Haida House at Tllaal Dining Room

This was our third visit to Haida House over the course of as many years (if you discount the year of Covid). Our first visit was spectacular. Second visit was quite good, but with poor seating. I recall the gift shop not being open so...we missed that. This visit was a bit disappointing. The staff were welcoming and attentive. We reserved a window table, which overlooked the parking not the river. The sense was that lodge guests got the good tables and extra TLC. Wine by the glass was limited to one choice, red or white (nothing special). The menu has changed from a fixed three course price to starters, mains and desserts priced separately. There is no complimentary bread or equivalent nibbles. I asked about a starter called Elote, and the server was completely at a loss to explain what it was, only that it involved corn and dry salmon. We settled on Salmon Rilettes with taro chips, since I am gluten-free. This was a sort of potted cream cheese with bits of salmon, calling for some lemon and salt. The taro chips were flavourless. For the main dish my DH picked Duck with Cassoulet. It was a crispy, dark brown, really salty affair with tasty beans and fresh peas as a side. I chose Mushroom Risotto. What a mistake. It was bland, not at all brimming with mushroom umami as I expected. The dish had a bright green tasteless oil drizzled around the edge of the bowl. I salted and peppered it liberally, and ended up scooping half of DH's peas to give it some oomph. Halfway through doctoring it up, I discovered a big lump of (mozzarella cheese buried at the bottom of the bowl, that refused to be stirred into the rice, but came up in long unmanageable strings. I will say, the rice was perfectly al dente. For dessert, due to the GF issue, our choice was limited to two of a three part dish (skipping the chocolate cake) of mousse and sorbet, quite delightful. I asked what kinds of cognac were on the drinks menu. Our server did not know what cognac was, so I said a good brandy. She didn't know what that was either, and went to the bar and returned with a bottle each of B&B and VSOP for me to look at. It was served in a short drinks glass, and arrived after dessert was over. With the parking lot view, there seemed no reason to linger. We are both music lovers, and the canned sound did nothing to create ambience, not did staff engage in chit-chat or cultural stories. Based on our first experience at Haida House and the innumerable stellar reviews, I am sincerely hoping we hit an off night. There are really no other fine dining choices on the island. It is a minute drive each way to get there from Queen Charlotte, so one really expects to take away a memorable experience.

The Haida House is an outstanding restaurant. Good selections, pretty good wine list, lovely atmosphere and terrific staff

Amazing dinner with locally sourced ingredients and attentive staff, tucked between a picturesque river and sand dunes. The cumin-spiced roasted tomato soup and flat iron steak with oyster risotto were among the most flavourful dishes I've had in recent memory, finished off with a mint crème brûlée. Many thanks to Chef Eddie for such a memorable meal. Next time I will be sure to make arrangements to stay at the lodge as well.

Being welcomed at Haida House by Joelle Rabu, manager and a well-known performer of Edith Piaf songs was the icing on the cake for an amazing trip in the Tlell area. This is a remarkable place to taste good food, with both local Indigenous and multi-cultural flavours. Unfortunately we did not stay at Haida House Hotel but if the restaurant and layout and design of the dining room complete with some superb samples of Haida Art are any example, this is a must see, must experience Haida treat.Haida House is a hot-bed for training young folks in the hospitality industry and our experience was nothing less than excellent. Attentive, knowledgeable staff helped us through the menu details and ensured that everything was ... as it should be!Just be sure to book well in advance. You can also book get aways through B.C. Ferries. However you get there ... enjoy.

They open their dining room to the public by reservation only. Really worth the drive to Tlell to eat here, great Haida staff, delicious meals, prix fixe-table d'hote style which means fresh, local and no processed foods. Elegant desserts, great view of the Tlell river, ocean out back, the place is owned by the Haida Nation and really supports the cultural aspect. Highly recommended!