Roar Launches at Hotel Zed Tofino: The West Coast's first live fire restaurant

Tofino, BC: Gather around the fire for the West Coast’s first live fire restaurant, Roar at Hotel Zed Tofino. Located in Tofino on Vancouver Island and famed for its seafood, beaches and laid-back lifestyle, Roar brings the flavour of Tofino to the table for a comfortable and delicious Tofino experience. 

From the outdoor fire pits, wood-fire grill and charcoal grill, Roar takes food back to its simplest form – fresh, local ingredients being cooked over live fire. A nod to Tofino’s geography, Roar harnesses the roar of the ocean and the roar of the fire in an out-of-the-ordinary restaurant space. 

With an all-star culinary team at the helm, Roar takes diners on a totally unique culinary experience. Upon entering Hotel Zed Tofino, guests walk through the totally-70’s avocado green shag-rug sunken living room past the mini disco and the psychic’s den and then into the bar and restaurant of Roar. Roar’s vibe promises to spark déjà vu with their groovy thrifted vintage décor curated by CEO Mandy Farmer, Roar features a cozy outdoor patio space where diners can enjoy comfortable deck chairs and fire pits surrounded in lush greenery. 

Leading the Roar team is Kaelhub Cudmore, Executive Chef; Dinah Kisil, Bar Manager and Assistant General Manager and Emma Woodward, General Manager. 

“Roar’s menu is ingredient-driven,” says Kaelhub Cudmore, Executive Chef of Roar. “Celebrating where our food comes from – whether that’s land or sea – means carefully choosing every ingredient we use in the kitchen. Roar is rooted in respect, that means respecting the community, the food, the food producers, the guests and our own team.” 

The team at Roar is committed to creating a restaurant that rebels against the old status quo, fostering a kind, inclusive, respectful and positive work culture for everyone. Emma, Kaelhub and Dinah represent the next generation of leaders building their team from the ground up with respect, diversity, adventure and always with fun at the forefront. Guests can also pick up fresh oysters, crabs and a range of go-to libations at the Beachside Provisions shop to have their own beach cookout. 

Queen of ridiculously fun hotels, Mandy Farmer, CEO of Hotel Zed, wanted to create Roar as a gathering place for Tofino locals. Eric Pateman, owner and operator of ESP Culinary Consulting was brought on to help fulfill her vision. 

"We're creating a second home for the Tofino community," says Farmer. "It's a place to relax after work or a weekend hangout spot. Tofino's known for its beautiful vistas, beach fires and seafood, and we wanted to create a restaurant that brings the outside in, showcasing the incredible natural environment.” 

Hotel Zed Tofino and Roar are part of the Tribal Park Allies – a community of businesses committed to the ecological protection and restoration of the Tribal Parks ancestral gardens and the resurgence of Tla-o-qui-aht culture and governance. As part of this commitment, guests are 

asked to contribute one per cent of their bill to the Tribal Park Allies Program so the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation can continue the restoration and guardianship of their lands. 

About Roar 

Waves crashing and raging flames – it’s the roar of a rebellious nature. Escape to Roar, where everything is cooked over an open flame and quality local ingredients are the center of the restaurant’s ethos. To locals, it’s a second home. Nestled in the rainforest, get cozy among the flames and join in for good conversation, food and drink that is completely unique to Tofino. For more information on Roar, visit www.roartofino.com. 

About Hotel Zed 

Hotel Zeds are ridiculously fun, unpretentious hotels in Victoria, Kelowna and Tofino, that look damn good on your Instagram and guarantee an experience that completely rebels against the ordinary. The hotel injects tons of fun in every stay. While Hotel Zed in Victoria and Kelowna are equipped with a pool, a hot tub and a ping pong lounge, the Tofino location is a short 10-minute walk to Canada’s most famous beaches, has a psychic den, a retro games arcade, a sunken living room, and the world’s first bike through lobby! All Hotel Zeds have retro-chic amenities like comic books, vinyl listening stations, typewriter stations, board games, rotary dial phones and more. It’s no wonder the hotel has lit a fire on social media, making it one of the most Instagrammable hotels in the world, according to TripAdvisor! Fun, playful and approachable, that's who Hotel Zed truly is.