Great Improvement

I have not been at the Boat House restaurant in some time because of a bad experience with food taste.
I thought we should give it another chance and celebrated a birthday. WOW what an improvement.
I assume the chef was changed and policies are in place to ensure a truly wonderful dining experience.
I will be going back more often again.
Larry
PS I am still looking for the gold bracelet chain... more

We enjoyed our dinner - hadn't been there for a long time but a nice experience.

disappointing

Even though the restaurant was near empty the service was impersonal and rushed. Servers were uninformed and uninterested. Restaurant was old and needed renovation or at least a good cleaning. Expected a nice river view but unless I sat out in the deck in the hot sun I could only sit inside looking at the parking lot. I will never go back to this restaurant and I will tell others to go elsewhere.

Wonderful food, especially for a restaurant in the airport district. Try their happy hour for a deal on oysters and shrimp, but not on wines or liquor. Drink water as we did to encourage them to offer a $5 house wine at the happy hour!

Just OK

Hadn't been to this restaurant for years but had heard good things. Took my parents for Father's day. Was very surprised when I arrived - was expecting much nicer decor. The windows and patio overlook a parking lot and the restaurant is in dire need of an update. Food and service were fine, but won't be rushing back when there are so many 'nicer' restaurants to visit.

Bad Service and Small Menu Choice

I've been to this Boathouse and many other Boathouse at other locations before, and I have to say this had never been the best branch, but our recent experience was somewhat sad. The new menu eliminated some of the choices that were previously present, but I could live with that. However, our server was exceptionally bad. While the adjacent table had there server checking back on them, our... more

Went early for Father's Day

My wife and 2 kids under 10, plus Dad and Mum went on Saturday for lunch instead of Sunday. The restaurant was quiet but the service did not suffer. We got a very nice round table that was quiet. The food was great and we had a very relaxed atmosphere. I would probably go back to see if the experience is as good at a busier time.

missing the 3 course options

The value is no longer their when they no longer have the 3 course option. Ordered a steak that was supposed to be medium rare instead, it was raw. Had to watch my friends eat while I waited for them to grill the steak again , same piece that I cut in the middle. You'd figure they would give you a new piece. Won't be going back until they have some festival with the 3 course option.

Not very impress

The food wasn't good as expected and expensive. My daughter had the Black Pepper Sea Scallops and it was way over cooked and tasteless and expensive. Very disappointing.

luv2wineandine

We had a really nice experience sitting out on the sunny deck, on a Friday night! Crisp chardonnay and the coconut cod .... YUM! Will definitely return!

Exceptional service. Very hard to find in BC these days.

Festive Lobster at it,s best

This frequent special at the Boathouse is a "Reservations Required" event. It is so polar (and with good reason) that we always reserve a week ahead. If you love seafood it is not to be missed. They have a varied lobster menu all of which are delicious. I don't usually advise this but it is an advantage to get on... more

Great food and engaging waiter

Lovely dinner....hadn't been in a long time.....as good as i remember...will go again soon

Perfect

This is our third time at the Boathouse, and we were happy with our meals and service. My husband had the swordfish and I had the Halibut, both excellent. Enjoyed the atmosphere and being able to see the water, what a perfect setting. Must stop by if you are in the area.

Poor cousin

Compared to other Boathouse locations, this one is the poor cousin. Besides the halibut bites (delicious appetizer), the food was very average and expensive for what you get. The location is only great for airport runs and the patio overlooks the parking lot. Add some potted plants at least!

expected better

My wife and i took my parents out for dinner here. I had been before but it was many years ago. We shared the coconut shrimp (good) and the crab cakes ( too much filler and overcooked). My mother and i both had sirloin steak and lobster, steak was good, but the lobster was only ok and very small. Wy... more

Tasty seafood but no view

Blackened steelhead was spicy and cooked well, and my friend enjoyed her seafood platter. But I was looking forward to enjoying a view of the marina - there is no view from the patio. Lots of car noise. It was lovely to sit outside, though.

mother's day

We always go out to eat and Boathouse in Richmond is one of our favorite, the food and drinks are well worth it plus a good service.

Bad Environment/Good Service

Mother's Day Brunch was a disaster at the Richmond Boathouse. I now understand why there are so few pictures online of this restaurant. It's ugly. No charm. The staff and the managers are excellent and clearly trying to do what they can ... the ice sculpture was lovely but I think this location needs to be bulldozed. A new better location on the water with a view should be in order and they... more

special occasion

good food and good service but we were out to celebrate 2 adult birthdays and had to deal with a restricted menu and noise from excited children because the birthdays happen to fall on Mother's Day (this happens every few years)

Just okay.. Mother's Day brunch

This location does not have good water view like the other locations. The restaurant doesn't seem to have a regular buffet section (I think it was just a Mother's Day special buffet brunch); buffet area was small, not a lot of space to walk, and a bit dark. The food was okay. We all did not think the selection or quality of food was worth the price, although we understood because it was due to... more

Not impressed

My husband, son, and I had early Mothers' Day dinner there. We all ordered different things from the menu, and none of us enjoyed our meals. I had seafood medley (overcooked), son a burger (no condiments and tasteless), and husband had ahi tuna which was unremarkable. At the prices for ANY meal here, one would expect better. My husband and I were also going to order a glass of wine ($10), but... more

Delicious!

The food was excellent, and just the right size. At the end of the meal, we were both satisfied without feeling stuffed. The restaurant itself was quite a bit larger than we expected, and was nearly full when we got there. Despite the number of people in the place, our server was very courteous and attentive. All-in-all, it was a very pleasant evening, and would recommend going there if you... more

Food wasn't great

fish was dry (i ordered the wild halibut). it's only 0.5inch thick - i certainly expected a thicker cut so it can retain the moisture.
For $33, i would look elsewhere.

Birthday gathering

Good place for gathering, hospitality is great but need more selections of food.
We had ordered a fish stew but were disappointed as it was a bit dry. Cocktail list is quite appealing.

A Few Visits

We have been to this Boathouse location a few times, handy to the airport for out of town guests. Service was good ... It is a pretty standard Boathouse experience...it is "good".

Service wasn't what I had expected, very poor considering we were the only customer there at that time. Food quality wasn't at its best either for the price u pay. Too small portion for a more expensive price which does not do much justice. The vegetables served on the side was stale and when we have mentioned to our server about it, she looked like she could care less. Definitely not... more

Seaside dining

We came to the boathouse before attending a show at the River Rock Casino. It was a great afternoon for outdoor seating, but we were not asked if we would like a seat on the patio. The service was good and the food arrived quickly. The fish & chips would seem to be a reasonable request for this establishment, but it was very doughy (too much batter that was not cooked long enough) The steak was... more

Ambiance and Service

Very comfortable Atmosphere even with a little bit of elevated loudness of people voices. Service was found very proffesional and pleasent, not exagerrated, trying to forsee customer's wishes, not rushed, and no frequent walking presence around the tables. Questions regarding seafood sourcing were answered very satisfactorily by servicing staff.

Excellent food and service

Excellent variety of oysters and cold beers on tap. Obviously excellent seafood and service was friendly and prompt with a casual atmosphere

Very Enjoyable Dining Experience

We have had a number of very pleasant dinners at the Richmond Boathouse, and our most recent experience was no exception. Staff greeted us warmly, and we were seated in a comfortable booth. The server arrived promptly, and took wine and appy orders which were served in short order. The coconut shrimp were delicious, and the small sirloin tender and... more

Great Seafood Near The Airport

Looking for a great seafood restaurant near the Vancouver airport, then look no further than the Boathouse restaurant. Just a few minutes from the airport, this restaurant consistently delivers great seafood. Recently had the blackened wild halibut. The large piece of fish was perfectly cooked with a very nice bite to it from the blackened spices. Good service, good location... more

Great fish

Visited the boat house half a dozen times whilst staying in a nearby hotel with colleagues. Foods was always good as was the service. Friendly knowledgeable staff. Miso crusted halibut is worth trying.

Fabulous food, great value

Visited prior to flying back to Sydney. Staff very accommodating as we didn't have a lot of time before needing to be at the airport. Luckily, it was lobsterfest! Food was wonderful, fresh and extremely tasty. Wish we had this in Sydney.

Tough location to get at

Was not my best meal went for dinner on a rainy night hard location to get into if you miss the turn then you are back over the bridge. Food was just average and the restraint could use an upgrade.

superb seafood, great service and good value

Coming off a long flight and wanting a nice relaxing dinner, the staff at the hotel recommended the Boathouse. It was close tot eh hotel and i was more than impressed by the location, quality and attentive staff. The seafood was excellent and not too expensive, the beer was cold and fresh and our waiter was attentive, but not overbearing.... more

Expensive but delicious

For a really great meal - this is fabulous but if you are on a budget - not so much. The atmosphere and service was good

Mixed feelings

We visited this restaurant as a part of the Dine-out Vancouver event, when participating restaurants present a preset menu for $18 or $28 or $38, They had two groups - 28 and 38. My husband had the $38 and his choice was lobster bisque for a starter, lobster thermidor over the 7oz sirloin and creme brulee for a desert. My... more

New Year's Eve dinner

My wife and I got there around 5 pm. New Year's Eve .We sat in the lounge had an excellent waitress and after a cocktail decided to stay and eat in the lounge It was a menu that had a set price and you could choose an appetizer from 5 or 6 different items same with main course and dessert... more

Last minute reservation, good experience

We were staying at the River Rock and couldn't get into the restaurant there so we made a last minute reservation for 4 and took a short cab ride to the Boathouse. We only had 1 1/2 hours as we were booked to see a show back at the RR. The Boathouse is old but in a good way, kind... more

Very disappointed

We ordered food for pick up and we were very disappointed. Our food was cold and it was very greasy. Portions were very small to. Will not go again

Great Forgotten Place with good food

Boathouse in Richmond hit the spot when my mother and I were looking for a nice place in Richmond in the middle of some post-christmas shopping. We had been to other vancouver locations but not ever the Richmond one, which is a tad tricky to find due to one-way streets, but is nonetheless very convenient.
fish was great (salmon and... more

Mediocre at best

Decent food but the room smelled musty. Also, the room had a low ceiling and really lacked any atmosphere. For the money, one could do much better. I would not go back.

Quality Not What It Used To Be

We celebrated my sister's birthday and went for dinner with about 8 adults and 9 kids. We only had one server, although we had made reservations long in advance.
The restaurant is in need of some updating and a good clean. The food was just OK (at best) and the service was slowwwwwwww.... friendly, but slow.

nice evening and the restaurant made things right

Difficulty in cooking a steak Medium Rare not once but twice...but they took it back and started over and made it right.
Food was good.

Back for the second time

Just back from dinner at the Boathouse. This is my second visit to this restaurant. I had the Cedar Plank Maple Salmon and it was excellent (good combination of flavors). Salmon is easy to overcook, but mine was excellent - nice and tender, and nice and moist (not overcooked at all). Wes was my server, and he did an excellent... more

Will visit again

Great food & attention. A very friendly server. Our friend recommended this restaurant and will definitely visit again...!!!

OK but there are much better

As this was effectively our local restaurant to our hotel, a 5 minute walk away and served seafood, we thought we would give it a try. On night we went, a saturday it was pretty full but mainly with large family groups, which made a romantic dinner for the two of us almost impossible to achieve, The place itself looks... more

A favorite revisited

This was a restaurant I liked when I used to travel to Richmond on business. My wife and I decided to come here to cap off a week long stay in BC before returning home. I found the restaurant little changed other than being busier, noisier & apparently now being part of a large US group of restaurants.
We reserved... more

Promised a lot but delivered only OK

Very friendly server; both meals were OK (candied salmon and cod - latter was overcooked) but nothing special.
Would give it another chance next time we are in the area.

Great casual spot and excellent food

Went for a walk and found this restaurant. Very happy that I stopped by. Excellent service and food. I would drop by here again.

Great Seafood

One of Vancouver's great, out of the way, seafood restaurants. Service is always good, the fish is fresh and presented well, and the ambiance is friendly.

Simply Superb

This restaurant was recomended by the folks at the front desk of the hotel we were staying at. Can't say enough about it, We both felt it was near perfection in every catagory. We were given a warn friendly greeting upon arrival, Seated immediatly, and had perfectly mixed cocktails and a basket of warm bread in front of us within... more

Outside and not Uptight

The Boathouse experience was a great time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere in Vancouver. The meal was tasteful and the staff was prompt and helpful. We never felt rushed or pushed. They were most accommodating to our needs. The restaurant was suggested by a friend and it was a good choice. They even changed the reservation time for us... more

Fabulous Seafood close to the Westin Wall Centre

We ate here twice while at a conference in June. It is an eay walk across the street from the hotel. They accommodated our groups. Service was great and the food was awesome. A nice selection of seafood and other dishes. I would definitely go back!

Overrated

We were looking forward to coming here... but a little disappointed after.
Service was pretty bad, slow and uncaring. There was hardly anyone in the restaurant for lunch when we were there, but it still took about 15 minutes to get our beers!!!
Food was so-so. Not bad... but not the best that's for sure. The oysters were small, of... more

YUMM Great seafood

Our last night in Vancouver getting ready for the flight home the next day, we found the Boathouse Restaurant within a short walk from the holiday Inn. Reviews on the cell phone were not all that favourable but it was close and we didn't have to take out the car again.
The seafood salad was amazing. Everything was really fresh.... more

Great Seafood

Restaurant looks like it needs a good cleaning, inside and outside on the patio, but very good seafood and friendly service. We ate outside on a lovely day. .

Passable

Summer service on patio differs greatly than the great service inside during winter! Bird droppings on table. Staff should have monitored this.

Dinner for 3

Three colleagues went together for dinner on Father's Day after a long first day at conference.
We shared the seafood appetizer for 4 with the three of us. We all ordered an entre and dessert and were way too full. The food was all great! There are two locations, one near the airport and one downtown. I have now eaten... more

great food but prices on the upside

we went there last minute with a group of 9. We called and asked if there would be a wait and they said no problem. When we arrived there were no problems getting in the door even for a Saturday night. The place was pretty empty.
We were seated in the back room. The place is looking a little dated... more

Educational" lunch tunes

..that would've made a longshoreman "pause", open minded but it was crass, better for a night time "club setting"...
Had the mussels, too salty but good...
Anyone else turned off by a servers chipped, gross red nail polish? A great manicure goes a long way and a "bad" one is awful, shouldn't be allowed by management if staff can't manage... more

Meeting expectations

Having been at this restauarnt before , we had high expectations. We were not disappointed: the food and the service were excellent. The food was attractively presented and prepared delicious. The service was prompt , professional, and friendly. Overall, pricey, especially the wine and the bar drinks. I am sure we will be back as you can count on getting... more

Over priced and poor quality

First of all I cannot complain about the service, we were greeted well and the server payed attention to our needs, I just feel sorry for them having to serve the food they do.
Three of our group decided to share the mussels for a starter, it was a main course priced at $23.99, at this price for a bowl... more

Good seafood

Overall this restaurant was very good, however a bit overpriced. Although they overcooked my wife's halibut, when she returned it they didn't ask any questions, gave her a salad in the meantime, and fired a new fish perfectly. My seafood pasta dish was fantastic and the Thai crab cakes starters were great. We sat on the patio overlooking the marina... more

Pleasantly enjoyable for chain restaurant

Good choice for seafood restaurant other than Asian cuisine in Richmond. Started with appetizers firecracker shrimp skillet (very tasty) and calamari (tender but very small sampling). Dinners chosen Westcoast Lifestyle salmon (cooked nicely, minimal vegetables, no asparagus as offered by server...not worth $$$), prime rib (nice cut, nicely rare, minimal vegetables), trio shrimp special (good... more

Great food, great service

We have used this restaurant many times for our company dinners and have never been disappointed yet. Most recent dinner was on May 6, 2013. No reason for it not to continue as our restaurant of choice when we have group meetings in Richmond. Thank you!

Good Catch

Very good seafood restaurant despite the outside appearance. Was staying at the Westin hotel across the street and was pleasantly surprised with the food and service. Naturally Vancouver prices apply.
Staff was very friendly and quick. I ordered the calamari for 1 and it was nice and crispy with a greek cucumber/yogurt Tzatziki sauce on the side which was very... more

Surprisingly good food

This restaurant was very close to our hotel.
Looked old from the outside, so we did not expect much.
The food and service was very good.
Specialty is lobster and there are nights where it is on special.

Excellent for seafood

We had the seafood platter for two, it was fresh and delicious. Service was very good, although the tables they have are too narrow for their platters. Was not busy that night a Thursday, but our friends say it's normally packed on the weekends. It needs updating in their decor, but the food makes up for the lack of ambience.

A Proper Fish House

Excellent menu with great variety. It was lobstertime and the Sirloin and lobster thermidor was very succulent. Steak was cooked exactly as asked for.
Lobster bisque was like poetry on your tongue.
Only two drawbacks:
1. No selection of craft beers and very few 'op-tap' beers.
2. A wailing child in the restaurant sort of made the atmosphere "cafe-like".

Fresh and rich food

My wife and I had a layover before we left for Mexico and walked across the street from the westin for dinner.
Nice wine list, we started with a bottle of oyster bay. The calamari for 2 was some of the best I have had. For my main I had the lobster ravioli. Very rich and delicious.
Would recommend to... more

Sigh

Dine out menu looked appealing so my six friends and I decided to come to Boathouse to celebrate a birthday in our group. I chose the crispy calamari as a starter; it was actually quite delicious. Four others had the lobster bisque which came out cold. Our main entrees varied from, fire-grilled steak to thai green curry lobster with a... more

Fantastic Fish

You have to try one of the signature dishes at The Boathouse in Richmond B. C. i am referring to the miso crusted halibut. This the 2nd time i have had this at this eatery, and i was as impressed this time as the 1st. So moist and flavourful !! My fiance had the steak, and found it tender and... more

Grungy Decor

This was our first visit to the Richmond Boathouse, although we have been to the Horseshoe Bay location many times. It is hard to believe there is such a huge difference! On the positive side the food was fine, not terrific, and the service was good. It was a busy Saturday night and getting parking was a nightmare. My husband... more

Wonderfully tasty seafood

I decided to go to this restaurant based on its proximity to the Westin wall center and its trip advisor feedback. Started with a local beer which ... Was flat (bottom of the keg). They replaced it without any problems (great service). Had 1/2 dozen oysters appetizer. I was disappointed that they didn't have mignonette but I was really impressed... more

Weekend Brunch is Always a Pleasure—The Boathouse

Sunday brunches are the best at the Boathouse. It’s a popular venue just for this occasion considering it is always close to the nice River Rock Casino. I think this place has been here for as long as I can remember making this an well-known establishment for those living in Richmond.

I think I’ve tried every brunch item on the menu and definitely have a a few favourires. I have always been an... more

The service was above average but the food was very disappointing. Poor quality with high prices.