ElizR
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Posts posted by ElizR
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Funnily enough I had brunch there last Saturday, with the $20 coupon.
The soup intrigued me so much that I had to order it, and it was rich with a very satisfying flavour - a definite recommendation. Also had the flatiron steak - no complaints, and the ginger scone - a total winner!
My friend did not do so well - the waiter brought the wrong order, and when he replaced the original with the correct (eggs benedict) order the eggs were one step from raw. She did send it back again and eventually enjoyed her meal. She was not charged for the main dish, and was also given a free scone to compensate - a nice touch but getting the correct order first time would have been preferable.
Service was very gracious, but super slow - we were there for almost 3 hours.
Would definitely go back, even with the glitches.
Please let us know how you fare, should you decide to go.
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Thanks kissmekate for clarifiying what happened to El Patio: I used to go there a lot a few years ago, and found it hard to believe that the same people would do a midnight flit.
On another note, Olympia Seafood on Thurlow is closing at the end of this month.
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I think El Patio has gone out of business.........at least the one in Yaletown has.
The El Patio in Yaletown did indeed close earlier this year, as the space was apparently sold for development.
I believe it is re-opening in a location on Denmand close to Davie, as a sign announcing that fact has been up for a few weeks.
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Does anyone know anything about the latest Indian restaurant on the 1200 block of Robson? It's called Flavours of India and has replaced Da Pasta Bar.
Interestingly, there are now 3 Indian restaurants within a block on Robson - Taste of India, Indian Flavours and now Flavours of India.
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You could also try Le Gavroche or the Hermitage if your father prefers a quiet atmosphere. Cru is terrific, too.
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I always take this evening BA flight when I visit my family in the UK and can safely say that the food is fine - you get a full dinner about an hour into the flight and then a breakfast before landing - the quality of the food is perfectly decent, although not stellar, and the portion are generous enough for an adult with a good appetite.
You will also get free alcoholic drinks - one of the best things about flying with BA!
If you are still concerned, the Fairmont Hotel at Vancouver airport does "gourmet" packed meals designed to be eaten on board and the cost is not too high.
Happy flying and have a great holiday.
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Yes. So very sad. That was a standard stop for our family. Anyone know what happened? Did the family that owns it just retire, or were there other circumstances involved.
The couple who owned it have retired. Here is a link to an article in the Delta Optimist.
http://www.delta-optimist.com/issues06/024.../024206co4.html
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Uncle Herbert's Fish and Chips in Ladner is no more. The owners have sold up and have, literally, "gone fishing".
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Firstly, I'd like to thank Chef Julian and Jeff for the hospitality on Thursday evening: their generosity was much appreciated, and Julian's natural exuberance and passion for his job shone throughout the evening. Thank you also to Lee for your efforts in arranging the evening.
I had previously visited CC only once, not at that location, and left distinctly underwhelmed. Not so this time. The seriousness with which the management conduct their operation was an eye-opener, as was the impression that staying at the top of the game was their prime motivator. I was gratified to leave thinking that the deliverance of a quality product remained the #1 consideration, rather than just the bottom line (crucial though that is).
The tour of the back of the house was my definite favourite, and the fact that the freezer was no bigger than the average apartment closet (and not the walk-in type) was a big surprise. That, and the rest of the tour, confirmed their fast turnover of product and the freshness of the food.
The food has pretty much been covered in previous comments, but I'd like to add that the beers, especially the Ugly Ale(with lemon) - were very good. I'd give the burger a 7 out of 10 - perfectly serviceable and decent value, but not a knockout.
Desserts were well appreciated by those of us with a sweet tooth, and all tasted fresh. Yes, the ice cream is excellent - at least for us sweetie fanciers!
The burgers did end up being a bit of a sideshow, but I did not feel "used".
We probably were not their target market, but looking around the restaurant during the evening it seemed as if CC attracts a wide clientele. It is no mean feat to offer "something for everyone" given the diversity of the population in the lower mainland.
The overall impression was of a highly tuned and efficient operation which is centred on constant self-reflection and improvement. It is set up for maximum productivity without sacrificing its essence. This is a seriously well-executed business that deserves its success.
Would I be more inclined to visit a CC again? Most definitely - but out of admiration for the business itself rather than the food.
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Good to see that Caffe de Medici has many admirers.
I love their take on Sangria - it is their signature drink and is called the Sangtini. Absolutely heaven to drink!
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My wife and I are going on Saturday and I'd like to know if there are any recommendations on the menu from the eGulleters?
We went for Valentine's day last year, and the biggest standout for me was the Onion Tart which, I believe, is one of their signature dishes. But everything was of a high standard.
Le Croc also has a most tempting selection of after-dinner drinks - if you have any room left do try some.
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we had an awesome dinner here last night!
i had the linguine to start with (due to your review) and fine myself craving for it this morning! it was delicious. the pasta was perfectly al dente, the seafood fresh and the sauce simple and so savoury and tasty. the bf had the soup and it was very nice as well, but i loved my pasta more! we both had the veal and hands down, one of the best veal dishes we've ever had. rich marsala and mushroom sauce, the veal was practically melt in your mouth. so good. i had the tiramisu (i know, so cliche, but a craving needed to be filled) and he had the orange cake. both were good, simple and clean flavoured. i actually liked the fact that the desserts were on the small side as i have a bad habit of eating all of my dessert!
we had a bottle of the mission hill five vineyards merlot, which was very reasonably priced.
all in all, we had a really lovely evening of attentive and warm service and gorgeous food in a huge but cozy room. we will definitely be back!
Glad to read you enjoyed it.
Please note: as an e-gulleter you should know that eating all of your dessert is NOT a bad habit!
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I checked the expiry date and terms of use for the gift certificates: they can be purchased at the discounted price of 40% off until February 9th and are valid from Sunday to Thursday until April 30th. Time to stock up!
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Failing that, i'll take wine store suggestions (preferably for service not just selection).
Thanks for your help and have a wonderful day
Marquis Wine Cellars is my recommendation. Especially Dave Lancelot who has worked there for many years and is unfailingly helpful, plus a really nice guy. He did not pay me to say this.
Prices are good too, and they always have a stack of EAT magazines and City Food.
I'd second the Marquis recommendation.
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very impressive indeed. i did notice that dishes were served at the same time regardless of size of table. also, there was probaly never more than a minute after finishing my dish that it was cleared away. although the room was packed, i never felt overwhelmed. i also noticed that they (the servers) all helped each other out and worked the whole room. also, the hostesses and host up front were friendly and very welcoming. never once did i feel like i was in a snooty room.
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We had a fabulous meal at C last night: food was the best I've had at DOV so far, and the service was seamless and well-choreographed, as amply described by the previous posts.
All the food was delicious, and A's trout was cooked to perfection, with no bones.
I had the risotto but passed on the truffles - what was I thinking? - and also appreciated the blend of flavours and consistency.
Desserts were also good,but the ginger and brown butter financier would have benefitted from the extra side of ice cream.
Only minor, minor gripe were the portion sizes, as I was nowhere near full. But the quality of food and cooking were standouts for the prices.
Interestingly, they are having a sale on the gift certificates too during Dine Out.
If I can accurately recall they are selling at 40% off i.e. purchase $100 worth for $60. Definitely an incentive to go again soon.
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Just returned from a delightful first meal at Cru. What a charming little restaurant: it was small and cosy but not cramped, and the atmosphere was one of intimacy and warmth.
Service was attentive and professional but unobtrusive, and we did notice that the servers all seemed to be having a good time: it looked as if everyone working there thoroughly enjoys their job. This is hard to find, and that "extra something" added enormously to customer goodwill without any obvious effort.
We both had the $25 menu and for appetizers my friend had the wild mushroom on grilled crostini and I had the carrot and ginger soup. We loved both.
For the main course my friend selected the butternut squash spaetzle, and she was impressed with the quantity of food and the complexity of the flavours. I polished off the duck confit in no time: sometimes there's nothing quite like a nice bit of duck skin to hit the spot!
We ordered a side of fries: they were thin cut and seemed to have a garlic coating. Along with the garlic mayo it was a bit much for me. I prefer fries to be thicker cut with nothing added, and the mayo to be "straight". But it's just a question of personal preference.
The creme brulee was extra creamy, yummy!
I also ordered an extra chocolate torte from the $35 menu, and ate it all, but found it a little dry.
We each ordered a glass of wine, and the total came to exactly $100 - an excellent deal.
I'd happily go back any time.
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Thanks so much for the comments, Makanmakan: you've made my decision on what to try tonight so much harder, as it all sounds so good!
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Lord Balthazar's stunning review of Don Francesco a month or so ago persuaded us to try it for the first time last Saturday.
We arrived at 7pm and were promptly seated. The place was almost full and all the waitstaff looked busy but were attentive and professional: we ordered a bottle of sparking water to start and this was brought within a few minutes.
We emptied the bread basked very quickly, and another full basket was brought without our having to ask. We finished that too!
Appetizers:
My bf had the Linguine Pescatore and once it arrived I wished I'd ordered it too. Gorgeous!! A decent-sized portion of linguine with mixed seafood. He loved it and scarfed it down before I had a chance to steal any.
I had the Lobster Bisque, but asked for extra pepper, which made it quite sharp tasing. But it was fresh and came with a decent amoung of lobster pieces on top.
After this we were served a mixed salad - nice touch!
Mains:
We were suprised to see that there were no pasta dishes offered for the main course, especially as it was Dine Out.
We both had the Veal Marsala and were both very happy with the dish. Sauce was well-balanced and was accompanied by a mixture of vegetables.
Dessert:
Bf had the Orange Cake and I the Pear Tart. They were both tasty, but the portions were tiny, maybe 1-1.5 inches wide. I actually checked the website and saw that this appears to be the size of the regular desserts, which is surprising as they were small-sized for a regular menu.
We also ordered two coffees and half a litre of wine. The total came to $130, quite a bit considering, but a satisfying evening.
We were served quickly and efficiently but did not seem rushed. The waitstaff managed the floor well considering how busy they were, but still had time to help us with our coats. Good job all around.
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I'm going tomorrow, so if you have time, please post some comments.
Thanks.
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.. are you serious ?!
you seem to have taken it extremely positive though; i know that given i was in that circumstance, my review would have not been so glamourous. even though the food was great. did the man with the leather jacket not complain either?
i think that the lack of reconciliation, given accidents like these, show a bad part on the service at Bistro Pastis.
I'm glad however, that you enjoyed your meal. I have been to Bistro Pastis (not during DOV) before, and had no complaints about my last meal. Very simple, hearty french fare.
Yes, I'm serious.
In this instance I decided that if some kind of redress was freely offered then it would have been worth it to accept. If a FD establishment can't be bothered then it is a poor reflection on them.
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Elizabeth, please tell me that you were seriously comped by Pastis for the damage to your person and your pride?
Hi,
Thanks for the concern - but no, I wasn't. Not a thing.
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This was my, and my friend's, first meal at Bistro Pastis and we had reservations for 7 pm on Friday. I had read a lot of great reviews and was thrilled to be finally going.
We arrived a few minutes late (parking problems) and were seated immediately. The decor and overall size of the restaurant reminded me of Mistral (a good thing, as I do like the latter) and the place was packed.
Service was efficient, professional and friendly without being rushed, and there was no pressure to order any extras or wine (but we did).
Anyway, first the food:
The bread was fabulous - fresh, crusty on the outside and chewy without being heavy on the inside. The butter was cold, and we were given just the right amount to satisfy a butter fiend (me).
Appetizers - My friend ordered the butter lettuce salad and pronounced it a winner: she said that it looked simple but the dressing added a nice touch of complexity.
I had the tomato and basil soup which I also enjoyed. It tasted fresh and clean, just the way I like it.
Mains - we both plumped for the coq au vin and were both impressed. The chicken was boneless, and the skin fell off easily. Sauce was complex but not overpowering, and the flavours went together well. I ordered a side of fries, and was super impressed: fresh, crunchy and hot. The mayonnaise was also great.
Dessert- my friend had the creme brulee and she thought it was a little sweet.
I had the chocolate mousse and felt it was a little over-sugared, but then it is chocolate mousse.
We also ordered half a litre of BC wine: I think it was $28 which wasn't bad. I am not a wine buff and can't even remember what is was, but it tasted fine. Total bill was $89, and I thought the $25 dinner was phenomenal value.
OK- now to the strange occurrence that happened a few minutes after we sat down!
We noticed that our table was a little unstable, and just after our waiter poured two large glasses of water the table up-ended and all the water poured over the table, into my lap, onto my purse and over the leather jacket of the man at the next table.
Apparently, a stabilizer at the had fallen off one of the table legs. I wasn't completely drenched ( but my skirt was pretty wet through) as the napkin caught some of the water, but the shock and embarrrassment factor were huge! We had to move to the next table, which was also a little unstable!!
Overall, though, we enjoyed it immensely.
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just have to report that we went to india bistro last night, on davie and loved it!
we'd only done take out from there a couple of times before and always liked it, but after last night, it was love.
we started with the onion bhaji. indian onion rings, but so much better. light chick pea batter, fried to perfection and served with a tamarind dip.
next up was some papadum. grilled, light, crispy and nicely spiced.
our mains were the murgh coconut chicken and the eggplant bartha. the chicken was in a coconut milk curry, very nicely spiced with a good medium heat. the eggplant was first grilled, then cooked with spices, ginger and other good things that made my mouth and lips very warm. the spices were very fresh as well. we paired these with some rice and some garlic naan. the naan was lighter and softer in texture than i'm used to. we quite liked it and it sure made for a good sopping tool!
all that, with a couple of beers (kingfisher for me and raj for him) and the bill was just shy of $45.
and now they deliver......
Glad to see another India Bistro fan.
That location really seemed to be cursed, with several restaurants closing in the past 5 years, but India looks as if it is doing well!
Fage Greek Yogurt in the Lower Mainland?
in Western Canada: Cooking & Baking
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Haven't seen Fage yogurt anywhere but must add my voice to those who recommend Liberty: their flavours are fantastic and are worth the extra price.
The closest I have found to Greek yogurt is the 10% plain Mediterranean style, but it isn't as widely available as the flavoured types. Whole Foods and Capers definitely carry it, though.