The Aroma Bistro

For some reason or another, I love driving out to Abbotsford for food.  Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating because I do not enjoy the traffic on the Trans-Canada during rush hour.   Let's just say I don't mind the drive since there is good eats to be found out in the Fraser Valley.  I guess it was an easy drive this time around as we were heading to The Aroma Bistro for their Sunday brunch (as well as trying some other a la carte dishes).   If you can believe it, the brunch buffet costs only $19.99!

What you get for the price is a phenomenal value complete with an Omelet and Crepe station.  Although the crepes were already preprepared, they were still good.  A bit on the crispier side, the crepes were filled with choice of fruit, whipped cream and sauces.  There was also waffles and pancakes available at the adjacent station.  As for the omelets, choices of ingredients included tomatoes, cheese, onions, peppers and mushrooms.  With salt and pepper at the station, the omelets were properly seasoned.

Now The Aroma Bistro might be an Indian restaurant, but they also serve a variety of Western dishes.  Hence, their brunch buffet has all of the local favourites including Scrambled Eggs, Hashbrowns, Sausages, Bacon and Eggs Benedict.  Everything was typical but the Eggs Benny was the real star.  These were classically prepared with toasted English muffins, back bacon, free-hand poached eggs and a legit Hollandaise.  The free-range eggs featured fully-cooked egg whites with a runny yolk.

Now of course they would have one Indian dish in the Butter Chicken and some fried rice to go with it.  The butter chicken had a nice balance between tangy and creamy with some earthy notes.  The best dish of the bunch had to be the Marry Me Chicken.  It featured tender slices of chicken breast in a rich and creamy sauce with a bit of woodsiness.  Finally, we found Penne Pasta in a marinara sauce.  This was pretty standard and great for those who didn't want anything too creamy.

For the kiddies and for adults too, we had Chicken Strips & Fries.  Pretty standard stuff that did the job.  Near the desserts, we found grapefruit juice and orange mango as well as iced tea.  There was a variety of desserts that included some cakes, chocolate-covered strawberries and a version of cornettos.  Nothing outstanding, but they were fine.  I didn't mind the chocolate cake as it was moist and surprisingly not overly sweet.  Actually, the crepes were the best dessert offered at the brunch.

Other than the brunch, we got to try a selection of dishes from their regular menu.  It was a mix of Western and Indian cuisine where we started with the Beet & Burrata Salad.  Unlike some other Indian restaurants, this burrata salad was not fusion.  Rather, it was a competent and composed dish consisting of mixed greens, beets, orange segments, burrata, balsamic glaze and honey shallot vinaigrette.  Flavours were complimentary and the burrata was fresh.

Continuing on with the Western dishes, we had something that has been popularized by Bubba Gump in the Coconut Shrimp.  These were quite good where the shrimp itself was juicy with a sweet snap texture.  The coconut coating was just right, not being too thick.  It was crunchy and none too greasy.  As much as the sweet chili dip went well with the shrimp, something more creative would've been better.  Maybe a bit of fusion here would've work (like a spicy tamarind chutney).

Something that is a staple of many chain restaurants is deep fried chicken wings.  Mind you, it is a staple for many different cuisines, but this was Buffalo Wings, so once again, it was a purely Western dish.  These wings were enormous with juicy brined meat.  Due to it being brined, there was inherent flavour to the meat.  On the outside, the skin was mostly rendered.  Although it was covered with vinegary hot sauce, the light batter was crispy.

From the wings, we moved onto some Indian dishes in the Tandoori Chicken and Tandoori Prawns.   These came sizzling and full of aromatics.  The 6 pieces of chicken were nicely charred without being burnt.  Consisting of dark meat, the chicken was tender and juicy while well-marinated.  The prawns were a bit less charred, but that was okay as it maintained its moisture and were cooked perfectly.  Good snap to every bite and well-spiced too.

Our last dish was also Indian in the Prawn Korma with a side of Garlic Naan.  Unlike some versions of korma, this was had more colour and had more depth of flavour.  Beyond the usual nuttiness, we had earthiness and sweet savouriness.  This was pretty mild being aromatic rather than spicy.  Once again, the prawns had a moist snap texture.  Overall, the food at The Aroma Bistro is solid and that Sunday Brunch is a friggin' steal at $20.00pp.  Love the concept where they offer a legit Western menu to go along with their Indian menu.  Ultimately, it will appeal to a wider range of tastes, all in one well-appointed restaurant.

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:

- Solid eats for both menus

- That inexpensive Sunday Brunch

- Well-appointed decor

The Bad:

- Unless you are in the area, it is quite the drive

Boardwalk Burgers, Fries & Shakes

So why am I out in Abby again?  No, it isn't for a concert and no, it isn't to meet up for dinner with Nikita and Bluebeard either.  Rather, I was invited to try out Boardwalk Burger, Fries and Shakes at their S. Fraser Way location.  Did I really drive all the way out there for burgers?  Hey, I've done that before, I've even gone as far as Chilliwack for a fried chicken sammie.  For me, I will travel for food and sometimes, the best things are not within Vancouver itself.

To get a taste of the menu, I went for the baseline with the Boardwalk Classic sporting cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and secret sauce.  This was a fairly substantial burger since the patty was large in diameter and thick.  I found it to be on the leaner side, yet still tender at the same time.  The brioche bun was a sturdier version where it held up the wet ingredients well.  I would've liked it toasted just a bit more to soften the interior.  Despite being a small detail to some, I thought the uniformly even piece of lettuce and ample tomato ensured that I would get some in every bite.  It also looked nice too.

Going with a fancier burger, I also tried the Mushroom Swiss with sautéed mushrooms, grilled onions and mayo.  This was a very good burger with the same thick patty topped with a mountain of fresh mushrooms.  They were laced with creamy mayo and melted cheese.  These classic ingredients combined together made for pungent flavour profile of cheese and earthy mushrooms.  Lots of moisture provided by the mayo and the whole thing ate really messy, but it was worth it.

Onto a different type of meat, I went for the Hawaiian Grilled Chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, pineapple, cheese and mayo.  Despite being rather thin, the chicken breast was still quite moist and tender.  It sported nice grill marks and had a bit of smokiness.  Once again, the lettuce and tomato were fresh.  The addition of pineapple added a tangy sweetness while the cheese added more body.

To complete the variety of burgers, I also had a fried version in the Spicy Crispy Chicken with lettuce, tomato, cheese and spicy mayo.  You know my love for fried chicken sammies, so I have a good handle on what is good and what is not.  Well, this one was definitely good.  The chicken was juicy and not overdone while the batter was uniformly crunchy.  I also enjoyed that this had a good kick and lived up to its name.

Onto the sides, I had the regular fries with my classic burger which could've been just a bit more crispy.  I also had the Bacon Cheddar Ranch as well as the Poutine.  I thought there was a good amount of crispy bacon with enough cheese for some ooey gooey texture.  I enjoyed the poutine more since it was pretty traditional.  It sported legit cheese curds topped with a rich gravy that wasn't too sweet.  Those Onion Rings were also good being the breaded type. They were crunchy with tender onion within.

Of course I couldn't forget about the various types of Milkshakes they had on the menu.  I went for something a bit different in the Strawberry Cheesecake Shake.  This was served in a clear-domed cup that held more shake than a flat lid would.  Also, I could see my shake.  This was one thick shake that was still quite drinkable.  I found it quite sweet, but it worked for this flavour.  I did get the cheesecake hit while adding some strawberry notes.

For dessert, I ironically had Cheesecake.  Well, it didn't look like much, but I found it quite good.  The texture was rich and thick with plenty of cream cheese flavour.  It was only purposefully sweet.  I also had the Lava Cake as well as the Brownie.  The lava cake was pretty typical with chocolate sponge encasing a molten centre.  However, the brownie was surprisingly good.  It was rich, chocolatey and just sweet enough.  Loved the crunch from the walnuts.  So for a fast-food concept, Boardwalk offers up quite the extensive menu.  They really nail it with the burgers, whether it be beef or chicken.  I do think the fries could be a bit crispier, but they are still good.  As for the desserts and milkshakes, I appreciate they are trying to offer more than the usual limited varieties at other places.  Overall, it was a great experience and I hope they expand closer to Vancouver!

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this post

The Good:
- Solid burgers
- Such a huge menu
- Lots of choices for shakes and dessert

The Bad:
- Fries were good, but could be crispier

Paliotti's (Abbotsford)

Having been in Abby the night before (while attending the I Love the 90's concert), I wasn't really planning to come back out again anytime soon.  Well, that wasn't until I double-checked my sched to see that we made plans to meet up with Nikita and Bluebeard for dinner at Paliotti's.  Yes, the Paliotti's that is only a stone's throw away from the Abbotsford Centre, where I was enjoying one-hit wonders less than 24 hours prior.  Thank goodness I own an EV!

So I don't usually talk about complimentary Focaccia Bread, but I had to mention the one we had here.  Okay, at first glance, it didn't look like much and in fact, looked rather pale and lifeless.  However, don't judge this bread by its cover!   Beyond the slightly crispy exterior, the bread was super fluffy and light while having a slight chew.  There was the woodsiness of the rosemary and of course we dunked it into the EVOO and balsamic vinegar.

Not to be outdone by the bread, we got more carbs (this is an Italian resto right) in the form of the Meat Deluxe Pizzetta with pepperoni, ham, sausage, capicollo, onions, peppers and garlic.  In addition to the crunchy crust, the best part of the pizza was the delicious sausage.  Nice spice on it and the texture was meaty while moist with a rebound.  That crust was also chewy and soft inside and the entire pizza was flavourful.

For our pasta dish, Viv and I shared the Chicken & Sausage Ravioli with stuffed mushroom ravioli, roasted garlic, chicken, Italian sausage, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, garlic and creamy asiago sauce.  Although this looked to be super rich, it actually didn't eat as such.  Sure, it was creamy and cheesy, but I didn't want to stop eating it.  There was plenty of roast garlic aroma as well as the tang from the tomatoes and the meaty spice from the sausage.  The pasta was fairly al dente while full of umaminess.

We also went for the Veal Marsala with a side of spiced fries.  I found the veal to be meaty, yet tender.  It was topped with a rich sherry cream sauce that was earthy from the mushrooms and slightly sweet.  The alcohol had been properly cooked down and the dish was quite tasty.  The veggies on the plate were not overdone while the fries were crispy and flavourful with a touch of spice.

To my horror, Bluebeard and Nikita ordered the same dish, again (last time they did that at Chameleon).  However, there was one key difference, Nikita's was gluten-free.   They were both the Curry Sausage Prawn Penne with peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and artichokes in a medium spicy rose sauce.  I thought the flavours in dish were super impactful with a zestiness and mildly creamy viscosity.  Nice combination of spice, tang, cream and earthiness.  As for the gluten-free pasta, it could easily pass for regular pasta except it was a touch lighter and softer.  So this is only a snippet of the large menu found at Paliotti's.  I thought it was pretty good with impactful flavours.  I guess I wouldn't mind driving out to Abby to have this again...

The Good:

- Impactful flavours

- Decent portions

- Friendly service

The Bad:

- Not sure if the menu has to be that large, maybe reduce some of the choices

- Well, far for those who don't live nearby 

The Table Bistro

Dining out with Nikita and Bluebeard is always a pleasure not only because they are awesome people, but being out in Langley, they are always open to trying out things in the Fraser Valley.  This was the case as they suggested we give The Table Bistro in Abbotsford a go.  Even though it sounds like we traveled far away, it was only another 20 minutes or so from Walnut Grove.  Upon arrival, the place sure looked cozy and sporting a modern, yet simple decor.  We were greeted warmly and the service was great throughout.

As for the food, Viv and I decided to share Siciliano Pizza with San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, Genoa Salami, capicola, chorizo, arugula, lemon oil and garlic & herb crumb.  To be clear, this was not a Neapolitan-style pizza.  Rather, the crust was a tad thicker and doughier.  With that being said, it was good in its own way where the crust was crispy and chewy.  It was properly seasoned and the amount of toppings created a saltiness spiciness.  The crumbs on top added a buttery nutty crunch.

For her main, Viv had the Duck Cubano on an Italian loaf with duck rillette, capicola, Swiss cheese, mustard and dill pickles.  Yes I know this is not a traditional Cubano, but really, this was the whole point.  We thought it was quite good with the pointed taste of duck and also the spiciness of the capicola.  To give it that Cubano taste, there was the classic pickles and mustard.  The bread was perfectly pressed with it being buttery and crunchy.

For myself, I went for the Smashburger on a potato bun with burger sauce, shredded romaine, american cheese, dill pickle and red onion.  Although I hold all other smashburgers to Between 2 Buns, I gotta say this was quite good!  The 2 burger patties were fried up crispy on the edges while being moist and tender in the middle.  The right amount of burger sauce and tangy pickles with melted cheese made this fulfilling.  The potato bun was soft and wrapped itself lovingly around the meat.  On the side, they had roasted fingerling potatoes tossed in a vinaigrette.  I enjoyed them, but wish there was a bit more.

Bluebeard opted for the Spicy Peanut Bowl with broccoli, red peppers, onion, rice noodles, green onion and a side of chili oil. This little unassuming concoction was packed with flavour and heat (if you used the chili oil).  It was creamy and nutty with sweetness, but with the chili oil, there was spiciness and smokiness from the chilis.  Combined with al dente flat right noodles, this was both a textural and taste delight.

Nikita went big with the Braised Short Rib with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and house-made peppercorn sauce.  As you can see, this was a large and thick piece of short rib.  It was super tender and meaty with most of the fat being rendered.  Veggies were cooked through, but still had a vibrant crunch.  Mash underneath was smooth and well seasoned. An impressively composed dish that could be served at fine-dining establishments.

Onto dessert, Viv and I shared the Blueberry Oat Cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream.  This was more of a crumble than a cobbler with a crunchy and sweet topping.  However, the blueberries underneath were indeed quite runny.  I guess the use of oats on top rather than the traditional batter didn't help soak up the moisture.  We still enjoyed it though as it was flavourful with plenty of blueberries within.

Nikita and Bluebeard shared the Cheesecake that was a no-baked whipped version.  Therefore, the whole thing was very light and creamy.  They did this Neapolitan-style with some chocolate-flavoured as well as strawberry coulis-topped whipped cream cheese.  Overall, we were quite happy with the food and service at The Table Bistro. Prices are reasonable too.  Definitely an option for those in the area.

The Good:
- Solid eats
- Excellent service
- Reasonable-pricing

The Bad:
- No deep-fryer, so less options in terms of sides and appies (I guess healthier though)

Restaurant 62

Restaurant 62 has been on my radar for a very long time.  However, just like many places, it got lost in the shuffle and honestly, I'm not out in Abby very often.  Interestingly enough, I've been out there 3 times this past Summer.  We've hit up Brodeur's Bistro and recently Bow & Stern.  This time around, after the Chilliwack Corn Maze, we stopped by Restaurant 62 for lunch.

My daughter decided on trying out one of the daily features which was the Gnocchi with mushrooms cream sauce and arugula.  This was super rich where we could definitely taste the fresh cream.  It was completely accented by the ample amount of mushrooms.  Hence, there was plenty of umaminess.  As for the gnocchi, they were medium-sized with a soft texture but still retained a bite.

For my son, he actually wanted the gnocchi, but I "encouraged" him to order the Fraser Valley Chicken Orecchiette with rosemary, ricotta and mushrooms.  This one was a bit similar but not as creamy while the woodiness of the rosemary really came through.  It wasn't overpowering though and we could also get the mushroom.  This was well-seasoned without being salty.  The pasta itself was al dente and held the sauce well.

Viv went for something more casual in the Cheesesteak with Fries.  This consisted of a toasted roll with sliced beef, peppers and onions.  Due to the nature of the dish, we found it the least appealing, not because it was bad but the others were just so much better.  With that being said, the beef was tender and the roll was soft.  Peppers could've been cooked down a bit more and the whole thing needed a bit more seasoning.  Fries were good.

For myself, I had the BC Halibut with Salt Spring Island mussels, manilla clams and fennel in a bouillabaisse.  This was really good where the broth was fragrant with a definite taste of the sea.  I noticed there was a coconut background finish which was pleasant.  Mussels and clams were cooked perfectly while the halibut was seared crispy.  Inside it was flaky and moist.  So this was a good introduction to one of the best restaurants in Abbotsford.  Still curious about the dinner menu and if I can get myself to head out there again, I will surely give that a go as well.

The Good:
- Well-prepared eats
- Nice dining space
- Overall good service

The Bad:
- On the pricier side especially out in Abby, but it is quality food
- Parking lot is large, but runs out of space fast

Bow & Stern

For the second time within a month and a half, we headed out to Castle Fun Park for some go-karting and mini-golf.  Meeting up with us was Bluebeard and Nikita as well as their kids.  It was fun times and honestly, the games were only delaying what I really wanted to do...  go eat!  So while in Abby, we had to seek out some family-friendly eats that also satisfied the adults while not breaking the bank.  Having gluten-free options was important too. Ultimately, we decided on Bow & Stern in Downtown Abbotsford.

Now I'm not a huge fan of salads, but something about the Seafood Salad intrigued me.  It was a stellar decision as the darn thing was absolutely huge.  There was an overload of flaked halibut, dungeness crab and tiger prawns atop mixed greens dressed in lemon, herb & garlic vinaigrette.  Served on the side was  Marie Antoinette dressing and pickled asparagus.  I kid you not, this would be difficult for one person to finish.  The amount of fluffy crab and halibut was enough for 3 salads honestly.  I would totally order this again.

I didn't only have a salad because I also ordered the Lobster Mac n' Cheese with house-made mornay sauce and fresh herbed focaccia.  On the thinner side, the cheese sauce was still fairly flavourful, yet could've been cheesier and saltier.  There was a decent amount of beautifully cooked lobster meat nestled inside.  The pasta was tender and almost al dente.  Focaccia was soft and was great for soaking up the sauce.

Now my son was deciding between the lobster mac and the Chicken Burger, so I proposed that he split it with me and I would give him some mac.  It was a done deal especially since I had to try it (if you don't know, check out @shermaneatschickensandwiches).  This was a fairly standard burger with a crispy fried chicken breast.  It was a little dry, but still tender.  I found the overall flavour to be a bit plain, but it still ate well with a soft bun.

My daughter went for the Baja Fish Tacos with a side of Boston Clam Chowder.  These tacos were filled to the brim with pico de gallo, guacamole, colesalw and jalapeno.  Great for those who love plenty of condiments, not so good for my daughter.  No harm no foul, she just removed some of it.  The fried piece of fish was crispy and light while flaky inside.  As for the clam chowder, it was rich and creamy with plenty of chunky ingredients.  It could've been brinier, but it wasn't bland either.

Viv ended up with the Fried Oyster Po-Boy with peppers, mixed greens, remoulade, tomato and onion.  Once again, there was probably a bit too many other things in the po'boy that it detracted from the beautifully fried large fresh oysters.  Again, no big deal as we just removed some of the onions and peppers.  This way, we got the full briny sweetness of the oysters as well as the remoulade.  The side of fries were very good being crispy and having all the good qualities of being fresh cut.

Bluebeard went for the Halibut and Chips with house-made tartar and lemon wedge.  This was pretty darn solid with flaky fresh halibut encased in a light crispy batter.  Tartar was bright and creamy while the fries were good as mentioned above.  In the end, we were all satisfied with our meals and probably more so.  Portions were large, food was good and service was up to the task.  Combined with reasonable prices, Bow & Stern is a solid choice for casual eats in Abby.

The Good:

- Large portions

- Generally good food

- Attentive service

The Bad:

- Some things might have been a bit too busy, a few less ingredients would've been better