foodhuntervancouverSince August 5, 200725 Reviews
(2.9)- Food
(3) - Service
(2.6) - Value (2.6)
- Ambiance (2.7)
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(2.9) (3) (2.6) (2.6) (2.7)For starters, they messed up the reservation. We had a Friday night booking @ 6:30pm and they phoned on Thursday night after 6:30pm asking if we were running late. When we told them we had Friday booked they asked if we could come immediately. When we said no and wished to keep our Friday booking they said they were full on Friday so we cancelled. No more than 10 minutes later they called back and asked if we could make it for Friday at 5:30pm instead; we accepted. No apologies were offered. We arrived a little early on Friday just in case and found the place empty; it appears we were their first customers for the evening and you wouldn't believe this,...they did not have our reservations. In the end, the place was empty so they sat us. Again, no apologies. So far so good!!
The menu did not strike me as overly French, I would say it was more Continental. We started with the onion soup followed by orders of Coq au Vin and the grilled pork chop. The food arrived within a reasonable time. The soup was hot and compared to others I've had was about middle of the road. My pork chop was just a plain pork chop, no different than pork chops I've had at other non-French restaurants. The Coq au Vin looked and apparently tasted like boiled chicken that had sauce poured over it.
I don't think we'll be returning any time soon.
Judging from the other reviews, the place is staffed by Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; unfortunately for us, we got Mr Hyde tonight or more appropriately, Ms. Hyde. We were in for an early Sunday dinner and there was only one other table seated at the time. We were promptly seated and given menus and then the waitress disappeared. After what seemed like an eternity she re-appeared to take our orders, She wasn't rude or anything like that but her style was more conducive to ordering a Grand Slam at a Denny's than a meal at a "table cloth and candle ligth" type restaurant.
The meals came in reasonably good time but out of our 3 orders, one was wrong. When we let the waitress know, she removed the incorrect order without a word of apology. Two of us were almost done before the 3rd meal arrived at which time she asked if the first 2 meals were OK. We saw her one more time when she dropped by to fill our water glasses. At the end of the meal when our bill arrived, she disappeared once again for the longest time before she came by for our payment...no mention of the error or any apologies or a "please come back soon".
Too bad the poor service overtook the fact that the food was fairly decent. The prices were reasonable as compared to other restaurants in the same category. The room was quite cozy and comfortable and since there were only 4 tables being served while we were there, it was very hushed too; a nice change from those noisy places where you have to scream to be heard.
With so many good choices around Yaletown, the management better weed out Ms. Hyde soon or customers will go elsewhere, good food or not.
When I was invited to a Greek restaurant for dinner, I had visions of a place with booths on the sides along uneven white stucco walls, a few tables in the center with checkered blue and white tablecloths, some plastic vines draped along various ledges and around the cashier/bar area, maybe Zorba the Greek playing in the background or something similar.
Piato was none of these, I actually thought I'd walked into the wrong place. Not a hint of Greek anything. It felt like one of those fancy downtown bistros where stockbrokers and lawyers hang out after work. It was just one large room with the bar running down the side taking up the back 2/3 of the left wall. The rest of the room was mostly open so could be configured easily to suit the crowd. Unfortunately, this is exactly why I did not like the ambiance. The noise level in the place was so deafening that it was difficult to carry on any conversation at all; I found myself shouting at times without even realizing it. The background music, what I could hear of it, was just a bunch of base drum beats; they could have been playing African war drums for all I could tell.
Seems there are a lot of complaints about the service in this forum but I think the regular "bad" staff must have taken the night off. The room was mostly attended by two waitresses who did an admirable job of keeping up. It was a full house including a birthday party and yet our water glasses were kept full, dirty cutlery and dishes were removed/replaced promptly and not a single mistake on our order for 4 people. As non-drinkers, we're often relegated to the bottom of the service priority but not here; I was duly impressed.
The food was very well done. The lamb chops were done just right, juicy, tender and no charcoal edges. The fish was perfect too. Same with the chicken and cornish hen. The grilled squid was seasoned and done just right. The rice pudding was declared wonderful. No food complaints.
The price was reasonable; not over the top and not cheap either. I guess, to be be expected based on the look of the room.
Would we return? Probably yes but maybe on a quieter night. We went on a Friday night so it was quite busy. I wonder how it is mid-week. If they could do something about the noisy room, this would be a great place...just remember, it's not your usual Greek place so if you're looking for pizza then go down 2 doors to the Pizza Hut.
On W 16th around the corner from Macdonald, it's tucked away about 15-20 feet from the sidewalk; you can easily mistake the front of the restaurant as the rear portion of the Starbuck's on the corner.
Once you are inside, it looks more like a fancy French restaurant than a Japanese restaurant. Everything is neat and clean without the clutter you will find in many Japanese restaurants. The service was pleasant and very attentive, maybe because it was only 6PM and there were only 3 tables going. So far so good.
We were told that prices would be high but to expect something expectacular for food. Well, prices were high alright (almost 2X elsewhere) and food was definitely better presented and better tasting than your run of the mill Japanese restaurant...but...not good enough to warrant the premium prices. In my opinion, a 30% discount would have placed it at the correct price point. But then again, considering the part of town they are in, it looks like the neighbourhood can afford to pay their prices. I guess you charge what people are willing to pay.
I would return for the food but not at the prices they are charging unless it was for an extremely special ocassion but then why not just choose a fancier restaurant that is better priced.
These comments are for their dimsum service:
PROS...
1. reasonable prices
2. reasonable portions
3. the usual dimsum fare but they appear to have a couple of uniques ones i have not seen elsewhere
4. food carts come by frequently although a couple of carts with stuff nobody wanted seemed to come by more often than the others
5. food tasted OK for the most part (hint: don't order the deep fried squid, it's really salty and over-fired).
6. centrally located near Metrotown
7. lots of parking
CONS...
1. very aggressive and rude front door hostess
2. you are asked to stand at a table while the last party is still trying to leave...and you get to watch the busboy clear the table (hmmm..maybe that's a PRO; you know, the before meal show)
3. some tableware still had food stuck on them
4. heaven forbid if you wanted anything not on a cart; noone could get us any chili sauce...had to get it from the cash lady who was not happy about it
5. self-serve tea; it seemed everyone had to help themselves from thermoses left on stands around various spots along the wall
6. self-serve clean bowl/plate swap if you wanted a plate to replace your sauce-laden one
7. we ordered extra dishes to take home and had to bother the grumpy cash lady again for take out bins
8. check your bill very carefully and question them if it looks wrong...we didn't and found out later from a friend that their tea charge is just under $1 per person and they charged us $12 for 4 people. At the time, we thought it was high but figured this was their way to make up for the lower food charge.
I've been there 3 times and for me, 3 strikes and they're OUT!!!
I guess, if you charge low enough, some people will always come and put up with low/no service.
Based on the great reviews from others, we decided to try the place out...but our experience was totally underwhelming. With all the restaurant choices in the area, I can't figure out why this place is still running.
The calamari appetizer was bland and was served with a tiny bit of sauce which ran out a third of the way through. The shrimp souvlaki was made with real shrimps, that's to say, they were the little ones rather than the usual jumbo ones so they were dry. The roast lamb was totally over-salted, I could feel my blood vessels constrict as I ate; someone must have double salted the thing.
The waitress was pleasant but after our meals arrived, she was nowhere to be seen for the longest time. Trying to get the bill was also a challenge as the staff appeared to be more concerned counting the day's receipts than serving customers. They were sifting through stacks of what appeared to be customer bills; probably calculating their share of the tips or something.
I guess by now you've probably figured out we won't be back...you're right !!
Because we arrived at 5PM, we were seated right away. Our server was cheerful and pleasant...unfortunately, it went downhill from there. There were only 2 other tables at the time but I swear we were in the middle of a midway...one table was whooping it up so loud and the staff made no attempt to quiet them down...conversation was impossible. Strike one.
We were told this place had great prices and the menu showed most entrees to be in the $12-$15 range...great..but...that's when our friendly server explained that everything was "a la carte". Everything comes with nothing; it's all extra. Strike two.
There were four of us so we ordered 2 entrees plus their sharing platter for 2 along with some "sides". The server told us there would be plenty for all of us. Being that 3 of us were light eaters, we went along with that. The food came fairly quickly, it was of average quality but we think they served us portions from the children's menu. Strike three.
We left quickly and ordered some take out sushi down the street. If we wanted Spaghetti Factory quality food we would have gone there and paid way cheaper prices and had a much more enjoyable time. Prbably should have...
We're definitely not coming back...
We were seated right away on a Sunday before 11AM. The place was busy but we never saw the usual overflow Sunday crowd blocking the front door that is so common in many dim sum restaurants. I'm guessing their prices have kept the "bulk food" crowd away; that's my term for those that sacrifice quality for the sake of low prices and large quantities.
This restaurant is an example of "you get what you pay for". You order from an order sheet that has dishes priced in tiers (small/medium/large and special). You will find the standard crowd favourites but over half the menu is dedicated to dishes that are less common or require more labour or material to create. The tableware was new and modern; not the usual worn out and chipped cups and dishes.
Some effort and imagination had been used in the presentation of the dishes and the taste of the food did not disappoint. Food delivery was very efficient and quick and there was always staff nearby if you needed anything. The only complaint is that the order checklist that was printed from our bilingual order form did not have English on it so it was a small challenge for some of us to decipher which dish had just arrived from the checklist.
First time at this restaurant. Clean, bright dining areas. Dining ware and BBQ equipment were in excellent shape. Don't know how long they've been in business but everything looked almost brand new. The place was busy for dinner but not overflowing.
They use the "bell" system for service and when you press the button, they appear almost immediately. I prefer this way better than the "cat and mouse" system where you only get service if you're lucky to catch the waiter who's too busy serving the big drinkers (I'm told drunk customers tip better) somewhere else. They also changed the BBQ grill surface several times without our asking.
Food was good, comparable to any other Korean BBQ place I've ever visited; probably helped that my host was Korean and did all the ordering. I assume it was good value but can't say for sure since my host paid the tab.
...and a bonus...the washrooms were very clean.
Attentive but not overbearing service from the moment we walked in. Our server was right on top of it through the whole meal.
They were running their anniversary special; an 8oz sirloin with the trimmings for $11; at that price who could resist. The ceasar salad was good but it was curious that they served the lettuce leaves whole rather than cut up; it gave us something to do and got us into the eating mood. The steaks, all came done as ordered and had a nice flavour to it. The trimmings were a bit sparse; mashed potato with a couple each of: string beans, slices of red peppers and slices of carrots. I guess for $11 they had to hold the line somewhere. We also ordered the yam fries and some garlic mushrooms to share. The yam fries were delicious but the mushrooms were chopped up and a bit over cooked.
We're not drinkers but did not feel any "heat" to order any and we were definitely not ignored as is often the case when the waiter finds out we don't drink. Definitely warrants a return trip even if the $11 special is gone.
I've eaten their food a few times but always as take-out on my way to or from nearby activities. Until today, I've only ordered the usual rolls or the teriyaki chicken on rice. The chicken is fine and the rolls are average take-out quality.
Today, I decided to order a Bento Box...bad decision. It came with chiken teriyaki on rice (no complaints), some california rolls (the usual, so so), salad (how can you go wrong with a few pieces of lettuce), miso soup (probably from packaged mix), a can of pop....but...oh my God...the 4 pcs of nigiri sushi (2 salmon, 1 tuna, 1 ebi) were terrible. I can't imagine when the salmon, tuna and ebi took their last breath. Aging is good for beef but I don't think it applies to seafood.
If you must eat here, stay with the cooked food, they seem to do OK with it. Have a roll, if you must, but stay the hell away from the raw stuff. Good thing I didn't order the sashimi bento box (shudder). Prices are average.
Oh yeah, and they can be a bit slow at times so phone in your order if you want to pick up and dash.
wow, a throw back from days gone by...at least if you're from Vancouver. They still use the old push carts; far too many in Vancouver have gone to the "order slip" system which detracts from the entire experience.
The food was good; the same nostalgic dishes served the way I remember them in taste and size...although the prices were quite modern. Vancouver restaurants, to keep up with the competition next door, offer lower cost items (eg. flat $2.40/dish) but have had to compromise in size and sometimes in taste.
Comparing to Vancouver, I would rate Don Mee somewhere below the "full price" restaurants but definitely above the "flat rate" restaurants. Worth coming back for another visit.
Every time we arrive in Victoria, we try to have one of our first meals here. There's always something on the menu for each of us. The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant. The service is mostly good although it can degrade a bit at the height of the lunch or dinner period.
This latest visit, dinner, we ordered 2 Mama's Trios for sharing between 3 of us and there was plenty of food to go around. The meat lasagna was meaty, the chicken parmesan was tender and the canneloni was delicate. I looked around the other tables and everyone was being served big heaping plates of food....not a place to come if you're on a diet. oh...did I mention the desserts? no...because none of us had room after our meals...maybe next time; so we also said last time....
Maybe my judgement is clouded by the fact that I'm from Vancouver where good Japanese restaurants flourish while bad ones just wither away but was that really Japanese food or was it the "Chinese chop suey" version of Japanese food?
There were 4 of us. We ordered a couple of lunch bento boxes and two Don bowls. Usually we clean the dishes but this time there was plenty of food left over. The rice with each of our meals was mushi and tasted old. The chicken teriyaki was hard and salty. The salmon sashimi lacked that buttery feel that makes it easily glide down your tongue past your throat. The tempura batter was heavy, almost like fish and chips batter.
The service was non-attentive. We had to flag the waitress several times before she would stop by. At least the washroom was clean.
I guess as long as tourists come to Victoria they'll get their share simply because they are on a busy downtown street but I won't be back.
I had tried several restaurants during previous Dine-Out promotions and found them to be hit-and-miss; mostly miss. So when my wife booked again for Dine-Out, I was totally ready for disappointment. I figured another poor rush-job at what would otherwise be considered a good establishment, just so they could get more seatings through the place.
To my surprise, I was not disappointed. True, the place was a bit noisy but it was a full house and in typical Dine-Out fashion, the menu was very abbreviated. The steamed mussel appetizer was done very well as was the bite-sized somosa appetizer. The main dishes were simple but well prepared...and of course, the desserts were fantastic. Actually, I think everyone there came for the desserts. Service was attentive and we did not feel rushed; something not typical of Dine-Out meals.
My understanding is that Dine-Out is a way for restaurants to fill the void during the slow winter period and also to promote themselves and gain new customers that will return in the future. In my estimation, Trafalgar's has been succesful at achieving both.
...for sure, because it's in the mall near the theaters since the food is not that good anymore. I started coming here a few years ago when I started working at the mall. Back then the food was way better and so was the selection going down the moving belt.
I haven't worked at the mall for a year now but I paid a visit over the holidays and decided to eat here....what a disappointment !!!
For starters, they charged $2 extra for AYCE (holiday surcharge) but the food was no different than any other time; I agreed to pay because I thought they may have special "holiday" items...NOT. I think it's just an excuse to scam up a few extra bucks. I think they do this on long weekends too.
The food on the belt consisted of the same tired 4 items going round and round (tuna sushi, ebi sushi, tamago sushi and endamame). We saw a few salmon sushi which quickly disappeared never to be seen again for the 1.5 hrs we sat there. Only 80% of the cooked items we ordered actually showed up even though they claimed they were delivered...must have gone to a table beside us.
Next time, I'll eat somewhere else before heading to the theaters. Don't think it was worth the regular price anymore and the $2 "holiday" surcharge is a kick in the teeth.
btw, I can't remember a time when most of the tables around the belt were occupied by toddlers whose parents were not managing their kids and so they were nosing and poking at the food on the belt as it passed in front of them...next time I go for AYCE, I'll go to one of those where you order and a server brings your food.
I think someone in our office must be getting a kick-back for booking our XMAS lunch at this place for the last few years...and each year, this annual visit serves to remind me why I do not return on my own during the rest of the year.
Most "Mains" are around $19, including the halibut and chips; I guess that breaks down to $11 for the fish and $8 for the ambiance. Today, I tried the paella at $25, the most expensive "main". I have had far better paella with far larger portions at way cheaper prices at local neighbourhood restaurants. Except for the chorizo, everything else on the plate was tasteless; should have gone with the fish and chips and saved $6. Several people in the party also had similar complaints about items they tried.
At least the food came quickly this time unlike last year when it took over an hour to serve after the orders were placed...keeping in mind that it's not busy since we always schedule lunch for 2PM so that people can just go home afterwards.
I believe it's the location by the waterfront that allows this restaurant to charge the prices they do; call it an "ambiance premium". Being attached to a nice hotel next door probably doesn't hurt either. On food alone, they would be lost amongst all the average restaurants in town. Nothing to write home about....like the Canucks...there's always next year...sigh.....
Have been here several times, both eat-in and take-out. Premises are clean. Service can be slow depending on the time of day but servers are always polite and pleasant not like the Cambie Samurai sushi. Much like WestJet cabin staff :-) vs Air Canada :-(
Portions are generous, prices are good and food quality rivals any other small scale sushi place. To get better sushi, you'll have to go to one of those fancy places and expect to spend your paycheck in one sitting.
My daughter eats a lot of sushi on the run due to late after school activities and this is one of her favourite places for maki sushi.
It was a not so busy Friday evening...which probably explains why the waiter had time to lull around the room. Service was pleasant, not too much and not ignored either.
The mediterranean paella dish tasted OK but the rice had the consistency of mush...overcooked for rice, undercooked for porridge; it just couldn't make up its mind. Portion was a good size but I could not distinguish some of the seafood and meat; I think overcooked again.
The seafood linguini was better and the portion was generous. It came in an Alfredo type sauce and had lots of seafood. I think this was a better choice but I don't think either dish warranted the price charged.
The ambiance made the price bearable, the entertainment coupon helped but it would have been a bust on the food alone.
Have been there about 3 times in the past 3 months for lunch. Their lunch special is a "best buy". The special menu is laid out in 6 columns and you get to choose 3 items but only one per column. My lasst visit, I chose, from the sashimi column, the salmon (4 large slices), the nigiri sushi column, hokkigai (3 pcs) and from the maki column, the spicy chopped scallop roll (4 pcs). A bowl of miso soup is included. All this for under $9
The only knock is the table service; there are times when they just seem to vanish.
