tuna tataki: seared tuna, micro greens, avocado, grapefruit, heirloom tomatoes, refreshing cilantro drizzle (which, incidentally, is the name of my mariachi-themed TLC cover band)

On Thursday night, I was super lucky to attend the launch of Oceans 999, Pan Pacific’s newly fancified dining experience. Formerly known as Cafe Pacifica, Oceans 999 (and the accompanying Coal Harbour Bar) has been renovated to add additional seating (fun fact: every seat in the joint faces the windows for what is probably the best view in the city), a Chef Station for freshly prepared build-your-own style dishes, updated furnishings, and more. The menu is all new as well, and we were invited to sample the creations made by Executive Chef Bob Wiles and his crew, along with the new Vancouver-themed cocktails.

lobsta mac! (shan stop licking your phone)

The food was ultimately my undoing, because even though I was stuffed to capacity I couldn’t stop going back to try just one more thing (8 or 9 times). We were treated to miniature plates of items from the new menu, including lobster mac n’ cheese, halibut with lemon pepper fries, shrimp dumplings, gourmet burgers, lamb meatballs, amazing salads, salmon dishes, cajun chicken, calamari – and that was just the savoury side of things. Every single thing we tried was delicious, with my favourites being the fish n’ chips, the tuna tataki, and the burger (and every other damn thing I ate because omg so good).

look at these goddamn adorable fish n’ chip cones i mean seriously

Science has proven that no matter how full you are, there’s always room for dessert. Good thing, too:

The desserts were beyond description. I inherited my father’s sweet tooth, and I could (and evidently have been, judging by the size of my butt) live on sweet things alone. Our group (myself, Ed, Sam, and Tina) didn’t come close to sampling everything available, but we made a heroic effort and rolled ourselves away feeling full and delighted.

If this is how fancy people live, sign me up. I could happily spend the rest of my days enjoying everything we tried, all while admiring this view:

ocean, mountain, stanley park, cityscape: check

What an insanely gorgeous place to spend an evening with cocktails, or Sunday morning with brunch.

So, yes. Oceans 999 and the Pan Pacific have done justice to Vancouver with the space and menu, and I’m tickled that I was invited to sample it all (thank you Ling! <3). Definitely add this place to your list of things to do in Vancouver, whether it’s celebrating yourself for your 100% track record of getting out of bed, trying to impress a certain someone, treating your loved ones to something special, or just a plain old regular Tuesday and you deserve it, damnit.

Sometimes I am spoiled AF, and I kind of love it.