The Freshly Caught Mussels That Won’t Break the Bank

Do you have a favourite happy hour spot? Your go-to after-work spot when you’ve been gazing longingly out your window all day? Well, that’s The Sandbar for me and my boyfriend. If we both finish work right on time (which is rare), we book it to make it to this happy hour!

Mussels at The Sandbar | tryhiddengems.com

The lounge is the only place where you can get The Sandbar’s happy hour, but it’s worth it! From 3 to 6pm, Monday to Friday, the Sandbar features their Mussel Mania deal, and it’s to die for! For only $15, you get a bucket of mussels, fries, and a pint of Granville Island beer. For the mussels, you have a choice between Thai curry, vindaloo, or provencal. Without fail, we get the provencal every time.

Mussels at The Sandbar | tryhiddengems.com

Piping hot, the mussels are drenched in a tomato provencal sauce with huge chunks of spicy chorizo sausage. The mussels taste freshly caught, with just the slightest hint of ocean salt. The tomato provencal sauce has just the right amount of garlic, and a hint of bay leaf.

Mussels at The Sandbar | tryhiddengems.com

When a mussel shell fills up with the perfect amount sauce, chorizo, and a tender mussel, the flavour is out of this world!

I’m not much of a bread person, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t scrape the bowl to soak up all that extra goodness. If you’re looking for a dinner for two under $40, I’d recommend ordering the Sandbar’s wok squid as well. It’s on another level!

Mussels at The Sandbar | tryhiddengems.com

The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant is located right in the heart of Granville Island on the water. There’s free parking all over the place, so keep an eye out. As you walk in, there are tanks of local seafood and a staircase prompting you to head up to their guest services. The best way to describe The Sandbar is West Coast. Large wooden beams cross over the lounge and the downstairs dining area. A second set of stairs brings you to a higher vantage point, with more indoor seating, as well as a covered patio with a bar. The lounge is filled with high-top wood tables, big leather chairs, a fireplace, and windows on all sides. A larger bar in the centre separates the lounge from the full restaurant. And If you stay long enough, there’s also nightly live music!

Mussels at The Sandbar | tryhiddengems.com

There are also two boats that are home to The Sandbar – one that sits comfortably in the rafters, and another right outside the windows. Look out for it; it’s perched between the dock and the base of the Burrard Street Bridge.

Mussels at The Sandbar | tryhiddengems.com

If you want to check out The Sandbar’s happy hour, I’d recommend starting in the lounge for their Mussel Mania deal and then moving into the restaurant for the full West Coast experience. Try it. You won’t regret it.

Restaurant: The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant

Featured Dish Name: Mussel Mania (Mussels and Frites)

Dish Type: Shellfish

Available For: Happy Hour

Dish Price: $15.00

Flavour Profile: Savoury

Served: Hot

Portion Size: Large

Other Notes: The Sandbar has updated their Happy Hour specials for 2018, Mussels Mania has been replaced. Their most current offerings are as follows:

The SandBar’s first-ever Happy Hour runs Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. in its newly renovated bar/lounge and on its rooftop patio. Highlights: highballs, Granville Island beer, and red or white wine for $5, and all food items under $10. There are panko-breaded avocado chips with chili-lime aioli; tacos frijoles; Chiang Mai wok mussels with lemongrass, chili, garlic, and coconut milk; and more.

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Hidden Gems Vancouver
Hidden Gems Vancouver