Blue Water Cafe Review

One if the best restaurants in Vancouver! Amazing the quality of the food... specialy their seafood! Highly recommended for an elegant dinner.

Excellent food and service. Ordered the seafood tower and lobster sashimi, both were amazing.

The seafood is extensive and delightfully presented. The service can be very good. This is a restaurant where you go to splurge: a special event or a birthday.

That said, there are two reasons why I'm giving this place three stars instead of five.

1) Garbage bins
This is likely out of Blue Water Cafe's control, but what are all the battle-tank-sized compost and garbage bins doing outside the entrance of the restaurant? Not exactly the most welcoming visual or aroma before getting to the restaurant.

2) Servers who relentlessly upsell
This is definitely something Blue Water Cafe could fix. The first time I went, our server was very clear that her main goal was the tips, saying "I'm only working here because the tips are good". Refreshingly honest of her, and she continued to suggest doubles for all drinks ordered that night.

The second and last time I went, the beverages server, different from our food server, came around. When I said "a Vodka soda", he responded with, "did you say a double?". He figured that this was an opportunity to squeeze as much as he could from the table.

Luckily for us, our food server was pleasant, amazingly attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.

Great restaurant by TopTable Group. Phenomenal food and wonderful servers. Offers a wide range of dishes and extensive wine list. I recently visited for their 20th anniversary dinner menu; and everything was delicious. Our server, Rachel took care of us and we had a lovely evening. Cheers to more success in years to come.

Extremely friendly staff and some of the best seafood I've ever had.

Amazing staff & beautiful restaurant. Great great caviar but my free range chicken little bit under cooked . I think becuase the chefs are so used to cooking raw . But overall great experience.

Love the food. Oeysters, fish, and great wine...and staff is perfect

Delicious seafood is synonym for Blue Water Cafe. The perfect place for a date night or any other special occasion, I have celebrated many birthdays here. The last time I went the service was a little lackluster, not bad, but not great. The wine list is excellent, and it has one of the best lobster I have tasted.

Wonderful restaurant! We had a mix of menu items and loved all of it. Our server Lela and the crew working the sushi bar were perfect.

Will definitely be coming back next time we are down here.

Very very good and very expensive but it's worth it. The impact whiskey's menu!

A real treat. We visited this restaurant on a recommendation from someone we met in Whistler. It didn t disappoint and was a perfect ending to a fabulous holiday. The food was delicious, wagyu steak was cooked to perfection. Great choice, brilliant service.

Solid place with good service and fine dining atmosphere. Sockeye salmon was chewy but everything else was great. Some of the cocktails are just ok so I wouldn't get them again except for the spicy cucumber tequila one.

Great venue and solid food. You get very good service here, so its perfect for entertaining corporate clients.

Fantastically prepared seafood. Had the scallops and miso black cod and both were excellent. Didn't have a chance to take a picture since both plates were literally attacked. Cocktails were also well done.

Enjoyed very much the food that we ordered and the service was superb.

We ordered drinks and a quesadilla. The cheese wasn't melted. Looks like it came out of a microwave. When we told the staff- they questioned us, as if it was somehow our fault. The manager behaved the same. Super disappointed in the food and service. This place is only open to take advantage of tourist.

Amazing and delicious. Our waiter, Kailyn, was knowledgeable and well-versed in wines. Recommended an excellent BC wine that was outstanding for the price. Cod and sturgeon were both delicious. Will return.

Most amazing service from Jennifer, she made our dining experience out of this world. The food was incredible, well worth the price. My husband and I had an incredible experience

If you visit this location don t forget the signature seafood tower.

This place is my favourite seafood restaurant in Vancouver. We celebrated my partners birthday here and it lived up to and exceeded our expectations. Great oysters, delicious ceviche, amazing Sable fish. The service was top notch. I requested a quiet table and we were accomodated as requested. Always a pleasure to dine here. Good quality and quantity of dish and friendly but busy atmosphere. Good for friend, family or couples. Seating arrangement are cosy and flexible for different groups.

Food was good, but very small meal for a big plate. Atmosphere was alright.

We went to blue water cafe for our anniversary. The atmosphere was very nice, the food was enjoyable, the drinks were classic, the server was very friendly with sense of humour.

We had the seafood tasting starter, and really enjoyed all of the four dishes. I especially enjoyed the smocked sockeye salmon terrine, it melted on my tongue like butter, so nice!
I had the halibut which I thought I was ok. My boyfriend had the sablefish which is so so good!! It was done just perfectly.

For dessert we had the warm chocolate cake, I think it was a little too much even for two of us to share - the chocolate filling inside was too sweet! If you can go easier on the sugar it would have been perfect.

Everything was great about the place; the service, the food and the environment. Our waitress was very friendly and obviously knew the menu from top and bottom. I had the halibut and it was super fresh and was very light. The crab salad was also very delicious. It was around $155 for 2 people w/o any drinks.

In these difficult times, I want to support one of my go-to restaurants. The food and the service are excellent. I didn't eat much fish before I moved to British Columbia but, now that I have discovered the Blue Water Cafe, I am a big fan. The fish is fresh (right out of the ocean :)) and the servers make you feel like a VIP. Thank you, Blue Water Cafe!

My go to for high-calibre brews and grains. Gary really makes the place feel like home.

In my opinion this is the best restaurant in Vancouver. Always awesome, always perfect.

Food was excellent and prepared and served on time. The atmosphere was welcoming. The staff was attentive, respectful and amiable. I really appreciate their service.

Soooo delicious!!! Every single thing you read on Google, positive that is, it's all true. We are from OK and first time visitors here. The service is stellar, the food is impeccable (you eat with your eyes), the taste is equally mouthwatering and delicious! Our server was the sweetest!!! Took time to explain the menu outside of the normal criteria, she explained favorites and popular dishes. She also took the time to get to know us while keeping it short and pleasant. We shared a starter, each got a meal and one glass of local Chardonnay (incredibly scrumptious).
Parking is a little confusing, you need to pay by phone or at the kiosk. Indoor and outdoor seating, very elegant dining with mood setting light.
Bathrooms are immaculate and high tech.
We did go during the month of December and there was festive holiday decor.

I give it 1 star, the fact that it was our fist time no one ask us or cared but they ask the people after us and help them with their order and also brought them bread out, so my husband and I walked out then they wanted to know why. I guess they didn t expect us to be their but I told the waiter my money spends like everyone else, do I expect to be treated like everyone, the menu was pricey but we were ok either that. First impression means a lot to me so he ll NO I wouldn t go back!!!

Food was great and the service too but they seriously charged me 36$ for water. It's just Evian which is nothing special. What a moneygrab...

Been to this restaurant many time. On Sunday my fries was too salty and asked my server to let chef know. Never heard back from them anymore. Blue Water kitchen is not as consistent as couple of years ago. Kobe sushi was good. Service was good.

One of the best seafood restaurants around. On our last visit we planned on starting with sushi prior to entrees however the sushi was so good we ended up just having wine and sushi for the whole evening. Was so good I went back for more three days later.

For all the hype we were disappointed with the food and the service. The seafood was fresh, the seafood sampler appetizer was very tasty but the mains (halibut special and scallops) left something to be desired. The Thai flavours of the halibut dish were poorly executed and the fish oversalted, the scallops did not pair well with the accompaniments. Waitstaff were pleasant but rather unprofessional.

This place is freaking amazing. Dont miss the 5 course for 39 only. Exceptional cocktails and impeccable service.

I'm all for quality over quantity but some restaurants in this city just take advantage of people. When you order a whole lobster and they serve it to you with an empty brain shell, not cool, my friend asked for it and they served it to her frozen. I've been to other restaurants from the aquilni group and this was the most disapointing. I felt ripped off, service was good though.

Every time we visit Vancouver we try to find the city's best sushi. Tried out Blue Water as a comparison to Miku, both are ***** quality. Had a table right in front of the sushi bar so we could see the chefs in action!

Food tasted great but I don't think it was worth the price.

Great food. Portions were bigger than expected. We didn't make it past the appetizers and seafood platter.

My colleague and I were recommended the Blue Water Cafe, and we decided to give it a a go after reading great reviews, and seeking an exceptional experience. Our server was prompt, respectful and personable, and most of the food was great as well. On the contrary, my colleague requested her lobster be grilled, and our server insisted it would be best enjoyed poached, although she continued to state that she preferred it grilled. Since he persisted, she went along with his recommendation, and was very dissapointed. After voicing that she was unsatisfied, the server didn't compensate us in any way. Great ambience, and consistent service however we were dissapointed in the recommendation, and lack of understanding, especially for a fine dining experience.

Still haven't found a better dining experience in Vancouver. Never felt too rushed or too slow, the service is the reason we come back. Stamina roll doesn't hurt. I think our servers name was Bryson and also the french guy we had last time was good. There are some nice restaurants in Vancouver but nothing beats Blue Water for us.

we ate at lumiere the previous night for twice the price and half the enjoyment! blue water has the most well-run kitchen in vancouver -- simply superb at turning out high qualify meals in quantity.

Best Sushi in Vancouver, was close to giving four stars. Waitress was rude, not sure if I'll go back. Definitely the best "top table" restaurant by far.

Food was indeed excellent, with the menu catering for just about any taste. As travellers, we really did appreciate this great dining establishment, however our only negative was the cost was a little too high for family dining with 3 children. Given the establishment was Full to the rafters with diners, clearly shows how popular it was with locals and tourists alike.

Amazing service from Sheena our server, she was wonderful with our son and it was his 3rd birthday. We love eating out in Vancouver and hit up all the great spots, this is my favorite restaurant of them all. Amazing oysters and freshest sashimi, also had the A5 waygu steak... melts in your mouth. If you re in Vancouver this should be your number 1 restaurant to eat at.

The meal lived up to our high expectations. Nothing surprising there. As a new parent, I was interested to see how they dealt with our 3 month old baby. (She's quite well-behaved and sleeps best in crowded restaurants, so we often bring her along.) We had a stroller with us, which the restaurant accommodated nicely. There's a side door for strollers so don't try to fit through the revolving door like we did. I was surprised to see a few other babies there, given that it was dinner and a fairly fancy restaurant. The washroom was not baby friendly at all. There wasn't anywhere to change the baby and in my quick perusal I couldn't find a bin for the diaper by the sink, just a receptacle for used towels. I was also told afterwards there were heated toilets with fancy features like in Japan, so I guess I'll have to check that out next time. Standout part of the meal was the ice cream that accompanied my bread pudding dessert. Biggest downside to the experience was being seated at the table near the bar, where people were standing in loud clumps and it felt like they were looking over my shoulder while I ate.

If you want to have a taste of great west coast cuisine, this is your place. They have a variety of seafood dishes that are cooked to perfection as well as sushi. I always go for the sushi and sashimi. Had the seafood tower for a special occasion once & it had very interesting things like jelly fish - so nice to try when you are sharing with a group. Service is very attentive. Pricey

What a place. Very nice to go out for dinner here. Staff is very friendly. Food is amazing. Their drinks list is almost endless. Definitely recommend checking this out. It's not the cheapest but worth it.

I have to admit, I rarely give 5 stars. Blue Water exceeded my expectations. Food was amazing, service was amazing, location and atmosphere was amazing. Highly recommended ... And the Yaletown feel is great too.

It's an amazing restaurant! As a French guy who is used to go to top notch gastronomy restaurant, I must say that I was absolutely impressed. The food is delicious and very high quality, and the service is a delight. Everyone is very professional but also very nice and easy going. We spent with my parents a fantastic dinner! Definitely my favorite restaurant in Vancouver!

The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. We came here with a large group, and the service and food was just as good as with small table service. I would recommend this place to anyone.

My favorite place for all the special occasions. Their Lobsters and Crabs are the best in Vancouver for sure. Tried their Ling Cod. Really nice

We had very high expectation for this place and booked our Valentine's dinner a month ahead.

Overall we think the service from our waiter was friendly but the food and drink are far behind.

We had the tasting appetizer for two. The Tuna Tartar was quite salty but it was the only dish that I would rate as 4 star for the night.
The scallop tasted bitter, the salmon was too rich/creamy.

For main dish, I had the sable fish which I saw from the review it's been on your menu for 16 years. But, this was probably the most disappointing one for me.
There was a lot of soup (water) in the plate that has no flavor at all, which damaged the fish flavor. The fish alone has strange sweet mixed with distinct kind for flavor, together with water just make it hard for me to follow. I am not a big fan of the pakchoi cabbage, in China we only stew port or beef with the this kind of vegetable. Overall, this dish makes me feel it is not freshly cooked but more like stored in the fridge and reheated with tap water...

My husband had the beef tenderloin, again it has a very strong sweetened flavor which we were not into that much. When beef is so sweet you don't feel the original flavor of the meat.

The worst part is the cocktail. I do not remember the name of the drinks. But the one my husband had tastes like half lemonade mixed with half tap water - the cup looks like so too. And its 16 dollar.

Indeed everything we had was disappointment after another one. I think this place kept being rated as top restaurant in town for a reason, however maybe we didn't order the right ones.

We had the most amazing time in Blue Water Cafe, our server was impeccably mannered and attentive, the wine room where we were seated was classy and the food the most delicious. Thank you for making our dining experience so special.

Slightly pricey but excellent food and service. Halibut is amazing!

Where do I even begin with this Restaurant? It is the most over rated and over priced place I have ever been too. We made reservations for our anniversary. When we got there the hostess seated us and was very nice. When we sat the waiter came and greeted us. He seemed like he was in a rush the entire time and kept leaving to grab or assist someone while talking. He tried to be funny but came off a little rude with his jokes about how fast we ate... When we were unsure about what we wanted to eat he seemed kind of irritated. But yet he had this whole fake smile the entire time. When we returned one of the drinks we did not like at the end of the dinner he had this whole story about fighting with his managers about trying to get it removed but could not. That is lie any other restaurant would in a heart beat! We both ordered their specials for the day. The food was bland barely had any taste at all, and the oysters and scallops were awful. It was way over priced for the quality of the food. I have been to several other places with top quality food and amazing taste for a lot less. I would never recommend this place to anyone. I am very disappointed we chose this restaurant for our anniversary, as it was the worst restaurant I have ever been too.. Save your money go somewhere else with better tasting food!

Obvious why this is the best seafood restaurant in Vancouver!

It's my 3rd time going to this place, it's my girlfriend's and my favourite restaurant. We usually get bit of sushi from raw bar then some from the kitchen. Great service , the waiter is always nearby to help us and the foods great. Great place to take your date, I've recommended friends to take their dates there and they all had great experiences.

Really good taste and service. We sat at the sushi bar and really enjoyed the experience. The lobster was fantastic, and we really enjoyed the rolls we ordered to start. We travelled by train which was nice. Overall a great atmosphere for a special celebration dinner out at a restaurant we had been wanting to try for a long time.

Fantastic. We went for my girlfriend's birthday, the food was exceptional. We had the oysters, the tiered app, sablefish and the special...all amazing. The service was top notch and they treated us so well. And dessert was great too! A must go to if you are in Vancouver!

Seafood tower was amazing. Food was delicious and service was good. Although on the pricy side it was worth it.

If possible I'd give it 6 stars. It is absolutely perfect in all respects. Amelia (sp?) was our server. Friendly and helpful to a tee. She knows the menu by heart and can recite the specials easily.

The food is nothing short of spectacular. We started with the beef shashimi. It is melt in your mouth goodness. My wife had halibut, which was perfectly cooked and like butter it was so tender. I had a crab cake, delectable. We finished with the apricot desert special. A brilliant melange of flavors and textures

Amazing sushi and oysters. Chef took care of us perfectly.

Wonderful service, delightful food and drinks in an unpretentious atmosphere.

Good eats. Best sashimi ever. Patrons uber over dressed.

Fresh and well-prepared sea food that sometimes drowns in sauce and ambient noise. However, nice setting and nice and responsive service. Nice experience!