Posts Tagged ‘Communal Table’

NELSON AND THE SEAGULL

August 26th, 2011 admin

315 Carrall Street, Vancouver

Tel:  (604) 681-5776

Web: http://www.nelsontheseagull.com/

Twitter: @gastownseagull

Advice: Have a seat at the communal table and meet other folk.

This is the living room we all once lived in, or want to escape to now. I have visited a few times over the summer and love the high ceilings, open kitchen, the large communal table and of course the living room. The café is large, spacious and inviting, it is also a great people watching spot too!

The café has become the new spot for the community, for the creative people who live and work inside and outside of the Gastown area.

Avocado on Toast

Espresso

Lemon Tart

Chocolate Lava Cake

On my last visit I had the Avocado on Toast ($5) and previously an Espresso ($2.50) along with one of their delicious Lemon Tarts ($3.50) that oozed with sweet lemon along with the Chocolate Lava Cake ($3.50). Asides from the coffees on order, they bake bread and not just any bread, it’s a Ciabatta which is moist and chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outer crust, all of their sandwiches and toasts are on this wonderful bread.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Gastown Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

THE FLYING PIG

August 25th, 2011 admin

 

1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-568-1344

Web: www.FlyingPigVan.com

Twitter: @FlyingPigVan

Advice: You can book out the communal table in advance and be served a family style menu.

I loved the exposed brick wall, wooden décor, long wooden communal table and the wine bottles scattered around the room in this Canadian bistro. The restaurant is owned by two chefs who have put together a creative inspiring menu, from lunch and dinner to weekend brunch.

T.F.P. Cured Meat Selection

The open kitchen is such a great idea at The Flying Pig, you can see what’s going on- I like! My friend Jason Sanders joined me for dinner and we shared all of our dishes so that I could taste several of them. It is not too often that after reading the restaurant menu that each dish sounds intriguing, well this is one of those menus that I wanted to eat every single dish. To start we had the T.F.P. Cured Meat Selection ($7 per person) artisan cured meats, cheeses, and spicy olives.

Sharing Platter

For our main we shared a large platter with several dishes that included the delicious Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib with bone marrow and mashed potatoes; the Pan Seared Queen Charlotte Halibut with crispy outstanding gnocchi and Chilliwack corn nage; and the delicious Lobster and Prawn Risotto with thyme and mascarpone.

Vanilla Crème Brûlée & Quebec Maple Sugar Pie

T.F.P ‘Drumstick’

For dessert we shared three, the Vanilla Crème Brûlée ($7), the T.F.P ‘Drumstick’ ($7) house-made cone, chocolate and caramel ice cream, pistachio crust; and the outstanding delectable Quebec Maple Sugar Pie ($7) maple bourbon filling, walnut ice cream, for my next visit it is not a piece of this pie that crave it is the whole pie!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Yaletown Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

PHNOM PENH

August 21st, 2011 admin

244 E Georgia Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 682-5777

Web: n/a

Twitter: n/a

Advice: The line-up is worth the long wait, take along a book to read while you wait.

I am probably the last person in the city to dine at this long standing eatery in Chinatown, at least I can say that I have had the pleasure to eat their popular and delicious Garlic Fried Squid on a few occasions at catered events. Last Sunday while walking around Gastown and Chinatown I happened upon the restaurant and with a minimal wait was seated at the sharing table. I knew what I should order based on what almost every chef in town had told me, so I decided not to order those two dishes which were the Garlic Fried Squid and their Chicken Wings. The restaurant was packed even at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, after looking at the menu in detail which was almost fully segregated into Cambodian Favourites and Vietnamese Favourites, I decided to choose one selection from each.

Spicy Garlic Prawns

Trieu Chau Special Vegetable Bun

I had a half order of the outstanding Spicy Garlic Prawns ($8.50) and the Trieu Chau Special Vegetable Buns  ($7.95) along with a complementary glass of hot tea. There is a reason as to why this restaurant has been serving customers for so many years and to where there is a constant line-up. Looking forward to my next visit to try more dishes.

Review By: Richard Wolak

 

Posted in Chinatown, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

CAFE BRIXTON

August 21st, 2011 admin

212 East Georgia Street, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 568-8200

Web: n/a

Twitter: n/a

Advice: Sit at the communal table or at the window.

Slightly secluded as it is off the beaten track of bustling Main Street in Chinatown/Strathcona, the café is well worth your discovery. First of all it is spacious and has that sort of NY feeling to it with its exposed brick walls, open 15 ft beam ceiling, distressed looking wooden tables and chairs. Secondly, there is a large communal table for sharing  while studying or working.

Carrot Cake

Espresso

I had the moist and tasty Carrot Cake ($2.95) with vanilla bean cream cheese icing and an Espresso ($2.75) made with 49th parallel coffee. The menu also includes baguette sandwiches, baked goods and beverages. They also offer an extensive brunch menu which I will get to trying one day soon.

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Chinatown, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

PIZZERIA FARINA

August 18th, 2011 admin

915 Main Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-681-9334

Web: www.pizzeriafarina.com

Twitter: @pizzeriafarina

Advice: Don’t share, you may be tempted to share a pizza with friends but my advice is that it is a perfect size for you. Do share the space at the communal table. Take-out available. Water –tap on the right is still, tap on the left is sparkling. Open Wednesday – Sunday.

It is rare that I visit a new restaurant within two days of opening, I made an exception to the rule tonight cause I love pizza and I am pizza obsessed. The room is small, simple and has all the right elements to become a neighbourhood hot spot for pizza to eat-in at the long communal sharing table or to take-out. One wall is filled with bottles of their Rosemary infused Olive-Oil and their Chili infused Olive-Oil which is for sale along with the jars of sauce that you will find on the opposite wall. The menu is simple they have pizza, specializing in Northern Italian style, with a crust that is light and crispy.

Funghi Pizza

I had the Funghi Pizza ($13) topped with big cloves of garlic, arugula, mozzarella and mushrooms along with a glass of water, simple and ever so good. Some would say it is all in the dough, and I am going to have to agree, their dough takes 3 days to make, obviously there is a secret to this dough to making the perfect pizza, go, visit and you be the judge!

Review By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Main Street, Strathcona Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

ROCANINI

July 19th, 2011 admin

#115- 3900 Moncton Street, Richmond

Tel: 604-284-5126

Web: http://www.rocanini.com/

Twitter: @rocanini

Advice: Have a seat at the large Communal Table.

This is one of those cafes that I would frequent if I lived nearby, it would probably become my office or my living room! Impressive stylish room, large and spacious with lots of seating including the communal table.

Cappuccino

Espresso Macchiato

I was in Steveston for Fish & Chips, first stop was for coffee and not just any coffee. I had an Espresso Macchiato ($2.85) and my friend had a Cappuccino ($3.10) both were very good. They roast their own coffee at their roastery in Vancouver so their coffee is fresh which is important. The baristas behind the bar are passionate on making the perfect cup of coffee. One of the star attractions here is the Syphon Coffee as well as their Drip coffee, there are choices for the type of coffee to savour!

I love the layout of the café, there is also a selection of fresh baked goods, sandwiches and desserts in the case to tempt you to indulge!

Review by: Richard Wolak

Posted in Bar & Cafe Reviews, Richmond Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

THE OAKWOOD

July 7th, 2011 admin

2741 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: (604) 558-1965

Web: www.theoakwood.ca

Twitter: @theOakwoodKits

Advice: If you are dining solo then dine at the communal table.

In house smoked meat on house made brioche

Rolled Beef Carpaccio

Seared Scallop

Cast Iron Cornish Hen

I loved the long wooden communal table, the use of the reclaimed wood throughout the restaurant along with the unique wooden ceiling lamps. This neighbourhood eatery is all about west-coast goodness that mixes outstanding Canadian cuisine with a great selection of craft beers on tap, and most of all has Chef Mike Robbins leading the kitchen. Everything is house made, I began my dinner with a delicious In house smoked meat on house made brioche (amuse) to tempt my palate, this followed with a dish that I would have never thought of ordering alas I did, the delicious Rolled Beef Carpaccio ($13) enoki and celery salad devilled egg, paprika honey. Next was the full of flavour and hearty, Seared Scallop ($21) pork stuffed potato pasta, corn puree, beet salad. Next dish was the outstanding Cast Iron Cornish Hen ($19) celeriac puree, mushroom saute, fried onion pan jus.

Bistro Pancake

Since dessert is always a must for me when finishing a fine meal, I ended with the Bistro Pancake ($6) vanilla ice cream blueberries; think German style served warm in a black cast iron pan – YUM!

I am already looking forward to the next visit to indulge in their Burger and then their Fish & Chips!

Review By: Richard Wolak

 

Posted in Kitsilano Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Commune Cafe Tasting

February 27th, 2011 admin

Recently I attended a media tasting at Commune Café to try some of their new menu creations as they launched their new dinner menu. I had dined at Commune Café previously.

Commune Cafe has expanded its service and is now offering a new list of dinner features that are available daily after 5 pm. The new dinner menu keeps things casual, homey and affordable. I sampled my way thru many dishes during our dinner some were standouts and others were not, the dishes that follow are ones that I enjoyed during the tasting.

Chicken Waldorf Salad

Seared Salmon

Braised Beef Cheeks

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

My favourite dishes were the warm Chicken Waldorf Salad ($8) Heritage farm leg, celery salad, pickled grapes, candied walnut; Seared Salmon with smoked bacon and garden pea risotto ($14) followed by the Braised Beef Cheeks with mashed potatoes, winter vegetables and red wine jus ($15); Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($12) Broccoli florets, confit cherry tomatoes, almonds, sage butter.

Sangak flatbread

Dessert Platter

Their Sangak Flatbread ($10) with bacon and caramelized onion was quite good as was the Carrot Cake ($5) on their Dessert platter.

With everything on the dinner menu priced at $15 or less, and a smart BC wine list that starts at $6/glass, Commune Cafe is giving downtown dwellers a go-to spot for a great dinner at a great price.

By: Richard Wolak

Posted in Tastings Tags: , , , , , No Comments »
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