Rating / 2 out of 5 stars

Las Margaritas on West Fourth is a Mexican restaurant well known for their margaritas and salsa. This Kitsilano fixture has a happy, vibrant decor, and can get pretty lively on their outdoor patio during the summer months.

(Above: Huevos Rancheros — Eggs, Salsa, Beans and Rice. Breakfast of Champions, or at least the hungover.)

It’s been awhile since we’ve last been to Las Margaritas. I recall the margaritas were awesome and the food decent. There’s a lot going on inside. The walls are heavily decorated with photos and kitschy artwork. Dark wood furniture and an old saloon influenced bar runs the entire length of one side, while colourfully tiled table tops dot the dining room floor.

(Top to bottom: 1. Welcome to Kitsilano’s own border town. 2. Salsa and chips.)

Tre ordered the crab enchilada filled with a mixture of shredded crab, mushrooms, onions and cilantro. It was covered in cheese and a cream sauce and served with rice and house salad. The enchilada was ok, but the sauce took over the dish, leaving the crab flavour wimpering.

I had the Huevos Rancheros: two eggs on a soft corn tortillas covered with homemade ranchero sauce and green onions, served with refried beans and rice. The only thing on this dish that was half decent was my eggs. The corn tortilla was soggy (but expected due to the ranchero sauce), while the refried beans were bland with a paste-like texture. The rice was forgettable.

(Above: Crab Enchiladas with rice, and salad.)

Our bill including a cup of coffee, taxes and tips came to just under $26 which wouldn’t be too bad if the food was more memorable. The service was spotty, while the complimentary salsa and chips were the standouts that afternoon. Las Margaritas feels more like a chain restaurant operation now — more vibe and image, less heart and food. Hopefully the margaritas still rock.

Perfect for: Drinking and carousing in a border town full of yuppies.

The Details

1999 West Fourth Avenue, Vancouver
604.734.7117
lasmargaritas.com

Rating / 3 out of 5 stars

Shinjuku Japanese restaurant on White Rock’s bustling Marine Drive strip is about as far away from its Japanese district namesake as it can get — seaside, by the beach and lodged amongst a string of multi ethnic, tourist trap restaurants.

(Top to bottom: 1. Grilled Salmon Belly. 2. Assortment of sushi – Toro, Saba, Salmon and Tobiko topped with a quail egg.)

The unremarkable decor at Shinjuku was only offset by its patio, occupied by a few patrons happily drinking and dining by the moonlit sky. Case and I chose a seat inside, albeit by an open window with a view of the waters.

We started our order with several pieces of Nigiri sushi. The Toro was beautiful and melted like butter, and the Salmon was fresh with a nice, dark pink hue. Tobiko topped with quail egg doesn’t get a lot of play on many menus, which is a shame because the quail egg balances perfectly with the salty roe.

(Top to bottom: 1. Bottle of Asahi Dry. 2. Grilled Mackeral.)

We noticed a decent selection of grilled appetizers, which we thought would go nicely with a tall bottle of ice cold Asahi. We selected grilled salmon belly, which arrived chargrilled with the skin on. The meat was butter soft and the skin crispy — the entire dish infused with the smoky charcoal. The salmon felt lonely, so we ordered a mackeral to accompany it — its meaty texture was still tender and flaky and carefully grilled.

Our meal, including taxes and tip came to $58, which isn’t too bad given Shinjuku’s enviable location and quality of simple, yet lovingly prepared dishes.

Perfect for: fresh, Japanese cuisine with a waterfront view.

The Details

15019 Marine Drive, White Rock
604.535.5060

Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Moby Dick is a restaurant on Marine Drive on the beachside strip in White Rock. No, not The Whale, but this family operation is known for their fish and chips. Inside is a kitschy collection of sailing equipment and decor consisting of happy sea creatures painted on the walls. The strong scent of malt vinegar and deep fried grease wafts throughout the air.

(Above: a plate of Alaskan Cod and chips.)

We ordered a three piece fish and chips combo, plus a small side of coleslaw. Instead of the usual mayonnaise mix that most slaws arrive soaking in, Moby’s version is made with a vinaigrette. It was a nice change and felt healthier. The slaw was tangy (like a sauerkraut), slightly sweet and strangely addicting.

The fish were three oversized pieces of deep fried Alaskan Cod dipped in a light batter. The meat was moist and tender, and the batter was tastefully seasoned — slightly crunchy — not the least bit heavy. The hand cut fries weren’t the most spectacular, but was lightly seasoned and tasted just right with a few dashes of malt vinegar.

(Top to bottom: 1. Moby’s own sweet and tangy spin on the classic slaw. 2. Standard chip shop condiments including sea salt and malt vinegar.)

Our bill including taxes and tips came to just under $26, which we think is reasonable. We’ve been to Moby Dick’s years ago, and not much seems to have changed. They have a take out service if you want to take your fish and chips to the beach, which many people do. I would suggest arriving early. The line ups can be crazy, but worth the wait if you’re patient.

Perfect for: moonlit walks by the beach with a side of tartare.

The Details

15479 Marine Drive, White Rock
604.536.2424
mobydickrestaurant.com

Rating / 4 out of 5 stars

Out on the West Coast, we have some of the finest fish swimming in the sea, just waiting to be caught and devoured by seafood connoisseurs. OK, maybe not waiting to be caught — more like trying to get away. But either way, we have some great fish. The Sandbar Restaurant in Granville Island is known for their fresh seafood and the beautiful patio that perches over the waterfront overlooking False Creek and the shores of the West End.

After grabbing some local fruits and veggies from Granville Island, Tre was in the mood for seafood. The Sandbar was a natural choice. I was a bit hesitant at first, thinking The Sandbar was a tourist trap, but was interested in the patio. Tre and I are greeted by the friendly hostess who seats us upstairs in the patio. It was busy, but lucky for us we got a table near the front overlooking the water. I am loving the view and thinking — I don’t ever want to leave.

Our server was friendly and gave us the low down on the daily catch and his recommendations. Tre knew what he wanted, so we ordered some dishes to share. For starters, we had the warm beet salad with toasted walnuts, champagne vinaigrette and crumbled goat cheese. We also had Tuscan flat bread with goat cheese, caramelized onions and cracked pepper. And for the main dish, The Sand Barge for two: chilled prawns, raw oysters and crab served on a platter of ice.

(Clockwise: 1. Warm Beet Salad. 2. Tuscan Flatbread, 3. Oysters and Shrimp chilling in an ice bath.)

Our warm beet salad arrived first, and it was awesome! I can’t express how good this salad was: fresh, crisp greens with earthy red and yellow beets, tossed with toasted walnuts with generous chunks of goat cheese and a light, tasty vinaigrette. Our waiter had warned us the salad was going to be huge, and he wasn’t kidding. Next, the Tuscan flat bread, which was more like a pizza with toppings of sweet caramelized onions, goat cheese and garlic. The flat bread was thin, fluffy and really delicious. Finally, our seafood platter: four large fresh chilled prawns, four raw oysters and half a crab. The prawns were good and firm in texture. The oysters were good as well, although I prefer the smaller, Japanese oysters like those from Guu. The crab was refreshingly tasty, slightly sweet and ridiculously messy to eat.

Our meal was excellent, so good in fact, that we weren’t quite done. We surprised our server by continuing to order two coffees and a dessert. I suppose he wasn’t expecting two little people to polish off all those dishes and then order more. For dessert we went by our server’s recommendation — The Belgian chocolate pudding. The gooey pudding was topped with toffee cream and a crunchy pistachio praline. Our dessert was good — light and airy and went well with our warm cups of coffee.

(Top to bottom: 1. Coffee. 2. Belgian Chocolate Pudding with Toffee Cream and Pistachio Praline.)

The Sandbar was surprisingly enjoyable. We spent almost three hours kicking back on the patio, enjoying good food, great service and watching some poor guys sink in their homemade boats made out of plywood. The meal set us back just under $100 bucks including a beer, tax and tips — well worth it.

Perfect for: Fresh seafood and a knockout view.

The Details

Granville Island
1535 Johnston St, Vancouver
604.669.9030
vancouverdine.com/sandbar/home.html

Rating / 3 out of 5 stars

The Five Point on Main Street appears to be a pub with a restaurant identity crisis — or is it the other way around? The cavernous dining room is housed in a heritage-like building with some really curious decorating decisions: opulant chandelier overhanging pub-like banquets and chairs and a prominent bar. We are here for the brunch.

We were greeted by the hostess, who was friendly and accommodating (having to switch our seats after being initially drawn to the patio by the deceptively glowing sun only to be turned back inside by the biting west coast wind). We settled upon seating right next to the open patio.

The brunch menu had the typical breakfast-type items, but a few dishes stood out. Case ordered the country apple crepes with Goldschlaeger syrup. I had the eggs benedict poached in The Five Point’s own fiery-hot tomato sauce, served with slivers of grilled chorizo sausage, hash browns and some artfully displayed toast. We also had two cups of joe to help keep us warm.

My eggs were poached perfectly; soft enough to dunk the toast without the entire egg falling apart. The chorizo and hash browns were well done. And the tomato sauce was suitably spicy (do I taste a hint of sriracha?). Case’s country crepes however, sounded a lot better on the menu than what actually arrived. The apples were a bit too tart, the crepes a tad thick and chewy and the Goldschlaeger, tasted simply like bottled caramel syrup — nothing special.

Our meal came in at around $30 for the two of us including tax and tip, which isn’t over-priced, but doesn’t make it the best bargain, either.

Perfect for:

Early morning brunch on the open patio (if the weather’s right).

The Details