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33 reviews for Urban Fare
Review Highlights
33 reviews in English
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Review from Sean M.
Burnaby, BC
5/5/2012
Recently I went back to Urban Fare for lunch with a co-worker and I can't rave enough about how delicious the food was. I had the pork ribs with mash potatoes and steamed broccoli. The ribs were probably the best i've had in a very long while ranking up there with Memphis Blues cafe. This location has an excellent layout, nice staff and an excellent assortment of quick lunch items for an ok price point. I'm not saying I could afford to eat here everyday but once in a while it would be a nice treat.
Protip: Pick up some healthy snacks in the grocery store before going back to work. -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This Urban Fare seems to be featuring in my lunch rotation more often than not these days.
They have a huge buffet and selection of lunch items that are all very reasonable. They have hot and cold selections, salad, sushi and all sorts of other things that you could want for lunch. I like that they offer a selection that you can choose from, I don't eat big lunches so it's nice to be able to chose smaller portions.
They also have a nice bulk section for when I feel like I need to bring snacks back to the office.
The staff are often challenging to track down if you need help and the cashiers at the front are often cold and unfriendly, but I suppose I would be too if I worked the office lunch rush. -
Review from Nick L.
9/29/2011
This was my go to place almost every night I was in Vancouver for work!
I would sometimes grab the daily special for dinner but most of the time grab some fruit and lunch for the next day.
Restaurant - the food, prime rib especially, was excellent for a place like this. It would sometimes be slow service because they would sometimes weigh the food?! Odd I know! The sides were always a compliment to the meal, be it mash, grilled veggies or the like. Price was ok.
Groceries - the place had most of what you need for a short to medium stay in town but if the company wasn't paying for it, I would have nightmares at these prices! The fresh fruit was mostly sweet and varied. Loved that. The deli counter had some amazing cuts on offer which I happily gobbled up. The common items were where this store was lacking. It was laid out in an unfriendly way where it seemed much harder to find anything than it should have been.
It met all my needs though and the staff were pleasant enough to me and that works for me just fine. -
Review from Jenna L.
Updated - 7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dropped by Urban Fare before Stanley Park's TUTS. I really like their curry chicken salad! It has chicken, apricot bits, some sorta nuts, and curry flavor - which is a wonderful mix of flavors! Their kitchen menu is good, the seating area is pretty.
They were selling lovely peonies which adorned my office ~1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/7/2011
I like to browse Urban Fare for exotic food items like various types of jams/spreads you know? It's… Read more »
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Review from Scott W.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great coffee, and quick friendly service for my morning wake up on the way to work. Lunch is decent, but there are so many awesome restaurants in the area i dont think i would zero in on this place for a good meal - although they are licensed, and it is likely their beer is cheaper than 99% of the pubs in the area! Hmmm.. ok, next review to follow will be on their food & drink capabilities! :)
But if you are looking for your grande americano, and perhaps are anti-starbucks or waves or blenz for some reason.. this place is here for you! -
Review from Allen W.
Updated - 4/23/2011
What a difference a year makes. I live nearby and frequent this store 1-3 times per week ... but no longer. It's been going downhill for a bit and the recent renovations seal the deal for me.
Produce can be fresh, but often you'll find items on display which are well past what is acceptable. Recently, I picked up a bag of pre-cut carrots to discover the bag filled with brown liquid from the rotting veggies. Disgusting. The 'best by' date was weeks passed. I've often went to pick up an orange only to find my fingers squishing into it. Yuck.
As for the renovations, the store removed the pharmacy and meat counter, which were not big losses. They filled the store with much more shelving which means they can stock more items -- hooray!
Unfortunately, the store relocated the bulk food section and in the process reduced the number of bulk food items. Unforgivable. I loved getting items from the bulk section ... and they no longer carry one of my favourite items.
Also, they are now installing the brightest fluorescent lighting you've ever seen. The lights are something straight out of Safeway ... seriously, I was walking through Urban Fare and wished I'd brought sunglasses. Aside from looking tacky, the ceiling in Urban Fare is lower than in Safeway, so the lights intensity is much higher. Seriously, it hurt my eyes. It's not helpful, it's distracting, it's worthy of a 7-Eleven. Sad.
Prices are on the high side, but sometimes you can score good deals, it's a matter of knowing what to buy and when.
Staff -- some are good, some are downright bad. One guy is always talking with his non-staff friends while I'm waiting in line since everyone else is actually working. This has happened on more than one occasion with the same person. Recently, the woman waiting on me was actually having a conversation on her cell phone earpiece the entire time of my transaction. Annoying.
Overall? It's no longer an interesting place to shop. And, although I hoped to see a come around with the renovations, I'm just even more discouraged by what this store is all about.
No longer shopping here, now taking my business to Caper's.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/11/2010
I continue to experience great customer service from this location. Just recently, I was putting… Read more »
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Review from Carly B.
Vancouver, BC
4/7/2011
I'm not reviewing the grocery store, because really, its a spruced up Save-On. This review is all about the Urban Fare restaurant.
I work in the hood so I head to Urban Fare for my breakfast and lunch needs. The food is always tasty, there are LOTS of different options and its speedy service. If you love sandwiches, I would definitely recommend this place as they have about 20 different kinds to offer. The breakfast is tasty and they let you order things separately. 2 Eggs and toast for $4!
But the real reason I'm such a repeat customer is the kick ass kitchen staff. They know all the regulars, learn your name, have fun friendly chats with you while you're waiting and seriously make my day a heck of a lot brighter.
Customer service isn't dead after all. -
Review from Joe L.
Vancouver, BC
I had been my go-to neighbourhood grocery store in Coal Harbour until its recent renovation. It used to be a "boutique" grocery store where you can find finer items. The renovation took away the meat / deli counter and the pharmacy and left the store with haphazard flooring and glaring neon lights. It resembles a glorified 7-Eleven.
Not only is its interior unappealing, wilted vegetables are commonly seen on shelves for sale to the public. See one of the photos posted.
I have been going to the Alberni Street instead. -
Review from Diana E.
3/25/2011
Stayed nearby at the Renaissance Harbourside Hotel and this little gem saved us a ton of time and money during our stay - and the food was oh-so-tasty!
This grocery store/restaurant is a a great place to stop for higher-end groceries. While the variety of products is somewhat limited, the choices available are of great quality and freshness. The prices are not cheap - but then, you're paying for a quality product and a convenient location... let's be fair. You're saving yourself the gas money by not driving out to a Safeway, no?
Their restaurant service was very tasty, too. We had dinner (chicken pot pie and fettucini alfredo) and breakfast (chorizo breakfast wrap and a rosemary ham breakfast sandwich). The meals were hot, fresh, and quick.
The chicken pot pie tasted home made, not mealy and bland, with a fresh, flaky crust.
The fettucini alfredo struck that nearly-impossible chord of creamy and rich but not overwhelming and greasy - the grilled chicken on top was nicely seasoned and just a bit blackened. Perfect!
Breakfast was quick and delicious - and while the "chorizo" they put in my wrap looked and tasted nothing like the chorizo I get at home or in Arizona, it was a tasty sausage and had a little kick to it. Yum!
I'd stock up my hotel fridge here again for sure! And this is a better, faster, cheaper breakfast than you'd find at your hotel! -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
11/26/2009
Who says you can't save money at Urban Fare? Admittedly, I've only been to this location once and to the Yaletown spot a few times, but I figured out a secret: some of their produce is priced the same way it is at it's not so glamorous cousin, Save On Foods. (Like on sale cucumbers and tomatoes!)
But the real secret money saver - pick something from a shelf that sits all by itself. If it's got no tag below and no products on either side of it, chances are, they have no idea what to price it as. This happened with my favourite dish and hand soap for the kitchen - Meyer's. And imagine my surprise and delight when my two soaps came to less than $5! Those little pumps are sold for $6.50 in other places around town!
As an aside, what is up with the checkout set up? The chaos of people butting into people trying to reach something on a shelf, other people not knowing where the line up started, and even more people not realizing that they were next in line for the check out. What is this, the bank? (Maybe they're giving loans to people just so they can buy some artisan priced groceries!)Listed in: A Guide to Vancouver's Dining…, Coal Harbour
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Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
3/25/2010
Good things about the Fare, besides being 2 blocks from home and making it easy for me to get supplies to make my own dinner tonight:
-cleeeeean
-free samples
-yummy hot food in the restaurant
-freshness
-tattooed and pierced employess with pink hair! (well, one guy had pink hair)
The bad thing is the prices... sometimes. -
Review from Laura P.
11/25/2009
From the perspective of a tourist, Urban Fare rocks. You could spend a chunk of change eating at the hotel restaurant or seek out Urban Fare. We found Urban Fare on our last trip to Vancouver, but we were in between meals then. This time we made it for breakfast and found it to be a good deal in comparison to eating at the hotel restaurant or the food court across the street from the hotel. Their omelet comes with a side of yummy home fries, some fruit, and toast. The oatmeal was filling and tasty with a topping of dried fruit. Best of all is the view looking over the park and harbor.
We stocked up on snacks from the bulk bin and water for our wanderings. The baby food aisle was limited, but ok in a pinch. This place reminds me a bit of Dean & Deluca, especially when it comes to pricing so expect a bit of sticker shock. -
Review from Jen S.
Victoria, BC
7/6/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Coming from Victoria to Vancouver on business, it was really nice to find a grocery store in the midst of all the concrete so I could stock my hotel fridge.
pretty good selection, tonnes of stuff in a very small area, fresh looking produce.
Complaints: if I were to be a regular shopper, the prices are a little high on almost everything. I realize you pay for the convenience, but somethings felt really overpriced; and the staff all seemed a little grumpy, maybe it was just the end of day.
I would definitely go back though next time I am here on business. -
Review from Gagan D.
Vancouver, BC
7/10/2009 1 Check-in Here
One of the things that you need to know about Urban fare before you walk in: They make it super easy to spend a lot of money. If you are American, you can think of Urban fare as the Canadian version of Whole Foods. Food seductive and decedent. Deliciously self-indulgent.
And just like Whole Foods, not everything is hugely expensive, but a lot of things are. That said, you can also find a wider variety of cheeses, meats and imported foods than you would at your local (also Jim Pattison owned) Save on Foods. And heck if you are OK with paying $11 for a tiny package of Granola which features fire roasted chilien raisins, then you will be right at home at Urban Fare.
They also have yummy roast chicken combo with steamed veggies for $9.99 when you can't be bothered to cook. -
Review from Cindy S.
Vancouver, BC
4/6/2010
Yuch! It was way better both in customer service and quality when it first opened but i can report that it's gone downhill since the Olympics. I switched to the new store on Alberni only when i need something. The employee's don't care about the service anymore, they are lax and slack off and rude since the Olympics, customer service has gone to crap, there are only a few specials or items on sale and there are no longer any food items on special for redemption with your Save On points.
I get the same items and many many more and far better service and tons more sale prices at the Save On Foods in North Vancouver and they treat you like they care. They poduce is way less and always ripe and fresh unlike Urban Fare, The manager in North Van even carried my packages out to my car in the pouring rain once without having to ask for help and the lines move swiftly .
You can make a place look as upscale as you want but without the good service, and good knowledgeable employee's who are friendly and helpful it just becomes an expensive ripoff . None of my neighbors in my building shops there anymore either.
Last time i was there my husband complained about poor service and they threatened us instead of helping. Both managers as usual were out of the store, one actually quickly walked out just as we were about to ask him for his assistance We were good enough customers that they gave us free tickets to the Olympics. I'd prefer better treatment and service and prices.
We will not be shopping there or even walking into that store ever again period. There are many other fine places to shop which appreciate the business and are happy to properly and politely service their customers. -
Review from Anthony C.
7/31/2009
This place is bad value. The prices are high, and the food is decent, but I think what you're paying for is great location and spectacular presentation.
The place looks great but the selection of organic foods, especially meat and produce, is lacking. When I pay top dollar for my food, I want the best there is, and that means organic at least!
Whole Foods will much better satisfy your needs for, well, pretty much everything. -
Review from Dani B.
5/21/2009
Sorry to disagree with y'all, but I really don't like this place. There are a couple good finds, but overall this place is over priced and the selection is nothing to get excited about. The biggest disappointment for me was their deli selection, it's meh at best.
This place is definitely not as good as Whole Foods or Capers, and it just seems like a regular grocery store in disguise as a speciality food store. I don't mind paying extra for quality but I can get it elsewhere and for cheaper too. -
Review from Rhody T.
Toronto, ON
12/27/2009
Hey, let's all pay more for the same food you can buy at any other grocery store! We can pretend we're rich!
Or we can pretend we're pragmatic and sensible. Yeah, let's go with that. -
Review from Allison F.
6/21/2010
Mmmm urban fare fed me throughout this past weekend and I've never been happier with pre-made meals from a grocery store. From daily specials to items off their 'hot menu', I was highly impressed each night. The dining area was spotless every time and each table was complete with a beautiful flower arrangement. They will also give you your meal in a 'to go' box so you can enjoy it on the seawall or in the park across the street. Perfect for picnics!
The store was offering cheese and wine samples throughout the weekend and so we were able to try ~12 different kinds each day, along with wine samples. Their sale prices are amazing and definitely look for in-store promotions and demonstrations. Each section is fully stocked and all of the staff were very friendly and willing to help. The store wasn't overly busy when we were in it and so it allowed us to walk around and take everything in.
When in Coal Harbour next, I'll definitely rely on UF for some delicious delights! -
Review from Megan S.
1/12/2009
The reason I noticed this place was because the flowers outside the door. Then because they had a neat display of bottles in the window. Yes- it's a bit trendy and pretentious, but I can enjoy it for what it is.
I've never actually done my grocery shopping here. I've actually stopped several times for their cold drink cooler, and I think I've occasionally grabbed a piece of produce for a snack. The produce section is fun, and everything looks big, fresh, and absolutely scrumptious. -
Review from Jenni B.
1/3/2010
Hello Urban Fare, my new obsession.
So clean. So well merchandised. Such great products. As a person with special dietary needs I will easily develop a crush on any grocer who gives me good GF choice, and Urban Fare totally delivered. Now, I didnt get to browse around as much as I wanted as I was in on a mission of holiday snacks at work; but I did like all that I saw, including some nice olive oil (a staple in my kitchen).
I did get to hit up their deli for lunch. I had got a veggie curry which looked a lot better than it tasted, but was definately adequate (it just won't burn the way curry should).
Yep.. on my favorite list. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
9/15/2008
Urban Fare
I'm not a fan of their square-shaped watermelon. Priced at $100, it just vomits trendy pretension but despite that, I still love Urban Fare. My sister's restaurant of choice when it comes to choosing where to go during her 50-minute lunchbreak, I often meet her here over sandwiches and their oh-so-delicious coffee.
The deli section has a great selection of food covering all spectrums: cold Thai sesame noodles, roasts, soups, salads, sushi and paninis. I tend to favour the latter but everything is very tempting. On our last visit, I had a cheese panini. Surprisingly bland compared to their other offerings. It was too cheesy (I'm surprised there's such a thing too) and it wasn't balanced with any other flavours to lighten its heaviness. It could have used a bit more herbs and at least some vegetable matter. My sister, on the other hand, looked thoroughly happy with her chicken number.
Another trip is definitely in the works. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
1/27/2009
My original favourite UF before the Alberni location opened, if you're living in Coal Harbour and need expensive and gourmet take out then this is your grocer. For my friends in the South or the U.S. as most would say think a lower end Balducci's but same vibe. I love Balducci's BTW...
So you have your $20 diamond encrusted water that's just water or you can get your sqaure watermelon for $100, but then you can get yogurt and nuts which cost $1.69 and $5 respectively. The flower shop is great, the hot-food and take out section is the money maker for them, everything is between $5-10 for a little food. -
Review from Anne W.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2010
I wandered into Urban Fare today, assuming ridiculously high prices would prevail. Well, I was pleasantly surprised...sort of.
There are expensive items there - gourmet this at extravagant prices (sourdough bread flown in from Europe? No thanks) - but there are also a few great deals to be had with price points comparable to IGA.
The atmosphere is sophisticated for a grocer (I've never seen mood lighting in a grocery store before!) and made me feel special as I browsed the aisles. I felt a tad under dressed. This is not the place to shop on laundry day!
Samples of gourmet cheeses were being offered and I tried a few I've never tasted before (One was yummy. Another turned my stomach) and the prices were, surprisingly, quite reasonable, considering.
I wouldn't shop here normally but, if I lived in the area, I might go in now and again to pick up a few hard to find items, find the specials and take in the ambiance. -
Review from Richard D.
Vancouver, BC
8/31/2008
This is a high-end grocery store and restaurant with seating indoors and outdoors.
Sometimes I feel like organizing a boycott against stores that overcharge so much for groceries just because they can. If I ever dld so, Urban Fare is one of the stores I would target. Even an employee said thls store was not the place to go for reasonable prices
Installing the beautiful, polished stones on the entrance was a one-time fee for the store, so I shouldn't have to pay for it each time I go there.
But their sale items make it worth the trip -- a short trip, that is. -
Review from Some G.
Vancouver, BC
10/3/2009
Fellow Australian's I have for you a confirmed Vegemite stockist - they only had about 7 bottles left tho, so get in quick (near the honeys/jams etc just behind fresh produce).
I love them for having it, but I hate them for charging me $7 for 150g bottle - that's a full hours work :( outch.
It is a really cool grocery store too, worth a look, even if they are hella expensive. -
Review from Shoppa H.
Vancouver, BC
12/3/2011
Terrible layout of the store. Really odd placement of the checkout counters. The items are overpriced. The hot food they serve at the restaurant is disgusting and overpriced. I do not like this store.
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Review from Wendy C.
West Vancouver, BC
3/31/2011
I was taking a course nearby and I'd come here for dinner and WOW. Amazing cooked food for a grocery store! Absolutely delicious.
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Review from Jon E.
2/15/2009
This place is fricken sweet. It reminds me of the Whole Foods in Chelsea, Manhattan: Lots of great food (including a take-out or eat-in buffet), conveniently located, lots of people watching opportunities: mostly yuppies, hipsters, and other young people. It does seem a bit expensive (even compared to Whole Foods), but everything we got was delicious and the floral department was beautiful. So if I lived in Coal Harbour, this is where I'd shop.
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Review from Bill E.
12/6/2009
I've been to both this one and the Yaletown location and have the same thoughts on both... good selection of stuff, kinda pricey and a staff that's not well informed, nor do they care a lot about helping you, the PAYING CUSTOMER! I don't need a whole song and dance, but I would like the people working in the particular departments to be able to answer basic questions about products in their particular departments, ya know what I'm sayin?
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Review from Christos T.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2010 1 photo
This place has some of the most unique foods in the city, but is really expensive. Safeway on Robson and Denman is a better bet.
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Review from Todd D.
11/15/2010
Everything you might need for a two year old when staying downtown.
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Review from Sam L.
1/18/2011
If there wasn't an Urban Fare so close to my work I probably wouldn't shop here nearly as much. But, there is and I do. I have sort of mixed feelings about this Urban Fare, because it has provided me with so many good times and so many bad times. The selection here isn't immense, but I find the quality to be very high - amazing oranges and other produce, great cheese selection, excellent organic meats as well as a great selection of higher-end olive oils, teas and snacks. This is where Urban Fare excels, although it will cost you. Where Urban Fare fails in my mind is the deli takeout lunch counter. All the food is super salty and overpriced (except the great fish & chips, who knew?), and the ordering/paying process is confusing and awkward. Working in Coal Harbour, there's not a lot of selection, so I'll still come here if I'm in a hurry and forgot my lunch, but the rest of the grocery store is what really keeps me coming back.
