The Raincity Grill

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Lynn Bee

The Raincity Grill 

1193 Denman Street (near davie)

604.685.7337

Website

The Raincity Grill opened in 1992 and ever since has been bringing us delectable inventions while promoting a smaller impact on the environment and an increased support of the local community. The raincity is most certainly upscale and only creates meals with local seasonal ingredients (by local, I mean mainly, British Columbia). The Raincity menu focuses on seafood, game, poultry, and organic vegetables. Yes, their ideas are good in theory…but is it worth the price? Yes and no. The food and service are both warm and wonderfully outstanding — but I tend to go when they are having prix fixe specials — dine out, early bird dinners, and the like. I have no qualms about paying a discounted price of $20 for their amazing butternut squash soup and the dream worthy pork tenderloin served on a bed of risotto. But I, like many others, cannot always afford to drop $40+ on a meal. 

If I could afford it – I would go weekly. That’s some of the fun in local seasonal — the menu changes are frequent and a good way to learn about where you live. Canada’s asparagus season comes a month or so later than it does in the US – and one can learn to live without mangoes and bananas. Halibut is year-round in the pacific northwest; as is romaine. Butternut squash soup also appears frequently on the menu. 

The soup (pictured) is a wonderfully thick concoction that is served with…no, that’s not mould, but a gentle pairing of thyme emulsion and chive oil. As you can see – the Raincity is no slouch in the presentation department.

I’ve also been privileged enough to try the Salmon — to be more precise, the Johnston Straight Silverbrite salmon which was served with chorizo, turnip, rutabaga and lentils. I also grabbed a bit of the Cornish Game Hen — I didn’t order it myself, becaue I’ve always viewed the game hen as merely a rich person’s chicken dinner. But this roasted hen served with green parsley oatmeal was, simply put, amazing.

And the last thing I tried was the mushroom linguini — I tend not to order things at restaurants that I could make myself at home for a fraction of the cost. But there is no way in a million years I could have made this. The linguini is the best meal I have had out in a looooong time – and the very best thing I’ve eaten at the Raincity. This was not just mushroom linguini — this dish was what God must order when he goes out to eat. He says “I’ll have the linguini — with mushroom ragout, braised onions, chervil beurre blanc, and thyme cream”. And then he takes it out onto the small patio and eats his linguini while overlooking the sunset at english bay. 

Though I have not yet been to the Raincity for brunch – the menu looks lovely and if I was ever awake in time I could certainly go for a lamb sausage omelette or brioche french toast with pear and mascarpone. 

Aaaaahhh the Raincity – lovely upscale local dinning with a conscience. 

Open: for dinner beginning at 5pm, lunch occurs 11.30-2.30 monday to friday. Brunch is available on the weekends from 10.30-2.30

Reservations are always recommended. 

Parking: They have a valet in the evenings. 

Special Bonus: The Raincity usually has a takeout window rocking. You can swing by and for a mere $10 pick up an environmentally friendly cardboard box stuffed with mouth watering deep fried halibut, crispy steakfries, and coleslaw. They’ll also throw in a bottle of local mineral water and some wooden cutlery. It’s perfect to take across the street to enjoy on the beach.

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Perfect Pairing:

Ella Fitzgerald – The best of the songbooks

or

Barbara Kingsolver – Animal, vegetable, miracle

Not too preachy, this book is a great way to learn more about the importance of sustaining one’s self and community through not just eating but living locally.

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The Reef

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Lynn Bee

The Reef

4172 Main Street, Vancouver

604.874.JERK

Website

Tasty tasty good Caribbean. This comfy restaurant has a warm island vibe – true to its relaxed exotic roots. The food is appetizing, the service is friendly, and the prices are decent - definitely worth trying at least once, twice (or in my case), thrice. 

I’ve been the the Reef for both lunch and dinner and both have been delightful. Delicious and well worth the cashmoney. Mains tend to go for $11 at lunch and $15 at dinner. From warm curried chickpea salad, to roti, to jerk chicken; the Reef’s got something for everyone. There are veggie options – like the jerk tofu on a sweet bun, or the veggie stuffed flatbread. There is also jerk meat, meat, and meat – chicken, salmon, sausage, goat, ox, mahi…the list goes on. 

Okay, I can hear you all now: “but, Lynn! What is jerk?!” relax guys, it’s pretty much the style of dry rubbing meat with allspice and scotch bonnet peppers. Everyone on the same page, now? Good. Off we go!

First off: don’t forget to get a starter of plantain chips!….much like banana chips – except they’re salty instead of being sweet. I took a picture for you so you could see that it’s well worth the $6:

Heck yes it’s worth it! Plus, they come with jerk mayo for dipping.

This time around I had the good fortune of sampling the drool-worthy Mahi Mahi. The filet is seared with a curry lime flavor; it has this mild euphorically good taste sensation, just the right mixture of piquant and savory. In addition to the flavory goodness, it’s cooked to a certain perfection texture-wise. The mahi comes with apple slaw, coconut rice, and seasonal veggies.

I also got to try a bite of the chicken — and let me tell you something — next time I cook chicken I am going to marinade it in coconut milk and then cook it in thyme – because it was freakin’ delicious! The tasty island chicken was served up with a mound of mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies.

Okay…if you’re starting to see a trend here that the sides leave something to be desired, you’re right. As my friend Sarah put it – sides like boring veggies and potatoes are something one would expect to get at Earl’s. Not at a place specializing in Carribean. And though I do agree with her on this point – it’s no reason to pass over the Reef. They totally wowed me when they brought out the main dishes by saving me from making a terrible mistake. 

I had ordered the Mission Tacos from the “small things” section of the menu I also ordered the Grilled Salmon with pineapple and mint salsa as my main. But when eatin’ time had arrived the waitress brought me the tacos and the prawn appetizers. I was heartbroken that my much anticipated salmon was nowhere to be seen. I pointed out the error to the waitress but told her I was happy. I then thanked her. The tacos were huge! ‘small things’ my ass! I had pretty much ordered two mains. Fortunately the geniuses in the kitchen probably looked at the order – said to each other “this stupid girl ordered 2 dinners” and then adjusted my meal accordingly. I say: leave it to the experts. Because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Anyway — the point is…well, I forget. But the tacos were tasty corn tortillas piled high with jerk chicken, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and lettuce. Very good and I didn’t have to pay for, let alone, attempt to ingest two dinners. Hurrah! 

No, I am not done – otherwise I’d be forgetting the drinks! Let’s start with a riddle:

What’s better than 28 different types of rum?

NOTHING!…okay , that wasn’t really a riddle. But the rum selection is impressive. Start with the Screech or Lemonhart, then have a rum cocktail….perhaps a pina colada made with real coconut milk….ohhhhh, and finish off with some of the good stuff, like the Murray McDavid 14 year reserve. Fine, if rum’s not the essence of life in your eyes; there are plenty of other amazing drinks – minty mojitos, super strong ginger beer, and Dragon Stout!!!! Jamaican beers rule but it’s hard to find anything besides Red Stripe (which is good, but played), so bring on the Dragon — which is surprisingly light in flavor and easy to drink.

The Reef. Do it. I’ve been to both Vancouver locations – they have the same goodly menu, comparable service, and the same chill vibe.

Open: 11am -11.30pm

Other locations: 1018 Commercial Drive tel. 604.568.JERK

                           533 Yates Street, Victoria tel. 250.388.JERK

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Perfect pairing:

The Postal Service – Give up

Ben Gibbard hopped out of Death Cab long enough to bring the indie masses a delightfully listenable electropop album. For the millionth time: Thank you thank you, sub pop. 

or

Atom Orr – Asterisk

This well-produced album is as lighthearted as it is diverse. High fives to Christopher Hoffee’s genius skills!

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Steamer’s

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Lynn Bee

Steamer’s Seafood Cafe


1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56 Seattle, WA 
206.623.2066

Website

Mmmmmmmm battered fish. Okay — the photo doesn’t really show much – but I swear Steamer’s is a delicious fish cafe on a corner down on Pier 56 (see! you can see the Argosy sign in the corner!). Okay, I don’t have a decent pic because I wasn’t gonna review it. Casual dinning is so hit and miss, and I thought it was just some garbage deep fry shack. I stopped in to grab something before my harbor cruise took off….no, I am not a millionaire. 

Anyway – my preconceived notions were smashed after the first bite – I was suddenly in fantastic food heaven! The food is made fresh and the Alaskan cod is battered and fried lovingly by the cheerful staff. I’m talking real Alaskan cod — not the reshaped frozen dinner cod brought to you by the monsters who invented Highliner. That first bite made my eyes pop in astonishment — after I got my eyesight back — I glanced around a realized that the place was hopping with happy people in their 30’s. Please note, this is one of my tests. If I know nothing about a place and have to judge it on sight – I go by the patrons – if they look like regular good hearted folk who are having a good time, then try it. If everyone inside looks miserable, like they hate their lives and wish they were dead, skip it (I also pass if everyone seated is a senior citizen, or if the majority of the peeps inside are under the age of 12). 

Sure, it may come on cardboard plates, your order is taken at the counter, and the iced tea comes out of a soda machine — but it’s far better for the price ($5-10) than anything I’ve had lately. The selection includes cod and chip plates, clam chowder, steamed manila clams, clam strips, grilled fish tacos, calamari, beer battered salmon, and everything comes with the yummy thick cut peppered fries. Plus, they serve beer (Northwest microbrews) and have an ice cream counter!

My visit was made particularly comfortable by the friendly Tracy who was overseeing all the customers. He really went above and beyond to ensure each patron was having a good time. Dear other fish shack owners: fresh lemon slices and friendly banter go a long way. 

I really want to go back and get the clam chowder which I have heard is ‘a big hit’, ‘deliciously sweet’, and even  ‘awe-inspiring’. I would go to Steamer’s over Ivar’s any day of the week — it’s cheaper, just as good (if not better), and not a horribly annoying tourist trap.

Bonus: Kick ass views of Elliott Bay and bustling Alaskan Way from both inside and out. 

Open: 10am – 8pm

Other locations: Seattle Center House on Harrison

                            Tacoma – Titlow beach

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Perfect Pairing:

Novillero – A little tradition

Smart mod pop. Good. Sold. 

or

The Elected – Sun, sun, sun

Blake Sennett brings forth a sweetly dreamy album filled with confused relationships, slide guitar, and hammy schmaltz.

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The Lion’s Den

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Lynn Bee

Lion’s Den Cafe

“5 out of 5 stars!” –Nicky Lau

651 E 15th Ave, Vancouver (at Fraser and Kingsway)

604.808.2180

Website

This extraordinarily friendly cafe is run by Ken and his wife. The easy-going couple will make you feel at home with their warm smiles and Ken’s inappropriate jokes. Everything from the menu and the decor is an interesting combination Caribbean and Japanese. Both the Japanese and Caribbean dishes at the Lion’s Den are as affordable as they are tasty. 

The Lion’s Den’s claim to fame is its all day breakfast for a mere $4.29. In addition to the breakfast special there are breakfast options which include omelets, pancakes, and waffles. But I went there at dinner time — so I conformed and got a dinner-esque meal. By dinner-esque I mean they serve dishes like: ginger beef, teriyaki chicken, sushi, curry veggies, lamb, jerk chicken, and the like. Most of the dinner options include a large or small plate ($11/$9), I didn’t catch sight of a large dish — but even the small servings were more than enough to eat (and I was dinning with boys in their 20’s). I’ve heard that at the Lion’s Den the okonomiyaki (japanese pancake) is fabulous… but I cannot pass up a chance to mow down on some lamb – so it was a small curry lamb for me all the way! With the curry you can order it spicy or not. I advise not, since the spicy is a real eye opener – but nothing a *real man* can’t handle.  

The lamb is served with a few potatoes, rice and a lovely rich and smooth tamarind curry flavor. The lamb is so soft and tender with a lasting sweet flavor that will sink into your mouth with a slight tang that stays on the lips. I also gave the curry veggies a try — and they are yummers! A smooth curry treat poured over a mountain of succulent veggies for your lucky taste buds.

I also took a quick dive into a bite of tasty spiced chicken. Very delightful, more tender than chicken usually is (even at restaurants) and the spice was a perfect amount of zing. Very worth the $9 price tag. 

Or if you’re looking for a step down from the multi-ethnic options; get a breakfast dish or the crunchy, gooey grilled cheese with a salad for a mere $5.

And don’t forget to get a Red Stripe. Because if there’s another Jamaican beer outside of Jamaica….I haven’t met it yet. Red Stripe is a goo-ood lager, a real easy drinker for the lady who doesn’t think she likes beer. 

 

The Lion’s den is tasty for what it is. The price is right. The fun atmosphere that Ken provides is the real charm. Friendly, dark, quiet, easy-going, inexpensive…what more could you want? 

Open: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9am-10pm

Tues 9am-3pm

Holidays 10-10

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Perfect Pairing:

Handsome Furs – Face control

This wonderful album is more upbeat and has more character than Plague Park. It also shows us that Dan can do just fine without Spencer.

or

Sublime – 40oz to freedom

Straight up eclectic that’s so authentically perfect it’s comfortable. Hip-hop, ska-punk, reggae, acoustic, funk….and it all rocks!

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Maria’s Taverna

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Lynn Bee

Maria’s Taverna

 

Address:1037 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604 681 8500

Mounds of super yummy greek food at affordable prices! What more do you need to know?

Okay, specifics…the lamb shoulder, grilled squid, and moussaka are absolutely fantastic! The moussaka is a mere $15 for a heaping serving of eggplant, zucchini, and seasoned beef in a mouthwatering casserole — with a side of greek salad. The marinated broiled squid (kalimari) is the most tender squid I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. For only $16 the squid (like most of the dishes) is accompanied by roasted lemon potatoes, rice, and a fantastic greek salad covered with salty feta.  The squid is so good, I order it almost half the time. But what I almost always order is the kleftiko – oh god, the Kleftiko! It is the best lamb I’ve ever had! $18 for a virtual mountain of lamb shoulder that falls off the bone and melts in your mouth with a delightful combination of spices. 

Other notable enteries on Maria’s menu include the tasty chicken souvlaki, the surprisingly flavorful dolmathes (stuffed vine leaves), the Keftedes (meatballs), the Spanokapita (spinach and feta cheese pie in a light phyllo pastry). Okay….fine, I think most things there are quite tasty – I’ve never had anything bad or flavorless. You can get a good sample of all things delicious by ordering the Greek Platter for Two ($47) which includes more than enough food for two by loading on all of the following: greek salad, creamy tatziki and warm pitas, rice, roasted potatoes, chicken skewers, stuffed vine leaves, meatballs, the mouthwatering squid, and the mind blowing lamb. The majority of the platter for two is pictured below – separate plates were needed for the salad, tatziki, rice and potatoes. Anyway — I don’t think this photo does justice to size of the food. I can only explain by saying that each meatball was nearly the size of my palm. 

 

The squid is on the left, chicken on the top, vine leaves on the right, and the famous lamb in the center of the platter. 

Maria’s relaxing Mediterranean inspired atmosphere is pleasant with low lighting, requisite blue and white decor, and new yet traditional greek music. 

On a slightly negative note — the service at Maria’s has been up and down. Sometimes the waitresses are polite and efficient. But there have been times that the service was slow, forgetful or just plain rude. However, I have found that the good times outweigh the bad. I would certainly return to Maria’s and recommend it to anyone for a decent and affordable Greek experience. 

Open: for lunch and dinner. 

Reservations are recommended – especially on the weekend or at popular dinner times. 

End note: I’ve heard repeatedly that the Kits location – 2324 W 4th Ave. 604.731.4722 is even better than the Denman location. 

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Perfect pairing:

Fleet Foxes – s/t

Can Baroque also be pop? Dreamy, soothing, familiarly pretty. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again “Thank you, Sub Pop!”

or

Eleftheria Arvanitaki

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Le Gavroche

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Lynn Bee

Le Gavroche

1616 Alberni St, Vancouver

604.685.3924

Website

This stunning french restaurant is nestled along Alberni’s condo buildings in a cozy refurbished Victorian. After 30 years on the scene, Le Gavroche has fought its way to the top of …well, the food chain. And it deserves the great reputation. Though the prices and quality are upscale the vibe is warm and relaxed creating an inviting mixture. Let me explain. I was worried it would be uptight and boring — but the host was wearing a funny little sweater-vest (like a high school librarian) and there was a warm glow coming from the fireplace. All my preconceived worries vanished because everything was lovely and comfortable.

Le Gavroche puts a heavy emphasis on the importance of wines and their pairings are usually spot on. If you don’t know much about wines, trust them — you won’t be led astray. If you know a fair deal, then have fun with their listing of over 500 wines ranging in price from $30-7500/bottle. Seriously, they do have something for everyone on their wine list.

The flavor combos created by the chef here are avant garde in their deliciousness. My best example is the flavoring that accompanied my seared albacore — tequila, chilies, lime, roe, and an avocado remoulade. This dish swam across my taste buds like some sort of wild mirage. Dare I say, this must be how it feels to ride a unicorn.

The beef carpaccio topped with pecorino is so fine, it’s almost sweet. The pork tenderloin was stuffed with wild rice and foie gras and came with a delightful cherry sauce that set my mouth watering. The shrimp in the salad was perhaps the freshest I’ve ever tasted and the smoked salmon was like a dream — nothing like that cheap hotdog taste you must endure with mediocre salmon sushi.

And everything else on the menu looked so good I had a hard time deciding. Seared diver scallops with black truffles, endive salad with pears and stilton, venison with strawberry ketchup and chocolate fig sauce, grilled lobster with lavender cream, vegetable napoleon….dear god! My husband practically had to rip the menu from my sweaty hands and wipe the drool from my lips. The menu changes frequently and is divided nicely into two sections: classic and creation. The Classic section has the usual divine french dishes such as baked onion soup and beef bourguignon. The Creation section has delicious specialties such as lamb with mint gnocchi and  beef tenderloin. Both sides of the menu are amazing ad it’s fun to mix and match.

The only down point was the desserts – which I found to be a striking disappointment given that the restaurant is french. We tried the creme caramel and the apple strudel. First of all, why is a french restaurant serving apple strudel? They shouldn’t be; particularly since they have no idea how to make one. It was dry, and not flakey dry , but more like: we forgot to butter and bake it – cold, old dry. Maybe instead of the Austro-hungarian variety they were trying for ‘the official pastry of Texas’ variation. As for the creme caramel and star anise – who wants runny egg creme with licorice sauce? Not me.

Now, I don’t think I’m being unfair – the desserts were not good and it was such a blow after everything else being so stunning in its deliciousness. Le sigh. I guess you can’t win ’em all – just because Le Gavroche has a chef who is a genius, doesn’t mean their pastry chef is top of the line.

Ahhh, I don’t really care that out meals came to roughly $80 a person — because it was worth every damn penny. I would go there again in a heartbeat….well, sure I have to eat kraft dinner for the next week to balance things out — but the next time I get married I am having the dinner at Le Gavroche. 100% thumbs up – no question about it. But maybe instead of ordering an actual dessert — next time I’ll just stick to selecting a dessert wine.

Open: until 2.30 for lunch, dinner begins at 5.30

End note: Make a reservation! This place is popular and it ain’t no freakin’ McDonald’s.

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Perfect pairing:

Neko Case – Fox confessor brings the flood

Neko’s voice will have you floating on a dream.

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Zakkushi

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Lynn Bee

Charcoal Grill Diner Zakkushi 

823 Denman (near Robson), Vancouver

604.685.1136

Website

Delicious Japanese tapas. So, the real question is…why didn’t I go here sooner? Why did no one tell me about this place? It’s friendly, loud, and oh so freakin’ good! Is it cheap? NO. But, I did get happily filled for $25. Decent, very decent. Zakkushi’s focus is most certainly robata. We ordered a fair number of items ranging from chicken, pork, and beef to asparagus tsukune.

The tsukune come with a variety of toppings ranging from cheese or seaweed to daikon and sesame. I was a little intimidated by some of the options which include quail egg and chicken heart — but for under $2 most everything is worth a try. Why? Because it’s all so deeeeeeelicious! Why didn’t I ever think of wrapping my asparagus in bacon? The meats are tender and tasty, plus, eating things on a skewer is always fun.

We also tried the beef stew — which is a surprisingly light broth given how much flavor is packed into it and the hunks of beef just melt in your mouth! The next dish we sampled was a batter fried ebi served with a tasty chili mayo. Yummers! By the time the tuna sashimi arrived I felt like I might be in food heaven — it was very lightly seared…and, tuna sashimi may very well be the reason I fell in love with Japanese cuisine in the first place. So, not a single complaint could be brought against this dish on my blog. 

We finished off the savory dishes with a pork udon. Which was….udon. Neither here nor there. Then I convinced my dinning partner that there was no way to pass up a dessert of $3 banana gyoza. C’mon, deep fried banana and ice cream — how can you go wrong? It was so very worth every penny. 

I curse myself for not having gone to Zakkushi sooner. I am currently working on convincing my husband we should go back tomorrow night.  Hurrah for Zakkushi!!

Open: 5.30pm – 12am (until 1am Fri and Sat)

Additional locations at 1833 West 4th and at 4075 Main St.

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Perfect pairing:

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns

This homage to Alberta is delightfully pretty. Yay for indie rock with a folksy twist. Hopefully this young band will flourish….okay, what does this album have to do with robata? Not a damn thing, and I don’t care.

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Pho Central

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Lynn Bee

Pho Central Vietnamese Cuisine

Address: 1118 Davie St, Vancouver

Tel: 604.669.8638

This teeny-tiny place has some amazing pho. Sure, I strolled in and thought — really? This is the great place I heard about? It looks like it sucks. But it doesn’t — as long as you get take out.

I wouldn’t really call Pho Central a restaurant exactly, it only seats a max of 15….it’s more like a takeout joint with a waiting room. Sure, the kids working there are sweet – they’d be perfect in a posh hotel — they come and go silently with shy eyes and a quick nod. But maybe they’re just trying to get you out as fast as possible by avoiding any semblance of chit chat. However, it’s tough to discourage me when I am in the mood to EAT. 

So once we were seated we ordered from their small menu –there are about 30 choices. Most everything is some take on lemongrass or grilled meat (beef, chicken, or pork). Baguettes ($4), rice dishes with grilled or fried meat ($7), vermicelli bowls ($8), and noodle soups ($7). We opted for a baguette, soup, and vermicelli bowl. But it was a loooooong wait – 3 tables that arrived after us got their food first. I was not impressed…grrrrr. But once the food came, all was forgiven. 

The grilled pork on the vermicelli dish was superb, the spring rolls were crisp with the unexpected taro adding an extra bit of goodness.  The super crunchy baguette was filled with pork, ham, and meatball — as well as carrots, cilantro, and peppers. It was fresh and decent — but who cares?! All I could think about was: why, oh why didn’t I order the pho? I mean, I did…but why did I order that other stuff when I could have had 3 orders of the amazingly tasty pho instead? Why is it that I almost always get the vermicelli noodle bowl instead of the pho? Because I’m an IDIOT! That’s why. 

Oh my, the pho is so good! Not Richmond good or anything — but it sure beats the socks off of the mediocre pho I’ve had on Denman. Central pho’s brisket is cut a little more thick than usual, the basil is more fragrant, the broth is clear and flavorful, and the portions are actually a decent size. Mmmmmm. It was a perfect choice for the cool winter day. 

The prices at Central Pho are very reasonable — and pretty much what you’d expect from a tiny Vietnamese place like this. Go at a down time and order the pho — or if you’re lucky enough to live nearby, get the takeout. 

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Perfect pairing:

Lou Bega – A little bit of Mambo

Familiar in a painstakingly uncomfortable way. Sorta like constantly getting elbowed in the back while you try to eat soup.

or

Beija Flor- The American

Experimental indie, prog indie if you will. It has it’s ups and downs. But overall, they know how to write some really pretty songs and all 6 of Beija’s members are incredibly talented.

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Samba’s

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Lynn Bee

Samba’s Brazilian Steakhouse

1122 Alberni St, Vancouver (downstairs)

604.696.9888

Website

Really, is there anything better than having meat carved off a skewer at your table? I’m hard pressed to think of anything more lavish. This lively latin restaurant really goes all out to ensure you have a festive and flavorful dining experience.

This huge restaurant offers something amazing for the meat lover in all of us… well, most of us. Though Samba’s does offer vegetarian options — I wouldn’t recommend it for a veggie — this place gets all its sizzle from the meats. 

Okay, Samba’s is not cheap — they do have a regular menu of seafood and veggie dishes…but who cares?! Get the rodizio aka the all-you-can-eat. It’s $29 ($32 on weekends, $16 for lunch) but it is very worth the $$$. it’s the best all-you-can-eat I’ve ever had. EVER. EVER!

First off there’s salad bar and buffet — but it’s not the limp iceberg lettuce and jello squares you’re used to. It’s delicious mussels, shrimp, salads, salmon, guacamole that’s the best I’ve found since Mexico, mashed potatoes that rival my own, and I dunno what they’re called — but these scrumptious deep fried banana donut things that made my taste buds sing! The salad bar provides a decent balance to the meat-centricity of this restaurant, there are enough green goodies available to make you feel sorta healthy.

As good as the salad bar/buffet was — the meat skewers were amazing — zing! The super polite servers come around to each table offering slices of the following meats:

Veal

Chicken

Beef Tenderloin

Lamb

Pork

Buffalo

They’ll slice as much off each skewer as you want and they’ll come back many many many times to offer you more. Yummers! The veal was a little salty for my taste and I was disappointed by the buffalo. The chicken was succulent, the pork was juicy and fabulous, and the lamb was tender! And the beef…oh, the beef! This tenderloin was fan-freakin’-tastic! And, for all you skeptics, this Albertan knows her beef. It doesn’t matter whether you get an inside or outside cut – the beef will be amazing!! It’s rare and tender inside, charred on the outside, and it’s oh so damn good! 

Final Bonus: The tiramisu. As many of you know, I am a total dessert snob and it takes a lot to wow me. Samba’s wowed me with their tiramisu. I don’t care how full you are afterwards, get the tiramisu. It’s light, creamy, fluffy, and heavy in the coffee flavor department. 

 

Samba’s also offers cheesecake, creme brulee, banana flambe, and chocolate port pedestal at $7 each…but if I’d tried more than one dessert I would have exploded. 

Friendly service, endless mouth watering meats and amazing desserts. Why not choose Samba’s for your next night out? — No, I did not get paid to write that. 

Rodizio for all! 100% thumbs up for Samba’s. This restaurant really makes me want to go to Brazil instead of Europe next year.  But, uh, skip the buffalo. Seriously, it’s not their specialty — but why would it be? How many buffalo are there in Brazil anyway?

Open: 11.30-3 and 5.30-10pm (until 11pm on weekends)

Reservations: Recommended – especially on the weekend.

Bonus: Sexy Brazilian dancers on weekend nights and live music Thurs – Sun from 7-9!

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Perfect Pairing:

Claude Duke – Songs from Brazil

Garage band meets trained guitarist.

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Miko Sushi

Posted on December 4, 2008 by Lynn Bee

Miko Japanese Sushi Restaurant

Address: 1335 Robson St, Vancouver

Tel: 604.681.0339

Miko is more traditional than other Japanese restaurants in the area — a definite call out to Japan, and less of a holler to Japanese-Canadian. Echoes of tradition strike in their menu, decor, music, and serving style. The waitresses are quietly attentive sweethearts — very polite, not the crass north american brutes I’m used to that hurry you along and try to force you into getting something more. Miko’s menu is fairly long and packs far more than just the tired California roll. 

The appetizer menu has 43 items ranging from $2-10, sure it has gyoza and edamame — but it also includes mushroom sate, burdock roots, bbq chicken liver, deep fried lake smelt, and bbq beef tongue. The Sashimi menu begins at $6, but will put you back as much as $24. The sashimi is sweeter and more tender than I’ve had at many places and the sashimi selection will certainly impress, beyond just the regular items, it includes: lobster, beef, flounder, mackerel, sardine, and live sea urchin! Eeeeee – no, I did not have the strength to try it.  However, I did get into some of the tempura — and it’s some of the best I’ve ever had. It is so delightfully crispy and just all-around fantastic ($6-12)

Miko does allow special requests when it comes to Udon (thick wheat) and Soba (thin buckwheat) soups. Instead of just the usual chicken and beef, Miko will allow zaru, kitsune, tanuki, tsukimi, and wakame. Their Sunomono selection also offers a little more variety than most with crab and geoduck options ($4-8). Miko also offers Ochazuke — this tea soaked rice dish comes with a variety of toppings, from plum to cod roe ($6-9). 

Miko offers a fair listing of maki, nigiri, temaki,  and rolls. Most items on this list are readily available at other places — but here at Miko, the rolls will be a little more ornate than the norm. Occasional items like the Chirashi sushi also pop up on these menus giving it a little more flare. 

Though expensive, Miko is worth it if you’re going for the more unusual items. But it won’t be worth the price if you’re just going to order the tempura, teriyaki, and california roll. I’d recommend either getting into the weirder stuff or hitting up Miko’s for lunch and getting a very affordable box special. 

Open: 11.30-2 and 5-10 daily, closed Sundays.

Reservations: Recommended

Parking: Best of luck!

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