VANCOUVER EATS ON HIATUS

ATTENTION FOODIES! DUE TO PERSONAL FORCES OUT OF MY CONTROL, VANCOUVER EATS WILL NOT BE UPDATED FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. WE HOPE TO BE BACK UP & RUNNING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BUT FOR NOW... THE EATERY IS CLOSED.

DEACON'S CORNER

“FILLED WITH GOOD FOOD”
101 Main St., Vancouver
604.684.1555
website

I love me some Diner grub, I love the somewhat simple look and décor and the greasy spoon food that you can find at a local diner. One of my favorite Food TV shows is “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” not only because it showcases these types of joints all over America but also because it showcases that the food at these joints can also be top notch. Take FOG CITY DINER in San Francisco, it’s a train car Diner but the food is outstanding and the staff all wear white coats and ties. That doesn’t sound like a “greasy spoon” to me. Well Vancouverites, now we have a higher end Diner in “Railtown” (that area next to Gastown, across from Jerktown I think) from the makers of COBRE, called DEACON’S CORNER.

Located on the corner of Main & Alexander, across from the ALIBI ROOM, there once stood a dilapidated café that no one would ever go to because of the substandard food and cleanliness issues. Well, thankfully that has all changed and now there stands a cool 65-seat eatery that's a cross between a Diner and a Café and is bright, clean, friendly and ofcourse, filled with good food.

I met my friend Sarah there, who has been frequenting DEACON’S for a while since she works in the area and we had some late breakfast. Sarah had the Corned Beef Hash & Eggs (with Toast) while I tried the Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs (with Country Gravy, Hashbrowns & Toast). Both meals were gigantic, tasty and not at all greasy, in fact they were light and fresh despite the heaviness of the actual meal. I was stuffed and satisfied afterwards and unlike most Diners, I didn’t have a stomach ache a few hours later.

I would heartily recommend DEACON’S CORNER for breakfast or lunch, they have an ample menu, big portions and great flavors to choose from. The room is bright, the staff is friendly and the coffee is good… what more could you ask for from your local “Diner”?

RATING: 8/10 FULL BELLIES

DB BISTRO MODERNE

“$28 be damned!!!”
2551 W. Broadway St, Vancouver
604.739.7115
website

Ever hear of Daniel Bouland? He’s a world renowned chef who has come to Vancouver, taken over LUMIERE and turned it into DB BISTRO MODERNE. Think traditional French cooking, New York haute cuisine and Pacific Northwest bright flavors which define a critically-acclaimed seasonal menu and uptown casual setting… at least according to their menu. I went to this new hot spot in Kitsilano for lunch and was greeted by a cool yet quiet room.

The menu is smart and lives up to its reputation, modern French with a twist, things looked good, but still pricey… then at the bottom, I saw something… something wonderful. The clouds parted, the sun shined bright, my jaw dropped and my mouth watered. It dropped because I saw a $28 Hamburger, it watered because of what was in said burger.

The Original DB Burger (a classic found in many of Bouland’s restaurants) is a thick, juicy Sirloin Burger filled with Foie Gras and Braised Short Ribs, the patty is then drizzled with Black Truffle Oil and it’s served on a homemade Parmesan Bun… are you kidding me.

$28 be damned, I had to try this burger.

I am happy to report that this burger is as good as it sounds but I never have to order it again, it is so rich I slipped into a food coma right at the table. My lunch companions tried the Coq Au Vin with Wild Mushrooms, Bacon, Pearl Onions and Spaetzle, the Country Duck Pate with Onion Compote and Whole Grain Mustard and The Caesar DB Las Vegas Salad with Parmesan Crisp, Avocado, Anchovy Dressing & Garlic Crouton. All the food was good but seriously, you gotta try this burger. Sirloin? Short ribs? Foie Gras? Truffle Oil? I must be dreaming!!!

DB BISTRO MODERNE has successfully shaken off the past of LUMIERE with it’s new colorful look, tempting menu and a $28 burger that is worth a shot just to say you had it. It is pricey, it is rich and it may cause a heart attack but as you die you will definitely be smiling!

RATING: 8/10 FULL BELLIES

PLAN B LOUNGE/EATERY

“FUNKY & TASTY, A GOOD COMBINATION”

1144 Homer St, Vancouver

604.609.0901

website

What a surprise, another Vancouver restaurant that is exactly the same as all the other Vancouver restaurants and by that I mean:

1. It’s funky and cool
   
2. The menu is unnecessarily wordy & complicated
   
3. It’s pricey
   
4. All the food tastes the same as it does in all the other restaurants.
   

The difference with PLAN B LOUNGE is that the food is actually good!

This lounge eatery is cool, dark walls, modern art and an extremely funky vibe, the food is pretty good too. We tried 4 dishes this evening, the Moroccan Glazed Chicken Popsicles with Parsley Coulis that was definitely the favorite of the evening, a modern twist on the chicken wing rich in flavor and perfectly crisp. The Crisp Pancetta & Nicoise Olive Risotto with Veal Demi Glace was tasty but I actually found it a bit too soupy for my liking. The Steamed Local Mussels with Pomme Frites and Grilled French Bread is always a crowd pleaser and this one was done with a nice classic saffron & white wine sauce that complimented the fresh shells perfectly. Finally, we shared the Charcuterie Plate with Olives, Pickles & Preserves, House-made Pork Pate, Crostini and assorted Fine Cured Meats, a great sharing plate filled with tasty nibbles.

Good food all around. So if you are looking for something good, then I can recommend PLAN B LOUNGE, it’s a funky & tasty joint which is always a good combination.

RATING: 7/10 FULL BELLIES

ZAWA

“ALWAYS GOOD”
920 Commercial Dr, Vancouver
604-255-0470
website

I mentioned in an earlier review that SLICKITY JIM’S was our favorite breakfast joint, but I should say it’s our favorite “fancy” breakfast joint. Sometimes you feel like a bit of “greasy spoon” bacon & eggs, or a quick burger or something else with bacon. When we wake up with a hangover and walk to Commercial Drive, there’s only one place to go and for the 7 times we’ve been there, it’s never let us down… I’m talking about ZAWA.

ZAWA is always good, always fast and always friendly. The place itself is an ugly, giant waste of space that is in serious need of a restaurant makeover but you don’t go there for the ambience, you go there for the food. For this lunch excursion, the three of us had the All Day Breakfast (2 Eggs, hashbrowns & toast with bacon or sausage. $6.99), The Falafel Burger (A delicious homemade falafel pattie with house hummous & fries $7.99) and The Veggie Deluxe Burger (Loaded with sautéed onion, green pepper, mushrooms, cheddar & swiss, served on a whole wheat Kaiser with lettuce, tomato, pickles & mayo $7.99). All three meals were extremely tasty and very reasonably priced. May I also recommend my personal breakfast favorite, the Chorizo Breakfast (2 Eggs cooked any way you like 'em served with spicy chorizo sausage, hashbrowns & toast. $7.99), this is a beauty. Simple and tasty.

There’s really not much more to say about ZAWA on Commercial Drive, for Breakfast and Lunch, it’s a great “greasy spoon” choice for a quick, uncomplicated meal. The room is ugly but the food is worthy of a visit, especially to nurse that weekend hangover.

RATING: 6.5/10 FULL BELLIES

MODERNE BURGER

“GREAT BUT NOT THE BEST”

2507 W. Broadway, Kitsilano

604-739-0005

website

Burgers are big business in Vancouver, everyone claims to have “the best burger” in town but consistently it comes down to two main competitors: VERA’S BURGER SHACK and MODERNE BURGER. I have said before that VERA’S is my #1 choice but I consistently hear great things about MODERNE so today I tried it and truth be told I still prefer VERA’S but that’s not to say that this wasn’t a good burger, it was, it just wasn’t the best.

If you’ve never been to MODERNE BURGER, the place is awesome. It’s designed like a 50’s Diner, it’s bright, it’s fun and the menu is small. Burgers, Floats, Shakes and that’s about it. It’s won numerous awards for it’s hamburgers like “Best Burger House 2007” and “Best Burger in Town 2008” and I can see why, they take their burgers seriously as they do the environment they serve it in.

I had the Moderne Steak Burger with Chedder, Fried Onions & BBQ Sauce and it was great but not the best and hears why. The BBQ sauce was too sweet with very little spice, I ordered the burger with fried onions and I got very little on my actual patty, just a few strands and finally, I found the quality and size of the meat not up to the standards set by VERA’S. The patty was small and somewhat dry. The Hand Cut Fries were great and the dipping sauce (chipotle?) is fantastic!

Now this is not to say that it was a bad burger, it wasn’t, it was great but not the best. I will definitely go back to MODERNE BURGER and give it another go because the food and the location are too cool to ignore and seriously, it's a good burger.

RATING: 7.5/10 FULL BELLIES

CIPRIANO'S RISTORANTE & PIZZARIA

“TOO EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT YOU GET”

3995 Main Street, Vancouver

604.879.0020

No Website

Being Italian, I rarely go to Italian restaurants cause quite frankly, I get kick ass and make kick ass Italian food at home. But as we were dining with friends tonight, Jonathan suggested we go to CIPRIANO'S as he said “it has the best lasagna he’s ever had”. I went there once about 9 years ago and couldn’t really remember it so who am I to argue with Jonathan’s request? Well, I should have argued a bit.

You walk in and are greeted with red & green walls, pics of Italy and Frank Sinatra, a Goodfellas poster in the bathroom, yes this place is a time warp back to the Italian Restaurants of the 80’s… small, cheesy yet quaint. Right off the bat I sensed trouble as none of the staff were smiling and made little conversation with us or any of the other tables. We ordered some Garlic Bread for the table, Jonathan got the lasagna, my wife got the Pasta ala Casa and I went for the Veal Parmigiana.

Note, for the cheap look of the place, the menu is limited and everything costs around $20, pricey. A basket of garlic bread costs around $7 and the meals were all between $18-$22. Hmm… better be good.

The Garlic Bread was outstanding, I know it’s just garlic bread but I think they bake it in butter dishes or something cause it’s the richest, tastiest, best Garlic Bread I’ve ever had… ever. The rest of the meal didn’t hold up to the bar set by the bread however. My Veal Parmigiana was tough, dry and quite thick (I was expecting a thinner piece of meat). The pasta on the side was good but the sauce was very sweet (did they add sugar or are they using canned tomatoes…). My wife’s Pasta ala Casa was huge and based off of the same tomato sauce as mine but it had huge pieces of sliced spicy sausage as well. Nothing extraordinary. As for Jonathan’s Lasagna, it was huge as well and dripping with cheese, he was extremely pleased with it but for the price, I was honestly expecting more.

After the meal, we sat around and talked for a bit but he kept getting hounded by the staff “do you want anything else?” “Can I get you anything?” in other words, they were asking us to get the hell out of there and it was only 9:30pm. As we paid the giant bill (yes this place is too expensive for what you get in my opinion) and walked out the door, I heard the lock engage behind us. Good, cause it will probably be another nine years before I go back to CIPRIANO'S… unless its for the garlic bread.

RATING: 5/10 FULL BELLIES

LUX AT CAPRICE

“LUX SUX”

965 Granville St, Vancouver

604.685.3189

website

Amongst the pseudo-bright lights of Granville Street’s Entertainment District lies the Caprice nightclub and it’s lounge-restaurant called LUX. We went there for a friends birthday dinner and trust me when I say, I will never be going back.

LUX is one of the most poorly run, overpriced, undertasting eateries I have ever been too, quite simply, LUX sux. Our party of 25 was under a two hour time limit (cause they had another party coming in at 9:15), fine, they said they would set us up in the lounge afterwards. The didn’t, the lounge was packed so after slow drinks, even slower food and everyone being pissed off, we had to leave LUX and look for another location at 9pm on a Saturday night. Luckily DUECE BUNGALOW had room for us and although I was unkind to them in a previous review, they’ve updated their menu and those who ate, loved it.

If there’s one thing I liked, it’s the room itself. This intimate 80-seat dining area features chic banquettes, candle-lit tables, and socially alluring sofas, all wrapped in the warm glow of a beautiful fireplace. Lots of white, silver and maroon highlights, it’s a good looking room. Too bad the service didn’t match the restaurant. Drinks were slow and the waitress constantly had to be reminded that we actually ordered drinks, food was even slower, so slow in fact, we had to cancel some meals because we were getting kicked out. We tried talking to the manager about the slow service and the lack of room in the lounge since we were getting kicked out of the dining room but he actually had the balls to say it was our fault. Our fault, the kitchen, bar and waitress was slow, our fault they booked another party after us, our fault they didn’t want us to spend our money there either I guess. Wow.

Now onto the food, only so-so, as it tastes like all the other food available at the other restaurants in the Granville Area. Like they all share one giant kitchen under the street with little conveyor belts up to the individual dining rooms. I had the Pulled Chicken Tacos with Mole (Maple Hills Chicken, spiced mole, pickled red cabbage & carrot, crème fraiche & gold flakes) and the BC Dungeness Crab Lollipops (Fresh crab, peppers & cilantro, lemon tarragon cream, crispy leeks, paprika garlic oil). They were both only okay, no stand out flavors, nothing memorable which is too bad as they both sound so good. Add to that that these small “share” plates were over $11 each is like an extra knife in the gut. I don’t mind paying high prices for great tapas but these weren’t great, $7 tapas at best.

As you can tell, I thought LUX was awful. I cannot believe that this place is still around when other far better places are closing their doors. The management and service were horrid, the prices outrageous and the food only decent. Small portions, big prices. Skip LUX altogether, trust me, you won't be missing a thing.

RATING: 2/10 FULL BELLIES

ANDUCCI'S

“THAT’S A LOT OF PASTA”
9604 Cameron St, Burnaby
604.444.4788
website

We used to joke about the portions of Pasta at Anton’s when we were growing up. Cause it never was that tasty but it was cheap and you could stretch out the leftovers over a couple of meals. I went there once or twice but the quality of the pasta never sold me so I stopped going. Years later, my wife introduced me to ANDUCCI’S as she said it had “good big portions of pasta” so who am I to argue. We tried it out and she was right, for $15, I was given a truckload of pasta and while it wasn’t of the highest quality, it was still damn good.

There are a few ANDUCCI’S in town but this night we went to the Burnaby location and it was packed, there was a Canucks game on and all of their TV’s were showing the game. The place is dark with lots of stonework, it’s got kind of an Italian-American Milestones vibe to it and all the servers are young and busy talking to each other rather than checking in on the tables. We sat down to peruse their giant menu but really we were here for pasta so that’s the page we stuck to. ANDUCCI’S lets you choose they type of pasta you want, then the sauce combination that goes with it. Cool.

My wife ordered THE HULK WITH WHOLE WHEAT PASTA (Fresh avocado, fresh baby spinach leaves, lemon, seared mushrooms, roasted almonds, and melted goat cheese in a garlic olive oil sauce) while I had THE CARNIVORE KING WITH SPAGHETTINI (Mamma’s meatballs, capicolla, and Italian sausage in a creamy meat sauce). Both plates were gigantic, tasty and could not be finished. In my opinion, HULK was tastier than KING but KING was more filling. At lunch, they offer smaller portions for $10 but really, for $15 and this portion size, it’s two meals worth of food on one plate. Wow, that’s a lot of pasta.

I can’t comment on the other food offerings at ANDUCCI’S as I’ve only been there for the pasta but really, why else go. The price point for the portion size is right up my alley and I can forgive the blasé wait staff for being young. It’s a great place for well-priced truckloads of pasta!

As a side note, I looked up Anton’s online and realized they bumped up their prices, a plate of pasta there costs the same as a plate of pasta at ANDUCCI’S. Hmm, me thinks a Burnaby Spaghetti Smackdown is in order. Stay tuned.

RATING: 7/10 FULL BELLIES

SLICKITY JIM’S CHAT N’ CHEW

“OUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST JOINT”
2513 Main Street, Vancouver
604.873.6760
no website

One of our favorite breakfast haunts in the core of Vancouver is the eclectic yet laid back SLICKITY JIM'S CHAT N' CHEW. This is our fifth time at the popular main street eatery and it was as good as always. A couple things you gotta know though:

• This place is small and very popular so be prepared to wait, especially on the weekend, sometimes it 45 minutes or more but trust me, it's worth it.
• This place is eclectic; the walls look like someone took a retro yard sale full of junk and stapled it all over the walls. There is a kind of "diner" feel to this place and the booths for four are a tight squeeze but while you are waiting for your food, there's lots to look at.
• The food and the coffee are fantastic. This isn't a typical breakfast joint as JIM'S has taken the art of food-naming to a whole new level. Everything has a funky name that has nothing to do with the meal you’re eating but who cares, it’s fun.

This time around the wife and I ordered Je Suis Un Petite Canard (Scrambled Eggs with Avocado, Feta & Salsa Verde on English Muffins, served with Mixed Greens & Potatoes) while I had Figment of My Imagination (a Benny with baby shrimp, Bocconcini cheese and fig chutney, served with roasted potatoes). Both meals were out of this world. And that goes for every meal I've had at this place, SLICKITY JIM'S is tasty, it's cheap, it's got character and it's got good coffee. What more can you ask for.

So if you are sick of brunch at Milestones and are looking for more than just Bacon & Eggs, than I heartily recommend SLICKITY JIM'S CHAT N' CHEW. Despite the long wait and the cramped seating, the food speaks for itself and we will definitely come back for more!!!

RATING: 8/10 FULL BELLIES

THOMAS HAAS PATISSERIE-CHOCOLATE & CAFE

“SO MUCH MORE THAN GREAT CHOCOLATE”
128-998 Harbourside Dr, North Van
604.924.1847
website

If you are looking for one of those “hidden gems” on the North Shore, then do I have the place for you… THOMAS HAAS PATISSERIE-CHOCOLATE & CAFÉ. Yes, Thomas Hass is known for his kick ass Chocolates, Cookies and Cakes but what you might not know is that he cooks up some mean food as well! This tiny café is, well, tiny… it fits about 15 people and that’s pushing it, also, it’s always busy and I mean always for both the savory and the sweet.

We went to pick up some birthday chocolates for a friend and we ended up staying for luch because the food looked so damn good. We had the Leek & Portobello Mushroom Quiche (with Marscapone Cheese, Shallots & Garlic) and the Tomato & Bocconcini Panini (with Pesto, Avocado, Arugula & Roasted Red Peppers). Both meals were small yet filling and exploding with fresh, vibrant flavors. For dessert (you gotta have dessert if you’re eating at Thomas Haas, right?), we shared the Summer Brioche Pudding and the Pistachio Sour Cherry Tart. Needless to say, both were out of this world. We finished it all off with two of the tastiest Americano this side of JJ Bean. All in all, it’s a bit pricey but no one said that guilty pleasures were cheap ☺

Do yourself a favor and let yourself indulge by trying THOMAS HAAS PATISSERIE-CHOCOLATE & CAFÉ, not only are the sweets kick ass and the coffee good but the food is surprisingly good and obviously fresh. This is definitely going to become one of our North Shore “hidden gem” favorites.

RATING: 8/10 FULL BELLIES

SECTION (3)

“SPOT HOT, FOOD NOT”
1039 Mainland St, Yaletown
604.684.2777
website

Wow, this place is pumping! We were there on a Friday night and SECTION (3) was packed with more and more people always coming in. I wish I could say it was for the food, alas, it wasn’t. Mediocrity reigns at SECTION (3) as my Wild Mushroom Pizza was “warm” at best, the Cheese Quesadilla was “dull” and the Butternut Squash Gnocchi was “missing” that’s right, even though we ordered it, it never came, we had to ask for it “twice” before it arrived and needless to say, it wasn’t worth the wait. Add to that, the servers all looked like they slept in their clothes and were frankly pissed off that it was so busy and they had to actually work. I swear I never saw one person, from the hostess, to the waiter, to the busser, to the bartender “smile” the entire evening. The final nail in the coffin was when they didn’t remove the gnocchi from the bill, we still had to pay for it, even though we had to wait so long to eat it.

I’m sorry, for these kind of prices and that kind of service, SECTION (3) is not worth a return visit. It may be a weekend hot spot for drinks and ambience but the lackluster food and awful service will make me think twice before returning for another visit.

RATING: 3/10 FULL BELLIES

LA REGALADE

“BEST FRENCH FOOD IN THE CITY”
103-2232 Marine Dr., West Vancouver
604.921.2228
website


Two years ago, we went to LA REGALADE for a friends birthday and have always wanted to go back as at the time, my wife and I both thought that it was the best French food we’d had in the city. With foody-loving friends in from Toronto, we decided to take them to LA REGALADE just on the basis of our experience two years earlier. I am happy to say that I still feel it’s the best French food in the city.

What I like about this place is that it isn’t snooty, it’s casual. You re greeted by a bustling room and an open concept kitchen filled with loud chefs, but all that is lost in the wondrous smells that are filling the place. Wow, it’s like you died and went to heaven. It appears that most of the staff speak French and while they talk to you, they yell to each other, it’s a great atmosphere and really adds to the feel of this casual bistro.

And then there’s the food… dear god, it’s good. Instead of getting a large plate with one or two rich morsels of meat for $40.00 at LA REGALADE you are greeted with a big Dutch Oven or fry pan filled with meat and veggies in a rich sauce for about $28, it truly is delectable French country cooking.

Between the four of us, we went for La Gratinée à l'Oignon (French onion soup), Les Escargots en Crouton (Snails in garlic butter and herbs) and the Prawn Ravioli in rich Lobster Sauce. Let’s stop right there and talk about these appies, these three alone were enough to fill us up. The soup was subtle in flavor striking the perfect balance between beef and onions and covered with a bubbling mountain of cheese. The Escargots (ofcourse you have to try the snails at a French Bistro) were little bombs of garlicky goodness covered with fresh diced herbs. They were sensational. Finally, four big Raviolis filled with fresh shrimp and drizzled with a rich Lobster Sauce were to die for. These appetizers were fantastic.

For our mains we really dove deep into the land of full bellies. I had the Short Ribs in a creamy Peppercorn Sauce that was out of this world, the Dutch Oven was filled with an ample portion of fall-off-the-bone tender beef, sliced carrots & onions in the richest and tastiest peppercorn sauce I have ever had… ever! Michelle had the smaller yet no less tantalizing Sable Parmesan & Tomato Tart that was a great combination of sharp cheese and fresh veggie on a golden flaky tart. Our friends shared the classic Beef Bourguignon, a Dutch Oven filled with a red-wine based beef stew and the Seafood Vol Au Vent, puff pastry stuffed with a cornucopia of fresh seafood. They were both amazed with the quality, taste and portion size and as I tried both, I can say that they were fabulous.

If there was one downside to the evening, it was the temperature. Our table was surrounded by three floor-to-ceiling windows and by half way through the evening, the ladies had to put their coats back on as it was so cold. Luckily the food warmed us up but there really is no reason for us to be wearing our coats during dinner if they turned up the heat a bit more. This didn’t detract from the overall experience but it is worth noting.

LA REGALADE is a great place. It’s a small room but it’s alive and bustling with passionate people and sounds. The food however is the reason to come back again for more, really, it is sensational. I’ve been here twice and both times I was astounded at how good the food was, so much so, I am truly looking forward to going there again. This really is the best French Food in the City.

RATING: 9.5/10 FULL BELLIES

LA CASITA

“GOOD OL' FASHIONED DOWN HOME MEXICAN COOKING”
101 W. Cordova St, Gastown
604.646.2444
website






There are a lot of Mexican choices in this city and I’ve reviewed a few of them but one thing that Mexican places have in common is that they all try to put a new spin on the classics. Not at LA CASITA, here they try and make the best classic Mexican dishes they can and they do quite well.

Located in the heart of sketchyville Gastown, this little eatery on the corner of Abbott & Cordova is an oasis of food in a neighborhood that is slowly cleaning itself up. You are greeted with homemade chips and spicy salsa and a large menu that gives you a lot of choice in food and size. That’s right, at LA CASITA you can choose the size of most meals like the small enchilada (one), medium (two) or large (three enchiladas), pretty cool. Here you really can control the amount of meat & cheese you are ingesting!!!

I’ve been to LA CASITA a number of times but for this outing we went with our neighbors. After some Margaritas and Cervezas, the four of us enjoyed some Mushroom & Onion Quesadillas, the tasty Shrimp & Scallop Soft Tacos, the classic Beef Chimichangas and the daily special of Al Pastor & Chorizo Burrito.

The food as always was fantastic, rich, cheesy, flavorful and simple. Each of the dishes came with frijoles (refried beans) and salad but since I had the daily special (the Burrito), it came with a traditional Mexican Apple Salad which was great! Needless to say, all four of us were stuffed and satisfied with the meal.

If you are looking for some good down home Mexican cooking, then I highly recommend LA CASITA, it’s great for those “classic dishes”, they have some good specials and you will always leave with a smile on your face.

RATING: 8/10 FULL BELLIES

WINGS!!! WINGS!!! WINGS!!!

Is there such a thing as “the best Chicken Wing in the City”? Who know’s but it is definitely worth investigating!!! I tried to stay in the Downtown Core of Vancouver as I wanted to keep my search contained and there are too many places to choose from. This is by no means a definitive list but it’s a good damn start…

BROWN’S SOCIAL HOUSE
website
CHICKEN HOT WINGS
FLAVOUR: Classic Hot
CHICKEN: Awesome, crispy, juicy and a healthy size
# OF WINGS: 12
PRESENTATION: 3/5 - Classic
SIDES: Celery Sticks and REAL Blue Cheese Sauce… booya!
COMMENTS: Great tasting wings, spicy, crispy, meaty & juicy but nothing too original.
SCORE: 7/10

CACTUS CLUB CAFÉ
website
CHICKEN WINGS
FLAVOUR: Hot
CHICKEN: Small but flavorful & juicy, never dry, always fresh
# OF WINGS: 12
PRESENTATION: 4/5 - Solid, good pile of wings, no hot sauce spray
SIDES: Celery and Blue Cheese dip… the classic
COMMENTS: The gold standard, if you want basic hot wings, a great mix of spicy & crispy, it’s hard to beat these ones.
SCORE: 7.5/10

DEUCE BUNGALOW
website
DOUBLE BREADED CHICKEN WINGS
FLAVOUR: Natural, like fried chicken
CHICKEN: solid, good sized, fresh tasting
# OF WINGS: 10
PRESENTATION: 4/5 - cool, long thin plate, wings piled on one side, sauces on the other
SIDES: Avocado Sour Cream and House Hot Sauce
COMMENTS: The wings on their own were good but bland but with the sauces awesome.
SCORE: 7/10

DIX BBQ & BREWERY
website
FULL POUND OF BEER WINGS
FLAVOUR: Hot
CHICKEN: Good sized Wings, juicy inside, crispy (exactly like I asked for) outside
# OF WINGS: 13
PRESENTATION: 3/5 – Standard issue, plastic Basket
SIDES: None – none offered, none given
COMMENTS: Tasty but not “hot”, needed more spice. Crispy like I asked for but the odd wing didn’t taste “fresh”
SCORE: 6/10

EARLS
website
ONE POUND OF WINGS
FLAVOUR: Franks Red Hot,
CHICKEN: Medium size, crispy outside, juicy inside
# OF WINGS: 14
PRESENTATION: 5/5 – no mess
SIDES: Parmesan Cheese Dip & 5 celery sticks
COMMENTS: Good, average, middle of the road Hot Wings. Mild spice, no afterburn.
SCORE: 6/10

HURRICANE GRILL
website
GOTTA DO THE “WING THING” HOT WINGS
FLAVOUR: Classic Hot Wings
CHICKEN: Juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Could have been “saucier” though.
# OF WINGS: 10
PRESENTATION: 5/5 - Side of fries! FRIES! Awesome and Carrot & Celery sticks
SIDES: Ranch Dip
COMMENTS: Pretty good, definitely in t he top 10
SCORE: 7/10

JIMMY’S TAP HOUSE
website
HOT WINGS
FLAVOUR: Supposed to be hot but they weren’t spicy at all.
CHICKEN: Cold and soggy even though I asked for the wings to be extra crispy
# OF WINGS: 12
PRESENTATION: 2/5 - Side of Carrot sticks
SIDES: Blue Cheese Dip
COMMENTS: Cold wings… seriously.
SCORE: 1/10

JOEY’S
website
HIBACHI WINGS
FLAVOUR: Smoked/Spice Rubbed
CHICKEN: Small but juicy, flavorful and fall-off-the-bone good
# OF WINGS: 13
PRESENTATION: 5/5 - Top Notch, lots of wings, dip & BBQ to grill your smoked wings.
SIDES: Parmesan Dip
COMMENTS: Really, really tasty and a great overall presentation.
SCORE: 9/10

LIBRARY SQUARE
website
CHICKEN WINGS BY THE POUND
FLAVOUR: Honey BBQ
CHICKEN: Medium with a few larger drumsticks
# OF WINGS: 11
PRESENTATION: 2/5 – old discolored plate, sloppy sauce marks everywhere
SIDES: none
COMMENTS: Sticky & crispy. The honey added a nice sweet touch but the bbq sauce tasted like it was out of a bottle.
SCORE: 5/10

MILESTONES
website
SPICY THAI CHICKEN DRUMMETTES
FLAVOUR: Thai goodness drizzled with a great peanut sauce
CHICKEN: big wings, crispy with a flavorful coating.
# OF WINGS: 8
PRESENTATION: 4/5 - Nice plate, arranged wings on top of a drizzle of peanut sauce
SIDES: Toasted sesame-cucumber mayonnaise… awesome
COMMENTS: So tasty, so good, if you like thai flavours, these are the wings for you!
SCORE: 9/10

MOXIES
website
CHICKEN WINGS
FLAVOUR: Hot
CHICKEN: medium sized wings but the chicken didn’t taste fresh
# OF WINGS: 9
PRESENTATION: 3/5 - Nice rectangle plate, dip on the end
SIDES: Buttermilk Ranch Dip, Celery & Carrots
COMMENTS: Disappointing, a nice spice but batter wasn't crispy and wings felt soft & gummy
SCORE: 4/10

THE REEF
website
JERKED WINGS
FLAVOUR: Tasty, mellow burn comes after a few wings
CHICKEN: Baked not fried and fall off the bone good!
# OF WINGS: 8
PRESENTATION: 3/5 - Small plate with a portion of eight
SIDES: none
COMMENTS: Small portion but the baked Jerk spice and tender meat make these a winner
SCORE: 8/10

ROXY BURGER
website
MONSTER CHICKEN WINGS
FLAVOUR: Chili Lime & Honey Garlic
CHICKEN: Gigantic, basically a drumstick. Crispy yet tender but some were a bit dry & gamey.
# OF WINGS: 6 per order
PRESENTATION: 4/5 - Wow! These things are huge!
SIDES: Asked if I wanted Blue Cheese, Ranch or Sour Cream. Nice!
COMMENTS: A plate of six fills you up! Some dark meat here which was a surprise, almost too big. Meat sweats!
SCORE: 5/10

STELLA’S TAP & TAPAS BAR
website
CHILI & POMEGRANATE WINGS
One pound of Piquin chili & pomegranate molasses glazed chicken wings
FLAVOUR: Cool with a hint of heat. You get sweetness, then heat, then the cool – it all works!
CHICKEN: Nice, crispy, meaty, yet juicy
# OF WINGS: 12
PRESENTATION: 5/5 - Fantastic, stacked on a rectangular plate
SIDES: None but the wings are drizzled with a mild tstaziki and covered with green onions
COMMENTS: A nice departure from the usual Wing & the mellow flavors make these a treat!
SCORE: 8/10

YAGGERS
website
FREE RANGE CHICKEN WINGS
FLAVOUR: Baja Spice
CHICKEN: good size, some small, some large
# OF WINGS: 11
PRESENTATION: 5/5 - Great, small plate w/ garnish of chives
SIDES: none
COMMENTS: Notes of Cilantro, Citrus & Pepper, crispy outside & juicy inside. Mellow burn.
SCORE: 8/10

So here's how it all shakes out:

FAVORITE WING: Milestones Thai Drumettes
MOST UNIQUE WING: Joey's Hibachi Wings
BEST "HOT" WING: Yagger's Baja Spice Wing
WEIRDEST WING: Roxy's drumstick-like Monster Chicken Wings
WORST WING: Jimmy's Hot Wings

More wing reviews to come...