Papi’s Seafood And Oyster Bar Opens In English Bay

When I hear the words “oyster bar,” I do a little happy dance; I am always up for slurping back a few of these gems and enjoy them in all sorts of iterations, whether they are fried, poached or nestled amongst spinach and bacon in Oysters Rockefeller.  News hit that the Viaggio Group, the team behind Cibo, UVA an Ancora, were adding yet another venue to their repertoire, one focusing on oysters and seafood, and I was of course interested in getting in to see what was going on in a spot I’d frequented many times over the years.

At 1193 Denman Street, recently occupied by the Beach Bay Cafe and previously the well-known and loved Raincity Grill, Papi’s Seafood and Oyster Bar appeared this summer right near English Bay Beach. There’s a bright and spacious dining room, oyster bar and outdoor patio where you can really get your people watching fix.

The menu features ceviche, crudo, freshly shucked oysters on the half shell and a signature seafood platter and lots of great appies, salads and casual mains such as clam spaghetti and roast chicken. They serve brunch and happy hour and there’s bubble and other well thought out wines to compliment the seafood, craft beer, and cocktails to impress.

You’ll find General Manager and Sommelier Alessandro De Pieri, at front of house and  Head Chef Max Straczek, who appeared on The Food Network Canada’s latest season of Top Chef Canada, in the kitchen.

Vowing to return for the oysters, we veered off our usual routine and instead went for prawn cake topped with greens, a kale salad and the calamari to start, and then split some fish and chips and clam spaghetti. This was a lot of food, but executed well, so we had little trouble finishing it. The fish and calamari crispy and fresh, the salad full of beets and quinoa crunch and the clams plentiful in the spaghetti.

This looks like a great place for a happy hour with oysters at $2, fish tacos, fish and chips, and chowder well-priced and $5 cocktails, wine and beer. If you’re looking for some casual seafood done right, you just may want to stop and saddle up to the oyster bar at Papi’s.

1193 Denman St., Vancouver BC  V6G 2N1 | 604-685-7337
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday | 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Weekends | Happy Hour daily 2 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close

Facebook: /papisoysterbar | Instagram: @papisoysterbar