There are mixed reviews on the internet so we went with open minds to check out the restaurant.
What we got was some exceptional food. The roast chicken was so precisely cooked, so well timed, good slightly crisp texture, succulent meat, well flavored, beautiful slightly creamy sauce, - we didn't expect that quality of cooking. If Chef Bongo did it, or somebody else, I don't know but it had the mark of a chef, not a cook, - written all over it.

Lots of staff, friendly, respectful, helpful, nice. I can't fault them. They knew their job and they did it well.

Where this restaurant drags is atmosphere. Those leather high backed armless chairs have got to go back to Home Sense. They aren't meant for a dinner table. I never got comfortable the entire evening. The noise / din echoes too loud. It's decorated nicely. Money and effort were put into the room. It's all good, modern, clean, nice, candles, in a photo you'd love it. In real life it just doesn't come together. I never becomes a relaxed, comfortable place where you feel at home. Sort of a high end cafeteria.

Live entertainment? Jorge, he's a skilled musician. He does his job well. However, he's been told to play traditional jazz. Let him play something less boring, alive. Low key background music by a guy who could really entertain? Let Jorge play good things, - I know he knows how. I've seen him in other venues in the city.

Daniel's is good because of the food. Go there, pay the money and enjoy what a great chef creates. In time, I hope the rest falls into place. It's a nice addition to the dining choices in this great part of the world we live in.
p.s. The great food deserves white table cloths. That would be nice.

I think he's figured it out. From what I'm told, the owner is a chef and that's the difference. Food is exceptional. We came in at 8pm Saturday, all tables full of traditional European families having dinner. Platters of food coming out of the kitchen. Children, little people playing on the empty dance floor, very nice. The setting sun streaming through the window. It's not often that I feel absolutely comfortable when stepping into a restaurant, - but that's what I felt, totally at ease. It was like a scene out of a Godfather movie. Beautiful.

A little after 9pm the band set up and the music started. Great selection of dance music, salsa, cha cha, ballads, and the dance floor is full. You can't ask for much more, good food, service, and music? These things are rare in Vancouver and I was glad to be part of it.

Key here is the food. Describing it misses the point, he's a chef, he knows how to make anything taste and look good. My second time here in a month, and I think it's a success. Good, congratulations, thank you.

I don't go to the Keg for a reason. I have poor memories from a long time ago. However, we were out walking, there was the Keg, we asked if they could seat two people for dinner. I'm sure they've changed in 10 years. Wrong. This Keg has not changed.

The steak was tasteless. Big hunk of meat, with no taste, no carmelization, sort of "browny." My Ahi seared tuna, same problem. Big hung of tasteless tuna. Seared, yes. No flavour, no sauces, b-o-r-i-n-g.

The waitress, very lively, chatty, high energy, but just immature enough not that she easily crossed the line into "playing" us. She said, "wow, that tuna looks good from here!" Wink, wink. Not having fallen off a turnip truck I silently mumbled "you patronizing little twit."

Tables, -sitting accross from each other? That's for school cafeteria's or old married people. I rearranged the furniture so we could sit at 90 degrees. I still like my dear woman.

Prices? $86 for 2 entrees, 1 appy, 2 Corona. Hmmmm. If I'd had a full meal, dessert and wine, the bill would have been Seasons in the Park range. This place is nowhere near "Seasons." So overpriced, - absolutely.

I also don't like the wine manipulation. Welcome to BC. When 2 people consume a bottle of wine, you end up with a suspended license. Think "customer." Think 1/2 bottles. It can be done you know.

Is it me or is there absolultely no ambiance in that place?

Anyway, keep working on it. I'll be back in 2020 with my care aide and walker. I"ll give you another chance then. This place is all about money, it's a hustle. Children playing restaurant and charging adult pricess. I'm not amused.

A bad experience. Very bad. We went with the memories of old Laguna Blu in New Westminster. This is nothing like it.

Food. Sole w shrimp. Tiny portion, tasteless, miniscule dried out shrimp. Boring and not adequate. Lasagna. Greasy. It looked and smelled fine, but what was not so obvious was at about 1/3 of the way into my portion, it was too greasy. I stopped eating. Sent most of my meal back to the kitchen. Ate 2 Tums in my car later. Wine, rough wine overpriced. The Chilean Shiraz should never have made it on the menu. Service, nice young ladies with no experience.

The other guests. 2 or 3 corporate groups at 7:30, 8:00 pm. By 9:30 the hard core dancers were hanging out in the bar. There is no live band, only a DJ who wants to wait until 10pm to start the music.

The room itself is boring, lifeless, no ambiance. Perhaps better suited for a clothing store. Parking in Bentall, was a challenge. It worked, but not without plenty of concern. Confusing with a multitude of security quirks. We buzzed security help twice to sort us out. Almost could not get out of parkade, two cars ahead of us, puzzled and held hostage as well. We called security again.

In summary, - I guess when I walked through the door I felt the lack of ambiance. This just didn't feel like a restaurant. I was right, I should have turned around and walked back out. For $120, (and we didn't order much) I ate Tums in the car on the way home. You bet I'm not happy. We exchanged words with a few others who felt the same way. It was a disastor.

I tried to think of one thing that went right. Sorry, can't think of anything.

I do love the Latin Quarter. You almost have to manage your way through the evening. If you master it, it turns out great. If not, well you're at the mercy of the waiters.

It's rough, almost like a bar. Latino, South American bistro feel. The best is the entertainment. Again, the four caballeros with their "almost Gypsy Kings" music are totally solid, authentic, talented. They are musicians, playing on flamenco acoustics, amped for big sound. No synthesizer, no computers, just four talented guys. They have a recipe. Be forwarned, you will dance between the tables. Salsa, latin, of course.

The food. Hmmmm. I think it's time to call Gordon Ramsey and have a meeting with the chef. They try, and it almost works but then you remember what you're paying. It's not cheap. For the price, I want much, much better food.

Seating, you'll have to be assertive to get the good tables. You won't get them, even with a reservation, you'll have to push. Like I said, you will have to project manage your evening.

We like the experience, the dancing, the music. It's an experience and I go back regularly. If you don't dance, and don't care, it's a bit rich. Wish to heck someone would get serious about the food.

You may not like everything, but you will remember it.
I may see you there.

Nice, nice building, decor, wood, beams. Just a comfortable, lovely ambience. Even the food, not bad. Good size portions, flavour excellent. However, a couple of things are very tacky. The filet of sole, - deep fried. Not a good idea. Great looking plate, greek salad, wonderful potatoe, rice, and on top of it all, - deep fried breaded sole.

Next, it was Saturday night, and the band took a 45 min break to eat dinner, (along with about three other breaks). If you play from 8:30 pm to 12 midnight, - do you think, just maybe, - you could eat before your gig?

To make things worse, when the band was not playing there was silence, no music. Where I live CD music is cheap. I don't know who's at the wheel at Stafanos but you you could see a room full of people puzzled, the party was dying, no music. People started leaving, while the band was chowing down over dinner in the back.

I give up. So close, - but not quite. I didn't enjoy the evening it was tedious. Oh, service, good server just not around very much. So much for that.

I wouldn't count them out yet but I won't be back for six months.

This is a place to party, eat, dance, and to enjoy life.

I've been to Laguna Blu perhaps twenty times, sometimes as a couple, sometimes with larger groups of twelve or more. If you stop and think about what's going on there, - you'll love it.

The setting is spectacular, perched overlooking the river, lights, and tugboats. The floor to ceiling windows, the dance floor, the live music, - this is a special place. The staff are all sincere and they try very hard. This place is there to enjoy yourself. We love latin dancing, and I've had a the time of my life there, (including last night, Good Friday).

We also celebrated New Year's there. It was without question, the best New Years. The food went on all evening. From 7:30 to midnight. Five courses. Something new and different every 45 minuties. We'd dance, return to the table, there was more food! Midnight, a bottle of champagne, every table recieved one. Snow fell on the river, it was perfect.

Just go, prepare to party. Enjoy your life.