Raymond "Roll me over, I'm done" O.'s Profile

3.5 STARS.

We saw the place while passing by and decided to come back for dinner. Luckily this restaurant (the second location in Vancouver under the same name) just opened today at 6pm.

I like the ambiance with its modern dark interior which is a departure from traditional Korean restaurants we've been accustomed to. There are no booths, but tables are spaced apart graciously.

Pricing is very decent, but can also skyrocket if you get carried away with the variety of choices from the appies, casseroles, BBQ and Shabu Shabu.

Service is good and friendly of course being their first ever dinner service and with only a handful of patrons today. Everything is perfect up until asking the bill and asking for some take out boxes where there was a bit of a long pause as one of the staff had to wait for the other making us second-guess why he couldn't do it himself. Time will tell if they can keep up this friendly demeanor as they get busy.

As for the food, it was tasty from the Tofu Seafood Soup, the Dolsot Bibimbap, the marinated Beef, and finally the various Korean side dishes.

I could only wish they serve more side dishes as I noticed these days the Korean restaurants have been cutting the variety down to four. I'm used to seeing at least six.

If they can maintain the quality of ingredients and service, then they won't have any problem attracting repeat customers down the road.

Ah, Boys Co. I have some love + hate feelings for this store. In many ways it reminds me of Kitsons in LA. The clothing they carry is similar in style. But this time the space is too small and it can get pretty crowded real fast.

100% of the clothing is over-priced with 50% of the those are too loud. Okay, so I'm not the target market, but I do love going back every now and then to shop for jeans and outerwear.

The staff are commission-based which can be a good and bad thing. The good is that it will make the staff work harder to help customers out and allows you to create a good relationship with one single sales person to help you out and turn you out into a loyal customer. They will find the size from other stores and even put aside as item.

The bad...well, I've seen some bickering among staff because one was accusing the other of "stealing" his customer right in front of all of us shoppers. Sadly that's how low this store can get. And I'm not talking about prices at all.

As for pricing. Throw MSRP out of the window because you won't need that here. I've purchased a few items here which was on sale already based on their initial pricing, but most of the time it falls down to regular US prices.

Oh and even Canadian manufacturers are not spared from the price gap because I was looking at a messenger bag of a local label and was about to purchase it after first checking the manufacturer website pricing. The manufacturer had an online store and was selling it for CAD30 less plus free shipping. WTF, Boys Co? For a Canadian-owned store, it sure does take advantage of Canadians. And guess what happens when it goes on sale, the price is now close to suggested price. Nice.

Despite all these criticisms, I still award it three stars for having a store like this catered to men, err, boys. I can't say you get a good deal on the clothing, but sometimes rational is thrown out the window when you see something you like and can't find elsewhere. Yes, not even at Holt.

The staff are mostly friendly. Stick with one and they will help you throughout the store.

We're savvy shoppers days these, you know. And we're watching your prices, Boys Co.  We're watching.

Don't be fooled by the shabby exterior of the restaurant, it is way more appealing inside as compared to its exterior appearance. Seating is still pretty tight, but decent looking, and judging from the crowd, I felt good about waiting for a table. A ten minute wait was not so bad given we came in without any reservations. The hostess was likeable and looking out for us making sure the carts reach our table which happened to be at the far corner.

One of the few places serving dimsum carts, the prices are very cheap as compared to other dimsum restaurants. The portions are very large as well, and its flavour and freshness I can't really complain.

In fact the dumplings look mutated here being each piece is gigantic in size. Selections are wide and varied, and props for serving different kinds of fillings on their sesame balls. I was pleased with their offerings and the quality of the food. Service is also helpful and patient when explaining the dishes. This was a pretty good value given the very reasonable prices.

Though I consider this 4 stars given the value, I would have second thoughts returning here given that parking is a real pain, and due to the long lines since the restaurant is not as massive as the others in the city. But it definitely is worth a try.

Another dimsum dive with the "golden" moniker. God knows how many they are! Situated right behind the complex where Ajisai is located, underground parking was quite convenient and upon taking a couple of flight upstairs, a typical Cantonese style restaurant stands. This maybe the only authentic Cantonese restaurant in the area of Kerrisdale/Shaughnessy, and this pretty much explains the huge crowd. It's noisy, bustling, very busy, even the servers seem stressed from the pace and vibe of the restaurant. In fact, despite making reservations, I waited still for some time before getting a table.

The food is decent and perhaps a little above average, considering they serve the dimsum the traditional push cart style. My usual staples arrived from the table still fresh, special mention goes to flavourful pork siu mai, and delicious deep fried black sesame balls.

There is still a great deal to be desired ambience wise. I realize that Chinese restaurants are noisy, but it was way too loud here, it makes you want to finish off your food and head out. Probably explains why the staff attitude towards customers seem hurried. The super tight and cramped seating does not help at all either. I've had more pleasant and comfortable dimsum experience elsewhere, even in the side of Asian populated Richmond.

It's a decent dimsum destination only if you're hankering for some Cantonese cuisine and happen to be in the Kerrisdale area. Otherwise, I would head off to Richmond or Kirin for better dimsum eats.

Spicy Court is alive and bustling again now that the Canada Line construction in their area is done.

The Cantonese-style dim sum dishes are relatively inexpensive. Service was above par and efficient. When you need the staff, they give you their attention not like other typical Chinese restaurants where they go about their own way. (I guess I'm talking about LA standards versus Vancouver with it's friendly disposition).

The restaurant is bright and spacious enough to maneuver around to your table. Like most dim sum places these days, there are no carts here so food can be cooked to order. You are given a checklist-style menu and a pencil so you can indicate your order and quantity.

This place deserves three stars for the following reasons:
- The food is okay with the taste being average.
- Menu selection is normal. No special concoction that you can only find in the restaurant.
- If the food is cooked to order, then there is a failure in some quality because the Cha Siu Bao was soggy from over-steaming.
- XO sauce is an extra $2.50.

Highlights:
- Pan Fried Radish Cake with dried shrimps
- Black Sesame Seed Balls

Call ahead for reservations. Make plans with your tummy.

A "proper" Apple store in Vancouver. Finally. This is the Apple Store the world was initially introduced to - ceiling to floor glass windows and an expansive floor space fit for the kind of traffic and attention their products attract. It's a basic Apple store design and layout, but it's a start.

Definitely bigger and definitely better than the "is-that-really-an-Apple-owned-store?" over at the Pacific Centre.

Layout is pretty much what people are accustomed to - computers, iPods, iPhones, software and electronics that we can all touch and play with. Accessories galore. Free WiFi.

So why only three stars? Well:

1. It's an Apple store in it's most basic 8-year old design and layout.
2. I don't like the new blocked section reserved for iPhone activations. It's tacky and disrupts the flow of traffic. If you really must just build one, build it at the far end and not by the entrance.
3. There was a time when ALL employees are welcoming and friendly. You can talk to them and they are down to Earth. Now there are only a handful of sincere employees. I was asking for a specific product and the person just uttered it wasn't available and proceeded to walk away. What happened to customer service. What happened to the "I can check when we next expect to have it in stock" or "I'm sorry we're sold out, can I help you find something else?".

Bad management and employee training aside, I'm glad there is a second Apple store in Vancouver. I can only wait for a third stand-alone multi-level store with glass steps.

S O C I E T Y baby! This is where you can find "diner-style comfort food" with a twist - better quality and in a lounge type ambiance. We went for dinner on a Friday night and boy was it busy and loud. Not my kind of scene, but I'm in it for the food. I haven't been disappointed so far with any of the Glowbal restaurants I've been to and you can add this to the list as well down to the excellent service who kept on checking up on us to ensure we'll still okay.

For Vancouver standards, I felt the pricing was reasonable in terms of portion, ingredients and location. Unlike other restaurants in the area that claim no pretentions in dining but go the length of providing pretentious dining down to the plating. With Society, it is what it is - simple food with better than average service.

I love the spike Bourbon chocolate milkshake and the sweet whipped cream on top. We also tried the Margarita which was honestly a tad too salty.

For our appie, we got the "Flight of Hand Cut French Fries" which was served 3 ways (reminiscent of Sanafir) - plain, poutine and chili version. Although the sauces tasted great, I wanted them thinner and crispy outside which they were not in this case. Knowing this, it's best to have them cook it well done.

For our entree, the "Lobster Shephers Pie" came in a simple white ceramic dish, but the taste is all that matters and it was delicious and chunks of Lobsters were present at every bite. We also had the "Loaded Prime Rib Burger" with crispy bacon and caramelized onions. It actually comes served with a side of fries which I requested if they can exchange for onion rings and our server said the kitchen may arrange. When the bill arrived, they charged me full price for the onion rings. Wow.

For the month of November, they are providing a "Junk Food Platter" for free when you order two entrees. It's good for two and really yummy. It was a platter alright - pink cotton candy (memories), caramel popcorn (so good), doughnut holes (the best! hot and freshly fried!), chocolate cupcake (moist), ice cream sandwich (ordinary), rice crispies (boring and not buttery), cookies (not much to like), and a small glass of oreo milkshake (not thick, but still tasty).

This place has potential to be better and earn four stars, but there were obvious problems with the way the kitchen is being run causing extremely slow service among tables that night that the server kept on going back to apologize. In fact both tables to our left and right were at a stand-still for a long time I didn't know why when in fact one was done and the other was waiting for their main entree.

For being part of the Glowbal group, I'm surprised of the shaky start that I only see from new restaurateurs. It shouldn't have happened here.

Nevertheless, our server and the other staff was very attentive to our table even for a busy Friday night which made our experience more enjoyable and forgiving for the kitchen missteps.

Will come back to try their pizza and pasta selections. I'm eyeing on their Maple Bourbon Bread Pudding as well as round 2 of their doughnut holes. Wanna belong to a society? I guess this is a good place to start.

Just came from here after lunch and even though I was full I couldn't resist trying the delicious looking treats. I applaud the participants of this event for making it all the way to bring their baked goodies to this venue. It feels pretty far away from civilization to be noticed at all except by foodies scouring Vancouver for good eats.

There's a home-made sign, no banner, to help you find your way. Kinda. Then when you reach the place, it's pretty small and can get crowded fast.

With that said, I enjoyed it very much doing the rounds and being wooed by the samples. Remember - CASH ONLY - so make sure to bring enough to help you go through the temptation.

All of them have calling cards and most have web sites so you can refer back to them for re-orders and special events.

Fun, friendly people helping each other out and I am definitely looking forward to going back perhaps next weekend to see what new items they can concoct.

Loco for taco! This taqueria got me excited being these were developed by people behind Nuba, Flying Tiger and Les Faux Bourgeois. Plus any Mexican restaurant addition to Vancouver is always exciting given that Vancouver and Mexican cuisine? Err. okay, okay, we all know what's next there. Movin' on.

Serving only tacos and quesadillas, it focuses on serving quality organic sustainable ingredients, and oh yeah, these babies are delicious too. I find the al pastor quesadillas a bit dry compared to the tacos. But their tacos are something else. Tasty fillings abound here, fresh veggies, well balanced picked onions, fragrant cilantro, spicy jalapenos, flavourful meat, fish, and veggie selections. Three sauces to choose from - salsa verde, chile de arbol, and my favorite, chipotle. Tthe highlight for me was the pescado, carnitas, and roasted poblano. MUY DELICIOSO YELPAMIGOS!

Space is very tight given the crowd, and the dozen or so seats. The exterior murals reminiscent of religious folk art, and Spanish chatters from staff lends to its authentic old time kitschy vibe. Plans are in pipeline for a back patio, and having it fully licensed - yeah, easier to down these deliciously messy bad boys!

It's tagline 'Pinche Taco Shop' is Mexican slang for 'Fucking Taco Shop'. Hell yeah, this definitely is one f*cking taco shop!! Vamanos Muchachos!

Keg may be a chain, but they created a damn good one by building a sleek, modern restaurant at Yaletown. All three floors has a different feel with sections of the restaurant changing from a cozy intimate feel to a wide open bar and finally leading to a roof deck patio in a setting that matches, rivals and even surpasses non-chain restaurants in terms of food and quality of service.

Steak lovers will be glad they joined the Taste of Yaletown event and at a $35 price that doesn't need much thinking. Other restaurants should be ashamed for this is not some stripped down sampler dishes. We're talking about full size portions from start to finish.

For starters, I would recommend the French Onion Soup with generous gruyere cheese. Or try the Baked Garlic Shrimp served with a slice of bread to dip into the garlic butter dripping.

I must admit the mains weren't tasty and every bite I wish I was back at Ruth's. I had the Baseball Sirloin with a side of twice baked potato and requested it Chicago-style. While the Keg Size Cut of Prime Rib I would admit was nothing great especially after you've had one at Lawry's. I still did enjoy the sides of garlic mashed potato and strips of fried onion.

My Mojito wasn't enjoyable either as it had not much Rum, too much club soda and not enough sweetness.

What won me over were the two King-size desserts of Creme Brulee with it's perfectly torched sugar as well as the Billy Miner Pie with it's chocolate cookie cum graham cracker crust with a thick slice of mocha ice cream, drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce then topped with thin almond slices.

The best part is the unobtrusive service that seems to arrive just at the right time when you need something and when you're glass is running empty.

I would definitely recommend this Yaletown location, but come early so you can enjoy a great dining experience and still skip the crowd coming in for the night life.