Blue Water Cafe is one of our all-time favorite restaurants, anywhere. But it's been 12 years since we last ate here, a long time, especially in restaurant years. Thankfully our evening experience was just as wonderful as ever. We started with the Shellfish Plateau, a perfect fresh platter for two (and had a few extra oysters added, just because). Every item was delicious, I especially enjoyed the sweet scallops on the shell. (Ok, I'm not a fan of jellyfish salad but my wife enjoyed it.). Highly recommended. For entrees, we had an old favorite, the Miso Black Cod, excuse me, now called the Haida Gwai Sablefish, and a seasonal special Halibut. The first time we ever had miso black cod was at Blue Water; the dish is as delicious as ever. And the tender, flaky halibut was pan-seared perfectly. Our outdoor seating was ideal for a Vancouver August clear-sky evening and our server was chatty, perhaps, but attentive. I'm getting hungry again writing this review. Blue Water Cafe was once among, if not the top-rated restaurant in the city. In my view it's as good as ever. read more

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When I made the reservation I had a maybe unusual standard for how I planned to rate this place and it wasn't based on the food or price or wine list or much of anything you might want to know about. It all started in Santa Monica in 1989, on Academy Awards night. This little buildup probably won't seem very relevant to many here but so what, it's about how well a high-end restaurant receives people with infants. I'm unlikely to have, not to say unworthy of, more than one grandchild. And this one won't see much of dear old grandpa being that my son and family live in Vancouver. Not a great distance to travel but on the other hand it's not next door. Plus the maternal grandparents moved from Connecticut to live in a coastal community located maybe 50 miles from the border. All-wise grandmothers being the helicopters they truly are, what does anyone need this degenerate hedonist for? Well, for one thing the parents need a chance to relive the excesses and finery that they once tasted, as part of their affluent lives before parenthood. while i don't know how to comfort a relentlessly colicy 3-month old i do know how to enjoy the best restaurants in town, or at least ones that will take my reservation. I suggested the Blue Water based on one friend's approval and all were happy. now as to the 1989 academy awards and a well-known restaurant in the day, Chinois. at the time i had a small child in tow, not quite the infant stage of this current vintage but young enough still to be driven by the primeval lizard brainstem than the more highly evolved human cerebral cortex of its brain. i warned the restaurant when making the reservation and was told that, yes, this particular evening they would be quite busy with revelers from the awards ceremony but if we came at 5 pm they would happily accommodate us with young child. just so happens, that exactly almost what the Blue Water said when I called for our reservation. I suppose the best to do is describe the food we ordered. In advance i invited the young couple to do as much damage to my credit card as they wanted, as they'd been cooped up for the past 4 months with this infant. their first choice was this damned seafood tower which seemed to me beforehand, and after as well, to be more a kind of concept product. i'd have preferred to order individual plates of various shellfish, oysters or whatever, than this multilayer assemblage. but it is a showy kind of construction and what did i care, really. everything on the three tiers was quite fresh and tasty except i'd have foregone the shrimp. really shrimp are in my mind more than a bit overrated and don't belong in the same plate with fresh "varietal" oysters from here or there. aside from the tower we ordered a few different sushi, my favorite being yellowtale, plus carrot soup all around (healthy dose of butter there), mains were arctic char, sable and atlantic scallops. if available i have a kind of fetish for sauteed spinach (as a kind of audition dish), and someone wanted an extra round of oysters from i don't know where. after mentally doing a little math i realized the total seemed lightweight, but the wine list took care of that problem. my favorite white wine is chablis grand cru made/bottled by a vigneron (grapegrower/winemaker under one roof). anything else is either a lower tier vineyard or a blend which, while good, lacks a sense of origin. some use a term "terroir" which i ignore but maybe it's more that i ignore the people who like to bandy such abstract wine descriptors about. anyway, here was a perfectly good les clos, about 6 years old, for i think around $250 canadian. i have also to point out that i've been disappointed with almost every euro wine i've had in canada, owing i suspect to the high duty the government places on all imported wine in effort to protect its own ham-handed, homegrown products, which are usually absolutely nothing to write home about. fortunately this particular bottle of chablis was really really good. after all that we had various desserts, and whatever. at Chinois on academy awards night, we arrived at 5 pm and were seated in a very prominent location in the room, but with a plastic sheet under the child's seat. this was a good thought on the part of the manager. without going into any details best to say my 2-yr old made a mess of things but the waitstaff could not have been more accepting. i was frankly impressed, as i was when our dinner at Blue Water came to an end. So my score is 4 for food (i really don't know what it would take to get 5* from me, so take that for what it is) and 1* for absolutely perfect service. Highly recommend this very stylish restaurant for whatever occasion. read more

5 stars for the food. The burrata and oysters were delightful starters. My dining companion had the arctic char while I had the sea bass (no fish can be too flaky for this girl) with sides of broccolini, oven roasted tomatoes, herb butter mashed potatoes, and truffle fries. We wrapped up with the sorbet trio and panna cotta. 5 stars for the company. Who are we kidding?? A billion stars for the company. 1 star for a staff member who wasn't our waiter who told us our table was needed for another reservation. This level of aggressive table management screams nyc circa 2012. Not cool. But we didn't let it ruin the incredible evening in Vancouver. read more

Visiting Vancouver - stopped at the Blue Water Cafe Sushi Bar & enjoyed some epicurean delights! Great Vibe - The bar patrons were all enjoying the creativity (food art) that was being created live. Our server assisted in our journey. From the pictures you will notice that we enjoyed the food as much as the presentation. Sawagani (Japanese River Crabs) Octopus- Dungenress Crab & Shrimp Salad - and the main event Sablefish! When in Yale town - you have to sit at the bar and enjoy the show. read more

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Very disappointing. We live in Vancouver for the summer and this was our most frequented restaurant last summer. We dined here multiple times and I gave it a 5 star google review last year (which I will now change). Now I don't think we will be back. Leandro was our server and we felt rushed from the get go. He asked us for our dinner order right away. We told him we would like to order a couple of apps first. He again encouraged us to order our dinner and said that if we didn't order right away, it would take a "really long time" to get our entrees. Leandro had a 10 top come in after that so it was obvious that he wanted us out of the way to focus on his high dollar table. We asked him to give us a few minutes. He came right back. I ordered 2 more appetizers as my entree because I felt so pressured (which I regretted right away as I like to decide what sounds good AFTER we enjoy our apps). My husband ordered the sablefish. I am gluten free and this is the reason we dined here so much last year because they were so accommodating. Last night I was served stale, moldy smelling bread. It wasn't edible. I let our server know. My husband enjoyed his sablefish but the spicy tuna roll I ordered as part of my entree was disgusting. It was gray and foul tasting. I also let Leandro know it was not good. When he presented the bill, just an acknowledgment that he wasn't charging me for the roll I couldn't eat. No effort to make it right. Dessert? An after dinner drink? Nope. I hope the management reads this and realizes this attitude drives very good customers away. We will be looking for our new "favorite" in Vancouver as this place is now scratched off of our list mainly due to the way we were treated. read more

Blue Water Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Excellent dining experience! Our server was so kind and accommodating and checked in many times to make sure we're doing okay. The decor was fancy yet warm and inviting. All of that was a 5/5 In regards to the food, it was incredible! My family and I got the sablefish, halibut, an assortment of sushi, kino salad, and crème brulee. Everything was delicious! * Our favorite was the sablefish. It was packed with umami flavor. I ate that plate CLEAN! 5/5 * The kino salad was refreshing. 5/5 * The halibut has a nice flavor but later got a bit dry. 3.5/5 * Assortment of sushi: tasted really fresh! 4.5/5 * The creme brulee tasted unique with a hint of fruity-ness to it. And the chocolate mousse was really good. (The creme brulee was really shallow. It's usually served in a deeper dish so that was a surprise lol). 4.5/5 * The complimentary bread is soooo good!!! 5/5 Overall, I would Highly Recommend this restaurant! Outstanding service and food read more

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We ate here for dinner last night and had an absolute amazing experience. It started with our waiter, Chris, who was exceptional. The conversation we had with him was so invigorating. His attention to detail, his ensuring our dining experience was the best, and the pride he took in the service he provide were impeccable. We were seated where we could watch the chef and his team. They are truly a team working together to provide Michelin star service. The food was delicious. I could go on and on about this place. Absolutely amazing dinner all around - service, cuisine, and ambiance. We will be back. read more

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What a great evening! I was a little worried at the business casual, and they won't let you wear a hat. But our server Eileen put us at ease immediately and was only interested is us having a great time. I had a caviar app, wife had pork toro. All good mains were chicken for her and butter lobster for me. This is the place to dine in this area!! read more

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Blue Water used to be one of my favourite fine dining restaurants in Vancouver. I went there often when they first opened about 20 years ago, the food was still good as two years ago. Unfortunately, my experience a couple of nights ago with my girlfriends was very disappointing. We started with the raw oysters. They were noticeably larger than usual, so I made a casual comment to our server. Our server simply shrugged and responded, "so, are you okay with it?" with no explanation. The response felt insincere, and overall, the oysters were not as good as as I remembered. Later, I tried the complimentary dinner rolls and found them rock hard. I flagged down a gentleman in a suit to let him know. He replaced them, but did not apologize or acknowledge the issue. The fresh rolls were much softer and clearly better. The lack of acknowledgment made the interaction feel dismissive, as I were viewed as a picky customer. Throughout the evening, our server was attentive, but the engagement didn't feel genuine. We may not have been big spenders, but respectful service should be consistent for all guests. There are many excellent restaurants in Vancouver, and dining out is about the overall experience, not just the food. I hope management will provide additional training to ensure servers treat customers with professionalism and care. Unfortunately, based on this visit, I will not return. Also, I noticed on Google reviews that management responses appear to be limited to positive reviews, which may give the impression that negative feedback is not being equally acknowledged. Bummer. read more

Blue Water Cafe - I don't recall being told the name of the oysters or their origin - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Our table for 3 ordered: - Seasonal Mixed Greens - Seafood Tasting for 2 - Hamachi Kama - Halibut Tataki - Haida Gwaii Sablefish - Western Pacific Yellowfin Tuna And for drinks, a Dutch Mule. We were STUFFED, for the price you're paying the portions are very fair and quality you can't beat! I've had seafood in the Bay Area, Boston, and even across countries in Asia, but I was SO impressed by Blue Water Cafe. It is a MUST if you're in Vancouver. Everything was honestly a 5/5, the only dish I would pass on is the Yellowtail, I just wasn't a fan of how much it was wavering between raw and cooked fish, along with the char. It's just not for me, but my parents enjoyed it. Nevertheless, some of the highlights was the sablefish, oh my gosh melt in your mouth. Sablefish is Vancouver locally caught, so very fresh and it has a sweet undertone with the soy and sake marinade. This was my favorite along with the Seafood Tasting for Two, which features scallop ceviche, Dungeness crab salad, albacore tuna tartare, and smoked sockeye salmon terrine. You get a diversity of fishes and flavors, which is most certainly worth the price point. It's the gems of the appetizers put into 1 order. Halibut was also noted to be locally caught, the slices were thin and a perfect app. Hamachi Kama is yellowtail collar, which has a rich, succulent meat. It tasted buttery and was also melt in the mouth. The Dutch Mule was a ginger ale with sorbet. Absolutely delicious mocktail, I held back on ordering a second. The service was also amazing!!! Our waitress welcomed us warmly to Vancouver and even gave us a complimentary dessert to welcome us to the area, even giving us tips where to go near the area and what sights to see in Vancouver. read more

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I wouldn't say it was perfect, but all things considered, I can't think of anything specific that could have been improved. The bathrooms even have bidet toilet seats and real hand towels. It's the type of place where your server comes by to fold your napkin into a triangle if you go to the bathroom so service is definitely top notch and Brent was fantastic. We opted not to get appetizers so we'd save room for dessert and Brent promptly refilled our bread and spreads for us so we weren't awkwardly waiting without anything during the 25 minute wait which he gave us a heads up on. Husband ordered the sablefish with two scallops (I had one) and I ordered the shortribs. Expensive at $72 but shortribs as an 18 oz portion had been braising for 21 hours so was it worth it? Yeah - I mean, I would be too scared to mess that up at home and this was date night. It was delicious but I don't know that I'd order it again. I'd probably want to try something else. Brent was great at explaining menu items - looking at it now online, for that price point, it would helpful to have labels for pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy, and vegetarian options. I appreciated that Brent pointed out how boozy the desserts were so I opted for the sorbets and was pleasantly surprised. Kiwi was definitely the best of the trio out of bergamot and apricot. Husband ordered an Americano and the Black Forest cake for dessert. He said the cake had a lot of whipped cream. Seems like everybody gets financiers for a sweet treat at the end. I was sad to see the table next to us just abandoned theirs. I could see this being a great place for a dessert date if it was a first or second date. You can impress but not blow a budget, though red flag if your date orders steak and you specifically made it an 8 pm dessert date. Valet parking was available for $21 which isn't bad considering public parking was $14 for 2 hours. Wonderful option for splurge-worthy date night or corporate dinner. read more

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We had our New Year Eve dinner at Blue Water cafe. The place was lovely with great service and food. Our waiter did a great job explaining the menu and gave us great recommandations. The seafood options are amazing. Really loved the seafood tower, lots of food to try, a nice option if you are sharing. We also add some sushi and rolls as starters. Probably should have ordered less as it was only two of us but everything was great. As a main we shared the elk stirloin. That was amazing ! Best of everything we tried. Also can say that their cocktails are very good. I really enjoyed the Sakura. We will be back! Happy New Year!! read more

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****Service Animal Discrimination Experience**** I'm writing to document a disappointing and unacceptable experience with Blue Water Cafe in Vancouver. Earlier today, we called ahead to request dining accommodations with my certified service dog, trained in the United States by an Assistance Dogs International (ADI)-accredited program -- a certification that is fully recognized under British Columbia's Guide Dog and Service Dog Act. Instead of courteously discussing the request or asking the legally permitted questions, the staff member immediately rejected our reservation, accused us of not having proper documentation, and refused to review or even allow us to present our credentials. This was done over the phone, without any attempt to understand the situation or follow BC's service animal regulations. Under BC law, restaurants must accommodate certified service dogs and may only ask: * whether the dog is required because of a disability, and * what task the dog is trained to perform. Blue Water Cafe did neither. Instead, we were dismissed, spoken to rudely, and denied access based on incorrect assumptions about service dog requirements in British Columbia. For a restaurant of this reputation, this level of misinformation and lack of courtesy is unacceptable. Service dog users deserve dignity, lawful treatment, and basic respect -- not snap judgments, false accusations, or barriers to dining. I hope management addresses this immediately through staff training on BC's Guide Dog and Service Dog Act and implements proper procedures so that other guests with disabilities are not subjected to the same treatment. MARY was very rude she had zero empathy and her tone was very obnoxious as well she had zero patience and her tone was not at all pleasing, she shouldn't be in customer service if she has no skill as to how to calm a situation, she has zero empathy towards us and didn't know how to talk in a manner that people would understand your situation, she just didn't seem to care. Why would someone want to work in a customer facing job if they have no patience to deal with customers. She was beyond rude , no words for Mary indeed! She passed me on to the manager , he was a guy, Kaden or sounds like that name, he was also not very helpful or didn't even try to make the situation a better one knowing it was my birthday, they both definitely have the most horrible customer service we've experienced so far , that day we were also driving back from the Four Seasons hotel in Whistler and they were such beyond lovely when it comes to going above and beyond! They definitely have the gold standard as to how people should be treated! This place is totally a downgrade from what we've experienced at the Four Seasons Hotel. Please don't assume on anyone's service dog. Please don't discriminate your tone towards anyone having a service dog and explaining it to the person properly showing empathy, it would have been a totally different experience and outcome when it comes to my review, because mental health is real. read more

The waitstaff were super friendly and welcoming, and really helped to make my girlfriend's birthday special! I was especially appreciative of the guidance from our waiter regarding the oyster selections and their consumption (our first time enjoying them!), and his suggested wine pairing was perfect! The food was SCINTILLATING: my scallops were perfectly cooked, ever so slightly seared on the one side and moist on the inside, and the presentation of my plate was eye-catching. Thank you for the wonderful experience; we were already planning our next visit by the end of our time with you on Saturday! read more

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My wife and I are foodies and often travel for food. We decided to return to Vancouver from California for a few days before our cruise to celebrate our anniversary. The concierge at the Fairmont Airport Hotel highly recommended the Blue Water Cafe... Throughout the day when we talked to other Canadians, many of them said the Blue Water Cafe was a must visit. It was a Tuesday afternoon and I called the Blue Water Cafe and they had no tables available that night or the following night... We called again on Wednesday without success. During the day Wednesday, we were walking around Yaletown and by mere chance happened to walk right in front of the Blue Water Cafe!!!! We saw a gentleman setting up tables, so we decided to go talk to him. We found out he was the director of the restaurant and told him what so many people had said about his restaurant and how we were unable to get a table... We said we would return again next year to celebrate our anniversary there....he said he would try his hardest to get us a table... After several minutes, he was able to find us one for that evening!! As we were informed , this restaurant was fantastic... Our server Brent was very informative, thorough, and attentive. Our sushi roll, fish entrees, and cheesecake dessert were all delicious, The director, Stephan, checked on us several times to see how our meal was going... Additionally, he brought us a box of macaroons to celebrate our anniversary... Such a nice gesture! Loved this place!!! read more

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Our server was great! No baseball caps so apparently it's a little fancy but not over the top fancy. Everything we ordered was really good. The seafood tower was really fresh! read more

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Absolutely still loving this restaurant especially their amazingly fresh raw oysters!! We got a dozen and next time I'm going for more! I got the seabream fish and it was delicious! Not fatty and fish was firm and deboned for me. The short ribs had a thick glazed sauce that I did not like so I would not recommend the short ribs. Definitely will come back here every time in Vancouver. read more

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Great service from the get-go. Food was excellent. Seafood plateau was everything you would expect and hope for, but the steak was also perfectly done, and pasta seemed to be handmade. Cocktails were also well crafted and well proportioned. Our server was fantastic- very attentive and had a message on our dessert for our anniversary. Ambiance is very classy and there is a dress code. Highly recommend. read more

Blue Water Cafe - Truffle - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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We went to the restaurant nearing their kitchen closing time and the hostess was not very pleased especially because we had a decent party size BUT they accommodated us exceptionally and we are so grateful for it! Our waitress was phenomenal and so on top of it all! She helped us narrow down the menu and pointed us in the direction of things that were well known at their establishment. This was super helpful for us! The restaurant was such a cool vibe with a bunch of different stations on the outskirts of the room, one being the sushi making station which transported me back to my omakase experience in Japan last month. The food was phenomenal and it was gone quickly. We loved it all and would highly recommend for anyone who is in need of a great sushi restaurant! read more

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Exemplary offer business lunch. We hopped in a cab and were given a round table near the entrance for seven people. The service was impeccable and our waiter made sure to top up our glasses with wine or water. I started off with a delicious carrot soup. Most of our table ordered the scallops so many delicious scallops all on one plate great decision. We finished off with the very rich for a Valrhona chocolate cake. Can't do much better in Vancouver. read more

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Hands down the best meal we had in Vancouver! The experience was above and beyond from the start to finish. It is remarkable how incredible the food was and the RANGE of dishes! From sushi to truffle pasta- 10/10. Our server, Kristoff, was a delight and his wine recommendations were superb. We will be back! read more

Blue Water Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Excellent date night in Vancouver. I was looking for a full lobster option. The vibe here was perfection. Service was top notch. Both dishes the poached lobster and crab and shrimp salad were impeccable. read more

Blue Water Cafe - Poached lobster - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Yes the restaurant is expensive but it offers some of the freshest seafood I've ever had! Most of the items on the menu you can skip but the seafood tower is an absolute MUST! read more

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They have the plumpiest oysters here. Highly recommend they have to get Effingham and Evening Cove. They were sooo delicious and they're local! Our server was so kind, friendly, patient, and helpful. They have top tier service here. The restaurant is very high quality. My water was never not filled. Their table bread was also so tasty. Their burrata and prosciutto was delicious and I usually don't like burrata but they also had a pesto crunchy piece of bread that paired so well with all of the flavors of the dish. For my main I got the scallops but was eyeing the sablefish. I'm so glad I got the scallops because there was so much flavor in that dish!! And I ended my meal with sorbets (strawberry, banana and coconut) mixing all three together was sooo good. It was the perfect apartment and didn't feel too heavy. I really enjoyed dinner here. I highly recommend trying this place out! You won't regret it! read more

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I love everything about this place and experience. Maybe except when I have to pay. Steep! $5xx for 5 diners (2 adults 3 teen girls). We ordered: Salmon nigiri Hamachi nigiri Salmon roll Spicy Tuna roll Heirloom tomato salad Calamari Waygu Our server was a true example of what a server should be: friendly, attentive without being over the top; knowledgeable, and his timing was just perfect. It was an enjoyable and worthy experience. Beautiful and elegant space without being gawdy or pretentious. read more

Everything was wonderful about our meal. Food was exquisite, service was terrific, and the wine and cocktails were a perfect match with our food. The atmosphere was one of elegant dining and made for a completely enjoyable night. read more

Our server Chris was wonderful. Our food was delicious and inventive. Loved our experience. The Stamina sushi role was amazing and our main dishes of scallops and the halibut was great too. read more

seafood is so so fresh it's definitely worth the price tag, was worried about the portion of the seafood tower for the table as my party are seafood fanatics. We ended up being super full! Server was also super attentive and explained all the items patiently read more

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This will be a hard review to write only because there will be some that will think I am a plant ( My wife and I are from another country.) as the superlatives to describe our meal will be nothing-less than excellent. (Note, When visiting Vancouver City and all the great dining venues here, we always make certain to have at least one meal is here.) From making reservations ( which we asked to change, and were accommodated) to arriving early and enjoying a fantastic beverage, to the fantastic meal ( our photos do not show the several orders of perfect Sushi (Nigiri and Rolls) ) to our amazing dinners, to the perfect way to end the evening with a delightful dessert. The restaurant setting is an example of how a fine dining restaurant should be. ALL of the staff comport themselves with professionalism and pride, for which we are grateful. The flavor of our mains were exquisite and we had such a wonderful meal we cancelled tomorrow nights dinner ( at a 5 star restaurant that we dined at last night ) and will return to the Bluewater Cafe as we spend our last night in Vancouver. If you have not dined here , please give it a try! Cheers to all! And thank you to Bluewater Cafe! read more

Blue Water Cafe - This is the Sablefish selection. - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I had a list of restaurants I wanted to try when we were in Vancouver and I let my eldest son pick. Blue Water Cafe was the place he chose for dinner after coming back from Whistler. The ambiance here was great. Our waiter was very helpful and delightful to talk to. My wife and I started off with our drinks and both enjoyed it very much especially after a day at the snow. The alive and well was smokey which I like. It reminds me of a mezcal margarita. The Miyazaki mule was refreshing. It had a good balance of ginger and sake taste. We ordered squid as appetizer and it was delicious. It comes with a dipping sauce and the chopped bacon gave it a nice twist. We also ordered the seafood plateau to share. My youngest son tried raw oyster for the first time and he liked it. The scallop ceviche was ok, nothing to really rave about. My kids ate all the other shellfish while waiting for the entree. The jellyfish was really good. If you like jellyfish dish at a Chinese restaurant, you will enjoy this dish. My eldest son enjoyed his Japanese wagyu nigri and was asking for more. We ordered 3 blue fin nigiri but both my kids ate them so I didn't try. They said it was really good. They tried their first blue fin nigiri earlier in the day at Whistler and are hooked on blue fin now. For our entree, my wife ordered the scallops. The scallop was cooked to perfection where it had the perfect texture and taste. It was very tender. I ordered my son the 2oz Japanese wagyu ribeye while I had the American wagyu flat iron steak. Since the ribeye were small, I ordered them a side of mashed potatoes and french fries. I gave each of my son a piece of my flat iron steak to compare the difference. They can tell right away the texture and flavor was different. The Japanese wagyu was much more tender and melts when they chewed. The American wagyu was more chewy and texture was not as buttery. They like both but prefer the Japanese wagyu. The meat comes with a dipping sauce. I also asked for sea salt on the side to put on the steak. My kids tried with and without the salt and preferred eating it plain. They like the way the meat was prepared and enjoyed it as is. After dinner, they gave us complimentary bread cookie. It was a good dessert to end our meal. I would highly recommend this place. The price can be very steep but if you are able to splurge a little, definitely give this place a chance. You will get your money's worth. The staff are awesome and the food is really good. They made us feel very welcome and were very attentive. I was glad we were able to fit Blue Water Cafe in our short schedule while visiting Vancouver. read more

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My friends and I just celebrated another birthday at Blue Water Cafe, our favourite dining establishment in Vancouver. As always, the cuisine was extraordinary, and the personalized service, even better. We also had the good fortune to have Jennifer taking care of us, who is just an amazing server and ambassador for Blue Water. She is the consummate professional, who is always eager to recommended a variety of excellent drinks and dishes that the restaurant is famous for. This expertise, coupled with her warmth and friendliness, always makes a person feel that they're eating at friend's house, more than just another restaurant. Anyway, I heartily recommend Blue Water Cafe for anyone looking for a first-class dining experience. Just ask for Jennifer!! read more

Blue Water Cafe - Birthday celebration at our favourite restaurant! - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Food was really good. I was with a large group of around 50 people. The steak was cooked to perfection. I ended up getting two desserts and both were amazing. Staff was very friendly, joked around with us. Food took a bit but expected with a party of that size. read more

This is a serious house of food! The crab in rolls, salad and cooked was the best ever. Service was amazing and the open kitchen is a study in precision ballet. The molten Valrhona chocolate cake was decadent...and delicious. It reminded us of or tour of the factory in France near Lyon. The 50 page wine and spirits list was amazing. Rare Italian gin was superb. Service was professional and extremely engaging recommending other locations in Whistler and a great story about Empress gin made in Victoria. A grand evening. read more

Sat at the sushi bar expecting precision and timing. What we got instead was a front-row seat to disorganization and poor judgment. We watched our hamachi and wagyu sit on the pass for at least 20 minutes, untouched, while staff moved around it. The disconnect between the waiter and the sushi chef was obvious. When the delay was questioned, the waiter made a snide remark suggesting we could "yell at the chefs ourselves." That comment alone reflects a breakdown not just in service, but in professionalism. This was not a busy service, which makes the delay inexcusable--especially given that hamachi should be served immediately after slicing. When the food finally arrived more than 30 minutes later, it was flat, tired, and underwhelming, clearly compromised by sitting too long. Management attempted to smooth things over by sending a complimentary dessert and comping the edamame, but that felt like a poor substitute when you're paying premium prices for very small portions. It did nothing to address the core issues of execution and service. Escalating the issue to the manager, Adrien Boutet, only compounded the problem. He was dismissive and condescending, offering no accountability or meaningful response. Unfortunately, this mirrors multiple recent reviews from just days ago, suggesting this is a pattern rather than an isolated incident. Blue Water Cafe appears to be coasting on its reputation. On this visit, the service, timing, portion value, and management all fell well below what should be expected at this price point. read more

It is great dining experience, the sushi/sashimi Oyster are so great , the place more comfortable read more

Dining at Blue Water Cafe was truly one of the best culinary experiences I've had in a very long time -- and honestly, one of the best meals of my life. We started with the oysters, edamame, and the Garden Roll, which was absolutely outstanding. The wasabi served with it was, without exaggeration, the best I have ever tasted -- incredibly fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced. The Branzino was exceptional -- easily one of the best, if not the best, I've ever had. Perfectly prepared, delicate, flavorful, and beautifully complemented by the mushrooms and fries, which were equally exquisite. I also had one of the finest gins I've ever tasted, produced on Bowen Island by Copper Spirit Distillery -- an unforgettable recommendation that elevated the entire evening. And the service deserves special recognition. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, warm, and genuinely passionate about the menu and pairings. The level of hospitality made the evening feel even more special and memorable. Without question, Blue Water Cafe is a restaurant I will return to every single time I visit Vancouver. A truly world-class dining experience. read more

My wife and I had an excellent dinner. The sushi was delicious, and it melted in your mouth. Aaron was great; he walked us through the entire menu and provided recommendations. First-class service, I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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The food was delicious! Service was amazing. We sat near the expo kitchen. Cool to watch them put the food together. We had desserts and an after dinner lemon drink! So good. read more

Blue Water Cafe - Dessert - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

We ventured into Yaletown on day two of our visit to Vancouver. Wow, what a happening place! There are so many restaurants here ... Such a lively vibe! I ordered a bottle of 2019 Checkmate Queens Taken Chardonnay ($343) from their Dekleva Vineyard. Generous fruit, including peach, pear and nectarine ... it offered a balance of acidity and a rich, mineral finish. The menu is extensive ... We ended up ordering ten dishes, mainly raw ones. We started with six oysters ($28), two each from Effingham, Shigoku and Barstool. Our server (Melissa) recommended Effingham, but we found the other two to be superior. My favorite was the Barstool. Next up, Halibut Tataki ($22.50, fourteen slices of halibut, dressed with yuzu kosho / tonburi / ponzu sauce. I'd never had raw halibut ... It was delicate, similar to sea bream (to me). Next was unagi and Hamachi nigiri ... the unagi was fine but the Hamachi lacked the coloration and taste I'm accustomed to. Our main dishes were beef sashimi and halibut. There were fourteen slices of beef tenderloin ($23) dressed with a yu'kke sauce (soy, ginger, garlic, red pepper and sesame), garlic chips and chopped scallions. This was very good, tender and flavorful. The Johnstone Strait Halibut ($52.50) was served with braised kohirabi, baby carrots, sea asparagus, whipped bintje potatoes, chanterelle mushrooms, with a smoked oyster beurre blanc. Halibut is delicate and this dish was a visual treat. We ordered sauteed baby spinach ($10) as a side. The finale was a Black Forest Cake Bar ($16), white and dark chocolate mousse layered with griotine cherries and topped with wafers of chocolate, accompanied by a quenelle of Morello cherry gelato. This was a visual sensation! We enjoyed our time at Blue Water Café though we felt the cost to be a little high for the food and wine served. The nigiri sushi didn't meet our expectations; every other dish was fine. read more

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Great food, cocktails and presentation in a fun setting. The staff is amazing and made dinner really enjoyable. We had a variety of dishes and all of them were exceptional. The cocktails were also creative, well made and delicious. read more