We went to Rodney's Oyster House along Hamilton St. in Yaletown and was guaranteed to be seated in 30 minutes. We went to the waterfront and took a few photos, then excitedly walked back.
We started with their New England Clam Chowder (around $7.50) and it was good. It was very filling. The clams were plentiful. The cream is quite rich, but is contrasted by fresh ground pepper that adds a little kick. I also had been craving for this specific chowder since all of the places I go to only have the Manhattan one, which is a tomato-based chowder. Not my type.
We tried the Scallop Galette (around $12) which features potato encrusted scallops, a salad with vinaigrette, and plum sauce. I love love love scallops so this was excellent for me. Also, the greens were a nice touch. The plum sauce was a bit sour than I expected, but still good.
Nobody should say no to these babies - their Pan Fried Oysters (around $12) was really good. They were fried perfectly and not at all overwhelming.
And of course, what we came for, raw oysters. Beautiful. If you come during their low tide (3 - 6pm Mon to Sat), their raw oysters come at $1.50/pc. Not bad at all. It's only been two days and I'm craving for more already!
They will also give you this nice array of sauces to put on the oysters. They are placed from mildest to hottest. The hottest, the last one called Back From Hell, is INTENSE. It will take your taste buds off, but if you're some daredevil then you'll enjoy this treat.I honestly did not enjoy the sauces because I thought they overpowered the oysters. But don't get me wrong, they are all excellent. Your server will let you in on the best sauce combination. I just opted to squeeze lemon and pour a bit of vinegar on mine. Unlike myself, my uncle just can't take the thought of slurping these babies right off the shell. I love it. I like the taste of the ~sea~
Halfway thru our meal, we decided we needed something to wash down the taste. We asked our waiter (such hunk, btw) for their white wine selection and he recommended the Babich Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($11/glass). Yeah....it's poured into this tiny glass (full to the brim) but still quite pricey if you ask me. It was very very good though.
I had to crouch down to take a sip before I could move the glass without spilling.
It was a very good meal. To think that the only carbs we consumed were the potatoes in the chowder and the complimentary sourdough bread, we were very full and happy. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys oysters and who isn't meticulous dining in quite a rowdy place (especially during hockey matches. Go Canucks!). If you aren't a fan of raw oysters, they have other goodies too. Check out their menu here: http://rohvan.com
They have a Maritime Room hidden at the stern usually used as a function room, but is also opened to the public during busy hours.
Have a photo of myself in zombie mode.
Photo walk photos to be posted soon!
