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Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Steakhouses Seafood, Steakhouses [Edit]
777 Thurlow StVancouver, BC V6E 3V5
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 669-1940
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
114 reviews for Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
Review Highlights
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"The food is delicious, especially the oysters." In 29 reviews -
"WOW, we LOVED the lobster oil." In 5 reviews -
"The wine list is pretty impressive as well." In 6 reviews
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114 reviews in English
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Review from Andrea R.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2012
Went here with a group (7) for lunch today and all the food was really good. I actually wasn't that hungry so I just went with a caesar with chicken (no complaints). However, others food at the table looked amaaaazeballs.
Side order of seared scallops: massive. 3 massive scallops, and apparently extremely tastey.
Good value: the seafood caesar salad: WOW! It was a full caesar with the usual suspects (romaine, parmesan, focaccia croutons, lemon) but with a kick-ass seafood selection: it was like 4 mussels, 4 clams, 3 jumbo prawns AND a honkin' piece of salmon. Honestly the salmon alone was the same size you would get with a general "caesar add salmon", but you get so much for!
Fish tacos: there are like 4 or 5, big meal!
Chopped salad: they make it right at your table which is pretty awesome, and with 2 dressings - a blue cheese and a vinegrette!
Heirloom tomato salad: probably the only disappointment. It's $15 and it's basically 1 chopped up tomato and some mozzarella, needs a bit more substance (even if it is more tomato!)
Great perk: you get fresh bread and this super awesome lobster-infused oil which is de0freaking-licious. Tastes like lobster and is just oh-so-good.
Other than that, the decor, atmosphere, etc. wasn't super impressive to me, seemed chain-like (think Earls, Joeys etc, but brighter colours, ex. white instead of their dark woods/blacks). -
Review from Marcella D.
5/24/2012
On business in Vancouver in April, a colleague wanted to do Joe Forte's, which was highly recommended by the hotel. Reservations were made, and we arrived about 7 pm. It was very busy, but we were seated immediately. Although the decor was nice, it was VERY loud, so much so we had trouble talking to one another, and hearing our waitress.
Although the food was good, I found my fish portion small. My colleague had the King Crab legs, which were very nice, but the price was appalling.
Frankly, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure there are other seafood restaurants in Vancouver with food just as good, for a lot less money. -
Review from Niko N.
5/22/2012
After a long day trip and back from visiting Victoria Island we were looking forward to a nice relaxing dinner. Walked in at 4pm on a Friday and they informed us it would be about an hour wait. No biggie as we weren't hungry yet and wanted to do a little shopping so they gave us a buzzer and we went on our merry way.
Came back an hour later and they said they were getting our table ready and it would just be a few minutes. During our short wait we noticed a variety of patrons leaving & entering the restaurant. At first we felt waaaay under dressed wearing only jeans & t-shirts since there were people wearing cocktail dresses or slacks & dress shirts. Then lo and behold, a second later we saw people wearing shorts and a baseball cap. Definitely a mixed crowd here.
We noticed immediately that the restaurant was very busy and very noisy as we were seated on the upper floor. Nice view of the restaurant, live piano music was a nice touch, but then comes the food & service.
Ordered: whole lobster, side of jumbo seared scallops, ribeye, glass of wine, and a side of mushrooms.
I kid you not, it took them about 1.5hrs to bring out our food. By then we were starving and were downing their complimentary bread like it was the best thing on earth. We noticed that it was taking just as long for other tables to get their food as well.
My lobster was semi-warm when it came and I could tell that it probably would have been delicious if it was brought to us in a timely manner. Husband was not a fan of the ribeye, but the mushrooms were good. Half an hour goes by and the waitress finally checks in to see how things are going. I ask her if they are bringing my scallops and she suddenly realizes that they were never brought up. She comes back 15 minutes later to tell me that they forgot the scallops and it would probably take another 30 minutes for them to prepare it. At that point we decided to just cancel the order as we'd been there for almost 2.5hrs at this point. Our waitress was very nice, but completely busy and overwhelmed. At these prices, the service needs to be waaay better.
Restaurant seems to have an identity crisis as it tries to vacillate between wanting to be a nice romantic restaurant and a happening bar type atmosphere.
Sadly, poor execution of food & service IMHO. -
Review from Rick C.
We returned to Joe Fortes for quick yet fancy Saturday night dinner to enjoy the warm summer's evening.
We started off with a few oysters to celebrate the approaching sunny season before sharing a few seafood dishes. The giant scallops were quite delicious as the main affair. The pot of mussels were deep and great. The plentiful seafood went down nicely with the zingy sauce.
Dennis ordered the deep-fried pickles and it's exactly what you'd expect. Not bad. I hate pickles and found them pretty decent.
I still think Joe Fortes is the standard when it comes to upscale western dining downtown particularly the seafood options. It's hard to compare the overall experience for this Vancouver landmark.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/3/2011
Sophia and I ducked into our favourite upscale seafood eatery and steakhouse for some deliciously,… Read more »
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Review from Joshua N.
3/26/2012
The quality of the food here is good, but the prices are inflated. I had the lobster macaroni and cheese, and it was excellent, but it cost $36. Also, my drink cost $15, and when I did the math later that evening, that comes to a 600% markup (I generally expect a 3x markup on alcohol, but 6x is just way too much).
There was a live piano player, which is pretty cool so I give bonus points for that. On the other hand, the restaurant interior is looking a little tired and could probably use a makeover. So it balances out. -
Review from Henry B.
Vancouver, BC
JF is named after the prominent local legend, Seraphim "Joe" Fortes. A Vancouverite whom served this city as a bartender and was named our first official lifeguard back in the late 1800's. The restaurant emulates his warm and welcoming nature through their consistant service and great food. And if you are an aphrodisiac addict, JF has a reputation of having the best oyster bar in Vancouver.
JF has an excellent lunch and brunch menu. Make sure to check out their blue plate specials ($9.95) on weekdays with a different entree each day. For extra $9, you can add an appy (New England clam chowder or mixed greens) or a dessert (vanilla creme brulee or gelato).
We ended up going for brunch, smoked salmon benedict with chive dill hollandaise ($14.95) and the 7 oz New York steak and eggs with garlic baguette, hash browns, béarnaise sauce ($22.95). Started off with wheat scone, nice touch. And next the mimosas, got to get my brunch buzz! The smoked salmon benedict was excellent as the hollandaise sauce complimented it very well; eggs were cooked perfectly. Loved it! Although, the potatoes could had used a little more seasoning. Only a minor detail that could be amended by some grounded pepper and salt. The NY steak was also done well, nice job JF.
The service was outstanding, The waiter was very knowledgeable and not intrusive at all. He was quite a character and I think he is a regular there.
Overall, this classic seafood and chop house is very consistent in their food and service. It's a solid 4 stars! -
Review from Dee B.
3/10/2012 3 Check-ins Here
If there are oysters, count me in!
6 of my colleagues and I headed over to JF after work on a Thursday evening for a few seafood towers. Always a fun experience - we do this often.
Giant prawns, crab legs, lobster, mussels, clams, smoked salmon, scallop ceviche, cocktail sauce, dill aoili, lemon, tobasco, and of course, OYSTERS! ($59 per layer)
On this recent adventure to JF, Frenchie, or as I like to call him, Joe French (the maitre-de) sent over some delicious smoked salmon and creme fresh starters for us on the house. Of course, yum yum.
Oh and Tom Selleck's doppleganger made an appearance in the lounge. He was very nice and put up with our picture taking, gawking and flirting -
Review from Jacob K.
3/19/2012
I have eaten here three times in the last few 5 months, and this is my first review. Not because the first two times were not review-worthy, rather I was forgetful.
I partook in the duo of fish for lunch the other day - a nice ling cod and steelhead trout. Very different fish - different texture and taste - so it gives a nice balance. Kudos to the chef for pairing them up.
In lieu of potatoes I had more vegetables, all of which were nicely prepared, very colourful and crisp. There was a nicely pureed squash, rich with the beurre blanc sauce, which provides a nice little oomph to the veggies.
No comment on the dessert only because this time I did not have any. I will next time.
I love the formality of Joe Fortes, with the white serving jackets for the staff. It brings a real throw back. -
Review from Tracy P.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2012
We chanced walking in and hopefully getting a table. Thankfully, we called ahead and they told us they always set aside some seats for walkins, so we got there around 7 and were seated by 7:15. Pretty decent.
Decor:
It's huge, and consistently decorated, so it has a very "Keg" feel to it. The live pianist is a lovely touch; however, with the game going on in the background on a variety of TVs around, and the loud din of all the other patrons, I got this distinct weird feeling of being in a pub AND an upscale restaurant at the same time. Slightly annoying.
Service:
Our server was very funny and personable. No troubles with him at all. I was a bit dismayed that he took a little longer to greet us and take our drink orders. On that note, we ordered the $120 seafood platter, and it took a fairly long time to get to us.
Food:
Loved the pomp and circumstance of the platter presentation. Big elevated tray, butter, gently warming over a candle. Also loved the lobster oil and balsamic with the bread. Bread could have been warm, though.
Overall, it was a decent experience, although it might be nice to visit it on an off-time, to enjoy a quieter meal. -
Review from Derk R.
2/27/2012
I was in town for the evening and looking for some super fresh, amazing seafood. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed. The food was good, sometimes quite good (particularly the oyster selection), but not great. I dined in the bar area, and perhaps the experience is different in the dining room, but it's all about the seafood and I could've gotten salmon that was better-prepared back in Chicago.
Nice wine list, decent decor, but the place feels a little tired. My sockeye salmon was just a bit overcooked, side dishes were good but seemed mass-produced, and the bartender was too busy counting his tips to realize my drink was empty for the second half of my meal. I expected more. -
Review from Andre S.
Vancouver, BC
2/11/2012
The decor strikes you when you come in, with the large anteroom, dark wood trim, fish tank, and mezzanine further in. An air of affluence is conveyed by the piano played for guests, the well-dressed crowd, the waiters in white and several large bottles of champagne.
The menu is expensive and, together with the impressive wine list, suggests a good meal is about to be eaten.
None of this makes the food taste any better.
We had bread and lobster oil brought to our table before the meal. It was surprisingly tasty, but too rich beyond the first few bread dips. That's also when I noticed how loud the place is.
I ordered a New York steak with scalloped potatoes, while my wife had the lobster mac & cheese. At $30, I expected this steak to be tender and juicy, not the fibrous and dry meat I received. The scalloped potatoes were disappointingly bland, not the rich, flavourful dish it is meant to be. On a positive note, the red I ordered (Deja Vu, a California cabernet) was as good as I had hoped.
My wife did better with the lobster pasta: she found it rich and tasty, though the lobster was tough. By my taste, one can do twice as well for half the price with the lobster ravioli at Brioche, for a much more satisfying meal.
And here is the crux of the matter. All of the peripheral things - the decor, ambiance, service, price - ultimately support the dining experience, but they do not make it. At Joe Fortes, I was set up to expect far more than I received. I came out of it disappointed by the A-OK food, when everything else suggested something much grander was to be had. -
Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
3/17/2012
I have been a fan of Joe Fortes since I took my grandmother for lunch their on March 15, 1987, a little over a year after it opened. While it was too pricy to go to too often, it is worth the price and luckily I can afford it a little more now.
It "is a legend" and perhaps that is why Bud Kanke was asking $10 million. Or perhaps that was to cover his losses with Goldfish? I wonder what David Aisenstat really paid?? If I was filthy rich, I would pay that for Joe Fortes and a really good Japanese restaurant just to maintain access to my personal chef.
I trust that Mr. Aisenstat will ensure that this institution continues to survive. -
Review from Andrea L.
Vancouver, BC
2/5/2012
Im kind of glad I only went on a Dine Out Vancouver night.
Why?
1) The service from the guy that originally took our order was not very attentive.
He was trying to sell us a 'chef special' and it felt like an infomercial.
There was a larger table that arrived maybe 10 minutes after us?
It was like he was entertaining them the whole night.
The other few bussers were definitely more attentive and refilled our water and asked if our dinner was alright.
2) My cousin had the salmon, it wasn't fully cooked..he asked if he could heat it up and honestly, we both thought at a place like Joe Fortes, 'heat it up' would have meant a remake. I've worked in the food industry before, if my guest is not happy, I brought them a new one. I'm guessing the chefs popped it in the microwave for a minute to see if the could correct the problem.
3) I had a small flake of her salmon. Choked on a bone.
Creme brulee was oddly warm from the top till the middle, but from there down, it was cold. I've had creme brulee's before and it was clearly a heavy sugar they put on there, did not crust as fast as they had imagined so it altered the temperature of the custard after being torched so long.
I've heard so many great reviews about Joe Fortes, but my experience tonight did not live up to any of it.
Long story short, as much as you may stare awkwardly at me as we left. 10% was way more than what you deserved D, you can't possibly be surprised. -
Review from Lori D.
4/24/2012
Go for the bar menu specials, not for dinner. Our Thursday night dinner service was horrible. The oysters were good but I liked only 1/3 of my fish trio special. We were staying at a hotel right around the corner so we risked a return for an early dinner two nights later, on a Sunday, before an evening meeting. From 4-6 pm drinks aren't on happy hour but the food in the bar is. That time we sat in the bar and had excellent service and were all happy with our food, especially the tower of onion rings.
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Review from Jess M.
Vancouver, BC
2/15/2012
Joe Fortes is by far my favourite restaurant in Vancouver, and they outdid themselves yet again for my birthday dinner last night.
They are on the pricey end for dinner, no doubt there, but when you go for a special occasion it's nice to indulge a little and treat yourself. I made my reservation using Open Table and in the comments section wrote "It's my 27th birthday" since I happen to share my birthday with Valentine's Day, boo. When my Dad, my boyfriend and I arrived and were seated I noticed the header on my menu insert read "Happy 27th Birthday Jess!" Well done team, well done.
Oysters. Kusshi and Kumamoto are my favourite above all else. You can rest assured I indulged in these as an appetizer. My dad had the fried oysters which are lightly battered, unfortunately not my favourite as I prefer the raw, but he really enjoyed them. My boyfriend had the clam chowder, and really enjoyed it as well. For dinner, my dad had the 7oz steak with scalloped potatoes and didn't really talk much until his plate was clear. My boyfriend had the Salmon, his words were "this is some of the best salmon I've ever had" and he eats a lot of salmon. I really enjoyed the pepper Ahi Tuna, wasn't thrilled with the potatoes though but I was still satisfied with the meal. Crème brûlée for dessert was the perfect ending to an absolutely wonderful birthday.
The wait staff I've had experience with at Joe Fortes are friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. They touch their tables as often as they feel fit, if you're looking for an intimate dinner with minor interruptions they're perfect for that. They know the menu and wine lists inside and out and always make stellar recommendations.
I look forward to my next visit with them. -
Review from Ellen L.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dine Out 2012 numero uno!
This is the quick and dirty on Joe: the atmosphere feels American touristy. The food is a-okay, but with the regular menu entrees pushing into $40's, I don't feel the value. I'd rather spend my pretty loonies at other fine dining establishments for better food.
Appetizers:
- Jumbo Prawn Cocktail: 3 massive prawns! Cocktail sauce has a great spicy kick.
- New England Clam Chowder: errr, not so much love. Very bland. Did not taste clam flavour. Bf remarked that he enjoyed Campbell's Chunky more. Yes, from a can.
Mains:
- Wild Sockeye Salmon: these are grilled medium rare unless you specify. Not overcooked and well seasoned. However, compared to the amazing salmon I had at Hawksworth (which btw is cheaper), this isn't a contender.
- New York Steak: delicious! Bf said it's decent, but not the greatest. Though from the few bites I took, I'm willing to put it up there with some of the best steaks I've had.
Desserts:
- Tiramisu: wayyy too sweet for me. I had much better tiramisu at Portobello.
- Chocolate Lava Cake: more reasonable sweetness.
Portions are good. You will not walk away hungry from this Dine Out menu. -
Review from Taylor K.
We came here for a Dine out Vancouver. I was tad bit worried as I heard that sometimes the service is below par during these events. But I didn't need to worry.
The service was great and the food was delicious.
We got an early reservation and when we got there, it wasn't too busy. We got seated downstairs by the bar area.
I like the ambience. It's sort of old school with the high ceiling and the chandeliers. It sort of feels like I could be in a sort of "Mafia" movie especially in the bar area.
My sister and I each ordered the New England Clam chowder and Jumbo Prawn cocktail.
They were both really delicious. The prawn dish had 3 big prawns with a cocktail sauce. And the clam chowder had generous amount of seafood in.
We also got fresh oysters. Yum! I just love raw oysters and we couldn't pass up this opportunity to have some.
We both got the Steak for main entree. Yes, we got steak at a seafood house and they were excellently cooked.
I wasn't as crazy about the dessert. We each got a lava cake and cream brûlée. They were both good but I've had better at other restaurants. It was still a good ending to our dinner. -
Review from yekta a.
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
BEST BEST BEST seafood I've ever had!
You've got to try the rockefeller appetizer, SOOOOOO good! And then the lobster + steak combo are perfect for 2!
Loved how awesome this place was, right in the middle of downtown Vancouver. Perfect date night spot! -
Review from Michael C.
2/17/2012
In all my years I've never had the fortune to visit a restaurant whose service completely goes above and beyond.
The food here is just amazing, it is pricey, but Vancouver is pricey anyway.
I went with my partner and best friend, we had some great food and a great experience.
What really made this experience special was Crystal. If all of the restaurants I've commented on had a Crystal they would have lines out the door. Not only was she great, but a couple of weeks after my visit, I received a thank you card in the mail handwritten by Crystal thanking us for coming. She even remembered certain conversations we'd had and hoped our visit was going well.
I was truly shocked. Thank you Joe Fortes, I'll be back next week :) -
Review from Willy.I.Am M.
5/12/2012
Went there recently and I thought Id share this with you. We called for a reservation for 4 during dinner time, we were flexible with our times. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a reservation but we were told to come in and put our names on the list. So we did that, they said about a 45 min wait....half of our party waited by the bar and had a drink, while the other half took a walk around the block. Gave our names and informed the hostess that we were splitting up and they said that they were fine with that....they didn't give us a buzzer....came back about 30 mins to inquire of our status and was told that they had 2 parties still in front of us on the list, they asked where our buzzer was and I informed them that they didn't give us one. They then gave us a buzzer saying that it would be about another 45 mins-60 mins. We were still eager to stay and wait it out by having a drink by the bar area and grabbing an appetizer in hopes to be seated soon.
We put our names on the list about 8pm and after having a few drinks and some delicious sweet potato fries (they were very tasty) we were seated at about 930 pm-945pm. I do have to comment that the bar service area is very crowded but the service there is quite good and made the waiting experience more pleasant.
We were finally seated, waiter was quite personable(I think his name was John) and was very knowledgeable about the menu and specials etc. We started with some oysters, a trio of 3 kinds....was very delicious....but a bit on the smaller side. We ordered our entrees, we got the pork chop, steak, salmon and another fish dish.
Ive been here a few times before and it didn't take very long to get our entrees. But for some reason this time it took about 45 mins. Our waiter was checking our drinks, any more bread etc. It was about 1030pm and we were contemplating about asking our waiter to see if our entrees have even started yet or not as we were thinking about leaving. About 10 mins later we got our entrees. Our food was very good, we sampled each others dishes and was very pleased. Our waiter made our waiting experience a bit more pleasant as he would come by and chat with us.
We decided to skip the dessert as it was close to 11:30pm now....our waiter started to set up small dessert plates and said "you have one more course to finish"...we were like "huh"?? He provided us a complimentary dessert for the long wait. We never mentioned to him our long wait time....but I'm sure he is keen enough to know we were waiting for a while. The dessert was fantastic sampler of choco cake, tiramisu, ice cream and one more thing I cant remember.
My other prior experiences there was quite good and that's why we came back this time and we had no issues with wait times etc....but this time I do have to comment that our total time spent there was about 3.5hrs. Food is still good, bar service and our waiter were great, prices on the high side but we knew that going in. 2 star given due to our total wait time but I do recommend this place.
Happy eating! -
Review from Sean N.
Vancouver, BC
Joe Fortes has been a Vancouver institution for all of my life. They have a stellar reputation for seafood and amazing service all packed into a beautiful dining space with one of Vancouver best summer rooftop outdoor oasis patio's. I checked it out with my friend Mary and here is our experience:
The room was beautifully decorated for the holidays and Christmas carols played throughout, both of us were really blown away with the beauty of the room, seated in the bar area we treated to a great view of the space.
Seating is plentiful here, tables and banquets make up the bar area, up some step lay some more tables and high back booths line the walls.
The service we received was super friendly and attentive from the moment we walked through the door. After we were presented with our menus we were served with complementary bread with balsamic and house made lobster oil.
For appetizers we chose the New England Clam Chowder, this was actually part of my Blue Plate Special as an add on so I had some but Mary happy enjoyed the rest seeing clams aren't my favourite. From my taste it was good, the bacon was a nice flavor and not too strong, the chowder was creamy and the potato added some nice thickness to the chowder, usually if one of my friends gets clam chowder I love to snack on the oyster crackers.
For another appetizer I went with the Dungeness Crab Cake with basil lemon aioli for $16.95, this was a killer crab cake, it was loaded with Dungeness crab meat and hardly any filler if any.
I really enjoyed the sauce as well, the lemon didn't really come through but the basil did, it complimented the crab cake beautifully. This crab cake was also made with Oceanwise Dungeness crab.
Mary went with some fresh oysters on the half shell, I can't remember what kind they were but shoe enjoyed them with the house made mignonette but they were also served with classic cocktail sauce and fresh horseradish, Mary also got a Vodka Oyster Shooter for $12, it had Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and as she put it~ a nice "meaty" oyster, the vodka came through right away but the flavor of the oyster complimented by the W sauce and Tabasco soon enveloped her mouth~she said that this was very enjoyable.
I was the only one having a main course~Mary had a killer lunch at the new Ensemble Tap before we met up so I was the one doing most of the eating here. The Blue Plate Special is what I chose and today it was Bourbon BBQ Chicken served with asparagus and white rice for $9.99, the special is served till 4PM and is changed daily, the menus is visible online.
The chicken was boneless thighs and the sauce was really flavorful, the meat was super tender and I just had to use my fork to cut it, the plate had 3 nice big pieces of BBQ chicken, the asparagus was OK and the rice was flavorful for white rice. It was a great plate for food and for $9.99 it can't be beat.
I went with a Vanilla Creme Brulee~my Blue plate Special had a $9.99 add on for the soup and a dessert. The top was nicely caramelized and formed a nice layer on top of the brulee, the custard inside was nice and thick and super rich, the vanilla flavor was subtle and not overpowering.
Mary went with the Berry Pavlova that was filled with banana custard, beautiful berry's and sweet meringue encased all these delish treats and for $8.50 it was decently priced.
We had a great meal here and would tell anybody who hasn't been before to make a visit to Joe Fortes for some classic food and impeccable service.
Just a quick note~they DON'T accept Debit cards so you'll be forced to use a 3rd party cash machine~something that surprised us but all major credit cards are accepted and they are closed over the Christmas holidays. -
Review from Herman E.
Updated - 1/5/2012
Another visit.......BUT, I did not get seduced by the fried chicken and succumb to ordering it.
The truffle fries got me today tho. :(
That damned fried chicken will come back and get me, I know it. I resist everything except temptation!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/20/2011
Joe Fortes is another one of my haunts. If there is one thing to order from the menu, it would be… Read more »
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Review from Marge H.
Surrey, BC
Updated - 3/11/2012
We had a brunch reservation at 2pm but we got there early; managed to get a parking space (bonus).
Hayley & Jamie greeted us at the entrance and Hayley assured us that it wasn't a problem for us getting in earlier than our pre booked reservation (yaaay).
Had a table on the lower floor today with me facing the Oyster Bar ... (must not be tempted). Our server came and it was Briana (our last server from my first trip there). She remembered us! She gave us our scone and when we asked for bread (which wasn't offered) she happily served us some.
He ordered Oysters Rockefeller and Lobster & Shrimp Roll (the roll is yuuummmy). I had the Crisp Calamari (omg - melts in your mouth) and the Joe's Classic Seafood Hash (plateful of yumminess).
Our server Brianna was very attentive and efficient and very nice. I would definitely go back; maybe in the summer.
I received a hand written thank you note from Brianna 2 weeks later after our first visit, a very nice touch of service there. Absolutely adore this place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/14/2012
Had my pre Valentine's dinner there tonight. Absolutely lurve their place. Nice ambient; albeit a… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
What can I say, I guess I'm a sucker for a classy joint with great seafood and a dude playing old school piano music. We came here for our office Christmas party. Prior to this visit, I had only been here once, at least 5-6 years ago.
We started with the oysters, which were very tasty. Some of my fellow diners had the jumbo prawns as an appetizer, which also looked wonderful. For my main, I had the miso-glazed sablefish with jasmine rice and baby bok choy. The fish was perfectly cooked and (to throw in an over-used food review phrase) "melted in my mouth". I really loved the flavour the portion amount was perfect. In short, the food overall was very impressive.
The service was extremely prompt, professional and polished. It was even perhaps a tad over-bearing or "old school" compared to what I'm used to (when I asked for directions to the ladies room, I felt like my server was expecting to lead me there by the elbow) but I'm always a happy camper when my water and wine are kept topped up without having to search high and low for our server. I find the decor is also quite old school (some may say "dated"); combined with the piano music, I almost felt like I had been transported back a few decades and should have been wearing a hoop skirt and petticoat. The Christmas decorations were a nice touch, though, and added some festivity to the atmosphere.
Overall, a highly enjoyable experience. -
Review from Jason D.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's hard not to give this place 5 stars but I'll wait until I've revisited before doing so (consistency is key!). We had our Valentines dinner at Joe's this year and despite being seated at a tiny table, the food, drink, service, and atmosphere made the evening a winner. We drank syrah, prosecco and port, and ate oysters, crab, steak and the most delicious Tempura King Crab appetizer - soooo good! Very happy that everything on the menu is Ocean-wise. An amazing dining experience. Just be prepared to pay for it.
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Review from Yvonne P.
Calgary, AB
3/13/2012
Joe Forte's had it all - service, food, ambience. Asked server to bring out a variety of oysters, his pick - all great. Recommendation for wine, beautiful gamay to go with our ling cod. Lively atmosphere, while not so loud so you can't hear yourself. Took lobster oil to go. Will be back again and again.
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Review from Ellie I.
Vancouver, BC
4/2/2012
I love oysters and I love vacations. This place makes me feel like I'm in a different city and the oysters always make me happy. Overall, great consistent food and service. I hope it stays the same under new ownership.
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Review from Ema S.
9/7/2011
What a great place for brunch!! My BF and I were visiting Vancouver for labor day weekend and stubbled upon this place while walking down the street from our hotel. We were looking for a patio to have brunch in and soak up the sun.
The staff was beyond friendly and very welcoming. We ordered the omelet special since Im allergic to shell fish. But my BF had the lobster omelet which he polished off in about 5min =)
So, I have never had fried pickles ever before and decided to give them a try..OMG they were amazing!!!
Great place for brunch! If I'm ever in Vancouver again Im definitely coming back!! -
Review from Kei Ling W.
10/21/2011
Went for brunch here during my visit to Vancouver and I was blown away by my experience.
Server sat us up on the rooftop area where we had the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic view of Vancouver.
Bread was complimentary, but what was different about this place was that they had lobster oil. When we heard of this, we were extremely weird out, but when the server prepared a dish of balsamic vinegar and lobster oil for us to dip our bread in, the first taste blew my mind away. It was delicous even if it was only bread and oil.
I ordered the lobster bennie, which was good. However, what impressed me the most was my friend's dish. My friend ordered a seafood hash which was packed with seafood and the hash was to a minimal so you did not have to worry too much about eating too much potatoes.
The server was also super super nice. She was very helpful and also gave us some tips on what to do in Vancouver. -
Review from Kevin T.
Surrey, BC
9/25/2011
Decided to go to Joe Fortes for my one year anniversary with my significant other and, because we're both seafood lovers. The place had this Madison Avenue, New York after work ambiance and I absolutely loved it. I may be bias because I watch Mad Men, but it was nice.
The service was superb, our waitress was attentive, and knowledgeable. Decided to go with the seafood tier, which, consist of chilled lobster, alaskan crab, oysters, mussels, smoked salmon, scallops, and tuna. It was amazing. The seafood was fresh, and as expected a savory delight.
A good experience but of course, it did not get five stars because it was a tad pricey. Would recommend it to friends who want to enjoy a nice evening out and looking for a seafood restaurant in downtown Vancouver. -
Review from Gabby S.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 7/13/2011
Came here on a busy weeknight and the service was slow and the steaks were inedible. I usually go for the mussels but my friend's steak looked and tasted really good last time.
Tonight, I didn't want to complain because it was my friend's birthday but the waiter didn't even ask when he collected our plates with the meat barely touched. He was too preoccupied with a celebrity who had just left.
I sent an email on their site but surprisingly, I never got a response. Disappointing.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2010
I'm surprised that I didn't write a review of this place earlier when I went there for a birthday… Read more »
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Review from Liz M.
Vancouver, BC
10/27/2011
Nothing short of fabulous! I've been coming here since 1991 and it feels like coming home. Sylish restaurant, great service, exceptional food, upscale atmosphere.
You can't beat Joe Fortes for oysters on the half shell. Pricey? Yes. 2 dozen premium oysters set me back $86, but it's worth it. If you don't have a heart attack when you get your bill, you'll have a wonderful time! -
Review from Peter K.
9/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not much I can add to the other good reviews. As a party of one, I was given excellent local seafood, decent local wine, and prompt efficient service. In fact the server was able to guide me to the best salmon on the menu.
If ever back in Vancouver, I will come back with others. -
Review from Yolanda G.
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Do you love oysters? I mean, do you REALLY LOVE OYSTERS??? This is quite possibly the best oyster experience ever. We had all of the local oysters for our selections. AMAZING. The waitress was helpful in choosing which ones. We kept having more and more and more. I'm sure we could've kept going. The crab cakes are very very tasty as well. Best seafood restaurant in Vancouver.
Nuff said. -
Review from Maggie L.
Vancouver, BC
11/7/2011
The Mr made reservations here for our anni since JF's is one of my most fave restos in Vancouver as it is his too. We've always had a great time and meal here but man....it was just TERRIBLE on my last visit.
So like I said, the Mr had made resos. The hostess checked our names off and told us to wait as another hostess would come take us to our table. .......15 minutes later we were still standing there. We had 2 employees come by and asked if we've been helped and checked in with the initial hostess--we said yes and they would go on their merry way. NO help, whatsoevr even though other patrons who looked like walk ins were seated first. Perhaps this really set off the night for us...but everything continued to go downhill.
We were finally seated upstairs (perfect) and was greeted by our waiter who took our drink orders. We looked over the menu and ordered (trio of fish for me and chefs creation for the Mr which was a steak) when he came back from getting us our libations for the evening. Our apps came within 15 minutes which was great....but then it took a total of 45 minutes to get our main. 45 Minutes!!!!! The worst part was..we had to track down our waiter and ask where our food was. Of course, he scurried into the kitchen and what do you know...he comes out with food (which were probably sitting there waiting to be eaten). Just before he dropped off the food, I thought to myself "this is going to be cold..." and what do you know? ...ICE COLD for both of our meals. We quickly flagged down our waiter and requested our meals to be heated up which he went off to do. He came back about 10 minutes later..and I couldn't believe this but same thing..ice cold. I thought I was going crazy but I gave the Mr a taste and he confirmed I was not.
The waiter came back to check up on us, asked us if it was any better and I told him that it was the same, he offered another and I just told him "At this point no thank you. I've been waiting for 45 minutes and I am starving." He apologized and shortly after the manager came by to apologize and said he would take care of it.
In the end my meal was comped which I appreciated but lets face it....the damage has been done and I couldn't help but leave with a sour taste in my mouth. Some people might argue I shouldn't complain since my meal was comped...but it's the principle of things. They wouldn't have had to comp my meal at the end of it if they had just done their jobs right in the first place. I shouldn't have to wave down my waiter to check on our meals or have to send back cold food when I could have had it hot. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I met my mum and her best friend of 43 years here for an evening of drinking and eating. I'm at the age now where they let me in on all the secrets - you know, the ones that you realize you maybe didn't actually want to know... ;)
We were here on a Friday night and were surrounded by the afterwork business crowd. With its shabby chic decor, high ceilings and big round brass bar, Joe Fortes emanates a New York Wall Street vibe and I found myself tickled that this space exists in my city!
My Sambal Oelek Caesar was bombass! Spicy and horseradishy and served with a plump juicy shramp hugging the rim. Next up I ordered the cedar smoked salmon. This dish can often be boring, but at Joe's that was not the case - the perfectly cooked piece of fish was served on a bed of pea ravioli and a savoury rich-without-being-stodgy sauce. My mum had a few bites and agreed - Delicious.
The service was cheeky, flirty and fun and even when we had to move to a different table after 90 minutes (to accommodate a large reservation - we were told in advance) our servers made sure we were looked after in the pleasantly raucous bar area.
A fabulous place for a "Too Much Information" Girls Night Out with your mum and aunties - just make sure to drink. A lot. -
Review from Jenna L.
A Perfect patio to enjoy Sunday brunch with family.
I came on a Sunday afternoon without a reservation around 2pm but was seated right away in the heated patio. I love the relaxed and cozy atmosphere and comfy chairs. Ordered Smoked salmon benny, Fish & Chips, Daily duo fish (halibut and trout), NY steak with truffle oil fries, and Calamari to start. The appy was alright, not the best calamari I had, too much batter and not enough calamaris for its cost ($15.99?). The red pepper aioli was yummy, but I would not order this again next time. The smoked salmon benny with hash brown is of generous portion and a steak knife is provide along with it.... I thought why? Apparently some customers complained the bread was too tough to cut. Since then every benny is accompanied with a steak knife. I was really prepared for a tough ciabatta, I mean if it needs a steak knife, it must be made of rubber or something. But in real life, it is just a ciabatta, and though steak knife cuts through clean, it doesn't seem like a necessity to have one. That's just my thought..
Though I didn't like the batter of the Calamari, that of Fish & Chips was great! Fluffy but not too greasy, and though the dish comes with one piece of halibut, I think it's a good portion. The Daily featured duo fish is well prepared with nugget potatoes. It is a pretty good value for $24. The Smoked salmon benny had too little smoked salmon in my point of view. One thin slice each is not good enough.... But the eggs were perfectly prepared. Overall the food was great and the service was attentive but not intrusive. I love the ambiance though. Where else can I find such a relaxed environment on the Robson Street? I love that every corner of the restaurant features different atmosphere! -
Review from Lisa L.
Vancouver, BC
3/31/2011
I always think of F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Great Gatsby when I walk by this place. And the inside likewise brings the mind to thoughts of Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Jazz Age.
Love the attentive service and brass decor. Charming and elegant and everything pleasant while unpretentious. The food is delicious, especially the oysters.
My only complaint is how closely the tables are spaced. I feel that there are too many in too small a space and this detracts from the intimacy of the venue. -
Review from Trish R.
1/5/2011
My friend and I wanted to have lunch on a weekday somewhere central downtown, and we chose Joe Fortes. The entire experience was superb... the service, the food, and the ambiance were excellent.
I chose the salmon blue plate special, and my friend chose the prix fixe. Everything was perfect.
I enjoyed the trek up two flights of stairs to the washrooms because the house was decorated for Christmas and it was absolutely beautiful. I actually wished that I'd brought my big camera because it would have been the perfect spot to spend a little time photographing the various levels with the lights and decorations. Every single table in the house was perfectly set with everything from the arrangement of the cutlery on the tables, to the sparking water glasses, were perfectly arranged. I thought it was dream-like as I ascended and later descended the grand staircase.
I'm looking forward to going back again, whether with friends in the evening or again for lunch - with or without friends. I noticed that sitting alone at the bar, or alone at a table, would be a comfortable option for a quick, reasonably priced, and yummy lunch. -
Review from Dee K.
3/21/2012
Loved the oysters.... Fresh and delicious. Also it was my first time trying the Winter Ale and it was good. For main course had Sockeye salmon which was again fresh and delicious. Looks like the guys at the bar love to talk hockey and were ready to teach me all about Canadian NHL and die heard rivalries between various teams. It was a heated discussion but after drinks every one was friendly but passionate about the game. According to the guy sitting besides me the cheese cake was good, but since the quantity is huge I couldn't dare to try it. Definitely worth it
