Vancouver restaurants serving spot prawns
Spot prawn season is back! Sweet, succulent, sustainable spotprawns are making a delicious return to Vancouver restaurant menus this spring. Available for a limited time each year, these celebrity crustaceans are in high demand among local shrimp enthusiasts. If you didn’t snag tickets to the annual Spot Prawn Festival, pay a visit to these local seafood restaurants in May and June. [Photo courtesy of Miku Waterfront]
Provence Marinaside
1177 Marinaside Cres, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3Provence Marinaside is celebrating Vancouver’s 10th annual Spot Prawn Festival throughout May and June with a special $60 three-course prix-fixe menu. To start, select a yellow tomato gazpacho soup with avocado and spot prawns, or tuck into grilled spot prawns with a sweet, smoky flavour. Entrées include a French-inspired spot prawn poéle, halibut paired with spot prawns, and a chef-recommended spot prawn duo: half are grilled, half are served Provençal style sautéed with butter and flambéed with brandy. The waterfront restaurant is also running an Instagram contest to give snap-happy diners the chance to win 8lbs of spot prawns.
The Fish Counter
3825 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3P1For those looking to pick up their own by-the-pound spot prawns to prepare at home, this Main Street fishmonger is a go-to spot. Owner Rob Clark happens to be the founder of the Spot Prawn Festival after all. Live B.C. spot prawns will be available in store this year starting May 12, but get your order in early to avoid disappointment. Less-ambitious seafood fans can visit the take-out counter to enjoy spot prawn tacos. Chef Rob will also be hosting a chef-led cooking class on Saturday, May 14 as part of this year’s festival.
Dockside Restaurant
1253 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9Given its scenic waterfront locale, it’s no surprise that Dockside will be featuring spot prawns throughout the season. The award-winning open-air patio catches sunlight throughout the day (and offers cozy fireplaces for when the sun goes down), making it a dreamy spot to enjoy a bite to eat after exploring the many galleries and shops on Granville Island. Executive chef Victor Jacinto will be preparing daily spot prawn specials to showcase the versatility of these juicy jumbo shrimp. Check out Dockside’s Twitter account for updates on daily features.
Miku Japanese Restaurant
70-200 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4Fresh B.C. spot prawns are making a delicious return to the menu this spring at one of Vancouver’s most celebrated Japanese restaurants. Renowned for its gourmet Aburi cuisine, Miku’s specialty nigiri, sushi and seafood platters will wow your taste buds, while the stunning view overlooking the Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains will take your breath away. In celebration of spot prawn season, the menu will feature fresh spot prawn sashimi served with deep-fried heads for a delicious crunch. Minami, Miku’s sister restaurant in Yaletown, will also be offering spot prawn specials throughout the season.
Yew Seafood + Bar
791 Georgia St W, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T4Fresh spot prawns can be found in abundance on the new springtime menu at YEW, the Four Seasons Hotel’s upscale seafood restaurant. Begin your meal with fresh and juicy prawns atop a classic kale Caesar salad dressed with Parmesan and tangy white anchovy vinaigrette, or opt for a spicy spot prawn ceviche made with lime zest, Tiger’s milk and jalapeño pepper. The team is also preparing a signature entrée of B.C. spot prawns paired with cauliflower, curry and citrus. Wild-caught prawns can also be ordered as an accompaniment to any of the main menu items.
Nightingale
1017 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6E 0C4It’s no surprise that Vancouver’s buzziest new dining room is serving up these must-have crustaceans. The latest culinary venture from celebrity chef David Hawksworth is a little more casual than his namesake spot inside the Hotel Georgia, and attracts denim-clad cool kids and corporate suit-and-tie types alike. Nightingale’s multi-level dining room is comfortably chic while its approachable-yet-refined menu wows with rustic, family-style sharing dishes that highlight fresh meat, veg and seafood. This May and June, enjoy tender roasted spot prawns beautifully dressed in ramp butter, lemon, chilli and sea salt.
The New Oxford
1141 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6Enjoy your spot prawns Southern style at The New Oxford during a one-night-only Spot Prawn Boil. Hosted on Thursday, May 12, this ticketed event invites diners to dig into heaping piles of juicy prawns and seasoned veggies served straight from the pot on tables covered in newspapers, all paired with new releases from local craft breweries. You’ll have to peel these shelled beauties by hand, so expect things to get a little messy during this family style feast. Sister restaurant The Blackbird is also hosting its own Spot Prawn Boil on Tuesday, May 17.
Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar
1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4Swank seafood is done right at this venerable dining room in Yaletown. Gorgeous design, impeccable service and a diverse menu make this an ideal venue for a romantic date-night or lavish evening out with clients you want to impress. The tiered seafood towers – which feature an assortment of chilled shellfish and bivalves on ice – are a sight to be seen, while the caviar plates are well worth the indulgence. When in season, large, firm-fleshed spot prawns can be selected from the Blue Water’s live tanks or enjoyed in a variety of special feature dishes.
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