Excellent views, cold drinks, blah food!! If you are lucky, you will hear swearing coming from the kitchen giving Gordon Ramsey vibes;) Come for a drink, skip the food. read more

Visiting The Laughing Oyster was an adventure. We 'rolled' in by boat and hiked up the hill to the charming restaurant setting. Breathtaking vistas in every direction. The restaurant is not fancy place but the Lobster Mac and Cheese was phenomenal. The best I've ever tasted. The oysters were great. Our rating would be 3.5 if I could figure out how to post that rating. read more

Laughing Oyster - Dock where we arrived at Laughing Ouster - Seafood Near Me - Powell River, British Columbia

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Very cute place with great views and seafood. We had the chowder, seafood mac and cheese, land and sea platter, and sablefish. The chowder was delicious and I also thoroughly enjoyed the other seafood. The prime rib was okay although I think I would pass on land next time and just get seafood here! Service is very friendly although takes a little time - the vibe is a small town family run restaurant. The interior is very cute and romantic with great waterfront views. The only qualm I had about the interior is that there were a distracting number of fruit flies (I think I had 3-4 that died in a single beer). Hopefully they can install a fly trap or something as it did detract from the lovely interior. Overall I would happily return if I'm in the area for more seafood. read more

Lovely food, great view. Worth the drive. The food was very good. Clearly a labour of love. The menu was perhaps a little busy - the kind where you have 20 minutes of reading to do before ordering. We shared a few dishes across the menu and all were winners: - Seafood chowder - creamy and rich, full of all those seafood flavours. Lives up to the award-winning claim. - Land and sea platter - a good medley. The scallops and the prawns were the highlight. The fish was very good. The beef was overdone to my tastes. A lovely collection of sauces to accompany (the chimichurri was the best one. The carrot and ginger puree was interesting but didn't match the dish for me). The new potatoes were perfect. - Sablefish - came with some new potatoes and served on a bed of risotto (i think). Good dish but I got to it last so I'd let it get a bit cold. My partner really enjoyed it though. - Seafood mac and cheese - Had a hankering to try it. And really glad I did. Good comfort food dish for a rainy day. I think i'll try the seafood platter for two next time. This is at market price and would have been $160 the night we went, but we wanted to try a few different items from the menu that weren't included in the platter. Service wasn't fast but it was friendly, and that's part of the charm. It's a small-town-type restaurant where the owners and servers chat with customers and provide a sense of community. It's a place to enjoy at a leisurely pace. The views overlooking the Okeover Inlet are stunning, even on an overcast day. There's a warm, cozy feel inside the restaurant - something about it reminded me of a seaside pub. There was a large covered patio towards the water with plenty of seating which I imagine is delightful in high summer. Only small downside was the few flies that circled as we ate but they may have been drawn to the charming flower centrepiece. Overall a great experience - would definitely return to see the views and work my way through more of their menu. read more

Lovely! It is a different owner yes. It is a different restaurant! And it is lovely. Staff was wonderful. View is still amazing and the food was terrific. Sablefish was wonderful. Halibut done correctly. And my wife eats zero seafood... and her steak came out the temperature ordered and was good. So the past is the past. The future is just as good just a little different. And worth coming. read more

Laughing Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Powell River, British Columbia

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We showed at 7 without reservations, the restaurant was not even a quarter full (maybe 8 tables at most?) and we were first told there were "too many orders", so curtly that we were left confused at the front door. When we asked another server she said "there is only two of us" then said she'd "check the book" (implying more people were coming?). Then she disappeared. Finally a third server came out and said the kitchen closes at 7!! (He was more polite at least.) But what kitchen closes at 7? What difference would it have made if we had reservations (or checking the book) if the kitchen was closed? Seems the problem was people who hate their jobs and didn't want to be bothered by serving anyone they didn't have to under the ungodly hour of 7 pm... read more

I would not recommend this place for dinner because on the 23rd August we experienced bad service and over priced food. They did not have any limes for the carona or butter for the bread. The $24 calamari appy was a small pile of mushy squid. The seafood shepherd pie was $42 small portion The water never refilled the appys took 1hour They charged $9 for a Heineken which was out of stock but was on the bill and the bill was sent back 3 times for correction with no management oversight. Very disappointed Don't waste your time or money here . Larry/Brenda' read more

The food has been good here in the past. But I was disappointed to find that the restaurant was closed when I showed up for my reservation this week. They didn't bother to notify me that they'd decided not to open up that day, despite taking my reservation. It was a long wasted drive out there in the dark, and the special occasion was ruined. read more

We brought the boat down there just to try this place after so many great recommendations. I will say this, the location is great and the food was good. The issue was the dismal service. Now, I don't blame the young girl who was very apologetic (to every table - we could hear) but the blame needs to go to management. There was not enough coverage and training. We sat with dirty dishes and empty glasses for 45 minutes or or more and were going to get dessert and after dinner drinks but there was never an opportunity for that. Even after asking for the check we still waited and waited. And then waited some more. We finally got up to get the check. Again, our server acknowledged it and I get that. We talked to others on the dock that had even worse service than we did as we got there more on the early side. I am intending this to be constructive. Better staffing and training would go a long way and we would have easily spent another $100 on after dinner drinks and dessert but we couldn't seem to if we wanted to. Would we come back? No. It's a commitment to bring the boat down here and if the service was too notch, absolutely. But not worth it, despite the food being very good (though the Laughing Oyster was out of oysters today...the oyster was laughing AT us). read more

We were really looking forward to our meal at Laughing Oyster, but were ultimately disappointed by the food and service. The seared scallops were fantastic, but everything else was kind of bland. We had the Seafood Stack and the Firecracker Prawns as our mains. Both were lacking flavour and presentation. Seemed like the new ownership are still trying to find their groove. Our mains took at least 20 minutes to get to us after we had finished our appetizers. No mention of the kitchen being overwhelmed, no offer of bread. At one point we ordered a drink and waited about 20 minutes for that to arrive too. The view of Okeover Arm was fantastic. If you're looking for a great view go here. If you're looking for a fine dining experience or exceptional food, try somewhere else. read more

This is one review I that I am truly disappointed to be writing. My family has been coming to the laughing oyster since it was once upon a time a German restaurant. And for many years it was our favorite and we loved the buffet nights. However, since it has changed ownership I am disappointed to write that the buffet is not what it once was and I would encourage anyone who is going there to avoid it at all cost. We tried a little bit of everything and this was our opinion. They have changed the menu to be more "exotic" but in doing so have severely damaged the quality of the food. The view and the bread was the best part of the meal. The gnocchi was rubbery and over cooked the fish dishes were undercooked and the fish did not appear fresh. We left hungry and disappointed but hopeful that ordering off the menu next time may generate better outcome. The cocktails we ordered were in rough shape. We ordered a mule and a margarita and had to send the margarita back because it was pure lime juice. When the waitress returned they admitted that they didn't have the ingredients to make a margarita. My husband was served a beer in a glass that was not clean but was given a fresh beer once it was brought to their attention. I truly hope that that this is just growing pains and that they will make the proper fixes but overall it left little to be desired. I will mention that the people around us who ordered off the menu seemed very happy with their orders. read more

WOW WOW WOW Often when you find a place with an amazing view, the food isn't always that great. This is a winner on both accounts. The view is simply stunning. No other way to describe it. Just absolutely beautiful. It is just magical. Then the food... amazing. There were six of us and we were all happy with our meals. To start we shared calamari, fries (so good) and the super salad. That was more than enough for six people. Our mains varied from the bbq salmon, steelhead, pesto linguine and steak. We were all happy with our choices. For dessert we shared sticky toffee pudding, bourbon pecan pie and tiramisu. Fantastic. The bread they gave you to start was also fantastic. We would highly recommend and will definitely go back. read more

Where do we begin?? The Laughing Oyster has been the highlight meal of our honeymoon trip! From the second you walk in you're greeted by a very friendly and helpful staff, we had reservations (highly recommend) and everything went flawlessly. To start we had 4 oysters and the Gunpowder Prawns, both were great. My entree was David's Cajun Bouillabaisee which was spicy but just perfect! My wife had the special of the night (Salmon, fried oysters, prawns and mashed potato with a creole sauce) wow! The laughing oyster would get 100 stars if we could. We will most definitely be back! Ps Dave if you see this, the bottle of champagne to celebrate our Honeymoon was the cherry on top of an amazing evening! Thank you again read more

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Amazed by the consistency of quality and flavor! Completely blown away by the view and ambiance! Service is top notch and the chef is so personable. I think he's the owner too. Our server had great recommendations for both wines and food, Kudos to her! Started with the gunpowder prawns- fresh, spicy, and flavorful! We had a mushroom soup and a seafood bisque. Both pleased the senses and the mushroom soup left me wanting more! The Tuna starter was very nicely done with a wasabi aioli that was a perfect touch. Now the big star! The fisherman's Grog! Oh wow! This was a fantastic meal! So much flavor from the clams and mussels to the huge chunks of fresh fish! And the rice was perfectly prepared! The shrimp linguine was really flavorful with a white wine cream sauce and fresh herbs! So light and delicious! Now onto desserts... We ordered three! The chocolate terrine, the toffee bread pudding, and a slice of Bourbon pecan pie. All of which are made in house! The chocolate was rich and delicious! The toffee bread pudding was absolutely epic! And the pie has just the right amount of bourbon! Five stars all the way around! read more

Laughing Oyster - The restaurant! - Seafood Near Me - Powell River, British Columbia

What a gem. We stayed at the nearby campsite and walked there for dinner. It didn't disappoint. Amazing views, amazing food.

We've been going here for years, though our first time visit since the new ownership. Although the same menu, the food quality and quality of service has gone significantly down. Very friendly staff I have to mention, just not the same quality of experience it used to be. Hope they get it together! read more

To rate this incredible place as anything less than a five star experience blows my mind. My girlfriend and I had one of the most romantic nights of our lives at this beautiful place. The setting is completely magical. It's a restaurant inside a beautiful home with an expansive back patio overlooking the Okeover Inlet and a vibrant and eclectic flower garden. Yes, please! It was fairly busy when we arrived and we didn't even have a reservation, but nonetheless, we got a primo spot. A table out on the patio with an unobstructed view of the inlet and garden. Our server who kept us company for what seemed like hours, was outstanding and really made the experience special. I wish I could recall her name - young blonde woman originally from the area who left for school and came back to work summers. Ring any bells? Well, she deserves all our accolades. She was a great conversationalist throughout the evening, recommended a fabulous wine and gave us great intel on the best entrees. Every single thing we consumed was fantastic. About an hour and half into our meal, someone started playing guitar out on the deck and he was good too! We learned from our server, that this was none other than the owner himself. How cool! Overall, this was a really special dinner and I owe it to wonderful people running the Laughing Oyster. Thank you so much for the unforgettable evening! read more

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Little creativity cooking non local sourced foods. Staff and service is poor. I regret going out of my way to spend 170 dollars for two for a mediocre meal. I would e pect better food sources at this rate. Cisco probably delivers prawns from Asia and lesser cuts of meat from wherever and veggies from Mexico. I do not know for sure but then, neither did the waitress..... read more

The Laughing Oyster has to be located in one of the most idyllic spots on the coast, overlooking Okeover Inlet and Desolation Sound. The owners are to be commended on the surrounding garden and landscaping they've done since our last visit two years ago. The grounds have changed much more than the menu, I might add... It's a huge menu that some might consider too extensive (almost half a dozen salads , for example!) which features old school cooking and large portions. Although tasty, there's just a little too much going on for me in the variety of dishes offered. Highlights of our meal included the fantastic jicama and apricot salad. The mussels and their fantastic spicy jalapeno broth were good, although a little overcooked, as was the halibut in my fish and chip dinner - not a great sign in a seafood restaurant! Lots of flavour in the linguine with shrimp and a cream sauce, but the addition of asiago cheese would probably make any Italian seafood lover cry. The mashed potatoes under a oyster and shrimp Creole-inspired dish seemed a bit odd - why not rice or polenta? A few other oddities were the small stainless container of store-bought ketchup (why not house-made?), a ho-hum bread basket, and a rice pilaf that appeared to contain the long-passé converted rice. Our chocolate-based dessert and the lemon cheesecake were again a nod to yesteryear. It's hard to really fault Laughing Oyster because they're probably serving what people love, but it would be nice to see a fresh sheet and more simple condiments instead of so many sauce-heavy dishes, plus other grains or whole wheat pastas. Dinner here makes one feel as if they're joining the owner, Dave, for dinner at his place. All in all, good prices, a reasonable wine selection (we had a nice bottle of Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris for $38), and friendly service. And a view to die for! read more

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Food tasted great. The view of Oakover is and has always been fantastic. But for a over $500 meal for 4 people, I think think the hostess and servers could be wearing something nicer than lululemon leggings and a spandex tank top, and I shouldn't have to share my vegetables with the rest of the table like a potluck. When you're paying that much for a meal, you're not only paying for the food but the experience, and the quality of service was average at best. read more

Had an excellent meal here, hosted by relatives. Spouse and I split a Caesar salad. I had halibut meunière, she had a tofu veggie dish. Hosts had lamb rack and veggie pasta. Easy for a non-meat eater to dine here. I also had a local Powell River ale and a BC Pinot Grigio. Good service, warm and friendly. An unexpected experience in lovely Lund. read more

What a perfect night! 10 of us on a boat trip drove out boat down Okeover Inlet to the Laughing oyster for dinner. Water was calm and the scenery was amazing. We were seated on the deck on a warm night. Views were outstanding and a musician was playing in the background. This was the buffet night so there were no choices. At first I wasn't excited about this but it turned out well. I was especially impressed with the quality of food on the buffet. This is not typical where everything is pre-made and appearance is more important than quality. They are constantly refilling the buffet with fresh food. First I started with the salads which were delicious and not too many. They also had Asian style vegetables. My favorite was the sautéed cabbage but they were tasty. Then it keeps getting better. Some nice prawns, salmon, fried oysters with nice sauces, and perfect fried cod. Lastly was a meat station with prime rib and BBQ pork roast. The pork was especially good and had nice sauces. The meat station was attended by the chef/owner who knows what he is doing! This will be a regular side trip on our annual boat trip to Desolation sound Thank you... chef! Jeff H read more

We stayed in Lund two nights, went there for both dinners - that's how much we enjoyed it! At first we decided to try this place based on our local host's recommendation, and we absolutely love it. The food, the service, the Friday night live music, the view, and the PRICE! You got to go there and find out for yourself! read more

A very nice restaurant with an awesome food, good service and beautiful view of Disolution Sound. Service was great and food so fresh and delicious... gave us a warm bread basket while waiting for our appies, and another basket while waiting for our main courses. read more

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We met a man named Ryan as we waited for the ferry. Go to Okeover arm and eat at Laughing Oyster, he said. Sam, the man in the sports-shop said the same thing. So we cancelled our reservations to stay on the Powell River side and took the Locals advice. Spectacular service, buffet and music. Hand selected wines. Superb chef designed dining creations. Restaurants often try to welcome guests. Sometimes they succeed. In this case, at Laughing Oyster, not only did we feel welcomed as restaurant guests, but we felt honored to witness and engage in a community gathering where such caring was evident that serving staff and Dave (the owner) and the guest musicians worked with generous spirits. Dining here wasn't just a culinary delight, it was an enriching, inspiring, rejuvenating experience. Thank you Laughing Oyster staff for refilling my water glass in more ways than one. read more

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. The Laughing Oyster is featured in the novel Tiger and the Robot. Friendly service from intelligent and helpful staff. We tied our dog to a tree nearby and he watched us enjoy a delightful lunch on the deck. It is an annual ritual for us on our sailing holiday. This year we came back for dinner too. Just a short walk from the public wharf which usually has space available. The menu is fairly extensive and prices represent fair value. If you get the chance to dine here do it! read more

Ate here last summer while up in desolation sound. Best restaurant in the area, hands down! I was absolutely expecting the food to be good based on what others have said, but I was not expecting to have the BEST rack of lamb I have ever had. If you are nearby, go to Laughing Oyster, you won't regret it! read more

Absolutely fabulous dining experience tonight at the laughing oyster. We decided to go for mostly for appies and were we ever happy we did. Started off with Oysters on the Half shell. Loved it, however $3/ Oyster was a little pricey IMO. But on the other hand the rest of the dishes on the menu were extremely fair. Moved on to a few other dishes that were fabulous too. One of my major problems with this place, was when we were served water, it was tap / well water. Not filterd water as what I feel should be served at a fine dining restaurant such as this one, but if that's my only complaint about a restaurant, it's must be pretty darn good, and this was beyond that. read more

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By far the best seafood place in all of Powell river / Lund. Amazing seafood buffet on Wednesday's, live local musicians and a buffet on Fridays that is to die for! The owner Dave is the best of hosts and strives to make sure everyone has a great time. We frequently go for anniversaries and recently had our daughters wedding there. It was spectacular! All our wedding guests were beyond awed at the view and the food . Great staff , great view, fabulous food. What more can you ask for . read more

One of the best restaurants ever! We've been to many of the worlds finest and this is right up there with the best. Fresh creative dishes and also simple fantastic fish and chips. Must go to for the food, the setting and the staff. read more

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Love having the restaurant to ourselves! We went at 3:30 on a rainy Saturday. We were the only ones in the place and it was fabulous. We have glasses of Townsite Pale Ale and Prawns and Oysters. Loved it all. Especially sopping up the extra sauces with the warm bread. Service was great - had a lovely Quebecois server that was very friendly. The view was spectacular, peaceful, serene. We would go back in a heart beat. read more

They say hunger is the best ingredient, I say fresh ingredients are the best ingredient. The laughing oyster, on the occasion I went was superb! Laughing oyster is tucked away on a desolate road between Powell River and Lund, on hwy 101. Not an easy find, but any local can point you in the right direction. Situated on a lakeside property Laughing Oyster boasts great views from any seat in the house. Their menu is fairly large, and I think they have something for everyone. On our visit we had oysters (local BC), shrimp linguini, and halibut - all amazing, and complimented each other perfectly. Desserts were rich and sweet - the result was full"filling" From my understanding the night we went the main cook was away catering at a wedding, but I couldn't tell. The owners, husband and wife, are both cooks in the kitchen and really care about their food. read more

Great fresh food great service Million-dollar view a must see place at the end of highway 101! read more

Laughing Oyster - Enjoying our lunch at the famous Laughing Oyster! - Seafood Near Me - Powell River, British Columbia

I enjoyed lunch on the deck last summer. I had the crepes and my daughter had prawns. We topped it off our lunch with ice cream with a blackberry sauce and whipped cream. My guests at Lund Cottage usually go for a lunch or dinner and always comment how they enjoyed it. The view from the dining room and deck are worth the trip. read more

Friday night buffet (okay) and live music (excellent but very, very loud). Delicious a la carte items (prawns and oysters) and homemade desserts. Friendly, attentive staff. A lovely night out! read more

Wow! We finally got there this weekend and enjoyed a delicious, fresh seafood meal in a beautiful remote location almost in Lund. The restaurant has been a local secret highlight for years. We had the salmon burger, seafood bisque, mussels, oysters (asiago), and the gunpowder prawns - all of which were special and super flavourful. Pecan pie and cheesecake with blackberry compote - all desserts made on the premises! So good! Worth the drive! read more

Excellent ambiance and fantastic food!! Great staff and such great live music. A hidden gem. read more

What a location. I love this setting. Friendly place. The owner talked to me about the fabulous Grant Lawrence book about Desolation Sound. I will return again when we're in the location. read more

I thought this place was going to be amazing as I took my girlfriend for her birthday. I had a spinach salad with an orange zest on it for a light dressing found it a bit watery. I ordered a steak for my entrée and wanted it medium rare and got a chewy medium with a little pink in the inside. Although they made a really good pesto linguini not sure if the pesto sauce is homemade I did not ask. Was very oily but good flavour bill came out to about $112.47 I thought this place was going to be amazing as I took my girlfriend for her birthday. I had a spinach salad with an orange zest on it for a light dressing found it a bit watery. I ordered a steak for my entrée and wanted it medium rare and got a chewy medium with a little pink in the inside. I found on the menu that there was more fish like Halibut and salmon dishes than you would think for a place called the laughing oyster it would have nothing but seafood to your hearts content. I also ordered some oysters and seared Ahi tuna, I've had better. I think next birthday it will be at the Alchemist in town or home cooked food made by me being a former chef. read more

The quality is really spotty in a place that looks so promising. If you do decide to go, stay away from the fish and chips, they are soggy and greasy and lack flavor. The oyster sandwich was kind of a bland mushy affair. The salmon crepes were good and the pasta alfredo was too. I've had a good steak dinner with some nice veg on the side. Nothing to write home about, but it was good. Stay away from the buffets, unless you don't really care about taste and texture. This place has a wonderful view of Okeover arm, but if it's really hot weather you'll roast on their semi-enclosed patio. So even though the view is great and we had a super nice waitress, I say thumbs down, because the quality is inconsistent and they are charging fine dining prices. read more