By shokutsu on June 22, 2009 - 10:55am
Perhaps its relative geographic obscurity on the far west side of the city, the unassuming and some would say uninviting exterior facade or just the power of rumors, but it seems to me that Café D’Lite has a unique impression in the minds of many Vancouver diners in that although popular, reports of its demise seem always front and center. Call it the Mark Twain of the city’s restaurant scene.
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/cafe-dlite-vancouver-bc/
By shokutsu on May 27, 2009 - 11:36pm
Recently lauded in a local city magazine as the top restaurant choice in a strange and contestable category dubbed as “best other asian”, Spice Islands Indonesian Restaurant fills a unique niche on Vancouver’s far west side, with a quaintly decorated room fitting to the type of clientele living in the area...
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/spice-islands-indonesian-rest...
By shokutsu on May 25, 2009 - 6:23pm
This endearing hole-in-the wall has become a regular spot for me. Their take on Shanghai cuisine is generally excellent and humbly innovative. The service is also excellent – Sandy, co-proprietor and server could be one of the best servers I have ever seen: friendly, knowledgeable, fast and efficient...
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/longs-noodle-house-vancouver-...
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:55pm
Campagnolo is operated by the group who run Fuel over on the West side of the city. Fuel is a great restaurant with the kind of ethic that this area of the world is known: organic, locally sourced ingredients, “nose to tail” philosophy, talented cooks. Campagnolo is much the same. As a matter of fact, the kitchen had a deer hanging in it getting ready to be prepped “nose to tail” (from primal cuts of meat all the way to the nasty bits that end up in their pate and cured sausages.) The group has also started up a small retail/in-house curing operation cleverly called “The Cure” which will supply Fuel, Campagnolo, and retail.
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/campagnolo-vancouver-bc/
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:53pm
The enclave that is the University Village is an interesting microcosm of the perceived general populace of students who attend this institution. Set in this two block area, the overwhelming majority of retail space is taken up by places to eat… with many of them are ethnic.
There’s been a lot of turnover in recent years as well, be it swaps in ownership/management (e.g. Suga Sushi), or just rapid closures (e.g. some taco shop lasted mere months before shutting down). Coincidentally, this a fore mentioned collapsed fast food joint is now the site of the subject of this post, Well Tea & Asian Cuisine.
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/well-tea-asian-cuisine-vancou...
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:52pm
Stepping inside, I could see not much had visibly changed since my last visit. Widely spaced at the main entrance way, brightly lit near the front where the cashier station was set up, along with the sushi bar counter. There were a few groups of customers already seated and eating, lined up towards the far end of the floor near the windows looking out towards False Creek.
Every time I’ve eaten here, it seemed there were some regulars at the sushi bar conversing casually with the main man behind the counter, and it was the same on this night as well. That’s always a good sign for me to see at a sushi bar. Often I’ll be one of them and try to learn more about their restaurant and what’s fresh, but on this evening dining alone, I was seated in one of the partitioned booths. A small serving of edamae (baby soybeans) was brought to me right after receiving the menu, along with some hot barley tea.
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/toyo-sushi-vancouver-bc/
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:50pm
Coco et Olive is probably best known among those who live in this end of Vancouver. And by end, I truly mean that. It really is far from the hustle and bustle of the more central and thus busier sections of this strip. In the daytime on weekends, and lunch hours during the week, its filled with people from the neighborhood who clearly have more than their share of free time.
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/coco-et-olive-vancouver-bc/
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:49pm
Entrenched inside the first floor of an older structure along W.16th Avenue, just before the turn onto Dunbar Street, this pizzeria could easily be missed when driving down this road, especially when one is more concerned about navigating the curve on to the more populated Dunbar. With limited seating inside the waiting area in front of the counter, it truly is a more take away/delivery type of pizza joint, although the available by-the-slice options seem to be popular with the youth market (while I was getting my order, the place was packed with a bunch of rambunctious local teenagers).
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/york-fresh-pizza-vancouver-bc...
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:47pm
Koon Bo has been operating at this Fraser Street location for over twelve years. It has gained a good reputation as a solid Westernized Chinese restaurant that serves the usual – Chow Mein, Wonton Soup, Lemon Chicken, and so forth. But whenever you mention Koon Bo to anyone – the response is usually: “have you had their shredded chicken salad?”
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/02/24/koon-bo-vancouver-bc/
By shokutsu on May 24, 2009 - 7:46pm
To begin, a little history and background on Naam. It proclaims to be vegetarian. Reporters have noted it to be one of the oldest natural foods restaurants in the city. It is open 24/7, everyday except for Christmas Day. And although the sample size is smaller, I’ve found that each time I’ve dined in there is always a lineup out the door especially at mid-day or on weekend brunch.
Once you are able to get a table, the overworked (and I think outnumbered) wait staff might come to your table in a timely manner. And I’m not saying that to be fescious. They truly are overwhelmed by the crowds, and given the laid back nature of this restaurant (heck, it has its roots in Vancouver’s hippie culture after all), diners are forewarned not to expect quick, attentive service or responses to any of your usual dining needs.
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http://foodosophy.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/the-naam-restaurant-vancouver...
