Tagged : Where to Eat

in Travel, Wine & Food
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Cafe Francisco – Coffee at Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco

The first time I was in San Francisco I struggled to find a great cup of coffee. Don’t get me wrong, good coffee here is a dime a dozen, but the urban part of SFO is dominated by Peet’s and Starbucks. In a town this hip, it would be criminal to go to either — despite the fact that Peet’s originated in San Francisco and is the original premium coffee chain that inspired Starbucks and a whole new coffee culture. If you know me, you know the one thing I am super fussy about is coffee. I like a well made Americano with crema thick enough to stand on. I also want to drink it out of a real coffee mug, and at a place that has a unique atmosphere. If you’re in the North Beach/Fisherman’s Wharf area in San Francisco I would totally recommend Cafe Francisco located at Francisco and Powell near Pier 39 and Telegraph Hill. It’s a cool joint, slightly on the hipstery side of things, but not deliberately. Great people, coffee and atmosphere make this my go-to coffee spot in this part of San Fran.

 

in Wine & Food
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Solley’s Bagels

These are possibly the best bagels in Vancouver. I’ve been frequenting the Main & 28th location, but there are two others to choose from also. So far favourites are “The Schmear” and the Knish. Authentic Jewish baking as it’s billed.

SolleysBagelry.com

in Wine & Food
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Save on Meats Vancouver

While the old Save on Meats location in the sketchy Downtown Eastside of Vancouver may have got a new coat of paint and a slight revamp, if you listen carefully you can still hear the hum of the old neon that has so marked this famous Van City landmark.

The restauranteur Mark Brand, who may now be carrying the title of “King of Gastown” for his efforts in recoolifying the neighbourhood, stepped in to save this historic sight and breathe new life into the place — but not too much new life.

Menu items include meatloaf, mac & cheese, fried chicken, and grilled cheese sandwiches. The pricing is affordable, and aside from being much cleaner and slightly spruced up, the place feels relatively the same as it always has.

Not to be confused with fine dining, the new Save on Meats appears to be here to serve up some honest food, in a cool old space, in a way that still serves and fits the community. It’s worth checking it out if not for any other reason than just to soak up the atmosphere and wonder about all of the people that have been through this place before you. Continue reading “Save on Meats Vancouver” »

in Wine & Food
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Deacon’s Corner

Deacon’s Corner is Vancouver’s original redux diner. Located on Main & Alexander on the outskirts of Gastown in the Downtown Eastside, the nouveau greasy spoon is diner to an eclectic mix of Vancouver locals including artists and the Vancouver Police Department, whose headquarters is just up the street.

The menu is classic diner and well executed. Grilled cheese, fish & chips, sometimes meatloaf, reuben sandwiches and mac & cheese. Oh, and they serve beer. Win, win. Check out the current menu at DeaconsCorner.ca.

101 Main Street
Vancouver BC
(corner of Alexander St.)
604.684.1555
email: info@deaconscorner.ca

Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
Weekends 9am – 5pm

in Wine & Food
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Nelson the Seagull

The peculiar name comes from a hit South African folk song titled And the Seagull’s Name was Nelson, and drawing on that inspiration the owners of Nelson the Seagull, the Gastown cafe/eatery, have brought some South African flair to the eclectic collection of coffee shops and restaurants in the Gastown neighbourhood.

Over the past five years or so Gastown has undergone a reformation, and has quickly gone from tourist kitsch to Soho chic, with Nelson epitomizing that shift.

Old bricks and beams, reminiscent of a New York Soho “old meets new” architectural charm, adorn this particular cafe. The space is wide open and airy with a very relaxed vibe.

This certainly isn’t Starbucks in a hurry, nor is it a great place to work with your laptop, but it is a great place to meet and chat with friends. The Americano and poached eggs on toast from fresh baked bread were both decent, and the space was charming. Friendly, but slightly slow service, and a lack of useful seating was a bit of a downer, but otherwise I would go back. Also, my friend Kurtis Kolt scolded me for not trying the homemade lemonade, which is supposed to be delicious.

More or less if they add a few tables and chairs this place would be amazing!

in Wine & Food
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Roaming Dragon Food Truck

Vancouver’s street food craze has spawned a vast array of interesting and culturally diverse food trucks and carts. Roaming Dragon is one of Vancouver’s favourites and serves up a mix of Pan-Asian inspired street eats including fried rice, steamed pork buns, vietnamese sub sandwiches and short ribs. My personal favourite is the Chicken Karage sub. For $6 it’s Subway price, but gourmet flavour.

Find out where Roaming Dragon is today on Twitter or at RoamingDragon.com