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Shore Club - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Steakhouses Seafood, Steakhouses [Edit]
688 Dunsmuir AvenueVancouver, BC V6B 1N3
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 899-4400
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Shore Club
Review Highlights
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"Vanilla-battered Prawns - prawns deep-fried in a crispy..." In 2 reviews -
"Started with the crab cakes and spicy rock shrimp." In 3 reviews -
"Buttermilk Fried Chicken - huge portions of chicken cooked..." In 3 reviews
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am so sad about the itty bitty tiny portions of food.
This place would have gotten a fifth star, but I was really disappointed at the small portions. LET IT BE KNOWN I WAS THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I ATE, just not the size. This is why rich people are thin...
My brother ordered the vanilla battered prawns and it smelled like the PNE walked by. While I normally have a strict policy of sweet things should not contain meat (or in this case animal), I thought it worked. The batter was crisp, but not light like tempura... more like a thin onion ring coating.
We also ordered the dungeness crab cake. OHMIGOSH... that was epic. This was the best crab cake I have ever had. There were nice big pieces of lump crab meat... it looked like the just emptied out a crab for me and formed it into a patty with no fillers. Wow. I love crab a lot... I find it in my hair after dinner sometimes... so nice to get all the crab meat without the work.
Since my dad mentioned they were known for their short ribs, I had that for my main. It's not something I would get again. The meat was very tender, but mine was quite dry and not even the added addition of extra sauce remedied that. Potato okay, grilled veggies okay.
And now on to what I live for--- dah da-da dah... dessert! It's like falling in love... you see it for the first time. You smile and think, should I? You don't think much about it and it's the greatest moment ever. (I have a lot of these moments, sorry hubby). I love you key lime pie! It's like they mixed fresh lime juice into a can of condensed milk and gave it to me... It's so smooth and rich and at least this portion is huge. I could have just eaten half and taken the rest to go, but I thought for shame--- don't waste a to-go container.
Our service was really good. Our waiter was diligent in the water refill and the offering of drinks. He checked on us numerous times and even offered the extra sauce for my sad, dry meat.
The restaurant is a beautiful space, filled with low lights and bright white tablecloths. Tablecloths... that's fancy. They even have an elevator the lazy likes of me. The hostess led us on and then ran up the staircase beside it to show us to our table. I heard there's music in the bar, but since I was at the mercy of my parents, we left with them. -
Review from Herman E.
3/29/2012
Closer to 2.5
So today is the end of the line for the Shore Club. Came here for lunch to experience what everyone seems to enjoy. I came here for its last lunch hurrah.
I was seated quite quickly and noticed that the crowd was a lot older than I had expected. I was told at the end of the meal, that today was busier than usual because it was their last day. I wanted to try this place before it closed. That's why I was here.
The space is trendy, and very lively with the high ceilings. The space is definitely impressive.
Our server was very nice, very pleasant, and knew the menu well.
Overall, the food was a meh.
Bread: served as a small loaf that was cut in half. But the funny thing is, the bread crust was stiff and it was a struggle to cut slices. Why would you serve it this way and not have it sliced?
Trio of fish tartar: It was served slightly warm, and while it didn't taste bad, it didn't wow me either.
Walleye fish: This was breaded with panko crumbs, fried and served with a hash, consisting of onions, peppers, potatoes, and bacon. The fish was a reluctant okkkkkkk, and the hash had a bit of a funny taste, and was quite salty. Meh overall.
Buttermilk fried chicken: I got nearly a 1/4 chicken serving. I didn't finish it, too big of a serving for me. While I was impressed that the breast wasn't dried out and chewy, the rest of the chicken tasted, you guessed it,.....meh. Joe Fortes does it 100x's better, in terms of texture and taste. It also came with a choice of fries, mashed potatoes, caesar or green salad. I opted for the green salad. I was not impressed with the salad. There was no choice of dressing. It came with a small, and I do mean small, amount of vinaigrette and looked like it came from a pre-made salad bag.
Pricing is similar to Fortes but I have to say that the food was underwhelming. It wasn't bad, but I know I could get better food elsewhere.
If someone were to ask me to recommend it, I would give a reluctant "Yes", only because I think it is worthwhile to experience the space. Food is nothing to brag about.
Either way, I can't recommend it, because it is closing after dinner service today. -
Review from Louise G.
End of an era.
At least it is the end of the Shore Club. A once thriving and happening place - where other restaurant owners ate with people they wanted to impress (or hide from their wives!!!). Vancouver, as large as we might like to think we are, doesn't have a very large population of diners/consumers considering the vast competition, and that population is gets even smaller, and has been spending less over the past few years.
I'd been a few times many years ago and found it very enjoyable. It is the kind of place you walk by when you are downtown and always think "I should go there some day" - whether you've been there or not. And then you don't, and like so many other things in life, the opportunities can pass you by. Sometimes forever.
Shared appetizer was the pan-fried oysters. Delicious. Juicy and flavourful - very fresh. Wonderful preparation. Could have eaten an entire platter of these.
(Pic: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... )
Entrees for myself and my lovely guest were Sauteed Scallops and Prawns and Salmon Wellington.
http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
We both enjoyed our meals very much. My prawns and scallops were perfectly prepared. Large and juicy seafood. Very impressive. I could have drunk the oily broth right off the plate but instead I managed to contain myself to blissfully soaking up some of it with the fresh bread provided. I was thoughtless and neglected to offer any of my prawns or scallops to my friend to sample and I scarfed them all down by myself. Even though we'd just had a conversation about the delight of shared food and food experiences. Der! She was very kind to suggest I try her salmon wellington which was definitely one of the best ones I've ever had. Nice pastry: not too thick and not too greasy. The fish inside was tender and moist and had a lovely texture and taste. Beautifully done.
We each had a cocktail, the names of which I've completely forgotten. I think I had some sort of European Fling? International Passion? Tourist Rendezvous? I almost felt cheesy ordering it but after a few sips of it any shame was washed away. It would become increasingly easy to order another, and another, and another. My companion ordered something which I believe she referred to as a 'fancy Manhattan' - but the actual name of which also escapes me. I'd have to say that the fact that I cannot remember the names of the beverages would be testament to their potency.
Dessert. Oh yes. I was a greedy girl. My brain and my eyes are often bigger than my stomach. Lord lipton jinglebell moses jubilee!!!! I ordered the mother of all hot fudge brownies. Don't know why my alcohol fuel brain thought that it would be a nice light snack. Oh wait... alcohol. It was amazingly large and looked like a chocolate mirage with a hot fudge waterfall cascading over an ice cream cloud. Full of nuts. Cross between a cake brownie and a fudge brownie. Overpoweringly rich and I was unable to finish - so I'm docking a point from the Shore Club for making me feel guilty and overindulgent. But I'm also giving them 4points for the same reason.
(Brownie: http://www.yelp.ca/biz... )
Thanks to the Shore Club for many years of over indulgences. -
Review from Sam K.
Vancouver, BC
2/8/2012
Been here a few times now. Decor is nice, service has always been perfect and the fried chicken is the best I've ever had.
Seeing the other reviews, maybe it's only good for the chicken, I dont know. I've never even considered having anything else -
Review from Sin-Yaw W.
12/22/2011
Need a place to talk after a business meeting and this looks quite suitable. So we just walked in. There were 4 people at the front desk offering coat services and others. We were seated pretty much immediately on this Monday for lunch.
Menu was short but enticing. I ordered Fried Chicken #14, mostly just for the curiosity. The number refers to the recipe of the sauce which was interesting. But the chicken was the best fried I have ever tasted. Nicely crispy skin, juicy meat, falling off the bones tenderness. It was wonderful.
Companions order lobster cobb salad and steak sandwich. All were very satisfied. The seating and environment were very good for a semi-business lunch. We were happy campers.
The only complaint is on the ice tea. They were pre-sweetened and too much so. I stuck to the water. -
Review from Hootie J.
Vancouver, BC
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
the Shore Club is a classy joint, but they let the less than "well dressed" in, good/ bad I don't know.
They make the BEST Caesar in town (maybe anywhere, I just have not been everywhere!)
I am a fan and will try and drag as many people as I can to eat there :P -
Review from Vincci L.
Updated - 12/6/2011 3 photos
On the Vancouver Magazine's 101 Things to Taste list:
Dungeness Crab Cake: no fillers, all crab, served with horseradish dill mayonnaise. It's $18, but try it at least once.Listed in: Best Things To Eat and Drink…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2009
Another rainy Thursday night, where to go for dinner? (this pertains to the same event as Larry's… Read more »
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Review from Tania M.
North Vancouver, BC
1/1/2012
I have been here many times for business lunches. It is quiet enough to have a decent conversation and the service is very good. The interior is beautifull with a stunning staircase that leads to the upper level.
People go grazy for the Fish Tacos. I have had the Seafood Cannaloni which is good and some of the specials. The food is OK but I have never been overly impressed with the menu. -
Review from Nicole F.
12/27/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here a few times now and I always feel like such a poser when I walk through the door. The only reason I'm in there is for work-related reasons and I'm not paying. (As if I even could..)
A group of 12 of us had reservations for last Thursday to have a late lunch.
This is probably the only restaurant I'll ever be in that has a coat check. I must say, I was a little embarrassed to even hand them my ancient coat from Sears... but I'm hoping they've seen worse. That being said, I've never been treated as though I'm unwelcome at all. All of the Shore Club employees are very warm and pleasant people.
We started with a few lovely bottles of Shiraz, one was Grant Burge and the other was Rosemount. The GB was definitely the favourite!
For my appetizer I chose the Beet Salad with crumbled goat cheese and pecans! I can't remember what style the pecans were - maybe honey roasted? They weren't overpowering or anything. They were perfect. The salad comes with cubes of both red and golden beets and a very nice mild goat cheese. Normally I'm not a goat cheese person at all, but this was good. Not too sharp and overpowering the way I usually find it to be. Other than that, regular iceberg lettuce and a nice cream-based dressing. It was pretty filling too. SO tasty! I'll definitely order this next time.
There were no vegetarian options listed on the menu, so I asked what I could have made, and was presented with a delicious butternut squash ravioli in a cream sauce with truffle oil, on a bed of sauteed spinach. YES! Oh this was delightful. I was so full from the beet salad that I couldn't quite finish it, but I tried hard..
Nobody wanted to eat an entire dessert, so we ordered a few of different ones to put in the middle of the table and share. I had bites of the old fashioned brownie, the apple crumble, the key lime pie and the vanilla bean creme brulee.
The brownie was really nutty and rich and warm and topped off with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's good if you are a fan of nuts in your brownies, if not I would avoid this one.
The apple crumble was alright, not memorable though. I can't think of anything else to say about it, except that it also came with ice cream on top.
The key lime pie was delicious! Very flavourful and the right amount of tangy. I should have had a few more bites.. AH, regret..
The vanilla bean creme brulee was great too. Very creamy and delicious. I'd recommend this one for sure.
A few of us also had what we were told was a "pick me up" as we were a little sleepy from all the wine. It came in a giant glass on ice.. I believe it was baileys, espresso and a shot that I can't quite remember.. Ah well, it's good. You should order it! -
Review from Yvonne H.
Vancouver, BC
1/17/2011
Sooo...I finally went to the Shore Club after hearing positive reviews about it. The atmosphere is nice, posh and all that wonderful jazz. I usually don't hit up the fancy pants establishments but on this occasion it was for a birthday dinner so I was excited to try out something new.
However, I did not come ready and prepared with a hungry stomach so decided to stick with something light. I asked the waiter which soup he recommended and he gave me a single answer without a moment's hesitation: lobster bisque. Either he's not much of a talker or this soup is so good that no other words are needed to convince me that this is some good lickin' soup.
Well, turns out it was not that great of a soup. I mean, it tasted fine but it didn't knock my socks off. I normally like my lobster bisque with chunks of, well, lobster in it but I think they just use the meat for flavour which left me slightly depressed.
To make me feel better, I ordered the steamed mussels and sampled my friends' appetizers which included the scallop and prawn ceviche and the steak tartare. Again, the food was not bad; it was just unimaginative and predictable.
For the price I paid, I could've had a full meal with dessert somewhere else and leave with a belly full of content and satisfaction. -
Review from Peter L.
Vancouver, BC
I have been going to Shore club since it opened over 3 years ago. I took my wife for Valentine's Day and they had a set three course menu, which unfortunately did not include the spicy popcorn rock shrimp. When I asked if I could substitute it I was forced to try something else which was the pepper-crusted bigeye tuna.
We started with drinks my wife had a glass of the rose which she absolutely loved, I had a gin tonic with cucumber and lime which was made perfectly.
Next we had 6 fresh Sawmill Bay oysters, which were also amazing. I would definitely recommend them.
On to the appetizers, Sandra had the Vanilla-battered prawns which she described as melt in your mouth good. I had one taste and can only describe it as fine dining meets PNE mini doughnuts, it may be my new favourite. As for the Tuna, it was good but greatly over shadowed by the battered goodness that Sandra had.
Our steaks were cooked perfectly as usual and the garlic tiger prawns were a great addition.
The dessert took awhile to come but was worth the wait. Sandra had the Creme Brûlée and I had the Sorbet. The brûlée was very good and the black current, lemon and mango sorbet flavors were a wonderful finish to the evening.
Our waiter was Jude whom we've had as our server over the years. As always he was great, and I would recommend requesting him if you can.
All in all, it was a Great meal, a great experience and will definitely be coming back as often as we can. -
Review from Mary S.
Surrey, BC
2/26/2011
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver. But not for the reasons you think:
It's true, they are famous for their delicious steaks, but this place is much more than that - this is dining the way it was meant to be.
I love coming to their lounge - I've been coming here since it opened three years ago. If I had a bad day at work, this is where you'll find me. As soon as you enter your senses are visually stimulated by the classic decor and the wood and glass accents. Most nights they have live music.
The staff is always courteous and knowledgeable. Their bartenders - skillful. I dare you to find a better dirty martini anywhere in the city. Their cocktails and wine lists are innovative and fresh. This is a great place to have a drink.
You can have full restaurant service at the lounge or if you prefer a more formal dining experience, they have an upstairs dining room. Some of my favorite dishes include:
The lobster bisque - this dish is made with atlantic lobster and its completed with a shot of sherry served at table side. The servers bring fresh, warm potato bread at request, and it's simply heavenly.
Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio - tender, juicy tenderloin served with a drizzle of Dijon sauce and capers. The meat just melts in your mouth.
Vanilla-battered Prawns - prawns deep-fried in a crispy tempura with a hint of vanilla. Served with a side of spicy sweet and sour sauce.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken - huge portions of chicken cooked to perfection every time! always juicy and never greasy.
This is an upscale dining experience - and that's what you're paying for, a great experience. Try The Shore Club. You won't regret it. -
Review from Paul R.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2012
The Shore Club is CLOSING its doors at the end of the month.
I had my last meal here recently at one of the last vestiges of class in Vancouver.
The owners are apparently turning it into another of their Keg locations, so I've been told. It's a gorgeous space; from the decor, spiral staircase, fantastic elevator...
If you don't want to spend a whole lot of money drop by for a cocktail, or glass of wine and try one of their great starters; crab cakes, oyster stew, to name a couple of winners. I will miss this great place but always anticipate the reinvention of a great room. They also operate nearby Gotham, which reflects some of the same menu somewhat.
I have to say I was a bit put off on my last visit when my (male) server presumptuously decided to order my beverages his way, and although I had questions about the food menu he just went ahead and pushed me to order items without letting me decide. This is an exception to the respectful, professional service normally given here.
If you've ever wanted to try Shore Club, go now! -
Review from Jim P.
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Classy place. A little pricey? yes. But when you're walking around on a rainy afternoon, and your tired of chasing down five stars, but 2 dollar signs, just do yourself a favor, and pick the high end place.
This is the respite that you deserve. This is the quality that you know you can put on "automatic pilot" This place has a warm and dark wood decor, with soaring ceilings. and two floors of seating.
Seemed like a mostly female waitstaff dressed in daper white coats.
I just cozied up to the bar, invisible to the lunch business people, and asked my friendly Canadian dude bartender and ordered a nice Cabernet, and watched some rugby on the teley.
Started with some West coast oysters at $3 each, and they were wonderful. They always run out of these on the East coast, so I took this opportunity to guaranteed my sea salty goodness.
Also had some of the soup of the day, creamy tomato soup with a nice dolop of cream on top. The bread that came with the meal was actually amazing and rounded out this small lunch nicely. Pamper yourself sometimes. This is a great place to do that. -
Review from Christopher L.
Vancouver, BC
3/12/2011 17 Check-ins Here
This is our after work place, always a spot available unless a party takes the entire lounge or section.
Even though it looks and feels posh, the staff are not pretentious or snobby. Efficient, helpful, and friendly. The barkeeps keep the lounge professional but casual and down-to-earth..
Upstairs is more classical fine dining, nice view from some tables overlooking the lounge and bar. The food is very good but not great, and sometimes it can be lonely upstairs on slow nights.
My favourite is the Number 14 Chicken, it is so far the best fried chicken in Vancouver I've had.
Yes, the food is pricey, however, I find that the sides such as asparagus, shoe string fries, mashed potatoes, and tomatoes are filling and reasonable to go along with the usual drinks and wine selection if you don't feel like the steak or seafood main plates.
I prefer this place as it is quiet and always accessible seating, it can be as casual or classy as you make it...
The Law has eaten and imbibed and always returns... -
Review from Barbara M.
12/22/2009
Great service, great food, chic decor & high end - what more could you ask for, eh? Well, I guess you "could" ask for more, but then people would just call you, picky! lol
The only negative...was that my server spilt my martini all over the table and my dress. The manager offered to pay my dry cleaning bill, but I live in Beautiful Sunny California (wink), therefore the probability of me actually having the restaurant rectify the cleaning was low. Even with me airing my dirty laundry; so-to-speak...I thought that this place was great! -
Review from L K.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2010
This place is very upscale and pricey. We went here before our comedy show a few weeks back and we liked it even with the high prices.
The highlight of our night:
- attentive and wonderful server
- great drinks selection
- Really good mussels appy and soup
- good sizable portions for sides (ie. veggies, fries, etc.)
The lows of our night:
- our vegetable sides were a bit salty for our taste.
- the Steak Tartare was a bit odd tasting as we were not used to the european type of steak tartare compared to the sweeter /saltier Korean type of Steak tartare.
Otherwise, definitely a place for fat cats, upper echelon and high income society. Will definitely have to dress nicer next time I come (I was in Lululemon sweatpants and long sleeve tee). -
Review from Emily C.
9/13/2009
Let me try to convey my experience at the Shore Club as non-biased as possible.
It's very fancy. Caters to the upper echelon of the city and probably attracts a lot of yuppie wannabes that don't really belong. Thus, painting Vancouver to be a city with a lot of wealth when really, it's just a bunch of Generation Y's living at home with a surplus of cash.
But I digress, this is not a blog on my views but on the restaurant. I had a steak, potatoes, and wine. Honestly, wouldn't really say it's that much above and beyond something like, the Keg. But prices do well exceed. -
Review from Alexander Bromley Clark D.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2010
I remember walking along Granville - year after year - wondering about what would become of the historic and vacant Hudson Building at Dunsmuir. The building was finally gutted in 2007 and steak magnate David Aisenstat was able to lease the space in June of that year. He promptly hired Elaine Thorsell of Boti Interiors to begin an $8 million renovation of the space, and the interiors were coated in a mid-century patina of Mahogany and dark velvet. The nine-meter neon sign out along Granville also fits in nicely with the retro Vogue and Orpheum singage, which mark a revival of the city's theatre district which was thriving in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Shore Club is divided between two floors: a casual and lofty lounge on the bottom, and a formal diningroom upstairs. Reflecting Aisenstat's passion for the East Coast steakhouse and the bygone "dining club" era, the lounge specializes in cocktails, but they also have a fine selection of draft beer.
Six of the nine people at our table ordered (surprise, surprise) steak. Our placid waiter recommended the bouillabaisse and the filet-prawns surf n' turf. I decided to opt for the former because it sounded amazing and I wanted to experience something different from The Shore Club's doppelganger, Gotham. I felt bad that the only thing on my mind as the steaks approached was my meal at Gotham a while back. However, all thoughts (and I mean alll) thoughts evaporated as my dish arrived before me. The bouillabaisse was bombastic, and I could barely see everyone's expressions of exasperation over this superstructure of scallops, snow crab and shrimp...standing within a clear saffron broth. The dish also contained mussels, halibut and clams. It was a veritable Casa Batllo of crustaceans!
My dining companions touted the sauteed asparagus, the spicy mushrooms and the salt and vinegar shoestring fries as sides to their steaks. They were not so keen on the steamed broccoli, the mashed potatoes or the tempura onion rings.
While our meal was faultless, I will not be back to The Shore Club's diningroom. I would rather bask in the restaurant's $8 million lounge, watch the game on one of the numerous flatscreens, and then mosey on down to Gastown to eat from one of the city's more innovative, creative kitchens. This plan will also enable me to return home at the end of the night with an extra $30-$50 in my tight little pockets. -
Review from Rich B.
9/18/2009
Pub food and drinks. Restaurant service. Ridiculous prices.
I haven't felt this ripped off since the time I paid a bloke from Reading a grand for a VW camper only to find the body was two-thirds paste and the gearbox was held in by an elastic band. And I didn't even pick up the tab.
I went for their beet salad with goats cheese, which was made with ingredients from Costco - iceberg, newman's italian dressing and roasted pecans. For main I head their 'signature' bouillabaisse. It was utter crap. Lots of fish, a slice of crab leg, couple of claws, granted but each thing tasted like it was cooked somewhere completely different and didn't see the broth until it hit the plate. The bread was 'grilled' on a hot grill but frankly just tasted burnt, the rouille was so bland I think it might have just been tinted mayo and the broth - well I've tasted better dishwater. And it cost 38 bucks.
Absolute pretentious rubbish.
What a waste of a night out. And to think I got myself in trouble with the wife over that. I'll still be seething into next week. Hy's is great but they have overstretched themselves here. -
Review from Andrew L.
Port Moody, BC
11/28/2008
Just came back from a great lunch at Shore Club in downtown Vancouver. Gorgeous room, looks as nice, high end and well decorated as it gets - love the open kitchen, the many nooks and the high vaulted 2 or 3 storey opening in the middle.
One giant crab cake was $18, with whole crab inside, not flakes - very nice
Had the Lobster Roll with a Caesar salad - $20 - loved it, tons of lobster meat - very nice
Seafood Canneloni was also supposed to be very good
Service was perfect - Franz was the perfect combination of attentive and discreet, leaving us alone when we were deep in discussion.
This is the sort of place that AC/DC, Jimmy Pattison etc dine at - but really, at $20 for a lunch entree - anyone can save up and enjoy a great lunch! -
Review from Mimi H.
Vancouver, BC
6/27/2009
I'll set the scene...6 Texans in town on holiday visiting yours truly, find themselves in need of dinner. And these aren't just any 6 Texans. This is my family and everyone in this group has been a member of AARP for well over a decade.
The gang was staying at the Four Seasons and the concierge recommended Shore Club and since it was right around the corner, it was where we picked. First of all, it's a beautiful space...the finish out is lovely and interesting. However, you can appreciate my concern that the travel weary group, some in starched Wranglers and boots no less, had chosen poorly upon seeing the servers in formal white dinner jackets. I anticipated a level of snootiness that thankfully never materialized. The staff was formal and yet very friendly. Perfectly attentive and genuinely seemed to appreciate their colorful way of speaking and big personalities.
(SIDEBAR: Just because someone has a thick southern accent doesn't mean they're uneducated!)
As for the food, while not very imaginative, it was well prepared and tasty. The menu is pretty traditional but full of tried and true favorites. While it's probably not a restaurant I'll go back to again, my one experience there was top notch. -
Review from Larry L.
10/24/2009 4 photos
So there's a group of us trying to figure out a place to eat. Goldfish? Gothams? Chinese food? What??!!!
Lets try the Shore club!!!!
On our drive downtown, I was using my little wee I phone Yelp app to check out the reviews. We had some pretty good laughs reading some of them, but most everything was good. Mmmmmm we were all saying as I read aloud a review on the crab cakes and another on the desert. Of course we had to try those! And we did!
We sat upstairs in a nice corner part of the restaurant in a round table. Great for conversation. I love "round table talks" at dinner.
We had a bottle of wine, started with the appy's like the mussels in wine, the crab cakes of course and some other dishes that I should but can't remember. (There's always something to be said about posting something when it's fresh in your mind). Each of us had something different for our main courses. I chose the Smoked Alaskan Black Cod (I can never get enough of this) and a bunch of sides. For the sides they're really nothing special. Mushrooms, potatoes, asparagus etc.
The reason why I gave this place such high praise is that it's a classy establishment where you can take clients out and not be dissapointed. The service is top notch. The waiters know their food and wine and the food is consistent. Coming from a background of Gothams and Hy's, this is a nice coninuation on the theme but with seafood.
Yes, it is pricey, but not that pricey. And they are also very accomadating. -
Review from john h.
Mississauga, ON
5/11/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Oh man, i crushed this place last night.
Servers were friendly, blah, blah. Let's talk about the food.
Started with the crab cakes and spicy rock shrimp.
Crab cakes are great. No filler, just tonnes of dungeoness crab. The horseradish/dill mayo they serve it with was just fantastic.
The rock shrimp were very tasty as well, cooked perfectly.
Next I had the lobster bisque, which was probably the only disappointing thing of the evening. Not that it was bad or anything, but a severe lack of lobster. I think there were like 3 legit pieces in the whole thing.
For my main I ordered the porterhouse, which has seasoned and cooked to perfection. Beautiful. For sides we had the scalloped potatoes and beefsteak tomatoes. Tomatoes were super fresh and tasty and the balsamic was a good qaulity. Potatoes were a bit messy but full of flavor.
My girlfriend had the special, which I believe was arctic char, in a saffron broth with scallops and potatoes. It was very underwhelming. Lacked flavor and seasoning, and wasn't presented all that well.
I finished with the coconut cream pie which was a slice of heaven. I can't do it justice with words, you just have to try it for yourself!
Overall it was a good dining experience. The presentation of the dishes was not great, but the quality of ingredients and general good technique helped them pull off a good meal!
I'll definitely head back to try some of the other things I couldn't fit in my stomach that night. :) -
Review from Tabatha Anne Y.
Richmond, BC
8/14/2010
The one time I've been here was for a work lunch back in April.
We were seated in a beautiful private room upstairs. Our waiter was friendly, knowledgable of the food and polite.
The food came quickly, but we weren't in a hurry.
The food was plated elegantly, and tasted pretty good and fresh. I had halibut with ravioli and tiger prawns. The prawns were GROSS but the rest was lovely. Something weird and white that resembled puss came out of one of my prawns which really turned off my apetite. Bleh. The dessert was really nice, I had a rich browny that was warm and mm mm good.
Glad I didn't have to pay though! Seemed really pricey. Nice for a special occasion but I would never dine there outside of a work event.
The reason I didn't give more stars is because of the price in relation to what you get, coupled with the gross prawn incident. -
Review from John S.
6/7/2010
After a long day of sightseeing and touring, we decided to give this place a try. As we walked in, we were immediately greeted by the host. They offered to take our coats, which was a pleasant surprise. We were showed to our table located upstairs overlooking the bar below. Very nice decor, modern, and could totally see this place pack during the weekend.
Had the mojito, perfectly made. Appetizer, onion rings - classic, nice and crispy. For main, I had the rib-eye. It was juicy, cooked perfectly the way I requested.
Overall, it was a great experience. -
Review from Jo D.
Vancouver, BC
6/20/2010
Poor service. Hit and miss with the food. Overpriced.
I knew ahead of time that it would be a pricey meal so expected the first class service and delicious food that should go along with those prices. I was disappointed on both fronts.
Food:
The dishes we tried were the fried chicken, smoked black cod, grilled mahi mahi, salt & vinegar fries, popcorn rock shrimp, scalloped potatoes, steamed broccoli. The fried foods (chicken, fries, shrimp) were good. Can't really screw up broccoli. However, the two fish dishes were insanely salty. I like savoury/salty foods but damn, the black cod was essentially inedible and we had to eat the mahi mahi without the sauce. We didn't touch the scalloped potatoes after the first few bites due to the excessive saltiness.
Service:
After notifying the waiter of the saltiness, he initially had no reaction. He literally just walked away. We tried again but still, no reaction. Finally, he came over to tell us that we didn't know what black cod should taste like (we do, it's our fave fish), and that we, simply put, did not have the palate for the dish. !?!? Condescending much? No apology was ever proferred.
They also mucked up our bill and, for what it's worth, the manager was apologetic, but the waiter was not. It was less than a $10 difference, and if the service had been worth the mandatory 18% service charge, we would have let it go. It was not.
Overall:
Will not be returning to the Shore Club again. When I drop that much money for a meal, I want it to be a good experience. -
Review from Chris N.
Victoria, BC
1/22/2009
Just popped in for an appy plate of oysters and a warm up cocktail.
Nothing but impressed.
The service was top notch. The decor is an excellent blend of days gone by with a modern twist.
My manhattan was excellent except it was served in a Martini glass instead of an old fashioned. I guess I am just a sucker for the details.
Part of the chain of Steakhouses which includes Gotham, the Keg and Hy's. -
Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2010
Late on a Friday about 10pm it hit, we need steaks, lets try the Shore Club. I went to open table on my phone and 15 minutes later we were walking in. All I can say is first calss from greeting to leaving. Great steaks and wine we left at midnight and though it was near empty did not at all feel rushed out. A place like this in my other home Santiago Chile would be filling up as we were walking out, too bad its in Vancouver.
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Review from Kal B.
5/22/2010
wanted to see what all the hype was about..
we had a bday dinner here with about 10 people incl. 2 babies (awww)
very great service i have to say.. knowledgeable, helpful and attentive
this place is definitely pricey and you have to expect that going in.. its one of those places that you have to go all in and not worry about the end result.. they do offer some great dishes tho..
i got to try the popcorn shrimp which was so flavourful and came with a delightful dipping sauce.. the mussels were fab as was the broth.. this one's a no-brainer
for the main i went with the $50 porterhouse which was an insanely large portion.. bone in.. it was quite tasty
i also sampled the macadamia nut crusted halibut which was flaky soft melt in the mouth good
for sides i tried scalloped potatoes (Great!), mashed potatoes (average) and creamed corn (GOOOOD!)
for dessert i had the coconut cream pie which was really good but it didn't knock my socks off like the other reviews have mentioned but still worth getting.. sampled the black forest cake (blah), key lime pie (not bad) and the apple crumble (Ok)
3 of us split a bottle of Malbec which was very nice.. 42 for the bottle and well worth it.. i had a highball as well which was done right
i walked away with a total damage of $120, which considering everything wasn't bad.. had a great nite and was stuffed (the food is pricey but they give you good-sized portions) -
Review from Nano H.
Vancouver, BC
2/2/2009
I went for dinner here with my uncle and some extended family and I can say that it was nothing short of delicious. An incredible fine-dining atmosphere with a punishingly good menu. I had the Halibut dish and was blown away by the flavour. You order all of your greens and extras as side plates and the ones we purchased were phenomenal (they were beets, and the spicy mushrooms). We had a fairly large group and received excellent service. All in all I would highly recommend this place.
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Review from Bee O.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2009
Let me start by saying that Shore Club has amazing food. I have been there several times and the food has not yet disappointed. I was discouraged from ordering certain dishes due to the prices, however, it was the right decision to order them because they turned out amazing. I highly recommend the short ribs. Amazing.
Now, for the reason that my rating is 3 stars instead of 5. I was not too happy with the service, and the service means a lot to me.
Two occurrences:
1) when the waiter asked if our table was going to order any drinks or wine and we declined, he had a sour face for the rest of the night.
2) I don't mind if a waiter is friendly, however, one of the waiters took a strangely intense interest in my phone and asked a few too many questions about it, and a few questions that, from a waiter to a customer, seemed to cross the line for me. Maybe it was just that one time, but still. I would expect that a place like Shore Club would have staff that are good at serving and also know how far is too far.
Anyways, Shore Club is worth going to, and do not get discouraged by the prices. Some things may seem expensive but you will find that it was worth it.
Enjoy! -
Review from Mike O.
Port Moody, BC
9/6/2008
Whatever you decide to eat there is fine with me. Whether you're having the fried calamari with yogurt dip or the macadamian crusted halibut that will make you swear off of deep fried fish and chips forever, you won't be let down. The place looks like a restaurant out of an old gangster movie. It's old style decor makes you feel like James Cagney is about to roll through the doors with his gang of thugs. What I'm here to tell you about is the best part of the entire meal... the one we all crave for but seldom brave for... dessert. More specifically, the coconut cream pie! Listen, i know that some of you may say that they're all the same, and most are, but the pie at the Shore Club is hands down the creamiest and biggest peice I've ever had! The slice they give you is about the size of half a pie. It's big enough for three people. The coconut flavour is real coconut, not from a can. I was told that they make each slice from scratch. They shave real coconut and use real cream to give you a dessert that actually leaves you feeling fresh, not full. Look, if you're looking for a place to have coffee and a slice of pie, take yourself to the Shore club and just order the pie. It's $10 for a slice, but that won't matter once the first bite melts in your mouth. Damn! I'm going there tonight.
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Review from Tara M.
Vancouver, BC
6/19/2010
Boo. The food here is way over-priced for the quality. Honestly, this stinks of the found-across-Canada "Keg" chain. I don't care if they put some fancy art up. I have given meals a try here three times and have alway come away feeling ripped off for what I got for too much money. I would have previously said that going to the lounge for drinks was OK but wow--on a recent trip, our server left without telling us she transferred the bill to a new server and when the bill arrived, our group had been clearly charged for items that the table beside us had (drinks that none of us had, for certain). And a person in our group that left early ran her cc through and it wasn't credited to our bill!! We tried to reason with the (new) server but she didn't know because the table was "new to her." We suggested she call the original server that left without telling us but she was adamant that she wouldn't be able to get a hold of her--WHAT? She didn't try. Long story short, we were stuck with $60 on our bill that we shouldn't have been. I'd rather eat at the Timmy Ho's across the street. Boo. Boo.
