- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Sushi Bars Seafood, Sushi Bars [Edit]
1535 Johnston StVancouver, BC V6H 3R9
Neighbourhood: Granville Island/False Creek
(604) 669-9030
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 1 am
Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- 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, Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
126 reviews for The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The black cod is still absolutely amazing."
(in 13 reviews)
"i love their oyster selection, fresh sheet, and salads."
(in 7 reviews)
"Had the mussel mania with honey lager and."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
126 reviews in English
-
Review from Linda C.
Vancouver, BC
2/7/2012
Feb 4, 2012
I have passed by the Sandbar a number of times but hadn't really had the urge to try this place out. Since it was part of DOV, my boyfriend and I decided to try their DOV lunch menu. We called two weeks beforehand to reserve a table, but apparently our reservation was lost. (Hence the four stars and not five stars). Fortunately, we didn't have to wait for a table since we were there early. The manager himself took us to the patio on the second floor and the view was amazing. That in itself was perfect.
I had the braised beef to start and it was one of the most amazing dishes during our DOV2012 adventure. It was tender, it fell apart when I touched it, but most importantly, it was very flavourful. Only complaint was the I wish there were more pieces of beef because this was an amazing dish.
I had part of the sable fish dish and part of the 4oz rib eye+ tiger prawn dish for the main. The sable fish was a perfect 10 out of 10. It was soft, tender and moist. It was perfect. The rib eye itself could have been more tender, I have had bigger and better rib eyes at other places (eg. The Keg, Chop, Boathouse)
I had the apple strudel for dessert and the combination of sweet cold ice cream with the warm nonsweet strudel was perfect. It was the perfect ending to the lunch.
The service itself was attentive, yet not suffocating. My coffee was refilled immediately when it was empty. The food was brought promptly even though the restaurant was full. Miranda, our server, was friendly and approachable.
I would definitely return again for brunch. The service, view and food was worth it. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2012
Oh Sandbar - how I wanted to love you ! I was married at the Teahouse and frequent Carderos often so I certainly liked my odds - I went with a few girlfriends to celebrate a friends engagement and thought what better time to head to Granville Island ! The service was attentive for the most part, a small incident regarding my missing side plate that took a rather large amount of time to be brought to me while warm dinner rolls taunted me from the basket was easily excused.
Perhaps our mistake was going during dine-out although nobody in my party ordered off that menu, my food was merely ok and when I say ok I mean my Asian lettuce wraps were served with brown lettuce (gasp) and to some people this may seem like no biggie but for me it is one of the most hideous things imaginable, no jokes. My hatred of brown lettuce is deep rooted and a very serious no no in my book - now in all fairness the server whisked it away with all haste in a flurry of apologies and offerings of replacement lettuce/dishes but my tummy was turned and that was it for me. My friends all had fish dishes but by all accounts things were a bit over done and the only cure was three side helpings of there butter sauce which was ridiculously delish and would make any meal acceptable - perhaps I should have smeared some on my brown lettuce ?
The beet salad was perfection as was the wine, the company alone made the visit worth it but overall I will not be falling all over myself to be heading back across the bridge for the Sandbar alone.
By the way my lettuce wraps were taken off the bill, as one would expect, without a word being said hence the third star otherwise for me it would have been a two star visit. -
Review from Long H.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012
It was a few days after Season's in the Park that we went here and later realized it was under the same company or management, Sequoia. Once again, we didn't get the best view, what a shame as one of our party members mentioned that we should have asked to be on the upper floor! How upsetting is that for both Dine Outs from the same company to get shafted like that =p Oh well, it wasn't bad.
This was a $28 menu and I would now never consider order Sushi from a non-Japanese restaurant (not to be racist) but the California Roll appetizer was not to par with the Japanese food I have been used to and satisfied with. I chose the 4oz steak and tiger prawn and to my satisfactory it was not bad. I knew what I was getting and I couldn't complain. We enjoyed our dinner but was not aware that we could have upgraded the entree. I suppose I could have asked as I didn't even think of looking at the regular menu because I was busy playing with my phone as my data had turned off thanks to Roger's not-so-smart staff not knowing what date it was that my plan should switch. Unfortunate that it had to happen to me.
Anyways, the dessert I had was the ice cream and apple strudel which was not bad. I think I liked more of the ice cream than the apple strudel but oh well haha.
Decent place to go and is not overly pricey. Maybe next time if we dine here, we will ask to be seating in the upper level to see what the deference may be. -
Review from Ben C.
1/24/2012
Is it true? Might I have to dust off the cougar rifle and check out Sandbar again? I don't know how this reputation of the Cougar Den has caught on but it appeared there was some truth to the tales.
Anyway... they had a good Dine Out Vancouver this year so this is the REAL reason I came back. I had a great time, the drinks were generously poured, and the food was spot on. You are already getting great value with Dine Out but I would suggest upgrading to the lobster though - it was huge (and delicious).
Still great place to take a date but I think I'll come back for the promotions because better food can be had at this price point. - Unless you're HUNTING for something else... =P -
Review from Amy T.
1/23/2012
Food - Good, especially the seafood, but for the price, it should be a lot better.
The staff - Attentive, smart, efficient.
Decor - Fishing boats, nets, dark wood.
View - Superb and my favorite in Granville Island.
Result - An amazing location and perfect place to relax on the patio especially in the summer, but don't expect the food to blow your mind. 3.5 / 5 -
Review from Bonny N.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2012
Wonderful view at night from the patio. Romantic setting, fire Place, blanket . Try the wok chicken.
-
Review from Annie L.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012
I came here for dine out with some friends, but most of us ended up just ordering from the regular menu. The food portions are quite small, in my opinion (considering the price). The seafood is very good. This location is great and romantic. The view is very pretty at night and there is even a second floor. The staff are friendly and nice, pretty good service. I ordered the clam chowder - which was filled with clams, carrots, etc. and i thought it was a bit too thick. I also ordered the scallop with jasmine rice. I think the rice was too little, probably 4 spoons.
Overall, a great and nice, romantic place (as it is dimmed). However, a little pricey considering the food portions. -
Review from Hilda L.
Updated - 10/25/2011 ROTD 1/5/2012
Lured by the promise of cougars in action, I said yes when my friend suggested to come here on a Saturday night. Apparently it is well-known that Sandbar turns into a cougar bar after-hours. Although I never did get to see him get pounced by a cougar, I still had more fun than I'd like to admit.
I've been here plenty of times but never stayed late on a Friday or Saturday. On these nights, they have a DJ and the lounge section, right by the bar, turns into a dance floor. Things got started around 11pm. To be fair, there were lots of mature men too, so it's not so much a cougar bar, just a more.. 'grown-up' bar. It was entertaining and heartwarming to watch these experienced and more seasoned couples dance up a storm. It tugged at my heartstrings, knowing that if I'm older and still looking for love, I have options other than the usual douchey downtown suspects. Loved the music, 70's & 80's classics of course, which is so refreshing from the electronic crap on the radio these days. I haven't had so much fun dancing in a long time.Listed in: Rooftop Patios
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/4/2011
Food: 4*
Food is pretty good. I love their crab cakes & wok squid. I usually order the sable fish… Read more »
-
-
Review from Sheryl D.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's rare for me to dislike a restaurant so much but in light of what was supposed to be a great anniversary celebration last night, this place deserves the one star for the shit service we got. I've been casually mentioning The Sandbar to HB as we keep passing by every time we walk around GI so he thought to surprise me and my love for seafood by making reservations there last night. Our plan was to get drinks and appys there and then continue on to a pub for the Canucks game.
Well, it started out well enough, being greeted and seated by the hostesses...until our gentleman server came over to take our appys only order. We felt a bit of disdain from him from not ordering entrees or not fitting into that "old, rich and white" mold, which seemed typical of their clientele. We were simply two young, fresh-faced urbanites (WITH MONEY, I might add). Halfway into our appys, this server walks up to WASP couple he just seated beside us (I could literally stretch my right arm and touch the lady), takes their order and galled me by telling them "I'll be back with your bread basket."
Now, this seems like what a Canadian business would do to cut costs, no bread basket for people ordering only appetizers. But the polite thing (which is also the Canadian thing to do) would be to inform your dinner guests that this is the case. A simple, "That's great we're having you over for appys and drinks, I just want to let you guys know, the bread basket only comes with entree orders". That explanation would have sufficed. Instead, our server peppers us with fake friendliness the whole night, pretending nothing was wrong. See, the funny thing was, we didn't even want the bread because we were on our way somewhere else after. But it's the principle of it, and the fact that any decent business knows it's part of dinner service. If this server had bothered to find out we're out for our 8th year anniversary, he probably could have convinced us to stay.
We each had a glass of wine, the fried oysters, flatbread, cocktail shrimp and two raw oysters. The wines and raw oysters were pleasant, but everything else was easily forgettable. I've had better at Araxi, Cioppino and Fresh Local Wild (YA, that food truck on Granville). $70 for a mediocre meal, a bad customer service attitude with tip. Ya, because my husband is too nice and Canadian.
The worst part was we ditched our usual anniv plans at Cioppino to go to this overpriced, overhyped touristy jaunt. Never again. -
Review from John R.
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great location, friendly and accommodating service, a good menu for lunch. On the upside the Clam Chowder was very tasty though I am not sure how to describe it from a US perspective...it certainly is not Manhattan but with that said it is only loosely related to New England.
Hearing that there was snapper in the fish and chips made me go for having that choice. The fries were sparse and the breading was way too thick on the fish. The bottom line is that it was okay but not something I would order again. -
Review from Cory B.
Calgary, AB
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Still sitting here after a great meal. Yay wireless internet! Beautiful interior - love the wood beams.
Arctic char was really good, because it tasted like KFC. Everything else on my friends plates tastes awesome though. Great presentation - better than I expected to be honest. -
Review from Charlie K.
11/12/2011 4 photos
The view from the deck and atmosphere is fantastic. Service, outstanding. The best eggs benedict I've ever had.
The yolks resembled a golden sun, setting in my stomach. -
Review from David O.
Edmonton, AB
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was early Saturday evening and my family of four was looking for a good seafood place nearby our Granville Island location. The Sandbar seemed to fit the bill based on various Yelp reviews.
The ambiance in the restaurant was quite nice, with a warm but high energy feel with its beautiful wood and glass walled interior. The views of the water, especially on the outdoor heated top floor patio were stunning.
As for the food, I was pleased. I thoroughly enjoyed a few fresh Kusshi and Royal Miyagi oysters to start. My wife was similarly happy with her shrimp dumpling starter.
For our entree, as many Yelper's have indicated, the miso sake glazed black cod was very good, with its melt-in-your-mouth texture and savoury flavours. My wife and I both would come back for this dish again. Do order it if you are going for the first time!
My 13 and 11 year old girls went a la cart. One created an entree by ordering New England clam chowder, garlic mashed potatoes, and steamed market vegetables consisting of baby bok choy, broccoli, green beans, and carrots. The chowder wasn't up to my daughter's discerning taste and described the chowder as, "tasting more like a creamy salty vegetable soup," rather than the more seafood rich chowder her East Coast grandmother usually makes. She would have liked to have seen more seafood in the chowder...
The younger one was very happy with her order of spring rolls, salmon, and steamed market vegetables, simply describing the experience as "delicious".
The service was very friendly, attentive, and prompt. Thank you Sara for your great service!
Even though we enjoyed the food, the menu was overpriced and unless we could be guaranteed an outdoor patio seat with a view, I'm not sure we'd go back. -
Review from Linda F.
Langley, BC
9/24/2011
I agree...Great service and we got a window seat so we could enjoy the wonderful view. Lucky us !
We had a drink and we were happy, then checked the menu for dinner. Truthfully, we found the menu pretty stark and believe it or not, we couldn't find anything very interesting to order. Their menu could use a little lift visually, and a more enticing assortment of dishes.
However, for drinks its great. -
Review from Diana W.
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you want great views of the river and the city...this is it.
Gorgeous views through their huge windows. Great place to grab a drink by the bar (they have cider!) and just chill or have a nice relaxing dinner.
Our waitress that night was either preoccupied with something else or didn't care for us. She forgot my husband drink that he ordered as well as his dessert. Like completely forgot. She rarely smiled and blankly asked us what we needed each time she came to our table.
Other than that the ahi tuna I ordered was heaven. The sauce it was served with accentuated the meaty fresh tuna. The vegetables were roasted to perfection. Even my beet hating husband enjoyed the vegetables.
The fried oysters are addictive. Not too deep fried or greasy at all!
Is it the best place for seafood? No. But with the dark decor, the sexy atmosphere, and the VIEWS,...you can't help but love it here. -
Review from Tod M.
Vancouver, BC
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great service and venue -- the patio is fun and shaded and under the Granville Bridge. The food is excellent and they present you a fresh sheet with holes punched at the fish they currently have. A very nice presentation.
Had the flatbread Hawaiian pizza which was very good. Nothing earth-shattering, but good. Would be a great appetizer for three people.
Also had the Tuna Gomaae -- WARNING: If you're expecting cold spinach in peanut sauce (which is how most local sushi restaurants make it), you'll be disappointed. It's more like tuna sashimi with sesame sauce (I'm told sesame sauce is the right way to make Gomaee.) The tuna was very soft... a touch too soft, actually. I wish it were just a touch firmer. But otherwise nothing to complain about. -
Review from Erika L.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
VERY impressed with this place! The view, the food and the service! We went for a late dinner on a Sunday night and the place was packed! But we still managed to get the best seat in the house - upper level corner table, overlooking the water. They had a bunch of heat lamps up and running and provided blankets to those sitting by the windows.
Their homemade chowder was very good, and their manila clams were very tasty. The cedar plank salmon? Delicious! Made with brown sugar!
The best part of the dinner? Dessert! We had the Belgian Chocolate Pudding. To. Die. For.
P.S. Our waiter, John, was super nice, funny and attentive! -
Review from Jaye L.
Vancouver, BC
10/23/2011
I've been hearing conflicting reviews about this restaurant, so when a good friend from Seattle visited one weekend, I decided to try this out. Sandbar is definitely not cheap. We came here on a Saturday around 4pm. The place was not busy. I LOVED the black cod (thanks to recommendations brought about by other Yelpers) and the beautiful view... It's definitely romantic. Moreover, our server was knowledgeable and pleasant. I also ordered a margarita here, and if my memory serves me right, it was kind of watered down. Nevertheless, I will surely be back.
-
Review from Lara O.
11/26/2011
Stopped in for some appys and drinks before a late evening of improv. Host was friendly and found us a booth (score!) we ordered a bottle of champagne, cheese platter and cheesecake, we already ate dinner and it was my birthday celebration. The waiter was very friendly even though we weren't eating a gazillon courses, the atmosphere was nice. The cheese platter was ok, generous cheese proportions but a few raincoats crisps. No jams, no breads etc. I guess I am spoiled from Brix restaurant, but some jam and toasted points and baked garlic go a long way! Cheesecake was standard, champagne was cold. Overall a good experience!
-
Review from Linzi M.
5/28/2011
Two stars? The bitch is back. http://www.youtube.com...
I've eaten at the Sandbar before with my boss, had a refreshing goat cheese and beetroot salad. Great bread. And it's a beautiful place, right on the waterfront with amazing views that you can see because the whole place is windows and light.
I'm a big seafood fan, HUGE. Nemo has no chance with me. So I was excited to see their list of specialities and, on the server's recommendation, went with the miso black cod. Though I was tempted by the sirloin, (seriously, passing cows are actually in danger from me these days). My sister had a to-ing and fro-ing with the server over how she wanted the steak, pink in the middle but not raw.
So we got our food. My appie of wok squid was tasty but then if you mess up squid, you should pack up shop and head home. My sister's 'prawn cocktail' came out as 4 jumbo prawns with salsa dip, no salad. Call me boring, but I hate when they fuck with a classic.
To the entrees, queue disappointed face. The cod was tasteless and bland, lots of bones, and just apathetic. My sister's steak was overdone, with no pink. I ate most of it and was still hungry, so we finished the bread and I ate two pieces of birthday ice cream cake. The cake was the best thing all night and we'd gotten that at Dairy Queen. -
Review from Edward L.
Finally had a chance to try the restaurant part of the restaurant (as opposed to the lounge).
Seating was quite cramped. It looks like they're trying to fit the rows of tables between the window pillars, but the end result is that you end up banging your chair into the person behind you.
Their service is not the quickest, but the staff were very professional. I never had to ask for a top-up.
Bread - soft, but not fresh. It definitely wasn't hot at all (room temperature). Slices were nice size though.
West Coast Mixed Greens - salad dressing was all over the bottom of the salad instead of mixed throughout. I thought the salad was a bit plain until I was about halfway through the salad. Then I had a dressing overload.
New York Steak & Frites - Awesome. There wasn't much fat at all, and I liked how they used radishes (I think that's what they were?) instead of the usual broccoli + carrots. There was just the right amount of sauce.
Chocolate Truffle Cake - oh wow this was freaking good. It was just the right temperature and texture. Served with raspberry coulis, and a sliced strawberry on top, with icing sugar powdered around.
If you plan on coming here, be sure to sit in a booth. It's more comfy than the tables.Listed in: 2011 Ed's Picks
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/17/2011
I've been here a few times, for Happy Hour. Thanks to LY for telling me about this place. Dai lo~
… Read more »
-
-
Review from Tori T.
8/11/2011
The Sandbar is a must for anyone visiting Vancouver... the view is absolutely spectacular. Make sure you ask for a table on the upstairs patio even if it's cold out. They have space heaters and blankets for all my fellow cold weather weenies!
The service is pretty good and as you can see in the other reviews, the food is lacking. In my opinion, it was average, not terrible. We tried a few oysters which were all tasty (assuming you like oysters). I had a tuna burger which was decent. The food is definitely overpriced, but you're not just paying for the food, you're paying for the view. So grab a drink and enjoy- skip the food if you like! -
Review from Dan T.
Updated - 6/10/2011
So, so disappointed.
The wok squid has taken a turn for the worse, even if they say the recipe hasn't changed. The same seasonings are there, but piled on top of pile of near-soggy calamari, as if the entire affair was an afterthought.
The biggest affront, however, was the overcooked salmon. Nowhere even close to being slightly medium in the middle, the entire piece of beautiful sockeye was bone dry and unsalvageable.
However, Sandbar retains its 3 stars for 3 reasons:
1. What they appear to lack in skill, they make up in service. Our server was exceptionally congenial during the entire ordeal, offering to bring us another entree to replace the overcooked salmon; offering us a free dessert for our troubles; and even comping our appetizer instead when we said we were too full for dessert. And through the entire time, he carried himself with a smile, never making us feel any less than right to voice our concerns and disappointment.
2. The black cod is still absolutely amazing. But how can you screw up black cod. Really.
3. Nothing beats the view and beers on tap. I guess you could always just keep drinking until you stop noticing that they completely messed up the salmon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/15/2010
I think it's a good sign when your friends commend you on a "great choice" as you walk into the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Mike T.
Langley, BC
2/8/2012
food is ok but why this place is good is "summer patio" dont even worry to much about the food just make sure you are on the patio and get a good view of false creek, great way to spend a few hours
-
Review from Michelle F.
9/1/2011
We were so lucky to get the corner table on the patio overlooking the water (without reservations even!). We watched the sun set behind the city and enjoyed a bottle of wine and a wonderful meal.
I had the miso black cod (sable fish) which was delightfully crisp and fresh. I guess it's their most popular dish. Miso cod is incredibly easy to make so I'm hesitant to order it in a restaurant, but I'm glad I did. My side vegetables were seasonal beets, green beans, and summer squash.
My husband had the chard. I tried a bit and it was delicious and perfectly cooked.
For dessert we had the chocolate pudding with a crunchy pistachio topping. It tasted like a creamy almond roca.
The wine list left something to be desired but I think we're spoiled in Washington. So far, we have not been impressed with BC wine. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
6/23/2011
You know, I only ever had terrible food here at prices that are way too expensive. But that was awhile ago. Maybe it's changed? It seems to me that the people eating here are GI tourists.
It is fun to go for drinks, though, and I had the sweetest most patient, waitress tonight. $12 for a drink with a tip.
It's also fun to look at all of the cougars and think, "Do I look like that?" HA.
Then you look at the three single guys in the place and you wonder who they will pick.
I love that you can be cas. or dressy; it doesn't really matter if you're not going to pick up. :) -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
10/28/2011
I hadn't been here for years but recently brought some visiting family here for brunch. Being a tourist destination, I feel like most of the appeal lies in the location, beautiful decor and fantastic atmosphere. Unfortunately that also sometimes means mediocre service, which was the case here. (We were in a bit of a rush, too, which didn't help.) But I really enjoyed my very tasty chicken and chorizo hash. It was a very generous portion and although I would have preferred to know about the hollandaise sauce beforehand so I could have asked them to hold it, the chorizo had a very nice kick. Good coffee too! Again, the selling point is definitely the amazing atmosphere, and being able to cozy up to the fireplace on a rainy day.
-
Review from Kay L.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2012
Very disappointed. As our first and possibly last time we will be back. Took almost 50 minutes to get our meals. Four out of eight meals were cold, lukewarm at best. (All were salmon dishes.) Took another 20 minutes to get replacement meals while our dinner guests ate and finished their meal (and rightfully so.)
Once we all received the food back and hot, everyone enjoyed it. (Hence giving them two stars on this review.)
The manger did come around and apologize. We received the $200 bill but nothing price wise was adjusted. We weren't expecting a full comp on the four cold meals but a little acknowledgment would have gone a long way. Service was bad that night. No two ways about it. When the server eventually came back to collect the credit card I actually asked her what they could do for us as there were nine at our table, eating at different times. She was surprised no no discounted and took it away. They took 15% off the entire bill- $20.
Being in the service industry I felt the service was sub par. I don't EVER ask for a discount but felt this was the occasion to do it.
May or may not be back. Jury is out. The entire night was almost three hours. Waiting. And waiting.
I'm hoping it was a really off night as other reviewers seemed to have great experiences. The ambiance is great, I'm sure the tourists love it :) -
Review from Chris W.
Vancouver, BC
11/11/2011
Came here last Saturday night for dinner and we were so very disappointed!
What's up with the non-existent service?? It took over 10 minutes for a server to come check in after we were seated and this was after we had to flag down someone to go find our server. The wine glasses were dirty and the clam chowder was barely lukewarm. In order to keep our spirits up, we made up a fun little game: counting how many times the server apologized to us. 5 times before our entrees even arrived: 1. For taking a long time to come take our order 2. Dirty wine glass 3. Cold soup 4. Forgot to bring one of the drinks we ordered 5. Left to get the beer but had to come back to ask what kind of beer we ordered. Apparently he didn't bother to write it down the first time.
As we were waiting for our entrees to arrive, I commented that it was weird that we forgot to order any raw oysters. We were after all, at a restaurant called Sandbar. There were no oysters on the menu we were given except some cooked options. We looked over to the table next to us (who had been seated a short time prior) and saw that they had a clipboard on their table along with their menus. We realized that must have been the fresh sheet that we were not given when we sat down.
When our entrees arrived, the food was decent. We ordered a rib eye steak, fish tacos, a salad and a linguine dish. The linguine dish was a bit on the greasy and salty side but other than that everything tasted good. The portions were a bit on the small side given the price.
I get that mistakes happen and things get forgotten or are overlooked sometimes. But the number of things that went wrong in our one meal was astounding. For a supposedly high end restaurant, where is the pride in your work and the quality control on the part of the management?
Overall a very disappointing experience. I will not be returning there are plenty of really great seafood restaurants in Vancouver with better views and better service. -
Review from Melody M.
3/23/2011
Love the view from this restaurant !!!
Spacious seating and friendly staff. A variety of wine and beer to choose from and tempting seafood choices. I couldn't decide on the seafood chowder, the oyster burger, the fried clams, but then settled on the special, ling cod.
They have another special that I will be back for, two glasses of white wine and a half dozen oysters for $20 :) -
Review from josh j.
Calgary, AB
12/1/2011
Its location, is truly, what draws you to Sandbar initially. It's situated under the Granville bridge! From the patio, you actually get to marvel at the iron work above. Of course, you get a grand view of the water too. The food justifies its location. The escolar, sablefish, and seabass are all great and fresh selections. Lobster is pricey, but nicely done. Some of the accompanying sides, though, could be improved, rice with peas just doesn't do it for my Princess Bride. An added bonus, is the people watching; the lounge is especially intriguing, on the weekend, it is full of the "upscale" denizens of the surrounding exorbitant condos. it's like watching anthropological mating rituals. Only drawback, parking is terrible. Overall, Sandbar raises the bar on dining.
-
Review from Dominique W.
Burnaby, BC
3/17/2011
Vancouver is lousy with great seafood, but this has to be one of the best places to get it. my selection was unfortunately limited to crustaceans, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying the dungeness crab I ordered. my compatriots ordered salmon and halibut, and reported that both were similarly delicious.
the view is great, but the clientele can be slightly irritating.. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
1/23/2011 3 photos
Sandbar is a beautiful restaurant, if you like that whole wood-beamed nautical/fishing boat vibe. The interior reminds me a lot of the dearly departed Cannery. And for once in my life, we were given some prime seating without my having to ask to be moved - a table for two by the windows overlooking False Creek.
Sadly, the seafood which is the focus of the menu is so-so. Well, actually the sushi from the little sushi bar downstairs is quite good - the rainbow roll has real crab and is wrapped with thin slices of tuna and salmon and the nigiri was super fresh, though small. It was a little more expensive than sushi from a regular Japanese place, so I may not have ordered it if it weren't for the fact that the terms of my Groupon required ordering at least one dish from the sushi bar. But it turned out to be the saving grace of the dinner, as the clam chowder my husband ordered (his litmus test of a good seafood restaurant is their chowder) was lukewarm and my steamed mussels were inexplicably served with several shells shut tight and several others just barely opened.
To the restaurant's credit, our server was very responsive when we told him about the problems with the food. He quickly brought me a new bowl of mussels, and although my husband had eaten most of the chowder, it was comped on the bill.
Though we had a lovely date night dinner, all told, I would only visit here again for wine and cocktails and snacks. For a full-on seafood feast, there are better options around town for the money you're spending.Listed in: Date Night
-
Review from Erika S.
Vancouver, BC
4/11/2011
I highly recommend Sandbar for brunch on the weekends.
To ride your bike to Granville Island, sit on the rooftop patio have a mimosa (or two) and a shrimp cocktail is to be having my ideal brunch.
The staff are very friendly and the view of the underside of Granville Bridge is spectacular.
I would give Sandbar a higher rating if the interior spaces were updated a little....they are a bit run down and dated. -
Review from Christina D.
Vancouver, BC
2/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
For lunch I give Sandbar 3 stars. A smaller menu is available during lunch and is priced a little higher than I would usually spend on lunch. However I did manage to get seated on the patio which had a wonderful view. There are heat lamps and blankets provided to keep you warm and cozy. The server I had was well informed and answered my questions and gave suggestions. I will definitely come back and try the dinner service.
My rating could potentially go up!
PS. I love the bread :) -
Review from caroline s.
Burnaby, BC
1/24/2011
What a great treat, for our anniversary :)
My husband and I chose the Sandbar, before seeing the comedy 'Floating'.
I love it there. It has a great mix of people and the atmosphere is more sophisticated and mellow, and less about people-watching. The staff have a great positive attitude: no request too small - actually providing value to the dining experience. :)
We had the best view on the heated roof-top porch, of Burrard bridge and False Creek. It was a fabulous choice and couldn't have asked for a better 'anything'.
We told the server we were here to celebrate our Anni, and that we had to be out in time for the 8pm show.
The result: priority food service and a little something on behalf of Sandbar. The food was delicious (big salad with tuna sashimi for me, steak n mash for hubbie). And the drinks: best by the glass red - by a long way, for hub. And a virgin mojito for me; refreshing.
Without doubt, the best anniversary experience in memory. Will be hard to top that for next year, imho... -
Review from Jenna L.
1/24/2011
Their food is always ok-good. Service is pretty good, if served by a ver cute server makes it even better ;)
Had oyster po boy and GI burger with fries. Oyster were fried a tad too long as it alll shrunk and was pretty small.. I remember last time it was bigger?!
GI burger's patti was a bit salty and dry..
But sitting on the heated patio somehow makes up for everything. Such a nice view and warm, cozy. I would still return for the ambiance and hope the food will get better! -
Review from Vincci L.
10/22/2010 1 photo
Seafood galore!
Situated within Granville Island, there's an absolutely gorgeous view.
We came here for a birthday dinner, a group of 10 people. We were seated right by the window, looking over False Creek.
They have a fresh sheet everyday that ticks off the daily availabilities of the day.
For the appy, I settled on the Pan Fried Oysters with chili lime aïoli. There were 4 large pieces, and these were lightly breaded, topped with tobiko. Loved this dish!
For the main, I ordered a sablefish (off from the fresh sheet),grilled with a miso-soy, with a lime marinade. This was supposed to be a blackened sablefish, but I didn't really enjoy it. Some parts were simply too charred, and I couldn't eat it. The sides came with a tasty broccolini.
Service was ok, repeatedly needed to ask for water refills and the server just wasn't too friendly overall.
Despite it being a great space, I didn't really enjoy my main, so it ruined the experience a bit. -
Review from Kevin T.
1/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
My girlfriend and I came here during our vacation in Vancouver. The service was friendly. Our waitress was thorough when describing the specials and other items on the menu. My girlfriend ordered a grilled black cod entree. It was seared enough so that it was slightly "crunchy" on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. Quite possibly the best fish I've ever tasted.
I on the other hand had the seafood hot pot. It is similar to a cioppino, but instead of a tomato based broth, the seafood was in a Thai coconut yummy curry. I ordered a bowl of rice on the side with it and this entree was very good as well.
For dessert, we had a white chocolate cheesecake, which was also very rich as cheesecake should be. We shared this, but it was a small portion. I suppose that's good since my fat butt shouldn't be eating too much cheesecake anyway!
A wonderful overall experience, especially if you can get a table with a view. There was also a live piano player for entertainment that night. What a great place. I can't believe I missed this place the last time I was in Vancouver. -
Review from Charles l.
12/14/2011
Had a great experience there earlier in the week, mainly over the 2 dozen fresh in season oysters and the incredible cheesecake. Service from Jessica was great and worth it just for the attentiveness. Like everything else in Vancouver, it was real loud
