So many factors go into a dining experience – food quality, service, cleanliness, price, atmosphere, view…even the temperature of the food once it’s served. In our experience, few places get everything right, but one’s expectations should be in line with the bill.

With that in mind, the Boathouse in Kits was a pleasant evening out. Still…here’s an honest review.

Our server was wonderful. She nailed that blend of friendliness, attentiveness, and accuracy that absolutely adds value to the meal and deserves a generous tip. The same can be said of all the staff we had the pleasure of dealing with, including the hostess who reseated us after we discovered our window seat was like sitting in a broiler oven in the late afternoon sun.

Once seated outside on the deck, it was a slice of heaven; the breeze was perfect, the view out to the water sublime even though we weren’t right on the railing, and everything was clean and tidy – we both felt like were were on vacation somewhere, not a 5 minute walk from home.

We ordered the mixed seafood grill. As we waited, we were admiring the glasses of wine sparkling in the sun on other tables. Having stopped drinking 2 years ago but still wanting something a little special, we ordered a bottle of Sanpellegrino and a separate glass of cranberry juice to add some pizzaz. Our server brought it to the table like she was serving us a special bottle of wine, and once we added a dash of juice, we felt like we were sipping rosé in Manarola.

Once the meal arrived, the reality of our dining choice brought us home from Manarola to Vancouver rather abruptly. But that was just fine, because again, we weren’t blowing the month’s dining budget here. The meal presentable, but very pedestrian:

The veggies were perfectly cooked if somewhat bland in their seasoning, the 2 prawn + 1 scallop skewer was overcooked and so salty it made my throat tight, the salmon was a little overcooked and missing even a modest slice of lemon to squeeze over it, and the crab-stuffed prawns that had the most potential were crying for a bit of flavourful sauce to dip them in. I get it – timing all those elements to be perfectly cooked at the same time isn’t easy…but expected when dining out.

Was it a bad meal? All things taken into consideration – the service, the view and location, the fact that everything was clean and we were sitting in the sun on a beautiful evening, it was a fine meal at that price point. But with just a little better timing in the kitchen and a bit more passion and thought put into the flavours on our plate (a little dipping sauce, a wedge of lemon – anything to make the flavours pop,) it could have been great.

But we’ll be back for the service and the view!