Toast to Coast

It is nice to see more and more dedicated brunch spots opening up in the Lower Mainland.  For the longest time, it seemed like we only had several options that were neither chains nor hotel restaurants.  One of these newer spots is Toast to Coast out in Steveston.  Yes, it isn't the closest place for me to dine at, but hey, I travel for food!  The place is extremely small, so be sure to get there early.  Also, even if you do get there early (as we did), don't expect big spacious tables far apart from each other.  We did request a bigger table (with the promise that we would order enough food for 4 people), but were denied that opportunity.  Therefore, I only was able to get 3 dishes to fit at our table (and I didn't want to course it out either).

So we started with the Korean Eggs Benny that was served on perfectly prepared crustless toast.  Underneath the runny poached egg, there was tender and well-seasoned bulgolgi beef.  It was sweet and definitely added a Korean flavour to the dish.  The thick and rich Hollandaise was creamy with an appealing butteriness.  I would've liked a bit more acidity, but it was still fine as it was.  On the side, we found 2 hashblocks that were super crunchy.

Of course, when I saw the Eye Poppin' Good Burger (aka Chicken Burger) on the menu, I had to get it!  It featured a large piece of dark meat Korean fried chicken with coleslaw, sprouts and pickles.  This was a respectable chicken sammie with a nicely toasted soft bun and juicy fried chicken.  The batter was crunchy and well-seasoned.  The sandwich ate a bit sweet, but the coleslaw added some tang and crunch.

We also had the Waffles with powered sugar on top.  These were pretty decent with a somewhat crispy exterior giving way to a soft interior.  It was aromatic and lightly sweet.  Overall, the food at Toast to Coast was not bad, but one thing that bothered us was the price point.  The benny was $26.00 and the burger was $25.00.  I do realize that it is located in Steveston, but when their Korean Bowl is $30.00, we are talking about Downtown prices (maybe even more expensive than Downtown).  Personally, I would be happy heading down to Grillzilla Bistro on Victoria Drive for a lot less money.

The Good:
- Pretty tasty eats
- Good service
- Quaint location

The Bad:
- Expensive
- Very tight seating arrangements

Yokohama Teppanyaki

*Restaurant is closed*

Okay, I've read the reviews.  Actually, I've even heard from first-hand experiences about the mediocre food at Yokohama Teppanyaki out in Steveston.  So what prompted me to drive all the way out there (from North Burnaby) to have a questionable meal?  LOL, yes, it was the cursed Groupon.  Hey why not, it was cheap (there was a further discount) and I've never tried it out.  I think Nora scolded me about going there.  I don't blame her, but we need to try the crappy stuff so we can appreciate the good things more right?  Don't take things for granted???  I guess we were about to find out!

So similar to many other Teppanyaki joints, we were seated at a 4-sided station that had 2 grills.  Being a party of 2, we were with another group of 4.  So be prepared to be a bit social.  Otherwise, make a reservation of 8 and you will be will all friends.  So before we got to the cooked food, we were served a plate consisting of Miso Soup, Green Salad and Edamame.  There is not much to comment on this other than the miso soup was your standard offering from a non-Authentic Japanese restaurant.  The green salad was fresh and the dressing was a bit bland.  Edamame was well, edamame.  Next, we were presented with a plate that sported on Onigiri and 2 pieces of Sushi which appeared to be a form of BC Roll (we were never told what it was).  These were okay, nothing special. I found the rice in the roll to be too soft while the onigiri was better. 

Interestingly, for the teppanyaki, we were started with the Veggies and Fried Rice before the proteins.  Usually, it goes the other way around.  Not a man of many words, our chef was nice and tried his hardest.  That was about it as the entertainment value was below average.  A mix of zucchini, sprouts and mushrooms, our veggies were well-seasoned and had enough caramelization.  For some, this might've been a bit too salty, yet that is probably where the fried rice came into play.  The rice was pretty good where it was chewy and aromatic from the flattop fry.  Since there was a good amount of butter and seasoning used, it was blessed with plenty of flavour on its own.

Onto the meats of the meal, we were served a portion of Striploin with garlic.  With all things considered, the quality of the steak was actually quite good.  It was moist and tender despite the slight overcook (we would've preferred medium-rare, it was closer to medium).  Again, the chef was not shy with the butter and seasoning, so it did taste good.  It didn't look like a lot of steak (especially all cut up), but it was sufficient.  Our last 2 proteins consisted of Shrimp and Basa.  Not particularly large, the 3 shrimp were good but not very satisfying.  I wish we have at least 2 more.  There was a buttery snap and once again, very well-seasoned.  As for the basa, the fish is one of most inexpensive on the market, but at the same time, I don't particularly mind it.  It was soft and flaky (as it tends to be, very forgiving) while once again, aggressively seasoned.

For dessert, we were given the option between Green Tea or Mango Ice Cream.  We got one of each and well, they were pretty standard.  At the very least, they were creamy and not icy.  So at the end of it, I would say the Teppanyaki experience at Yokohama was exactly as expected - average at best.  Now with that in mind, it wasn't terrible either.  But given that Yokohama is located in Steveston, I wouldn't drive all the way there unless you live nearby and bought a Groupon.  However, this needs to be said - with the mediocre choices for Teppanyaki in the GVRD, it isn't as if there are many better ones too.

The Good:
- Inexpensive if you have a Groupon (which seems to be an ongoing offer)
- Decent service
- Acceptable food

The Bad:
- Meh experience all-around
- Low entertainment value

Adorabelle Tea Room

*Restaurant is closed*

High Tea and I get along as much as I love to drive down #3 Road on a moped with "hit me" as a license plate front and back.  Hence, I've only been a couple of times and mostly with Miss Y.  Yes, for some sadistic reason, she loves to drag me out for high tea whenever she has a chance.  This time around, it was my turn to ask her to tag along on my high tea adventure.  The reason for this was that Adorabelle Tea Room sent me an invite to try them out. 

Unlike the last time we had high tea, I picked Miss Y up, ensuring I wouldn't be waiting for 1.5 hours for her arrival... Upon entering the quaint little house in Steveston, we were greeted by a simple, yet elegant room.  We were seated near a draped partition which gave the illusion of some privacy.  I got in touch with my feminine side by ordering a Passionfruit Tea.  With all the accessories such as the decorative China and teapot cover, it helped set the mood for the goodies that were soon to arrive. The coziness of the house didn't hurt the cause either.  I liked the fact there were some larger tables to accommodate groups.  Interestingly, we were told that a stag had recently been held at Adorabelle. There and then, I thought about items such as hot wings and dry ribs on the bottom tier.  No?  Okay, well there must be a market for something like that I'm sure...

When the goodies hit the table, I was actually pretty excited.  We started on the bottom tier consisting of Chicken Waldorf Finger Sandwich, Smoked Salmon Pinwheel, Egg Salad Pinewheel, Cucumber & Creamcheese, Savoury Bacon & Chive Cupcake and Savoury Asiago & Fennel Shortbread.  I liked how the bread was fresh and soft, which in my opinion, is the most important thing. The most interesting item among these was the bacon cupcake which featured layers of flavour while being moist.  As for the shortbread, I liked how it was buttery and savoury with a hint of sweetness. The middle tier included 2 Citrus Scones and 2 Eggnog Cranberry Scones served with Chantilly cream and preserve.  Scones were good as they were fairly light and good on their own.  I loved the addition of citrus and cranberry respectively as it afforded some brightness.  Lastly, the top featured Srawberries and Cream, Morello Cherry Pate de Fruits, Chocolate Ginger Cookie and Peppermint Chocolate. What I liked best among these items was the peppermint chocolate as it was moist inside and subtle on the sugar.

Overall, we had a good time at Adorabelle.  Naturally, being on time and not waiting for 1.5 hours can only help the cause (looking at you Miss Y!).  Of course, there will be arguments made that some other places might have better this and that, but Adorabelle has the good combination of location (quaint), ambiance (understated classy) and goodies.  So have I warmed up to afternoon tea now that I'm gone a few times?  Sure.  But I still think that hot wings would be a great addition...  LOL...

*Note - this was an invited dinner where all food was comped except for gratuities

The Good:
- Quaint house & location
- Reasonable pricing ($25.00pp)
- Solid eats

The Bad:
- Could be a bit far for some people 
- 1 hour seating is sufficient, but could be a tad rushed (hence choose the last seating)