Archive for category Restaurants
Raglan’s Bistro
Posted by Michelle Evans in Restaurants on April 23rd, 2009
Well, this evening didn’t get off to a good start, but it sure ended well.
So I caught a tweet a couple of days ago from Deuce Restaurant that they were offering $3.95 beers and a buck a shuck oysters with a DJ after 9pm on Thursdays. I responded with a question about the start time, but I guess being really new to twitter and all, they didn’t get the hang of replies. No worries, we decided to take our chances.
We arrived at Deuce about 5:30pm to an empty restaurant and were told they don’t have oysters tonight. Bummer.
So we decided to move on.
As an employee of one of Vancouver’s top attractions, I get a Tourism Challenge Passport to encourage trial at a variety of attractions, hotels and restaurants around Vancouver. We decided to check out Tantra Lounge at the Quay, given the Deuce thing didn’t work out as we’d hoped. I never knew, but Tantra is fully licensed and all patrons must be over 19 years of age. Okay… given that I had my son in tow, that wasn’t going to work for us.
We then decided to head up the street to Raglan’s Bistro, a North Vancouver favourite.
I’m so glad we did. I appreciate a dining environment free of patchouli.
We were immediately greeted with a warm welcome and invited in. Our drink order was taken right away and our son was offered crayons (though I’d recommend they get some larger sheets of paper rather than offering a piece of receipt paper, but no biggie – anything is great with a 3 year old).
Raglan’s Bistro is decorated as a Tiki Hut with surf boards, cute chalk drawings, great music and a large screen showing surf movies; even the menus are printed on bamboo mats. This was a HUGE hit with our son, whose favourite movie is Surf’s Up.
I love the sign in the middle that reads, “Shared Seating – Musical chairs & shared seating have been a tradition in this location for 18 years. Get to know your neighbour; create community.”
We opted for a plate of Mexican Nachos to share. We were toying with some other ideas – I’ve been craving yam fries for weeks now it seems – but the nachos were so satisfying we didn’t end up needing anything else.
Raglan’s has a small-ish but super unique menu full of simple but fun foods. Offering an assortment of salads, tapas, burgers, and pizzas, you wouldn’t think it was that unusual. However, the assorted Poutines might make you double-take as might a variety of Nachos.
Tapas include favourites such as Yam Fries for $6 or Calamari for $9; salads offered include a few unique choices such as Grilled Pineapple and Goat Cheese for $12 or Squid & Tiger Prawn for $15. Poutine selections include Classic, Cheeseburger, Pulled Pork and Ancho Chicken; and Raglan’s also offers the standard burgers for $10-$14 and thin crust pizzas for $12-$15.
The Mexican Nachos were fantastic – the best Nachos I’ve had, actually, as far as flavour goes. For $16 it was a nice sized plate of chips with cheese, black beans, chorizo sausage, chipotle sour cream, large chunk tomato salsa and guacamole. Even the chips were seasoned so the whole flavour was unlike anything I’ve yet had.
Beverages include a selection of beers, wines – by the glass or bottle – and tiki drinks. I opted for a Blue Hawaiian, which promised a pineapple-coconut yumminess… it was good, but a bit too sweet. Perhaps a shorter glass would have been a better mixture.
All in all, the food and service were great and the atmosphere was super fun. Don’t believe me? Check out the Raglan’s reviews on dinehere.ca, a more Raglan’s reviews on Urban Spoon or a couple of older ones on foodpages.ca. I would definitely recommend Raglan’s to anyone looking for a great place to grab a quick bite or even take a low-maintenance date.
Contact & Hours:
Raglan’s Bistro is located at 15 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver – just a stone’s throw from Lonsdale Quay – and can be reached by phone at 604.988.8203. They’re open Monday to Thursday from 5pm to midnight, Fridays from 5pm to 1am and Saturdays & Sundays from 10am to midnight. I hear they do a mean brunch; that’ll be my next visit.
As for Deuce and Tantra… maybe I’ll check them out another time.
*Listed prices are only valid as of publishing date and are subject to change*
Kantine Urban Cafeteria
Posted by Michelle Evans in Coffee Shops, Restaurants on March 29th, 2009
Now that the weather is springlike, I finally got out on a photo walk this afternoon and made my way all over the Lower Lonsdale area, down to the Pier, in to The Quay, up through the plaza by the John Braithwaite centre and back home by way of the little playground between 1st and 2nd just West of Chesterfield.
On my travels I got a chance to stop by the new Kantine Urban Cafeteria – the newest great concept in urban dining taking the place of the old Angelina’s Cafe that didn’t seem able to make a go of it. The location – 210-150 West Esplanade (upstairs from Shopper’s Drug Mart) – doesn’t lend itself well to walking traffic, but this concept (and super funky branding!) just might be cool enough to really catch on with the local office community.
According to Martini Boys, the man behind the new Kantine restaurant is Paul Mon-Kau, who also brought North Vancouver The District Social House on Lower Lonsdale. While I didn’t get a chance to eat there this time around, what I really fell in love with was the simplicity of the space. The interior is lovely and clean looking with funky orange chalk boards highlighting their daily specials. I also seem to have a soft spot for that plaza where Kantine is located.
Kantine Urban Cafeteria offers an assortment of soups, stews, paninis, salads and pastries and caters mainly to the local lunch crowd; that’s not to say, however, that you shouldn’t make your way there for lunch on a sunny weekend or a quick dinner after work. Definitely cheap-eats pricing here – I mean, the listed specials were a Breakfast Burrito with a Coffee for $3.25 or a Panini, Chips & a Pop for $7. That’s a great deal right there, and that’s just the start: They promise “10 Meals under $10 ready in under 10 minutes”.
As a bit of a techie and, well… a marketer, what I really like about what Mon-Kau is doing is the fact that not only is the branding beautiful and modern, but Kantine Urban Cafeteria has its own blog AND you can even place your order at Kantine online! It’s only natural they’d also offer free WiFi. Now if they started accepting orders via Twitter that would really be on the edge.
As I said, I didn’t get a chance to eat there yet, but here are a couple of reviews of Kantine from Foodpages.ca. I’m going to bet the food is good; I’ve only heard great things about The District, so Mon-Kau’s team obviously knows what they’re doing.
Kantine is open 7 days a week and also offers catering. Next time you swing by Esplanade Plaza, stop in and enjoy a quick bite that doesn’t break the bank.
Yuko Maki Japanese Restaurant
Posted by Michelle Evans in Restaurants on March 10th, 2009
I used to be a Sushi Station regular, and I’ve tried out just about every sushi restaurant on Lonsdale, but for months now I’ve been going out of my way to venture out to Yuko Maki at Pemberton and Marine Drive for both eat-in and take-out… until now.
Yuko Maki Japanese Restaurant has come to North Vancouver’s City centre.
Now, I eat a lot of sushi. First of all, it’s a Vancouver phenomenon, but secondly, it’s a very healthy alternative to fast food if you order carefully. And lastly, it’s quick and affordable as far as take-out goes.
Yuko Maki’s new Lonsdale Avenue location is fantastic. It’s clean and has plenty of booths (I like booths; always have… they’ve got that old-school diner feel… a little privacy and comfort), it’s fairly spacious and has larger tables at the back that can accommodate larger parties with semi-privacy.
The food is really good and their combos and bento boxes can’t be beat for value.
This evening we went and my husband ordered their Sushi Special – 24 pieces of sushi plus Miso Soup for just $5.95. The special is a great deal because you can just choose any 3 rolls/cones/maki from a big list. The choices include more than the standard California, Tuna and BC rolls; your selections can include Dynamite Roll, Asparagus Roll, Salmon Tempura Roll, Negitoro Maki, Spicy Shrimp Cone and many others.
I’ve had a hankering recently for some teriyaki, so I ordered their “Box 2″ – Chicken Teriyaki, Salad, Ride, Tempura, California Roll and an orange wedge, but I substituted the California Roll for a Yam Roll. My son LOVES the yam roll, so I got that for him. The boxes are extremely generous for the prices. This Chicken Teriyaki box was just $5.95 as well. They also offer some higher end boxes like BBQ Eel box or Salmon Teriyaki box, which are both just $8.50.
The service is decent and I have to say, the Lonsdale location is much neater looking… maybe cleaner? Maybe just newer, than the Pemberton location. I wouldn’t hesitate to return. The only complaint I have about Yuko Maki food is the sashimi. Don’t get me wrong… it’s excellent value and excellent quality, but maybe even too much value. The pieces of sashimi are so big it’s a little like biting into the side of a raw fish, but if you’re into big sashimi, that could be a plus for you.
Yuko Maki’s menu is extensive; I have no doubts you’ll find something everyone in your family or group will enjoy. They also offer an assortment of party trays ranging from 40 to 68 pieces and $15.80 to $55.00.
Location:
Yuko Maki Japanese Restaurant is located at 1540 Lonsdale Avenue, between 15th and 16th on the East side of the street, just a couple of doors uphill from Shopper’s Drug Mart.
Hours of Operation:
They’re open Monday to Saturday from 11:30am to 9:30pm and on Sundays & Holidays from noon to 9pm. If you give 2 hours advance notice on a take-out order you’ll save 5% and if you give a day’s notice you’ll save 10%.
Order for take-out by calling 604-960-0717.
V-Nam Vietnamese Restaurant
Posted by Michelle Evans in Restaurants on November 30th, 2008
I’ve never been particularly adventuresome when it comes to cuisine I haven’t already tried. I know, I know… how will I ever know if I’ll like it if I don’t try it, right? Well, some of my co-workers turned me on to Vietnamese cuisine, opting to visit Pho 99 on Marine Drive fairly regularly for lunch as of late. While I have yet to try the ever-so-well-known Pho (mainly because I’m just not big on soup), I have come to enjoy the vermicelli bowls and so when my husband suggested we try the new Vietnamese place on 3rd Street, I obliged.
V-Nam Vietnamese Cuisine is located at 175 E. 3rd Street, at the corner of 3rd Street and St. Georges Avenue, on the ground floor of an apartment high rise. Because it’s a block off Lonsdale, it has less walking traffic than other spots, so I wanted to draw a little attention to it, as it is one of only two Vietnamese restaurants in North Vancouver.
We arrived at about 1pm on a Sunday afternoon and there were a few tables in use, but we certainly didn’t have to wait. The restaurant is not flashy; in fact, it’s pretty plain. The appeal of V-Nam is the food.
We started with, or rather tried to start with, the prawn salad rolls and a couple of iced coffees. Unfortunately they arrived right with our entire order, but perhaps we weren’t very clear when ordering. For my main course
I had – you guessed it – the Pork Vermicelli Bowl with Pork Rolls and my husband had the Spicy Beef Pho. He considers himself a food expert, having spent many years in the restaurant industry and he only had good things to say about his meal. The spouts and basil were very fresh, the sauces very flavourful and the Pho was piping hot. It’s impressive when he actually likes food somewhere, so this is a very good sign for V-Nam. My meal was very tasty and the pork was particularly tender.
With an appetizer, two iced coffees and two meals, our bill was under $35. V-Nam is fully licensed and a parking lot is available via the alley off St. Georges Avenue. Here are a few additional V-Nam Vietnamese Restaurant reviews. According to the sign on their door, V-Nam Restaurant is open from 11am every day except Mondays; you can reach them by phone at 604-985-5477.
De Dutch Pannekoek House
Posted by Michelle Evans in Restaurants on November 15th, 2008
So I’m always on the lookout for restaurants that are open for breakfast at a real early breakfast hour. In my household we’re all up at 5am, so waiting any longer than about 8am for breakfast is crazy. With a 2 year old who eats lunch at 11am, our hours are vastly different than the majority of the population.
This morning, however, I decided to have a nice early breakfast at De Dutch Pannekoek house on 3rd Street. It’s in a crazy strange location down near the Chevron at the 5 way (at Marine Drive, where Marine and 3rd Meet Keith Rd and Bewicke), and it looks like a dive, but if you’re a North Van local you know this place is always packed for breakfast. Plus, it’s only about 3 blocks from Lonsdale, so easily within walking distance.
A little word about De Dutch Pannekoek House from their own website:
De Dutch Pannekoek House specializes in breakfast, brunch and lunch, offering our customers a unique blend of European ethnicity in our menu items.
Luckily for us it’s not packed at 8am; that’s precisely what makes it a good time to go with a toddler. So we had our choice of tables and selected one in the farthest corner from the door, right beside the fireplace – that was a nice touch on such a rainy November morning.
I really liked that the servers seemed to understand the challenges of dining with a toddler (that, or they were anxious to get us fed and back out the door); we were offered drinks as we were being seated and brought crayons and a colouring sheet immediately thereafter.
One of the servers was back to take our order long before I’d had a chance to really look at the menu, but didn’t seem at all bothered when I asked for more time. I ended up ordering the Turkey Bacon & Egg breakfast, which came with two eggs, two slices of toast, hash browns, 5 strips of turkey bacon and a garden salad.
I’m not entirely sure what I think of having received a garden salad with my breakfast. I’m not really a big fan of salad at such an early hour of the morning, but then I don’t love it most of the time anyway. I was going to request tomato slices instead, but completely forgot to do so. I didn’t end up eating it, though I tried it and it was fine… I couldn’t rave about it.
The food was fine and there was lots of it. Some people seem rave about it, but I thought it was just good. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing and really should have gone with one of their signature Pannekoeken:
pan_ne_koek (pãn-ne-kõõk), n. genuine Dutch pancake, tasting similar to the traditional North American pancake and is slightly thicker than a crepe. It has a circumference of 37″, a diameter of 12″ and if you cut it into square inch pieces you will enjoy 113 bites. Simply delightful any way you like, but the customary way is to roll it up and cut off bite-size pieces.
The Pannekoek is our signature dish that draws loyal customers to our restaurant and entices new customers every day. Served in over 50 combinations of both sweet and savoury mouthwatering ingredients, Pannekoeken are guaranteed to de light and satisfy every type of craving!
These Pannekoeken range from about $12-$16 and come with just about anything on them. Their list of Pannekoeken options included items such as the Rio Grande, which includes onion and green peppers inside with melted cheddar on top (Served with salsa & sour cream), or The Canadian, topped with bacon, tomato, 2 eggs and a jug of genuine Maple Syrup. Next time maybe…
They also serve Eggs Benny, Dutch Scrambles, Omelettes and French Toast. I was a little curious about their breakfast “snack” which is basically a bowl of hashbrowns with hollandaise sauce on it for $5.50. Interesting.
Breakfast prices range from about $9.50 to $16 and the serving sizes are big. There’s a fair bit of parking for the size of the restaurant, and while I didn’t confirm it, the De Dutch website claims free WiFi at all their restaurants. De Dutch also serves only fresh squeezed orange juice, which is a nice touch.
Moodyvilles All Day Breakfast
Posted by Michelle Evans in Restaurants on November 1st, 2008
Moodyvilles is an absolute gem right in the heart of the Lower Lonsdale community. I’m not entirely sure how long it’s been there, but it’s entirely possible it’s been around since the area was actually called Moodyville. Absolutely one of the last of its kind on the North Shore, Moodyvilles All Day Breakfast is an old-school diner-style restaurant or, dare I say “greasy spoon”… though we all know these are where the best deals are found. Bacon and eggs, home-fried potatoes and pancakes – just as you’d expect to find them in a small town, but square in the centre of town.
Moodyilles serves up soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers, but it is most known for its breakfast service. Serving great breakfasts like two eggs, hash browns and toast for just $4.99, or a selection of omelettes or even blueberry or banana pancakes for just a little more all day is what fills the tables here. I didn’t find a single menu item over $10 and the portions are generous. In fact, I have heard from several people that Moodyvilles may have the best blueberry pancakes anywhere – but definitely the best pancakes in North Vancouver.
The ambiance is what you would expect, complete with stacked plastic water cups and self-serve coffee. You order at the counter, pay and take a number to your table (if, of course, you can find one. It get’s very busy on weekends, but apparently 8:30am is a little early for most, though not for us.) Then within just a few minutes the servers will bring your food and cutlery.
Overall, the service, the food and the prices are great – but in case you don’t believe me, here are some more reviews of Moodyvilles. I am reminded that I should go more often… maybe I’ll start making it a weekly tradition.
Moodyvilles All Day Breakfast is located at 101 Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver, on the North West corner of Lonsdale Avenue at 1st Street. According to NSlocal.com they are open 8am – 4:30pm daily.
Memphis Blues BBQ House
Posted by Michelle Evans in Restaurants on October 11th, 2008
For all you carnivores out there, the Memphis Blues BBQ House at 1629 Lonsdale Avenue – between 16th and 17th on the West side of the street – serves up a feast you won’t soon forget. Offering “award-winning authentic southern barbeque” in a casual environment, Memphis Blues is the perfect place for a quick bite for a hungry man’s man or an evening out for the whole family.
Now, their menu is quite big for a small place, but you really do need to love meat to get the most out of it. A vegetarian could definitely go and eat a salad and a slice of corn bread, but this really isn’t the place for you. Even their nachos and poutine have pork on them. But if you love a good pigsicle, this is the place. The portions are huge; do not fret, you will not go hungry. In fact, I think anyone who orders the Full Slab o’ Ribs for $24.95 will feel incredibly uncomfortable and have a heavy bag to carry home. The full slab dinner includes, well, a full rack of ribs, french fries, cole slaw, baked beans and corn bread and is enough to feed me, my husband and my two year old and have leftovers. And none of us are light eaters.
The atmosphere is casual. Very casual. In fact, you seat yourself, order from the counter (though a server will bring your food to you), and each table comes equipped with a roll of industrial-grade paper towel. Do not go if you’re looking for a nice romantic dinner. But they are licensed, and offer live blues music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 7:30pm, plus, the North Vancouver Memphis Blues BBQ location will take a reservation if you think you may need one. It does get busy – especially on Father’s day as I found out earlier this year.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should; or, stop by for some takeout – they’re SUPER fast, like 5 minutes from the time you place your order. But if you stay and eat, definitely leave room for their Pecan Pie with Caramel Bourbon Sauce. Then come back here and tell me how you liked it.
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