Fresh Seafood
All seafood is fresh and prepared perfectly. The drinks are excellent also. Great view of the bay from all seats. Highly recommend reservations.    [24 Apr 2002 11:40:16]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Lobster Thermador is one of my favorites

     ­T. Douglas, Bellingham   patrickntammy at attbi dot com

Good Eats Good View
Great place to observe White Rock, BC at its finest. Best time of day to enjoy the food is at sunset. Then after, take a stroll along the beach sidewalk after some great wine.    [04 May 2002 01:24:09]

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Recommended Dishes: bay shrimp salad

     ­Anonymous   

Seaside Dining
Excellent seafood, served in an pleasant 'Boathouse', complete with small boats hanging from the ceiling. Fantastic view to the South of the beach, and Marine Drive.Very popular during the warmer days, reservations recommended.

Warning about street parking: parking meters strictly enforced.    [07 Mar 2000 00:41:35]

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Recommended Dishes: exellent Atlantic lobster

     ­Mike Baynes   mbike at bigfoot dot com

The Meal from Mars
Decided to take my wife out to dinner last night and called the Boathouse in White Rock for a reservation - got one for 7:15pm. When we arrived, there was a "collection" of employees around the maitre d's desk. Asked for our table and was told someone had mis-spelled my name (which they hadn't). Two employees proceeded to argue about how to spell my name. Eventually we were whisked to our table - nice view but I was sitting in a spotlight which forced me to squint throughout the evening. Noticed lots of other diners in a similar predicament.

After about 10 minutes, the waiter came over to apologise for taking so long. He said he would be back to tell us about the specials after he finished with another table. He never asked us if we wanted a cocktail. He returned about 5 minutes later and proceeded to tell us what the restaurant had run out of, and how really, really good it was.

We asked about the specials only to told they were all on the menu. So we looked over the menu again and I selected sirloin and shrimp and my wife chose mussels. When the waiter came back we ordered and I added shushi ebi as a starter. Selecting the wine became an ordeal as my wife didn't want Chardonnay, but they had a nice Pinot Gris (she wanted a Pinot Grigio, but said it would be O.K.)

The waiter got involved in our discussion insisting that Pinot Gris was the same as Pinot Grigio. He brought us a taster glass with a dash of wine in it -- it was fine. But then when he returned with the bottle, he actually said to me - you don't want to taste it from this bottle do you? Before I could answer, he was already serving it into my wife's glass (very large glasses for white wine, I must add).

After we sipped our wine and talked awhile, suddenly two other waiters appeared carrying our main dishes. One of them announced (interrupting our conversation): "Who's having the sirloin and who's having the mussels appetizer?" It was supposed to be a main course but never mind. Before he could put down the food, I asked him where my shushi was. Instead of placing the food down on the table, he blanched and whirled back with our meals to the kitchen. I could see a flurry of discussions between the two "food" waiters and our so-called waiter and then they all sped back to our table and he told the other two where to put the food apologising profusely for his mistake. He offered a free dessert as a remedy, but by this point I had lost my appetite.

We finished our meals which actually had arrived luke-warm (no wonder with them being waved around the restaurant all evening). While we ate, he came back again to try to apologise again. I dismissed him with a wave of my hand and made it clear I did not want to talk with him. As we finished our wine, he slinked up to the table to remove first my plate and then returned a few minutes later for my wife's plate of mussel shells. As he picked up her plate, I looked up at him and said distinctly, "Please bring us the bill." He went red as a beet and as he spun around to hide his embarrassment, the entire plate of mussel shells flew across the restaurant spilling onto the carpeted floor. To add to his woe, he angrily threw a fork onto a nearby table where it clattered onto the floor as well.

We paid our bill (sans tip) and proceeded to leave the restaurant. First time in 25 years since I didn't leave a tip. As we walked out past the maitre d's desk, the four people now standing there gave us a kind of evil eye so I turned and asked for a form to record my impressions of the meal and service. I was told the form was attached to my bill which I had left at the table, so I asked to speak with the Manager.

He came out to the lobby quite quickly and I told him some of what had occurred indicating that the waiter should be fired and that I would not be returning to this restaurant nor any other in the chain. He tried to offer me a free meal, but he just didn't understand that I never wanted to come back to his restaurant. What he should have done was offer to return my money.

So avoid the Boathouse. The staff is too interested in playing with themselves than to take care of their clients. The lack of training at all levels of the organization shone through. When I go out to a restaurant I do not want to form a relationship with my waiter -- be it friendship or hatred. I just want to be efficiently served good food. I don't want the waiter joining into the discussion with my table mates. And I don't need three waiters -- just one good one.

Clearly the Boathouse restaurant has too much staff with very poor training in how to serve food properly and how to treat their clientele.

Needless to say I will not be returning and I plan to spread this story widely.    [06 Apr 2002 06:49:52]

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Recommended Dishes: None

     ­John Meech   jam at dccnet dot com

Halibut was Scrumptious
We went to the Boathouse for a family birthday dinner, about 11 of us. The service was good, the atmosphere fun and as always, the food great. The halibut dish with the fruity sauce was a delight. As I asked down the table, there were no complaints just people merrily munching away enjoying the company and food.
If there was one complaint, it was even with the blinds drawn the setting sun was very hot. Solution, don't sit by the window!    [25 Jul 2002 14:13:51]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Halibut, and salmon

     ­Anonymous, New Westminster BC   

Re: John Meech's experience
I was at this same restaurant in June 2002, sat upstairs on the patio, and had a similar experience with the service and staff. I also did not leave a tip and will not go back. Too bad; it has a nice view.    [05 Aug 2002 13:07:59]

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Recommended Dishes: none

     ­Anonymous   

Re: John Meech's Experience
I live in the White Rock area and go to the Boathouse very often. I have not yet had a bad experience and find all the staff very friendly and well trained.

People do have bad days, including servers. It's unfortunate that one bad experience can turn someone away from this restaurant because it is usually an awesome place. Would recommend the restaurant to anybody.    [21 Aug 2002 00:18:43]

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Recommended Dishes: Coconut shrimp

     ­Anonymous   

White Rock Boathouse -- Not All Bad
I have had the pleasure of dining at the White Rock Boathouse on several occasions and would recommend to anyone who does not enjoy their experience to go back and ask for one of two servers, either Chris or Jason M. They are both exceptional waiters who have a lot of knowledge about all of the Boathouse dishes and wines and take personal pride in making sure all of their guests enjoy every experience.    [28 Jan 2003 14:17:58]

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Recommended Dishes: whiskey smoked salmon

     ­Anonymous   

Salmon is Yummy!
I live in Bellingham and frequently visit the Boathouse in White Rock because it is so close. I love the drinks (my favorite - Cosmopolitan). The Coconut shrimp appetizer is not to be missed!

During Lobster fest they have a Salmon special that is so tender and cooked exactly as it should -- and the rice and vegetables were just right! Who has room for dessert? Doesn't matter, you must try one, I love the tiramisu!    [28 Jan 2003 19:44:31]

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Recommended Dishes: salmon, coconut shrimp, lobster bisque

     ­Anonymous, Bellingham, WA   

I didn't like this place either. I have been there several times and I always find the food substandard and overpriced. Last time I was there my burger was burnt. I mean it was charred--bacon, and all. The first time I was there the chef burnt my food as well. Both times I left with a "gut ache" from all the charcoal in my system. My wife had salmon there twice--frozen and thawed pink of course--junk!

I can't rave about the service there either although most of the staff was young and quite friendly.    [15 Dec 2003 20:12:11]

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     ­Anonymous