Norwoods Restaurant

Norwoods Restaurant
(Click on photo to enlarge)

Norwoods Restaurant | $$$$

(Vancouver Island)
1714 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet
(250) 726-7001
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Claim to Fame

Fresh, local seafood, drinks, open concept.

Plus

Intimate but open setting, clean and modern interior, friendly staff, fresh menu.

Chocolate Brownie Torte
Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Chocolate Mousse
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Minus

World class food with a price tag.

Quick Picks

Oysters, wine, desserts.

Grilled Reserve Beef Fillet Medallion and Double Lamb Rack Chop
Morel Mushroom Sauce, Asparagus, Zucchini, Sarladaises Potatoes
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Around the corner in Ucluelet, this small establishment promised big flavours. My expectations were as murky as the restaurant's cloudy windows facing the street. Chef Richard Norwood greeted us at the door and guided our party to our seats amidst my oohs and aahs. The bright and open kitchen captured my attention before I turned to peruse the menu. My companions each ordered hefty meals, while I settled on an intriguing appetizer of local octopus and scallops. Our party marvelled some more at the efficient work of the sous chef in the kitchen and the robust herb garden blooming on the window sill.

Seared Baja Scallop and Grilled Local Octopus
Truffle Potato Puree, Sweet Ginger Chili Sauce, Leek Hay
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I made quick work of the two varieties of fresh local oysters that arrived with an assortment of sides, including one sour (White Mignonette), one with kick (Fresh Horseradish), and one with sweet tones (Tomato Compote). I tried each oyster plain and immediately favoured the larger, "brinier" one. My appetizer arrived as an entree with additional vegetables. I was disappointed with the grilled octopus which was a tougher chew than I liked, but enjoyed every bite of the plump scallops. My companion quickly demolished his lamb and beef entree, while my other companion raved with delight over his Dungeness Crab and Lemon Risotto. I capped our evening off with a classic combination of orange and dark chocolate.

Tealips Bubble Tea & Coffee

Tealips Bubble Tea & Coffee

Tealips Bubble Tea & Coffee | $
(Edmonds Skytrain x Highgate Village)
7139 Arcola Way, Burnaby
(778) 397-3972
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Claim to Fame 

Loose leaf teas, shaved ice desserts, dessert waffles, baked goods.

Plus

Fresh ingredients, extensive drink selection, bright and spacious interior, friendly atmosphere, quick service, accessible neighbourhood.

Minus

Baked goods rarely available.

Quick Picks

Shaved ice, dessert waffles, teas and coffees. Yes, everything I've tried.

Like a sweet oasis, Tealips had tins aplenty filled with aromatic bliss for guests to sniff, a stylish and modern interior. and an appetizing scent in the air. A steady stream of customers of all ages and backgrounds filtered into the friendly neighbourhood establishment.

Trails of condensed milk in the Matcha Shaved Ice
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I sensed a Korean influence in Tealips' shaved ice desserts and dessert waffles. I was told the Korean owner makes small batches of home-made baked goods every so often, but was out of luck on my visits.

Tealips did not seem very busy during the day. Its floor-to-ceiling windows let in lots of natural light and looked out onto the peaceful surroundings of Highgate Village. It was easy to find a table and spend a few hours catching up with friends. We savoured our enormous matcha shaved ice, which came adorned with ice cream, red beans, green mochi balls, almonds and walnuts, condensed milk, and loads of fresh fruit. So perfect with which to while away a hot, sunny afternoon.

My second occasion at Tealips occurred in the evening. Looking over the drink menu, my eyes drifted quickly to the extensive selection of hot drinks. I sniffed both the lavender and the caramelized pear teas. The barista had an obvious soft spot for the lavender tea latte, but dutifully informed me that popular caramelized pear tea was often out, as well. I ordered the lavender tea latte, with regular milk. I was delighted to see the lavender in my latte. The milk was airy and held its foam. It was not scalding. There were no sweeteners added and I did not add any myself, but I may ask the barista to add honey next time. It tasted overwhelmingly of milk until I let the lavender steep in my drink a while longer. It was a very calming drink and a good size as well.

Lavender Tea Latte and Iced Americano ~ Matcha & Red Bean Shaved Ice ~ Mixed Berry Liege Waffle

On this occasion, I tried two dessert waffles. First, I devoured the mixed berry Liege waffle. The waffle itself had sweet bits and a crunchy exterior. It went well with the ice cream and berries, though there were no tastes that stood out other than the waffle. I found the overall taste of this dish to be somewhat bland. Next, I had the matcha and red bean Brussels waffle. In contrast with the Liege waffle, the Brussels waffle had a denser texture and lacked the crunchy exterior. It was also noticeably less sweet. My companion noticed a syrup on the waffle, hidden under the ice cream, in the red beans and mochi. This waffle seemed a bit bigger and I took my time finishing it. By the time it was gone, I was surprised to realize I enjoyed the matcha and red bean Brussels waffle more than the mixed berry Liege waffle. In particular, I enjoyed the sweetened red beans with the waffle. If I were to have the waffles on their own, however, I would prefer the sweet and crunchy Liege waffle

By the time the sun started to set, Tealips was filled with families and friends looking for an after-dinner diversion. We took our time leaving our seat by the window and ventured out into the cool evening.

Romer's Burger Bar

Romer's Burger Bar

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Romer's Burger Bar | $$-$$$
(River District & Kitsilano)
8683 Kerr Street, Vancouver
(604) 566-9545
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Claim to Fame 

Gourmet burgers, waterfront view and patio, craft beers.

Plus

Monthly drink and burger specials, all-natural, free-run, or wild sourced burgers, great menu and drink selection, modern and open concept, good atmosphere, friendly staff, quick service.

Minus

Staff a bit inexperienced, fruit flies in the washrooms, unisex (single) washrooms means putting the toilet seats up and down.

Quick Picks

The fresh garlic fries and the chipotle aioli that came with the popcorn shrimp were heavenly. The drinks were light and refreshing, and went well with the food.

Top: View from the front door

Centre L-R: Chorizodor, garlic fries, kick start juice Bottom L-R: View of the patio, view of the kitchen
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Journey down to the river's edge, they said. With that advice in hand, our party of three bounded down the hill to greet the fresh waters of the Fraser River. The friendly staff at Romer's Burger Bar in the River District added our name and phone number to the 30 minute wait-list. I made a quick run to one of the spacious single washroom. I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose at the gross amount of fruit flies flitting by the brightly illuminated mirror.

We made our way out the door and down to the dock overlooking the Fraser River. After taking several pictures of the surrounding scenery, a passerby did his best to capture our smiling faces on the sunny occasion. A few more moments with a meandering beaver in the waters below, and the buzzing phone beckoned our return.

Once seated, the servers were quick to ask us multiple times if we were ready to order. I asked for a Kick Start Power Juice to jump-start my healthy vibes. It arrived promptly. I enjoyed the fresh orange and bee pollen taste. There was little, if any, mango flavour to it.  After perusing the extensive burger selection, we decided to ignore the special weekly burger (paired with a craft beer). I ordered the Chorizodor, while my companions opted for the Man's Man and the Magic Mushroom burgers.

L: Man's Man | Top R: Chorizodor (cilantro topping)
Bottom R: Magic Mushroom
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Our delicately battered popcorn shrimp with chipotle aioli sauce arrived first. The sauce was so good, I decided to save it for the upcoming fresh garlic fries. The portion of shrimp was underwhelming, but the garlic fries made up for this shortcoming. The fries were plentiful, thick-cut, and crispy. They were wonderfully salted and delicious with the garlic.

The burgers arrived next with a nice sheen to the buns. My Chorizodor was quite the handful and prompted me to carefully devour my burger with a knife and fork. The patty sat on some onion, lettuce, and tomato. It was topped with some light cheeses, avocado, sauce, and cilantro. Despite the combination of toppings, my burger was not overly dry or soggy. I enjoyed the balanced tastes and textures of the patty, toppings, and bun. The crispy onion strings on the Man's Man looked delicious, though everything on that plate was gone within five minutes. The Magic Mushroom disappeared slowly. By the end of our time, we regretfully did not have room for dessert. If anyone tries the Famous Drunken Doughnuts or the Warm Chocolate Sticky Toffee Pudding, please tell me how you like them!

Suika Snackbar

Front: Yuzu Shirley Temple (white)
Back: Honey Shirley Temple (yellow)
(Click photo to enlarge)

Suika Snackbar | $$-$$$
(W. Broadway x Fir)
1626 West Broadway, Vancouver
(604) 730-1678
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Claim to Fame 
Japanese izakaya, mixed drinks, shared tapas, fresh sheet.

Plus
Delicious food, daily specials, good drinks, beautiful decor, natural lighting, open concept, meticulous washrooms, lively staff.

Minus
Overwhelming menu, rushed sentiment, some items over-priced.

Quick Picks
My recommendations go to the "shake" salad, the frozen creme brulees, and the bibimbap. The octopus was tasty as well, but the grilled duck and tuna tartare were a bit lacklustre.

Nothing follows a lazy day at the beach better than a cool drink and fresh grub. On one of the busiest restaurant nights of the year, my friend and I snagged reservations at Suika Snackbar, Kingyo Izakaya's little sister. We packed up at the beach and made our way to Suika for a 5:30 dinner seating. We waited with a throng of eager diners until the host began to shout out names and seat parties. We were politely informed as we sat down that we would need to leave by 7PM. We were handed multiple menus to whet our appetite. The selection was exciting and overwhelming. It seemed that some items were repeated on the different menus, and it was difficult to keep track of our options. We were also given a lunch menu, which was quickly replaced once they realized their mistake. My friend and I each ordered a non-alcoholic beverage, a honey Shirley Temple for her and a yuzu one for me. My drink had a fizzier, citrus taste, while my friend's drink had a natural honey flavour, which she claimed complemented her meal.

Top L-R: Tuna tartare, sashimi "shake" salad
Centre: Matcha frozen brulee
Bottom L-R: Octopus, bibimbap, grilled duck
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We settled on five items, in order to leave room for dessert. We began with a sashimi "shake" salad, followed by grilled duck, fresh octopus slices,* braised beef bibimbap,* and tuna tartare with garlic bread.* As we munched on our items, a server came by to do "last call" for us. We realized we had only about 30 minutes until 7PM and quickly ordered dessert. We attempted to scarf down the rest of our meal and strategically finished the raw items, but still had half the tuna tartare and bibimbap to pack up when our matcha and vanilla* frozen creme brulees arrived. The server picked up our plates and left us our bill. We scarcely paused to admire our desserts before efficiently dividing those between us.

With 5 minutes to go until 7PM, a server stopped by and told us we could stay until 7:30. We both noticeably slowed down, but I continued to feel hurried as new tables sat down around us. My friend and I waited to pay during this turnover period, and each asked for $5 change. The server scrutinized our bill before agreeing. She seemed cross, rather than confused. Our total bill was approximately $55 before tax, and approximately $62 after tax. What are your thoughts on leaving an $8-$10 tip on the amount before tax in our situation?

*Items from special menu, not always available

Fat Dragon Bar-B-Q

Fat Dragon Bar-B-Q

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Fat Dragon Bar-B-Q | $$-$$$
(Downtown Eastside)
556 Powell Street, Vancouver
(604) 558-0880
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Claim to Fame
Southern barbeque dishes with Asian flavours. 

Plus
Daily specials, imaginative menu and drinks, warm and comfortable setting, friendly staff.

Minus
Removed from the downtown core, some items over-priced.

Quick Picks
I highly recommend the smoky sambal long beans and daily drink specials.

This installment of date night involved a single long-stemmed red rose and a trip to the Downtown Eastside.  On a Friday night, Fat Dragon was hardly filled to half-capacity and its dinner rush never materialized. We found free parking in front of the restaurant (after 6PM) and strolled into the newest member of the Campagnolo family. Despite its drab surroundings,  its interior was a pleasant oasis of soft lights and tasteful decor.

Warm lighting

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The varied and innovative menu was easy to navigate. Our first server was very informative. We requested a different table, and did not realize we would be switching servers as well. Our second server was pleasant, but less knowledgeable. We ordered the specials that our first server told us about. I also opted for one of the two non-alcoholic beverages on special, a strawberry ginger beer.  It was a refreshing summer drink and very reminiscent of something that I could not quite put my finger on! The ginger taste was not very apparent, but produced a warm tingle in the back of my mouth. We tried the ribs on special ($13), the green papaya salad ($8), a beef deckle and a squid bao bun ($2.50 each), the thick cut pork belly ($12), along with a side of sambal long beans ($5) and some jasmine rice ($4). Our dishes came out in a different order than I expected. Our green papaya salad came out first and was delicious. It was quickly followed by the pork belly and the ribs, rather than the bite-sized bao buns. We prompted our server for the jasmine rice to accompany our dishes. We dug into the pork belly and ribs. The bao buns arrived, followed by the long beans shortly after.

A tasty mess
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I enjoyed the pork belly, but I did not enjoy the accompanying piece of white bread in balsamic vinegar. Perhaps our server should have explained how these items were meant to complement each other, but I ended up surrendering my piece of somewhat soggy bread to my date. The jasmine rice was also too sticky for my liking. I prefer my ribs to be juicier and meatier, but MM was content to gnaw away at the BBQ ribs. The smokiness in the beef bao bun was more apparent than in the squid bao bun. Both were good, but I found the portions too small to adequately savour each bun's flavours and textures. A word of warning, the menu inaccurately listed the squid bao bun with coriander, rather than cilantro. It was piled on top of the squid and easy to pick out. We decided to skip dessert, though I was delighted to learn that the soft serve ice cream made in-house for the day was Thai basil.

L'Assommoir

[Original post from 2009]

 A modest spread at L'Assommoir
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L'Assommoir | $$-$$$

(Mile-End & Old Montreal)
112 Rue Bernard Ouest, Montréal, H2T2K1
(514) 272-0777
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Claim to Fame
Tapas, mixed drinks, and live entertainment.

Plus
An exciting place to gather with friends, plentiful and classic drink selection, quality food and service, excellent atmosphere.

Minus

Removed from the downtown core, can get crowded on weekend nights.

Quick Picks
The candied salmon, meat skewers, and musical performance were the highlights of our evening.

Shuffling along in the cold, a friend and I were about to find a tantalizing and relaxing experience at the end of a long winter's day in Montreal. We paused at a non-descript door and took in the relaxing sights and sounds coming from within. We were intrigued by the soft din drifting out and couldn't quite make out the dimly-lit interior. As we pushed in, we were invited to seat ourselves amongst the sparse crowd. We headed towards the music and a large room with a single long table at the back of the restaurant to enjoy a private, front-row showing of the Aya Aikawa quartet. We removed our layers and began to soak in the warmth and ambiance, while the waiter settled us in and left us to look over the vast selection of drinks and tapas.

Aya Aikawa and band perform at L'Assommoir

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Though extensive, the choices were not overwhelming and we quickly decided on drinks and an assortment of goodies, such as plantain chips and candied salmon. We took our time to savour the meal and watch the performance between bites. Every dish was enjoyable, though the candied salmon and meat skewers might have been our favourites, and we stayed until the performance ended.  I made a point to get the singer's name and fully intended to come back to hear her again, though this turned out to be a one-time visit for me. Rarely do I say this in Montreal, but I highly recommend the seafood dishes. The quality of, and the care that went into, the food and drinks were reflected in the unique tastes and textures of each.