35 replies to this topic

[PaoPao]

Talking to a great friend of mine last night, he mentioned that he and his girlfriend consider a certain restaurant "their" special place. In the same vein as a couple referring to a song as "their" song. A place where you take your Honey Bunny to that always bring's out the Amore. Theirs by the way is Le Crocodile.

I'm not sure we are as loyal to just one because of our constant 'hunger' to discover new places.

Anyone else hold a special eatery in a regard of considering it "your" special place?

[SBonner]

Our place would have to be "C". We had our wedding reception and 5 of our 6 wedding anniversaries there. For less indulgence nights we frequent Umami where we have got to know the chef/owner/sommelier very well.

Stephen Bonner

[Vancouver Lee]

McDonalds?


Seriously, back in our courtin' days (those would be the 1980's), it was one particular Keg in Toronto. Once we grew up and developed an appreciation for good, interesting food, "our" place became Monsoon (again in Toronto).

Sadly, nothing has become "our" place here in Vancouver. Yet.

[Andrew Morrison]

In Vancouver, it's Il Giardino. My wife and I were married in the courtyard.

There is a little hamburger shack on Pender Island at the ferry terminal.

Triple O cafeteria on any BC Ferry.

In Victoria, it's Torrefazione on Government Street. We can't visit my old hometown without a few hours sipping on their patio, regardless of weather. Also the Blue Fox and Herald Street. Steamer's, too. Plus Foo Hong's.

In Toronto, where we met and fell in love it's Prego, SpaHa, and Cafe le Gaffe.

England, the American Bar at the Savoy.

We bring the love wherever....

Edited by editor@waiterblog, 03 March 2005 - 01:04 PM.

[Megs]

In Vancouver, it's Il Giardino. My wife and I were married in the courtyard.

Seriously? My bosses got engaged there.....(to each other)

Probably not that shocking actually, I'm sure it's a frequent spot for weddings and engagements, being all romantic and what not!!


Our spot is Fiction, because when we were first dating we used to go there ALL the time and get stupid drunk off martinis and.... well it was always a good time anyway!! I love going there....the lighting, the finger food, the fanTAStic booze selection....there's something quite romantic about it....of course if I could afford it, it would be Lumiere, but that's slightly out of our price range 99% of the time.

Edited by Megs, 03 March 2005 - 04:43 PM.

[Daddy-A]

Not a restuarant, but J & I honeymooned at Point No Point Resort. We go back as often as we can (afford).

A.

[Andrew Morrison]

Not a restuarant, but J & I honeymooned at Point No Point Resort. We go back as often as we can (afford).

Thanks, Arne. I forgot to mention PNP.

One of the most beautiful places on the island that is close to Victoria (I haven't been to the Aerie yet). We go once a year.

[sasskitty]

In Victoria, it's Torrefazione on Government Street. We can't visit my old hometown without a few hours sipping on their patio, regardless of weather. Also the Blue Fox and Herald Street. Steamer's, too. Plus Foo Hong's.

FOO HONGS! HOORAY FOR FOO HONGS! I too am an "Islander" and have many fond memories of Foo Hongs! My parents used to take me there when we were all having a night out and I would shriek with glee (I would have been about 5 when I started this) FOO HONG CHOP SUEY, and then giggle madly. And the Blue Fox is a FABULOUS victoria breakfast place.

Memories...

Our place would be Cardero's...we went there for our first date and Mr. Sasskitty had the worst oyster burger ever We also had an amazing waiter who made the evening perfect and memorable for us!

[Coop]

It was the Cafe de Paris. Not anymore though.

In Seattle it's Le Pichet.

[jamiemaw]

It was the Cafe de Paris. Not anymore though.

In Seattle it's Le Pichet.

Where, no doubt, you pichet a little woo?

I can hardly wait to hear from the Hon. Mr. Talent--I suspect that Chatters will figure highly. Or he'll ask me to refrain from the posting of what he considers cheap and irreverant puns but what my family and friends actually recognize to be tired and recycled puns.

Edited by jamiemaw, 04 March 2005 - 04:32 PM.

[Keith Talent]

I'm starting a petition to have Jamie banned until he signs a declaration promising to pun no more.

Anyway, next door to the Point No Point is the Fossil Bay Resort, which is superior to my mind. More private, smaller and more importantly, more private. It's as pretty as Long Beach, with out the death march-like commute. Nothing to do in the area, with perhaps the exception of driving to River Jordan to watch the surfers. Plus across the street from the beach is a retaurant/takeaway window with quite easily the worst coffee in the universe. Fries are greasy too. Strangely it seems charming rather than irritating. When you're the only place within twenty miles, you don't have to try too hard.

And I'll say it at risk of bring down the wrath of the thousands of Tofino lovers here, the beaches are better at that end of the island. Maybe not quite as scenic, but every bit as rugged, and at this time of the year completely deserted. And I mean completely.

[James Kendal]

For my Wife and I it's the http://www.aubergedusoleil.com/ . Nothing beats the view from the dining room terrace and Napa Valley is awesome.

[PaoPao]

For my Wife and I it's the http://www.aubergedusoleil.com/ . Nothing beats the view from the dining room terrace and Napa Valley is awesome.

Wow, this place brings back the memories. Unfortunately mine are delivering bicycles from the local bike shop I worked at in St. Helena to the guests.

I'll never forget dropping 4 bikes off to this one family who we're just finishing breakfast in the restaurant. Their bill and tip was approx. equal to a weeks pay for me at the time.

Absolutely amazing place though.

[Kayaksoup]

I wish I could say "our " place was somewhere fancy, but it isn't. For a date night, we most often head to Appollonia, score the table in the window and settle in for the night. Bottle of wine and a (very) generous meal later, we stumble the few blocks home laden with leftovers.

[BCinBC]

"Our Place" will always be Lumiere - first time we went there, we got engaged (well later that night; after a three-hour tasting menu, you try getting on one knee! ).

But more frequent 'our place's these days are Coco Pazzo and Fish Cafe. Moved to south Cambie a year ago and these are the places we go when we feel like a good meal and a very short drive.

[nwyles]

I think that this would be Le Crocodile for us - I should say for me - I have not consulted my wife on this.

The food, service, and the overall special treatment makes this a forever favourite. We try and sneak in every now and then and have a few snacks at the bar - telling the staff not to tell Michel or Franck that we are there. Michel is a gracious host and lots of little treats come out of the kitchen. It is worse when Michel is not there, Franck sends out more stuff just to make sure all the bases are covered. I can't eat like that all the time and sometimes just want a couple of things, a drink and then hit the road. It is hard to slip in and out unnoticed but we have been successful half of the time.

When we decide to go for the full out dinner, I just love it. I do not eat lunch and refrain from snacking so I am in full dining condition. I have never had a bad item here in all the years we have been going. I did have to take one for the team when Michel sent out two orders of frogs legs. Joan was about 8 months pregnant and this was just not happening. Although I had never had frog legs before, I did enjoy mine, I just did not enjoy having to eat the second order as well. This was also the time that I appreciated the half bottle collection that they had. I had never needed to venture in the half bottles before. BTW, I noticed West had a great half bottle collection. Are there any other restaurants out there with good half bottle lists ? Just curious.

[FishGuy]

"Our Place" will always be Lumiere - first time we went there, we got engaged (well later that night; after a three-hour tasting menu, you try getting on one knee!    ).

But more frequent 'our place's these days are Coco Pazzo and Fish Cafe.  Moved to south Cambie a year ago and these are the places we go when we feel like a good meal and a very short drive.

Come say hi when you come in, Marcus

[Breeze]

Back when we actually lived in Vancouver (Granville & the teens) it was Ouisi.
Great for hangover Sundays when we had to get out of our tiny apartment. Only a couple blocks from home. Close to all the other stuff we liked to do on Granville.
Great food, a lot of it spicy. My wife still recreates the Devil Fruit.

[bill_n_opus]

It used to be Octopus' Garden ... well, still is I guess but we don't get out much at all nowadays. Kids you know ...

[fud]

^ Dai Maru in Richmond.

I've had many gut busting nights there with Sandy back in the "old days".

Otherwise more recently it's been at the Cannery over some Reisling and their mussel platter with chorizo and pine nuts.

[teamboom]

We have a few "places," but the one that stands out in my head (right now, at least) would be The Templeton on Granville. The girls know us pretty well now and as odd as it sounds, it's nice to be treated like "a regular."

(But I never cause a scene if anyone sits in "our booth.")

The food is pretty good, not outstanding, but I think we go in there more for the atmosphere and the conversations with the servers.
That, and the candy whirl ice cream sundaes Danielle makes us.

[mamacat]

I think I speak for Snacky-cat and myself when I say that Hamilton Street Grill and Senhor Roosters would have to be our special places. Both Neil and Daniel are gracious hosts offering excellent food and value. (Snacky is off teaching a course and eating her way through Toronto for two weeks in case you've noticed her lack of posts of late.)

[paul mitchell]

Well it's not exactly my honey bunny...but we get mistaken for that all the time at Granville Island - my buddy ordering copius amounts of the duck prosciutto at Oyama and me standing beside when the clerk inevitably asks, "Are you together?", in which I always respond, "Were Hetrosexual Life Partners, but no, we're not together!"

Me and my Hetrosexual Life Partner eat Wings at the Regal Begal on Broadway - if we manage to last it's the ridiculously cheap mound of pate at the Smoking Dog and hope to hell they have the foie gras sauced Veal Chop on special.

[ktbear]

Not the fanciest place but still one of the best in the city is Tapastree, great food, great service (ask for Brad). If you are a social eater and don't mind a little noise this could easily become "your" place

[Pez]

Just a couple of blocks away, my favourite hangout would be Feenie's. My loyalty first developed when I was in the process of renovating a year ago and would show up for lunch in casual clothes (actually covered in paint) and they treated me well regardless of the state of my attire. Now that renovations are somewhat complete and I have a washing machine working, I tend to show up better dressed and they always do their best to find a table for me. Good food, reasonable prices, great atmosphere!

[samasutra]

Depends upon who it is with....smile.....my daughter despite my ex husbands and my efforts to educate her palate has a very "elementary" palate. Her idea of a great night out is White Spot. White Spot has some sentimental memories for us because when I was younger and a single parent and a struggling student we could only afford a night out to White Spot to buy her the pirate pack. After I graduated and got a job as a social worker, I took my first pay check and took her to White Spot as that was her choice. We would go every pay day. I think to this day now that she is grown up and married, she still chooses it for birthdays,etc., because it has pleasant childhood associations. So I suppose although it does not have pate,cavier and champagne...sometimes we forgo gourmand delights for sentiment. Personally, I used to love their hamburgers but I now find them quite awful..not sure what they did to them but if I go with my daughter and her husband, I can eat them.

Samasutra

thank goodness, we do not have to go there often..sometimes she lets us pick and we compromise

[gingerfreak]

Depends upon who it is with....smile.....my daughter despite my ex husbands and my efforts to educate her palate has a very "elementary" palate. Her idea of a great night out is White Spot. White Spot has some sentimental memories for us because when I was younger and a single parent and a struggling student we could only afford a night out to White Spot to buy her the pirate pack. After I graduated and got a job as a social worker, I took my first pay check and took her to White Spot as that was her choice. We would go every pay day. I think to this day now that she is grown up and married, she still chooses it for birthdays,etc., because it has pleasant childhood associations. So I suppose although it does not have pate,cavier and champagne...sometimes we forgo gourmand delights for sentiment. Personally, I used to love their hamburgers but I now find them quite awful..not sure what they did to them but if I go with my daughter and her husband, I can eat them.

Samasutra

thank goodness, we do not have to go there often..sometimes she lets us pick and we compromise

Oh I so agree about going to places for sentimental value..but it IS hard to go back! Years ago when we were starving students, my partner and I lived in a rotten area of Surrey. The saving grace was easy access to White Rock and we used to regularly go to Charlie Don't Surf where we would split an order of calamari and the grand marnier cheesecake, and have specialty coffees (odd combo I know, but then some say the same about the 2 of us ).

A few months ago we went back to revisit old times. but since our tastes have improved it was not a great experience (not to mention the effort of getting to White Rock by transit from downtown!!). Not that we ever thought it was a great place to go, but it was "our" place and it was a real letdown. Ah well.

We don't really have a "place" here in Vancouver since he lives on the Island (living apart, the secret to relationship longevity, I tell ya), but since it's in the neighbourhood, we end up at Central a lot. Always totally enjoyable for a casual meal

[Kentan]

Nook is a great hangout - we drop by for a quick pizza or two, enjoy a bottle of wine, and a short walk home.

Long's on Main Street - the waitress (and owner?) always remembers us, knows our favs, and somehow manages to find us a spot in that tiny room that's inevitably packed.

Kei's bakery - I don't go often enough, but whenever I see Hiroshi and Kaori it's "Hisashiburi da ne~" = long time no see! I like that.

[Paul B]

We've been going to the Dundarave Fish Market for years now, on special occasions (like my 50th birthday) and when good friends are in town. The menu is interesting, with some great appies (the riptide squid is a must) and entrees that let your choose the fish and the sauce that goes with it. But tonight was a bit off. I asked, as I usually do, the server for her recommendation and she said the halibut. Fine, I order it as does my mother-in-law, with a ginger sauce. Very very disappointing. The fish on both of our plates a was cooked to death: dry and mealy. No amount of sauce could help it. That's the first time this has happened to me at this restaurant. Usually the fish is cooked perfectly. Not tonight: horribly overcooked fish and slightly undercooked vegetables. New chef? i don't know, but I need a new local seafood place.

[mtigges]

There's a new one opened up at 2nd and Lonsdale (can't remember the name sorry), I keep meaning to try as it looks pretty good. But our garden is spring-ing up now, and we're eating out of it every day.