182 replies to this topic

[FireWire]

I have been to Tafino 3 or 4 times, last time was probably 3 or 4 years ago when I went sea kayaking with my Venturer Company around Vargas for a week.

Pointe Restaurant at The Wickaninnish Inn - still one of the premier spots in the area, Mike Bebeault is the Senior Sous Chef, worked under both Rodney Butters and Jim Garraway. Reservations for Inn guests only during the summer, although they do open up ressies day of for visitors to the area. Best deal is the Salmon BBQ, Fridays-Sundays from 11:30 - 2pm - yumm.

That BBQ salmon is really good, this is a place I would love to visit during the winter to watch storms, it just feels like a great place to curl up by the fire, and watch the icy furry of a storm outside.


It has been a few years since I have been in Tafino, but I am surprised no one has mentioned the Crab Bar, any comments on a yes/no for this place?

[merlin]

It has been a few years since I have been in Tafino, but I am surprised no one has mentioned the Crab Bar, any comments on a yes/no for this place?

FireWire:

If we are talking about the same place. Crab Bar or Crab House or Crab Shack...the freestanding building on ones left hand side as you drive into the Tofino townsite no one has mentioned it as it has closed.

Last season the site was occupied by a new restaurant called Shelter. We did not get to it during our past visit. It is mentioned in some of the earlier posts above.

While talking about Tofino and crab meals, has anyone ever eaten at the motel which is on the right side of the road just as you get into Tofino?

It has been there for years. It always advertises halibut, salmon and crab meals and in fact I think I spied the sign that used to hang outside the Crab House or Crab Shack there during our last visit in the fall.

It is the one which also indicates that they speak German. Have been going to Tofino for close to 20 years and we have never stopped in.

[merlin]

I don't know what's the matter with me, but we ate fish tacos at SOBO 2 weeks ago, and I can't honestly rave about them the way others have. I'm not saying the tacos & shrimp cakes we ordered weren't tasty, but I was expecting them to be much better after reading the comments here.

Maybe we hit them on an off day.....

JayHay:

Not saying you are wrong at all. We had a similar experience when we ventured up there in the Fall.

However, I did enjoy the fish tacos...would I rave about them? Likely not. But they were good.

My better half had a beef or chicken taco or something to that effect which she did not like at all.

We also shared a soba noodle salad with tahini sauce and greens which was at best, forgettable.

Like you we might have caught the owner on an off day and being later in the afternoon the food might have been better prior to sitting around.

I expect that given the pricey nature of most of the restaurants in town and the type of food they sell, SOBO presents an attractive alternative especially for the folks that live and work in Tofino.

[jayhay]

Thank you answering Merlin....I was begining to think we were the only ones who DIDN'T find the food we had at SOBO......

"not just recommended.....a must !!!!!!!!!!!"
"beyond compare....."
"fabulous......"
"outstanding......."

Nice that others did though!

(We were there about 15 minutes after they opened for the day.)

Edited by jayhay, 02 March 2004 - 09:52 AM.

[Keith Talent]

Does the setting play some role in the raves?

We spent the morning walking on the beach at the end of town, I don't know it's name, the one with the boardwalk out to it. I was in a good mood, wife was in a good mood, kids were in a good mood. It was sunny/warm. We were hungry. The owners were friendly. The hippy clientele amusing. Sorry, but white guys with dreads always bring a smile to my face.

Maybe all those things in conjunction work in SOBO's favour.

No booze though, that needs fixing. Or at least a bottle, some glasses and a corkscrew thrown in the trunk.

[FireWire]

If we are talking about the same place. Crab Bar or Crab House or Crab Shack...the freestanding building on ones left hand side as you drive into the Tofino townsite no one has mentioned it as it has closed.

[tofino]

Haha - you guys are killing me. It appears that anytime a new property opens up anywhere and gets any kind of accolades, someone inevitably decides to lead the charge to knock it down a few notches. Is SOBO good, yes! Is it for everybody, no! Thankfully that is the case for all of Tofino - otherwise everybody would want to live here. Is Tofino beautiful - yes. Is it the most beautiful spot in BC - that would depend on your perspective - but after spending 6 weeks driving down the coastal highway through WA, OR and CA, I still felt upon returning to Tofino that it was a very special place. No one place will ever be paradise for everybody, but for now I will take this little piece of paradise any day over most other spots I have lived - for those of you who think it is overrated or too pricey - perfect, tell all your friends and leave those of us who love our town and what it has to offer to our own means. I see 100 guests a day who visit this area and most (I am smart enough to realize that not all agree) think it is definitely one of the most special spots in Canada if not North America. I didn't think the 'E' in egullet stood for exasperated.

Until next time......

Living it and loving it in Tofino

[ErinB]

Living it and loving it in Tofino

DAMN You. Just kidding. It is my dream to have a house in Tofino.

[merlin]

Living it and loving it in Tofino

DAMN You. Just kidding. It is my dream to have a house in Tofino.

LOL...get in line Erin...I keep buying lotto tickets hoping to be able to afford to buy my dream home on Chesterman....there goes the neighbourhood Tofino/Chris!

Just because I am not "over the moon" about the fare served at SOBO does not mean that I am less than enthused about Tofino. I could not see going there in the midst of the summer rush but in the spring and fall after most people have gone back to work and the kids are in school, it is a special place indeed.

Chris, did you read all the comments at the Montreal section of eGullet when the En Route Magazine included SOBO as one of the best new restaurants in the country? Talk about noses out of joint! Bus this and bus that.....

Have to chuckle when I look around our house. Bedroom walls with a Katherine Amisson print of Schooner Cove and big photos I took of Cox Bay when we used to stay at Pacific Sands in our pre-golden retriever days.

Downstairs, more work from Katherine Amisson and Roy Vickers...no question where we would rather be.

Oh, well October is not that far off...well, yes it is but I guess I am just going to have to live vicariously until then via the posts from others who have made the trek across the island

[paul mitchell]

Just got back from Tofino. Had a great fish taco at SOBO in a torrential rain / hail storm. Had the fattest double cut pork chop with apple / parsnip compote at Shelter. The perfect way to end a long day out in the elements. Not to be beat was 'Steak Night' at the local branch of the Canadian Legion. $15 bucks for a big one and all the trimmings. Cheap Lucky beer and Crown Royal at the bar. Made me a little teary eyed as I always get memories of going to the Legion with my Grandpa. When I turned 19 and he took me in for my 'first' beer and got to shoot the shit with the cronies. Neat to see a place like the Legion in Tofino where practically the whole town shows up for 'Steak Night'. That doesn't happen just anywhere.

Edited by paul mitchell, 07 March 2004 - 08:46 PM.

[lucious gardener]

I visit Tofino every few years for the kayaking.The last time I was there
our group had our victory dinner at The Schooner. I was really impressed with the food.
I'll never forget it, my son ordered a pinenut crusted halibut fillet, stuffed
with fresh crab meat and shrimp. They also put six big olives in my martini
when I had asked our server for just a few extra!
Great service, and fabulous sea food. The desserts were also wonderful!

[jaeger]

My lady ate at Shelter under the newest chef ( #3 since opening) Jesse Blake and found the food the best since it opened not quite a year ago. Jesse has been in Tofino for some time now with years at Schooner and worked with Lisa Ahier at Long Beach Lodge but left when she left. Also sounds like the food at Long Beach Lodge keeps getting worse, also on chef # 3 in 2 years. New chef at the Pointe Restaurant andrew Sprigett ( sp?) is getting very favorable chatter. A poorly written piece out recently in Eat Magazine as well as april issue of sunset has info on dining in Tofino.

[mot juste]

Has anyone eaten at Wickinninish Inn since Andrew Springett took over the kitchen?

[tofino]

I have, but I am biased, lol! Actually comments coming from our guests have been fabulous. The energy at the Wick is at an all time high - bring on summer!! As a side, had the most wonderful evening the other night at Shelter. Dinner and a show for $40. 3 course dinner by Jesse Blake (yes, believe what you read above, he is doing great work), service can still be spotty, but wow as a forum for a concert by Dany Michel (Juno nominated) for 60-75 of us, with an amazing meal - it was a very special night here. Just keeps getting better!!

[jaeger]

IT IS OFFICIAL THAT LONG BEACH LODGE HAS LOST YET ANOTHER CHEF, DEPARTING SOMETIME IN MAY. THIS AFTER A FIGHT WITH A LINE COOK IN THE GREAT ROOM. TRILOGY FISH A VERY CAPABLE SMOKEHOUSE IN TOFINO IS ALSO SERVING CRAB AND SHRIMP SANDWICHES THIS SEASON, GMAKES A GREAT PICNIC FOR THE BEACH ALONG WITH A LITTLE OF THEIR CANDIED SALMON AND HOT SMOKED LOCAL ALBACORE.

[jcsaucey]

what is the deal with long beach lodge? Any local-yolkals have the skinny?

[saffron]

I think they manage to pique the interest of city chefs looking for a change of scenery and pace. However, Tofino is not an easy place to live. And unless you own your own restaurant, there's not a lot to keep you committed.

[tofino]

Long Beach Lodge - non-hospitality aware owners, with European hardline management in a town that prides itself on lack of structure. They continue to hire staff that the Wick fires which amazes everyone. Not that Wick staff are right offs when fired, but you have to do a lot of things wrong to get fired there, but LBL stills hires them as quick as they are fired. No one seems to know why this happens, but it explains the problems with service and consistency which seem to plague them. Too bad, its a beautiful spot missing some soul!

Edited by tofino, 28 April 2004 - 06:46 PM.

[saffron]

Had a beautiful anniversary dinner at the Raincoast restaurant. My husband had an Indian spiced lamb shank. It was so tender it was falling off the bone. I had the beef tenderloin. It was cooked to perfection with a port rosemary sauce and another ingredient I can't quite recall, but wow, did it work! The staff made us feel so special and they seemed genuinely proud to be working there and serving such glorious meals.

[paul mitchell]

The sun is out - it is freakin hot - a perfect tuesday afternoon to laze about in Tofino - just walked down to check out the new Tofitian espresso / internet / wheatgrass / herbal tonic joint next to everyones favorite Sobo which is closed today so no fish tacos - am so sad - but Adam Buskard, the propieter of Tofitian, is making me an iced Lavazza coffee that will hit the spot as I bang away on egullet - this little stop along the highway is getting to be quite the place - Sobo, Beaches Grocery, a little fish and chiper w/ corn dogs (maybe after my walk on Chesterman Beach) - dinner tonight is at the Wick - have got $350 in my pocket that I had set aside for a rainy day and will see how far into extravagance and gluttony it will get me in that beautiful dining room - will post a review - you got to get out here folks - life couldn't get much better.

[merlin]

Envy you Paul.

Look forward to your comments after dinner at the Wick. Am interested to hear how the food is under the "command" of the new chef.

Sounds like another "terrible" day in paradise....I'll turn up the volume for the Tofino Beach Homes website and "pretend" that I am on Chesterman too....say hello to Chris aka Tofino should you run into him at the Wick.

[stovetop]

Have a good time paul
stovetop
from port alberni
It is a beauty day

[paul mitchell]

Well it turned into afternoon appies / wine at the Wick - what a dining room and view - especially after a walk on Chesterman beach with the waves, sun and surfer girls in bikinis - now I want to know who this Chris fellow is that goes by "Tofino" - maybe it was the Chris who is the sommelier at the Wick whom I spoke with about a truly organic Benzinger wine and the merits of Grant Burge ?

So had a bottle of Poplar Grove Pinot Gris - just like drinking flowers - perfect for such an afternoon - at my place of work we smoke / cure salmon in innumerable different ways so the smoked salmon, four ways, was routine - but alongside it they had this wicked cucumber relish - I could have eaten that alone happily - am still trying to figure out the technique - cause it was sweeter than the salmon, completely translucent and an interesting crunch - and of course I ate scallops - not on the menu but asked if they could sear a few off - no garnish, no sauce - as is!

Went and had wine with a friend at Cafe Pamplona - what a friggin room and garden - I'd never been and now am pumped to check it out again - not that I have been, but having seen pictures, the place and gardens reminds me of Tetsuya's (sp?) in Australia - just what I was thinking of when we sipped wine on the Terrace.

Dinner was at 9:30 at Shelter - a big assed Rib Eye, fat oyster mushrooms and frites - good days out here on the coast.

[merlin]

Aw Paul...it is a cloudy day here in Alberta and you have me wishing I was out on Chesterman Beach....oh well another few months and we'll be out your way.

Yes, the dining room at the Wick is breathtaking...good weather or huge storm...good bottle of wine and sit back and daydream...especially if they have the directional microphone turned on so that you can hear as well as see the surf.

A lingering lunch, is, in my view the better way to go rather than the more formal dinner. We are looking forward to doing exactly that on at least one of the afternoons we have on Chesterman come fall.

The Chris fella you dealt with is likely Chris Mustard. Tall, dark haired friendly guy?

He was heading up their wine program a couple of years ago when we last stayed part of our trip at the Wick. Knows his wines. Especially the ones from the Island and the Okanagan. He was good enough to get us a bottle of La Frenz Merlot that Jeff Martin had left with them along with a pile of labels as the wines had just been bottled.

Chris...aka Tofino was and I think still is, the concierge at the beachside addition to the Wick. I expect he'll "chime in" once he reads your post.

Cafe Pamplona is certainly a nice spot. We rent a house now when we head up there, theoretically at least to save some "dough" by being able to cook our own food and consume our own wine but inevitably we have several lingering lunches at the Wick or Cafe Pamplona chatting with the folks who work there.

Has the new restaurant and brew pub opened up in town? It was supposed to go into that new building constructed with retrieved and recycled lumber, etc.. It was just a shell essentially when we were there last Fall.

Thanks for the post, I can close my eyes and see the breakers rolling into the beach and the black birds picking up mussels and dropping them onto the rocks beside the restaurant windows getting their own "seafood" meal.

[paul mitchell]

I think I served Chris aka Tofino (the concierge at the Wick) and his date last night at a function we had in our Longhouse for the Tofino Business Association. If that was you Tofino thanks for the grease!

[paul mitchell]

The brewpub hasn't opened. Heard they were having some trouble finding investors. Disappointing because there is a real need in Tofino for a good pub / wine bar. There is one nightclub that's sleazy and the Weigh West pub isn't much better. Other than those two there is no where to take a friend for a drink in a nice setting in Tofino. Someone would make a killing over the summer and then it would be rancho relaxo in Costa Rica over the winter.

[tofino]

Hey Paul,

Yes this is Chris the Concierge at the Wick. The Concierge you met the other night at your beautiful spot was Cody, one of my staff, great guy and hopefully he looked after you. Especially glad to hear you enjoyed your dinner at the Pointe, our Chef is making us very proud. Yes the brewpub will be a bonus when it happens, and it can't be soon enough, until then its mojitos at Shelter - haha - glad to have another voice in Tofino - especially one as proud of living here as I am.

Until next time.......

Chris

[paul mitchell]

It is a small world Tofino, will say hello when I drop in on my next days off - I'm in on a 21 day stretch and another whirlwind tour of my favorite spots in town will be well deserved.

[stovetop]

Hi gang;

I have a little info on a Pub that will be opening in Port some time in the new year, it is the same owner as the Lady Rose, it is next door to the office, the new office is being built as we speek on the main floor, the second floor will be a brew pub, we need a place here in Port as well, not to many choices, judging by the excellent work on the main floor (new Lady Rose office) this place will be beautiful.
steve
aka stovetop
port alberni

[jaeger]

The brewpub and restaurant in the cedar corner building is for lease, so if anyone wants to have a restaurant in tofino there is one up for grabs. Also want everyone to know that sobo will be closed between july 5 and 13. We will reopen on the 14th of July. Sorry for any inconvenience.