We dined early at the popular Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House in downtown Vancouver, BC prior to taking in the much-anticipated Pearl Jam concert at Rogers Arena (the first show of their phenomenal Dark Matter Tour).
We weren’t at Joe Fortes to linger over dinner, so we kept it pretty simple, but it was an excellent meal. Definitely a place we’ll keep in mind for another time when we’re in the area. It’s well suited to special occasions or simply an evening when your meal can truly be the centerpiece.
That said, the staff here is clearly accustomed to folks dining before an event! The first question we were asked is whether we were off to a show, or on a timeline. We were treated accordingly, with timely service though never feeling rushed. Service was attentive and excellent.
Even though it was on the early side of the evening, the place was hopping—even raucous. The restaurant’s multi-level, open design lets sound echo and carry, and the live piano music on the mezzanine floor added to the festive feeling. All in all, a place where everyone is having great food and clearly a great time.
The standard menu looked terrific with a nice selection of chilled and hot starters and plenty of fresh seafood and steak options. We wanted to take advantage of Vancouver’s seaside location though, and so we both opted for fresh seafood entrees on special that day.
I enjoyed halibut cheeks topped with a refreshing citrus and microgreen salad with seasonal veggies (featured at the top of the page). For him—a trio of seafood selections composed of sesame crusted albacore tuna with a delicious pico de gallo, grilled salmon and scallops all paired with potato puree and veggies.
Here is the grilled salmon and albacore tuna:
…and a shot of the tuna with the scallops (it was served on a very long dish!):
Joe Fortes has a healthy wine list, including a nice selection of wines by the glass. We both opted for glasses of the Lord de la Ragotière 2023, Chardonnay (Loire Valley, France). It paired beautifully with both our seafood meals with citrus fruit notes and that gorgeous mineral quality I love about French white wines.
After dinner and thanks to our courteous service, we had enough time to head back to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to change into concert gear and make our way at a leisurely pace to the concert. The whole evening was terrific, beginning with our meal at Joe Fortes—and of course, Pearl Jam rocked.
We recommend that you check out Joe Fortes when you’re next in the Vancouver area, whether or not it’s before a show!
Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House is located at 777 Thurlow Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.joefortes.ca
