Right next to the harbor and dock with a marvelous water view, the Shelter is hidden off the main road that goes through Tofino. A quaint small town, we decided for a relaxed upscale comfort food meal. Although a fairly spread out restaurant it is advised to go early and have a reservation. Wait staff were friendly and did great getting dishes off the table waiting for the next course. Ordering a couple of local Pilsners from the Hoyne Brewing company, we started with a great fresh Shelter salad and half dozen pristine oysters; so fresh and creamy! Main course were side-striped shrimp and mussel fettuccine. On recommendation from our waiter I opted for the Fish and Chips and was not disappointed by the light batter fried Cod and the tasty mound of real cut fries. A filling excellent meal and evening! read more

After some research, we went to this waterfront restaurant and was seated at the bar so we could watch the World Series. The menu offered a good variety of seafood and meat dishes as shown The popular venue was quite busy, but Service was very good. We had mussels, halibut, calamari and sockeye salmon all which were very savoury and flavourful. The Pilsner beer was served and frosted mugs. read more

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Place is good but the happy hour is shockingly bad for a place this popular. One food option, which is nachos for $29.. and then only two drink options... could use a little work there but otherwise I'd recommend it read more

World class shrimp fettuccine with an incredible atmosphere! Located right on the historic waterfront of Tofino read more

Shelter Restaurant - Shrimp and muscle fettuccini - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

We walked into this restaurant, it was packed but they were able to put us in the "lounge" area to eat at coffee table level. The view of the marina was great with a cute fireplace. We had the fish & chip which was decent, and the salmon kale bowl. The salmon was a bit overcooked, but the kale bowl was surprisingly tasty and interesting. Overall a good meal on our first night in Tofino. read more

Shelter Restaurant - Salmon and Kale Bowl, Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Shelter is an upscale restaurant for lunch and dinner, but they also operate as a cafe in the morning, which is when I visited. Only a small area of the restaurant is open during cafe hours, but it's still a really nice view and atmosphere, pretty quiet in the morning. They have a very limited cafe menu with a few breakfast sandwiches, two baked goods (a muffin and a scone), and drinks. They have all the espresso drinks you'd expect (latte, americano, etc, with dairy or oat milk and decaf available) but no tea lattes, only straight up tea. I had a strawberry white chocolate scone and a decaf latte. Rue scone was pretty good. The strawberry and white chocolate pieces were both so fine that the flavour infused into the scone but you didn't get the texture of the fruit or chocolate. I like when baked goods have a bit of texture, but it was still a good scone and I could tell it was freshly baked. The latte was very good! The espresso was strong but very smooth, no bitterness. Nice froth. I heard such good things about the restaurant that I thought it would be good to try the cafe since I didn't make it to the restaurant, and the cafe experience was fine, but a little underwhelming compared to the other cafes I visited in Tofino. More convenient than going into the core of downtown if you're staying at the resort though. read more

Shelter Restaurant - Strawberry white chocolate scone, latte - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Definitely one of our favourite, convenient restaurants in Tofino. Incredible view, great food. Opens late. During our stay, we came here four times. The shelter salad is really tasty. The chicken burger is crispy, chunky and very nicely made. The brussels sprouts are super delicious. We had the fish and chips, sufficiently good. Appetizer: really enjoyed the Sound of the Sea. After you dine here, you can bring the receipt, and get 10% off for the activities across the street. read more

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Absolutely loved the ambiance and feel of this spot! Right on the water, we got a set right next to the fireplace and had lunch--fish and chips, a classic which was delicious! Very relaxing, great service, vibes, etc. A definite must stop place in Tolfino! read more

Phenomenal dinner in a beautiful harborside restaurant. Fresh shucked oysters, seafood chowder, pan roasted halibut, blueberry and apple crumble. Every dish was great. Good service. Only nit was our hot entrees were brought out while we were halfway through the fresh raw oysters. We would have appreciated more time to savor the delicious oysters. Otherwise-- perfect. read more

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Frist time here know nothing but we choose the right food. Food was so amazing and service very excellent. Eating and looking to the view that perfect. read more

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The service was generally good, though a bit slow once more people came in. It seemed like they were missing someone at the bar and the rest had to cover. The food was quite good. The burger was a nice balance and size of ingredients. The caesar salad was overdressed, but that was partly my fault for not asking for lightly dressed. It was relatively quiet until a rather boisterous large group came in. Overall, a great place for a meal with a nice view. Definitely worth it if you're in the area. read more

Great dinner place. Recently went with a large party and the service was amazing. The food was really good, the portions were great although some items can be a little pricey. The place has a dim light setting which brings it all together. Definitely check it out. read more

Best I've had in the island... so far! Loved the atmosphere every bit as much as I did the dishes we tried. Definitely need to say that the service was outstanding! read more

Shelter Restaurant - The Brussels are... slightly sweet, crispy, tender goodness. - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

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We had reservations at Shelter for our last night in Tofino and it did not disappoint! We started with the tuna stack and it was perfection! I had the grilled salmon with shrimp risotto and my husband had the halibut. Both were incredible. The salmon was cooked a perfect medium rare and the meal was one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. Only downside is the price of wine... Would highly recommend a stop here. The view is super and the food is divine! read more

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We continue to come back here every time we are in Tofino. It truly is the best- food and atmosphere! You can't go wrong with anything you pick, but of course the seafood is perfection. We were so happy they reopened at the new location. read more

Oysters were superb. Calamari was good. Steak frites were a little chewy but the salad and fries with it were good. Atmosphere is great and the view of marina is nice. Do recommend. The burgers coming out looked exceptional. read more

Shelter Restaurant - Oysters. Can order 1/2 dozen or dozen. - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

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Nice people, cool vibes, yummy food. Had Brussels sprouts to start good. Warm olives were spicy and I liked them. Steak was decent and fries good read more

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Enjoyed a great lunch at Shelter. Service was good, food was fresh and the views were great. Would recommend if visiting Tofino

If you haven't been to Tofino in a couple of years, Shelter is now a huge waterfront restaurant. We stayed at the hotel just up the hill so we ended up eating here twice this stay. It was just too convenient and too delish to bother going anywhere else. We thought maybe we were out of luck since we couldn't get a reservation but it turns out they only book about 30% of the restaurant. Both evenings we were able to walk right in and get a spot. Even on Saturday, the host told us the wait is never longer than 30-45 minutes. Over two evenings we tried the olives, tofu and salmon surf bowls, (locally caught) Ling Cod & Chips, pot de creme, and crumble. We loved every bite. The pot de creme was a slight edge over the crumble, but you can't go wrong. As a vegetarian I love coming to a place that put some thought into their veggie entree and not just a consolation dish of mac and cheese or a veggie burger. They also have a decent selection of mocktails or will make any cocktail alcohol free. read more

Views are great and service was awesome, however... the food is insanely over priced for the quality. Tonight I had their "steak special" it was sold to me as "the same one off the menu but with a different quality meat" ... the steak dinner on the menu was $38 After receiving the bill and having not been told the price of the special I came to realize I was charged $69. For a fatty, overcooked steak. I was not impressed. My sister ordered the Tuna Stack and got 3 bite size little tuna cakes on her plate for $20... outrageous! Won't be going back. Not worth it. Just go see the dock/ marina and skip the criminal billing. read more

Food was delicious! This was our first restaurant we chose to go to in Tofino and it hit the spot! Fish and chips were cooked perfectly, had great batter/crispiness with a tasty cabbage slaw to go with it. The seafood chowder was also great. It came with a clam and mussel with bites of salmon throughout. It was all incredibly flavorful. The restaurant itself with the waterfront view was beautiful, despite the rain. There's nice lighting with unique art on the walls. I loved how the seating areas were organized and comfortable. There was a very cool floating fire place that was awesome to see. There was even outdoor seating, although we couldn't use it due to the rain. Our server, Ian, was very attentive and our food came out quickly. We are so lucky we got to enjoy Shelter! read more

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Nice restaurant. Friendly attentive service. Beer on tap was good. Food was fine although a bit pricey - of course it is everywhere now. Had the olives and calamari for appetizers and the fish and chips for the mains. Calamari was top notch. Also liked the light panko batter on the fish. read more

I was disappointed with the lack/delay in service. I took my food to-go given that the restaurant is not pet friendly (including outdoor seating). I simply asked for some hot sauce for my fish&chips to the first hostess. She proceeded to move about the restaurant and have a full conversation with someone. Surely she would be done soon. NOPE! I stood there for 10 minutes before a different hostess asked me if I needed help. I expressed that I had asked for some sauce. The second hostess then leaves (all while I'm watching the first one converse, still). After another 5 minutes, I gave up. Otherwise, the food was good. I did enjoy the fish&chips and the calamari. 4/5 on cuisine. read more

Nice views. In town doing touristy stuff. Beer on tap is good. The food was good but wasn't fan of the risotto ...

Glad I made a reservation for this restaurant as the line up was super long when I arrived. I got a table immediately and was very happy with that. Food was delicious as expected ! I personally did not think the clam chowder was worth the price as it tasted more of a chicken noodle and did not contain lots of the actual soup. Definitely not the traditional seafood clam chowder you'd probably be expecting so just a heads up! I ordered two different muscles the red Thai curry and the chimichurri. Although they were both good, the chimichurri was a lot more flavourful than the red Thai curry. Shelter restaurant is worth the visit and will not disappoint read more

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Food options may be limited in Tofino but don't let Shelter's high ratings fool you. This place seems to serve cafeteria food masked as fine dining - I'd look elsewhere. Their patio is cold in the evenings - make sure to get a spot surrounded by heaters and brace for passive attitude from the hostess when you request such a spot. Our server was very pleasant, though. Even the basic food options like the chicken sandwich (a hefty $14 - served with NO sides) were overcooked and the chicken bowl primarily consisted of plain rice and beans sprouts. If you do find yourself here, go for the fish and chips. They're not bad. read more

Servers great Food great Good prices Ambiance excellent Go early because it's a busy place!!! read more

You have to try the mussels here... they were just amazing! Definitely one of the best restaurants in Tofino. We were amazed by the freshness of all the seafood. We also tried the clam chowder and calamari and they were equally good. The chowder is very vegetable heavy so if that's not how you like your chowder I would stay away from ordering this-- we really enjoyed it though. We were also very pleasantly surprised by how great the cocktails were. I ordered an Old Fashioned and it was delicious. High recommend Shelter if you're looking for a great quality food! read more

Shelter Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

Beautiful restaurant over looking Main Street. Very approachable staff. The fresh oysters were outstanding. The kids devoured the salmon and fish sticks! I appreciate other options for kids than pizza and burgers. I had the pasta with mussels and my wife had the baked salmon and corn risotto. Both are excellent and would order again. read more

Shelter Restaurant - Fresh oysters! Excellent - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

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Absolutely loved everything about our experience here. The ambiance is spectacular as we got to sit next to the huge roaring fireplace on a chilly night. The drinks were delicious as was the food served. Our waitress was very attentive and super friendly. I would recommend the burger! No extra ketchup needed!! read more

Had a great meal in Tofino at Shelter Restaurant. Tried the calamari and Chevre which were great. Also had the Shrlter fries and Tuna Stack which are very popular on the menu with locals. Both were very good. Finished the meal with Apple pie and an IPA. We sat on the deck outside and enjoyed the weather and the food. Highly recommend. read more

Shelter Restaurant - Receipt showing prices - Seafood Near Me - Tofino, British Columbia

We really enjoyed our visit to Shelter. We came mid/end of September when the weather was starting to get chilly, so we were thrilled to find a heated outdoor patio. All the tables outside were socially distanced from one another. Shelter provided a QR code at each table for menu viewing. We felt very safe and comfortable to be dining here. All the food we ordered was delicious - our favourites for the night were the crispy brussel sprouts and mussels with the grilled baguette. There mussels' broth was so delicious that we had ordered an extra baguette, despite the fact that we were so full from the other dishes. Our server was attentive and showed up many times throughout the night to make sure we had everything we needed. I would definitely recommend this place and return if I were to visit the island again. read more

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We had a very nice dinner tonight. I had both of the tuna appetizers as a meal and I found both of them to be outstanding. Perfectly assembled with excellent texture and flavour. My wife had the seafood fettuccine which was good rather than outstanding. Hers had plenty plenty of quality ingredients and nice presentation but 8/10 flavour. The table shared the Brussel sprout appy which was delicious. Our son who is 3, had the kids mac n cheese which we both personally liked but he found to be a little too strong and adult tasting. It was good, no issues with it, he's sometimes a picky toddler. This was our first trip to the new location after probably 10 or so trips over the years to the previous location. They've done a nice job with the space. We will return someday. read more

All the food was very basic and tasted like it was made by seasonal employees. No effort was put in to season the food at all. The tuna tataki was pretty good, the chowder extremely bland, the salmon acceptable but nothing more, the calamari was cloying and only came with aioli but nothing acidic to break up the flavors. read more

I LOVED this place. When you walk in, you kind of get the feeling it's gonna be a bar food kind of place, you know, average food, great liquor. However... My first meal here was the LingCod Fish and Chips. Light & airy batter, fried to perfection, super fresh LingCod that tasted like it was caught 1/2 an hour before I ordered it. All the right details, excellent service and a table by the fireplace? Oh! and their own handcrafted beer (I think I ordered the blonde Ale...several times). I've eaten here one other time (not a local, on vacation from New York), and had a great meal as well. I think what I love about this place is that I'm getting bar food favorites, BUT elevated to a whole new level. Eat here, these guys can cook. read more

This is probably a great place in the summer when the roll-up doors are open to the patio. We had 8:15 dinner reservations and there were lots of table options. It was clear we wanted a nice view and comfort. First seated at a high top table in the bar. Asked for somewhere that didn't have the sun blinding one person and low chairs. Moved us to the next bar over. Better tables were in the area that is more like the dining room which had windows on two sides and fabulous views of the islands and the eagle tree. Billed at 'waterfront'. Let's call it 'harbor front'. All you see is boats and the fish processing plant - a working harbor. All of that blocked the sunset. And Tofino in town is on the inlet and harbor which is quieter water. If you want Pacific Ocean views, go to Long Beach Lodge, Wickaninnish Inn or Black Rock in Ucluelet. Food is OK+. Crispy Brussels sprouts were room temp and the cheese not melted. Tuna tataki was ok. Seafood chowder was quite good. Kale and salmon salad good-same as Shed (many menu overlap). Mussels and frites pretty good. Service was average-she was on her second day there so a bit rocky. Liked Wolf in the Fog better. read more

Best restaurant experience In Tofino. Sam our server was fantastic making our evening there spectacular. Oh and the Chowder and Salmon were excellent! read more

Great restaurant with a really nice patio area. The food we had was quite good and the service was excellent. The view from the patio was quite nice as well. I wasn't super hungry but they had a good diverse menu that I'm sure would appeal to many hungry bellies. The Cesar's were quite good as well. It's like a 4.5/5 in my books but since in can't nothing was wowed so it ended up getting a 4/5. I would definitely go back to this restaurant and recommend to many. read more

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Reservation was for 7pm January 14. We got at 6:47, saying they would text us when the table was ready. With a toddler in tow, we arrived at 7:10, having not yet received a text that our table was ready. After waiting several minutes for someone to greet us, the lady at the check in said that our table would be ready in "2 minutes, they're just settling up". Five minutes later, she said "1 minute, they are just clearing it". 5 minutes on, l saw there was a party of 4 sitting and chatting at the table that l believed was ours. I asked the same staff whether that was in fact our table, which she confirmed. I then asked why she'd said it would be ready in 2 minutes ten minutes ago, then stating (lying) that it was being cleared when, in fact, the customers were still sitting and chatting? She acknowledged nothing, barking that l was 10 minutes late! It was now 7:22. First, arriving within 15 minutes of a reservation is not considered "late", as there are many contingencies outside our control commuting. Second, had we arrived promptly at 7, we'd simply have been standing/waiting longer. How was her rude and unprofessional response even relevant to my question, which was basically, "why are you repeatedly lying to us?" Had she been truthful--perhaps inviting us to sit at the bar (or whatever), the experience would have been different. How about simply telling the truth, and not spewing venom when a customer points out your dishonesty? We left and will never return. read more

We are here tonight for our last dinner in town; it was fabulous! We started with Caesar salads, which were outstanding. We followed with steak (very good), muscles (great), and the halibut special with a mushroom sauce (outstanding)! Our server was excellent and the view was so lovely, especially on a rainy and foggy night. read more