Interesting & Different Restaurants...

[PlayfulAlex]

Yeah, we talk a lot about food here in the Lounge.

Let's talk about some of the more interesting, unique, quirky restaurants you've discovered:

Meat and Bread

From the website: "Meat & Bread Pender offers four sandwiches daily. Porchetta, Corned Beef, The Daily Special and a weekly changing Vegetarian Special. Our menu is updated every morning, or you may follow us on Twitter for a daily blast via @2meatandbread."

I recently stopped by the Pender St location, across from Vancouver Film School. Think I've seen it featured on one of the shows on the Food Network. Very simple decor, talk about minimalistic, got there around 11:15am, and the place was a zoo throughout the lunch hour. Simple menu, not too expensive, lots of take out customers receiving their sandwiches in a white paper lunch bag.

Favorite features:

Two seating choices: one long thick wood table with about 30 chairs seated on either side, or bar seats for a few diners. Meals are served on cutting boards covered with a piece of wax paper. You get a squeeze each of mustard and hot sauce on the wax paper. Very few dishes for them to wash up. Water and napkins are self serve. Behind the service counter, there are two burners with big metal pots boiling up meat for the next batch of homemade soup. We watched the staff pull out six boiled whole chickens. Other staff were removing the cold meat from a previous batch of chickens.

Just a very interesting concept!

http://meatandbread.ca/pender-street/todays-menu

 

[tokugawa]

Reviews seem to be so-so but willing to give it nevertheless.

The famed porchetta sandwich

Meat and Bread is a chic, no-frills, cafeteria style dining experience but with a gourmet twist on the food. I like the concept of Meat and Bread and am glad to see more simple but gourmet style eateries popping up.
I tried the porchetta sandwich along with a dandelion soda (made from cane sugar - yay!). Overall, it was good, but I agree with the previous post that it was on the dry side. The meat was yummy and I loved the cracklings (skin) that was included. If the ciabatta bread wasn't as hard, and they gave a bit more of the verde sauce, I'd be really happy.

Will give them the benefit of a doubt and come back to check out a few more sandwiches.

Read more: http://dinehere.ca/vancouver/meat-bread-west-pender

Don’t believe the hype!

Today I noticed that there was no lineup, which is unusual since it’s almost always out the door, so I finally decided to give this place a try after hearing so many great things about it.

I had the Porchetta sandwich, which is the pork sandwich with salsa verde and pig crackling, and it cost $9 with tax. It certainly looked promising in it’s pretty little box, but wow was I ever disappointed. I think they could have done some great things with this sandwich, but the taste of salt and pork fat was so overwhelming that I could barely taste anything else. In fact I found myself wishing for some vegetables to balance out the taste because it was kind of dry with just meat and bread (but clearly they are sticking to their theme). The only nice thing I can say is that the meat was tender. But I actually could not finish the sandwich because my mouth was on fire from the salt.

My advice is to give this place a pass, personally I would not eat here again. There are so many great places to eat downtown, this place is just pure hype.

Read more: http://dinehere.ca/vancouver/meat-bread-west-pender

But yeah on the health inspection report: Inspection Reports

 

[GoWest]

I've been to DarkTable, located at the old Quattro location on 4th and trafalgar. The concept is that the room is totally dark (you cannot even see your hand in front of your face) and the waiters are blind. It was interesting to do once, but the food was only OK and it was more work than it was worth.

I thought it would be interesting to go with a date, sit side by side, and have some fun, knowing that there are people all around you but they cannot see what you are doing. I imagine that probably happens there a fair bit.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

But yeah on the health inspection report: Inspection Reports

The report states that it was a routine inspection. FYI

 

[PlayfulAlex]

I've been to DarkTable, located at the old Quattro location on 4th and trafalgar. The concept is that the room is totally dark (you cannot even see your hand in front of your face) and the waiters are blind. It was interesting to do once, but the food was only OK and it was more work than it was worth.

I thought it would be interesting to go with a date, sit side by side, and have some fun, knowing that there are people all around you but they cannot see what you are doing. I imagine that probably happens there a fair bit.

http://www.darktable.ca/about.html

Wow, never heard of it; what a crazy concept!

 

[LADY-VIA]

I love the idea of this place when I go im going to order - GOAT CHEESE AND DATES STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WITH ORANGE GASTRIQUE,

ROASTED POTATOES AND VEGETABLES with the combo including the surprise starter and dessert

 

[tokugawa]

The report states that it was a routine inspection. FYI

I did not imply anything negative in that comment; Yeah' as in 'yes' or 'positive'. The link was provided for FYI purposes. Yes it was Routine. If you look at other restaurants you'll sometime see not so nice comments. Since there are no negative comments with this establishment, this is a "yeah", "yes", "positive", etc comment.

FYI: Here is a restaurant that has had not so good reports: Pho Central So when you compare the two, 'Meat and Bread' is actually good is what I was implying.

FYI: Here are some other dubious restaurants: Restaurant Closures

Reviews seem to be so-so but willing to give it nevertheless.

I also said I'd be willing to give it a try so again I was not implying anything negative about the restaurant.

 

[CorriGuy]

I have come to love Pourhouse in Gastown; sitting at the bar does really feel at times as if I was in a swanky 1930s speakeasy, minus the cigarette and cigar smoke. It's not cheap, but some of the best slung drinks in town.

I visited a place on the drive once that I'd like to go back to -- Timber -- Good comfortable "local" bar with lots of plants up in the rafters and paintings on doors hanging here and there. The owner is a country music singer who is also a helluva friendly nice guy always wearing a trucker hat. Hell I might go back there this week.

CC

 

[Danika]

One of my favorite places is Raw Canvas on Hamilton street...yaletown........
The food and drinks are great....the atmosphere is relaxed and its kind of an artsy place....
You can buy canvas and paint there while you listen to live music...its a very intimate setting...
Perfect for a first date.

 

[deleted Miss Lux]

I loooove L'abbattoir, Sardine Can and Chambar... Yummm!
Oh and the Woodland Smokehouse and Commissary on Commercial Drive... Seriously, the best corned beef sammich EVER! And they have Cartems doughnuts, different ones everyday... Like wow. So delicious, it's dangerous!

 

[badbadboy]

Rogue on W Broadway near Cambie.

Decor is really cool with great use of LED lighting and coloured backdrops. Everywhere you look has something cool and interesting to digest.

Menu was a bit all over the map but I did enjoy the fish taco's even though the actual amount of fish inside the taco was fairly minimal. Pizza's looked awesome and I heard their burgers are damn good too.

 

[cjac7214]

Try the Narrow Room....if you can find it.

 

[badbadboy]

North Shore has a new Sushi joint I have been trying lately and it is pretty amazing. Sushi Bella. http://www.sushibella.com/about.php

More of a "fusion" Japanese Sushi joint but the differences between this place and a traditional sushi place are miles apart.

Their service and presentation have a "wow" factor let alone having a great taste too. I am only about 1/4 the way through their menu so far and everything I have eaten has been "gotta have that one again soon"!

 

[cjac7214]

Hey bbb

I agree - I was there this Monday. My new fave on the North Shore - with the varied menu, it is almost more of an izakaya than just a sushi joint. You should try Kishimoto on Commercial - kicks ass!

 

[Big Dog Striker]

Rogue on W Broadway near Cambie.

Awesome Sushi Bombs :thumb:

 

[badbadboy]

Hey bbb

I agree - I was there this Monday. My new fave on the North Shore - with the varied menu, it is almost more of an izakaya than just a sushi joint. You should try Kishimoto on Commercial - kicks ass!

Good to know. I am totally addicted to sushi and frequent the Drive at least twice a week.

Thing that impressed me a lot about Bella was not only was it great sushi but its quite reasonably priced. Probably has something to do with the number of Sushi Competitors on Lonsdale.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

I did not imply anything negative in that comment; Yeah' as in 'yes' or 'positive'. The link was provided for FYI purposes. Yes it was Routine. If you look at other restaurants you'll sometime see not so nice comments. Since there are no negative comments with this establishment, this is a "yeah", "yes", "positive", etc comment.

FYI: Here is a restaurant that has had not so good reports: Pho Central So when you compare the two, 'Meat and Bread' is actually good is what I was implying.

FYI: Here are some other dubious restaurants: Restaurant Closures



I also said I'd be willing to give it a try so again I was not implying anything negative about the restaurant.

No worries, I didn't mean to sound offended! I just wanted to point that out. And thanks for the closure list! Ewww! <3

 

[VanessaofBC]

I am new to town but if I had to choose a place I would say Bistro Sakana in Yorkville,. The Aburi sushi is to die for, just delicious.

Dark Table is certainly an adventure, been there twice. You have to be comfortable in the dark and it is not for germaphobs. I also do not recommend heels as it is a PITCH BLACK room. Great bathrooms. Have fun!