Earlier this week, one of my Canadian readers emailed to ask if I was planning to put up any more posts from my last trip to Vancouver. Since a number of readers have written in recently about my lovable sidekick, Ton-Ton, I thought it was time for him to make a reappearance.
(Back by popular demand.)
The Boathouse is a small chain of restaurants serving the West Coast and fusion cuisine native the west coast of Canada. The quality of the food is surprisingly good for a franchise establishment, emphasizing the abundance of fresh, seasonal seafood readily available in British Columbia. Near the end of our trip, Cat and I were invited to brunch at the Richmond location by Cat's grandfather and uncles. Of course, we wouldn't dream of leaving Ton-Ton behind.
The decor at the Boathouse is best described as modern rustic, meant to convey the feeling of being in a stylish hunting and fishing lodge. As with most restaurants in the Vancouver area, even the high end ones, the dress code is casual. Service is prompt and very friendly.
A highly affordable brunch menu makes the Boathouse popular amongst older Vancouverites. I had the special that morning, a brochette of wild salmon, prawns, and scallops with roasted fingerling potatoes. The seafood was very fresh and well-seasoned with a light spice rub. The teriyaki sauce dipping sauce contrasted very oddly with the seasoning on the meat, so I mostly ignored it. The potatoes and Caesar salad were excellent. Some of the best roast potatoes I've had have been in Canada.
Cat had the lobster ravioli with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and prawns in a citrus cream sauce. The plump parcels of pasta had a good amount of lobster in them, although she was a bit surprised by the combination of tomatoes and lemon in the sauce. Both of our orders were very affordable given the exchange rate at the time. We found the portions to be a bit small, although that tends to be the case when eating outside of the States. The rest of the world just has smaller meals than we do. I'm not sure that's entirely bad...
The Boathouse - A relaxing place to enjoy a leisurely brunch, particularly if you have a large crowd.
Bill (in Canadian dollars):
Brochette - 12.99
Lobster Ravioli - 15.99
Flavor: B
Ambience: A
Service: B
ROI: C
Overall: B
The Boathouse
8331 River Road
Richmond, BC V6X 1Y1
1-604-273-7014
Restaurant website
Other locations:
English Bay, Horseshoe Bay, New Westminster, Port Moody, & White Rock
Posts
3 comments:
I love fresh seafood, not so much seafood in pasta. But the food looks good here. I will have to keep this in mind when I visit Vancouver next summer.
Ahh, I've missed reading your left field reviews and seeing the cuddly (chubby) panda enjoying his nosh...great new layout by the way! Looks very nifty.
Freya (formerly of Writing at the Kitchen Table)
Shaved Ice Sundays,
It's ok. There are better. But, if you've got a big crowd or kids, it's not a bad place to have a get-together.
Freya,
Long time no see. Hope things are going well with the new blog.
- CP
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