Felt the need for a snack and to get out of my house for a while at around 8:00 PM. Decided to trek to Chinatown for the China Town Night Market, which started this weekend. I had been to both Richmond and Vancouver's Chinatown last year, so I knew what kind of grub to expect.

One thing about the China Town Night Market is that it is much, much easier to get to by transit. Vulcan Way in Richmond was a transit NIGHTMARE. However, the China Town Market is also much, much smaller. This can be good or bad. If you want to spend an evening - Richmond just has more going for it because if it's size. However, I just wanted to a jaunt and a snack - so China Town just made more sense for this evening.

The south side of Keefer has all the food vendors while the North side has all the goods and wares. I strolled the few blocks and found what I was looking for, curry squid balls ($2.50 for six) and bbq meat skewers (4 for $7).

There are two places that sell skewers - one for the aforementioned price, the other is a little bit more expensive (3 for $7). Sadly, the first place was completely sold out of skewers. I guess with only two places selling them in such a small area - it is pretty easy for people to automatically gravitate toward the better deal. However, they did have curry balls. Six soft, delicately flavoured fish balls with a tasty curry sauce served in a cup with a skewer to eat 'em. Tasty and cheap.

I picked up my skewers at the other place, sampling lamb and beef. I had to wait a few minutes for my beef (as it was still on the grill), the server plopped an extra skewer which had been on the hot plate for me (nice gesture). Both the lamb and beef were very tasty.

Pop is available in cans for $1.50 each. There is also dim sum, grilled squid and some other Asian items. For food stalls - I found they kept the area as clean as possible, wearing gloves when handling food.

Be aware that it is CASH ONLY - bring small bills and loonie/toonies/quarters for ease. Also, be aware that there is two 'Johnny on the Spot" type washrooms at the west part of the street for facilities. I would bring some hand sanitizer...

To get here, you can walk a few blocks from Stadium Skytrain. You can also get off the Skytrain at Main Street and either walk or take a bus if you are nervous walking in the area. Get off close to Keefer and it is just a block more to the west.

I rated the ambiance a little low at two stars because it wasn't as big as Richmond, just not as much to see. Also, I got hit up for change from panhandlers wondering through the area three times. It is just a little sadder than the Richmond Night Market.

Were out and about on Granville Island on the weekend - I had wanted to pick up some goodies at the market, but tables were hard to acquire as people literally ran towards tables as they were vacated. Settled for the Keg.

I will say, I was impressed with the children's menu. We ordered mini burgers for the kids for $8.95. This came with fruit and veggies with dip, fries and two little burgers. It also came with a generous sized "child's" beverage (juice, pop or milk). It was actually a good children's menu with a balance of good stuff (fruit and veggies) with burger and fries.

Our server was friendly.

However, the classic burgers (which were suppose to be prime beef) had a weird texture. It was almost as if it was held together with "meat glue" or some fillers. I have had fresh ground beef and hand formed patties (both at home and at restaurants) - this stuff just wasn't genuine.

The toppings on the classic burger were good quality (nice tomatoes). We ordered mushrooms (extra $0.95) and bacon (extra $0.95). The burgers only came with the mushrooms. We flagged down a server to let her know. She offered to get us some bacon, but the kitchen was a bit slow with our entrees and we would have finished our burgers before we received our forgotten toppings. We opted to have the charge removed from our bill.

The bottled beer was good, it was served in a chilled glass. For a lager - this is okay. I ordered the Margarita and found it tasted strange. It was also the smallest margarita I had ever paid $9.95 for. It was served in a martini glass. I was expecting a tastier and a larger blended drink. $9.95 was waaaay overpriced for this thing.

Ambiance was nothing special. We were seated in the lounge area by a window which overlooked parked cars.

All in all - it was kind of a blah lunch for Granville Island and I don't think I would bother returning.

Little sushi place on Joyce Street (a couple of blocks north of the Skytrain station).

I read that the fish was fresh and that they specialize in sushi/sashimi - there is NO hot noodles, tempura, etc. and they make this clear on their terse note on the door and in the restaurant.

Went in and had a Nigira Plate. This included salmon (wild), tuna, surf clam, eel, and shrimp sushi. Also included was a couple of tuna and salmon (wild) maki rolls.

I'll start with the food. The items were certainly fresh and good quality. I enjoyed my plate.

However, the meal (at $11.95) did not come with miso soup or tea (usually these items on included with a combo plate at EVERY other sushi establishment I have been to). Here, I had to pay $0.60 for a teabag and hot water. My bill, with tax, came to $14 and change. I did not leave a tip because I was not given any "service" per se.

I ordered at the counter. The staff member did not smile. She took my money and I sat myself near the window. I was the only person in the restaurant. About 5 minutes later, I heard the staff member say, "Nigiri order is ready" and I had to retrieve my plate of food from the counter. I finished, gathered my bags and left. No one said, "Thank you" or "Good bye." I was still the only person in the place when I left.

I might return ONLY if I was having a sushi craving AND I was in the area. I wouldn't go out of my way and I certainly would not leave a tip because it is purely give your money, take your product service.

I congratulate myself on my longest title for a review since I first joined (LOL).

I reviewed this restaurant attached to the VCC Culinary Arts Program a couple of years ago.

This evening, a good friend and my family enjoyed the LAST Friday Evening Buffet. When I inquired about it - I was told that they were going to change the format to Serving "Stations" with carvers and staff (students) freshly sauteeing items. There will also be some self serve items at each "station".

We discussed reasons for the change - and managing left over food from the buffet was one reason for the change (as there is a lot of waste otherwise). Also, the change will allow better hygiene (as there will be a Foodsafe staff person serving at each station).

In any case, I truly hope that the new format has the quality of the buffet. The food is always expertly prepared, there are eager students working as wait staff and the place is spotlessly clean and elegantly decorated. The price is $24 per adult and a mere $10 for each of my children.

Again, I hope that the new format continues with the value pricing.

Just as an aside, JJ's also has table d'hote service on regular weekdays with three courses for $24. They also have fantastic lunches (as mentioned by a previous reviewer).

Reservations are a must.

Just an aside, it is important to remember that this is a classroom. The waitstaff and the chefs are STUDENTS in the program. Be patient, they are learning.

I'll update my review as soon as they have their new format up and running and I get a chance to check it out.

Picked up a couple of 6 inch Philly Cheesteak sandwiches for my daughter and I. With one can of pop, the bill came to $18 (including tax). Prices were fair for quality of product received.

The sandwich was good. Fried steak, with onion and green peppers and cheese on a 6 inch bun. I found the meat a tiny bit "wet" and would have preferred a tad less moisture. It was tasty though.

Sadly, they cannot omit the onions or the peppers (I asked for my daughter). She ended up picking out the offending vegetable matter and still enjoyed her sandwich.

My only other problem was the way the sandwich was wrapped, the melted cheese portion of one of my sandwiches stuck to the wrapper. They might try putting the cheese side down on the bread to avoid this.

There were condiments available - including BBQ sauce, ketchup, some sort of white sauce, hot sauce and pickles and hot peppers.

They also serve poutine - I will bring my son to help me review these.

Note - this food cart accepts visa and visa/debit as well as cash (which is different than most food carts, which only accept cash).

Like I said in my title - they are a great deal better than the sandwiches at Tim Hortons up the street. Worth a visit.

I love bbq, but have been having trouble finding a place that serves it well. Also, I usually feel a little guilty after having it, as it is not exactly health food ;)

I dined solo for lunch this afternoon after reading reviews and having business in Gastown.

The place is not wheelchair accessible and there is no way I would attempt to navigate a stroller in here due to the stairs. The ambiance is clean. I found the tables a tad too close together for my liking - but it is a smallish place. There is an option of sitting at the bar.

I ordered a $15.50 combo featuring 4 pork back ribs, some beef brisket and a sausage. This came with a cornbread muffin and a choice of two sides (I chose the cole slaw and the collard greens).

The service was polite and prompt.

I'll start with the meat. My least favourite was the sausage - it was not quite as moist as I would like. It had some snap to it (which some may like). I thought it could be more flavourful - so I added lots of the tomato based BBQ sauce to it. It wasn't a bad sausage - I just prefer it a little different. The ribs were quite delicioius - I put some of the Carolina bbq sauce - which I was told would bring out the smokiness of them. They were not greasy and they were not over dressed. I found the flavour very enjoyable, without the richness of a tomato based sauce. I also really enjoyed the brisket. It was fork tender, but not mushy. It was perfect texture and very tasty.

The sides were outstanding. The cornbread muffin was tasty and had excellent texture. The collard greens were chopped (making eating easy) and not overdressed. The coleslaw was thinly sliced cabbage with just enough mayo based dressing to keep it tasty and moist. It wasn't that slop that they serve at Memphis Blues (which is pulverized cabbage) and it was not overly mayo'ed like that at White Spot.

This was the reason I said I enjoyed my bbq "guilt free" - I had a nice meal of meat without the greasiness usually associated with bbq and my sides included healthy collard greens, cole slaw and a small amount of carbs (via the cornbread muffin). A very tasty, well balanced meal. Yum Yum. I will return.

Looking for a little place to have a hot beverage and something sweet while wondering through Gastown. Came across this little place just on the outskirts of Gastown in Gaolers Mews.

The ambiance was trendy and it all looked nice. I would have liked my chair to be more comfortable - but I was overall satisfied with the "look' of the place.

I had the turtle cheescake. It was only okay. I usually like my desserts a little sweeter. It was only okay value at just under $5. I had the chocolate almond tea. It was tasty and I liked that it was served in a pottery pot and pottery cup. No yucky paper or styrofoam. The tea was tasty, but I think they gave me soy milk on the side as it tasted weird and left some oils floating in my otherwise wonderful cup of tea.

The service was very good, friendly and helpful.

I noted one of the staff members cleaning a table after some patrons had left. She was using an actual cleanser meant for the job. It was obviously a high quality product as there were no chemical odors. I felt confident dining in a clean environment.

I would go back again for a cup of tea, but I would take it without milk.

Just a note to regular Dinehere.ca readers - A year or so ago, I gave this restaurant a glowing review. I updated my review about three weeks ago as I had noted a downward spiral in terms of service over the last few visits. I visited again and wanted to update again as some of the service kinks have been worked out.

Current review:

Firstly, restaurant is a little out-of-the-way, located on Byrne Road, in a little warehouse area near the Burnaby Fraser River park area. No public transit comes near here - you will need a vehicle. It is a small, independent place which attracts both workers around the area and others. It is family friendly and one can expect to see families with small kids here along with heavy duty mechanics on their lunch break and others who enjoy good, homemade eats.

The ambiance is down-to-earth and eclectically decorated. My kids like the singing fish (a animimatronic mounted fish that moves to music).

The food is outstanding. Excellent homemade sausages, ham, bacon,etc. Mouthwatering homemade soups. I especially like their breakfast combos (hubby's favourite is the German Breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, veggie patty, and toast for $7.95). I also give high marks to the beef dip and recommend enjoying this with a big bowl of homemade soup (for $8.50 total - a great deal).

Service was okay. There is a sign on the front door advising that Anton (the chef) is away and that new staff are currently being trained and asking that patrons be patient. I think this was due to several complaints (including my previous review) of messed up orders and individual customers within groups being served sometimes 20 minutes separately from each other). I observed improvement on my last visit. Hubby and I received our breakfast orders at the same time. I noted that the restaurant was not very busy - but there were a few customers. I hope that the new staff are getting some stride and a "groove" so that they may handle the rushes of customers at the busy lunch hour (the food really is excellent and I can understand the popularity). I noted that the coffee urns stayed empty for a while, but there were not many customers and most of us received our coffee and weren't in need of refills.

I think that this establishment has gone through some hard times, with Anton being away. His joyful presence and ability to pull everything together seamlessly is missed. However, I also think that the foundation of this place is good, the food is outstanding and that the staff will find their groove.

For now - don't go during the busy lunch hour if you have a limited amount of time - it might get frustrating. If you have some time to spare and want to try some amazing food - find a table and be prepared to possibly wait. Read the paper and enjoy your coffee, you will be happy with the quality of food received. Otherwise, go early to beat the rush and try out those fantastic breakfast or have an early lunch and enjoy some divine soup and those fantastic specials.

I'll check back in a few weeks and update if necessary.

I have been on the look-out for a decent dim sum place to go near my home. This little place is on the south side of Kingsway, just east of Slocan Street. It is a 10 minute drive (in normal daytime/weekday traffic) from my home in Champlain Heights. I think I have found "my dim sum place." Thank you to the previous reviewer for sharing their experience and bringing it to the attention of DineHere readers. It is otherwise easy to miss.

The ambiance was better than I expected. Dark wood tables, all clean. Plenty of tables for parties between 2 and 10 (no need to share tables with strangers). There were no plastic tablecloths (not that I mind those). The restaurant was clean, with pictures on the walls and tvs playing Chinese programming, but with reasonable volume control. It was not high end - but serviceable for a family afternoon outing or if meeting with casual friends or even a casual business lunch.

My husband describes the washrooms as clean and adequately stocked.

We were seated promptly by a smiling waitress. We were given tea immediately and appropriate dishes/table ware for dim sum (including chopsticks AND forks). The waitress brought the menus and explained which one was for dim sum, as well as a pencil to check off the desired items. The menu was clear and written in both Chinese and English.

We ordered and the items starting arriving within 10 minutes.

We ordered the steamed prawn dumplings, steamed spareribs in black bean sauce, steamed sticky rice wraps, deep fried spring rolls, pan fried eggplant stuffed with shrimp paste, and rice flour rolls with bbq pork. All of these items were priced at a very reasonable $2.75 each. We also ordered the braised spicey green beans at $5.00 and the Deep fried Chicken knees with black bean sauce at $3.75.

All of the items were served hot. Our favourites were the braised spicy green beans, which were a very generous portion and absolutely delicious. My other favourite was the pan fried eggplant stuffed with shrimp paste. It was different than anything I have ever had at dim sum and was heavenly. The spring rolls were also tasty and non-greasy.

We noted that there was ample condiments at the table - soy sauce, chili sauce, hot sauce and red vinegar (as well as salt and pepper). In addition, the spring rolls were served with a generous amount of Worshesthire (sp?) for dipping.

All the food was very good and the value was excellent (hence my five star rating). Our entire bill (with taxes and generous tip) came to $35. We left very satisfied.

We will be back and often.

(Please note - it is a cash only establishment).

Was out for a walk downtown and craving some lunch. Walked past this establishment on Davie Street and decided to try.

One orders at the cashier, pay up front and they give you a number to carry to your table. The server finds you and gives you your food when it's ready.

I ordered the six inch Classic ($9), a bottle of Cream Soda($4) and a small ACC fries (with garlic, parmessan cheese and parsley) ($5) and a truffle mayo dipping sauce for the fries ($1)

Total is $17 plus tax.

Although the bottled Cream Soda was high end and tasty, I might just take water next time. The water is located in jugs at the condiment station and has lemon added to it. As the sandwich is already a little pricey - I will save the $3 on my next visit.

The fries were a little too greasy - although otherwise well flavoured. The truffle mayo dipping sauce was actually quite good. Notwithstanding that - I would probably skip these on a return visit and save an additional $5 (including dipping sauce).

The Classic Cheesesteak sandwich was quite good. Heavily laden with shaved Prime Rib, some sauteed onions (which are optional and free of charge) and the mushrooms and provolene cheese was very tasty. There is bottles of hot sauce available at the condiment station if one wants to spice it up a bit.

I might drop by if in the area and craving meat. I would just stick to the sandwich and not bother with the other items to keep lunch at a reasonable price (under $15 including taxes).