1351 Bellevue Ave, West Vancouver, BC V7T 0B4, Canada
Embracing the harmony of Peruvian and Japanese cultures while incorporating the bounty of the West Coast.
The Ambleside unit of the Ancora Waterfront restaurant is gorgeous! We had an awesome experience overall. Phenomenal service from start to finish and great selection of sushi and appetizers. The lobster roll was out of this world, just a bomb of different flavours; my favourite was the ceviche mixto though. The dining room has a wonderful decoration and the view to the Ambleside Beach is glorious.
It is hard to rate this restaurant, on one hand its beautiful, great location by the sea, great service and great music, on the other hand very mid food, taste wise just not matching the price and freshness is a hit or miss, loved the yucas bravas though. Also shoutout to our waitress who i forgot ur name, u were amazing. Btw the restaurant had no customers at all, and in two hours we were there only one other table was occupied ( weekday 7ish pm)
Hey! I've been told that I posted my review for the wrong location... Apologies! Here's my review for the right location this time... :-) Had dinner at the West Van location on Thursday night 2024) (Sept 18, 2024) and it was a truly outstanding experience! We had a series of starters, all fresh and each one tasted better than the one before! The beet salad was beyond outstanding though, I must say! For our mains, I had the roasted cauliflower and my husband had the duck. Again, they were wonderful. A beautiful mix of Peruvian and Japanese flavours. The service was swift and attentive without being over bearing. Our server knew the menu inside and out, giving us great advice. Although we live in Ottawa, we’ll be back when next in West Vancouver!
By the waterfront… Original plan didn’t turn out so decided to give this place a try. It’s located along the newer strip of restaurants on Ambleside overlooking the beach. There are both pay and free parking along the surrounding streets. Inside has that modern contemporary look and layout. There are both tables and booth seats available. A cross between a casual and semi formal atmosphere. Here were the food I ordered; 1. Classic Caesar & flor de fresa. The drinks were okay, on the lighter side taste wise. 2. Complimentary bread with pumpkin spread. Fresh and warm, the pumpkin spread was tasty. 3. 1/2 dozen premium fresh oysters. Very fresh with a rich flavour. 4. Bluefin tuna tataki. It was okay but hardy notice the bluefin flavour. 5. Lobster maki roll. A little disappointed on this one. The lobster taste and texture were near nonexistent. And the rice was over pressed, lost its texture. 6. Hamachi, bluefin, uni nigiris. The portion was very generous but the sushi rice needed some proper seasoning. 7. Yuca soup. It was hot and I quite enjoyed it. 8. Large mussels. I don’t know about large but they were good size. 9. Octopus anticucho. The Smokey flavour and aroma is okay but the texture wasn’t, it was like chewing on rubber. 10. 10oz ribeye. Taste wise it was okay but it was too dry and plain to satisfy my tastebuds. 11. Complimentary little desserts. Overall, the atmosphere was quite causal, I can see it being busy during the warmer weathers especially when it’s by the beach and tourist area. The service was okay but could be a bit more attentive by the staffs especially when there were less than a handful of table of customers. As for the food, the quality overall fell a bit short for the price. I definitely think it needs to bring a notch up to retain the repeats of the locals. after all, locals will not just pay a higher price because it’s by the waterfront…
We were one vegan, two non vegans, and a (calm, quiet, well-behaved) dog — they accommodated us all. We enjoyed cocktails and food with a view of the water from their dog friendly heated patio. Perfect lunch spot after walking for hours at Capilano. Idk what our waitress’ name was — a blond woman with an Eastern European accent — she was excellent, really knew the menu and how to accommodate my vegan requests. She even suggested a dish for our dog. So thoughtful. Vegan ate: the tempura yam? Sweet potato roll + mushroom side, bok choy side — all good. Otono 2.0 cocktail was also good.
Yummy food, very careful with allergy complications, they are very mindful! I recommend do not sit in patio because service is much slower! We ordered and it took about 1hr to get our food and the complementary bread did time even come in that wait time, it arrived 2 mins before food and we were super hungry, but sushi pizza was tasty, duck was super hot, very very very spicy i think more than usual. Inside looked much nicer and better vibe we sat outside to catch sunset but ended up not having a super experience, still food tastes fresh tbh
Came here for my partner’s birthday. Nice decor and ambiance, good location and friendly staff. We ordered several different dishes, but the Ancora glacier platter stood out the most to us, as the quality of the seafood and the flavour profiles were fantastic. The food was delicious, but the octopus tagliatelle’s noodles were cooked unevenly, and when we were offered a birthday “dessert” it was two tiny cookies, which I found odd. Pricing and portion sizes are typical for a seafood restaurant of this standard.
Beautiful atmosphere and fantastic service. The food is good but disappointing in some ways. It takes elements of Peruvian food and mixes them up, sometimes making dishes that are a little too spicy, too concentrated and have too many different flavors going on. Portions are small, in general. The duck is well served, with 4-5 pieces of duck breast and a good amount of rice. The octopus tagliatelle was very small. It was a tiny amount of pasta with 3 pieces of octopus.
Its unfortunate that the sushi chef wasnt available at the time, but we still had a great experience with excellent food and service. Our server, Tetyana, was kind and attentive. We ll definitely return for sushi!
Ive never been a fan of Ancora, and my latest visit only solidified my disdain. The location is great, but thats the only redeeming quality. We decided to give it another shot the other night because Earls was packed, leading us to Ancora. What greeted us was not just a disappointing meal but a bizarre experience. We walked into what was essentially a ghost town at 7:50 PM on a Saturday night; only three tables were occupied. Youd think this would translate to quick service and a warm welcome, but no. Instead, we were met with chaos among the staff. When we asked for a table for two, youd think we asked for the moon. There was a ruckus, and then someone had the audacity to inform us that the kitchen couldnt handle any more diners. Lets break this down: 1. **Staffing and Competency Issues**: If your kitchen cant manage to cook for a handful of patrons, theres a severe problem with staffing or kitchen management. 2. **Operational Mismanagement**: It was 7 PM on a Saturday, and your restaurant was nearly empty. This isnt just bad for business; its indicative of deeper operational issues. How does a kitchen in a half-empty restaurant claim incapacity? This experience at Ancora was not just a culinary disappointment but a testament to poor management and service. If youre looking for a place where youre not just another number but an inconvenience, Ancora is the spot. However, for any semblance of dining pleasure or efficiency, look elsewhere. Won t be shocked when their doors don t reopen.
Great place! Great team! One of our long time favorites.
TOTAAALL SHAKEDOWN!! buyer beware: I went there to grab a beer and they have a policy that you have to buy food. so I was forded to buy food lol. they didnt tell me the policy until after they gave me my drink. a few minutes later a waiter came up and told me I must order more. i ve made it a point to tell everyone i know not to go there. We get ripped off on prices at these places as it is. and now entrapment lol.
While the ambiance is exceptional, the food and drink fall slightly short of expectations. The menu is creative, but the flavors can feel underwhelming and not as bold as anticipated. Similarly, the cocktails and wine list are decent but nothing particularly memorable. Overall, Ancora is more about the atmosphere than the culinary experience. If you re looking for a beautiful setting, it delivers, but the food may leave you wanting more.
Vegetarian options: The food was great, they had options for vegetarians. Servants were so kind and helpful. Food
Amazing food, nice staff and right by the water!
Super good experience after of the baptism of my little boy.
I would give 5 to 5
We have been to Ancora couple of times before. Not sure what has changed recently but the quality of service and food has dropped drastically. Service was sub par. Food arrived 40 mins after appetizer. Server s excuse was they make everything from scratch. Ordered shrimp risotto, it was so bland.
Great Lobster Risotto
Definitely a solid 5 stars for the location, ambience and also the service. But the food just isn t that great. The fusion of Japanese and Peruvian is odd and it reflects in the food they make. The sushi was good. But you can go to a sushi restaurant and not spend 30 bucks on a single roll.
Weve been to Ancora a number of times and the food, service and atmosphere are always amazing. We will be back again soon.
nice ambience and free parking
Went for anniversary dinner with my wife. Everything was excellent. The sablefish melts in your mouth. I found my new favourite cocktail in the Guava Inferno - just a bit of heat from the ghost pepper tequila - very enjoyable. Also, maybe the best gelato Ive had. I recommend.
I absolutely love Ancora Ambleside. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the staff goes above and beyond to make every visit special. The food is consistently exceptional, with each dish bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The desserts are equally delightful, making it impossible to resist a sweet ending to the meal. I highly recommend Ancora Ambleside for anyone looking for a truly memorable dining experience.
Definitely fine dining, here for the ambience and service. Nicely presented, everything we ordered was delicious albeit at the same time, can t say it was remarkably memorable in terms of recommending a dish though the sushi was obviously not what u get at a typical sushi place. Actually lobster rissoto was good. Nonetheless, coming here is a treat.
The food here is absolutely outstanding and the room is beautiful. The sushi pizza is the best appetizer and the sablefish melts in your mouth. Wine list is expensive but the pisco sour is a not to miss!
Beautiful dining venue and delicious food. Big shout out to the staff who pays attention to a message I left when booking. As a result we are rewarded free dessert and so happy to be back to celebrate one of our big life moments. Thank you for going extra mile for delivering this exceptional experience!
This was my first time coming and I can see why they won patio of the year, the view is absolutely stunning, its in the perfect location! The staff were so friendly and sooo on top of it with everything we needed, not to mention the food and drinks were DELICIOUS!! I highly recommend you get the Butterfly In The Sky cocktail (its sooo cute and yummy!) and you need to try the sushi pizza, its sooo unique and I cant wait to go back so I can have it again!! You can find more pictures and a full review on my instagram @muaeleni
Atmosphere is casual, servers are nice! BUT the food however was NOT SO great . We had a few menu items to share, then a lunch item each. The mussels only were EXCELLENT -creamy sauced with dipping bread! We had a large lobster and shrimp sushi roll-NOTHING special at all even for that approx. price of 1 roll for $16.00!! I only trusted that the lobster was in the finely minced shrimp filling- BUT you could NOT taste it-and we are VERY familiar with lobster -being from back East coast! We also tried the mixed wild- type mushrooms dish-again disappointing -no nothing. NO flavour- and the mushrooms were too uncooked. We then each had a menu item of risotto with lobster and shrimp. AGAIN- NOT what we even hoped for...several very tiny shrimp- and maybe 2 slivers of lobster each, in each plate! It was just TOO thick as opposed to being creamy- and it was al dente!? It tasted so bland. Sorry -but we WONT go back. The menu really didnt even have enough choices even. ESPECIALLY as well for younger children! Not even soups! Parking: Busy businesses next door, so had to go underground. Wheelchair accessibility: Right off the street/sidewalk
Turkish below We had plans to visit the Ferry Building Gallery which is across the street. So we made an early dinner reservation. Which gave us the chance to enjoy the lovely view. We had a wonderful dinner experience. Everything was very good. When explaining the dishes our waiter was going into a trans and picking the right words for every detail. Well definitely go back when we are back in town. We had planned to visit the Ferry Building Gallery just across the street. We made an early dinner reservation for after the visit. It was a good idea to be early because we enjoyed the view. It was a very nice evening. The food and service were very good. The waiter who looked after us was as if he was going into a trance while explaining the dishes and explaining the smallest details. It was a very nice evening. We will definitely go again when we come to Vancouver again.
Excellent fine restaurant
Ir doesnt get any better than this! Put it on your bucket list!
A little expensive for Japanese food. The portion is very small, so its not suitable for very hungry people. The taste is quite strange, so give it a try.
We went there to celebrate a marriage on Saturday night, there were 13 of us. The service was terrible, some people had already eaten their meal and some of us did not receive it. We had been asking all along where was our food? We had been sitting for 90 minutes before the first food item came out. When we complained again they asked us if we wanted our meal in a to go box?!!! Save your money and go somewhere else. We talked to the manager and she was less than concerned.
Good food, Good services and good view!
delicious risotto. Thanks to the staff for the recommendations, excellent service. beautiful view from the window.
One of the best experiences Ive ever had. I highly recommend this place.
Great place! I regret I did not have a chance to check it out before.
Good food. Good service. Good view. Reasonable price. What more you can expect from a restaurant?
Stunning location. After a little beach stroll on a glorious day, I popped in for a snack and a glass of wine. Eric tended to my table, and was a consummate pro. The manager touched my table, and introduced me to a new wine varietal, that was just right with a beautiful Sushi Pizza. I will be back.
Great atmosphere and very attentive staff. Sashimi was fresh and tasty as staff mentioned. Mussels were overcooked and started to shrink. Beef burger meat was something I didn t expected. Pale in color, Very chewy and dense. Bun looked like buttery brioche type and I didn t like it.
Ancora has dropped off. Food is disgusting now (except for the sable fish w/ quinoa and the sorbet dessert) Overly seasoned because they want to cover up the cheaper quality of seafood they are using now. The brussel sprouts were so disappointing, they looked so crispy when brought out, but when I had one it was this disgusting little soggy over seasoned fart ball. Most disappointing was the baked oyster and scallops motoyaki, it didnt have oyster meat! Not even one oyster meat, the waiter said its baking with recycled shell. So in a dish, where the second word was oyster, it didnt have any oyster meat just the shell. Also my tea cup was dirty. Anyway, probably wont come back again.
Hard to beat. Delicious food with fantastic views.
Overall good experience. The servers were friendly and attentive. The ambient was nice and cozy. The appetizers (bread and sushi pizza) were very good. The main course couldve been better. We had the shrimp risotto and the duck. Both could have had a bit more salt and taste. Overall, they were good. Drinks were really enjoyable. I had an old fashioned and it was one of the best ones I had in a long time
Very unprofessional and bad kitchen staff. They dont know how to treat workers. Food
Fantastic food and service
Nice spot. But I left hungry
Ancora is our favourite fusion sushi restaurant of 2023, we ve been to both their yaletown and west van locations, I especially love their sockeye sashimi, so fresh and delicious. Other than the food, both locations have dog friendly patios with beautiful waterfront view, I d for sure come back!
Great place for seafood dishes
Place was mostly empty on a Saturday night. Many menu items were out of stock. Server basically ignored us after our first drink order which ruined any chance of ordering dessert or post meal coffee. Food was excellent though, highlights include the hamachi and duck. Parking also lousy as expected for Ambleside.
Food was delicious, a big fan of the ceviche. Sushi pizza is a must try, very nice take on sushi. The head chef was also very accommodating.
Exquisite dining experience! The view, drinks, foods, service, and ambiance everything was perfect. They serve Japanese/ Peruvian cuisines, both of which we are very familiar with. There were not too much new twists in dishes but I liked it that way. Too many places trying too hard to be original nowadays. Our favourites were tuna tartare, crab causa, and roasted duck. Their cocktail was refreshing and the wine list was very balanced. Would love to come back in summer to try patio seating! Booked through first table app.
Sephora The general manager was very prompt and helpful in sending me an old gift card that I could not find . I really appreciate her efforts and timely manner. The restaurant experience was equally as great !
Great atmosphere and delicious food
We had a lovely dinning experience. Spent the day in West Vancouver visiting family and decided to have dinner before heading back to Whiterock. By chance we found Ancora, absolutely delighted we found this gem. Jade (our server) was gracious and friendly and made us feel welcomed. We sat at the bar, enjoying the experience of an open kitchen. The food was fantastic, we had the 3 course tasting menu and it was delicious with large individual portions. Ancora is definitely on our list of restaurants to visit again. Open a restaurant in South Surrey please, we can use a restaurant of your quality and customer service. Lisa, Ron & Cole
Food was good. We did Dineout and the Paella was disappointing. Please order the lamb shank instead. We were expecting a more traditional paella.
The manager Dee and most of the female waitresses are so rude and inconsiderate my 3 year old nephew was harassed and kicked out hungry unbelievable and the food is too expensive and awful do not recommend
Amazing place! Oysters & Japanese Old Fashioned are the bomb! The lady a couple booths behind us seemed to let loose of her anger and was shouting at people in the restaurant. Kudos to the staff and the police officers who handled the situation well and had them escorted. Thanks to our waitress Taylor for being so kind and accommodating. We will be back!
We took advantage of @dineoutvanfest. 3 course set menu with wine pairing. Price point was high ($100pp) but the service and quality was above and beyond worth it. The wines were all new to me and fit hand in hand with the dishes. These guys know their stuff! The perfect spot for a celebration or treat. I can only imagine the gorgeous views of Ambleside in the summer time. This place is a must, be sure to add it to your list. Thank you Ancora Team!
My partner and I had an exceptional experience at Ancora. Our server Jemma very attentive and the food/presentation was outstanding. Thank you Chef Jorge, Katy, and the rest of the team for making our night extra special.
Lunch compared really poorly with my previous ( pre Covid) experience at Ancora. The server seemed disinterested and uninformed. Our drinks took ages arriving and the food arrived at different times. My seafood risotto had not even a hint of lemon at all.. last visit it was delicious; this time rather flavourless. My friend found her fish taco mealy. My spouse s sushi pizza could have used soya sauce.. or something to amp up the flavour. We were told the Caesar salad could not be split in the kitchen as it was half a head of romaine.. instead it arrived as a huge bowl of torn salad. Drinks were overpriced and uninspired. I guess the bartender and chef from before are long gone. Won t be coming back.
The appetizers and entrees were absolutely delicious! Service and presentation outstanding! Recommended dishes
Honestly its pricey. But worth it. Every bite was amazing
> extremely long wait for entree (almost 1 hour) and waiter did not acknowledge reason for delay or apologize > very small portion size and average quality for price
Great location. Good food.
Went here on Valentine s day. Unfortunately disappointed would be an understatement. This was the closest you can get to being legally robbed. I have never left a bad review, since I myself love to promote businesses and good gems. However, after spending $300+ on the Valentine s Day 5-course menu, I hope others don t make the same mistake I did. Service was okay (not specially great or bad), the biggest problem was the FOOD. Let s break it down: Course 1: Beef Tartare Super small portions, with only 3 chips with the beef tartare and crab cake with mayo. (This was the best appetizer which is troubling, but no complaints) Course 2: Seafood (Oyster, Scallop, Ceviche Cod) The oyster sauce was way overloaded, and only got served 2 oysters (remember the total bill is $260 for 2 people + 18-25% tip). The flavors and portions of the oysters were absurdly small and just tasted like sauce. The scallop is just shredded scallops (less than ONE scallop) bunched into a cucumber. Once again super small. The Ceviche Cod, good lord was this horribly flavored. Super sour, watery, and the unflavorful. The combination did not make sense, and for that price I wouldn t consume it if they paid me. Course 3: Tortellini Wow, when you think about a lobster tortellini what do you think? Flavorful, creamy, silky, fresh. Unfortunately for some odd reason all they did was sprinkle a bottle full of cayenne onto the plate making it taste bland and unnecessarily hinting of spices that you would NEVER find in a tortellini. The bread that came with the tortellini course was also completely covered in this cayenne cajun seasoning. The mussels that also came with the dish was grainy and was not properly washed. Course 4: MAIN COURSE | 5oz Ribeye When you think of a Ribeye that is in a fine dining 5-course meal, you think, luxurious, flavorful, beautiful, delicious, etc This was however, probably one of the WORST steaks in general I have ever had. We requested a medium cook on it, only to have it completely gray, cut like a 5 year old sat on the steak and cut it afterwards. The Chimichurri oil that was added on the dish, just made the already oily steak even worse. Within the cuts of the steak, I had half of those cuts being completely or 90% outer beef fat. Really disappointed in the main course and would not have fed that steak even to my own dog. Course 5: Pavlova Pretty good honestly, but who can screw up a Pavlova. Felt it was very underwhelming to be served a Pavlova in a $300+ dinner, but I understood that that was in the menu, so that wasn t a concern for me as it might be for other folks. Summary: The portion sizes couldn t even feed a toddler, and the worse part is we were still so hungry we went to a actual restaurant with good food and it made up for this horrendous experience. The food just tasted terrible, either over seasoned, or not seasoned at all. The cooking methods were horrendous, and the presentation was decent except for that MAIN COURSE which amazed me so much on how a fine dining restaurant chef manages to not be able to cut a thin cut of steak. Will never be coming back, this is not an attack to the restaurant, but hopefully this review will improve their food, because I would not even let my worse enemy dine here. Photos attached for reference
Just had the 5 course menu today with my wife . Food was delicious , service was perfect . Me and my wife was so happy . Looking forward for the next time .
Amazing experience from start to finish! Our server made great recommendations, and spoke about the dishes we ordered in amazing detail. The quality of the food was fantastic, and the dishes were unique. Dietary restrictions: Gluten sensitivity was noted, and the chefs made sure every dish was carefully prepared. Even so far as providing gluten free soy sauce.
This ia our go-to family restaurant. The food is delicious and the service is great.
Vlad was the be on the best servers we ve ever had :) great food, drinks and service - highly recommend Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly meal :)
Great food, great service, beautiful environment
I can t say enough about how good the food and drinks were here. Both the lobster roll and hamachi ceviche were so flavourful. Loved the seafood bouillabaisse I had as well. Great cocktails and service on top of a beautiful setting. A truly memorable dinner
Its okay lol
Fantastic food!!! Elevated, delicious flavours.
Nice ambiance, but expensive
Amazing food and service
Thanks to Katie, Ancora bar manager, I had one of the best cocktails ever. Restaurant is definitely beautiful, and service is top-notch. It allows you to taste the freshet ingredients and enjoy your time. Food : 5/5
I found a new fave, coming back for more of the sushi pizza( yum)
I really enjoyed my experience at this restaurant. I ordered seafood paella and it was incredible tasty! All employees are pretty kind, thumbs up for all of them! The washrooms were clean. They have an underground parking with some EV spots. I strongly recommend this place!
I have been here a few times and the food has always been spectacular. But it is the service and experience that are top notch. Highly recommended!
A week after dining at Ancora in West Vancouver I still have a sour taste at how the general manager and sommelier took us for a $300 ride on the wine selection. We asked for a oakie Chardonnay in a reasonable top of the wine list price range. She suggested a House selection that would go well with the meal. The House selection came with a $220 tag and $42 per glass. The waiter still received his 20% tip ( including the wine ) but for those of you thinking of dining there, beware! As for us? We will dine elsewhere.
sashimi was fresh as always and the sablefish was cooked perfectly. definitely one of my favourite restaurants!
A must go.
The food was okay, the service was good and our table location was not the best. We had the octopus, Tiradito, sable fish and the sea urchin pasta. The best was the sable fish followed by the Tiradito. They other two were sub par. The service was good, but our location and the cleanliness of the table was a bit lacking.
aight
I ordered a glass of Sancerre white wine and asked the server to present the bottle when pouring my glass. He brought out a different bottle and said that it was Sancerre, it just says something different on the label. What? Are you kidding me? Ask your server to present the bottle for the glass of wine you order. You may be surprised its not what you ordered from the menu. So disappointing.
Enjoyed a nice happy hour on the patio.
After a busy morning of shopping at Park Royal, my friend and I needed a relaxing, delicious lunch and Ancora did not disappoint!! We were seated promptly by the window and enjoyed the exceptional customer service from Eric who provided excellent suggestions for our shared meal of fresh oysters,sushi pizza,mussels, French fries, Brussel sprouts and a delightful glass of house white wine. The fusion of Japanese/Peruvian spices was exquisite! We will be returning with friends for dinner. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience.
My friends enjoyed the sushi pizza. I thought the seafood could have been fresher. The sablefish is a must order. The single greatest thing on the menu.
One of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver! I love their yucas bravas !It s not necessarily a place that may seem suitable for vegans but I am vegan and have always been happy with what I ve ordered there
Food is surprising and environment is good! Ancora glacier is really good! Food
Our waiter was very sweet but not the greatest. Food was totally mediocre for the price. Location is great but have a drink and dont eat.
Highly recommend ancora if you re looking for delicious seafood with a modern twist! The restaurant is also stunning and is very aesthetically pleasing! Our server josh was very welcoming, attentive, and had great suggestions for food and beverages! He suggested the sushi pizza which was to die for (next time I m ordering 2). I wish I could remember the name of the cocktail he suggested, but I can t find your cocktail menus online. Overall great experience! Can t wait to come back!!
We just had a lovely margarita lunch with a shared appy and a burger. Awesome views, great food, one of the best margaritas I ve had, and absolutely top level service. Thank you for a great break in our day!
Great dining spot in Ambleside. Better than Earls.
Excellent food and drinks by the waterfront!
Excellent food, especially the oysters and sushi pizza. The squid ink pasta was nothing special. But they had excellent service, even letting us stay late as we chatted, which I really appreciate. They also offered tea and coffee after the meal, and a really small dessert amuse-bouche.
Dog friendly
Mediocre rolls the sable fish and salmon on the top of the rolls are a torched pâté- not at all what you would expect for the price. Do not recommend.
Food and service is top notch
We had a very nice meal here. Our appetizer was delicious. It was a seafood tower. My sablefish was wonderful.
Excellent service that is not pretentious! Eric was fantastic! Food is fab ( had the seafood platter for two and the sable fish sushi) and so is the location. Got a great table overlooking the water. They even got us some complimentary dessert as it was my birthday. Vegetarian options: Available Parking: 2 hour parking. Free parking after 6pm Kid-friendliness: We saw a few kids in the restaurant and the servers were very good with them.
We really wanted to like this spot, but it was just not it. It looks like fine dining but I would say it falls short of the other fantastic options in Metro Vancouver. From getting single-use chopsticks for the sushi to the inattentive serving, there were some red flags to begin. I would say the sushi pizza was the highlight - very innovative and was just delicious. Aside from that, the sushi left much to be desired, and the sablefish was uninspiring. We ordered a salad and another side dish, but ultimately nothing really wow-ed us about the overall experience. For the price point, I think there are other choices that are better value.
If this place was a little more affordable, Id rate it five stars. But with lower prices, it might not be as good. Experience with Peruvian food leaves the impression it is largely underrated. At Ancora, Japanese and other influences are added and the results are estimable. Ive paid attention to the whole menu but my wife always focuses on the aji panca glazed sable fish. Shes had this premium fish in many restaurants and declares Ancoras version best. So good, she wont even explore other main dishes. Im not usually a fan of risotto but the dish at Ancora was just plain excellent. This is a fine dining restaurant that really offers fine dining. Feb 2022 revisit: Sablefish, beef tenderloin, shrimp and lobster risotto along with brussels sprouts. 2023: returned again for lunches and dinners. Excellent service and high quality dishes.
First time at AnCora Ambleside- fabulous! Our waiter Matteus took great care of us, recommending cocktails, starters and entrees. Not a misstep in the bunch. Highly recommend this innovative restaurant.
Fine dining indeed. The taste of everything was so elevated. Probably the best meal I had in my life. The sea food was well prepared and so fresh. The menu well put together. I tasted things I have never eaten before and I loved them. And the portions were so fulfilling! It is not an affordable restaurant but if you consider the quality of the food, it is worth it.
On Thanksgiving Day, we decided to go to this restaurant and ordered a variety of dishes, including a large platter of oysters. My son loves oysters and grabbed one immediately, but he found it to be bitter and unpleasant. I tried another one from the same batch, and it had the same bitter taste and an odd smell. I called the waiter, who offered to replace the oysters or provide complimentary drinks. I thought trying a small amount of expired oysters wouldnt harm us, but six hours later, my son experienced vomiting and diarrhea. I had similar symptoms, but since I ate less, I felt unwell for only one day. A few days later, I had to take my child to the doctor because the symptoms didnt improve. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for us. We spent $200 at the restaurant, plus a 15% tip. As an apology for the expired products, the restaurant provided complimentary drinks worth $40.
Great place to Fine Dine! We went with an 8 month old Baby, they provide a high chair & the staff is very friendly to the baby, couple of them came to say hi! Food was amazing! Loved the sushi pizza! I let them know in advance it s my husband s birthday & they decorated the dessert we ordered. Kid-friendliness: They provide high-chair & kids menu
I recommend it 100% ideal to go in couples to celebrate something important or surprise her with something special, excellent service, food too tasty, perfect atmosphere, signature drinks if they can improve a little more, but they are good. Ill go again because I want to keep trying other foods sold here.
Might be the best restaurant in West Vancouver. Rolls, sable fish, and brussel sprouts side are all good choices among many good options. Wonderful service, warm and efficient.
Food is always great, service is a bit more variable
Awesome food, delicious and unique, chef is super nice! 100% will come back again!
Everything we ordered was the perfect flavour and texture combination. Beautiful atmosphere and amazing service.
Good food
Great food, below average service, wrong glass of wine, charged us for a bottle of wine we didn t order or served, and no apology, less than clean washroom and no soap.
The food was delicious as always, particularly the lobster bisque and the picarones. However, the service left much to be desired. The restaurant was not busy but we felt the courses (a NYE Tasting menu) came out rushed. The wine pairings weren t explained beyond this wine is from Chile or this wine goes well with your dish . A bit overpriced for the type of experience you would expect.
A large section of the menu is just boring rolls but the rest is fun. I like it.
I really enjoyed the sashimi/sushi pizza appetizer and the seafood paella, both items were quite delicious however I have to admit the customer service in my opinion I think is very poor. I think the waiter did a decent job however the rest of the staff seemed unfriendly, inattentive, and careless (especially the manager). I had been looking forward to eating at this restaurant all week as it was my wifes birthday and we wanted to celebrate with a great experience but unfortunately we left disappointed.
Finally went to Ancora! I have been wanting to check it out since it opened. Was there during dine out vancouver. The meal was incredible and very well priced, the pisco sour was soooo good, the space is gorgeous and comfortable and our server Joel was fantastic 5 stars ! Cant wait to go back to try the regular menu!!!
Great food a little pricey for what you get
Went for dine out and had the sushi pizza, acevichado roll (not part of dine out), seafood paella, and the tiramisu. Courses were timed well and flavours were popping. I would without a doubt order the sushi pizza and seafood paella again. Roll wise, there are better places for sushi, especially when you factor in the price, but the sauce with the roll was phenomenal and made for a more unique experience. I will definitely come back.
A modern Japanese-inspired West coast restaurant with water views. Sophisticated. Deep house ambience. Perfect for a date night or dinner with small groups.
The sushi pizza was delicious but that was the only memorable dish. I feel bad for the service staff, they seemed very overworked but the restaurant was only 20% full.
Good food, but have been consistently disappointed with the service. Inexperienced, unprofessional waitstaff. Vancouver location is far better.
After looking at this restraunt for along time. I finally ignored the description of the foods fusion origins and went in... Clearly I need to broaden my mind! Been back twice now, great food and service!
Most disappointing. I ordered Lobster Bisque which came lukewarm and then waited 15 minutes for it to be reheated. It was not what I expected and found for the exorbitant price of $22 it was awful, with a soggy crab cake in the centre!! Service was good though.
Im not totally sure how do describe our experience. Ill start with the food. It was delicious. We had the glacier for 2 which was filled with fantastic varieties of seafood. The ceviche was especially good. We also ordered the risotto which was well prepared and balanced. The dessert we had (Black Forest choc. cake) was just okay. It looked fancy but wasnt the greatest dessert weve had. Where things fell short was the service, or at least my perception of it. It was fine but there were a few things that taken together diminished the experience. First, our waitress, while lovely, just seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and didnt really introduce herself or ask how we were doing or if we were celebrating a special occasion (which we were). The food arrived promptly, a little too promptly in fact. The concept of pacing was completely lost here. While I want to be served quickly at a McDonalds, Id like a little time to sit down and chat with my partner and enjoy the view out the window before the food arrives. The first course arrived within 10 minutes of having placed our order. Our second course arrived before we had even finished our first. At one point, my wife was still chewing her food while her empty plate was taken away. I even made a very subtle remark about how things felt a little rushed but it seems to have evaded our waitresses attention. Every thing just felt so rushed even though we had spent $200 that night on food and drinks. I dont know. There was just something off about the service while we were there. I might try their other location in the future as the food, as mentioned earlier, was quite delicious.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday evening, the place was pretty quiet. You can t really see the view of the ocean at night because the kitchen light reflects on the window, so I recommend coming in the day. The lobster bisque was delicious but the waitress spilled the soup on the table she also forgot my wine order. I ordered the risotto which was pretty tasty, had hazelnuts and chunks of shrimp and lobster. The brussel sprout side dish was too sour The steak was also good but the portion was small. The broccoli side dish had a really good paste with quinoa. Overall, worth a visit but I wouldn t come back here. I didnt feel much of a Japanese Peruvian vibe or inspiration, and I know cause I lived in Japan. It s western dining with a twist.
Have a business lunch here. No fan of Fusion cuisine however I must say that the Peru style paella was delicious as well the sushi pizza.
My first time trying Peruvian and Japanese food the same time. It was delicious and well presented on every dish. Although the portions were small but more than enough for me. My sons took me there for mothers day dinner. Mom happy and so everyone good service by gentle man server we definitely come back.
Causas, lobster bisque, raspberry pavlova, chocolate triple layer cake... Everything we had here was divine. I personally was not a fan of the steak. I felt the sauce was a bit heavy and over powering. But overall, great food and service. Id just stick to the seafood and pass on the meat.
Location, ambience, decor, food, staff - everything was fabulous!
Hit and miss. First time totally ruined my dinner when I specifically asked for no cilantro and of course my main dish was full of it. Last time was great, had no problems shelling out $360 for lunch for two. This time I made the mistake of ordering the burger. Overcooked, dry to the point of crumbling with the cheese a dried out rubbery blob. Fries almost raw, only cooked once, not blanched. Clams actually really good. Lively spicy flavour. Ceviche Mixto also pretty good, needed more depth of flavour.
This kind of fusion was not my cup of tea. Lobster bisque was so watery, feeling like drinking shells water not strong enough but glad to have crab cake into soup for something to chew. The crab cake was crispy so better to eat fast, otherwise too soaked. Then main course was seafood pasta, absolutely not ok for me; black fettuccini over cooked with frozen seafood in tomato sauces and was not a combination usually. The menu didnt mention ingredients so I could not expect for both bisque and pasta. Well, all I can say this western food in fusion style was not my cup. Besides, the prices on menu are not cheap and not recommend to go. We enjoyed the atmosphere by the beach view and servers were nice for my friends requests.
Very innovative menu
Amazing!
* update* We have returned many times and have always enjoyed a minimum 4.5 star experience, mostly perfect. Always enjoying the seafood with the occasional temptation of lamb. *Past posting, A wonderful evening, began with sea urchin, and lobster risotto starters, followed by sable fish and halibut mains. A very pleasent experience.
They should change the chef. Really. Be honest, the food taste awful. Why does paella taste like butter chicken i don t like this idea.
I like it
Foods are descent, kinda over priced.
I really want to give this place 5 stars. First of all, bar program is sensational, top notch for cocktails. Every dish Ive ordered is packed full of flavour and executed beautifully (although they go a bit heavy on some of the chickpea and potato purees). Alas the service is inconsistent and unfortunately thats a let down given how nice a place it is and the price.
We won t be back. So sad. The sushi pizza that is less than half its former size. The Mussels came with 3 mussels and little clams meant for birds to eat, not people. It s expensive and the cost vs value is not there. My 89 yr old friend was extremely disappointed. I hate that she was so disappointed at this stage of her life.
Amazing food ceviche was amazing. Loved the paella, super flavourful. Presentation of dishes were very elevated. My son loved the mushroom soup best hes had. Wait staff were very friendly. Pizza sushi was also great. Desserts were also fantastic and not a bit left behind! We also tried the oysters!
An absolutely amazing experience! The best mushroom soup Ive ever tasted!
Great food, great wine/booze list just abit pricey
Parking: Very convenient underground
Some of the most finely crafted, upper class sushi youll find on the shore. This place is fairly new and piqued my interest. We tried it out last Saturday after a beach day. The location is incredible but what really knocked me out was their sushi menu. Ive never had such a great prawn tempura roll for example. Everything on this menu is top tier stuff. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu, approachable and friendly. The restaurant itself is new, like I said, and looks amazing. The patio is an excellent spot, but can get hot and VERY sunny when the sun is in the western sky. We will definitely be back. This place left and impression on us. Might be a new favorite spot of ours ;) Youre gonna see the Earls on the corner, but walk a little further past that and definitely try this place!
Generally very decent food. However, they promised a table on the patio and when we arrived they said it s on a first-come-first-serve policy, and no more available. Then they messed up the order of our dishes altogether, served some of us no starters and then put soups, hot dishes and sushi at the table all at once, which ruined my dinner. Staff appologized but did not really care to heal the situation. Polite but no compassion. Given the performance, awefully overprized and disappointing. Sorry to say.
Bright and welcoming atmosphere right by the waterfront. 4 stars because the service took a little long, but the food was delicious nonetheless. Forgot photos of the dessert. Staff were great at explaining their menu (which in and of itself is pretty interesting) and the flavours were awesome.
Expensive date night at over $125/person; i expect more for that. Service was slow, think we got forgotten twice, seated at 7:30pm and didn t eat entree till 9:40pm and needed to be home for 10! Kinda tasty meals, but too salty, but good variety. Probably will not go again.
Semi-busy friday night, 4 people seated at 6:30 and didnt get our mains until 8pm. We decided to skip dessert because we didnt want to have to wait. Most of the food (halibut and lobster risotto in particular) was overcooked or underseasoned - except the mushroom soup which was beautifully presented. Severely overpriced for the experience, we were expecting more from a fine-dining establishment with a decent reputation. The service was slow, we assume the table was forgotten because we werent checked on for over half an hour between the appetizer and mains. Table beside also complained about over 45 minute wait for mains. Would not recommend and will not return. Management is missing the mark.
We were lucky enough to get a fabulous patio table on a busy Sunday during the Harmony Arts Festival, and got seated before the lunch rush. (staff were kind enough to let us in few minutes before they opened.). I had an amazing shrimp risotto (yummmm), and was tempted to try the triple scoop gelato with a selection of fresh tasting fruit flavours. My husband enjoyed his burger, which looked perfect on a toasted bun, and our friends opted for the Peruvian paella, mushroom soup and mussels. Nobody was sharing a taste of their meal, which indicates how delicious it all was. Our server, Alexa was excellent in offering suggestions and serving our lunches, and even the presentation was more than expected.
Enjoyed a very fantastic dinner. Amazing ceviche mixto that opened our appetites. The quinoa was not mushy and which has a nice bite along with the perfectly cooked piece of sablefish. Scrumptious dessert showcasing the coconut Panna cotta with nice accompanying components! And finally, a very attentive server, Mikey during our whole meal. Will come back again with more friends!
Well, I love the patio and the scallop was really tasty. However the server kept ask us if we are doing ok ( way too often ) and obviously we haven t finished our meal but she seems want us to order more that was quite uncomfortable
Good environment, good taste, excellent service, and close to home, thumbs up !
Visited Ancora in West Vancouver with a group of friends. It was our first time at the restaurant. We were blown away by the ambience, service and food. Chef Jorge was in the dining room and told us about the unique dishes. We will return
Staffs are very friendly and enthusiastic even though we were the last group in the night. Thank Edward and Chris for wonderful night and the food were really delicous ! Will definitely come back for more!
Could have better SIZED Canadian portions. But great food.
I read the good reviews, and not good reviews, and I gotta say I ve eaten at Ancora Ambleside numerous times and it s always been wonderful .. the staff and manager are lovely and thoughtful and the food is fantastic .. The lobster bisque needs abit of work it is slightly watery, but other than that solid standouts in appetizers, mains and wines .. Just a guaranteed pleasure and value every time .. We go there to celebrate, to meet for business, and to feel great .. My wife Rosa and I love Ancora .. thank you and continued success .. we are coming next weekend and are looking forward to it
Good vibe good food
Very good atmosphere and food. We loved it Dietary restrictions: Gluten free food options available
Updated in 2022: Weve been dining here since it first opened in Ambleside and have never been disappointed. The service and food are always exceptional. Ancora remains on our list of favourite places to dine.
Waiter was super attentive and went above and beyond, well be back!!! Food was also really great
I went with my husband and we had the rib eye steak and sablefish. It was sooooooo good!!! Omg will definitely come back. Great service and beautiful romantic restaurant!
Great experience, the brunette host (I didn t catch her name), was super welcoming and friendly. The food was amazing, would recommend the sushi pizza and lobster risotto.
Food portion a bit small but everything tasted amazing. Lobster risotto is a must try. Definitely will go back for other dishes.
All the food was of excellent quality and freshness, and the cocktails and drinks always hit the spot. I enjoyed the Peruvian touches to many dishes. As mentioned, the staff always were accommodating, available, and were knowledgable and also passionate about the crafts offered. The bright airy dining room complemented the waterfront location and maintained a light aesthetic even during our stormy Vancouver evenings.
First visit to Ancora for lunch on a Friday. Although this restaurant is listed as $$$$, the menu has high and low priced options. Beautifully decorated with a stunning view of the water and Stanley Park from inside. We had lobster bisque, dungeness crab causa and fish tacos. All flavours are elevated in the dishes. Service was excellent. So want to go back again. Parking: Free parking underneath the restaurant
Amazing food with friendly service & atmosphere
Lovely spot. Beautiful decor. Bright. Yummy happy hour. Experienced staff and a fine dining vibe. Really chic interior, nice open kitchen. Food is always nicely plated and looks sexy.
Gorgeous spot by the water. Fresh seafood pasta was delicious!
Have been hesitant to visit cause we didn t like the food at Ancora False Creek. Going in with extremely low expectation, we re pleasantly surprised. Reno was comfy, service was good, & food was delicious overall. We did however think our appy, ancora glacier (C$75 for two) was a bit over-priced. For Main, we ordered Sablefish, Duck & Turkey. They re all delicious. We d love to visit again!
Friendly and professional staff. Overall good restaurant. Mussels soup was very delicious but there were few bad mussels I had to spit out. Sablefish was good but little salty for me. Pork belly in Pork and scallops was too greasy and fatty, had to leave out and sauce.. not sure if it harmonize well. My favourite was steelhead Peruvian style of rice. Perfect balance of dish.
A local West Vancouver restaurant on Bellevue that has a luxurious interior and serves very artistically presented dishes as shown in a number of posted photographs. My only reservation on the restaurant is that it is expensive e.g. $25 bottle of wine (that is the price at the government liquor store) is marked up to $75. The atmosphere is very pleasant and can be intimate as long as they dont turn the music up to loud. The service is very good and we didnt have to wait excessively long for out meal. Table settings are pleasant with contemporary dishware and cloth serviettes (but no table cloth). Depending on where you sit, a view of the rowing club and the waterfront can be seeing and is easily accessible upon completing your meal.
Nice spot. Always busy
The food was very delicious and exceeded our expectations. But a service was bad and rude. I got my reservation one week before, my friends came early already inside a restaurant, my son and I little bit behind them, but they said they couldn t find my reservation, i showed them my email to prove it, i felt so bad because no one say sorry for that. In the meantime, more customers were coming, someone was asked for ID, but someone they didn t asked for ID. Before we used go to Earls and Cactus Club, for this time, we wande try something new, but we won t be there again until an owner pays truly attention for improve their service, I saw many complaints about their poor service on website.
Good location! Loved the Sushi Pizza
Sat at the bar with my family and we were served by Katy the bar tender. Drinks were awesome and service better. We will be back.
Great location and great food!
Attentive staff but food is mediocre to say the least. Presentation was nice but salt was either in excess or missing entirely, hummus was tasteless and so was the béchamel. The halved Brussel sprouts were still larger than a bite. Probably more of a bar with salty appetizers for a young crowd that orders lots of drinks?!? Overpriced for the quality of the food in spite of the staffs efforts.
Japanese / Peruvian restaurant, going in I was very curious to see how the fusion of these two cuisines was handled, but there really werent any dishes that bridged them. That said, the food was excellent, very well presented and most importantly, delicious! Causas are a great shareable appetizer. Nice and modern interior with open style kitchen. Service was excellent, though the change of server was a little abrupt. Wonderful dinner, highly recommended.
Sushi pizza was amazing and lobster bisque rich and creamy. Lovely spot for lunch. Good service
Great space, good service and terrific food. Enjoyed a lunch out there.
First time visiting, food was okay but ruined by awful service. We had Dave? He Didn t introduce himself but was on receipt, and he was not super helpful and was quite rude when speaking. We needed to wave down the busser twice to get his attention. While we were trying to get his attention, he and few wait staff were sipping wine. Ive had better service at $-$$ , for a $$$$ restaurant, it s rather upsetting.
Nice upscale fine dining restaurant. Very good service from the staff. Ribeye steak is a let down and not as good as other steakhouse with comparable pricing. Sushi pizza is awesome. Wont likely to go back as Mains are not as great compared to similar fine dining restaurant.