Rimrock Cafe Awards

Rimrock Cafe Restaurant Review:

Since 1987, partners Bob Dawson and chef Rolf Gunther have kept this European-style restaurant at the forefront of the Whistler dining scene. The welcome is always warm, and it's easy to understand why this cozy café, situated in The Highland Lodge near Creekside, is a longstanding favorite of the hip, local crowd. The room’s intimate tables and an innovative menu starring fresh seafood and wild game beckon year-round. Starters may include iced Fanny Bay oysters topped with vodka, crème fraîche and caviar or Champagne vinaigrette; seared scallops with roasted pork belly with ancho chili sauce, pickled shallots and cilantro oil; or antipasto with a changing selection of chilled, smoked and marinated seafood. Main courses range from a half lobster and scallops with a toasted almond beurre blanc, to the Rimrock mixed grill with filet mignon, double lamb chop and venison medallion with sauce béarnaise. Sticky toffee pudding or the tasting plate of five changing miniature desserts offer a sweet finale. Wine, an integral part of the Rimrock experience, is taken seriously, but there's nothing precious about the ever-changing 300-plus-label wine list or those selecting and serving the wines. Dawson and his crew’s enthusiasm is contagious, and they'll happily guide patrons to just the right bottle. In summer, dine on the back patio amid the fresh herbs in Gunther’s garden.