Reviewed By: Lennie on 2011-05-24 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

A wagjag discount coupon brought us to this establishment. We were happy to find out there was a kids playground infront of the restaurant for the children since we had 4 with us dining here. The playground had cork flooring so that was nice we did not worry so much if they fell.rnThe kids menu was pretty good and well priced. Our kids shared the swiss mac n cheese and fish n chips which they enjoyed. For the adults they had a 3 course taster menu which is what I tried, started with tuna poke (sashimi) with wonton crisps - very tasty, top sirloin steak with Pemberton mash potatoes and local grown veggies. The others were not as impressed with their meals, one had tenderloin and he found it to be rather tasteless and nothing special. The others had prime rib and duck which seem to be fine. I ended my meal with a ice cream sundea which was good. The drinks are tad over priced here but again we are in Whistler so that is expected.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2011-05-24 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

This restaurant where the locals go is priced well and the food is delicious! They are known for their awesome brunch items, banana bread french toast, eggs benny, and many other tasty items on their menu. We found this restuarant through a recommendation of a local worker in the Village. This restaurant is also kid friendly so there is lots of family that go. The only thing is that the restaurant is not very big so often there is a bit of a wait.rnI will definitely try their lunch or dinner the next time round as the price seems so good for what they are serving. This particular location is right next to the Racquet Club so it seems like a odd location for a restaurant but it\'s really busy.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2011-05-09 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

We came upon this hidden restaurant by a groupon that I purchased. My first impressions upon arriving were not a great one. We were a party of 6 and they put us at tables of 2 pulled together but they were circles so it was a tad awkard. We found the decor and tables to be a tad out of date and our table was chipped. Nevertheless, it is best not to judge a place by it's looks as the food was amazing!rnWe shared a bunch of tapas over some wine and it was all very delicious. We had their homemade pita (amazing) ordered 2nd cause it was so yummy, hummus, lamb meatballs, saganaki and we tried some of their main courses too. We were impressed by all the good food. The only other complaint was the service was a little lacking as they kept bringing us other peoples food. I think a little updating and it would make this restaurant stand out more. The view was great too!!!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2011-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Your typical HK style restaurant which has many specials. I read about this cafe in the local Burnaby paper and had to give it a try. The wait was long but it was not to disappoint. This particular location is at an odd spot so the layout of the restuarant is quite tight and when you are waiting there is no real area to wait. We waited outside. When we were seated the tables are quite close to each other in which you can hear the conversation at the next table. rnThe food is the reason I wanted to try this restaurant. They have your build your own noodles where you choose the soup base, noodle type, toppings etc. starting at $7.50 and what is even better they have soup options with no msg. I choose the fish soup, added tofu and pumpking with rice noodle. The noodle also came with a small amout of chinese sui choy/ mushroom. You can add extras for a $1.50 extra per item up to 2 allowed so that was good. We decided to try their special chicken wings (tasty) and some chinese brocolli. We also tried thier special 1/2 seafood cream sauce / tomato pork chop rice and both the portions were very generous. The meals also came with a hot beverage (cold bevs cost a little extra). The only complaint was service was a tad lacking but overall good food and price so we would come back.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2010-12-20 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Recently enjoyed a fine dinner at Glowbal for a staff Holiday party. The satay appetizers were very good as were the drinks mixed by the bartenders. Glowbal is a very trendy restaurant with fashionable decor and a very urban feel. Valet parking and attentive staff made it an enjoyable evening. Ossu Bucco was the special and it did not dissapoint. Overall, a very tasty feast.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-11-06 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 1/5

A birthday party brought me to this restaurant and it was overall a disappointing experience. We were part of a large party of 40+ people. The food was suppose to be buffet style but it was not that when it was served. They did not have enough food, we were not attended to (can\'t blame the waitress when they only had one for the whole party), overcharged and the waitress was not truthful about the built in graituity. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone as there are so many other good options for what seemed like plain old simply chinese cuisine. Noting to write home about!!!

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2010-10-20 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Great spot for a romantic dinner in the heart of Whistler Village. In addition to the authentic pasta, they have excellent seafood choices. We had oysters as an appetizer and they were delicious. They have several choices of fish and we went for duck and halibut. Both dishes were excellent. Large restaurant with lots of seating, but you should make a reservation. Great date or anniversary spot.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2010-10-20 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Portions are huge at this friendly, busy pub. Expect to eat well with mountains of fries and other great dishes to share. This is a great place for drinks and appies. They have delicious wings, nachos and all other pub fare. The patio is huge and great for people watching. A relaxing atmosphere and great service.

Reviewed By: Julie on 2010-10-19 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Solid authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of Commercial Drive. I had the veal cannelloni for a change. I liked it but much prefer their mushroom sauce. My favourite is the tiramisu. Very fresh, fluffy whip cream and mascarpone cheese and the right amount of espresso.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-09-17 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

For a different Chinese meal, try Lucky Noodle. This restaurant features Hunan food...very different than what you are used to at most typical Cantonese or Szechuan restaurants in Vancouver. Dishes are spicier, plus there are unique sour, smoked and pickled vegetables in many dishes.rnThe place has only been open for a few months but obviously has pretty good buzz. It was nearly full when we stopped by for dinner...which must mean it\'s quite good!rnThe staff is very helpful with good English and they offered to help explain any questions we had about the menu. Don\'t expect a lot of noodles, despite the restaurant name, but be prepared to see some unusual selections.rnWe had chinese bacon with bamboo shoots - delicious smoky flavour you can smell as soon as they bring the dish over. $14.95 gets you a very large portion of smoked bamboo shoots, thickly sliced, stir fried with chunks of fatty smoky bacon. Very yummy. Definitely need steamed rice to absorb the rich flavour.rnThe other dish we had was the braised pork in special sauce. Also $14.95, this is a very traditional Chinese style dish known as Chairman Mao\'s Red-Braised pork. This is fatty pieces of pork belly, cooked in a thick sweet soya sauce concoction. It melts in your mouth. There is a subtle spiciness too. Very delicious.rnAnd then we had a green veggie dish stirfried with garlic. Don\'t know what it was in english but kind of like broccoli stems! Generous portion for $8.99.rnWe probably only ate half of everything, so big portions here. I also ordered the homemade soy milk. Huge glass for $2. Very fresh tasting, and a good way to cut the spiciness of the food.rnGreat deals at lunch - from $5-8, including a glass of soy milk.rn

Reviewed By: Picky Princess on 2010-09-12 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

If you like the salmon wellington at the Fish House you will love the salmon wellington at the Pink Peppercorn! The Owner/Chef of the Pink Peppercorn is a former chef of the Fish House\'s so he has taken all that is great about the Fish House and incorporated it into his own restaurant including the lobster oil. We had a large party with us so we had an opportunity to sample many dishes among them the seafood pasta, salmon wellington and lobster thermidor. To start we had chili papaya & prawn salad, mussels, panko goat cheese, clam chowder and salmon cakes. The portions are HUGE so ladies you might want to avoid the appetizer first or share it! Great food, fantastic service, a definite restaurant to visit again. It gets the PP stamp of approval.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-09-06 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A contemporary restaurant along the seawall serving delicious thai cuisine. We decided to try this restaurant at first due to a coupon in the local Vancouver entertainment book. We have tried a few of their dishes and they were not to disaappoint. We had their appie platter which consisted of spring rolls, chicken satay, crispy wonton, homemade fish/shrimp cakes. We have also tried their Yum Woon San (traditional thai salad) minced pork/shrimp with glass noodles, fresh lime juice and nam-pla and spices). Very tasty and refreshing. For our mains, we had sizzling seafood combo with thai chilli sauce. There was lots of seafood in this combo (clams, mussels, prawns, fish, squid). We also tried their coconut chicken curry which was served in a coconut shell - very tasty. We ordered jasmine rice to go with all this and I recommend the plain one with coconut milk. I tried the jasmine with organic spinach and didn\'t care for it. The portoins are a fair size so we had lots to take home for another meal.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2010-08-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

Recently enjoyed a birthday dinner at Grub with friends and the food was excellent. Treated to delicious appetizers such as a lettuce wrap stuffed with crab, prawn filo pastry, and more. Entrees were equally as good and the owner was very hosptitable. Recommended.

Reviewed By: leefodi on 2010-08-25 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

This is a great local, with lots of energy and groove. The menu has quite a bit of variety with great daily specials. There\'s a combination of standard pub-type fare, plus higher end seafood dishes. It can get loud--especially on the weekend, but that\'s part of what makes it a happening place.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-08-24 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

I actually ate at the downtown Denman location for this review, but menu is pretty much the same. It\'s been a while since I\"ve been to Legendary Noodle, but on a fireworks night downtown they still had room available so we stopped in.rnCumin lamb shank noodles were delicious...even my sister enjoyed them and she doesn\'t like lamb! Noodles are toothsome and chewy...mmmmm.rnThe other dish we ordered was a real stand out - lemon garlic green onion sauce!! Interesting combo for a Chinese noodle joint, but very nice blend of flavours.rnA warning...noodles do come a bit oilier than I would like, so they can be quite heavy for a light eater!!rnrn

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-08-24 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

We had the grilled octopus salad and burrata cheese for appies...WOW...absolutely delicious. The grilled octopus salad had huge pieces of tender octopus and a nice tomato sauce. Burrata was pillow-y soft, served up with toast points, pesto and grilled tomato. Amazingly simple yet delicious. Pasta platter for 2 as the main course and though it was tasty, pasta is one of those food items I find difficult to mess up. Of the 4 pastas, the lamb sausage one was the best.rnThe portions are very large here so come hungry, or be conservative in your ordering. It is a bit of a \'party\' place so table are quite close together and general buzz is kind of loud. A good place for a fun night out with friends, but for a super romantic dinner, you might want to consider some place less trendy.rn

Reviewed By: Hank on 2010-08-13 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Nova Scotia is known for its seafood. Digby, in particular, is world famous for its scallops. Any bragging rights are well-deserved. I've had many scallops in my life, and yes, I've had Digby scallops before. However, this was the first time I had Digby scallops in Digby, which meant they were the freshest you could get - perhaps even caught that day. These plump, tender, melt-in-your-mouth scallops were simply pan-fried, but were the best scallops I'd ever had - no contest. O'Neil's is the company that owns Royal Fundy seafood, which is sold throughout North America. The place is divided into a small, very casual restaurant on one side and seafood market on the other. The scallops are definitely worth the visit.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2010-08-13 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

If you're visiting the popular Lunenberg in Nova Scotia, you must stop in quaint Bridgewater and visit Wildwood cafe for comfort food and coffee. Their soups are made from fresh quality ingredients and are a unique tasty creation. Great place for lunch - selection of gourmet sandwiches and salads. Excellent service.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-07-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Heard many great reviews about this kid friendly restaurant from friends that I decided to give it a try! I thought with an entertainment coupon we could try many items and save some money. I was informed they are in the book but they no longer honor the coupons as they are in a legal battle with entertainment. They have asked to be removed several years ago but still haven't. They have honored them up until now. Having said that, I still decided to give them a try. My son had their homemade mac and cheese which was delicious made with white cheese. If the child is still hungry after their generous serving, there is complimentary refills so technically we fed two kids on that item. My husband and I tried their chicken noodle soup with farmer's veggie pizza which was delicious. I had their fig and goat cheese salad with pesto chicken pasta, very tasty. Their meals also come with flatbread which I ordered a mango dip to accompany. Yum! All their items are made fresh including pizza / pasta. Portions are very generous so we had dinner too as they was lots left. This is a very green restaurant so they support a lot of local grown farmers and almost all their supplies are eco-friendly even the kids play area. They have a kids play area which is so great for families with young children. Overall, a great restaurant serving tasty, local food and also eco-friendly.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2010-07-06 -- Food: 0/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 0/5

I ate at the sushi bar, where, you can't really see what they are making unless you lean way over. Is this intentional? Well, imagine my surprise and disgust when I looked down at my salmon and thought to myself... there should not be blood on my salmon... what is it? I carefully pulled out a nice little red worm. I showed the staff, gave them both the worm and the sushi. They gave me a new piece... obviously from the same poorly prepared filet... So of course, now I'm giving careful inspection but it only took me one glance to see yet another worm!!
Well... that was it for me. So I got up and asked to pay... they didn't charge me for the worms or extra salmon with the extra worm that I didn't eat... but they did charge me in FULL.
Hindsight thought is that I should've taken a picture... but hindsight also recalls that they didn't seem too surprised or upset about the find. I'm sure they continued to serve the salmon although they should have thrown it out.
I hope you didn't eat there today!!

:-P blech!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-06-10 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A modern version of a Hong Kong style cafe offering up your typical American, Canadian and Chinese food. I found the place to be clean, service was relatively good and the food was pretty good. They have value combos ranging from $14.95 and up and you can get quite a bit of food and you can choose from a wide variety of choices. We had a 3 item combo which we selected breaded sole fillet, 1/2 spring chicken, ribs, sides were baked potato and veggies. This meal also came with a borscht soup or cream if you prefer, tea/coffee and a roll all for $16.95. My other party ordered a small lobster tail and 8oz filet mignon which also included everything I mentioned above for $19.88. If you want a la carte, there are lots of choices, something for everyone. We also tried their bubble tea and found it to be also very good - just a simple selection to add to your meal if you want. Overall, clean restaurant and good food and value.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2010-05-15 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I went to Chambar for dine out Vancouver and the food was amazing! They also have some excellent Belgian Beer (around $10 for 330ml bottle though)
You can easily spend $30-$60 just on food but if you're willing to spend the money the food is well worth it!!

Reviewed By: lilypad on 2010-05-10 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Parking is on the street and sometimes hard to find and most days you will have to wait for a seat but it is worth the wait. Staff are friendly and prompt and the food is excellent. Have had their takeout as well and it is just as good.

Reviewed By: lilypad on 2010-05-10 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Beautiful location overlooking vineyards and Osoyoos Lake, with both seasonal inside and patio dining. Food is excellent and has adjacent wine shop where you can purchase their wines or just do a little wine tasting. Take the stair case up to the lookout tower and ring the bell, or take a little stroll through the vineyard to the lookout site. Also have 10 bed & breakfast units with hot tub and a huge pool. A little pricey but food and dining experience all worth it.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-05-02 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A dine out and stagette brought me to this sleek, modern and quaint restaurent in the heart of Yaletown. I took the Canada Line to find that is is exactly half a block away which was so convenient. It was great! For the dine out menu, I started with a refreshing quinoa and vegetable salad, followed by roasted nugget potatoes and grilled dijon salmon, and dessert was a pistachio brittle ice cream. The food was all very tasty and they also have a nice wine menu and many cocktail choices. I had their ginger gin soda which was very tasty and refreshing. This restaurant usually serves up tapas and small plates so it is a great place to go with a group of people. The restaurant probably only seats no more than 50 people.

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2010-04-24 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

The best deal here is the Sunday Brunch.....it is $40, but well worth every penny. You can sit out on Mission Bay and enjoy the lovely year-round sunny weather and enjoy a FULL buffet-style brunch, complete with a decadent sushi bar, seafood, prime rib, waffles, made-to-order omelets, bacon, sausage, eggs benedict, a mountain of fresh fruit and vegetable salads, and much more. Of course, the mamosas are free flowing - and the live harp music just adds to the pampered feeling. Life is good on a Sunday morning (10 to 2pm) at the Catamaran! The restaurant also has a lovely fine dining menu and quite often does special deals, so its worth checking the website out if you are interested in dinner on the Bay. The Morray lounge is just next door in the hotel and has a smaller bar menu, live entertainment and TVs for sports enthusiasts.

Reviewed By: lilypad on 2010-04-23 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Used to be ABC Country Restaurant so food and ambience is close to that of ABC chain. Good value breakfasts and lunch, dinners are plain but food is good. Limited otdoor seating in summer. Parking lot is small and tight but there is ample street parking as well and would recommend parking there.

Reviewed By: lilypad on 2010-04-23 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Limited menu but the food is good-summer seating on outside patio. Has some spicy cajun and blackened items on the menu.

Reviewed By: lilypad on 2010-04-23 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Lunch was excellent-rice bowl very nice and salads were fresh and well presented. Good value and service friendly and timely.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-04-19 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Love this place for their delicious thin-crust wood oven pizza. You will find more authentic toppings, such as the potato combo, there is prosciutto and artichoke, etc. There is also the option for whole wheat. One of my favourite spots for take-out pizza, it also happens to be 10 min walk from my house! There is also the option for whole wheat.
Pizzas have a great thin chewy crust, nice tomato sauce, and not totally glooped with cheese everywhere.

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2010-04-07 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Okay - so not exactly Vancouver, but I know a LOT of West Coasters that go south to Baja during those chilly fall, winter and spring months....
This is my absolute favorite place for a little taste of sushi when in Mexico - there are 2 locations - one in the Palmillas (on your way to Cabo from the airport) and one in Cabo, next to Costa Real (you know, beside the Tanga Tanga). Mmmmm, such good sushi, perhaps not at Vancouver prices, but the service and the atmosphere make up for it. Next time you are down with a hankering for some raw fishes, give it a try!

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2010-04-07 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

To be quite honest, I haven't actually eaten here, except maybe to munch on someone's pizza (I knew them, it's okay), which was tasty. But what I do love is the drinks! Any of you classic martini drinkers (and no, that doesn't mean you have to prefer gin to vodka) will agree, and for those who think martinis can have juice in them, there is an instructional guide with the drink menu. A fun place for a late night cocktail!

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2010-03-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Modern Chinese Restaurant that is Vancouver's answer to (David Chan's) Momofuki in New York, especially the steam bun with the bbq pork. Yummy! Excellent food but can be a bit of a wait (hence the 3 for a rating). Very cool ambiance - young, chic and modern. Great place to hang out.

Cool tip, the Keefer is just down the block.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2010-03-17 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

If you are craving a big plate of BBQ meat, this is the place. Located in Rancho Mirage, Babe's BBQ is in the River Complex and serves delicious plates of ribs, chicken, brisket, and sausage with sides of sweet potato fries, garlic mash, and coleslaw. They also have a long list of award winning micro brewery beers on tap.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2010-03-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

I have to say that I had my doubts before going. The name threw me off and made me think it wasn\'t authentic Chinese food. I guess I expect the name to be Chinese-y to convince me it\'s the real goods. In Vancouver, we have a plethora of good Chinese food, so when I read in Conde Nast\'s Traveler magazine that Ken\'s Chinese Restaurant ranked #1 for its Golden Dungeness Crab, I had to try it. Much to my surprise, everything was authentic and delicious. In fact, it was some of the best Chinese food I\'ve had and I\'ve had a lot, plus I\'m Chinese and I think that counts for something! We ordered cod, pickled vegetables, crab, hainan chicken, beef brisket hot pot, garlic pea tips and other stuff. It\'s fresh crab is made with a lightly spiced egg sauce. This is a place I completely recommend and I\'ll be returning to try the many other interesting creations.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2010-02-14 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

New sushi spot on the Drive offers a huge menu choice. All your usual sushi rolls and hot Japanese menu items. They also have their in-house roll creations, bento boxes and sushi specials. What I love is the service. I've now been there twice and both times the service was great. Last night I came in for take out and the hostess poured me a cup of tea even before I ordered. They were quick and friendly. A great addition to Commercial Drive.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2010-02-14 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Pho is such an easy lunch and, for the most part, it's hard to differentiate one Pho place to another because it's a pretty basic recipe. As for Pho Tan, it's atmosphere is different from the neon lights of many of the Pho places we go to. The decor is more modern and warm. Service a little friendlier than other authentic Asian restaurants. The food is what you expect, but if you want a cozier atmosphere and friendlier service, than Pho Tan could be a better Pho spot. I'll definitely go back.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2010-02-07 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Only had Nachos but they were pretty good....loaded (It did cost and extra $3.50 for the guacamole!) They have already increased their prices though for the Olympics. They've added $2-3 for meals and appetizers. The menu is also smaller than their regular menu. They will be extending their hours over the Olympics.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2010-02-07 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

No more Malone's on Cornwall. Local is the new pub at the old Malone's site. Great place to go watch a hockey game with plenty of TV's all around. Generally seems to be quite a busy place. Large selection of beer. I've only sampled the appetizers but they were great. Calamari with jalapeno's was particularily enjoyable.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-02-06 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 3/5

Part of the Sequoia Co. of restaurants which we have tried them all. This one Sandbar is a more relaxed and casual atmosphere from the others.
A visit here recently to celebrate my B-day was a relatively good one. I have been here a few times but haven't been back in awhile. We were seated outdoors with a lovely view of False Creek and they provided nice heat lamps to keep us warm.
We started off our meal with a steam pot which consisted of clams, mussels and crag legs in a tasty broth. The pot could have used more seafood as it was very little compared to other restaurants I have been to. They have a sushi bar downstairs connected to their restaurant which is what my husband ordered. He tried their chopped scallop roll, dragon roll, and spicy tuna roll. It seems weird that we had sushi here but it was all very tasty and the scallops were very big and the crab was real crab rather than imitation thus $9 for the roll. For myself, I had their cedar planked salmon which was okay as it was a tad bit overcooked. They could have used a little more sides with the plate as it seemed bare when it arrived at the table. It came with 2 brocollini, small scoop of star anise infused rice, and some red cabbage. To end our meal for your B-day you get a dessert of choice on the house so of course, we chose their creme brulee. It was delicious! Nice place to grab drinks and appies too!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-02-02 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Tucked away on Kingsway across from Central Park is this traditional Greek Taverna. I have been here several times and the food is always good. They have all your tradtional Greek items from roast lamb, moussaka, meat souvlakis and Greek appies of all types. The service is sometimes hit and miss but most times it was good. The have sectioned off areas so it is good for larger parties if you wanted a private area for your group. The parking lot is a tad bit small but there is some parking in the resedential area.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-02-02 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I have been to this restaurant a few times and their food is quite authentic for Indian cuisine. I recently came with a friend to try their lunch buffet and it was pretty good. For around $13.00 inlcuding taxes you have a good selection of cuisine to choose from. They have a simple salad bar to start, then Indian appies from pakoras to ssamosas. Their main entrees include butter chicken, tandoori chicken/beef, vegetarian items, rice, naan bread and much more. They had a few dessert items too. If you have young children and they do not like Indian there is a pizza parlor next door and you can always get a slice and bring it into the restaurant that is what I did. It was great to have an option for my son. Overall, good food and service.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-02-02 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Your traditional made to order dim sum restuarant. The prices start from approx. $3.50 and above. A tad bit more than some others but the quality of food was good. They have all the usual fares of dim sum: shiu mai, hargow, assorted type dumplings and much more. I thought the food was pretty good and the service was friendly. A small but clean restaurant.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-02-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I have been to this restaurant twice for dim sum and both times, it was great! The restaurant is located in which was formally the Flamingo on Frasser. It is now newly renovated, very clean and the dim sum is very good. It is all your usual fare that you can order from shiu mai, hargow, spring rolls, rice rolls etc. Everything is made to order so it is very fresh. Although a teeny bit pricer than some dim sum places, it ranges from around $3.50 and up. I feel for the money you pay you get good quality food and the service is also very good.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-02-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Our family has been here quite a few times for dinner and we are always happy with them. Their authentic Chinese food is all very tasty and flavorful. We usually order their house special chicken jellyfish dish with chips on top, young ginger beef, peking duck, honey garlic ribs and steamed black bean fish. The people who work here are also especially friendly which is always a pleasant experience. I have recommended it to others and they have enjoyed it too.

Reviewed By: hushrules on 2010-01-29 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Maguro is my favourite Japanese place in the Lower Mainland. The food is always amazing no matter what you order. The specialty rolls are awesome; Blue Ruby roll, Dragon roll or Volcano roll. Try some of the items not posted on the menu but listed on the walls - they are great - especially the Tuna bites.

It is definitely worth the drive from Vancouver, although you pretty much always should have a reservation for dinner.

Reviewed By: hsd023 on 2010-01-27 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I like food !!!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-01-25 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

We were invited for a typical 10 course meal here recently. I found the food to be pretty good overall. We had many seafood dishes and found it all to be pretty tasty. I found the restaurant to be clean and provided good service.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-01-25 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

We stumbled upon this restaurant on a shopping trip down to the USA. We came upon it on their 3rd day of grand opening. To our surprise, the food was relatively good and it is a very kid friendly place and reasonable priced. They will be known for their hot wings of all types. They have silly hot wing eating contests in which you can pay for if you decide to take the challenge and your picture will be posted on their wall of fame.
They have ribs, burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, fries of all types and of course wings.
We tried their meaty St. Louis style ribs with bbq sauce, homemade slaw, and bbq beans. It was all finger licking good. My other half had the bacon/jalepeno hot dog which was also good. On the particular day we went kids ate for free so my son got a hot dog meal for free which was a bonus. Each day they have different specials.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-01-25 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Your typical American food chain restaurant. I found this Red Lobster particularly kid friendly. They provided me with a baby seat high chair which I've never seen before which was nice so I didn't have to place our baby on the floor.
Their menu is quite an extensive one with anything from pasta, steak, and of course seafood. What I liked about their menu was that they had many selections in which you could mix and match food items which made it for a good variety. We started with a lobster stuffed mushrooms for an appie which was tasty. I had snow crab, jumbo coconut shrimp, and shrimp pasta for my main entree. My favorite was the coconut shrimp. The snow crab was too much work in the end. The food was what was expected for this type of chain restaurant. It was good overall.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2010-01-25 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Recommended by my sister in-law we decided to give this restaurant a try with some friends. We were impressed overall with this small yet intimate and quaint restaurant. We started with a few martinis and they were very tasty. They have a good selection of wine and a good cocktail menu. We had a few appies to start and they were all very tasty. We had popcorn shrimp (lightly battered and the shrimps were a good size), tuna tempura roll, and roasted beet salad. We enjoyed all the appies. For our mains, we all tried different things from ribs, steak, pulled pork sandwich and seared ahi tuna. The main courses were all very good. The only thing we would have liked is with mains if they offered a different type of potatoe other than fries. For the tuna it came with salad so I was happy about that but the other 3 meals came with fries. To end off our meal we tried their chocolate cheesecake and that was delicious! We will definitely come back here for another good meal.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-01-24 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

This could be one of the better dining bargains in Whistler. Though you might think it would be super-expensive, being in the Four Seasons Resort, we were pleasantly surprised. The focus is on various cuts of beef, and other protein (chicken and seafood). The protein is priced separately from the side dishes ($5 each). I had the buffalo short rib, a very generous portion at $24. My husband had a giant 12oz steak, $30. For sides, we ordered the macaroni and cheese (absolutely decadent and delicious) and roasted root vegetables. The serving sizes of the sides are quite large and we easily shared the two sides with leftovers. All the meats are served with your choice of rub and a tray of sauces...kind of gimmicky but fun.rnFor an appetizer, we shared the roasted beet salad. And the bread at dinner included yummy cheese puffs and some kind of fresh baked biscuit.rnCompared to other high end Whistler restaurants, a very well priced meal. Service was excellent, and dining room is laid out nicely with lots of space around each table.rnrn

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-01-24 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

This is a standby for good, cheap dim sum. But if you don\'t get there by 10am on the weekends, prepare for a long line up. One of the few places left that does the traditional push-cart service, which I love! All the usual standbys...siu mai, har gow, sticky rice, spare ribs...plus some more original dishes. Regular dim sum dishes are $2.30, and special dishes from the kitchen (which are bigger) are $4. Special dishes include chili salt deep-fried squid, bean curd with mushrooms, stuffed eggplant.rnrnrn

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-01-24 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

This is one of the newest \"gastropubs\" in town...if you don\'t know what that is, just think of fancy pub food with a huge selection of beers on tap.rnrnWe had the courgette fries (aka zucchini fries) to start. Nice, crispy and crunch coating, and big pieces of zucchini. At $9, I thought it was a bit steep for deep fried zucchini.rnrnMains were bangers and mash $13 and hanger steak and chips $17. Bangers and mash come on an impressive giant yorkshire pudding pancake, doused in a ring of gravy, and the delicious sausages were topped with caramelized onion. Tasty and super filling, though I did find the au jus gravy rather salty. Hanger steak was done to a nice medium rare, and chips were a big generous serving. Chips were a bit on the soggy side so could have spent a little more time in the frier. Asked for a side of curry to dip the fries. Curry is very thick and rich, with peas, though a bit on the oily side.rnrnAlso sampled our dining companions\' rabbit ragu...very tasty, not too greasy or heavy. Served with orrechiete pasta and spinach.rnrnThis is definitely a few notches above traditional pub food. Other mains include steak pie, fish and chips, and curry. But everything has been modernized a bit...and the chef tries to use organic and local wherever possible, a nice rnbonus.rnrnI do find the prices a bit on the high side for some of the dishes, but a great casual atmosphere as a place to \"hang out\" and watch the game. We had a large group for dinner and the server was great.rnrnrnrn

Reviewed By: Hank on 2010-01-18 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Finally got a chance to visit Tempest Steakhouse on Main and have to say I left full and happy. For the quality of steak and portion size, it was a great deal. The menu is simple - different cuts and sizes of your steak and choices of sides. For those not in the mood for red meat, there's also fish and chicken. I had the roasted ruby beets and spinach salad and the 14 oz. rib eye. The salad was a great starter with double smoked bacon and white balsamic goat cheese. Entree portions are generous - I chose the gratin potatoes and seasonal vegetables with my rib eye. My rib eye was tender and cooked perfectly - seasoned right without taking away from the steak. It's not cheap eats, but you're getting the quality of a high end steakhouse for a mid-level price. Atmosphere is a cozy chic and a fun place to hang out for drinks and appetizers (good selection of appies). Tempest Steakhouse is a welcome addition to Main Street, complementing the hub of restaurants on this popular dining corridor. I'll definitely return.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2010-01-13 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

I travel to Calgary often for business and have a hard time finding authentic Chinese cuisine outside of downtown. The Ginger Beef Peking House on Macleod Trail South hits the spot. They offer a wide selection of dishes including fried rice, hot pots, noodles, and chicken dishes. Ate the fish and black bean hot plate as well as a very good beef fried rice. Definitely satisfied the appetite.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2010-01-13 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

The Redwater Grille on Maclead Trail South is one of three locations in Calgary. The restaurants are well decorated and have a comfortable and trendy dining area. The serving staff was very attentive and the bar is well stocked. I ate the seafood linguini which was not on the menu but recommended by the waiter as a personal creation of the chef. Lots of great seafood including salmon, halibut, prawns, and mussels. Well presented and delicious.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2010-01-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

Wow! These tacos are probably the closest thing in Vancouver to the numerous tacos I noshed on in Mexico. And really, that\'s all they serve at La Taqueria. It\'s just a small eatery, with bar-style eating areas for quick meals on the go.rnrn4 meat tacos are $9.50, and 4 vegetarian ones are less. You get to choose from about 10 different fillings, including al pastor, carnitas, mushroom, skirt steak, pork cheeks, and there is a special of the day. I shared 4 meat tacos with my sister...perfect for a light meal or snack. If you are really hungry, I suggest you eat 4 all for yourself! These are the traditional Mexican size, so may seem small for those used to supersizing it. You can probably eat one taco in about 5 bites.rnrnTacos are served with the traditional fixings - cilantro, diced onion, diced jalapenos - in a double layer of soft shells. Help yourself to yummy pickled red onions and salsa/guac sauces. They try to use organic and local meat whenever possible, a very nice bonus.rnrnThe only downside was the pescado (fish) taco. I found it a bit on the fishy side. But no complaints about anything else!rn

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2010-01-02 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

I used to enjoy this restaurant quite a bit, but with a greater selection of Taiwanese food popping up throughout Vancouver, I'd choose other restaurants over this one. We went to Tony's today because Long's Noodle was closed for holidays. The beef noodle soup is good, broth is savoury and their noodles were the right consistency. Their steamed pork dumplings aren't as tasty as Long's or Beefy Beef Noodle - still worth getting though. They've updated their restaurant, but the washrooms are disgusting and they don't have high chairs for kids. We also had the pork with garlic sauce on rice. It was okay. I'd go back because of the convenient location, across from Oakridge, but I prefer Main Street's Long's Noodle or Beefy Beef.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-12-22 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Recently had a business lunch at Dario's and was surprised by the experience. Great ambience and food and a fantastic wait staff made the experience very enjoyable. They made us feel very welcome and the food was quite good. I enjoyed the steamed talapia and the scotch broth soup was delicious.

Reviewed By: Picky Princess on 2009-12-15 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

If it's comfort food you are looking for then this is the place! The french onion soup and the mac 'n cheese is really good. The chocolate cayenne desert is very spicy so be careful if your not a big spice fan.

Reviewed By: Picky Princess on 2009-12-15 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

It doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is really good for a great value. I'd suggest making a reservation Thursday - Saturday or you will be waiting for a while.

Reviewed By: hungrygirl on 2009-12-14 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Eclectic cafe on Fraser accross the street from Starbucks at 49th. Fantastic lattes and coffee. Good selection of sandwiches, cookies, cakes, croissants and other goodies! Open 24 hours!!! Seating is tight.

Reviewed By: hungrygirl on 2009-12-14 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

"Authentic, family-owned Japanese restaurant in South East Vancouver at 49th & Victoria. Small space with simple arrangement- booths & tables around a sushi bar. Selection of sushi, sashimi, noodles & Japanese appetizers. Freshly made when you order it. Favourites include the soft shell crab roll (delicious!) and the agedashi tofu."

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-12-11 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

What's great about food in Vancouver is the fusion of ethnic flavours. Jambo Grill serves African food with Indian influence. It was my first visit and I will definitely return, mostly because its menu items are little more unique. I had the Pili Pili Mogo, vegetarian curry, and two new items not yet listed on their website, a thinly sliced deep fried battered potato (not too spicy) and an appetizer beef wrap. The portions are big, so good thing I was there with a friend. All of it was delicious. I especially love the cassava fries (pili pili mogo) dipped in the tamarind sauce. They were just the right amount of spicy. I'm a fan of spicy food, so I preferred this over the thinly slice potatoes (which were still really good). The owner makes you feel at home with his accommodating, friendly personality. There's even a kids menu for those of you who enjoy a spicy meal but have kids that would rather have the basics like chicken fingers. Thumbs up for Jambo Grill.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-12-10 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

These are amongst the best doughnuts I have ever eaten. Sorry Tim Horton\'s!! This place has achieved cult status amongst New Yorkers so I had to see what all the fuss was about. There are more than a dozen flavours of donuts, with seasonal specials. We tried the peanut butter and jelly, marzipan and pumpkin. The PBJ and marzipan donuts are both yeast doughnuts - light and airy, with a nice toothsome chew. PBJ has a lovely peanut butter glaze and filled with raspberry jelly. Marzipan had good almond flavour. But the best one was the pumpkin, a cake donut. The cake is soft and moist and really tasty.rnApparently, the owner worked on the cake doughnut recipe for 5 years! And the yeast recipe comes from his grandfather.rnThe doughnut shop is a small industrial-looking space, barely enough room for 10 people to stand. But really, you\'re here for the donuts. Get there early for best choice of flavours.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-12-10 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Wow, what a fantastic meal! Eleven Madison Park is in a beautiful Art Deco building that used to be a bank.rnThe New York Times recently gave EMP 4 stars, and I can see why. The French-inspired food is delicious and a good deal if you go at lunch - 2 courses for $28, or 3 for $42. We had the tuna tartare and linguine with crab for starters: tuna was fresh and bright with hints of yuzu citrus, the linguine was cooked perfectly al dente so it was dense and chewy, flecked with chunks of crab. Mains were the salmon mi-cuit - very nice but a tad on the overcooked side - and the must-try suckling pig. Crispy on the outside, beautifully tender on the inside, it\'s one of the chef\'s signature dishes. Deserts were equally fantastic. We tried three tarts - lemon meringue, fig and pistachio and chocolate caramel.rnService was impeccable...friendly and efficient. We felt welcome, even in our schlep-y tourist clothes.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-12-10 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 1/5

I know Whistler is expensive, but come on - $30 for schnitzel? While the food at Bavaria Restaurant is decent, I think it\'s pretty tough to mess up fried veal and melted cheese. The menu features all the usual German specialties, and sides include cabbage and spaetzle...hardly high-end fare. At the same time, top-notch Whistler restaurants Araxi and Bearfoot Bistro were offering $39 and $29 3 course meals, which actually ended up costing less than the equivalent at Bavaria Restaurant.rnWe had the overpriced chocolate fondue for desert. 3 of us paid $12 EACH for one pot of chocolate and a dinner-size plate of fruit and lady fingers.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-12-06 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Solid Chinese food at Koon Lock. Their menu is huge and they also accommodate special orders if you want to slightly change a menu item. They have all your typical wonton soups and sweet and sour stuff, but I really like their Peking Duck. Tonight we had their three-course Peking Duck (lettuce wrap, steamed pancake/tortilla duck wrap and soup), pickled young ginger vegetables, honey garlic spareribs, scallops with gai lan, diced chicken with crispy chips and sesame and red bean dessert. It was a lot of food for about $20 per person, plus was enough left over to take home. All of it was excellent. Friendly service too.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-12-01 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I consider Earls a safe place to dine. What I mean by that is you know what you're going to get and there's something for everyone. While I'm always willing to experiment when it comes to food, not everyone I hang out with is so food curious. They go back to their basics. Earls always has the basics, but changes their menu enough to make it interesting for other who like to try new things. On this latest visit, I had a soup and salad combo. The soup was a pureed tomato, which I quite enjoyed. The salad was okay. But what I loved most was their seasonal dessert - a warm gingerbread cake with apple slices, vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce. It was a large serving, definitely big enough to split. This dessert alone was enough to draw me back in. It rivals one of my favorite desserts, the warm gingerbread pudding cake (with ginger and pumpkin ice cream) at Hamilton Street Grill.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-11-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

When it comes to Thai food, Sawasdee is one of my favourites. I return again and again and it's consistently good. Their food is always savoury without being too salty. Try their duck curry for something a little different. I also liked their Phad Kee Mao (chicken with baby corn, chili in garlic sauce) - my mouth is watering as I recommend this dish! Their pineapple fried rice is a good dish too - the pineapple gives a refreshing tart taste. I highly recommend Sawasdee - they never disappoint.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-11-24 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

One of my favorites. Excellent food. If you go you may want to call ahead. I went recently on a Saturday night and there was a 2 hour wait, unless you sat out on the patio, which we did. It's enclosed with heaters but was still a bit too cold to enjoy. I wouldn't recommend the patio. The food will keep me going back though!!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-22 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

During the non-peak season in Whistler, many of the top end restaurants offer special prix fixe menus. At Araxi, you can choose a 3-course menu for $39 - a real bargain considering regular entree prices come in at around $30-35.
We had the apple squash soup and the albacore tuna tataki to start. Both were pretty good, not absolutely stellar. Apple squash soup had a hint of curry. Tuna tataki was 4 slices of seared albacore tuna.
For the first course, an absolutely fantastic beet and buffalo mozzarella salad. The flavours worked really nicely together, especially with the fresh grind of sea salt on top. The shortrib ricotta gnocchi was also very very good - a bit rich though and on the salty side. Gnocchi very nice and pillow-y soft.
Main course was arctic char and the pork done three ways. Fish was perfectly cooked...melt in your mouth tender. Pork was also excellent - delicious fatty pork belly, very tender pork loin, and tasty little nugget of pork ravioli.
Desert was lemon tart (not incl in prix fixe, cost $11.50). Not lemon-y enough for my tastes, and a bit on the sweet side, but i do like it very very tart. Shortbread like crust was very nice. But the best part of desert was the Okanagan goat cheese ice cream. MMMMMMMmmmm. Next time, I will just ask for a big bowl of this!
Bill came with lovely mocha/chocolate mini macaroons.
Tea is loose leaf tea served in an iron pot, as it should be in a high-end restaurant.
Overall, a very very nice meal in Whistler at a great price.

Reviewed By: hyy3 on 2009-11-22 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

I have been to this restaurant a few times already and I find it's food fantastic! ( which I absolutely do not think that this restaurant's food is as bad as the previous two people commented).

I always order it's ginger fried rice and it tastes great every time i ordered.
The staff that served us were very nice.

I have also tried their take out. The operator said delivery time is about 45 - 55 minutes. And they arrived just slightly after 45 mnutes.
I like this restaurant because they would be honest about their delivery time, unlike other chinese rest. in burnaby. ps. the delivery guy was polite and humorous.

I give this restaurant a star for its food plus service.

Reviewed By: mr_burger on 2009-11-21 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Urban Burger, On Davie Street. The latest and greatest thing to hit the Westend, and Vancouver! Move over Vera's, and forget Fatburger. U.B offers new and "fresh", with the "Urban Combo".A 4oz Fresh ground beef burger, Fresh cut fries, and a 16oz soda (of your choice) all fo $5.99. That's five dollars and ninety nine cents. This is all the time, everyday, 6 days a week!

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-11-20 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Decent pizza at Hometown - not outstanding, but solid. It took forty minutes for my order to arrive, just as they said. :) I ordered the Factory Special, which comes with ham, salami, pepperoni, olives, mushrooms and green peppers. I also ordered the Mexican which had spicy ground beef, green peppers, chili peppers, jalapenos, onions and tomatoes - this pizza was great - loved the spiciness. Crust is nice and crisp. It was $24.75 for two large 14". they also have wings, ribs and pasta.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-11-18 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Yohachi Sushi is owned and operated by Takuya Iwaki who was formally trained as a sushi chef in Japan and worked at a number of high-end sushi restaurants in Vancouver. I tried a variety of sashimi, rolls, and nigiri sushi, all of which were very fresh. The service was good and the value was great given the quality of sushi prepared and served. In addition to a la carte, you can also order bento lunch boxes or a variety of noodle dishes.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-11-18 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Recently had a business dinner at the Hart House and the staff and ambience were great. The waiter provided welcome advice on wine selection and was attentive to our party. The Hart House is a charming building in a very nice spot in Deer Lake Park. The restaurant currently promoted their three support chefs to fill the recently vacated position of head chef (making it a true team effort). The rack of lamb was nicely prepared and the butternut squash soup was very nice, particularly given the November rain.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-11-18 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

Dropped by Kanata Chowder House and had two of their chowders - the red (Manhattan) and the cream (Boston). The cream chowder was hearty and delicious with chunks of potato, fresh herbs and some bacon in a thick cream sauce. If you were going to cheat on your diet, this is worth it. The tomato-based chowder had a good amount of clams, enough that you could taste it without being overwhelming. I would pick the cream chowder over the red. On a rainy day, this is comfort food. The portions are large and the soups could easily be a meal on their own. But they also have sandwiches if you're looking for a little more. Great lunch spot in the heart of West Broadway near VGH. Atmosphere is very casual, service is excellent. Next time I'll try their Algarve stew.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

This place is a bit confused...the menu is HUGE and features dishes from China, Thailand, Malaysia, plus a little Japan and other Asian countries.
Ordered the papaya mango salad ($9.95) and the Tom Yum Goong soup ($6.95). The salad was fresh and tasty, however, it was mostly romaine lettuce with a bit of mango and papaya sprinkled on top. It didn't have quite the fresh flavours a traditional Thai salad would have. And the soup also lacked that bright zip...it was not bad, and had a nice amount of plump shrimp, but definitely missing something. I also sampled the roti canaia, which was pretty good.
Overall, I think this place is convenient for its location, right next to the Scotiabank movie theatre. Plus service was lightning fast. We ordered and within 5 minutes, the food started coming out. So if you are in a hurry, this may be a good downtown option. However, if you want some Thai food, go to Salathai around the corner. And for Malaysian, hit Tropika on Robson.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I hope everyone in east Van goes to Tandoori House and gets business going! I don't want it to shut down because 1) it's 4 blocks from my house, and 2) it has GREAT Indian food.
The sad thing is most times when I drive or walk past it's empty. Just opened about 3 months ago but went in there for the first time last week.
I was definitely impressed. We had the veggie samosas (2 for $2.99)...my friend thought they were amongst the best she's had. Nice fresh pastry with tasty potato filling. The curry chicken and chana masala were both excellent. They tasted freshly made and had good flavours - not to heavy or spicy. Also had some garlic naan, very good with a toothsome chewiness.
Service could use a bit of help. We ordered a side of raita, which never came. And the chai tea also came at the end of the meal. We were the only ones in the restaurant so it's not like they were too busy to help out. Looks like a mom and son run the place...he's in charge of the front and she's in the kitchen.
Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Cold rainy Vancouver days just go so well with noodle soup! Menya must be pretty popular, judging by the full crowd at 1:00pm on a Friday afternoon.
The noodle soups are tasty, but of the two dishes we sampled, they kind of had the same flavours. Not enough variety to really set them apart, though maybe we ordered two similar items!
You can make your noodle dish a set for an additional $3 or so, and you get gyoza and a rice ball. The rice ball was very tasty...kind of like a sushi ball with no fish. Rice was seasoned with soy sauce and bits of veggies. Gyoza were nice - delicate skin and nice filling. Soup bowls are BIG servings. Noodles are dense and chewy. Some other guests ordered a spicy meat noodle dish which looked especially good, but we missed out on that one because it was written on the specials board! Make sure you check that out before deciding what to order.
Overall, nice place for a quick noodle soup lunch, but not the best I have had.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 3/5

This is the place to take Mom on Mother\'s day (and yes, it is packed that day). Love the teas here along with the teeny tiny pastries that come in the mini high tea.rn

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

This place is where I first tried a dosa and OMG it was delicious. Spicy and savory. The most surprising? No meat. Its vegetarian. Just doing this review gets my mouth watering thinking about the dosa. Masala dosa is the one to try when its your first time there. It is very filling and the masala dosa entree is about $9 (not including tax and tip).

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Amazing falafels-crispy and delicious. But not truly authentic Lebanese...there are other influences as well. Lamb kibbeh, najib special, and fatoush salads are a must try as well. But I will always go back to the falafels with tahini.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Love this place. It's not like the Indian restaurants in the heart of Punjabi Village, but I would call it a westcoast fusion of Indian food. They have a great lunch specials which is a bargain for the quality of the food. I had the portobello mushroom with red bell pepper curry. Sweet and savoury. It came with a beet salad which was also delicious. Excellent service. I would definitely go back - there's lots to try. They also have quick take out for those in a rush.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Interesting coffee concept-they call it the reverse french press. Interesting to watch a cup of coffee being made and it is pretty tasty too (and get a glass of water with your coffee). Food is ok. The interior is nice and roomy. The broadway location can get quite packed.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

How do you like your onions-fried or raw! If you like onions on your burger and hot dogs, this is the place to go. The fries are very good, get the dip with it. Good old fashion milkshakes. Interior is a bit tired, but there is a reason this place has been around for some time. Worth a visit if you are in the Kerrisdale area.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Simple food-sandwiches and soup. Lots of vegetarian options. Yes, the place is definately geared for families and there are kids but it is worth trying the sandwiches. The resaurant is self-service (grab any open table and then approach the counter with your order).

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Good dim sum but VERY busy on the weekend. Get there before 10:30 am otherwise you will wait (and the line up does get very long). Lots of interesting choices to try and the quality is there.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 5/5

Excellent Mexican food. The salsa bar is amazing (not the salsa you expect but very good with many options to try -- if you like heat, this is definately the place to try). Tacos are excellent. Do not go here if you are in a rush. Good Mexican food takes time and here they do take the time.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Chic Indian food (not 100% authentic Indian, but given the quality-who cares) but very tasty. Love the chai-not too sweet. The interior is contemporary and modern. Must visit the bathroom while you are there. You can purchase frozen portions and reheat from the comfort of your home, which is just as good. Lots of options for vegetarians and meat eaters (chicken is always good). It is a restaurant that I revisit again and again.

Reviewed By: jenn_lee_ca on 2009-11-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Order the crispy checci. Restaurant also does its own charcuterie upstairs (pork comes from Sloping Hills). Porchetta Piadine is not something you find in a Vancouver Italian restaurant. Order it. Its simply tasty and delicious. This restaurant is value for dollar.

Reviewed By: dbortolussi on 2009-11-16 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

The food was really wonderful at the Market, both due to the actual taste and the presentation of it. A great variety of meal entre offerings and a pleasant surprise with a great wine list. Service was superb, and the Valet parking is the greatest deal in the City.
Great place to meet and catch up with friends, great buzz and the atmosphere is fun.

Reviewed By: dbortolussi on 2009-11-16 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

The Bacchus is a wonderful fine dining restaurant with an atmosphere that totally puts you in the mood for a superb culinary experience. The wine list is endless, and the interior and design of the restarant makes you feel your in another world. To top the whole evening off, they always have a wonderful piano player with just the right tunes.
So if you’re in the mood to go out and eat at a place that serves savoury dishes in a luxurious atmosphere,and want to take a special someone out or just have a wonderful special evening with a friend - this is the place.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-11-15 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 1/5

I used to love death by chocolate but it seems it has gone downhill since I last visited. It now only has counter service. I had the cheesecake which was $9 and was the smallest piece of cheesecake I have ever seen. We were all very disappointed with the experience.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-11-15 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Amazing food. It's comfort food done gourmet. They have cheese biscuits with orange-honey butter, lamb meatloaf, duckaroni (mac'n'cheese with blue cheese, duck confit, arugula and roasted garlic) just to name a few! They also do a Bluegrass brunch on Sundays. You really must eat here if you're ever in SanDiego.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-11-13 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

This is a restaurant I was to try for a while because it specializes in Ramen noodles. I took the recommendation of the waitress and ordered the noodles (thin) with bamboo shoots, ginger, seaweed and pork. I should have gone with the special which was spicy because the broth of my dish was a little blander than I'd like. That said, I think it was still pretty good. I especially like the rice ball which was soya flavoured rice wrapped in seaweed. It also came with gyoza which was really good. I'd return, but would order something spicy.

Reviewed By: azogheartsfood on 2009-11-12 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 5/5

This place is new to the drive... and I have to say that it is my new stop for good quick cheap sushi. The food itself is decent, but the price is awesome, and so is the service. I stopped by tonight hoping that it would be open. I was surprised to see that it was open till 11 :). Although I was ordering take out they still were very welcoming. They had me sit while I looked at the menu and poured my brother and I some tea while we decided. Portions are large :)
My $6 meal will last me for two meals.
Ill be back very soon!

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-11-10 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

We went to Po King with a group of friends and had a 8-course banquet style dinner. All the dishes were great, especially the crab with cream sauce. Our dishes included Chinese cold cuts to start, yee mein noodles, fried rice, steamed cod, shrimp balls, and chinese mushroom. Everything was excellent. The shrimp/crab balls were a hit with everyone. I also wanted to note that this restaurant was very clean and modern and the service was pretty good - two things you often don't get at Chinese restaurants. I noticed the dim sum started at $2.95 a dish. I'll be returning for dim sum.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-11-10 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

There are so many Earls that I wouldn't normally rate an Earls, but when travelling on business in Calgary, this particular Earls offers a lot. A great lounge with many TVs to watch your favourite sporting event, an updated menu, and a friendly staff make this Earls a great visit. I recently had the new Beet and Pear Rocket salad which was different and great!

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-11-10 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 3/5

Sushi Ginza is a high quality sushi restaurant in Willow Park Village. They have sushi chefs who work in an open kitchen surrounded by sushi boats. You can sit a the sushi bar and pick off fresh sushi creations or order of the extensive menu. A good quality sushi restaurant in Calgary's SE.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-11-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

With a couple of recent reviews on this new Taiwanese noodle house, I thought it was about time I checked it out. Turns out this restaurant is the 'sister' restaurant of the very popular No. 1 Beef Noodle House in Burnaby. The menu is identical, so you can count on getting their flavourful beef broth noodles and homemade juicy steamed pork dumplings. It's a large menu so there should be something to satisfy anyone. The spicy tofu with minced pork on rice is excellent, with just the right amount of spice to add a kick without compromising flavour. It also comes with marinated seaweed and celery. Of course, I had to try their beef noodle - savoury "beefy" broth, tender beef, not too salty and tasty homemade noodles - a must try. I also had their juicy pork dumplings. My son loved them and I thought this particular batch wasn't as good as the ones I've had at their Burnaby location - overcooked perhaps. We also had their pork with pickled vegetable noodle - a lighter broth. It too was excellent and was nice to have a milder tasting item amongst our spicier choices. This place is a n excellent addition to the Main Street corridor and I'll definitely return to try some of the other dishes.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-06 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

FABULOUS sour cream lemon pie...that's really all you need to know about the Airport Coffee Shop. This place is a Chilliwack institution. It's been around since 1980 and is literally at the Chilliwack Airport. The best part is you can even get a t-shirt that says "I fly for pie" - many small-plane pilots fly here just for the pie! Along with sour cream lemon, they have usually about a dozen kinds featured each day. There are traditional fruit pies - apple, blueberry, peach, cherry, strawberry, rhubarb - and there are not-so-traditional pies - raisin cream, chocolate marble, caramel apple, and my beloved sour cream lemon.
Now if you want to eat a proper meal before you down that delicious pie, they can take care of that too. It's pretty standard coffee shop/diner fare, with burgers, sandwiches and salads on offer. You can get all-day breakfast as well. But everything here seems to be a notch above. The shrimp salad comes with a ton of shrimp, the blue cheese dressing is homemade with big chunks of blue cheese, and the portions are very generous.
Whenever I pass by Chilliwack, this is a must-stop, even if I only have time to get a slice of pie to go. And if I know I am going out there, I will order one whole sour cream lemon pie to go!!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-06 -- Food: 0/5 | Service: 0/5 | Ambience: 0/5 | Value: 0/5

Sad to report the Grillage is now CLOSED.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-06 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

I literally stumbled upon Sita's Spag Shack while in Gibsons for the day. My colleague and I happened to drive past this little house on the hill, with a gorgeous view of the harbour.
As soon as the server told us they have a wood-oven for pizza, I was determined to have some. We didn't have time to sit down and eat, so we ordered two pies for take-out...the Beechy Bomber with capicolla ham, spinach, mushroom and a tomato pesto base...and Natalie's Classic with house Italian sausage, sweet peppers and cheese. 30 minutes later, we went to pick them up so we could nosh on them on the ferry back to Vancouver.
Delicious!!! Thin, chewy crust spiced with Italian herbs. Delicious sauce and nice amount of toppings for great flavour. My colleague, who is Italian, fully approved, even claiming it was the best pizza he'd ever eaten!
Definitely a great place to stop if you are in Gibsons and don't want the usual fish and chips.
A beautiful deck with fantastic ocean view in the summer.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-11-06 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

This is arguably the best sushi joint in the Lower Mainland, IMO, at least when it comes to non-Tojo prices.
This small restaurant is actually run by Japanese people and it shows in the food. The sushi is fresh, not too heavy on the rice, fish always tastes great. Best part is prices are very reasonable. You can stuff yourself for less than $15 each.
9 pieces of buttery tuna sashimi are less than $10. I always order a negitoro cone, jammed with lovely tuna, and the house roll is a sure bet (tuna, salmon, tamago, crab).
There is often a lineup outside so plan to wait or come right when it opens at 11am.
The other unfortunate fact is that it's in Richmond...but well worth the drive.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-11-05 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

"A small restaurant who offers dim sum starting at $2.30 per dish. For this price the dim sum was decent. The dim sum is the order sheet type where they bring it from the kitchen to your table. I like this way of having dim sum as you know it is made fresh. They also had some servers bringing around some items on a tray (deep fried things...eg. spring rolls, fried dumplings etc.)
I know they also serve dinner in the evenings.
The only thing I did not like about this restaurant was the lady who was rude towards me when I inquired about something my son possible left at the restaurant. She was not very nice!

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-11-05 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Open Sesame is an asian themed restaurant with lots of great noodles in a fun atmosphere. The restaurant was originally part of the Smugglers Inn and maintains a unique atmosphere and decor. You can order off the menu a large variety of different asian noodles (from sweet to spicy), or you can create your own by choosing vegetables and toppings from the market buffet and covering it in your favourite sauces and choice of meat.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-11-04 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Pasquales on MacLeod Trail SE is a quality restaurant operated by Pasquale (the chef), his wife, and family. A traditional dining experience, they have a full italian menu with pasta, chicken, and meat dishes. I had the Penne Gigi and was very satisfied. The cream sauce and pasta were fresh and tasty. A nice dining experience and very friendly staff that treat you like family.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-11-03 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This place is a gem. I've been to several sushi spots in the Lower Mainland and elsewhere and Maguro is one of the best I've had. Even sushi snobs will likely agree that the selection and quality is excellent. The sashimi and sushi are fresh and they have an array of fun and different maki rolls. We tried a bunch of rolls, but I can't remember the names of all of them. One was definitely the dragon roll and another had fresh mango - all beautifully presented. Try the tuna bites, they're delicious. Maguro is popular amongst the locals, so be prepared to wait - it's worth it.

Reviewed By: EatinOut on 2009-11-02 -- Food: 0/5 | Service: 0/5 | Ambience: 0/5 | Value: 0/5

It is hard to go wrong with Chinese food in Vancouver. While there are variations on a theme, certain dishes have certain, shall we say, expectations.

Some examples - chow mein, while it can be soft and soggy, needs to have a bit of crispy hidden somewhere. It's necessary to find that satisfying crunch. FAIL. And salty? Why?

Tofu dishes, generally, shouldn't have tiny bits of mystery meat strewn throughout. Why?

But ultimately, the stir fried rice is the one thing any Chinese restaurant, anywhere in the world, should be able to make passably. But undercooked, half raw rice? FAIL.

I can't grade the ambience, but the delivery guy was rude - after getting his tip. Weird.

There's lots to chose from, give this one a pass.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-11-02 -- Food: 0/5 | Service: 0/5 | Ambience: 0/5 | Value: 0/5

I cannot believe Chinese food can be so bad in Vancouver! And I've eaten Chinese food all over the world.... too salty and too bland both at the same time (how is that even possible but there you are).

We ordered takeout - the typical things that cannot go wrong. We were definitely wrong! Prices were average too so we highly DO NOT RECOMMEND this to anyone who wants decent food. The food was absolutely horrible!

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-11-01 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

What inspired this website was the idea of getting good recommendations for food. Who wants to waste their time at a restaurant that sucks? So a reviewer posted Nathan's Grill and I was in the area and decided to try it. For a general, Canadian/Westcoast menu, I thought the food was excellent. Serving up sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pastas, tapas and westcoast fare, they have enough variety to fit whatever mood you're in. I was there for lunch and had their Carolina pulled pork sandwich - tangy jerk sauce, southern slaw and tender pulled pork on a baguette. The location is a little tricky, in an industrial area on a dead end street. This doesn't seem to be a deterrent for this popular spot, which is a testament to their food quality. Catch a game on their large screen TVs or enjoy their patio in the summer. The breakfast and dinner menu looked great. I'll be back (Schwarzenegger accent).

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-11-01 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

On Commercial Drive where you have your choice of Italian restaurants, Arriva is consistently good. This last time we visited, we had the fettuccini carbonara and the penne salsiccioti. It was a good combination - one tomato based and one cream sauce. Arriva has several different kinds of sauces and I've never been disappointed. Their tiramisu is the best I've had in Vancouver. A must try! They accept Entertainment book coupons too.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-10-30 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Treat yourself to a Japanese parfait, bubble tea or crepe at this cute dessert bar near Oakridge. Real fresh fruit is the main ingredient in almost all of their menu items, reflecting their 'healthier lifestyle' motto. Owned and operated by two young Asian women, the tiny, funky hangout seats about 20 people. Popular with students from the neigbourhood, Dot Desserts has sweet and savoury crepes from $3.50 to $4.50. The most eye-catching is their layered parfaits. I tried their very popular mandarin peach parfait. It was large enough to split with a friend. The layers included orange jello, vanilla corn flakes, mandarin oranges, honey sponge cake, peaches, strawberry sorbet and whip cream. It was delicious. If you have a birthday coming up, try their Big Doe Parfait for a change. It's a 100 oz parfait that can feed 10 people for $48. You need to order it in advance. No doubt I'll be returning.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-10-30 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

Solid place for typical Cantonese food. Their wontons are made in-house and are excellent - I would recommend any wonton dish. Most chinese restaurants have all the same menu items and you can't really tell the difference from place to another. This is no exception. They do have a large menu and all the food is consistently good. Nothing unique, just what you expect. They offer take out and free delivery.

Reviewed By: rachel on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

amazing concept, unbelievable food, warm friendly service, and so unique, we love it!!! Can't wait to visit again with my family!!!
I hear they are getting nannies on the weekends soon also!!! yeah....:-)

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Munch, formerly Babyeats, gives different meaning to a kid-friendly atmosphere. This place is kid-welcoming. Half of the restaurant is dedicated to a play area and the kids menu is gourmet with organic ingredients. While the kids are entertained in the play area, parents could attempt to eat their meal while it's still hot. And their entrees are not your typical family restaurant fare. Their chef, who has travelled the world, has put together a great menu that rivals westcoast fine dining spots. Menu includes their popular NY striploin, Artic Char and Penne with Free Range Chicken. Kids can feast on turkey quinoa meatballs, mac and cheese, and organic hot dogs. Enjoy a glass of wine or beer with your meal if you wish - it's licensed. The coffee is excellent, too. If that wasn't enough you could shop for gifts, like wooden toys or locally made kids clothing. A larger assortment of baked goods would make it more complete for moms and dads wanting to stop in only for a snack. All in all, a great concept.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

A small Japanese restuarant on the Drive which offers tasty sushi. They offer your usual fare of Japanese items such as noodles, rice, sushi, tempura and much more. I found they have a good variety of their own version of sushi rolls very yummy. They have such rolls as the Vancouver, Q.E., Sake Maki, Crunch, Alberta roll and many, many more. The rolls are very fresh and all very tasty. This restaurant is always packed!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

A great little breaky or coffee place to go with kids. They have your usual assorted bacon/eggs type breakfasts/brunch items or if your prefer vegetarian options they have it available. They have just muffins/toast if you prefer something lighter. Their breakfasts come with homemade potatoes which are yummy. They are more of a self serve place and so you grab a seat and the kids can play on the stage they have which keeps them occupied while you are dining. Lots of room for strollers if you are dining with children. Overall, a good breakfast place.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

If you are looking for authentic Mexican fare, this is a good place to find it. They start each table off with a basket of fresh tortilla chips and salsa on the house. Very yummy!!! They also make great margaritas here so it is not uncommon to find groups of friends here sharing a pitcher. They have a nice patio too, so it's nice to come on a sunny day and enjoy some snacks with drinks. You can find all the usual stuff most people like for Mexican from burritos, quesidillas, fajitas and seafood dishes. I recently tried their halibut tacos with mango and it was very tasty!!!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

My aunt recently introduced me to this great Thai & Malaysian restaurant. I tried their Mee Goreng (egg noodle with beef, shrimp, tofu, cucumber and tomato.) It was tasty. They have a great lunch special from $6.95 - Mon to Fri which offers a lot of variety. You can choose from a lot of items (eg. pad Thai, curries, rice dishes etc.) and it includes a soup or salad. The restaurant ambience is a modern one and also kid friendly. I was surprised when they brought out a kiddie mug for my son's water. Their service was quick and friendly. Their portions were generous too. I would definitely go back to this restaurant.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

I was told by many this is a great Filipino restaurant so we decided to give it a try. We tried several items which included: Lumpia (Filipino style spring roll), string beans/squash in a coconut milk (very yummy), egg/rice noodle combo with veggies and a pork/veggie dish on rice. All of the food we ordered was yummy and we ended off with a shaved ice dessert with lots of toppings. The dessert was OK but we found it a little too runny otherwise tasty.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-10-26 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

A small authentic Japanese restaurant tucked in a strip mall. I went recently with a group of friends and had some very good Japanese food. We shared a few boats which go for $42 each and they say it's good for 2 people but really 3 can share it. There is a lot of variety on the boat (sashimi, nigri sushi, teriyaki, tempura and more.) From what I observed, most of the staff are Japanese people including the sushi chef. The restaurant was packed and so I think it says a lot. I tried the soft shell crab which was excellent. I also tried a interesting roll which consisted of minced prawn with veggies and it was lightly deep fried, very good. A good restaurant which I will definitely go back to.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-10-23 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

They do take-out very fast (call in your order first) and we love the food - calamari and souvlaki!

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-10-23 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Fantastic place to go for dim sum and chinese food. They are a bit more pricey than other places but great food, good service and no queues if you plan ahead and make reservations. They also have loads of things kids will eat and are very infant/kid/family friendly.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-10-22 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 5/5

I think this is my absolute favourite spot for Taiwanese style beef noodles. The broth is perfect, and the noodles are dense and chewy. There are other noodle dishes on the menu too, but the beef noodle is a must-order. I also like the pickled vegetable and shredded pork noodles. Actually, I don't think I have ever been disappointed with anything here!
There are also lots of little snacks to choose from: bean curd threads, seaweed, marinated egg, marinated meats.
Decor is pretty basic and the place is almost always packed.
Conveniently located across from Metrotown when you need a break from shopping.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-10-22 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

This is a standby on those cold rainy Vancouver days when you need some good old-fashioned comfort food. How about a big bowl of steaming noodles in a rich beef broth, topped with chunks of tender beef brisket? Mmmmmm! The signature beef noodles are delicious, however, my favourite is the crispy salty peppery chicken. You can order it as an appy so you can have the beef noodles too! Little delicate morsels of boneless chicken, coated in a light salt and pepper mix...love these!! They go down too easily. There are lots of small Taiwanese snacks too, including marinated seaweed and xiao long bao.
Value is excellent. Rice dishes come with a couple of little side dishes. Portion sizes are generous. A bit of a student hangout because it's right by BCIT. And expect long lineups with nowhere to park in the teeny lot. Definitely worth it though.
Make sure you check out the specials board. Last time I was there, the kimchee hot pot sounded really delish.

Reviewed By: Jord on 2009-10-22 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Nuba is a great restaurant. They serve "authentic Lebanese cuisine" which is unique, healthy and delicious. The restaurant is has a pleasant atmosphere and the staff is friendly. If you haven't been here, you have to try it.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-10-20 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Seasons is located atop Queen Elizabeth Park and has a beautiful view of the park, downtown, and the north shore mountains.

The service and food is spectacular, I had the carrot ginger soup, followed by a Miso Black Cod. The wine menu is quite good and the Chef has many creative daily specials, definitely ask for the Chef's recommendations.

Ps. The Vanilla Creme Brule is great!

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-10-19 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Sawasdee is the best Thai restaurant that I have been to in the lower mainland. Always consistent and delicious, the menu has a taste of everything; curry, pad Thai, hot and sour soup, and an excellent spinach dish. The staff is friendly and accommodating.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-10-18 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Excellent food at this authentic Thai restaurant. Our family loves the hot and sour soup. We also like that you can pick the spiciness level. We bring guests here all the time. Tonight we ordered the Phad See Ew - it's a rice noodle with soy sauce and broccoli and egg. Love it. Also really like their bean thread noodle spring rolls and curries. Their fried banana with mango ice cream is delicious. Service is always great. They're friendly and come back and check on you often.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-10-18 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

A typical diner. Reminds me of those small town chain diners like Smitty's. Lots on the menu including breakfast all day, greek dishes and roast beef with mash potatoes - home cooking style. Portions are big, but food is only mediocre. The roast beef dinner is huge. Our waitress was friendly enough, but forgot a couple of things. Kids menu is decent. French fries were good.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-10-13 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

It's hard not to love Thai food - those fiery flavours tweaked with bright splashes of lime and smooth creamy hints of coconut milk.
SalaThai is a good standby, offering all the classic Thai dishes. Everything here is pretty delish...I love the Tom Yum soup.
On my last visit, the Green Mango salad was available - this is a must-try if it's in season. And I sampled the very tasty Golden Angel Wings - boneless chicken wings stuffed with shrimp, meat, vegetable vermicelli noodle & herbs.
Service is friendly and efficient. And skylights over the dining area offer up nice light even on a dreary Vancouver day.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-10-13 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 5/5

Zorro's is a little hole-in-the-wall pizza joint that has been around for years. The owner will even tell you stories about serving up pies to the MacGyver set, back when they were in production in the Lower Mainland.
These are not those thin-crust designer pizzas. Expect delicious pizza oozing with toppings and a lovely chewy crust - not too thin, not too thick.
I am not a huge takeout pizza fan (usually find them quite greasy or skimpy on toppings), but I really enjoy the pies from Zorro's. There are special prices if you buy more than 1 pizza. I love the Zorro's Special - Canadian Bacon, Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Pepperoni, Olives, Shrimps and Onion. The Greek Special is also tied for top spot. Unlike other pizza joints, you will actually be able to see and taste your toppings because he piles it on.
Zorro's also has Italian dishes and some BBQ meatss on offer, though I have never tried them.

Reviewed By: wjang on 2009-10-11 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Great pizza by the slice. At $2.00 a slice and a pretty large one at that, you can't lose. The pizza has lots of toppings and they also have good variety to meet the tastebuds of all customers.

Reviewed By: wjang on 2009-10-11 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Yummy baked goods with a good assortment. They also sell fresh made sandwiches to go as well as soups and even pizzas. They serve Salt Spring Island Fair Trade Coffee. My favourites are the blueberry white chocolate scone and the blueberry cinnamon bun. Be sure to keep your eye out for the special bread of the week. You won't be disappointed.

Reviewed By: wjang on 2009-10-11 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Very good Chinese food with lots of variety. They have an awesome $4.75 and 5.75 lunch menus between 11:00-12:00pm and 2:30-5:30pm. I recommend the big bowl of congee and a few sides to share.

Reviewed By: wjang on 2009-10-11 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Decent Hong Kong style cuisine for a good price. Try their mini set menus between 11am-6pm and 9 til closing (they're open til at least 12:00am). You get a dish of food plus a drink for $5.50-$7.00. Lots of items to choose from. Fish and chips to rice and noodle dishes to noodle soup.

Reviewed By: wjang on 2009-10-11 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

This very busy Chinese restaurant on the corner of Victoria and 34th Ave has great dim sum and though I have not tried it personally, the dinner I'm told is also good. Judging by the fact that the restaurant is always busy and by the fact that many of my friends from all over Vancouver and Burnaby frequent the establishment, you can be sure that the food quality is quite good. I found the dim sum quite satisfying with many unique choices to choose from while still offering your typical favourites. Te dumplings are generally large in size and are not filled with fillers. The only real problem with the restaurant is the wait. Reservations don't help a whole lot.

Reviewed By: wjang on 2009-10-11 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Tasty food with lots of Taiwanese choices. The soups are great and the portions are generous. Nice tender beef in the beef noodle soup.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-10-10 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Cute and cozy Italian inspired restaurant a little off the beaten path of Kits. Modern decor with bench seats along the wall. I had the liver pate appetizer and the bison for my entree. Both were great. Presentation was impressive. The pannacotta and tiramisu were also excellent. Great place for friends to get together over a glass of wine.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-10-09 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Pinpin is a great Filipino & Asian food restaurant located in the centre of the South Fraser area. I know people who come from all over the lower mainland to enjoy the food at Pinpin. They have a varied menu with lots of great dishes including; chicken skewers, fried noodles, fish, and rice. One word: delicious! The staff is friendly and the restaurant recently expanded so there are more tables.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-10-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Find authentic Thai cuisine at this quaint and friendly restaurant. What's great is that you can request the level of spiciness. Even when your food is spicy, it still carries a rich flavour. I recommend the papaya salad, phad kee mao, bean thread noodles and any of the curries. Super friendly wait staff, many of whom have been there a long time. If you're not familiar with the dishes, the staff are great at making recommendations of entrees that go well together.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-10-07 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

Fast and fresh sushi. I switched from the Cambie location to the Fraser one because I found the service much better. Same huge sushi. Although there's often a line up, the staff are efficient for take out. Not much seating available which is probably why most people do take out. Their tuna and salmon sashimi is always fresh - probably because they're busy and their supply is always being replenished. Sushi pieces are usually double the size of most places. One slice of their house roll looks like a small sandwich. The menu is limited to rolls. I've become a regular of this place and recommend it for the most common sushi rolls.

Reviewed By: nicg on 2009-10-05 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Cedar Cottage has the best croissants, fabulous coffee and good service.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-10-02 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

A few days ago we went to Maple Ridge and stopped for a quick lunch at Red Robin's. The service was so fantastic! Our food came super hot which is how I like it; the drinks were refilled before we even noticed they were empty; and the staff was so cheerful considering it was pouring out. The food was as you would expect but go for the GREAT service.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-09-30 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

If you're looking for a good west coast meal and great service without a chi chi atmosphere, this is a great place. Located at Hotel Vancouver, it's suitable for a business meeting, yet it's also very kid-friendly. You get some of the same great quality food found at it's other Hotel Vancouver restaurant 900 West. The prime rib is excellent, as is the Seafood Trio and Grill Trio (lamb, beef tenderloin and chicken). But the winner is the dessert buffet, which changes all the time. There's always at least a dozen great desserts to choose from and fresh fruit. The dessert buffet comes free with most entrees. You can also add the seafood salad buffet to your meal - this includes soups, salads, crab legs, smoked salmon and shrimp cocktail. There's a kids menu. Sunday brunch is very popular with the prime rib carving station and expanded dessert buffet. Service is impeccable.

Reviewed By: newdigs on 2009-09-29 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Restaurant provides good food at a reasonable cost. Large portions for the Hungry Hank! I had the pork chops on rice and the beef brisket rice noodle - all were good. They're also known for their crab and steamed chicken with ginger green onion sauce.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-09-29 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

If you want to treat yourself to something decadent or any top of the line dessert, this is the place. Sweet Obsession has the best desserts in Vancouver. I love desserts and I have yet to find anything that tops this place. The company I work for orders cakes from here so I have almost tried every desserts. Everything is delicious and fresh and made with the best ingredients. My favourites are Lemon Mousse Cake, White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, Triple Berry Mousse, Mocha Torte and Chocolate Ganache. As long as you have a sweet tooth, there should be something to tickle your fancy! A little pricey but well worth the splurge.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-09-27 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 5/5

Authentic, cheap and delicious best describes this hole in the wall Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant near the Joyce skytrain station. Don't be discouraged by the atmosphere which is not at all inviting. The food is well worth it. The beef and pork noodle soups and dumplings are delicious and the prices are ridiculously cheap.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-09-27 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

I couldn't imagine how the fusion of Chinese and Indian food would turn out, but it was one of the best combinations I've tried. Chinese food with a kick of spice! I especially love the pakoras with chutney. We also had some spicy chicken, manchurian noodles and spicy green beans. All really delicious. Spicy, without losing the taste. Many more unique dishes to try out and will definitely return.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-09-26 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great for a family breakfast or brunch though you have to arrive early, like at 9am otherwise it's jam packed! Very popular in Calgary and offers great breakfast items for decent $$. The best is that you can have an omelette with pancakes or waffles with whipped cream and strawberry sauce! Loved it! Very family and kids friendly.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-09-26 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Had dim sum today with my family - shared a table with two other party. The wait wasn't too long, just 10 minutes compared to the usual 30-40 minutes. Food was good considering the GREAT prices. The food use to be better in terms of selection but they've reduced the menu. Service is as you expect from a busy and tiny Chinese restaurant. Worth going to if you're looking for lots of decent food at great prices.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-09-17 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A new Taiwainese noodle house on Main...they have another location near BCIT but was told their food is good so we gave it a try. The ambience of the restaurant is a modern one and pretty clean over all. The beef noodle soup with tomato was very tasty and something different. They have many types of noodle dishes whether you want it in soup or not. We also tried their crispy curry chicken with rice and it was also very good along with the beef in chinese pancake which was yummy!
They have a extensive menu and there is something for everyone if you like Taiwanese/Chinese cuisine. I saw people with mini hot pots which looked interesting...maybe next time I will try that.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-09-17 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A nice little cafe with a great selection of homemade baked goods and more! I recommend their breakfast sandwiches from gourmet cheeses/meats, eggs and veggies. Very tasty! Great fair trade coffee bar too.
They also have a newly built patio so it is nice to have a coffee/snack on the patio on a warm, sunny day!

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2009-09-11 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

This is a very cool place to go for wine and cheese. The tasting plate has a great selection of charcuterie and lovely sides. You get 10 meats, 10 cheeses and 10 additional 'tastes' - things like honey, almonds, olives, all from interesting places with wonderful flavors. And there is beer and whiskey to boot! Don't let the location scare you - it is worth the visit!

Reviewed By: amiller on 2009-09-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

I have been to Glowbal twice and had an excellent experience both times. It is true Yaletown chic with charming waiters and an abundance of good looking patrons. The food is varied and you can get small plates to share, all of it high quality.
There is the "Afterglow" lounge as well for hanging out after dinner. I would definitely go back again.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-09-09 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Conveniently located beside Chapters on Robson, this Japanese restaurant has a wide menu which includes sushi, noodles and great boxes. The lunch specials are an excellent value. You can get a box for $7. We had a lunch box with salmon teriyaki, california roll and miso soup. Our second lunch set included yakisoba, tempura and miso. All were good. They also offer party trays. You can also get free delivery for orders over $30 and within 3km.

Reviewed By: Hank on 2009-09-06 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

Value is what draws people to Samurai Sushi. The portions are huge. Some of the sushi rolls are double that of many other sushi joints. As for the menu, it's simple - the most common maki rolls, nigiri and sashimi. They don't have noodles, tempura or any of the other typically fried Japanese fare. I wouldn't call it authentic, but it's consistent. Service at this particular location is excellent. Not too much seating. Great for take out orders.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-09-06 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great place for a large group because there are so many great menu items for sharing, particularly the barbecued meats which you barbecue on the grill at your table. We had an assortment of barbecued meats, some bulgogi beef and the potato noodle. All were good including the little pickled vegetable dishes. Loved the kimchi. This is a huge restaurant with the private rooms.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-09-06 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 2/5

The desserts in the display look enticing, but we came in for soup and sandwiches. We had the French Onion and Cream of Mushroom soups - both were okay. We also had the Croque Monsieur which we thought was really good and reminiscent of Paris. But the service wasn't so great. She's forgotten our drinks, told us the didn't have the crepes, so gave us the lower priced Croque Monsieur without refunding us the difference. Also, they don't have high chairs, so difficult if you have a young child. Seems a little high priced for what we got.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-09-02 -- Food: 1/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 2/5

A recent visit to this dessert place left a bad taste in my mouth. I have been here many times before but this was my first experience where they have changed it to self serve. I found the quality of the desserts not good at all. The ice cream we had on one of the desserts was freezer burnt and one of the cakes tasted so rubbery that it was like really old. The only decent thing we had that night might of been the cheesecake which I think is not made inhouse but all the other items were a dissapointment. I will likely not go back to this location unless I am having cheesecake.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-09-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

A friend introduced us to this neat sushi joint located inside a old mansion. The decor inside is very new and modern and clean to say the less.
The price you paid for the food you got was very reasonable. They have your usual fare of Japanese foods from noodles, tempura, maki rolls, sashimi and also many specialty rolls plus more.
Service was prompt and food was good!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-09-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Our family always seems to be on the look out for clean, well priced dim sum restaurants. After seeing some critters at the usual joints we go to we have found a new one that is pretty clean. The ambiance in this restaurant is a modern one and is pretty clean as it was our first visit there. The food is well priced at around $2.75 per dish and a little more for speciality items. All the items we ordered were quite good. The service was quick and pretty attentive. My only concern is like with other Asian restaurants, they squeeze in a few more tables than probaly the law allows. Overall, a good restaurant!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-09-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

A recent anniversary brought us to this great restaurant. They are part of the Glowbal group of restaurants. We were impressed by the quality of food and service here. If you want to know where your seafood came from, you will be able to find out here from the fisherman to the boat your item came from.
For starters, we had their crab cakes which did not have any filler or breading but with lots of dungeness crab all around. Followed by a pot of mussels/clams in a tomato/chorizo/corn broth which was so very flavorful and all the seafood in the pot were big. We decided to try their mango California roll too which was also very good. Mango wrapped around rice with lots of real crab in the middle topped with a dab of mayo and caviar. For our mains, we tried sable fish and filet mignon and both were excellent. Cooked just right!! To end our meal we had a raspberry-lime tart which was excellent too. Overall, this restaurant was a 5 of 5! The only thing is the tables are a little close to each other but that is understable for a busy joint. They were packed on a Tues night so I think that alone says a lot.
A must to try for seafood and wine lovers as they have an extensive wine list too!!!

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-09-01 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A must try if you are visiting La Conner. Fresh quality ingredients used. An excellent assortment of delicious baked goods from the decadent cakes to gourmet cookies and scones. They have a huge breakfast menu with many great homemade items. Try one of their delicious omelettes. For lunch try a hearty sandwich or one of their many salads. I'll have to go back again. So much to choose from.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-31 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 3/5

I've only ordered delivery from here. The lamb souvlaki dinner is really good. My kids love the chicken souvlaki and the potatoes. I used to like them more in the past but my last 2 orders they've made a mistake to my order, or missed something and the last delivery was 30 minutes later than they said. So, thumbs down to delivery. Probably better if you eat there?? I had to put something in the ambience box but I really don't know.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-31 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

For a nice "girlie" treat of petite sandwiches and sweet morsels this is a fabulous place for ladies of all ages. (to the Men out there, it's a nice treat for wives and girlfriends!) You can go in for a casual lunch or snack, or make a reservation for one of the two "high tea" seatings. High tea is a set menu that is served to you on a three tiered service and is about $26 (subject to change of course). The tea list is extensive so you may want to visit a few times. You don't have to have "high tea".
They also do catering... which I'm hoping to have the opportunity to try sometime as the menu looks fabulous and all of the treats I've had so far were amazing in both presentation and taste!

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-31 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Surrounded by beautiful trees and flora... a beautiful view of the city with the mountain backdrop... golden, sunlight glow... and good food at a VERY reasonable price. You can choose to sit inside (reserve a table by the window) or outside by their wood burning fireplace with a cozy blanket on your lap, provided by the restaurant. For the professional service, beautifully presented food and ambience this restaurant is affordably priced!
Seeing a bridal party here during the summer is the norm as you can book the private dinning room and private bar reception. And of course it is the perfect place for photos or a nice, summer, apres dinner walk.
If you have never been here, it is a very nice place to go. And out of towners will also be impressed.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-31 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

It's just a tiny place with a handful of tables... but good things come in small packages... like the juicy buns (aka: sui loong bows "little dragon buns"). These are handmade and I can't resist having them every time I visit. Other favourites are the jellyfish with lobak, pork ears (yes, ears - crunchy!), and any of the noodle soups with their homemade noodles.
Not to mention the service is friendly and always with a smile!

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-08-23 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Love the cheese buns at this bakery. These Brazilian-inspired cheesebuns are hearty and freshly baked throughout the day. Even better, they are yeast, gluten and wheat free. I ordered four kinds of cheese buns - extra cheese, spinach and onion, sundried tomato and basil, and jalapeno. My favourite was the spinach and onion, but they were all delicious. They are the size of a bar of soap but are quite filling. If you enjoy bagels, these are definitely worth trying for a change.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-08-20 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Love the juicy pork buns and beef noodle soups at this place. They have a variety of appetizer dishes such as seaweed with garlic, jellyfish with lo bok, pickled chinese cabbage, and also several kinds of dumplings. I've tried many different items and everything's been good. In addition, the service is friendly (which I don't often get at a cheaper authentic Asian restaurant). The place is small and usually busy, but it's clean.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-20 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

It may look just like a small Chinese greasy spoon, but don't pass this traditional Chinese fare by! The food is always consistently good. The staff is always friendly, particularly the nice Chinese lady who often has a streak of colour in her hair. We have been going here for years and will continue to do so.
For those who are not that familiar with the dishes, the staff speak English (for the most part) and several of the dishes have pictures.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-20 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

A modern styled interior with marbles along the wall that your kids aren't supposed to (but do) play with.
Have always had great food here, although if you don't read Chinese, the English translation doesn't quite let you know what you're getting. There seem to be a few people that speak English there now, but the main dialect is Taiwanese/Mandarin. But, I must reiterate that the food is very good. We have not had a bad dish even though we weren't quite sure what we were going to get and would like to continue going to try more "surprise" dishes. I would highly recommend the 5-spice beef wraps, it's an appetizer. We get them every time we go, even the kids love them. The meal style dishes that come with all of the condiments are also very good, but we are never sure which dishes come like that. But we don't exactly ask either because it's always good whatever we end up with.
You can go for Asian tapas, or a full meal. They have really great bubble tea, shakes, and several kinds of teas (blended and brewed) too.
I did have to rate them a bit lower on service because it seems that there are always at least 3 people standing around but they won't come by and check on you.

Reviewed By: eatalot on 2009-08-20 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 3/5

Although the food has always been decent and a few of their house specialties are quite good, I haven't been back since I saw a cockroach at our table. My daughter screamed and pointed, "What IS THAT!!??"
Yes, the restaurant takes credit card, if you have a Mastercard, but not Visa or AMEX.
The ambience is that of any other greasy spoon Chinese Restaurant. I suspect that most of them have cockroaches and such... I just don't want to see them at my table...

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-08-18 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Caffe Artigiano is popping up everywhere but the Hastings location is the only one that has brunch on weekends. The coffee is really good and I'm addicted to the cranberry cream cheese french toast!!

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-08-18 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great service! We got a lot of attention without feeling smothered. It's always packed but the manager somehow squeezed us in. Even though it's really busy you still feel relaxed. The food was excellent. They also have great desserts and special coffees. Really enjoyed it, but be prepared to spend a little more money.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-08-18 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Great little place if you enjoy burritos, enchiladas and tacos. There is some outdoor seating and a few tables inside. Most of the meals are under $10 not including beverages. They also serve beer and margaritas. There's no table service.

Reviewed By: amiller on 2009-08-14 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Best food I've had in a long time. Many delicious entrees, including a vegan dish. Great salads too. The decor/ambiance is pretty casual and the place is small, but the food was exceptional, and I would definitely go back. The cocktails are apparently quite good as well.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-08-11 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Good authentic chinese food on the Fraser Street corridor. I recommend their seafood. We had their lobster, jellyfish with chicken (loved this dish), cod, yee mein and spicy green beans last time we visited. All were excellent. Everything we've ever had has been good. What we were most impressed with was the service. We're so used to getting bad or mediocre service at Asian restaurants, but Koon Lock's service was excellent, which we feel gives them an edge over the many Chinese restaurants in the neighbourhood. Tables are close together so it's tight, but clean.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-07-30 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Neat restaurant in the middle of trendy Main Street. Crave serves up some hearty dishes for decent value. The restaurant is small and intimate and the servers are friendly. Try the Shorty Rigatoni, a different take on pasta with short ribs! Definitely did not leave hungry.

Reviewed By: Martha on 2009-07-28 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 1/5

If you have small children and are looking for a good place to have breakfast with your family, this is NOT the right one. The food is good and most of the staff is friendly. However, this morning I took my in-laws visiting from abroad for breakfast. I have a 17-month-old son and as every toddler that age, he has the tendency to be a bit noisy, talk loud and try to get attention. Since the beginning, we noticed that one member of the staff was not very happy to have him there. She tried being subtle at first by making faces every time he was a bit loud. If you have children you will know how when someone is not nice towards your child it hurts you even more than if they were not nice to you. By the end of our meal my son wanted to get off his high chair, was standing by my side and sat on the floor by the hall. Then the same "unfriendly" person asked me to move him right away because he was in her way. I understood that he was in the way and wanted to move him without him making scene but she did not give me time and repeatedly and rudely asked me to move him. When I told her we were about to leave she kept on insisting. Obviously this person doesn't have kids, I thought, and has no idea on how to talk to the customers. I told her she didn't need to be so rude but she kept on going on and on. Her attitude surprised me and so I asked her name (I thought the manager would like to talk to her about being compassionate and understanding) but to my surprise, her response was "Heather Chell, and if you want to talk to the manager, that's me, and if you want to talk to the owner, that's me". I was so shocked by this that I could say nothing else but leave and make sure that I would never come back there again. I am writing this because I was shocked by the lack of tolerance she showed with my son. If you have a baby/toddler and want him to be treated right, please go somewhere else.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-07-26 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 3/5

Situated on the downtown side of False Creek right above the Yacht Club with views of Granville Island, this trendy restaurant serves up great seafood and mojitos. We sat on the deck and enjoyed the fresh air and views of False Creek while enjoying oysters, halibut, and a delicious rib eye.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-07-26 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

Tucked away at the end of Darnley street near Douglas and the Still Creek Industrial area, this charming grill and bar has great food, great drinks, and friendly service. Known to the locals in the area as a great lunch spot, it is also a nice place for an afterwork drink and appetizers. A surprising find in a most unusual place. PS. I had the Nathan's Angus Burger, it was awesome.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-07-25 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

The best bubble tea on Fraser Street. This doesn't seem to be a big feat, but given there are three places offering bubble tea on this block alone and at least four more within a few blocks radius, it does say a lot. They have a huge selection of bubble tea including several different kinds of fresh fruit and ice cream flavours. You can get a fairly large fresh fruit bubble tea for $3.75, ice cream bubble tea (think milkshake) for $4.00. I don't quite understand the "natural food" part of their name because it gives me the impression there is some organic food there, but I didn't see any. However, there are cheap snacks like wings, curry fish balls, toast(?!) and kimchi instant noodles (for only $1.60!). They also have daily specials allowing you to get a fresh fruit bubble tea for only $2.75. I would definitely return. It'll take me years to try all the different kinds of bubble tea combinations!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-07-20 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

It's tough to find authentic Mexican food north of the border, but Dona Cata certainly fits the bill. All the staff are Mexican and the food is delicious. None of this cheezy, cruddy fast-food style Mexican we're so used to.

I had the chicken mole...dark, rich and delicious sauce smothering shredded chicken. Served with rice and refried beans, plus flour tortillas to scoop it all up. Delicious.

Try the horchata, an authentic Mexican drink made from rice and cinnamon. Perfect for quenching the spicy fire from their selection of homemade salsas, including a very interesting peanut one.

Tacos are $2 each...several different fillings to choose from.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-07-14 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This place scores high for variety. This fast food place offers the most popular dishes from different Asian countries. For instance, you can get Thai curries,Korean noodles, Chinese black bean, Vietnamese Pho noodles, wonton soup, naan break, potstickers and the list goes on. We had the Korean beef bulgogi and Pho soup. For fast food, it was good. A good place if you're in a rush and want a variety of different asian foods all in one place. I would return.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-07-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

The Passatempo at Spirit Ridge offers breathtaking views of Osoyoos. We wanted a break from the casual dining in the town and at Passatempo we had bison and Alaskan black cod for the main course. They were both delicious and presented beautifully. Main courses are about $30 each. For our appetizers, we had the duck terrine and the roasted beet salad and for dessert we had the creme brulee and the apple cake. I would recommend all of these items. Decor is cozy and modern. The patio is huge and bright.

Reviewed By: Dancethon on 2009-06-28 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

My friends and I went to Nyala the other night for what turned out to be a fantastic and memorable feast. We had ordered a sample platter of appetizers for all of us to share which was the perfect way to sample Nyala culinary delights. The platter included smooth and tasty hummus and pita bread, lightly breaded squid served with a garlic yogurt dip, sweet potato pakoras served with a mango chutney and spicy sauce I am still dreaming about. I really enjoyed the pakoras, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, as well as the squid that were light and not greasy. The platter was accompanied by freshly made lentil salad and tabouleh salad which I couldn’t get enough of. Thank God I had room for what came next: lamb and chicken tajines which were served in the actual clay pots they were cooked in. In this North African dish the meat is slowly cooked in the clay pot resulting in a very tender and aromatic dish. Nyala’s tajine is exceptional with high quality meat (no fat) and fresh vegetables simmered in a delicious broth and sprinkled with coconut. This was by far one of the best tajines I have ever had. They were served with yellow scented basmati rice cooked with saffron and other spices, yellow split pea with mushrooms (hot and spicy delight), spinach and kale (great combination), cabbage and carrots with turmeric and the famous Ethiopian flat sourdough unleavened bread Injera. Every dish was sensational because of the freshness of the products and the explosion of flavours due to the great combination and abundance of spices. This is home made exotic cooking at its best. Some of us had also ordered boneless chicken thighs w/onion and green pepper which arrived sizzling on a cast iron plate. Thumbs up on this dish as well.

I look forward to going back to Nyala not only for its top quality food but also for its great service and friendly atmosphere.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-06-27 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A recent deal to Whistler brought us to this International French Fine Dining restaurant. You were able to get a 3 course meal around $30 per person (tax and tips/drinks not included). If you wanted to spend a little more you had more options on the food choices they had on their menu. Their restaurant had a open kitchen concept plus they had a live piano player which added a nice touch to our meal.
They started everyone off with a heirloom tomato/yogurt palate cleanser which was quite flavorful and tasty. Each table also got warm artisan bread served with butter. We were caught by surprise when they kept refilling it. It was good!
For my appie, I started off which a chilled golden beet soup with citrus mascarpone, panna cotta, fresh apples and pine nuts. It was simply delicious and refreshing. It was the first time I had golden beets as I expected the red ones.
Then we all got a icy pineapple/champagne palate cleanser before our main dish.
For the main course, I had squid ink parpadelle pasta with spicy chorizo, Quadra Island clams, a piece of Westcoast halibut with a basil pesto sauce. I was a little uncertain about trying this dish as I wasn't sure about the squid ink pasta but it was a tasty dish with fresh quality seafood. The chorizo added a bit of spice and it was quite good balance.
For dessert, I had a thyme creme brulee with mascarpone ice cream and ice wine cherries. It was a perfect dessert to end my wonderful meal. I would definitely go back to this restaurant as everyone who I had dinner with thought their meal was really good also. They also have an extensive wine menu in which they could help you pair with your meal. We got a great deal for what we experienced that night. It was like dine out in Whistler!

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-06-27 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

A traditional pub cafe with great food! We came here for brunch and was rather impressed with the food they served. Although a tad pricey but after all we are in Whistler and sitting on the patio so it was nice to have good food and people watch. We tried a few of their burgers, beef dip sandwich and also their house of Dammed Sandwich which is like a clubhouse with turkey, it was huge and yummy! They also serve breaky until 3pm with lots of other traditional pub fares.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-06-27 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

I have been to this Dim Sum restaurant a few times and find the quality of food pretty good. Not to mention they are pretty friendly and this place is kid friendly which is nice. The price is a tad higher than some but for the food served it is well worth it.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-06-27 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

"Authentic Japanese Dishes Izakaya Style with Selected Asian and Western Specials" that is the motto of this restaurant.
What I liked about this simply restaurant is the value for the food you get. The concept is small plates that enabables you to mix and match dishes as everyone has a different taste preference. There is something for everyone if you come with a group. How it works is that you can get a meal around $5.50 which includes rice/salad and you choose 2 sides from their extensive lists which includes foods from (Japanese, Chinese or Vietnamese) or if you are hungry for around $8.00 you can have rice/salad plus 3 sides. If you don't want to choose the mix and match combo they also have a la carte which is pretty reasonable. The price is right for the food served.

Reviewed By: wHiZdUmB on 2009-06-27 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

It was my first time eating Ethiopian cuisine and it certainly won't be my last. All the food was tasty and offered the perfect variety of flavours, textures and colours. Sweet, spicy, sour, we had it all.

We started with the appetizer platter and the squid was deep fried to a mythical golden colour, the hummous was heavenly and the spicy mango chutney delivered a powerful wallop of taste. A spicy split pea and mushroom dish and a spinach and kale mixture were my favourite sides, the latter leaving a creamy spicy aftertaste which I've never experienced before. Next up was the lamb and chicken Tajine (a clay pot made by the owner himself) both served with yellow basmati rice infused with herbs and spices. The lamb was melt off the bone tender and the chicken still flowed with its natural juices. Lastly, the dessert you must try is the South African Brandy Tart. It's the kind of dessert that doesn't make you feel guilty, it makes you feel satisfied.

So although the food was simply divine, it is really the ambiance and atmosphere that moved me. The owner Asefah invests everything he has into this restaurant and it shows. He greets every table personally and takes the time to explain the ingredients/flavours of all the food (most of which he cooks himself) and serves you a little Vancouver history lesson on the side. He creates an atmosphere that can only be duplicated in the comfort of your own home during a family party or special occasion. And what that does is inspire good, honest and real communication amongst your table.

Nyala takes you back to the source of all that is good and beautiful in this world..INSPIRING!

Reviewed By: fancesca on 2009-06-25 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

For a person who never had African food before and not knowing what to expect, Nyala has definitely open my eyes to a different world of taste. The food has stimulated my taste bud and gave me something different to ponder about.

- The hummus at Nyala is a must try. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients. It was delicious and leave you wanting more when it’s all gone.

- Fried Squid: This is one of my favourite dishes in a restaurant for an appetizer. Here, it’s something different, the dough looks like tempura in a Japanese restaurant and I must say, of all the fried squid that I have had, I have to give this one a 2 thumbs up. It has a very pleasant flavours and it looks very appetizing. The first piece of squid that I put in my mouth, I have to savour the taste. You can taste the freshness of the squid and the dough compliment the squid so well that you can’t wait to grab another one.

- Lentil Salad and Tabouled Salad is beautifully presented on a plate. This is something different that I never had before so when I try it for the very 1st time, it gives me a flavour that I have never experience before. I never eaten lentil much but now I have to reconsider trying more. Thank you Nyala for a well learned lesson in food.

- The owner and the server are very friendly and attentive and the service I received is excellent. They will be happy to educate you on the food you eat at any time.

- The restaurant use mostly organic and ocean wise seafood with authentic African spices. If you are environmentally conscious, this is def. the restaurant for you. I was once been told that in order to make your food taste good, you need to add a special ingredient in your food (5% love)The chief at this restaurant definitely did that, I can taste the love of cooking in the food.

If you like me, never try African food, I would encourage you to visit Nyala African Cuisine, you won't regret it.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-06-14 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Incredible food - everything you can image from rolls, sashami to chicken teriyaki. Everything is very fresh and looks as good as it tastes. Their speciality rolls are a must see and try. The prices are reasonable considering the quality. Great to go with friends.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-06-11 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Gelato and desserts galore! Wonderful place to meet for coffee, gelato and/or cake. Very comparable to Mario's Gelato but in the Burquitlam area.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-06-11 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 4/5

Fantastic portions for a great price especially if you're hungry. The restaurant is pretty small with nothing fancy but they fill up fast any day of the week. The chefs are fast and the food is beautifully presented. Great value for quality sashimi, sushi and rolls. Only thing missing is the chicken teriyaki though they do offer donburi bowls. Definitely a must if you're craving sushi and want lots for a great price!

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-06-11 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Great quality sushi in very generous portions. Quiet atmosphere, makes for a nice dining experience.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-06-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Two things I love about Diner Deluxe - the nostalgic diner decor and their eggs benny. Their hollandaise sauce was so rich and tasty. Portions are huge, giving you excellent bang for your buck (warning: sausages are the size of smokies!). Friendly service too. Definitely worth of a visit and repeated visits!

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-06-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 3/5

Known for their home-cooked meals, the chic and trendy atmosphere of Avenue Diner would give you a different impression. But maybe it's this contradiction that sets them apart from other places. Their macaroni and cheese was highly recommended. At $16 a dish it was definitely the most I've ever spent on mac and cheese, but it was also the best I've ever had. The portion could feed two and their mix of cheeses made it rich and savoury. So if you have a hankering for comfort food or a hearty breakfast, but require an atmosphere appropriate for a business meeting, Avenue Diner fits the bill.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-06-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Love the crepes at Cora's. This place is originally from Quebec and I hope for further expansion in the west. Cora's is known for their breakfasts, from waffles to crepes to bacon to bennies - everything is delicious. They are also know for their decoratively cut fresh fruit. I had the banana and chocolate crepe - tasty. Kid friendly place with a menu just for them. Be prepared to line up but I think it's worth the wait.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-06-02 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 4/5

Really enjoyed my prime rib and french onion soup. I think the prime rib rivaled that of the popular Smugglers Inn. One of the differences with Cattle Baron is that your prime rib meal comes with fresh seasonal veggies, which is a nice change from the salad bar. The ambience is modern and spacious. Prime rib was cooked just right.

Reviewed By: melrosegirl on 2009-05-28 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

Joeys recently changed their menu removing a lot of favourites. Although I like the decor, the service was quite poor this time around. It was really empty so the lack of attention to our table wasn't due to over-crowding.

The lettuce wrap appie was really tasty, but we had a few concerns with the menu descriptions. Not allergy-friendly since many common allergy-related ingredients were not listed. They do accomodate menu alterations though, so be sure to ask if you have a concern.

Prices were a bit high for what you get. Missing the most - no yam fries!!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-24 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 5/5

Bustling Filipino Chinese restaurant on Fraser Street. Service is fast and efficient. Lots of yummy items on the menu. Love the Sinigang Soup, always a standby for me at Filipino restaurants. Tried the coconut pumpkin green bean dish, and a fried fish one too. The fish was OK, but loved the coconut green beans. There were many other dishes coming out for other guests that looked delicious. I'll have to try something with that yummy-sounding brown sauce next time. Generous portions too.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-24 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 3/5

I'm not big into the "hipper-than-thou" lounge scene on Granville Street, but I was at Deuce Bungalow for a friend's birthday party last night. It's definitely geared more to those who care about what they drink, but it bills itself as a "Spanglish Cantina", whatever that is. The food is pretty much Mexican/Latin with some fresh twists. Think pub-style snack food Mexican style. Most items are deep fried in some way. Sampled the calamari, which was quite light and tender. The Avocado Flight is perfect for the guac lover. I quite enjoyed the deep-fried avocado slices, known as avocado fries...different and definitely indulgent! Fresh guacamole was delicious. However, I would skip right to the nachos. These are probably the best nachos I've eaten. Black bean mash on the bottom, topped with crunchy tri-color chips, topped with flank steak. Lots of lovely surprises too, including bits of mango, pickled onions and peppers, lots of melted cheese. Side of fresh salsa and guacamole too. MMMMMM.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-24 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 4/5

Not much ambience at this Commercial Drive restaurant...boring cafeteria type decor. However, you're not here to look at the walls. You are here to eat the pupusas! A pupusa is a thick, handmade corn tortilla-like flatbread, stuffed with your choice of fillings (bean, cheese, meat). They are made fresh here so be prepared to wait 15-20 minutes or more for your hot pupusas to arrive. But don't worry, they are worth it!! Chewy and toothsome, a lovely snack with one, or a yummy meal with 2 or 3. Served with a tangy marinated coleslaw.

Reviewed By: SouthVan Mama on 2009-05-19 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Went to the 89 Inn for the first time this evening. This place has gone through a complete renovation and is now clean and cozy (used to be a total hole in the wall). Decided to try it out because it offered a much wider variety than Samurai Sushi down the street. The menu includes all day breakfast, burgers, Chinese food and Japanese food, including sushi. I usually find that when the menus are so large and varied, it equates to mediocre food (quantity over quality), but I though the sushi and noodles were good. It's kid friendly with plenty of space for strollers and even a back room for a little more privacy. We usually go to Samurai, but this was a nice change for the food variety and the space to sit down. Definitely worth a try if you're on Fraser Street. Next time, I'll test the breakfast food.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 5/5

Not only do I enjoy just saying the name, it was a great place for hearty sandwiches. I had shared a Spolumbo Special sandwich and Meatballs in a bun. The Spolumbo sandwich is huge with three or four kinds of deli meats. The deli meats were fresh and I loved the meatball sub with authetic Italian meatballs with tomato sauce. Be ready to line up in this cafeteria style set up; this place is popular. Next time I go, I'll try the spicy sausage on a bun. The sandwiches are pricey but huge and worth it.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-09 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

If you're in Calgary, this place is a must for Prime Rib. Alberta is known for their beef and Smuggler 's Inn knows how to cook it! I had the prime rib dinner which comes with a salad and soup buffet bar. The 12 oz. prime rib was tender, juicy and cooked just right. There were three kinds of soups and the salad buffet including a garden salad, potato salad, pasta salad, asian noodle salad among other items. If you happen to have room for dessert go for the mud pie or coconut creme brulee.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Zefferelli's is a good place for a business lunch. Service is pleasant and timely and the lunch specials are always good. Reasonable prices and located on Robson for the downtown crowd.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Yaletown Brew Pub is a great place to have a pint! They brew their own beer and have a great selection of ales and lagers. Food is excellent as well, especially the wood fired oven pizza. Place get very busy on weekends.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This place has been around for a long time...maybe even the 80s. It bills itself as homestyle Japanese, and it's actually run by Japanese people! The menu covers a bit of everything, with hot dishes and a bit of sushi. Though this is not the place to go if you want 25 different rolls to choose from, everything is fresh and delicious. Prices are quite reasonable for what you get. Service is friendly and efficient.
I've had the sushi, the udon noodle bowls, and the bento box specials...good portion size and authentic Japanese cuisine.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I LOVE this place for its fast, fresh sushi. Run by a Japanese couple, Shiosai was in the west end for years before moving to the Joyce skytrain area.
The menu is pretty much all about sushi...and it's really good sushi too. Prices are reasonable - $10 per person should fill you up. There aren't a lot of fancy rolls, so expect the usual California, dynamite, beef teriyaki, tuna, salmon, etc.
It can get quite busy with take out so sometimes it's better just to go in and eat at the little counter.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This restaurant recently underwent a renovation, for the better! Though they still use those plastic sheet tablecloths for dim sum.
Haven't tried the dim sum since the reno, but went for dinner there tonight. They have the set meal option, where you pick a certain number of dishes from a lengthy list for a set price. Then you get a "bonus"...with 8 dishes you get 2 crabs cooked how you like.
The standouts tonight were the crab (done with garlic and onion), on a bed of yee mein. The noodles were an extra $8 but worth it. The eggplant claypot was quite good, as was the salt/pepper squid. I also enjoyed the beef lettuce wraps and pork with taro. The tofu/cod claypot had really bony fish, so not that enjoyable.
They also have daily specials and I noted the Tuesday special is 2 course Peking duck for $17!
It's busy during dim sum as well and I think it's cash only.

Reviewed By: Julie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great, funky atmosphere. This place used to be called Fiction...same lounge atmosphere. Full bar and all organic meats. Had their mussels, yam fries, steak tacos and lamb. All good.

Reviewed By: asnitz on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Funky atmosphere, cool, innovative and original food (in a good way). Serve bread before dinner. Cool cave like bathrooms.

http://www.locusonmain.com/

Reviewed By: bctechnology on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 1/5

pretty dirty

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

excellent food, great service. Best to order multiple dishes to share.

Reviewed By: Eileen on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Ownership of restaurant has changed as has chef; menu items have changed; however, still good.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

I also wrote a review for the Burgoo's on 10th. Same excellent food. The main street location has lots of outdoor seating. The main st location won't be starting the brunch menu for a couple of months.

Reviewed By: k3vlar on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

The best Italian food in Vancouver! Despite being a rather small place on Hastings, Anton's is always packed, so expect long waits to get in. It's not unusual to see lineups stretching down the street!

The food is amazing, and comes in portions large enough to cover lunch and dinner for the next two days. Prices are cheap, and service is fast and friendly.

Reviewed By: Julie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Cheap dim sum. Decent selection. Most of the typical dim sum items like rice wraps, shrimp dumplings, sui mai, rice rolls and spare ribs. Three of us (with good appetites) ate for $30 and we had leftovers. Usually by 11:00am weekends, line up forms for dim sum.

Reviewed By: kars on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Restaurant has a great lounge like atmosphere. Appies were quite tasty. I had steak as my entree which I would not recommend. Pricing is pretty reasonable and they have a great variety of food.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 1/5

Sorry, but this food is NOT AMAZING. The only thing it is really good for is the huge quantities...yes, you'll end up with enough left over to have two more meals, and I appreciate the value. so if that's what you're after, then you'll be happy hear.
However, if you are looking for good Italian food, visit any of the other authentic Italian places along that stretch of Hastings in Burnaby and you'll find much better food.
More is not always better.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

You must order the green beans! I dream about these and when a craving hits, I have to go.
Lunch is an excellent deal. The laksas are lovely yummy coconuty and filling....perfect for a rainy day. Add a side of green beans and that will get you through a soggy afternoon.

Reviewed By: kars on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

The burgers here are awesome ! Fast Food in a diner like setting. You place your order at the counter and then wait for your number to be called. There are a number of booths/tables available for dining in. They have a large variety of toppings which incl grilled onions, various types of cheese and pickles and specialty sauces.

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Great place for beer and tapas...they have a wide selection of imported belgian beers and lots of tasty treats on their tapas menu.

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Reliable neighbourhood bar, friendly service, a few big screens for sports, a couple of pool tables, pull tabs and keno and a decent pub menu at reasonable prices. Not my neighbourhood anymore, but is still one of my favourite corner pubs.

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 2/5

As far as the food & drink go, Milestones is pretty standard and normally reasonable; however, I don't know what the issue is, but everytime I've been to this particular location I've had painfully slow service.

Reviewed By: sonyayong on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

so glad this little restaurant is in here! it's right by joyce skystrain station. cute little place but the sushi is always fresh and delicious! love the negitoro rolls!!!!! definitely recommend this place - authentic, good and cheap!!

Reviewed By: sonyayong on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

when i lived in montreal, i used to love going to this place for bfast! cheap and super cheerful!!! you'd get TONS OF FRUIT with a few of the selections. (the fresh fruit crepes are GOOD!) i liked getting the CORA SPECIAL - a little sweet and savoury.

Reviewed By: sonyayong on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

the best sushi!!!! So fresh, BIG and reasonable prices!!! the TORO here is DELICIOUS!!!! melts in your mouth. house rolls are awesome - ALMOST too big to put the whole thing in your mouth! haha! a DEFINITE MUST MUST MUST!!!!! (the richmond location is great too!!!!!) they have some fun rolls to try too!

Reviewed By: asnitz on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Had GREAT service, food was wonderful, we came in around 5pm so it wasn’t too busy, it started to get crowded at around 7pm - it is on the pricey side, but well worth it.

Reviewed By: mdecoff on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This is a popular restaurant on Spring Garden Road, with a rooftop so people can enjoy the beautiful summer weather as well as the food. It has delicious pub food as well as some tasty drinks and *****tails. It always is buzzing with young professionals and students from the local universities.

Reviewed By: mdecoff on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This is an intimate restaurant with great pasta and seafood dishes. It is a great choice for an early or late dinner, but can be quite busy on the weekends. Make a reservation.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

One of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver. Neat location, down on the docks at the Vancouver Port. You can watch tug boats and freighters move up and down the harbour while you eat. Seafood is great and they always have excellent specials. Service is superb, did I mention the lobster bisque!

Reviewed By: Picky Princess on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

It doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is really good for a great value. I'd suggest making a reservation Thursday - Saturday or you will be waiting for a while.

Reviewed By: Julie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Love this restaurant. Great service, authentic Thai food. Their Tom Kah Soup is my favourite hot and sour soup. Their curries are a must try. Love their Phad spinach too.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Even if you're not a cauliflower fan, you will be converted after you try the cauliflower dish here, najib's special. It is fabulous...so good I usually order seconds! Don't let the simple description fool you...it is a flavour explosion.
Really great Lebanese food served in a casual and friendly place. The owner is often here and he is always cheery.
Mostly organic ingredients here, everything is fresh.
If there are two of you, try the sampler platter, but I guarantee you'll leave wanting more of that cauliflower!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Though Vancouver has many great ethnic eateries, we are sorely lacking in authentic Mexican. That is until Salsa and Agave came along. This place is always hopping but the worth is wait it -- authentic Mexican dishes in huge portions.

The sopes are great, as is carne asada, and I really love the chilaquiles (a big place of fried tortilla strips topped with verde salsa and queso fresco..MMMM). The horchata drink is great too, refreshing rice and cinnamon.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

I have only been here once, and maybe I was expecting a lot, but my fish was so dry I had to send it back. Second time wasn't any better. Sorry, for a seafood restaurant to overcook fish not once, but twice, is not good. I have never been back because of that.

Reviewed By: New Parents on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

More expensive than a typical dim sum restaurant, but if you want hot and delicious dim sum in a clean restaurant, this is the place to go. They also have various other locations, including Downtown, Richmond, and Coquitlam.

Reviewed By: rliew on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Good place for lunch...choice of 3 items with miso for $9 (and these are full orders of rolls, sushi, tempura, etc). Also good for early bird (last order by 6pm) or lunch time all you can eat at $11.95. Not the highest quality sushi but good for the basics.

Reviewed By: rliew on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Previous owners of the Big Lai Restaurant on Kingsway and Willingdon. No reservations for Dim Sum and it gets really busy by 11am so get there early. Good selection and decent prices (avg $3 per plate for the normal stuff).

Reservations taken at dinner. We went for an excellent 10-course meal that could have fed 15 people. 10-course set dinners ranged from $188 and up.

Lots of free parking in the back.

Reviewed By: rliew on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

For people that don't live in the area, the Crystal Mall food court offers a great variety of Asian fast food options such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietamese, Shanghai, Malaysian, BBQ places, bubble tea, and so much more. The prices are very reasonable (usually under $6) for a large take-out box. Some places even include drinks like iced Hong Kong style coffee at no extra cost. You can even pick up all your grocery needs at the market downstairs as well as a cell phone, frozen dim sum and chinese baked goods.

Parking is a nightmare but spots are available if you're willing to negotiate around the poor drivers and tiny spaces.

Reviewed By: Julie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

If you're looking for variety, this Chinese restaurant has an extensive menu that includes dumplings, wonton soup, several different kinds of homemade noodles, barbecued chinese meats like duck and soy chicken, chow mein, congee, chinese-style spaghetti and curries and a whole list of Hong Kong-style drinks. They even have bubble tea. Too many items to list. Everything I've had has been above-average. Can't go wrong here. Fast service and even clean washrooms!

Reviewed By: Patty on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant.

The restaurant has a view of Value Village, the decor is a little shabby, and the service can be slow when busy. Despite all this, the restaurant is packed--which is a testament to how amazing the food is.

The curries are delicious, as is the pad thai. Favourites include: chicken graw pow, red curry with fish, duck curry (with grapes and pineapple), and the chili prawn salad.

Take out is a good option--but be warned that they do not accept orders if they kitchen is overwhelmed with dine-in orders.

Reviewed By: Patty on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A Burnaby favourite.
Great sushi--sashimi is consistently fresh. Rolls are well prepared. The cooked food is also very good.

Reviewed By: Patty on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Excellent Malaysian food, and pretty good wine list. The service is friendly and efficient.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Decent food, service and doesn't mind kids. It's our usually choice as my daughter loves the broccoli cheese soup there.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 2/5

If you want burgers and the mud pie with a freckled lemonade, then this is a great spot. Everything else on the menu is okay, nothing to write home about.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

The only decent place to eat in this area but it's always busy. Love the food/menu so it's worth the wait!

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great place for sushi. Always consistent quality of food though prices are a bit high.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

I'm too lazy to make dinner so we got Swiss Chalet takeout - fantastic! And I also found out that they deliver, bonus! They are great with kids and I just love their corn!

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This little hole in the wall has the best Vietnamese sandwiches in town. At only $2.75 you get a freshtoasted baquette (real French style kind) with all the t*****s for the perfect Vietnamese sandwich. Enjoy with jalapeno peppers!

I would definitely take it to go (the place is a dive but the sandwiches are great).

Reviewed By: k3vlar on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

If you like eating meat as much as I do, then you'll love Memphis Blues BBQ.

They serve any and all kinds of meat you can smoke, grill or roast, and the flavors are simple incredible. Very rarely do you get to enjoy such mouth-watering ribs, beef brisket, and sausages.

Best enjoyed with a group of carnivores, and a couple of pitchers of beer. I'd recommend their Memphis Platter, so you can sample a bit of everything they make with a bunch of friends!

Reviewed By: southsloper on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Located in a strip mall next to a billiard (pool) hall, this little Wunton noodle place serves great food at inexpensive prices. Lunch combos, rice dishes, wontons & noodles. Dishes are good size and tasty as well.

Reviewed By: southsloper on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

This location serves as the Western Corporate office of McDonald's of Canada, as well as a training facility. Serves the usual McDonald's fare.

There is a full service drive-thru and order/service counter on the ground floor. Some outside seating for better weather, a few seats on the ground floor. Upstairs is quite large and holds a lot more seating, including a kid's play area.

More difficult for customers coming south on Willingdon, now that Costco relocated on the east side of Willingdon. Southbound cars must turn east towards Costco, then north, then east under Willingdon to get to this location.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

My rating is based on value. If you like bang for your buck, Samurai Sushi is a great place. Sushi pieces are huge and if you're a fan of sashimi, the pieces are about three times as large as normal. An appetizer salmon sashimi for instance has five pieces and it seems very much like a full order. I used to go to the Cambie location, but I find this location friendlier, plus you can order on line for pick up at the Fraser location. Otherwise, not much difference. Very limited seating as most of their business is take out. Advance orders are eligible for a discount. Other than sushi, it's not a huge menu - no teriyaki or noodles.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This pizza shop is a great place to get a good variety of different pizzas for a reasonable price. There is not much seating as it is a grab and go type of pizza joint. If you want you can get a slice of pizza and pop for around $2.50 or so. Their pizza is usually really fresh as it is a high traffic location. They also deliver. We had a church picnic at a nearby park and they delivered to us which was convenient. They are usually opened later during fri/sat nights then the time posted.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

This is the other sushi joint we like to go to for cheap eats! Price for value is 4 out of 5; Food quality is 3.5 out of 5; Service is 2 out of 5. Seems like these cheap joints are a place to get some cheap good eats and definitely not really service as they are usually packed and only one server on duty so it can be hectic.
The great thing about this place is after 6pm eat in only they offer 40% off on a special menu which has a variety of sushi, rice/noodle dishes, robata, and appietizer dishes. It's really a good value for what you get. We can get a ton of food to feed 4 and it would only cost around $30 or so plus a tip. A definite good choice for decent food and good price.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great place to get fresh samosas. Price is good 2 veg samosas for $1.00. They also sell a variety of Indian sweets and pakoras. Quality of samosas is better than most I've had.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A recent anniversary brought us to this quaint and cosy restaurant off West Broadway. We both decided to get the price fixed menu which was $42 per person which included an appie/main course/dessert. I had a cold soup of cucumber and peaches which I did not care too much for as I felt the flavor was a little over powering. Perhaps had it been a hot day then I might have enjoyed it more. My hubby had the beef carpaccio for appie and that was definitely a great choice. Full of flavor and it went well with crustini toast. We also snuck in a dish of pomme frites (fries) as I had a craving for some. For our main meals we both chose fish tuna & halibut; they were both very flavorful and came with sides of fresh veggies. For dessert I had a fruit dacquoise which was delicious; it was 3 mini layers of light pastry with some lemon type cream and fresh fruits (blackberries/raspberries); light and flavorful. It went well with my capuccino to end off a good meal. My husband as usual chose to have creme brulee which was also a fine choice. They also have wine pairing on their menu.

Reviewed By: mlarat on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

"I LOVE this place. If you are downtown and feel like a two-hour lunch with some delectable fare and a bottle of wine, this is the place to go. My absolute favourite is the spicy meatball soup, accompanied by a delicious, healthy portion of spanikopita. The staff and owners are extremely friendly and definitely know how to treat their customers like royalty! There's secret validated parking off the alley - if you pull up front to drop of passengers, the staff will point you in the right direction."

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Good food and fast service. Lunch specials range from $3.25 for a vietnamese sub sandwich to $6.45 for a combo of brochettes, spring roll and vermicelli...add soup for $1.75. I had the spicy beef noodle soup. Broth was just right; not fatty. The only negative thing I can say is that their washrooms are pretty gross.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

If you like Korean BBQ, this restaurant has a good variety of meats that you can bbq on the built-in grill at your table. The side dishes (with kimchi, lo-bok, marinated potatoes) complement the meal. I went there for lunch today and their lunch specials are hearty. I had the spicy beef with cabbage soup (two substantial bowls) for $9.95. The beef was super tender and flavourful and was falling off the bone. Cabbage soup is better than it sounds; the broth was also flavourful - probably a beef broth. My friend had the hot plate marinated beef with cold vermicelli noodles - all good. Best to go with a group so you can try a bunch of items. Be ready to leave smelling of bbq - the smell lingers in the clothing!

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Went for a late lunch to meet a friend. I had the Cypress Street Salad, which has goat cheese and sweetened beets - it was delicious! They know how to make salads. Nice sophisticated, but cozy atmosphere, great patio. I would definitely go back again to try one of the main menu items; everything sounded delicious.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A recent visit brought us to this pub which is kid friendly! Yeah! They put us in the back of the restaurant which was fine and provided us with stuff (crayons/paper) to occupy our busy boy. They had a good selection of beers Irish one's and all other types. Their menu consists a lot of comfort foods (eg. shepherd's pies/ stews / steak pie etc.) You can also get your usual American pub fare of burgers etc. We ordered a crab dip as an appie which came with tortilla chips. The dip could have been more hot (heat wise) as it seemed a little on the cold side but still tasted okay. My husband ordered the shepherds pie and I ordered their emerald salad (mix greens with a variety of toppings and house dressing.) The meals were both great and service is good. We will definitely go back when we are in the Whistler area. Forgot to mention, they also had live music when we went and our boy really enjoyed that; he even danced a little.

Reviewed By: Patty on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Excellent food on a small menu. It's Northern Chinese, and their noodles and dumplings are fantastic. The dumplings are home-made--must have are their steamed dumplings (very juicy! be careful!), beef roll, rice cakes, and noodle soups.

They are known for their wine chicken(or drunken?)--which is also very good.

It's very small, and often busy. Only 2 round tables that seat about 8, and about half a dozen smaller tables.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 2/5

This is a charming, not quite authentic, Italian restaurant that serves big portions. The garlic bread is great (amazing what extra butter can do!). Pasta dishes are huge and will give you plenty for leftovers. A good neighborhood restaurant.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Huge menu that includes several different kinds of noodle soups. I ordered the beef brisket noodle in soup. The broth is flavourful without being fatty (at least it didn't look fatty) and the beef is super tender. I also recommend the steamed dumplings. Menu also includes several Chinese rice dishes and a huge assortment of bubble tea-type drinks. This place is always packed so be ready to wait a bit.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Solid Pho beef noodle soup and a wider menu than most pho restaurants. I often order the spicy pho, one of their specialties. It comes with a spaghetti-like noodle, but I usually ask for the typical pho rice noodle. Wide variety of dry noodle dishes too - a popular one is a egg noodle with a sweet soy sauce and egg and beef. If you don't want pho, I would recommend this dish. Rice dishes include the typical Vietnamese fare of lemon chicken and pork skewers. Bit of tight squeeze and it's tacky in its ambience, but the food is enough of a draw.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great place for a large party. This place seats a lot of people and there's plenty of parking. In addition, the restaurant layout is conducive to hosting several separate large tables/parties, giving each group decent privacy. Roast lamb falls off the bone. Solid souvlaki.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

This Hong Kong-style restaurant has your typical chinese menu, but is really well-known for their Malaysian curries. If you enjoy curry, you can't go wrong with any of their current dishes. Rich in flavour with sweet coconut milk. I also recommend their Hai-Nam chicken. This cold steamed chicken is served with both ginger and sweet chili sauce. One of the best I've had.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

The Bleu Ribbon Burger is pretty tasty...with blue cheese and onion rings on top. There really isn't anything too complicated or fancy about Red Robin's menu. But if you want a good burger with all-you-can-eat fries, this is the place. The mushroom burger is very good too...and I think it has surpassed White Spot's monty mushroom for my favourite mushroom burger.
The fries aren't really that special, but that seasoning salt makes them seem so much tastier.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

If you're looking for high tea and want an alternative to the pricier Empress Hotel, then this place is a great choice and only a few blocks away from the Empress. High tea is served all day and is $16, includes tea or coffee of course, egg and tuna sandwiches, scones, crumpets, quiche and sweets. Breakfast is hearty - try the bangers and eggs! Quaint turn of the century house giving you a true royal city experience; kid friendly too.

Reviewed By: amiller on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

We enjoyed the Dim Sum. They had the standard fare plus some interesting dishes with curry. The service was friendly. I would go back.

Reviewed By: amiller on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Cozy atmosphere with great service. Good food, though pricey. Huge assortment of deserts. A nice place to go for a dinner date.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

It's a pretty small menu at Grillage, but portions are large and everything we have tried is quite tasty.
The food ia an interesting combo of Thai, Filipino and Asian specialties. I quite like the Pad Thai, though it doesn't have quite the same as a typical Thai-restaurant version. Also, the Green Papaya Salad is pretty good. We had this beef tenderloin Spanish Filipino dish...can't remember the name! And it was very flavourful, marinated in a dark soy-vinegary combo. Really tasty. Served up with garlic rice and fresh tomatoes.
It's simple food, and there is no alcohol licence, but a decent little neighbourhood spot with modern decor.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

The food was good and the staff was nice. Offers vegetarian and no MSG dishes. Perfect for my friend's small wedding.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Delicious Italian dishes in a quaint and cozy setting. The portions are large enough to share but not overly wasteful. Prices are reasonable. Perfect for a get-together with good friends.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great comfort food. Reminds me of Burgoo in Vancouver. Menu changes every few weeks, so worth coming back on a regular basis for new eats. I had the Calabaza Stew, a Cuban spiced stew with coconut milk filled with delicious squash, sweet potatoes, red peppers and corn. This is one of those places where you want to sample several items, but the portions quite large leaving only enough room to get a main and a dessert and maybe a salad. I'll have to go back to try some of the hearty sounding salads and other stews. Will definitely return. Friendly service, small place, but clean and cozy.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

One of my favourite restaurants. If you love comfort food such as stews and soups, this place likely won't disappoint. Each of their stews are distinctly different and rich in flavour. Some of my favourites include Kentucky Burgoo, Beef Bourguignon, Irish Stew and Butter Chicken (their own version is not as fatty as authetic Indian butter chicken, but still very delicious). I've been to Burgoo (West 10th locale) so many times that I have almost tried everything on their menu and have recommended it to several people. Their salads are great as well - my favourites are the Spinach salad (with apple, feta, red onion and bacon thyme vinaigrette) and harvest greens with beets, hazelnuts and goat cheese. What great is that you can find some of their recipes on the City TV Vancouver site as they were guests on the City Cooks show. Here's the Kentucky Burgoo recipe if you want to attempt to make it at home (http://www.citytv.com/vancouver/tvshows_CityCooks.aspx?contenturl=http%3A//www.citytv.com/vancouver/KentuckyBurgoo.aspx).
The Main street location is a newcomer and seems to be very popular. They don't take reservations so you have to be ready to wait on most evenings, especially the weekend - the wait could easily be an hour. Take advantage of the take out if you don't want to wait. The Main Street location has a great outdoor patio for the summer. A must try!

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great Thai food with just the right amount of 'hot' and the deep fried banana with ice cream is a must have!

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Perhaps I remembered simpler days... last night my meal was a bit too rich and the dessert was sad. We also took our daughter and they couldn't even offer crayons with a piece of paper for her. Sigh, the days of yuppie lives have now passed us and so thus we should let 'earls' lie.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A recent visit here with a group of 10 girlfriends over Christmas found me a new italian restuarant in which I will definitely go back to.
The restaurant manager or supervisor made sure our group was well taken care of. He gave us complimentary kobe meatballs which were yummy to start off our meal.
I found the prices here were very reasonable for what they had to offer. I split a salad, bruschetta and a pasta platter with two others and we were all quite full. The pasta platter is a good option which is $15 per person (min 2 ppl has to order) and gives you a variety of 3 pastas. We had lasagna, pesto pasta and a marinara pasta. All 3 pastas were quite tasty. I ended off the meal with a latte and tiramisu (so good)and in my books was good value for what we got. The ambiance is modern and funky, while you waited you could get drinks and sit at the lounge as they don't seat you until the party has all arrived. They have a extensive wine ane *****tail menu, something for everyone. We went on a sunday night at 5:30pm and by the time we left it was packed. My only minor complaint is the seating was a little snug so I felt that I didn't have much room...it just made it more cosy.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This restaurant is a good place to go to if you are looking for good quality dim sum and prices that aren't too expensive. It does cost more than $2.00 dim sum but I find the quality really fresh and pretty tasty.
The good thing about this place is that the dim sum is made to order so that it is not sitting around and getting cold. Average cost of a dish here is around $4.00 and it can go up from there depending on what you order. Overall, good food and service. My only complaint is that the restaurant is really busy so they sometimes over pack the number of people than they are suppose to on a busy day (holidays). It makes it really tight for moving around and if there was a fire, it would be hazardous otherwise it's a good place.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A visit here with another mom friend of mine was a good experience. We went to the resturant with 2 toddlers and overall we both had a good meal. They had space for us to park our strollers and high chairs for our boys. That was already a good start to our meal. We shared a boccini salad to start and then each ordered a pasta. The great thing about their pasta is that you can pick and choose what type of noodle, sauce, toppings you wish to add to your meal. I had a olive oil, herb, garlic, and shrimp on top of linguine pasta and it was yummy. Their portion are a fair size, we did take leftovers home. The only thing is that our waitress did not know the menu well enough. I asked her a question and she was not able to answer it but did go ask in the kitchen and I eventually got my answer. The ambiance is casual and I like the fact they have large open windows so on nice days, you check people watch and have your meal.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

A good little vietnamese noodle restaurant where the locals go. The restaurant is very clean and is always packed especially on cold days. They have really good beef noodle soup, variety of sandwiches and rice / noodle dishes and many vietnamese dessert beverages. They are also kid friendly in which they have high chairs available.
Service is prompt and courteous.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A good hole in the wall family run Vietnamese noodle restaurant. This restaurant has good tasty noodle soup and delicious sandwiches (homemade meatball is what I recommend)and also a variety of rice / noodle dishes etc. You know it is good when the clientele is generally repeat business people and locals. For a very reasonable price you get good value for the food you get. Also kid friendly.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A great place to go to on a cold day. They have wonderful pork hot pots that come with an assortment of Korean side dishes. The sides include (seaweed, kimichi, potatoes (one of my favs), bean sprouts) and also includes rice. The soup is tasty along with the pork bones. Their seafood pancakes are a must to try. They also have good Korean dumplings that come made is a variety of styles (steamed, fried or boiled).
A great place to go with a group of people as the dishes ar great shared esp. the hot pots. Good value and good eats.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A tradional Mexican restaurant with average prices, good quality and quantity of food. Our recent visit to San Diego brought us to this good Mexican restaurant in their Old Town. They started us off with homemade tortilla chips/salsa. Both very good except the chips were a tad bit salty. They have a extensive drink menu with all the different types of tequila one can name. We had a couple of tasty margaritas. We ordered 4 different meals to share among 2 couples and found ourselves taking at least one meal home. We had their enchiladas (sirloin / prawn), chicken quesidilla, pork burrito and tacos (fish / mahi mahi). All the meals were excellent and we couldn't get enough chips so I ordered another order along with guacamole and it was so yummy. A definite to try if you are in the San Diego area. They have 3 different locations.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 2/5

We decided to give another highly recommended Mexican restaurant a go on our last night in San Diego. What caught our eyes were the ladies making all the homemade tortillas/tacos in the window that brought us in. Although the food isn't too expensive we learned that the taste/quality was very poor. We all ordered meals and they weren't too good. One of us started with a beef/barley soup and it was very salty along with her chicken mole which was quite strong in flavor so she didn't enjoy it much. I had a pork carnita (the meat seemed like it was sitting for a long time so it was tough), my beef was okay. The corn tortillas were good. My hubby had their chicken tamale and chile renello and was not impressed at all by the taste. I might go back to this restaurant if I was in the area again to give it another shot. The restaurant is extremely busy esp. the night we went so one would think their food is excellent but perhaps it could have been the items we ordered that night. Our tortilla chips/salsa/gaucamole was good.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 1/5

After a long day at Sea World we though we would try and find a locals Chinese restaurant. It was fairly late and we wanted a good bowl of noodles to fill our tummies. We used our GPS to try and find a locals place and ended up with this one since the people spoke Chinese when we called and when we arrived it was packed so we thought it was a good place to grab a bite. It was a hole in the wall family joint which is fine and so we ordered our meal. We thought by speaking in Chinese they would recommend some items to us since the main menu had mostly Canadian style items which we didn't care for. We started off with hot and sour soup (it was tasteless and over powered by oyster sauce), my son's egg drop soup tasted like water with no flavor. They did recommend their house special beans with deep fried tofu which was pretty good. We also had chicken and brocolli (overcooked) and singapore vermecelli (tasteless). My husband makes better noodles than the ones we had that night. I think this restaurant is for all those late night partiers as they are opened late and people don't notice the quality of the food when they are drunk. I did not care for the food at all and for what we paid it was not worth it at all! On top of all this, they charge for tea.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Great value, which I love. Food is fresh, made with good ingredients. I had the chickpea stew, very filling and tasty. Nice touch with the fresh spinach stirred in at the end.
Deserts are a must, so save room at the end.
Warm and friendly service, casual and cozy atmosphere. If I lived in the neighbourhood, I would be a regular.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Homey Italian restaurant with large portions and good food, and it's a 10 minute walk from my house!
My husband and I went in there for a last minute (we called 1 hour ahead) New Year's Eve meal, and we were graciously seated.
The place is pretty small, but service is friendly and informal. Definitely a place you can bring your family. There were a couple of larger groups when we were there and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
We had two pasta dishes: meatballs and spaghetti (house specialty, and you can choose whole wheat spaghetti), and the creamy mushroom sauce with gnocchi. With pasta dishes, you can mix and match, choosing pasta and sauces to your liking. Large portions at dinner are $13.95...they are HUGE. I barely made a dent in my spaghetti and meatballs.
My favourite dish was the appetizer of mussels. Delicious and fresh, and a good sized portion.
Desert was also good...tiramisu served trifle-style in a sundae glass.
Total bill on NYE for 2, including a glass of house wine: $60.
Next time, I think we'll order one appy, and one pasta and share...plenty to go around!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I was in Whistler a couple of weeks ago for work and ended up eating here twice (long story, but it was very convenient location), once for breakfast and then for lunch.
Breakfast is your typical fare, with plenty of eggs, bacon and pancakes to keep everyone happy. A bit pricey for breakfast, but this is Whistler. However, portions are huge. I had the healthiest choice...oatmeal! It was also around $10, but so huge I couldn't finish it. Topped with yogurt and fresh fruit.
Lunch features traditonal Irish pub fare, with the usual burgers and sandwiches. I had the corned beef, which was absolutely delicious. Melt in your mouth goodness, served with a side of homemade mashed potatoes and cabbage. Really a great comfort food meal.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

A friend and I went to Mistral for Dine Out Vancouver. For $28 (the mid price of Dine Out), I thought it was great value for a three course meal. The portions were also a decent size. I had the warm goat cheese on crouton, duck confit and the chocolate mousse. Everything was excellent. Service was great. Place was a little tight, but ambience was comfortable and warm. I will definitely be going back for their lunch specials.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Went to the Nice Cafe just off Main Street and had Eggs Benny - it was delicious. The extensive menu includes soups, sandwiches and salad and they serve breakfast all day. Friendly service, comfortable cafe-style atmosphere.

Reviewed By: luv4food on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

The food at this place was fantastic. The food was fresh and I believe they make their own pasta. We shared the verde salad (great dressing) and the Margherita Pizza. One of those must try restaurants.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Pretty good food... the ginger beef is fantastic. It's quite a small little restaurant with limited seating. I've tried delivery twice but it seems to take a very long time so I would recommend picking up instead.

Reviewed By: Jord on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

The Main offers authentic Greek food and reasonable prices. The atmosphere is nice, not too fancy, but nice. The staff is really nice as well. The best place we've found for mousaka and saganaki.

Reviewed By: Trivan on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Chop has a great atmosphere! It has stylish, modern decor and the moment you walk in you get that luxurious feel. There's lots of booth seating. It has a good lounge, and a cool tunnel looking walkway between the restaurant and lounge...even the lobby of the hotel it's attached to has a loungy atmosphere.
I had the steak and although mine was overcooked, others with me thought their food was really good. The bread is fresh baked and so yummy. The mixed drinks here are really good too.
It's a relatively new restaurant so the service was a little bit slower, but that ended up being a good thing as we were not made to feel rushed at all.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Loved this place. Modern, comfortable decor. Great food. Usually a huge line up on weekends, but we went on a Thursday night. This place is tiny so if you plan to go on a weekend, be ready to wait. In terms of the menu, there's a wide variety to please everyone's palate. Ahi tuna, mussels, meatloaf, ribs, lamb, pasta and burgers to name a few. I had the roasted beet salad, ahi tuna tempura roll and braised lamb shank - all delicious. Great wine menu as well.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

If you're in Maui, this restaurant is a must. Sansei is so highly talked about, we thought it was just hype. It had a lot to live up to, but we would agree with all the reviews. This restaurants is FANTASTIC! I eat out a lot and I would consider this one of my most memorable meals in North America. We ordered the tasting menu, which allows you to sample their signature dishes including Panko Crusted Ahi Sashimi Sushi Roll, Mango Crab Salad Hand Roll, Matsuhisa Style Miso Butterfish among other things. Don't be fooled by the titles. The dishes are way more interesting than the titles would suggest. The combination of tastes is unique and savoury. If we had only one of these dishes, I would still rave about this place. The tasting menu is a great deal at $70 for two people - you save a ton off the menu and it's sure to delight. Highly recommended.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

Eclectic and charming restaurant situated in a converted industrial building. Alloy is a fusion restaurant combining traditional meat and fish dishes in amazing sauces. I had the ahi tuna tartar appetizer followed by the tamarind seared duck. The duck was delicious and the atmosphere was unique. A full wine list complements the dinner menu.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Burnaby Palace is a good Chinese restaurant situated just off Boundary in Burnaby. The menu boasts the best hot and sour soup in town. Good, but by no means the best in town, the hot and sour was too salty. The dishes are prepared fresh and are quite tasty, the yee mein noodles are very good. A good place for lunch during the work week.

Reviewed By: mixermike on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 1/5 | Service: 1/5 | Ambience: 1/5 | Value: 1/5

All you can eat Asian Buffet in Calgary SE. There is a large selection in the buffet but the food is not great. Food looks like it has been sitting out for a long time and there are too many deep fried, breaded products. Although there are a couple of authentic dishes, the buffet is definitely catered towards the all you can eat caucasian crowd.

Reviewed By: djanke on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

We've been to Dai Sushi a few times now and have been quite happy with the food and the price. While we are far from sushi connoisseurs, the standard rolls (california, cucumber, dynamite, teriyaki) seem fresh and pretty tasty. We tried their tempura the other day and while it was nice and crisp, the vegetables were a bit bitter to my taste. It has never been very busy when we have gone(maybe not a good sign?), so service has always been pretty quick. However, they don't seem to have many staff, so if they were to get busy I'm not sure what kind of service you would get.

Reviewed By: djanke on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

This is a pretty typical fast food place - depending on who is working at the time of your visit the food and service varies alot! In general, however, I have been happy with the quality of their food (although they consistently get my husbands special order of no mayo wrong!). Service is reasonably fast, although there has been a few notable exceptions.

Reviewed By: djanke on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

This Arby's is pretty quiet most of the time and has the added benefit of having installed television screens visible from most seats (generally playing some sort of sports game).
The food is pretty consistently ok, although service can sometimes be spectacularly slow.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A great place for kids. This place is set up for kids and includes a play area with books and a cute kids kitchen. There's even tons of space for stroller parking. Good, casual food like soup, salads and sandwiches and a whole array of espresso bevvies. I had a grilled baguette with prosciutto and fig spread - delicious. Perfect place to sit around and chat with fellow parents. If you don't have kids, be prepared for the chaotic, lively environment.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

All your favourite Cantonese dishes available at this diner-like Hong Kong style cafe. The service sucks but the food is cheap and good. Breakfast specials are incredible. You can get typical Hong Kong style breakfast with congee or noodles and they also have mediocre Canadian style breakfast. If you want value and you love huge portions, this is a great place. For $5.50, you can get sausage, eggs, french toast, a noodle soup dish and Hong Kong style coffee (my favourite). These menu items are interchangeable. You won't leave hungry. Lunch and dinner portions are large and reasonably priced too. This restaurant is run by the same owners of Honolulu Cafe. Clean restaurant.

Reviewed By: michelle on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

Nice ambiance, great drinks. They have a patio but it's a bit noisy right off of 4th. The food is your standard fair, burgers, steaks, the usual rice bowls (dragon bowl). Typical chain food. They have several new locations all over the lower mainland.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

My recent visit to this renovated restaurant was a rather good experience so I would recommend it to others. I went with my family on Easter Monday and for a holiday the restaurant was not terrible busy but they were able to seat us quickly. I also found out they take reservations so that is convenient if you are coming with a large group. They also have high chairs which is great if you need one!
We ordered before the rest of our party came and did not realize how quickly the food would arrive. Oh my goodness, when all 20+ dishes came it was overwhelming. The quality of the food was quite good and we would definitely go back. The dim sum prices range from $3.50 and up. The service was good too as they kept refilling our tea and we didn't even have to ask. I was pleasantly surprised as they also gave us 10% off our entire bill for early dim sum. I am not sure if this is an ongoing thing but it was nice to get the discount.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

I come to this restaurant usually with my Italian friends so I know this is good Italian food. They have good homemade pastas (all types), antipasto plates and good taramisu dessert. The menu is more extensive in that they also have chicken, steak, & seafoods etc. The last time I came here the only problem I found was the service was a bit slow. It is a mom and pop type of place so sometimes the service is lacking. They also have live music usually on Fri / Sat. The homemade cheese tortellini I had was very tasty.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

This is a great restaurant to sit down with friends on the patio anytime and have some appies / good drinks. (Yummy Mojitos!) The food is of Cuban and Latino fare.
I have come here a few times and all experience has been a postive one. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I had eggs benny the other morning and it was very delicious and comes with your choice of salad or fries. Although their price is a bit on the high side, the atmosphere and quality of food is good. They also have tasty yam fries. They also have an art gallery in the back where they often have shows.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

A recent first time visit to this Sushi joint turned out to be a good one. We were trying to find a sushi restaurant on a Sun night and didn't have much luck. We came upon this place and decided to give it a try. They were very pleasant and sat us quite quickly. The restaurant was packed at the time we came in but they still gave us good service. The have all your typical Japanese fares (noodles, teriyaki, donburi etc.) plus sushi (the crab they put in their rolls is NOT imitation crab but REAL crab so that was really good.)I was surprised at that. I thought for the price we paid, we got value for our food.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 2/5 | Service: 2/5 | Ambience: 2/5 | Value: 2/5

My first visit to this restaurant was not the best experience but I would likely give it another chance. The view is amazing if you come out on a nice evening to watch the sunset.
The service we had that evening was not great at all. We felt pretty much ignored the whole evening, had to constantly flag people down to get any service or check up on the status of our food. Our meals took awhile to arrive and so that was not good.
We ordered some appies which were okay (mussels in a wine sauce, ribs (tasty), some small tapas, arti*****e dip with chips (chips were on the stale side). My friends who ordered main meals were so so with their seafood plates. I ordered a salad which was okay but I had to ask for more dressing as it didn't seem like there was any on it. We shared a dessert which was yummy (chocolate & hazelnut terrine with bailey's ice cream).

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 3/5 | Service: 3/5 | Ambience: 3/5 | Value: 3/5

I have not been back to Cardero's in a long time and while coming here for dinner I realized why. I found the menu selection to be rather disappointing as there is not a good selection of food in my opinion. I had a salad and we shared some appies with my friends, appie platter was okay with a good variety. The fact that I picked a salad over a meal I felt said a lot as there was nothing I wanted to eat off the menu. Although on Sun nights, they do have a good promo (not sure if it is always on) but for around $20 you could get a prime rib meal (included salad, prime rib and a dessert which the rest of my group ordered. Service was good though so that was a plus. They had live music after 9pm.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

A Dine Out experience brought us to this restaurant and it was a great choice recommended to me by a friend. The service, atmosphere and food quality was excellent. Their dine out menu was their normal portions for the regular menu (with dine out usually they are smaller) but we were surprised with our meals. We had grilled short ribs to start (tasty), duck breast on risotto (risotto was a little under cooked), and warm spiced pear crumble with vanilla ice cream. Overall, the food was very good for the price we paid. Also, on Sun nights, they have discounts on their bottled wine so that was a plus. I would definitely go back to this restaurant.

Reviewed By: Lennie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

I have been to Glowbal a few times and both times it has been a good one. I came here most recently for Dine Out and the value for what we got was pretty good. I had their gravlox salad to start, lamb for main, and chocolate torte (with mini donuts) for dessert and was so full by the end of the night. I also ordered a few tapas to try out and they were good. I think I may come back sometimes just to have tapas and drinks as they have such a great selection. Overall, a good restarant with nice ambiance and good service.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

A great addition to the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, this authentic French bistro offers excellent value and ambience. I had the french onion soup, duck confit and creme brulee. The soup was the best french onion soup I've had in Vancouver. The duck confit was pretty good, but I felt the portion was small. That being said, it was only $15 for the entree, while other restaurants serving this quality of food would charge at least 50% more. Loved the creme brulee and lemon tart. Totally worth trying this restaurant and I'll definitely return. Be warned, you have to book your reservation well in advance (two weeks) because this restaurant is becoming the talk of the neighbourhood.

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

Undoubtedly one of the best meals I've eaten in Vancouver, if not the best. Impeccable service and lovely understate ambience top off a fantastic evening of dining. We were there to celebrate our anniversary and feasted on the chef's menu. Every course was delicious and unique. The asian-inspired duck was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the prawn appetizer was sweet and succulent. I have nothing to complain about.
It is pricey, but worth a special occasion splurge!

Reviewed By: East Van Foodie on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 4/5 | Service: 4/5 | Ambience: 4/5 | Value: 4/5

I've lived around the corner from this restaurant for 6 years, and only tried it recently. It's always packed so I should have known it would be a great eatery.
The food is a fusion of Indian/African, with grilled meats and curries featured predominantly on the menu.
The spicy cassava fries are starchy and yummy. The vegetable curry is one of the best I've ever had. Chicken dishes come with big, juicy pieces of meat. And the naan is chewy and toothsome. Very good value and large portions.
They have different specials each day. You must try the mashed potato ball things on the appetizer menu! Chickpea batter plus a lovely lemon flavour infused in the mashed potatoes. Mmmmm.

Reviewed By: Food-a-holic on 2009-05-08 -- Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Ambience: 5/5 | Value: 5/5

I love this restaurant and am always recommending it to others. There is a huge variety to satisfy every taste. We have now tried several different dishes and have been pleased with all of them. Some of our favourite dishes include their pancit noodles, bbq skewers, beef stew, sweet and sour fish and maki soup. This is a very popular filipino restaurant so there's a chance you'll be lining up. They are expanding soon though.

Reviewed By: ricepot on 2008-10-14 -- Food: 0/5 | Service: 0/5 | Ambience: 0/5 | Value: 0/5

I will never order from Pizza Hut again. Delivery took more than 75 minutes and I was told it would only be 35 minutes. The pizza came cold. I had to call them to ask for the whereabouts of my pizza, and was told it was coming. No help what-so-ever. I even wrote a complaint on their web site and after 10 days, still no one has responded. This rating is truly a ZERO.