Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

See all 307 Reviews ›

Address:
777 Thurlow St
Vancouver, BC V6E 3V5

Neighborhood:
West End

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
Seafood

Price: CAN$31 to CAN$50

More Details ›

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.joefortes.ca
Phone: (604) 669-1940
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:00am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Sunday - Saturday: 4:00pm - 11:00pm; Brunch: Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Seafood, Steakhouse
Executive Chef: Wayne Sych
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Entertainment, Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Private Party Facilities: Visit Joe Fortes and you are welcomed into an environment whose vibrant sights and sounds are as enticing as the menu is. With our name inspired by a local legend famous for his warm, welcoming nature, we naturally believe that hospitality is key in creating a memorable group dining experience.
Private Party Contact: Tanis Glenn (604) 685-4040
Entertainment: Live Piano 7 days a week

Getting there

Cross Street: Robson
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Valet parking is available after 6:00 PM 7 nights per week. There is also ample street and parkade parking within easy walking distance.

A word from Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

Joe Fortes has been specializing in classic, American cuisine since 1985. The turn-of-the-century inspired dining room features 30-foot high ceilings and six unique dining venues that include brand new green roof top patio. Executive Chef Wayne Sych prepares each dish with a focus on natural… flavours and features the finest ingredients from Pacific Northwest farmers, fishermen and other food artisans. Serving more than 50 kinds of fresh fish, premium oysters and thick chops daily, Joe’s signature dishes have become a favourite with locals, celebrities & tourists alike. Joe’s is known as the best oyster bar in Vancouver and is home to some of North America's best oyster shuckers. Our award winning wine list features over 400 selections from British Columbia, California, the Pacific Northwest and prominent wine regions throughout the world. Enjoy a delicious cocktail at our bar with live piano music nightly or at our Roof Garden Bar. Continued

Foodspotting photos

See all photos >

Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerSeafood
Diners' Choice WinnerHot Spot
Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House - Best Restaurants in West End Vancouver

Diner Reviews

"Had crab cakes and crispy french fries... very tasty and a highly recommended combination! Will definitely have them again in the near future."
Dined on 7/22/2014
"We were a table of seven, and we all enjoyed excellent seafood. Our waiter was attentive and personable. When booking, I believed that three hours seemed an ample amount of time to enjoy a complete meal together. However, we were seated at 6:30 pm and by 9:30 pm we were just being handed our dessert menu. This is not because we did not order soon enough; it was a consequence of a kitchen that could not keep up with demand."
Dined on 7/21/2014
"We, 10 people group including some children, have enjoyed BC's local oysters of summer season. BC's local oysters and crab cake, you must have! Very nice! The atmosphere of this restaurant is a little classic and very friendly. Live piano is also excellent!"
Dined on 7/21/2014
"Food and wait staff were fantastic! Our meals took too long to arrive given the busyness of the restaurant, and the fact that it was brunch food. This is not necessarily something that would be keep me away from Joe Fortes in the future, but is something I would be keeping my eye on the next time I choose to dine there"
Dined on 7/20/2014
"Joe Forte's continues to be one of my top 3 spots to dine at in Vancouver.... Whether it's for a romantic dinner, night out with the friends or a casual dinner, Joe Forte's food is always delicious (the sablefish is out of this world), the service is always outstanding and they have a fantastic wine list to top it off! Will be back soon!"
Dined on 7/19/2014
"We sat outside and enjoyed the summer day, the people watching and of course the excellent food . We had the lobster rolls and they were fantastic. Service unparalleled. A memorable afternoon. Thank you."
Dined on 7/18/2014
"I am soo pleased to say that Joe Fortes under Executive Chef Wayne Sych, has returned to its perfection of the past, excellent food that matches the never fading service of front of house. It is with great pleasure that the high expectations of guests are surpassed. From the extensive wine list, the knowledge, expertise and passion the serving staff exude. The only hard part was choosing what to have and I have Celiac ( no wheat, barley or rye) and saying no to a specialty coffee because we were too full. Treat yourself to a little history of Vancouver and food that is very good."
Dined on 7/17/2014
"The ambience was the best feature in this restaurant, design was great, piano player, multi-layer made the place quite interesting. Some of the items were a little over-priced, I suspect we were paying for the ambience through the food. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient. However, we almost left as it took 45 minutes to get our food, which was pretty outrageous since we didn't order anything special. Other guests were also waiting a long time. Based on the food wait time I doubt if we would return to this place."
Dined on 7/16/2014
"Thank you for a great annual family dinner. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The seafood was prepared and cooked to perfection. Service was great. Thanks for the complimentary appetizers and birthday deserts. Only complaint would be how hot restaurant was. Perhaps the restaurant should invent some stand alone fans."
Dined on 7/13/2014
"Sat on the roof deck for a sunday brunch. The seafood tower was fantastic. Lobster eggs benny was quite good too. Most notable was the great service we received. Kevin was amazing. This is why this place is my favourite Vancouver restaurant."
Dined on 7/13/2014
"We arrived early to wait for padio the take no reservation for patio the hostess seem stressed & didn't seem to happy she wouldn't put u on wait list even thought we had booked reservation. She said she could not give us any estamate time of how long we had to wait and could not leave with the table buzzer. It was hot very loud and stuffy in the bar area where it looked like some people waiting for tables walkins. We left to get some air came back about 20 min asked again if there was any chance at the patio she said had no idea how long people linger up there. The manager so happen to over hear the conversation spoke with my husband looked on the seating list and said come with me up to patio! What a great guy he really made our night :)"
Dined on 7/12/2014
"Steak was not seasoned well + too rare (asked for medium rare and turns out to be blue rare) and lobster was over cooked. Raw oyster and the lobster oil was really good! Sablefish was cooked very well, but feels like a normal Chinese dish. Service was great, but floor was left wet near the bar and my wife slipped and fell. This area is a wet hazardous area. as it seems it's always wet. Relatively to other restaurant, there are better alternatives for all the food we ordered, except for the lobster oil for bread. The best reason to go there is for unique ambiance. Overall, there's nothing special about and indifference Joe Forte."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"We were seated promptly. The service and food were unbelievably outstanding. The trout was amazing. The veggies were done to perfection. A great venue for a special occasion."
Dined on 7/11/2014
"Some of the finest Sea Food you will find in Vancouver. Impeccable presentation, flavour, and perfectly portioned entrees. The fresh Oysters are of the finest quality. That accompanied by the attentive non rushed service makes for a memorable dining experience."
Dined on 7/10/2014
"My friend and I had a great lunch at Joe Fortes this week. I ordered a cobb salad and was happy to hear that I could order any kind of cheese I would like to go in it. The server brought the entire salad bowl over and mixed it with dressing and cheese, etc. Then he served the salad onto my plate. Wow! It was delicious. Prior to the salad, I ate their ceviche. The server brought it over in a martini-like appliance, shook it and then served it onto my plate. Wow again! It, too, was yummy! Our main server was very friendly, professional and smiley. The entire staff was friendly and we noticed that they take pride in working at Fortes. We also noticed that clientele is #1 and service is #1. We plan on having lunch there next week."
Dined on 7/8/2014
"It was a special occasion,situated on the great patio. Service was excellent but the food was phenomenal. My partner had the Calamari and I had the Crabcake both very tasty and delicious. Main was the trio of seafood, halibut, salmon and prawn.....my mouth still waters now.... This was one our our best dinners ever in Vancouver and we go out every Friday and Saturday for dinner. Thank you Joe Fortes, we will be back. RickNEarl"
Dined on 7/5/2014
"My wife and I have dined at Joe Fortes at least once a month. Yesterday was not a typical Joe's service quality. We were greeted well but the food service and care was not there which was out of the ordinary from previous experiences. I think it was just an off day or a new server starting out but otherwise food was as usual very good."
Dined on 7/2/2014
"The place was full of very young kids. The woman at the next table was breast feeding her baby. There were young children at two other adjacent tables. The sable fish was very good but the halibut cheeks were very chewy and placed on a mishmash of vegetables that did not make a good presentation or have very much flavor. The waiter was good but very pushy and obvious he wanted to flip the table. This was our first night of vacation in Vancouver and fortunately our dinners since then at Blue Water Cafe and Coast were much much better."
Dined on 7/1/2014
"This is my second visit to Joe Fortes. The Sablefish is phenomenal. The staff knows fish and the preparation. Describe what you want and they will steer you to an entree that will be perfect for you. I initially started out ordering one thing, and when I described what I wanted they shifted me to something slightly different. The change made for a perfect meal. Great for people who really appreciate eating seafood which has been prepared well. Likewise if you are unfamiliar with seafood, this is a great place to learn. Very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I'm in Vancouver for another 3 nights, and am thinking of going back to Joe Fortes."
Dined on 7/1/2014
"Went half expecting a tourist trap but found good food, helpful servers and a lively atmosphere - the resturant is noisy so don't go for a quiet night out. Prices were comparable with similar restaurants in Vancouver. We sat on the balcony and had sufficient space (as well as a great people watching spot) but some tables downstairs did look very close together."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"I often go there with my special customers. Normally we enjoy the food and their service, however, this time because of one worst attitude of server, I decided not to go their anymore. So sad"
Dined on 6/30/2014
"Not a bad place for some good food and wine. It's quite busy, so make sure you make a reservation."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"made my freinds birthday. One off the best dinners she has ever had."
Dined on 6/30/2014
"The experience was amazing from the beginning with the different staff that greeted us so professionally at the door and led us through the restaurant, to the wait staff that never missed a beat and filled up our waters about 4 times the moment it was empty, to the amazingly executed food, it was an overall fantastic experience. I brought a client here for lunch and was not dissapointed. I will certainly be back!"
Dined on 6/30/2014
"The food and the atomsphere was excellent. Our waitress took great care of us. I believe her name was Ashlie."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"Outstanding dining experience as usual! We totally enjoyed out evening. Can't wait to go back and try something different on the menu."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"Fresh dishes, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Tops on my list for any occasion - especially when entertaining out of town guests!"
Dined on 6/25/2014
"We had heard that this was a not to miss restaurant during our visit to Vancouver. After dining here we would agree. We had one of the seafood specials that you can share, and there was an amazing amount of wonderful food. We will make it a point to dine at Joe Fortes' again on our future trips to Vancouver."
Dined on 6/23/2014
"I have always looked forward to going to Joe Fortes. I have come to expect above average service and great food. On our last visit, the hostess who sat us was little short of surly. She glared at us and everyone else in her path. We were seated in the middle of the room. I shouldn't complain though because the next group of people were also sat in the middle of the room and that group was Bobby McFarrin and his musicians. We were in the fish bowl together The waiter was slow in an uncrowded restaurant. He pushed a special that was dried out halibut over eggs benedict. Even my daughter's seafood salad was mediocre. The only bright spot in the experience was a very cordial and competent bus boy whose service was attentive and intelligent."
Dined on 6/22/2014
"Everyone in our group raved about the experience at Joe Fortes, in fact they will all be coming back in the near future. Its hard to get everyone together with busy schedules and when every ones expectations are exceeded you know it is a good venue. Loved the food we ordered a variety of dishes from breakfast to a meal, service was fantastic, deserts were to die for, waiter was attentive and the atmosphere was great for a group not overpowering."
Dined on 6/22/2014
"We had the surf and turf dinner for two. The steaks were fantastic, perfectly done, tender and tasty. The addition of a lovely savory wine-reduction sauce just kicked a perfect steak to whole new heights! Scallops that melt in your mouth, smooth and buttery - the best scallops I have ever had. The lobster was delicious as well. Now their snow-crab could use a little work - we found it a tad dry, overcooked and under-seasoned but (unfortunately) that seems to be true of many restaurants. Not a big deal. The service was very good. They were attentive and mindful that there was a baby in our party that night. Not just our waiter, but everyone including the hostess, other waiters and wandering supervisors. I would go back for sure."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"Very disappointed after booking dinner at Joe's for 8 of us. Inflated prices for food and wine and the most expensive dishes wee pushed by the waitress when we asked for recommendations. When we asked for a recommendation on a local BC white wine again we were recommended the bottle for $120. After placing our food orders we were then told it would take at least 45 mins for our food to come out so those who did not order appetizers should maybe rethink. All in all, we felt ripped off for mediocre food and service. The best thing about the place is the bar and the ambience. Would not go back"
Dined on 6/21/2014
"It is a fantastic place to celebrate a family birthday. The food, service and ambiance were perfect!"
Dined on 6/21/2014
"We have been here before on our visits to Vancouver and enjoyed it. This time we were disappointed we were with another couple and the noise level was bad. We have sat up stairs on the top level before and it was much better noise wise. Our friend wears hearing aids and can't hear very well. Also, we were rushed to eat, they kept coming by the table and taking our plates away even when we weren't quite finished, which I think is rude. We had to pour our own wine in our glasses, and we had a quick rushed dinner which I don't like to do. We go out to dinner to relax and enjoy. Disappointed this time, so we won't rush back, but I am sure we will go again one day."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"Great place to eat. Food and service outstanding. I would eat here any time."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"The staff was friendly from the moment I walked the door with execellent atmosphere and service. I would strongly recommend it for anybody"
Dined on 6/21/2014
"It was much worst that when we went to Vancouver 9 years ago."
Dined on 6/20/2014
"Highly recommend their crab cake... wasn't too dry and had a very nice crispiness to the outside while the inside remained moist! Tasty!"
Dined on 6/20/2014
"On the recommendation of our fabulous server Peter, I dined on the tenderest, sweetest, yummiest halibut cheeks! My husband and sister in law enjoyed the seafood trio, and my brother in law loved his sablefish .... All this glory after sampling two platters of different oysters....shared two desserts ... If we weren't off to see Michael Buble, we could have languished the evening away...as it turned out, we sat at Buble's favourite table on the rooftop! Treat yourself...you won't be disappointed..."
Dined on 6/19/2014
"This is our favorite restaurant. Use this restaurant for our special occasions. Never disappointed. Food and service always outstanding."
Dined on 6/18/2014

More reviews ›

Reserve at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House Details

Getting there