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There we were, Miss Y and I, all ready to use our coupon for Yo Ramen. As we approached the door, someone flipped the sign from "open" to "closed". He looked at us, we looked at him, nope, we weren't eating there apparently. With money already in the meter, we had to go to plan B. Wait, there was no plan B... We ended up wandering up the street and decided on Bin 941. Hey, an impromptu revisit! Heck, I haven't been back to the place in 5 years.
They started us off with complimentary bowls of Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. It was smooth and creamy with a low salt content. The flavours came predominantly from the ample amount of ginger and sprinkle of coconut on top. Hence, it was fragrant and natural tasting. Next, we had the Brussel Sprouts with orange chile glaze and toasted hazelnuts. This was a veritable flavour explosion where the sticky glaze was really tart in an almost balsamic manner. However, there was a certain sweetness that brought it closer to being balance. The noticeable spiciness created harmony with the firm sprouts.
Next, we had the large mound of Pomme Frites with sea salt, telicherry black peppercorn balsamic drizzle. I've had this dish before and for some reason or another, it was not really all that crispy nor hot. Rather, it was only warm featuring limp frites. We did like the drizzle though as it had plenty of zip with both sweetness and pepperiness. The East West Crab Cakes with burnt orange chipotle sauce, cucumber salsa, sesame bak choy and tobiko was executed on point. The thick cakes were filled with fluffy crab that remained moist even after the cooking process. Crunchy all around, the exterior was a nice contrast to the soft crab. With familiar flavours to some of the previous dishes, the zip and spice from the sauce complimented the crab cakes nicely.
Another solid offering was the Beef Tenderloin Wellington with roasted garlic mash, grainy mustard and Marsala demi. Although a bit rare-looking, the beef was expertly prepared as it was melt-in-our mouths tender. We liked the phyllo packaging, but it easily slid off (to be eaten separately from the meat). The rich Marsala demi was another flavour explosion as it had a sweet wine essence. We finished off the meal with the baked-to-order Belgium Chocolate Torte with cognac sundried cherries, chocolate truffle centre and caramel cafe latte sauce. This "souffle-like" dessert was pure decadence. The dark chocolate had a lightly sweet rich bitterness which was bolstered by the sweet sauce. Little nuggets of boozy cherries added an extra layer of tartness. We really enjoyed our meal at Bin 941, yet due to our choices, many of the flavours were similar. I still don't really think the food can be seen as tapas (maybe for 2 people only), but it is solid nonetheless.
The Good:
- Well-prepared eats
- No weak flavours here
- Welcoming service
The Bad:
- Pricey
- Similiar flavours (at least with what we ordered)
- Ultra cozy (c/b good if you like that)
What can one get for $4.95 these days? Parking in Downtown for 2 hours (if you're lucky)? 2 Macarons? One dumpling at Pennisula??? Yes, not much can be had for that amount of money in and around Vancouver. Well, similar to The Warehouse, The Dime offers up cheap eats on Commercial Drive. Interestingly, judging by the eclectic decor and clientele, this would be the last place to be Rick Roll'd. Yes, Never Gonna Give You Up came on all of a sudden and to top it all off, people began singing along to it... #bizarre
Anyways, as for the food, we were perplexed at the temperature it was served. The Korean Chili Fried Chicken and Cucumber was stone cold. Yes, the cucumber was supposed to be cold, but the chicken was actually not even lukewarm. Overlooking that, the chicken was sufficiently moist with a sweet and mildly spicy sauce. Next, the Garlic Shrimp was at the very least warm. It was sauteed with garlic, leeks, basil and white wine atop lemon-thyme tomato & grilled bread. The shrimp had a meaty snap while the flavours were pleasant enough. I liked how the bread stayed crispy despite the wet ingredients.
Next, we shared the Dime Burger consisting of Canadian beef, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and roasted pepper mayo on a toasted bun. We added maple bacon for $1.50. Hey, for the price, it was a solid burger. The beef patty was moist while the bacon was crisp. I liked the soft airy bun as it didn't interfere with the ingredients while holding up to the moisture. The side of fries were decent being crispy and not greasy. We also had the East Van Pulled Pork rubbed with red curry and slow cooked. It was sufficiently moist without being doused with sweet BBQ sauce. The apple and papaya slaw was somewhat in the background as it was only mildly tangy.
Lastly, we tried Mama T's Mac n' Cheese spiked with curry. Again, this was served stone cold which greatly depreciated our eating enjoyment. Despite this, the noodles were still toothsome while there was no mistake there was curry in the mix (a definite spice level). It was more curry-like than cheesy though. But then again, there was very little to complain about due to the low prices. One thing worth mentioning is the really cheery and attentive service we got. Definitely a surprise considering the price point of the joint.
The Good:
- Cheap
- Cheery and attentive service
- Decent burger
The Bad:
- Food was not hot
- We got Rick Roll'd (LOL)
For a place that has been around for 41 years, it is a bit odd that I've never ate at Romana Pizza. It is especially curious that I've totally ignored the place even though I have lived in the neighbourhood for nearly 10 years. It took a visit from Aussie and family for me to actually go for a meal. Ironically, the guy who makes the pizza is retiring (yesterday was their last day). I guess we made it just in time! For those unfamiliar with the place, think along the lines of similar Greek-Italian restaurants such as Gigi's, Neighbours and Sunrise.
I remember a time when Aussie would be able to down a whole large pizza in our University days. Hence, it came as no surprise when he ordered 2 large for his family of 4. But to get some greens, they started with Grandpa's Garden Salad first. It was an assortment of cucumber, romaine, red peppers, olives, artichoke hearts and sundried tomato in a vinegary and zesty dressing. Everything was crisp while the olives and sundried tomatoes added extra saltiness and tang which meant less dressing would've been better. For their first pizza, they had the Mama's made with pepperoni, mushroom, salami, green pepper, olives and a whack load of cheese. For this type of pizza (ie. not Neapolitan or slice style), it was good since it was overloaded with toppings (especially the meat) with lots of cheese (which was not greasy) and on top of a crunchy while soft crust. They also had the Hawaiian and it was also packed with ingredients.
For myself, I got the Calamari to start. It arrived with larger than most pieces of squid which were tender while at the same time maintaining a chew. The crispy and light batter was good and not overly greasy, but due to the size of the some of the pieces, it didn't adhere properly. As for the side of Tzatziki, it was light with plenty of cucumber. I would've liked more impact though. For my main, I went for the Kleftiko New Zealand Lamb Shoulder with potatoes and Greek salad. At first, I was concerned with the perceived small amount of lamb on the plate. However, as I ate, I realized it was more than enough (partly because there was no bones). The lamb was tender with a few dry spots. With only the addition of the roasting juices, the flavours were rich and natural tasting. It was on the saltier side, but it added the necessary flavour.
Viv ended up with the Baked Ravioli with Meat Sauce that came with 2 slices of garlic bread. This was a fairly large portion with soft ravioli in a somewhat mild meat sauce. Although it was pleasant enough to eat, she thought the sauce could've had more tang since everything was a bit one note. She did like the ample amount of nicely baked cheese on top though. In the end, we all agreed that the pizza was the highlight as it was good for its type. The other items were alright, yet a little pricey. So Romana as we know it served its last dinner service last night.
The Good:
- Solid pizza for its type
- Nice family atmosphere
The Bad:
- A bit pricey
Whipping Girl has always been a faithful food companion, through the good eats and the bad ones. She is open to sharing her food and lets me take my pictures without much fanfare. Imagine my joy when she wanted to treat me to La Cigale French Bistro... Apparently, she had an expiring coupon that needed to be used ASAP. Yes, those pesky expiry dates are closer than they appear! So I met her at the restaurant with bells on.
We were started off with their popular fresh Puff Pasty Sticks which would've been warm and probably soft inside. I say this because I was late arriving (due to traffic for the Paul Simon concert) and missed the fresh sticks by 15 minutes. Despite this, they were crispy and light. With an actual appie, we had the Tuna Tartare consisting of albacore, avocado, tomatoes and onion with radish and sprouts on top. We got the natural sweetness of the ingredients and the textural contrast of the croutons, yet the whole thing was lacking in acidity. That would've added more brightness and pop.
I requested that we should keep it easy on the bread for the meal and guess what Whipping Girl ordered? In addition to the aforementioned 2 items (that had bread), she picked out the House-Made Pate served with cornichons & mustard and 1/2 Baguette with Tapenade. Thanks Whipping Girl... The pate was meaty and slightly dense where it was mild-tasting with no particular flavour standing out. I did get a bit of sweetness from the onion though. The baguette was really good though being crusty while airy inside. Of note, the vinaigrette with the salad was nicely balanced (with a good amount of Dijon). The tapenade had a predominant black olive flavour with only the slightest hints of capers and anchovy.
Onto the mains, we had the Braised Beef Short Ribs with peppercorn sauce. The generous portion of short rib had a firm exterior bark which was smoky and salty. On the inside, the meat was sufficiently moist and tender with some gelatinous portions. As for the sauce, it was definitely the beneficiary of heavy cream, wine and only modest amount of peppercorns. With only a minor pepperiness, the whole thing was far too salty. Our second entree was the Vol au Vent de La Mer. I thought the mildly seasoned cream sauce went well with the seafood as it stayed in the background. As for the seafood itself, the shrimp had a nice snap while the salmon & halibut were alright. However, the squid was tough and chewy.
On the side, we added some Frites and they were somewhat crispy while being on the denser side. I found the aioli on the side to be really salty though. Lastly, for dessert, we shared the Monaco Tart which was a decadent combination of firm tart shell with marscapone, chocolate, peanuts and super sweet caramel. Despite being a bit too sweet for my tastes, we both agreed that it was a pretty balanced tart when all the components were eaten with each other. At the end, we were pretty stuffed and had to pack the rest to go. We thought the food was not bad, but could be even better with a few tweaks.
The Good:
- Attentive and friendly service
- Decent portion sizes
- Cozy room
The Bad:
- Some seasoning issues (too salty)
- Pricey
Quick. Where would you go to get take-out Fried Chicken at a moment's notice? KFC? Church's? Lee's? LA Chicken??? A Korean restaurant? Yes, those are the more obvious places and really, not a whole lot of choice. We did have Popeye's at one point and Jollibee is at least a year away from their Canadian stores. So, I finally relented and decided to try an independent place called Chicken & Pizza King. Yah, the outside looks sketch and well, the inside is even sketchier, but everything deserves a chance right?
So to get a good handle on the food, I went for both items in their name starting with a medium Pepperoni & Chicken Pizza. I found the crust to be fairly standard for a take-out joint. It was of a medium thickness while being on the denser, chewier side of the crust continuum. As for the toppings, there was sufficient meat and cheese, but there could've been more tomato sauce as I could barely taste it. Moving onto the Fried Chicken, I liked the thin crispy batter. Delicately seasoned with a hint of spice, I thought it could give the big boys a run for their money. However, the chicken itself was not brined which meant it was rather dry and ordinary tasting on its own.
In addition, I got Fries and Gravy as part of the combo. I didn't mind the fries as they were fried up crispy. As for the gravy, that was horrible. Now I understood why the lady suggested I try the macaroni salad in place of the gravy... Looking more like dirty water, it tasted like salty flour. Not exactly something I would dip my food into, let alone eat it. Hey, I tried to be different and avoid the obvious places for fried chicken and really I shouldn't have. Chalk this up to curiosity gone wrong.
The Good:
- Okay pricing I suppose
- Friendly enough
- Batter is okay
The Bad:
- Chicken is dry and bland
- Gravy should be only used as a glue-substitue
- Pizza is barely average
With the rising cost of living these days, anything that resembles a deal gets a lot of play. For instance, places like The Dime and The Famous Warehouse are well-known for their "everything is $4.95" menu. Then there is X-Site Grill (and some copycats) who have daily specials for cheap while the regular menu won't cost you much either. A new player in town aims to trump even those seemingly untouchable deals with a $2.85 burger. As a food cart operating on the corner of Granville at Pender in Downtown, there is probably nothing cheaper for the amount of food.
I've tried to visit the cart on several occasions, but it never materialized. Finally, I decided to just drive down there for the sole purpose of doing so. Yes, I realize the irony that I probably spent more in gas and parking than the burger itself... Arriving just as it opened, the short line moved quick. I picked up 2 Hamburgers along with a Cheeseburger. For $2.85, you get thick-sliced tomato, lots of iceberg lettuce, a decent-sized frozen burger patty, teriyaki sauce and mayo on a relatively light bun. Hey, for the price, it is a decent burger. The patty itself was on the drier chewier side, but the ample wet ingredients made up for it. I found it beefy in flavour while the teriyaki was not overly sweet.
Now the Cheeseburger (for $3.50) had a completely different taste due to the slice of processed cheese. It was definitely saltier and in a way better because the amount of produce watered down the teriyaki sauce in the hamburger. In reality, if I had been passed the burger without knowing the price, I'd be content because it is a decent burger. But since the price is only $2.85, there really isn't a whole lot to complain about. In the end, I believe personal satisfaction should be based on perceived value. In this case, it is one heck of one.
The Good:
- Cheap
- Decent for the price
- No lack of ingredients
The Bad:
- Meat is a bit chewy and dry
- Long lineup during peak periods
With all the Pho joints that I've visited in the last 5 years, it is a curiosity that I've ignored one of the most popular choices in Vancouver. I mean, it hasn't been intentional and really, the location isn't exactly inaccessible either. Chalk it up to it being merely too obvious of a choice. However, I am trying to eat everywhere, so eventually I'd get to it. And that day finally arrived when we were driving up Main Street in search of eats.
Starting with the Pho Dac Biet, I sampled the broth and the taste was clean. I could taste a mild meatiness accented by the sweetness of daikon and charred onion. It wasn't particularly salty or MSG-ladened. As for the meats, everything was as it should've been while the noodles were still toothsome. This was a very solid bowl of Pho (but I still like Pho Tam more). I was only moderately happy with my Bun Bo Hue as it was missing the pork knuckle and blood. However, the broth had an okay spice level. On the other hand, I didn't get much in the way of lemongrass nor shrimpiness.
The kids split the Cambodian-Style Dry Noodles consisting of egg noodles and seafood in a sweet soy sauce. The noodles themselves were nicely al dente whereas the seafood was pretty good. The shrimp had a snap while the squid was tender with a bite. I found the soy sauce to be a bit too sweet though. Lastly, we shared the Grilled Chicken, Shredded Pork and Egg on Rice. I wasn't a huge fan of the chicken as it was cooked too much where the exterior became a bit hard. The interior wasn't much better as it was not juicy at all. Flavourwise, there was a good char with a noticeable sweetness. All-in-all, a more than acceptable meal. My preference is still Pho Tam, but Pho Tan is fine for Vancouver.
The Good:
- Decent eats
- Relatively diverse menu
The Bad:
- Owner was friendly enough, but servers are indifferent
- Food is fine, but I expected better
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