Stanley's Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Vancouver

Location: Stanley Park, 610 Pipeline Road, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2

During a recent visit to Stanley Park, I decided to try this restaurant, reputed for having some of the best poutine in Vancouver. Upon entering, I was warmly welcomed by a staff member who promptly seated me and informed me that they would be closing in an hour, with the last orders being taken in 15 minutes. I appreciated the heads-up and eagerly settled in, anticipating a taste of their famous Double Duck Poutine. Unfortunately, the waitress regretfully informed me that they had run out of the duck, and only the poutine without the meat was available. Though slightly disappointed, I decided to explore other items on the menu.

Food

Seafood Chowder The Seafood Chowder, though generously portioned, left much to be desired. The menu promised a creamy chowder, but what arrived was a rather thin and slightly under-seasoned broth. Despite the abundance of ingredients, such as shellfish, steelhead, cod, potatoes, bacon, and a side of baguette, the overall flavor lacked the depth and richness one expects from a classic chowder. It felt like the dish was missing that comforting, velvety texture that defines a truly great bowl of chowder.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Truffled Parmesan Fries The Truffled Parmesan Fries, served with a liberal sprinkle of Parmesan, initially seemed promising. However, they arrived lukewarm, which significantly impacted the dish’s overall enjoyment. While the truffle aroma was pleasant, it wasn’t enough to elevate the fries to their full potential. A hotter serving could have made this dish far more appealing, as the flavors struggled to shine through in their current state.

Rating: 3 out of 10

Artichoke Spinach Dip The Artichoke Spinach Dip was a standout dish and provided a much-needed bright spot in the meal. It arrived warm, creamy, and packed with flavor. The blend of cheese and spinach was well-balanced, creating a rich and savory experience that paired nicely with the accompanying chips, despite the portion of chips being somewhat on the smaller side. This dip is undoubtedly one of the stronger options on the menu and well worth trying.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Ambiance The ambiance of this establishment is undeniably one of its strongest attributes. Seated on the patio, I was surrounded by a canopy of trees, which added a serene and almost enchanting quality to the dining experience. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a meal, especially when the weather is agreeable.

Service

Service was satisfactory, but not without room for improvement. While the waitress was polite and accommodating when present, there was a noticeable gap when she was nowhere to be found, which hindered the experience slightly. Nonetheless, her friendliness and attentiveness when available made up for this shortcoming.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Price The pricing was reasonable for a location within Stanley Park, considering the portions and quality of the ingredients. Although not every dish hit the mark, the cost felt appropriate given the setting and ambiance.

Verdict Despite the mixed experience with some dishes, particularly the underwhelming truffle fries and the lackluster chowder, there were redeeming qualities that made the visit worthwhile. The beautiful surroundings and the exceptional Artichoke Spinach Dip make this restaurant worth another try. I would recommend visiting with tempered expectations and perhaps sampling other menu items to discover the full potential of this...

The best part of Stanley’s is the location in Stanley Park; it is a wonderful location. We wanted something more of a sit-down meal than the aquarium fast food would provide. 5/5 for location and ambiance.

Kids burger was two dry sliders (we took the ketchup for the fries and smeared it on to make them edible). My traditional burger was mediocre - an A&W teen burger would have been a bit better, but it was passable. The veggie poutine was bland, and had a funny aftertaste. Veggie in this case meant completely unsavoury (I quite enjoy veggie burgers on occasion, but this recipe needs work, mushrooms and possibly copious amounts of MSG). Burger & fries rating - 1.5/5.

My wife and daughter each had the fish & chips. The regular version was thin, and not enjoyed. We had difficulties telling the dip for the Parmesan fries from the tartar dip, as both were lacking a distinctive flavour. 2/5, but my daughter enjoyed the kids version (3/5).

My Mocha tasted like someone followed a set of instructions rather than creating one. My wife’s coffee provided caffeine. 2/5 for beverages.

The service was fine. We came in at the tail end of rush hour, and everything seemed to just take a little longer than expected. There was the quick check once we got our meal to make sure everything was okay, but catching anyone for a special request (like more ketchup) was difficult although not impossible. 3/5

Price-wise it was not connected to the enjoyment of the food. I would expect fast-food prices; I regret spending the money we did here when there are so many other good eateries we haven’t tried yet.

I’d use it as a pit stop if the kids were melting down from lack of food in the future, but I’d never order anything for myself. Especially after that poutine.

2/5 overall. I should note that we don’t drink, and that may have something to do with it. I suspect being inebriated improves the flavour and experience....

Pros: -Great atmosphere, and location. -There are beautiful gardens surrounding the facility and lots of modern updates to the building. -Lots of outdoor seating in the shade. The food we had was good.

Cons: -Upon walking up to the entrance, the SMELL was horrible. Very strong sewage odor.

-Service was terrible. I've never experienced service this slow, inefficient or disorganized. We waited 5 minutes to be seated, another 5-10 minutes for a waiter to come to our table. There was 7-8 staff and everyone was rushing around, but nothing was happening.

We went at 130pm and It wasnt busy - half or less capacity of the facility. A lady seated us, a male server took our order, another lady brought our food, another guy checked on our table after 15 minutes, and another person brought our final bill and took our payment. There was no consistency in who was serving us. There were 2 or 3 people mixing drinks behind the bar, but they were also running food and were in and out of the kitchen. They all wore impressive headsets and had tablets for taking orders, but yet still congregated by the bar or the computer. It was bizarre honestly.

The table next to us tried to get up and leave because they waited so long for their food with no communication from the server, and no follow up to see if they needed anything before their food came out.

They advertise along the road in the park that they sell ice cream, but we were told they have vanilla ice cream. We were a little disappointed, none the less.

Would...