This year's Dine Out Vancouver starts January 14, 2009 and ends Feb 1, 2009.
I remember when Dine Out first started, there were some really good deals to be had. You actually got your moneys worth compared to if you were to just go to that same restaurant on a regular night and order from the menu.
Now it seems you get less food, or it simply is not worth it as the food quality and service suffer from the sheer quantity they are putting out.
I remember my experience at Joe Fortes last time. Literally they packed everyone like sardines, and they had like one person taking care of about fifteen tables. My wine glass still had lipstick on it. Not just the waxy post-wash lipstick, but FRESH lipstick. I could tell the busboy noticed it, but didn’t say anything and silently hoped I wouldn’t say anything. But come on, I don’t want some chick’s L’oreal all over my mouth too.
That experience did not encourage me to go back which I think is supposed to be one of the main points of the Dine Out from the restaurant's point of view. But I did end up going a couple months ago for a bday dinner, and the food was delicious, and the service was above par.. But I didn't go back based on my experience with Dine Out.
I remember when Lumiere and West were on there and the lineups to get in were crazy. At quick glance of the website (the website keeps going down probably cause everyone is looking at it now) I think the only thing that has the caliber of those two restaurants are DB Bistro Moderne (Formerly Feenie’s now headed by Daniel Boulud, - a Michelin chef and restauranteur also formerly sued for his questionable employment practices)
The menu for Ocean Club looks pretty good, and surprisingly, it's only $28.
I’m not sure what some restaurants are doing on there. I mean come on, Milestone’s? Hon’s Wonton house? Salt? The Old Spaghetti Factory?? Red Door? Fogg n Suds? Boathouse? Aqua Riva? I'm not knocking all of them cause a couple of them are actually pretty good. but, you can get those same prices any night of the week, or find the coupons in the Strait for the same price, or it’s simply not worth it to go. I would rather just go to Les Faux Bourgeois. You couldn’t pay me enough to go back to Salt. Service is good, but the food. What a joke. I can just go to Save-on-Foods and get that same meal for free with their deli counter samples during lunch hour sans wine. Keep on walking past Salt and head over somewhere else.
I’m going to check out Trafalgar’s, Gastropod and DB Bistro Moderne. any other suggestions?
And the prices have gone up 20% from last year. Cut us a break. With the economy the way it is at least let the prices be..
My pet peeve about the DineOut is how the waitstaff push liquor sales. It's like, suggesting is fine, but stop being so damn pushy. Funny story, last year at a restaruant which name now escapes me, the person at the table next to me was pregnant, and the waiter was recommending all these wines with each course.. she finally told him she was six months pregnant. She looked visibly pregnant, and then he was like, ohhh, well, how about a virgin cocktail.
Small tip, don't just try to reserve through Open Table. I've had several experiences where the Open Table indicates it's full, but when you call, it's a different story.
Prix Fixe basically means set menu and it's pronounced Pre feex. I keep calling it prefix or grand prix.
Please be careful in the snow. So many people are walking on the roads since some sidewalks are unwalkable. People need to slow down. And the city needs to plow some more roads like in the residential areas. So many people still can't get out of their alleyways.
Showing posts with label Eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eating. Show all posts
Monday, January 5, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Beard Papa in Vancouver
YUMMY. I love them. It's a cream puff chain from Japan. Or as the Japanese call it, choux cream. The cream is very delicious, "It's like a flavor explosion in the mouth" (as the Japanese Iron Chef judge would say) it's not too dense nor is it too light. It's perfect. And I love the actual pastry part of it. It's a little crunchy, you need to eat it immediately. They are almost $2 each. Some people think it's too hyped. Well, I think they are better than any pastry you can get at a Vancouver bakery. I can't think of any bakery/pastry treat that comes close except for the Creme Brulee they had at Senses when they were still open.
There were mad lineups when they first opened, but now I never see them. In Hawaii I tried their breakfast puff, no good. The other flavors are not bad, I like the Royal Milk Tea one. I can't remember if I had that in San Fran though. I don't think they have that flavor in Vancouver yet.
I'm now listening to "Keep on Pushing" from The Impressions. It's on the Vanilla Sky soundtrack.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Trattoria Italian Kitchen on 4th Ave
Trattoria Italian Kitchen on 4th Avenue is great. We tried to go there a few times, but it was always very busy. Despite how busy it was the times we tried to go there, I found the hostess is always super nice without any kind of attitude. And she doesn't give you the feeling that she doesn't care if you don't decide to wait.
We happened to be walking past, saw a long line, but decide to give it a shot. We were actually planning to get some fast food.. We got seated like right away.. I think the manager mistook us for some regular important customers or something cause he was all super nice and there were lots of other people still waiting. Which was kind of funny cause we were both dressed very badly. We were only planning to get fast food, but ended up walking past here, and thought we’d give it a try. I was wearing a dressy black coat, but I was wearing blue jeans that are too big and brown clogs. Oh, and a t-shirt I wear to sleep, that is too big. I looked really weird. Especially with the dressy jacket.
The guy I was with just finished at the gym, and was still wearing gym clothes. It was a little hard to enjoy our meal, cause I thought he would realize we were not the important customers, and tell us the jig was up.
Everybody else there eating is very dressed up and trendy looking. I liked the bathrooms there, I don’t remember why now, but I remember liking something in there, maybe it was the tile or something. Only thing is, it’s really far from the front of the restaurant. I don’t like walking through crowds of people like that. Especially wearing oversized blue jeans with brown clogs and a pajama shirt. I always thought Pajama is spelled “Pyjama” but my spellcheck is telling me it’s wrong. It’s also telling me I’m spelling spellcheck wrong..
The service was excellent. There was absolutely no pushiness when it came to drinks, and our waitress was very attentive. They give you a survey card to fill out in the end, and I had nothing but praise. You may be thinking we got good service because they mistook us for some important customers, but I noticed everyone aruond us was receiving just as good service.
We happened to be walking past, saw a long line, but decide to give it a shot. We were actually planning to get some fast food.. We got seated like right away.. I think the manager mistook us for some regular important customers or something cause he was all super nice and there were lots of other people still waiting. Which was kind of funny cause we were both dressed very badly. We were only planning to get fast food, but ended up walking past here, and thought we’d give it a try. I was wearing a dressy black coat, but I was wearing blue jeans that are too big and brown clogs. Oh, and a t-shirt I wear to sleep, that is too big. I looked really weird. Especially with the dressy jacket.
The guy I was with just finished at the gym, and was still wearing gym clothes. It was a little hard to enjoy our meal, cause I thought he would realize we were not the important customers, and tell us the jig was up.
Everybody else there eating is very dressed up and trendy looking. I liked the bathrooms there, I don’t remember why now, but I remember liking something in there, maybe it was the tile or something. Only thing is, it’s really far from the front of the restaurant. I don’t like walking through crowds of people like that. Especially wearing oversized blue jeans with brown clogs and a pajama shirt. I always thought Pajama is spelled “Pyjama” but my spellcheck is telling me it’s wrong. It’s also telling me I’m spelling spellcheck wrong..
The service was excellent. There was absolutely no pushiness when it came to drinks, and our waitress was very attentive. They give you a survey card to fill out in the end, and I had nothing but praise. You may be thinking we got good service because they mistook us for some important customers, but I noticed everyone aruond us was receiving just as good service.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Les Faux Bourgeois
I called several times to make reservations, but majority of the time, no one answered the phone and if they did, they were fully booked. Finally got a reservation here for four during prime time (7pm) on a Saturday! It was worth the wait.
I was a little bit disappointed by the music they were playing because it seemed a little cliché. They were playing the "Chillout in Paris" compilations.
One thing I didn’t like is that the names of all the dishes are in French. Like, “Fillet de Boeuf Grille” or “Steak Frites” I had a bit of a dilemma, if on a date, would it be pretentious to order using the French title, and risk sounding really dumb if pronouncing it incorrectly, or will it look “uneducated” to just say, “give me the duck”. Then again, if you are the kind of person that eats duck, you can probably say “Canard Confit” Anywho, I ordered the fish, cause it was the easiest thing for me to pronounce, and I knew I was saying it properly.
I find the décor a little cold, but it is pretty stylish. I think it’s the subway tile floor that makes it appear kind of cold. The waiters at Les Faux Bourgeois are francophones and service is pretty good.
The prices are very good for what it is. I was very satisfied with my meal. It was $200 for the four of us including tip and a bottle of wine and a couple of cocktails. This is much better than going to like Earl’s, or even worse, Milestone’s. This is a nice date place, but it is a little crowded in there, so it may not feel so intimate. If you’re single, this is probably a nice place to pick up women at the bar, I saw a lot of cougar types at the bar. Good looking ones.
Oh, and free bread!! Oh yes! It’s good too. And the napkins are awesome. You’ll know what I mean. Speaking of free bread, I met this couple that were on some tour through Canada, and they went to an Italian restaurant with the tour group, and they served free bread, and they thought that was all they were getting for their meal, so they kept eating it, the waiter kept refilling it, the food was running late, so when they got their meal like 30 minutes later, they were shocked, and couldn’t eat it cause they were full. Ahhh, cute tourists. Love it!
As for parking, there wasn’t anything on Kingsway, but there was plenty on Fraser street. I noticed at about nine pm, there were a few tables for two available, so even if you don’t have reservations, I think it would be worth a try to just walk-in, and perhaps sit at the bar if no table available yet.
I was a little bit disappointed by the music they were playing because it seemed a little cliché. They were playing the "Chillout in Paris" compilations.
One thing I didn’t like is that the names of all the dishes are in French. Like, “Fillet de Boeuf Grille” or “Steak Frites” I had a bit of a dilemma, if on a date, would it be pretentious to order using the French title, and risk sounding really dumb if pronouncing it incorrectly, or will it look “uneducated” to just say, “give me the duck”. Then again, if you are the kind of person that eats duck, you can probably say “Canard Confit” Anywho, I ordered the fish, cause it was the easiest thing for me to pronounce, and I knew I was saying it properly.
I find the décor a little cold, but it is pretty stylish. I think it’s the subway tile floor that makes it appear kind of cold. The waiters at Les Faux Bourgeois are francophones and service is pretty good.
The prices are very good for what it is. I was very satisfied with my meal. It was $200 for the four of us including tip and a bottle of wine and a couple of cocktails. This is much better than going to like Earl’s, or even worse, Milestone’s. This is a nice date place, but it is a little crowded in there, so it may not feel so intimate. If you’re single, this is probably a nice place to pick up women at the bar, I saw a lot of cougar types at the bar. Good looking ones.
Oh, and free bread!! Oh yes! It’s good too. And the napkins are awesome. You’ll know what I mean. Speaking of free bread, I met this couple that were on some tour through Canada, and they went to an Italian restaurant with the tour group, and they served free bread, and they thought that was all they were getting for their meal, so they kept eating it, the waiter kept refilling it, the food was running late, so when they got their meal like 30 minutes later, they were shocked, and couldn’t eat it cause they were full. Ahhh, cute tourists. Love it!
As for parking, there wasn’t anything on Kingsway, but there was plenty on Fraser street. I noticed at about nine pm, there were a few tables for two available, so even if you don’t have reservations, I think it would be worth a try to just walk-in, and perhaps sit at the bar if no table available yet.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Recent restaurant visits
Toshi's in Vancouver
I've been here six times, and five out of six times I lined up over 30 minutes (the one time I didn't line up was on a Tuesday or Thursday night during a Canucks game). All I know is, never again will I step foot in this place. First off, if I get really crappy service, I will complain to the manager. Unfortunately, complaining at most Asian restaurants for lousy service will pretty much get you nowhere, and most likely nothing will really get resolved unless they feel like their restaurant may possibly be fined or shut down for uncleanliness. But bad service? Pshaw! And for a place like Toshi's I didn't even bother. Some of the waitresses there have really let the lineups get to their head, as if people are lining up to be served by them. People are lining up because that's pretty much the only restaurant in the area serving "authentic" Japanese food with "nonauthentic" Japanese restaurant prices. This is one of those restaurants where it's, sit down, order, eat your food and leave, don't linger around when there's like 16 pairs of eyes willing you to hurry up. But of course this restaurant boasts some really obnoxious customers, like these three ladies I've seen there three of the six times I've been there. Each time that I saw them, they were already seated, and pretty much finished eating, but half an hour later while I'm still waiting, they're still sitting there, and when I finally get to sit down, after I pay the bill and leave, they are still there (two of the three times anyways). Why don't they just go around the corner to Bellagio's and have some ice cream or go to Denny's and spend all night there??
My chief complaints and observations during my six visits
-2 of the six times, the bill was incorrect, once over billed, once under billed
-1 of the six times, I received the incorrect amount of change. so basically half the time they screw up the bill
-the table next to me complained they never got something that was charged on their bill, and the waitress argued with them about it.
-the young waitress with bob length hair has a really irritating tone of voice
-they will keep calling names all night, even if after calling it three or four times the party is not there. If not being there after being called twice, they should lose their spot.
-if you are a table of 3-4, you will never get a table, they will keep putting couples and singles ahead of you, but if they went in the correct order, you would have sat down long ago, eg, tables A, B, and C. Each table seats two. Table A opens up, so they seat one couple. Then table B opens up, so they seat another couple. Meanwhile the party of four that has been waiting way before the other two couples could have sat down. And it's not like when Table A left, Table B was still eating, table B is also waiting for their bill.
Anyways, I'm not going back there because one of the waitresses is such a friggin bag. If I ever seen her again, I may handle it like an adult and only punch her in the face.
If you decide to check this place out, make sure there is only one or two of you. Otherwise you're in for a long wait.
Nu restaurant
After a recommendation from a friend who went during the first week of opening, I decided to check this place out. I didn't like it. The service was great (at least from our waiter), the dishes ranged from horrible to good. I did like the butternut squash soup and caesar salad a lot, but I wouldn't go back there for it. And I just didn't like the decor. It looks too trendy, and something that will require a serious update in about 15 months. And I don't know what my friend is talking about, and I certainly don't know what En Route magaine is talking about, "#1 best new restaurant in Canada"?? And trendy and cool clientele?? At least not the day I was there. The only thing I liked about the restaurant was the ample and free parking. The night we were there, it appeared there was a restaurant critic there, (not anonymously) and he and his group were getting the royal treatment. Maybe if you say you're a restaurant critic, you get the better food too? When I spend $70 for just the meal portion, I think I deserve to have fare better than Cactus Club.
The Main on Main
I used to come here when it first opened quite a few years ago, and I really liked the ambiance and food and easygoing attitude of the staff. I was recently here, and the service was so bad. And it's not like they are rude, they are just soo friggin slow. After it felt like it was taking forever just to order, I checked my watch. Twenty minutes later (after checking my watch), the waitress finally came around. There were two waitresses that night, and only 6 tables. Both of them were chatting and flirting with some guys that were seated outside.. Meanwhile, the owner was sitting at the bar talking to some guy and wasn't doing anything about it. The food was good, but I won't be returning here again. If I'm in this area, I'd much rather go to Locus or the Reef. I have yet to check out Hawker's, but I think they keep weird hours.
It's a good thing Vancouver has a never ending supply of restaurants. Cause I just added three more restaurants to my list of restaurants not to go to.
Feenie's
I love this place. I've been here five times and each time it's been great. The food and desserts are good, and the prices decent. The drink menu is great, and my drinks have always been made nicely. The service is great, although I have to admit it was a lot better back when the tall bartender still worked there. My only beef is, I don't really like the lighting and setup in the dining area. It feels very cramped. I prefer to come here for appies and drinks in the bar area, better lighting and ambiance. I had a squid ink pasta which isn't part of their regular menu that was simply fab. I've even ordered the Feenie's Weenie once, which I regretted ordering the minute I got it. My friends were picking at their charcuterie plates and seared tuna, while I'm biting into a hot dog with ketchup and mustard is dripping onto my shirt. All whilst wearing my stilettos. Ahhh, glamorous. flossy flossy.
I've been here six times, and five out of six times I lined up over 30 minutes (the one time I didn't line up was on a Tuesday or Thursday night during a Canucks game). All I know is, never again will I step foot in this place. First off, if I get really crappy service, I will complain to the manager. Unfortunately, complaining at most Asian restaurants for lousy service will pretty much get you nowhere, and most likely nothing will really get resolved unless they feel like their restaurant may possibly be fined or shut down for uncleanliness. But bad service? Pshaw! And for a place like Toshi's I didn't even bother. Some of the waitresses there have really let the lineups get to their head, as if people are lining up to be served by them. People are lining up because that's pretty much the only restaurant in the area serving "authentic" Japanese food with "nonauthentic" Japanese restaurant prices. This is one of those restaurants where it's, sit down, order, eat your food and leave, don't linger around when there's like 16 pairs of eyes willing you to hurry up. But of course this restaurant boasts some really obnoxious customers, like these three ladies I've seen there three of the six times I've been there. Each time that I saw them, they were already seated, and pretty much finished eating, but half an hour later while I'm still waiting, they're still sitting there, and when I finally get to sit down, after I pay the bill and leave, they are still there (two of the three times anyways). Why don't they just go around the corner to Bellagio's and have some ice cream or go to Denny's and spend all night there??
My chief complaints and observations during my six visits
-2 of the six times, the bill was incorrect, once over billed, once under billed
-1 of the six times, I received the incorrect amount of change. so basically half the time they screw up the bill
-the table next to me complained they never got something that was charged on their bill, and the waitress argued with them about it.
-the young waitress with bob length hair has a really irritating tone of voice
-they will keep calling names all night, even if after calling it three or four times the party is not there. If not being there after being called twice, they should lose their spot.
-if you are a table of 3-4, you will never get a table, they will keep putting couples and singles ahead of you, but if they went in the correct order, you would have sat down long ago, eg, tables A, B, and C. Each table seats two. Table A opens up, so they seat one couple. Then table B opens up, so they seat another couple. Meanwhile the party of four that has been waiting way before the other two couples could have sat down. And it's not like when Table A left, Table B was still eating, table B is also waiting for their bill.
Anyways, I'm not going back there because one of the waitresses is such a friggin bag. If I ever seen her again, I may handle it like an adult and only punch her in the face.
If you decide to check this place out, make sure there is only one or two of you. Otherwise you're in for a long wait.
Nu restaurant
After a recommendation from a friend who went during the first week of opening, I decided to check this place out. I didn't like it. The service was great (at least from our waiter), the dishes ranged from horrible to good. I did like the butternut squash soup and caesar salad a lot, but I wouldn't go back there for it. And I just didn't like the decor. It looks too trendy, and something that will require a serious update in about 15 months. And I don't know what my friend is talking about, and I certainly don't know what En Route magaine is talking about, "#1 best new restaurant in Canada"?? And trendy and cool clientele?? At least not the day I was there. The only thing I liked about the restaurant was the ample and free parking. The night we were there, it appeared there was a restaurant critic there, (not anonymously) and he and his group were getting the royal treatment. Maybe if you say you're a restaurant critic, you get the better food too? When I spend $70 for just the meal portion, I think I deserve to have fare better than Cactus Club.
The Main on Main
I used to come here when it first opened quite a few years ago, and I really liked the ambiance and food and easygoing attitude of the staff. I was recently here, and the service was so bad. And it's not like they are rude, they are just soo friggin slow. After it felt like it was taking forever just to order, I checked my watch. Twenty minutes later (after checking my watch), the waitress finally came around. There were two waitresses that night, and only 6 tables. Both of them were chatting and flirting with some guys that were seated outside.. Meanwhile, the owner was sitting at the bar talking to some guy and wasn't doing anything about it. The food was good, but I won't be returning here again. If I'm in this area, I'd much rather go to Locus or the Reef. I have yet to check out Hawker's, but I think they keep weird hours.
It's a good thing Vancouver has a never ending supply of restaurants. Cause I just added three more restaurants to my list of restaurants not to go to.
Feenie's
I love this place. I've been here five times and each time it's been great. The food and desserts are good, and the prices decent. The drink menu is great, and my drinks have always been made nicely. The service is great, although I have to admit it was a lot better back when the tall bartender still worked there. My only beef is, I don't really like the lighting and setup in the dining area. It feels very cramped. I prefer to come here for appies and drinks in the bar area, better lighting and ambiance. I had a squid ink pasta which isn't part of their regular menu that was simply fab. I've even ordered the Feenie's Weenie once, which I regretted ordering the minute I got it. My friends were picking at their charcuterie plates and seared tuna, while I'm biting into a hot dog with ketchup and mustard is dripping onto my shirt. All whilst wearing my stilettos. Ahhh, glamorous. flossy flossy.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Vancouver restaurants
I haven't had a chance to check out Joey's on Broadway yet but apparently they had to change their "Diva Salad" name because Diva at the Met threatened to sue them. What a joke. I understand if it was called, "Diva at the Met Salad" but come on, "DIVA"?
I just found out Tojo's moved across the street from Toys R Us on Broadway about a month ago. Tojo-san bought the building.. And now the minimum price for Omakase is $120 when it used to be around $40.
Koji Restaurant on Hornby closed down a few weeks ago. All these cheap Japanese restaurants opening up is making some of the pricier restaurants close down. Too bad, because Koji had a really good menu as well as good food.
Lately I've been getting my sushi fix at Toshi's on 16th. The lineup can be long, but it's worth the wait. Make sure to get their early, and as soon as you go in, go to the front by the sushi counter and have your name written down. Try the negitoro roll, house special roll, and the soft shell crab. I always get those and just try other new things. My only beef is that they don't have red wine.
I just found out Tojo's moved across the street from Toys R Us on Broadway about a month ago. Tojo-san bought the building.. And now the minimum price for Omakase is $120 when it used to be around $40.
Koji Restaurant on Hornby closed down a few weeks ago. All these cheap Japanese restaurants opening up is making some of the pricier restaurants close down. Too bad, because Koji had a really good menu as well as good food.
Lately I've been getting my sushi fix at Toshi's on 16th. The lineup can be long, but it's worth the wait. Make sure to get their early, and as soon as you go in, go to the front by the sushi counter and have your name written down. Try the negitoro roll, house special roll, and the soft shell crab. I always get those and just try other new things. My only beef is that they don't have red wine.
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