THE LOBBY LOUNGE & RAWBAR — Restaurant in Vancouver

I don't know where to start to describe the disappointing experience we had here. TLDR; the service/staff is great, the food is amazing and the management is exceptionally poor.

We booked a buy-out (the entire place) for a private, after-hours conference event. The event included an open bar, snacks and a customized signature drink. The event ended up hosting 150+ attendees over the span of 3+ hours. For anyone who has come here and knows the menu prices, you can understand how incredibly large the final bill was.

The service staff was phenomenal! Considering how packed and busy the area was, they ensured drinks were delivered in a timely manner and tables were kept reasonably clean throughout the night. They were very friendly and offered suggestions if someone asked for something they didn't have.

The snacks were very good! Everything was fresh and tasted amazing. We had numerous rounds of food brought out and many guests who tried some in a previous round immediately went back for more.

Unfortunately, the management was some of the worst I've encountered to date! Foremost, the day before, we spoke with a manager who told us they could not make a signature drink in any form, even though we were assured they could when we booked. She was a mix of fake friendliness and saltiness and did not offer any solution other than, "we will only make what is on the menu". Additionally, she continually attempted to push a level of blame on us for, "booking so last minute". As someone worked in the restaurant/bar industry for many years back in the day, there is always some way to work something out for a customer... especially if they will be paying a top-level tab. She also informed us she would not be working during the event.

On event day, the bar manager was present. He accommodated the request for a signature drink by modifying one on the menu, something the other manager claimed could not be done. However, that did not make up for how he interacted with my wife, who organized and was in charge of the event, and the female service staff he manages. My wife was spoken down to on numerous occasions throughout the night and the female service staff confirmed he treats the women that work there poorly and differently than male staff. This is appalling and unacceptable! This is just one of many issues we encountered with him. Too many times we were treated as if the event was causing problems for them they couldn't handle.

If this place was unable to handle an event like ours, they should have said so. There were many other places we contacted before booking this place that were quite happy to host the event and had no hesitation about accommodating the relatively short notice and reasonable request for a signature drink.

I would love to give a direct 5-star review for the staff and quality of drinks and food. Unfortunately, due to the poor experience with management, this is a...

Food Poisoning from Sushi Bar – Histamine Intoxication Risk, Poor Handling, and Gaslighting Response

I strongly advise future guests to read the negative reviews before choosing to dine at this hotel’s sushi bar — they are, unfortunately, accurate reflections of the experience.

After finishing a late spa appointment last night, I opted to dine at this sushi bar in the hotel lobby instead of ordering room service. That decision directly led to acute gastroenteritis caused by histamine intoxication — a condition commonly linked to improperly stored raw fish, especially species like tuna and mackerel. Symptoms typically begin within 10 minutes to an hour, and I experienced immediate diarrhea, nausea, and skin rashes soon after eating.

Before ordering, the chef made a strange remark about the only visibly fresh-looking item on display — a piece of bluefin tuna — warning me that it was “much more expensive.” I found his tone suspicious and moved from the bar counter to a table. When the sushi arrived, the fish appeared visibly discolored — greyish and oxidized. I removed the darkest pieces and only ate the parts that seemed less spoiled, yet still suffered severe symptoms.

What’s worse is how the staff responded: · At first, they were dismissive and cold. · When I insisted on addressing the issue, both the restaurant manager and waiter tried to shift the blame to my breakfast, claiming it couldn’t have been their food.

This is not only unprofessional but gaslighting at its finest. I’ve yet to receive any follow-up or investigation outcome from the hotel, despite being told someone would reach out. Meanwhile, the allergic reaction following the food poisoning caused a hard swollen lump above my upper lip. a textbook sign of histamine poisoning.

To make matters worse, their staff pressured me to sign off on the bill before the issue was even investigated — a shockingly rude and inappropriate demand.

If you’re looking for fresh sashimi or sushi during your stay, stay far away from this restaurant. All you’ll get here is food poisoning and a...

I had an extremely disappointing and uncomfortable experience at The Lobby Lounge in the Fairmont Pacific Rim. I was seated at the bar when, after about 15 minutes, another guest began invading my personal space, making inappropriate comments about "searching for hot girls" and asking about my boyfriend. The situation felt uneasy, and despite making eye contact with the bartender who served me, Navin, I received no help or support. When the patron became even more intrusive and got in my face, another bartender finally offered to move me to a high-top table. I couldn’t help but feel unwelcome, as the onus was placed on me to move, while the the other guest was allowed to stay, making me feel as if his comfort was prioritized over mine, but I gathered my belongings. Concerned about leaving my drink unattended with this man still at the bar, I asked Navin to assist me in moving it. Instead of offering help, he became agitated and questioned me aggressively, which only added to the stress of the situation. Once I moved to the new table, I was left unattended and ignored by the staff. The general manager spoke with me briefly and assured me the guest would be removed, but I noticed that he was still sitting at the bar enjoying his drink. I was shocked that this guest’s behaviour was overlooked, especially after I was the one asked to move. To make matters worse, I dropped the business card the manager had given me and asked a passing hostess for help in picking it up. Her response was rude and dismissive, as she refused, citing the length of her nails, and gave me a derogatory glare. This was by far one of the most degrading and humiliating experiences I’ve had while dining in Vancouver. The staff seemed more concerned with accommodating a regular patron than ensuring my safety and comfort. I would not recommend this establishment, especially to women who value respect and a safe dining...