1305 Arbutus St

Building · Kitsilano

1305 Arbutus St

Building · Kitsilano

1

1305 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC V6J 5N2, Canada

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Highlights

The Boathouse at Kits Beach serves fresh seafood and steaks with seaside views, casual vibes, and a sun-drenched patio perfect for sunset dining.  

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1305 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC V6J 5N2, Canada Get directions

boathouserestaurants.ca

$$ · Menu

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1305 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC V6J 5N2, Canada Get directions

+1 604 738 5487
boathouserestaurants.ca

$$ · Menu

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Aug 1, 2025

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"Kitsilano Beach, Kitsilano by Jonathan Wood. One of Vancouver's many beaches, popular Kits Beach is a haven for the active. Boasting beach volleyball, tennis and basketball courts as well as Kitsilano Pool nearby, there's lots to do here. One of the best places to sunset watch in Vancouver."

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Tanya C.

Yelp
Christmas in Vancouver ended with a delicious 3 course dinner at The Boathouse restaurant. Both the food and service were A-1. I was judging from the reviews and almost missed out on a great restaurant. After reading a few reviews. I realized you just can't please everyone. No matter how hard you try. Our experience was fantastic. The server was very attractive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the food that's served. The food was cooked to perfection and very tasty. My steak was medium well, and the other steak was medium rare. No complaints on the doneness of either. I would certainly pay a return visit on my next trip to Vancouver, BC. Oh, by the way, the dessert was good also.
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Marissa M.

Yelp
I had made a reservation for 6 for my birthday around 8pm. As my birthday fell on the same night as the celebration of lights, we were hoping to be able to see the fireworks from our table. I had called in advance to request a seat by a window with a view of the fireworks. The hostess noted that they could not guarantee a seat near a window with the view, but that they would note it in my reservation and try to accommodate it. I was thankful for this, initially. Once we arrived, the staff appeared tired but friendly, which was to be expected after what one could assume would be a busy day at Kits beach. I once again noted to the hostess that we would like a table with fireworks views. She chuckled and noted that there are no seats at the restaurant with fireworks views. I was surprised and disappointed as I had specifically chosen this restaurant for the ambiance and views. We were brought to our seats and our server was friendly, but rushed. It was near closing time so again, this was somewhat understandable. I ordered the Szechuan Salmon + Shrimp which was tasty and plated nicely enough, but did not feel worth the price. Overall the experience was not terrible but not great either. I would not make a point of returning here in the future. It definitely felt like a one time experience and I won't need a re-visit.

Michael C.

Yelp
Alanna served us today and was an absolute superstar! Food it always delicious but having service like this puts it over the top! Great views, Great food and service! Thank you!
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Ziyan C.

Yelp
Low 3 stars. You come for the views and not much else. No wait at 12pm on a Wednesday in July. Plenty of space on the covered patio. We got the corner booth for 4. Kid friendly with boosters, high chairs, kid's menus, and crayons. I appreciated the kid's menu was visual so toddlers can "read" it and order on their own. Service was fine, attentive as needed. * Tuna Poke Bowl ($28.50) - 3 stars Fine, not the most fresh fish, the mango a little underripe. * Cajun Cod Tacos ($24) - 1.5 stars I rarely describe food as bad but I'm sorry, this was bad. The chicken was old and dry. The only saving grace was the fries, which were nicely seasoned, soft in the middle, and had a thin crisp. * Kid's Chicken Strips ($15.50) - 3 stars Pretty average dish. Chicken was dry. * Kid's Noodle & Cheese ($12.50) - 3 stars They were able to use red sauce instead of cheese. This was fine, my kids ate it.
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Kira J.

Yelp
I had a pretty good experience today for brunch. The staff was lovely and the service was great. Had the classic Benny and honestly it was pretty good! It needed a lot of extra salt from the table but besides that, overall a yummy brunch with a great view. They only have regular black coffee but they kept refilling it and they kept bringing me cream and sugar. Coffee was good! If you are near Kits beach I recommend making a stop.
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Ellin C.

Yelp
Location is the prime reason we chose this restaurant as it was right off of Kits Beach. Food was "ok", but we appreciated that they had a kids' menu. We got the grilled cod with thai curry which was decent. It came with vegetables. Hubby got the burger which tasted decent. The side patio is a nice size and was family friendly.

Danielle C.

Yelp
Thank you to the Boathouse staff for a wonderful evening. It was our first time at this location, and it's safe to say the experience did not disappoint! There really could not have been a better place to watch the sunset than our spot on the patio, (especially accompanied by the refreshing mango mojito). And while our meal was quite good, what truly stood out to us was our lovely server, Miya. She was so warm and welcoming, and the genuine laughs we all shared truly made our evening that much more enjoyable. Thank you Boathouse. Cheers!
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Gil A.

Yelp
Our server was nice enough, but she was not knowledgeable about the draft beer they served. Also, and most importantly, from the time of our reservation to the time we got the check was almost 2.5 hours. The restaurant wasn't busy at all. There were tons of empty tables. The food was good, but it was not worth the wait.
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Marek W.

Yelp
Alright folks, extinguish your weed and buckle up. This is a good one. So some unseen, dark force whispered in my ear that I should visit the Boathouse at Kits to replenish the old gut. We showed up and I POLITELY asked the hostess to be seated by the window. She informed me that she will check for availability and when she came back, I (having realized that I may have wrongly described my intentions), corrected myself and said that I meant the balcony/terrace thingy instead of a window. With a tinge of sarcasm she informed me that what I'm referring to is not a terrace. I figured hey, it's 30 Celsius outside, she's probably on her feet all day, I'd be more than pissy if I were her. Whatever.. my bad. We were seated at our table. After 20 minutes there was absolutely no one to even acknowledge our existence. No offer of water, not even a glance, all the while empty tables all around us were scrubbed like the fricking decks of battle ships. Finally when a waitress made her way past us I asked her if she could bring us the dessert menu so we could "plan ahead". I will add that the place was at about 65% capacity. The same waitress passed our table again and again, multiple times and after yet another 10 minutes I figured it had to be me and I most likely put on my invisible suit again. So I excused myself and ran to the washroom and upon looking in the mirror, behold, there I was! Visible and miserable! So for sure I was wearing regular jeans and a t-shirt. After returning to my table, more time had passed and even the sight of nearby tables being buffed to military perfection lost its captivating amusement and I found myself staring enviously at those around me putting various forms of calories in their mouths. So I gathered what little strength I had left and I approached a different waitress. I explained our dire situation and asked her to please send someone to serve us or at least let us cook our own meals in the kitchen. She said that she would find somebody and I crawled back to my table. More time had passed and I started to notice that my nails have now grown disgustingly long and my hair now resembled a member of the hair band "Poison" (from "Look what the cat dragged in" era). So after a paid parking fee, 45 minutes of making mental notes how to clean tables, watching others subject their taste buds to food porn and wondering which sins I'm being punished for, we decided to go to a restaurant which serves meals and leave the Boathouse to those who go to restaurants to people-watch and listen to their stomachs make ungodly noises by digesting whatever muscle tissue remains in order to stay alive. I called them from my car in order to voice my dissatisfaction but at the same time remain charitable and discuss this with the manager - one on one. I was told the manager was not available to come to the phone and i was assured that I'd get a call back. Here's the shocker; they never returned my call, which suggests that the management of the Boathouse prefers that I voice my displeasure publicly and I'm more than happy to oblige them! But before I end this literary soap opera, may I humbly suggest that the owner of the Boathouse change the name of the restaurant from the Boathouse to the BLOAThouse to better reflect the experience one will have, which is that of a bloated stomach, caused by famine-like starvation while waiting even for a simple menu which in my case could serve as the appetizer. I'd like to leave 0 stars but Yelp does not give me that option. Even one star suggests that there was SOMETHING positive about this place but I JUST SAT THERE! Well, let the one star reward the Boathouse for teaching me how to professionally clean tables. I now have a new business idea! We went to another restaurant which was at around 80% capacity and our waitress served us in LESS THAN A MINUTE. Thank you and good night!
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Lao A.

Yelp
Place is Nice, but Food Portion is Horrible $85 for Seafood Tower. It's like i pay more on the Ice. $40 for Food and $45 for Business. And gave your Customer a Small Portion. Rather than going back here maybe twice a Month. Just gonna go somewhere else. Extra Order Shrimp for $23, and i got only 3 Pieces. At least the Dip is more than the Dish... At least i still gave them a Tip...
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Iman T.

Yelp
Very nice hostess, great drink collection, great seafood. Recommend the lobster bisque. Also vibrantly located near Kits beach.
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Jennifer D.

Yelp
The food is rgood. The fish and chips is great, and so are the brunch omelettes. Their drink selections are great, the Caesar I highly recommend. The service is slow but it is a busy spot so that makes sense.

Norm D.

Yelp
Don't be surprised if your reservation is unilaterally cancelled by the Restaurant. This location just cancelled the reservation for 10 the day before. The reservation was booked over a month ago. Just a heads up to be careful about this particular location. The New Westminster location doesn't seem to be as fickle as the Kitsilano location. Don't trust them. They seem to have found a way to make money without customers. I wish I knew their secret. I owned Kelly's and The Keg and Jester to restaurants in Toronto and customers, if you'll excuse the expression, were my bread and butter. I can tell you emphatically that even our busiest periods we never turned away customers and never unilaterally cancelled a reservation. And if ever found an employee that did, they'd be reading the classifieds the next morning. I also find it impossible to believe that a reservation would be cancelled without higher management being aware. And if that's the case, I suspect this location will be closing soon. Possibly in the New Year. No reservations = no customers = no restaurant. They must be the only location in Vancouver that have more customers than they need. I suggest you be careful and don't risk your holiday plans to a fickle organization. Go for a sure thing. Then again, if you enjoy the thrill of having your plans ruined at the last minute. Best of luck. Then once again, if they don't cancel your plans you'll have the bragging rights of enjoying wone of the last meals they serve at that location before they close permanently. Just saying. Happy Holidays:) choose wisely!
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Kelly N.

Yelp
Decent setting as daughter wanted to play by the beach. OpenTable friendly. Can reimburse free one hour $3.50 parking for each table..
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Ollie S.

Yelp
It was very enjoyable sitting in the semi-outside area. There's large windows directly facing Kits Beach and it's just sunny enough. They'll put the shades down a bit if the sun's in your eyes. The waiter we had was also very good about managing the timing of when our plates came out. It wasn't very easy to hear in the restaurant and it was a bit loud, but definitely more like regular restaurant level noise, nothing too crazy. Me and my tablemates started off with the oysters, which were delicious especially with the mignonette. We were given some bread for the table (which was later refilled) and the bread was very nice and warm. We also got the crab dip, which was also delicious and served with warm chips (obviously the best kind of chips!). I wasn't expecting it wouldn't be delicious, because despite being lactose intolerant, I am unfortunately a 'cheese dip' person. I couldn't figure out what the local market seafood would be ("a mix" when we asked a waiter) so I got the crab and lobster ravioli and seafood chowder. The chowder was very good. Additional details: were three (3) croutons in my chowder, which I appreciated because I like croutons but not salad. The croutons also had a nice amount of herbs and spices in them. The lobster and crab ravioli was also good (though my least favourite part of the meal, as it was quite fishy!). The ravioli was huge, which was briefly off-putting but I recovered quickly. It has a red sauce that is somehow also (?) a cream sauce. This would be fantastic for fans of fish and tomatoes, but if you have any reserves about either I wouldn't recommend it. The shrimp on top was top-notch (pun intended). My tablemates got a fancy looking special that had fish, wild rice, and grilled vegetables. They enjoyed it; one said the salmon was "very fresh" and the mango "compares really well with the salmon". There's a tip for seafood lovers out there: mango goes with fish. Especially mahi mahi, which I'm personally partial to.
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Brenda S.

Yelp
So, thanksgiving! So many options! We ended up settling on Locus, but also booking (and cancelling 2 days before-flying pig) we show up for our Locus 745 reso. Sold out of their turkey dinner. So I ended up calling flying pig and they were also sold out. Boathouse was actually my original choice and they took us w no reso and had turkey.. and it was fantastic! Way better than expected. White and dark meat, amazing sides. Our server Nathan was fantastic and super personable. It was my first time at this location so I was really surprised to see the rating, but parking was a bit of an issue especially in the dark. I'd like to come back sometime during the day to really appreciate the view!
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Kenneth W.

Yelp
I am impressed with the beachfront sunset view. We were fortunate to have a window seat. Our server Zya was excellent from beginning to end. Her warm welcome with a genuine smile got us off to a pleasant evening, until..... When I walked by the kitchen on my way to the washroom, I, along with other customers and servers, were startled by a sudden banging sound caused by the floor manager (?) slamming his hand very hard on the kitchen counter. I couldn't help but continue to watch as I walked, and then heard him shout (scold?) at the kitchen and said, "Hurry up, (inaudible name)!!"; again, in a very loud voice. The restaurant chatting volume dimmed down a bit and more heads turned toward the manager. He was standing on the restaurant side so he was quite visible to the customers and staff. I am deeply appalled at such behaviour especially by a manager and especially out in a very open area where customers can see and hear him (not that it's appropriate in any way to do it behind closed doors). Such condescending treatment of the staff is uncalled for, and it ruined what otherwise was a pleasant evening.

Mel P.

Yelp
went to Boathouse on July 22/23. some of the worst food ever... nothing good to about this place especially with the prices that went along with the food..absolutely terrible...the only thing good was the wine..four very disappointed people had crap food... I do not complain to the staff, I don't send food back, heard horror stories of food being sent back...i will just never go back to the place ....I will write a review on line which is extremely seldom.. 4 lost customers as of last night.. the quality of food was 2 out of 10... NEVER AGAIN
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Amy P.

Yelp
Grilled salmon and fries on kid menu. I would expect better presentation from a mid prized range restaurant. No single green leaf or slice of tomato for decor. The ahi tuna taco was perfect tho. Service is great. The patio is wide open. On those hot summer days the place can get warm.
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Gurleen K.

Yelp
Beautify restaurant in a beautiful location! The fish and chips and grilled salmon were delicious (fish tasted fresh) but the Korean fried chicken sandwich was a little too sweet for my taste. The service was a little slower than I would have hoped for but the view was nice to enjoy while waiting. Overall, a great experience!

Andressa M.

Yelp
Terrible Customer Service. I called today to make a reservation to celebrate my Birthday. I explained that I have a little Emotional Support Dog Registered that goes with me every where. And the person on the phone said was fine. On my way to the dinner, almost getting there the manager called me to say I cannot bring him. Seriously?!? Train better your employees. I never had this problem in any other restaurant. I take him in business lunch meetings in different places in downtown. Frustrating

Kristina W.

Yelp
Location is always great . Food is always disappointing. Vancouver has so many choices. This place just doesn't stack up.
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Sherrie B.

Yelp
Recently celebrated a friend's birthday at the Kits Boathouse. The views were spectacular. The food was delicious and beautiful (instagram worthy!). I had the cod with quinoa and really enjoyed it. I highly recommend the Boathouse in Kits for celebrations, date nights and any other occasion!
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Bruce W.

Yelp
Decided to stop here during a long bike ride for lunch and a few beers with a buddy. We sat on the second floor patio overlooking the "beach" and really enjoyed the ambience, food as well as the beer. The service was also excellent.
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Deborah P.

Yelp
Consistently inconsistent . Slow service . Some dishes great like the seafood grill ( the salmon was spectacular ). The seafood salad was really so so and the salmon in it was mushy with no flavor. The crab dip was alright however it was served with tortilla chips - all the chips served with it though were crushed into tiny little pieces like the chips at the very bottom of the bag ! So we couldn't dip very well. It was just odd .
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Shirley C.

Yelp
Came to have lunch on the patio but it was raining so they offered us a table in the back area close to the door to the patio. The restaurant has interior tables close to half open windows which is nice. Restaurant interior a little dated but it is right on Kits beach. Service is friendly. They have brunch menu on weekend along with their regular menu. We tried the west coast seafood chowder, crab and shrimp omelet,mixed seafood grill entree and kids meal pasta. Chowder had good flavour but could have included more seafood. The salmon on the seafood entree was nicely done as well as the scallop and prawn brochette. There is a shrimp stuffed with cream cheese and crab in the entree which doesn't really go with this dish. Vegetable side not really to standard. Not expecting fried sweet potato and carrots with this kind of entree. Kids meal was a good portion of pasta. Omelette pretty standard. It's a nice place to have lunch close to the beach. Overall mid level family style restaurant with seafood and steak options.
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Glenn F.

Yelp
Location on the water was nice, the ambiance was there and the server was friendly but after that The Boathouse @Kits Beach sunk horrifically! Firstly, the restaurant needs to improve its signage as we drove by the parking lot because the sign was small and unlit. The parking lot and the walkway to the restaurant was pitch black as well giving us the feeling that the restaurant was closed despite having reservations and feeling unsafe due to the lack of lighting. Next, the hostess blew the surprise birthday potential later by immediately asking 'who is having the birthday?' and then not saying congrats or thank you for coming to celebrate here . However, she did not end up running The Boathouse into the shore herself, she had just poked the hole to start the process. Social plates kept the boat afloat but weren't enough to save the ship from its doom! The crab dip was loaded with crab and the calamari was tasty as well! We all enjoyed our starters and drinks so the hole was patched for the moment. The main course had promise by the numerous choices available. My wife had the crab and lobster stuffed ravioli, the other couple ordered the Cajun fish tacos and the mussels and chorizo steamer pot, and I had the seafood cioppino! I was excited about my dish of hot stewed mixed seafood yumminess but when it arrived it lacked the hot stew aspect of what a cioppino is about! I asked the server about the lack of stew and she replied 'that's The Boathouse take on a cioppino' which made the hole burst open and the boat rapidly take on water for me! There was barely any stew at all therefore I had mussels, clams, pieces of fish, and a half of Dungeness crab in a dry bowl with two pieces of sourdough bread to sop up the drizzle of stew that was there! Our server offered to have the kitchen add more stew, however, in my mind, the dish was beyond saving at that point. I politely declined her offer and went about pulling the mussels and clams out of their shell and using my hands to crack open and extract my crabmeat from its shell since they failed to give me a cracker and a fork to do the job! Overly priced bowl of seafood that had no business carrying the name of a cioppino ending up with messy hands! Shame shame! Disappointed! The rest of my party appeared to enjoy their meals but from my experience this review is made. Finally, time for dessert and server provided us time to review the choices. We all decided to forego dessert in the end but I was a bit surprised that there was no complimentary dessert for the birthday girl offered to begin with, especially since the restaurant was aware that we were there for a birthday! I guess times are hard these days that a free dessert is too much for even a restaurant to provide to make someone feel special on their birthday! In the end, we enjoyed meeting up with our friends but as for the Boathouse it was a shipwreck that doesn't need to be salvaged in my culinary travels. There are way too many choices in Vancouver to visit so unfortunately my first visit is likely my only visit to this establishment! Prove me wrong Boathouse! Show me you care and maybe just maybe we can set sail and disappear into the lovely sunset together next time.
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Allison K.

Yelp
I was given gift certificates for The Boathouse for Christmas. I wasted no time in making reservations!! I chose to go to the Kitsilano location. Something about dining on the beach is very alluring. we were seated on the West side of the restaurant. This is the side with the floor to ceiling glass-wall. The view was gorgeous!! I can only imagine the view if we came right at sunset!! Every morsel of my meal was DELICIOUS. However plating for my entree was lack-lustre. I ordered a steak. It came with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. It just seemed to all blend together. It did not look appealing however tasted great. In comparison, one of my daughters ordered the seafood pasta and it was gorgeously plated with many colourful vegetables. My son ordered the steak as well. The only difference between his and mine was gravy. His had a brown gravy with mushrooms. Again, it just all looked like one big pile of food. Tasted great though.
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Elsa C.

Yelp
Normally, I wouldn't come around here for dinner, but we have a group that's going there so here we are. It was a Monday, early December and the restaurant was really quiet. Unless one knew where they are going, it is rather odd to walk into a dark area of the park to find this restaurant. We had some appies and they were ok. Not super great, but not bad. The appies (calamari, shrimp scampi, wings) were mediocre - very typical and any pub can perform the same level. I ordered the tenderloin and it was way too fat and tough even when I asked for closer to rare. The wine selection is quite small and all are BC wines. The desserts were typical again. With the exception of the location during the summer season, I would recommend skipping this place altogether.

Patricia A.

Yelp
service was excellent! ambiance was lovely. food was very slow coming, very small portions poorly cooked and poorly presented. the Restaurant was not busy so there was lots of time to produce lovely food. The pasta was all stuck together and tasteless! The prawns were over cooked. The desert was not fresh. if it weren't for the beautiful location and our amazing server the evening would have been pretty bleak The vegetables were undercooked. Really so very disappointing!

Lindsey S.

Yelp
Cant beat the location and view but the food is sub par. Would just stop by for a drink and skip the meal.
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Vivian D.

Yelp
I ate lunch on Sunday here and left feeling happy physically and emotionally. The variety of food on the menu was great oh, the price is very reasonable for the quality of food and spectacular location and the service was exceptional. Our server Mary really went above and beyond to make our experience enjoyable. When you combine a great venue good food good prices and great service you can't go wrong. I definitely recommend this Kitsilano staple for many reasons. The fact that it is known by locals and tourists alike speaks to the high level of establishment that it is. My partner had the seafood Trio eggs benedict and in his words was one of the best Benedict he has ever had. I had the Seafood chop salad and usually such salads come with a very small amount of seafood but this one did not disappoint. A very nice amount of big shrimp and a very decent chunk of salmon steak.
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Bob C.

Yelp
Fawlty Towers, without the humour. Everything was consistently awful. The service was appalling, and the food was so wrong. We got the wrong dishes, we got undercooked food, some virtually uncooked, we got unanswered questions about food allergies, you name it. Steak without a steak knife, crab without the proper tools. Unbelievably poor dining experience all round.

Jerimen H.

Yelp
The Place es good, the view is beautiful, the service was just ok. The day we where there I think it was very busy so the attention was just ok. The food is is ok too. A little expensive.
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Natalie T.

Yelp
Food: 1/3 Service: 0.5/1 Atmosphere: 1/1 The best thing about this restaurant is the beach and ocean view. Our group had dinner there around the time when the sun was setting over the ocean and it was quite a spectacular view to have while dining! However that is the only positive thing I can say about this restaurant. First, the menu is very standard. There is nothing on it that would make me specifically want to come to this restaurant to try. Secondly, when the food did arrive it was mediocre at best. It wasn't anything special, and would've been better at literally any restaurant that I could think of that serves the same dishes. And considering the high price tag on the dishes here I felt disappointed and honestly kind of ripped off. Third, the service was also terrible. I had arrived late to the table and it was a full 20 minutes before we could get someone's attention to take my order! On top of which, when I first received my drink (I had ordered a Bellini), it turned out the bartender accidentally made it with Caesar mix instead of wine, so it looked like a Bellini but tasted like a Caesar when I took my first sip. Ew! Not only that it then took ANOTHER 20 minutes to get the waiter's attention and point it out to him so that I could get my drink replaced. And to top it all off the place wasn't even crowded that day! There were maybe 5 or 6 tables total, so there was no excuse for absolutely neglecting us for so long! And you guessed it, once we had our dishes our waiter was nowhere to be found until it was time to settle the bills. What the heck? I for one will not be coming back. I thoroughly disliked my experience here except for the beautiful view, but I would rather take a mediocre view and go to other restaurants by the beach and have better food and service instead next time.
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Michelle W.

Yelp
In short, the Boathouse offers good views, good food, but okay value. If you have a special occasion, then I would recommend paying a visit at around sunset for exquisite views of Kits Beach while dining. Since it was Lobster Fest, I was recommended to try a Steak and Lobster combo. I chose the Lobster Thermidor Topped with the 7 oz. Angus Beef Sirloin (~$40?), and opted to make it a 3-course meal for an additional $10. To my knowledge, all meals come with complimentary sourdough bread, which is a nice touch and a good way to get your appetite going. LOBSTER BISQUE: This was my least favourite part of my course. Any lobster flavour whatsoever was masked by butter. The portion was also incredibly small. My sister was able to switch to the Seafood Chowder (which is offered as a 3-course meal option on the regular menu), and her soup was substantially larger and brimming with different types of seafood. It also tasted delicious and made me instantly regret my choice. LOBSTER THERMIDOR TOPPED AND ANGUS BEEF SIRLOIN: I will admit this was tasty, but my favourite part of the dish was surprisingly the grilled Brussels sprouts. Its texture and char was sublime. Like the bisque, the lobster thermidor was also quite buttery and I do wish there were more lobster chunks to balance this out. (In total, I counted only two pieces.) The steak itself was slightly over medium rare, but had a generously-seasoned crust. Aside from the brussels sprouts, the perfect bite would be to cut a piece of steak, top it with some lobster thermidor and a dollop of mashed potatoes. MOCHA ICE CREAM PIE: While I wished the portions for the bisque and lobster/steak were larger, this dessert quickly silenced me by its massive size. Given that it is part of a $10 add-on, I would say you get the most value here because a piece like this would probably cost you $8.98 alone elsewhere. Moreover, it's substantially bigger than the other option of creme brulee. In terms of taste, I would say the mocha really does ring through. The soft texture of the ice cream is also complemented by the coffee bean crust and bits of coffee bean throughout the ice cream itself. Finally, the service! As requested, we were given a window seat but unfortunately given the lunch menu instead of the dinner menu. Our waiter was apologetic for that despite it not being his mistake. He was quite frequent with water refills and asked us whether we would like freshly cracked pepper on our food. When we asked for more bread and it was not ready yet, he told us he would let us know later; he ended up delivering on his promise even after we were nearly done our main course. For what it's worth, I did enjoy my meal at the Boathouse and I was incredibly full afterwards. However, I do think you're paying more for the experience rather than the food itself. If it helps though, you can cut down on your bill by 20% by purchasing a gift card at Costco instead.
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Ed D.

Yelp
Good portions. Prices somewhat reasonable. Beautiful setting at sundown. Service okay a little slow.
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Gerry K.

Yelp
We (a party of 4) were celebrating a milestone birthday, unfortunately due to circumstances caused by the harsh & unpleasant weather of the day, we could not begin our celebrations until well after 9PM on last Friday night (10 Dec). It was only then that the subject of the occasion was able to finally arrive at the restaurant. How were we going to be treated at that late hour, given that closing time is at 10PM? Incredibly, with hospitality & grace, particularly by our Server, Mary. The food (both Starters & Mains) did not disappoint, but were ample & delicious and our overall dining experience was delightful! Due to our lateness, it would have been easy to be made to feel "rushed," but, even though table-after-table gradually emptied and those guests departed The Boathouse until finally, well after an hour past closing, we were the only ones remaining (and that continued for about a half-hour or more), not once were we made to feel uncomfortable. Our Server, Mary, clearly a mature and knowledgeable employee never hung over us, but was comfortably there whenever we required her. She was unfailingly cheerful & pleasant even at that late hour and proved to be truly a class-act that helped make and keep our celebration bright!

Masako H.

Yelp
They are located in the great location and their drinks and food used to be great. But It was no longer the case when we revisited them in Sept. 2022. The Kitslano beach was packed with people, but the restraint was very empty... bad sign already Drinks were limited because the management people are not good at "restocking" ( according to one of the servers), and we didn't get any recognition for the occasion (Birthday). Not only that, a desert which we ordered on our own expense, never arrived! Don't waste any time booking there.
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Jacquelynn M.

Yelp
I'm honestly upset that I chose to come in. With everything that is going on I decided to come in with my good girlfriend and have a girls night. We are both in the industry and our server just forgot about us. The last hour was such a painful experience, we waited forever to get the bill then again waited another 15 minutes to get the machine. She even left the table mid payment to talk to someone else across the room, thankfully I knew how to use the pay the table so my friend could pay her bill so we could leave! Really doesn't help that there was a drunk staff member of the establishment out in the front telling us to go die while we were leaving and talking about how long the experience took. She even yelled at us to "walk in-front of her so she can push us into traffic so we can die quicker" Giving the boathouse two stars because the food was great and so was the room.
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Jennie Y.

Yelp
Great daily (3-6pm) Happy Hour food options! We came here over the weekend with a reservation for their happy hour. We were seated near the window and were treated to some great views of the beach and mountains. 1. Shucked Oysters ($1.99 ea or $2.99 for premium) THREE STARS We opted for the regular oysters, they were fine. We didn't love the mignonette that came with the oysters as it was an Asian sesame type, we would have preferred just a regular mignonette. 2. Korean Sticky Dry Ribs ($7.99) FIVE STARS My FAVOURITE dish of the day. The ribs were extra crispy on the outside but fall off the bone tender on the inside - slathered with a delicious, sticky and sweet sauce. 3. Coconut Shrimp ($5.99) THREE STARS Good and plenty of coconut in the batter, the batter was just a bit too dense for my liking. 4. Fried Pickles and Fries ($5.99) FOUR STARS Good deep fried pickles and came with thick cut fries which was a nice surprise. 5. Ahi Tuna Tacos ($7.99) FOUR STARS Fresh raw tuna topped with nori (dried seaweed) and manga salsa. They use crispy wonton wrappers as the taco shell which was quite nice.
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Randy H.

Yelp
Even though my wife received a Birthday Reward from Landry's due to the poor reviews we were unsure whether we wanted to use it not. We ended up going and we were pleasantly surprised. We were seated right away and service was both quick and pleasant. When we couldn't decide on a bottle of wine our waitress checked with the bartender, provided us with several suggestions and then brought us samples to taste. My ended up ordering Halibut, and I ordered steak, for dinner. Again, food came out quick and it was properly seasoned. We topped off the night with the Molten Lava cake. It was delicious. Not sure about all the past, negative reviews but we had a very good meal and would definitely come back again if we were here in the area again
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Nicole M.

Yelp
Took my friend visiting from Oregon to lunch with a view. Enjoyed a table near the window on a sunny afternoon. My friend liked the gluten free options. She had a green salad and tuna tacos while splitting a half bottle of wine with my husband. I added the three course meal option and had the chowder, salmon salad and creme brûlée for dessert. Service was prompt as we visited midweek so we could enjoy the less busy restaurant and ocean views. Great place to bring someone on their first trip to Vancouver.
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Denise W.

Yelp
This restaurant is very empty. I walked by it many time and its not always open. I am guessing its open in the summer time and rely heavy on the people getting tan on the beach for quick food. Its part of boathouse upstairs but the things they serve are really quick fast food. Like fish and chips, burgers etc. I wanted a nice place to sit so I didn't dine here. Just walked by. there is only one person taking order and making the food as well.

Lindsay C.

Yelp
Reading these reviews makes me feel proud that Vancouverites want this restaurant to be the best. We want to take our friends and family here when they visit and show them the beautiful views. Yes for absolutely many years this restaurant has only been good for a beer and a cocktail. The service is always good but the property itself is super outdated. The glassware is outdated. The menu is outdated. There are some comments about the fact that it's empty on busy days. Yeah, I never worry about getting a seat there and that really shouldn't be the case. They should be the gem of a seafood food place. It should be the best,-- the best seafood quality. I was recently there and decided to splurge to treat a friend of mine on the crab legs dinner. The crab itself was so poor quality you had to cut the crab with your fork and knife because it would simply bend. This just means it's been stuck in the freezer for way too long. I just had eaten crab at another restaurant the week before (for a third of the price) and yeah you needed the crab crackers. When I talked to the Boathouse manager about my surprise at the hundred dollar price tag on frozen low quality crab, he mentioned there's no way to get fresh crab other than from Russian suppliers and they are really low in stock. I kind of call bullshit on that because I just read an article about how the cost of snow crab has dropped in the east coast of Canada is desperate to sell snow -- to the owners who seem not to care about quality -- would you not change your menu from king crab to snow crab to make sure that the quality was there. If you don't have a quality don't charge $100 and don't put it on your menu. Also just get better and stop making excuses for this epic location for a restaurant. That should be amazing.

Harsha S.

Yelp
I really have no idea why people spend money here, is it because of the Costco coupons? Please think critically of your food guys. Is it even hot? Is your calamari skimpy? Is your seafood fresh and good quality? You are really just paying for the view
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Carissa G.

Yelp
I would say service in the beginning was a little slow to accommodate us with drinks and what not. But once we were shown our table the waitress was lovely and could stand up to our jokes. The food was excellent, portion sizes maybe on the edge of small for some but larger for others. Location alone is worth the visit. The Ambiance is lovely. We will definitely be back again soon!
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Kelly N.

Yelp
Lovely lunch at the boathouse on kits beach! We happened to get there at happy hour and ordered a few more dishes but forgot to take a picture. Buffalo chicken wings and popcorn shrimp. Both very delicious, for our mains we got the bacon cheddar burger and the crab cakes side tarter sauce ;) Service was pleasant, ask to get seated by the window so you have a view of the beach.
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Helya N.

Yelp
Go to this place if you want to waste your money and eat a very mediocre food. I'm not sure what is happening there but everything from salad to food are disappointing. Our server was kind but they were in rush so they didn't even ask us how the food is. The portions were small and I'm not going to talk about the taste, because it was just BAD.
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Sam N.

Yelp
This could be the best spot in vancouver...it just needs some serious fine tuning. Acceptable service and food, no heating outside, seems like the place that hasn't been updated for a few years. Minimal vegetarian/vegan options. Anyway, many restaurants around I'd rather choose going forward.