We took a scenic drive up to Coquitlam’s Wedgewood Plateau this Family Day, holiday Monday. We came to check out Jess’ Fine, the local golf course’s house restaurant, to try what they were offering for this year’s Taste of the Tri-Cities. This is the Tri-Cities answer to Dine Out, with participating restaurants, cafes, and bars offering special promotions and limited edition offerings form February 15th to March 15th, 2025. All with the goal of having locals and visitors coming out and trying what Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam has to offer.
This certainly has worked for me. Going through the list of participanting restaurants, I hardly recognized any, but was intrigued to make note of my many to try.
When making plans to visit Jess’ I saw online that they were affiliated with Westford Plateau’s golf course and banquet hall, so instinctively drove all the way to the top of the mountain. We did this only to discover that the golf course and accompanying amenities was closed for the season. And after a quick search on their website learned that the Jess’ is actually back down the road, six minutes and several blocks away.
Still part of the golf course, but serving as the clubhouse for a secondary driving range, still affiliated with Westwood plateau.
At the time I didn’t realize they were affiliated to “Jess” in Kerrisdale, a Korean fusion fine dining concept, named after the owner. I was impressed by their delicate fine dining-esque plates during my first and only visit and really didn’t see the two linking up now. However in retrospect, it does make sense why the food was much better than anticipated in Coquitlam today. Typically restaurants connected to attractions or event spaces aren’t the destination, and the food is often not the feature. So I walked in with lower expectation, but was glad to have them dispelled.
We were reserved the best table in the house, located in a corner of the all glass window sides. We got a squinted view of the island and downtown at the distance. It was harder to see on a cloudy and drizzly day, but we found it a treat none-the-less.
As we took our seats we already decided that we would like to return during summer to enjoy their 20 table, two storey patio. They are definitely worth driving to for their one of a kind location, with no other restaurant or cafe nearby, let alone patio with view.
As expected the menu was a collection of international fare from burgers, pizzas, salads, and rice or noodle bowls. Covering Chinese, Italian, and Mexican flavours, this was an approachable listing for the diverse populations of people coming in to visit.
Seeing as that it was a stat holiday and still early afternoon, we started with a couple of cocktails. They did not reinvent the wheel with their drink menu, but had more than just highballs and tap beer. There were plenty of sweeter, summer and spring inspired cocktails to choose from.
The Limoncello Mojito was a burst of citrus, ideal as a thirst quencher with bacardi rum, limoncello, vanilla, mint leaf, and soda. Slightly lip puckering tart it would pair well with fried items or and seafood. It certainly added some tang to our first course.
The French Martini was sweet on the onset with the whipped egg and pinapple juice. The nuance of cherry offered body and helped the cocktail to finish sharp. Grey goose vodka, chambord, pineapple juice, and egg white.
For the Taste of the Tri-Cities Jess’ Fine has a choose your own, three course set menu worth exploring for $35. I was impressed because you don’t get these prices in Vancouver. The small plates listed for $12-20, entrees $22-31, and dessert was all priced at $13 a plate. So either option, you were already getting more for less by ordering the below.
Appetizers were between a Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad or the Soup of the Day. I never go for the salad, so already soup was the only choice. Today this was a chunky creamed corn. A cream based soup with bits of sweet corn to chew through, that helped to balanced out the heavy butter and garlic use. As is it felt like it was missing something. More side than main, we actually ended up using it as a dip for the pizza and garlic bread below. It was a good soup, but overall not so complimentary to the set. The lobster bisque on the regular menu would have been better suited.
Our choice of mains was between the Marinated Grilled Eggplant Pasta Penne or the Blackened Chicken Fettuccine. My partner is a fan of the one at Earls and was nostalgic for it upon reading this, so we went for the latter. This was Coffee crusted blackened chicken served over tender fettuccine, tossed in a rich Cajun cream sauce with sautéed spinach, blistered tomatoes, caramelized onion, mushrooms, and vibrant broccolini. Served with a point of garlic toast. This was an easy offering, well prepared and well balanced with all the heavier items partnered with fresh vegetables. The chicken breast was prepared juicy and full of flavour. Whereas it is usually otherwise. It was the star of the dish, adding interest to a one toned pasta base. I was also appreciative of the acidic pops from the sweet cherry tomatoes and the crunch of the green stems. This is a solid and standard, casual chain pasta course and we had no complaints.
Dessert was a New York style inspired Cheesecake with a nutty pistachio graham crust, that ate like a cookie. Topped with a tart raspberry coulis, and peppered with the additional crunch of the toasted nuts. This was described as a “cherished staple across all Jess’ locations”. A 100-year-old cheesecake recipe prided for its balance of tradition, indulgence, and brightness. This was the type of dessert you licked your fork clean of after every mouthful.
Since we were already here, we also tried something from the regular menu. The server said that the Birra tacos were new and are already very popular, and that their beet salad and classic clubhouse with Hickory bacon are customer favourites.
Seeing as they also have a fairly substantial listing of original sounding pizzas, we decided to try one of these instead. The Shepherds Grove read as the most extravagant with braised lamb, roast garlic, spinach, bocconcini, sundried tomato, olives, balsamic glaze drizzle. It read like and ate like a full entree on a crust. Generous fibrous chunks of pulled lamb meat, a whole roasted garlic clove on each slice, and the acidity of olives and balsamic to cut into some of the richer flavours. Tasty as is, however I still would have liked a dip to add longevity and to help change the taste after a slice or two.
In closing we were pleasantly surprised and happy to have discovered the second location of Jess in Coquitlam. And this was all thanks to the Taste of the Tri-Cities. Be sure to take advantage of their festival from now until March 15th.
Jess’ Fine
1630 Parkway Boulevard, Coquitlam, BC V3E 2Y5
(604) 941-4219
gtccwestwoodplateau
