Best to make a reservation and arrive on time, not earlier cause the restaurant is quite small. There's no place to wait. We had the set menu. The food!! Or shall we say the ART! Everything is surprising. Delicious, super creatively crafted and fresh. It definitely an experience, that satisfies all your senses. I love that they also give you some little treats between your five courses and everything adds up together you're perfectly full. read more

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Really really great experience at the Pluvio for my partner's bday dinner. We got to the restaurant 15 mins early and had to wait closer to our reservation time before we got seated. Not an issue with us, but it does show that they are a busy spot. The restaurant is decorated like you're eating at the coast in a rainforest. The menu is set by the chef and you have option for extra items. We ordered the humdog and mussels in addition to the chef tasting menu. The humdog was the most underwhelming tbh. It was overpowered by the fried shallots, while tasty, the squid was completely lost in this dish. I love grilled squid, so I was looking forward to it but cannot taste it at all. Everything else were absolutely wonderful. The best are the surprise items that we keep getting as the night go on. The Tuna Ham was exceptional, the lingcod with spot prawn sauce was great, there were so many great dishes. Server was very attentive and we even got to chat with the chef a bit about foraging :) Would absolutely love to be back when we are in the area. Highly recommend read more

For a formerly top 100 restaurant, I expected better. The service was good, though the server couldn't really answer any questions about the food or drinks beyond what they had memorized. Just make sure to reserve, there are no walk-in spaces. The food was generally tasty, but there was nothing that really memorable. The presentation stood out more than the flavours. The music was not particularly loud but the subwoofer was set too high. Anyway, it was fine but I wouldn't specifically recommend it. read more

Pluvio restaurant - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ucluelet, British Columbia

With a choice of a five-course chef's menu and three-course prix fixe, we opted for the select your own three-course option ($88) because sometimes it's nice to have a bit of choice. The meal started with three crispy one bite wonders: a puffed cracker with a smoked fish (?) creamy topping, a delicate lattice leaf chip and refreshing chive dip, and little nests filled with a delicious meaty filling that had me wondering if anyone would notice if I swiped another one from the open kitchen near us. After being talked down by my friends, I focused instead of the wine and conversation and soon the first course arrived. Before getting into the dishes, we noticed that food tends to be overly seasoned in BC. Perhaps it's due to their proximity to salt water, but we found that 80% of the things served were a little saltier than we'd like. And this was true for Pluvio's dishes, so if you prefer things a little less seasoned, I'd suggest letting them know while ordering. The cubes of torched sablefish were wonderfully prepared but overpowered by the strong pickled radish and poached apples that surrounded the black cod. Still, the colours did make for an artistic creation adorned with crispy butterflies and translucent fruit flowers. It's a dish that is best eaten with the eyes. If the sablefish was a dish signifying spring, the polenta would pay homage to the cooler months. A surf and turf moat made from side stripe shrimp and lamb sausage surrounded the creamy luscious polenta. The strips of sausage being removed from the casing, flattened, and grilled almost had a steak-like quality to it and made for an interesting protein. Everything worked well together, especially when combined with the dollop of mint purée. Smartly, Pluvio serves their bread after the first course to discourage guests from filling up before the mains. Perhaps they should sandwich the bread before dessert as I still couldn't contain my excitement and dug into the fresh crusty country bread and corn bread. Why oh why is it so difficult to keep away from the carbs?! Luckily, I still had room for the hefty piece of confit halibut swimming in a creamy corn and toasted yeast beurre blanc that provided a light but decadent sauce against the meaty fish. The sauce was also great for dipping the crispy chips, which shielded the skinless poached cherry tomatoes. With the halibut, I added three grilled scallops ($12) because as the menu describes, everything is better with scallops, especially when they are cooked wonderfully. Pluvio's desserts are described as "forest", "field", and "sea". Neither were spectacular and if I could choose, I would have simply wanted the green spruce sponge cake from the forest served with a side of the cold lemon semifreddo of the field. In general, I'd stick with the land desserts as the "sea" was way too citrusy from the sea buckthorn caramel and the hard pieces of sponge too sweet when paired with the chocolate crémeux. In fact, if I could have a do over, I'd stick with the cheese plate as you can't really go wrong with cheese (except if you're lactose intolerant, I guess). read more

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Everything- the food was amazing, service was top notch and great ambience. Highly recommend if you are looking for a dining experience.

Husband and I made resos as soon as booked our Tofino trip. We came for the tasting menu for our anniversary. Food: Amazing! I love the seasonal and local ingredients. While some flavour combinations were expected, some were really new and cool. The roasted tomato and lamb on top of a rosti was interesting and unexpected. The cheese waffle was divine. I recommend all the off the menu items as well. They had chanterelles available and I was over the moon. Their drinks were delicious as well! Service: Wonderful and personal. The server asked for both of our names which felt weird at first but was actually a nice and personal touch. The meal was a nice pace and our server explained each dish. Pro tip: I think a lot of people don't realize they have an à la carte menu as well... in case you don't want the tasting menu but I recommend it! We would love to return! read more

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What can I say... but that this dining experience is beyond amazing. We have enjoyed the world-famous Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. Pluvio in Ucluelet is quite similar. The service was fabulous, the ambiance warm and relaxed, every dish was delicious and the presentation so creative. Of course this all comes at a price, but we believe it was well worth it for a special dining occasion. You will not be disappointed! read more

Hands-down, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The placebo wine pairing was amazing. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.

Accolades well deserved! I had a trip planned for Ucluelet and I normally check reviews on Yelp to help me decide where to eat. I had decided on Pluvio. The day we arrived there was a newspaper article naming the top 100 restaurants in Canada with Pluvio being one of the few in BC outside of Vancouver. My wife immediately booked one of the few reservations left at 8:45 pm on a Thursday. When we checked in at the place we were staying the woman said she had taken her visiting parents to Pluvio and it was fantastic and she was a trained pastry chef. Because our reservation was 8:45 pm, before our dinner we went to a local brewery while we waited, and our server there said Pluvio was great and understood why we only nibbled on a bowl of nuts and bolts with our beer while most of the other patrons were there for dinner. We had informed the hostess at Pluvio that we were nearby and asked her to call us if a table became available early. We went to the restaurant at 8:30 pm, thinking that by then, surely a table would be available. Sadly, when we opened the door and told the chef we had a reservation for 8:45 pm , he politely told us the restaurant was full and we should come back at 8:45 pm sharp. He said we could go to the garden around back if we wanted. We did go look at the garden and it was interesting to see some of the herbs being grown fresh but we still had 15 minutes until our reservation. It was chilly so we hung out in the general store down the street because it was warm and open until 10 pm. Now to the review: we got to the restaurant at 8:45 pm and a couple had just entered before us. I was worried that we should have come back a few minutes earlier but I need not have worried. Two seats were ready for us at the counter looking into the kitchen. There are only two seats at this counter and if you like to watch the food being cooked by a well trained group of four chefs all in constant motion these are the best seats in the house. In the tight kitchen the chefs showed tremendous attention to detail and teamwork, with great direction from the head chef. There was a very high standard but this was no Hells Kitchen. If the chef wanted anything done in a particular way the instructions were given in a respectful mentoring way and the chef was hands on helping the chefs with the plating and garnishing from our side of the counter. He even told us the secret to cooking halibut since it is such a delicate fish to cook properly. We ordered the three course dinner and our server helped us to choose a nice rose to complement our choices. We were pleasantly surprised when our server brought us an appetizer before our first course. A madeleine topped with lemon zest and finely shredded cheese and a few savoury bites as well. A very nice way to start. Our first courses were a tuna crudo and lamb cooked inside a corn flour shell. Both were amazing, with the tuna being served with a fresh gelatinous cucumber, and a seaweed bed underneath. I preferred the lamb but I think my wife preferred the tuna. We were happy with both choices. Then we were served with some house made bread with house churned butter infused with sake. I think one of the breads was a sourdough and the other was like pound cake. Delicious! For our mains we stuck with the seafood theme (because we were in Ucluelet after all). We ordered the halibut and the ling cod (though I was tempted by the short ribs). The halibut was perfectly cooked and still moist throughout after being poached in oil and baked to perfection. The ling cod had a nice light golden crust in one side. To finish we ordered desserts from the "farm" and from the "forest". A rhubarb mousse with soft candied ginger and a chocolate with caramel mousse with sea foam toffee. And then there was one last surprise. A wooden box with a treasure hunt. Hidden under shells and a rocks were four chocolate balls with an orange filling. When I go to a restaurant that has just been recognized as one of the best in Canada, and all of the locals I speak to say it is fantastic it is hard for expectations to not rise to an unattainable level. After two hours we left feeling full and well satisfied, and with expectations exceeded. The excellent food was accompanied by attentive service and every plate was artfully designed and we saw the chefs using giant tweezers to place each piece in the precise location. If you go plan ahead to ensure that you get a reservation. Thank you Pluvio! Reason enough for anyone to visit Ucluelet read more

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Me and my boyfriend grew up on the island, but both live in Vancouver now. He took me to Ucluelet for a surprise trip and was recommended by a colleague to check out this restaurant. I love food, I don't eat to live I live to eat, and I would say Pluvio is the best restaurant I have been to on the entire island. The food and service is incredible and we left feeling like we really experienced something unique. Everything we had was fantastic but if you have the chance to try their oysters they were the best I've ever had. We had: Appy: Tuna tar tare Smoked oysters Entree: Duck Wagyu short ribs (we added the scallops which were also amazing) Dessert: Carrot cake Sticks and stones read more

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GREAT restaurant if you want to experience unique, fresh dishes, artistic presentations and flavors you've never had before. We visited right after they first opened in 2019 and were to glad to have another trip to Tofino/Uclulet to see Lily and Warren's success and dine on their chef's menu with wine pairing a couple of weeks ago. Our waiter was wonderful too. We wrote one of the 1st reviews for Lily and Warren on Yelp 4 years ago, wonderful people, wonderful restaurant, so delighted in how well they are doing and that their food is as creative and delicious as ever. Can't recommend enough. We'll be back again next year. read more

GM Lily & Chef Warren are a tour de force in fine dining. I've been fine dining since my teens and I can say without reservation, their restaurant is second to none. We were graciously seated by Lily at the chef's table, which allows a close-up view of the kitchen and food preparation. Chef Warren and his team put on a great show with perfectly synced displays of culinary talent. I'm always impressed but over the years they just keep getting better. Their creativity is matched by their imaginative and flavorful food combinations. Check out the Humdog for an example, you won't find anything like it anywhere. The Avonlea Cheddar Waffle topped with a slice of black truffle was a real stand out on the chef's tasting menu. Another stand out, the Gently Cooked Chinook Salmon was just that, perfectly cooked! But that's just part of the bigger picture, the presentation of their dishes are works of performance art. The paper wrapped smoked salmon candy came in a cut glass candy dish. When the lid was removed out came, you guessed it, smoke. The plating was varied and unique and showed great creativity, and a true love for their craft. And suffice it to say that Lily and her service team take great care of their guests, and amazingly Chef Warren presents many dishes personally. Like any great show, they surely deserved a round of applause. read more

I cannot say enough about Pluvio. They said we're warm and wonderful, the atmosphere equally so. We did the 5 course which blew our minds. Amazing experience, topped off our trip, can't wait to come back read more

Pluvio restaurant - Halibut lettuce wraps - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ucluelet, British Columbia

Long time visitors to Tofino/Ukee area and Pluvio is an an absolute gem. Top quality service, drinks, food and just a really intimate experience. The food is done at the highest level. I do wish they slightly expanded their menu just a bit as if you don't like the selections there's only 2-4 things to choose from, but if you're not picky it's one of the best restaurants in the entire region. read more

This was a wonderful find. The chef's tasting menu was amazing, great tasting portions and creative flavor combinations. Beautiful pairings with local wines, sakes and vermouth that elevated the already well planned menu. Tastes and texture creations that made me savor every bite and long for more when finished. The service was impeccable. read more

a culinary experience not to miss! felt welcomed and waited on loved the atmosphere ! the music was carefully chosen and you can find it on Spotify on the pluvio playlist,, perfect evening for an anniversary to remember! well done Warren ,Lily and team! read more

Excellent friendly service, unpretentious. A delicious meal full of fun and surprises. I see why it is rated one of the top 40 restaurants in the country. read more

Top restaurant in Ucluelet. Outstanding unique food creations and creative cocktails. Friendly staff that perhaps are a bit to eager - I'd rather offer my name up than have it pried out of me at the door and repetitively used. Worth it for the culinary adventure. read more

Absolutely spectacular. Enjoyed the 5 course tasting menu, highly recommend. Unique tastes and presentation, great atmosphere. Just all around exceptional. If you're in Ucluelet and enjoy fine dining, this should be at the absolute top of your list. read more

Pluvio restaurant - Parmesan waffle. Incredible! - Canadian (New) Near Me - Ucluelet, British Columbia

We were celebrating my husband's birthday and we've been a little gun shy about dining out since Covid, but I wanted him to have a special evening and Pluvio did not disappoint. The night started off with complimentary bread and snacks. I can't even describe what the snacks were but they were so delicious. We tried their three course menu and each dish was better than the next and were beautifully presented. I tried the caramelized sable fish for my first course and it was amazing and followed it with the ling cod for my main. The dessert menu is brought after the first two courses and I chose the spruced up lemon tart which I highly recommend if you love lemon. The hubby had the short rib and added scallops. Although I don't eat meat I tried the carrot xo that topped the short rib and it was sooo tasty! Pluvio added all the small touches to make the evening special including a birthday card signed by all of the staff and the meal finished off with candied birthday hazelnuts with a candle AND a candle snuffer! (New norm traditions!) I absolutely loved that they came by with a little Polaroid camera and took a souvenir photo for us to remember the evening. And just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, our server brought out a tray filled with rocks and shells and hidden inside were two chocolates which turned out to be our favourite! Caramels!!! On top of it all, service was top notch! We will be staying a couple nights in their rooms and are so excited for the experience if it is anything like their dining! read more

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We really enjoyed the 3 course dinner. We found the dishes creative, playful and the favors literally popped. We wish there were food places like this in Vancouver too! It is unfortunate that the restaurant is so small and the tables so close together because one cannot get away from the noise when the place gets busy. read more

Our favourite restaurant and have now celebrated back to back anniversary dinners here and have treated us so amazingly well. Last year we had the chefs table which overlooked the grill and ordered what we wanted based after what looked good coming off the grill which was a crab lettuce wrap and Halibut cheeks. This year with Covid things are a little different as it is a 3 coarse meal. My wife and I shared the tuna tartare along with the squid, both excellent and for our mains my wife had the halibut and I had the Lingcod which both were prepared perfectly. The one detail that has not changed is the unique way they plate their meals as per the attached. And a fruity dessert along with a chocolate one to finish off the night. Will definitely be back and I highly recommend this location if you are looking for something higher end. read more

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Went to Pluvio to celebrate two family birthdays. The food and dining experience was exceptional. There were six of us and we all did the three course option and took bites of each others food because of food envy. :-) A few of us opted for the special extras with no regrets (humdogs and scallops). The cocktails were also incredible with different layered flavors...so good we had to try a few different ones. Our group left feeling full and satisfied...and talked about the food more the next day. read more

A truly outstanding meal. We were not able to dine in as we had our dog with us this trip, so we went with take out. Everything was delicious and they were amazing with accommodating my seafood allergy. The included incredible bread and chocolates in addition to our 3 courses. Sometimes I find with three course offerings that the portions tend to be small, but I am still absolutely stuffed writing this review. I have seen photos from the restaurant, so I'm sure we missed out on presentation, but the taste made up for it. If you want a really special meal and are not comfortable dining out due to Covid, I would not hesitate to order from Pluvio. read more

Great restaurant - did the five course tasting menu with wine pairings. Absolutely delicious with great service. A chef who is really creative. The service was attentive without being intrusive - always a plus. The staff were knowledgeable about the food and the wine. The wine and food pairings were perfect. If you are ever in the Ucluelet/Tofino area you must try Pluvio. read more