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About the Business
For 27 years, Joe Fortes has consistently earned and maintained its reputation as an award-winning Vancouver Restaurant and "Vancouver's Best Oyster Bar". Guests from the world over have come to expect a dynamic culinary experience in this San Francisco styled seafood grill that always delivers more - more hospitality, more variety, and more buzz. This iconic Vancouver restaurant is conveniently located just off of bustling Robson Street. Joe Fortes is where locals and visitors alike come to enjoy the freshest seafood and chops in town, complemented by an award-winning wine list that boasts over 400 wines, and a uniquely personal level of service and hospitality.
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Overall rating
1332 reviews
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1 star
- Brian Z.Coal Harbour, Vancouver, Canada01Jul 31, 2024
Food preparation was exceptional, as was the service and ambience.
The food was perfectly cooked, timing was excellent.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Aug 26, 2024
The Hostee Podium is outside where it's quiet compared to the riot inside. It's a Mosh Pit of activity once you walk through the entry door.
The patrons are impatient, the Staff is very patient and yet vibrating with frantic antics to keep the flow going. This buzzin' hive is slammed and jammed from the opening bell.
The din of convos, clanging of pots, pans and dishes and clinking glasses all eclipse the live NoLa stride piano that is reduced to a whiff of auditory smoke.
The Decor is classic Chop House Chic with multiple imposing Chandeliers, lots of brass, wood and glass. The vibe is somewhere between The Tadich Grill, Legal Seafood and after midnight on Bourbon Street.
First Date territory? Only if your date is hearing impaired. Just text each other.
The Bar Program: Auspicious. A few pages of Signature Cocktails. Craft Beers on draught and an interesting Wine List with some definite depth.
The Staff: More warm bodies than a beginners Pole Dancing Class. There is an army of crisply uniformed servers coming and going at warp speed. It's like watching a Pachinko Machine once you jam ball in play. Brooklyn was nearby to help, suggest and recommend. She also brought a well seasoned sense of humor to the table.
So, settle into your assigned space which will be in the middle of the melee no matter where you request to be seated.
Who's here? Sports in Shorts, Tee-Shirts, and the odd Beater on an odd eater with just enough buckos left over post alimony, child support, and rent money to afford dining here once a month.
Plus there is lot's of plunging decolletage and enough bare thigh to make you high. Hi. Sigh. But then we came for the chow, so now let's get to it. Here's an ample sample of what's on offer.
A basket of warm bread appears in rapid order. Nothing fancy. Probably an outsourced Baguette-y kind of loaf sliced on the bias with a little cup of house made Lobster Oil which had a distant hint of the sea until a runner dumped a wading pool of syrupy Balsamic Vinegar into the Cup turning it into a cloying sweet goo. Well, it's all subjective, but that is my take on it. Perhaps leave the Oil and Vinegar mixture up to the diner?
The Caesar Salad featured half a wheel of shaved Parmesan Cheese. The Romaine was fresh and chilled. The Dressing (a little more than was required) was within the boundaries of being decent.
The bottom line on the Salad was that it was acceptable so no one flipped bowl onto the floor.
On to the Calamari, eh? This was a pile of uber crisp deep fried strips. The batter created crags and shards making the Squid crunchy until it was hoovered and gone. Dip a strip into the Sun Dried Tomato Aioli and hey-oli that was good.
The Raw Oysters were as fresh as you'll find anywhere. Make sure to have some Sawmill Bay monsters as big as a boxing glove and certainly redolent of the sea.
These were firm and spectacularly delicious. I like my Oysters neat but you will get the full kit no matter how you like them. Cocktail Sauce with grated Horseradish, Mignonette, Lemon Wedges, and a snappy Hot Sauce if you prefer your Oysters doctored.
The Halibut Cheeks Special was intriguing and who doesn't like a pair of soft, tender, inviting cheeks?
I opted for the Cioppino because when it's good, it's really good. It can be Cio-fino in less capable hands. Here it was really good. My bowl had a soul.
The Cioppino was served in a Lodge Cast Iron Pot that kept the
Tomato-y Broth bubbling with heat for an hour. The pot was deeper than it looked and basically was a Japanese Soaking Tub chocked full of Mussels, Shrimp, Scallops and Cod all happy to be in the same soup. Add to that Slivered Poached Onions, Red Bell Pepper pieces and diced Yukon Potatoes. Every spoonful of this vibrant soup (nee Stew) was perfectly delightful.
If you are a dipper you can't ignore the long slice of toasted Baguette lightly brushed with signature Lobster Oil sans Balsamic blast.
All in all this place was lively without being dive-ly. I don't intend to be mean, but it was infact a scene, although the food was a cut above which is a true accolade in a City full of outstanding restaurants.
My recommendation: Pull up your shorts all you good time sports and head for Joe Fortes.Helpful 3Thanks 1Love this 2Oh no 0 - Aug 17, 2024
First time dining here after hearing so many good things. Called and reserved a last minute dinner on a Friday evening on the outdoor patio. Formal yet casual dining experience, with attentive and kind service, and a lovely outdoor space.
My mom and I shared the Caesar salad to begin with, and then both got fish for mains. I got the miso sablefish and she got the halibut. Both were excellent tasting and well portioned.
Overall, enjoyed the dining and experience and would return. Definitely would recommend a reservation on Fridays-Sundays for dinner, as it gets very busy.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Mark W.Rapid City, SD4113Aug 14, 2024
Food was delicious and the service was splendid. Had the Duos Fish lunch special with crème brûlée dessert.
Our server Hugh was fabulous.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Aug 7, 20241 check-in
*HAPPY HOUR REVIEW*
On our trip to Vancouver, my husband had wanted to check this place out. I saw they have a daily happy hour from 3-5 AND you can make reservations for it. We were so there! I made a reservation for a Monday 3 PM and there were plenty of people there already, for such a strange hour. We ordered some happy hour food items including:
-Oysters - these looked really good and for $2.15 each, what a steal! You definitely won't find these for happy hour prices in NYC anymore. I couldn't eat them since I'm pregnant but my husband had a share for me and he said they were the best oysters he's had in a while
-Jumbo tiger prawn cocktail - this came with two shrimp and they weren't as 'jumbo' as I thought it would be, so for $14, it was pretty pricey for happy hour
Crab and corn fritters - not much crab but I liked the dipping sauce it came with
Mini lobster & shrimp roll - really small and not much filling. It was mostly bread
If I lived here, I would probably be coming here for the oyster happy hour all the time. I can't speak for the regular menu items, but you can skip the happy hour food items.Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - 1823373690Aug 18, 2024
Opens at 11am for lunch- roof top patio dining- patio heaters for cooler days. Bar up top top for speedy beverages. Priced on the high end but worth the pretty penny. Attentive staff, knowledgeable about the menu and delicious specials. True Canadian hospitality at its finest. Located off the main drag. Believe there "might be" street parking- don't quote me. Public parking lots in vicinity.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 2Oh no 0 - Jul 20, 2024Updated review
Have family visiting from out of town so we had to come here! This place is consistently good.
I'd like to start off by giving a massive shoutout to Norm. Our food was delicious as usual, but the standout has to be the service. Thank you Norm for taking such good care of us today!
The highlight today: amazing oyster rockefellers. My SIL is rarely one to go for seconds and is usually very shy about it but not with these! She ate one and promptly helped herself to a second. You know it's good when she's not being shy LOL.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Jan 3, 2018Previous reviewCame here for a late lunch after watching a movie. The place was really empty which was amazing for us. We usually come when it's packed and very lively and loud. I much preferred the quietness and will try to avoid the busier hours!
Our food was amazing as usual but that's not what the 5 stars are for today. Today it's all about our server Erin. She was exceptional. We already knew our food was going to be great but the service was what really made today's meal memorable. She was really attentive, friendly, and on it. Never had to ask for a pop or water refill. This restaurant is very lucky to have her because her attitude and warmth really took this to another level.Oct 30, 2017Previous reviewWe had an amazing dinner here last week. Our server Peter was excellent. He was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. I always had a refill without even asking. He was clearly paying attention.
- The sablefish was cooked perfectly. It was my partner's mom's first time and she absolutely loved it. I have a feeling she'd love to eat here each time she visits ;) The not-so-new-but-new-to-me new sides to the sablefish were excellent. I thought nothing could match the previous sides but these were so good!
- The creamed spinach was amazing. Wish it was a larger portion but oh well. The parmesan truffle fries were also really good. I actually hate truffle anything but these were really great.
- My steak was cooked perfectly and the sides were cooked well. Those horseradish bacon mashed potatoes were ON POINT!
- the oysters were ridiculously fresh!
The reasons I knocked off a star:
1. The food took a really long time. No idea why but it was longer than usual.
2. My steak, though cooked perfectly and delicious, had way too much fat on it and I didn't like how it was cut. I prefer a thicker cut and this was a bigger piece but thinner.Jul 20, 2015Previous reviewWe came around 8pm yesterday hoping to land a table but they said it was roughly an hour, so we sat at the bar. The two bartenders (one gentleman and one lady) were AWESOME! They were really attentive, always refilling our waters and always ready to ask what we'd like to drink next slightly before taking the last few sips of the alcoholic beverages.
The food was absolutely delicious. We had oysters of course and they were fresh and delicious. I know it sounds like a given that they're fresh and delicious but I've been to several oyster bars in Vancouver that weren't, so I feel like now it has to be stated (sad, I know). Our friend had never had the Joe's Gold so we thought he should try it and he LOVED IT. We ended up ordering just 16 but there's always next time!
- the yam fries were the best I've ever had. Ever. Anywhere. They were cooked perfectly, weren't greasy to eat or touch, and crispy. The sauce that came with it complemented it so well. Yum!
- the lobster infused oil with balsamic for the bread was amazing. Keep it comin'!
- the petit filet mignon was delicious. I could have done without the cubed up zucchini that lacked any flavor, but everything else on the plate was tasty. I'd recommend this dish with the peppercorn sauce - yum. (I am aware I keep using that word in this review).
- my friend had a foodgasm over the sablefish, but I have yet to meet a person who hasn't had a foodgasm over it. It's my girlfriend's second favorite sablefish dish in town and we've tried several, so it's a compliment to say that even if it isn't 1st place. The sweet ginger soy sauce worked well with the butteriness of the fish. The bok choy went well with the fish and perfectly cooked rice.
- the creamed spinach was amazing. I love creamed spinach and always try to order it but don't always get the chance (because no one else seems to like it), and last night we had that chance. It did not disappoint. I would happily eat that along with a protein and no other veggies - absolutely scrumptious!
- I wasn't a huge fan of the black currant sorbet though the other people liked it. But that mango sorbet was the bomb!
The only two reasons that this isn't a 5 star review:
- We moved away from the bar when a table became available. The bartender even told us which table we could sit at. We sat there while he brought our beverages over and the server (it was her section) was rather rude and told us she'd like us at another table instead. We were a bit confused but as we got up, the bartender told her we're sitting there because we had a full dinner ahead. Throughout the rest of the meal, that server was rather stand-offish and not very friendly. We discussed it and agreed that that was the worst server we've encountered in all the years we've eaten here.
- The entrees took over an hour to arrive (after we had ordered) - maybe closer to 1.5hrs. The bartender even came by our table to ask if we'd like some salad or soup or something as our entrees were severely delayed. Luckily we had bread to fill us up a bit while we waited. I would have thought that maybe they would have comp'ed the dessert as a way to apologize for the wait but they didn't - it would have been a nice gesture considering how long we waited between oysters and yam fries and the actual dinner entrees.Mar 13, 2015Previous reviewAbsolutely amazing everything. The service was amazing, the food was amazing and the noise level wasn't too loud last night.
We got a table immediately which is rare around 6:20pm. Lucky us! Our server was amazing. Honestly this was the best service I've had at Joe Forte's. Ever. He made our night. He was attentive, funny, easy going, helpful, and just an overall sweet guy. All their servers should be like him because it was that fantastic. When we left, my girlfriend even mentioned something about hoping I gave him a big tip - yep, service THAT great.
- The sweet potato fries were a generous portion. As an appetizer, it could comfortably feed 2-3 people. The two of us ordered it and wish we hadn't because we didn't even get through half our entrees because were stuffed!
- The oysters were delicious. We ordered kusshis, Joe's gold and gems. I've never tried the gems and they were tasty. I'd definitely get those again.
- The bone in steak was great. I didn't think I'd like the bacon horseradish mashed potatoes but they were awesome. The horseradish played a great supporting role but didn't hit you in the face and the bacon was...well...who doesn't like bacon?Feb 18, 2014Previous reviewMust have caught them on an off day because today was awful through and through.
- The service was slow. I understand that this place is packed and that they can't fill your water immediately or come take your order etc but waiting 15+ minutes is a bit excessive. Perhaps they should add more servers?
Now the food:
- every single oyster I consumed had shell in it. I was spitting left and right to get the shell out of my mouth. I'm not exaggerating when I say every single oyster.
- the peppercorn ahi tuna was not served rare. It was served medium well or close to cooked. There was only the faintest streak of pink in the centre and the rest of the fish was grey. At first I thought I was being served a beef steak and not tuna.
- the filet mignon which is generally pretty awesome was really lackluster. The vegetables and potatoes tasted better!
Usually it's pretty awesome here. I take friends here all the time who visit me from out of town. Why? Because they're consistently good...except today. - Aug 5, 2024
Went here on a Sunday it was pretty hot day and going into a fancy restaurant I would think they would have Ac wrong. The entire time we were hot inside. We were told the building is old ans AC does not work properly - What!
We got some fish and chip, steak and apps none of the food was special very greasy. Lobster oil is basically canola oil boiled with lobster shell. Would not be back again. Also food didn't sit well in our tummy.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - May 24, 2024
Great spot for dinner. Love the ambience and location in downtown Vancouver !
We got the large format 32oz porterhouse, a tiger prawn cocktail and the Ling Cod off the fresh catch menu.
The steak was phenomenal as was the prawn cocktail. Unfortunately the cod was a bit overcooked on this busy night. That's the only reason it's not 5 stars. Service was impeccable. Johnny is a stellar waiter and everyone in the entire place was more than nice and accommodating!Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1 - May 7, 2024
Ordered the clam Chowder and halibut cheeks along with a maverick sauvignon blanc. Didn't have a reservation but they had plenty of room at the bar. Clam chowder was very good with lots of clam and some bacon and small potato chunks. The tanqueray and tonic wasn't very good, not sure if it was the flat tonic or a lack of gin. The Sauvignon blanc from maverick was much better.
Overall good service, great atmosphere, and a solid selection of fish and beef along with fantastic oyster selection and appetizers galore. My main dish came out and the wine is ordered specifically to come with it was no where to be seen. She did come by and ask if I was ready for it shortly thereafter though.
Prices are a bit high though. My wine was $20 for a single glass and a bottle is only $28. At 4 glasses per bottle, that's a markup of almost 300%!
With a decent mixed drink - and perhaps a little
More
Reasonable wine prices, this could have been a 5!Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1
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