Eat For Good

I know I have been going on and on about the cost of food these days, whether it be at the grocery store or a restaurant. Hey, I get it though since the prices are only a reflection of the increasing costs from suppliers as well as transportation (fuel prices) and all other expenses.  So is it really possible to get a good deal when it comes to eating out?  Well, I think I've found it at a very non-descript place in North Burnaby where the old La Villetta Restaurant used to stand. Strangely named Eat for Good, this place is a Chinese restaurant.  However, it is more like a Manchu Wok or Flaming Wok, that you would find at a mall food court.  Interestingly, you can still order off the menu if you really wanted regular-sized portions.  Yet, the thing to get here is the combo plates where the 3-item plate is only $13.95 (includes rice or noodles too)!

So Milhouse and Juju joined me after Sunday morning hockey to check the place out.  We were tempted to order off the menu since the food would be fresh rather than sitting in a chaffing tray.  However, we couldn't resist the $13.95 3-item combo.  he went for the Thai Crispy Fish, Chicken Curry and Sweet & Sour Pork on Fried Rice.  As you can see, this was a mountain of food.  Well Juju is a mountain of a man, so he dusted this off impressively.  The sweet & sour pork was rather dry, possibly the victim of sitting in the chaffing tray.  It was mild-tasting and could've used more tanginess.  Curry was pretty typical with mild flavours with tender pieces of chicken.

For Milhouse, he selected the Sweet & Sour Pork, Mandarin Orange Chicken and the Thai Crispy Fish on Fried Rice. So the only thing different that he had from the previous dish was the orange chicken.  The colour was quite appealing and the flavour was a good balance between tangy and sweet.  The chicken itself was tender and moist while the batter was a bit doughy.  The rice could've been wok-fried more aggressively as it was on the softer side.

For myself, I went for the Chow Mein with Sweet & Sour Pork, Mandarin Orange Chicken and Honey Garlic Spareribs.  I found the chow mein soft with a nice chew despite looked dry.  The one different item I had was the spareribs and they were meaty with an appealing chewiness.  They were sweet, but not overly so.  After it was all said and done, I was completely stuffed.  This was enough food for 2 smaller appetites.  For $13.95, this would be considered one of the better deals in town.  I think I'll stop by to get some takeout if I'm lazy one night.  It is no more expensive than McD's and you get more food.

The Good:
- Inexpensive combos
- Decent eats
- Nice people

The Bad:
- When some of the items have been sitting around, the textures are compromised
- Maybe a bit too much seating for this type of restaurant, will it be cost-effective to stay open?