The food was great, I don't know why people hate on this place. My mother-in-law, who never eats seafood or clam chowder, was in love with the one here. The place is a bit dated, but I think that's part of the charm, especially being on the water. Crabcakes were fantastic. I would come back. We had small children with us and they were very accommodating. Other than a snobby couple sitting behind us making some snide remarks about the kids noise level, we had a great experience. read more

What a great late lunch! Here's the deal. My wife and I rode our e-bikes from Victoria to Sidney and knew we wanted to have lunch before heading back. It did not disappoint. The place is small but has great views both inside dining and outside dining. Right on the water. Downtown Sidney. Work class view. We were treated and swerved by two young, friendly, and helpful ladies. The crab cakes and chowder was perfect. The Cobb salad was ok: good taste but a relatively small serving with not a lot loaded on. For $24 one should get a fairly hefty salad. But heck, it was still good taste. The salad serving size is the only thing keeping it from being a 5. This is a great spot. Go! read more

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The halibut and chips was very poor. The chips were like they had been previously cooked, stored in a refrigerator, then microwaved. The halibut was surprisingly bland. The waitress was very friendly. The atmosphere is cute, like Molly's Reach. Overpriced, but that is probably necessary these days because of waterfront pier location. If you're looking for atmosphere give it a try. If you're looking for great halibut, maybe try somewhere else. read more

I first came across this place upon my arrival but skipped on it only because I was dealing with the after maths of a terrible meal that I had on the ferry. Fast forward and a few ferry snafus later I found myself here again and looking forward to a nice meal after eating trail food for a week . This place has everything you can ask for from a water side restaurant. It is a relaxed atmosphere that comes with great views while one dines on the outside patio. I started with the chowder / crab cake combo. The chowder is definitely worth the visit! I can see why their chowder has won awards. The crab cakes were tasty and the sauce was the star of that dish. I wish the cakes were fried a bit longer for mine ate a bit soft or maybe that is how this area makes their crab cakes. I finished with the fish and chips which was spot on ! Wonderfully battered fish cooked to perfection ! Crispy exterior combined with a flaky interior made this diner quite happy . The stars during my visit were the staff. They may have been short staffed but you couldn't tell by the way they treated all the customers. A fleet of foot they were but made sure to chat up each customer as they passed to see how they were doing and if they needed anything. 5 stars for them! read more

A lovely location at the end of the pier. The seafood is not going to change your life, but it's all perfectly fine. The salmon salad and clam chowder are two of the better bets. Service was pleasant. read more

Pier Bistro - Interior - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

If you want a quick seafood fix this will do. Prices are a bit high because of the location and it's quite a touristy place. Crab cakes and salad are good for a light lunch. Beer is overpriced. They have a happy hour. Not open late. read more

Pier Bistro - Crab cakes and Thai salad - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

A great place for a good bite to eat and excellent service. I try to get in there a few times every year.

We had lunch here on June 3, 2024. Our common choice was the clam chowder. It was delicious. We were fortunate to also be able to sit on the small porch with a great view of the ocean. read more

We were starving after the ferry ride and Pier Bistro looked pretty good from our quick search of the Sidney area. It's located right along the docks beside the Seafood Market shop. We came in for a late 2:00pm Friday afternoon lunch. The place was busy with all the old, retired grannies meeting up. They have a patio right out front but also a covered patio if you walk inside. - Halibut & salmon quiche ($14.99) - served with hollandaise on top and your choice of side. I went with their soup of the day, a salmon bisque. Bisque was good but the quiche needed some seasoning and acidity. It also could have had a better crust. - Seafood clam chowder & crab cakes ($15.99) - a cup of chowder, two pan fried crab cakes and grilled pita. Their known for their clam chowder but we thought it was pretty bland. It needed seasoning; we had to throw in some pepper, which I never do. The crab cakes were tasty. The sauce had a surprisingly nice kick to it. Pitas were wasted calories. Get the crab cakes if you go. They clearly cater their food to the locals so keep that in mind if you're going to go... read more

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We make it a point to eat here every time we are in Sidney. The food is great, hot and fresh! They always accommodate our dog. Service is quick and friendly. read more

Terrible service, the lady was very mean and rude. Don't come here if you want to keep your good mood...

This was my second time here and it did not disappoint. The staff were all very friendly. The restaurant is tiny tiny ( if you have a big group I wouldn't recommend) so if your timing isn't great you may have to wait for a table. I had the one piece cod fish and chips. It came out quick and was nice and hot. The fish was incredible!!! One of the best I have had. The fries were good but I just prefer them to be a bit crunchier - still lots of flavour. I recommend if you are in the area to make a stop here. read more

Pier Bistro - fish and chips with coleslaw and coleslaw slaw - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

(note: this is being written on behalf of friends who don't have a Yelp account. I normally wouldn't do this, but I think it's something that has to be called out) When is a crab cake not a crab cake? When you feature crab cakes on your menu, and half the protein isn't crab, what is it? THE ROSES: Wonderful nautical ambiance. Many dishes are well executed. THE THORNS: In a word, crab cakes. Our diner thought the texture and taste were quite odd. When they pressed the server, the server admitted the crab cake was 50% surimi. What is Surimi? Well, as defined by Wikipedia: "fish (often pollock) that is minced to make a gelatinous paste that is then flavored, reformed into flakes, sticks, or other shapes, and colored. It is used as a crab substitute." When half your crab cake is a fish-based substitute, can you still call it a crab cake? Would it be more honest to call it a 'seafood cake', or a 'krab kake'? Is it possible the server simply hated their job, hated their employer, and was telling porky-pies? Who knows. Still, our diner knows what a crab cake should taste like, and the server's explanation jibed with the taste and texture, so it's probably the case. THE VERDICT: Cutting corners to boost your bottom line is not necessarily a bad thing; efficiency is good business. Misleading your diners IS a bad thing. A crab cake that is 50% surimi isn't a crab cake. Do not recommend. read more

This place is just amazing. Staff is so kind and thoughtful, really makes you feel at home. Some of the meals that really stood out to me were the clam showier, their cod fish and chips, and their crab cakes. The clam chowder is nice and creamy and the clam and vegetables are flavourful and fresh. The crab cakes melt on your tongue while maintaining a crispy exterior, topped with their in house sauce which is just phenomenal. The fish and chips were terrific. An amazing crunch with every bite and the cod just falls apart in your mouth. The fries could use a little more seasoning and they were a little soggy, but nonetheless still pretty good. Lastly, the atmosphere is lovely. A nice view of the water and the pier while you're eating. The decor gives a homey vibe which really ties it all together. Definitely coming back to this place, a solid 8/10 read more

Lovely little bistro at the end of the pier in Sidney BC! Great location. And a good medium priced menu. Food was fresh, especially liked the home made fries. I had a very tasty oyster burger, Fanny Bay Oysters. My spouse had the Club House sandwich. Everything was delicious and good value for the price. Despite Covid protocols we felt relaxed and comfortable. read more

Pier Bistro - Oyster burger, fresh cut fries. - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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This is one of our favourite places to go for dinner. Staff is always friendly and fun. Food is always delicious. Their fries are particularly good and the halibut fish 'n chips fish is always a big hunk of beautiful halibut! Hubby just loves their burgers too. There's always something to see out on the water too. Best dinner with a show in Sidney! read more

A wonder fish (halibut) and chips. A nice location at the end of pier with lots of outside seating. Blankets on the chairs too if it breezes. A simple fish and chips but fresh and flakey. Maybe a little heavy on breaking but still a treat. A nice beer selection. Four stars for location and a wonderful flakey fish and chips!! read more

Pier Bistro - Simple but good fish and chips with fresh halibut - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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Lovely little place on the pier! I went with the Halibut and Salmon Quiche with a side of soup(which, by the way, is an amazing way to warm up the belly on a blustery day). The quiche was spot on with a light flaky crust and chock full of fish pieces. The photo of the inside doesn't do it justice because after a few more bites, the pieces of halibut and salmon became distinctly larger but I was too enraptured by the overall deliciousness to snap a better picture and ended up devouring it rather quickly. The side of soup was hot and hearty. Once you give it a good mix, you realize instantly just how much salmon they put in it. I think it was salmon at least, but I could be wrong. I know I was a yummy kind of fish regardless! And it was a big bowl of soup too which pleased me. Overall a tasty and filling lunch! Great place to snag a bite to eat if you find yourself hungry and in the area :) read more

Pier Bistro - Halibut and Salmon Quiche - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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We stopped in on a busy late Saturday evening w/out a reservation. The lovely lady managed to tuck us into a cute little table next to the side door window with a good view. It slowly emptied out as we enjoyed our meal. The service was very good even though the place had been packed for hours! We had the fish and chips (salmon/halibut). They serve big 1/4 fillets of fish breaded in a fluffy crisp deep fried batter. The pile of fries are fresh cut whole potatoes deep fried to a crispy golden-brown. Our platters included coleslaw, tartar sauce and fresh cut lemon wedges neatly displayed. Vinegar, ketchup, salt & pepper... was on the table. Our wait staff and the cooks were amazingly fast and efficient! There is a nice park with chairs, long pier, small stone covered beach, and walking trail along the water next the restaurant to relax and enjoy with your dinner partners before and after your meal. read more

I'm from San Francisco, CA, and I was in Canada for vacation and my family stopped by for a quick lunch. This place, hands down, has the best clam chowder and fish and chips I've ever had. And their tartar sauce is perfect. The view of the ocean is also beautiful. And the service was great! No complaints. read more

Pier Bistro - 10/10 clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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Freshest fish tacos! Competes with the populat local joint near fisherman's wharf in Victoria. A+ here!

I went here with my dad for dinner. We split the 2 piece halibut and chips. It was a huge serving of fries and coleslaw which can easily be shared between two people. However, when we cut into our fish, we noticed it looked like there was tarter sauce inside (between the batter and the fish). This seemed really odd to us. Then we realized that it wasn't tater sauce -- it was raw batter! The fish also looked like it was under cooked. Considering we were at a fish and chip restaurant, this was unacceptable. We told our waitress and asked for 2 new pieces of fish. She was very friendly and took away the under cooked fish. She left us with the fries and coleslaw to eat while we waited for our new order. Then she came back and gave us a brand new plate of 2 pieces of halibut and chips. We were definitely not expecting to receive more fries, so this was a pleasant surprise. The new order of fish came out perfect! The batter was thin, crispy, and the fish was cooked to perfection. We were so happy the restaurant stepped up their game and delivered great results. This was my first time here and I will definitely return again. Thank you! read more

Cute location, a little wobbly as it's on the pier (I get motion sick so couldn't stay long). Service was super friendly! Place was clean (I even noted the condiments were wiped down - - working at restaurants, I loved that!). I ordered a burger with a cup of chowder. The chowder was a good consistency, enough clams, chunks of tater and carrot... It just lacked flavor. I added salt and pepper and that made it better. The burger looked good, smelled good, but tasted like a cross between a thicker version of a flame broiled fast food burger (ie a BK Whopper) and a breakfast sausage patty. It was super fatty and not the consistency of a normal burger. It wasn't terrible but it was not really a burger. I'm curious about what was in this patty . Anyway, I would come back to try some seafood but I don't recommend a burger here. Salt ya chowda! read more

Pier Bistro - Gulls on the pier - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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Small restaurant on the water with relaxing views. I went there already knowing what I wanted to order: clam chowder and crab cakes. And that is what I did. The clam chowder was full of seafood, smooth creamy flavour and big portion for a bowl, it was actually a soup plate. The crab cakes were thin, perfectly deep fried being crunchy on the outside and smooth inside. They were excellent, and despite I have not tried many of these, they are the best so far! read more

Pier Bistro - Clam chowder bowl + crab cakes - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

Ordered a cheese omelette; cook made the wrong one (though it looked good when the server brought it out) so I sent it back. The server returned with my original order, but it was as if the cook threw a hissy fit: not only was it uncooked (slimy, runny eggs inside), but the omelette was tiny with almost no cheese. Server apologized for the incompetent cook, but did not offer any compensatory measures on the bill. I arrived hungry and in a good mood; left hangry. To avoid my experience, avoid this place. read more

We usually love this restaurant, and the food is usually great. However this day the service and food were both unacceptable. We waited nearly 25 minutes for our cold appetizer, then as our appetizers came out the main course arrived immediately. Another member in our party ordered the burger and said it was the worst burger he had ever had, overcharred and super chewy. Apart from the burger being terrible, The bussing staff forgot to bring us some small condiments, and upon asking a second time they were brought to and slapped on the table. The Server obviously didn't want to be there and we were treated as inconveniences. Would not recommend this location. The Bistro and Commons are the best! read more

Excellent food and amazing atmosphere. We recommend making reservations since it is a small restaurant. We had the chowder-yum!!! Staff was very friendly. read more

Cozy restaurant with perfect ocean view. Their clam chowder is the best I ever have. The service is excellent. I enjoyed a lazy afternoon here!! read more

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I have several issues with this restaurant first it is small and although they are on the pier most seats have a bad/obstructed view next the fish and chips were terrible. the fish pieces were covered with a very thick batter that made them several times their original size so there was was too much batter next both the fish and chips were too greasy I am sorry we ate there read more

Four of us went last night for the turkey dinner, it was great and for our first time being there it was not a disappointment. The only complaint I would have is the service was terrible and considering it wasnt that busy I was surprised. We will try it again and report back read more

The crab cakes are really nice! Don't worry that you are going to get 50% filler, 50% crab. These are 90%crab, barely bound together with perfect moist seasoning. The chowder is also very good. Thick and rich. The crab cake chowder combo was perfect! The staff are super nice, even on a busy Saturday. If there is a bit of a wait, it is worth it. read more

Pier Bistro - When you can't decide between the chowder and the crab cakes, they make a combo where you don't have to! - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

Nothing in the world compares to fresh fish and chips while watching the ocean. Marvelous. My only complaint is a small dining area which made bringing our little one in tricky. But they gave him some toys to play with, so that was nice. read more

Pier Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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Went for lunch. The chowder and salmon salad were great! We really liked it! The kid's menu hamburger was huge! Couldn't believe it was kid's menu! And the fries were excellent! A great place to eat lunch! read more

Awesome chowder and great fish and chips. I had the cod which was very tasty and my wife had the salmon. Both are caught locally and very fresh. We will most defiantly be coming back! read more

. Extremely disappointed. Has gone downhill. Poor service. Limited menu options. Told no shell fish offerings due to weather yet other restaurants still have them. Our overpriced insipid chowders were full of potatoes and carrots, minuscule pieces of rubbery fish. Never again. Many other great places for us . read more

Wonderful staff and delicious food. We looked for a quick place to grab a bite before heading to our ferry. We sat on the patio that was heated and had a beautiful view. Highly recommend this bistro! read more

Great view. It doesn't get any closer to the ocean. Sitting on the deck it felt like we were on a boat. Food was excellent. read more

Pier Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

Quaint little pier spot, looked a little honkey and a tad touristy, but actually a nicer view on the water than some of the more upscale restaurants on the Sidney waterfront. This place reminded me of Key West, Florida and only had one guy working out front on a Sunday. Cheery Aussie guy who I guess had a cook in the back. Had a few micros in bottles, I'm always happy to see island beer instead of Bud and Kokanee. A few house wine selections, one red and one white from BC. Chowder says award winning... don't they all. Everybody and their mother enters their chowder in "Joe Blows Annual Chowder Cookoff". It was okay. Overall, I'd go back, probably for the view and price. read more

Great little place on the water. Wonderful beer selection and great food.crabcakes don't disappoint!!!! read more

Pier Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

i was so looking forward to a meal here after having a great one 6 months ago. We were coming across on the ferry from Vancouver and decided to eat at The Pier instead of on the ferry. I hate to write how disappointed I was with my meal on this evening. Six months ago i had the sous-vide pork chop and found it outstanding!! Couldn't wait to have it again. I even convinced my husband to order it instead of something else he was leaning towards. What a mistake! The meat was over-cooked to the point of dryness. I kept looking for our server to send it back but couldn't get her attention until I I had eaten more than half of it. I was super hungry so couldn't wait much longer. When I finally got her attention, I politely asked if i was supposed to tell her how I wanted my meat cooked, she responded 'no, we cook them ALL to medium rare" UNLESS REQUESTED OTHERWISE. I SHOWED HER MY MEAT AND SHE CONFIRMED IT WAS OVER COOKED (my husband's too) and offered me another plate. I would've taken it but she had taken so long to ask how my food was that I WASN'T HUNGRY FOR ANOTHER plate so i politely turned it down. If management is reading this... PLEASE teach your cook staff how to cook sous-vide properly AND teach your wait staff to check on the customers food prior to 20 minutes passing. At $31 per entree, it was supposed to be a treat, instead it's a bad memory. read more