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Posts Tagged ‘Communal Table’

CATCH 122

July 17th, 2012 admin

122 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

Tel: 604-731-3474

Web: http://www.catch122.ca/

Twitter: @catch122

Advice: Reservations suggested at lunch time.

Pulled Pork Sandwich

Love the spacious room with its exposed bricks walls and open kitchen, it is a fairly large room with a take away home meal section up front, and lots of seats for dining. I have visited on a couple occasions, having been in for an Espresso Macchiato on the first visit and then lunching with a friend on the 2nd visit, where I had the delicious Pulled Pork Sandwich ($12) with salad.

There is a vast selection of French inspired as well as Comfort food dishes on each of the menus. The pricing on the dinner menu seemed a bit high for the neighborhood, though the room is very cool and it’s a place you are going to want to visit. I am intrigued to visit for weekend brunch as the menu selection looks divine!

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

PRADO CAFÉ

July 12th, 2012 admin

1938 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Tel: 604-255-5537

Web: http://www.pradocafe.com/

Twitter: @PradoCafe1938

Advice: Featuring 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters, Open daily, free wifi.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich

Iced Coffee

I have always loved the simple white walled room that isn’t adorned with pictures and nicknaks that clutter walls. Over the years since I have been frequenting this café things have only improved, you will now find a very cool wooden communal table to add to the seating mix. This café has always been a great spot for me to write whether on a laptop or a notebook sipping on an espresso macchiato. Yesterday I had the Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich ($3.90) – a home-made gluten-free flourless peanut butter cookie that is filled with local Birchwood Dairy vanilla ice cream which was delicious. I decided to switch up my usual espresso beverage for something cold and refreshing and went with an Iced Coffee ($1.80) which is now served in a very cool mason jar.

On the food side of things you are going to find eats that are a bit out of the ordinary of what every other café seems to be featuring, here there are home-made Calzones, and Ice Cream Sandwiches; along with Coffee Floats and Root Beer Floats enhancing the beverage side of the menu offerings. You will also find passionate and friendly baristas lead by Sammy Picollo who is not only the owner but an international award-winning barista who is continuously recognized as one of the top baristas in the world. This is a must visit spot on the drive for all coffee lovers!

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

W2 MEDIA CAFÉ

July 4th, 2012 admin

111 West Hastings, Vancouver

Tel: 604-689-9896

Web: http://www.creativetechnology.org/

Twitter: @W2MediaCafe

Advice: the café is located on the main level off of the Hastings Street entrance to the right.

Royal Chicken Wrap with coconut vegi korma

This is where creativity begins, the café is a hideaway worth your discovery, here you will find a creative team of chefs lead by Chef Karen McAthy who create delicious healthy food. I have eaten here on several occasions as well as have held a couple of my events here this past year including Tasting Plates and Food Talks Vol. 1. On this visit I was in for lunch and had the special of the day, Royal Chicken Wrap with coconut vegi korma which was delicious and healthy too. On a previous visits I had their Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie, and other baked goods.

W2 Media Cafe is an artist-run, globally networked media arts lab, Incubator, community meeting space and social enterprise cafe serving artists and residents of the Downtown Eastside and Vancouver. Serving healthy, high quality food and drink and employing DTES residents, you will find a full espresso bar featuring Salt Spring Coffee, home-made baked goods, sandwiches, wraps and soups along with other daily creations.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

KI MODERN JAPANESE RESTAURANT

May 23rd, 2012 admin

1121 Alberni Street  Vancouver

Tel: 604-609-0600

Web: http://www.kijapanese.com/

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Go with a friend or two and share some plates.

Amuse

The restaurant is hidden off of Alberni Street and upstairs and it is situated next to the Shangri-La Hotel. Once inside the restaurant is large and spacious, featuring an elegant dining room, a spectacular hidden patio outside and an upper area of seating with the sushi bar. I had dinner here last week for the very first time and enjoyed the wonderful service and fine Japanese cuisine, my friend and I were served an Amuse to begin along with some hot towels.

Seaweed Salad

Organic Baby Greens Salad

Ki Spider Roll & Ki Beef Maki

We then shared a couple of salads including the refreshing Seaweed Salad ($9) with a sesame-ponzu dressing along with the Organic Baby Greens Salad ($6) with Ki ginger-apple dressing; this followed by a sushi platter featuring these delicious sushi rolls, the Ki Spider Roll ($15) soft shell crab, mango, perilla leaves, chives and the Ki Beef Maki ($15) teriyaki-glazed Canadian AAA striploin, scallions, sesame seeds, sweet potato tempura + asparagus.

Atlantic Salmon Kushi

Tofu & Eggplant

Next was the kushiyaki (skewers) and we shared the flavourful Atlantic Salmon Kushi ($16) and the subtle and delicious Tofu & Eggplant ($10) glazed with Aka-miso.

Black Cod

Jumbo Shrimp

Sweet Potato Wedges

This followed by a couple of Hot Plates, the melt in my mouth Black Cod ($19) saikyo-marinated + broiled with rapini, salmon roe + orange reduction and the tangy Jumbo Shrimp ($16) wok-tossed + tomato rayu-chili sauce along with one side of Sweet Potato Wedges ($8) with wasabi mayo.

Almond Asian Pear Cake

Lemongrass Chamomile infused Creme Brûlée

Chocolates

For dessert we shared the beautifully plated and delicious Almond Asian Pear Cake ($10) along with the Lemongrass Chamomile infused Creme Brûlée ($9) along with a glass of Nakano Shuzo Ume ($6). To finish the meal we were served a complimentary box of home made chocolates. The restaurant features one of the most comprehensive Sake lists in the city that I know of, where you will find Sake from Japan as well as locally brewed.

Review by: Richard Wolak

 

Posted in Downtown Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

NU GREEK GASTOWN

April 21st, 2012 admin

332 Water Street, Vancouver

Tel: n/a

Web: http://nu-products.com/

Twitter: @NuInfo

Advice: Enter off Water St. or Cordova St. No reservations.

This hideaway is one you are going to want to find for quick lunches and snacks throughout the day in Gastown. Specializing in Modern Greek with a twist, you will find a selection of souvlaki, wraps, salads, dips and desserts. If you are dining on your own or with a friend, the 16 seat communal table is where it is at for inside eating.

Chicken Souvlaki, Semolina FILO & Baklava Muffin

I was in for lunch lately to have one of their delicious Chicken Souvlaki ($7) with housemade pita, local onions and tomatoes. I also tried their Greek specialty pastries, both were delicious, from the Semolina FILO ($2) to the Baklava Muffin ($2).

You will also discover that they bake all of their own pita (white, wheat and oregano) here along with all of their Greek pastries.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

THE UNION BAR

April 8th, 2012 admin

219 Union Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-3230

Web:  http://theunionbar.ca/

Twitter: @TheUnionBar

Advice: No reservations.

In this stylish room, this is a South East Asian eatery with a very hip look and feel. Located at the entrance of Chinatown, you will find communal tables and a bar that is filled with tropical ingredients to shake and stir those refreshing cocktails that go so well with some spicy eats.

Peanut Noodles

Bubur Cha Cha

I have always been a fan of peanut sauce or peanut anything for that matter, I had the outstanding and flavourful Peanut Noodles ($13) spinach, shiitakes, charred eggplant, sambal ginger peanut sauce followed by a very different type of dessert which is common in Asia and less common here, the Bubur Cha Cha ($7) caramelized sweet potatoes, yams and tapioca in coconut milk.

The menu is filled with an array of snacks and bowls, covering all of the regions in South East Asia, from Malaysia to Indonesia to Thailand as well as Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches; along with salads, greens and desserts. The bar menu is filled with all sorts of unique cocktails along with beer and wine.

I can’t wait to return to try the Cha Ca Fish as well as their Green Papaya Salad.

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

TRAFIQ CAFÉ & BAKERY

April 5th, 2012 admin

4216 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-648-2244

Web: http://www.trafiq.ca/

Twitter: @TrafiqCafe

Advice: Custom cakes available (call ahead)

This café is a magnet for drawing in neighborhood regulars and others that commute across town for a taste of Paris. I adore the communal tables where people can enjoy sandwiches or baked goods along with coffees. I have visited a couple of times recently and love the ambiance as well as the delicious eats and sweets.

Lemon Chicken Ciabatta & Roasted Yam Soup

I have had the Lemon Chicken Ciabatta ($7.95) with lemon aioli, tomato, lettuce, chicken breast along with a soup of the day which was the delicious Roasted Yam Soup ($5.95).

Chunky Monkey

Killer Brownie

I have also had their outstanding and heavenly Chunky Monkey ($3.25) think bananas, chocolate and brioche as well as the Killer Brownie ($2.50) that is full of chocolatey goodness.

Walnut Coffee Cake

Dulce Croissant

Vanilla Éclair

On another visit I had the moist and delicious Walnut Coffee Cake ($3.25) as well as Dulce Croissant ($2.50) filled with dulce cream along with the Vanilla Éclair ($2.75) topped with chocolate and filled with vanilla cream.

Espresso Macchiato

Baked goods always go well with an Espresso Macchiato ($2.70) and their coffee beans are from Los Beans Trading Co a local roaster.

The French-inspired patisserie also bakes their own rustic, naturally leavened breads by the ‘dough boys’ as they are known, the breads are offered fresh from the oven each morning at 9. The ʻcake ladiesʼ as they are known are baking beautiful and sumptuous cakes including a Confetti cake for the kids and adults alike.

Review By: Richard Wolak

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

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 »
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