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The Brave Bull's House of Steaks
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
1294 Hastings Street EastVancouver, BC V6A 1S6
Neighbourhoods: Strathcona, Downtown Eastside, Grandview-Woodlands
(604) 253-4728
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
4 reviews for The Brave Bull's House of Steaks
4 reviews in English
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Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
OPEN AGAIN!
It was closed for a few months with a 'For Lease' sign up. Everytime I drove by, it was a stake to my heart rather than a steak in my stomach.
I know I liberally use hyperbole in my reviews - but all austerity: I was heartbroken. It wasn't just a closed steakhouse - it was a sign of disappearing East Van. If another doofus hipster cafe/gastropub/bakery/bistro opened up here - it would have torn my heart out. I would not have been able to take it.
So when I saw the lights were on again - I was elated to say the least. I didn't get a chance to ask Linda why they were closed (since she was busy) but it's the same folks. It's a bit conflicting - there's a sweetness they are continuing the business, but at the same time I know they are probably doing it because no one else will take over.
I really enjoyed my NY steak ($15) - bit overcooked but juicy and seasoned well. My friend and I wanted to throw as much money their way as possible and got the honey-garlic spareribs and pan-fried scallops ($5 each). Linda warned us (in Cantonese, no less) that the appetizers were small and not really worth it. But we ordered it anyways. Unfortunately, neither were really any good - so it showed us again to always listen to your elders.
Same menu, same prices and same owners (see my previous review). This place is an institution. If you have been thinking of coming here but never got around to it for whatever reason - this is your second and possibly last chance.
Don't let this one get away.Listed in: East Van Eateries, "You're the best! Around!"
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/1/2011
Okay - this review is completely biased. I'm in love with this place.
Since I was a young'un, I… Read more »
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Review from Trude H.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 2/19/2012
The Brave Bull has been dark for a couple of months now. Very sad. Our cosy neighbourhood steakhouse is missed. I did notify yelp HQ but see the "closed" has not appeared in the heading.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/15/2011
Linda Lum, hostess and official doyenne of steaks, is still laughing and genuinely happy to welcome… Read more »
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Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
This place is a diamond in the rough.. the very rough. The entire experience was amazing.
We walked in to see a sign that said "CASH ONLY" - we did a 180, right out the door and hunted for a cashmachine - which in that part of town is hard to come by as it is - a bit of a white horse, the mythical cash box in the dodgiest part of town.
We walked back in to the restaurant, to have Owner, Hostess and the only person front-of-house, Linda, greet us and seat us by the window. The place had a few other groups dining, most of which seemed like they regularly dealt in "cash only" and may have been working for the mob.
In the back room where the magic happens, I could see Linda's husband, the other half of this 2 man army, grilling away.
The place was decorated in what could be only classified as the holy grail of tacky. There was a tree with a pink flamingo in it and cheap christmas lights, and a dead cactus sitting on top of the cash register which Linda seemed quite sensitive about when I asked about its untimely demise.
When we settled on our steaks, Linda came and took our orders. She told my dining companion that he was lucky to be there with me, and then disappeared to fetch our soup and salad starters.
I wanted to hug her. She's like your friend's mom who seems genuinely excited at the opportunity to feed you.
Our steaks came out and for $9.95, I couldn't really complain. My companion got the $14.95 tenderloin and I remember giggling when Linda made a joke about him being a big spender and liking the finer things.
When she came back to clear our plates, she seemed genuinely upset that I didn't finish mine. Her brow furrowed, lips puckered, and in broken English she asked me why I didn't finish. I explained that I wasn't a big eater, and after a few more attempts at insisting I finish my meal, she gave up.
She brought the cheque with 2 candies that seemed like they were from a decade ago and found at the bottom of her kid's halloween loot bag. I think mine had grains of sand on it.
We went to pay, and after chatting a bit more, had to bite our lips to keep from giggling when she rang up the bill and said "$28.13 and BINGO!" in her broken English.
If you like trying your luck at dives and enjoy a more amusing no-frills dining experience, give them a visit. We chuckled through the entire meal and the experience allowed me to write this hella-long review! -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
Definitely a no frills, no fanfare place for the residents (who live around the area) AND foodies. Everyone else can just take their steak snob attitude elsewhere.
This is a two-person operation run by a husband and wife. The wife does the front-end operation from greeting and seating guests, taking orders, and bringing the bill. While the husband is at the kitchen firing up the grill with his full chef uniform. If there's one thing they like doing everyday, it's definitely keeping this joint open and running.
There are photocopies of an article written about the restaurant hung all over the place which you're bound to read wherever you sit. It highlights the cheap price for a decent steak. The article was written back in 1995. Looking around the place and checking out the menu, will make you believe you're stuck in time. The decor hasn't changed. More importantly, the prices haven't changed as well.
Fifteen freakin' years since the article was written and this restaurant doesn't have inflation in it's vocabulary. Someone please (please!) make them our finance minister.
Don't come here expecting swift service. These guys are way past their retirement age and will walk a turtle's space if they have to get things done right. They could have collected their retirement benefits years ago, but decided to do what they do best in feeding the locals with cheap steak.
I was excited to see Rib Steak on the menu, but wasn't available. I settled for a T-Bone and they happily left a good portion of fat on the steak just to feed my yearning for marbled goodness. How does it taste? Don't go looking for corn-fed or Cows massaged everyday. All I can say is it's decent for the price. You get a good portion of meat and it comes with a soup or salad, veggies and baked potato with sour cream and faux bacon bits. Classic blast to the past indeed.
Not up for steak? They serve Chinese food, too. I bet you the 1995 article didn't see that coming. I tried that as well.
When we got our bill, she took the time to explain what we were charged despite having only two items on it - a steak meal and a Chinese combo meal. And when she gave our change back, she painstakenly took the time to count what she gave only to realise she short-changed us. So she left and scrambled behind the cash register. We were going to leave all the change anyway. It can't be that bad. She came back with 10 more cents. 10 cents! How honest is that.
How can you not have a soft spot for these hard-working proprietors. To come back wouldn't be about the food or the price anymore, it would be just to keep the place alive.
