Lil' Jon Restaurant & Lounge

Gosh, we haven't met up with Lola and Scout since pre-Covid times.  You see, they live in Seattle and well, during the border shutdown, it was a bit difficult to head down South.  Yes, I have been across the border a few times since it opened up, but just didn't get a chance to meet for eats (hey that rhymes...).  Finally, we made plans to do so and they suggested a classic diner in Lil' Jon out near Factoria.  With vinyl booths and counter seating, I would say that this place has diner written all over it.

I was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable pricing given that food costs are out-of-control these days.  Taking advantage of that, I went for T-bone steak, that came with a choice of soup or salad to start.  I went for the Cream of Potato Soup and it was a hearty with lots of tender potato cubes.  I found it having the right viscosity being thick, but not so much that I couldn't drink it.  Flavor was mild, but was well-seasoned.

Behold, my 16oz Choice T-Bone Steak.  I asked for it to be prepared medium-rare and it came exactly like that.  Of course the tenderloin portion of the steak was a touch more rare, but that was expected and frankly, welcomed.  I found the seasoning to be spot on as it was flavorful on its own.  I found the meat to be quite tender.  The side of mashed potatoes were smooth and velvety while the brown gravy wasn't too salty.

As for Viv, she went for the Bacon Cheeseburger with 1/3 lbs patty, shredded lettuce, tomato, pickle, American cheese and bacon.  This looked impressive, but ultimately was quite average.  Despite sporting a large meaty patty, it was dry and somewhat chewy.  However, the bacon was crispy and the produce was fresh.  On the side, the fries were not bad being crispy with plenty of potato texture inside.

My son decided on his favorite with the French Dip featuring thinly-sliced roast beef on a French roll with au jus on the side.  The best thing to describe the roast beef is that it resembled Arby's.  So if you are familiar, the roast beef at Arby's is marinated to the point where it is very tender and almost ham-like.  Now I'm not saying this was necessarily a bad thing here if you enjoy that texture.  Just be aware it wasn't very meaty.

My daughter had the Turkey Melt with roast turkey breast, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo on grilled sourdough.  I thought this was fairly standard and definitely serviceable.  I liked how they didn't slather the bread with a stick of butter.  Hence it wasn't overly greasy and oil-soaked.  It was still crunchy though.  Nice balance of ingredients and it ate rather moist inside.

Scout went for one of the classics here in the Chicken Fried Steak featuring breaded cube steak topped with country gravy.  He has had this before and enjoys it partially due to the gravy.  It has a nice consistency where it is creamy while not being too greasy nor floury.  As for the steak itself, the coating is crispy while the meat is moist and tender.  This was also served with a side of mixed veggies.

We ended things off with a few orders of their pie.  Although they are frozen pies, we found them to be more than acceptable.  Of the ones we ordered, I enjoyed the Cherry Pie (pictured above) the most as it had a nice tangy sweetness.  The crust was not exactly flaky, but it had a nice firmness to it.  We also had the peach, which was just sweet enough, however, the chocolate cream pie was too sweet for me.  Overall, Lil' Jon is a no fuss, ol' school diner that serves up predictable eats.  There are a few gems such as the T-Bone Steak and Chicken Fried Steak, but the other items were pretty average.  Yet, for the reasonable prices they charge, I think you will be satisfied (especially if you pick the right items).

The Good:
- Well-priced
- Surprising food if you pick the right dishes
- Excellent service

The Bad:
- Pick the wrong dishes, and they are pretty average

Grillzilla Bistro

Alright, I have to be pretty blunt about this...  When I first saw Grillzilla Bistro out on Victoria Drive at 49th, I was not particularly drawn to the place.  What the heck is with the name???  However, this is another case of never judge a book by its cover.  Situated in the old Victoria Restaurant (not to be confused with Victoria Seafood Restaurant in Royal Centre), Grillzilla dishes up brunch, lunch and dinner for reasonable prices.  I decided to check out the place for brunch despite the name.

We went for the Simplicity Benny as a baseline for their brunch instead of the usual meat and eggs (since that is boring).  Loved that that used thick-cut smoked bacon rather than back bacon.  The result was more depth-of-flavour and texture.  The poached eggs on top were done to our specifications (medium and runny).  The light dollop of Hollandaise (it was enough, trust me) was creamy with an appealing kick.  Could've used maybe a touch more acidity though.  Underneath the bacon was ripe avocado and the whole thing was topped with arugula.

Going for one of their fusion dishes in the Grillzilla Skillet that consisted of marinated thinly-sliced steak, 2 eggs, miso aioli, caramelized onions, mushrooms and herb-roasted potatoes.  This had bulgogi vibes all over and that was fantastic.  The meat was tender and full-flavoured from the marinade as well as the rich saltines of the aioli.  Onions were sweet while the mushrooms provided the usual woodsiness.  

Lastly, we tried the Classic Sandwich featuring a hand pressed beef patty, fried egg, bacon, meslun greens, tomato and spicy aioli on toasted brioche.  Wow, this was excellent where the beef was flavourful and moist.  Nicely charred on the outside which gave it plenty of aroma.  Once again, the bacon was thick and meaty while the bun was nice toasted.  This was delicious.  Even the hashbrowns were on point being evenly crispy.  After only trying 3 dishes, we were sold on the Grillzilla.  Weird name, but good food at super reasonable prices.  Will be back over and over again.

The Good:
- Solid eats
- Inexpensive
- Nice people

The Bad:
- Small place, better get here early

Mel's Diner

Welcome to one of the most irrelevant and uninteresting posts you will ever read on this blog.  Maybe I'm exaggerating, but really, unless you are passing by Beatty, Nevada, this post will never apply to you.  However, if you are indeed driving through Beatty and in need of some eats, then for the 1% of you, it isn't irrelevant after all.  So we belong to that 1% because it was on our way to Mammoth Lakes from Vegas.  Trust me, there is literally nothing along the freeway until you get to Beatty.

We made the stop for a late lunch and made the cutoff before they closed at 1:00pm.  That is correct, you won't even be able to eat here if you arrive later!  For myself, I chose the Fish & Chips that featured both potato salad and fries.  I thought the fish was fine considering it was frozen.  It was crispy while flaky and moist inside.  Fries were pretty basic, but were crispy.  Not a fan of the potato salad as the potatoes were rather crunchy.

For my son, he went for one of his favorites in the Bacon Double Cheeseburger.  This was a solid diner burger featuring 2 well-seared beef patties which were still somewhat moist.  The two slices of bacon were fairly lean and prepared crispy.  No brioche bun here as we got the classic sesame version.  It did the job though, holding in all of the ingredients without falling apart.  Overall, a decent burger and no complaints.

For Viv, she had the Patty Melt with cheese and onions.  As you can see in the picture, the beef patty was rather moist and not all that fatty.  Pretty impressive for a small little diner in the middle of nowhere.  Bread was seared until crispy and brown on the flattop.  Nice crunch that contrasted the soft meat.  The addition of onions added some sweet sharpness while the amount of melted cheese was perfect.

The best item we had was the Clubhouse with turkey, bacon and ham. This triple-decker was chock full of meats as well as 2 types of cheeses and fresh lettuce and tomato.  Nothing complex, but this was huge and well-constructed.  Even the toast was perfectly crispy.  So as you can see, the food here is typical diner food.  Yet, it was good diner food at a very reasonable price.  Considering there isn't much to choose from along the route we were traveling on, it was a pretty satisfying lunch.

The Good:
- Solid diner food
- Cheap
- Nice people

The Bad:
- Lots of flies
- The washrooms are not the best

 

Jimmy's Lunch Box

This post is a long time coming.  No, it isn't because I was anxious to visit Jimmy's Lunch Box.  Rather, I went there awhile ago but never got around to posting it.  No matter, nothing has changed and that is pretty much the nature of the restaurant.  It is a consistent place with good portions and very reasonable prices.  There is a particular Korean influence to the joint and it shows in the menu.  We ended up in Maple Ridge because we were at Wild Play and needed some eats nearby.  Turns out that we weren't the only ones because there was a lineup out the door.

So about that Korean-influence...  We had the Bulgogi Skillet with 2 poached eggs, beef bulgogi, onion, mushroom and cheese on hashbrowns and sourdough toast.  So this was rather hearty with lots of tender thinly sliced beef.  It was mildly seasoned where it was sweet and savoury.  Hashbrowns were shredded and still crispy while the poached eggs were runny as evidenced in the picture.  Overall this was more than enough food and quite good.

Something a bit more usual was the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with avocado, tomato and feta cheese.  Not sure if my son omitted some of these items since he isn't one for veggies...  But it was overall a solid benny with runny poached eggs and nicely toasted English Muffin.  Hollandaise was a bit mild in flavour, but it did the job.  The side of hashbrowns were golden brown and crispy.

Now something that was not usual was the Open-Faced Smoked Salmon Sandwich.  Yah, it sure didn't look like a sandwich, rather it was more like a salad.  This featured a poached egg, balsamic drizzle and feta atop smoked salmon and spring mix.  Then underneath this, we had tomato, avocado and basil pesto on sourdough.  It was definitely a fork & knifer and ate like a salad.  Nothing usual where it was pleasant enough with complimentary ingredients.

So for myself, I had the Crispy Chicken Burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayo and honey mustard. Essentially, this was constructed out of 2 big chicken strips.  Pretty standard stuff, but the chicken was tender and the batter really crunchy.  Produce was super fresh and appealing in texture while the bun was nicely toasted and soft.  Nothing particularly interesting about this burger, yet it was non-offensive either.

For the side, I chose their famed Wonton Soup.  Huh?  Wonton soup???  But this is a diner...  and a Korean-run diner.  Hey don't judge because this was one solid wonton soup, albeit the pork variety.  First of all, the wontons were delicate and full of tender well-seasoned pork.  Secondly, the broth was super flavourful with lots of sesame oil.  Lastly, this was a huge bowl for a side to the burger.

Just for kicks. I also tried their Cheeseburger with a side of fries.  Once again, it had all the produce and it was fresh.  The beef patty was moist while nicely seared.  Again, nothing Earth-shattering, but it was a solid burger.  Fries were starch-coated and crispy.  Good value for $11.95.  Now this pretty much encapsulates what JLB is all about.  Nothing that will blow you away, but it is solid diner food that is well-priced.  Wonderful people running the place to boot.

The Good:
- Well-priced
- Solid diner food
- Nice people

The Bad:
- Maybe could've done a house-made fried chicken patty instead 

 

Feed Your Flock at Douce Diner

Fresh off our meal at Potluck Hawker Eatery and also a pit stop at Popina for some puff cream, Mijune and I were searching for more food.  We settled on North Vancouver, but did not choose a destination.  As we were driving towards 2 potential spots (Orto and Smoke & Bones), we took a quick right turn onto Pemberton off Marine Drive to see if Douce Diner was full or not.  Normally, Douce only offers brunch, but on Friday and Saturday nights, they do a special dinner called "Feed Your Flock" which included fried chicken and all the fixins.  Lucky for us, they had one table left and as a bonus, it was comedy night!

We didn't go overboard and settled on the 2- Pack Feed Your Flock meal that included 5 pieces of chicken.  It was really a half chicken as it had one drumstick, one thigh, one wing and 2 pieces of breast.  This was some pretty solid fried chicken featuring juicy and tender meat (including the breast) that was encased by a super thin, yet crispy batter.  The skin was fairly well-rendered and the meat was mildly seasoned.  I merely dunked the chicken into their fabulous house-made hot sauce (served on the side).

Included in the meal was a choice of 2 sides and Mijune being Mijune, decided to have ALL the sides!   My favourite of the bunch was the Shoestring Fries.  I already knew I would like them since I had them on a previous visit with their messy and delicious burger.  These thin and crispy fries still retained some potato texture in the middle, but really, they were quite crunchy and well-seasoned.  They were best eaten with the side of side of thick buttery gravy on the side.

There are so many different interpretations of Coleslaw and everyone has their preferences.  For me personally, I dislike overly dressed slaw as well as the type that is pulverized to bits (ie. KFC colesalw).  So the one at Douce was right up my alley.  It was a combination of cabbage, red cabbage and carrots that was lightly dressed.  Refreshing side in my opinion, but for some I can see it being underdressed.

Featuring halved new potatoes, the Potato Salad was also a very simple concoction.  It sported perfectly cooked potatoes where they were fork tender while still retaining a firm texture.  Again, this salad wasn't overdressed, so that it didn't eat overly heavy despite being all potato.  It was mildly seasoned, so I actually dunked it into the hot sauce.  I recommend you do the same if you like spice.

The final option for sides was the Marinated Bean Salad that featured black, kidney and navy beans.  They were prepared perfectly being tender and soft while retaining their appearance and structure.  Another mildly-seasoned salad with some acidity.  Although there probably wasn't any in the salad, for some reason I tasted nutmeg. 

Also included with all meals were Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy.  Judging by looks alone, the rise on the biscuits was a clear indication of the buttery and fluffy layers hidden within.  That it was and combined with the crispy and firm exterior, lots of textures at play.  The gravy was pretty solid being buttery and only lightly salty.

Of course Mijune couldn't finish the meal officially until after getting dessert...  So we ended up with the Brûlée Banana Split with pineapple, chocolate and strawberry toppings.  Other than being a delicious banana split, the brûléed banana really elevated the dessert.  With a sweet and smoky hard crunch, it added both texture and another layer of sugary goodness.  Combined with the dessert and the previous meal at Potluck, we didn't finish our fried chicken dinner (yes, to Mijune's dismay...).  It was more than enough food for two (well, we did get all the sides...) and well-prepared.  Good option on the North Shore for eat-in or take-out.

*All food and beverages were complimentary*

The Good:

- Properly executed fried chicken

- Reasonable-pricing

- That banana split!

The Bad:

- Small diner, so if you don't get a table, you are getting takeout

Douce Diner

Fresh off my road trip in the States over the Summer, it occurred to me that there is a black hole of sorts when it comes to diners in Vancouver.  Driving through big cities and small towns in the Western states yielded a variety of diners.  I guess it has a lot to do with the prevailing culture and food preferences in Vancouver.  We really can't complain that we aren't blessed with Asian restaurants, so for those who do not have access will marvel at our good luck.  Well, I personally love diners and was especially happy I had to drop by the newish Douce Diner in North Van for the Burger Challenge.  Of course I went ahead and ate a full meal there to try the rest of their wares.

I brought the fam and my daughter didn't fail me by ordering the Cookies and Cream Milkshake (because she wanted to...).  Rather than being super thick, it was on the milkier side, but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.  It was easy to sip and it wasn't crazy sweet.  We definitely got the hits of Oreo, yet it was nicely balanced by the milk.  Okay, the reason we were here was for me to try the Double Douce Burger featuring natural Beretta beef patties, vintage cheddar, house zucchini & red onion pickles, shredded iceberg and special sauce on a toasted brioche bun.  This was super messy and required at least 5 napkins (a good sign).  The meat patties were moist and a bit crumbly (in a good way).  Loved the creamy cheese and the tang from the pickles.  As much as the bun looked weak, it was able to surround the ingredients without falling apart.  Not to be outdone, the side of shoestring fries were super crispy with tender potatoey insides.

My daughter wasn't done with just a milkshake.  Pffttt...  She also had the French Toast sporting thick cut Challah, lemon curd, mascarpone cream, seasonal fruit and real maple syrup.  What set this apart from any other French toast we've had recently was the tangy lemon curd.  It really brightened up the dish and made it incredibly easy to eat.  Rather than being merely sweet, the curd and mascarpone afforded layers of flavour that definitely elevated the dish.  Not deviating from his usual favourite, my son went for the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny served atop a house buttermilk biscuit.  The fact that they used a crunchy biscuit completely changed the narrative on the dish.  Instead of a chewy English muffin, the crumbly and soft biscuit helped soak up the tangy Hollandaise (which was not too heavy, yet still creamy) and perfectly runny poached egg.  Crispy with soft portions, the shredded hashbrowns were also on point.

Viv decided on the Panko Crust Chicken Sammy with buttermilk brined boneless chicken breast, house zucchini & pickles, shredded iceberg and special sauce on a toasted brioche bun.  With similar ingredients as my burger, it set a good base for the sammy.  Firmly crunchy, the panko coating wasn't greasy while the chicken was juicy and tender.  To really kick the sammy up a notch, we added the house hot sauce which was indeed spicy with an nice tang.  To ensure I tried almost everything, I added the In House Buttermilk Waffle.  It was dressed with whipped butter, seasonal compote and house vanilla crème fraiche.  This may have appeared to be super sweet, yet it really wasn't.  Rather, the fruit was able to shine (even the mild blueberries) while the waffle itself was crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle.  We found it a bit pricey at $13.75.  For all of the items we tried at Douce Diner, nothing made us wanting for more.  Execution was good and the food was just plain tasty.  We'll be back.

*The burger and one beverage was complimentary*

The Good:
- Carefully executed dishes
- On point textures
- Balanced flavours

The Bad:
- On the pricier side
- Kinda cramped seating