Amazing Halibut fish and chips. Good size portions. Great staff. Clean and presentable delightful place. Washrooms were small but interesting and clean. read more

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It was a very disappointing experience today. The server took our order and only returned half an hour later when we threatened to leave. It seemed the other side of the restaurant was populated with local residents who were given priority service. As tourists we didn't feel the same welcome. When we ate their "world famous" clam chowder it was nothing to write home about. It tasted more like something out of a can. I wouldn't think of coming here again. read more

They only take cash, the shrimp sandwich came with popcorn shrimp, only one waiter for entire restaurant.

Busy as usual. The cash register still broke from September 2023 , only take Cash. Restaurant price includes tax and else. 9 Canadian dollars for a 11oz clam chowder. This trip we ordered as last year. And we are very disappointed. The 75% of Cod fish is all batter. Feel cheated. As you can see the photos. Also the price. Last year, we paid according to the number on bill and not realized we are paying Canadian price number. This year, I asked the lady owner that "price is according to the Canadian currency, right? " She sat down, did the calculations and told me, my bill is 28 Canadian dollars Billing Canadian $ 35=USD$25.62 Why 28 Canadian dollars? " Because I have to pay currency exchange fee." All the customers who paid US cash, I fell sorry for you. This place is ripping people off. French fries were not as good, lot of them are with potato skin, and broken. (Are there the leftover from other people's plate? ) Really disappointed . read more

Smile's Seafood Cafe - Cod fish and chip. Not good...... - Seafood Near Me - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

5 stars for the best halibut and chips in town. Perfectly crispy, light and flaky halibut - not heavy, not greasy - home cut real potato fries. A small salad on the plate. Service is sweet but scattered. Price maybe a little high but what isn't these days? Can't vouch for anything else off the menu but there's a reason this place is still here after all these years... they do fish and chips very well. read more

Smile's Seafood Cafe - 2pc halibut and chips - Seafood Near Me - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

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I haven't been here for a year and was really looking forward to some good fish and chips like I got last year. This little restaurant seem to have changed quite a bit. I waited at least 20 minutes for my fish and chips and when I got it, I was extremely disappointed, there was barely any fish inside at all and mostly just coating. It almost looked like the french fries were re-cooked from someone else's plate. I didn't even bother saying anything because I was so disappointed. I will never go back to this restaurant. read more

Smile's Seafood Cafe - Way too much coding and barely any fish inside at all. - Seafood Near Me - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

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Being so close to the water, I made it my mission to have more seafood. I've heard good and bad things about Smile's Seafood Cafe so I decided to try it out myself. My overall experience was quite positive. The waitress was welcoming, the service was fast, and the food was great. I wouldn't mind coming back again. What I ordered: 1. Poached salmon with rice: I thought the dish looked quite delicious and the portion size was good. The fish tasted fresh and wasn't overly cooked or seasoned. The rice was soft and had great flavours. read more

Smile's Seafood Cafe - Poached salmon with rice - Seafood Near Me - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

I made a bad decision to come here and now pretty much paying the price. I ended up having diarrhea. Not sure if the food was too oily, or because of the water they served me was not filtered properly or was it the food. Smile's Seafood Cafe is the oldest restaurant in Prince Rupert and it is recommended as a restaurant to visit online but not by locals. Ask any locals and they would recommend Dolly's which is across the street and its cheaper and better quality. Majority of the locals in PR don't like Smile's. They said the quality is not there and everything is basically fried. I ordered the cod and chips. Please take a look at my photo. The fries looked like they were refried multiple times. Super oily. The two pieces of cod barely had much meat in them. Usually fish and chips comes with coleslaw here its just a bunch of lettuce and you add in your Kraft dressing (out of the packet). The meal was $15.98 before tax and tips. I don't think its really worth the price. Locals have warned me about this place. It used to be one of the best restaurant in town before the owners sold it (hey restaurant owners have to retire too). I felt sorry for the one server running around serving the customers. She had to wait tables, run the cash register and clean tables. Talk about multi-tasking. The diarrhea, that I got here wasted an hour and a half of my life. I got a chance to really admire Smile's toilet and bathroom carefully for 20mins and then the rest was spent at the hotel bathroom. Don't think I will be back. read more

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We had a great lunch. Big portion of halibut and chips- we should've split a meal! Obviously a local hang out as they were commenting on the cruise ship that was in port. read more

Being one of the oldest restaurants in Prince Rupert we wanted to try it. We were disappointed. We should have gone with our gut instinct since the restaurant was pretty empty on a Friday night, that it wasn't that great. I ordered the fish and chips (halibut) and my SO got the seafood platter (salmon, halibut, shrimp, scallops, and oysters). All of the seafood was over cooked and didn't taste fresh, service was slow for being empty, and the ice cream was freezer burnt. The only reason I'm not giving 1 star is that the waitress was nice. I'm sorry to say feel free to skip this one. read more

Smile's Seafood Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

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Nice cozy and authentic place managed by Mai and husband . Delicious seafood . Very affordable and great portions and presentation. Fully licensed . Gentle and fast service .... a must for visiting in Prince Rupert . Great culinary . Please also try the deep fried ice cream !!! read more

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Food was fine but the service was almost rude. When paying with US dollars they charge 23% exchange rate. Welcome to Canada.

Like others have mentioned, you don't feel very welcomed into this place. But what matters more is that this place is called a seafood cafe and everything my group of 4 ordered was frozen and from a store like safeway or Costco we could have baked or fried at home. Nothing was fresh and my group of 4 all ended up needing the restroom within the hour! read more

Excellent halibut fish & chips and great service. Not much on ambience but with food this good who cares.

People behind us were seated first and received their drink order in the first few minutes. We patiently waited but we were continued to be ignored. Two tables were served ahead of us, even though we were waiting. The waiter continued to ignore our group of four. 15 minutes passed and the couple behind us got their food. We got up and left, they still had no intention of serving us. Thumbs down for absolutely terrible service. This is my first impression of visiting Prince Rupert after many years. Go to Dolly's next door. They were so much quicker and nicer. read more

If you're ever in Prince Rupert, BC, Smiles Seafood Cafe is a must-visit. Good luck finding a table, especially during the summer. The menu is incredible and like nothing you can get anywhere else, ranging from amazing breakfast, delicious lunch and even Vietnamese cuisine if you're not in a seafood mood. The fish and chips? Simply divine. It's such a charming spot with its incredible harbour view and atmosphere. The family staff makes you feel right at home. So if you're in town, don't miss out on the Smiles experience. read more

Avoid. Food tasted like oil was old. Place hasn't been remodeled in decades as seats are spongy, tables worn, walls dirty and restrooms yucky. read more

It's a cute little restaurant run by a family. I was told about how fresh the fish and ingredients are. (You will never get frozen fish.) If you want a view of the ocean/harbour I would recommend sitting in the back dining room. This place has the best fish and chips! (Apparently the locals think so too as it is their best seller.) You can get it either in cod or halibut. I had the halibut and it was perfect with the tartar sauce! The portion was large enough to fill me up. The breading on the fish was so crisp I loved the crunch. It was a very interesting texture and one I haven't seen before. It came with a small salad and fries that also had a great crunchy texture! If you order a small gravy dipping sauce, it is so so good with the fries! Another one of their popular dishes that I tried during one of my many visits is the vermicelli (cold noodle) with pork and spring rolls. It is only a special though, so it won't be on the menu, but on a black board if you go straight back from the front door. It comes with this sweet tangy sauce that's just to die for when you pour it over your whole dish and mix everything up. The pork slices have this asian bbq flavor that's amazing, and the springs rolls--oh how crunchy! (Just don't let it soak at the bottom with the sweet tangy sauce.) I also tried their Smiles burger on another day I came in...and wow. One of the best burgers I've had. There's relish on the bottom bun that added the right amount of sweet and tanginess. There's an amazing cheese sauce on it that was so delicious! It also had bacon, mushrooms, tomato, and lettuce with pickle slices and fries on the side. Since there's so much in it, be prepared to get your hands dirty! It's a large portion and I couldn't finish it. Don't forget to ask for some gravy for your fries! Service was great! You just walk in and pick a seat and someone will be right with you. Mai was my waitress and always has a smile on her face! They don't bring your check to your table here. You have to pay at the checkout counter when you're finished. read more

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If you're a visitor to Prince Rupert and want to try fresh fish, look no further. Smiles is known for their fish and chips (halibut or cod are both delicious). Their portions are very generous as well! You will definitely leave with a full stomach. The owners previously owned Uncle Bucks and took with them a few of their most popular Vietnamese dishes as daily specials when Smile's underwent a "re-launch". The Vietnamese dishes include the famous #8 from Uncle Bucks (BBQ pork with spring rolls on vermicelli) and chow mein with veggies. I visited many times during my visit and tried their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast I got an eggs benedict while my fiance got corn beef hash. For lunch we tried fish and chips, and for dinner we tried their Vietnamese specials. Whatever mood you're in for you will not be disappointed in what you get. Service was fast and most importantly, the food was fresh. Parking is ample and prices are moderate for a small fishing community. The ambience brings you back to a fisherman's hideout. I'd recommend eating in the dining room! You get a nice view of the harbor. Will definitely come back if I make my way back to Prince Rupert. 10/10 would recommend. read more

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This place was amazing!!! Best Halibut Fish Sandwich and their chowder was to die for!!! They also had the famous Canadian Poutine!!!

While on an extended RV trip we decided to visit the seaside town of Prince Rupert, B.C. on the homeward bound side of our 3 month journey. The rain monster had plagued us of and on and our visit here was a wet, dreary one. We decided to head into town for sea food to lighten the mood. The staff at the Visitor Center pointed us in the Smiles direction. It's a quaint little place that was very busy. The friendly hostess made quick work of the meet, greet, and seat chores and brought us menus. We chose the seafood platter of fried cod, shrimp, and fries, and a side of clam chowder. The food arrived as ordered and piping hot and it was just okay. Frozen. Not fresh. Average taste flavor, and texture, though the clam chowder was excellent. It was an okay meal for an okay price but nothing you couldn't have gotten at any family run-of-the-mill type chain restaurant. If you are in the mood for real seafood, this may be a disappointment. read more

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We are here around 6pm on a Sunday night. Glad we beat the rush (which was because another cow bay restaurant was completely booked), because the poor server was soooo busy! Other than that, I only have positive things to say. Food came out amazingly quickly for how busy it was! Started with the clam chowder soup, which was served with a slice of sourdough. It was so perfect on that overcast evening. Large serving size. Followed by a main dish of pan seared halibut steak, which was served with steamed carrots mashed potatoes and a salad. Absolutely delicious. Halibut was cooked to perfection. Flakey, buttery, light flavor so that the taste of the fish remained front and center. It was the local seafood dish I had been dreaming of. I will be back! read more

Man oh man, what happened... It's pretty crazy that such a staple of Northern BC has gone to $%^&. I tried going back, 3 times, and 3 times the food was just terrible. It used to be once in a while, but you'd give them a chance because 90% of the time the food was just great. I guess the place was sold and bought, and never even tried to keep up to the standards it had, but also didn't even dream of keeping up with the times. It's not only giving you the feeling of going back in time, it gives the feeling that it's the wrong cook in the wrong kitchen. With the history of this place and how popular it was, a little update of the furniture and learning not to deep fry your fish and chips to an oil ball could have kept the locals coming. A big update of the furniture and a change of menu to make it appealing to the wave of people getting high paid jobs would have been even better. None the less, just like many people I know said, I ain't going back. read more

i have heard "island time" mentioned in reference to Hawaii or the Caribbean but I guess it refers to Prince Rupert too. How long does it take to make a couple of sandwiches in a pretty empty restaurant? The better part of an hour! No bueno. read more

Smile's is situated by the harbour in Prince Rupert. It is a small cafe with plenty of history and a talent for creating lovely seafood dishes in an unpretentious, efficient and friendly atmosphere. If you're ever in Prince Rupert, it is well worth seeking out this lovely cafe. read more

This is the closest restaurant to the new marina. Although Breakers Pub is right next door. It's a historic biz and self proclaimed "fisherman's hideout." The building was built in 1922 and the restaurant started in 1934 and it very much has the feel of a bygone era. I can just imagine the old fisherman chewing the fat while eating there while waiting fir an opening. However the food was mediocre at best. We ate there twice and the food was disappointing both times. I had the steak and while it had a good taste it was so tough I couldn't eat most of it. read more

Terrible service, appetizer was from frozen section of grocery store, dirty ice, but the butter garlic sauce on the prawns was good, though prawns were not de-tailed. read more

First impression says a lot!! Was excited to try somewhere with fresh seafood, and somewhere historic. It's one of the oldest places in Prince Rupert. Start with the service, terrible! Was greeted with 'how many?' No hello or welcome. Get seated and given menus. Took a while before waitress came back to even take drink order, which she took food order at same time. We ordered an appy and then main meal. Appy came, everything was from the frozen section of the grocery store... not impressed! And it said spring roll and we got egg rolls. Main course comes, each at separate times. Vegetables on the dish were cold cooked carrots, no butter. Rice was over cooked and dry. Tiger prawns were not over cooked thankfully, but had their tails still on. So had to get covered in garlic cream sauce to de-tail them. The garlic sauce was the only thing that was good about the dinner. The salad that came with it was huge chunks of iceberg with mostly the inside part, and a sad looking slice of tomato on top. We finish and move plates to the edge of the table and then see the waitress sitting at another table with her head on her hand and elbow on the table. Finally when plates are removed we hear her tell another couple about the specials for the night, we didn't even know there were any!!! Waited for the bill and never got one. Had to go to the till and wait for it there. Overall, not worth the money, time or experience! Strongly disappointed!! read more

It has probably been 20 years since I've been to this cafe. Since it's inception it has changed hands many times with an interesting history....it's been around a long time. It was definitely on the list of places to try as a family since I had been before and enjoyed the food. Fast forward 20+ years later and we are in Prince Rupert for the day. Prices were reasonable and the menu enticing. We decided to stop in for a quick bite before heading back to Terrace. Hubs ordered the steak sandwich. His comments were "under seasoned" but cooked to his liking. I went for the salmon burger. The salmon was delicious but I didn't enjoy how big the fresh bun was in relation to the salmon. Each bite was bun with a side of salmon and I eventually just ate the salmon tossing the bun. The plain garden salad that came with was no superstar what-so-ever....rather just ok. My boy wanted wings and so he shared them with hubs. They were inconsistent in size and as such not cooked equally (some dry, some fatty). They were still enjoyed and consumed. My girl had a simple grilled cheese sandwich which turned out fine. The fries were stellar. The service was great and the place crammed full. This little cafe sits right on the main street across from the Cowpuccino's Coffee House. Apparently there was more seating in the back of the restaurant that overlooks the harbour. We were not given this option just encouraged to sit in the front area (perhaps the back was for reservations?). I have to say unfortunately this place is not as good as my last visit many years ago. It's doable and reasonably priced, great service, fresh seafood, a little dated but the food needs a pick me up or a Robert Irvine intervention since it is a landmark that lives on to this day. read more

OK restaurant but I wished I had checked Yelp first. We were already eating when I remembered that I should have checked here first. That won't happen again. Food was average but given the location I was expecting better. read more

I ate here twice while on a 3 day visit to Prince Rupert. Manhattan clam chowder is so hard to find so this is what I ordered - I loved it both times. Service was great but my dinner could have been improved by serving it with a fresh roll or crackers rather than what seemed to be just a grocery store slice of bread. Other patrons seemed be happy with their dinners. Deep fried food is not my friend so I did not try other items on the menu. read more

Ohhhhh deep fried deliciousness. Mashed potatoes were awful and gluey but the fish was from heaven. I would go back just for that fish. YUMMY read more

The smiles burger and fries were delicious. I even enjoyed the strawberry milk shakel

We eat at Smile's when we're in Prince Rupert for a few days. Its an old school, small town, comfortable kind of place with decent food at reasonable prices. read more

Good thing about the fish and chips we ordered was that it had salad, instead of coleslaw.

Really gross. I would bet the mashed potatoes are cheep instant ones. The veggies were just boiled carrots and the salmon was very overdone. The table next to me seemed to have similar issues. Stay away. Or go to the nice place next door. read more

Honestly probably the worst meal I have had for a very long time. Smiles Cafe charge top end prices but deliver pre frozen fish and chips that have enough batter on them to feed an army. All four meals my family ordered were terrible. The service was ordinary and the asian owners of this place are obviously trading on the cafes history and delivery the cheapest possible food to its customers. I dont usually write reviews but felt compelled this time as the place was terrible. read more

Tried their fish and chips. Greasy, not satisfying, definitely the worst I have experienced.