Archive for the ‘Kitsilano’ Category

YUJI’S JAPANESE TAPAS

June 1st, 2010 admin

2059 W 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-734-4990

Web: http://yujis.ca/

Advice: Bring a friend so you can share the dishes. Brown rice can be requested for the sushi.

Maguro Avocado Crepe

Sweet Potato Tempura Sticks

Tuna & Salmon Wasabi Tempura

Gomaae

Agedashi Tofu

Found a gem, I had a heard about Yuji’s from friends and finally got in for a visit with a friend. All the dishes looked interesting on the menu and more so as they arrived to nearby tables. We began with the Maguro Avocado Crepe ($8), the next dish was the tasty Sweet Potato Tempura Sticks ($7.50) which was followed by the Tuna & Salmon Wasabi Tempura ($7.50), then some Gomaae ($5.00) and then the Agedashi Tofu ($6.50). Most of the items we had ordered were off the Tapas menu, the Sushi menu was vast and very appealing, they also have Sashimi, Nigiri.

Green Tea Cream Brule with Green Tea Ice cream

We ended off the delicious sharing meal with a dessert to share as well and went with the Green Tea Cream Brule with Green Tea Ice cream ($7.50). The service was friendly and efficient and the room was beautiful and cozy.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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BISTROT BISTRO

April 25th, 2010 admin

1961 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-732-0004

Web: www.bistrotbistro.com

Twitter: @bistrotbistro

Advice: If you would like some bread, then order a half or full baguette from the top of the menu. 3 Course Price Fixe dinner Sunday -Thursday for only $27. Karma Tuesdays, 5% of sales go to support a local charity.

Shrimps Scallops Provencal

Lamb Shank

Pomme Alumettes

I finally visited this popular Kitsilano eatery, took my friend for some French cooking and we both loved the food, the service and ambience, the only drawback was that it was very noisy in this full restaurant. Our one mistake was wondering why no bread arrived to our table, finally realized the obvious as we left. To begin our meal we went right into the entrees, my friend had the very tasty Shrimps Scallops Provencal ($19) flambe pastis and I had the Lamb Shank ($19) with spiced apricots, tomato and white wine. To accompany our meals we shared the big bucket of Pomme Alumettes ($5) (French fries) with the mayo dip.

Profiteroles Ice Cream

Poire Belle Helene

Who could resist the tempting French desserts, after eyeing the Crepe Suzette being served to the table to next to us, it looked so delicious but too large, since we both like chocolate, we went a different route. My friend had the outstanding Profiteroles Ice Cream ($7) with chocolate and I had the delicious Poire Belle Helene ($6) the French version of a sundae with poached pear, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and whipped cream topped with cocoa. The flavours in everything we had were superb and I am looking forward to a return visit soon. There is a great looking wine list and you can enjoy by the bottle or by the glass!

Review By: Richard Wolak

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BANANA LEAF

March 15th, 2010 admin

3005 West Broadway, Vancouver
Tel: 604-734-3005

Web: www.bananaleaf-vancouver.com

Advice: Bring friends along and share the dishes.

Virgin Mango Paradise

Nonya Fried Spicy Calamari

Nonya's Lettuce Wrap

Love this tropical hideaway that is a little bit of paradise in the city, I dined here not long ago with a group of friends for an amazing meal. Started off with a tropical Virgin Mango Paradise ($5), followed by Nonya Fried Spicy Calamari ($8) crispy fried marinated squid in curry spice. Followed by the Nonya’s Lettuce Wrap ($14) chicken in Nonya spices, jicama, shiitake mushroom, bean sprouts, chives, soy bean sauce, basil and chilli served in a golden shell with fresh lettuce wrap.

Dungeness Crab in Black Peppercorn Garlic Sauce

Rendang Beef

Alaskan Black Cod in Caramelized Ginger Sauce

Abundance of Seafood in Assam Curry Sauce

Sambal Chili Fried Okra, Eggplant & Green Bean

Coconut Rice in Banana Leaf

After the appetizers we went straight into the mains, Dungeness Crab in Black Peppercorn Garlic Sauce ($14/lb) a dish that reflects the diversity of Malaysian cuisine: whole crab, shell-on, with Chinese seasonings & cooked with Indian black peppercorn, enriched with butter. (2½ lbs min) Rendang Beef ($12) boneless lean beef stewed to melting tenderness in coconut gravy and spices. Alaskan Black Cod ($20) in Caramelized Ginger Sauce with “Kicap Manis” Alaskan black cod steak topped with “Malaysian black sweet sauce” with caramelized ginger, garlic & shallot, enriched by Chinese wine. Abundance of Seafood in Assam Curry Sauce ($20) a taste of the ocean: scallop, prawn, fish, mussel, clam, and squid simmered in tamarind juice and curry spice with coconut cream; Sambal Chili Fried Okra, Eggplant & Green Bean ($13) stir-fried vegetable with small shrimps & tomato in dried shrimp paste “Belacan”; Coconut Rice in Banana Leaf ($2) rice wrapped in fresh banana leaf cooked with coconut milk.

Pisang Goreng

To end off this wonderful meal we shared the Pisang Goreng ($6) crispy fried banana with vanilla ice cream topped with crushed peanut & gula melaka. The staff are always colourfully dressed in their tropical uniforms that fits well with the indoor palm trees and great tasting and sometimes spicey cuisine. Jazz up your meal with one of their cocktails, make sure that you save room for some of the fine desserts!

Review by: Richard Wolak

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MAPLE GRILL

February 23rd, 2010 admin

1967 West Broadway, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-4885

Web: http://www.maplegrill.com

Advice: closed Friday night and Saturday (they open after sundown on Saturday). Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Reservations are a good idea.

Ima's Hummus

Turkei Schnitzel

Pesto Chicken Breast

My friend Alejandro and I had dinner here recently, he often joins me when there is a new Mexican restaurant in the city, this time it was his first time to eat in a Kosher restaurant. I have eaten in many Kosher restaurants around the world and too often they aren’t focused on gourmet cuisine, at the Maple Grill I was pleasantly surprised. To begin our meal and our Kosher gourmet journey, we shared Ima’s Hummus ($6.50) – topped with chickpeas, toasted sesame seeds, olive oil and served with brown pita bread. For our main plate entrees, I had the deliciously large Turkei Schnitzel ($22) -breaded and pan seared, topped with pea shoots dressed in an herb vinaigrette with toasted pine nuts, accompanied by two sides, of the eight sides to choose I had the Roasted Rosemary Potatoes and the Grilled white asparagus and red pepper; Alejandro had the Pesto Chicken Breast ($23) – tender chicken stuffed with house-made basil pesto and for his two sides he had the Saffron Risotto and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes. The menu offers a good selection of Appetizers, Soups and Salads from some traditional favourites including Matzo Ball Soup to inventive salads such as The Black Hat Salad. Their are Casual Plates which are mostly burgers such as the Moroccan Burger and Ocean Burger where you can substitute the accompanying fries with onion rings, soup or side salad upon request. Then their are the Main Plates which offers a varied selection of entrees such as a 10 oz Rib-eye Steak for $32 which is the most expensive item on the menu. All the Main Plates come with your choice of two sides and you can ask for seconds or thirds of the tasty sides too.

Apple Strudel topped with Soy Ice Cream

We were both quite full after our dinner, however that wasn’t going to stop us in trying at least one of the desserts. We shared the Apple Strudel ($6.50) – round pastry filled with apples and cinnamon topped with a scoop of their home-made soy ice cream ($1 extra). The dessert was unbelievably good and after I found out who the pastry chef was, I was tempted to order another, next time I will have my own dessert!

This west coast Kosher kitchen is inventive and the dishes are flavourful. The decor is elegant with black walls and hard wood flooring, the seating is very comfortable. Our server was welcoming and offered guidance with the menu selection. The bar menu offers Kosher wines along with an extensive selection of beers on tap.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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PIATO

January 1st, 2010 admin

1835 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-2929

Web: www.piato.ca

Advice: Bring friends and order some small plates to share.

Meat Moussaka

K.l.t. Sandwich with Greek Fries

I have dined here a few times, sometimes with friends and at times on my own, the Greek food is unlike any of the places you may have dined at in this part of the world. This is a journey through Greece and as you travel you will be inspired by the dishes that you taste. First of all the room is stylish, as you enter you will see white brick walls, brown chairs, tables with white tablecloths and white napkins. The long bar is sleek white with Ouzo bottles lining up behind the bar and pictures of relatives from their home country. Secondly, the menu is vast and features a wide range of Greek specialties which is abode to healthier cooking, light and delicious. Some of the dishes that I have had include the Meat Moussaka ($14) — short rib ragu, potatoes, eggplant and cheese béchamel, served with Fennel apple salata. White bean hummus ($6) dip and a Spicy feta with basil ($6) dip both served with their Greek bread and pita. K.l.t. Sandwich ($11) is a boneless chicken thigh, mixed leaves, tomato and spicy feta, served with Greek fries. The perfect ending to a meal here is to have the Greek coffee with a little sugar and the Baklava ($7) mixed nuts rolled in filo pastry and drenched in honey; or one of their other tasty desserts. There is a great selection of Greek wines and Ouzo for your enjoyment.

Specializing in your not so usual Greek food, you will find some tasty delicacies here.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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ATITHI

December 2nd, 2009 admin

2445 Burrard street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-731-0221

Web:  http://www.atithi.ca/

Twitter: @eatindianatithi

Advice: Their online menu seems to offer different items than the restaurant menu, if you like a dish that you don’t see in the restaurant just ask.

Naan filled with nuts and fruit

Naan filled with nuts and fruit

I am happy to have found another place where you can experience the flavours of authentic Indian cuisine. Some of the flavours that I enjoyed here were the mango, jackfruit and the curry, the food isn’t spicy it is delicate and tasty. I heard about the wonderful dishes that the chef/owner Chef Abhishek Roy who has cooked in some of the finest Indian restaurants had been cooking and I had to give it a try. Atithi (means Honoured Guest) and the service is wonderful, the restaurant is fairly small and could be missed as the traffic goes past, this is a gem worth discovering. After I ordered, I was served a papadum (Indian cracker) with a flavorful mint and tamarind chutney to tempt my tastebuds. For an appetizer I had the Naan bread filled with nuts and fruit ($2.50) — (not on the menu, ask for it), for my main meal I had the Mango Chicken ($14.95) served with basmati rice and a green salad with pomegranates and plain naan. This dish is not on the regular menu either, it is on the Chefs special menu, just ask and they will make it. The naan bread here is flat unlike the traditional varieties you would find at most Indian restaurants.

Mango Chicken

Mango Chicken

I can’t wait to go back for a return visit for their lunch buffet which is offered Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30pm for $8.95 that includes 3 non-vegetarian items, 3 vegetarian items, rice, salad and 2 desserts.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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AUTUMN BROOK GALLERY

November 23rd, 2009 admin

Autumn Brook 002

1545 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Tel: 604-737-2363

Web: www.autumnbrook.ca

Advice: They serve Brunch only on Saturday and Sunday.

Smoked Salmon Florentine Croissant Sandwich

Smoked Salmon Florentine Croissant Sandwich

This is a great place for brunch within an art gallery. Not only is the food absolutely delicious but the art adorning the walls makes for a great experience. This is the art of casual food, they showcase BC Artists in ever changing exhibits. I had the Smoked Salmon Florentine Croissant Sandwich ($13) wild smoked salmon, spinach, provolone cheese, house made hollandaise; served with roasted herbed potatoes, fresh fruit garnish and organic greens. The menu features a great selection of Benny’s and Omelettes, along with other Croissant Sandwiches and French Toast. The service was excellent and the server was ever so charming and the chefs ever so creative. The brunch desserts were tempting and one day I will be back to try the Brioche Brunch Dessert Canapes.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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BISHOP’S

November 8th, 2009 admin

Bishops Urban Grains Dinner 003

2183 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-738-2025

Web:  http://www.bishopsonline.com/

Advice: Reservations are recommended in advance.

Red Spring Wheat Gnocchi

Red Spring Wheat Gnocchi

Fraser Valley Goat Chop

Fraser Valley Goat Chop

Truly one of a kind, after almost 25 years serving the best in Canadian cuisine, many of the country’s best chefs were trained here by icon Chef John Bishop. After a couple of years, I finally made a return visit for dinner and this time to sample the 3 course Urban Grains special ($38) which is their early bird dining special available daily from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Even though the Executive Chef Andrea Carlson is offering this daily she will often decide what to feature on the menu a few hours in advance. As part of this meal I enjoyed the Red Spring Wheat Gnocchi Agassiz chestnuts, baby cabbage, bacon jus for my appetizer; the entrée was the Fraser Valley Goat Chop with fennel sausage, wheat berry and quince sauté, quince jus; and for dessert I enjoyed the Whole Wheat Browned Butter Breton Cake caramelized apple, crème fraiche ice cream, browned butter vinaigrette. To round off my meal I had an espresso which was from local roaster Ethical Bean. For an additional $20 they will pair the 3 courses with 3 amazing wines.

Whole Wheat Browned Butter Breton Cake

Whole Wheat Browned Butter Breton Cake

If you like to dine early or are looking for a great special then make a reservation and join them for their $38 Three Course Early Bird Dinner offered each night. Every month they change the focus and most often the Chef creates the menu of the evening a few hours before.

If you are dining after the early bird offering or anytime after opening there are wonderful a la carte creations inspired by the chef that will have you savoring every bite, this is a restaurant for foodies and for a celebrating memorable occasions.

Review by: Richard Wolak

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