djoevancouverSince July 6, 200623 Reviews
(3)- Food
(3) - Service (3.2)
- Value (3.2)
- Ambiance (2.9)
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(3) (3) (3.2) (3.2) (2.9)We used to go to The Naam a long time ago. In fact, we were not even vegetarian but the food was pretty good. The service however was not always so great. Fast forward to 2012 and we are currently no eating any meat or dairy so there are not as many restaurants to choose from that offer more than one thing. So we decided to go The Naam yesterday for an early dinner. Wowow!!!! so glad that we did. The food was it's usual good food. In fact, The sesame fries and miso gravy was better than I remember and the naam bread with veggie buter...yum yum yum!! We also had the Naam salad and the Thai noodles. The noodles were maybe a bit overloaded with tofu but I am sure tofu lovers would not complain. Next time I would just ask for no tofu.
But the best part of the dinner was the nice friendly service. Thanks Michael for helping to break the bad reputation that The Naam has for less than good service. Michael was friendly, efficient and really made sure that everyone in our section was happy and had everything that they needed. He was workin' his butt off :-)
Will definitely be frequenting The Naam once again. Cheers!!!!
I am new to eating a more vegan or plant-based diet, which means that my choices for going out for dinner have changed significantly. Once you cut out things like meat or even cheese for that matter you realize the world of eating out is not at all geared towards you. In fact, you might be lucky if there is even one thing on the menu you can eat. So recently I have been trying out a few local vegetarian restaurants and the main thing that we have noticed is that the service is always not that great. For instance, the foundation makes pretty good food but their idea of service is "here's the table, here's your food (usually on a severely chipped plate)...here's where you pay" - end of story. Same goes for the Naam but that's nothing new.
This leads me to my experience today at Bandidas. Today six of us went for lunch there and not only was the food very good but the service was exceptional. Our waitress "kir" (not sure of spelling) was really nice and friendly. She also made it very clear that they could make anything vegan if needed, she made sure we didn't need anything before and after we got our food, which came super fast btw. I would totally recommend this place to anyone. Thanks Bandidas, I'll be back for sure!
Good room and great service/beer, but the food is not that great. It's okay but certainly not great or even really good. The chicken and biscuits was just some shredded chicken bits and again it was not super warm. The seasoning was also totally void and no one came to ask us if it was good (nor did we get the opportunity to offer or feedback) on the meal overall. Also, for the type of food and the fact that I think it's just reheated, it is sort of expensive. The dessert however was really good. It was not described to us as something that would even be tasty and apparently the staff was 50/50 on the dessert themselves but we said what the heck. Turns out it was way better than it was described. It was like a banana cream pie panna cotta.
Wow!!! Finally somewhere to restore my faith in restaurants. Of course it's from the people who have La Regalade in West Van (which is also fantastic). Six of us went to Cafe Regalade on the weekend and all 6 of us were EXTREMELY happy with our food, the service and really everything else. I can still taste my deliciously prepared breakfast. The espresso was also very good. As was the service. There was always someone around to make sure we had enough water and/or coffee or anything else we may have needed.
If you are tired of crappy food and tired of being "underwhelmed" then GO TO CAFE REGALADE - I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. In fact, it was so good that my partner and I tried to go there for dinner that same night. Unfortunately, they were fully booked but they were very apologetic and told us to try again during the week. I was glad they are busy though as it means they won't be going anywhere so that's a good thing.
We will most definitely go back for both breakfast and for dinner. Oh ya, also great that they open at 8:30 (or 9:00 am, can't remember) for breakfast which is nice for those that don't sleep in until 11 am on weekends :-)
Thanks to all the folks at Cafe Regalada and La Regalade for having high standards and for knowing how to cook and how to take care of your customers, it's much appreciated! :-)
Sadly disappointed, almost mad about going to Monks tonight. As background, I've been a professional chef for over 25 years at some really great places.
Yes, the view is great, but you have to expect more than just the view for the prices charges (entrees between $25 and $35ish). Service was just okay (had to ask for bread 3 times), waitress likely busy but left us looking around for service on more than one occasion. Appetizer of scallops not bad (rice was really boring, as in no flavor at all, but scallops pretty tasty but quite oily). Two of us ordered the special Cobb Salad (I know, not really exciting but a good Cobb Salad can be delicious). As advertised on the menu, it was a Tiger Prawn Cobb Salad with heirloom tomatoes, pork belly, a 6-minute egg, baby spinach and blue cheese. Sounds pretty good hey? NOT! The pork belly was more like fried thick cut bacon. The prawns were unseasoned pre-cooked prawns - small, like the kind you'd find on a VERY cheap pre-made appy platter from a grocery store - only minus the cocktail sauce which would have least given them some flavor). Then there was the deep fried breaded egg (interesting I guess). As for the blue cheese....ah, I don't remember any blue cheese...enough said. The tomatoes were heirloomLESS imports I'm pretty sure (china maybe), really they were just two cheery tomatoes cut in half. Salad dressing was for sure below par and very unseasoned.
All in all, we were totally not impressed. We were at least happy that we ate semi-heathy and came home not feeling too stuffed.
We should have listened to the previous reviews they were right. But our friend said that we should try it out as it was under new management and/or they had a new chef or something and apparently it's way better now...don't believe anyone btw...it's not true.
Monk's it not worth the money. I think that they believe the view is enough but in reality if the food, service, decor (very old but not in a classy way, more in a "ya were old but who cares, maybe no one will notice kind of way) are not good then no view is really that good. Next time I would rather make a sandwich, grab a beer and look at the view from a park bench on the sea wall.
Definitely will not be repeat customers!
If service and atmosphere are not a priority for you then you are in luck because the food is really quite good. The server I would describe as meek and just generally way too shy to be a server. It was like she was afraid and insecure to the point that you could feel how uncomfortable she was and it's not like we were a scary table or anything. The manager person was much more friendly but he never came by our table once, though he did repeatedly make sure the other 2 tables (that were only 2 feet away from us) were more than happy and content.
The atmosphere was more than dead. When we arrived at 6:30 pm, we were the only table (besides a few people at the bar). We were there until about 8:30 pm and there were only 2 other tables (of 2 people) that came in after we did. The music was not really something that I would say fits the room and or cuisine either. I think at one point there was a Michael Jackson song playing (not dissing Michael or anything, it's just not the most fitting for a "wanna-be-funky" Asian restaurant). I could go on about the atmosphere and the room but honestly it bores me so I will move onto something good...the food.
The food was very nicely done. Good flavors, well cooked and very nice and hot! That being said I am not sure that we will go back (in all honesty we won't, I was just being polite). I feel bad for the chef though as he obviously knows what he is doing and has a good handle on how to cook and make food taste really good but his food is not being matched by the rest of the restaurant.
We have now been to this restaurant 3x's and each time it has been really good. In fact, we sometimes plan trips to Whistler just to go to this restaurant.
Each time we have been with 6 other friends and each time argue that "mine is the best meal, not mine is". How often does that really happen? These days not very often. And on top of all that the service has always been fantastic as well.
It is more expensive yes, but you get what you pay for and honestly if you go when they have their 3 or 4 course meals it is totally worth it.
Can't wait for our next trip to Whistler and the Rim Rock Cafe.
After reading the reviews we thought "we can take not much atmosphere in exchange for some decent food". Only problem is the food is worse than the atmosphere. The butter chicken tasted like Campbells tomato soup with cream and dried chicken.
The vegetable pakoras had to have been deep fried a week earlier and then re-deep fried for us - they were so dry it was almost comical. The rice tasted like ultra-plain (i mean not even a drop of salt) white rice - not even basmati rice. The pea and paneer dish was the best of the bunch - if beige peas are appealing I suppose.
The garlic naan was old dry crunch bread that was lathered in raw garlic and butter. Nothing like waking up the next morning with terrible over-the-top garlic breath. It is just a bad reminder of the terrible meal you ate the night before.
We will most definitely not be back! The Indian food at Oakridge mall is 10 x's better than this was and that's just a food fair for crying out loud.
I am disappointed that people think that this is good food, come on people has no one even had remotely good Indian food before? Try the Indian restaurant in White Rock (I think it's called Little India) and then tell me you still think this is even close to be good.
We have eaten here many times and it has always been really good. Great value as well - some of the breakfast specials are about $11 and for that you get an omelette, hashbrowns, toast, coffee or tea and orange juice. It's also the only place in town that knows how to make a proper French omelette.
They also make the BEST peanut butter cookies (we go there just for the cookies sometimes). The view and the ambiance are also very good and they are very friendly.
For years we have been wanting to try Diva...well I have to say, it was sure not worth it. In fairness our appetizer was really good...well presented and tasty; however it went quickly downhill after that. Two of us had the pork trio dish...really not that great. In fact, we only ate half of our plate.
I would have been okay with all of that, had the waiter (who was not a good waiter) even bothered to ask us why we both did not eat half of our food. This leads me to the service...very disappointing. Our waiter was very cheesy and fake. He was way over the top whenever we asked a question about the menu, but then after we got our food he pretty much disappeared.
The ambiance was also pretty lame. There were only 2 other tables (Friday night at 8:00 pm) and it sort of had that "not a very popular, hotel lobby restaurant" feel to it.
Would I go again...I don't really think so. My partner had a braised rib dish that was good but the other 3 at the table did not really have great meals, so I am not sure that 1 our of 4 is good enough. But again I am mostly sad that it was the "lack of" service that really is the most disappointing.
The food was really good. I think it may be more of a lunch place for us, as some of the items on the plate are served cold, but it was all really really good. Loved loved loved the crispy cauliflower.
The service rocked! Our server was super friendly and genuine. The owner even came out...he also cleaned tables...seated people and just genuinely cared about his restaurant. He is 73 yrs old and cute as a button.
For sure we would go back! Great place for lunch as well because the service is fast...oh ya and did i mention - really good!
Where do I start…I guess with my dinner. The Mac n’ cheese was appalling. What a sad-dry-flavorless excuse for a Macaroni and Cheese. I could go on, but it’s not worth it.
My partner had "Butter Chicken" but really it was vegetable and chicken curry with brown rice...and it wasn't even remotely close to butter chicken. Why call it that if it isn’t. If they called it “Healthy Chicken and Vegetable Curry with Brown Rice” then you would expect that.
We had guacamole and it was this weird black-brown color and when I mentioned it to the waitress she said..."oh ya, I know...it's because WE HAVE TO USE frozen avocados".
Who in the heck HAS TO USE frozen avocados...please give me a break…of course we still had to pay for it, even though I said “I would actually never order it again”.
The bread on the sandwiches looked like you might loose a tooth because the bread was so hard.
I think that some one should open a restaurant next to them and call it "BUR-actually-GOOD! It is busy just because people here don't even know what good food is. I wanted to invite everyone in the restaurant to my house for dinner. Not because I think I am awesome but just because I wanted to let them know that maybe Burgoo is the THE best.
I am sorry, I am not really a negative person and I really did want it to be good…but it really really wasn’t.
Visited this restaurant based on the previous reviews. The flavors and the value were great as long as I don't wind up with food poisoning in a few hours. I have taken food safety and the food in the buffet was dangerously cold. In hindsight, we shouldn't have continued to eat. We did mention it to the server and he seemed concerned, but they didn't seem to do anything about it. That being said, if they get that fixed, I would go again. Until I hear what other people have to say in the future, I won't return.
We have now been to this restaurant at least 6 times and it has been great each time.
We love to sit at the bar and order wine and appy's or maybe share one of their delicious main courses. The french fries are the best...with homemade garlic aioli.
The atmosphere is awesome, very casual rustic french bistro. Hard to get a reservation so plan ahead or go early.
FYI - They are not so pleasant on the phone, but don't let that scare you away, they are actually friendly in person!
Would not go back, the soup was just okay, the burger was mushy (seemed like it had too much filler). The Reuben, no thanks and the chicken fried steak really was not good (way over cooked and dry).
Besides that it was great! I have to say that none of us thought it was worth the money or the trip, so we will not be going back. Too bad because it was a cute diner.
We went to here last night for dinner (we have been at least 10 times) but last nights meal was by far the best. I have always had good food at La Regalade but this was top notch.
I had the braised short ribs in a peppercorn cream sauce. I honestly almost started to cry when I tasted it. Of course everyone else had to try it as well and they all agreed it was one of the best things they had ever tasted.
Calorie free no, but that is not what life is always all about! This was so totally worth every single calorie!!!!!!!!!!!!! In fact, we just stopped short of licking the casserole dish.
Went here over a month ago, and was very disappointed. Had a terrible very chewy steak, as did someone else at the table. To make a long story short, did not have a very good experience at all. After 1 and a half months i get a gift certificate for less than it would cost to get a main course. Thanks but no thanks...terrible customer service.
Wow. how can an Italian Restaurant make the worst spaghetti and meatballs we have ever tried. No sauce, wierd flavor, kind of tasted like dog food. Everyone thought is was not good at all, we didn't even eat it. Unfortunately we took it to go so we couldn't tell them it was terrible. Someone with us said they also tried it before and it was exactly the same...crap!
The pizza however was pretty good, nice flavors but more like a fancy pizza hut pizza than an Italian thin crust wood oven pizza. But still it was pretty good.
If you go there for take out be prepared to wait, our food took between 30 to 45 mins. We totally missed the sunset we were trying to catch down at the beach. Oh ya, and there were only 3 tables in the place so it wasn't they were swamped or anything.
Good idea, but nice try! I still prefer Marcello's on Commercial Drive.
Also looking forward to trying "The Italian Kitchen".
I have eaten here a few times, it is not that bad, but it is not consistent.
Tonight the meat was very fatty and the potatoes were hard. I was definitely NOT happy tonight.
Also hate any restaurant that doesn't have a bathroom. What's up with that?
Sorry, won't be back until I am desperate, really hungry and really don't want to cook dinner myself.
I have to say, though this place is never busy, it is always fabulous. I have even been to Thailand. It is way better than the Americanize Thai Way Home.
We have been there at least 20 times and it is always good. We have been there with at least 25 different people as well and they also give it rave reviews for the food.
Just wear a sweater cause it is usually a little chilly in there. Good service though and well decorated. Oh ya...also the whole family works there, grandparents even cook the food.
Just try it!
