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Raincity Grill
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Seafood Canadian (New), Seafood [Edit]
1193 Denman StreetVancouver, BC V6G 2N1
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 685-7337
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- 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:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
79 reviews for Raincity Grill
Review Highlights
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"Now an extended wine list, that my friends is what I seek." In 9 reviews -
"...out the most delicious butternut squash soup I have ever..." In 3 reviews -
"The Fish & Chips scored the best of breed." In 12 reviews
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79 reviews in English
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Review from Christian P.
Toronto, ON
4/29/2012
Could be 4.5 (not 5 yet)
Very tasty, well prepared, quite fresh. Pricey but appropriately. Nice and cosy atmosphere.
Whereas spoons, appetizers and desserts were really good, main (entrees) can be a little bit disappointing. Less tasty than the remaining items and when you are told at least 3 times that fish is to be medium-rare, you can just be disappointed (and deceived) when it comes more than medium if not overcooked (and why keeping salmon skin if it is not crusty?).
Service is okay, even though it can be a little bit (really) slow on occasions. I appreciated that they tell you (and remind you because you read that on the menu) what is your plate precisely (but please speak slowlier and articulate). Wine pairing on menu is a good option but not all pairings match (red Gamay with overcooked Salmon is a mismatch to me...).
Will definitively go back there on another trip in Vancouver to try other items and perhaps try again the medium-rare fish, with the hope that this time it will really be medium-rare (thus more tasty) -
Review from rosquete b.
Denham & Davies (2 blks from English Bay)
Part of Dine Out Vancouver
1st course: tasty endive salad
2nd course: tasty pot roast w/potato cake or salmon w/Swiss chard
3rd course: walnut cake w/carrot ice cream
Additional charge for cheese plate
Micaela was efficient & knowledgable; helpful assistance by Kate
Explained the source & sustainability of the food
Canadian wine & beer list -
Review from Stephene C.
Vancouver, BC
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great little restaurant, close to one of my favorite places in Vancouver, the beach! But only in the summer of course.
Visited this restaurant for a friends birthday. Its a warm and intimate venue with dimmed lighting. When I say warm, I mean it was literally warm. Don't sit near the front of the restaurant where the kitchen is located, I felt my self working up a sweat in the middle of winter. That's about the only bad experience I had with this place.
I guess I could also complain about the small serving sizes, but I've realized that some places, such as this one, which are considered high end usually have astronomical prices for small dishes. I don't go to places like this often, so It's ok once in a blue moon, just to taste and experience how the upper class lives.
I ordered the seared rare albacore tune salad. It was scrumptious, but again slightly unsatisfying. Truth be told, I think this small hatred for high end small serving restaurants has a lot to do with my western upbringing and being used to serving sizes that are way beyond my actual caloric needs. For all I know the serving size presented at this restaurant could be perfectly suited to my daily allowance, but dammit I was still hungry!
The Tuna cuts were decent sizes and seared to perfection. They literally melted in my mouth. Accompanying the tuna, was a salad with purple potatoe, bacon, egg, onion and a mustardy dressing. They worked well together.
Service was good. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. But the best part of the evening was the company :)
St3Fin -
Review from Christopher W.
Vancouver, BC
12/11/2011
Everyone needs to get real about Raincity Grill. This restaurant built it's reputation on a great wine list and it's proximity to English Bay. So many people have recommended this restaurant, I've tried it four times in hopes of discovering it's charms. After four visits, we find their food to be over priced, over produced, and generally bland and cold. Service is generally good, if often chilly. There is much, much better food to be had, even at lower cost than Raincity. They simply seem to spend so much effort on trying to make their food LOOK artsy, but so often fail in making their food TASTE great.
THEY STOPPED HONORING THEIR GIFT CARDS
Their latest gaff is that they stopped honoring their own gift cards about two months ago. They said they were having some computer accounting problems since they closed one of their other restaurants and have no way to tell what the balance of anyone's gift cards might be. Repeated inquiries about whether they have fixed their "accounting problems" and will honor already PAID FOR gift cards results in no response. They act like it's YOUR problem that they can't honor their gift cards, instead of the reality that it is THEIR problem that they need to figure out.
Not a very class show for what is supposed to be a classy restaurant. -
Review from Patrick B.
1/25/2012
A group of us visited Raincity Grill as part of a jaunt into Vancouver. It had come highly recommended, and it was also on the Dine Out Vancouver 2012 list of restaurants. In hindsight I wonder if it was a bad idea to visit a restaurant during such a time, as the strain of trying to keep up with the volume was clearly showing.
Initial Experience: We had called ahead for reservations, and upon confirming them, we were informed that we would need to complete our meal in 1.5 hours, implying that they were trying to keep the tables turning over due to the Dine Out promotion. If I'm not mistaken, we did exceed this time allotment with no comment, but it would have been better to keep the restriction to themselves. We were quickly seated, and service was prompt.
The Food: My companions and I started with the shrimp bouillabase, but when it arrived the wait staff announced that the bisque had arrived. It's a small thing, I know they're busy, but when several of the waitstaff called the dishes by another name than what's on the menu, there's a brief moment of "sorry, you've brought us the wrong dish" even though it was indeed what I ordered. It was decent, but unremarkable.
For my main entree, I had the glazed pork on the menu. It was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful, and along with the sides, served exactly as one would have expected.
For dessert, I had the chocolate ganache, which was quite tasty.
Final thoughts: The staff were so busy (we thought they seemed shorthanded) that every one of them were spinning like a top, and they were just unable to cover the entire dining floor. My second drink order got lost (which happens), and my server asked if I wanted a glass of port on the house (I didn't, and mentioned to her I don't drink wine) and she brought me a glass of port anyway which I gave away. I received a swift kick from my date when I mentioned this, which meant I was probably being too grumpy. For visitors, it might be best to wait until the Dine Out Vancouver promotion is over, or dine outside of the normal dinner rush. -
Review from Cody S.
9/14/2011
The menu here is quite concise. I have a feeling that they took that menu and made everything perfect. We had a great time here and this is why.
The location and atmosphere are superb. The view of English Bay is amazing and the the dining room is tastefully decorated. It felt very comfortable and inviting.
The crab risotto and barigoule salad were both out of this world. These two got us all a little excited for what was to come. Thats what an appetizer is supposed to do. If this hasn't happened for you recently, come here.
The Wild Sockeye, chard, and paprika sausage vinaigrette was good. The plate was beautiful. The flavours were tremendous. I even got a taste of the Haida Gwaii Halibut, the broth it was in made me want to bottle it and take it everywhere with me. I need to learn to use herbs and spices like they do.
The service was great. Our server introduced each dish to us and let us know where it was from. I feel educated on what I was eating.
Overall, we will come here again. The prices are a little steep, but more reasonable in your mind once you have had the experience.Listed in: Really nice spots in Vancouver
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Review from Namit M.
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is neat little cozy room right by English Bay. The service is friendly and warm. Went in for the 100-mile tasting menu with a bottle of the excellent Pentage Gewurzt.
The tasting menu is based on everything being sourced from within 100 miles. The duck prosciutto was outstanding. The beet salad and manila clams were decent. Overall the main course (Pork) was tasty, the meat itself was slightly chewy. The cheese course and dessert were workmanlike.
Not sure if at $82 it is worth it to do again. But this place has such good ambiance that one can overlook the lack of being wowed by the food. -
Review from Sarah A.
After dropping off my bike for a tune-up on Saturday morning, I wandered down Denman looking for a good place for brunch. Almost every place offering brunch was completely packed. I pulled out my handy Yelp app on my phone and remembered that Raincity Grill was nearby and that I had been meaning to try it. So I wandered over and noticed that they were serving brunch, and that they had a lovely patio with a view of English Bay and that it was almost entirely empty. After glancing over the menu posted on the door, I decided to take the plunge and headed in.
I was warmly greeted instantly by several employees and given an excellent seat on the patio in the shade and with an amazing view of the ocean. This restaurant is a popular tourist attraction, largely because of its location and stunning views (but also because of the food and service). It is easy to forget to eat your food and get caught up in people-watching here. But I did remember to eat! The menu is made up entirely of local ingredients, and all of the local farms that the restaurant orders from are listed in the menu as well. It was a tough decision, but I ordered a Bloody Caesar and the Smoked Salmon Brioche (which came with a warm spinach salad). They also brought me a complimentary apple cider and scone while I waited for my meal. The food was fantastic and the service was outstanding.
I will have to come back for the take-out fish n' chips. -
Review from Ryan G.
8/7/2011
Okay, so I went once with my parents.. they read about it in a tourist magazine and wanted to go. Cooks are professional and on display which is a plus for me, b/c I was a cook in an open air restaurant for 6 years. We were treated well, but we should have been, the bill was 300 for only 4 people.
2nd time I went, I wanted a romantic evening with my GF so we called ahead, for a reservation, was given 7pm. We arrived at 655 to be shown the bar... which is a ridiculous standing around and you aren't served. EVEN WATER!
Here's the picnic.... a guy with his family, rich probably, off the street comes in... GETS OUR TABLE, probably because he will spend more...
So we just WALKED... down the street to "CENTRAL" and spent 120 on fish and a bottle of wine. AMAZING PLACE, read my review on Central.. they treat you well and the place reminds me of good times on College St. in Toronto. GO TO CENTRAL instead of RAINCITY OVERATED.
Thanks!! -
Review from Summy L.
My wife found this place while driving down Denman. It looked pretty packed that night so she checked out their menu online. Next thing I know, we were reading from their Early Bird Prix Fixe Dinner menu. We were the first to get seated for dinner at 5pm because the prix fixe dinner special was only available from 5-6pm for $30/person. Not bad for the type of food we ordered. I've never been a fan of eating dinner between 5-6pm, but since it was for a special price, we couldn't resist.
Here's what I ordered:
Appetizer - NORTH ARM FARM SQUASH SOUP, toasted sunflower seeds, crème fraiche
Main - ORGANIC OCEANS WILD SALMON organic green lentils, house-smoked bacon, parsley root
Dessert - HONEY CRÈME BRULEE preserved rhubarb, honey chantilly
Our meal was magnificent! I've enjoyed it very much. The portion doesn't seem too big, but by the time I've finished my dessert, I was stuffed. That's how it should be! I hate to drop a bunch of $$$ at a restaurant only to leave hungry and unsatisfied. This place rocks, and i'll be sure to come back here the next time i'm in town. -
Review from brittney k.
New Westminster, BC
2/21/2012
Went here for dinner with 3 girl friends during Dine Out Vancouver 2012. Our waiter was fantastic and extremely knowledgeable. We truly enjoyed the food (I, personally, had the duck pate, glazed pork and walnut cake--though my friend's chocolate ganache was quite tasty as well and definitely worth the mention) and we were impressed by the wine list. The atmosphere for great; the restaurant was busy but not packed. Would definitely recommend this place and would love to come back when my mother visits BC next--especially interested in their local, seasonal menu.
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Review from Matthew B.
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food here was really fantastic. I really love that they offer "spoons" to start the dinner instead of just full size appetizers. If you like beets, the beet/goat cheese spoon is quite tasty.
For my main course I had the clam dish. Crazy flavorful sauce and just the perfect amount of food.
No matter how good the food, the service from the waiter (the rest were great) was lackluster. We thought we'd made him mad by not ordering wine... but soon discovered that this was just the way this waiter was. A little less snappiness and a little more friendliness would go a long way. -
Review from Jen L.
5/23/2011 3 photos
We were here, a group of 6, for brunch today. It was amazing and I can't wait to go back! Service was phenomenal, and Matt, the chef, is so nice, knowledgable, and professional. Great view of the water and English Bay and beach. I love that it's sustainable and local products within "100 miles"
- Yogurt with granola and berries - yummy and healthy
- French toast brioche- amazing and one of my favorites, and with the rhubarb...perfect!
- Spot Prawns - perfectly cooked large spot prawns, with a very tasty salad, and fiddlehead ferns with garlic.
- Butternut squash with buttery toast - delicious
- The best coffee! Nice and strong. Mimosas are perfect for a Sunday morning.
- Dungeness Crab Omlete: yum, I love dungeness crab, and there's large chunks of tasty crab,
- Smoked Salmon Benedict on a thick toast (2 perfectly poached eggs on top). Amazing, highly recommended and I loved it and the side greens next to it.
- Potato Hash with Bacon. Large amount of veggies and potatoes.
Such an exceptional brunch that we didn't need to eat lunch today! I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Katie F.
6/30/2011
3 stars for the service.
4 stars for the food.
After finishing a half marathon in Stanley Park, I was starving and looking for a place to eat nearby and decided to stop in here on a nice Sunday morning. Option for indoor and outdoor seating.
The menu is small but it was very tasty! We had a complimentary warm biscuit and apple cider to start.
I had the sausage and ricotta omelet and it's fabulous! Just the right amount of stuff to egg, and the quality of the sausage is excellent... a nice dense meat, not the greasy type at all. It's served on a slice of french bread with some roasted potatos and was very well done.
Hubby went with the burger and fries was very pleased. Menu is locally sourced.
Service needs some work - they forgot to bring us ketchup and they look a bit vacant/not really engaging. I also overheard the manager chastising one of the staff on my way to the bathroom, and was surprised it was done out in the open.
It's not my usual area of town but the food is decent and I'd be willing to come back if I'm in the area. -
Review from Marc M.
9/17/2011
Great place for a romantic dinner, and just around the corner from the seawall walk.
I'd recommend experimenting with the different appetizers since each one is unique and different. And do not forget desert for pete's sake! -
Review from Anita B.
Burnaby, BC
5/30/2011
This review is only for the fish and chips take out window.
The fish and chips here are great! Pick them up at the take out window 11:30am - 7:00pm for $10 (cash only) and head over the the beach for a relaxing impromptu picnic. Also comes with a nice little salad and tartar sauce. Very yummy!!!!! -
Review from Jenna L.
1/27/2011
Superb location to enjoy the beach view. The food is always good, I have mussels and fries all the time. The service is a bit pretentious.. I don't fee super relaxing to dine here. The cost is really for the food and the view I think. It is not too big, so best to make a reservation.
Try their sidewindow fish and chip. It was $7.99? I can't quite remember but they only take cash. I do the take out and go eat it at the beach log across the street. -
Review from Sean N.
Vancouver, BC
I've had the pleasure of having dinner here a few times and they do a great take out deal as well,the 100 mile menu and seasonal tasting menu's are a must have.
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Review from Hilda H.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2010
Was brought here by friends in the summer time and took till now to remember the name of this place & write a review!!
The food was actually pretty good; I loved the scallops a ton. But, because I do eat seafood and pastas a lot, the voice in the back of my head kept going "You can have the same great food elsewhere for a more reasonable price." I have to admit, I wasn't all that full after finishing my meal. If there were half stars to give I'd say this place is more of a 3.5, mostly because it was good, but not that special. While most of the staff were pretty nice, I still got a bit of attitude from one staff person who refused to give me enough room to walk the narrow pathways to my spot (and I'm pretty tiny). -
Review from Dhaval P.
8/21/2010 1 photo
These are the best Fish and Chips in North America hands down!
I'll admit I was inspired to come here via Food and Wine Magazine. Yes, I know, very unoriginal..who cares?
Although it is a high end restaurant Raincity offers a take out window for fish and chips. I stepped up to the window, ordered my fish and chips for ten bucks, and watched them prepare and toss it my way.
They give you hearty portions so prepare to toss your left-overs to a bum and make his day :).
The batter they use for the Fish is amazing. I think they go to church on Sunday and take the bread of christ to use as bread crumb batter, because my meal was divine!! -
Review from Mike C.
Vancouver, BC
5/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Our first visit was fantastic. We had great martinis and seafood dishes, and if I remember correctly, a really nice Creme Brule for desert.
The next visit was a little disappointing, as we really just dropped in for an appetizer and some drinks to celebrate, but were stuffed in the back of the empty restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but we were in and out, and the place only had 2 or 3 tables by the time we left. It just felt too snobby.
We gave it another chance recently and it was a little better, but the friendliness of the service staff, just isn't there.
The food is great and we often get the Halibut and fries from the window at the kitchen. That is always a nice experience as we go and sit on the beach and eat. -
Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
8/29/2010
FISH AND CHIPS! I love me some fish and chips. I use to have it quite frequently when I lived in Victoria - just a short walk down to the harbour and its everywhere.
Raincity grill's rendition of fish and chips were pretty tasty. The fries were the best part. Lots of potato flavour, crispy and crunchy, and well seasoned. It even came with a salad! That was refreshing and I loved the salad dressing served with it. The fish, was just okay. They were made fresh for us (yay!) but I felt they were left in the deep fryer a little too long. The was very fried and the fish was a bit dry on the inside. The batter to fish ratio, was really good though and a little tartar sauced fixed the dryness. YUM! -
Review from April R.
9/25/2011
When doing our research before going on our Vancouver trip we read that Raincity and West were two of the best restaurants in the city. We made reservations at both. We did like Raincity, but thought West was better. Raincity does have the better location, right by the water with a great sunset view. They were pretty busy and have European style seating, so you are right up near the people next to you. They have a nice drink selection of mixed drinks, beer and wine. They have a huge and expensive wine list. We started with the duck prosciutto, that was by far the best part of the meal. I had the bison steak and my husband had the salmon, both were very good. For dessert we had a cheese plate and the honey creme brulee, also very good. The service was good but very slow.
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Review from Dan T.
5/3/2010
I had a fantastic time at Raincity Grill, but it was mostly due to the great company, breathtaking view on a perfect evening, and truly amicable service. If I were to focus on the food alone, however, I was disappointed. Every high point was matched by an equally distasteful moment, and the tipping point from 3 to 2 stars was finishing the meal with a collection of unpalatable desserts across the board.
The winter squash soup was quite good - creamy, rich, and good depth of flavour. Too bad it wasn't the appetizer that I had ordered.
The Pemberton Meadows beef carpaccio that I DID order was perfectly prepared, with the horseradish sauce acting as an even and balanced accompaniment. The watercress salad, however, was literally unpalatable. HEAVILY over seasoned and completely drowned in vinegar, one of my dining companions was literally thrown into a coughing fit with one bite.
The braised lamb cheeks were inconsistent. Some pieces were absolute pure joy, soft and succulent and everything I would have expected. Others were dry and stringy, as if they were taken from a completely different part of the animal - ??!?! I did like the accompanying components, though, as I thought the pomme puree was very nice and each vegetable component meticulously prepared and presented.
Unfortunately, the desserts were the death knell of the meal. The honey creme brulee was cold and dry, and left behind a bit of a residual saw-dusty texture. The preserved green strawberries were FAR too sour to act as any sensible foil to the already unappealing creme brulee.
Hoping that this was an isolated incident, I sampled desserts from my dining companions. What I got was a frozen-solid cheese cake that pretty much required the use of the steak knives from the previous course, and some odd strawberry concoction that appeared to be a chalky marshmallow that really had no business masquerading as a dessert.
I'm sorry, but if you finish an equivocal meal on such a miserable note, the final outcome will unlikely be in your favour. -
Review from Xixi L.
Vancouver, BC
4/21/2010
My brother and I took our father and his girlfriend for Christmas Eve dinner. Upon arriving at the restaurant, we were greeted by the host while I discreetly slipped him my credit card so that my father wouldn't steal the bill like he usually does. We were seated at our reserved table promptly and the server, Kyle, greeted us and took our drink orders. He was personable and attentive.
I had the venison carpaccio and the roast game hen. My brother and father both had the scallop starter followed by the roast tenderloin. My father's girlfriend had the winter squash soup and the lamb shoulder. On top of the overall under-seasoned and inconsistency of every dish, the portions were minuscule compared to that of other restaurants in the same category.
The sourdough mini rolls tasted of cardboard, as if it was left out for too long. The butter was still cold so it couldn't be spread over the rolls with ease.
The plates were hot but the rims were all dirty.
The wine glasses were too small for the half glasses we ordered.
Scallop Appetizer ($16): The scallops were sweet but definitely not fresh due to the obvious lack of characteristic brine and mineral delicacy found in fresh specimens. The risotto was so overcooked that each grain of the arborio were "exploded" as if it was the consistency of congee.
Winter Squash Soup ($9.50): The only decent dish out of the lot.
Venison Carpaccio ($14): Tasted so gamey that I suspect the meat was a bit too ripe. The watercress on the same plate was completely void of the usual sharp peppery tang.
Beef Tenderloin ($36): The tiny medallion of beef had beautiful fat marbling and flavour but the muscle itself had next to none. The savoury foam accompaniment was pretentious. The waiter introduced the green on the dish as black kale (lacinato kale) when in fact it was curly green English kale. It was so over-buttered that it didn't taste at all like a vegetable. My father's root veg were barely seared on the outside and still crispy in the middle while my brother's root veg were so cooked that they were an even shade of brown with a mushy consistency. The confit potatoes tasted like they were boiled then quickly seared in the pan with minimal duck fat, if at all.
Roast Game Hen ($26): I expected at least half a hen but there were only 2 breasts. The meat didn't seem roasted like the menu had mentioned, but rather seared on the top side only and then quickly popped into the oven to be finished off. The polenta had the consistency and flavour of processed eggs and completely lacking in texture and richness. The dish was too sweet overall and the pears didn't help.
Lamb Shoulder ($27): Overcooked and too mushy. It didn't combine well with the lentils which has quite a creamy consistency. There was absolutely no sharpness brought to the dish to cut the richness of the lamb.
We didn't stay around for dessert and asked for the bill immediately after our plates had been cleared. The host that I had given my credit card to did not inform our server at all about the situation and I had to tell him in front of our entire party to ask the host for my credit card. The host didn't step up to apologize but instead slipped out of the restaurant as we were paying our bill.
Incidentally, my experiences at C were just as, if not more, underwhelming. I will not be returning. -
Review from Szeying t.
5/17/2009
Raincity grill has been a place I've been wanting to go to since we've moved to Vancouver because they're one of the first restaurants to create their menu from locally sourced and grown ingredients. They were also recently featured on the 100 mile challenge show on Food Tv so when the long weekend came along, I figured it's a good place to have brunch!
The food was pretty fantastic. I had the salmon on brioche and my wife had the brioche french toast. Yes, we're fans of brioche :) Both were very delicious.
Service was OK. A little snotty and snobbish but it was quick and prompt. Our waiter was kinda borderline annoyed with us for some reason cos I changed my order. Its not like I changed my order mid way noshing through my food, it was probably a couple minutes after we placed order. Anyways, I thought he could've been more gracious.
We sat outside on the patio cos it was a nice day. One annoying thing about sitting outside.. the patio is situated right next to a bus stop. Not only is it really noisy which sorta ruins the whole leisurely Saturday brunch experience, but you have the Big Red Bus coming by with loads of tourists staring at you as you eat.
I think its a recommended try if you've never been here, and maybe sit inside when you do visit Raincity Grill. -
Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
4/15/2010
I've been here several times - usually for a special occasion just because of the ambiance. The reason this is my top-pick is because they buy 100% local produce.
All their veggies are seasonal because they only buy from local farmers. The furthest afield is their wine list, with some wines coming from Oregon but everything is at least West Coast.
They have a specialised menu for the 100 Mile Diet, keeping every food on the menu within a 100 mile radius of the restaurant.
For vegetarians, they have a full-scale 5 course Vegetarian menu.
What I love about the staff is that they are not only incredibly attentive, but they are also superbly knowledgeable. They know everything that they are serving, inside and out. It's the only restaurant I felt comfortable asking "is this beef grass fed?" because I knew that the waiter would know the answer, and not think I was being a pretentious snob for asking (and btw, yes, the beef is grass fed).
This is probably one of the most eco-friendly restaurants in the city because they partner with local farmers and suppliers to support the local economy and reduce their carbon footprint by not having food that travels from all the continents (like most restaurants) while also serving fresh, organic produce and non-medicated free range meats.
They also have a HUGE selection of west coast wines and all the waiting staff are extremely knowledgeable about pairings.Listed in: Eco Finds in Vancouver
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Review from Janet F.
London, ON
12/1/2010
Great location. Great service. Great food. What more could you ask for? Well, great company as well, but you'll have to provide that part of the equation. Raincity Grill will provide the rest. Our waiter was extremely patient with our indecision over what to get off of their local and amazing menu. He was also very knowledgeable about their extensive wine list and was able to help find us the most delicious riesling and sauvignon blanc. :)
The food was diverse and scrumptious. Highlights include the pork belly appy with pear and sunchokes (and if you don't know what sunchokes are, they were the revelation of the night), mushroom risotto, beet salad, and chocolate mousse. -
Review from Charlie B.
4/23/2009
Snore...this place was sort of a bore. I was warned, but wanted to head there anyway. Nothing wrong with the food or service, but nothing too exciting. I had the early bird 3 course set menu, and it was a bargain, but if I were paying full price for this food, I think I would be pissed.
I am 31 and the average age int he crowd was maybe 55. It was a much older crowd.
I was excited by and appreciate the deciation to local ingredients and sustainable food, and I give them props for that, but if they want to last as culinary pros they need to step it up a bit... -
Review from Sourav D.
1/5/2011
Went here cause it was highly recommended in our guidebook. And it didn't disappoint. It's claim to fame is the "100 mile menu" -- all it's ingredients come from less than 100 miles from Vancouver. Kinda cool concept a la Michael Pollan style eating. Which I'm in full support of.
There was a good $22 fixed price two course lunch menu. I had the winter squash soup and the mussels. Both were very tasty and the portions were perfect. The wife had cod fish and chips. Which was a big surprise to me, because she hates fish -- but she ordered it and ate it all. Super fresh fish that was fried really light and fluffy. It had to be really fresh for her to eat it.
The restaurant is small but cozy. And the whole time we had a great view of the sunset over English Bay. There were only two guys running the whole place -- which seemed too few. They should have one more waiter on staff I think. Dock one star for that. But otherwise a great lunch experience. I would definitely go back. -
Review from Littlefish B.
Vancouver, BC
10/8/2009
Amazing food, fabulous presentation, great wine list and knowledgeable servers who really know how to pair their wine & food. It deserves its fabulous reputation. If you don't have reservations it's worth a try but if you definitely want to go, plan ahead & make a reservation.
I use this for treat, celebratory or Holiday meals and it's always gone well.
Asking for a table in the smaller, lower, rear section of the restaurant will give you a much for intimate relaxed feel but (for good or bad) removes you from the 'buzz'; most of the restaurant is very tightly seated.
I debated 4 stars ONLY because of the cramped upper seating and because despite its location it doesn't have a view to speak of for most tables and there are a number of excellent Vancouver restaurants that do. -
Review from Roger B.
Richmond, BC
11/4/2010
One of Vancouver's best!
I have always loved this place because it's not stuffy snooty and over priced. The food is top notch and the service is fantastic. It's a small little place but the large ocean view windows give it a bigger feel.
Breakfast is fantastic very creative try the French Toast!
Lunch is also worth a look as well with a great selection of west coast treats.
Dinner is our favorite and the do Seafood very well and most places even in Vancouver don't. The wine selection will please anyone and the Sommelier is fantastic.
Prices are fair and not over the top like some places trying way to hard.
This place is very West Coast British Columbia. -
Review from Armenoid B.
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Truly lovely. All angles covered, atmosphere, view, ambiance, sweet waitress, amazing and beautifu food, good wines. Can't wait to return.
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Review from P S.
Vancouver, BC
12/11/2009
Well, I experienced this place this week.
My thought: over-hyped, overpriced, food is average.
In brief, it is just a diner with upgraded menu.
IMHO, you get poor value-for-money here. -
Review from Barry C.
Vancouver, BC
8/31/2010
Brunch on a summer's day. Table of 3. Ucluelet Halibut & Chips, Dungeness Crab Omelette and Smoked Salmon on Brioche on our table. The Omelette declared as very good. The Fish & Chips scored the best of breed. My salmon and brioch was stellar. For a non salad person, the watercress was startlingly good in its pure simplicity and flavour. Fine, fine flavours done and presented simply. The Grill has focused on regional sourcing and quality ingredients. It shows through and through and that is what makes good, great. Service on par with the reputation. Prices friendly for one that has awards and reviews from near and afar. A fine room by the Bay.
The food is the star. -
Review from Lisa N.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2010
I only got take out from here once, their fish and chips. It was decent, but not the best (a lot better than what I had from the "best fish and chips at Mr.Pickwick's"). Fries were good, fish wasn't overdone, presented decently in the box. It was ten bucks so decent value I suppose.
But what bothered me the most were the workers. When asked a question they just gave me a weird look and completely ignored me cause I asked if they sold bottled water. Anyways, that would probably repel from going back to get food from there, especially since there are so many around the beach. -
Review from Richard D.
Vancouver, BC
9/4/2008 2 photos
The prices on this menu are way too high for this place. It is not a five-star restaurant, and it shouldn't be so expensive. The restaurant boasts that it emphasizes local foods. Great! Why don't you charge local prices, too. This is not New York or Paris. This is Vancouver. You might get the visitor who plunks down that cash, but we locals will get our local food at local markets and cook it ourselves before paying these prices.
Don't get me wrong, the food is very good. But you'll leave with a full feeling in your stomach and an empty feeling in your wallet. -
Review from Tiffany R.
8/8/2008
I had the pleasure of experiencing the 100 mile tasting menu here. That is to say, all of the ingredients for this tasting menu come from within 100 miles. The local freshness of the food really shines here.
I've been getting into beets more and more lately, and the beetroot salad may have in fact made me a bonafide beet lover. The creaminess of the goat cheese on the salad was a perfect compliment to the earthiness of the beets. The asparagus vichyssoise with coddled egg was extremely good, and I highly recommend it. The other items on the tasting menu were nice as well, but somewhat less memorable to me.
At $95 with wine pairing, this is a great value for a five-course meal and a wonderful way to experience the local flavors of the area. The ambiance is laid back, but the service tended to falter a bit too much in this direction for my own taste. -
Review from Matthew W.
9/7/2010
I came here with a good friend for some celebratory dining. I won't go into much information about what we ate because this place will change their menu depending on the season and what can be sourced easily. If it is winter time you can believe that summer time fare won't be focused upon but rather hearty winter dishes. keep that in mind, if you are a person who has grown to expect certain dishes to always be served please come with an open mind, you won't always get it so get over it.
I won't go into service either (though it was fantastic) because, seriously...you can get shit service but get fantastic food and get fantastic service and cardboard sick for lunch. Forget it. Service is also something which people can argue over. As long as service doesn't go over an hour for a starter..I'm ok.
Down to the meat. The food was fantastic. The view was incredible and I had one hell of an experience. Isn't it about the food? But...fill the stomach is an easy job to do. Fill your heart with memories which you will remember it by...that is harder. I had a blast here. Delicious. Clean. Memorable.
So what is more useful as a review...The price will be a bit higher and also because it is in Vancouver, BC...my american friends can expect to pay a tad more than they may be use to. The bathrooms are clean and most importantly...the kitchen is an open kitchen featuring chefs that are actually...dare I say, Happy! Happy to be doing what they love in a kitchen built for tasty morsels to come flying out. I love my swearing chefs too! but a smiling staff that isn't pissing in my soup? That, my friend, makes this place a definite try.
check it out, the other reviews are saying the same thing. Save up some cash and take your girlfriend here. The salmon is enough to light a fire. -
Review from JLuc P.
Vancouver, BC
3/13/2011
Remember that A&W ad with a couple that leaves a fancy place where they were on a date, look at each other and then go eat a burger because they are still hungry?
That was totally our experience there, though I did appreciate what I ate. Good food but definitely stingy on the quantities. If you have a healthy appetite, not cool to be put on a diet. I don't like some restaurants in North America, where they put way too much on your plate, but this went too far in the opposite direction. I would rate it 3.5 if you have a very light appetite, not that memorable even then and still pricey.
