Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill

WOW what an experience!! Came here for a friend’s birthday and we all had a blast from the start to finish. The service is absolutely top notch, we were instantly greeted and seated by the host, everyone smiled at me when I walk in the room, our server was funny and made good suggestions, the owner came out to ask how the food was which felt personal and welcoming, everyone served us was attentive and friendly, they even offer to divide the food for you, have not experienced service like this in a very very long time. This is the standard Vancouver restaurants should look up to when they ask for minimum 18% tips. I must add that their machine doesn’t have fixed percentage, it gives you the option to select either amount or percentage then enter the number as you see fit. This is very rare especially considering it’s fine dining, it is definitely a bonus when the tip culture nowadays is out of control. With that being said, for their excellent service and food, everyone including myself is more than happy to tip generously. Now the food, the BEST pasta I’ve ever had. The sauce, the texture of the noodles, the portion of the meat, everything in one bite is perfection. We shared the pacific octopus as appetizer, the sauce was unique and surprisingly good, the octopus was very tender. The lamb rack we shared was already separated by the chef when served, initially I was skeptical to get a medium rare cooked lamb but it turned out to be so tender and juicy. The cocktails and desserts were super delicious as well. I would like to come back to try more dishes before they close down 😋

We visited this authentic restaurant about a month ago and were thoroughly impressed with every course, from appetizers to dessert. For starters, we enjoyed the beet salad, Caprese, and calamari—all of which were absolutely amazing and bursting with flavor. For the main course, I ordered the lamb chops, while my husband chose the steak. Both dishes were cooked to perfection, with tender, juicy meat that exceeded our expectations. To round off our meal, we indulged in the Tiramisù and chocolate cake. Each dessert was rich, decadent, and the perfect ending to a memorable dining experience. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with beautiful photographs adorning the walls that added to the charm of the space. We can’t wait to return for another exceptional meal!

Absolutely delicious! Great service and beautiful venue. Old fashioned - well made, smooth and nicely flavoured with bitters. Uni pasta - this was their seasonal special. Impressive mix of citrus and uni flavours with a nice creamy texture. Dessert - full disclosure: forgot the name. It was a chocolate mousse main with a coffee bean accent.

My wife and I visited Cioppino’s for dinner last night, and had a wonderful experience. Our server Mike, was fantastic. We had a couple specials and a couple dishes from the menu, and it was all delicious. Classic Italian dishes made with quality products and technique - the simplicity of the ingredients really shines through. Highly recommend!

One of my favorite restaurants in town! Always good food and service with extensive wine list. Only on special occasions for me tho (or corporate dinner, which they do a lot), as it’s a bit pricy.

The duck haunts my food dreams. It was rare and cooked to perfection I could have had 3 orders of duck and been happy. The scallops with white truffle were so perfect as an appetizer. We also had the duck Rafi lasagna as a shared dish and the kitchen was able to make this a shareable dish for us. The all the meals I could and would have had here

Service was phenomenal, Chef Pino was very friendly and great with food allergies. Was not the hugest fan of the set menu and I expected higher quality and quantity food for the exorbitant price tag. Nice to experience this Vancouver staple prior to its closing though.

Great food and service. I was lucky to get the last table. The lamb rack was so good, tender and juicy. The curry sauce was amazing! I feel so sad that Chef Pino is going to retire. Best wishes to him.

Finally made it to this spot this year and recently heard that it will be closing in December! Disappointed to hear but I will have to head make it back once more and recommend you anyone who hasn't does as well! The restaurant takes limited reservations to limit stress on the kitchen which offers a very relaxed atmosphere. The wine room is also a cute and secluded spot to sit! The service was very attentive and food runners serve up plates for family style eaters. Only note about the service was that they do seem a bit judgemental if you're not choosing all of the most expensive items. The food was very balanced, flavourful and offered great textures. Special shout out to the eggplant dish that I've pictured below, chefs kiss! Tiramisu and espresso were quality but the cocktail list was not that special - most of their house cocktails seem are very sweet, just not my cup of tea! Love this spot though and will be sad to see it go!

I had a solid first time experience at this restaurant. The servers were friendly and attentive. The wine list was extensive. The only thing I was wondering about was why this restaurant had mediterranean grill in its name when the menu didn't seem to offer very many mediterranean dishes. Regardless, I fully enjoyed what I ordered and would come back again. Here's what I ordered: 1. Calamari Fritti - Crispy and well seasoned although I did find it to be a bit oily. 2. Pappardelle "al guanciale di vitello e porcini" - Pasta tasted fresh and flavours were well put together. 3. Panna Cotta "alla Torinese" - Fresh and light and a great way to end the night. 4. Featured dessert - decadent chocolate lava cake

One of the best restaurants in town and sad that it will be closing this year. The moment we finished our bread, another basket was promptly brought to us. The food was top notch and the service was even better. The servers are attentive and friendly to chat with.

I rarely review a restaurant I've only been to once but I'm making an exception because A) the food was exceptional B) I went with someone who has eaten at Cioppiono's more than 20 times Highlights from a group of 6... Octopus: very tender with a touch of spice. Almost ordered another Carpaccio: good but maybe add a drizzle of oil. Parmigiano might have been house made Porcini and Chestnut Soup: ok I didn't personally try it but it got rave reviews. Fettuccine Bolognese: !! Like I was in Italy. Stole two bites from another diner Risotto Carbonara: only had one bite but it was rich and tasty and had me asking for more. Veal Ossobuco: one letter review: Linguini with black truffle: a special. Decadent without being over the top. Very generous portion of truffles but smaller portion of linguini. Maple Syrup crème brûlée: dainty and very good Cannoli: one of the best I've had in a while Excellent service: attentive without being intrusive. The head chef checked on us as well. Ciopinnos lives up to its top ranked reputation

This was a special night to celebrate my mom's birthday with all her friends. The attention to detail was fantastic. Our server was so knowledgeable on all the dishes and various wines. I entrusted him to just surprise me with a main dish and the chef made something special just for me. Tasted a lot like beef stroganoff. Delicious al dente noodles. Dessert was so special. I'm sad I forgot to take all the pictures because my company was so pleasant and everyone was digging in. I wish everyone could try this place where it's nearly impossible to get a reservation for 2.

Thank you to the concierge who was able to get us in here. This was high on our list during our trip, and it did not disappoint. First we started with the Frito Misto and Beet Salad. Loved the beet salad, very flavorful. Next we moved onto the Risotto Lobster - cooked perfectly, creamy. Since we were sharing they plated it for us as well. Next up I had the Cioppino - wow, loved this dish. Fish was fresh and not skimpy little pieces either. We were completely stuffed after all that, and it was worth every bite. For drinks we had the Sazerac and Perfect Manhattan - both were excellent. Highly recommend a visit here. It's worth the hype.

The ambiance of the restaurant was exquisite. The food simply the best we tried octopus appetizer, and everything was great, but if I can be the critique, I wished octopus be the main ingredient in flavour of that dish. I grow up with eating octopus, but that dish octopus wasn't shining as the main character on the plate. The service was great! But I wish the server didn't staring at our table all the time. Chef Pino, you are amazing!

Amazing. It lived up to it's reputation Service great Food absolutely freakin amazing!!! Five of us and not one complaint. Appetizers the mushroom tart, octopus, escargot and scallops. All amazing. Mains- ribeye, tenderloin, ossobucco, short ribs, pasta. All amazing and I would go as far to say my rib eye was the best steak I have EVER had. Desserts - tiramisu, cannoli, crème brûlée. Delicious The restaurant is pricier but worth every penny Highly recommend

What a great experience; I'm quite surprised they didn't get a Michelin star! We booked a reservation for my birthday for the two of us about 3 months in advance. When we arrived we were instantly greeted and even though we were early for our reservation we were seated right away. The menu was much larger than the one online with plenty of options for those who are gluten free, like myself. We ordered a couple of dishes to share and my order of preference was the mushroom risotto - it comes with a creamy tomato base which was exceptional, the burrata - it was so light and creamy like a cloud and the eggplant it was paired with was packed of flavours, the octopus which was soft and flavourful, and last was the calamari - it was tempura style and the best gluten free battered calamari (but not my favorite dish). I didn't opt for a dessert as I was so full from all of the food. But, they had two desserts on their menu that were gluten free! The service was so quick but I wish I didn't sit in a way that was staring at the bar, where all of the staff was watching their tables; it felt like I was being starred at my entire meal. Also, nobody cared to ask if we were celebrating anything special. That being said, I'm excited to come back and try some more of their menu. I just hope we don't have to wait another 3 months to get a reservation!

Came here with great expectations. Nabbed an early table and was quickly served by a snooty waiter. Ordered Ceasar, drenched in dressing with a soggy toast, rack of lamb (3 chops) and local halibut. Meh...all around. Putting foam on top does not fix mistakes. Having dessert somewhere else....where is the Mediterranean?

What a great evening! The calamari was crispy and fresh, seafood pasta (alle volgole) stunning and the duck was prepared perfectly. The veal pizziola was quite good and I would order it again but it was not what I expected. A little broader description would have been helpful. There are some photos from past reviews that show the dish as baked in a ramekin under a layer of cheese and sauce. This dish is very tender medallions with a sauce of demi and tomato with small pieces of fresh mozzarella. Again, excellent just not what was expected. The highlight might have been the Gnocchi Cacio'e'pepe which was incredibly light and airy with wonderful flavors. The side dish of the potato puree might have been the best potatoes we ever ate. The chef even came out and gave us some culinary pointers and how to make it home! Dessert was ethereal with a chocolate soufflé and a wonderful 10 year old tawny. Whatever you do when in Vancouver visit here!!

Was invited to a birthday party here. First time to this place. Was told it is hard to get tables here. Dinner party had like 30 people we had our own dinner rooms. Generous bday boy ordered tons of alcohol !! Plenty of champagne and whites before dinner already. Set dinner with choices on appetizer main course and desserts. Food is nice and good. Servers were attentive. (My glasses were never empty) very nice experience to celebrate for my friend!! Worth my trip to fly in from SF!

We had an unreal time dining here at Cioppino's. Location is awesome, right in Yaletown. The service was amazing, and the food was unreal. We had a risotto and a gnocchi and they were both so delicious. We've wanted to try this place for a while now and we're so glad we finally did. We will definitely be back again.

This was one of the places I have always wanted to try. I went with a friend who had already made a reservation months in advance. A nice place to dress up and have some fancy Italian food. The ambiance is warm and the food is amazing! The service was decent but we got a very sarcastic maître d'. I suppose he was trying to be humorous, but I felt like it was a bit over the top. I tried their osso buco and it was one of the best I have ever had. I love that the bread came with hummus instead of the usual butter that comes with bread. My friend ordered the Tagliolini, which was so velvety and delicious, leaving you wanting more. Their drinks are very strong. I would say one would be enough to keep me happy at dinner. I don't think that I would want to spend close to 30$ on a sangria because at that price, I would expect there to be multiple drinks. I would love to try this place again and order other dishes available. Perfect spot for a fancy Italian dinner whether it is on a date or with friends.

One of my many visits to this popular Vancouver restaurant. The food, atmosphere and service are always good, and this time was no exception. Based on the feedback and appearance of the various dishes that were ordered by our group, the beef short ribs, sea bass and the duck came out ahead of the veal scaloppini and the risotto with mushroom. Our server was perfectly attentive without being obtrusive. We'll be back!

Worst service experience. Our server physically endangered my guest and I. While he was cleaning up our dishes, he dropped a plate that physically hit me on my leg and then shattered on the floor. One of the pieces hit my guest and almost grazed her face. The server muttered two "sorries" but did not offer any discount or incident. Instead, he cleaned up the mess and when he came back, he silently set down the dessert menu and did not say any apology. The two of us could have been injured, but what's even worse is the server's unapologetic response. The chef/owner apologized for him, but also did not offer anything to make up for the incident. He also did not seem genuine or concerned about us. And, when we were paying the bill he stood directly behind us and stared at the tip. Rude and terrible service. We could have been seriously injured.

Service was poor and the waiter was not that apologetic enough when there he caused an accident. Felt very uncomfortable of the waiter who seemed to hover over us while we were paying our bill.

Our server dropped a bread plate on our daughter and when it hit the floor, the plate shattered and a shard almost hit our other daughter. Both were shaken. The server only muttered sorry to the floor when he was cleaning the plate up. The plate shattering was so loud that the chef/owner came over and apologized but made no offer of discount. And then the server brought the dessert menu and I thought he was going to at least offer a free dessert but he was trying to get us to order dessert after what happened. He did not offer another apology even when he brought the bill. And then the server had the gall to stand behind my husband when he was paying, and my husband ended up tipping him under pressure. For a Michelin recommended restaurant, they completely dropped the ball on service. We were looking forward to trying this restaurant because we saw it on an Anthony Bourdain show. It was our last night in Vancouver and they ruined it.

Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Overall: 5/5 SO good! Being the foodie that I am, deciding where I want to have my birthday dinner is always a struggle, but this year I knew I wanted to go here! I had already been once before, where I had the best gnocchi of my entire life, so I wanted to go again to see if I still felt the same way. Spoiler alert: I did! We got the burrata appetizer w/ eggplant textures to start which was absolutely delicious, and then I ordered the classic gnocchi as my main. I was amazed yet again! The pillow-y soft texture is like nothing I've had before. Everyone else really enjoyed their meals as well! Our server was extremely professional - courteous, and attentive, and you could tell he was very experienced. As for the ambiance, it's just a-okay in my opinion - it's not quite as modern fancy as the food, but still quite nice and they do have a coat check as well. Overall, amazing! If you haven't been to this place, do yourself a favour and go for your next special occasion!

The food was delicious and well priced for what it is. The service was mediocre when compared to top places. The wine list was exceptional.

After a thoroughly disappointing dinner at La Terraza, we decided that we needed a do-over for our high end Italian dinner, so came here in January for an early dinner. Excellent cocktails - I had their Vesper, and my husband had one of their whiskey based ones from their extensive cocktail menu. Foie gras - wow, it's been years since we've had foie gras, and the version here was excellent. It came with a glass of Sauternes, and the kitchen kindly split the dish for us. Gorgeous. Fritto misto - this was good, but I found it a bit greasy and the batter too heavy for my tastes, however it was nicely seasoned. My husband really enjoyed it. The spaghetti alle vongole, while delicious, was quite small and had very little seafood in it, but I guess you're really paying for the rent and staff with this dish... My husband had a vegetarian pasta that was on their fresh sheet that night. It was also quite delicious. I can't remember what wine we ordered, but it was a lovely bottle that complemented our meal. As always, the service was flawless, classy, and refined, without being stuffy. Chef Pino came out to make the rounds at the tables, which was a nice touch. We really enjoyed our evening here, and look forward to our next visit.

Wow! What a fantastic restaurant! My husband, in-laws & I came for dinner and it was the best meal we had while visiting Vancouver! Food was fantastic, drinks & wine were perfection and service as spot-on. The restaurant space is beautiful as well. If you're looking for a great place for a fantastic meal--do stop in!

I've had the one of the loveliest experience here at Cioppino's Mediterranian Grill and Enoteca. A fusion of Italian food and the rest of world really worked out for me. Prop to the chef for serving his best at our time. Thank you also to our server Stu for being such an excellent and accomodating server. He was very helpful deciding on what to pick for our night and make our night to one of the most enjoyable night. Complimentary: - Bread: The bread was yeah it is a basic bread but the spread you can really tell the flavour of the spread of how good it is. Also, you can keep asking for the bread so that you can keep eating while waiting for our next meal. - Happy Birthday Cake: We celebrated a birthday so we were given a complimentary of birthday cake. It was a lovely 'cake' and very enjoyable, so we are so thankful for helping us celebrated our birthday. Appetizer: - Zucchini Blossoms ($28): The crispy zucchinj blossoms with mozarella di bufala and ricotta was just absolutely good and worth the money for. This is 5/5. - Foie Gras ($40): The pan seared Quebec foie gras with brioche and milk jam and marsala wine was just perfect perfect perfect. It is amazing how sublime it combined from one to another. Even though it is expensive, you should definitely get this 5/5. Main: - Blank Ink Gnocchi ($42): The cavatelli al Nero di Seppie with pomodoro San Marzano and lobster morsels was cooked to perfection. It was very chewy and tasty. It was not overdone nor underdone so the chef really knows how to make al dente pasta. This is 5/5. - Parmigiana ($38): No question needed this is the star dish of the night. Our cheapest main dish, but it was the best. It is the chef's grandma recipe, and this is really reminded of homecook food. This is what they call a perfection 5/5. - Sable Fish ($58): The pan roasted fillet BC sablefish with soy sabayon and green vegetables is truly extraordinary. I love how the chef really outdone the fusion cooking. Great to know that the chef knows about Japanese food. This is madness 5/5. - Short Ribs ($45): The beef short ribs braised in red wine with glazed carrots, peas and creamy potatoes was cooked perfectly too. I am so stunned to say how good the ribs are as well as how perfect the creamy potatoes. Truly the best mashed potatoes I have ever tried even better the homemade recipes of my brother. Cheers 5/5 Dessert: - Creme Brulee ($16): The maple syrup creme brulee with anise and almond biscotti was one of the best creme brulee I have ever tried. The perfect softness and hardness was truly outstanding. A hard 5/5. - Tiramisu ($16): The tiramisu with dark chocolat sorbet and cappuccino foam was disappointing though. Google review and yelp really deceived me on this one. I should have listened to Stu's recommendation. I have tried better tiramisu out there so 3/5. - Soft Heart Cake ($16): The gluten free warm soft heart chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and raspberry coulis was truly sublime. The combination of the raspbery, the cake and the ice cream was just made for one another. Not a molten chocolate cake but it was chewy and perfect so 5/5. Cioppino really was outstanding and made our night to a perfection. This is truly one of the best restaurants in Vancouver. You cannot miss eating here, and I would recommend to book this place 2 months in advance to get a seat. Very recommended. I would come back again soon. Cheers!

I finally got around to coming here. I was a little early but my table was ready so they seated me, which I really appreciate. First off, my dinner was exquisite, yes, exquisite. It was so delicious I'm still thinking about it and currently craving it. I ordered the Tagliolini. It's not a huge portion but it hits the spot. It is delicious and not stingy on the seafood. I was pleasantly surprised. Sheer buttery goodness with a medley of different seafood. Chef's kiss! My companion and fellow Yelper ordered the Ossobuco and also said it was very good. I always respect a restaurant that gives you complimentary bread while you wait and take down your drinks. This also comes with hummus instead of better. I liked it. The cocktails are good and strong but on the pricier side ($17). worth it though, because they are doubles. I also ordered the $27 sangria, and although it's good it's not worth $27, so pass on that. Last but certainly not least they have a great Matradee. Charming, efficient and a great host. I can't wait to come back and eat the same thing. Honestly, it's amazing.

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Every dish was very flavourful and beautifully served! Let's get down to business with the dishes :) Foie Gras : I can say this was the best foie gras I ever had, very generous with the portion and it immediately melts into your mouth (fav dish if you're a foie gras lover) Hokkaido Scallops : the pan seared mushrooms complimented the scallops. The waiters were making it "rain" with their truffle. The scallops were not seasoned much so the mushrooms can give it that extra POW. I like how they did this so you can control the flavours to your own taste (more flavour, add more mushrooms to your bites). The scallops was a bit overcooked - but this is my personal preference since I like it barely cooked lol Uni pasta: I didn't see it on their menu, but if you love saucy and creamy sauce. Mix the uni with the pasta and that is what you will get. The uni wasn't fresh to my taste but it's probably because I came late night for dinner. It was delicious regardless Sablefish: you can never go wrong with sablefish. This was my least favourite because it tastes generic. Maybe because all the previous dishes we had before this has a unique taste and was amazing Panna Cotta of Lychee: YES! End it with this refreshing sweet dessert. Also has a crumble for texture. It's not too sweet and it feels like a palette cleanser after all the food! Customer service: wonderful service, checked on us frequently and when dishes came out they served it on our plates since we were sharing Price: worth the price! The quality, presentation and flavours made me satisfied :) Portions: fine dining size Interior: sets a romantic setting. Dimmed lights and spacious. Overall: amazing and would highly recommend!

Excellent food The server Elena was super nice I love those lobster plate was delicious Very friendly staff Alondra was great . We will be back

I would have given Cioppino's 5 stars but in all honesty, I've had better Italian! At their prices, I expected that much extra something that makes the real good Italian food stand out from the others. Ambience was great, and it is always great to be greeted by the head chef. However, maybe the Chef should stay in the kitchen more. Food was good, but needed that extra oomph to really nail a 5 star rating, in my opinion. Just because you throw truffles on a dish, doesn't (always) make it better! We ordered everything family style but you have to ask for their Uni Pasta! It's off the menu but probably the best dish we had that night!

I would like to review the food but I cannot. Apparently my reservation has been canceled with almost no notice and it is not apparently NOT covid related. The restaurant did not offer me a a new reservation time or a gift certificate or even any warning. As it stands I have no reservations for my partner's birthday nor anytime to make new ones at anywhere worthwhile. I have had one other reservation canceled recently but the restaurant reached out to me personally and gave me much more notice that they were planning to remain closed beyond their normal winter break. Everything sucks right now but the restaurant didn't even contact me OpenTable did and that is just not okay, even now

The ambiance of this restaurant is quite nice. It's spacious, perfectly dim, and casual yet sophisticated. The restaurant was booked up online, but fortunately I was able to get a table which was a pleasant surprise. Started off with caprese and scallops. Both were good, the scallops were pretty memorable. They were cooked perfectly and paired with roasted mushrooms and thin, crisp potatoes. The seasonal spot prawn pasta was delicious - it was simple, yet flavourful! Though, the Tuscan style ribeye didn't really impress us, it was only mediocre. The flavours were there, and it was unique to have the steak topped off with parmigiano and arugula.. but it definitely seemed more over cooked than "medium rare." Ended the meal off with their cannolis which I personally find the best that I've had thus far! Our reservations were late and I wasn't very hungry, but I'm def curious to try more of their menu. I suggest making reservations ahead of time.

Our family went to Cioppino's for dinner about 6 weeks ago. The food was very tasty and the service was great. They have a great selection of appetizers. The selection of wines is unbelievable. Chef Pino will do everything to make you feel special. We really enjoyed our meal and the overall atmosphere and will be back! Norbert Z.

My absolute favourite street in all of Vancouver always has the best restaurants you can ever imagine. Cioppino's is one of the top restaurants in Vancouver that specializes in Italian food. Although there are other Italian restaurants that are top contenders; none of them have a prime location like Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill. The service here is great and the restaurant has a very romantic dim lighting feel; as though you're in a classic ristorante in Italy. Cioppino offers the unique item of zucchini blossoms which are perfectly fried without compromising the integrity of the blossoms. Porcini and chestnut soup is creamy and has wonderful earthy tones. Their pappardelle is one of their most popular items and those braised veal cheeks just make it to die for. It is so rich but without being overly rich. Of course the Cioppino in which it is named after is a must try; a true Italian bouillabaisse with the freshest seafood Vancouver has to offer. Finish off with their tiramisu or their dark chocolate four ways (that way you get an even tasting of their dessert menu). If you're a fan of Italian food, Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill is the perfect place to go for a romantic night out or an upscale family gathering.

Disclaimer: I did not pay for this meal :-P Amazing Italian meal. Highlights were the beef carpaccio, the 4 hour braised beef cheek and porcini pasta, and the risotto. The fritto misto, prosciutto, and desserts were good too. Probably one of the best pastas I've ever had in my life! The pasta itself was perfect. The 4 hour braised beef cheek had so much amazing flavor. The risotto was crazy too, with a half boiled egg, tons of porcini and a ton of white truffle. The server was very good at serving these. Great wine selection, although the $3000 bottle of dessert wine is a little intense. Liked the staff, the vibe, the interior, and the whole restaurant as a whole. I need to eat everything on the menu here

This place is amazing. Everything we had was delicious and our waiter was fantastic and personable. The drinks, the appetizers, and the pasta all impressed. The grilled romaine, gnocci cacio e pepe, and fusilli waygu were all standouts. Definitely make a stop in here for the best and most fresh italian/mediterranean meal.

This place is amazing! It was my first time here and everything was incredible from the service to the food! We started with a pasta to share and honestly this was one of the best things I've ever tasted. It was called Pappardelle "al guanciale di vitello e porcini" IT IS A MUST ORDER I ordered the lobster heaven as my main which was also delicious, however nothing compared to that pasta! I will definitely be back. 5 star food for sure

The place is a very elegant and fancy vibe. It was decorated so elegantly inside and we were seated in a cozy room around the corner with beautiful brick interior and a quite atmosphere. I would request this room again because it looked and felt more intimate than the regular dining room, especially for a date night or special occasion. The host and service was very professional and courteous. We had a wine expert help us pick the right bottle because the selection was quite enormous, and it was an amazing pick. The bread that was served before the dish was amazing. It was warm and fresh and I wish I had more of it! The lobster was delicious and the pasta tasted fresh but nothing crazy memorable (maybe I am just not much of a pasta person). The waiter helped me to remove the tail off of my lobster as well as ensured our glasses were never empty of wine. Would recommend for special occasions and when you are looking to be treated royally.

The food was fantastic at Cioppino's, and the service professional and knowledgeable. However, there was a certain "energy" and "fun" missing from this restaurant. Perhaps this lack of "excitement" was exacerbated by having drinks at the hopping Blue Water Cafe before coming to dinner at Cioppino's, but the place seemed void of happiness. We were the only folks at the bar, but decided to eat there anyway. Our appetizers of Carpaccio and Veal Tonello were classic and utterly delicious. This was followed by an amazing spaghetti with black truffles, done al dente and perfectly. Molto Bene! Cioppino, in honor of the restaurant's nomenclature, was done right, and my Veal Limone, prepared specially for me, was wonderful. Everything was fantastic and Cioppino's would be the best Italian restaurant in most North American cities, outside of New York, Toronto, St. Louis, San Francisco, and maybe Philadelphia. This isn't modern cooking. It's classic Italian done right. So, back to the four stars. Cioppino's just wasn't fun. However, if I just want great food and can entertain myself, it is a perfect restaurant. I guess I'm too co-dependent.

My daughter moved to Vancouver just over a year ago and we have been visiting every six to eight weeks over this year and have tried to get into this establishment, finally we managed to dine there last week and were excited to experience this "world class " establishment wow what a disappointment from the moment we walked in to being seated just outside the kitchen when the restaurant had six empty tables we counted in the main dining area. From the service to the food a complete disappointment.we have had the pleasure of dinning all over the world and this was very mediocre....my dish the veal shank was very tender and tasty the pasta dishes ordered were tiny and honestly following a simple recipe at home would have yielded the same results. The place was snobby and uninviting to say the least- very upsetting !

We arrived about 45 minutes earlier than our OpenTable reservation. They were nice and were able to sit us right away. Love the atmosphere, and the environment. We ordered some appetizers (Calamari and Foie Gras) and for our main we ordered Duck and Steak. Food was amazing and delicious. The server was very nice and very informative. At the end they surprised us with a cake for our anniversary. I'd recommend trying this place out!

Our dining experience was absolutely fantastic. My dining partner has a serve allergy to eggs and our server made sure that this was communicated to the kitchen.. Our server answered all our questions about the menu patiently and provided excellent attentive service. The food was delicious and overall we had a wonderful night. Would return again.

I took my girlfriend to Cioppino for her bday dinner. After I checked in on Yelp, I realized I have been returning to there every year. What a loyal customer! I found the menu didn't change much which is pretty same as last 5 years. Lobster bisque - It's smooth and creamy but at salty side. Beet salad - Beet so sweet and whole dish so fresh. Rib eye steak - The steak was good but not great. It served in slices and getting cold when I have first bite. Sea bass - It cooked perfectly and pretty light sauce Lava cake - It's great and delicious. Dark chocolate in 3 ways - I'm die for it. Love the chocolate sorbet and mousse cake, it's not sweet and smooth. As long as they still making good dishes, I will return every year.

Cioppino has been around Vancouver for a long time and there's a reason why. They're consistent in providing the best quality meals to all. The setting is upscale and very classy. So dress accordingly. Wine is a must with the meal and if you're struggling to decide on one. Just ask their sommelier that's on shift to help guide your palettes wants. The staff here are prompt to your needs and any questions you may have regarding the food. But it's the food that keeps me coming back for more. This restaurant definitely makes the cut for one of the top Italian restaurants in Vancouver. Must. Try.

For the life of me I cannot understand what the fuss is all about with this restaurant. We recently dined there on a Saturday evening and because there were 8 of us we were forced to have a fixed menu so that we could not experience what each of us would have preferred. There were more people working in the kitchen then there were dining inside the restaurant that night. Salad was comparable to that served at any low cost chain, the pasta was actually delicious and the fish filet nothing spectacular and was quite boney. Desert was mediocre at best. It took my wife weeks to get the reservation because it seemed everything is on their terms. We were hoping that along with their extreme arrogance would be an incredible meal to remember. We have experienced that at other restaurants but definitely not at Cioppino's! Service was OK but for the price and the fanfare ....nothing spectacular. We wont be going back there again.

Fabulous Dinner. We made OpenTable reservations somewhere else, but decided to check the menu here instead and decided to stay. Sitting out on the patio was nice. Service was awesome They had truffles. Got a bottle of Conanao from Sardegna, Italy. We got octopus and crab salad. We got truffle and pasta, and lamb. Starters were delicious. The octopus was delicious, and crab salad was delicious. The truffle pasta and grilled lamb were delicious. The Conanao from Sardegna was delicious. It's worth coming back to Vancouver to eat here again. My favorite!

Anytime I travel to a new city, I watch one of Anthony Bourdain's shows. He's pointed me to so many great meals, that when he passed away recently, I felt like I had lost someone I knew. So in his No Reservations Vancouver episode from several years ago, one of his first stops is Cioppino's to meet Chef Pino. The next thing I like to check, especially if the episode is a few years old, is if the chef is still actively in the kitchen. Sure enough, Chef Pino is still very much running the show, so I knew for sure that this was going to be my one meal in Vancouver after I flew in the night before leaving on a cruise ship for Alaska. Turns out Chef Pino was there that night and hosting a table full of pastry chefs sitting right next to us. I wish I would have known that prior to ordering, because I would have just said...I'll have what they are having. Turns out Chef Pino is just as friendly and personable as he was on TV, and ended up introducing each of the chefs to our table. I'm sure I should have known who they were, but I'm not that up to date on my pastry chefs. Onto the food..... One of the specials of the night was a stuffed zucchini blossom appetizer. This was perhaps the best dish I had all night. It was perfectly lightly flash fried and stuffed with tasty fresh mozzarella. Kind of the Italian answer to a chile relleno. 5 stars Carpaccio di Manzo - The thin slices of beef, were perhaps cut too thin and were tearing apart and getting stuck to the Parmesan and arugula. Just a little thicker with the cut of beef and the flavor wouldn't have been as overshadowed. 3.5 stars Porcini and Chestnut Soup - very well balanced flavors. Save some extra bread to wipe the bowl and you'll be happy. 4 stars Linguini "all'aragosta" - half lobster tail was split down lengthwise down the shell and peeled out nicely. It was cooked perfectly. I loved the lobster tomato cream sauce of this dish, and the fresh made pasta had a great texture to it. This is expensive guilty comfort food and I could have easily eaten the whole portion of it, the problem was, my other 3 dining companions didn't like their dishes as much, as what was supposed to be giving them a taste, turned into me only eating 1/4th of my meal. My fault for being too generous 4.5 stars. Risotto with Lobster and Pesto - Here's the problem, when dining with family, never order the same thing. My wife and my mother-in-law both ordered this dish. I tried to convince one of them to order something else, saying we'll all share. But they wouldn't listen. Neither of them liked this dish very much, and gobbled up mine instead. The dish wasn't bad, but the risotto was very al dente, perhaps too much. Not that I ever want mushy risotto, but this was very chewy. The pesto was very strong so it covered up the flavor of the lobster pieces and veggies. It also had a sticky quality to the pesto, which really made each bite stick to the spoon. The presentation was strange as it was put into a dish with 3 compartments like it should be holding three different kinds of risotto dishes, but other than the center compartment had a dollop of foam (had a slight briny flavor to it), I don't know what differentiated each compartment where they needed to be served separately. 2 stars Potato Gnocchi - my daughter threw me a curve ball and ordered something that I didn't think she would like. Again just like the other two I tried to talk her out of her order, but nobody was going to listen to me this night. Sure enough after a few bites, she wanted my Linguini and I was stuck with her gnocchi. Now I just recently had some of the best gnocchi on on the planet at Michael Chiarello's Bodega in Napa. Sometimes when you've had a dish so amazing, it's just not fair the next time you order it somewhere else. Sure enough I was disappointed with the gnocchi. It started out fine, but I found that I lost interest more and more with each bite as each taste was rich and similar. To me Gnocchi works so much better as an appetizer than a main course. But none of my personal opinions about gnocchi, should really affect rating of the dish. 3.5 stars I think perhaps my dining companions really mis-ordered here, and I didn't really get to see Cioppino's in it's best light. But I'll tell you what, I don't know if it was the table of pastry chefs next to me, but dessert was 5 stars all the way. Organic Lemon Tart - I loved the crunchy lightly charred meringue with the strong lemon flavor. Tiramisu - this was deconstructed and each flavor was superb separately and all together as well. Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta with blood orange curd, mixed berries, chocolate tulie, and chocolate powder. This was just wonderful and I'm glad I splurged and we ordered several desserts to share. Chef Pino really knows his chocolate and was happy to tell us how much chocolate research he did to just find the right blend for his desserts. His research was well worth it.

What a great experience. Food, atmosphere, and staff were all on point. Props to our server, David, he absolutely killed it. I'll be back.

Great food! Wonderful service! Amazing drinks Pasta was fresh and flavorful. The table next to us had the feature of truffles and the entire restaurant was that beautiful fragrance. I saw lots of families with kids, which gave that warm inviting feeling. As well many couples enjoying each others company. There is no cocktail menu, but they have great recommendations and they made anything you asked. Loved the skinny, spicy margarita and espresso martini.

While our meal was very good, it was not particularly memorable. Perhaps I was expecting more due to the reputation and fondness everybody seems to have for this place. It seems as though 9 out of 10 people you ask will name Cioppino's as the best Italian in the city but I have yet to experience what makes it so. Definitely requires a revisit as I suspect I may have been missing out on the full experience during my last visit.

This is the best Italian food of all of BC, maybe even all of Canada. You can tell that Chef Pino is present with his attention to detail, creative dishes, and there is so much love put in creating the food. The papardelle is perfect. The service is top notch. The wine list is impressive. This is a wonderful place to go for a date, with friends or if you want to impress anyone - because after they take their first bite they will be in heaven.

Marvellous restaurant Back to Cioppino's for the first time in 4 years What a wonderful meal. It is expensive but the flavours are exquisite- spot prawn ravioli, amazing Caesar salad on a nice outdoor patio. Expansive wine list (with some bottles I would say are crazy) also has some nice gems in the $70 range. Our waiter was great. Oh and don't get fooled by not getting a reservation- they have the capability to fit you in