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Here we go with another random sushi food adventure... I was cruising along 64th Ave in Surrey one day with Klutz and Tavers in search of eats. We kept driving and driving and driving to no avail. Huh? Are there any restaurants around here??? Yup, there were as many restaurants along 64th as there are people doing the speed limit on highway 91. When all was about lost, we noticed a cluster of businesses at 152nd. Hey, a Greek restaurant and of course, a Japanese one too. We opted for sushi over roast lamb...
To start things off, we got an order of the Ebi Tempura that was served on a familiar Corelle plate. I've got the same one in blue! Anyways, these were pretty good with a crispy and light batter that was easy on the grease. Inside, the ebi was buttery and exhibited a mild snap. Next, we had the Assorted Sashimi consisting of Tai, Hokkigai, Tako, Atlantic Salmon, Tuna and Sockeye Salmon. As evidenced in the picture, the fish had a nice sheen that translated into an overall freshness (as much as flash frozen can get). Textures were good including the buttery, yet firm salmon and the soft, but not mushy tuna.
Onto some maki sushi, we had the Dragon Roll comprised of essentially a dynamite roll (ebi tempura, imitation crab and cucumber) with torched unagi on top and drizzled with unagi sauce). We found the roll to be neatly constructed where it stayed intact. The sushi rice was firm and seasoned lightly with a touch of sweetness. With a smoky char, the buttery unagi added both texture and flavour to the roll. Next, we tried the Alaska Roll consisting of cooked ebi, avocado and cucumber with smoked salmon on top. This was a pleasant enough roll, yet it was surprisingly small. For me at least, this was not typical of an Alaska roll.
Our obligatory cooked dish of the meal was the Chicken Yakisoba. It arrived steaming hot and somewhat saucy. As a result, the noodles were more wet than toothsome. Taste-wise, the dish was sweet with a touch of tartness. The ample amount of veggies probably contributed to the moisture content of the dish. Up until this point, it appeared that Klutz could eat more, so we got the Sushi Combo A (7 pcs of nigiri). With 2 pieces of ebi and tuna along with 3 pieces of salmon, this was yet again a modest portion. However, it is all about balance with Japanese food, not huge quantities. With that in mind, the fish-to-rice ratio was fine. Similar in quality to the aforementioned sushi and sashimi, this was also good.
Then surprisingly, we were presented with a complimentary order of the Aburi Salmon Nigiri (was it my camera?). Although the torched salmon was buttery while the rice was toothsome, the amount of sauce was rather unnecessary. It only served to hide the natural flavours of the ingredients. Then again, it was complimentary, so we weren't really all that bothered by it. Well, how about that? A random sushi restaurant turns out to be pretty decent. I wonder what other places exist beyond 152nd...
The Good:
- Above-average eats
- Friendly people
- Quality over quantity (if that matters to you)
The Bad:
- For those who want quantity, best find the closest AYCE
- On the pricier side
*Restaurant is now closed*
As parents to 2 kids, Viv and I have tried to expose them to as many different types of food possible. Furthermore, we have refused to serve them any steak that is beyond medium-rare. Despite their queries as to why the meat is blood-coloured, we stay the course. One particular cuisine that they have had very little experience with is Indian Food. So with yet another Groupon in my arsenal, we headed over to the nearby location of Handi for a food adventure (at least for my son as he hates everything...)
We started off with a platter consisting of Calamari, Pappardums and Veggie Samosas. For me, I enjoyed the calamari the most as they were buttery soft while still exhibiting an appealing chewiness. The light batter on the outside was nicely spiced and not greasy at all. As for the samosas, they could've been a bit hotter on the inside, but on the exterior, it was crispy and not overly doughy. The potato filling was purposefully spicy and soft.
Moving onto the mains, I sampled the Butter Chicken first and it was quite sweet and somewhat salty. Despite this, there was impactful hits of tangy tomato and creaminess. It was mildly spiced as we requested, yet the heat did build at the end. My daughter didn't mind and happily ate it. She is definitely a foodie in the making as my son complained it was too spicy. In big chunks, the chicken was sufficiently moist where some of the sauce had penetrated the meat. At the very least, my son was okay with the Saag Prawns which were aromatic, but far too salty. This was tempered by being combined with the rice and naan (as that was probably the plan anyways). The prawns themselves were cooked just right being meaty with a nice snap.
My daughter also enjoyed the Palak Paneer where it had a mild spice with a touch of ginger. The chunks of paneer were appealing in texture being soft while retaining its shape and consistency. As for the spinach, it was pretty smooth and a touch creamy without any wateriness. To go with our dishes, we had rice and Naan. Nicely charred underneath with moderate blistering on the top, the naan was mostly soft with a bit of chewiness. My son seemed to like it as he mostly filled up with it (*sigh*). Overall, this was a serviceable Indian meal, if not a bit ordinary and salty. We enjoyed the hospitality though, albeit we were the only table there for most of our meal.
The Good:
- Friendly service (but we were the only table)
- Serviceable food
The Bad:
- Flavours are out-of-balance, either too salty or too sweet
Location, location, location... Probably the most important word (repeated 3 times) when it comes to many businesses and your own personal property. So when a restaurant sports a killer view practically right on the water, it already has an advantage. To further enhance its allure, how about a location in a predominantly touristy spot? Well, that is almost a recipe for success right? Possibly, but for a restaurant, the food still needs to be at the very least decent. Hence, that was our food adventure for the night as we scoped out Dockside in the Granville Island Hotel - a place that fits the aforementioned criterira.
With a wicked view of False Creek and a spacious dining room to match, we were already impressed with its location alone. Naturally, we had to sample their wares before any judgements could be made. On that note, we started with a few appies including the Saltspring Island Mussels in a white wine broth spiked with dill. These were prepared properly being buttery and tender where all of them were open. I personally prefer BC honey mussels due to their size, but these were okay. The broth was a bit mild for my tastes, but the cooked-down white wine did come through. Arriving at the same time, the Dockside Crab & Shrimp Cakes were served with mango salsa, charred lemon aioli and cilantro. Fairly large, the crispy cakes were pretty much comprised of crab with very little filler. We would've preferred it be fluffier though. The lemon aioli was impactful with a noticeable acidity while the mango provided a vibrant sweetness.
My daughter would have been supremely disappointed if we didn't order the Smoked Salmon Chowder - and guess what we did? Yes, being spoiled is not just an understatement, it should just be a way of life for her (including a Macaron addiction). Anyways, the modest amount of chowder was served in a deep bowl (an illusion perhaps?). Thick and creamy with a good amount of carrots, celery, potatoes and onions, the smoked salmon ensured that the soup was on the saltier side. For me at least, I didn't mind that as I would prefer more smoked salmon than less (which would make it less salty).
For our entrees, I went for the Duck Breast with baby zucchini, broccoli rabe, fingerling potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, charred orange and fennel jus. I really enjoyed the preparation of the meat as it was succulent and well-brined. Furthermore, the skin was nicely rendered and crispy. Unfortunately, I only wished there was more of it as the veggies on the plate outnumbered the duck over 2:1. As for the veggies, they were appealing where textures were crisp and the flavours were purposeful. What brought everything together was the silky jus as it was aromatic without being salty. My dad had his go-to being the Grilled Chinook Salmon served with seafood and saffron risotto, chorizo, asparagus and fresh herbs. Although not particularly attractive with the albumin littering its exterior, the salmon was still moist and well-seasoned. In actuality, the risotto was more like wet rice than anything else, but it did taste good though with an aromatic saffron hit.
My mom also went for her standby - Moroccan Spiced Rack of Lamb with tomato and cumin, seasonal veggies and harissa. She substituted the chickpea and roasted artichoke with fingerling potatoes. Prepared medium-rare, the lamb was moist and sufficiently tender. The exterior crust was rather dry due to the spice rub. Viv decided on the Dockside Cioppino consisting of salmon, halibut, prawn, mussels, snow crab and scallop in a San Marzano fennel broth. Thick and tomatoey with a fennel essence, the broth was mild with a touch of acidity. There was a decent amount of fish to go along with the one prawn and one scallop. All of the seafood was cooked accordingly including the halibut which was moist and flaky. The whole thing was accompanied by a substantial "mini-baguette" which was crusty, yet soft on the inside.
For dessert, we had the Gala Apple Deep Fried Pie which arrived in a shape of a mini pie with scoop of ice cream on top. Crispy and a bit flaky, the fried exterior shell was actually quite light. Inside, the large chunks of apple were cooked down until tender while not mushy. There was enough sugar resulting in a balance of flavours as well as a nice consistency to the sauce. We also got the Dockside Lemon Meringue featuring an all-butter pastry, lemon curd, charred Italian meringue and raspberry. This quasi-lemon tart consisted of a custard that was tangy with an equal amount of sweetness. The meringue on top was a nicely torched while the crust was more buttery soft than firm. As a whole, we thought the food at Dockside was actually quite pleasant. Being a good value or not is a totally different issue. Fortunately, we had a Travelzoo coupon to help in this regard.
The Good:
- Decent food, considering it is a hotel restaurant
- Awesome location and decor to match
- The service we got was attentive
The Bad:
- Fairly expensive
- Food is fine, but not sure if there is enough protein on the plate
If you haven't noticed, I've been on a restaurant coupon purchasing frenzy of late. Despite some of the mediocre results, saving at least a bit of money helps with my kid's college fund. Seeing how we go out to eat after our Friday night hockey games, I figured that a Groupon to the Bismarck would be a good call since it is open late. Gordo, Lionel Hutz and Milhouse didn't mind saving a bit of money and were all in with this deal as well.
We decided to share everything starting with the Chicken & Waffles. Unfortunately, due to the large pieces of chicken and the amount of syrup, the waffles were no longer crispy. On the other hand, they were fluffy though. As for the chicken, the thick breading was peppery and firmly crunchy. The chicken meat was moist and flavourful including the white meat. We also tried the Srirracha Chicken Flatbread with banana peppers and pickled red onion. Slightly chewy while mostly pillowy soft, the flatbread was a bit thick. Yet, the ample amount of toppings and restrained amount of srirracha kept the ratio in check.
Next we sampled the Pulled Pork Sandwich with crispy onions on a brioche bun. With a few stringy pieces, the sammie was actually quite good. There was enough sweet and smoky BBQ sauce to keep things moist without being wet. Only a few onions remained crispy whereas the rest became soft. The brioche bun did not hold up well to the wet ingredients. On the side, the skinny fries were crispy and light. Next up was the Bis Burger with 7oz prime rib burger topped with cheddar cheese, butter lettuce, tomato and pickled sweet onion served on brioche. This was pretty decent as well with a moist meaty patty despite being a bit salty. The soft brioche was appealing in texture, but once again, didn't hold up that well to the ingredients.
For our sides, we had the Fried Okra with ranch dressing. These were lightly battered where it was only a touch crispy. Exhibiting that classic sliminess, the okra were not overdone. Possibly a thick breading would've provided a better textural contrast in this case. Lastly, we tried the Buttermilk Biscuits served with butter and chicken gravy. More dense than fluffy, the biscuits were flaky on the outside. I enjoyed dunking it into the mild and thick gravy as it provided some extra moisture. Seemingly a better place to grab drinks rather than having an entire meal, the Bismarck was okay for late night eats. Nothing remarkable, but definitely serviceable.
The Good:
- Hip spot with great music (that is just loud enough)
- Serviceable eats
The Bad:
- Okay eats, but not remarkable
While in the lineup at Soft Peaks, I noticed that the old Terracotta Modern Chinese had been replaced by Salida 7. With very few Spanish tapas joints around, I made a mental note to visit when possible. Coincidentally, Salida 7 was one of the participants in the Poutine Challenge, where Sean was a judge. Therefore, I ended up tagging along with him to try their entry as well as having a full meal. Trying to do his best Mijune interpretation, Sean had some Soft Peaks as a pre-dinner dessert. Actually, that crossed my mind as well...
Okay, back to the dinner, we started with the Montadito Con Atún y Jamon. Sitting atop crunchy bread, there was a generous portion of soft tuna mixed with picada, artichoke and Serrano ham finished with a piparra. Creamy and mildly salty from the Serrano ham, there were occasional interruptions from the sweet little bits and hits of acidity. The side salad was vibrant and crisp, yet far too salty. Next up, we had the Gambas al Ajillo consisting of prawns, chili, white wine, almonds, garlic, parsley and prawn toast. The nicely-sized prawns exhibited a natural essence while finishing off with a meaty snap. Although there was an appealing combination of sweet, salty and spicy with a touch of acidity, the saltiness was more dominant. I really liked the side of crunchy toast topped with a prawn-infused aioli despite being rather greasy.
Onto our next dish, we had the Tortilla con Manchego consisting of free-run eggs, Manchego cheese, Romesco sauce, roasted pepper, spinach, fingerling potatoes and walnut bread. I found the soft layered potatoes to be appealing in texture, however, the Manchego was curiously in the background. Offsetting the mild flavours, the Romesco provided an aromatic hit of nuttiness and punch of olives. The best part of the dish was the crunchy and nutty walnut bread. In somewhat of a surprise, our favourite dish of the meal was their entry into the Poutine Challenge, being the Poutine de la Bravas (a take on the classic Patatas Bravas) with smoked chorizo, charred tomato gravy, pepper aioli and cheese curds. Slightly crispy, the tender chunks of potatoes were caressed by a spicy aioli and rich smoky gravy. The melted cheese curds formed a tasty crust on the bottom of the cast iron pan. Spicy and meaty, the chorizo added body to the dish.
Lastly, we shared the Paella Tradicional Valenciana made with arborio rice, saffron, mussels, white tiger prawns, sausage and chicken. Since this was a smaller portion, the thin layer of rice was not texturally consistent. There was somewhat of a crust on the outside edges, yet overall, the rice was pretty wet. Although not as briny as I would've liked, the aromatic saffron really came through. The small amount of seafood was cooked properly with buttery mussels and meaty prawns. Overall, our meal at Salida 7 was pleasant enough. With the lack of Spanish tapas in town, Salida 7 does the job. Prices are on the higher side though.
*Poutine was comped as part of the challenge*
The Good:
- Decent eats
- Cozy room
The Bad:
- Like any tapas joint, bill can get up there
You would think that the last place I'd end up on my birthday for dinner would be Denny's, well you guessed wrong. Okay, I didn't suddenly hit my head where Knight & Day can now be considered gourmet food... Rather, the Asian in me took over any common sense and we found ourselves at Denny's for my free birthday dinner. Okay, cue the haters - even Viv was dissing my choice. Whatever the case, I made up my mind and nothing was going to change it. Alright, I understand blogging about Denny's is as exciting as standing in the lineup at Costco, but it's still food.
Seeing how the kiddies enjoy almost anything fried, I tried them with the Appy Platter which included fried cheese sticks, chicken strips and fried jalapenos (the last one was for us of course). Well, everything on the plate was kissed by the deep fryer (I swear the menu at Denny's is in various shades of golden brown...) where crunchy was the name of the game. To be fair, the chicken strips were not dry while the cheese was melty. I didn't like the peppers much though, it wasn't my thing. For my main, I tried the Pot Roast and you know what? It was pretty decent. The chunks of beef were fork tender while the gravy was on the saltier side. Nothing exciting, but decent nonetheless.
Viv decided on the Prime Rib Melt which was served on a somewhat dense roll. The pieces of prime rib were sufficiently tender, yet not remarkably moist. There was a good amount of melting cheese along with grilled onions. The sandwich was a bit messy to eat as it fell apart with things falling out all over the place. It was okay, but not something memorable. For my son, he had the kid's Cheeseburger and fries. For many years now, Denny's had been hand forming burger patties with fresh beef. It looks like they have continued doing so which in turns results in a juicier and meatier-tasting patty. The side of fries were pretty thick which ensured some potato texture beyond the crispy exterior.
My daughter had the Spaghetti with tomato sauce and garlic bread. As you can clearly see in the picture, the pasta was a typical kid's version with not much to rave about. The pasta was past al dente while the sauce was tart and a touch sweet. Wished there was meat in this one. As if one visit to Denny's wasn't enough, I returned with Milhouse and Lionel Hutz after Friday hockey. Yah, I think we fulfilled the Denny's quota for the next 5 years! We ended up sharing the Nachos which was topped with some chili-like concoction along with diced tomatoes and far too many raw onions. This ended up to be quite wet and not really all-that-appetizing. The flavours were too pungent.
To keep things simple and safe, I had the Clubhouse on whole wheat bread. Other than the fatty bacon (which was crispy btw), the rest of the ingredients were fresh and well-portioned. Can't go wrong with a clubhouse right? Well, not really, but this one did the job. In actuality, we had even more items including a few breakfast plates. But I'm not going to talked about them because I'm getting bored writing this post. I'm sure it is not lost upon everyone that Denny's serves a purpose. It's still in business because it offers up eats (as questionable as some of it may be) at a reasonable price 24 hours a day. Breaky is still a decent choice as well.
The Good:
- Open 24 hours
- Okay pricing
- Free meal on birthday?
The Bad:
- Some things are very generic (probably the whole point of it all)
- It is what it is (in the words of the great Bertuzzi)
As much as I'm tickled pink that there is a fabulous array of Indian food available in and around Scott Road, it gets kinda repetitive. It's like having too much of a good thing such as a pantry full of snacks, a bank account full of money or Crystal Mall full of luxury SUVs - wait, scratch that one... Hmmm, maybe scratch is the wrong word to use in this case. Anyways, with the small selection of other ethnic food around, I decided to re-visit Tokyo Sushi Express since the last time was 4 years ago. Due to the fact I can only eat so much, I ended making 2 separate visits within the same week (picture is from 4 years ago!).
Both times, the restaurant wasn't exactly ready to go on opening, but the food still came out quick. Presented neatly, the Assorted Sashimi appeared to be prepared decently with just-thick-enough slices of fish. Consisting of hokkigai, tai, salmon, tuna and ika, the highlights on the plate were the buttery salmon and not-overly-mushy and properly defrosted tuna. I wasn't a huge fan of the tai though as it was squishy and full of excess moisture. But really, for the price, I was satisfied with the plate. Next up, I tried the Tokyo Roll consisting of fried tofu, unagi, avocado and imitation crab. I found the rice to be on the drier side while missing that glutinous sticky texture. Granted, I was the first customer of the day and that may have been a contributing factor. Flavourwise, it was very mild. I did like the fried tofu though as it was silky with a light crispiness.
To complete the meal, I tried the small Assorted Tempura. This was not bad as the batter was lightly applied and fried until crispy. The pieces were properly drained of excess grease so that there wasn't a pool of oil at the bottom of the basket. As for the ingredients, the ebi had a meaty snap while the sweet potato was soft. On the next visit, I began things with the Pork Gyoza. These featured a fluffy and light dumpling skin which was still a touch toothsome. Inside, the meat filling was succulent and well-seasoned. I wasn't a huge fan of all the veggies including carrot and green onion since it muddled up the classic flavours normally found in Japanese gyoza. With that being said, these were still enjoyable to eat.
For my main, I went for the Unagi Don which was topped with a good amount of buttery soft unagi. It wasn't over-sauced while still being able to flavour most of the rice underneath. The rice itself was slightly chewy, yet it was more on the fluffier soft side. I would've like more oshinko to add even more tartness. For the heck of it, I tried the Delicious Roll just to get another taste of their sushi. Turns out it was a good decision as it consisted of tart and sweet mango that brightened up the flavours. The avocado was nicely ripe while the ebi on top had a meaty snap. Again, the rice was a bit bland, but texturally, it was better than the last time. In short, Tokyo Sushi Express provides serviceable eats for locals who may not necessarily be all that picky.
The Good:
- Serviceable food
- Friendly people
- Okay pricing
The Bad:
- Obviously not exactly authentic (if that matters to you)
- Not really ready to serve at opening time
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