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Crave offers a varied menu of creative, quality comfort foods for dinner and brunch. Small patio in the front and a larger, enclosed patio in the back.
Dined here with a girlfriend. A small place with pretty cramped tables but it was cute. Were seated next to the heater and I had a nice red mark on my leg (through my jeans) by the end of the night. Service was ok though our server I guess had gone for a break while we were dining and came back smelling of cigarettes (yuck). Popcorn shrimp appetizer was delicious. I had the evening special of short rib and my friend had the meatloaf. both were good, nothing exciting, but good. Creme brulle was a large portion and done properly. Though it was odd that they didn't have a written dessert menu, we had to ask the server to repeat the FIVE items because we couldn't remember them long enough to choose something. I'd go back for the shrimp and the brulle.
The restaurant doesn't take reservations so showed up just after 6pm on a weekend and didn't have to wait. Tried several different items including Ahi Tuna roll - seems a bit out of place and what I can find at many japanese restaurants, but this was good. Short Rib Poutine - excellent and rich with some truffle oil. Lamb Shank - very big portion, good flavour but a bit on the dry side. Shorty Rigatoni - excellent dish, rich and meaty. BBQ ribs - Good but again like the tuna roll, a bit out of place with the other items. Service was great with tasting of wines before ordering offered and prompt clearing of plates. Never rushed. The restaurant is quite small which makes it intimate. Mains are in the high teens to low 20's, good value. Would return for the poutine alone.
The food is great. The way they make their potatoes is amazing! It is one of the best I ever had. Apparently the place has great ribs, but I haven't gotten a chance for that yet. All brunch menues are excellent.
The parking is an absolute nightmare. Best of luck to ya.
Went to this restaurant today with a group of eight. One of the group had a problem with her meal. The owner not only challenged her but accused her of showing off in front of her friends and she was told not to come back. This is not appropriate behaviour from anyone in a restaurant but definitely inexcusable from an owner. My crab cakes were very tasty, and the apple salad was excellent but the attitude of the owner left a bad taste in my mouth. The server was prompt and helpful. This is the second time we have been there as a group but his wish has been granted because we will never return.
After hearing rave reviews about this place, my friend and I decided to go there for brunch. The ambience was excellent. A neat little place to hang out. The service was very good, attentive, without being annoying.
I ordered the smoke salmon croissant. I was a little disappointed when I took my first bite of the croissant. It tasted like grease, a little rancid, even. Store-bought and definitely not fresh. There were 2 slices of smoked salmon, one on top of the omelette and one on the bottom, sandwiched in between the croissant, both were cooked from the heat of the omelette to the point where they were overcooked. Disappointed.
I was expecting a little more from a place where I've heard nothing but good things about. Maybe I was just expecting a little too much.
Was really looking forward to checking out Crave but made a mistake in ordering pan fried halbut w/ asparagus and corn. The portion was small and over seasoned. The stuff gnocchi was nicely done but for the price, I wished I ordered the halibut and chips. Saw next patron get a 2 huge pieces of halibut. The pulled pork sandwich was nicely seasoned but felt like you were eating a "sloppy joe". Still alot better than the pulled pork served at White Spot. Dessert offering is standard; toffee pudding cake is worth a try but you can get better desserts for $8 at other places. Service was prompt and ambience had neighbour pub feel, quite cosy and intimate. If I come back, I would stick to casual fare like the burger, pasta and salads. Worth a try if you are in SOMA.
We went with friends who had heard good things about this place. Bottom line is that it was only 'ok' and I personally would not go back given all the other restaurants in Vancouver to try. I had the pasta which was completely lacking in flavour and taste. The service was good -especially compared to all the places these days that seem to have poor service. Ambiance/location was fine - nothing special.
I usually prefer to come the Crave for their brunch. Good omlettes, decent hollandaise, delicious crab cakes, good service... all you need on a Sunday breakfast.
I wanted to try their lunch menu today and stopped by for the burger. It was terrible. The bun or the foccacia bread was so stale, it crumbled with every bite, I almost choked on it. The patty was decent but nothing you wouldn't get anywhere else. I wonder if it is made fresh in the house. Rest of the burger was not seasoned at all other than a teaspoon of mayo smeared carelessly on the bottom. The caesar salad accompanied the burger was worst I have ever had. There was barely dressing, which by the way was very very bland, on the leaves. I managed to finish the sandwich but left the lettuce on the plate. A meh burger with salad and a drink, $25 (inc.tip). On the other side service was very attentive and good which kinda made the day.
I expected a bit more from the Crave, but not this time i guess.
I came here once not too long ago for lunch. Heard many good things about Crave and the credentials of its owner/chef. The visit was alright, but I was expecting quite a bit more.
The ambiance is pretty nice, but like almost all the restaurants on main, Crave is just too small. The tables are really close to one another and you're almost literally eating with the next table. It was somewhat awkward since my friend and I and the couple next to us made it a point to whisper when conversing otherwise we'd be screaming at each other.
I had the chicken brie melt, which was good, but the entree portion was quite small. My friend had pasta which was rated as good, but not stellar. The pricing seems to be in line with Earl's and Cactus Club - 2 restaurants aiming for the same type of clientele as Crave. For the amount of food that they give you, the value isn't really there.
I'd recommend Crave, however, don't expect stellar as I was.
We went for lunch and the service was really slow. It was 45 minutes before there was any food in sight. The food was good, but not everyone has an hour and a half to two hours for lunch.
They have a nice patio, but not every table has an umbrella. So on a hot day if you are at an exposed table you are cooking, as the patio is enclosed with no breeze.
Go for brunch or lunch when time is not an issue.
Why is everyone talking about Crave? I just don't get it. I ordered this veg sandwich and it was tasteless and dry. We also ordered something else I don't remember cuz it was that bad. Nothing we ordered that was decent. I don't care if the Chef came from a 5 star hotel if the food taste like what a kid could make in his mini kitchen. Blah
One of my favourite places in the city! Set aside a couple3 hours in an evening to sit back and enjoy the ambience of the room, the fantastic energy and vibe of the servers, staff and owners, and the amazingly delicious array of food... The dishes are all incredibly flavourful and yummy, big servings are beautifully arranged and obviously prepared with pride, skill, and years of "Seasoned" experience... The owners Greg & Wayne take great pride in their establishment, and bring their passion to what they obviously love to do to their restaurant... And it shows! Don't be shy to sit at the bar for dinner - or pre-dinner drinks - where you can enjoy the warm hospitality and witty banter of co-owner, Greg. This is definitely one of my all time favourite places to go again and again... Crave on Main Street opened its doors 5 years ago, and I have been a "regular" for the last 4 years... This is the place I hope to have my birthday dinner at.... Wendy P.
Had dinner at Crave over the weekend and very much enjoyed my meal. We had the ahi tuna rolls as appetizer which were very delicious, the lightly fried seaweed was crunchy and the tuna was fresh. For entree I had the BBQ baby ribs which was fantastic, I loved both the ribs and the fries on the side. They have a small patio in the front and a larger one in the back. Only complaint is that the tables are too close together, you are literally sitting next to the neighboring patrons. The service was decent as well. All in all a pleasant dinning experience.
I love Crave for their brunch and our server (Jenny) is always so nice and accommodating! It can be a little bit cramped in the inside, but I don't mind it that much...especially if it means eating those delicious delicious eggs benedict! I usually order egg white frittata, just because its a healthier choice. But I've ordered there pancakes and they are so heavenly, it tastes like a soft donut drizzled in maple syrup!
I first started visiting this place a breakfast stop and was always impressed with the freshness of ingredients, presentation & value. The back patio is a fabulous place to spend a weekend morning - very quaint.
I quickly had to try out all meals of the day, and once I got to dinner and had the shorty ragu I was smitten. This sauce is cooked for hours, the lean short ribs are shredded and tender, the sauce simple & fresh. The herb garden off the back patio is a sure testiment of what freshness means to them.
Every meal that someone wants to dine out for, I sugest Crave as it always impresses. My friends and family are now hooked, and like me, constantly going back for more.
My only complaint is the lack of ability to make reservations, although unless you are going for breakfast or dinner on a weekend - hasn't been too much of a problem - beside you can always put your name down and do some Main Street exploring until something comes available.
We went to Crave the other night for dinner, we were actually hoping to try Grub down the street but couldnt get in. In any event we hit up Crave knowing what to expect. It was a Wednesday night and it was full, we sat in the bar and ordered a drink while we waiting, since there was 4 of us if there were more people waiting we would have had to wait outside as the entrance is pretty tight. After 15 min or so we were seated by a server who throughout our wait updated us on the status of our soon to be table. The 4 of us ordered another round of drinks and dinner, our food came out a reasonable time and our server was very attentive. I ordered the mussels as my entree, they were good but not great, I found them too big and the broth lacking flavour, I was also hoping to get some bread to soak up the broth but didn't receive any - in the end no big deal. From what I saw everyone at my table liked their meal.
I've also had brunch at Crave, its good but a bit expensive for what we got. Dinner menu is much better. Also the Iced-Tea is unsweetend, I wish I was given the heads up on that but I drank it anyways, it was refreshing.
It worked as a great alternative to our change of plans that night
I last went there just after 3 pm on a Saturday, and the place was packed. Even by the time I left at around 4 pm, it was still packed, and there were still people coming in. That says a lot about the popularity of this place, and for good reason.
The food is simple but very good, and prices are reasonable. A well selected wine list, with some good ones by the glass. Plain but contemporary decor, with a nice bar looking out at the street. Service is all you can expect. I will return.
Had several work lunches and 1 dinner experience so far.
Food: The food is consistently great and fresh. The selection is decent ranging from pulled pork sandwiches, crab cakes to cobb salad's. Lunch and diner menus are almost identical except that you have a few more entree items to choose from for dinner. I could sense that the chef places great care into the design and preparation of the food. Awesome value for bistro pricing!
Service: usually very quick, unpretentious service. Once we had a surly waitress but that was a one-off. Everyone is friendly and easy-going and that puts the guests at ease. Professional, yet warm. Occasionally the head chef comes out to greet and chat with the guests - a very nice touch.
Ambiance: small dining room area with about 38 seats so the tables are packed quite closely. About 8-10 inches between tables. Personally, I don't mind this but it's not the place for that private, romantic dinner. The decor is simple, yet sleek. Dark coloured chairs, tables and paint colour. Huge black & white paintings/artwork on the wall adds dimension to the space.
Overall: great place to take a few friends, no more than 4 because the wait can be crazy on weekends. Hope it's here to stay!
I understand the pedigreed chef / owner here sources top quality local organic ingredients whenever possible, and it shows. The dishes are straight forward but what immediately jumps to the fore is the quality of the consituent ingredients. I'm usually not so technically analytical about food but I could not help but notice the excellent colour and taste of the eggs, home made sausage and the potatoes on my plate. The coffee was good too. While the breakfast here may, superficially, appear very similar to that which is served in many a greasy spoon or breakfast joint, the quality of food and its preparation are unsurpassed. The prices are quite reasonable too. Definitely will return when I'm in that neck of Main again.
Basically, this place has been raved about by my friends, so I went there with very high expectations. I ordered the organic beef burger w/ blue cheese and fries (an even $10). Oh, I was not dissappointed!! You get a healthy portion of melted blue cheese, and the bun is more like a focaccia bread. It was so good!!! The restaurant has a very nice atmosphere- you are definitely getting better value going here than to Vera's for about the same price. I highly recommend!
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