Luxury meets personality at Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar

There are many beautiful high-end restaurants in Vancouver. Unfortunately, due to recent budget restraints, I have not been able to visit most of them. Oh, the horror. However, I have had the privilege of eating at one very popular Yaletown Restaurant, Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar.

Blue Water Cafe is always full. So what are they doing right? They are part of Ocean Wise, a Vancouver Aquarium program dedicated to educating consumers about sustainable seafood and which seafood to avoid for health concerns. Blue Water makes this program a priority for all their menu items, serving only wild and sustainable seafood.

The evening I went, all I really wanted was a well-crafted cocktail. From all accounts, the bartenders at Blue Water love what they do, and it shows.

I make a habit of asking bartenders to either recommend a drink or simply surprise me. Some of the best cocktails have made their way into my “favourites” repertoire through this method. And my evening at Blue Water was no different.

Introducing the Side Car. Traditional drink, in classic Blue Water style. Torres 5yr brandy, cointreau, lemon juice and honey. Simplicity never tasted so good.

But then, the boys at Blue convinced me to try some vittles and grub. So, I did.

Tuna tartare, made with red tuna, chives, sesame seeds and chili threads.

Scallop ceviche with grapefruit, cucumber, lime, red onion and cilantro.

Lobster ceviche with avocado, sweet potato and red jalepeno.

Kusshi oyster with red wine jus.

Crispy yam tempera.

Complexity tasted even better.

And to finish, Phil’s own bar creation was just right for dessert: vodka, lemon, orange vermouth, aperol and sparkling wine.

Thanks to Colin, Chris, Ricki, Phil, Stephan and the rest of the Blue Water Cafe team for a fantastic evening!

Bon appetit!

~ AV