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Culinary Highlights 2012
First timers that blew me away.
- 121
- 273
19 Places
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Ellen’s 3-star review: This is a sad and disappointing day. Was at Tableau for lunch today and observed the following: - Menu prices have noticeably jumped with equally noticeable decrease in portions! As examples: Moules Frites - used to be $16 and heaping, now $20 and barely filled half the pot. Steak Frites - used to be $18, now $20. - Food was not as good as I remember. Mussels broth was different and not as memorable as before. Frites not as crispy and overly salted. - Lacklustre service: server today didn't bring out any dipping sauce with our frites. When asked, she said they don't bring anything out unless the customer requests specifically. Are you for reals girl?! Should have gone more often when the going was good. Now Tableau has lost its appeal of a well-cooked well-portioned reasonably priced bistro. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: I HEART YOU YELPERS!!!! I wouldn't have discovered this diamond in the rough if it weren't for youuuuu! After dinner at Aree Thai, I'm rethinking my previous 5-star reviews. Damn, I wish there was a 6-star option for special places like this. Thai food in Vancouver, first things to come to my mind? Thai House, Green Basil, taste just like Chinese food, no spice, bland noodles, relatively expensive. Yeahhhhh, Aree Thai is none of the above. Let's just say I haven't been this wowed by a restaurant in a long time. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the best Thai food I've EVER had: Tom Yum Soup - pow right to the kisser with the spices and herbs! The spicy kick was phenomenal and definitely warmed my stomach. This one gets spicy so beware. Foodgasm #1. Pad Thai (Original) - apparently in Thailand, Pad Thai is only served with shrimp. So for an authentic experience, go with that. I've had Pad Thai plenty of times, but never had REAL Pad Thai until today. A great balance of spice, sweet, and savoury. Foodgasm #2. Green Curry - to be honest, I don't really know what the differences are between the Thai curries (other than colour). I went with green curry because it had more vegetables. Very fragrant and dimensional. Get a bowl of rice and go wild. Foodgasm #3. Coconut Ice Cream (made by Aree herself) - this one was complimentary. How sweet is that? Frozen real coconut bits. Ultra ultra creamy. Foodgasm #4. Every single plate/bowl/fork/spoon/ice cream spatula was licked clean. The bill came to $30 after tax. So totally worth it for 4 foodgasms in a row rendering 2 very hungry people in a delicious food coma. You can specify how spicy you want your food, on a scale of 1-5. We asked for 4 on everything. It's hot, but not unmanageable. In fact, I think I'll be going for the 5 next time. The food was slow to come out, but well worth the wait. The owner Aree is such a sweetheart. In case you can't tell, I'm very passionate about this place and can't wait to return! [insert a million more exclamation points]
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Ellen’s 5-star review: We need something like this in Vancouver. Stat. It's like eating inside a Chinatown live seafood market, but way more hip of course. A few high tables. Beer and wine available. You pick what kind of oysters you want, and it's shucked and served in front of you. Prices are incredible - $12-$19 per dozen + $4 shucking fee. Also received a bit of education on the types of raw oysters. Too cool. If you want to sample Seattle's seafood offerings, why not come here for a shuckirific appy and then saunter over to the fancier seafood restaurants. It's located just on the outskirts of Downtown. -
Ellen’s 4-star review: Koko had been on my radar for a little while now. Finally, today was the day. The main attraction was their Sashimi. Per the bf, they had a master sushi chef back in the day. Apparently, just the way the sashimi was cut was so special that he wouldn't stop talking about it. :) Well, fast forward to 2012, I don't know if there is a master sushi chef or not. But gosh darn it, that was some gooooood sashimi! Best I've ever had. I went with the ol' standby Salmon and Toro (tuna belly) as recommended by the sushi chef. Both incredibly fresh and had a palatable chew (kwim?). The salmon was a beautiful deep red colour and toro was melt-in-your-mouth buttery. Other food items I ordered were also decent. I'd recommend giving the Gyozas a whirl. Lots of hot and cold selection on the menu. Under its unassuming front next to an A&W drive-through, this is a gem. How is this place not more popular?! I noticed that it was hard finding the hours of operation on the Internet. They are open 7 days a week for dinner (starting at 5pm), and Mon.-Fri. for lunch. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: I promised the bf we'd be having BBQ on a quarterly basis. So 3 months after our last Memphis Blue soiree, we promptly returned for our next serving of meat, meat, and meat. We were ambitious this time and took on the challenge in the form of the Memphis Feast. When this platter hit the table, it was drop-your-cutlery-and-use-those-digits every man/woman for him/herself kind of eating rampage. There was no talking. Nay, the mouth moved only for the food. Not conducive to building relationships, unless you want to get to know that delicious fat dripping tender piece of a pig better. The Memphis Feast is suitable for 3 very hungry men. We had to pack home a doggie bag of shame. Let me tell you, lunch the day after was EVEN BETTER. Meat works in mysterious ways. See you next quarter Memphis Blues. In the meantime, I be workin' off those calories. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: My gosh, my Indian food craving is not going away it seems! Based on the regular dinner menu experience, Atithi deserves the 5 star upgrade! The portions are generous. The atmosphere casual, yet has a little sensuality making it perfect for date nights. Service was more attentive and friendly than last time. And the food! Oh my oh my! They were well-received by everyone at the table. The biggest stand out factor for me is that you can actually taste a difference in the sauce for different dishes, as opposed to a big heavy curry mush. Notable hits with me are: Lamb Palak - lamb chunks in spinach curry sauce. Made exactly the same as last time: lamb was tender and curry refreshing. Prawn Malai Curry - this coconut curry was TO DIE FOR! The coconut taste was not overpowering. There was a bit of smokiness to the curry that was really unusual. Butter Chicken - again, the sauce was divine! I didn't feel it was heavy on the butter/cream. So it's official: Indian cuisine is the new thing for me. I can't wait to try more!
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Ellen’s 4-star review: It was a cold and hungry Friday night, and we turned away from 3 restaurants due to wait times. Dona Cata was the backup of a backup of a backup plan. Well, I'm glad we were almost forced to eat here, because I enjoyed my dinner here so much that Dona Cata will be going in my (personally) coveted Culinary Highlights 2012 list. That's saying a lot from someone who's not even a fan of Mexican food. Apparently, their menu has changed. The Mole, which was recommended on Yelp, is no longer available. Otherwise, the selection consists of mostly tacos - big, medium, and DIY (i.e. the Preparados). Wanting to sample a taco, I picked Al Pastor (pork loin) - $2. Pork was not the most tender or flavourful. But decent enough with some salsa. It certainly wasn't as memorable as La Taqueria's. The highlight was the Chicken Quesadilla - $11. Full of white chicken meat and not overpowered by the cheese. That Guacamole was so delicious that we decided to order it take out for late night snacking. Some extra words on the salsa bar: the Habanero is the most spicy - it made my taste buds dance in euphoria. This was hands down the best Mexican meal I've ever had. I'll definitely be back. -
Ellen’s 4-star review: Sashimi salads are not really my thing. The sashimi pieces are usually tiny and the salad generic. But the Seafood Salad at Ajisai really is something to rave about. Plenty of seafood - I can name salmon, tuna, scallop, and sweet shrimp off the top of my head. The oil and vinegar dressing is also really nice. The best I've had! I wanted a sampler of actual sashimi, so got the Assorted Sashimi. The salmon was definitely not wild, but still has a nice "chew." Overall not as impressed with this. While the quality and freshness are there, I've had better at Koko (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/koko-japanese-restaurant-vancouver#hrid:nUlnaBApAQRS2xxi0QA3IA). The rolls are reasonably priced and there are lots of them on this menu. Had the Shrimp Scallop Roll and it was very good. I foresee much exploration to be had on this front. -
Ellen’s 4-star review: We were fortunate enough to sit in the greenhouse-esque area with lots of natural lighting. Rustic yet sophisticated. Food wise: Complimentary bread basket rocked my socks off! Anchovies in bread? Whodathunk?!?! Smoked Sturgeon Carpaccio - this appy is good for group sharing. Lots of dimension in the flavour - tartness of the grapefruit, creaminess of the avocado, and a bit of punch from the jalapeno. Duck Breast - I was savouring every bite of my entree. Duck was tender with right amount of fat. The foie gras sauce (hoity toity term would be "blanquette") was creamy and complemented the duck well. The only critique would be the other sauce on the plate - it was overly sweet (actually made my tooth ache a little). Steak Diane - I had a couple bites of this one. Tender steak, though missing that meat zing. Great peppercorn sauce and not overpowering. Dark Chocolate Pudding - lovely. Not overly sweet. Very dark chocolate like. Would have loved more creme fraiche. I was very impressed with the food. The flavour combinations can be a bit unusual, but really worked together. The presentation was well done. When someone else's Roast Scallops hit the table, I honestly gasped a little because it looked like a work of art. I don't often say this for the pricier restaurants, but you betcha I'll be back to work through the rest of the menu! On a final note, l'abattoir = slaughterhouse. Man, French makes anything sound beautiful. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: It's been 6 months and Mui Ngo Gai has impressed me all over again. Comparing selection, quality, atmosphere, and service, I honestly think it's the best Vietnamese restaurant in town. And that's saying a lot amongst fierce competition in the heart of Little Saigon. Seriously, the best Crispy Spring Rolls (#1) I've had! Meaty from the pork, and umami from the shrimp. Not greasy. Fish sauce for dipping is a step above everyone else's. Just had to get a second order today! The regular beef pho is a bit lacking behind my other favourites, i.e. Pho Tam (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/pho-tam-restaurant-surrey#hrid:5ZUrjSYPxLpp-fEb1XV2DQ) and Hai Phong (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/hai-phong-vietnamese-restaurant-vancouver#hrid:Qg7QxdrIow7qbTobzvRPfg). But the specialty noodles - what a selection! I recommend the Seafood Noodles (#37) and Beef Satay Noodles (#39), and can't wait to try more. Their dinner entrees and grilled meats also have not disappointed me to date. I highly enjoyed the Lemongrass Chicken w/ Chili (#D6) in particular. Super tasty with some rice. Why am I not here more often?!?! It feels awesome supporting the warm friendly folks that run this restaurant. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: That was some goooooood steak. One bite and it was love! A firm spot in top steak for me. The much praised Cheese Toast was good, but feels like my arteries are clogging up. Apple Pie with Cheese was too strange a combination for me (bf made the decision here). But the apple pie was most excellent. Our server John was a charming English gentlemen who provided impeccable service. Hy's is a perfect place to celebrate any special occasion. We had a great time here. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: People have made comparisons to In-N-Out. IMHO, Five Guys is better: Five Guys have thicker juicier patties. A Little Cheeseburger, which is a single patty, is more than enough for me. In-N-Out patties are thin - too McDonaldy. You also have more choice in toppings. Grilled mushrooms? Grilled onions? Jalapenos? Yes please. And the FRIESSSSSSS!!! Skin on! There is absolutely no need to get the bigger size if you want to share. Located in Park Royal South behind the Keg. Perfect place to pig out after the Grind - guilty as charged. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: I tend to think of The Keg as the McD of steakhouses. But something special is in the waters of the Whistler Keg. Or they're casting magic spells on their New York Strip. Whatever it is, I had my mind blown two years ago and again this time. An epic steak, in a very unexpected place. A couple of recommendations: - Get the Keg Classic Dinner and share it with a friend, unless you both want to severely over-eat. The salad is humongo. It will also add some veggies into your carnivorific meal, though IMHO veggies are overrated in a steakhouse. - Get the Twice Baked Potato as your entree accompaniment. It contains bacon. -
Ellen’s 4-star review: Right off the bat, I liked the vibe of this restaurant. Wood earthy tones. Some minor league toilet humour. Small heated patio on a quieter section of 4th. And apparently they make almost everything in house, even ketchup and mayonnaise, very amazeballs! The Oakwood came recommended for supposedly a life changing burger. You can choose how cooked you want the beef here - why hasn't anyone else thought of this ingenious offering! Bf got it medium rare. Huge burger and it was juicy. Juicy. Juicy. Unusual toppings for a burger (relish? aioli? alfalfa?), but it was a great combination and sooooooo deliciously messy to eat. Slightly more expensive than Romer's, but bf thinks it's a much finer burger. Also got a full-sized Smoked Brisket Poutine with the burger for $5. Lots of brisket slices piled on top. Brisket was a bit too sweet. Quite oily as you get towards the bottom. Still enjoyable, but definitely the weakest link of our meal. I got the Beef Tartar. Let me tell you, this was a good portion! Good seasoning. Very smooth. All in all an excellent meal with great service. I'll certainly be back to try the Fried Octopus, which was highly recommended by our server but couldn't fit it in this time. And of course, order a burger all to myself. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: I love an accidental opportunity that makes for venturing out of my comfort zone. Scenario: post gym. Our go-to spot Lin was closed for vacation. Whipped out Yelp app and Vij's was the closest bookmark. Onwards. Rangoli is the more casual (read: cheaper) and apparently less fusion sister restaurant to Vij's next door. But it's still somewhat swanky Indian fare, i.e. don't expect to see butter chicken and similar here. Tamarind and Yogurt Chicken was my favourite tonight! Chicken was grilled perfectly. The curry had a strong tangy note that was unusual but refreshing. Accompanying sprouts salad was also great. Beef Short Ribs in Kalonji Curry was the hit with everyone else. Short ribs were stewed to no-knife-necessary tenderness. Curry was very mild. Cumin Lamb Curry was my favourite in terms of curry only. If only the lamb weren't so tough... I hope this is a teaser for the actual Vij experience. Expectations are up up uppp! -
Ellen’s 5-star review: A lovely Mexican food haven exists here. First of all, the salsasssssss! There were 8 varieties ranging from mild to hot. My must try recommendations are the Chipotle, Avocado, and Peanut. But what the heck, try them all! Tacos - lots of canivore options here. I love me some Al Pastor, and it was delicious here. Huaraches - like a Mexican pizza. Replace flour dough with freshly deep fried corn dough, and replace tomato sauce with bean paste. Hot and yummy. Horchata was refreshing and not overly sweet. Genuinely warm service from the friendly man behind the counter. I can't wait to come back. Edit: Just HAD to add a note to inform everyone on the Internet that omg, burritos can taste like that?!?!?!!? Mind = blown. -
Ellen’s 4-star review: 6 Course Culinary Adventure It's been a year since bf and I began our own "culinary adventures", where we try new restaurants and venture out of our comfort zone. What's more adventurous than not even knowing what's coming to your table? Enter Kits Daily Kitchen. First, the food. The seafood dishes were decidedly better executed than the meats. The grilled scallop and prawn were cooked PERFECTLY, smoky and yet delicate in flavour. I was trying to cut them into the smallest bites to prolong the experience as much as possible! Chef Brian - can we just request all seafood next time? :) The sides on all dishes were excellent complements to the protein. The dessert was also top-notch. Second, the service. We were offered complimentary bubbly upon learning this was a special occasion dinner. The staff were friendly and made genuine chit chat throughout dinner. The entire dinner took close to 2 hours, but time just flew by - that's when you know you truly had a great time. -
Ellen’s 5-star review: $1.50/ea oysters available any time? How do you beat that?! Summer Breeze was the $1.50 variety tonight and they were a delight. If you wanna get fancy, other types of oysters are priced up to $3.50/ea. Also - a buck a shuck for happy hour (3-6pm, Tues-Fri). Steamed Mussels ($15 for 1lb) were fat and juicy in equally delicious broth. One minor critique would be the bread - too dense for dunkin'. Oyster Soup ($9 for a big bowl) was creamy and bisque-y. Came with 4 large juicy oyster pieces. Slurped it right up! Great price point matched by great food and service. We have a winner! The selfish me prays it doesn't get too busy, but I genuinely wish this new business lots of success. -
Ellen’s 4-star review: Alpha holds some sentimental value to me. I love the ambience. Unlike all the new izakaya kids, Alpha isn't flashy. Simple decor. Dark wood. Intimate. Not loud. I love just kicking back after the meal and continue conversing over tea. Food can be a bit hit or miss. A couple of outstanding items are: Grilled Toro-Pork - perfect balance of lean and fat. Perfect bit of char from the grill. Perfect amount of seasoning. Perfect smoky flavour. On a scale of 10, I give it 11. Chicken Karaage - best chicken karaage in this city! Very tender and flavourful. Amazing with the soy vinegar sauce. I enjoyed the Seared Salmon Sashimi and Beef Tataki on my latest visit. Good, but these two taste too similar with the same ponzu sauce. (And besides, Phnom Penh has been spoiling our appetites with their rendition of beef tataki.) Expect to drop some $$$ if you want to get full from these small-to-medium plates. And remember to get the grilled pork!
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