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Steamworks is a popular pub and brewery located in historic Gastown. Steamworks gets its name from the famous Gastown steam line that runs through their premises.
Went for lunch and the only thing good about the whole meal was the beer. The rest of the meal was very disappointing. Firstly, we ordered the shrimp and mango salad, which we were subsequently told they no longer have on the menu. Why not cross it off the menu or mention it from the beginning when presenting the menu? Also then the server told us of 3 more items that were not available. We then had to rethink our order. The yam fries were cold and soggy (seems to be a pattern here). The deep fried fish in the tacos were cold and overbattered. One of us had asked for orange pekoe tea and server brought earl grey. When we told her that is not what we ordered she replied that this was the only black tea they had. Why not say so at the beginning instead of just bringing it? All in all very inattentive service and not so great food.
I went in with a couple of friends on a Sunday night. Walking in the place had a nice vibe upstairs ( dark coloured wood surrounds you with the voices of many people having a good time ), quite a few people around the bar area and many of the tables were occupied.
We were sent downstairs by one of the hostesses and to our right were pool tables, in front of us was the bar, and to our left was the kitchen area. A couple of t.v.'s were showing sports throughout our time there, the music playing in the background was mostly 90's/2000 stuff that couldn't offend anyone. Again you see lots of dark wood from the flooring to the walls to the tables.
The server was very prompt and competent, he answered all our questions well about their beer and he suggested what he thought we might enjoy. Good job.
What I was impressed was their selection of beers, whether it be their seasonal varieties or what they have on tap. Great place to hang with people and enjoy a few pints.
The food was the only thing that didn't impress: the burgers we had were okay, but not exceptional. They were your standard-find-it-anywhere-from-Red-Robin-White-Spot-type. The one dish that was quite a disappointment was the crab&spinach dip. Nicely presented with many dipping bread wafers and melted cheese on top, but so sorely missing any umph in taste. It was extremely bland even with the melted cheese.
For a group of four with food and two pitchers of beer our bill before tip was just over $110. By all means stop by Steamworks for drinks, just don't expect to be wowed by the food though.
The food, which i not the reason to go here for is fine, nothing bad, nothing special.
The service is great, not a problem.
The value seems questionable, but when you go around gastown and check out the prices of other places, you find Steamworks prices acceptable. Still high, but acceptable.
The atmosphere is why I come here. So many nooks to this place. It is right at the start of gastown, and right by the water.
It is a fun, but pricey place to hangout.
T. Schuay
It was my first visit to this establishment tonight. I had come with a friend. I had ordered a chicken burger with fries, and she ordered a mushroom cap for appetizer and pizza for dinner. for beverage I had a shirley temple and had a dark coloured beer.
The waitress was very attentive, and told us that it would take longer to cook the pizza, so gave us the option of asking me if she wanted me to put my order in later, and I told her that would be great if she put my order in later.
My friends mushroom caps arrive...she reported to me thta they tasted good.
Then our food comes. I had asked the waitress if the size of a chicken burger was 7 oz like the burger and she told me it was the same size. but when I got my chicken burger, it was not that big...I told her that I was expecting a bigger sized chicken breast and I think a burger is bigger than this (it had to be) she apologized, and offered to get me something else (twice....I.E. are you sure you you're ok and don't want something else instead?) so I was happy about that. Taste wise it was a good chicken burger but the bun was too big for the size of my meat....the fries were good. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my chicken breat was small, since that is the size I have gotten at Milestones, White Spot and Red Robin
The pizza tasted good (really cheesy actually) my friend gave me two slices we both agreed that it was good pizza.
It's a little pricy, but eh
Really, it was only average, but we will return
Went here with my kids (ages 5 and 3) at 5:00 on a Saturday. Requested to sit in the downstairs Family Seating area. For patrons who want to relax and enjoy an exclusively adult environment - there are also age 19+ sections of this Brewpub restaurant.
Anyways, I enjoy spending an early November evening with my family in a high-end-casual sort of place. Steamworks hits the right notes in this regard.
Hubby and I each had a pint of the Pale Ale and the Stout respectively. The kids each had Shirley Temples. We ordered a pepperoni pizza for our son and the chicken strips and fries for our daughter. The waitstaff kindly pointed out that they could bring "child sized" versions of these dishes (which were also more value priced). Hubby and I shared the Halibut and Chips and a large house salad.
The pizza was good. It had a nice amount of cheese. I found the inside of the thin crust just a tad doughy - but it was overall good. The chicken strips were kind of unremarkable - but our daughter enjoyed it.
The halibut was a tad overcooked, but otherwise tasty. The salad was wonderful.
The beer, as always - was fantastic.
I found the service friendly and adequate.
I would go again, but I would probably go for a snack and a drink rather than a full meal.
It was a sunny Friday evening and a few of us were looking to soak in some patio time, but after being balked at a few places we settled for whatever was available.
This is another usually happening place, with multiple levels of classic architecture and a good buzz. We weren't able to get any patio seating but were close enough to the action.
We mostly sipped away on classic cocktails and a few noshing dishes: dry ribs, nacho plate, garlic fries and a pepperoni pizza. Predictable fare that neither bored or woke up the tasting palette - it resembles Boston Pizza in terms of selections and delivery. Cocktails were quite good and given the location it's more suited for drinks and food as an afterthought.
There are a swarm of staff going every which way, so it was a little hard to get our server's attention. The staff did a much better job shuffling us to a different staff member while we were waiting for a table rather than the service we received once we got there. It's fairly chaotic in there so I won't chew out our waitress too much but don't expect to get immediate service.
Broken down to each individual part, this is an average competitor, but as an overall contender it's a great place to sit and sip.
We all ate Steak and Prawns - all overcooked.
Sauce was extra, and it was terrible. $50/person for steak and wine, and the food wasn't even average. Prawns tasted of no seasoning at all, and again, the steaks were all very overcooked. They changed the steaks, and then overcooked them again - slight improvement the second time; instead of well done it was medium-well, but medium-rare was the order. Waitress was very nice, and so is the patio, but don't order anything expensive or that requires an ounce of skill to prepare.
Steamworks has been the only place where another patron bought me a beer. As a League member the night would not start out here, but it makes a great end point.
The waitresses are very courteous and happy, which makes the mood even better. The Works has various selection fo craft beer, some good and some bad. The fact that they have these selections make it place for the average beer lover.
One of my favorites is the Heroic Oatmeal Stout. Smooth, but bold taste with every drop. For food you can't go wrong with the Chicken Tenders and Fries, especially after a nght of drinking.
Steamworks is solid and doesn't need to change.
The League
Went for lunch here yesterday right at 11:30am. As the restaurant opens at 11:30am we were one of the first at Steamworks. We were greeted as soon as we walked through the door and shown to a table right by the window.
Our server was excellent. Very attentive and friendly , she truly was outstanding. My lunch was not.
I ordered the Thai Beef Salad. The description of the salad in the menu sounded very good, sound and taste are two very different things.
This was a "salad". The salad part was almost missing. The dish arrived with I would guess 75 per cent chow mein noodles with the remainder greens a sliced radish some peanuts and cashews topped with shoe leather disguised as marinated beef. In retrospect I really should of returned the salad but ate what I could and gave up towards the end. I must say all those crunchy noodles certainly filled me up.
My sister had the fish taco's reported to be okay and my father a salad with goat cheese and blueberries , again it looked okay.
Steamworks are famous for their beer and I must say they brew up a tasty pint. I believe they may need to focus a little more on the food though. The experience wasn't bad enough that I won't be back but next time may just stick to a beer or two.
I was attending a company dinner held in the private Wine Room at the Steamworks near the Seabus Station. Descending down the stairway to the parlour, I was promptly served with a Nut Brown Ale, a crisp and rich ale with a hoppy finish. Great start. Service was always prompt and friendly throughout the evening.
My starter was a very tasty Mesclun Salad with balsamic vinaigrette, almonds and dried berries. Others raved about the Tomato Basil Soup. For a main I chose the grilled sirloin with a demiglace and roasted veggies. Cooked perfectly and delicious. Wine offered was a very drinkable Inniskillin house red. Finished with a hot fudge and strawberry gelati that was a nice touch.
For an event dinner, it was almost flawless. I've never eaten in the regular restaurant but they certainly seem to have their event service down pat.
We had made reservations here over a month in advance in preparation for surprising the bejeesus out of our friends with news that we had just eloped. I dealt with the same manager the entire time, and he was more than happy to accommodate us in any way that he could.
My main concern was being able to make reservations for a large group of 20, without having to deal with things like minimum spend, a set menu, or a deposit. The manager heard my concerns and made everything happen that was possible under the circumstances.
Because our dinner event was on a Sunday night, which is usually slow, he gave us our own private room (the wine room!) without issue. Considering the fact that our group is an unusual bunch with certain musical tastes, he suggested that we bring our Ipod and allow him to plug it in for our enjoyment.
As none of our guests had any idea why they were all called there, my husband and I showed up last and were introduced into the room. All of our guests had drinks in hand. As soon as I sat down, our server was there at my side asking me what I would like to drink: "I'll have a vodka paralyser... a double..." . It arrived swiftly and was the tastiest beverage I could have asked for.
Our server was PHENOMENAL. He carried himself with a sense oh humour, grace, and a professional demeanour. He made eye contact with each guest, gave each of us his undivided attention, seemed calm and cool, and served each meal and drink promptly. The dude got a serious tip. And he deserved every penny.
The food was out of this world. My husband and I shared the chicken tandoori salad and a Hawaiian pizza (nuttin but class for our celebratory wedding meal!). The chicken was tender and juicy, seasoned to perfection. The lettuce was crisp and cool. The pizza was elegant.
The management and staff at Steamworks are amazing, the food was impeccable, and I highly recommend this place. This was our first time there, and certainly not our last.
Okay, I came here a couple months back for a double date. It was fairly crowded when we went.. I think it was a weekend night so good thing we made reservations. But even with reservations, we got crap seats right next to the big metal things on the lower floor. I wasn't happy about that.
The waiter that served us wasn't happy to be there and wasn't helpful either. Didn't give us enough time to order.
It's priced somewhat like Milestones or Joey's or something, but I feel that it's better food than say Earls or Milestones or those chains of restaurants. I recall most of us got pasta, mine was a cheese something.. it wasn't too bad, good portion, nothing special though. I do remember that one of us got something with chicken in it, and they said it tasted rubbery or something. So yeah. Didn't bother with desserts or appies, didn't like the place much.
The only real thing they've got going for them is the location, and a view if you're lucky enough to sit by the windows.
It's a big place, maybe it's good for parties and drinks?
Went just a bit before the noon hour to beat the rush and good choice. Lots of local office workers but also tourists who are probably just off the cruise ships. Sat upstairs where it's almost like a lounge with some high tables. Really fast service for lunch and had the chicken pot pie. Very good with a flacky pastry top. Drinks refilled promptly. Will visit again as this is a great place for a bevy and food.
For whatever reason, I had always thought that the food here was so-so and it was more of a place to hang out, drink beer, and look at the view. I ended up here last Friday, not by choice, and ordered a pizza, some appies and a few pints. The pizza was good, much better than I would have imagined. Maybe I will start going into places with a negative attitude and let them pleasantly surprise me.
Beer geek here. This place has a lively atmosphere, decent pub food, etc, but the real reason you want to go there is their sensational beer, IMHO the best in the Lower Mainland.
Steamworks seems to have a pale ale, an IPA, a nut-brown, a lager, a Pilsener and a wheat beer on regular tap, and they also have seasonals-- raspberry in fall, a winter porter/ale, an AMAZING espresson stout, and a "highly poundable" ultra-light but well-hopped summer pilsener.
My favorites are the IPA, the nut-brown and and the espresso stout. I've had beer all over the world, and I can honestly say that theirs ranks with Deschutes, Begbie and Crannog breweries. If you like the beer...buy a 2-litre growler to take with you. You won't find fresher beer anywhere. And, no, I don't have any personal or financial connection to the place. I just really apprieciate decent fresh beer.
Food is good, reasonably priced and is varied enough to satisfy most continental dinners. Looks great on the inside, especially the different rooms, the view and the huge size of the place in general. Love love love the beer, and love how cheap the JT wine is for downtown.
The reason I ever hesitate to come here is the service. The service tends to be slow, with either too much "spunky attitude" personality or none at all. The last time we were there I was with a hunky man, and it started out fine. Good looking guy server, who could barely describe the seasonal beers, but still nice initially. When we finally got our pitcher of the wheat ale he didnt pour our pints for us, which is fine he had some other drinks on his tray so I totally get it. But then he didn't ask or bring us menus, so we had to ask the person at the front for one. We finally manged to get our server to notice we wanted something to munch on (Spicey bbq chicken pizza, no onions because i HATE onions). Well we got it after a decent amount of time, but it had onions. I asked the food runner if he knew abotu the no onions and he said no so it was a server fault. The server then blamed the kitchen (I work in the industry myself, it's not the kitchens fault 110% of the time) and we had to ask for cutlery napkins etc when it wasnt even busy. I decided just to pick off my onions cause I didn't want to risk it. Our beer ran dry and decided to switch to JT merlot, told the server who asked us repeatedly what kind.... a 1/2 litre of JT MERLOT!!! by then our friends came and he didnt talk to them for 15 minutes or so after arriving. He got their beers first, and forgot about our wine. When we mentioned it he started SWEARING! now I have a potty mouth myself but I would never swear infront of customers at a restaurant unless they swore first. Well our wine came and he was nice enough to fill it to the rim (dangerous with a red). But after a glass each we found the top of the wine bottle in it! (you know the part on top of the cork). He had a bad attitude about everything, was somewhat snobby and frankly not THAT good looking. He certainly was even snobbier when we gave him 10% on 75, which I had to convince the other people to give him instead of nothing (Don't like the idea of someone paying to serve us due to tip out, even if it was horrible).
I would totally come here more often if they bothered paying attention to service and correcting these problems. This was the worst of the times coming here, but haven't ever had great service here.
I went back to SW for a business lunch and it was a delicious experience. I haven't been there for over 1 1/2 years, and I was pleased to see the place hasn't changed much. It was a little less crowded than last time, and I don't know if they had the cafe setup in the front before. I started with seating in the nice cafe area and when my guest arrived we sauntered into the upper floor dining area. Service was terrific from the get go, and I liked the fact that the server managed to find me with my order after I changed seats.
I had a daily special pizza and my companion had a works burger. Both were tasty and not too pricey for downtown, and the beer special was quite cheap too.
Ambiance was nice and I liked the fact that I could actually carry on a conversation without shouting. Everything was clean including the w/c.
I should come here more often.
I've been to Steamworks many times. Whether it is a work lunch, friend's get-together or just a stop on a Friday night, it's really great to be come here for drinks and appetizers. They accommodate large groups - I've been here both for a going away dinner and for my own stagette dinner. Even though it seems mostly packed on the busy nights, I have to wonder why. The food isn't really that good and even after all this time, I don't remember anything I eat there. I guess it's a great place to go for drinks every now and then, but definitely not for the food. It's nothing super special. It's too bad for such a great location. =(
Our workplace had our annual Christmas party here and everyone had a blast! Nice cozy and comfortable atmosphere with a great view! We had booked one of the private rooms downstairs complete with our own bar - the drink list with short and simple, but they were all very delicious! The service we received from all the staff that night was courteous and professional but fun. The food was not the best, actually it was probably the less favorite menu we've ever had for christmas parties. Selection was very limited, but it wasn't a big deal - the food was not horrible. I would definitely recommend Steamworks for any type of event whether it be work-related, or just a dinner out with friends.
Visited Steamworks for lunch with three friends. Two of us ordered the Tandoori Chicken Salad. The chicken was thickly coated in sauce and served cold = not at all what we expected. No sign of the cumin cilantro dressing on the lettuce, it was totally bare. My other friends ordered the lunch special - roast beef on a bun. The buns were so hard, my female friend could not bite through it. After struggling to tear the bread with her teeth, she finally gave up and took the beef out of the bun. The sandwich was lacking flavour and could have done with a little mustard. The yam fries were okay.
The server never checked back to see if our meals were okay - just sort of disappeared. We definitely won't be back.
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