This is the new location on the second floor at Denman (by Davie). It's above Starbucks and Marble Slab, next to Soho's. They have another smaller location located further up on Davie.
I have to say, this place is at least better than Ebisu. Good sashimi and specialty rolls. But not amazing. We went during a slower period, where the servers constantly bothered us and asked if we were ready to order. We had the dinner for two and ordered one extra specialty roll. We were super full and had to get a lot of the stuff for take out.
Miso soup and salad was okay, nothing special. The sashimi tasted fresh and the cuts were thick. We had two specialty rolls, I remember one was the volcano roll, forgot what the other one was. Really really good though, amazing combination. One of them had a sesame paste. Very different from your generic dynamite rolls and california rolls, definitely worth trying. The beef teriyaki was a little disappointing and I wish we ordered the chicken instead. All in all, good dinner. Will definitely come back for more of their specialty rolls.
Decently price, each of us had to pay 20 something because we ordered so much. Which was only because I really wanted to try the specialty rolls, no regrets! Be back soon for more.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Recommended: Nuba
On Hastings by Victory Square Park. It's underneath Opus.
Been here twice. Prior to that, I always walked by the restaurant and thought it looked weird and sketchy. I was very very wrong.
I love this place. Both my visits were very pleasant. Nuba was my first Lebanese food experience. When I came in, I was greeted right away with a smiling face. I was kind of shocked when I first saw the interior, I really love it. It looked so big, clean, modern, and welcoming- super charming. Love the dim lighting too. The servers were very friendly and helpful and explained some of the menu items to us before we ordered.
My first time I had the chicken tawook, which was a dish with salad, rice, hummus, pita, and a chicken leg. It was really delicious, the salad was not your generic salad. They had a slightly sour/tangy dressing, the hummus was just super yummy, and the chicken was well spiced and very juicy. My friend had the sirloin kebabs, which were not so great. They tasted and smelled a little burnt even though the meat wasn't burnt.. if you get what I'm saying. Oh, and they have cucumber water!
The second time, the server was even more helpful and very chatty. She told us the daily specials and we ordered both of them. We had scallops with the roasted vegetables. And the shared dish with prawns and pita. Everything was amazing, especially the scallops. It wasn't overcooked like a lot of places do, it did not smell fishy, it was slightly spiced and just delicious. The vegetables were blackened and a little salted, made the cauliflower really good (even for my vegetable hating friends). Shrimp were good too!
Everything was yummy, except for the sirloin kebabs. And everything was healthy too, there isn't a huge massive portion of grains or too much meat. Everything we ordered was reasonably priced too. They had a long list of wines (not a fan) and a few house special cocktails that I will be sure to try on my next visit.
Been here twice. Prior to that, I always walked by the restaurant and thought it looked weird and sketchy. I was very very wrong.
I love this place. Both my visits were very pleasant. Nuba was my first Lebanese food experience. When I came in, I was greeted right away with a smiling face. I was kind of shocked when I first saw the interior, I really love it. It looked so big, clean, modern, and welcoming- super charming. Love the dim lighting too. The servers were very friendly and helpful and explained some of the menu items to us before we ordered.
My first time I had the chicken tawook, which was a dish with salad, rice, hummus, pita, and a chicken leg. It was really delicious, the salad was not your generic salad. They had a slightly sour/tangy dressing, the hummus was just super yummy, and the chicken was well spiced and very juicy. My friend had the sirloin kebabs, which were not so great. They tasted and smelled a little burnt even though the meat wasn't burnt.. if you get what I'm saying. Oh, and they have cucumber water!
The second time, the server was even more helpful and very chatty. She told us the daily specials and we ordered both of them. We had scallops with the roasted vegetables. And the shared dish with prawns and pita. Everything was amazing, especially the scallops. It wasn't overcooked like a lot of places do, it did not smell fishy, it was slightly spiced and just delicious. The vegetables were blackened and a little salted, made the cauliflower really good (even for my vegetable hating friends). Shrimp were good too!
Everything was yummy, except for the sirloin kebabs. And everything was healthy too, there isn't a huge massive portion of grains or too much meat. Everything we ordered was reasonably priced too. They had a long list of wines (not a fan) and a few house special cocktails that I will be sure to try on my next visit.
Tree's Organic Coffee House
Granville Street location, they have other locations in Gastown and Richmond.
I've only been in here once to get cheesecake. No drinks.
I heard that they had some amazing cheesecake, but you have to know, I'm not a huge cheesecake fan. It's a little over indulgent and too rich sometimes.
I had a slice of their dulce de leche cheesecake, which is caramel. They put it on a massive plate and put on some very flat whipped cream on the side (flat like it's too liquidy and doesn't hold shape). Okay, so far, not so impressed. The cheesecake slice was very big, too big for me to really enjoy cause after halfway through I felt like I was just stuffing my mouth with it. The slice was good, very creamy, very rich (too rich for me), sweet but not too sweet, I was impressed. Maybe if it were presented better than it would've been nicer since you're going to pay almost 7 bucks for a slice of cheesecake.
Since I'm not a fan of cheesecake I probably won't be returning for that, maybe for drinks. I would spend my dessert money elsewhere (like Pacific Culinary Institute).
I've only been in here once to get cheesecake. No drinks.
I heard that they had some amazing cheesecake, but you have to know, I'm not a huge cheesecake fan. It's a little over indulgent and too rich sometimes.
I had a slice of their dulce de leche cheesecake, which is caramel. They put it on a massive plate and put on some very flat whipped cream on the side (flat like it's too liquidy and doesn't hold shape). Okay, so far, not so impressed. The cheesecake slice was very big, too big for me to really enjoy cause after halfway through I felt like I was just stuffing my mouth with it. The slice was good, very creamy, very rich (too rich for me), sweet but not too sweet, I was impressed. Maybe if it were presented better than it would've been nicer since you're going to pay almost 7 bucks for a slice of cheesecake.
Since I'm not a fan of cheesecake I probably won't be returning for that, maybe for drinks. I would spend my dessert money elsewhere (like Pacific Culinary Institute).
Finch's
Located at Pender and Richard's.
Noticed that usually when a place is run by "hipsters", the service is going to be bad or very mediocre. Same thing applies to this place. They stand around and talk a lot, depending on what time you go in. You may or may not have to wait a million years to get your flippin' sandwich. Once my friend had to wait 45 mins for a sandwich.. you kinda wonder why when you don't need to cook anything, it's just putting it together.
Luckily I didn't have to wait as long when I went with her, only about 10-15 min wait. I had the prosciutto with.. I don't remember. It was an amazing sandwich. They don't cheap out with any of their ingredients, everything looked and tasted fresh. The bread looked like it was fresh bought from the bakery. Just really really good. I remember trying the blackcurrant juice, it was good but too sweet.
The place.. looks like a dump. Maybe it was the look they were trying to go for? Maybe some people find the interior charming? Not me. I think they should maybe get some seats that don't have rips and tables that don't look like they're gonna break down from the weight of a sandwich and walls that don't look like there might be moths waiting to burst out.
Though the sandwich was a little expensive (around 7 or 8 bucks) it was definitely worth it for the quality. With new management, renovation, and longer hours, this place could be amazing.
Noticed that usually when a place is run by "hipsters", the service is going to be bad or very mediocre. Same thing applies to this place. They stand around and talk a lot, depending on what time you go in. You may or may not have to wait a million years to get your flippin' sandwich. Once my friend had to wait 45 mins for a sandwich.. you kinda wonder why when you don't need to cook anything, it's just putting it together.
Luckily I didn't have to wait as long when I went with her, only about 10-15 min wait. I had the prosciutto with.. I don't remember. It was an amazing sandwich. They don't cheap out with any of their ingredients, everything looked and tasted fresh. The bread looked like it was fresh bought from the bakery. Just really really good. I remember trying the blackcurrant juice, it was good but too sweet.
The place.. looks like a dump. Maybe it was the look they were trying to go for? Maybe some people find the interior charming? Not me. I think they should maybe get some seats that don't have rips and tables that don't look like they're gonna break down from the weight of a sandwich and walls that don't look like there might be moths waiting to burst out.
Though the sandwich was a little expensive (around 7 or 8 bucks) it was definitely worth it for the quality. With new management, renovation, and longer hours, this place could be amazing.
Not Recommended: Raincity Grill
I only got take out from here once, their fish and chips. It was decent, but not the best (a lot better than what I had from the "best fish and chips at Mr.Pickwick's"). Fries were good, fish wasn't overdone, presented decently in the box. It was ten bucks so decent value I suppose.
But what bothered me the most were the workers. When asked a question they just gave me a weird look and completely ignored me cause I asked if they sold bottled water. Anyways, that would probably repel from going back to get food from there, especially since there are so many around the beach.
But what bothered me the most were the workers. When asked a question they just gave me a weird look and completely ignored me cause I asked if they sold bottled water. Anyways, that would probably repel from going back to get food from there, especially since there are so many around the beach.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Not Recommended: Mr. Pickwick's on Denman
This is the well known and award winning Mr. Pickwick's on Denman. Why did they win awards? I have no idea, but those were the worst fish and chips I've had.
Friend and I came in on a weekday afternoon (well past lunch hour rush) to pick up some food before heading down to the beach, so no we didn't sit in for our meal. I ordered two scallops and two oysters, my friend had the fish and chips with cod and she also ordered some scallops too. Though the server was super friendly, our food took FOREVER to come out. We waited well over half an hour for our food even though there weren't that many people in the restaurant. Sad.
Okay. We ate at the beach. First of all, the scallops weren't good. I don't know exactly what it was, probably because they weren't fresh or something, but they just weren't there. I loved the oysters though, they were big and fresh and yummy. Now for the chips. They were just awful. They were so deep fried to the point where you can't taste potato, it was just.. oil. It looked like they deep fried it at least three times or something, and they were cut so short you can barely dip it in ketchup. Inedible. The worst of our entire meal were the fish. I don't know how they managed to win those awards and stuff, or maybe they just had an off day when we were there. The first piece of fish was just dry. The second piece was so dry, that this was what my friend said, and I quote her exactly:
"Dude, is this a piece of chicken?"
That was how dry it was. The fish was so flaky and dry that she ended up throwing away the whole thing along with the fries. We thought of going back to complain but thought it wasn't worth it. We just won't be returning and won't be recommending it to anyone.
Friend and I came in on a weekday afternoon (well past lunch hour rush) to pick up some food before heading down to the beach, so no we didn't sit in for our meal. I ordered two scallops and two oysters, my friend had the fish and chips with cod and she also ordered some scallops too. Though the server was super friendly, our food took FOREVER to come out. We waited well over half an hour for our food even though there weren't that many people in the restaurant. Sad.
Okay. We ate at the beach. First of all, the scallops weren't good. I don't know exactly what it was, probably because they weren't fresh or something, but they just weren't there. I loved the oysters though, they were big and fresh and yummy. Now for the chips. They were just awful. They were so deep fried to the point where you can't taste potato, it was just.. oil. It looked like they deep fried it at least three times or something, and they were cut so short you can barely dip it in ketchup. Inedible. The worst of our entire meal were the fish. I don't know how they managed to win those awards and stuff, or maybe they just had an off day when we were there. The first piece of fish was just dry. The second piece was so dry, that this was what my friend said, and I quote her exactly:
"Dude, is this a piece of chicken?"
That was how dry it was. The fish was so flaky and dry that she ended up throwing away the whole thing along with the fries. We thought of going back to complain but thought it wasn't worth it. We just won't be returning and won't be recommending it to anyone.
Not Recommended: Boathouse by English Bay
This is the Boathouse located next to the English Bay beach on Beach Avenue.
After a recommendation from my coworker, I decided to come out here for lunch on a sunny day. My friend and I were seated out on their covered patio by the window. The view was nice, but that was the only pleasant thing during our meal. To start off with, the servers there are not happy to help you out at all and stand around talking to each other while playing music on the stereo. When they took our orders, they weren't much of a help either. We ended up ordering a calamari to share, fish and chips with cod, and their special seafood grill.
The service was just.. bad. Our server left after finishing her shift (not that she was very good at her job anyways) and then someone else came by to tell us they would be helping us out for the rest of the meal. The entire time he talked to us, he had these ridiculous shades on (rainbow semi-rimless shades that looked like they were from a snowboarder back in the 80's). I found it extremely rude to have shades on while talking to a customer. I know it's sunny, but that's just disrespectful. I don't know what the policy is there, maybe they're allowed to wear them while working on the patio area. He did not come by to ask about our food until 3/4 into our main.
The calamari was terrible. It was tasteless, just warm, and not crunchy. The batter did not stick to the calamari at all. What looked like a lot of herbs on it did not help. They dumped in diced onions too.. don't know why cause it did nothing to add for taste. Definitely not worth the 13 dollars I paid. My friend's fish and chips were decent, but definitely nothing special, they have better fish and chips served in Lonsdale Quay in a little shop over this known restaurant. Not worth 20 dollars for two pieces of fish and fries and salad. Worst of all was my seafood grill which is their "specialty plate". The dish is like 16 or 17 dollars, and I expected my portions since it says grill. Nowhere in the menu does it say skewer, but what I got was a skewer of two bite sized over cooked salmon, one piece of scallop, and one prawn on top of a handful of undercooked veggies. I was appalled and I let the server know when he finally wandered over from talking to his coworkers.
At least the server did the decent thing and took my "grill" off the bill. I will DEFINITELY not be back will not recommend it to anyone else.
After a recommendation from my coworker, I decided to come out here for lunch on a sunny day. My friend and I were seated out on their covered patio by the window. The view was nice, but that was the only pleasant thing during our meal. To start off with, the servers there are not happy to help you out at all and stand around talking to each other while playing music on the stereo. When they took our orders, they weren't much of a help either. We ended up ordering a calamari to share, fish and chips with cod, and their special seafood grill.
The service was just.. bad. Our server left after finishing her shift (not that she was very good at her job anyways) and then someone else came by to tell us they would be helping us out for the rest of the meal. The entire time he talked to us, he had these ridiculous shades on (rainbow semi-rimless shades that looked like they were from a snowboarder back in the 80's). I found it extremely rude to have shades on while talking to a customer. I know it's sunny, but that's just disrespectful. I don't know what the policy is there, maybe they're allowed to wear them while working on the patio area. He did not come by to ask about our food until 3/4 into our main.
The calamari was terrible. It was tasteless, just warm, and not crunchy. The batter did not stick to the calamari at all. What looked like a lot of herbs on it did not help. They dumped in diced onions too.. don't know why cause it did nothing to add for taste. Definitely not worth the 13 dollars I paid. My friend's fish and chips were decent, but definitely nothing special, they have better fish and chips served in Lonsdale Quay in a little shop over this known restaurant. Not worth 20 dollars for two pieces of fish and fries and salad. Worst of all was my seafood grill which is their "specialty plate". The dish is like 16 or 17 dollars, and I expected my portions since it says grill. Nowhere in the menu does it say skewer, but what I got was a skewer of two bite sized over cooked salmon, one piece of scallop, and one prawn on top of a handful of undercooked veggies. I was appalled and I let the server know when he finally wandered over from talking to his coworkers.
At least the server did the decent thing and took my "grill" off the bill. I will DEFINITELY not be back will not recommend it to anyone else.
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