Local Restaurant Thread

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

I'm waiting to hear about The Big Taste reviews from you guys! Anyone been out?

I went last year, but none of the offerings were really calling out to me this time.

[tete]

We went to The Rock on 17th Avenue last Friday night for their Big Taste dinner special. Overall, it was quite good, but it's such an odd place. Looks like they usually serve burgers, fries, ribs, poutine (which looked amazing), fried chicken, etc., served on a tray similar to a food court. However this Big Taste menu was quite fancy: soup or salad (I'd recommend the soup, the salad was meh), lamb shank or ribs with mashed potatoes and a delicious Tres Leches cake.

I'd go back just to try their poutine, it looked really good.

We're off to Charcut this Friday night, leaving the kidlet with a babysitter, which will be nice. Charcut is one of those places we keep meaning to try, but since our kid was born, we just don't get out as often anymore.

[InglewoodFan]

Finally got to the Deane House last night. Chef Jamie there cooked for our wedding when he was at Rouge and we've always loved his food. We had the Big Taste gourmet menu ($65) with the wine pairings (all BC wines, $35). Service was great, just the right amount of attentiveness. All the courses were well executed, the chef continues to excel at getting the most out of simple local ingredients. Pairings were well considered, the Riesling with the chicken liver mousse worked very well and they also had a pinot noir with the char which was a pleasant surprise.

It was great to get out for a nice dinner, I am back to work after a few months laid off and we decided to splurge with a bit of money we got for Christmas to celebrate. Very happy we chose Deane House, made for a fantastic evening. The place was packed, likely in part because of Big Taste, but never felt busy or too loud.

[Flabbibulin]

Looks like hot stone rice bowl on 37th is permanently closed. Too bad- good option for decent, but inexpensive, sushi and takeout. Also great bibimbaps, rice bowls etc.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by troutman

Ox and Angela has a good feature - $35 each for 10 tapas. Great chocolate cake for only $6.

Re-branding and re-opening in April as Ox Bar de Tapas.

New management? What happened to Angela?

http://www.oxtapas.com/

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by troutman

Re-branding and re-opening in April as Ox Bar de Tapas.

New management? What happened to Angela?

http://www.oxtapas.com/

They own UNA Pizza.

I LOVED Una. Then, they delivered a pizza with a plastic wrapper baked into it. Very large wrapper as well.

Was not pleased with how they handled the complaint. Cannot and will not return. They also own Native Tongues.

[Bigtime]

Anyone down with Poke? Two places just opened up:

Po-ke on Centre street and 9th avenue North http://po-ke.ca/

Kona Poke 520 5th Avenue SW (+15 level) https://www.konapoke.com/

[Peanut]

I also noticed (just today) that Parc and 80th and Ivy have both closed down. Maybe they've been closed for awhile. But then further down on 17th noticed that Ox and Angela was closed too... tough times.

[nik-]

Ox and Angela is renovating and rebranding apparently. And thankfully.

https://twitter.com/oxtapas/status/840342776432676864

edit: just noticed this was posted a little earlier by troutman as well.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Anyone down with Poke? Two places just opened up:

Po-ke on Centre street and 9th avenue North http://po-ke.ca/

Kona Poke 520 5th Avenue SW (+15 level) https://www.konapoke.com/

I went to Kona Poke last week. The guys have done a pretty good job about bringing Poke to a +15 location (it's where Sonoma Cafe used to be). The line up was long, probably 15-20 minutes, but they have lots of staff to make it move reasonably quickly.

Flavors were good - I had the ponzu sauce and had it reasonably approximate the flavors of Shoryu Poke I inhale everytime I'm in Hawaii.

My negatives? 1 small one and 1 not their fault.

1) The fact that they give you 4 choices of sauce means that they put the cubes of fish into a bowl and swish it around for 15 or so seconds with a gloved hand. The marinade doesn't really get time to work into the fish so the flavors isn't that deep into the cubes.

2) It's the reality of being in the middle of the prairies, but the fish portions were small. The "scoops" they use to measure fish are half size ice cream scoops. Overall the fish to rice/veg ratio ends up on the small side, compared to what you get in Hawaii.

Regardless of that I'll definately go back as long as the fish stays fresh.


I guess I'm a little biased as a favorite haunt of mine in Maui is the Poke bowl at any Safeway...$7 for a bowl crammed 2" deep with 1" marinated tuna cubes. There are no deals in Hawaii....except for this.

[tete]

Originally Posted by Peanut

I also noticed (just today) that Parc and 80th and Ivy have both closed down. Maybe they've been closed for awhile. But then further down on 17th noticed that Ox and Angela was closed too... tough times.

I've heard Parc is rebranding/renovating. It's owned by the Bonterra group. I didn't realize that 80th and Ivy has closed. We went to Las Canarias on 17th last weekend and while it was good, it wasn't great. As well, the place had very dark panelling and little external light, making it very dark inside, so it didn't feel very welcoming.

[Kybosh]

I had Kona Poke last week and it was good but the portions were tiny for the cost. A small bowl was $11.50 and they didn't even fill up the tiny bowl. I mean, Holy Grill or Freshii around the corner cost the same or less and is much more filling.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Peanut

I also noticed (just today) that Parc and 80th and Ivy have both closed down. Maybe they've been closed for awhile. But then further down on 17th noticed that Ox and Angela was closed too... tough times.

Wow Parc has been around just a few years. The amount of money they must have poured into the place. Tough times indeed.

I liked it there. Hopefully a new place goes in that is as good or better. Although I only went a few times I thought it was one of the better spots.

Avec is still going. Have not been in ages but hopefully they are still putting out good french bistro food.

[browna]

Verona Pizza finally up and running in Gulf Canada Sq, after its move from Lancaster, (I know there is one in BVS as well) a good full year after getting the permit to build there.

[DFO]

Originally Posted by browna

Verona Pizza finally up and running in Gulf Canada Sq, after its move from Lancaster, (I know there is one in BVS as well) a good full year after getting the permit to build there.

Just in time to see another 800 people depart that building. Unlucky

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Wow Parc has been around just a few years. The amount of money they must have poured into the place. Tough times indeed.

I liked it there. Hopefully a new place goes in that is as good or better. Although I only went a few times I thought it was one of the better spots.

Avec is still going. Have not been in ages but hopefully they are still putting out good french bistro food.

Parc was solid. I wonder if they saw Royale open up and thought they should go in a different direction as most of their restaurants are Italian (as was Borgo)

Avec is still very good.

[troutman]

For those visiting Vancouver:

Vancouver's food industry experts pick the best places to eat

http://www.straight.com/food/878816/...est-places-eat

[troutman]

Food Poisoning Expert Reveals 6 Things He Refuses To Eat

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and...efuses-to-eat/

1.Raw oysters.
2. Precut or prewashed fruits and veggies.
3. Raw sprouts.
4. Rare meat.
5. Uncooked eggs.
6. Unpasteurized milk and juices.

[PsYcNeT]

A world where I cannot eat raw oysters with a cucumber garlic vinaigrette is a world I don't want to live in.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

A world where I cannot eat raw oysters with a cucumber garlic vinaigrette is a world I don't want to live in.

I love them too, but a client who is a micro-biologist at U of C, told me they are very dangerous to eat.