The Shoestring Cafe

The quality of the food is great and the waiters are polite. I ate my favorite dessert tonight, Shuhuli. I am very satisfied and will continue to support this shop. °

I can confidently say that it deserves a full five-star rating. From the moment we stepped through the door to the last bite of dessert, everything about this restaurant was exceptional.

The staff was friendly, professional, and attentive, ensuring that every need was met throughout the evening.

The menu selection was impressive, offering a wide variety of dishes that catered to different tastes. We started with the Lobster Bisque and Chowder, both of which were heavenly. The bisque was rich and velvety, showcasing the flavors of the sea, while the chowder was hearty and comforting. The Crab Cake was a delightful appetizer, with a generous amount of flavorful 100% live crab meat.

For the main course, the Beef Wellington stole the show. It was cooked to perfection, with a tender and juicy interior encased in a flaky pastry crust. The Lobster Pasta was another highlight, featuring perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a creamy sauce and complemented by succulent lobster and some other seafood.

The portions were more than generous, ensuring that we left the restaurant fully satisfied. The attention to detail in presentation and flavors was evident in every dish. The quality of the ingredients and the skill of the chef shone through, creating a truly memorable culinary experience.

To top off the evening, we indulged in the Crème caremal and souffle. Both desserts were exquisite, with impeccable execution and flavors that left us wanting more. T

Overall, this little restaurant exceeded all expectations. With its five-star rating, it is clear that this establishment provides an exceptional dining experience. From the attentive service and the superbly executed dishes, every aspect of our visit was outstanding. I highly recommend this hidden gem for a truly unforgettable culinary journey.

Food is not bad. Service is fine too, but it's not a fancy restaurant. Food is priced as fine dining unless you order the dinner set.

Great food and service. Such a hidden gem in Richmond. You feel the chef put in their hearts to making the dishes

Food is okay. I mean it's good but nothing amazing. Big portion. A combo is about $60 with an appy, an main and a dessert. Service is okay too. Not sure will come back because I find nothing special here.

The most amazing food and the staff is excellent. Well worth every penny. We go to this restaurant every chance we get and they never disappoint. The food is consistently tasty, and the staff is always so friendly. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to any food lover. Absolutely fantastic experience every time.

A tiny restaurant that I didn't know was here, but apparently they've been here for 6 years. I wasn't expecting a high end restaurant at such a hidden location. The first time I notice them, I thought it was a coffee shop. Prices were comparable to other places in its class, and every dish that we ordered was absolutely wonderful. Fresh ingrediencies and perfectly prepared. Well worth the price. Parking and seating is pretty limited though, so reservations are recommended.

Food is good but for what the place has to offer in terms of decor and set up (booth seat leather is quite worn), the menu prices are on the pricey side especially in Richmond. The location is also hidden in the middle of a corporate/industrial area on No. 6 road, where is not noticeable or visible if you are driving by the area. The exterior of the restaurant is also tacky with the curtains all the way down covering the windows and with a string of lights hanging there (sorry to say but looks almost like a massage parlor). Owner should invest more to make the exterior look nicer and more welcoming. Otherwise, the server is very attentive and courteous.

Have been there quite a few times and tried out their tasting menu this time. It never disappointed.

Got the bread with lobster butter to start with, then four seafood dishes and the wine marinated quail. Really fresh seafood and quail was tender and juicy. We got really full after the 5 course and didn’t order any main or desert.

Very attentive services and low key atmosphere for friend and family gatherings.

Meticulously prepared meals with top notch ingredients and generous portions made into pieces of culinary art.

Surprisingly good braised lamb shank! My partner ordered a Ribeye steak and was also impressed with how perfect it was cooked.

The ambiance is a little dated and feels like it doesn’t go well with how the food looks. The place looks like a simple cafe but their food looks like it came from a fancy steakhouse.

Very cozy small restaurant, we went for dinner, the food was great, the host whose name was Vikey, was super nice and helpful in choosing our dishes, the seafood stew, chowder soup and other stuff we ordered were so yummy
Will go back for sure although we live in Vancouver and the restaurant is in richmond

It is worth driving there

Had a lovely belated birthday dinner in a very inconspicuous, unassuming and industrial location in Richmond. It is a fusion of Chinese and Italian cuisine and although it sounds a bit odd, the chef executes it quite nicely. We essentially made our own 5 course tasting meal and started it off with the corn and seafood chowder; wow was it ever amazing. The corn was fresh, sweet and crunchy, the chowder base was creamy and full of seafood flavours. It had scallops and tiger prawns. We then moved onto our 2nd appetizer of calamari! The coating was light and flavourful but not overpowering; the sweetness of the squid was still very evident. It sat on a bed of fresh salad and sweet red onions; just so perfectly crunchy. Our 2 mains arrived in a timely fashion. We had the miso glazed grilled seabass fillet (with mashed potatoes, asparagus and broccolini) and the pan fried linguine with prawns (olive oil, jalapeno, Chinese back bean). The seabass fillet was just seared so perfectly with a crunchy skin, the body was buttery and flaky. The mash potatoes were a bit of a miss for me (rather bland), but the pan fried linguine more than made up for it. I was floored when I had my first bite. The garlic, the spice, the subtle Chinese black bean flavour all worked harmoniously and it was just unreal. I could not believe this rather "simple" looking dish had so much flavour to it. I would go back for this linguine dish alone. We capped off our dinner with the chocolate soufflé. Can't say I'm an expert in soufflés, but the chocolate flavour was on point and had bitter notes to complement the mild sweetness. I would definitely return to this little café, which is only open during dinner hours and has maybe 30-ish seats in total. I would say the corn and seafood chowder, the calamari and the pan fried linguine are a must!

Good service and very reasonable price for the quality of the food. 3 courses meal for $55 plus tax. Where can you find? Will definitely go back again with my family!

The cooking is out of this world, we had the seafood fettuccine alfredo and they make the noodles fresh daily and the sauce was so creamy! We also had the mussels and a crab salad on special. Everything was delicious and we're so glad we very randomly found this restaurant. If you have a larger group than two you'll want to call ahead. It's busy but worth it!

French food, 5 ***** quality, servers all so sweet and explain the menu in detail and very reasonably priced. We had the 3 course dinner, enjoyed thoroughly. Will definitely return. Plus, portion is ample, so come hungry.

Great cafe in Richmond- had a lovely dinner here. The portion size is decent and you get a lot of ingredients in your pasta. Also love the flan! There is free parking. Restaurant size is small, reservations is a must.

The waitress who wears short skirt only focused on the big table. I mentioned the noise of the big table to her, and she just ignored me.

I made a reservation 3 weeks in advance to have Christmas dinner with my family. There was a large party having a company Christmas party there taking up half the restaurant and the noise level was absolutely unbearable. People were drunk and screaming and it was so loud I couldn’t even hear my mom who was sitting right beside me. The tables beside us also had the same concerns with the noise levels. I told the server of my concerns and all she said was “you can get up to leave or you can stay, it is like this every day leading up to Christmas. ” I have never tried this restaurant and never plan to.

Pretty great place. It's easy to miss from the outside but inside looks okay. Food looks even better! It's a mix of casual and fine dining in one place.

The staffs are very helpful and the place is ok. The food served is of good portion and the price is pretty decent.

The ingredients are fresh and the taste is good. It is worthwhile for those who never been to give it a try and definitely for me to return.