#35: Coast Restaurant - January 25, 2014

This is Dine Out Vancouver Part II. I had high hopes for this one. On the second day of my new job, my manager took me to Trattoria for lunch. It was a Tuesday, so their lunch special was any of their pasta dishes at $11 or something. I ordered the Fusilli Lunghi, and without a doubt it was the best pasta dish I have ever eaten. I wanted to take a picture of it in all it's glory, but it was my second day on the job and didn't want to leave a weird impression. My boss explained that Trattoria was part of the Glowball Group of restaurants, and that some of their other locations were not far from where I was living. One of these locations is Coast Restaurant. Coast was the only Glowball Dine Out menu that really drew me in, and if they could make their dishes half as good as Trattoria's pasta it was worth it.

I'm going to describe this experience as being a "disappointment sandwich." You've probably heard of the "sandwich technique" of giving feedback, where you give someone criticism in-between giving them compliments so you don't emotionally destroy them. This is going to be pretty similar.

Compliment: Coast is a hella cool place. Floor to ceiling, everything is chic and modern. The 360 degree raw bar in the middle is probably an awesome view from the loft-like 2nd floor seating. The typical oak-finished wine cellar is replaced by sleek stainless racks with glass doors, which compliment all the raw and industrial accents. If you want to impress a girl on a first-date, suit up and take her here. Have a few drinks and oysters at the bar, and then settle into a comfortable table to two.

Compliment: I ordered the Mussels with Frites, and Stephen ordered the Dungeness Crab and Sun Choke Chowder. I'd be so bold as to say that after vacationing in Ireland in 2012 and PEI in 2013, we are mussels and chowder experts. We've eaten mussels made for us personally by Chef Michael Smith, and tested about 75% of the chowders competing in the chowder competition at the PEI Seafood Festival. We know our stuff (or at least think that we do). 

I'll start by saying that visually, the dishes were stunning. The mussels were literally the size of my thumbs, and not the shell, the meat! I've never even eaten an oyster that big. Our waiter confirmed that they were local BC mussels. There must be something post-Fukumisha in the BC water. The chorizo and feta sofrito was ridiculously flavourful, and made for a broth that I could drink by the barrel. I would have killed for a few pieces of bread to soak up the broth from my bowl. Though frites were not a good substitute for crostinis, they were also amazing. At first I thought they would be overkill, but damn were they ever good.

Apart from the few bits of extremely undercooked pieces of potato, the chowder was the best we've ever had. The miso and sake definitely turned this usually rustic stew into a high-end gourmet app. The crab, mussels, and clams were perfectly cooked, and the broth was creamy and savoury. It was just wow.

Criticism: Here's where it started to go down hill. The mains were bad. Very bad. Had I not paid only $38, an effective discount of 50% of what I would have paid, I would have marched into the kitchen and asked the chef "What the hell?!" 

Firstly, Salmon Two Ways was really Salmon One Way But We're Going To Throw Some Olive Tapenade On One Of Them To Make It Look Like We Spent Twice As Long Prepping Your Plate. One was supposed to be olive-crusted, and the other was supposed to be roasted. Both were grilled the exact same way and they weren't grilled fresh to order. That salmon had been sitting under a heat lamp for I don't know how long. There was zero distinction between the "Two Ways," besides the little bit of muddle black olive on one of them. It was dry and bad, and I'm mad at myself for letting it slide. The pea-basil purée was pleasant and the prawn and bacon croquette was quite good, but it didn't make up for two pieces of disrespected salmon. Apparently there was a cauliflower purée as well (I didn't see or taste it), and the wild mushrooms were pretty blah. Overall, I'm pretty angry how bad it was.

Stephen order Grilled Alberta Beef Oscar Style. The Oscar part, shrimp and Hollandaise sauce, was thick, creamy and delicious. The same can be said for the whipped potatoes, which coming from me is saying a lot since I hate mashed potatoes. However, the Alberta Beef, much like the Salmon Two Ways, was totally disrespected. It had no seasoning. It was perfectly cooked medium-rare and the texture was wonderful, but where the heck was the salt? 

I don't know how these mains went so wrong. They were simple dishes. Whoever was on the protein station that night needs to get it together.

Compliment: I was pissed after my main, and once I get it in my head that I don't like something, it's usually hard to change my mind. I have to say that Coast almost redeemed themselves with an exceptional dessert (almost). I wasn't excited about it initially because the description was uninspiring: "candied puff pastry, assorted fillings, anglaise." Boring, right? WRONG! The candied fish-shaped puff pastries were really tasty and flaky, and the filling was sweet and dense. I still can't figure out what the filling was, but it tasted like a chocolate and passion fruit mousse, but with a cheesecake density. The Anglaise was beautifully smooth and tasted like fresh vanilla bean and tart fruit. I assume the intention was to dip the taiyaki in the Anglaise, but the presentation of the Anglaise in a water glass made it difficult. Something about have the depth would have been appreciated.

Compliment: The wait staff at Coast was very pleasant. We had about 3 different waiters serve us in the span of an hour. This meant that we never waited for anything and we were well attended to.

In summary, the apps and dessert were extraordinary. The mains were a huge disappointment, and the mistakes that were made with the salmon and beef were inexcusable, even if I did only pay half-price for Dine Out. The point of Dine Out Vancouver is to entice people to come in because the menu is so cheap, and come back because the food is epic. Coast missed the mark unfortunately. I would not have paid full price for those mains.

View from our table of the bar

Stephen had to order the caesar... it was pretty awesome.

I really liked the table setting

Muscles and frites... look at the SIZE of those things!!!

One of the best chowders of life.

Salmon one and a half ways...

Oscar would have called for more seasoning.

Delicious, but presentation could use some work.

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 3 for the mains, 9 for the apps and dessert. I'm not even going to average them out like I usually do. The mains were that bad.
Creativity: 7 - Though the dishes were all close to traditional for what they were, we went from Mediterranean apps to "Canadian" mains to Japanese and French inspired desserts. The "variety" gets extra points.
Service: 6 - Basic friendly and attentive service. Not extraordinary, but not bad.
Bang for your buck: 4 - At Dine Out Vancouver prices, we didn't feel like we were being ripped-off. At full price of about $35 for the mains, like I said, I would have marched into the kitchen and confronted the chef for sending out such bad food.
Overall experience: 6.5 - Great start, great finish, but the main event sucked.

Would I go back? I don't know. I'm interested in sitting at the bar and indulging in the seafood tower, but I'm hesitate because of the in-acceptable salmon and beef. I don't know if they deserve more of my money. I'm still thinking about it.
Who would I recommend it to? Couples and groups under 4 people. The seating seems like it would be a little tight for a group that was more than 4 people. This is a great date spot if you're looking to effortlessly impress.
For what occasion? This isn't a "hey, it's Friday night and there is nothing in the fridge, let's go out" type of place. It's great for romantic special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays and Valentine's Day.
It was better than: If we just talk about the apps, the seafood was as good as Ireland and PEI. But, the mains just killed it.
It wasn't as good as: L'Abattoir, The Fish House in Stanley Park
Expect: A full house. Definitely make a reservation! The vibe is really lively and chic, so dress your best!

Top 50 Worthy? For the apps, yes. For the mains, no. I'm sure the menu overall is Top 50-calibre. Maybe if we had paid full price we would have gotten our moneys-worth.

#21: Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House - January 19, 2014

Brunch enthusiasts rejoice! You're going to love this one!

I'm sure there are tons of restaurants that you've been to for dinner, but never thought to bother going there for brunch. In my opinion, if you can't make a killer Hollandaise, cook an egg properly, and heat your maple syrup to the same temperature as your waffles, you have no business making anyone dinner. Why do you think every season of MasterChef has a breakfast challenge? If you can't rock breakfast, you shouldn't exist. All that to say, next time you're feeling adventurous on a Sunday morning, try out somewhere you'd typically go for dinner and see how they measure up!

During one of our online searches for a Vancouver breakfast spot where we can eventually become regulars, Stephen said "This place has chicken and waffles! I want chicken and waffles!" Now Joe Fortes doesn't quite fit our criteria for a weekly breakfast go-to. The menu is a little pricier than I would wan't to spend every Sunday, the speed of service is definitely at a sit-down pace rather than diner-pace, and most of the menu choices are on the heavier side. However, it was a fantastic once-in-a-while place that I think is largely undiscovered by our demographic.

Nearly everyone else who was at the restaurant at the same time as us was old enough to be our parents. I'm not sure if it's because the decor appeals to their age-group or because there are hotels in close proximity. Either way, they were all baby-boomers with thick enough wallets to start with oysters on the half shell (yeah, at 11am, weird right?) and throw back a few mimosas.

The mimosas are hard to say no to. A waiter comes by every table with a bottle of bubbly and a jug of fresh orange juice and says "Mimosa?" before you are even offered a glass of ice water. We resisted, but all of the tables around us indulged. I found the menu to be waaaaaay too long. They could easily cut it down by 75% and save the kitchen the headache of one person ordering that super unpopular dish that the chef hates making and only put on the menu because the owner's nephew eats it when he's in town. Stephen of course ordered the chicken and waffles, and I ordered Joe's Signature Benedict.

The waiters were quick to offer us mimosas, but the rest of service was quite slow. Not quite "um, we ordered 30 minutes ago, where is our food?" slow, but what we ordered didn't justify the waiting we did. It took about 5 minutes to be served a glass of water, 10 more minutes for Stephen's coffee, and another 5 before they came back to take our orders. At least while we waited for our mains, we were served scones instead of bread. It was an appropriate swap-out for brunch. I believe they had white chocolate and cinnamon. About the same time we received our mains, the table beside us complained about the wait for their food since they ordered before we were even seated.

Enter the main attraction: two visually stunning brunch plates. Not only did they look amazing, the smell was intoxicating. Our food was expertly prepared and plated, and suddenly the wait was justified. Joe's Signature Benedict was hands-down the very best eggs Benedict I have ever had! Yes Rosa (my very best foodie friend back in YUL), even better than l'Avenue! For the first time, the waiter asked me how I wanted my eggs poached: soft, medium or well. I ordered soft, and when I ate them I appreciated the option because, as I've mentioned in other posts, I despise hard-cooked egg yolks. The truffle and sage Hollandaise sauce was so creamy and thick and delicious that I just wanted an entire glass of it. The wild mushrooms were meaty and perfectly sautéed,  and though the prosciutto wasn't crisp as the menu described it, it was a great salty complement to the whole dish. I also got a generous helping of breakfast potato that were crispy, salty and yummy as well. And they were served with ketchup on the side, so they saved me the embarassment of asking a waiter in a nice restaurant for a side of Heinz. I'm not sure what else I can say about eggs Benedict. Just go order one. Do it. It's amazing.

The chicken and waffles was also pretty perfect. The ratio of waffle to chicken was spot on. A lot of restaurants where we've ordered chicken and waffles are generous with the waffles and stingy with the chicken. These were 2 big hunks of perfectly seasoned and deep fried, crispy chicken. Take a hand-full of Tostito chips, stack them up, and bite into the entire stack at once. That's the sound the chicken made when you bit into it. No joke, hella crispy. To my surprise it was also both juicy and completely cooked through. If you are reading this, chances are you aren't great at cooking chicken (I have't eaten your chicken, but I know you aren't cooking it right). There is a fine like between pink/undercooked and juicy/cooked, and it's rarely achieved. Kudos to Joe Fortes for that ridiculous chicken. The waffles were fluffy, not super dense, and just a tad sweet without the syrup. They had a crispy exterior, and tasted great on their own. AND the syrup was served warm. Why do a lot of places think it's a good idea to serve cold or room-temperature syrup with hot waffles? Faux pas! Sage was also present in this dish, this time deep fried. In Montreal, we had this massive, thriving sage plant, and never knew what to do with it. Lesson learned: breakfast/brunch is the place for sage. The plate also had a little sweet chili sauce on the plate. Chicken + waffle + syrup + chili sauce = Holy sh!t, where have you been all my life?

All that to say, I typically wouldn't have gone to a place like Joe Fortes for brunch, but I'm so happy that we gave it a chance. It was one of the best brunches I've ever had, and you really have to check it out for yourself!

White Chocolate Cinnamon Scones

Chicken and Waffles!

The Joe Forte's Benedict... The Best!

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 9 - It was very close to perfect tasting dishes, but Stephen says the coffee needed to be better for them to earn a 10. It's a crucial element of breakfast, so I won't disagree with him.
Creativity: 7.5 - I give them a 9 for creativity on the menu overall, but a 6 for creativity in the dishes we actually had since they were pretty traditional with minimal creative twists, so let's split it to a 7.5.
Service: 6 - Service was very friendly, especially the hostess when we arrived, but it was a little slow
Bang for your buck: 7 - It's hard to judge this one. I've had eggs Benedict and chicken and waffles for $12 each, and Joe Fortes prices were 50% higher. Factoring in the superior quality and in-house-made elements like fresh-made English muffins, the prices may be justified. Would I spend that much every Sunday? Nope.
Overall experience: 8.5 - It was a wonderful surprising experience.

Would I go back? Absolutely, and for both breakfast and dinner. Though we were set on what we were going to order before we arrived (courtesy of them having their entire menu online...love that), we started to doubt our choices when we saw some of the other dishes on the physical menu. We'd like to go back and try a few more.
Who would I recommend it to? Couples, small groups or even big groups. The space is big, and the tables are close enough that you can eves drop (you know you do it!), but far enough that you aren't annoyed by a loud table next to you. You could easy bring a family with young children here for brunch, but I probably wouldn't recommend it in the evening for dinner.
For what occasion? I wouldn't qualify this as a weekly brunch, or for a very important event. It is a great once-in-a-while place.
It was better than: Twisted Fork Bistro
It wasn't as good as: Cafe Medina
Expect: To be seated right away since there is tons of seating. It feels a little like Tiffany's in Montreal, but quality is definitely a cut above. Don't let the decor and wait staff uniforms intimidate you into thinking its hoity-toity. Expect to be there longer than other Vancouver breakfast joints, because the service is on the slower-side. At the same time, they aren't trying to rush you out so that someone else in line can be seated, which would be especially appreciated if you were going with a bigger group. Hipsters beware: expect everyone to be a baby-boomer or older.

Top 50 Worthy? Yeah, I'll give it to them. Their food was damn good. They could easily be in the Top 10 if they would cater to the young-professional demographic.

#24: The Fish House in Stanley Park - January 18, 2014

When I posted my first Vancouver review on TripAdvisor (Café Medina), someone private messaged me to say that I should check out Dine Out Vancouver. I appreciate that they did because otherwise I likely would have missed the event all together. For 2 weeks, restaurants all over Vancouver are offering 3-course prix fixe menus at either $38, $28 or $18. There is a similar event in Montreal called "Montreal à la table". The problem with the Montreal version is that you end up in one or both of the following scenarios:

1. The restaurant is fully booked, and you get terrible service. It's beyond me how this happens. This event happens every year, and every year hot spots like Toqué get fully booked in a matter of hours. Yet, for some reason the service lags and dinner becomes so painful that you just want it to end. How do they so poorly plan their staffing for those nights?
2. The food is meh, and you know that it's not usually meh because you've been there before. Case and point, Europea. I had been there twice before and the food was amazing. However, during the event, even though they were cooking the same dish for every single guest, the food was hella boring.

For those reasons, I was a little hesitant to check out the listings for Dine Out Vancouver. I told my co-workers about my Dine Out Montreal experience, and they insisted that it definitely wasn't the case in Vancouver. I was glad to hear it because some of the restaurants on the Top 50 list were participating and between the 2 of us, we could try 6 different plates for less than $40/head.

There were probably 10 restaurants from the Top 50 list participating in Dine Out Vancouver, but there were a few that we didn't want to risk a repeat of the Montreal experience. There were others where the menu was crap (i.e. the appetizer was Caesar salad... some originality please...). We settled on two spots, starting with The Fish House in Stanley Park. 

When we walked in, it reminded me of of 21 Breakwater in PEI, which is a converted cottage. Don't let the 1960s-cabin-by-the-sea decor fool you into thinking that this place is intended for an older crowd. The menu is fresh and current, the wine list is trendy and local, and the staff is young and dynamic. I feel like a lot of late 20- to early 30-somethings would miss this little gem.

Let's talk about the lobster oil that they serve their bread with. Wow. I'm not usually crazy about dipping bread in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, because I just don't get the appeal of olive oil. I find the flavour so diluted that it's a huge waste of calories soaked up by a bread sponge. This lobster oil is in a league of it's own. It tasted like fresh lobster, and while it was obviously a liquid in the bowl the texture in your mouth was like soft butter. I almost got upset when the waiter took the last piece of bread and the oil away. 

I started with the Dungeness Crab Cake and Stephen got the Lobster Bisque. Best crab cake ever. The outside was perfectly crisp, and the texture inside was perfect. There are a lot of bad crab cakes out there; you know, the ones with un-uniform pieces of celery and onion, or a big chunk of red imitation crab stick, or soggy from the taste-less sauce. This was a real, simple crab cake made with fresh and well treated ingredients. You don't need that much more than that. It was served with a little bit of bisque, scallion oil, slaw and tempura cilatro all of which made for a great side-show that didn't steal the crab cake's thunder. Stephen's lobster bisque with tarragon crème fraiche was "adequate" (his words), but we both agree that we aren't fans of tarragon. There was something missing from the bowl. Something crunchy and salty.

Next I had the Acrtic Char, which was accompanied by a manchego and cumin potato croquette, chipotle hollandaise, asparagus and serano ham. The asparagus was perfectly tender-crisp and the croquette was fantastic. I'm not usually a fan of potato purées, but I probably would be if they all full of manchego and then deep fried. The rest of the dish lacked seasoning. The acrtic char and hollandaise were begging for a a pinch of salt each. I'm sure that was the purpose of the serano, but since it was crisp it was quite difficult to get the fish and ham in the same bite. It's worth mentioning though that the char's skin was crisp; an attribute that I have not yet perfected in my own cooking. What's the trick?!

Stephen ordered the Short Ribs, which were braised for 3 days. The side of shrimp and wild mushroom risotto was to die for. It was rich and creamy, and just the very centre of the rice grains were al dente. I like when it still has a tiny bite to it. The short ribs themselves were very tender, but lacked flavour. It didn't help that we couldn't taste the red wine jus against the rest of the flavours on the dish.

To wrap it up, we ordered the Vanilla Cheesecake and Fish House Smores. The cheese cake was topped the a caramel apple crumble, reminiscent of Rockaberry's Apple Crumble Cheesecake. It was delicious. I'm not a huge marshmallow fan, but the rest of the de-constructed Smore was about as original as the camp-fire classic can get. The house-made graham cracker was soft and spicy, you got a big hit of smokiness from the smoked ice cream, and everything chocolate on the plate was spot-on.

I put emphasis on solid and friendly service in my post about Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck. The wait staff at The Fish House get two big thumbs up. I believe our waiter's name was Emerson, and he was very attentive, charming, and warm. He made well placed and appropriate sarcastic comments and jokes, and had we been ordering à-la-carte he might have been able to talk me into buying 2 of each menu item because he was just so nice. I like when the staff treat us like normal people and not passive aggressively put customers on a pedestal. He also told Stephen that he should finally let me watch Downton Abbey. Win!

Best Crab Cake Ever!

Lobster Bisque with a Caesar

Arctic Char

Braised Short Ribs with Prawn and Mushroom Risotto

Vanilla Apple Cheesecake

Fish House Smores

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 8 - It had it's strong points and a few faults...more salt!
Creativity: 6 - For the most part, the dishes were traditional, with the exception of the Smore
Service: 9 - Exceptional service
Bang for your buck: 8 - The portion sizes were perfect for a 3-course meal, but it is hard to judge this category because it was Dine Out Vancouver, and your dinner price was capped at $38. It's the equivalent of getting a free dessert had you paid the actual price for eat item.
Overall experience: 8 - It was a nice, quiet date night.

Would I go back? Probably not, but just because it's inherently not the type of place that you'd become a regular at.
Who would I recommend it to? Couples, small groups or big groups. There was a table behind us of about 12 people who looked very comfortably seated. The tables have enough space between them that the volume of a large crowd isn't a bother. You have to love seafood to take full advantage of the menu.
For what occasion? Date night, double date night, or a tame special occasion like you mom's birthday. It doesn't have a trendy vibe in terns of decor, so you won't stick around until 3am.
It was better than: Europea during Montreal à la table
It wasn't as good as: L'Abbatoir
Expect: To be seated right away, a decent 3-course meal, solid staff, great cocktails, and perfect local wine pairings.

Top 50 Worthy? I'm not sure. It was good, but I don't think it makes the cut as a Top 50 spot. I think the touristy nature of Stanley Park brings in a lot of traffic and appeal to visitors, and that is why there are so many reviews. It doesn't seem like a place that the locals frequent.

#28: La Taqueria - January 17, 2014

So we're only 3 weeks in and we've already been to 4 of the Top 50, plus a hand-full of others. With many dollars spent in a short period of time and nothing in the fridge on a Friday night, we were looking for a real bang for your buck place. I filtered the Top 50 by price by clicking "$" - the cheapest category. No results in the Top 50. Lame!

We started doing groceries at the Save-on-Foods in Fairview (conveniently across the street from Whole Foods and their heavenly banana chocolate chip muffins), and on our way back to the Skytrain I spotted La Taqueria. I recognized it from the list. I didn't know much else about it.

It came to mind when we were trying to come up with where to eat on Friday. We took a look at the menu online, and we were sold, especially at the price point. Meat tacos are 4 for $9.50, and vegetarian tacos are 4 for $7.00. 8 tacos for $16.50, plus $4 Mexican beers... why wasn't this placed categorized as "$"!?

The place only seats about 25 people between twin bars, and a few tables. When we walked in there was a small line of about 4 people, so we observed the ordering, seating and serving ritual. You order at the counter from a Mexican guy that treats you like you're his best buddy that just walked into a bar. Then you wait for a seat to clear up (all were taken when we walked in), and a server comes out of the kitchen shouting out your name to deliver your order to your table. 

We ordered all 4 of the vegetarian tacos, 4 of the meat ones, and 2 beers. We only waited about 2 minutes before a table cleared up for us. I think the best way to review the tacos is to rank them by preference (#1 being the best). So here we go:

1. Carnitas - pork confit with pickled red onion: The flavours were very well balanced. The pork was sweet and savoury, and the pickles gave it a little bit of a bite.
2. Tinga de hongos - sauteed mushrooms in chipotle sauce: You don't miss the meat with this one. It was just a little spicy and a depth of flavours. Never underestimate mushrooms.
3. Rajas con crema - roasted poblanos with creamed corn, sour cream and cheese: I didn't expect to like this one. Creamed corn is gross. Obviously this wasn't the crap Green Giant creamed corned that your mother tried to feed you when you were a kid. It just tasted fresh and crisp and delicious.
4. Al Pastor - pork in anchiote chili marinate and pineapple: You could tell the pork had been marinating and cooking forever. It was tender and savory, and pineapple was a perfectly sweet and slightly tart complement.
5. Pescado - fish with chipotle mayo, rashi and pumpkin seeds: Stephen and I don't agree on number 5 and 6. I think these two should be reversed. I found the fish to be a little dry, but it was a decent fish taco. More chipotle mayo was needed.
6. Frijoles charros con queso - refried beans with cheese: Best refried beans ever. Starchy, savory, meaty, smooth yumminess. I saw a very petite girl about 12 years old order 4 of them for herself. I don't know what kind of cheese was on it. Its texture was similar to parmesan, but it was much more creamy and salty (not quite pecorino romano, but close). There was only a tiny pinch of cheese but it packed a punch!
7. Pollo con mole - chicken in a mole sauce: I don't think I'm a huge fan of mole. The chicken was juicy and perfectly cooked, but the sauce didn't do it justice. I liked the sauce until the chocolate flavour sneaks in at the end. Yep, not a mole fan... or maybe just not this mole's fan. Will have to try it again.
8. De Picadillo - tofu in a secret sauce: It was alright. For tofu and a vegan item, it was quite good. But in comparison to the others, it was just average.

Overall, they were good tacos. It's worth mentioning that the fresh home-made tortillas were fantastic. Eight was a perfect portion size for 2. We were afraid that it would be too much since tex-mex-style tacos are sometimes mammoth. I can't say that these are authentic, since I've never been to Mexico, but it's definitely not Carlos & Pepe's (shout out to a Montreal staple), but it did resemble the offerings at El Rey Del Taco in Montreal, which I've been told is "authentic". 

Stephen with our Mexican Beers and Taqueria's Business Card

The Vegetarian Tacos

The Meat Tacos

View From the Inside

View From the Outside

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 7 - It was good, but not blow your mind good.
Creativity: 5 - They're classic, authentic flavours, so it's hard to rate them high on creativity
Service: 7 - Very friendly staff, but not sit-down quality service
Bang for your buck: 10 - You can't get 8 decent tacos for $16.50 anywhere else
Overall experience: 7.5 - Pretty good Friday night.

Would I go back? Probably not, just because the menu doesn't change. Though we didn't try all the tacos, there were only 3 that we didn't.
Who would I recommend it to? Couples or pairs. There isn't much seating, and getting a table for more than 2 could take a long while. Don't bring your kids! There were 3 horribly behaved kids on their way out when we walked in, and in a small space it's especially aggravating for everyone. Bring your annoying vegetarian and vegan friends! Don't bring your picky friend who thinks Taco Bell is a real Mexican feast.
For what occasion? Quick dinner or lunch, or even a mid-afternoon snack
It was better than: Any "americanized" mexican restaurant
It wasn't as good as: Grumman 78 back in MTL
Expect: To wait for a few minutes for a seat, and to feel the pressure to leave as quickly as possible from the people waiting in line eye-ing you down. Though the beers are cheap, you won't feel like sticking around for 2-3, which sucks. $4 beers!

Top 50 Worthy? Maybe not. The tacos were good, and it's a great value, but I could probably find 50 better restaurants. I was glad we went, and I did enjoy the food, but it doesn't get an A for Amazing unfortunately.

#18. Twisted Fork Bistro - January 11, 2014

Why don't brunch places take reservations? I'm starving and I have literally eaten nothing all day, and there is a line and I have to wait an hour? Not cool. Enter hangry Sheila. Yes, hangry. Hungry + Angry = Hangry. I like the way Prohibition back in Montreal does it: you can make a reservation before noon, and after that you join the line. Why can't all these hot Vancouver brunch spots do that? Me so hungy!!!

None of the TripAdvisor reviews said that there would be a wait at the Twisted Fork Bistro, but I still wanted to get there for opening so we could get an "early" start to the day. We arrived at the restaurant in the middle-of-nowhere-Yaletown (or at least I think it's in Yaletown - I haven't quite figured out the boundaries yet) 3 minutes after opening, and they place is FULL! HANGER! The host told us we could try The Flying Pig which wasn't far, but for a place to be packed 3 minutes in, it must be amazing. They have a very cool system where they take your name and number, and text you a few minutes before a table opens up. Because everyone had just been seated, the host told us it would be at least 45 minutes before a table would be available. We opted to be put on the list anyway, and took a walk down the street to get Stephen some bus tickets.

We had an unfortunate incident at Burrard Station the week before. I bought a monthly bus pass to get to work in Kitslano, but Stephen was only a 10 minute walk from his office so he didn't need one. I wanted to buy a clothes drying rack, but the only Canadian Tire or similar store was across the Cambie Bridge. We went to Burrard Station to buy bus tickets, and Stephen figured that he would get 10 tickets to have them handy. So he plugs in the number of tickets into the TVM (Ticket Vending Machine), swipes his credit card, and the machine spat out the 10 tickets. What we didn't realize is that all the tickets were now "active" and had to be used within 2 hours! They had an expiration time on them! There was no way that we could use up 10 tickets in 2 hours, so we were kind of pissed at $2.75 per extra ticket. Lesson learned: don't buy extra tickets at the TVM. This week, while we waited for the Twisted Fork to text us, we went the 7-Eleven down the street to buy a booklet of 10 "inactive" tickets.

Obviously that didn't kill 45 minutes, so we stopped at Blenz coffee shop to escape the rain and to kill some time. Though I happily take rain over snow, my hair is not adapting very well. I'm not sure what amount of product Vancouverites layer their locks with, but their hair has no reaction to rain or wind. Mine has constantly been frizzy and puffy since we landed. Plus, I didn't have place in my suitcase to bring my blow dryer or straightener. Sigh.

Finally, we got the text from Twisted Fork and headed back. It felt great to cut to the front of the line that had developed while we were gone. A small table across from the bar was waiting for us. We both decided to indulge in some artery-clogging Hollandaise sauce, and both ordered the Eggs Benny. Stephen got it with Mediterranean turkey sausage and I asked for smoked salmon. Then the waitress said the magic words: "Would you like to order some banana bread or scones while you wait?" Um, asiago cheese scones... heck yes!!!

Every meal should start with asiago scones. Warm, moist, crumbly, cheesy pieces of heaven. They were served with their delicious house jam, and whipped butter with sea salt. I would have happily order 10 of them and just eaten that. I want to serve them at my wedding.

Our Eggs Bennies were served with baked beans, rosti and sautéed spinach. I always try the Hollandaise on it's own because at some places it's just bad and after you break the egg yolks you can't tell anymore. It was one of the better Hollandaise sauces I've tasted. It was thick and salty (it's amazing how often Hollandaise is just missing basic seasoning), and wasn't drowning the dish.

Next comes my favourite part: orange yolk volcano over the brioche and salmon. I hate egg whites, but God do I ever love the yolk. Sorry cholesterol level. What a masterpiece. The brioche was sweet and soaked up all the yolky Hollandaisy goodness, the salmon was light and savory, the rosti was crispy and salty, and the spinach and beans were just delish. As for Stephen's turkey sausage, it was so moist and meaty that I don't believe there is just turkey in there. Overall, it was a very well made eggs benny.

It wasn't the best breakfast/brunch we've ever had. Cafe Medina was better. However, the fact that it is above Cafe Medina in the TripAdvisor standings is explained by its "crowd pleasing" traditional menu. There is something for everyone from egg scrambles to french toast to frittata, and it's not particularly "exotic." It pleases a broader crowd (all you picky eaters, that's you!) than Cafe Medina, and therefore is a better candidate for the popular vote. Though all your friends would be happy to eat here, it's a tight place and isn't a great place to sit and chat. That's probably a good thing since you'd be holding up the line anyways!

Their Namesake

My View

Amazing Asiago Scones

My Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny

Stephen's Mediterranean Turkey Sausage Eggs Benny

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 7.5 - It was good, but didn't blow my mind.
Creativity: 4 - The food is traditional, and borderline generic
Service: 8 - the service was attentive, speedy and very friendly
Bang for your buck: 8 - All brunch plates are $13.50 and are a generous portion
Overall experience: 7 - It was a satisfactory brunch

Would I go back? Probably not for brunch, but definitely for dinner. Dinner menu looks like a lot of fun!
Who would I recommend it to? Couples or small groups (not more than 4); under 30 crowd. Don't bring your kids! Don't bring your vegetarian friend because the meat is worth appreciating.
For what occasion? Brunch, but possibly dinner as well... but, let that wait for another review
It was better than: McDonald's? We haven't had enough Vancouver brunch yet to judge properly...
It wasn't as good as: Cafe Medina
Expect: To wait in line for potentially over an hour, because there will be a line and they don't take reservations. The place is a little loud, so you won't want to linger too long to chat. You'll be in and out in about 30 minutes.

Top 50 Worthy? Maybe not. On my original Top 50 list, Twisted Fork was #18. Today, it's #10. I don't get it. It was good and is probably consistently good, but it wasn't amazeballs. Top 10 should be amazeballs! I guess we'll have to go back for dinner to re-evaluate and see what all the fuss is about.

Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck - January 5, 2014

Vancouver has a great app called Street Food Vancouver. Unlike its Montreal counterpart, it actually works quite well. You're the blue dot, open trucks are the green dots, and closed trucks are the red dots. While trying to get the blue and green dots to connect, one should link arms with their dining companions and skip towards the truck singing "We're off the see the Wizard." It's that exciting.

We were strolling along Robson street shopping, and it was a little chilly outside. We wanted to get a bite to eat to warm us up, but didn't want to take the time to go to a sit-down place. In another post I mentioned how much we love street food, so we gave the app a whirl. The closest truck was Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck, and a fresh grilled sammy fit the bill.

As I vented in my Meat & Bread post, I am not a fan of "chose your own adventure" sandwiches. However, Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck does it right with only 5 choices of each of the following (forgive my bad memory):

1. Pick your bread, like white, sourdough and marbled rye
2. Pick your cheese, like cheddar, provolone and pepper-jacked
3. Pick your add-ons, like smoked bacon and caramelized onion

Just enough options for you to customize, but not enough that you could commit a food faux-pas. I picked marbled rye bread, pepper-jack cheese, and added smoked bacon. The menu also has daily specials, grilled dessert sandwiches, and sides like tomato soup and chilli. Stephen picked the daily special: provolone cheese, salami, and pesto mayo on brioche. We opted for the cup of chilli as well to warm us up.

We started with the chilli while waiting for our sandwiches. The portion size was much larger than we thought. We expected a small coffee cup of chilli, but it was more like a Starbucks Venti portion. It was topped with cheese, sour cream and cilantro. It was tasty, but not original. It wasn't disappointing, but it wasn't memorable. The truck has about 10 different hot sauces, and maybe it needed a dash of heat. It was just alright.

When they called us up to the window to pick up our sandwiches, I started to dread having ordered the side of chilli. We didn't realized that for $10 you also got local potato chips and a pickle wedge! It's practically a combo! I love potato chips and Stephen loves pickles, so we were happily surprised. The sandwiches are also massive. They're bread slices have about 50% more surface area than grocery store sandwich loaves. Many of the customers after us ordered one sandwich to share, and when the staff found out they were sharing, they gave them 2 "cones" of chips and pickles with their sandwich half at no extra charge (see the photos below to see the cones). A+ for customer service just for that. In Montreal, you would probably be charged an extra $2 for that. And since you probably put all your change in the tip jar, you probably wouldn't have the needed toonie.

I thought long and hard about how to describe the grilled cheeses. The most accurate description I can come up with is precisely what I said after my first bite: "Holy f*** that's good!" We ate at Meat & Bread a few days before and Mom's blows them out of the water. I didn't see it coming.

The rye bread was savory with bitter and sour undertones, the cheese was rich, oozing and mildly spicy, and the bacon...oh the bacon..it was salty, smoky and cripsy. I got a little cup of siracha in preparation for my grilled cheese, but it wasn't necessary. The outside had that perfect grilled cheese crunch before the soft, melty center.

So that was mine. Stephen's is a whole other story. It earned about 823 "Holy f*** that's good"s. The salami was just enough heat and saltiness, the provolone was a perfectly mild complement, and the pesto mayo gave you a slap in the face of tangy freshness. It was perfect. Hands down, the best sandwich I have ever had, and I dare anyone to challenge them for that title. You will lose! It was so good that we felt the need to go back to the window and tell the staff that it was that damn good.

You should always let restaurant staff know what you think of the food. I absolutely hate the apricot and meringue dessert at Europea (#3 on TripAdvisor for Montreal) that they plate to look like an eggs and bacon breakfast. I had no shame in telling the staff there that its pretty awful. The customer isn't always right, but if enough people voiced that it's not good, maybe the chef would take it off their tasting menu. My point is, when the staff asks, "How was your meal?" be honest and tell them.

So we told one of the lovely and energetic ladies working in the truck that the special was epic, and she said that we should personally tell the owner. She proceeded to call Cindy, the owner, and handed me the phone. I told her how amazing it was, and she was thrilled because she had just randomly thought it up that morning. Always remember that food is someone's work and art. Think about how it feels for someone to tell you how much they appreciate and admire your work. People in the restaurant business don't get those direct compliments often enough.

The Truck

The Generous Cup of Chili

My Mom's Grilled Cheese
Bacon, Pepper-jack, Marble Rye w/ Side Pickle and Chips!

Stephen's Mom's Grilled Cheese
Salami, Provolone, Pesto Mayo on French Brioche

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 9.5 - I'm still reserving the 0.5 in case, but this might be as close to perfection as you can get
Creativity: 9 - The special of the day was almost risky, but it totally worked
Service: 9 - The staff was so warm, smiley and energetic; that kind of attitude brightens your day and is very courageous! Add to that the fact that they called the owner to let us give her our feedback first-hand.
Bang for your buck: 9 - BIG sandwich with chips and a pickle wedge is definitely a hearty lunch-sized meal
Overall experience: 9.5 - Again, "Holy f*** that's good." Enough said.

Would I go back? It might be hard for me to walk anywhere near Robson without being tempted to go back.
Who would I recommend it to? Everyone. Carnivores, vegetarians, kids, picky-eaters...there is something for everyone. The options are gourmet enough to keep foodies happy, but the "base model" is familiar for all.
For what occasion? Lunch, dinner or a snack on the go.
It was better than: Meat & Bread
It wasn't as good as: The challenge is open if anyone wants to go head-to-head against Mom's
Expect: Effing good food. It's about a 5 to 10 minute wait from the cash until you get your food, which is totally reasonable because each sandwich is assembled live. The staff is absolutely wonderful.

Top 50 Worthy? YES! I've noticed that since I posted the original Top 50 list from TripAdvisor has shifted in the past 11 days, with some restaurants rising and dropping by as many as 5 places. If Vancouverites know anything about epic food and give street food a chance, I strongly believe that by the time I write my last post in week 52 that Mom's Grilled Cheese Truck will have risen up from #161 to the Top 50.

#4. Meat & Bread - January 3, 2014

I first heard of Meat & Bread on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I loved the concept of it. I firmly believe that when dining-out people should be told "you have 5 choices, they are all damn delicious, substitutions are not welcome, and please don't ask for a salt shaker." There are way too many blah sandwich places out there. Pick your meat, pick your bread, pick your toppings...none of them are much better than Subway. Diners shouldn't be allowed to custom-make their own anything, and the "luxury" is given to them too often.

Meat & Bread's gives you 4 sandwich choices, and the menu varies everyday (they post it on their website each day). The original Cambie location has their staple, (porchetta with salsa verde) a special of the day, a meatball sandwich of the day, and a grilled cheese. There is always one vegetarian option on the menu, and they also have a daily soup and salad. The menu is short and sweet, but it was still difficult for us to choose!

As soon as we walked in the door, an employee was on a step-ladder marking the porchetta as "Sold Out" on the giant menu on the wall. I think Stephen would have been disappointed if it weren't for the daily special. Here's a let-down: I forget what was in it. It was lamb, but that's about all I remember. I meant to go on their site later that day, but I didn't get around to it. I'm the worst blogger ever. Anyways...he got that. Whatever it was. Just look at the picture. I picked the aged white cheddar grilled cheese with shaved onions. Both of our sandwiches were served with mustard made in-house, and mine also had a sweet and mildly spicy sauce. We didn't order sides this time, but we've heard they're worth trying.

It was love at first bite. Don't you hate when there is so much bread that you can't bite into the sammy? Or when there is 2 inches of lettuce? Or the lack of sauce or cheese makes it so dry you need to drink water between each bite? Or when there is so much sauce that your bread is mushy? Meat & Bread have come very close to mastering the art of sandwich making. The bread-to-filling and the filling-to-sauce ratios were perfect. The lamb sandwich's bread (seemingly also made in-house, we saw a batch coming out of the oven) was crunchy and flaky, the lamb was tender and juicy, the sauce was savoury...it was a really good sandwich.

I think mine was better though. I couldn't believe how flavourful the cheese was. No matter how aged or sharp, I always consider cheddar to be a mild cheese (namely relative to ripened or blue cheeses). It doesn't usually make for the best grilled cheeses in my opinion. Whatever cheddar they are using at Meat & Bread has such a concentrated flavour that I'm almost suspicious about there only being cheddar in there. Had the texture been different I would have almost accused it of being processed cheese because it tasted too good to be true! It was perfectly pressed, the onion flavour was sweet and subtle, and the mustard and spicy sauce accompanied it perfectly.

I was in the mood for something sweet, so we got the one and only dessert option: their maple bacon chocolate bar. Seriously, after hearing what it was, how could we resist? It really tastes like maple and bacon, without them being overpowering. It had little pockets of maple/meaty/salty covered in smooth milk chocolate. Drool. Go get one...or five.

The space is not huge. You can sit at the bar, or at one of the small tables, and there is one long, cafeteria-style table where you just take a seat where there is space. There was a line of people when we arrived, and the tables were always full. The turn-over is quick enough that there is always a free seat once you get your food.

We really have no choice but to go back to try their porchetta and soup and salads. The value for your money is spot on. The sandwiches are an average of $8, which is higher than a $5-foot-long, but the quality of ingredients is worth it.

Stephen's Lamb Sandwich

My Grilled Cheese

Maple Bacon Chocolate Bar (w/ ingredients!)

View From the Table

View From the Outside

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 8 - Ingredients are fresh and expertly matched
Creativity: 8 - Not your run-of-the-mill sandwich place
Service: 5 - Can't say much about it since its not a sit-down
Bang for your buck: 8 - You pay for gourmet
Overall experience: 8 - Not too shabby for meat and bread

Would I go back? Yes, I'd definitely like to try a few more menu items, especially the porchetta.
Who would I recommend it to? If you're looking for a no-fail lunch, go here. Even though they have a vegetarian option, I don't think I would have been satisfied with only tasting the grilled cheese. Don't bring your vegetarian or vegan friends. Don't bring your kids either. There is no room for your big ass stroller in there.
For what occasion? A quick lunch
It was better than: Subway
It wasn't as good as: Mom's Grilled Cheese (we had it later that weekend)
Expect: A little bit of a line. It's also a little noisy, so don't expect a lot of post-meal conversation.

Top 50 Worthy? Sure. They have great sandwiches and I'm confident that anything they put out will be amazing. But #4-worthy? I'm not sure about that one.

Japadog - January 2, 2014

We loooove street food. In Montreal, street food was legalized as of summer 2013. In the summer of 2012, you could usually only enjoy food truck fare on "First Fridays:" on the first Friday of the month from June to September, the trucks would gather at the Olympic Stadium to legally sell their offerings. In 2012, there were only about 6 trucks and when we went, we ate something at each of them. The lines were very short, but still enough of a crowd to make the event worth having.

In 2013, the First Fridays was brought back despite trucks now being allowed to sell in the streets in designated areas. This time there were probably 20 trucks, long lines of couples and families, buskers, and street performers. The popularity of the trucks blew up within a year, and it wasn't just at the now festival-like First Fridays. There were long lines at every food truck in the streets. Each day there were 2 trucks across the street from my office, and if I wanted to get lunch there I had to get there before 11:30 to avoid the lines.

I like street food because it is usually made to order, tastes fresher and is easy to eat on the go. Each truck has their own gimmick which adds to their charm. I also like the limited selection of menu times. I hate when I go for lunch with friends or co-workers and there are 50 mediocre dishes. Food trucks usually have 3 to 5 solid and tasty menu items, usually including a daily special if you happen to go everyday and get bored of the 5-dish rotation.

Stephen kept saying that he needed to go to the ATM to get some cash. The only reason Stephen carries cash is to buy lunch at busy food courts on work days. I was suspicious since he didn't have to work for 4 days, and he just kept saying, "It's just in case!" Suuuuure.

We were headed to the ScotiaBank Theatre on Burrard and Smithe to see American Hustle. All the afternoon showtimes were sold out, so we bought tickets for later in the evening and left. We got to the street corner and were waiting for the "walk" sign to light up when Stephen asked, "Is it snack time yet?" with a mischievous grin on his face. He obviously saw Japadog across the street and wanted one. The ATM withdrawal suddenly makes sense.

The name Japadog is a good indicator of what they serve: hot dogs with a Japanese twist. By looking at the cart (not truck) and the menu, you can tell that it's just not Top 50 calibre. The toppings are not the usual ketchup and mustard and the cart boast pictures of celebrities and chefs eating their dogs, but ultimately it's a hot-dog stand. It is currently listed at #238 on TripAdvisor, which isn't surprising. But is it good for what it is? Yes.

There are about 12 different topped dogs on the cart menu, and you can also order any of their 7 types of sausages plain. Stephen chose the Okonomi: kurobuta (pork) sausage topped with bonito flakes and spicy mayo. It may have been wasabi mayo...maybe not.

The sausage was BIG. It's a good thing they score it because otherwise it would be tough to bite into. It was grilled and pipping hot, and was moist but not juicy. The bun was steamed, which was appreciated because had it been toasted it would have been tough to bite through the hot-dog. I love the crispy and salty bonita flakes, but I would have liked more of the sauce.

The hot-dog costed about $7 without the combo, which I find to be a lot for a hot-dog. I would consider paying that much for a "gourmet" hot-dog, but Japadog isn't quite in that league. I wouldn't recommend it as a meal, but it was a great on-the-go snack to share.

The Cart on Burrard... "Many Celebrities!"

Stephen and his Okonomi Japadog

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 7
Creativity: 8 - It's not your typical ball-park dog
Service: 5 - Can't say much about it since its not a sit-down
Bang for your buck: 6 - It's a little pricey for what the toppings are
Overall experience: 7 - For a hot-dog cart, it was better than most

Would I go back? Yes, I'd definitely like to try a few more menu items.
Who would I recommend it to? Someone looking for a quick snack to-go and avid carnivores. Obviously don't bring your vegan friend.
For what occasion? When you're out running errands or shopping in the area.
It was better than: Nasty steamed hot-dog stands
It wasn't as good as: Time will tell
Expect: A slightly over-priced semi-gourmet hot-dog. Don't expect this to be a filling lunch to carry you over to dinner, even if you do get the combo.

Top 50 Worthy? Nah, but it's a Vancouver staple, so we had to check it out.

#6: L'Abattoir - December 31, 2013

Our last meal of the year was at The Slaughterhouse...or en francais, l'Abattoir. That's a little more elegant. The location is actually that of Vancouver's first prison, and was later converted into a butchery and meat packing facility, hence the name.

I made the reservation at the end of November, about the time we found out we were going to transfer to Vancouver. Like Montreal, I knew that the Vancouver restaurant tables would fill pretty fast for NYE. I found it at #23 in Huffington Post's Top 50 Restaurants in Canada 2013 list (and at #7 in 2012), which a friend sent me a few months earlier.

L'Abattoir is located in trendy Gastown, which was a pleasant 30 minute walk from our apartment. About 20 minutes in, the area started to look like a better-maintained version of Montreal's Old Port with antique lamp posts and cobblestone streets and side walks. I'm starting to notice why I always hated walking anywhere in Montreal. The side walks in Montreal are narrow and decaying, and are usually lined with a foot of garbage on the building side...that is, if they aren't closed off for construction or "repair." Vancouver has triple-wide side walks that look brand new. Seriously, it looks like someone vacuums and mops them overnight.

We arrived at 7PM, and were seated upstairs. The restaurant has a bar at the entrance, a dozen or so banquettes in the back, and about 15 tables upstairs. The upstairs felt very cramped. I barely had enough room between tables to squeeze my booty between the tables to get to the banquette seat. We could hear the conversations around us, and we were pretty much having dinner with the couples on either side of us. I was closer to the people beside me than to my fiancé and it was hard to talk during the meal.

Overall the restaurant looks urban chic. Lots of stainless steel, cool lighting, dark floors, butcher block tables, exposed brick, modern stark white chairs. It reminded me a bit of Le Bremner in Montreal, except Le Bremner is a little more rustic.

We started off with one of their "Classic Cocktails" and one of their "Original Cocktails." The Classics list weren't what you usually see on a drink menu. Forget about Cosmopolitans and Cuba Libres, because their Classics are real classics...like 1910's classics. I chose the Aviation - Gin, fresh lemon, Maraschino liqueur, and creme de violet. Stephen chose their namesake, the Slaughterhouse - Cognac, Rye, sugar, Elixer Vegital, orange oils, aromatic bitters, and Green Chartreuse mist. The drinks were perfectly balanced and mixed, but they were way too small for the price. Mine was served in a small champagne coupe, and I got to the bottom of the glass quite quickly.

Typically we like to get 2 appetizers, 2 mains and 2 dessert, unless a tasting menu is available. We like to taste as much as we can while we're there. There were so many interesting and local items on the menu that we hoped for a tasting menu, but were told that they do not have one. Their kitchen layout does not allow for a dedicated space for the smaller-scale tasting plates. The plates delivered to the neighbouring tables were larger than we expected and larger than most up-scale restaurants serve, so we decided to limit ourselves to 1 app, 2 mains and 1 dessert.

We had a tough time choosing between the Terrine of Duck Foie Gras and the Pan Fried Veal Sweetbreads, but finally settled on the former. It was served on top of brioche, and accompanied by yoghurt, black cherries, and Riesling jelly. It was good, but not much more than that. We've eaten a lot of Foie Gras in Montreal, and l'Abattoir's was lacking salt and richness. It was much lighter than we expected, and was more like a mousse than a terrine. It just didn't have the buttery taste and paté density that it should have. Also, I didn't like that it was already on the brioche; I would have liked to smear it on a brioche or crostini myself. It slows down the meal and makes it a more social sharing dish, like chatting over bread and butter before stuffing your face with the main. The brioche was also overly soft, leaving the whole dish with a lack of crunch.

I chose the sesame seed-crusted Pacific ling cod fillet as my main, and Stephen chose the daily special, the veal chop accompanied by a veal stew. I definitely eat with my eyes, and the ling cod looked mouthwatering. It was one of the best fish mains I have ever tasted. The fish was moist, and the sesame seed crust was perfectly toasted. It came with celeriac cubes, grilled pears, slaw and crab salad. I wouldn't change a thing about any of the components. It was flawless.

Stephen's meal came on 2 plates: one for the veal chop and another for the veal stew. The veal chop was a really thick cut and grilled to perfection. It laid on a bed of sautéed chanterelle mushrooms. Meat + Mushrooms = Stephen's vision of heaven. The veal stew had potatoes, carrots, and peas, and was topped with buttery and crumbly crust on top. When our waiter told us about the daily specials, I was a little shocked by the price of the veal ($50), but after seeing how much meat you got, it made sense. For me, it would have been way too much meat. The ratio of protein to sides was totally off, but I guess its a man's meal. Come to think of it... there weren't any sides... but Stephen looked satisfied. Stephen also ordered a bottle of craft beer from Brooklyn. A dark chocolate stout at a reasonable price ($6) compared to what we're used to ($6 would get you a half-pint of tap or a bottle of local back home). It was very rich and had tons of flavour of its own and was an excellent pairing to the veal chop.

We finished with the milk chocolate and Earl Grey pot de creme. You'll come to read that we tend to order things that have the terms "pot de _____" or "_____ verrine" in them. We like desserts with layers of different textures, and these usually come in glasses or verrines. We were not disappointed. The top layer was the usual whipped cream. I've never been a fan of whipped cream, but it was fresh and light. The creme part was dense, chocolatey and rich, but we could really taste the Earl Grey. Often when I've had dessert with black or green tea in them they tasted like a cold, stale and bitter cup of tea that had the tea bag swimming in it for 8 hours. I doubt the pot de creme is made to order, but the tea flavour was fresh. Lastly, the chocolate crumble pieces were just big enough (I hate when they are so small they are practically powder), and tasted like a less sweet and dark chocolate version of Oreo cookies. It was a great size for sharing, and we quickly devoured it.

We noticed that the menu did not contain the words potato or rice. Most dishes were accompanied by other more flavourful root vegetables like beets or parsnips. I don't know if this is intentional, but as a non-lover of taters, I certainly appreciate that they aren't used as a plate filler.

Just like at Cafe Medina, the wait staff was attentive, but not overly warm. All the staff we saw were very young and about the same age as us, and we expected them to be a little more dynamic. At one point, I was looking at a menu for another restaurant on my phone, and one of the waiters saw a picture and zoomed into the picture and said "Is that meat?!" Ooo interesting waiter! Progress! But that was it. Crack a joke, tell a story, ask about our plans for midnight. Warm up Vancouver!

Classic and Original Cocktails

An Interesting Assortment of Breads

Terrine of Duck Foie Gras

Sesame-Crusted Ling Cod

Stephen's Main, Part 1: Veal Stew

Stephen's Main, Part 2: Veal Chop

Finger Lickin' Good

Chocolate and Earl Grey Pot de Creme

French Press Coffee; No Espresso Here!

The View From the Door into the Kitchen

THE STATS - Out of 10
Taste: 8
Creativity: 8 - great flavour and texture combinations, near perfect presentation with the exception of the terrine
Service: 6 - it was good, just cold.
Bang for your buck: 7 - I was going to put 8, but the drinks knocked it down to a 7. It's up-scale dining and you pay an acceptable price for the meals.
Overall experience: 8 - the ambiance was cool, but we were a little too close to the neighbouring tables

Would I go back? Maybe
Who would I recommend it to? Small groups of friends (not more than 6); any age. I don't think it is a great place for colleagues, since it is hard to have a solid conversation because of the proximity to others and noise level. Don't bring your kids! I wouldn't recommend it has an intimate couple's date spot. Don't bring your picky friends who hate mushrooms and celeriac, yet have never tried them. We all know one of those.
For what occasion? Special occasions because of the price point. Our bill ran up to $158 and we didn't get 3 courses each. It's definitely not a "Hey, it's Friday night, let's go out for dinner" spot.
It was better than: To be determined
It wasn't as good as: To be determined
Expect: A solid 3-course dinner. It isn't amazing for what it is, but it is a sure-thing if you have someone to impress. There are no "Terrible" reviews on TripAdvisor, and I won't bash the 2 "Poor" reviews since they bring up legitimate issues.

Top 50 Worthy? I'm not sure yet, especially since this is only our second Vancouver restaurant. If I compare l'Abattoir to some of the Montreal meals I've had, it would probably just make the cut.

#25: Cafe Medina - December 30, 2013

As I mentioned in my first post, we arrived at Cafe Medina on a Monday at 11AM and there were about 25 people waiting outside in a crowd...not a perfectly neat line, as you'd see in Montreal at places like l'Avenue or Prohibition or Beauty's. We weren't sure what to do, since clearly these people were waiting to get in, but there didn't seem to be any order to it.

A few minutes later the host came out yelling out names and numbers from a list, "Sarah for 2...Michael for 4...Michael for 4! Michael! Michael! Is anyone here named Michael? No? Tina for 4! Right this way!" He went back in with the parties that he called. When a few more people arrived and one of them went in a wrote something down we figured out that you add yourself to the waiting list, and then wait outside. The host told us it would be about an hour wait. It must be worth it if everyone else was doing it.

It was a cool 7 degrees outside; beach weather compared to the -25 degrees and 4 feet of snow that we left behind in Montreal. After about 20 minutes and a couple of shout-outs from the host, he came out to say that there were 2 seats at the bar if anyone wanted them. I was surprised that there were no takers from the pairs that were "in line" ahead of us. No complaints from us because we like sitting at the bar, and it cut our waiting time down by 40 minutes.

The menu was pretty simple with only 10 choices, and most of them are shakshuka-like, served in a cast-iron skillet with a side of foccacia and hummus. I'm not sure if the dish titles are in French on the menu because of the north African style of cooking or because the chef is from Belgium.

I got Les Boulettes, spicy Moroccan lamb and beef meatballs and roasted vegetables in a tomato stew, topped with poached eggs. Stephen got the Tagine, spicy tomato stew, merguez sausage, sun-dried black olives, and cilantro, topped with poached eggs.

Stephen took his first bite of the sauce alone and said, "Can we eat this every day?" Good start to the day and our Vancouver adventure. It didn't make sense how that much flavour could be packed into a seemingly small and simple dish. They were spicy, sweet, acidic, salty, savoury, and ridiculously flavourful. Each component was delicious on it's own, and once you mix them all together it was to die for. Too often have I eaten dry in-house-made meatballs or sausage that I had to smother with sauce to make them edible. Not the case at Cafe Medina. The sauce was a perfect complement to them instead of compensating for them. The foccacia was warm, chewy and fresh, and the hummus was smooth and light.

This is random, but I have to mention the difference in the quality of eggs we've had in Vancouver so far. In a Montreal restaurant, you break the yoke of a poached egg and you get a dull, orange goo. The eggs yolks at Cafe Medina (and later in the ones we bought at the grocery store) were a bright, rich orange. Forgive my ignorance and amazement with this. Apparently an orange yoke means that the eggs are free-range chickens. Happy chickens = happy yolk? Or happy me since I don't love eggs and these ones taste way better than the icky ones I am used to.

Stephen, a Bloody Caesar enthusiast, ordered one and said it was the best Caesar he has ever had... and it was only $6... and he's had one made by the Official Mott's Clamato Caesar Mixologist. So there. Have one.

When Stephen and I eat out, we tend to finish our plates because we pay a lot of money for the food and it is so good that we don't want it to go to waste. This usually leads to us over-eating and then feeling crappy for the rest of the day. The portion sizes and proportions were perfect. We both felt full after finishing, but the meal sat lightly. We spent the next few hours walking around the city, so the meal clearly didn't weigh us down.

I don't have much to say about the staff. They were attentive, as in they took our orders quickly, our food came out quickly, and our water glasses were always full. They weren't particularly "warm" though. At our favourite restaurants in Montreal the wait staff were more social, cracked jokes, told us stories about the chef getting wasted on his birthday, etc. No matter who you are or where you are eating, it makes the ambiance less pretentious when the staff is warmer. I don't know if this is typical of Vancouver, and maybe the warmth is just Quebec charm. I guess we'll see after a few more restaurants.

The View From the Bar

Stephen's All-Time Favourite Caesar

Les Boulettes

Tagine

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 8.5
Creativity: 7 - the dishes have a traditional style, but there are about 6 variations and each is different
Service: 6 - the service was attentive and speedy, just not warm and minimally friendly
Bang for your buck: 8 - typically breakfast places are skimpy on the bacon and heavy on the potatoes. The average dish is $15 and they are generous on the protein and no useless starches.
Overall experience: 8 - it was a great "Welcome to Vancouver" brunch

Would I go back? Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes
Who would I recommend it to? Couples or small groups (not more than 4); under 30 crowd. Don't bring your kids!
For what occasion? Brunch...especially hang-over brunch since the food is light and protein rich, instead of the usually heavy, carb-filled breakfast
It was better than: I don't know yet...this is review #1!
It wasn't as good as: We'll see.
Expect: To wait in line for potentially over an hour, because there will be a line and they don't take reservations because they don't have to. The only 2 "Terrible" reviews on TripAdvisor are complaints about the wait (they didn't actually eat there on the day they made the review). Some of the "Poor" reviews are about the size of the place. Travel light because there isn't much elbow room for bags. The space is small, so be nice to the people waiting outside and don't stick around for a long chat after you eat. Someone complained about not being a kid-friendly place. What restaurant is kid-friendly? McDonalds...take your kid there. The rest of the "Poor" reviews are about there being too much salt and seasoning. Top 50 restaurant food is for foodies, and foodies demand more salt and seasoning.

Top 50 Worthy? Yes. Though I'm new to Vancouver, I've eaten a lot of Montreal breakfast, and I'd put it in the Top 5 breakfasts I've ever eaten.