Archive for the ‘Gastown’ Category

NELSON AND THE SEAGULL

August 26th, 2011 admin

315 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Tel:  (604) 681-5776

Web: http://www.nelsontheseagull.com/

Twitter: @gastownseagull

Advice: Have a seat at the communal table and meet other folk.

This is the living room we all once lived in, or want to escape to now. I have visited a few times over the summer and love the high ceilings, open kitchen, the large communal table and of course the living room. The café is large, spacious and inviting, it is also a great people watching spot too!

The café has become the new spot for the community, for the creative people who live and work inside and outside of the Gastown area.

Avocado on Toast

Espresso

Lemon Tart

Chocolate Lava Cake

On my last visit I had the Avocado on Toast ($5) and previously an Espresso ($2.50) along with one of their delicious Lemon Tarts ($3.50) that oozed with sweet lemon along with the Chocolate Lava Cake ($3.50). Asides from the coffees on order, they bake bread and not just any bread, it’s a Ciabatta which is moist and chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outer crust, all of their sandwiches and toasts are on this wonderful bread.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Gastown Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

THE JUICE TRUCK

August 9th, 2011 admin

Abbott and Water Street (on the corner), Vancouver

Tel: 604-719-8861

Web: http://www.thejuicetruck.ca

Twitter: @juicetruck

Advice: Follow them on twitter for daily open hours and location.

Bright and pink, this food truck is taking healthy to another level with their inventive concoctions from juices to smoothies and beyond. I tasted some of their beverages to help me decide what I was going to order, The Milk is their own recipe of creamy homemade almond milk with a hint of cinnamon & cardamom. Their mission is to bring fresh pressed juice and smoothies to the streets of Vancouver and their philosophy is local first and organic second.

The Almost Chocolate

The Avocado Pineapple

I could not decide which of the creative named smoothies to have so I had two; loved The Almost Chocolate ($7) Banana blended with medjool dates, almond butter, raw cacao, raw maca & soy Milk & refreshed on The Avocado Pineapple ($7) Avocado blended with pineapple, coconut water, lime, vanilla & agave.

Raw Chai Brownies

They also have some healthy snacks such as the Raw Chai Brownies ($2.50) which I loved and I hear more snacks are in the works. I could hang out and talk to owners Zach and Ryan all day long, these guys have not only created a juicy destination, they have also created a community of juice lovers.

Next visit I must try The Profile which is one of their juices made with Apple pressed with pineapple, pear, orange & ginger!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Food Trucks, Gastown Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »

NICLI ANTICA PIZZERIA

February 28th, 2011 admin

62 East Cordova, Vancouver

Tel: 604-669-6985

Web: http://nicli-antica-pizzeria.ca

Twitter: @NicliPizzeria

Advice: Go with a friend or two and share some of the pizzas. Skip the knife and fork, if you ordered a pizza and just use your hands to tear the pizza into pieces.

I love a good pizza and am very particular about my pizza from the crust to the toppings! I recently dined at Nicli to specifically have one of their Neapolitan pizzas. The room was beautiful with its exposed brick and white walls, and the bar was stunning. The kitchen located towards the rear of the restaurant showcases their pizza oven as well as their pizza making chefs.

Funghi Pizza

I glanced at all of their Pizzas and the different offerings and then decided on the pizza that I was going to eat, I had the Funghi Pizza ($14) pomodoro, parmigiano, fior di latte, funghi, basil, then came the taste test, I loved the tomato sauce, but not the crust, the taste of the crust only improved when I drizzled some of their house made Rosemary Olive Oil over the pizza.

The menu is made up of Antipasti, some salads and pizzas along with a good wine list on offer. They offer two housemade oils, the Chili oil as well as the Rosemary oil which I had preferred over the other.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown Tags: , , , No Comments »

PECKINPAH

January 4th, 2011 admin

2 Water Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-5411

Web: http://www.peckinpahbbq.com

Twitter: @peckinpahbbq

Advice: Open daily, no reservations, Take out window.

I have always loved barbq, with many visits to Arizona and Texas over the years and enjoying different barbq styles. Peckinpah specializes in Southern Carolina barbq which is about slow cooking the meats in the smoker, its not saucy, its more about the flavours of the meat.

This restaurant couldn’t have been better located, on the corner of Water & Carrall in the heart of historic Gastown. Cool décor on the inside exposed brick walls, wooden bar with comfortable stools, wooden floors, tables and chairs. Look up and you see some very cool light fixtures with fish net wire ceiling.

I sat at the long wooden bar overlooking the open kitchen where I could watch the chefs cookin’ up the creamed corn and other dishes. The menu has a varied selection of salads, bites, sandwiches, smoked meat plates (Full plates and half plates of smoked meat comes with cornbread and 2 fixins), and desserts.  The meats are smoked for various amounts of time from 18 hours for the beef brisket to 5 hours for the pork ribs. The bar features an extensive selection of Bourbon and Beers, try a Bourbon Cocktail.

Beef Brisket Sandwich

I had the Beef Brisket Sandwich ($9.50) with creamed corn and a pickle,  loved the brown paper topped metal serving plate, nice touch in presentation. There are two types of barbq sauces for you to add on your own at your leisure, I tried both and each was a great compliment from the traditional Barbq sauce to the Chili & Vinegar.

Looking forward to my next visit and to try their Mac ‘n Cheese ($9.50) with bread crumbs and green tomato sauce.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments »

MEAT & BREAD

November 4th, 2010 admin

370 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-566-9003

Web:  http://meatandbread.ca/

Twitter: @1meatandbread

Advice: Check their website or twitter when you go in as their sandwiches change daily. You can get more of the Sambal and Mustard sauce in the Squeeze containers located on the tables.

I have already been in a couple of times for lunch since they opened and asides from loving the room and the long communal table, I loved the sandwiches. The menu is fairly simple every day they have the house featured Porchetta ($8) along with a changing meat sandwich and a changing grilled cheese sandwich. All the hot meats are cooked on site and served with homemade mustard and sambal which they dollop on the sandwich board (no plates are used here just a wooden board) and they also sell by the jar.

Chicken Sandwich

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

On my first visit I had the Chicken Sandwich ($8) with soy glazed chicken, and sesame slaw. On my second visit I had the Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($7) with Porccini mushrooms and caramelized onions. You can also get a cup of soup or salad (changes daily) for an extra charge to go along with the sandwich. For dessert they have an Ice Cream Sandwich, I haven’t had it yet, will get to it one day. They are licensed and have a small selection of bottled beer along with a couple of wines; other beverages include Fentimans sodas! Back to the room, I like the vintage décor and love the collection of knives that adorn the kitchen wall.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown Tags: , , , , , , , 3 Comments »

L’ABATTOIR

September 16th, 2010 admin

217 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-1701

Web:  http://www.labattoir.ca/

Twitter: @ LABATTOIR_VAN

Advice: No reservations, try to sit by the bar if you are having drinks or in the atrium if you are having dinner.

Bread Basket

After attending the opening party a couple months back, I knew this restaurant and bar was going to win me over, I finally had an opportunity to pop in for dinner the other night. I was seated in the atrium at the back of the restaurant which is one most unique rooms in the city, there is also a front of house bar and lounge, and an elevated dining room.

Poached Halibut with Mussels and Spinach Dumplings

As I was eating solo, I was only able to enjoy one main dish and dessert far from the usual dinner out. I was served a complimentary bread basket to start and immediately fell in love with the Anchovies twists. I skipped the starters and went straight into the entrée which is the main event here, the kitchen team is creative and Chef Lee Cooper is a master running that kitchen. For my entrée I had the beautifully presented and flavourful Poached Halibut with Mussels and Spinach Dumplings ($24) Ragout of late summer vegetables and basil, garlic sabayon and this was delicious. The menu has a great selection of starters and entrees and this is foodie heaven, you are going to want to try each and every dish.

Upside Down Cake

Of course I had to finish the meal with some dessert and I had the Upside Down Cake ($9) with Plums, mascarpone cream. The desserts are varied and again presentation is the key here. For cocktails, with Shaun Layton at helm, he is one of the city’s top bartenders and he has created quite the memorable cocktail list. There is a nice wine list which has been well thought out in pairing up to the entrees if you choose to wine and dine. I am looking forward to my next visit to try the next dish!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

TERRACOTTA MODERN CHINESE

August 25th, 2010 admin

52 Alexander Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-569-3088

Web: http://www.terracottavancouver.com/

Twitter: @Terracotta_Van

Advice: The Emperors Room (aka the Sunken Dining Room) seats 12-15 people.

Chun-Li

Big Trouble in Little Gastown

Named after the Terracotta warriors, you will want to visit this hip hideaway on the edge of Gastown for it’s version of Modern Chinese Cuisine along with some inventive cocktails such as the one I had. The décor is dark, the vibe is hip and if you aren’t seated upstairs you are going to want to sit downstairs especially if you are with a large group of friends; the ‘Sunken Dining Room” as one of the coolest tables to dine at in the city. My friend and I began with a couple of cocktails, I had the Chun-Li ($9.50) blueberry stoli, hypnotic, blue liquer with fresh DragonFruit; and my friend Carlos had the Big Trouble in Little Gastown ($9.50) Malibu, mango liquer with fresh lemon.

House-made Wontons

Imperial Pepper Prawns

Seafood Saga

The appetizers are more like Dim Sum dishes with a modern twist and they were all very tasty, we shared all starting with the outstanding Imperial Pepper Prawns ($8.00) seasoned with garlic and peppers; then the very good House-made Wontons ($7.50) crispy won tons stuffed with shrimp, served with red vinegar; and the Seafood Saga ($11) wok tossed scallops with prawns and Chinese vegetables.

Terracotta Short Rib and green onion Sliders

Szechuan Green Beans

Beijing fried Rice

Number 69

From here we moved in to another amazing dish, the Terracotta Short Rib and green onion sliders ($9) served in Golden Mantou subs with hoisin sauce; then the Beijing fried rice ($10.75) wok fried rice and barbeque duck and vegetables; and my favourite Szechuan Green Beans ($8) — tossed in a spicy sauce; and to round out the savouries the Number 69 ($7) spicy bok choi with tofu. Halfway through we were served a tiny cup of a very smooth Chivas & Green Tea ($9).

Tapioca Happy Ending

To finish off our meal with enjoyed a very different though delicious dessert, Tapioca Happy Ending ($6.50) baked tapioca with a thin pastry crust with dragon fruit ice cream.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »

MCLEAN’S

July 27th, 2010 admin
UPDATED 3/4/12 BUSINESS HAS CLOSED
200 – 332 Water Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-669-1112


Twitter: @Mcleansgastown

Advice: Reserve for the upstairs dining room.

Fior de Latte

Grilled Humbolt Squid

Had dinner recently with some media friends and shared several of the different dishes. We sat in the downstairs lounge, though next time I would prefer to dine in the beautiful dining room upstairs. To begin the meal, I tasted a couple of Appetizers that included the tasty Fior de Latte ($10) over roasted cherry tomatoes drizzled with a balsamic reduction & Spansih extra virgin olive oil with fresh basil; unfortunatley the Grilled Humbolt Squid ($12) with chorizo lime and sansho pepper aiolli was not too my liking.

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli

Free Range Chicken Breast

Queen Charlotte Halibut

AAA 10oz Ribe Eye

For the main dishes I enjoyed my Queen Charlotte Halibut ($28) pan seared filet with pommes puree, green asparagus, & sauteed wild mushrooms finished with a lemon beurre blanc. I also tasted and liked the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli ($21) in a white wine cream sauce, with sundried tomatoes & Italian parsley, finished pecorino pepato; the Free Range Chicken Breast ($21) was in a tasty pommes puree with seasonal vegetables. My favourite of all the main entrees was the AAA 10oz Ribe Eye ($29) the meat was delicious and perfectly prepared with pomme frites, balsamic glazed green asparagus, finished with a truffle demiglace.

Bread Pudding

Creme Brulee

Beet Sorbet

Chocolate Mouse

As full as I was I had to try some of the desserts, all of the ones that I sampled were quite good including the Bread Pudding ($8), Creme Brulee ($8), Beet Sorbet ($8) and the Chocolate Mouse ($8).

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Gastown, Restaurant Reviews Tags: , , , , , , No Comments »
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