The MarinaSide Grill

Went to the Marina Side Grill on a Friday night and ordered the Marina Bake, Their Specialty. It is like a seafood pot pie that is more like a soup under the puff dough.
It looked very nice but when you broke the top open it was only half full. The broth was nice but there was only 2 shrimp and a small piece of salmon. On the side was some bok Choy and two small pieces of garlic bread. For a dish that costs almost $ 20 It was disappointing. A few of my friends expressed disappointment in their meals as well. It is, however, a great location with a spacious room for groups with a great view.

It was nice. I’d like to think that my experience was half way between the 1 star comments and the 5 star comments posted by other reviews, so a 3.
We were two couples and a baby, in for a late brunch on a Sunday afternoon. It stood out to me that we had to ask for the highchair to be cleaned, and it was eventually replaced by a newer looking one.
The food was good, the service could have been more attentive, but it was very busy, so I’m not overly fussed.
The meals seemed to be on the expensive side, considering the location and presentation but we were all full and had a great time. They also didn’t seem to mind that we took over an hour and a half to get through lunch, we did not feel rushed (maybe a little ignored but definitely not rushed).

The place is very cozy.
Service was great and waiter Colin was gentle and fast.
We had for brunch Spanish and Marina Grill Seafood omelettes. Very delicious and generous portions. Hash brown not greasy at all, and coffee of excellent flavour.
This place is a blast and to be repeated!!!

Just had a fantastic brunch here this past weekend!
HUGE portion size (ordered spanish omelette) served with my absolute favourite salsa of all time!
Staff was VERY friendly and attentive at every step of the way.
$ 11 well spent. Best brunch I’ve had in ages for an excellent price. I can’t wait to return!

Horrible !!! Wanted to try something new for a family lunch but the service was absolutely terrible… We were waiting for 10 min and still no one served us while many servers walked by… We walked out!

Management needs to get their sh*t together. Overstaffed but under attentive. Expediters are more visible than waitstaff. Timing of waitstaff arriving at table and following up is minimal and frustrating. Went there twice before and after a week long boat excursion and different servers, equally unfortunate service. Asked expediters for the check, never was communicated to server. It’s like staff would go missing for long periods of time and not check on their tables. Over hearing waitstaff talking to each other in unprofessional manner about their personal lives. Server didn’t have correct change from fanny pack and was willing to take $ 5 less tip from us but we offered $ 5 more instead but odd that they work so independent of the bar or other waitstaff they can’t arrange change? Food was okay. Fried food was fried and showed it, dips seemed like the kind you buy anywhere, obviously not made on the premises. There is so much potential given the location but evidently the inmates are running the asylum.

So on a whim we decided to head over here with a local who said «this place is the best.»
I wasn’t 100 sold on the food because it was mediocre. I wasn’t awed, I was;t in love with the belgian waffles, mostly because the strawberries were thawed out after being frozen. The scrambled eggs with scallops was okay, nothing to write home about.
We sat outside and had a view of the marina, but there was a serious bee/​wasp problem, I felt like I was sitting inside a hive with so many of them flying around.

My Husband and I went to the MarinaSide Grill last Saturday for dinner. Yup, the patio was busy but there was a TON of waitstaff on and yet we still felt ignored. After the Hostess sat us at least 5 servers passed by our table without offering us a drink. After 10 minutes a waiter showed up to ‘take our drink order’ and we let him know we also had time to decide on dinner! The food was outstanding. We both had fish and it was delightful. Not that the waiter would know as he didn’t bother to quality check us. He finally asked if we cared for another drink and we had to wave him down for our bill and all the while I had a dirty plate in front of me. Yes, the patio was at about 75% occupancy but the server had plenty of time to schmooze the two tables around us so I don’t think he was THAT busy. It’s too bad really as this is our third time here in 6 months and the last two times we waited FOREVER for our food and yet still gave the place another shot. I think we will be taking our custom elsewhere.

The staff and service have plummeted over the last year. Last time I was in we waited an hour for our food, unacceptable. Our waitress was atrocious, she would slam our drinks down and walk away while we were ordering. A busser told us they were having a private party for 50 inside that’s why everything was late, our waitress didn’t offer any explanation or apologies. Our bills came wrong, basically anything that could go wrong did. This place is a frequent stop with my work, I have ironically been crowned duchess even though I cannot stand this place.

The food here is absolutely terrible. The corn tortillas of my fish tacos were like shoe leather. Yam fries somehow soggy and oily. Grilled cheese sandwich made my son cough (really dry). The place is run down and the view is kind of depressing. Not going back.

I made a Unilocal account just so I could post about this restaurant. I went there recently with friends to have lunch, and I am not kidding when I say this place is dismal. They served our sandwiches on old dry hot dog buns… The clam chowder was pretty much just thickened melted butter with some clam thrown in. Do not eat there! The service is also absolutely dispicable having worked in a restaurant myself. While eating I noticed a lady come in to try and have lunch but was turned away and told that there would be a 15 minute wait (even though the place was about ¹⁄₃ full) because the servers were a bit busy. They couldn’t even get her a table… This place is a sad excuse for a dining experience. But, and this is the only reason this place deserves 1 star at all, they do have a lovely view of the water and some good happy hour and daily deals on drinks so maybe go and enjoy a beer on the patio on a summer day. Maybe chance an appetizer but do not waste your money on an entrée.

The only reason this place is still in business is because of their location. Their food is mediocre, and the service staff are friendly but it’s ultimately slow (today our order took +45mins). This place is clearly poorly managed. The staff do not appear to be empowered to compensate guests when issues occur, there was no manager for us to talk to after either.
Save yourself the time, dine elsewhere.

The service here was terrible. Maybe it was because we were a large group (of 8), but it took over 1h15min to get our food. I had the salmon burger with a salad on the side. The burger was below average tasting as it lacked some flavour. Even Macdonalds could tastes better. I ordered Italian dressing with my side salad and got about 10ml of oil. Oil and some what it looked minced garlic on the bottom. I didn’t end up eating my salad. Groups of 8 or more are subject to a 17% gratuity. I didn’t think they deserved that 17 at all from the terrible waiting to get all of our drinks and food. Will not go again

Went for brunch on a Thursday morning, only two servers on staff. Waited 50 minutes for our food. Had to ask more than once for another place setting and condiments. When our food finally arrived we were disappointed. Breakfast sausage tasted funny, the kids wouldn’t even eat it. Hashbrowns were dry and over cooked. They don’t serve real cream for your coffee either. They had something called non dairy creamer, yuck! The food at the Marina Grill used to be good. Not going back.

I’ve upgraded their rating to 3 stars. Service is hit or miss, which is the only thing keeping MarineSide from getting 5 stars. Sometimes the server is excellent and on top of everything, other times you’ll have to flag him/​her down for EVERY little thing… some servers just come to take your order, and then again to clean away the table, nothing in between.
Other than that, the food and atmosphere are still excellent in my books.

a nice evening atmosphere with average to good food in general. good quality seafood, and a nice view of the bridge!

The location can’t be beat. It is a simple place with good, basic meals. You receive great value for the money. They even have pretty good Chinese at lunch.

Patio is great for drinks, not fond of the food :(Tried every salad on the menu and every one was mediocre, the lettuce was limp and there wasn’t much flavour.

Marina Grill has been a favorite of my parents’ for several years now. Tucked away under the Second Narrows Bridge, the patio opens onto a small marina and overlooks with harbor. The location is a little difficult to find; the restaurant is nested between industrial buildings on the other side of the railroad tracks.
Upon arriving, we were seated quickly on the patio. The patio was bathed in sunshine during the early evening, but quickly became cool as the sun started to disappear. It would have been nice if they’d had some heaters or blankets to help keep warm.
The dinner was only so-​so. I’m entirely convinced that my family comes for the atmosphere, as opposed to the food. I had a prawn salad with cashews. What arrived was a huge bowl of lettuce with a few token peppers, cashews, and prawns on top. When a salad is costing you $ 12, it’s a little disappointing when it’s 95% lettuce. My mother ordered a beef stir fry that was also mediocre at best. My father and brother had a little more luck with a veggie burger and the fish and chips; it may be best to stick with pub type food.
In contrast to the mediocre food, the service was good. Our waiter was very friendly and quick to bring water for the table. He answered all our questions and brought our food in a timely fashion. Overall, it was a decent experience; however, I’ve had far better food at a much lower price in comparable locations.

You don’t have to be a local to eat at the Marina Grill — but it helps, because this waterfront restaurant/​pub is a little hard to find if you don’t know where make that turn. (Past the Lynnwood, second left, left again, drive around past a couple boatbuilding places and you’re there.)
It’s great for weekend breakfasts — packed to the gills, but they can usually squeeze you into one of the two dining rooms, or on the big patio in nice weather. Even on Father’s Day, my family has never had too much of a problem with wait times or service.
A friend recently invited us for dinner here, and again it was a great experience. The room was toasty warm, owing to several roaring fireplaces, but when my companion found it a little too hot, the server was quick to shut off the one nearest her. I think this indicates how attentive and nice the staff is, making for a pleasant meal no matter what you’re having from the vast dinner menu.
We enjoyed several appetizers, though I was a bit dismayed that they all seemed to be deep-​fried (typical of pub food). The steamed mussels, which come in a creamy, herb-​infused broth, were delicious. My husband got the prime rib, which he reports was perfectly done. The portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable for bottles of wine. At the end, all I wanted to do was take a nap on the banquette. OK, just joking. But I was very full.
The Marina Grill is not gourmet by any means, but simply a restaurant where you can linger over a meal, without spending buckets of money or feeling rushed or having your head pound from the noise that often infects chain restaurants of similar quality.
As you can see from the photos, in the summertime, its patio with a view of Burrard Inlet and the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge is the place to be.