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While surfing the internet, like I usually do, I stumbled upon a coupon for LA Grill in Richmond. Not that I was itching to visit the place (think X-Site), but for $28.00, I could get two 3-course meals. Yes, the Asian in me took over and I looked at the bottom line rather than what I was getting myself into. I'm actually quite familiar with LA Grill and its rock-bottom pricing and large portions. But with that, something has to give and that would mean food quality. Whatever the case, I invited Whipping Girl to come join me on my adventure deep into Richmond.
Unlike many other restaurants, our server gladly accepted the coupon and offered up some really great service throughout the meal. As per the coupon, we both started with the Clam Chowder. This monstrous bowl was a meal in itself packed with tender red potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, clams, shrimp and a whack load of bacon. So much so, the flavour profile was predominantly bacon (in terms of flavour and fattiness). Whatever the case, the soup was creamy, flavourful and overall decent. Next up, I had the Chicken Caesar while Whipping girl had the Shrimp Caesar. The romaine lettuce was crisp and fresh, however, the dressing was quite weak as we didn't get any hits of anything. The baby shrimp were fine, but the chicken tenders were quite dry and bland.
Seeing how we didn't want to be limited as what we could eat, we added 2 additional appies starting with the Calamari. These tender squid rings were very easy to eat while maintaining a slight chew. Despite being light, the batter was only crispy in parts while some portions were a touch soft. We weren't even sure what the accompanying dip represented as it had absolutely no taste. Next, we tried the Salt & Pepper Wings. These were unmistakable as we could see and taste the seasoning. We liked how they did not wimp out here. Furthermore, these were lightly crispy where there was still moisture inside. Hence, rather than being super dry and crunchy, they were soft and juicy.
Onto our entrees, we picked the most expensive stuff (darn that Asian in us!). Whipping Girl had the Steak and Shrimp. Despite being a touch uneven, the steak was prepared medium-rare as requested. Moreover, it had a nice char as well as being properly seasoned. Best of all, it was tender and juicy. As for the shrimp, they had a light snap while being very garlicky. We didn't like the garlic bread though as it was not toasted enough. Now for myself, I had the Salmon and Shrimp. I'll be blunt here - the salmon sucked. It was already dead to begin with, why did they have to kill it again? It was woefully overcooked (and too quickly/hot, hence the coagulated protein), bland and dry. Yet in the end, we accepted the food for what it was. It's not gourmet, nor is it even far removed from home-cooking. But it serves to feed people at a very reasonable cost.
The Good:
- Cheap
- Good service
- Decent decor
The Bad:
- Underwhelming eats
- Cheap, but the larger plates are not
Sometimes simple is better. Just because there is a big menu (with fancy descriptions) and/or a glitzy dining room doesn't mean it will yield great results. Furthermore, it is really impractical to eat like that everyday - wait, that would be Mijune... Anyways, I wanted a basic meal with a twist. That twist happened to be that we would be visiting Sean's Good Eats located within the Avalon Dairy store right at the plant. Yes, there is more than milk products to be had here. Since the kiddies were off on Spring Break, they happily joined this food adventure.
Why you might ask? Well look no further than organic hard ice cream Chocolate Milkshake and Chocolate Milk. As such, with the quality milk, the milkshake was thick, creamy and chocolaty. The chocolate milk was also thick and rich. It was sweet, but not incredibly so. For myself, I had to get some food of course... I went for their daily special being the Sheppard's Pie with Corn Chowder. In addition to the lean ground beef, there was corn and red peppers which added some pop and sweetness. Also, there were herbs in the mash potatoes which added another layer of flavours. However, it needed gravy badly as it was kind of dry. As for the soup, it tasted strangely like cream of corn, but not in a bad way. I liked the sweet corn taste.
Viv had the Chicken Panini with sundried tomatoes and goat cheese. It was prepared nicely and benefited from the purposeful flavours of the tomatoes and pesto. We liked how it was grilled nicely as it was crispy on the outside while still soft on the inside. The kiddies shared the TBC (or Turkey, Bacon and Cheddar) grilled sandwich. No rocket science here but a solid sammie with loads of turkey. However, the main draw here are the Avalon dairy products and if you've never had them, they are definitely a cut above the regular supermarket fare (unless it is Island Farms). The food only serves to be a side for this.
The Good:
- Wonderful Avalon products
- Eats are cheap
- Friendly people
The Bad:
- Eats are fine, but pretty standard fare
When I was initially invited to the Vanfoodster Scavenger Food Hunt, it seemed like a slight departure from the usual Tasting Plates. I figured that it would be like some Amazing Race of food, more or less. Whipping Girl and Alvin ended up joining me on this adventure, yet, after an initial clue we had to decipher, it was pretty much just like any Tasting Plates where we would go to several destinations for little bites. Hey, we weren't complaining. Much like hungry hippos, it was another excuse to eat. Besides, it scattered everyone to different destinations which lightened the crowds.
We were lucky enough to be sent to the farthest location first (which meant it was less busy) being Seventeen 89 in the West End. We were served a mini-cone of Hemp Crusted Albacore Tuna. This was a very light and mildly acidic - an easy start of our eating for the afternoon. I'm not really sure if the description of the item was actually what we were served as it appeared to be more of a ceviche. Next, we scampered over to Whipping Girl's favourite - Soirette for a sampling of 2 of their Macarons. In the foreground, we had the Kumquat & Yuzu while in the background, Coconut and Guava. As per usual, their macarons were purposefully flavoured without being too sweet. Textures were on point with a crispy exterior and slightly chewy inside.
Continuing on with sweets, we made the short drive over to Bella Gelateria. We decided to go for a few flavours consisting of Amerena Cherry, Salted Caramel and Hazelnut. All were creamy and smooth with apparent flavours. They were sweet, but not incredibly so. We liked the usual salted caramel, but really didn't mind the hazelnut either as it was very nutty and aromatic. We then made the confusing walk all the way around the new conference centre to find out that De Dutch was right where the shortcut from Jack Poole Plaza was located. Well, we worked off some calories I suppose. There, we were given a choice of either a savoury Pannekoek with cheese and deBakon or one topped with bananas and strawberries. I went for the savoury and it was just like I remembered - a light thin crepe with crispy lean deBakon.
At this point, we headed over to Marquis Wines on Davie. Despite it being bustling with activity, we were able to snag a parking spot (like always, I think Alvin is a lucky charm of some sort). Inside, we were given a quick rundown of their featured Haywire Wines paired with fruit. Seeing how I had just sampled the same wines recently, it was a bit anti-climactic, but then again, I did enjoy their "Bub". Heading back into Yaletown (we did registration at Xoxolat), I parked in the first open spot and made the short walk over to Milestone's. Keeping in spirit with the "scavenger hunt", we were actually asked some skill-testing questions about their menu. I totally ignored that and went straight for the Mini-Breakfast Tostada Bites. Since these were sitting around for a bit, they were cold and the tortilla was a little soft. I bet actual dish would be much better.
Over at The Parlour, they were serving up a really impressive spread of their freshly-made Pizzas. I really couldn't remember all the different varieties, but for the ones I did try, the dough was nicely seasoned and chewy with a good char on crust. The 2 slices in the picture consisted of Roasted Chicken (with Roasted Garlic, Sundried Tomato, Basil, Chili Flake and Mozza) and The Big Prawn (with Pesto, Sun Dried Tomato, Tomato Sauce, Mozza, Parmesan and Lemon). Both were pretty good with big flavours. I liked the prawns as they were cooked just right with a nice snap. Off to something natural and refreshing, we made a stop at Chasers Fresh Juice & Deli where we used their machine to make some fresh Orange Juice. With only oranges in the mix, the juice was naturally sweet and went down easy.
Coming around full-circle, we returned to Xoxolat to sample some of their wares. Everything about the place screamed out high-end chocolate. Indeed it was including the fabulous Sour Cherry & Chilis. I loved the smooth bitter chocolate enhanced by the tart cherries and the background heat from the chilis. Overall, I really didn't get the "scavenger hunt" part of the deal, but that didn't detract from the event. We did like premium spots such as Bella Gelateria, Soirette and Xoxolat, but not really all that impressed with chains such as De Dutch and Milestone's (not because they weren't good, but there was nothing new and interesting).
The Good:
- A few premium stops
- Diverse selection
- All located in Downtown
The Bad:
- Not really a scavenger hunt
- Some less-exciting stops
I can remember the last 2 times I've been to Red Robin during the life of this blog - one in 2009 and the other in 2010. I only blogged about it once and honestly, half-heartedly. No, I'm not trying to be a food snob because I still think the burgers are fine especially for the price. Furthermore, the kiddies seem to love the place much like White Spot. It's just there is not a whole lot of sexiness in posting about the place (like people haven't already eaten here before...). But alas, we actually ate there recently and since I had my camera with me...
For the kiddies, they went for the reasonably-priced kid's meals going for $6.29 (including drink, meal and dessert). My son went for the Cheeseburger with fries. A pretty basic burger but at the very least, it was not small. Normally, the side of fries are crispier, but this time around, they were a bit soggy and dense. This was plenty enough food for him. My daughter had the Chicken Strips with a side of broccoli. The "clucks" were fried crispy while still somewhat moist inside. Although the broccoli was cooked to a pulp, that was probably the intention for kids.
For myself, I went for the Popcorn Shrimp & Chips. Now for those who don't remember (or weren't born yet), the ol' skool version of this was battered microscopic shrimp served in clumps. They are now full-sized shrimp (that's an oxymoron isn't it?), breaded and fried. I like this one more, but for me it is all about the tartar sauce (creamy with just the right amount of onions and pickles). As with my son's meal, the fries were not very fresh being a bit stale (as in fried awhile ago). Viv ended up with the 5-Alarm Burger. It was saucy and mildly spicy. The burger patty was not dry while not overly juicy either. As a package, the burger was typical Red Robin (being decent).
For some inexplicable reason, we visited the place again within a week. Oh yeah, the kiddies wanted to go there... To change things up a little, I went for 2 of their $5.00 appies including the Fried Zucchini Sticks. Unlike the ones at White Spot, these were not breaded, rather they had a doughy batter with a light crispiness. We were not that enthused with the ranch dressing as it was super salty. We also got the Pretzel Bites with beer cheese dip. Since these were fried, there was a greasy taste to them. But with that being said, they were not bad being chewy on the outside and somewhat soft on the inside. I thought the dip was pretty uneventful considering it had both beer and cheese.
I opted for the Mediterranean Lamb Burger which was loaded with plenty of feta cheese, tzatziki, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and red onion on ciabatta. Again, much like the other burger, the patty wasn't exactly juicy, yet it wasn't dry either. I liked the texture where it was tender while not gritty. It had a mild lamb aroma which naturally went well with the feta and tzatziki. Loved the fresh diced veggies, but they kept falling out of the soft bun. Of note, the fries were much better this time. Viv went for the Crispy Arctic Cod Burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and tartar sauce. The tempura batter was light and crispy encasing flaky, moist fish. Again, the chunky and zippy tartar sauce did its thing.
As much as I tried to coax the kiddies into ordering something different, they both had the Mac n' Cheese to my chagrin. Hey, it was much better than I imagined as the penne noodles were coated with plenty of cheesey sauce (Velveeta-like) and topped with real cheddar. It could've used a bit more salt though. Included in their meals was an Ice Cream Sundae. Well, it was ice cream with whipped cream, sprinkles and a maraschino cherry on top. Enough said. Yes, Red Robin ain't complex food nor is it meant to be either. Hey, I used to frequent this place when I didn't have adult responsibilities, but now the kiddies rule and I guess it will do until they develop a taste for foie gras...
The Good:
- Inexpensive (well, most dishes)
- It's decent for what it is
- Kid-friendly
The Bad:
- It is what it is, can't compare to the ritzier chain restaurants
- Could rely less on the deep-fryer
Originally, Ginseng and Edubs joined me to try the lunch buffet at Agra Tandoori, but due to the limited selection and overall mediocre experience, I never blogged about it. However, with a Groupon staring me in the face, it was a good enough reason for all of us to return to try the a la carte menu. Ginseng was able to round up 2 more additional eating buddies which mean more food! Despite being only accepted during dinner hours, the owner made an exception for our Groupon.
We started with one order each of the Shrimp Pakora and Fish Pakora. Possibly since they were fried first, the shrimp were not as crunchy as the fish (or hot). Also, due to the shape of the shrimp, more batter had adhered to it. With that being said, they were decent with meaty shrimp that was not overcooked. As for the fish, they were fantastic. Served piping hot, the thin layer of batter was crisp and not greasy. Inside, the fish was moist, flaky and light. Along with the mint and coriander chutney, there were hits of cumin as well.
Onto the mains, we had Chicken Tikka served on a sizzling hot cast iron plate. This modest portion consisted of marinated chicken, onions and peppers. Although the chicken had good colour while benefiting from the extra sizzle, the meat was on the drier side while being very mild in flavour except for some smokiness. As for the Butter Chicken, it was more on the tomato paste side rather than being very creamy. I personally like it creamier. With that being said, it was not lacking in flavour as there was a noted level of heat as well as the usual spices. The chunks of chicken were a it small, but were moist.
Next, we tried that Aloo Gobi which included large pieces of potato and cauliflower. Their textures were more on the firm side while not being hard. Flavours were mild with only the usual ginger and cumin notes coming through. It seemed like the flavours were not completely developed in this dish. We got some Garlic Naan to go with our meal in addition to rice. These had nice charring with some crispy portions, otherwise we would've liked to see even more colour. They were mostly soft and slightly chewy. As for the garlic, it was quite evident.
Our last 2 dishes were our favourites. The Lamb Tikka Masala was full of flavour and spice. This one had depth of flavour (the beneficiary of the lamb meat and fats) where it had body and a decent level of heat. The lamb itself was really tender with that classic gelatinous fatty texture. Lastly, we had the Fish Curry which was chock full of moist and flaky fish. Flavours were on point as there was a good mix of ginger, cumin, coriander and spice. Overall, we were pretty satisfied with our meal. In addition, the service we received was attentive and friendly. Agra Tandoori does the job for Indian food in Burnaby (as it isn't the hotbed of this type of cuisine), but I'd skip the buffet and do a la carte instead.
The Good:
- Friendly service
- Overall decent eats
The Bad:
- Buffet lacks variety
- Even though we asked for spicy, it could've been more so
Costanza wanted to meet up for Chinese food in Burnaby, but really, there is not as much choice as one would think. I went through the usual suspects and concluded that we needed to try something new. Suddenly, it occurred to me that the evil Po King had left town (now in Richmond) and had been replaced by a more welcoming restaurant named New Starlet. I've been here for Dim Sum and the food was decent (if not pricey) while the service would make Po King just a fading nightmare.
We started with the Daily Soup consisting of fish, fatty pork and watercress. The soup was boiled long enough to develop depth of flavour, but naturally, it was aided with seasoning. The flavours were clean and not an incredible amount of MSG was used. On a separate plate, there was a considerable amount of ingredients that we didn't even get to eat as there was enough food to come. The first course of the Peking Duck arrived next and it was carved table side. They left quite a bit of the meat on each piece of crispy skin which made each wrap more substantial. I thought the duck was decently prepared, but some pieces did have a noticeable amount of fat. As for the crepes, they were thin and slightly chewy, but not dry.
Next, the second course, being the Duck Lettuce Wrap was wedged onto the Lazy Susan. They expedited our dishes really fast and we couldn't keep up. There was good wok heat as evidenced by its appearance (with the help of dark soy as well) and taste. There was good caramelization while the ingredients were not wet nor greasy. The meat was relatively moist while the veggies were crisp. They did a terrible job with the lettuce though as some pieces were unusable. Since we got the special meal, it included a live Lobster, which we asked for it be prepared with a cream sauce and the addition of noodles. It was of a decent size where it was fried nicely as the meat was still succulent and had a good bounce. We noticed that the cream sauce was rather bland, but it was partly our fault as we asked for no onions (which would've added some sweetness and aromatics). As for the noodles, they were too soft.
Next, we were presented with a Roasted Squab which was a bit pale in colour. Hence, the skin was not really all that crispy nor rendered. However, the meat was still moist and mostly tender. We would've liked to see more seasoning and/or brine as the meat was rather mild in flavour. The head didn't go to waste as we played a game of hot potato with it at the table. Nice to see the adults were being a positive influence on the kids... With what was probably our favourite dish of the meal, the Fisherman's Tofu Hot Pot looked simple, but the flavours were hardly so. Hidden beneath the 4 big pan-fried pieces of silky tofu was a bevy of crab, scallops, shrimp, fish, dried shrimp and dried scallops. Hence, there was wealth of flavours that were both salty and a taste of the sea. This went well with our next dish which was the Yeung Chow Fried Rice.
The Yeung Chow Fried Rice looked to be missing some wok heat and it was indeed that. Hence, the rice was a bit soft rather than chewy and nutty. Also, there was a general lack of seasoning which made the rice plain and not savoury. Therefore, we needed the intense sauce from the tofu hot pot. We did like the big crunchy shrimp though as it added nice texture. Our last dish was the Sauteed Gai Lan served in a hot pot. We were not a big fan of this dish as the gai lan were hacked up into little pieces which made each piece too soft. Furthermore, the whole thing was coated in grease which made it both hard to pick up and unappealing. However, the flavours were good as there seemed to be some fried bits that were pungent (salted fish?). Overall, the meal was acceptable with a few highlights. However, we found the pricing to be rather high.
The Good:
- Shockingly attentive and eager service
- Clean and classy decor
- Lots of parking at the back
The Bad:
- Expensive
- A bit inconsistent with seasoning
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