Herman E.

Fine dining out at UBC. One of the very few establishments out here. Sage Bistro was at the Grad Student Centre, but I'd hardly call that fine dining. It was run by UBC Food Services. A bunch of things. 1. The chicken wings. I'd call this fusion. Fusion in the loosest sense. It's eerily similar to the Phnom Penh wings, but with a slightly sweet sauce. The fusion part? Also similar to Chinese deep fried chicken wings 椒鹽炸雞翅. Double AA. Asian on Asian fusion. Quite good none the less. You'll have to try and decide for yourself. 2. Wagyu burger. HH pricing at $24. I have not tried a wagyu burger before. I know they're around, but I usually go for diner style for stuff like this. That's my comfort zone. I would come back for this. 3. Chicken burger. It was good, but didn't blow me away. I prefer the ones at Le coq Frit, There Their, or Petite Bao Relatively newly built and clean. Courteous service. Free parking with registration. This is a nice dining addition to UBC, other than my usual go to place, the University Golf Club.

Mandy T.

Wildlight is located at UBC. Its decor is dark/candlelight/classy feels, which is strange because its right across from a very bright IGA! Hubby and I came for date night and chose from their $74- 3-course menu. We had high expectations - so we were disappointed that we weren't wow'd by the food. There were a few high points but the overall dishes were average. Appetizers: - Hamachi Crudo - It tasted strange to me. The dressing on it did not complement the fish. - Smoked Sablefish Chowder - This was delicious and was the best dish of the night. So creamy, hearty, and comforting. Mains: - Steak Frites (+$19) - The steak was flavored well. The large pile of fries on the side was very average though; I prefer more shoestrong cut frites with steak. And others mentioned the fries are seasoned with truffle and peppercorn but mine did not have any of those flavors. - Seared Hokkaido Scallops - This came on a bed of risotto and everything was cooked and seasoned well. Desserts: - Blueberry Lemon Mousse Cake - Nice, light cake. - Poached Pear - It was OK, this was hubby's choice and not really a dessert I would normally get. He said it was OK too, but probably get something different next time. Service was friendly. Free parking available underground.

Dan K.

Wildlight is nothing short of extraordinary. I've eaten and had drinks here 12 times now, and it still never ceases to amaze me. Every single visit has been consistently exceptional, which is rare and speaks volumes about the level of care and talent behind this place. It's also a beautiful space. The staff is incredible across the board, and the bar in particular deserves special recognition. The cocktails are absolutely fire -- beautifully crafted, balanced, creative, and memorable every single time. You can tell there is real skill and pride behind every drink that comes out. The chef is truly exceptional, with an obvious attention to every detail. The food is not only gorgeous to look at, but outstanding in flavor, execution, and presentation. Every dish feels thoughtful, elevated, and intentionally prepared. It is clear that excellence is the standard here, not the exception. The servers are attentive, polished, and genuinely welcoming. Service always feels warm, professional, and seamless, which only adds to the overall experience. Wildlight is the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression long after you leave. It is mind-blowing in the best possible way. Run, don't walk, to this establishment. It is a true gem, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Lee Y.

I was a but disappointed with the mushroom burger as it was very deep fried. The portion that my friend had was very small. This place had a more fine dining vibe but the food didn't meet the standards.

Stephanie M.

We came on a Saturday during happy hour. The restaurant was pretty empty. I love how it's laid out and the number of tables they have. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. Happy hour wildlight drinks get $2 off Inverted dude - was a coffee based drink. I didn't really like it. I wouldn't get it again Negroni - strong and delicious Mussels and fries (16) - plentiful and well seasoned. Loved the sauce. The French fries were crispy and addictive. Would recommend Chicken wings 10 pieces (12) - pretty standard. Crispy on the outside. On the sweeter side. Overall would come back to try their other items. Prices during happy hour are a steal

Ly W.

Such a wonderful date night with some very interest Asian fusion dishes. Food came out so fast and the chicken wings were to die for. It kind of reminds me of the dimsum chicken feet sauce but so crunchy and juicy. The fries were good and the truffle dip wasn't overpowering. The food came out so fast that some of our mains for cold so our experience might be different than if you ate everything hot. The duck skin was no longer crispy but the duck was tasty. We also ordered the fish which was also very tasty though the carrot cake on the side was too dense for my liking. Service was good though it was a bit awkward when two servers came by to ask us about drinks. Overall we were so stuffed that we skipped desserts but it was a fantastic meal.

Isabel C.

Came here for dinner with my boss and was surprised by this relatively hidden gem tucked in the UBC area. The restaurant has a modern botanical vibe with indoor and heated patio seating. We opted for the patio as the weather was quite nice. The server was attentive and immediately had our drink orders going. I opted for the Kazuki Sour, which was light and refreshing. We had a hard time with the menu because everything looked good and our stomachs could only fit so much. However, we settled on the most eye-catching items hoping it would deliver, and it mostly did! The pescatarian board was a beautifully plated array of seafood items. While I liked the smoked salmon, uni pate, and the nori chips, the other items were just okay. The marinated octopus dish was literally smoking from some sort of burnt wood (?) and deeply intrigued us, but we found the taste average. The presentation and novelty were engaging and it was fun to eat, but I am unsure if I would order it again. Next, the beet and burrata salad was a good staple for getting some greens into dinner, but I wouldn't comment anything special on it. My favourite dish of the night was definitely the seared Hokkaido scallop risotto. The scallops were phenomenal - perfectly cooked and seasoned on a bed of lobster risotto. I found the price ($44) incredibly fair for this dish (for comparison, the pescatarian board was $45). The truffle fries were also really delicious - crispy and paired well with the smoked onion mayo (yum!!!). Finally, dessert time. My boss and I decided to be crazy and order the dessert platter. In hindsight, it didn't end up to be that crazy of an idea because we almost finished the entire thing! I liked that the desserts were all conceptual and focused on the nature here in Pacific Spirit Park. The platter had the cutest mushroom-shaped meringue pieces and different elements to emulate the "walk" through the dessert park. I enjoyed Hide & Seek the most as it was the most enjoyable for my palate. It was not too sweet, but still decadent and impactful in flavour with the brandy sauce. However, the dessert that left the biggest impression on me was Riverstone. This dessert looked like a rock on the platter and was paired with some green sponge to emulate moss. I thought this was creative and clever. In addition, this dessert contained goat cheese - something I usually dislike. However, upon tasting, I discovered a dessert profile that I never thought I would enjoy. The cheese flavour was subtle and the mix of texture, creaminess, and apple all combined very well to create a seamless dessert. Needless to say, I was deeply impressed. Finally, the service was overall attentive, and I liked that there is free registered parking downstairs. This is a wonderful restaurant for all types of gatherings, casual and formal. I would single-handedly return for that scallop lobster risotto and to try some other dishes as well. Wildlight was indeed wild and (de)light(ful).

Tiff K.

Got the chance to come here to celebrate two milestone birthdays! The staff were all very friendly and accommodating. They can comp your parking downstairs for two hours. Naomi in particular was really friendly, professional, and kind. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable about all elements of the dishes served. The interior was very relaxing and private and sunny. We started with some appetizers as shown in the pictures attached. The pescatarian board was incredibly interesting on the menu and when we ordered it, there were no complaints for any part of the board. It featured an Uni paste that had a wine jelly on top, nori crackers, olives, caper berries and a really fun smoked apple wood display with baby octopus on top. Our next entrée was the mussels. The first bite was incredibly packed with flavor, and we even kept the sauce to add to other bites throughout the meal. The bread that they provided was really well done, it was fluffy, but had a textured exterior with a lot of crunch and chew. Our third entrée that was not pictured was raw oysters, which was great as expected. We also ordered a picture on the side, which was made primarily from orange and pineapple juice, but presented with these personal glasses that had tried pineapple and a cherry skewered together. We ordered three dishes to share between four people as our entrées. One of the entrées was a Wagyu beef burger, which was not particularly outstanding, but was done well as expected. The seafood linguine, however, was very richly flavored and contained a great variety of seafood. The duck dish was the most impressive because of how thoughtful the placement of all the elements were. The most memorable part of the meal will definitely be the dessert taster tray. It was a show stopper. First of all, as it is presented in the dessert menu, there is a mention of how the desserts were inspired by Pacific Spirit, which is the park nearby the restaurant. We thought that this was very intentional. We did not expect for that inspiration of nature to be seen through the presentation of the desserts. On the dessert board, there were a little mushrooms, made out of meringue, and some chocolate dusting and sponge cake that was placed like soil around the specific dessert. It is paired with. Starting with the tart, it was a very tart and refreshing dessert. It definitely needs to be Tasted with the rhubarb paste made available on the side. The poached pair was a vegan alternative to the other desserts on the menu and although it looks very simple, each piece of pair was packed full of flavor. In hindsight, I can also see that the pair is cut into bite sized pieces that directs you to experience the flavors without being overwhelmed by them. The tiramisu, like dessert was very fun to cut into, it paired with a strong pouring of espresso mixture, which you can adjust as you wish. Lastly, the "Riverstone " had cheesecake like elements and completely disorient you in the best way because it explodes with flavor and a variety of textures. You can even see little jelly drops that are supposed to resemble the water on a stone by the river. Suffice to say that the dessert board was the most impressive because of how intentional, well thought out, and complementary all the elements are to each other. Highly recommend that you experience it as a foursome, then desserts individually.

Edward L.

New brunch place near UBC. No idea how long this building complex has been here. Parking is available underneath in the shared parkade. Be sure to register your plate. Place is nice and modern and spacious. There is a large S facing patio that gets a bit hot. Best to draw the blinds. Staff are friendly and cheerful. Very professional. Crab cake benedict - served with poached eggs. Very tasty. Crab is nice and fluffy. Served on 2 cheddar biscuits, with a side of onion rosti (looks like a long orange rectangular stick). For dessert they had some complimentary butter cookies. Chocolate bits embedded inside. Nice and tasty. This place also has happy hour specials such as oysters, though I didn't try. Definitely a good place to go for some brunch. Recommended.

Shonah M.

Dine Out Vancouver (celebration of food & drink at special prices for a limited time) 2024 is in full swing. Thought I'd take advantage of it for the savings & a chance to try a new restaurant. Recently awarded a Michelin star for the Young Chef Award, Warren Chow is head chef at Wildlight Kitchen + Bar. The award is awesome but that's not why I wanted to try it out. It was more - 'word on the street' - that conjured up my curiosity more than anything else. Located at the University of British Columbia, WKB is part of the Jim Pattison (local billionaire & very nice dude) Group of companies. There's plenty fast food restaurants at UBC & so few of the 'fine dining' nature. This is a newly built up residential area called Lelm(not spelt this way - autocorrected by Yelp!?) Village ('home' in the Musqueam language) with shops, Urban Fare (gourmet grocery) & the year old WKB restaurant. I was mighty impressed with the stylistic decor & swankiness of the interior. This restaurant is classy with an easy on the eyes lighting system, beautiful wood panels & exceptional artwork. The Sablefish Chowder was excellent - lots of chunky seafood bits in it. The Confit Duck Tart was a tasty twist with the croissant base. Whoa the Mixed Mushroom Risotto had me ooohhhing & aaahhhing with every bite. A little salty but loved it nonetheless. The Lamb Shortloin came out looking like Spam. Lol. I had not seen Lamb presented in this way before. It was good but I'd perhaps try the chicken next time. For dessert - get the Lemon Tart! Will do wonders on your palate & have your taste buds dancing. The Coconut Cannoli is for those that best love Cannoli & love it more than I do aka my lack of an Italian palate prevents me from truly rating any Cannoli fairly. I did love the Passionfruit Sorbet that came with it. I want to go back asap & try other menu items as well as popping in for happy hour. Also of note - weekend brunch is on till 3pm. Yelpies get over to WKB pronto!

LuFei L.

I love that there is now an upscale restaurant right by UBC. It's so perfect for all the important university celebrations. The ambiance is great and the staff is always friendly. I've been here a few times because I absolutely love the tempura oyster mushrooms. They are the best thing on the menu! I actually will occasionally visit just for a takeout box of these mushrooms. The other dishes are all very delicious as well. I especially like the risottos. My only complaint is that food is a bit slow. Both times I've eaten in the restaurant, it felt like the food took forever to arrive. They're really great about refilling drinks/water while waiting, it's just hard when I'm hungry to wait for food. Other than that, always a pleasant experience and I'll definitely be back!

Jon L.

Decide to do dine out here as it is a Michellin Recommended restaurant. Been hyped by IG too so we thought, why not. Ordered the burrata for appys and fish chowder, lamb loin and rissoto for mains and another order of clasic steak frites with truffle fries and garlic mayo dip. For dessert..had the lemon tart ( forgot the pic) and the choco mousse. Let me just say, how this place got the Michellin Recommendation is beyond me. Cactus club literally serves better food. The burrata and dessert were the only good points here. The rissotto was sour. Ive eaten many risottos in my life, and this one is the most sour ive had. Whoever made it squeezed too much lemon into it. The rice also wasnt creamy. Consistency was off key. The fish chowder was by far the worst ive ever had in the history of chowders. It was not fresh at all. It smelled so fishy, as soon as it hit the table The pungent aroma floated to my nostrils, that i thought the server had body odour. As the old saying goes about seafood, it shouldnt taste or smell fishy. Either the fish was bad or they didbt out enough dill or spices to mask the smell...but it wasnt good at all. Now i thought the steak frites would save the day bec when i tried the truffle fries...they were excellent. I saw real chimichurri sauce With peppercorn gravy...and i thought..it must be good. I was dead wrong! Lol. Only the sauces and fries were good, as well as garlic mayo. The steak frites was below average. Chewey and not smoky at all. Center was cold and not seared enough. So disappointed. The lamb loin with sausage was also a failure. Just look at the pic. Clearly its glued meat together and formed and rolled. Not even the sausage was good. Plain and stale. And they charged $65 a head for this. What a disaster. The service...oh boy! Thats the worst part. Our server was nowhere to be seen most of the night. It was so hard to call her. Her focus was on another long table that were having a bday get together. Our water carafe was always empty. She passed by 3-4 times looked, and never did anything. We had some of our food changed she was no where. It was another server who came To our rescue and even took our pict. Even asking for the bill she was nowhere. Someone else had to call her for us. Complete failure for a place to be endorsed by michellin guide. I will never return so to speak. This is not fine dining but simply a glorified food court. I mean, some food court food taste better than this place. Cactus club makes better food than this place bar-none!! Inside is nice tho. High ceilings and dim light. Nice decors and table and chairs. But it stops there. The manager came by and asked how was everything, i grinned and said, so so. Think he didnt like that response and never came back and asked why. Hahahaha. Ive been to many michellin places with 1-2 stars. This place doesnt even deserve a pixie dust in my opinion. I regret coming to this place and spending $. Cheers! Happy eating!

Joanna L.

I stumbled upon this place at the recommendation of the Chan centre. This is on the way to UBC and not too far from the golf club. I am happy to have tried this Michelin recommended restaurant. The ambiance is very nice and bright. Modern and clean. I love the design of the restaurant. It is warm and inviting. The happy hour was good! I'm so glad I tried the burger and the mussels & fries. It was a lot of food, but I managed to finish the burger and the mussels at the very least. I have to say between the two dishes, I like the burger better. The service was okay. There were a couple of times I was somewhat annoyed. Perhaps they are minut. Things like: not bring cutlery with my mussels until moments later, sitting me at the bar when it wasn't that busy, and the fact that there was a closed mussel. I know that it happens, but if one must live up to Michelin expectations, there should be NO closed shell mussel. It's gross and should not be in a dish where it is considered toxic to consume. I'd like to come back and try other dishes, but I would also like there to be better service! On the plus side, there is 2 hr free underground parking if you are to dine here or shop at urban fare.