Kama serves absolutely delicious Indian food in a nice atmosphere. Their dishes are a nice combination of traditional and creative. All of the sauces we had were spectacularly complex, and I was introduced to a type of papadum I’d never had before: finger papads. It’s an off-menu assortment of papadums. They were great.
This restaurant named after a large mural of a famous comic character from bygone eras is a great spot for vegetarians. We had an enjoyable lunch featuring thoughtful selections from the wine list. I think the standout items that we had were the Gochujang cauliflower and the salted cucumber salad. Service was efficient.
It’s hard to believe that this is part of a chain, because this is some of the best Mexican food that I’ve had in Canada. In particular, the table-side guacamole was the best I’ve had anywhere, with the perfect mix of onions and jalapenos in super fresh avocados. The tacos were also very good, in particular the fish taco. Service was friendly, and the atmosphere was decidedly Mexican Cantina. A pleasant surprise for a tourist area.
We had a wonderful dinner at the Walliser Stube Alpine-themed restaurant, including fondue, Pork Loin Tomahawk Schnitzel, and a 2017 Jacques Frederic Mugnier Nuits-Saint Georges Clos de la Marechale. The service was impeccable, and the ambiance can’t be beat.
This is a good place for a group dinner near the steam clock in Gastown. The Italian food is quite pleasant, and there is a private dining area with a view overlooking the tracks and the water beyond. Service was attentive, and the Italian food was authentic.
This place was a pleasant surprise since it’s in an area frequented mostly by tourists. I wasn’t expecting that much, but their Mexican food is actually really terrific, quite authentic, and their margaritas are top-notch. I would definitely return to this place as my top pick of restaurants in Granville Island.
This is a concept with a proud history in France. I have fond memories of visiting L’Ami Louis in Paris, Robert Parker’s favorite bistro, where they serve nothing but Entrecôte and Pommes Frites. When you do only one thing, you need to do it perfectly, and sadly, that was not the case here. I really wanted to like this restaurant more. Admittedly, it had only been open three days when we went, but they failed at the one thing that mattered, which was serving a great piece of beef.
Everything else about the meal was great. The ambiance was wonderful. The service was good. The wine list, though short, is well chosen to accompany their sole entrée. The salad was good. The French bread, although a bit dried out, was the right type and served with an authentic mustard. The fries were superb. The sauce served with the meat, which each restaurant handles differently, was also terrific, a herbaceous version of Bearnaise, if you will. The meat, though, was not so much. It was tough, largely flavorless, and riddled with gristle, not just mine but my wife’s also, admittedly, probably from the same cow.
The waiter, when he saw that my plate was covered with half-chewed pieces that I could not manage to reduce to something that could be swallowed, apologized and said that they were changing suppliers. Although the samples they got from this supplier had been good, they had received complaints about the meat from others, not just us. That’s all well and good, and I appreciate his honesty. When the bill arrived and no adjustment had been made for what was obviously a collection of meat, I felt that acknowledging the problem was only half of the solution.
We finished the meal with a delightfully light and exquisitely flavored chocolate mousse and a nicely done crème brûlée, although for my taste the crust could have been a bit more burnt. Both were excellent. Sadly, I probably would not return to give them another chance, but that does not mean that they don’t deserve another look. If they get their meat supplier under control, it has the potential to be a very good choice for a very affordable and traditional French steak. Until then, since there are no other options on the menu, I can’t be any more enthusiastic.
This is a nice little French cafe tucked away in a residential district. It has the usual pastries and a full line of gourmet coffees, including a French twist on most of them. They also make delicious sandwiches.
The Rosemary Chicken sandwich Included roasted chicken, smoked rosemary aioli, roasted cherry tomato, pickled onion, arugula, and (a bit too much) olive tapenade. It was some of the most tender chicken I’ve ever tasted. I was a little disappointed that they only have brioche bread since they have a French bakery theme. You would think that they would have baguettes.
The pastries look amazing, but I didn’t try one.
There’s a lovely outside eating area opposite the playground, as well as some pleasant indoor seating and a really nice atmosphere.
Service was friendly.
This is an interesting concept, sort of a Korean fast food place. It’s actually sit-down dining downstairs, or you can go upstairs if you’re ordering for takeout.
I had the Kimbap, which is a Korean form of sushi similar to a sushi roll that might have pickled vegetables in it, plus whatever other ingredient you want. I had the bulgogi beef, and it was very good and quite filling. One would be a complete lunch.
I also tried the Tteokbokki, which is an unusual dish that is technically rice cakes, but I would compare it to a bowl with sliced-up hot dogs, gnocchi, and melted cheese in a slightly spicy and slightly sweet broth
Service was friendly.
There are many, many noodle and hot pot places on Robson within a few blocks of each other, and quite a few of them rate five stars. Your preference will depend upon subtleties about noodle thickness and texture and broth flavors, but there is always, always a line in front of Ramen Danbo. A lot of it is probably due to hype or fame, but I have to admit that I think it does edge out the others in several ways.
I think the noodles themself are more flavorful and more delicate. And I have to say the pork was extremely tender and flavorful. The egg was perfectly prepared, and the broth was perfectly seasoned to my desired spiciness level.
They also do a great job searing their gyozas.
Because of its overwhelming popularity, they have perfected the ordering process so that you can fill out a form while you’re in line, which greatly reduces your wait time. It’s easy to get in and out of here in 30 min, and I’m sure that is their goal. As a result, the dining experience might not exactly be relaxing, but if your focus is on the best quality bowl of noodles that you can get, I think it is worth the wait.