Holy Smoked Meat

Schwartz's
Deli/Sandwiches
3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Montréal, Québec H2W 1X9 Canada
ph: (514) 842-4813

When I mentioned that I will be going to Montreal for a vacation, people would tell me excitedly: "Must go to Schwartz's and have their smoked meat, it's the best ever!" naturally, that was the first place that I wanted to attack when we landed in Montreal. Staying at a hostel near St. Laurent, we ventured out in search of this ever-famous Delicatessen.

After a few "Do you know where Schwartz's is?" and being told that we have a few more blocks to go was making us impatient and surely enough, when we got there, there was a nice little queue already formed outside the door. Thankfully, the nice sunny weather made the hour long queu more like a chance to soak in all that Montreal sun. I had no complaints getting a good dose of Vitamin D except that my tummy was already making those "feed me" noises which I never failed to satisfy.

Before impatience and hunger won the best of us, we were finally unshered in. The restaurant was fully packed, right from the bar to every seat in the big white room and to take out area which were also filled with people waiting to order. The restaurant is a simple Delicatessen where cafeteria-like tables and chairs occupy the space and the menu is written on a piece of paper, it is simple but it works. You don't really expect a Delicatessen to have fancy adornments since they were serving smoked meat and fries not foie gras and caviar.

We were led to a table big enough for a party of 6. My friend and I were then asked to share our table with 4 people who seemed to be out-of-towners and Schwart's first-timers like us. Ordering was easy for me since I wanted to get some food in my body so I immediately picked the smoked meat sandwich and a side of fries. The service was fast and efficient considering it's very busy state but after all that waiting, my friend didn't order anything since she didn't want to eat any beef, well, bad choice of restaurant for her, as for me, I couldn't wait for the much-talked about smoked meat.

When my sandwich arrived, it was so loaded that chunks of meat would fall off when I picked it up. I took one big bite and made my taste buds take over... it was good but way too hyped up for me. I'm not a smoked meat expert so I can't really tell if that was indeed the best of the best but it was good. I'm also a condiment fanatic and I thought that it needed a bit more mustard. The fries were typical fried potatoes and I thought maybe my meal would have been better if I ordered the more interesting sides such as coleslaw, olives, sour pickles and even peppers but I was already getting full with what I had.

Our "table mates" seemed to have over-ordered and were drowning in smoked meat. I didn't hear any Oh-my-god-this-is-so-good! statements so I guess the hype also killed it for them. All I can say is that if I lined up for an hour, I expect to swoon in deliciousness, unfortunately that didn't happen but I'm still happy that we did head down to Schwart's otherwise our Montreal gastronomic trip would never be complete.

Bon Essen

La Brasserie
French-German Cuisine
1091 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1M5
Canada
ph:(604) 568-6399

Located in the heart of Davie Village stands a sleek cozy little restaurant called La Brassiere. Having to pass by this quaint French/German bistro and seeing the diners sip their tall pints of beer while happily enjoying their meal, I was drawn. I read the menu posted outside and made a mental check list: good menu – check (the suckling pig, onion tart and the pork schnitzel caught my attention), reasonable price – check, good beer/wine selection – check and of course the ambiance – check.

I’m not surprised seeing the long queue outside the restaurant, there’s just something so charming about this little bistro that seems to lure you in. Of course, in a few weeks time, I found myself joining the – thank God - a very short line-up for La Brassiere.

We got there just in the nick of time before more people started arriving. The host was very accommodating and told us that there was a 30 minute waiting time so we said we were gonna come back. Unfortunately, if you wanna dine, you have to stay by the bar but luckily enough, the bar table was free for a party of three and looking at the roomy space, we didn’t mind taking the spot.

Inside, the restaurant was just as cozy as it looked from the outside. The walls were adorned with mirrors making it look more spacious and the small space was very well designed that it didn’t feel cramped or cluttered. Modern, sleek tables contrasted the homey vibe and gave an overall pleasant appeal.

Our server immediately gave us the menus and my friend and I ordered two pints of the German beer while making our culinary choice. We decided to share three entrees, an appetizer and maybe some desserts but making our choices seem to be a bit difficult because being seated right in front of the hard working chefs and watching the dishes leave the kitchen was just making us salivate. Everything they were serving looked so appetizing and seemed to be cooked to perfection. Some dishes we have to play a guessing game what they were since there are some dishes that seem to be unknown to us – the culinary amateurs. Dishes such as the Coq au Vin and the Saurbratten with the kase spatzle were a little bit new to us and of course our taste buds.

With a little help from her server, we opted for the Alsatian Onion Tart to start, the Suckling Pig, Mussels and Frites and the “Fresh Catch of the Day” which made my friend's salivatory glands work overtime when she saw the dish being served. As we ordered, our tall pints of German beer arrived as well as some bread with butter and chicken spread, which was very delicious. While we were munching, sipping, chatting and of course, waiting for our food, we actually got entertained watching the chefs create the dishes. We even got more excited when the savory aromas touched our noses. We just knew that it will be good.

Our tart arrived and it was a good size mainly because it was cheesily rich. There was a sweetness in the crust that made onion and the cheese blend so well together. I would definitely order it again. Slowly, our dishes were starting to arrive. The “Fresh Catch of the Day” dish came first. It was scallops and fresh fish strips on a bed of what seemed to be yogurt, cucumber and tomato salad. We evenly divided it into three and tasted our first entrée. It was yum-my. The salad gave a nice tang to the seafood which made the taste stand out. While were finishing up, the Suckling pig came and the meat was still steaming. Once again we all got our share of the tender pork meat with the light the crispy skin. The saurkraut, and the schupfnudel condiments complimented this dish very well and made us very happy.

Finally, our last dish arrived, the mussels and frites with a side of home made mayonnaise. My other friend ordered more bread to dip in the mussel broth while I focused on dipping my frites in the mayo and broth. The mussels were very well flavoured and very fresh. Once again, it was delicious. Everything was delicious and we tried to polish our plates as much as we could but eventhough our bellies thoroughly expanded, we cannot pass on dessert.

That glutton part of us always wins us over but we can not possibly say no to their creme brulee since all the dishes were beyond delectable and we got to watch one of the chefs torching this creamy delight. All the other sweets sounded good as well and tempting especially the rich chocolate desserts but our server recommended the lemon tart so we opted for that and of course the crème brulee.

The crème brulee was a great end to an amazing meal, light and surely hit the spot. We don’t know if we were way too full to enjoy the lemon tart but we wished to have gone for the more chocolatey dessert but overall, we had a great time. Although we obviously over-ate and were way to full that we made promises to ourselves to go on starvation mode the next day, we exited La Brassiere with a very satisfied smile on our faces.

* picture stolen from www.labrasserievancouver.com

Romance with Seafood

The Cannery Seafood Restaurant
Seafood Restaurant
2205 Commissioner Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 1A4 Canada
ph: (604) 254-9606

Having the Entertainment Book is the best thing ever especially if you love to dine out. I have gotten mine last year from a draw at our company's Christmas party and ever since then I have been hopping from one restaurant after another. When I found out that The Cannery is on the book, I was ecstatic. Not only I have heard amazing things about this place but having a coupon means great food for less moolah and having known for a "date" restaurant, The Cannery is a bit heavy on the wallet.

My good friend and I were planning our "lesbo" date to The Cannery months back but we always set it aside and when I realized that I only have less than a month left to make use of the great Entertainment Book discounts, we decided to finally head out to this infamous restaurant. Making a reservation is always a good habit but we were a bit disappointed that we were only given the 5:15 time slot. Located in the Vancouver port, the very friendly host gave us a quick run-through of the directions and I thought that it would be a piece of cake to find it so I didn't bother to take down notes. Actually going there is a bit tricky and we had to make a few detours to go to the right direction but the worst thing was we were stuck waiting for the freaking long-ass train to cross. It was annoyingly moving so slow, taking its sweetest time and as if it knows that were running behind schedule, it would back-up and move forward again, back-up and move forward again. Afraid to lose our table, we called the restaurant and told them about our train dilemma. The host was very nice about the situation and reassured us that we will still have a table when we get there. With our stomachs growling and our patience thinning, the train was finally able to go across and we were able to pass and continue on to The Cannery.

When we got there we were a bit surprised to see the parking lot full of cars. I guess there is a reason behind our 5:15 table slot, it seemed like a busy night at the restaurant. The host greeted us with a big smile and when she found out about that we were the ones having problems with the train, she sympathized and asked our server to lead us to our table. The restaurant was so cozy and beautiful. The fireplace right smack in the middle gave warmth to the whole place and the huge windows showcasing the amazing view seals the deal for this restaurant to be one of the most romantic in Vancouver. I was kind enough to my friend to give her the seat facing the huge window and just enjoyed the view on my side of the table. Our server gave us our menu and we were thinking of ordering a starter dish with our mains when we decided against it since we'll be given bread with lobster oil and we were not planning on skipping dessert. I was torn between the Salmon Wellington which was a dish of salmon, shrimp and mushrooms in a puff pastry and the Scallops and Prawns. I asked the server for his suggestion and he told me that the Wellington was the specialty of the house and of course I would choose that. My friend decided on the Crispy Rainbow Trout which was my third option.

We were munching on the yummy lobster oil and balsamic vinegar dipped bread when we noticed the very well-dressed couple beside us. My friend and I continued on with our conversations as we waited for our food. For some weird reason the lady seated beside us seemed to be eavesdropping and whispering to her boyfriend, poking fun or saying whatever, we tried not to mind her especially when our food came. The Wellington was a huge portion with a good serving of veggies, coming from a dimsum brunch, I already know that I was gonna take half of it home. The puff pastry gave it a little bit of baked sweetness although the salmon was a tad dry but forgivable because the pinot noir sauce made it moist and was just perfect for the dish. I don't know what's in a pinot noir sauce besides the obvious red wine but it tasted like mushroom sauce to me, whatever was in there, it made the dish more delish. My friend gave me a little bit of her trout and scalloped potatoes which was very good as well. The potatoes complimented the trout very much but I liked my Wellington more. As we were eating and conversing, we kept on getting a bad vibe from the lady seated beside us, still eavesdropping and whispering to her boyfriend and it was starting to piss us off so my friend and I spoke in our native Tagalog, it sure beats to have a second language!

I asked my server to wrap the rest of my dish and asked for the dessert menu. Three things that stood out: 1.) Jacques Favourite, a combination of chocolate desserts with mousse and ice cream 2.) Pavlova cake, this light airy cake topped with fruits is a bit hard to find so we got excited seeing it on the menu 3.) Apple Cheesecake, two words: CARAMEL SAUCE. It was so hard to make a decision so I once again asked our server and told us that the cheesecake will surely leave us satisfied and fulfilled so we went for it. When we were picking our dessert, the lady once again was bothering us, looking and eavesdropping so my friend and I decided to go all out and talked about her in her face in our language and laughed a lot, then the dessert came and one bite of the apple cheesecake dipped in caramel sauce totally made us forget about that eavesdropping annoying lady or her suit-wearing boyfriend, even the view outside the window, the server was so right, we were both satisfied and fulfilled.

We got our bill, it was actually not bad but we still had our coupon so it was even better. We made sure to give a good tip to our very accommodating server. Overall, it was very good. It wasn't just the food but the place itself, the restaurant being hidden in the Vancouver port, the very friendly staff, everything made it good and even without the Entertainment Book coupon, I would still go to this restaurant, hopefully next time there will be no overly-dressed eavesdroppers so we would be left alone with the good food and the great view.

* picture stolen from flickr.com/photos/60168506@N00/257798218

Unobtrusive Izakaya Bliss

Toratatsu
Japanese Cuisine / Izakaya
735 Denman St
Vancouver, BC
V6G2L6 Canada
ph:(604) 685-9399

We have an on-going Izakaya competition between friends weighing the good and the best amongst our favourite Japanese bistros. Toratatsu, a newcomer in Vancouver's expanding Japanese Izakaya family is surely a tough competitor. Having an edge for it's non-traditional Japanese look but delivering very good Izakaya staples such as Ebi Mayo and Agedashi Tofu makes this bistro a place to visit.

I first heard of Toratatsu from my Japanese roommate who obviously knows what an Izakaya should be. She came home from a night of drinking and gushed about this hidden gem and thinking that I have a radar for good restaurants, especially in the downtown area, not to have heard about it was a bit of a surprise. I immediately called my friend and reported what my roommate have said and sure enough we have found ourselves in this cozy bistro days after.

Toratatsu is located in the quiet area of Denman St. but it's also joined by a few other restaurants. It's a great location off Robson St. especially if you're looking for a more intimate night. The warm red hues of this bistro also contributes to the intimate environment and the modern decor gives this place the right amount of funky look that makes you feel stylishly comfortable.

We were given a warm, un-Izakaya like greeting meaning that they didn't scream intangible Japanese phrases to us as we entered. Our server quickly gave us the menu and left us to decide our picks for the night. We went for the very interesting Negitoro Tuna with avocado fries and tuna dip, Cheese Tofu, Spicy Chicken Wings and Ebi Mayo. The Negitoro Tuna was the first one to arrive and the first bite was just OK but as we ate more of the tuna dip, we find ourselves liking it more and more. The tuna was very well seasoned and complimented the avocado fries very much. It was a good start, but then the Ebi Mayo came and I silently wished that this dish came last so we could savour it more. The prawns were juicy and succulent and I have to say this is by far the best Ebi Mayo I have tried. It's not BS when they said "world famous Ebi Mayo" because it does deserve to be well-renowned. The almond and the wanton crisps also added a nice crunch to this dish. The cheese tofu came shortly after and it was surprisingly very very good. We didn't know what to expect but it was delicately sweet, more like a dessert that could make you forget that cheesecakes exist. It was absolutely divine. We saved the last bite of the Cheese Tofu for last for last and moved on to the chicken wings which was nothing great but I was having a bottle of Asahi and the "beer's best friend" written on the menu as a caption for the chicken wings pushed me to order it. Ah, the power of words! Beer and chicken wings was just hard to resist that night and if I wasn't craving for liquid yeast, I would have tried their sake since this little bistro serves premium sakes and to my delight it's also served in a bamboo pitcher! I guess that takes the edge out of Hapa Izakaya. Oh yeah, they still have their scantly clad servers to boot but obviously they're not for me.

We were in between full so we were deciding whether or not to go ahead and order the Kushi-age but for some reason I just said no but not to dessert this time! We ordered the Camembert cheesecake which was just slightly sweet, a little too slightly actually and the distinct taste of the Camembert overpowered the honey but it was still good especially for the people who are looking for a not-too-sweet dessert although the Cheese Tofu made more of an impression to us.

I promised myself to go back to this place and I did actually a week after and brought a boy. I first took him though to Guu on Robson but he hated the awkward sitting place by the bar the staff offered us and the 45 minute waiting time if we do decide to wait for a table and dine there. We declined the offer and I thought about Toratatsu which was my second option. We were happy because not only we were seated immediately but we also got to choose our table. He liked the ambiance as well which I knew he would for it's intimacy. I picked the Ebi Mayo right away and ordered the dishes I snubbed the last time like the Agedashi tofu, the Toratatsu roll and of course the Kushi-age. The Ebi Mayo is a sure winner as we enjoyed it down to the last bite. The Kushi-age came after the prawns and I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. It was dry and really it was no big deal but thankfully the two dishes which came after the Kushi-age put this Izakaya back on top of the scoreboard. The Agedashi tofu was very good and the slimy okra juice (which my guy hated for the texture, it's OK, more for me!) gave it more flavour. The Toratatsu roll made with prawns, avocado and salmon caviar was also a winner which my date claimed as his dish and gave me the whole bowl of tofu to finish.

Toratatsu is a really a good find, it is a great Izakaya sans the wait (ten points added). I'm glad that my roommate introduced me to this place. I would go to this bistro again and again most especially if I have Ebi Mayo on my mind. And like I said, there are tons of Izakayas to choose from in Vancouver and most of them are good, more than good actually but if you're looking for a more quiet night of Japanese tapas and sake where you don't hear loud Japanese phrases being exchanged every 2 seconds, Toratatsu is the place for you.

* picture stolen from toratatsu.com

Deliziosa Ristorante Vancouveriano

The Italian Kitchen
Italian Cuisine
1037 Alberni St.
Vancouver, BC
V6E 1A1 Canada
ph: (604) 687-2858

In spite of the air of pretentiousness in the Glowbal Group restaurants, I must admit that I appreciate this company for revolutionizing the Vancouver dining scene. They have been utterly creative in coming up with new restaurant ideas which leaves Vancouverites salivating for more. When the Glowbal Group decided to give the usual Italian ristorante a touch of Vancouver, the Italian Kitchen was born. This brand new restaurant joining the Glowbal Group family immediately created a buzz amongst food lovers, the in-the-know crowd and the like. Situated in the more business-y area of downtown Vancouver, this ristorante is not hard to miss. Having to pass by this sleek modern kitchen almost everyday and seeing it bustling as it was bursting with Italian aroma, it's almost stupid for me not to walk in through that door.

Coming in, the restaurant seemed busy and we had to wait at the front with a couple more people to let our presence known to the host/server so that she could take us to a table. We were seated near the bar and our very accommodating server immediately gave us our menus and offered us some water. The space was no different from the outside. It had simple but stylish decor giving the restaurant a casual feel to it. We went through the menu and we decided that the anti-pasto misto platter was the best way to go so that we could have a taste of almost everything this restaurant had to offer. We also ordered a glass of limoncello with prosecco and vanilla infused syrup called limonata and I was beyond delighted to find out that they have pitchers of their own concoctions on their menu. Offering pitchers of alcohol is a surefire way to lure a younger crowd who are out looking for a good dinner and a nice buzz.

Our limonata came in no time and as I took a sip, the syrup's sweetness immediately gave me a sugar shock. I usually gulp my cocktail but this drink should be sipped and slowly savoured. Our server also gave us a small plate of foccacia with balsamic and olive oil dip and as soon as my fingers touched the cold bread, I was turned off but when the bread touched my mouth and the flavours made me say "Mmmmm", I knew that I shouldn't have passed judgement until I've tried it. Our anti-pasto came as we were finishing up the bread and when we looked at the spread in front of us: zucchini blossoms stuffed with burrata cheese, eggplant parmesan, asparagus wrapped with proscuitto, forno baked clams, caprese salad, ahi tuna, spicy kobe meatballs and jumbo prawns -- I had a notion that we will leave with full bellies.

We started with the 1.) ahi tuna which was fresh and flavourful, you can never go wrong with ahi tuna regardless of where you go. 2.) The kobe meatball was just to die for, the spicy tomato sauce definitely gave a nice kick to it. 3.) The forno baked clams was a step behind the meatball for being the most unforgettable dish. It had a distinct Italian flavour very well suited with the clams. 4.) The jumbo prawns were lacking a bit of flavour but it was a nice break from the other dishes which already made a huge impression on our tastebuds. 5.) The zucchini blossoms were interesting, maybe I was expecting a jalapeño-cream cheese flavour but this deep fried croquette was definitely something different. 6.) The caprese salad was good but not out of the ordinary but it was definitely nice to have the fresh tomatoes and bonconccini cheese included on the platter. 7.) The asparagus and proscuitto had a very small serving, it was good but having just one made us hope to get a little more that what we had on our plate. We saved the 8.) eggplant parmesan for last but as we took a bite, we hoped that we should have saved the meatball instead. The eggplant was so-so, nothing spectacular but all-in-all, the whole platter is definitely a must-try.

After our server cleared our table of our empty dishes, he came back almost immediately and seemed enthusiastic about showing us their long list of desserts and recommended the Italian style doughnuts. My friend and I gushed about the good selection and we're already discussing if we should get the white chocolate pannacota or the chocolate parfait when all of a sudden, I had this flash of glutton guilt and declined to try what seemed to be an amazing dessert menu. My friend tried to subtly persuade me by asking me if I was sure and saying that it's not a dinner without the dessert. I looked down at my expanding belly which haven't had a break for awhile and said no. When we told our server that we'll be good and skip dessert, his face fell ever so slightly and left to get us our bill.

After the very satisfying Italian Kitchen dinner, my friend and I went to the movies when my sweet tooth craving attacked me and after the nice walk to the theatres, I am sure that I have room for dessert. I immediately regretted passing on the dessert at the restaurant although the TCBY frozen yogurt totally killed my craving. Maybe the frozen yogurt is more waistline friendly but I have to say that my friend was right, I actually already know it but the whole dinner experience is never complete without the dessert and so I made a mental note to go back to The Italian Kitchen, gorge on their desserts and maybe put a smile on our server's face.

* picture stolen from blog.jan-chan.com

A Taste of Le Marrakech

Le Marrakech
Moroccan Cuisine
52 Alexander Street in Gastown
Vancouver, BC
V6A 1B4 Canada
ph: 604 688 3714

Years ago, I watched a movie called Sabrina, the 1995 version with Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford. There was this very delicious scene when the two actors where bonding in a Moroccan restaurant relaxing on over-sized pillows while they eat with their hands and play with rose petals. I was drawn. I don't know if it was the very appetizing food, the exotic ambiance or the scene itself but as soon as I finished the movie I went on a search for a Moroccan restaurant. Back home in Manila, I did find a good one but it was interiored very modernly and it lacked the exotic appeal that I was looking for. I wanted the whole Moroccan feel where you feel like you're transported without paying a plane ticket to Morocco and when I moved to Vancouver I never stopped searching for that restaurant until I found Le Marrakech.

I have read about Le Marrakech in Georgia Straight. The article immediately caught my eye as I read the review and I was mostly excited when I read about washing your hands in rose water, belly dancers and the whole big production. This is exactly what I was looking for and I immediately called my friend to try it out.

We headed out to the touristy Gastown area and as we welcomed ourselves in, we were immediately greeted and ushered upstairs. Just by looking at the restaurant's bold choice of colours and intricately designed lamps and decors, I knew that I have found a gem. If the food wasn't all that great, the ambiance would definitely make up for it. Our server donning a bright pink kaftan gave us our menu, a basket of Moroccan bread and their homemade aged butter called smed. We asked another server for suggestions and he told us that if we like spicy the mussel appetizer was a very good choice. We took his advise and added the braised beef on a bed of cous-cous and veggies with that order. We attacked the bread while waiting for the food and we didn't expect it to tickle our tastebuds that much. The bread was filled with spices and the butter was salty, the first bite was over-whelming but as soon as you have jumpstarted your tastebuds, you wanted more. The smed was definitely addicting, well, I am a bread and butter fan but the smed is certainly not your usual, typical butter.

We tried to hold off on the bread as we waited for the mussles and when it arrived, it was a heaping serving and was swimming in spicy broth. It seemed like dipping the buttered bread into the broth was second nature but as soon as the moist bread touched my tongue, my reaction changed. The spiced bread, smed and broth combo gave a more intense flavour that brought exoticism in your palate. It was amazing. The braised beef arrived shortly after. It was served in a clay pot and looking at the portion, we were happy that my friend and I were just sharing one entree. We carefully tore the meat and took a spoonful of cous-cous for that one perfect bite, the raisins added some sweetness to the dish and once again, the flavours created a circus like feeling on my tongue. It seemed like all the flavours wanted to show up all at the same time, sweet, salty, sour, spicy... yummy...

While we were finishing up, a belly dancer started to strut her stuff. We were getting happily entertained as her dancing progressed. The restaurant was definitely an escape to Morocco, everything seemed very authentic. We enjoyed it to the last bit especially when we were chased back in to wash our hands with rose water which sent us leaving in fits of giggles.

Coming to Le Marrakech, I never expected to reinact the Julia Ormond-Harrison Ford moment, definitely not since I wasn't with a boy going on a romantic dinner but I was with a good friend who appreciates the experience of good food and we both know that finding a place that could bring not only the taste of an exotic country but also the feel of it is always worth the visit.

*** this was written several months ago but was never posted. I have recently been to this restaurant for my birthday dinner and was a bit disappointed with the service but I still appreciate what this restaurant is trying to offer.

Not A Very Hapa Experience

Hapa Izakaya
Japanese Cuisine / Izakaya
1479 Robson St,
Vancouver, BC
V6G 1C1 Canada
Tel: 604-689-4272

Hearing mixed reviews about restaurants gets me more intrigued to try it out. It makes it kind of a mission to pick a side. I first heard of Hapa Izakaya from my teacher in a bartending class. He was gushing about how good it was and naturally I made a mental note to myself to try it but my friend who is in love with Japanese food had nothing good to say about it and I was a bit turned off. I stalled on my Hapa Izakaya experience and made a full round in the downtown area -- which the restaurant is situated, trying out other Japanese Izakayas until my sister and her boyfriend took me there for some after dinner drinks. The sleek black interior was very modern Japanese which surprisingly exudes a cozy atmosphere maybe because of the no-windows design and warm lighting that hides you from the outside world. I liked the ambiance but their cold sake was the one that sold me. It was served in a bamboo pitcher with little bamboo sake cups. It definitely made it more special and having it on a warm summer night was surely a treat. Since we were there for drinks I wasn't able to give their food a try but suggested a Hapa Izakaya dinner to a friend

My friend picked Hapa Izakaya for her birthday dinner but we were a bit put down that there was a no-reservation policy. We had to look for back-up just in case. Thankfully, we were able to get a table and were approached by our very helpful sever. I ordered the cold sake right away for everyone as we carefully discussed our choices and like myself, my friends were awed at the cold sake's deadly but refreshing taste and of course its unique pitcher and cups. We chose Hapa's version of Bibimbap, Ebi Mayo, Crab roll, Tuna tataki, Chicken Kaarage and their Avocado salad. As we were waiting for the food, we noticed the scantly dressed servers which gave the restaurant a bit of a modern day geisha house impression. Our server though was an exception since she was not parading around to be seen and hoping to be gawked at by the male customers.

The Ebi Mayo was the first dish to arrive. The prawns were huge and the mayo dip gave it enough flavour that I was a bit disappointed when this dish disappeared in an instant. The Tuna tataki and the Crab roll came shortly. The Tuna tataki was good was good not exemptionally the best but good enough. The Crab roll was more interesting and gave a different approach to the regular roll. All our other dishes arrived shortly. Hapa's Bibimbap was a disappointment lacking in flavour but the Avocado salad was refreshing and the Kaarage was the same as the Tuna tataki, good but not the best. The Ebi Mayo was the winner dish and so we didn't hesitate to order it again, we needed more of those yummy deep fried succulent prawns.

Dinner is never complete without dessert and we eagerly asked our server for the dessert menu right after the last Ebi Mayo disappeared. Given the choices, we opted for the Matcha Cream puff and the Chocolate Cheesecake. Unfortuantely, both desserts were dry and unsatisfying. The matcha cream was just made it a little better than bad and we wished that we have ended our dinner somewhere else.

After our Hapa Izakaya experience, I thought that I would finally pick a side. Either gush about it or rant about it. I was actually wrong. I am indifferent about this restaurant. It's not good or bad, it's just strictly in the middle. Nothing great, not the worst, it was just alright. They didn't have any standout dishes since I also have tasted topnotch Ebi Mayo in other Izakayas. Their sake has saved them but the geisha house feel lost another point for me but would probaly gain an extra for the boys.