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Ever since I bought my new goalie skates, I've needed to sharpen them more frequently. You see, they have the Bauer Vertexx system where I can push off while in the butterfly position, hence the need for sharper skates (if you care to know...). So, while waiting for that to be done at the Hockey Shop, I figured it was a good time to get some eats (in particular, takeout). Hence, I made the short drive over to Sushi Plus out on University Drive. With only one table, Sushi Plus is purely takeout.
I decided to try the Red Dragon Roll and for a specialty roll, it was not exactly that impressive to look at. I guess the portion size fit the price. It was essentially a dynamite roll with salmon and spicy sauce on top. I found the rice to be rather dry and tasteless, but the roll as a whole was okay. The ample amount of sauce ensured that there was no absence of spice and moisture. Being inexpensive as well, the Chirashi Don featured strangely sliced pieces of fish. Despite this, textures were okay and nothing tasted amiss. However, the rice was terrible. It was dry and mealy while being almost devoid of any vinegar.
Lastly, for $6.95, I wasn't expecting much from the Assorted Tempura. As it turned out, the portion size was plain massive. The batter was a touch thick, but still crispy while a touch doughy inside. This was a meal in itself as there were many pieces of squash and yam. As you can see, the food ain't anything special at Sushi Plus, but for the price, it does the job.
The Good:
- Inexpensive
- Quick for takeout
The Bad:
- Average eats
- Depending what you order, portion size varies
With very little time on our hands and the need to grab a quick bite, I had to find a place that was not reliant on a deep-fryer. Oh, and since it was only my son and I, a salad bar was not in the cards since he would only eat the croutons and shredded cheese. Because we were in and around the South Slope in Burnaby, there wasn't a huge cache of restaurants to choose from (and especially something I hadn't been to before). But tucked in behind the 7-11 on Royal Oak at Rumble was our solution: Asa Sushi.
With interestingly shaped slices, the Appetizer Sashimi was extremely modest in portion size. It was not a big deal to me since I'm not a huge fan of big fat slices of fish anyways. Bigger is not better when it comes to sashimi because the texture is all wrong. Imagine beef carpaccio in thicker slices and you'll get the idea. This one was decent as the salmon was buttery and somewhat sweet. The tuna was okay, but a little bland. Next, I tried the Nigiri consisting of chopped scallop, tamago, toro and unagi. I found the sushi rice to be somewhat dry, but plenty chewy. It was mildly seasoned so it wasn't completely tasteless. I wasn't a huge fan of the tamago as its was too soft and crumbly. The toro was sliced very strangely as well.
For my obligatory roll, I tried the standard Dragon Roll which was essentially a California roll with unagi and avocado on top. Although it was not particularly attractive nor constructed neatly, the huge pieces of unagi was a bonus. I liked how there was minimal rice as opposed to the filling. It could've benefited from more sauce though as there was a lack of flavour with the unagi. Lastly, for my son, I got him the basic Udon with fish cake. Naturally, being primarily a sushi joint, this would not be their specialty. And really, it wasn't that great as the soup resembled more of a shoyu-based broth than a dashi. Otherwise, it was a pretty typical udon found in Vancouver. That would probably best describe Asa Sushi as well - pretty typical in a long list of Japanese joints in the city. I am curious how it competes with nearby Makoto.
The Good:
- Nice enough people
- Okay pricing
The Bad:
- Not particularly neatly made sushi or sliced sashimi
- Average quality
Sometimes, we find that form and function gives way to extravagance and style, much like a convertible in Vancouver (negated by the amount of rain, if you haven't guessed). So it was a bit ironic that we chose The Roof at Black + Blue to honour Gadget Girl, who selflessly organizes our co-rec hockey team year-after-year. Why ironic? Because she is generally quite practical, yet also happens to own a BMW convertible. Maybe that would be a contradiction in itself. Whatever the case, we found ourselves at the swank digs of The Roof @ B+B, which ultimately can be much more style than actual function.
After a slight mix-up with our reservation, where we were seated in the lounge area instead of a table, we squished into a cozy table which was really meant for one less person. I stated off with the crab Louie salad consisting of dungeness crab, romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, eggs, avocado and dressing. This was fairly substantial with a whole segment of romaine topped by an abundance of fluffy crab meat. I found that there was just enough dressing for the amount of ingredients. For my main, I decided to tackle the 24oz Bone-In Rib Eye. I requested for medium-rare and it was more or less prepared in that manner with a few more rare spots near the bone (which is normal). The meat was flavourful on its own with a nice crust on the sides. I was not really all that impressed with the "potato salad" underneath as it was pretty bland with undercooked spuds.
Super Dave and Tutti Frutti decided on the Wild Salmon filet atop a bed of quinoa salad. Both of them remarked that the salmon was slightly overdone where the meat was becoming stiff on the outside. However, in the middle, the meat was flaky and moist. It exhibited only a slight char which didn't add much in terms of smokiness. On the other hand, it was still decently seasoned. Milhouse and Gadget Girl opted for the Beef Tenderloin cooked medium-rare. These were closer to medium though. Despite that, the meat was still moist and tender. It was seasoned mildly while the side of chimmichurri didn't have any significant impact. Much like my sentiments, Milhouse was not really all that enthused about the potato salad either.
Gordo started with a Caesar Salad which was better than what I had originally predicted (hey, it's only a Caesar salad...). The crisp pieces of romaine were dressed properly where it wasn't overly wet. He could taste the individual components such as the garlic and Parm. However, he really didn't like the croutons as they were too hard. For his main, he went for the Surf & Turf consisting of beef tenderloin, lobster and prawns. His request for medium-rare ended up closer to medium, but the meat required very little effort to chew. As for the prawns, they were meaty and natural-tasting. The lobster was done right where it was buttery with a rebound texture.
Emilicious, who incidentally scored us the reservation on the rooftop, opted for the Lamb Chops. She thought they were fairly large and well-seasoned, albeit quite fatty. Similar to my order of food, her fingerling potato salad was a bit too large where she only ended up finishing less than half of it. Speedy Gonzales had the seared Ahi Tuna which appeared and tasted fresh. It was lightly seared evenly all the way around where the centre was still beautifully rare. As such, it was pretty cold temperature wise, including the exterior. Underneath, the quinoa was prepared nicely, however, it was completely soaked in butter.
We ended up getting 4 sides to share including the GRG Fries tossed with garlic, Reggiano and green peppercorn. Due to these ingredients, the fries did taste great with a salty, garlicky-peppery hit. However, the fries themselves were a bit stale in texture (they were not actually stale). So they were not all that crispy and in fact, they were somewhat dense. On the other hand, the signature Glowbal Group Brussel Sprouts with lemon, capers and Parm were on point. Slightly crispy while tender, the sprouts had a balance of acidity and saltiness. As a result of proper frying, there was a nice aroma and nuttiness to the sprouts as well.
Seemingly a simple dish, the Yukon gold Mashed Potatoes were pretty good. Smooth and creamy while loaded with plenty of butter, the potatoes went down easy. Lastly, the Roasted Veggies should've been renamed lots of onions and some mushrooms and peppers. Yes, underneath lay a whack load of onions, which were nicely caramelized, but not something we wanted lots of. Ultimately, our meal was acceptable where the venue was the most impressive feature. However, for the price point, I could see how some people would be somewhat indifferent. Therefore, if you want some swank with your meal, style does rule over function at B+B.
The Good:
- Impressive rooftop
- Food is actually decent (despite all of the negative reviews)
The Bad:
- Decent food, but expensive (is it worth the price?)
- A little too much style for some
Up until the recent past, McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King have painted the landscape for fast food burgers in the GVRD. In the last decade, we have seen a proliferation of fast food burger joints from the States including Fatburger, Five Guys and more recently Carl's Jr. Personally, I would give my left nut (a la Phil Kessel) for In-N-Out to make an appearance, but due to their strict "no more than a day's drive" to their regional distribution centers, the chances of that happening are as good as an everlasting Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's marriage. However, we now have a location of Mooyah, straight from Texas all-the-way to North Van.
Seeing how my son loves burgers, we decided to hit up the place to check out if it could satiate my In-N-Out cravings for the time being (I'll be in California in July!!!). Viv went for the Mooyah Classic in a combo that included an order of small fries and a drink. She opted for the whole wheat bun (all their buns are freshly-baked in-store) with cheddar and bacon (including a multitude of topping options). The fresh-cut fries were not as crispy as we would've liked, but they weren't bad though. As for myself, I had the Mooyah Double with jack cheese, crispy onions, mushrooms and a host of other toppings. I found the lean burger patty to be on the drier side which also meant it was not greasy either. It did taste very "beefy". The crispy onions added a nice crunch. I found the white bun to be a touch dense, but it did hold up to the ingredients. My side of yam fries were super crispy, yet I wished for some dip to go with it.
For my son, he had the kid's meal with a Cheeseburger, small fries, drink and cookie. The burger was fairly substantial while the order of fries was equal to the small in Viv's combo. He seemed to enjoy his meal as he dusted it off. Compared to all of the other available burger joints in town, Mooyah mostly blends in while still holding its own. Although not particularly juicy, the lean meat did feel healthier (even if it wasn't). The staff did seem quite green, but the manager (or owner) was trying his best to accommodate his customers.
The Good:
- Lots of options (many toppings included)
- Fresh ingredients
- Meat tastes good
The Bad:
- Kinda pricey (but similar to Five Guys and Fatburger)
- Meat is lean, so not particularly moist
My love of poutine is as strong as John Torterella's desire to drop-kick Bob Hartley in the face. I guess now that he has been fired, it will have to be some other venue - possibly a celebrity wrestling match perhaps? I'd pay to see that... Anyways, back on topic... Awhile back, I considered La Belle Patate as possibly the best poutine one could get in the Lower Mainland. Well, after sampling a whole lot of poutines in the last 5 years, it was about time I went back to the well to see if I still felt the same.
Surprisingly, for such a popular place, there are a couple of Entertainment coupons to be had. As such, being the deal-seeking Asians that we are, Viv and I each had a small poutine (2-for-1 baby!). I went for what I consider their best poutine in the Smoked Meat. With tender chunks of buttery soft smoked meat, this poutine gets amped in both flavour and texture. The legit and ample cheese curds were intact and only slightly melted, offering up a squeak on each bite. The crispy and potatoey frites stood up to the silky gravy maintaining its integrity. Viv went for the BBQ Chicken Poutine laced with a only a light dusting of spices. Hence, it was essentially a regular poutine with pieces of relatively moist white chicken chunks.
A few weeks later, I returned by myself and had one of their more substantial poutines in the Meatlovers (medium size). Consisting of beef, pepperoni and bacon, this was a meal in itself. The plethora of meat made the entire thing a bit more salty with a touch of spice from the pepperoni. It exhibited the same qualities as the aforementioned poutines and I gladly ate the whole thing with only a bit of guilt. So how does La Belle Patate compare to such places like the Spud Shak, Belgian Fries and Fritz? I would say it is still definitely up there, yet it would need to do battle with Spud Shak for top billing... Maybe a la Torts vs Hartley?
The Good:
- Crispy frites
- Legit cheese curds
- Not shy with the toppings
The Bad:
- A bit pricey (unless you have a coupon)
- A tad too much gravy (can ask for less)
Hakka Masti, I remember you very vividly. Considering the fact you are an inconspicuous Indian-Chinese restaurant smack dam in a whole lot of other joints along Scott Road, one might wonder why I can't forget you. Was it the food? Well, it was okay. But the real reason for my unforgettable memories is that I ate there just prior to one of my worst episodes of food poisoning and/or stomach flu. Let's just say I didn't leave the washroom for 3 days. Was it the food there or was it something else? Only one way to find out - go back.
To be fair, we will never be able to find out the real reason for my stay at the Chateau Washroom, so it may have been something else. This go around, I started with the Cream of Corn Soup which was pretty typical being the watered-down, starch-thicken canned type. It was okay though as it wasn't overly sweet. Rather, it was more on the saltier side. It was pretty thick though and remained so til the last spoonful. As for the Hot & Sour Soup, it was exactly how I remembered it. There was a low-rumbling spice that lingered while the plethora of cilantro dominated the flavour profile. The soup base was actually quite mild with some savoury elements.
For my mains, I tried the Chili Chicken first and it had a noticeable spiciness that was purposeful. That meant I could taste it without burning off my taste buds. Moreover, I could get the garlic, cumin and coriander from the sauce. However, there was a bit too much soy for my liking. The chicken was a little dry due to the deep fry, but the ample sauce helped things out. Next, the Szechuan Fish was really good with big pieces of flaky, moist fried filets. The sauce was garlicky and spicy with just the right amount of sweetness to balance the flavours. The noted acidity didn't hurt things either.
What the hey, I decided to pay them another visit the week after and went for the Mushroom Soup to start. I didn't really like this starch-thickened soup as it really had no inherent flavour other than a whole lot of salt. Furthermore, the bits of mushroom were of the canned variety which made it taste artificial. For my first dish, I tried the Coconut Shrimp which was a whole lot more sauce than protein. To be fair, for the price, I didn't expect a lot. Despite being few in number, the shrimp were cold-water crunchy though. As for the sauce, I got more green onion and cilantro than coconut. I did like the consistency and purposeful spiciness though.
Lastly, I had the Black Bean Beef that looked typical but was much spicier than ones found in Chinese restaurants. In addition to the spice, there was a pronounced salty black bean flavour combined with garlic. The slices of beef were medium thickness and were tenderized enough. Based on the 2 revisits, I personally prefer Green Lettuce more than Hakka Masti (in terms of portion size and overall flavour impact). With that being said, Hakka Masti still remains a decent choice for Indian Chinese food along Scott Road.
The Good:
- Friendly staff
- Something different
The Bad:
- Flavours are good, but could be more pronounced
Does Vancouver need more ramen? Heck, does Vancouver need more bike lanes? Well, think whatever you want, but we are now home to another Japanese chain called Taishoken Ramen. More known for their Tsukeman, which is a cold dipping ramen, they are only offering 3 types of soup ramen at the time being. Seeing how we had just finished up Sunday morning hockey, Milhouse, Kaiser Soze and JuJu joined me in some hot ramen to go with a warm Spring day.
At first, we were a bit apprehensive as we spied a lineup to get in. But once Kaiser Soze spotted that all bowls of ramen were only $5.00 as part of their introductory offer, we were determined to get in. As such, we all got 2 bowls each where JuJu even threatened to get 3 just to one up everyone. For me, I decided to try the Shio first. It was not particularly salty where I could really taste the meat in the broth (particularly the chicken). It was only mildly silky with some sweet elements. The noodles were toothsome while the pork belly was tender, yet not really all that fatty. JuJu was busy with his other bowl of ramen, so I took the opportunity to try the Shoyu. This one had more depth and saltiness due to the soy sauce. Again, I could taste the pork and chicken fat, which also contributed to the slight silkiness.
For my other bowl, I tried the Miso ramen. Unlike the shio and shoyu, there was no green onion and the bamboo shoots were replaced by sweet corn. Furthermore, I had the pork loin rather than the belly. This was my favourite of the 3 by far since the miso paste added saltiness and helped thicken the broth. I actually prefered the pork loin as it was fattier and more succulent than the belly. I returned with Sean once their full menu was being served. We both ended up with the Tsukeman, albeit mine was the "special" with egg. There was an option for regular and large (for $1.00 more),
but as you can see, the regular portion that I had was more than enough food. I found the ramen to be appealingly chewy with a nice elasticity. The dipping sauce had a considerable meaty depth and was salty enough to flavour the noodles. It was greasy though, but that only added more body. I chose pork belly and it was fatty and melt-in-mouth soft. As for the egg, it was an utter complete fail. If I wanted hard-boiled eggs, I could easily do that at home. Talk about false advertising (as the picture on the menu shows a golden runny centre).
We also shared the Chashu Gohan that featured a considerable amount of mostly tender pork (some pieces were a touch dry). The meat and sauce mixture was quite salty, yet when mixed with the chewy and moist rice, it was pretty good. Overall, from these 2 visits, the ramen was above average and in particular, the miso was very good. However, on a personal level, I was only marginally impressed with the Tsukeman. Furthermore, the egg needs to go back to the drawing board pronto (as I am not the only one who has received a hard-boiled version).
The Good:
- Friendly service (although a little green due to the newness of the place)
- Silky broth
The Bad:
- Pork belly could be more fatty
- Like most ramen joints, seating is at a premium
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