Platform 7 on Broadway

Platform 7 Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - ZomatoAfter discovering the one in Granview area, I wanted to also check out the one on Broadway. Again, the interior was built to look like a platform at a train station. Such a unique cafe, I love it! Unlike the other one, this one was less crowded, though it could have been because it was a weekday early evening. The place is clean and has a hipsterish feel. The concrete wall is fake, but it’s still fun to be in a Disney-like feel.

idearabbit_platform7_broadway1 idearabbit_platform7_broadway4 idearabbit_platform7_broadway3 idearabbit_platform7_broadway2idearabbit_platform7_broadway5We ordered a Blueberry Muffin $3.00 and Iced Americano $3.00. The Iced Americano was really good and pretty large. It was good that we were sharing it! The pastries and desserts were limited, and none that were appealing to me (more appealing to Sheepie who is into the tarts, muffins, nutty things, etc.)

The service is friendly with all the staff smiling and saying thank you or goodbye when leaving. We’ll be back! A great place to bring people from out of town to a unique, memorable cafe.

Taste: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrot

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot
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Jong Ga Korean Restaurant

Jong Ga Korean Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - ZomatoOur boss and three of us were in the area for a project. Afterwards, we decided to have some Korean for lunch, so we dropped into Jong Ga Jip. The restaurant is really simple and nothing really that stands out, decor, and furniture wise from other similar Korean restaurants. We started off with 4 banchan dishes.

idearabbit_jonggajip1idearabbit_jonggajip2 One who’s never had Korean food ordered Jab Chae $16.50. It looked pretty good, though I felt it was a bit pricey.

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I ordered the Seolleongtang $9.99 which is a Korean broth tang (soup) made from ox bones (mostly leg bones), brisket and other cuts. I didn’t know what it was at the time, so I didn’t know that the seasoning is generally done by the person who’s eating it, according to his/her personal taste by adding salt, ground black pepper, red pepper, minced garlic, or chopped spring onions. There weren’t garlic or onions, but I did add in some kimchi from the banchan. I thought it was a really bland soup! Awesome that it came with noodles in the broth, with a huge bowl of rice! It was quite filling. Because I didn’t know that you were supposed to at flavour, I was kind of disappointed.

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My boss ordered the Sun Du Bu $10.99 which did have much more flavour, so I did take some of her broth and added in mine. She could barely finish much of her rice, but her broth was good.

idearabbit_jonggajip5 My co-worker had the Ddukbaegi bulgogi $11.99 His was also flavourful.

Service was ok. Atmosphere was ok. Getting a big bowl of rice in a ceramic bowl is bonus. To be fair, I think I would need to give this another try as my failure to know what I was ordering had resulted in what I wasn’t expecting.

Taste: carrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrot

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Kamei Royale on West Hastings

Kamei Royale Japanese Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - ZomatoLast summer, they had a grand opening at their new location on Hastings. We returned with a group of 15 people for the Christmas holidays. The lady there who I have seen for many years at the old location was still there and was serving us.

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The restaurant now had a modern feel but with traditional Japanese decor. Their tatami rooms that they had all along the walls of the old place were no longer incorporated, instead had chic like bar seats, modern slick booths or tables with chairs.

idearabbit_kameiroyale_hastings6 idearabbit_kameiroyale_hastings7I ordered a Chawanmushi $5.95 with prawn and vegetables in steamed egg custard. It was really fluffy and served in the traditional dishware, it always reminds me of Japan. It’s rare to find a good chawanmushi, let alone any restaurants serving them in the first place. idearabbit_kameiroyale_hastings9

Yakitori $5.50 for two skewers of grilled chicken with traditional BBQ sauce. Really good. Would have liked more of the charcoal-y taste though. idearabbit_kameiroyale_hastings4 idearabbit_kameiroyale_hastings5

I also had a Salmon Nigiri $3 and Tamago Nigiri $2.75. Now I don’t like huge pieces of nigiri, especially with a ton of rice to cheap out, but this was ridiculous. There were barely any rice underneath. I also got confused on the menu because the nigiri were under ‘Sushi’. Yes, sushi is the broad category. Everything with fish and rice together is sushi. Nigiri-sushi is the one with the fish on top and rice underneath. Maki-sushi is the classic rolls with the seaweed on the outside. Oshi-sushi is sushi the ingredients pressed usually into a box shaped mold. I’ve never seen it categorized like this anywhere else, so I was a bit perplexed. But maybe that’s just me.

Others ordered what looked to be some amazing dishes, and they seemed to enjoy it. idearabbit_kameiroyale_hastings8

Tiger Mayo $11.95 Almond coated prawn deep friend served with homemade cajun mayonnaise sauce.

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Sashimi Vancouver $25 (9 pieces) Sockeye Salmon, Yellowtail, Tuna Belly and Albacore Tuna.

Service was pretty good. The server allowed us to take one booth just for jackets and bags as it was winter time, and a lot of people had bulky things. The price is higher, but it’s always been high for Kamei Royale. Quality is always good though. I might have mentioned this in the previous post for the old location. If you have a guest from out of town and want to take them to a Japanese restaurant, this is the ‘safest’ place to go, meaning you will get consistent good service, food and atmosphere.

Taste: carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot    Price for Value: carrotcarrotcarrot

Atmosphere:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot   Service:  carrotcarrotcarrotcarrot
Location: carrotcarrotcarrot