Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shoestring Cafe

    4.6 (116 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM

    Shoestring Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    SHOESTRING CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Shoestring Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Chocolate souffle
    Kmaintl L.

    Back this year from San Francisco and brought a couple friends with us. They liked the food and service so much they want to dine here once more before returning home.

    Orange crème Caramel
    Angela C.

    I just discovered this low-key cafe in Richmond has been around for a while now and they're now launching a NEW lunch menu! Their lunch is at a great price point compared to their dinner menu. Service is great and the interior is clean and minimal. Lunch Menu launching July 8th only Available Monday -Friday 11:30AM - 3:00PM 20% OFF Lunch until August 31 when you follow them on Instagram :) Featured: Grilled Pork Rack with Chili Con Carne $27 Grilled Miso Glazed Atlantic Salmon Fillet $25 Orange Crème Caramel $10

    Sandy Y.

    My recent visit to Shoestring Cafe left me with mixed feelings. It is located in an industrial area across from the Richmond Driving Range. The cafe has a unique charm but falls short in some areas. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfect for a casual meal. The menu offers a decent selection of meat and seafood options, but I found the food to be average at best. While some dishes were tasty, others felt salty and overcooked. One positive aspect was the combo deal, which allows you to add $20 to your entree for a full-size appetizer and dessert. This option value was appreciated. The service was friendly, and we appreciated that the servers spoke Cantonese, adding a nice touch to the experience. Food: 3/5 Can Try! Service: 4/5 Kids: 3/5 A-OK for kids-- there is no kids' menu, but generous portions are available for sharing. The venue is small, with closely spaced tables, which is not ideal for kids sensitive to noise. Price: $50-$100 each person (dinner - birthday celebration) Presentation: 2/5 Parking: 2/5 Limited free parking is available in the plaza, but there is plenty of street parking nearby. Tips: * Recommend making reservations weeks in advance. * No alcohol license, but can communicate with the restaurant and pre-apply for a temporary Special Event Permit through the Government of BC website. * Serve complimentary freshly baked bread with homemade shrimp paste and butter. Would I Return: Maybe

    Chocolate soufflé
    Joanne G.

    The service was great very attentive waitress and the food was amazing! Highly recommend... we had the Caesar salad and and the corn seafood chowder for appetizers

    Picture posted is Ribeye steak (medium rare)
    Michiko N.

    The best underrated restaurant in Richmond. The steak was sooo good and tasty and just satisfied my cravings overall. I loved their set of desserts as well, couldnt choose between chocolate souffle, egg souffle, or panna cotta! Everything is worth the try though. This is like my 10th time going to this place LOL. Their pasta is really good too. Service was very good, the staff were accomodating and they know their menu very well. The ambiance is cozy, kind of like a fine dining set up but definitely good for casual dining as well.

    a bowl of pasta with meat and cheese
    Carlos P.

    Shoestring cafe is definitely an unique bistro that really blown me away. The location as well as the exterior of the cafe was farrrr from fancy. It's location in the middle of industrial area and banner looks old and a little run down. The interior was extremely simple, it kinda gave me an old Irish pub vibe. Menu was very simple with good selections of meat poultry and seafood options. They also offer to include an appetizer and a dessert with just $20 added to any entree. However they don't have liquor license so unfortunately no alcoholic drinks are offered here. When our dishes showed up I was really impressed with the portion of food we have. There r a lot of details put into each side that came with the entree as well. Dessert was fabulous as expected. This bistro is operated by an Asian couple. Service was tentative and personal. The owner shared that everything was made from scratch. And they put a lot of thoughts into their rotating menu so there will always be fresh ingredients and client will always have different options. So one thing I learned from this little cafe is that don't judge a restaurant by its look. Shoestring cafe is a definitely a community spot that worth a trip.

    Shrimp and scallop dish
    Tammy E.

    The food here was fresh, unique, and generous in portion! I made a reservation here and was so excited for my 3-course feast. My friend and I sat by the window and were almost silent as we savored every bite of our meal. From the fresh french bread with crabby butter at the start of the meal to the delicious desserts we were two very happy ladies! I started with the crab and avocado tower -- so fresh it really seemed like the crab came out of the water that morning! This was a perfect first course. My friend loved her baked scallops as we sat enamored by our food. For the main course my friend had the fresh black cod and I had the shrimp and scallops. The fish was fresh and delicate and the scallops and shrimp I had were perfectly complemented by the sauce and vegetables plated together. Lastly the panna cotta was so thick and creamy I couldn't put it down. Usually it's made very sweet and jiggly - this was not super sweet but just right. I almost didn't finish it but it was so good I couldn't let any go to waste. The cheesecake was light and fluffy - different than the usual dense cheesecakes I've had that are filling and rich. The entire experience was wonderful and I highly recommend this restaurant!! It is small but was full the entire time we were there. It is no secret they are a great restaurant! Can't wait to return in the future! Service was great!

    House made bread
    Sara A.

    We were looking for a place for dinner before an event and lucked out as they were fully booked. Told the server we will be in and out of them in under an hour and she said if you can be here within 15 mins we do have a table until 7pm. Started with the mussels and corn chowder (the best I have had). The bread is scrumptious and homemade. Mussels were so well flavoured. Out come the duck and boy oh boy, the meat were so tender. Generally, I like my duck medium well but I really enjoyed it in a rarer state. The sauce was so delicious and the sides were ample full. The chocolate soufflé was so satisfying. Basically, it has been a while since a restaurant has nailed every single dish but Shoestring Cafe absolutely did that and the super talented chef did it in under an hour. Thanks to our server for coordinating our dishes in such a timely manner too.

    Grilled duck breast
    Kelven W.

    First day for Dineout Vancouver! We read some reviews and this seemed to be a great start... and having lobster as an appie piqued my interest. We started with that and it was delicious. Very well cooked and exactly how you want lobster, succulent and juicy! It also came with a corn cake aka cornbread pancake. Unexpectedly good! Next up was their grilled miso cod with vegetables. The skin was nicely grilled and crispy while keeping the rest of the fish just right. We also order the duck breast which was excellent. Cooked well and not overdone. The sauce had a greatly earthy taste that complemented the duck well. Lastly, we had the mango blueberry panna cotta. Wow! Fresh mango and the custard was perfect. Not overly sweet and the fresh mango was delicious. Also ordered the chocolate soufflé which was a bit dry and overcooked :( All in all, a great meal and looking forward to coming back.

    Grilled Chipotle Marinated Lobster Tail and Corn Cake
    Maling S.

    We came here for the Dine Out Vancouver 2020 menu tonight. First time dining here and looked forward to a good dinner. Driving here it's a bit out of the way in a light industrial area. We were quickly seated as we had reservations and we were a few minutes early. Shortly after, the restaurant was quite full. The restaurant isn't really big but it felt very cozy. We ordered: - appetizer: Grilled Chipotle Marinated Lobster Tail and Corn Cake - this was really good. The lobster tail the the corn cake was really delicious with the marinated sauce. With a small salad it was a great start - entree1: Pan Roasted Duck Breast - I really love duck, especially from Chinese restaurants, but this very tasty with the sauce that was provided on the dish. - entree2: Black Alaska Cod - first bite of this, I was in love I do love eating fish and this was quite rich tasting but it was very tender and melted happily at each bite. - dessert1: Panna Cotta - I really liked this dessert as it was not overly sweet really paired well with mango and bluberry - dessert 2 - chocolate soufflé with ice cream - I had a couple bites and it was ok only because soufflé was a smidge over baked. It was a bit harder than expected. The service was really good and very attentive refilling hot water throughout our dining experience. Great start to Dine Out Vancouver, in Richmond. I would recommend.

    Grilled Shrimp on Corn Cakes with Chipotle Sauce
    R M.

    I have been to this establishment twice this week while In town for business. I recommend going here at least once once if your travels take you to Richmond, or if you live here. Most of the clientele during my visit seemed to be local. This is a small, family owned business with a gracious and pleasant hostess/waitress and a chef d'cuisine who knows his business. They serve a variety of French and French-adjacent (pasta) dishes which are wonderfully prepared, perfectly seasoned, fresh ingredients, and fantastic value. They offer a'la carte starters, entrees, pastas and desserts, or pick an entree and for $17, pick any starter and dessert. I did this twice. The first night, I ordered from the specials board, and got a perfectly moist inch thick grilled pork chop with mash and veg, started off with corn and seafood chowders and finished with a chocolate soufflé. Out the door with a good tip for about $50 US. Three nights later, I had to come back for the roasted duck breast, started by chipotle shrimp on corn cakes, and once again finished by chocolate soufflé. (Pics attached). Again, out the door for about $50 US. They seem to be BYOB, I did see someone bring wine. I don't know if there Is a corkage fee. I'd go again if I was staying longer, and I'll be back the next time I'm in town. This place is well worth the short drive out to Road 6.

    a plate of meat and vegetables
    Angela L.

    Here is their $45 DOVF menu: Bread & butter (optional), $5 extra, 8.5/10: The salty & hint of sweetness of the shrimp butter went so well w/ the warm bread! Butter was very creamy too. Appetizers: Seafood & corn chowder, 8.5/10: Melts in your mouth! Not too heavy or thick, lots of corn and big pieces of shrimp. Grilled marinated quail w/green salad, 7.5/10: Tender & flavorful, little more gamey compared to regular chicken. Scallop thermidor, 6/10: Scallop was slightly undercooked & didn't go to well w/ the cheese. Salad was good tho! Entrees: Pan roasted duck breast , 8.5/10: Chewy & juicy w/ a slight redness in the middle! Got a little dry towards finishing the dish. Grilled blackened New York steak , 7/10: Very tender, cooked as medium! Found it odd that there's a lot of cajun spice on it, too spicy for our liking. Grilled miso glazed salmon fillet , 9/10: Cooked perfectly soft w/ a little char, the miso mayo made the fillet more rich! All entrees came w/ mashed potatoes, carrot puree, & a variety of veggies. Everything was good but not a fan of the puree cause it lacked flavour. Dessert: Chocolate souffle w/ vanilla ice cream, 8/10: The ice cream balanced out the sweet & bitterness! I also enjoyed the airy outer texture with the lava centre. Orange creme caramel, 7/10: Didn't taste much orange but the caramel wasn't too sweet and the custard was smooth! Mango & blueberry panna cotta, 6/10: Mango puree was fresh & went ok with the panna cotta. Overall nothing special tho. Worth it? Could be better. Pretty much no service..no one refills water or asks how the food is. All the servers do is clean dishes & take your bill. Good part: huge portions for a $45 value, although I wouldn't go back cause their regular menu is expensive. The place is small, 9 tables with plexi glass installed - make resos if you plan to go! DOVF seatings are 5:30pm & 7:30pm.

    Sally C.

    My husband and I visited The Shoestring Cafe for Dine Out Vancouver. This was our second time visiting. Our first time here was a couple years ago and it was a pleasant experience. The first impression when I walked in here this time was "WOW, IT'S SO BUSY!" It's a small restaurant and there was so many people inside. The tables were right next to each other and were divided by a plexiglass. Customers were seated so close together that they needed to move the table when they wanted to get out. They also allowed a big group of people to dine in different tables and they were just walking across to other tables to chat with no social distance. I understand that small businesses are doing their best to survive, but they need to put their customers' and staff's safety first. Food quality has seriously gone down since my last visit. Most of the dishes tasted artificial. Perhaps it's the seasonings they use. The blueberry & mango Panna cotta was horrible... My husband is the least picky eater I know and he even stopped eating. The chocolate souffle was good. Overall, I would not go back here again. I really hate to leave a negative review during this difficult time, but it just made it impossible to leave a good review. I hope they can assess the situation and make some improvements for future guests.

    Chocolate soufflé

    See all

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kmaintl L.
    120
    292
    338

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tammy E.
    473
    3532
    5244

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R M.
    14
    61
    27

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jayson A.
    83
    21
    48

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Annie M.
    180
    1201
    9599

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 38
    Thanks 0
    Love this 33
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of NK J.
    7
    114
    60

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zach D.
    34
    262
    73

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Shoestring Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for French 4,783 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

    The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

    3.2
    (154 reviews)
    5.7 km
    $$$

    We came here to celebrate a Birthday and looked forward to a good meal out, as one expects with the…read moreKeg. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with both the food and the service. First off, the bread isn't as good as usual. It was fine but nothing great and barely Luke warm. We always get asked if we want more bread but not on our visit here - a first. Our server was so busy and there was no supporting staff except to deliver the food from the kitchen. We didn't get asked if we wanted more bread, took 20 minutes to get our order in, our calamari appetizer never arrived and just our mains but by the time we could find our server we were halfway through our mains despite that I am a slow eater. The server did apologize and said he would bring the calamari and take it off the bill, which was nice. Calamari came in 10 minutes but portion looked small. When the server came by next he mentioned that it came quickly because he stole the order from another table - what?!? Am glad the calamari was free because it didn't taste great and portion was small. My boyfriend wasn't asked if he wanted another beer until we were at the end of the meal and when I asked for a water refill it took another 10 minutes. It took us over 2 hours to eat and not because I was slow eater but due to the slow service. We were looking forward to our Billy Miner pie but the server never mentioned it and as it took so long to find him we gave up on dessert and opted to go for dessert somewhere else. This must be a franchise location and not sure why it's so busy as service and food easily the worst Keg location I've ever been to and I have to most locations in the Lower Mainland plus Kelowna. Will definitely stick to the Vancouver and Burnaby locations from here on out. The bigger disappointment was that I wrote to the Keg to provide feedback and never heard back. Sad to see one of the best chain restaurants to go downhill.

    This was not a good experience. We came to celebrate a birthday and had a table of 5. Our bill was…read more$400. Although the service is great, the kitchen was off. We emailed the restaurant after to discuss the experience and had no response. We ordered appies and drinks to start. The Caesar salad is amazing and highly recommend. The crab cakes and calamari were also delicious. 2 people got prime rib, one steak, and one filet mignon. Plus a bunch of sides, like the brussels, Mac and cheese, and broccoli gratin. The broccoli gratin was dried burnt broccoli with a sprinkle of parm. The Mac and cheese was bland. The food came out except for 1 prime rib. After 10 minutes, the server came to apologize and inform us that they were out of prime rib. He offered the prime rib sandwich on rush, which we appreciated. It came out quickly enough but was not good. There was too much fat to meat ration. We would have sent back a few things but the table beside us sent back their food multiple times and we were ready to go. Not sure what happened but it was an off day. I would not recommend this location!

    Photos
    Finely lit
    Finely lit
    Crispy Cauliflower
    Crispy Cauliflower
    Mud pie

    See all

    Mud pie
    Chop Steakhouse & Bar

    Chop Steakhouse & Bar

    4.0
    (32 reviews)
    3.1 km
    $$$

    It is a beautiful space , fairly quiet and easy to talk when I was there despite having quite a few…read moretables. All the staff were very friendly and quick. They have a kids menu with a few good options which also came with a plate of fruit to start. We also received a free appetizer , I forget the name but the tuna poke crisps in the photo. We didn't have any drinks but they had a large menu. Tried the steak and lobster , fries and Mac and cheese. One steak was medium and one medium rare , cooked perfectly. Even without ordering any of the extra sauces or toppings it was really flavourful. Also came with a handful of veggies. Mac and cheese side was a large portion and topped with bacon.

    DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS ESTABLISHMENT IF YOU WANT YOUR EXPERIENCE RUINED…read more My son took my parents and I here for my birthday. We have been here before and my son really enjoyed it so he wanted to come here for my birthday dinner. We ordered 2 regular prime rib dinners, 1 fillet mignon, 1 French Onion soup and 1 Caesar salad. Here's what happened: 1. Parts of the crust on the French Onion soup came out black. I sent it back and the manager came by to minimize my concerns. Another manager came by to apologize for having the crust burned. 2. My son ordered the fillet mignon medium. It came out well done. The manager came out to apologize again. 3. The replacement fillet mignon came out tartar - seared on the outside, cold on the inside. 4. Same manager came out and deemed it was unaccepted. I asked for the chef. Sous chef came out and apologized. Offered to cook it himself. 5. After waiting 45 minutes for the 3rd attempt at cooking a steak, we decided to pay the bill, tip the server and we left. They didn't even bother trying to fix their first two mistakes. Overall, I would say this was probably the worst meal I've had the displeasure of having at a steakhouse. It was disappointing especially for a chain of steakhouses. My recommendation is do NOT patronize this establishment. You're better off at McDonald's or Wendy's if you want something that is cooked properly.

    Photos
    Chop Steakhouse & Bar
    Steamed mussels
    Steamed mussels
    Escargot Stuffed Mushrooms $13

    See all

    Escargot Stuffed Mushrooms $13
    Steveston Seafood House

    Steveston Seafood House

    3.8
    (164 reviews)
    10.2 km
    $$$

    I had recently received a gift card to Steveston Seafood House, and decided to use it for a weekend…read morebrunch/lunch. We arrived in time for our reservation but there was no one at the front. We waited for a few minutes for someone to notice we were there, and were immediately seated. It's a nice looking place - very classic whites, and feels like a fine dining restaurant. We decided to try the following: - Beef Carpaccio: Good. Maybe a bit light on the meat, as it was buried by the arugula and pickled shallots, so seemed unbalanced, but overall tasted great - Seafood Linguini: Mixed. Linguini was good. Scallops were really good and tender. Mussels were tiny. Red snapper was tough and dry. As a dish, it was OK, but could be better. Seafood is seasonal, so I'd think they would be better off rotating what seafood is used. - LuLu Island: OK. Same issue as the linguine. Prawns were fine. Mussels tiny. Red snapper wasn't enjoyable. Broth had flavour, but didn't come out very hot. Service was pleasant but slow. I only saw one server and one busser, so not enough staff to handle 6 or 7 tables they had. Starter came n reasonable time, but main dishes seemed to take over 20min. Took awhile to get our plates cleared, and probably 15+ minutes to get the bill. Overall, it was OK. Food was OK, but not special. Service was nice enough, but couldn't keep up with timing. Glad I got to try it, but not special enough to go back.

    Went here for my birthday dinner with my parents and wife. Great spot for a celebration without…read morebeing overpriced. We tried four different fish (sablefish, halibut, salmon, and char) and each was cooked really well with slight variations that made them stand out. Oysters were a nice bonus at $1.50 each with entrées. Service was excellent--our waiter kept things light with jokes and even brought me dessert when he found out it was my birthday. Overall, a solid seafood dinner and good value.

    Photos
    Steveston Seafood House
    Lobster and crabbed stuffed ravioli
    Lobster and crabbed stuffed ravioli
    Steveston Seafood House

    See all

    Gordon Ramsay Steak

    Gordon Ramsay Steak

    3.7
    (55 reviews)
    4.6 km
    $$$$

    Had the honour of having a chef led menu that was absolutely an experience!! Gordon Ramsay steak…read morewas part of an auction item for Arthritis Canada- and wow did they deliver an experience! From the moment we arrived it was a very special experience! Seated with friends in a beautiful alcove with a view of the River. The menu was greatly anticipated. From the welcome to the bread course- oh my goodness can I have bone marrow butter every day?!? It was a feast for the eyes and palate! Lobster and scallop dish with french bubbles, wagyu tartar with a beautiful French Pinot from Burgandy, a clementine palate cleanser that I may dream about. But the show stopper- the A5 wagyu?!? The absolute best ever- we have been disappointed so many times with so called wagyu- this was the real deal- cooked to perfection! And my husband would have eaten the sauce with a spoon!!!! Another fabulous red. Dessert was a magic apple looking Black Forest cake! I am forgetting parts- but the meal and experience was extraordinary! Highly recommend! Add this to your list of places to eat for a wonderful experience. Definitely choose the dining room! Or the patio if the weather is nice!!!

    To be honest - I am bit torn writing this review after going with my best friend for a celebration…read more I am not a big fan of the sales tactic of making a table order drinks - when they seat you they give you the drink menu and say "your food menu will come soon". The problem is ... we were then sitting awkwardly at our table for about 8-13 minutes before we were then given the food menu. We did note that tactic was used for all tables as that must be their servicing house rules and not server specific. While we did order drinks we enjoy them ~with~ our food, they also took awhile to come. You check in at the front and there is a small dining section than mirrored hallway walk to the bigger dining section where you can see the kitchen. I found the plates cheap looking in nature. It didn't match the aesthetic and prestige that this restaurant is trying to uphold. Feels very disconnected in nature. On to the dishes/drinks ordered: Warm bread: expensive at $9. Passable but I imagine people order this while drinking so an easy order for the table. Pork belly: this is S W E E T. While the menu noted it is made with a black cherry gastrique we underestimated how thick and sweet this would be (we had both had pork chop/duck entrees that had or featured a cherry demi glace). It covered the entirety of the tender pork belly and made it unappetizing to us both because of the dessert heavy flavouring was so overpowering. It felt like it was missing the acid/vinegar component to offset the sweetness. When our server checked in with us we were honest with our feedback and he then got the house manager involved and was able to "switch" out the appetizer. They both had recommended the risotto so we went with that in replacement. Risotto: good flavour but even for an appetizer I think it is alarmingly small for the price point. I think the risotto could be offered with a protein and be successful as its own spot for an entree. Roasted beef Wellington (comes with 2 sides glazed root vegetables and potato puree) - this was the main reason and excitement drawing us to this restaurant. It was cooked amazingly. Beautifully tender. Vegetables were just roasted carrots - they were fine but we thought there'd be more of a variety. Potato puree - also fine. Mac & cheese: forgettable. Not sure why there were green peppers in it. Brussel sprouts: good addition. Sticky toffee pudding: great for its sweetness. If I ordered again I would ask for the sauce on the side. Notes from Gordon: tasted very floral and perfume like. I found the presentation a bit too "casual" for $20 A diving bell: spicier than we had thought but it was fine. There were a lot of serves/bussers around and we could tell the restaurant was not particularly busy and because we were seated right beside the kitchen it just felt awkward being around groups of talking staff. This was especially amplified when we had empty plates/drinks to be removed and water glasses that could use refilling but neither were being tended to. One busser served us from the right side moving our lamp out of the way, with her thumb in the veggie bowl and when famously should be done by the left and because we were sitting the closest to the kitchen it felt lazy to serve across us and move the lamp than to come on the "freer" side of the table. Bussers were also not ... pleasant or welcoming? So while we had good service from our server and house server it felt uneven when others were delivering all the dishes monotonously. This did not hit the mark for us at a $325~ dining experience. It left us underwhelmed.

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    Miso glazed sablefish
    Miso glazed sablefish
    Interior

    See all

    Interior

    Shoestring Cafe - french - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...