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Seasons in the Park
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
Queen Elizabeth ParkCambie St & W 33rd Ave
Vancouver, BC V5Y 2M5
Neighbourhood: Riley Park
(604) 874-8008
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 10:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
82 reviews for Seasons in the Park
Review Highlights
"This is a great place for a special occasion."
(in 9 reviews)
"standard salad with feta cheese and candied almonds."
(in 5 reviews)
"...double belgium chocolate truffle and fudge cake, which was..."
(in 2 reviews)
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82 reviews in English
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Review from Michael P.
Burnaby, BC
8/30/2011
I've only been to Seasons in the Park once, but all the 5-star ratings and praises are as accurate and well deserved as it gets.
The staff are gregarious, warm and courteous. They would go out of their own way to satisfy the needs of every patron whether you're a young tot or a wise senior. Very impressive and professional!
Food was top notch. Coming from a family of chefs and cooks, it's not often I can honestly assert that the kitchen staff at a restaurant know what they're doing - Seasons in the Park is the exception.
If you're a steak lover, request a medium-rare and you'll get the most succulent and savoury piece of meat your mouth has ever feasted on.
Or if you'd rather prefer fish, this place is one of the very few restaurants that knows how to cook a fish properly (understatement of the decade). I'm not talking about simply grilling a fish on both sides so it's cooked evenly, then dousing it with seasoning. No. This place blew me away with their fish. The cod I tasted literally melted in my mouth. Amazing.
Dessert and drinks were far from disappointing. Seasons in the Park makes the best Long Island Iced Tea I've ever had and on a summer night, it's the perfect way to compliment a perfect meal.
Correction, a perfect view of the city would make the night unforgettable. Oh, wait. This restaurant has that too.
Honestly, Seasons in the Park is the complete package. A 5-star restaurant at its best.Listed in: Places You Must Try!
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Review from Long H.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012
We went here for Dine-Out Vancouver but majority of us had opted to get the upgraded entree instead of the entree available which was the rib steak which became about $47 from the $38 menu which was not bad but still on the pricey side for what we got.
I love steak and pretty much would order steak at every restaurant I go to if available but I'm not a huge fan of fatty meat and my slab of steak had plenty of it. 3 of us had the exact same entree, however the size of meat and veggies were completely different. We were unsure whether this was presented this way or the chef's just put whatever they felt like on the plate and served us.
Service was great. As for the view, it looks pretty nice but we were not close enough to the windows so it was nothing special for us... I suppose we had one of the worst sitting locations as we were closest to the restrooms, had a lot of traffic coming through us since we were in between both rooms and right behind us was the silverware and water that the servers used to give out. Not so sure if that is the best place to leave their utensils in contact with other customers. One thing that I noticed was that some server's chose to squeeze in between my friend to get to the other side of the table instead of around us since we were close to the wall. That shows some lack of manners and a little rude.
I had the lemon pie for the dessert but should have had the ice cream brownie. Looked a lot better. Maybe I would try this place again for lunch but not so excited to have dinner again here unless we get a seat by the windows. -
Review from Marjorie D.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 12/3/2011 2 photos
Great for a sunny, mid-afternoon lunch. The place wasn't too busy at all since it was after the lunch rush (if they even have one?). We had the perfect view of the skyline on a beautiful autumn afternoon. How lucky! I'm so used to the grey, rainy dreariness in our city during this season.
To start, we had the dungeness crab cake which was about 3-inches in diameter by 1-inch thick. There was a sauce drizzled on the plate that went well with it and a slight bit of mayo on the side which I tried by couldn't even taste.
I wish the server had warned me that the truffle soup and spinach and tuna salad would be an overdose in mushroom flavours. Both dishes would have probably been better complemented by other dishes rather than together. But hey, if you're a big mushroom fan, by all means get them together.
My lunch buddy had a tandoori chicken pizza. This definitely would have been the dish to get with the salad. The pizza crust is like a naan bread and the slight curry taste is not overpowering, especially with the cubes of fresh mango and other veggies on the dish.
By the end of lunch, there were only two full tables left. I think lunch service stops at 4pm (even though the website indicates 11:30am - 5pm) and anyone wishing to dine there between 4pm and 5pm can only sit at the lounge tables while they prepare the dining area.
Street parking is $2 for 2 hours, pay at the pay station. Not sure how much valet is (maybe still $7) but even if you park at the top near the fountains/Bloedel conservatory, it's a short walk.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/7/2011
Perfect for a wedding reception. My friends chose to celebrate their special day here a couple… Read more »
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Review from Yunn A.
12/1/2011
Nice quiet atmosphere over lunch, great patio and view of city. Good food.
Will come back to write a more detailed review soon. -
Review from Amanda S.
Vancouver, BC
1/10/2012
Such a beautiful place. Since Q.E park is my favorite park in Vancouver, I've been to this testosterone quite often, and I was never disappointed.
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Review from Kelly C.
12/13/2011
This is a place where you really go for the phenomenal views of Vancouver. Views create a nice atmosphere that can be both romantic, professional and generally classy. The menu is not particularly inventive, but the food is well prepared (so good for picky, traditionalist eaters). For service, while our server seemed absent and things seemed slow, we also observed another server that seemed friendly and moved at a better pace. So, I expect it's a bit hit or miss.
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Review from Michelle L.
Burnaby, BC
1/27/2012
For a price this high, I was hoping for better food. It was bland. I had the prime rib Christmas special. The service is excellent with a very friendly staff. I was disappointed in the food. Maybe I need to try this place again, but I didn't think it was all that great. This place had a terrific view of the city lights. That was the highlight of the evening.
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Review from Liza B.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2011
Beautiful restaurant, beautiful view. Food? Hit and miss, one star lost based on price. Service? Yet another star lost.
The food wasn't bad! But was my halibut worth 33$? Hell nah. Joe Fortes and Rodney's does a FAR better job for a smidgen cheaper.
Others around me had the steak and felt it was alright - neither bad nor good, just average. A bunch of folks had the mussels, however, and said they were to DIE for, as was the creme brulee.
Our service was slow, but we knew that going in as there were 15 of us. Totally fine! Time to socialize more! What we didn't expect was attitude and condescension. Our waiter was comparable to a high-strung butler. Not impressed with the service. At all.
I'd consider going here again based on ambiance, alone. But definitely not my first choice in fine dining based on food and service. I don't care if Bill Clinton ate there! Don't treat us Average Joes like we aren't contributing to your pay cheque. -
Review from Mike H.
8/13/2011
The atmosphere was wonderful and the service was incredible. Almost every seat has an a beautiful view of the Vancouver skyline. The prices are about normal for a high end restaurant.
Our meal came and the preparation looked like one of those professional chef show displays.
Highly recommend. -
Review from Norman H.
11/23/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The food was good, not great. Appetizers (two varieties of dumplings) were average. Entrees were delicious, although the seafood pasta was lacking any real amount of seafood. Scallop in pasta (yes, just one) was cooked perfectly, rare in a seafood pasta dish.
Service and the view were both really excellent. -
Review from Mario M.
8/15/2011
Amazing Views
Outstanding Service
Great Food
Why haven't I been here before?? WTH
Do dress up though... -
Review from Michelle R.
Vancouver, BC
7/17/2011
Great table, good views of the downtown cityscape....next best thing to a water view.
What's nice is that after your meal, you can stroll the surrounding gardens. We were a party of 6 with a couple of out of town guests looking for a place en route to the airport. It's definitely a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver.
The food was standard fare. We had the smoked salmon benny, seafood carbonara, and I had the corned beef sweet potato hash.
Let's just say, I would come here again for the view and the gardens, not so much for the food.
The hash was good-- but it would have been better vegetarian. The corned beef came in chewy chunks. If it had come shaved, it may have been less rubbery. The carbonara was rich, a little too rich-- it was more of an alfredo rather than a carbonara, perhaps the cook is confused. The poached eggs were done to perfection all around.
I'd say the service was good, but for a place like this-- I'm expecting service that attends to your needs vs. having to flag someone down to ask for cream for your coffee or butter for the bread.
I grew up in the 'hood and know the gardens well and frequent the tennis courts so the venue isn't new. The restaurant was a new experience though, and I'd love to give it a better review. But, just a little more work on the menu to push it beyond the level of standard brunch fare would do the trick.
Their restroom is in dire need of a reno. Hate to leave this on a toilet note...but, I have no choice, I gotta go. -
Review from Russel M.
7/21/2011
Our experience was perfect from beginning to end.
The wine list is decent and the drinks are made right.
We ordered several appetizers to start and finished with a Filet. Everything tasted great and was prepared perfectly.
Dessert was a Chocolate Cake which was rich and decadent.
Great View and Service. Highly recommended. -
Review from Janz P.
8/15/2011
Seasons is fabulous! Located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Park it has one of the most amazing views of Vancouver that you can find without going up a mountain.
They have an upscale dining room or a more casual outdoor patio. It's a great place to enjoy a lunch or dinner when visiting town or for a special occasion.
We went for a late lunch and enjoyed delicious food, fabulous wine and great friendly service.
We had:
Mango Chicken Flatbread - delicious!
Stuffed Mushrooms - really tasty but rich, share this with your group
Chopped Salad - fresh and delicious with unusual ingredients
Side of Salmon - perfect -
Review from Debbie W.
12/21/2011
We enjoyed our 35th wedding anniversary with a special dinner at the Seasons in the Park. Even though we were expecting a nice view, we were blown away by the ambiance of the restaurant with the views of the city from every table in the restaurant. The staff went out of their way to make sure we were very pampered. Our server Trish made sure everything was perfect and even spoiled us with a complimentary dessert of yummy Creme Brulee with an anniversary message written on top. Every dish in our meal was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed the crab cake appetizer, along with the scallop plate that contained about 10 scallops in a lovely sauce and continued with the Truffle Mushroom soup which had a nice blend of mushrooms but wasn't too heavy to spoil our dinner. I feasted on the Arctic Cod with a light pineapple sauce which was a "melt in your mouth" delight, while my hubby chowed down on the man's meal of the Rib Eye steak. Loved their specialty drink, Autumn in New Work. In fact, I loved it so much that I had two! All the staff contributed to our celebration and many were willing take that special memorable photo of us lovebirds in various locations in the restaurant. The fireplaces on the deck were so cozy (even in the winter) and it would be a special treat to return to the Seasons in the Park in summer to enjoy a dinner on the deck.
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Review from Scott H.
Vancouver, BC
7/3/2011
Let me just say, this is the best view in the city. Outstanding. I forgot how great the view was. The service was also tops. We had Sean, and if he's reading this, let me apologize for our table. He deserved better. Nevertheless, he kept his cool, and did an outstanding job. I would've told more than one person at our table to suck rocks.
And now we get to the food. Honestly, a little disappointing. I had the New York steak, asked for medium rare, and got it medium well. We had the stuffed mushrooms and they were "ok", but were more cream cheese than anything. HOWEVER, the desserts were reeediculous. The lemon pie...just, get it. And the creme brulee hasn't changed in 10 years, and there is good reason for it.
I only give it a 3 stars, because it competes in an arena with Hy's and such, and the food isn't up to that snuff. Same prices, lesser quality.
I'll be back for sure, but likely just for wine, pie and some views. -
Review from TOMICA D.
Vancouver, BC
5/26/2011
Went to a wedding here last weekend and still can't get over the view. I will definitely be bringing visitors here and recommend it as a top spot to celebrate a special occasion. Several other guests at the restaurant came up to the bride to tell her how they sat at our very table when they got married and keep coming back to celebrate their anniversaries (very good omen)!.
Oh, and the beef carpaccio is probably the best I've ever had. The shavings of parmesan and truffles put this dish over the top. -
Review from Steve C.
10/18/2011
Great place for dinner!! Took my girlfriend here for our anniversary dinner. The food was really good and the views of the city are amazing!! They even gave us a complimentary dessert for our anniversary!!
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Review from Kahanalei M.
5/24/2011 1 photo
Their bread that they serve you here is what had really stood out for me (besides the view) - it was warm and soft, and served with butter stamped with BUTTER:-) And no doubt, the view from this place is very nice - we came here when it was rainy and cloudy so we had a limited view of the city skyline and the mountains, but it was still nice, so I could imagine just how beautiful it would be on a clear and sunny day. We were seated right next to the window and the garden below was particularly pretty.
I had their Spaghetti Puttanesca and it was good. Not the absolute best pasta I've ever had in my life, but not at all bad either, for a restaurant that's not specializing in Italian. It was a bit expensive for $17, but that was understandably expected from a place like this. Also, there was a plaque at the entrance of the restaurant stating that Bill Clinton and a former president of Russia had dined here, so right before we stepped in, that was a big sign right there that this restaurant would be special.
The waiter who took my order was pleasant but when another waiter brought our food to our table, they made a mistake with my order (they had brought over another type of pasta dish instead) so I kindly corrected them and within a few minutes, the correct order was brought over and the original waiter came by soon afterwards to apologize for the error.
There's a cozy lounge area right in the front, nice seating areas outside on the patio for warm days, and if it's cold, they have a fireplace there as well. Overall the restaurant itself, interior, ambiance and service is very nice and it would be a romantic place for a date, or for some special occasion. Sunsets from this place must be quite an awesome sight. . . If you are visiting Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, this would be an unforgettable place to have either brunch, lunch or dinner. Highly recommended. -
Review from Kim L.
Vancouver, BC
5/12/2011 1 photo
You MUST bring visitors here! Whether you go before a stroll at QE Park or after, the view is amazing and it's a great place to just get away for an afternoon. You will feel relaxed once you walk in--the staff is friendly and accommodating. They are so used to taking pictures that you don't even need to ask--I pulled out my camera and before I could say anything, my waiter already offered. As dinner went on, I saw many staff members offer this gesture to other tables as well (kudos for proactive service).
My dining partner had th 3 course Sunday prime-rib dinner--it was well worth the price of $32 (came with Caesar salad and a generous double belgium chocolate truffle and fudge cake, which was TO DIE FOR). As for my filet mignon, I ordered it medium, but it was more on the medium well side.
Other than the dessert, I would say the rest of the meal was a solid 3 star rating, but the view and service bumped my overall rating to a 4. I would most likely come back during the spring/summer months with visitors for patio dining and try their brunch...or just skip straight to dessert! -
Review from Nam N.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2011
I haven't been here in a while, but I still remember how great it was. Their prime rib was awesome! Succulent, flowing with juices and flavor, it melted in my mouth. I can't remember anywhere else that has fed me a prime rib as delicious as Seasons did.
The surroundings here in the summer is beautiful, really quiet and feels like you're not in the city anymore because its tucked inside.
Excellent choices in wine, I couldn't even leave because we had such a good time here, and it was only late afternoon. Wasn't busy, service was perfect. The sun was out, what a great way to spend a nice day before taking a short walk in the park.
PRICE: Very good for the service and food you're presented with. Not on the high end. And I just saw an offer for $25 prime rib on Sundays on Yelp, sweet.
SERVICE: Excellent. What you expect from a classy evening.
SUGGEST: Just one of those places you have to try, I'm a fan of the prime rib, but I hear the other dishes are delicious too. Whether during the day or evening, it can be a romantic dinner of a place to relax. You don't have to feel its a place you only go when you want to treat yourself to something special. -
Review from Sheryl D.
3/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's been about three weeks since our last visit here but three things are pretty unforgettable about this place: the breathtaking 360 degree views of the Vancouver skyline, smooth operator servers and the done to perfection food. Certainly a place that rivals Cioppino, without the Yaletown snobbery and the hefty price tag. I had the duck two ways (but done one way because I hate five spice...I know shocker, an Asian person who does not like five spice) and my better half (henceforth known as BH) got a sirloin steak. We also got mixed seasonal greens to share. The real star was the sunburnt lemon pie, delivered simply but spectacularly. I'm not even a huge fan of citrusy desserts to begin with but this blew me away and it's something I'm definitely going back for.
I liked the first bite so much I started planning Easter dinner, Mother's Day brunch (which will involve trafficking my in-laws over from Victoria) and various other birthdays as an excuse to go back, which BH found hilarious because I'm not really easily impressed. Might I add, gorgeous Kristin Kreuk was seated across our table that night! -
Review from Ha T.
2/27/2011 4 photos
Beautiful scenery, beautiful food, beautiful night after a week of non stop rain, and great company makes for a perfect Valentines Day dinner. It can't get any more romantic than this..
We made reservations about a month ahead because we knew it was Valentine's and it would sell out when we were in town and we were right. After a slight detour to get to the top of the hill where Seasons is located, people who came without reservations were turned away or given the option to sit by the bar area which still had a good view. We asked for a table by the window and despite how busy they were, they were able to accomodate us and we didnt even have to wait long past our reservation.
The view of the city and the harbor was breathtaking. The rain cleared up so we were able to enjoy the magnificent view during dinner.
Our waiter was helpful and friendly. There was a Valentines Pre-fix dinner for $45. I chose the surf and turf (shrimp and filet mignon), lobster salad and vanilla creme brulee. The bf had the ducks 2 ways. Both were really good. I enjoyed the mini lobster tail with the salad. It was nice and sweet and not chewy. The filet migon was cooked perfectly medium rare like I like it. I'm not a big fan of the roasted veggies that came with it. The ducks 2 ways was really juicy and tender. The hoisin sauce that accompanied it went great with it. The vanilla creme brulee had actual vanilla beans it but it was nothing spectacular.
Overall, food was great, service was great and the view was breathtaking! It's a must experience if you're visiting Vancouver or if you really want to impress someone. -
Review from Lisa L.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2011 2 photos
My fiance and I invited my parents here a few days before our wedding. It was mid-August and the views were stunning. A dinner on the patio seemed the perfect way to finish our stroll through the park.
The venue was beautiful. From the spacious interior to the open exterior, every detail of the restaurant was coordinated to provide an enjoyable experience. Mum and dad especially loved their view of downtown Vancouver.
The service, the menu, and the fruit flies, however, were questionable. We started with a round of drinks. The waiter spilled dad's beer. While he brought a second, a dozen buzzing fruit flies surrounded where we sat. And they stayed. For. The. Rest. Of. Dinner.
The major drawback was the waiter. When dad asked for pepper on his steak, the waiter had the audacity to tell him that it would disturb the bearnaise sauce. I'm sure the chef is talented, but no, he did not season the steak just so. If he did, we wouldn't be asking for the pepper.
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Went to the restaurant again approximately 7 months later. What an improvement! The valet parking was perfect. We forgot to give them the keys, so they parked it where they could keep an eye on it and did so for the entire dinner.
I ordered the truffled mushroom soup and my husband ordered the olives to start. Both were great and paired excellently with the wine.
Then came the moment of truce.
I ordered what dad ordered last time: the filet mignon with bernaise sauce. It came out, beautifully, and the waiter placed it in front of me. We were seated next to the warm fireplace and overlooking the sparkling lights of the city. I felt like nothing could go wrong.
Then the waiter asks, "Would you like some pepper?"
Yes. Yes, I would.
And nothing does go wrong. He peppers my filet mignon with bernaise sauce and all I can say is: Seasons in the Park, you have redeemed yourself. -
Review from Sherry O.
10/7/2011 1 photo
AWESOME view. Sat on heated patio, couldn't have asked for nicer staff or better food. Crab cake appetizer was to die for!
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Review from Timothy d.
10/12/2010 6 photos
1) They use the same wine glasses for both red and white wines.
2) The wine list doesn't have the year of the wine.
Two fundamental mistakes.
If you can score a window seat, you'll be treated with a lovely view of Vancouver and the park.
The service is really good; our server was a bit on the go-getter side, which meant, he seemed to rush service verses making us feel relaxed.
The salad was cleanly dressed and was amazingly gentle with each bite.
The crab cake was dense and full of robust flavors.
The Duck 2 Ways was for the most part a wicked dish. The seared meat was perfect, both moist and tender.
The roasted portion of the duck dish was tasty for the most part. There were a couple areas that were over-cooked, but I did enjoy it still.
WHILE I DON'T THINK THEY DESERVE FOUR STARS, I CERTAINLY THINK THEY ARE ABOVE THE THREE STAR RANKING. In other words, I'm not a fan of the place, yet.Listed in: Vancouver BC... so many…
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Review from Steph C.
10/26/2010 1 photo
Seasons in the Park is a solid restaurant with a killer view. Located at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park, it overlooks not only tons of greenery, but also the city of Vancouver. Even at lunch, the romance was not lost on me.
The restaurant itself is very pretty, with a classic decor consisting of wood furniture, white linen, and giant picture windows. When we went for lunch, the crowd included both children and elderly patrons, and the atmosphere was cheerful and relaxed. Service was accordingly friendly - not only was our waitress nice, but when we walked in and Matt B. hadn't finished his Starbucks, the host took the cup and poured it into a Seasons mug.
As for the food, Matt noted that it was much better than it had to be, given that people would visit the restaurant and pay premiums even for mediocre meals. I agree. Bread and butter were pretty standard, but what we ordered came thoughtfully prepared with ingredients of obvious quality.
I ordered the chopped salad with a side of ahi tuna on our waitress's recommendation. The salad was a colorful mix of golden beets, green beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, red pepper, cucumber, olives, feta cheese, and hard-boiled egg. I asked for dressing on the side and decided not to send back the salad when that request was ignored. Calories aside, the honey mustard dressing was quite good. The tuna was a nice addition to the salad, although I would've liked more than three small strips when I was paying for the addition. I think if I were to redo my lunch, I would've gone with the Nicoise salad, which I saw at another table. There were fewer vegetables, but twice the amount of tuna for quite a few dollars less than my order.
Matt got the Margherita pizza, and it was somewhat untraditional with some great balsamic tomatoes on flat bread. The tomatoes were tart and acidic and hard to eat on their own, but they made for an interesting pizza. In addition to our entrees, Matt and I split a side order of prawns. This was a skewer with three fat prawns, marinated and grilled and well-seasoned with pepper.
I would take issue with the pricing at Seasons, as everything did seem rather expensive for what it was, but I understand that the breathtaking view was included in the cost of our meal. That being the case - and considering we could've been ripped off for reheated pizza and a day-old salad - I concede that Seasons in the Park was well worth a visit. -
Review from Prisilly A.
9/19/2011
We decided to try out this restaurant after a full day at Van Dusen Botanical Garden and Queen Elizabeth Park. We had heard good things about this restaurant and can only say similar things.
We were clearly underdressed for this restaurant and yet still warmly greeted. We had a table on the patio, near a fireplace with a great view of Downtown Vancouver and nearby mountains.
We ordered a crab cake, clam chowder, and a margherita pizza to share between the two of us. I had a drink but feel like should have gotten the double shot instead of a single. The food was comforting and excellent. Our waitress was superb; she made us feel very welcome and would check up on us often (but not too often). We would definitely recommend to anyone else going to be in this area. -
Review from Quang T.
2/16/2011
Went here during our Vancouver trip. Highly recommend waiting for a window seat. On a clear night you can see the lights to the ski resorts in the mountains and all of Vancouver.
They had a Valentine's Day (i.e. fake holiday to get guys to spend money) pre-fix menu ($45) that came with an appetizer (Lobster & Bacon salad), entree (Surf & Turf Filet Mignon), and desert (Crème Brulee). We ordered the pre-fix and a 2nd entree ($28 Duck 2 Ways) that allowed us to try as many dishes as possible.
The surf and turf filet mignon was juicy and perfectly cooked with baby carrots, parsnip, beets and mash potatoes as sides. Two poached prawns completed the SURF of the dish. The entire entree was delicious.
The two ways duck was literally the best duck I have experienced. It's a five spiced breast with thigh and leg confit (confit?- fully curing the meat in salt, then poaching it slowly in fat, and storing it covered with the fat until you are ready to eat it or cook with it). The breast was first seared with five spices than baked. The thigh and leg confit, I was able to shred the meat off the bone with just my fork. It was that tender. They serve a hoisin duck sauce with it that just complimented the dish. Sides were a potatoe rosti, baby carrots, parsnip and beets. Perfect portions with vegetables if you're feeling guilty about calories.
The lobster and bacon salad was a thin slice of lobster tail with bacon bits. Refreshing, light, perfect for an appetizer. They don't normally offer this dish since it was Valentine's Day but if you see it in the menu order it.
Their mixed drink menu was perfect at $6 a drink (pretty cheap for Vancouver). If it wasn't for the bottle of wine we ordered we would have definitely gone down the list and tried a few (like 10 at that price).
I would say this was the best overall eating experience in all of Vancouver. Great views, great service, delicious food, great drinks and good value. Perfect way to end our trip. -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow! What an experience. Amazing food, amazing view and amazing service. The servers are so smooth and professional they seem to somehow remain in the background and let you enjoy your experience while at the same time being extremely attentive taking care of everything you need.
The wine: excellent. The food: I tried the miso soy marinated black cod with pineapple chive vinaigrette and jasmine rice, and it was amazing. The fish was cooked to perfection and expertly flavoured, and the rice was simple but delicious. The root vegetables served on the side were also excellent.
I am really looking forward to coming here again for a special occasion, hopefully on a clear day. (We were here on a rainy night but still had a pretty impressive view of the city lights.) As others have mentioned, this is definitely the place for a special date! -
Review from Eric B.
Vancouver, BC
3/2/2011 3 photos
The reasons why Seasons in the Park gets a 5 stars are simple: No pretension, great food, amazing service and view.
My girlfriend usually can't hold a secret for too long. She always cracks and admits the surprises she concocted before she can even say "SURPRISE!". But this time she held it long enough for me to be actually really surprised, and I don't get surprised easily.
So it was for my birthday. We usually hunted down the good places but always have to pay tremendous amount of money to eat fancy food. So when I got to Seasons in the Park, I thought this place would cost us the usual 60-80$ per person. Wrong.
To start we ordered the Truffled Mushroom soup (7$) and the Dungeness crab cake (11$). At this price I was stunned. The taste rivals with restaurants charging twice the price for the same food.
For mains, we had the Pan Seared Steelhead Salmon (24$) which was melting in my mouth and the Oven Roasted Free Range Chicken Breast (19$), which... was... melting in my mouth too! Again, the flavors were spot on and a great competition to those other fancy restaurants. Did I say you can't get better food? Unless you receive a massage while eating I can't see how it could have been better.
The service was amazing and really professional. Everyone from the door to the tables were over the top nice, especially the waiter (can we still call them that?).
A side note: I am usually harsh on my reviews if the restaurant "pretends". And I mean pretend as in charging lots of money for food that's not worth it. Decorating fancy and having rude service. If they don't pose as what they are not and they are just truthful, I'll give a 4 solid stars, even for a greasy spoon joint. I would say Seasons in the Park is actually one of the rare places that are doing quite the opposite. They actually pose a good restaurant but in truth, it's a GREAT restaurant.
Total of the bill with tip, around 80$. My birthday cake was on the house. -
Review from Jenna L.
1/27/2011
I have to say the view from the patio is awesome!! Very open view and you can see the city and the harbour from the seating. It also helps any picture I take from here turns out really nice. The service is attentive and curteous.
I tried this place three times, once for dinner and twice for Sunday lunch. I have to say the food is not as impressive as the view. Especially the lunch, we had seafood paella and various sandwiches, but for the price, it was not impressive. The paella lacked flavor and the sandwiches were well, mediocre, nothing outstanding compared to those of other restaurants in the city.
I can see the venue would be a really good place to host an intimate gathering, wedding reception etc, as some occassions I have seen private functions. -
Review from T P.
Vancouver, BC
11/5/2010
Good food, good service 9 out of 10, and plus a beautiful downtown views!!
I would recommend stuffed Mushrooms, dungeness crab & risotto cake, and steak.. They are great!
5 stars :) -
Review from Josh G.
Vancouver, BC
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
Seasons is spectacular. I could easily rate it above 4. The location and view are unbeatable. The patio is amazing with a huge wood fire place, one of my summer favorites.
I've been here twice now, and have enjoyed both visits. The service is top quality, the food is spectaular.
I had the Prime Rib dinner on my first visit, stupendous!
I had the mushrooms caps and seafood linguini on my second, both were awesome. I will say the teahouse does do a slightly better mushroom cap (they add bread crumbs), but both are wonderful.
I highly recommend seasons, a great place for drinks and will score you serious points for a date night.Listed in: Best Date Nights
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Review from Mike P.
2/24/2011
I was very close to giving this place 5 stars, the meal was basically perfect. We visited here on my birthday.
It was awhile ago, but what sticks in my memory are:
1) The great food
2) The fact that we had to go there at 5:15pm because of the "function"...this turned out to be a couple of giant tour groups.
3) The fantastic view, it was a clear night. I would definitely want to go here for lunch on a nice day, or a dinner in the summer so you can take advantage of the view before it gets dark.
Unfortunately (2) took away from the experience somewhat (it made it very loud). That's pretty much the only thing that kept this place from being 5 stars. -
Review from Cynthia F.
Vancouver, BC
1/23/2011
My hubby and I sought a quiet restaurant, quality food, and not too pricey. We were rewarded with all three at Season's in the Park. Besides enjoying the sparkling city night lights from our comfy seats in the lounge, best of all was the bonus of Nicole as our waitress.
We won't spoil the surprise of what's on the menu, but suffice to say the selection and tastes will definitely bring us back again soon.
But best of all again was Nicole. Attentive, personable, delightful. Thank you Nicole.
5 stars :) -
Review from Annie W.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2010 4 photos
Every time I go, I receive the same, if not better service. The food is delicious without a doubt. Even the bread that they serve is delicious! The view is spectacular and can be seen at almost every table. The restaurant's layout is perfect for either tea time outside on the patio during a beautiful spring day or a romantic dinner inside overlooking Vancouver's city lights.
Appetizers that you must try include the "Beef Carpaccio" and the Mixed "Seasonal Greens maple vinaigrette, candied almonds, fresh berries, goat cheese" .
No doubt about it, this is a 5 star restaurant. -
Review from Ed U.
7/10/2010 10 photos
Sure is purty up here. Queen Elizabeth Park is the "other" Vancouver park (Stanley Park is the deservedly more famous one)... it sits over a hilltop that gives way to spectacular views of the downtown skyline against a mountainous backdrop. Nestled near the top is this higher-end restaurant that appears to cater to big wedding parties and other family-friendly special events. Normally I'm not keen on such places especially since I'm usually not allowed at weddings. Funny how one drunken episode with a pair of Fruit of the Looms flung across the dance floor will get you blacklisted.
Well, Jamie W. and I were up in Vancouver last weekend for his birthday, and to celebrate, we came here based on the enthusiastic Yelping that drove the ranking of this restaurant toward the top of the best eats list. Good job, Vancouverite Yelpers... it's a fine place for a fine meal even if there is a slight Mother's Day, plastic-on-the-furniture tinge to the country club-style ambiance. The beauty of the place is that pretty much everyone in either the patio or the dining room gets a view since they elevate the tables in the middle and even set up the chairs to face outward.
The menu is American bistro relatively unadorned with a slight emphasis on Pacific Northwest specialties. Jamie and I shared two openers that wouldn't have been out of place during the Kennedy administration - the C$12 Stuffed Mushrooms and the C$9.50 Iceberg Lettuce Wedge Salad (see photo). Surprisingly, no detail is shared on what the stuffing is, but I tasted chunks of crab meat, green onion and an almost au gratin cheesiness to them. Good stuff. The wedge was a bit overdressed with the blue cheese and "candied" bacon for my taste.
The entrees were substantial and succulent. Jamie ordered the C$24 Pan-Seared Steelhead Salmon with Maple Butter Sauce and Mashed Potatoes (see photo). Coming with a vegetable relish, it tasted fresh though a bit bland if you're looking for more seasoning. Mine was the C$28 Duck 2 Ways, which consisted of a sliced Hoisin Five-Spice Duck Breast and a Leg Confit, all with a Fig Demi-Glace and a Potato Rostï (see photo). I had the exact same dish in Mendocino at Cafe Beaujolais, and this one was much better with the duck very tender and the demi-glace not overly sweet.
Our meal ended there in the flash of a calorie-capping moment since we decided to defer on the tempting desserts. Yes, it was Jamie's birthday, and we didn't even have cake. We were so enraptured with the view and surroundings that we didn't even miss it. Oh, who am I kidding? We were just feeling guilty for all the Japadogs we've been having.
FOOD - 4 stars...fine local cuisine fit for a celebration
AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...nice job allowing almost everyone to have a view
SERVICE - 4 stars...quite polite and attentive
TOTAL - 4 stars...if you are looking for a well-prepared meal that takes advantage of a lovely Vancouver vista, this is the oneListed in: Vancouver, Victoria, Veni,…
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Review from Anita C.
Vancouver, BC
7/16/2010 ROTD 10/5/2010
I organized our 'team retreat' at Seasons in the Park and was very impressed! We booked the room they have downstairs which had an amazing view. It was perfect for our team of 15.
We ordered the 'continental breakfast' for each member of our team and I thought it was a little chincy. It was $17/pp which included a muffin, coffee, juice and some fruit. The quality was superb but I thought the cost of this was still a little bit high.
The staff were very sensitive to the needs of our meeting as we needed it to be very very confidential. The waiter came exactly at noon to take our orders for lunch. (we decided to order a la carte for lunch).
I ordered the Seafood Linguine Marinara with bacon, salmon, cod, prawn, scallops & parmesan cheese. I followed with Little Brownie Mountain vanilla ice cream, caramel, chocolate sauce, candied almonds and chantilly cream. This meal was worth every penny off the corporate credit card!
I would definitely book another team retreat here again but would probably want to order breakfast a la carte as well.
oh yes, and I also saw the lady with the red hats... -
Review from David L.
7/18/2010
When I was young, I used to live right next to Queen Elizabeth Park. Also, I used to go to Q.E. Park almost everyday before I attended pre-school. Today, I went to Seasons in the Park at Q.E. Park for the first time ever.
I was extremely impressed by everything at this restaurant. The service was first class at its finest, the view is the best in Vancouver, and the food is very high quality for this type of restaurant. The food can be describe as fresh B.C. West Coast cuisine. I had a B.C. salmon burger and it was the freshest and juiciest tasting salmon I've had at a restaurant. The bun was very fresh too. I went with my Dad and he had a chicken flatbread pizza with red peppers and cheese. I tried some and it tasted very good and fresh. My Dad told me that it tasted like pizza he had when he was travelling in Italy!
The view at this restaurant is best in Vancouver. There isn't a restaurant in Vancouver with a better view anywhere. I sat in the patio area and I was extremely impress with the surroundings. Service was the best I've experienced in all of Canada. I've travelled all over B.C, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, and Seasons in the Park has the best service I've experienced at a restaurant. The waiters really treated us very well with many water refills, asked about our food tasted, and provided us with extra servings of bread and butter.
Seasons in the Park sets the benchmark for an excellent restaurant that others restaurants of this type should follow. All in all, this is the one very special restaurant in Vancouver or I should say, in Canada
Update: hours later eating at this restaurant, my Dad and I had upset stomach and diarrhea. I came to the conclusion, that it was probably the pizza my Dad ordered. Someone might have not washed their hands properly while preparing the pizza. My Dad never had any of my salmon burger. I had two pieces of his pizza. Will I ever return to this restaurant? Yes! Will I ever order pizza from Seasons in the Park? No.
