The Village Taphouse — Restaurant in West Vancouver

We recently visited Northshore Village Taphouse to watch the 4 Nations game. The business website proudly boasts about its 15 screens for watching sporting events, yet it seems to assume customers aren’t there for the entire game and actively tries to rush or push them out mid-game. Why make that assumption?

While the game-day atmosphere was lively and enjoyable, the overall experience left much to be desired. We ordered multiple items from both the happy hour and regular menus, but the food was mediocre at best. The prices, especially for drinks from the regular menu were expensive and didn't reflect the quality.

Our bill total was a couple of hundred dollars, which felt excessive for the quality of the food and drinks, not to mention the subpar service from management.

The situation worsened when a staff member approached us and out of the blue asked if we could vacate to accommodate others. And I quote, “we need your table, so we’re going to have to ask you to leave.” This request was awkward, rude, and unprofessional, especially since we had hoped for a longer visit to watch the game. My son spoke to others who had also been singled out by various staff and asked to leave, and it was done in the same abrupt dismissive manner.

According to Google reviews, this is a common practice at this sports bar. If both the owner and management continue treating customers this way, it’s clear they’re either not addressing the issue or just don’t care to change the policy. Attempting to evict seated guests during a game is bad for business. Loyal customers who are spending money are being pushed out for new arrivals who likely aren’t staying as long. This is a fast way to lose regulars and not gain new ones.

Additionally, I had issues with the online reservations. I booked the lounge area, but the confirmation email I received displayed the dining room. Obviously a glitch in their booking system, which caused a problem.

On a positive note, I do want to acknowledge our server, Samantha, who was good at her job. She went above and beyond to fulfill our requests. Her efforts to make us feel welcome stood in stark contrast to the management’s behaviour. It might be helpful for the entire Taphouse team to revisit best practices for communicating professionally with the customers who are integral to the success of the business.

The 2-star rating doesn’t reflect her efforts, but stems from their unacceptable request for us to leave in favour of new arrivals. Just to clarify, according to your policy, you ask already seated guests who ordered a bunch of food and drinks to clear out, so you can make room for new ones? This is coming from an establishment that markets itself as a sports bar?

It’s counterproductive to promote Taphouse as the go-to spot for watching sporting events while simultaneously limiting how long customers can stay. This approach not only undermines the very experience you're advertising but also sends the message that you're more interested in turning tables. If you want to be the place people flock to for every big game, let them enjoy it without your business imposed time limit constraints.

Given the high prices, mediocre food, and poor treatment from one member of the management team, I can’t recommend Village Taphouse. Unfortunately, this experience left a negative impression, and we won’t be returning.

*A representative of the Cactus Club group, reached out to provide a gift card as a good will gesture, and to give the restaurant another opportunity. She offered an apology on our dining experience and this was greatly...

We've been coming here for years, and after sometime away, coming back for some food and drinks with some friends it was a significant disappointment. I'll tell you why.

Have you ever been somewhere to eat and you felt that your server had better things to do? Like prepare for an exam or go meet her friends? That was our first impression of our server when we sat down and unfortunately it lasted the whole evening. The attention, effort and energy she gave to our table the entire time was as if she wanted us to finish, pay and leave and we had just gotten there. When she did come around she never cleared the dirty side plates from our appetizers, and dirty dishes sat there throughout our mains when we finally asked the bus boy to clear them. Anyhow....moving on....so that's for service. Now for the food....keep reading.

Overpriced hot wings that used to come with dip and celery...you know....they're hot wings...now they charge you for celery and dip....yeah I'm serious. Hot wings tasted frozen and old.

The Korean cauliflower tasted good but it was swimming in sauce. The truffle fries were more like regular fries, limp and lacking freshness, as well as the yam fries were not seasoned at all. No salt nothing. Bland. We also ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger which was very average, but what was odd with that order was that there were fries missing in the container it came with (see pic). Like someone had helped themselves with a couple of them before the dish arrived at our table. It was not topped off.

We had a tequila shot and it tasted like water when we told our server she told us to pick a brand we liked, so we went with Patron. Once those arrived, even though they were the same order....one of them was poured less than the other by at least 1/2 a shot. Yeah...not good. We were going to let our server know, but she came around only when she had nothing better to do.

We used to love this place but this might just be enough for us not to...

The Village Taphouse is an absolute gem and easily our go-to spot—whether it’s for a casual weeknight dinner, weekend drinks, or just a place to hang out with good company. We’ve been coming here for years and it never disappoints!

The vibe is what sets it apart—super welcoming, laid-back, and full of life. Whether you’re posted up at the bar, grabbing a booth with friends, or soaking up the sun on the patio, it always feels like the right choice.

Let’s talk food—everything slaps. The burgers are top tier (the Taphouse Burger is a must), and the Thin Crust Pizzas are insanely good, especially when shared over drinks. Their wings are one of my favorites in the city—crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. And if you’re just in the mood to snack, the Truffle Fries and Nachos are always crowd-pleasers.

Drinks? Covered. With 20 beers on tap, craft and classics alike, there’s something for everyone. And their cocktails? Dangerously good. The Village Mule and Old Fashioned are my personal go-tos, and their Frozen Margaritas in the summer? Game changer.

The service is another standout—always fast, friendly, and genuinely awesome people. Even when it’s packed (which it often is), you feel taken care of without ever being rushed.

Whether it’s for game night, a casual date, or just catching up with friends, The Village Taphouse has become a staple for a reason. Great food, great drinks, and even better vibes.

Massive shoutout to the entire team for keeping the energy high and the experience consistently...