Category Archives: pub/bar

Doolin’s Irish Pub Spring/Summer Menu Tasting

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I was invited along with a handful of other Vancouver food bloggers to check out Doolin’s new additions for their Spring and Summer menu update.  I’ve never been here before but it’s quite popular to watch the game and drink beers but with this menu update there really trying to expand the kitchen offerings beyond the usual burgers, wings and deep-fried oddities.

With a nice selection of beers on tap and a fully stocked bar your sure to find something to wet your whistle.

We were given the option of checking out there Doolin’s Ale or any of the featured craft beers on special this month-I went with some Red Racer ESP, it wasn’t too heavy and I quite enjoyed this, priced at $6.85 it’s a nice sized pint and went well with the dishes we got to try.

Duck Confit Flat Bread-tender duck confit, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, mozzarella and Parmesan.  This is something that you wouldn’t expect to come out of a Irish pub kitchen, the combination of ingredients was a winner for me.  The price on the menu for this is $10.

Mediterranean Flat Bread-grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onions, spinach, artichoke hearts, banana peppers, mozzarella, feta and pesto sauce.  This was good but it’s nothing out of the ordinary, the combination of ingredients is basically just like any other Mediterranean pizza but I did enjoy eating it.  Price wise this is $9.

Crab and Asparagus Flat Bread-fresh crab, asparagus, roasted red peppers, scallions, mozzarella, Parmesan and creamy Alfredo sauce.  This was my least favorite flat bread and it had nothing to do with the combination of ingredients and more based on personal taste and I say this because 2 of my friends that were at the tasting found this to be there favorite flat bread, I personally don’t like crab mixed with different cheeses let alone Alfredo sauce.  On the menu this is $10.

The one thing that was consistent with all the flat breads was the fact the crust was nice and crisp and help up well to the ingredients, each flat bread would be perfect to share between 2 people or if you’re looking for a light lunch there great for 1.

Duck Bites-bite sized pieces of duck, marinated in a chipotle and ginger with pickled jalapenos, wrapped in bacon and served with a sweet sesame soy glaze.  These were one of my favorite items of the night, each dick bite was like a smokey, meaty flavor explosion and the greens on the plate were a nice touch to break up the rich flavors.  A mere $8 gets you these bad boys.

Pan Seared Mahi Mahi-lightly seasoned 8oz fish steak, served with Pico de Gallo salsa and a cilantro lime pilaf.  This is something that yo wouldn’t expect to find of a pub menu, the fish was nice and firm yet not dry, the sauce had a nice tang from the pico de gallo.  It was supposed to come with a cilantro rice pilaf but I think the kitchen gave us the same rice as the salmon dish mentioned below.  This is priced at $16 on the menu.

Baja Fish Sandwich-pan-seared mahi mahi, shredded cabbage, a dash of fresh lime juice, Southwestern sauce on a sourdough kaiser bun and served with mild hot sauce.  Again Doolin’s is trying to branch out and offer different options and this is one of them, nice mahi mahi again with a tangy southwest sauce and squeeze of fresh lime along with the crunch of the cabbage brought this fish sandwich to another level from what was offered before.  Fries were served on the side and were decent.  This sandwich is $12 on the menu.

Pulled Beer Can Chicken Sandwich-tender pulled chicken roasted with pilsner, garlic and rosemary, rich gravy, crispy fried onions, dijonaise, served on a sourdough kaiser bun.  This was my main and it looked great, everyone commented on how it was reminiscent of a certain to remain nameless food cart’s sandwich and I think having that in my head set me up for disappointment in the end.  The dish has all the key ingredients to be an awesome sandwich but I found the flavors of the key ingredients to be lacking, the chicken was in the dry/stringy side and would benefit from being brined 1st and the gravy needed some more herb and chicken flavor.  One thing that blew me away was the coleslaw, it was tangy and seasoned, totally a step up from regular coleslaw.  This is priced at $11 on the menu.

Turkey Clubhouse Sandwich-slow-roasted turkey breast, bacon, ham, lettuce, tomato, mayo on toasted clubhouse bread.  The clubhouse is a classic sandwich and Doolin’s takes theirs to another level by adding ham and using fresh roasted turkey.  Simple great ingredients make a great sandwich and that’s all I can say about this Doolin’s offering.  Again this sandwich is $11 on the menu.

Blackened Sesame Salmon-a pan seared 8oz wild Alaskan salmon with a wasabi, ginger and sesame crust, served with wild rice and vegetables.  @MaryInVancity had this dish, I found the combination of ingredients used in the blackening spice to be really, really hot and salty, Mary ended up removing most of the spice to enjoy the salmon, the fish was cooked beautifully and she enjoyed that about it.  One thing I’d push Doolin’s to do is use BC salmon and drop the Alaskan, seeing we live where great salmon is available locally it only makes sense.  The salmon is priced at $17.

Homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a coffee chocolate ice cream.  As a treat that wasn’t part of the official menu the chef brought us out some of the homemade carrot cake with a chocolate/coffee ice cream.  The had this dish on their done out menu and it was super popular so they have kept it around, it was super moist and the cream cheese frosting was the proverbial “icing on the cake”.  We all had the consensus that they need to make pint-sized containers of this ice cream and sell it to the public-it was completely delicious.

So I’d say most of the new dishes are alright and with some tweaking to a couple they’d be perfect but a the end of the day it’s a step up from the usual pub food, I’d definitely come back for that duck flat bread and those duck bites.

Doolin's Irish Pub on Urbanspoon

**Disclosure~I was invited to preview the menu and my meal and drinks were paid for by the bar but my opinions of the food and experience are completely my own.**

Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar

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One restaurant that has really embraced all forms of Social Media and there customers as well is Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar at Waterfront Station. They offer daily specials if you follow them on Twitter, contests via Facebook and free gift certificates for drinks and menu items if you “check in” on your visit on Foursquare and that’s just what they have in the works right now, @MaryInVancity introduced me to this place and informed me of the deals they offer via social media, it’s definitely on her usual dining and drinking spots and her post in it can be found here.

The space is great and with the high ceilings it’s afforded them the opportunity to really split the space up and make intimate dining areas that are great for any sized group.

pardon the green spots on the picture

They really create a nice atmosphere at night with the candlelight and over sized Jetson like chandeliers.

These are the drinks we scored for following them on Twitter, the specials change daily and today it was any drink off the menu, I went with the Central City Raspberry Wheat Ale~Infused with raspberries from the Fraser Valley, this wheat ale is crisp and clean with a subtle fruitiness. The toasted crystal malt from England balances the natural acidity of the raspberries producing a beer that is refreshing and a delightful taste experience, Mary went with a glass of Gewürztraminer, at $11 for the wine and $6 for my beer it’s a no brainer to follow them on Twitter.  They have a HUGE beer list and some killer cocktails and shots so if you’re looking to hit a bar and watch the game Rogue is the place for you.

Asian Potstickers were up next for us, recommended by our server they were a hit, they were nicely fried and filled with seasoned pork and served with a sesame soy and sriracha dipping sauce for $8.99.

The Sushi Bombs 2.0 are a new thing to me but one of the things the Rogue is known for, they are sushi rice rolled in a ball and topped with albacore tuna, tobiko, wasabi flying fish roe, sriracha & sesame seeds and chased with wasabi soy shots~you put the whole thing in you mouth and squeeze the soy wasabi shot in your mouth as you pull it out.  They were OK~I thought the wasabi roe along with the sriracha on top along with the soy mix was a bit hot for me, the tuna was really understated compared to the other ingredients in this dish.  For $9.99 it was a neat thing to try but I wouldn’t order it again.

Mary went with the Coconut Poached Chicken Salad, it had snap peas, red & yellow peppers, mango, mixed greens, cashews, thin Asian noodles and sesame soy dressing, for $14.99 it was a filling meal and a pretty big salad, the coconut poached chicken really added a nice Thai touch to the meal.  Mary said she enjoyed it and from what I tasted I would order it sometime.

With my never ending burger hunt I just had to try the 9.2oz Rogue Burger, it was totally ultra juicy, a two napkin-er, made from house ground sirloin burger cooked to 160 F, placed on a sesame brioche bun and topped with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickle, sweet relish & mayo, served with your choice of fries~they have 4 or 5 different varieties or a salad for $12.99 it’s a solid choice, I went with their regular fries on this visit

they use Kennebec Potatoes for all their fry variety’s and were munched on by the both of us.

With the great service we got, the diverse food choice along with all the specials~both via Social Media and regular daily in house specials Rogue Wet bar is going on my go to list for drinks and good eats and would suggest it to anyone~especially if you’re visiting our fine city in the Gastown area.

Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar on Urbanspoon

Ensemble Tap

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Top Chef Canada winner and hometown hero Dale MacKay has opened the doors to his second restaurant this week and all I can say is the boy has been busy building a dining empire and all this success has happened within this year.

The new space is big and open, the flat screens all around the restaurant shows the games of the day and there are 17 different beers on tap here hence the name~Ensemble Tap.

The menu is focused on upscale pub food and when you stop and think about what big chain restaurants charge for food Ensemble Tap’s prices are right on par with the big guy’s but the quality of food is leaps and bounds above the big guy’s.

I started out with some beer and the staff here are knowledgeable about the different beers here and were happy to recommend this based on what I like in beer and boy was it a great choice.

For my appy I went with the classic French Onion soup for $8.  This was a classic french onion soup topped with Gruyère cheese, the broth was rich and full-bodied

the soup was packed with caramelized onions like any great French Onion soup should be.  One benefit of it being served in this camp style bowl was that I was able to pick it up and tilt it to get all that yummy stuff out of it.

For my main I wanted to try the recipe that won him a challenge on Top Chef Canada and is also served at his other restaurant Ensemble, the Pulled Pork sandwich with apple horseradish slaw, served with a side of Baked Beans and a cup of trademark Ensemble Kennebec Fries for $13.

The fries were cooked perfectly and not greasy yet totally crisp, these were some of the best fries I’ve had in a while and reminded me of Belgian Frites.

The baked beans were not overly smokey and had pulled pork in them, they were a delight to eat and I would have licked the ramekin clean if I were alone!

The pickles on the side also were tart and crisp like a good dill should be.

Now for the star of the show!, a nice soft bun that held together nicely, delish apple horseradish slaw and saucy smoked melt in your mouth pork,,,I’m hungry for one right now!, as far as pulled pork sandwiches go its one of the best I’ve had and is a must try for anyone coming to the restaurant, the slaw wasn’t to strong with the horseradish.

I’m really happy Ensemble Tap has opened it’s doors and I think it’s going to be one of those classic go to local restaurants for many years to come.

**Updated post December 14, 2011**

I went back for some more awesome food and Ensemble Tap~I was craving the Pork Chop dish and some good beer so here is the food!

Ensemble Lager $5.50, this is the house beer brewed for them by Big Rock Brewery, it’s a crisp lager that would go well with almost any dish on the menu and is a safe bet if your unsure of what to try.

Next up is the Tree Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale $7, this was a medium bodied beer that had a clan finish to it with a bit of hop flavor, I usually don’t go for amber ales but server recommended this and I’m glad she did~it is defiantly on my drink list.

For my appy I went with the Popcorn Prawns with Spicy Mayo for $12.  Crispy battered juicy prawns with a kaffir lime scented mayo~what more can I say besides they were AWESOME!, I gobbled these up quick and the mayo has that nice mouth tingling effect.

The garnish for the prawns is tempura battered sea asparagus, I’ve never had this before but have seen it on Food Network, it was nicely battered and tasted like the ocean~I found the taste interesting.

This is what I was craving for a couple of days, its inspired by one of Dale’s favorite childhood meals~pork chops and sauerkraut!.  This is a  kicked up version of a basic pork chop meal, the chop is brined before hand and then smoked and served with a mustard and panko/herb topping.  Along for sides it has grainy mustard, glazed carrots and house made sauerkraut

it was definitely a killer plate and I can see why it’s one of his favorites.  For $19 it was  a full meal and the kraut was more sweet that sour and had nicely chopped bacon in it so if your scared of sauerkraut you might want to give this a try.

Again it was a great meal at Ensemble and I’m looking forward to many more!

ensemble Tap on Urbanspoon

Rosie’s on Robson-Identity Crisis!

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I’ve passed by Rosie’s on Robson for years and have never stopped in. It’s a warm, inviting looking joint that is always busy and seemed popular with their breakfasts and brunch items. So when I was down in the area and wanted to try some place new I popped into Rosie’s for lunch.

The space inside is large and open, the wood bar totally dominates one side of the restaurant and the mix of tables and chairs take up the rest of the space.  After sitting in here the thing that really struck me how dated this place is and the dark carpet shows that this place really needs a renovation/makeover~where’s Gordon Ramsey and Kitchen Nightmares when you need him!

I was seated promptly by a friendly server and seeing I missed the lunch rush getting a table in a well-lit area wasn’t a issue~the restaurant was deserted except for a couple of tables that were finishing up their meals.

As you can see the menu is pretty big with lots of different choices and I noticed a British Pub themed menu at this point, Items like Curry and Chips and Ploughman’s Platter as well as malt vinegar on the table for the fish and chips:

all very British and I thought I would be in for a good home cooked meal by the way the menu sounded.  I steered away from the deep-fried typical British pub fare and went with the servers recommendation:

I started with a Alexander Keith’s Premium White beer for $6.50, I haven’t had this before but I do really like light crisp beers like this so it was a great choice.

This was the main my server recommended, the “house made” Guinness Meatloaf $15, served with a side of blanched green beans, red skin mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms and BBQ sauce~this is where the identity crisis starts!

My sides tasted just fine, the beans were cooked but still had some bite to them and were seasoned with butter and some garlic

My potatoes were not gluey and had the red skin from the potato on, they were solid mashed potatoes and were indeed house-made evident by a couple lumps~just like mom used to make!

Now on to the Guinness Meatloaf

It was 2 thick slices of meatloaf that instead of being sauced with gravy it was slathered in BBQ sauce and to make things worse it was store brand Bulls Eye corn syrup laden BBQ sauce and sautéed mushrooms

I don’t know what day my mushrooms saw the frying pan but they were stone cold and reminded me of an optional burger topping~which I think they also double as and the BBQ sauce totally dominated the flavor of the dish and it didn’t help that it was also served in the side as well.  I personally think a Guinness mushroom gravy that is made in-house would be a logical choice.  The menu also said that the meatloaf had Guinness braised vegetables in it:

this is the other side of one of the pieces and show the extent of the braised vegetables, I didn’t taste any Guinness flavor in the dish at all and this is my main gripe of the dish, it says that it in made in-house but the meat loaf had a weird mystery meat texture to it and it was perfectly smooth and void of any texture~something that comes from a factory and you would expect to find in a frozen TV dinner.

At the end of the day for $15 I expected a little bit more for a house specialty and really simple item do right, my side dishes and beer were better than the “meat” of the meat and potatoes dish I ordered.  I would have said something about what I received to the waitress but seeing the kitchen would put out something like that I wasn’t looking to experiment with something else and also when presented with my bill I noticed this odd thing:

The Elephant and Castle???, WTF??, I can remember this from my childhood and had bad meals there

nowhere on Rosie’s menu or advertising say that I’m dining at the Elephant and Castle Pub, I they had appropriate signage outside I don’t think I would have come here and spent $28 with tip for lunch.  My final words of wisdom~don’t come here!

Rosie's on Robson on Urbanspoon

Hurricane Fiesta from VANEATS.ca

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The guy’s weren’t kidding when they said it was going to be one Delish December and it’s going to be one to remember that’s for sure!

The newest dining pass offered from VANEATS.ca is at the Hurricane Grill and it’s called the Hurricane Fiesta, this time around you have 2 locations to choose from-Yaletown or North Vancouver, with packages specific to each location.

Photo Credit To Mary Sheridan

You get the option of choosing 2 of 4 delicious huge salads from the menu and an order of bruschetta all for $25, it’s designed for 2 people and you are sure to leave with full belly’s and smiles on your face.

Here is a full description of the menu for you:

Bruschetta – classic made with tomatoes, Parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, basil, balsamic reduction, mozzarella and goat cheese

The Grill Salad –Six oz N.Y. steak on grilled vegetables, spring mix and tossed together with a balsamic reduction

Warm Seafood Spinach – Scallops, prawns, baby shrimp, baby spinach, mandarin oranges and mushrooms, layered with goat cheese and roasted almonds

Ako Salad – Grilled chicken breast, English cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, feta cheese and rice along with a balsamic vinaigrette

Fiesta Salad – Romaine lettuce, corn, black beans, avocado, blackened chicken, salsa, nacho cheese, sour cream and a cilantro mint dressing

Myself and @MaryInVancity were invited to give the VANEATS.ca Hurricane Fiesta dining pass a try and here is a breakdown of our chow down.

The brushetta was HUGE!, you get 3 pieces and each is piled high with tomatoes, goat cheese and the balsamic drizzle was a great addition to cut the richness of the goat cheese.  It was a great start to our meal and I’d definitely order this again.  Regularly this item is $10.99 on the menu.

Salad wise we chose The Grill with the steak done medium rare.  This was a perfect salad and actually remind me of a grilled meal with the peppers and asparagus, instead of lettuce they use spinach here and it’s a great choice I think and the dressing rounded everything out nicely.  This was enjoyed by both of us and would satisfy any meat and potatoes eater.  Normally this is $16.99 on the menu so it’s a great choice for the dining pass.

lastly we went with the warm seafood spinach salad.  This one put huge smiles on our faces, as you can see its piled mile high with baby shrimp, tail on prawns and nice big scallops, the plate is rounded out with mushrooms, mandarin oranges and roasted almond slices with a mango dressing.  Mary loved this and I quite liked it, it’s one of the most generous salads toppings wise I have ever had the pleasure of laying my hungry eyes on.  Menu wise this bad boy runs $15.99 and will fill you up without weighing you down that’s for sure.

We both really enjoyed this dining pass and the guy’s at VANEATS.ca have been really on the money with offering up creative dining experiences and some of Vancouver’s great restaurants, again the guy’s at VANEATS.ca are giving away 4 Hurricane Fiesta Dining Passes and the details on how to enter are below:

How to Enter
Entering the contest is easy. Complete one of the following two options and you’re entered to win 1 of 4 HURRICANE FIESTA dining passes, two at the Yaletown location and two at the North Vancouver location. Complete both options and you’re entered in the draw twice!

Option 1

1) “Like” them on Facebook – (facebook.com/VANEATS)
2) Visit the HURRICANE FIESTA Facebook Album.
3) Tag yourself in the photo with the dish (or dishes) that appealed to you the most and comment to tell them why.

Option 2

1)Follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/VANEATSca)
2)Retweet the following: Win 1 of 4 dining passes for #HURRICANEFIESTA! http://ow.ly/7Jp1Z from @HurricaneGrill and @VANEATSca #DELISHDECEMBER

That’s it! Come back every Monday and Friday to the VANEATS.ca blog between December 2 and December 12 to find out if you’re a winner!

Contest draw dates: December 2, December 5, December 9, and December 12, 2011.

HURRICANE FIESTA dining passes are not transferable between the two locations and are redeemable only between December 15, 2011 – January 15, 2012.

A note of disclosure, our dining pass was courtesy of the guy’s at VANEATS.ca and our drinks were covered by the Hurricane Grill, the options our are own and based on the food and service we received.

Hurricane Grill on Urbanspoon

Milestones Grill and Bar English Bay

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Milestones at English Bay is a longtime standard summertime hangout for me because of the killer patio overlooking English Bay and the tasty drinks they offer. With the renovations done to the chain the interior is like the Robson street location which makes for great daytime dining and intimate dimly lit evening dinners.

I live right around the corner from this location so it’s really convenient and a solid stand by when I have a late night at work and want dinner later in the evening without going to a loud bar.

Heineken Draft $7.99.  I started out with a big beer and from what they had on tap this was the most appealing choice for me.  The size of the glass surprised me-it’s one big beer so I got my moneys worth.

Crispy Asian Chicken Bites $9.99-tossed in a Thai chili sauce with cucumber and toasted sesame seeds.  I really liked these boneless chicken bites, the sauce was more heat than sweet and the bites were all crispy and juicy.  I’d defiantly order this again.

Milestones Beef Burger with the American topping add-on $12.99+$1.50.  All the burgers come with the usual lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle, you also get your choice of fries or salad-I added the extra .99 for yam frites.

The burger is juicy and the double smoked bacon was nice and fried perfectly.  The yam frites were so so-they reminded me of cremated yam strings!, the plate comes with a southern aioli that is really heavy on the cumin.

Milestones continues to be a go to choice for a sold meal and the menu is big enough without reading like a novel so you’re sure to find something that will satisfy your hunger.

Milestones Grill and Bar (English Bay) on Urbanspoon

Chronic Tacos Granville Street

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The newest addition to the downtown eats scene is the taco chain Chronic Tacos.

The story of the company  in a nut shell is this-”Chronic Tacos, Inc. was founded in 2001 by Daniel A. Biello and Randall L. Wyner. The idea came after a long night of revelry in a west Newport Beach , CA shopping center close to where the friends had lived for the past 12 years. The concept was fast, fresh, made to order Mexican food that was far superior to that of the competition, with large portions and fresh salsa at a great price”~Quoted from there website.

As a result you basically have the Subway of tacos-not that there’s anything wrong with that but it’s standard food and pretty Americanized I found when compared to other Mexican taco shops around town. The menu is soft shell corn or flour tortilla tacos, burritos and Tex mex southwestern fare. The staff is really friendly and ready to answer any questions you might have so they get good marks for service and the decor of the restaurants is clean and sports bar like with flat screens on the wall so it’s great to catch the game. The Granville location is the most unique I’d say-the space has really high ceilings and the walls are adorned with graffiti art, crystal chandeliers, deep red walls and black leather seating-kinda bordello of blood if you ask me but it’s suits the vibe of street outside.

Food wise I went with a couple of standard items-a couple of there  “fatty tacos”, my personal favorite of the real Mexican style tacos is the Al Pastor-pork that is slow cooked with pineapple-melt in your mouth delicious and theirs here is nice and spicy and I decided to get their signature fish taco-beer battered mahi mahi and topped traditional baja style-they say their’s are the best so I had to see how it shapes up to Tacofino’s take on heaven.

The Al Pastor taco $3.79~slow braised pork with pineapple in a spicy sauce, this is one of my favorite ways to have pork and especially in a taco, the pineapple is braised with the meat and by the time it’s finished its nicely broken down and in the sauce.  I’d have this taco again but with shredded cabbage instead f the lettuce like I had here, I also had tomatillo salsa on this and theirs has a nice kick.  They offer free guacamole on all of there tacos but you have to specifically have to ask for it and its a must~Chronic tacos guacamole is really good and made fresh daily.

The Baja Style Fish Taco $3.79, beer battered mahi mahi with shredded cabbage, cheese and pico de gallo with a squeeze of lime, I flaked out here and forgot to ask for guacamole, this taco was alright but nowhere near the best in the city, the fish was kind of flavorless and tasted just of fried and was kinda of dry so the guacamole really would have added some needed moisture, on the bright side the salsa here isn’t as wet as Tacofino’s which get’s them points but Tacofino wins with their tempura battered fish.

At the end of the day my meal was all right and I’ll stop in with friends to try the other meat offerings they have but I’m going to be getting my baja style fish tacos from another joint.

Chronic Tacos on Urbanspoon