourite is the Hello Kitty drink-lychee & strawberry liqueurs, champagne! -
Review from Yoony P.
5/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Jasmine infused creme brulee? I'm in heaven!
From the first steps into the restaurant being asked if we would like a booth or a table to being served the large salad on our side plates, Goldfish has their attention to detail down pat. I was especially impressed with how our plates for each course were not cleared until both hubs (who can eat at lightning speed) and I (who eats at a snail's pace) were finished. Not enough restaurants do this these days!
The dineout menu we chose consisted of premium oysters on a half shell (fresh and delicious!), sablefish (tender and perfectly cooked), braised veal with grilled shrimp (swoon!), mustard greens (the slivers of snow peas and ginger were a really nice touch), creme brulee (jasmine infused), and an apple tart (which looked more like a dense chocolate cake!) I ate the salad with my chopsticks, but ate the rest of the meal with a fork and knife. For someone who prefers to eat her spaghetti with chopsticks and kimchi, I loved being able to have the choice.
Hubs drank beer and I ordered the recommended Inniskillen Pinot Noir off the Dine Out Menu. I noticed that it was 75 cents cheaper on the Dine Out Menu than the actual wine list so I thought that it was on special because of Dine out. When we got the bill later we were charged the regular wine list price. I didn't want to make a scene over a buck fitty (downed two glasses) so I didn't bother to ask, but I am quite certain if I did they would have rectified the bill immediately.
I'd like to add as an aside that almost everyone in the restaurant was in a suit or dressy clothing while hubs sat with his jeans and me in my boho chic tres casual wear, but we were still treated well.
I'm one of those people who didn't think much of Yaletown locales. The restaurants to me seemed all fluff and no stuff but Goldfish Pacific Kitchen is turning me into a believer that Yaletown is more than just yuppy hoity toity-ness.
Next time I'll be there with my Traveller's Deck coupon! Perhaps I'll even dress up for the occasion too. -
Review from Kevin G.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
Saw this place featured on TV - well presented, modern seafood - why not give it a try! Took up the option of valet parking which is probably a good idea. First impression was good, nice, light, modern, sophisticated, feel to the place. But then brought right down to earth! This is not a cheap restaurant so I expect everything to be of a high standard. I did not expect to be seated next to a table of guys just off a building site, in hoodies, overcoats (why?) and baseball caps. Fine for a local cafe or bar, not for a place like this. A closer look around also made me realise why this place is sometimes thought of as a 'tarted-up' chinese restaurant. Again not too impressive for the cost.
Then things improved, the service was excellent, friendly and not too intrusive. The best thing was the food, well presented squid starter (although I over-dosed on the jalapeño sauce) and excellent halibut main. Side orders are not needed with the portions given. Finally another downer, waiting for our valet parked car, had to stand amongst a cloud of smokers outside the restaurant.
Overall, a fine restaurant. The owners should get rid of those tacky, big, round, chinese restaurant tables - the menu isn't designed for them. Also, enforce a dress code and stop smokers congregating just outside the entrance. I would go again, but probably book a table later than 8pm. -
Review from omar p.
12/1/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Vancouver, or sometimes referred to as hong kouver, has a strong Asian fusion theme running in a variety of establishments. Pacific rim style is the mantra of Goldfish, a lively modern establishment in the middle of the trendy Yaletown area.
With dimlit interior, dark modern furniture and a wall of lighted tapestries, the seductive and clean environment offers both open table and large alcove booth style dining experiences.
Modeled after some interiors of the east and west, the gracious hostess and animated crowds is sure bound to the appetite going.
The beef papaya salad was shredded papaya, carrots and slices of beef, mixed in a peanut lime sauce to offer a crisp and refresher starter. The short rib starter was a healthy portion sized dish, slow braised with slivers of red pepper and scallions. The grassfed bison was a meaty selection, thinly sliced to medium rare perfection, served with a potatoe base, asparagus and porcini sauce, an extra order of wild mushrooms made the Earthy flavors come out...fantastic!
The sauteed wild mushrooms, straw hat, chanterelle, crimini and Shitake, woody aromas with green chives .. Phenomenal. The roasted beets with anise were to die for... A wonderful balance of tart and sweet:
For dessert, a chocolate lava cake... Rich dark chocolate and moist center, some gelato vanilla bean and cookie to add flavor:
Pacific rim influenced entrees, fabulous and delicious.. -
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
9/30/2009
Waiter: "What would you like to drink?"
Me: "I think we're good with water."
W: "Great... Shall I bring out sparkling or still?"
M: "Ummmm... still?"
Wow! Did I just pay almost $10 for a bottle of water? It's asked in such a way that you almost don't even realize it!
Nonetheless - I am a fan of this place... If you have the money to spend, I definitely recommend! And don't be fooled by the name, "Goldfish", because they have more than seafood going on here (although seafood is their specialty)...
I ordered the coconut curry veggies and was not disappointed! The quality was fabulous and let's just say the quantity lasted me a brown bagged lunch the next day.
And if wine tickles your fancy - be sure to check out their wine list! There are some fabulous picks that are great if you're grabbing a drink after work. -
Review from Anne W.
Vancouver, BC
4/26/2010
We went to Goldfish for a wedding last weekend. The food was amazing, the private room rocked and the service was friendly and attentive. Oh. And I got hammered.
The wedding ceremony took place in the covered portion of the patio which was very nice. Would have been better, in retrospect, to have covered the back window which revealed curious towel wrapped spa patrons but it did add a nice touch of levity to the occasion.
The private room that housed the reception had everything we needed - a separate entrance for the smokers among us to duck out for a quick one as well as our own bathrooms.
Our servers kept our wine glasses full as they carried in tray after tray of delicious foods, served family style. Oysters on the half shell, perfectly cooked scallops, lobster ravioli, amazingly tender short ribs and plump, succulent squid were just a few of the offerings. We ate up until we were all bursting with food and drink.
A nice touch, the wedding package included a cake which was just big enough for our small gathering.
If you're thinking of putting together a small wedding and are looking for a venue, you might want to take a look. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
5/29/2010 3 photos
Came here with my ladies from work for Dine Out Vancouver because we all wanted to try Goldfish. At the $38 price point, the menu looked good enough and I was willing to give this place a shot.
When we walked in at 5pm, the place was pretty empty, but we were super early. The decor was nice. There are large booths on the side with very cool wall / ceiling fixtures. You can easily mistaken where the front door is and walk into their private dining room which is next door.
Their drink menu is extensive, with lots of creative names and ingredients. The server was patient while I made up my mind and provided his expertise on what was good and what to avoid.
The one thing that I didn't like about the menu was that there were no vegetarian options. I'm not a vegetarian, but if any of my friends were, or if I wanted a more veggie dish, it was not available and no substitutions were allowed.
I got the shortrib as the starter, sablefish for the main, and the "apple" cake for dessert.
The shortrib was absolutely delicious - 5 stars right off the bat. The meat was so tender and juicy and I wish I was eating it for my main dish. The dishes, however, seemed inconsistent as my friend's dish had a bone, while mine didn't - I wouldn't have wanted hers.. she would've gotten less meat! I heard the dumplings were over friend and not recommended.
The sable fish for the main course was very tasty... cooked different that I've had before as I felt that the skin was a little crispy. not a bad thing at all.. just different. I liked the shortrib just a little more. It came with two small strands of what seemed to be a chinese vegetable, and a small speckle of black bean.
For dessert.. i was so excited about my apple dessert with vanilla gelato... i had high high hopes... and then the plate comes.... the cake looks like a lump of coal. no joke. I am looking at it in confusion... so are my ladies...... finally I took a bite..... something tasted awfully odd. it tasted like CHOCOLATE... oh that is why the cake was brown! I thought it was the lighting of the restaurant that made it look so dark.
.. but I didn't order Chocolate cake with apples, which by the way didn't seem to exist. I might have gotten a tiny piece. but no where did the menu state that the cake contained chocolate. the gelato was delish, but the cake, i'm sorry was not good. I would have opted for the creme brulee knowing this fact.
so halfway through the dinner, the owner / manager was clearly en route to walk out of the restaurant.. for whatever reason. But while doing so.. he sees our table and changes his mind (kind of)... He pauses quickly and asks if anything was good. His manner was rude and did not seem to care because as soon we answered, he kept walking. He had not planned to stop and did so out of convenience. If we had said something was wrong, he would not have even noticed. I would have much rather him not have stopped because it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Maybe I got my hopes up, but I had expected more of this place. Maybe I'll stop in for happy hour, but don't think I'll be dropping by any time soon. This was the first restaurant I wanted to try two years ago when I first moved to Vancouver.. wish it was something else. -
Review from Allison F.
2/22/2010
I came here as a client for a post-olympic hockey game and was thoroughly impressed! We had a very attentive wait staff and were frequently entertained by conga lines of the Netherlands and Holland teams. Sure the prices are mid-high, but this is Yaletown and should be expected.
We had the gyozas, duck spring rolls, and fried tofu to start and all were delicious! The gyozas had the perfect amount of ginger and I could have eaten the fried tofu all night. There wasn't very much duck in the spring rolls but overall they were very good, especially after wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a piece of mint.
For dinner, I had the halibut cheeks and salmon. The curry sauce was fabulous and both pieces of fish were perfectly cooked. The orange fennel salad gave both texture and a bit of relief from the slight heat of the curry. I had the green beans as a side and there were nicely still crisp and the sauce was very good.
For dessert, I had the raspberry and peach cobbler and it was not a delicious end to the meal. The topping was like cake batter and it was extremely undercooked. The side of passion fruit sorbet was the best part of the plate. -
Review from Steven V.
Surrey, BC
2/18/2010
I went here recently and was very impressed with the restaurant, the atmosphere is very trendy and funky and the wine list is also very good. I had Wok Beef and shared a couple of plates of grilled green beans and rice and was very happy with the food.
It is a little pricey for what you get but I really enjoyed it and would go back when I wanted to try something different. -
Review from Stephen B.
2/19/2009
Went to the Yaletown brewery across the st. prior to coming here. Left the brewery somewhat disappointed by what I thought was mediocre beer and good but not filling pizza. I'm a beer snob, you're a brewery, you didn't do anything special, blah.
But knowing I had a long drive back to Seattle ahead of me, I wanted to not be hungry when I got home. We poked our heads in during their food "happy hour". First of all, the decor inside is awesome, beautiful setup, fun looking place. The service was top notch, especially for just two happy hour diners who clearly had no intention of ordering a 20 dollar entree at any point.
The food was spectacular. And cheap. Like really cheap. 4 dollars for the best Tuna Tartare I've had(We ordered it twice). Great pork shoulder slider. Good fresh Oysters.
Yummy food that was superbly priced in a great atmosphere. Goldfish, you win.
