Win a $50 gift certificate to Vancouver's new Coast Restaurant
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterWeird thing about good seafood restaurants in Vancouver: there just aren’t that many. You’d think, living as we do on the ocean’s doorstep, that great seafood would be the rule rather than the exception in local eateries. You’d think.
So it’s a fine day for fish fiends when a resto like Coast decides to make a good thing even better. The popular Yaletown seafood restaurant recently relocated to swanky new downtown digs at 1054 Alberni, right between the new Shangri-La and the Hotel Vancouver.
Even before the move, the place had its foodie fans: Frommers said it was the place for “fresh fish…cooked to perfection” and Conde Nast Traveler gave it a spot on the Hot List. (And I’ll add my own props: if Coast’s crab cakes aren’t the best you’ve ever eaten, then you’ve never eaten a crab cake.)
Now, with more (and more beautiful) space, more kitchen-power, recession-friendly lunch and dinner menus and a chic new cocktail lounge attached at the hip, I expect it’s only a matter of time before it becomes BC’s most-recommended seafood joint. Watch out Blue Water, there be sharks in your pool…
TheseBoots Recommends: Don’t miss Coast’s Fish & Chip Fridays–all fish & chips are just $12.
Leave a comment below with your favourite Canadian seafood restaurant and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Coast. Tweet this contest on Twitter (use @theseboots so I know you did) and get a second entry! Deadline to enter: 12 noon Sunday, July 26, 2009.
And the winner of the random draw is…Don Foran of Vancouver! Don entered a comment and tweeted the contest for a double entry. Congrats Don and enjoy your meal at Coast.
Don Foran
on July 21st, 2009The Only…!
Jeff
on July 21st, 2009Not Coast but my favourite is Go Fish near Granville Island. Worth it even with the huge lines!
Kathryn
on July 21st, 2009The fish & chip stand at the fishermen’s wharf just off Granville Island. Lineups are insanely long, especially on weekends, but it’s worth the wait. I’d be willing to do a contrast and compare with the fish & chips at Coast.
Kai
on July 21st, 2009My vote goes to Smitty’s Oyster House in Gibsons. It’s right on the dock, tucked under Mollies Reach, and has the freshest oysters ever. Great selection to. They get a lot of their seafood from local fishermen, so you know it’s fresh!
Lorraine Grescoe
on July 21st, 2009You should really try some of the fish restaurants in Richmond. Pajo’s in Garry Point park has even more fans than Dave’s fish and chips. And that’s just two places where you can get great fresh seafood.
Murray A
on July 22nd, 2009The halibut cheeks at the new Mic*sa Restaurant on Bowen are second-to-none!
Heather
on July 23rd, 2009Go Fish in Vancouver or Ches in St. John’s
John Lee
on July 23rd, 2009Mr Pickwick’s on Denman St…they also serve Dead Frog Lager on tap.
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Mmm, Heather, I agree with you about Ches in Newfoundland…I also really enjoyed Bianca’s in St. John’s, although higher-end to be sure…
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Hmm John: wondering–could dead frogs be considered seafood?
Alan
on July 23rd, 2009Kind of cliche, but The Cannery is great for tourists because of the location. the food is good, too, but a bit pricey.
Len Gilday
on July 23rd, 2009Dundarave Fish Market, Marine Drive between 24th and 25th, West Vancouver. A neighbourhood resto featuring west coast seafood. Riptide Squid and house salad for a great lunch. Smoked black cod risotto or fisherman’s soup—tasty and rich. Geoducks, fresh wild salmon, crabcakes, oyster, prawns. Eat inside, on the patio—or pick your choice from their seafood market to cook at home. Reservations for dinner recommended.
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Hi Alan,
I think The Cannery *was* good once, but it’s been pretty inconsistent the last few times I’ve been there (which, admittedly, were a while ago now.) Have you been there recently and had a good experience? Also, did you know they are relocating in 2010? They can’t get a renewal on their port location apparently…you can read the details here
Richard Smith
on July 23rd, 2009I can’t believe that no one has suggested “C” yet – it was probably the “lifetime experience” of seafood for me… other than a recent dinner with BOC for salmon and scallops, that is.
Richard Smith
on July 23rd, 2009The link for “C” http://www.crestaurant.com/
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Richard: I thought you were a Miku fan for seafood?
carol
on July 23rd, 2009PEI requires a list of bests in fish:
- famous 3-time oyster shucking champ John Bil (who has guest shucked at Coast btw) has a new place called Ship to Shore in Darnley
- Flex for a menu of 22 different mussel dishes
- steamed soft shell clams at Lobster on the Wharf
- halibut at Inn at Bay Fortune
- New Glasgow Lobster Supper!
- Dayboat for whatever came off the boat that day
Cher
on July 23rd, 2009Salmon House On The Hill West Van
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Thanks for this great Prince Edward Island list, Carol. I’ve heard a lot about FLEX in various magazines and web sites; look forward to trying it myself one day! I seem to remember a great meal of mussels at a venerable holiday spot called Rodd’s–but that was way back in 1994. Do you know it?
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on July 23rd, 2009Just want to share this tweet re: great seafood joints from @prawsthorne:
@theseboots Anchor Inn Motel – Twillingate, Newfoundland http://www.anchorinnmotel.ca
Fiona
on July 23rd, 2009Hands down: The Cannery. Amazing service, nice atmosphere and amazing food. I just went there last month for our anniversary and had an amazing feast of Alaskan King Crab. Sad to see that it will soon become a thing of the past…they are fighting hard to stay put or find a new home.
Fiona
on July 23rd, 2009Oh a close second: an amazing little restaurant on the side of the road on the south west tip of Kauai…I’ve never had fish ‘n chips like this before and I vow to go back to the island, not only because of its beauty, but for this fish ‘n chips…I’m drooling just remembering…it was so unique and using a native fish of the islands. Aaaah-so good!
Richard AP
on July 23rd, 2009I’ve not been to the new Coast, but the old Coast was awesome.
Go Fish definitely … Sand Bar is very good indeed, as is/was Rodney’s Oyster House in Yaletown.
The Boathouse is really great too (Horseshoe Bay or White Rock are the two I’ve done but I’d imagine the others are as good).
There’s also Blue Water Cafe down in Yaletown which was great (probably amazing, but I had a cold when I was there so my tastebuds weren’t at the peak of their powers)
I personally thought C was a bit overrated for the money (which was a lot) …
All things being equal if I was doing a fancy fish dinner out, I would go to Coast …
Suzan
on July 24th, 2009Go Fish, just outside of Granville Island. The best fish tacos and an amazing gazpacho!
Don Foran
on July 26th, 2009Thank-you so much JulieOC…!
Have a smashing time in Berlin-
(pls share pix)
d