Finch's Tea & Coffee House

353 W. Pender St.

Vancouver BC

(604) 899- 4040

www.finchteahouse.com

Monday - Friday 9am- 5pm

Saturday 11am- 4pm

Date of Visit: June 13, 2011

If you are looking for the perfect prosciutto sandwich, Finch's Tea and Coffee House is for you.  I was browsing through Urbanspoon to look for an unique place to have lunch with my friend, and this cafe got my attention.  Not only did Finch's Tea and Coffee scored a high rating in Urbanspoon, photos of the food in Finch's were really tempting as well.  As I know my friend is a big fan of vintage/ victorian decor, I believed it would be a great place for us to try out :)

Ambience * * * * *

I love the ambience!  I feel like I have travelled back in time :)  The place is decorated with just the right amount of vintage furnitures to create a cozy and comfortable ambience and wouldn't be overwhelming. However, the cafe only fits around 5-6 tables, so it may be hard to find a seat at lunch time.  You have the option to order a take out.

Service * * * 1/2

It is a self-served cafe, where you order at the counter and then pick up the order when the staff call you.  The staffs are friendly and they are passionate about the food they serve.  As they are perfecting each and every order, the order takes a bit longer time to be ready.  If you are in a rush, they recommend to call in advance to order.  The other downsize is that they only accept cash or debit.


Food * * * * 1/2

Steamed Soy Milk with Maple Syrup

It is a great idea to add maple syrup to steamed soy milk!  However, it was too sweet to my liking.. the staff actually offered to add more maple syrup, but it was already too sweet. 

Chai Latte

My friend ordered a chai latte and she liked it :)  I tried a sip and it tasted great!  It had just the right amount of sweetness, creaminess, and spiciness!

Pear, blue brie, prosciutto, roasted walnuts, oil & vinegar Baguette ($8.75)

It was the bestest sandwich I have ever had!  Seriously!  It tasted as good as it looks.  The sandwich was like a piece of art that I would admire its beauty before taking the first bite.  The taste of the whole sandwich was very well balanced with saltiness from the prosciutto, sweetness from the pear, and souriness from the vinegar.  I thought the prosciutto would be really fatty, but actually the fat was well marbled and there wasn't a big strip of fat.  Yumm so good!

PLT- Prosciutto, lettuce, tomato ($6.25)

My friend ordered the PLT and she was really full after the sandwich!  The sandwich was really big and it has lots of lettuce and prosciutto! :)

Value * * * *

The price is right for the quality and quantity of food.  It is around the same price as the pork sandwich I had from Hubbub, but this sandwich is more unique and higher quality.


Overall * * * * *

I would like to visit the cafe again and would highly recommend a friend to eat there!  I had a wonderful time with my friend at the cafe :) 

Hubbub Sandwiches

859 Hornby Street

Vancouver BC

(604) 568- 3398

http://www.hubbubsandwiches.com/

Monday-Saturday 10:30am - 9pm

Date of visit: June 21, 2011, 1:00 pm

Looking for the perfect pull pork sandwich?  Look no further!  Hubbub Sandwiches has the best pull pork sandwich I have ever had :)  It is a new restaurant located close to the Scotia movie theatre in downtown.  My boyfriend and I wanted to eat a simple meal before heading to the movies, so this place was just perfect!  In addition, I got a $5 for $10 deal from Groupon, which was a nice bonus :)

Ambience * * * *

The place was small, simple, modern and clean.  It was very comfortable environment and it had an artistic feel to it too :)  You can eat in or take out, or you can enjoy the sun in the outdoor seats.  It was more of a self-served environment where you can help yourself to a glass of water, and two locations where you can return your used utensils, trays and trash.

Service * * *

As it was a self-served sub restaurant, we didn't have much interactions with the staffs.  Regardless, the staffs were friendly and the line up wasn't long.  Because my boyfriend and I were using Groupon, the cashier took a few minutes extra to verify the coupons.  After making the order, we waited for our numbers to be called to pick up our meal.  Although the food wasn't served as fast as a chain restaurant like Subway or Quizos, but the food was worthwhile.

Food * * * * *

Pork Sandwich ($8.49) and Clean Slaw ($2.99)

The pulled pork sandwich was superb!!  There were a lot of pork in the sandwich and the sandwich was quite long :)  The pork was slightly marinated, which gives it a great taste without being too salty.  The baguette was fresh, firm and chewy.  All of the sandwiches have lettuce, generous portion of onion, jalapenos, cilantros, and their secret sauce.  I don't usually eat jalapenos but the sandwich wasn't overwhelmingly spicy, and the jalapenos compliments well with the other ingredients. 

Clean Slaw has shredded cabbage and coconut in a vinaigrette sauce.  The portion was big for a side.  This cole slaw does have lots of coconut, which is great for a coconut lover.  It is loaded with all sorts of ingredients that is great for tummy and the body :)  It is the perfect dish for the summer!

Chicken Sandwich ($8.93)

The Chicken Sandwich has two large pieces of roasted chicken breasts.  The chicken breasts were lean yet  moisted such that it was very easy to chew.  From the menu, the chicken breasts were steeped in citrus juices and coconut milk, which explains why the breasts were so moisted and yummy. 

Value * * * 1/2

Although the sandwiches would be close to $10 without the coupons, I think it is still worth a try.  My boyfriend and I were really full after the sandwich!  It is a great alterative to the regular subs from a chain restaurant.

Overall * * * *

I would recommend to a friend!  My boyfriend suggests that the subs could be better if they offer more options, such as having whole wheat breads versus white bread, and have an option for beef sandwich.

Via Veneto Ristorante Italiano

656 West Broadway

Vancouver, BC

(604) 708- 3300

http://www.viavenetovancouver.com/index.html

Monday- Friday 11:30am- 10:30pm

Saturday- Sunday 5pm- 10:30pm

Date of visit: June 20, 2011, 12:15pm

If you haven't tried an authentic Italian restuarant before, Via Veneto Ristorante Italiano is the place to go.  This little restaurant is pretty new, est. in Sept 2010, and it is at a pretty convenient location, just a block or two away from the Canada line (Broadway- City Centre station).  I got a $20 for $40 deal from Social Shopper a few months ago, so my boyfriend and I have decided to try this restaurant out. 

Ambience * * * * *

The restaurant is very modern and elegant, which is great place to impress your date.  The tables were covered with white table clothes and the servers were well-groomed.  The whole restaurant was clean (even the lady's bathroom!) and it had a high class ambience.

Service * * * * *

The servers were very polite and attentive.  When we entered into the restaurant, we were quickly greeted and seated.  The server offered us the menu and asked us if we have any questions about the menu items.  As we have studied the menu before hand (full menu available is on their website), we already knew what to order.  After we placed the order, we were quickly served with free herbed bread and balsamic vinegar.  When our meal arrived, the server put spoonfuls of cheese into our plates until we told him to stop (he really wouldn't stop until you tell him lol!).  During the meal, our water was refilled quickly and we were asked  how was our meal by the server and the owner.  There were only 3 or 4 tables occupied when we were there, which might explain the quick service that we got.  When we were leaving the restaurant, the person behind the counter (I think he's the owner) came to the door to say bye to us, which was a very lovely gesture.  It was definately a first class service! 

Food * * * * *

Herbed bread with balsamic vinegar (free)

The bread was soft and chewy.  It wasn't warm as I had expected, though it was still really yummy :)  The dipping seemed to be made fresh in house and it complemented well with the bread.  We soaked the bread in the dipping with every bite.  So good!

Cozze al vapore e vino bianco ($9.95)

Steamed fresh mussels served with minced tomatoes and onions, and a slice of garlic bread.  The mussels were placed in a delicious broth that enhanced the taste of the mussels.  The portion was generous and mussels tasted really fresh.  Although the mussels itself were small, there were a lot of it to satisfy our taste buds.  Great starter for two people!

Linguine ai Frutti di Mare ($13.95)

Seafood linguine that contains clams, tiger prawns, squid, mussels (Yeah! More mussels! :)), and freshly made tomato sauces.  It was the yummiest pasta I have ever had!  The seafood was really fresh, so as the sauce.  The portion was big; I was really stuffed after the meal!

Cotoletta alla Parmigiana ($14.95)

Breaded veal covered with parmesan in fresh tomato paste, with rigatoni pasta in herbed sauce.  The veal was nice and tender and the breading around the veal gave a nice crunch to the texture. The portion was just right, and my boyfriend was full after the meal.  There were lots of cheese on top of it, so it is great for cheese lovers :) 

Value * * * *

It was one of the best $20 I have ever spent!  The price of the menu items were quite comparable to other fine restaurants.  The lunch menu is quite affordable, though the dinner menu is higher in price.  I am not sure if the portion size are the same for lunch and dinner..  I would recommend going at lunch time, as I was still so full at dinner time that I didn't need to eat much.

Overall * * * * *

I would definately recommend a friend to go there.  I loved the food, the service, and the atmosphere!  Bravo!

Tim Horton's New Find

S'mores Donut

I first saw the s'mores donut on the menu screens in Tim Hortons when I was waiting in line.  The ad in the menu screen makes it look so yummy so I told myself I've to try it!  I was so happy to found that the donut was in stock while I was ordering, so I ordered a soup meal with the donut and a steeped tea. 

I thought it would be an overwhelingly sweet donut but actually wasn't as sweet as it looks.  It has small, chewie marsmallows, crushed nuts, and with some chocolate and caramel syrup on top of the chocolate donut.  It is a great treat with coffee/tea! 

Would I buy it again?  Probably!  I like the fact that it is not as sweet as the other donuts that Tim Hortons have.  If you are heading to Timmy's next time, give this donut a try!

Jethro's Fine Grub

3420 Dunbar Street

Vancouver, BC

(604)569-3441

Mon-Sun: 8am-4pm

www.jethrosfinegrub.com

Date of visit: May 17, 2011

My friend learned about this restaurant from Urbanspoon, and we were really excited to try this highly rated restaurant.  It is located in the Dunbar neigbhourhood, which makes it a great visit as we can scroll West 4th Ave after the meal.  If you were driving, there is a one-hour free parking on the street in front of the restaurant.  We got there at around 1:30 pm, and the place was filled with people finishing up their lunch.

Ambience * * *

It is a plain, straight-forward environment with wooden chairs and tables.  I was expecting more Jethro and Grub decoration.  Also, the place is not really big, so try to aviod busy hours.  Nonetheless, the place is clean, and it is a comfortable place to catch up with a friend.

Service * * * * *

The service was fast and friendly!  Although there were only one or two people serving food, they were very quick to serve drinks, and the server checked on us twice to see how we were doing with the food.  I believe there were only two cooks, so the food come out a little slow, but it was still within reasonable amount of time.

  

Food * * * * 1/2



 

All Hail The Cuban ($10)

It has pulled pork, Swiss cheese, ham, dills, and pickles in fresh Caioti bread.  The bread was very nice and soft, and it was really fresh.  Although the pulled pork wasn't marinated (as I thought it would be), it still tasted good in combination with the other ingredients.  I think the sandwich would taste better if the taste of the pull pork stands out a bit more.  Sauces in the sandwich, thousand island and mustard, and the Swiss cheese gave the sandwich a creamy, smooth texture.  The sandwich comes free with salad or fries.  The portion of salad and sandwich was very generous.

 Crab Cake Benedict ($11)

My friend ordered the crab cake benedict and it was so nice of her to offer me to try her benedict.  It was so good!  It had a generous amount of crab meat in the crab cake, and it tasted great with the poached egg and hollandaise sauce.  You can choose different kinds of toasts to go with the benedict, and my friend chose the rye bread.  Out of the two dished that we ordered, I think the crab cake benedict wins over the sandwich.

Value * * * *

I think it is an average price for a brunch/lunch, and I am very happy to see a satisfying portion of food on each plate.  We were both really full after the meal, and my friend couldn't finish her plate :P

Overall * * * *

I would definately go again if I were in the neighborhood and I would recommend my friends to go there.  We both had a very satisfying meal!  I saw the lady from another table who ordered a grandma pancake.  The pancake was huge!  I would love to try the pancake next time.

Point Zero Restaurant and Lounge

                      

1149 Granville Street

604-440-1149

Hours:

Mon-Thurs 4:30pm - 12pm

Fri- Sat 4:30pm- 12am

Sun 4:30pm - 11pm

Date of visit: April 30, 2011

This restaurant was featured in Groupon back in March 2011, with the $20 for $40 deal.  Since I am a big fan of Japanese food, I took advantage of this deal to try out a Japanese restaurant that I haven't try before.  It is interesting how this restaurant is only open for dinner and late night, so I did a bit of shopping before heading to the restaurant.  If you are taking the Skytrain, it is close to the Yaletown- Roundhouse station. 



 

Ambience * * * * *

This is a cozy restaurant with sofa seats and chairs.  The place is clean and the sofa seats are comfortable.  There are three projector screens on the wall that play sports programs, which makes it a great place to watch the games.  As the restaurant does not have a lot of tables, reservation is highly recommended if you wish to watch the games there.  There is also a music station at the front of the restaurant and a disco ball on the ceilling, which can easily convert the restaurant to a dancing lounge. 

  

Food * * * *

There are soo many choices to choose from!  We spent 20 minutes deciding what to eat!  There are appentizers, signature rolls, simple rolls, veggie rolls, roll combos, sashimi, rolls, sashimi combos, salads, donuri, noodles, desserts, etc.  The picture above features the chef specials.

Lamb Skewers ($5.95)

The lamb skewers are really tasty.  It is nicely marinated such that it is not too salty, and the lemon and green onion nicely compliment with the lamb.  It would be better if there are four skewers instead of three.

69 Roll ($8.95)

I'm not sure why it is called 69 roll, but sure it is a tasty (and sexy) roll.  It has smoked salmon and eel on the top with avocado and crab meat inside.  This combination is soft and yummy, especially the smoked salmon and smoky mayo gave the roll a bit of a smoky, salty taste.  Because of the name of the roll, my boyfriend and I have decided to try it.  However, I don't think I'll order it again as it seems like a common roll that other Japanese restaurants would have. 

Dragon Roll ($9.95)

On top of the roll, fish roe lays on top of tempera eel with mayo and eel sauce.  Tempura shrimp and cucumber are wrapped inside the roll.  The fried eel and tempura shrimp make the roll really flavourful.  Overall, it is a delightful roll with just the right amount of crunchiness.  However, due to the price, I don't think I'll order it again.

Found memo ($8.50)

It is the best of the four rolls I have tried.  It contains soft shell crab, lettuce, cucumber, and avocado inside the roll and has smeared salmon on top.  I have tried soft shell crab rolls at other restaurants but this one is the best one I've ever tasted!  The soft shell crab in the roll is large enough to actually taste the crab meat (not just the shell).  Also, the crab was warm when it was served, which made it really soft and flavorful.  I will order it again if I go back to the restaurant.

Caterpilla Roll ($7.50)

It is a delightful roll for people who loves avocado (like me)!  It has layers of avocado on top of the roll with cucumber and eel inside.  It tasted nice and soft, though nothing really special about the roll.  I don't think I'll order it again. 

Service * * * * *

There were two lady servers when we were there, one takes orders and the other serves dishes.  Since there were only three tables occupied, we got right amount of attention from the servers.  Water was filled quickly and the food came quickly as well.  The server asked us if we were watching the game, so she'll place us at a table that has a good view of the projector screens.  The lady that served the dishes told us what the rolls were and also asked us how's the dinner.  Both ladies are really responsive and friendly.



Value * * * 1/2

The price is around average for Japanese tapas.  I wish the price is a bit lower so that I can try more different kinds of rolls.  Normally I won't spend $40 on Japanese food unless it is all you can eat.  Regardless, my boyfriend and I were really stuffed after the meal.

Overall * * * *

I will go there again and will recommend my friend to go there.  I had a good time at the restaurant, and I enjoyed the food.  I didn't know about this place until it was featured on groupon.  $20 for $40 was a great deal as I have tried five different dishes and they all tasted good.  I wish I had tried other chef special rolls instead of the caterpilla roll.  

                                            

New finds and deals at McDonald's

I am happy to find some new items on the McDonald's menu!  They include:

1) Third Pounder Angus Burger

This is definitely the bestest item in McDonald's menu!  It comes in three favours: bacon and cheese, swiss and mushroom, and deluxe (which has veggies and cheese).  McDonald's in the States has the third pounder Angus for a long period of time already, and I had always wanted to go to the States for the burger.  I am soo happy  that they bring it over to Canada!  I tried the swiss and mushroom and the deluxe (I'm not a fan of bacon) and they both tasted great!  I personally like the deluxe burger more as I like to have some veggies with my burger. 

2) Peach baked pie

It is a nice new flavour after the banana chocolate pie.  The taste is nice and light with just the right amount of sweetness, which makes it a delightful dessert for spring.  It does have real peach fruit, though not much, and the peach jam in the pie has a subtle flavour and doesn't taste artifical.  Overall it is a good item to try, though I personally like the original apple pie better.

3) Chocolate coffee triple thick milkshake

Oh god, stay away from it!  It is way way way too sweet!!  I guess they mixed chocolate syrup, coffee syrup, and soft serve ice cream together.  I just took one sip and the sugar in the milkshake was so overwhelming.  I took 3 more sips after because I didn't want to waste it (it costs around 3 bucks with tax for a small cup!), but I can't go pass the third sip.

4) Cadburys Creme Egg McFlurry

Yes it is the time of the year again!  McDonald makes this item around Easter time, and it is a favorite to some people (they have a facebook page).  I haven't try it myself and I don't think I will after trying the milkshake.  I have heard that it is very sugary.. but if you like creme egg, this is an item for you!

DEALS!!!!  DEALS!!!  DEALS!!!

1) Today I saw the third pounder Angus for 50% off at the Broadway Station location!!  The burger on its own is usually $5.50, so now it's $2.75!  It is a great saving and a great time to try it out!

2) From April 19-Sept 6, fountain drinks and iced coffee any size is only $1!  Nice way to welcome the warmer weather nowadays :)

3) In Metrotown, regular coffee any size is only $1!  This deal has been going on for a while already, and it is the only location that I know of which has this deal.

4)  Fillet-O-Fish has dropped in price!  Right now it is $2.50 per burger, and it was 3 something before!

I hope you'll enjoy your time at McDonalds and enjoy the deals!  Ba-la ba ba ba

Groupon deal for Samba Brazilian Steakhouse ($20 for $40!)

There is a great dining deal for Samba Brazilian Steakhouse at Groupon!  It is conveniently located at Vancouver Downtown at 1122 Alberni Street.  For $20, you can get $40 toward your food and drink purchase at the restaurant.  You can choose to eat their menu items or their buffet.  Their buffet, like any other buffet, is not cheap.  Here's their prices:

Lunch (Monday-Thursday): $14
Lunch (Friday- Sunday & Holiday): $16
Dinner (Monday- Thursday): $29
Dinner (Friday- Sunday & Holiday): $32

Does it worth to try?  I would say YES!  I dined at the restaurant twice for dinner, and I had pleasant dining experiences at both times.  Though it has been a long time since my last visit, my rating based on those experiences may not be accurate (hence I am not doing a extensive review on it now).  I believe it is one of the restaurants that each Vancouverites should try at least once. 

How is it different from other restaurants?  If you are going for their buffet, the host will give a card that says "Go!  You want more food" on one side and "Stop!  You are full" on the other side.  During the meal, different servers will serve you different kinds of meat (lamb, beef, pork, chicken) right at your table.  Meats are pierced through a sword, just like donair, and the servers will slice the meat from the sword.  Servers and the meats will keep coming to your table until you flip your card to the "you are full" side.  At dinner time, there will be a brazilian belly dancing performance!

Why is it worth the trip?  It is a great place for meat lovers, as you'll have all the meat you want until you can't stand the smell of meat.  When you are tired of chewing meat, you can also eat from the salad and hot food bar .  The salad and hot food bar have pretty good selection, and food in the bar tastes pretty good.  And right now you can get a good deal!

Don't miss this good deal!  The deal is ending in 13 hours!  You can use the coupon until September 11, 2011!

Groupon link:
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu24047029

Here's the details about the restaurant directly from their website
http://www.thaihouse.com/samba-brazilian-steakhouse/

SAMBA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE

Address: 1122 Alberni St. Vancouver
Telephone: (604) 696.9888

LUNCH HOURS

11:30am to 3:00pm Weekday (Mon - Thurs & Sun)
11:30am to 3:30pm Weekend (Fri & Sat)

DINNER HOURS

5:30pm to 10:00pm Weekday (Mon - Thurs & Sun)
5:50pm to 11:00pm Weekend (Fri & Sat)

Afternoon Tea at Shangri-La Hotel's Lobby & Patio

1128 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Afternoon Tea Hours: 1-5pm

Cost: $36 each person

Reservations can be made though OpenTable  

Date of the visit: Feb 14, 2011

As you may have noticed, my high tea at Shangri-La Hotel's Lobby was on a Valentine's Day.  My bf and I wanted to try something different so we went for High Tea for the first time.  My reservation was at 3:30 pm, and there were only two tables occupied at that time.  There wasn't a special menu for Valentine's Day, which is a good thing considering special menus are usually higher in price than the regular menus. 

Ratings (out of five stars)

Food * *

 (Top picture: ooops I spilled some tea on the table.. hehee)

The high tea started with the tea, of course.  There was a large selection of teas to choose from, which was divided to green, black, red, and fruity teas.  I had a fruity tea that I really liked, and my boyfriend had Japanese cherry green tea that he liked a lot too.  Then the scones (one each) came with three different kinds of spreads (cream cheese, raspberry, and peach).  The scones had just the right softness and the spreads tasted well with the scones. The highly anticipated three-tier high tea tray came after the scones.  The bottom layer was the petite sandwiches (smoke salmon, roast beef, and one that I forgot) and a half croissant with egg salad.  The smoke salmon petite sandwich tasted great, and it was the best item in the whole meal.  The middle layer was some random pastry, including a wrap with Portobello mushrooms and veggies, and BBQ pork in a puffed bun, and shredded pork, green onions, and red onion on chow mien.  Sounds amazingly like Chinese food eh?  It tasted amazingly like Chinese food too…  I was not expecting to eat Chinese food in high tea and I was not impressed.  The top layer was the dessert, which has fortune cookie (seriously!), Chinese crunchy cookie, lychee flavoured jelly with Gogi berry, and Shangri-La’s signature cake.  I liked the signature cake, but I was so disappointed of the other dessert items.  I mean, comm’on I can buy them directly from the T&T supermarket.  I would expect more, much more, from Shangri-La Hotel.

The food in general tasted fine (which explains the two stars) but it was definitely lacking creativity.

Value *

To me it was not a value at all!  For that amount of money, I can get a really decent prime rib dinner at the Keg.  I understand that it is supposedly a high class setting and that high tea is generally more pricey than a meal, but for the food I get it is not worth the money.  Although me and my bf had a bit of fun opening the fortune cookie and reading our fortunes, fortune cookies in high tea is a definite turn off to me.  I was going to give zero star for value, but for the service and ambience that we had for amount of time we spent there, I would give it 1 star.

Ambience * * *

It was a relaxing ambience; the seats were comfortable and the ceiling was high.  It could add more decors to create a luxury or elegant ambience.  Since the lobby was facing Arbutus Street, my seat was facing the side of the Urban Fare. 

Service * * * * *

The host was very attentive; he greeted me and my boyfriend immediately when he saw us checking out the menu by the lobby entrance.  He placed us by the window, so we were seated comfortably on an armchair with a decently sized table for high tea.  Our server was quick, and he checked on our tea a few times to see if more water was needed.

Overall * *

I will definitely WILL NOT go back, and I WILL NOT recommend anyone to have high tea there, unless they change the menu.  For the price, I believe there are better high tea places than Shangri-La Hotel. 

                                           

Welcome to my blog!

Hi!  Welcome to my blog of health, shopping and dining!  I am very excited to have my first blog, and I hope you will enjoy it.  Please leave any comments you have and I'll try to reply as soon as I can!