Where to go for a birthday

[maxmillan]

I'd like a suggestion for a birthday dinner. Something not too expensive for the meal and a restaurant that has excellent desserts. I was thinking The Griffin at Vancouver Hotel because they have a dessert buffet but it seems like I go there almost every year.

I'd like a variety of desserts, not just chocolate, as I find this too heavy and it's not everyone's favorite. A good mix of white cakes, chocolate, mousse, fruits, pies, etc is ideal but the quality should be good.

It doesn't have to be a dessert buffet but it should have a good range of quality desserts. Ornamate plating does not impress us, just good desserts. I find a lot of restaurants minimize the importance of the final course by offering simple chocolate desserts, ice cream and not much else.

Thanks for your help.

[annanstee]

Parkside. "Ornamatal" and delicious.

ETA

Or you could go to HSG and just accept that everybody has to have the GBP.

Edited September 12, 2006 by annanstee (log)

[SBonner]

The desserts at Diva at the Met are well worth it.

Stephen

[maxmillan]

Parkside. "Ornamatal"  and delicious.

ETA

Or you could go to HSG and just accept that everybody has to have the GBP.

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I've heard a lot about the bread pudding at HSG. However, what is the "Ornamatal" at Parkside?

Thanks.

Edited September 13, 2006 by maxmillan (log)

[maxmillan]

The desserts at Diva at the Met are well worth it.

Stephen

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Are these desserts created by Thomas Hass?

Thanks.

Edited September 13, 2006 by maxmillan (log)

[annanstee]

They certainly used to be- not sure if he is still the patisserie there.

[Zucchini Mama]

Have you thought of Trafalger's? For sheer variety of good quality desserts, it would be good for a birthday dinner. I like the lemon mousse cake and the seasonal fruit tarts.

[barolo]

The desserts at Diva at the Met are well worth it.

Stephen

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Are these desserts created by Thomas Hass?

Thanks.

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Yes, he is the Executive Pastry Chef at Diva. Here's a link to the Diva dessert menu: Diva Desserts

Looks like that may be where *Deborah* had the chocolate and pistachio dessert she mentioned in another thread.

Trafalgars is a good suggestion, especially since you are looking for wide selection. Here's the menu: Trafalgars Desserts

Edited September 13, 2006 by barolo (log)

[annanstee]

Oooh, Trafalgars. Excellent call, Zuke.

[*Deborah*]

The desserts at Diva at the Met are well worth it.

Stephen

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Are these desserts created by Thomas Hass?

Thanks.

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Yes, he is the Executive Pastry Chef at Diva. Here's a link to the Diva dessert menu: Diva Desserts

Looks like that may be where *Deborah* had the chocolate and pistachio dessert she mentioned in another thread.

Trafalgars is a good suggestion, especially since you are looking for wide selection. Here's the menu: Trafalgars Desserts

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Oh, bless you, Anne!

[PaoPao]

I'd go to Diner in a heartbeat. We've been to four different b-day parties there and the people loved the place each time. Good solid tasty food and fantastic fresh desserts. We just came from lunch there and my sweety for dessert had the Blackberry Pavlova with fresh Black berries out of Heathers garden. I had a just out of the oven Peach Shortbread ...... the best. My best friend had a party there and she cooked a Blackberry Coconut cake for him that everyone still raves about.

[sanrensho]

I find a lot of restaurants minimize the importance of the final course. 

Geez, don't these restaurant realize that the LAST course is the most important?

Waiting for Ling to weigh in with her recommendations...

[TimK]

I'd go to Diner in a heartbeat.  We've been to four different b-day parties there and the people loved the place each time.  Good solid tasty food and fantastic fresh desserts.  We just came from lunch there and my sweety for dessert had the Blackberry Pavlova with fresh Black berries out of Heathers garden.  I had a just out of the oven Peach Shortbread ...... the best.  My best friend had a party there and she cooked a Blackberry Coconut cake for him that everyone still raves about.

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Heather makes great desserts. Craving some now.

[Ling]

I find a lot of restaurants minimize the importance of the final course. 

Geez, don't these restaurant realize that the LAST course is the most important?

Waiting for Ling to weigh in with her recommendations...

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I kept quiet because Diva has already been mentioned. That would be my pick as well.

West also does some nice desserts.

The most memorable dessert I've had in Vancouver in the last few months was the wasabi cheesecake and matcha ice-cream at Blue Water Cafe.

[tarteausucre]

I'm chiming in with a second (or is a third) for Trafalgar's and Diva. Keep in mind that the ambiance is quite different - the former is much more low key while the latter would be much more of a done-up affair. Trafalgar's definitely for quantity in terms of selection and good quality. Diva for fantastic quality (closes her eyes in remembrance of Thomas Haas desserts

[maxmillan]

Thanks for all the info. However, I decided a dessert buffet is the way to go instead of restaurants that offer no buffet. I only know of Griffins and the chocolate buffet at what was once the Meridien.

Does anyone know of other dessert buffets? I thought there was a thread pertaining to this but I can't find it.

As well, when I called around for dessert buffets, I discovered a couple of delicious sounding buffets that offers dessert buffet. The William Tell restaurant has a Swiss Farmers Buffet brunch. Has anyone tried it?

Also, I called the Waterfront and they offer a brunch buffet as well? Any word on what their desserts are like?

I'll go the route of buffets that includes food as long as there are desserts.

Thanks for any leads.

Edited September 16, 2006 by maxmillan (log)

[Sam Salmon]

I'll go the route of buffets....as long as there are desserts.

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Mister-I like your style!

[annanstee]

Note that the Swiss Farmers Buffet is for dinner, not brunch.

Haven't been to the brunch buffet for a long time, but it used to be good.

[Zucchini Mama]

http://www.picachef.com/dine/restaurant_2.html

In that case I'd reccomend PICA.

[tinyhandful]

I'd go to Diner in a heartbeat.  We've been to four different b-day parties there and the people loved the place each time.  Good solid tasty food and fantastic fresh desserts.  We just came from lunch there and my sweety for dessert had the Blackberry Pavlova with fresh Black berries out of Heathers garden.  I had a just out of the oven Peach Shortbread ...... the best.  My best friend had a party there and she cooked a Blackberry Coconut cake for him that everyone still raves about.

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Heather makes great desserts. Craving some now.

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sorry to be such an EG noob, but where's Diner? I have an outrageous task of finding a reasonable (entrees hovering between the teens and the low 20's) yet trendy for a b-day party for a bunch of 18 y.o.s who have requested NO CHAIN restaurants. any ideas? i'd like to at least enjoy my meal since i won't be able understand/follow a word of what my company will be saying!

--> dinner is for this coming saturday night with no rezzos as of yet (for 10 ppl!), of course. *sigh*

[barolo]

  sorry to be such an EG noob, but where's Diner? 

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1269 Hamilton Street in Yaletown. Here's a map: Diner location

[nwyles]

Is there still a Chuck E Cheese by Loughheed Mall ?

[Daddy-A]

Is there still a Chuck E Cheese by Loughheed Mall ?

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Nope. Was the Jolly Genie for a while. Not sure what it is now.

Why Chuck's Neil? Feeling nostalgic for urine-soaked ball rooms?

A.

[tinyhandful]

Is there still a Chuck E Cheese by Loughheed Mall ?

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lol, funny that you say that Neil, i voted for HSG, and was the one who called this afternoon and talked to you asking whether or not you had a webpage that i could direct the young'ns to.

unfortunately, i was out-voted... so Neil, you will NOT be seeing a group of 10 chuck-e-cheesers, arguing over how to split the bill and who gets to pay for the shared appies, this saturday night. boo hoo, i know.

our party will instead be tormenting the staff at relish...

[Foodie in Vancouver]

relish is a good choice for the age group. Our daughters (18 and 21) enjoy it and we don't have any problems taking them there. Certainly a better experience than our last family birthday at Joey's. Don't get me started.