My gf and I made the most of a long weekend by getting some late afternoon dim sum. Few dim sum places are left in Chinatown and really this was the only one we saw open without driving around so we bit the bullet. Immediately upon entering we were broadsided by the oatmeal bland interior with bench seating, square tables, dim lighting and a rather somber mood.

We ordered a half a dozen dishes all usuals. The skin on the dumplings are a little chewy though the chicken feet were fairly spot on. Fried dishes faired less favourably. The ends of the spring rolls were burnt while the bbq pork pastry was stingy on filling. The green onion pancake was something else though. An alien donut construct filled with green onions was not what you'd expect and it also wasn't very good to boot. The price for a shadow of what could have been? $17 and change tax included is pretty inexpensive these days. Another plus is the acceptance of debit and credit cards. Another plus still? It's available until 5pm.

They took another page to cater to westerners with the entire staff greeting and speaking in english UNLESS you spoke first. Service is brisk though kitchen speed slows things down. One strange thing is that they do not ask your tea preference, you're getting Jasmine tea. I'm not sure if you could request another variety.

It satisfied the need for dim sum, but barely. Good for a late day venture.

I met up with a colleague for a lunch and meeting to sign some transfer papers - this was the place chosen for convenience. Space and vibe are on the mark as per usual Cactus Club standards so nothing new here.

We ordered a shortrib sandwich and a prawn and scallop spaghettini with a couple of drinks. My colleague lucked out and his meal faired well while my Collins was awfully made while my pasta, of which I have had before at other locations was executed with marginal effort. An ultra bland sauce rather familiar to the canned Hunts variety ruined what would've been a satisfactory lunch. Seafood portion was cooked well as was the pasta but they could've let the pasta rest a few minutes before serving. A notch down to the usual predictable quality.

Service too was unusual. While the hostesses happily acknowledged us our server disappeared for long stretches and did not check up on our meal as well as neighbouring patrons. Not too busy in her section either. Another notch off the norm.

Hoping that experience was an exception and not the rule.

My gf and I have been passing by this place a few times now and after reading the more than glowing review here we headed down during a midweek gratification.

I needn't say much about the space and the service. You get exactly what you expect (perhaps even a little more) for the area so even fussy patrons should rejoice.

You know when you had gelato or sorbet that was absolutely stunning? With rich texture and balanced flavour? This is better. Knowing we couldn't walk out with every flavour under the belt, we opted for a scoop of dulce de leche and a lemon basil sorbet. The caramel worked together with the remarkable smooth texture without the assaulting sweetness and you'd think basil and lemon would clash due to the basil's pungent aroma. It doesn't. The basil is a complimenting undertone which made the combination that much more refreshing. On texture alone each individual sorbet ice crystal melted on the tongue so seamlessly much like mist evaporating into the air. Selection is ample with other unique flavours like strawberry vinaigrette which are much more than second string toss-ins. Portions are fair and doesn't leave you feeling heavy so you could squeeze in multiple scoops if you please.

The best gelato and sorbet in the city. Highly recommend.

Splurged by the recent sunny weather the 3 of us decided to catch some outdoor rays upstairs at Sandbar. It's another great looking space at Granville Island but the views from the covered outdoor patio aren't exactly earth shattering depending on where you sit - we mostly had views of underneath the bridge and the practically filled space felt a little clausterphobic but I digress.

The food was hit and miss. We started off with the salmon carpaccio which appeared to be filleted halfway and then thinly sliced through the boneless fish. I've never seen it prepared like this before and was difficult to fork without breaking it up into little pieces. The grainy mustard did little to entice. Our two, tiny medallion crab cakes were, on the other hand quite good but rather appauling given the size and price. Our friend's black cod entree was slightly underdone, but retained much of the buttery texture while my arctic char was completely overdone to the point where nearly every piece needed coaxing to stay on my fork as it hit my mouth. The blanched spinach from my gf's spinach salad was unusual, while the ahi tuna on top lacked the high heat sear and was a little offputting in taste. Desserts luckily faired well all the way through with the cheesecake and belgain pudding. We enjoyed their signature cocktail "under the bridge" but felt it was watered down. Prices are certainly steep for what you get.

We had a fantastic server as he was on top of everything including reporting back on the backlog in the kitchen. He was pleasant without being forceful and the transitions from clearing plates to serving drinks and topping up waters were seamless. One thing to note would be the disorganized front hostesses and their strange notice system using a flag-on-a-line rig to let you know your table is ready.

The food rates closer to a 2.5, but I should've gotten the steak instead.

My gf was hungry and not wanting to eat at home, we ventured out into the depths of Yaletown. Upon approaching, I noticed a few doors down that S&A opened a 2nd location which was packed and looked much more in tune with the area (bar area, tvs, abnoxiously loud). We stumbled in to the lesser occupied front, confirmed with the waitress there about the other location as she assured us it was the same kitchen and then we made ourselves onto the makeshift patio area. The small restaurant is nothing to look at, with stacks of drinks occupying much of the interior space while being a little dreary.

Menu was varied choices but decisions were fairly easy. My gf's enchilada plate was nicely prepared. Tender pieces of chicken under a sweet and spicy mole sauce. The side rice was not bad while the refried beans was certainly homemade. I ordered the lengua (beef tongue) tacos. It came ungarnished but with chopped onions, cilantro, spicy hot sauce and a lemon for you to garnish. The tongue was not too lean yet not too fat and very tender. It needed more seasoning but the accompanying garnishes sufficed.

Basically one lone waitress tabling the lot, with an extra kitchen staff coming out to serve orders. She was friendly and on her toes and luckily for her, just enough tables around to manage the load.

The flavours of the food seems to cater to the local crowd. It's authentic but the flavours taste a little mulled perhaps as to not offend with brute. A welcoming sign..

There aren't too many ethnic dining options up on Whistler so when we knew there was Indian food nearby, off we went.

The decor is a little toned down but you wouldn't mistake it for something else. We arrived towards closing so things were mulled down some.

Menu choices are varied and all are tempting, but we opted for the butter chicken, lamb masala, palak paneer, pulao rice, raita and the always ubiquitous naan bread. Portion size always look small with Indian food but they always fill you up. Flavours are fantastic with special note to the masala and paneer, with a mild heat that accents rather than dominates leaving you with an assault of rich flavours instead.

Service was all business and lacks the easy-going pace of many Whistler dining retreats but you'd be hardpressed to find something to complain about.

With all the pubs and regular-fare options out there, give this spot a whirl.

After being kiboshed on other dining options, we settled for one of the few non-pub eateries that remained open at 11pm. Like every other Earls but this one has more of a kick to knock you out. It's loud, vibrant with an in your face decor.

Originally wanting other options elsewhere, most of us settled on the boring penne alfredo while my gf went with the spinach salad. While I thought the pasta was made well, both our friends complained about unsettled stomaches later. The salad was a nice touch with seasonal fruit tossed in a light dressing and goat cheese. What we were really impressed with were the cocktails. It must've been caipirinha season since it was proudly advertised on the menu so we ordered a passionfruit and a seasonal berry, both fantastic. My friend's blended margarita was a nice refresher too.

Our waitress was pleasant and on the ball and not unlike what you would expect from a chain.

One of the few places that are open later and they make a mean caipirinha too.

A few of us spent the long weekend up at Whistler so it was necessary to jump into things by stopping by the local Hy's. This particular location, while retaining a lot of that classic steakhouse aura, is actually far more casual, catering towards the tourists and local crowd.

We all went with the fabulous bone-in rib steak with choice of potato. The cuts fell slightly below the DT Hy's but I'd be hardpressed to find as good a steak up there or at most places. We had to get the classic sides: fresh spinach, fried mushrooms, mac and cheese and the cauliflower gratin as the compliments which were all familiar to the palette though the mac and cheese lacked the gorgonzola punch we had experienced before. A bottle of red, a glass of ice wine and a creme brulee rounded off the feast.

Service is spry and efficient and entirely casual for the most part. We likened our server though others who come here may expect a markedly more formal setting but I digress.

Worth a stop if your in the mountains.

Remembering the old instution that occupied the space before, I wasn't expecting a 180 degree turnaround. It's a hotspot for the local Kits crowd, but a couple of buddies and I settled in here rather than braving the busy DT scene.

Patio action is apparently walk-in, and we lucked out with a decent table. The actual restaurant inside isn't half bad either, with a definite chain-like aura.

We ordered all sides: nachos, sliders and yam fries - the usual alcohol consumable compliments. Again, hints of chain influence here. The food didn't blow us out of the water but alas this is jazzed up pub style fare.

Service was fine, but our waitress had a certain hastiness which was a little annoying. A little slow on the ball too and all of a sudden it seemed as if her tip was in jeopardy. I would say for casual patio dining, service is par.

Other than the parking nightmare, it's not a bad place to be seen.

OK, so we finally made it here. It was Sunday evening and the day was dying down. Naturally an early nightcap was in the works for us.

Despite the tempermental weather the ambiance is quite appealing, especially the patio areas. Easily on of the best outdoor spots around town.

We stuck with the simple stuff, their thin crust pizza which was lightly dressed with toppings over a thin, slightly charred cornmeal crust along with restaurant quality hummus. You're mostly here for the drinks so we went across the board with caesars, caipirinhas, a malbec red and rounded it off with a pitcher of pimm's.

Service was good despite our waitress having to wait of tables both outside and in. It's definitely better than other outdoor seating situations we've had in the past.

With caipirinhas, patio action and decent food, this is one summer hotspot.