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  "One of the best meals I've ever had!" Apr 13, 2011 We were completely blown away by everything about this restaurant! We were lucky enough to sit at the chef's table/counter overlooking the action in the kitchen, and every dish that came out looked amazing...so we ended up eating way more than we ever intended but loved everything we had! The service is outstanding - our waiter gave fantastic recommendations for drinks and food. The chef's are brilliant and really great to chat with as they walked us through some of the food they were preparing, and then gave recommendations for specific things we were in the mood for. We started with martinis that were fantastic, then switched to a really superb BC wine I'd never tried before and completely loved. Then came the food...it was one of the best meals I've ever had, and I am a bit of a foodie who eats out a lot at home and when I travel, so this is saying a lot. The appies completely blew our minds...and I am determined to try and see if I can remotely recreate their octopus and/or their chowder because both were unreal. The entries that we had were completely unique and unbelieve in their presentation, different tastes and overall quality. We even had dessert despite eating way more than we ever intended. I seriously cannot rave about this restaurant enough and will tell all my friends to go and will definitely make this a stop every long beach trip I take in future!! "Words cannot describe" Feb 21, 2011 Norwood's is simply amazing. A perfect 10. Hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. The location is deceiving - an unassuming little two-storey building in sleepy little Ucluelet, but inside you are treated to an unsurpassed, very personal dining experience. There are only a few tables and the kitchen is in full view of every one of them. The design is warm, welcoming and very west coast. The wine list tends towards unique / cult BC wineries, with the pairing menu carefully selected to enhance the incredible menu selections. The menu tends towards what I would call "west coast style" but is very eclectic and obviously very seasonal with ingredients picked in their optimal state. We had the mussels to start - they were succulent and perfectly prepared, enhanced by a spicy tomato broth. Delicious, and simply. The bread was served simply, warm with a delicious tapenade. My spouse had the tuna and words cannot describe how perfect it was - nestled over hokkien noodles in a ponzu broth, perfectly seared and served with the most amazing tempura prawns ever. The sauce was incredible. I had the tenderloin and it was quite simply the most sublime red meat dish I have ever order - perfectly prepared and served with gratin potatoes, caramelized shallots, grilled mushrooms and spinach. It was perfect. Not a small portion, but not too much. We savored every bite. The dessert was exquisite as well, but at that point we knew that anything we ordered here would be. This is a hidden gem and an absolute must-visit if you are in the Pacific Rim. The prices are outstanding for the quality and the food is quite simply sublime. "Best of all places in Washington, Oregon, and BC" Jan 29, 2011 Although we live near Portland Oregon we especially enjoy Vancouver Island and have vacationed there at least 15 times in the past 8 or 9 years and in Ucluelet at least 12 times. The food is so good that we have dined at Norwood's or at the Boat Basin, Chef Norwood's previous restaurant at least twice each week we have stayed. We prefer Norwood's to any fine restaurant we have dined at in Portland, Seattle, Victoria, B.C., or Vancouver B.C. It's a don't miss dining experience if you are in the area. If there we a 6 star rating Norwood's would get my vote. "Hidden masterpiece in Ucluelet" Dec 2, 2010 This is a small intimate 5 star dining experience. We went on a week night where it was just Chef Norwood and the Wine Steward/Server working. Service was excellent, food was outstanding, especially the scallop appetizer with the potato white truffle puree! Amazing wine selection, and atmosphere, all in all just a wonderful experience. Yes it is pricey, but this is amazing food and would be far more expensive in a major urban setting, likely you wouldn't even get reservations. "Wow, mostly bullet points will do for this one." Dec 15, 2010 Trust me, it's better than the gushy review I could have written. My husband (then fiance) went there for the first time while we were on vacation in 2009. It appeared to be the only "nice" restaurant in Ucluelet, so we tried it out. It BLEW OUR MINDS. We got married in the summer of 2010, and I'm pretty sure that two born-and-raised Calgarians decided to elope to the West Coast just to go back to Norwoods on our honeymoon. I wish any of the below statements were jokes.... Why we went back:
Just remember to book a reservation in advance (arrive in the afternoon to book your dinner plans). This is not someplace you will find empty tables and it is worth every. single. penny. "World-class dining - don't miss it!" Aug 8, 2010, Bedford, Massachusetts Norwood's is an unexpected delight and should not be missed. Most of the staff have worked together for many years and it shows from the service to the food to convivial atmosphere. This is a world-class restaurant with local ingredients and imagination. My husband had halibut and it was cooked perfectly. My wild salmon was delicate with layers of flavor. I had requested it be a bit rare and it was brought exactly as I had asked. The creme brulee is outstanding and has set the bar for this dessert in other restaurants. This is a small restaurant and you need to make reservations. Our son likes lamb and enjoyed his rack of lamb with a grainy mustard sauce so much that he wanted to know how to make it. As we were leaving, the chef kindly took the time to describe how to make it, and emphasized, "patience and taste, taste, taste". Clearly, this is the recipe for all they do at Norwood's. "It was a stunning dining experience!" Aug 22, 2010, Kelowna All of the staff are so passionate about food, beverages, presentation and service. We sat at the bar and Livio took absolutely wonderful care of us. There are traditional tables and show kitchen seating to watch the chefs create masterpieces. We would go back in a heartbeat... and definitely have the scallop appetizer again! "Fabulous Food!!" Aug 19, 2010, Tofino, Canada Tonight's dinner was the most interesting meal have had in years - and I just returned from New York City. Most restaurants in this area rely on "west coast cuisine". We have many good restaurants serving this food. But Norwoods goes above and beyond with amazing "near local" ingredients to create and deliver a menu that would hold its own anywhere. "Fantastic - what a find and not only for sea food!" Aug 10, 2010, Cardiff, Wales We went on a trip with Archipelago Cruises and were very impressed with the lovely lunch that Norwoods prepared and so we decided to visit the restaurant. Were we glad that we did. What an amazing place to find in such a tiny out of the way place. The food was without exception amongst the best that we had during our trip to Canada and California. I had a fabulous starter of figs stuffed with locally produced goats cheese and the rest of our party really enjoyed what they chose. The main courses were excellent - I had salmon while my daughters had beef and the trio of chocolate desserts was irresistibly wonderful. The service was top notch. We enjoyed sitting at the high tables with a view of the two chefs beavering away at their craft. This place is definitely well worth making a very large detour to get to. It is quite small and out of season one wonders if there will be sufficient numbers to make it profitable in such an out of the way place. One really hopes that it flourishes however as the chef and his staff are so skilled. Fantastic! "Unbelievable Dining Experience" Aug 2, 2010, Calgary We were staying in a local B&B and this restaurant was highly recommended by both staff and guests for dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We booked a reservation for the next day and we were not disappointed! My wife started with the scallop and I had the mussels and clams. Both apps were cooked perfectly and tasted out of this world. I had the salmon and my wife had beef. The beef was so tender that you could almost cut it with your fork. My salmon was the best I had tasted on the Island. Although our dinner lasted almost 2 hours (a little lengthy) the ambience and hard working staff made our experience there a night to remember! "West Coast Style, World Class Cuisine" July 25, 2010, Denman Island, Canada Hoping for a great meal on an overnight getaway to the Tofino/Ucluelet area, I chose the latter & Norwood's after reading previous reviews. I was not disappointed. Dinner at Norwood's was the perfect finale to a fabulous ride on one of those rare, gorgeous days & one of the best motorcycle roads on Vancouver Island. Fortunately I had made an email reservation the night before for 6 p.m., since, on a Saturday night, the place was full by 7. Despite that, and the fact that I was one person at a table for 2, my meal was completely unhurried, timed beautifully by the chef & staff, and a gourmet treat from start to finish. The Beef Carpaccio starter was beautifully presented, with paper thin slices of flavourful beef topped with delicate micro greens, capers & shaved Parmigiano Reggiano. My roast Duck Breast & Prawn entree was perfectly cooked, with the duck moist & medium rare & the grilled prawns smoky & succulent. The Tahini gastrique was an unusual but excellent accompaniment to both. After some knowledgeable wine chat with the charming bartender, I chose a half glass of a very nice B.C. bubbly to start along with the warm bread & tapenade, followed by another half glass of a rich but fine Argentinian Malbec with the beef, then a glass of the fruity & full bodied New Zealand Babich Pinot Noir with the duck. All were excellent. Dinner concluded after a truly enjoyable couple of hours with the best espresso I've had since Italy & a beautifully presented Creme Brulee garnished with blueberry compote & sliced strawberries. An unexpectedly great evening, delicious meal & superior service in a truly lovely restaurant. Bravo Chef Norwood! | |