Vancouver Restaurant Makeover

[fud]

I'm thinking a LOT could be done for $40k (assuming nothing major needs to be done in the kitchen), especially when you consider that tweeking a menu doesn't really cost anything.

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Does the Chef Consultant work for the show and not draw any money from the budget?

[bigdaddy]

Does the Chef Consultant work for the show and not draw any money from the budget?

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Those details are never really discussed in the show.

Ultimately, tired & struggling restaurants get the sort of

makeover (and publicity) for a mere $10-20 grand that they

would otherwise not have the time/energy/imagination/money

to undertake.

[jtcookie]

Given the news this morning

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=77900&hl=

maybe the Normandy is a suitable candidate!

John

[Brenda]

Haven't been to the Tapastree in a year or so...but always felt that the room needed "help". Popular hang-out in a hip neighbourhood with good food at reasonable prices. The show usually matches the money put up by the restaurant to a max of $20 grand (for a total of 40, or more if the owners want to spend more themselves). You could do a great overhaul of that place with a budget like that. (Never underestimate the role decor/ambience plays in the success of a restaurant).

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I also immediately thought of Tapastree. The food is good, but the decor is really dated and too "busy." It's also the right size for that show.

[2roost]

Simpatico on 4th Avenue.

[kontemporary]

Simpatico on 4th Avenue.

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I second this Greek restaurant..

[barolo]

I nominate Raincity Grill.

[nwyles]

I nominate Raincity Grill.

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Really ?

What specifically would you do ?

[kontemporary]

I know the kitchen at Raincity Grill is quite aged.. but I don't see them needing any renovation - especially with the nice English Bay view !

[barolo]

I nominate Raincity Grill.

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Really ?

What specifically would you do ?

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I thought I might get some reaction.

Raincity Grill is fine as it is, I just think it could be tweaked and really live up to its potential. To me the room looks tired, it needs some updating, a better and more comfortable entry way, new colours. The layout, with the raised portion in the middle, really cuts up the room. The outside view isn't going anywhere, but that is not an excuse to ignore the inside of the room. Much of the year it is dark and rainy and there is no outside view, the room should stand on its own.

I can't speak about the kitchen as that's not something I know about.

As for the menu, I think any menu can benefit from some tweaking.

I know easy to say, maybe not so easy to do, but you asked the question. Just my opinion.

[Foodie in Vancouver]

Re RCG: So I'll bite - why is the room raised in the middle and dropped in the back?

How about Opus Elixir? I am not a fan of the restaurant space. The chairs in the garden room are brutally uncomfortable and it is too noisy/bright sound-wise for a nice dinner. The rest of the room is so broken up. We had dinner there the other night and were placed "under" the bar. Nels looked straight into the kitchen and all the wait staff did a pivot turn beside our table. There was a table of hockey fans seated above us who talked loudly down into our meal. I looked around the room and couldn't see a good table. I desparately wanted to leave. We stayed and endured. And as for the curtained off room. What's with that?

Bit of a rant - sorry Neil.

How about the Bins? They are looking a bit tired, dark and dim and IMHO are overly noisy. They are so small the budget might go a long way.

[Vancouver Lee]

I nominate Raincity Grill.

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Really ?

What specifically would you do ?

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I thought I might get some reaction.

Raincity Grill is fine as it is, I just think it could be tweaked and really live up to its potential. To me the room looks tired, it needs some updating, a better and more comfortable entry way, new colours. The layout, with the raised portion in the middle, really cuts up the room. The outside view isn't going anywhere, but that is not an excuse to ignore the inside of the room. Much of the year it is dark and rainy and there is no outside view, the room should stand on its own.

I can't speak about the kitchen as that's not something I know about.

As for the menu, I think any menu can benefit from some tweaking.

I know easy to say, maybe not so easy to do, but you asked the question. Just my opinion.

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I agree - there's nothing glaringly wrong with RCG, but the room feels cramped to me. Removing the "stage" in the middle of the room would, in effect, raise the ceiling and give patrons some breathing room. I'm also not a fan of window mullions - since the view seems to be such a big part of the place, why not replace the existing windows with uninterrupted glass?

[barolo]

Raincity Grill is closed for renovations from March 12-19.