By now, most people who have googled ‘Hydra’ have probably come across some pretty awful reviews. My personal experiences here have always positive (both as media and as a regular customer). But it’s been about half a year since I last visited, so I came by earlier this week to try out their new menu. While they still had many of their signature dishes, they have also introduced a bevy of new ones. Hydra Estiatorio is serving up new dishes on their revamped Mediterranean menu and it’s definitely one to check out. In addition to their extensive menu, I love coming to here for their buck a shuck during Happy Hour.
Hydra Vancouver – Buck-A-Shuck Oysters
Adding to this post as I think Hydra has the best deal for oysters in Downtown Vancouver. It’s impossible to find buck-a-shuck these days, especially in Vancouver, so it’s pretty fantastic that Hydra still has $1 oysters during Happy Hour! Hydra’s Happy Hour is daily from 3-6 PM. They have of $5 wines and beer as well as a selection of $10 appetizers. But by far the best deal at their Happy Hour is their oysters. They are always plump, fresh and expertly shucked.
Appetizers – Refreshing Starters
We had a bevy of appetizers to start of the night. Two of their signature items – Hydra Special ($18.00) and Spreads Platter ($30.00). The Hydra Special consists of paper thin slices of zucchini and eggplant that are lightly deep fried and served with tzatziki. This dish was delightful. It was light and airy without feeling oily at all. I love the crisp texture of the vegetables with the creamy tzatziki.
The Spreads Platter is the best way to try all of their signature spreads. The platter comes with four spreads and pita (with the option to add a crudité selection). My personal favourites are the Tarama and Tzatziki. The Tarama is delightfully salty with a briny aftertaste from the salted egg roe. The Tzatziki is creamy and refreshing from the addition of cucumbers.
The Tuna Ceviche ($22.00) features fresh cuts of ahi tuna with fresh herbs, gigantes beans and feta cheese. I’ve never had feta cheese with fish before and it works surprisingly well.
The Salmon Tartare ($17.00) was the stand out appetizer for me. The creaminess of the egg yolk worked perfectly with the fresh salmon. The chili added a nice little kick of spice.
The Watermelon Salad ($16.00) is a seasonal feature and my second favourite dish of the appetizers. I was wary at first as I’m not a fan of mixing salty and sweet, but this salad just works. The watermelon was bright, fresh and crisp and the creamy feta had the perfect balance with the natural sweetness of the watermelon.
Main Course – Whole Grilled Fish and Lamb Chops
One of the signature items at Hydra is their Whole Grilled Fish. The fish was flaky and went well with the olive oil & lemon sauce. However, I found the fish to be a touch on the dry side. The skin has a delicious crisp and char from the grill. The fish comes with Greek fried potatoes and sautéed greens, and both sides were done perfectly. The potatoes had a crisp interior and a lovely fluffy interior.
The Lamb Chops ($42.00) was the star of the night for me. Fresh spring lamb rib chops are broiled and served with an aged vinegar drizzle. The lamb was so unbelievably tender and flavourful. The portion size was very generous and overall this is my must order dish.
To wrap up the night we had all three of their desserts – Bougatsa ($15.00), Ice Cream and Baklava ($14.00) and Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake ($14.00). All the desserts were so delicious but my stand out was the Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake. It was unbelievably rich without being cloying.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Hydra. The service was excellent, and all the staff adhered to social distancing rules and wore masks. I felt safe dining there, and the restaurant was fairly busy. In addition to the excellent service, the dishes I had were of high quality – fresh flavours and ingredients. I highly recommend Hydra for your next dinner out!