*This post features complimentary food and beverages*
The Good:
- Interesting food as Lebanese isn't too common in Vancouver
- Nice dining space
- Appealing cocktails
The Bad:
- Plating needs work
- Portion sizes for the larger dishes are inconsistent
Sometimes, our lives get so busy and complicated, we do not get a chance to hang out with friends. Okay, let me rephrase that. We do meet up with friends, but it is usually with family (aka with the kiddies), so it really isn't a night out. So when Chill and Bubbly wanted to grab some dinner in Downtown on a Friday night, this was something out-of-the-blue. In fact, we hadn't had dinner without the kids since we last ate at the long gone Cru on Broadway. That was like 10 years ago! LOL. This time around, we decided to try out the new Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Bar out on Pender near Chill's office.
Despite being very tempting, we decided to order a la carte rather than share their family-style meals (maybe next time). Before, that we got a few appies including 1/2 Dozen of Oysters with the usual accompaniments. We had 3 each of Royal Miyagi and Kushi oysters which were shucked expertly without any shell fragments. Both were fresh and I really liked how they included a wide variety of sauces such as mignonette, horseradish, cocktail sauce and aioli. Looking like they forgot to plate the rest of the dish, the Grilled Octopus made up with quality over quantity. Retaining an appealing firmness, the octopus was tender to the chew. It was mildly seasoned with lemon and oregano while served with a fava bean puree. This was pretty good, but for not a whole lot for $21.00.
Next, decided on one of their many spreads served with pita bread being the Menta. As expected, there was a natural mint flavour to the spread as well as tangy creaminess. At first, we thought the bread was oversalted, but on further inspection, it was in fact the dip that was salty. It wasn't a huge deal in my opinion, but for those who want more balance, they might've disliked this. We decided to get one side which was the Charred Cauliflower with grated mizithra and green herb oil. We really loved this as the cauliflower was cooked all-the-way-through while still crunchy and vibrant. It was charred just like its description where the smokiness came through. Unlike the spread, this was not overseasoned which allowed the herb oil to come through.
Onto the mains, I ordered the Lamb Chops with aged vinegar drizzle over oven-fried potatoes. I personally love lamb and since Viv doesn't really eat it, I tend to get it whenever I have the chance. This was a good decision as the 3 portions of lamb rack were cooked to medium and well-seared on the outside. Again, the seasoning was mild while the aged vinegar was also not very apparent. Moving away from the red meats, Viv decided on the pan-roasted Pacific Salmon with lemon dill sauce. This was a simple creation that was executed quite well. Featuring well-seasoned crispy skin, the salmon itself was flaky and moist except for the thinner section. The lemon dill wasn't exactly super impactful, but it was there. Once again, the protein rested on the same over-fried potatoes.
Chill didn't stray far from the regular and had the Beef Tenderloin. He asked for it to be prepared medium rare and it was char-grilled perfectly. The meat was moist, well-rested and tender. This was finished with a braised garlic sauce which was either subtle tasting or possibly there was just wasn't enough of it. Hence, the fairly well-seasoned meat stood on its own. The most impressive-looking plate was the Grilled Angus NY Steak Skewer ordered by Bubbly. This mostly had to do with the side of fire-roasted veggies served on the same plate. For everyone else, it was served separately. We really enjoyed the layered dish of potatoes, onion, green pepper, eggplant and tomatoes. However, it was overly greasy. As for her skewer, it was prepared medium and sported a delicious char. Meat was moist and completely tender. The tangy yogurt added a refreshing bite to the dish.
No one was really interested in dessert, but Viv and I decided to get the Cream of the Crop anyways. It was beautifully plated and didn't eat as sweet as it appeared. Lots of tanginess provided by the lemon curd hidden within the meringue flower. It was surrounded by praline sponge, more lemon curd, berries and a side of mandarin & blood orange caramel. Even after dousing the meringue with the caramel, the dessert was balanced where the various flavours were not dominated by sweetness. Overall, we felt that the meal was pleasant where it was served in a gorgeous dining space. Service was top-notch as well. Price point is a bit high for the type of food though.
When it still existed, La Regalade could be classified as a hidden gem in West Van, albeit an expensive one. However, it was worth it due to the large portions of rustic French cuisine. Now in its place, there is something very much different in Terroir Kitchen. Gone is the cramped seating and boisterous room. We now find a finer dining experience with well-spaced tables and a serene environment. Furthermore, the cuisine reflects that with precision and refinement. Mijune and I decided to check the tasting menu out right after our dinner at Water Street Cafe. Yes, she is truly a bad influence. Now back to the gym...
Our meal started with a Seared Scallop atop boudin noir, minted pea puree and flaked pastry. If perfection is a real thing, than this first bite was it. The scallop couldn't have been seared any more evenly as it was nutty and sweet while the centre was buttery soft. Not to be outdone, the accompaniments were stellar including the earthy boudin and the sweet pea puree. I could've eaten 10 more of these easily (Mijune could do 20 because she is Mijune). The Charred Octopus was nearly as good. It was smoky with a light crust giving way to tenderness with a light resistance. I felt the octopus was a bit over-salted though. Underneath, there was potato and orange salad, green olives and N'duja salami. Seeing how the octopus was already salty, it didn't help that the olives and salami also added more punch. Despite this, this was still very tasty.
Going in a different direction we had the Mushroom Risotto. This was a bit perplexing to me as it resembled a cream of mushroom soup with rice more than a risotto. I'm not sure if it was the chef's intention to have it that saucy, but in the end, the rice was still al dente. Flavours were good too with plenty of woodsiness from the morels and a touch of tang to go with it as well as cheesiness (from the grana padano). Even though I gushed about the scallop, the best dish hands down was the Branzino with dungeness crab, pea shoots, squash and broth. First off, the fish was absolutely the star with crispy well-seasoned skin while being tender and flaky. Second best thing on the plate was the impactful broth that was full of punch that was a balance of all flavours except for spice. The dish looked light and indeed it was, yet at the same time, exuding very powerful flavours.
Moving away from seafood, we had the Grilled 45-day Aged Striploin with smashed fingerling potatoes and red wine jus. Prepared medium-rare and properly rested, there was not much to complain about with the steak. It was meaty, nutty, juicy and tender. Surprisingly, I equally loved the meaty potatoes underneath. For dessert, we were served a platter consisting of Chocolate Pavé, Pot de Crème, Chateau de Bourgogne Cheese with cassis poached pear and burnt almond biscotti. Okay, the best thing on the board was the pot de crème as it was balanced and super silky. Loved the cocoa nibs on top. Normally, I'm not much a cheese person for dessert, but this was so creamy and satisfying, we actually got some grilled bread to eat it with! Finally, the chocolate pavé was rich and not overly sweet while exhibiting an appealing bitter aftertaste. As you can see, the meal was pretty delicious with some extraordinary highlights. Sure, the risotto was a bit soupy, but everything else was impressive. Nice little spot out in West Van.
My first ever experience with Jamjar was with their original location on Commercial Drive during a Brunch Crawl event. I vaguely remember that we had hummus and some other small things. Suffice to say, this did not fully represent what Jamjar has to offer. I never made it back despite my curiosity since Lebanese/Middle Eastern fare isn't exactly in abundance in Vancouver. Well, it wasn't until Nora suggested we all meet up for dinner one night at their new shop located at the old Rangoli spot. 
We ended up sharing a few things to start including the Hummus Trio consisting of original, lemon and red pepper. I thought all of them were pretty good except the original could've used more acidity. It was a bit strange as the other 2 had much more tang and hence had more pop. We also could've used more pita bread since the amount of hummus was generous. Naturally, we also had to get some of their fabulous Falafels and they did not disappoint. We got 4 large perfectly fried balls that were firmly crunchy on the outside. Inside, they were not fluffy per se, but neither were they dense. They were nicely spiced where they ate well even without the yogurt dip.
Of course we also had to get the Makali (aka deep fried cauliflower) tossed in pomegranate molasses dressing. This was a rather large serving that featured a mixture of large and small florets of smoky cauliflower. I enjoyed the firm, yet cooked through texture, but it could've been more crispy on the edges. I loved the sweet and tanginess of dressing. Next, we tried the Riyah (lamb popsicles rubbed with cinnamon, turmeric and Greek yogurt) which was a little pricey at $17.00. It was good though featuring a smoky and crispy char. The meat was cooked a bit more than I would've liked, so it wasn't as succulent as it could've been.
To get a good sense of the menu, we decided to order "A Taste of Lebanon" shared meal. It started with Olives, Makdous, Feta, Hummus, Muttabel, Mohamara, Spinach Dip, Mujadra, Eggplant Stew, Cauliflower, Falafel and Batata Harra. Now if this looks strangely like the dishes we'd already ordered, you are partly right. We kinda goofed here, but the server didn't really tip us off either. No matter, one of my favourites was the muttabel (roasted eggplant dip with tahini, lemon and garlic) as it was smooth, tart and aromatic. I also liked the creamy sesame spinach dip since it had some texture even though it was pretty creamy. The second plate was more of the same, so not much to comment on that.
The main event (in my opinion) of A Taste of Lebanon was the plate consisting of Shish Tawouk, Makanik, Beef Kibbeh and Prawns. I thought the beef kibbeh was the best of the bunch sporting a smoky sear and being well-seasoned with sweetness from the onions. The shish tawouk (chicken) was also seared nicely, but dry and lacking impact. It could've used more lemon juice. I didn't enjoy the prawns as they were rubbery and overdone. Lean and meaty, the makanik (sausages) were nicely spiced with layers of flavour. For dessert, we got the Chocolate Rice Pudding featuring coconut milk and aborio rice. This vegan, gluten-free dessert was actually pretty good where it was creamy while thick and rich. It wasn't overly sweet (even with the rose water) which was fine in my opinion. Overall, our visit to the new location of Jamjar was decent and reasonably-priced (except for the lamb). With that being said, some more refinement is still needed, especially with their proteins.
There are certain restaurants in Vancouver that carry a certain cachet based on name, regardless of the food. Sure, there needs to be a certain level of execution and/or reputation, but I'm sure everyone is familiar with names such as Tojo's, Vij's, Bishop's, Cioppino's and Hawksworth. These would be considered destination spots, in particular, for those from out-of-town. So when David Hawksworth opened up Nightingale in the Marine Building, it certainly got plenty of attention. Well, a couple of us foodies were about to give it some attention during their lunch service (serving the same menu as dinner).
Kicking things off was the Beef Heart Tartare with cured egg yolk, horseradish and kale pistou on grilled bread. Buttery and tender, the minced beef heart was nicely seasoned with just enough sharp horseradish and pickled mustard seeds which provided a bright acidity. Underneath, the kale pistou added a combination of garlic, herbs (in particular a faint hint of cilantro) and nuttiness. The crunchy grilled bread stood up to the ingredients well with a firm crunch. Next, we had the Oven-Roasted Cauliflower with sunflower seeds and green harissa. Although sporting a smoky and caramelized exterior, the cauliflower was a bit soft for my liking. There was a nuttiness not only from the sunflower seeds, but from the caramelization itself. There was a considerable amount of seasoning with hits of tang and spice from the harissa.
We were pretty excited to try their wood-fired pizzas and ended up with the Spicy Spianata Salumi with piquillo pepper, san marzano tomatoes and fior di latte. I found the pizza crust to be crunchy and fairly well-charred on the outside while the middle was a bit softer, yet hardly wet. The dough seemed to be seasoned properly while the toppings were a bit sparse. The pizza ate meaty and salty with a considerable tang from the tomatoes and sweetness from the peppers. One dish that was rather ordinary was the Braised Tripe with chorizo and San Marzano tomato. I found the tripe to be too soft while the gaminess was kept in check by the tomato. However, I thought this dish lacked impact especially since the chorizo was basically a non-factor. The grilled bread with kale pistou was familiar as we had it as the base of the beef tartare.
The best dish hands-down was the Pacific Octopus with blistered capers, parsley, fermented chili and vinegar. At first, the sight of large chunks of octopus brought worries to my jaw, but boy were these pieces tender or what! Beyond the smoky and slightly crisp exterior, the meat was tender with a pleasant rebound. The dish was on the saltier side but was balanced off with equal parts of acidity and spice. Looking past the flavours, the dish itself was aromatic as a whole. For our pasta, we decided on the Casarecce with braised rabbit, rapini and white wine. Firm and chewy, the pasta was rather mildly seasoned (albeit with a background spice). There was a certain herbal quality to the dish accented by the sweet and slightly sharp onions. The rabbit was tender and moist, yet fairly bland. This dish was my least favourite as it was not memorable nor impactful.
Our last savoury dish was the Grilled Pork Belly with nectarine, white balsamic and pisatchios. Fatty and succulent, the pork belly exhibited a certain "Asian" flavour profile. It was sweet with some savoury notes. I would've liked to see more caramelization and bark on the exterior of the grilled belly as it seemed too wet. I personally love nectarines, but these were not very flavourful nor sweet, so they had little impact. This dish was not bad, but again, could've used further refinement.
For dessert, we decided to order all of them including a trio of "jars" with the Salted Caramel Pot de Crème, Yogurt Panna Cotta and Lime Crème. My favourite was the pot de crème as it was rich, creamy and fairly thick. It was intensely sweet due to the right amount of salt. The panna cotta was creamy and light while aided by a citrus marmalade. I found it to be fairly straightforward, if not a bit bland. However, the lime crème was the lightest of all in texture and taste. It was airy and creamy, but lacking flavour, especially the lime. On the other hand, the strawberry on top did help add some sweetness and tang.
Tart and not very sweet (or maybe the tartness overwhelmed the sugar content), the Meyer Lemon Tart was creamy and silky with an appealing viscosity. I would've liked to see a firmer tart shell, but it was okay. The ample amount of raspberries added some flavour variation while the almond wafer provided some crunch. Looking more like a mousse than the classic "cake", the Hazelnut Financier consisted of whipped espresso crème, soft praline and candied hazelnuts. I found this to be light and creamy with a thin layer of financier underneath. It wasn't super sweet, but the candied hazelnuts made up for that with a sugary crunch.
The most surprising dessert of the bunch was the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwich. This featured a firmly crunchy cookie sandwich that gave way to a creamy and definitely strawberry tasting centre. Little chunks of strawberry added some legit flavour while giving way to a purposeful sweetness. This was made in-house, as with all of their other desserts. Overall, we enjoyed the dishes we ordered at Nightingale. Other than octopus and beef heart tartare, I thought the other items could've used some more refinement. Yet, things were still good for a new restaurant. Prices were on the higher side though, especially considering the portion sizes.
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