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Once again, I faced the dilemma of whether to purchase a Travelzoo voucher or not. This time, it was for George Ultra Lounge in Yaletown. With a trendy location and chic decor, the reviews seem to indicate that it was form over function. Ultimately, I decided to buy the voucher anyways because George shares the same kitchen as Brix upstairs. And really, isn't Brix considered an above-average restaurant? Besides, I need to see for myself and since Miss Y was interested, how could I pass it up?
We began the meal sharing 2 appies including the Fresh Mussels with house-made bacon, cherry tomatoes, white wine garlic broth, fresh herbs and chili maple toast. Large and buttery soft, the mussels were flavoured impactfully by the savoury and zesty broth. There was a noticeable level of spice as well as an appealing saltiness from the bacon. Next, we tried the Duck Parfait Pate with gherkins, grainy mustard and grilled toast points. Beyond the thin layer of duck fat, the pate was creamy and sweet. It was nicely accented by a purposeful amount of brandy. We particularly enjoyed using the 
garlicky grilled bread with a dollop of grainy mustard as it featured many different textures and flavours. Surely, we couldn't have had the mussels without a side of Frites with truffle and Parm. As it turned out, this was an excellent decision as the house-cut frites were delicately crispy with plenty of airy potato goodness inside. They were well-seasoned and despite my efforts to save my appetite, I kept eating them.
For our mains, we shared the Smoked Sablefish Gnocchi with green peas, white wine cream, local micro greens first. As much as we were concerned that the sablefish would be overwhelmed by smoke, it turned out beautifully soft with just enough flavour. The gnocchi was soft while retaining a bite and best of all, an appealing browned exterior. Therefore, the combination of smokiness, caramelization, sweet peas and creaminess made for a composed dish. Next, we sampled the Duck Breast with Maple bourbon honey glaze, freeze dried mandarin, roasted local root vegetables and apricot gastrique. We liked the rendered fat, but the skin could've been crispier. The properly prepared duck was tender enough with some chew. We thought the natural flavour of the duck was sufficient, hence, the overly sweet gastrique was not really necessary.
Although we were pretty full, we still had 2 desserts beginning with the Chocolate Mud Cake. It was accompanied by freeze-dried raspberries, cherries and chocolate clusters. The cake was firm, dense, a little dry and bittersweet. The sweet and tart cherries were a good compliment. We really liked the Passionfruit Tart with freeze-dried raspberries and honey crunch. The tart shell was firm, yet a bit pale. The filling was smooth and creamy with only enough sweetness. We liked the balance from the tartness. In the end, we did not regret buying the Travelzoo coupon because the food at George exceeded our expectations. What impressed us the most was the genuine and accommodating service from Kim. It only further enhanced our dining experience.
The Good:
- Don't understand all the negative reviews, the food we got was on point
- Some of the best service we've had in a long time
- Trendy
The Bad:
- We went on a slow night, apparently it can be pack and quite loud
- Regular prices are typical Yaletown
When I used to live in Downtown, I would pass by Villa del Lupo on my walk to work. In my mind, Viv and I were going to eat there sooner than later. Fast forward 16 years, 2 children later and still no Stanley Cup for the Canucks, we still had not visited the place (in fact it changed to Lupo). However, the day finally arrived as Costanza picked the place for his birthday dinner. Unfortunately, we went the same night at the monster trucks, which meant a parking nightmare, or was it? Luck would have it, I found a space less than a block away. The parking gods must've had pity on me for all those times I had to navigate Crystal Mall...
Once seated in one of the many cozy rooms (maybe a bit too much so as our table was quite small), we decided to share some appies including the Burrata with heart of palm and tomatoes. We found the burrata to be creamy and smooth with a light stringiness. The acidity from the tomatoes added a nice balance. Next up was the Pork Belly Toscano with apple mostarda. The pork belly was rich, moist and not stringy while the fat was gelatinous without being fatty (for a lack of a better description). I found the crackling to be on point being crunchy, yet not too hard. Sticky and sweet, the apple mostarda featured whole mustard seeds. As for the green disc underneath the quail's egg, I didn't really get to try it, so I can't comment on it.
We decided to get an entree version of the Crab Ravioli in a tarragon cream sauce. We found the pasta to be al dente while the crab filling to be fluffy and sweet. The cream sauce was fairly rich with a nice acidity and enough tarragon. I liked that they were conservative with the sodium as well. Costanza covertly added another item as we were eating away. So much so, the ladies were wondering where the Foccacia Bread came from. Well, it was a smart move, especially since it was only $5.00. Straight from the oven, the bread was crunchy on the outside while chewy inside. It was well-seasoned with a nice pesto, salt and a generous drizzle of EVOO. We really should've ordered 2 of these.
Onto the mains, Costanza had the Branzino and prawns with a medley of veggies and roasted fingerling potatoes. I found the sea bass to be nicely prepared being moist and flaky with crisped skin. It was well-seasoned, but would've benefited from more of the lemon vinaigrette. As for the veggies, they were vibrant and crisp while the potatoes were not devoid of flavour. Elaine went for the Short Rib Brasato braised in Chianti Classico & tamarind. This was also accompanied by veggies and fingerling potatoes. We found the short rib to be sufficiently tender while being a touch stringy. There was no mistaking both the Chianti and the tang from the tamarind which brought the dish to life.
Viv ended up with the Grilled Quail a la Liguira with marscapone polenta. The quail arrived in a beautiful roasted hue where the skin was nicely rendered. As for the meat, it was not dry while being mildly seasoned. I'm not familiar with Liguirian cuisine, but I do know that it was the origin of pesto. Hence, it was no surprise that the stuffing was herbaceous and moist. Saving the best for last, I had the fantastic 1/2 Lobster Risotto. This has been the best risotto I've had to date. It consisted of chewy, al dente arborio rice which was cooked through and spread evenly on the plate. Exhibiting a cheesy creaminess, it benefited from the sweet pop of the corn and peppers. There was a noticeable background acidity which brought balance. As for the lobster, it had a buttery snap with the unmistakeable aromatics.
For dessert, we shared the Cannoli and Raspberry & Chocolate Terrine. I liked the thin and crispy outer shell which encased a creamy ricotta filling that was spiked with lemon zest. There were bits of dark chocolate strewn inside which added texture and bitterness. On that note, everyone else didn't like the overly tart and bitter filling. For myself, I was fine with it (call it a difference of opinion). As for the terrine, the raspberry was refreshingly light and balanced in flavour while the layer of chocolate added crunch and bitterness. Overall, we thought our meal at Lupo was solid with a few stellar dishes, such as the Lobster Risotto. However, it definitely comes at a price.
The Good:
- Solid eats
- Attentive service
- Charming house
The Bad:
- Pricey
- Small tables
Normally, I'm not one to visit Fatburger. Hey, I have nothing against their food, but really, the prices are a little steep. Consider that a regular Fatburger combo will set one back $12.50 plus tax, it suddenly becomes pretty expensive for a family. Therefore, I have not eaten there for over 5 years. However, with the February special for $20.00 (2 Fatburgers with cheese, fries, drinks and 2 red velvet donuts), Viv and I made a visit. Funny how we can spend a fortune eating at a fancy restaurant, but get all worked up about a pricey burger...
I gotta admit the Fatburger was pretty good. With a relatively juicy patty (and fatty), there was no issues with moisture, considering all of the we ingredients as well. I liked the use of real cheddar as well as the soft toasted bun. So Viv decided to get a salad with her burger which was all wrong in my eyes. Consequently, I had to make up for her poor decision by upgrading to a Poutine as a side. The cheese was all melted and really, it wasn't squeaky curds anyways. The gravy was really thick and somewhat salty. The fries were good tough being crispy and fluffy inside.
To be blunt, I hated the Red Velvet Donuts as they were greasier than a kitchen floor in a Chinese restaurant. Yes, they were crispy, but ugh, the oil just dripped from the darn things. Oh and that icing... too much and too sweet. A week later, I noticed a Groupon for Fatburger and yes, I returned again (I'm Chinese, I love a discount...). The burger was exactly the same (consistent at least) and I decided on regular fries since Viv didn't go for a salad (have to maintain the grease continuum). They were fried golden and crispy. Okay, these 2 visits were an eye-opener for me. I discovered I actually don't mind Fatburger, but not the prices. Is there another coupon out there?
The Good:
- Moist patties
- Fries are decent
- The service we got was good
The Bad:
- Pricey
- Greasy (hence the name Fatburger?)
Gosh, the New Ruby, I've almost forgotten about you. Situated in one of the endless strip malls along Scott Road right next to a laundromat, your 70's red decor has probably not changed since it first went in. Oh and how can I forget the cheap combos (for only $5.95!) that include such classics as radioactive red sweet n' sour pork and authentic chop suey (an oxymoron of sorts). Sure, the food ain't gourmet, but it fills the tummy. With those memories, I dragged Miss Y, Hot Mama and Zamboni Guy out for some North American Chinese fare.
For myself, I went for something that was somewhat "more Chinese" being the Scrambled Eggs & Shrimp on Rice. By the looks and taste of it, there was more starch-thickened sauce that scrambled eggs. However, it did taste okay with buttery little shrimp nestled in a mild-tasting thick sauce. I wasn't a huge fan of the peas as they were quite hard. Miss Y ended up with the Black Bean Beef on Rice and it was pretty flavourful. The black bean sauce was dark and not overly diluted. Hence, there was a rich saltiness that went well with the peppers and onion. As for the slices of beef, they were tender with a slight chew.
Zamboni Guy ended up choosing 2 items for $5.95 and went for the Broccoli Beef as well as the Sweet n' Sour Pork (Hot Mama had the S&S Pork with rice). A great value for the price as the plate was pretty darn full. The re-fried pork was a touch on the drier side, but had a nice crunchy exterior (even with the sauce). The sauce was not overly radioactive in colour this time around and exhibited a nice balance between sweet and sour. The beef was the same as Miss Y's dish while the broccoli had a nice crunch. There was decent wok heat to the dish as well. Yes, the food at the New Ruby ain't gonna win any awards nor be relocated to Richmond. However, it is cheap and filling where the food is acceptable for the price.
The Good:
- Cheap
- Large portions
- Friendly people
The Bad:
- It's North American Chinese food for those snobs out there
- Decor reminds me of Bruce Lee movies
It was a blast meeting up with Ned Flanders at Kao's where we had interesting food and conversation. He did his best Asian impersonation and cut me off at the pass when it came time to pay. Naturally, that bugged me for the subsequent week, hence I had to treat him back. He had mentioned that the beef noodle at Accord Food House in Burnaby was one of the better ones he'd tried and encouraged me to join him. However, when I arrived, I could barely find the place because it was no longer Accord. Rather, it has become Bow Bow Cafe. Interestingly, the Chinese name remained the same.
Inside, it didn't seem any different and in fact, the menu on the wall seemed to suggest it was the same owners. We went ahead and tried to order a Beef & Tendon Beef Noodle, but they insisted it couldn't be done. Finally, it was agreed upon I'd pay extra for a side of tendon which was actually served on a separate plate. Wow, when they mean they can't, they really can't! I found the soup to be fairly meaty in flavour without an overuse of salt. There wasn't any pickled vegetable which meant that there was a lack of acidity. As for the beef shank, it was tender enough to chew while still maintaining a meat texture. We found the tendon to be very well-executed since it retained its integrity while still being soft. Furthermore, the braising liquid had penetrated through ensuring plenty of flavour.
For kicks, I suggested we try My Grandfather's Chinese Spaghetti (just because of the name). Well, it was essentially the same noodles as the previous dish, but dressed in a light tomato sauce with somewhat chewy beef and shiitake mushrooms. It wasn't exactly HK-style like as there wasn't a huge ketchup hit, but it was certainly not acidic enough to be a true pasta sauce. What especially caught me off guard was the shiitake as it really didn't go. Whatever the case, it was edible and I'm sure that's how Grandpa made it. For me, I really liked the Sliced Chicken with sesame sauce. I thought the sauce was elevated by the addition of ginger and chilis where there was a slow rumble of spice and the acidity of the ginger balanced the rich sesame. As for the chicken, it was fairly tender for free-range and the skin was nicely gelatinized.
Lastly, we had the Spicy Wontons which were pretty good in my opinion. First of all, the wonton wrapper was moist while exhibiting a gentle elasticity. Second, the filling had a slight bounce texture and was mild enough to not interfere with the sauce. And about that sauce, it was a pleasant spicy thanks to the chili sauce and chili oil with only small amount of soy. Overall, the food at Bow Bow was decent at a fairly reasonable price. Interestingly, there was an automatic 10% service charge added to the bill. It didn't bother us (since it is quite reasonable), but for some, it might be an issue.
The Good:
- Pretty decent eats
- Reasonably-priced
The Bad:
- Wow, that's one small dining room with equally small tables
- Automatic service charge might bother some people
While at my niece's birthday party, Shenanigans queried whether I would join him and some friends for dinner at Sockeye City Grill. Sure, why not? I hardly pass up an eating opportunity. Wait... Isn't it located in Richmond? And all the way out in Steveston too? Geez, the distances I travel for food. At the very least, for a weekday evening, there would be little in the way of traffic. Therefore, the risk to my car's health was at an all-time low for Richmond. I think my car was smiling inside.
With 5 other diners, we were ensured to have a good variety of dishes. Furthermore, all them insisted to share their food with me... Looks like I'm gonna eat with them more often! To start things off, Kikidee had the Prawn Caesar which looked pretty standard as it hit the table. In reality, it was pretty typical, but wasn't overdressed. As for the shrimp, they were well-seasoned with spice and exhibited as shrimpiness and snap. For myself, I had the Albacore Tuna encrusted with 2 kinds of sesame seeds. I liked how it was nicely rare inside, yet the pieces were sliced far too thick. Hence, it was too dense and took away from the fish. As for the dressing, it was too soy (salty) tasting.
Rex had the Dungeness Crab Cake which was pretty large. The exterior was nicely browned, but the crab was dried out and chewy. Due to its large size, it was rather dense as well. On the positive side, there was a nice crunch accented by a good amount of acidity. The roasted red pepper aioli was pretty nice, but we could've done with more of it. Yuchiro ended up with the Mussels and despite the plethora of fennel, we didn't get a whole lot of it in the broth. Rather, it was predominately light tomato with very little acidity and the aforementioned fennel. The smallish mussels (which meant there was not much to eat) were properly cooked though being buttery and soft.
After the mussel appetizer, she had the Steak Neptune. Although the steak was prepared a nice medium-rare, it was rather chewy and somewhat bland. That was partially alleviated by the buttery bearnaise with crab. Once again, the crab was not as fluffy as we would've liked. The sides were okay though where the veggies were still vibrant. Travelgirl had the Fish n' Chips and I found it okay. The batter was crispy while the inside was somewhat flaky, however, it was dry in spots. Furthermore, I found it a bit fishy tasting. The addition of raisins in the coleslaw added a nice sweetness.
Kikidee had the Salmon with roasted red pepper relish and creamy mushroom & herb risotto. The fish itself was seared nicely with a peppery, well-seasoned crust. The fish was a bit dry, but not terribly so. As for the risotto, it was like plain rice with very little creamy and chessiness. It was chewy though with nice Earthy mushrooms. Shenanigans and I ended up sharing the Paella for 2. It was a pretty large portion with nicely textured rice, but the flavours were not developed. Rather it more like tomato rice with a good amount of seafood. Despite seeing the chorizo, it didn't come through in the rice nor did we get any saffron. Yet, in the end, it was an acceptable plate of food considering this was not a Spanish restaurant.
As part of her their 3-course meals, Yuchiro and Kikidee were served a small Chocolate Pate with raspberry coulis. It was more like a chocolate mousse as it was light and semi-sweet. The coulis added some sweetness and tartness. Overall, I found the food at Sockeye City to be average. Nothing particularly I am aching to do a return visit anytime soon. However, the food is still serviceable, so combined with its killer location (by the water), there will be still a steady stream of customers.
The Good:
- Great by-the-water location
- Comfy, spacious dining room
- Service was pretty good
The Bad:
- Food is pretty average
- Pricey
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