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"Another chain restaurant???", exclaimed Emilicious when I suggested Toby's in North Van. Hey, call it a combination of curiousity and convenience since it was literally only 5 minutes from the ice rink. Imagine that, eating in North Van, when we play hockey in North Van. Novel concept. Okay, back to the chain restaurant comment. It is true that there are much better choices, but sometimes, for a larger group and variety of food, chain restaurants serve a purpose. With that in mind, we went in with lowered expectations.
Another reason we picked the place was its proximity to the Arc'Teryx sale. While some were shopping, we headed to Toby's first. Being the hungry people we are, Milhouse and I got some Crispy Dry Ribs to tide us over. Unfortunately, it took nearly 30 minutes to arrive. Anyways, these were indeed crispy and dry - possibly a touch too dry. They were lightly dusted with salt & cracked pepper. It was served with some sort of sweet and sour sauce. As for our other eats, we shared 4 plates with Emilicious and Lionel Hutz. We started with the Celtic Mussels in garlic white wine cream sauce. Although every mussel was open, the meat was not buttery (more meaty firm). As for the sauce, it was definitely creamy and flavourful, but too much salt was used.
Next up, we had the Guinness Pot Pie (since it was pie day!). Sadly, it was not really a pot pie (with an actual pie crust) as it was mostly a stew with a piece of puff pastry on top. With that being said, the stew consisting of braised beef, Guinness gravy, onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms and peas was thick and rich, however, it was also quite salty. Served on the side was 2 scoops of garlic and kale mashed potatoes. I liked the crispy kale chips as they provided a nice crunch to the soft chunky mash. Continuing on the same theme, we had the Guinness Cheese Burger with a lamb and beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onions and Guinness cheddar & mustard on brioche. The meaty patty was naturally flavourful and not overly dry. The Guinness came through in the cheddar, but the brioche was stone cold. As for the fries, half were crispy while the other half were soggy. But, they were not bad in general.
We had another pub favourite with the Bangers and Mash. Served with the same tasty garlic and kale mash, this dish looked promising. The sausages were meaty and firm with a considerable fried exterior. They were very mild, which was a good thing because the thick gravy was extremely salty. Furthermore, it had a pre-packaged aftertaste. I'm not implying this was packaged gravy, but it sure tasted like it. Sweet Tooth ended up with something called Toby's Pub Grub. In actuality, it was a pulled BBQ pork sammie with onion and chipotle mayo on brioche. She thought the meat was moist enough and there was sufficient sweet BBQ sauce. However, the cold brioche didn't enhance the eating experience. Despite being cold, she liked the bun as it held up and wasn't overly dry.
Gadget Girl and Gordo decided on desserts only beginning with the Toby's Baileys Cheesecake. As much as it didn't look all that impressive (despite the attempts to dress it up), it was flavourful without being overly sweet. The texture was on point as well being smooth, yet still firm all the way through. Also, it wasn't dried out anywhere on the exterior. As for Toby's Apple Crisp, it was not as good. The crisp was soggy while the flavours were pretty bland. Furthermore, it wasn't piping hot, which meant it was more of an apple-granola mix with ice cream on top. Lastly, Sweet Tooth couldn't resist and had to get the Sticky Toffee Pudding with ice cream. This was predictably heavy and super-sweet. Underneath the plethora of sweetness, the cake was moist and a bit wet. It had a deep sugariness that made the entire dessert difficult for one person to eat. Not to say it wasn't good though. Ultimately, Emilicious predicted the outcome of our meal at Toby's. It was okay for pub food and especially after a hockey game. Hence, reasonable expectations are imperative.
The Good:
- Comfy, spacious seating
- Decent service
The Bad:
- Overly salty food
- Okay for after-the-game, but not those seeking great eats
Remember Fogg n' Sudds? Yes, the place that offered up the largest selection of beers in the city at one point in time. I remember the "Tower of Power" and the silly escapades afterwards. Well those days are long gone. Welcome the new king in town - CRAFT Beer Market (from Alberta). Boasting over 100 beers on tap, it occupies the beautifully renovated Salt Building down near the old Olympic Village. We decided to hit up the place after hockey with Mijune (as always dressed up to the nines) joining us.
Obviously, in a place that serves over 100 beers on tap, I had to get in on the action. Our server suggested I try the Chimay Red and she was on the money. This went down really smooth with an appealing malt finish. I can see this going with something delicate such as seafood or a salad. But honestly, a salad? We didn't have such food set onto our table. Instead, we decided to share a few items beginning with the Hawaiian Tuna Poke with a side of togarashi mayo. It consisted of Ocean Wise sashimi-grade tuna, cucumber, fresh ginger, garlic and sesame soya vinaigrette served with crispy wontons. We found the tuna to have a nice texture (soft with some chew) while being dressed just enough for flavour without being overpowered. However, the pieces could've been diced up smaller for easier handling with the wonton chips.
Next up we tried the Salt & Pepper Wings which were either crispy or soggy dependent on which piece. Some of the mid-wing sections had skin which was not even fried properly, possibly from overcrowding in the deep-fryer. There was a good amount of salt and pepper for effect, however, the meat was rather dry. We gave Prosciutto Arugula Flat Bread a go too. Consisting of thinly sliced prosciutto, Grana Padano, fresh arugula tossed with lemon and extra virgin olive oil, this was not devoid of ingredients. So much so, the middle portion became rather soft. With that being said, it was still decent with lots of savouriness combined with the pepperiness of the arugula.
Last, but not least, we tried the 20 Napkin Burger. This monstrosity was constructed with two 8oz burgers, 4oz brisket, crispy bacon and beer infused cheese topped by a mini burger. As much as this was impressive to look at, the meat was rather moisture-deficient. It was meaty in flavour though while the crispy bacon, cheese and produce helped the cause. What didn't help was the dry brioche bun, it could've been a touch softer. The side of fries were decent with a slight crispiness and a proper touch of salt. Judging from the items we did try, the food is basically the accompaniment to the impressive beers on tap. Hence, CRAFT Beer Market does exactly what its name implies - offering up an impressive selection of beers.
The Good:
- Holy beer selection Batman!
- Gorgeous place
- Friendly, if not over-stretched servers
The Bad:
- Food plays second fiddle to the beers
- Our server was great, but due to being on the second floor, she was overworked
Sometimes, I try to hit up an entire city block in hopes of visiting each restaurant one-by-one. That was my original plan for the last block on lower Lonsdale in North Van. Yet, the hockey team has only been to both Raglan's and The District twice in addition to Burgoo (on a family outing) without completing my mission. That meant Anatoli Souvlaki and Gusto di Quattro were shutout (partly due to their earlier closing hours). Now I have been to both during Tasting Plates, but honestly, I personally do not consider those to be legitimate visits (due to trying one or two items of food only). That would all change when I got an invite for a tasting at Anatoli.
Since I could only eat so much by myself, I enlisted the help of Emilicious. We started with some Pita Bread with Tzatziki, Humous and Taramosalata. I liked how the pita was slightly crispy on the outside while retaining a soft interior. Beginning with the tzatziki, I thought it was good combination of cucumber and lemon. I would've liked it to be thicker though. As for the humous, there was an immediate garlic punch. I liked that it was smooth without being over-processed. Lastly and my favourite, the taramosalata was really pungent and thick. I could taste the cod roe and the accompanying saltiness. I liked this one more than the recent version I had at Blue Water. Moving onto the next dish, we sampled the Dolmathes. The firmness of the grape leaves was a nice textural contrast to the moist rice and beef filling. We liked the lemon sauce as there was just the right amount of acidity and not overly thick.
Next, we had the "The True Greek" Pork Souvlaki. These were the beneficiary of proper grilling where there was charring without being burnt. Although pork calls for a complete cook through, these were still moist and fairly juicy. The flavours were there (especially on the outer bark), yet we would've liked a bit more lemon in the marinade. With a golden exterior, the Spanakopita was really crispy and flaky. Even with the ample amount of filling, the phyllo did not moisten. About that filling, we found the spinach to be texturally and visually on point. It was still vibrant with some crunch. There was enough feta cheese for balance and a touch of creamy gaminess. The side of tzatziki wasn't even necessary as these were good on their own.
Continuing on, we had Niki's Meatballs with potatoes in a tomato sauce and baked with cheese. Apparently, they used some cinnamon in the sauce, but at first, I didn't taste any. However, upon further inspection, the tart tomato sauce partially hid the cinnamon until the finish. We liked the potatoes as they were soft and lemony while the meatballs were moist and a bit spongy. Normally, I don't think much about a Greek Salad because it can be pretty generic. Not this one as it featured a big slice of Dodonis feta (with oregano) on top. This was literally the cherry on top of a really well-constructed salad. With vibrant and crunchy veggies tossed in olive oil and lemon, this was notch above the regular.
With the cap left on, the Rack of Lamb, prepared medium, was super moist as a result. With a squeeze of the lemon wedge, it helped balance the savouriness of the lamb chops. I thought the natural flavour of the lamb really came through due to the inclusion of the fat. For dessert, we were served Ekmek. This was probably the only thing that we weren't fond of. Unlike previous versions I've had, the filling was not custardy. Rather, it was more like a really stiff pannacotta. With that being said, I did enjoy how it wasn't overly sweet with a dusting of cinnamon. Dessert withstanding, everything else was on point and tasty. In the end, I was glad to be invited so I could finally see what I was missing out.
*This was an invited meal where food and beverages excluding tip were comped*
The Good:
- Well-prepared eats
- Textures on point
- Spacious dining room
The Bad:
- Menu pricing is on the higher side
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
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