55 Dunlevy Avenue, Vancouver (Railtown)
Tonight was a special occasion - I was taking my mom out for dinner to give us an opportunity to catch up and reconnect, just the two of us, and eat some delicious food! It was a no brainer to take my mom to Belgard Kitchen in Railtown, in the historic Settlement Building. Upon entry into the restaurant, I was instantly taken by the beautiful, rustic interior - comfy couches, an ornate fireplace, wine barrels and trendy bar tables. It was like walking into a cozy family home, and who better to enjoy it with than my mom! We were torn on what to drink, and mh mom wanted to try some craft beer, so we decided on getting a tasting paddle. Belgard serves up beer from Postmark Brewing, who brews in house right on the other side of the restaurant behind the wine barrels. Our tasting paddle included a Hefeweizen (wheat beer), and Postmark's Raspberry, Blonde, and West Coast Pale Ale. Our shared favourite was the Blonde, though my mom thoroughly enjoyed the West Coast Pale Ale! The food was incredible! Belgard encourages sharing plates, and what a great idea that is - the food is made for sharing, and it gives you an opportunity to try out different things! We ordered the Roasted Mushrom + Country Bacon Pizzette and the Shrimp Spaghetti Nero, both of which I highy recommend! There are a lot of great options on the menu, and there is something for every tasting palette. All in all it was a wonderful evening with fantastic service and great food. I will definitely be coming back to try more! One tip I would recommend is to get your reservations in early, either online or by phone; however, they do keep half of their restaurant in for walk ins. Depending on how busy the night is, they will put a cap on how long you can stay. Finally, I would also strongly recommend going in a group and going when it is daylight out, because Railtown is a little on the sketchier side, and you definitely want to be safe rather than sorry.
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219 Union Street, Vancouver
As I was walking to The Union with my friend Marinelle, we figured that outside of the obvious reason as to why it was named what it is (The Union is on... Union Street, ironically enough), it could also be named The Union because of the fact that it was a union of many different Southeast Asian dishes. Upon entry into the little restaurant right on the corner of Union and Main, the familiar smells of spices and the minimalist furniture took me in, making me quite excited to try this new restaurant. After ordering (non-alcoholic) drinks, our dishes - Singaporean fried noodles (the daily special) for Marinelle, Indonesian Peanut noodles for me - came quickly after, which was quite impressive. Having never tried Indonesian food before, I had nothing to go by in terms of authenticity. However, the portion was huge - enough for lunch the day after - and quite delicious. I must say that the Singaporean fried noodles were nowhere near what they should be in terms of taste, but it was still a tasty and valiant effort. With quick and friendly service, The Union is definitely great choice for anyone who loves Southeast Asian cuisine and wants to try something new. 1 Athletes Way (Vancouver - False Creek) -OR- 1055 Canada Place (Vancouver - Coal Harbour)
Known for it's craft beer on tap (hence it's name), Tap and Barrel boasts great food, fabulous drinks and is probably one of the best patios that I have ever been on. Having been twice, I've enjoyed the food and the wonderful view that comes with my meal from the patio. The restaurant is very lively, and despite it's expansive size, the waitresses definitely go above and beyond to make sure that everyone is served and is having a good time. I highly recommend trying their craft beer mac and cheese - a comfort food favourite with an added twist! The menu changes every few months, but somethings, like the Tap Burger and the mac and cheese, remain as top favourites! My family and I went to the Abbotsford location, the one that is situated in the fairly new High Street open air shopping center. At first I thought it was a unique place but as it turns out it is a bit of a chain of pizza places. Being a huge fan of pizza, I didn't say no to an opportunity to have it for dinner with my family.
The trendy wooden decor grabbed my attention first, and then the delicious smell of baking pizza dough, Italian spices and tomato sauce. We shared what they called "New World" Pizzas - Korean BBQ Pork and the Don Andreas (Creme Fraiche with avocado, chicken, corn, salsa and some Valentina hot sauce), along with some tomato bisque and salad. The Korean BBQ Pizza was my favourite, despite my initial apprehension at putting Asian delicacies on pizza dough. The huge surprise at the end of dinner was their bonus dessert as a thank you for waiting.. My parents decided to get a second dessert, so to end off an incredible meal, we had a Dolce & Banana dish as well as a Nutella and Banana pizza, which was kind of like a crepe but with the pizza dough. Sounds kind of strange, but it was actually quite delicious. It was a filling and delicious meal, and definitely something I will try out again with friends! 2611 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver If there is one word to describe your experience at Dark Table, it would be mysterious. Eating at Dark Table is an entirely new dining experience because of the mere fact that you are eating in complete darkness. Not just with the light off or in a black room, but complete darkness. No phones, no electronics, no lights of any kind. Just you, your food, and your senses. They say that when one sense is taken away, all your other senses are heightened. I found that to be 100% true. Not being able to see your food at all enhanced the tastes and the smells of the high end 2 or 3 course meal. When you enter, you pre-order your 2 or 3 course meal in the only lit area, the outside waiting area. After that, you are guided into the eating area by a blind or visually impaired waiter/waitress. This is what really impressed me and made me value my sight. The service is quick, friendly, and very efficient. Having gone to O.Noir in Montreal and experiencing something very similar, I knew that this was a place that I had to take my friend to try out for themselves. Tips:
- Reservations are highly recommended, just because of how popular the restaurant is! - A Groupon is also highly recommended - when I went with Elaine, the original bill came to $92. but with the Groupon we only had to pay $12! Finding something on Groupon or Living Social Deals is definitely worthwhile to purchase so as to enjoy the experience and not make a major dent in your wallet. - You have to option to do the full 3 courses (appetizer, entree and dessert) or 2 courses (appetizer & entree OR entree & dessert). The 3 course option is definitely worthwhile though!
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