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"Roll me over, I'm done."
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Review votes:
450 Useful, 179 Funny, and 250 Cool
Vancouver, BC
Yelping SinceJune 2007
Things I Lovemovies, music, photography, cinematography
Find Me InFOODIE HEAVEN - Abyssal zone of orgasmic culinary concoctions.
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...I drink your milkshake.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsHonest view of one subjective person. Mwa ha ha!
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadThe camera manual. (That damn thing is thicker than a novel. Really.)
My First ConcertMe + Mirror = no one clapping. Nuff said.
My Favorite MovieotnemeM
My Last Meal On EarthUni. Foie Gras. Fried Chicken Butt. Roll me over, I'm done.
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I move in bullet time.
Most Recent DiscoveryMy growing belly.
Current Crush...the foodie next door.
DateVancouver, BC V6Z
(604) 682-2344
St. Paul's Hospital
Category: Hospitals
Neighbourhood: Downtown
Vancouver, BC V6J 1X6
(604) 736-7744
Goldilocks Bake Shop
Categories: Desserts, Filipino, Bakeries
Neighbourhoods: Fairview Slopes, South Granville
So it pains me to give this restaurant a bad rating, but it is necessary.
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1P6
(604) 683-6603
Big City Cupcakes
Category: Desserts
Neighbourhood: Downtown
Both were surprisingly good. Locals will definitely find this too sweet. As for myself, I have a sweet tooth. I'll down a spoonful of honey. This cupcake is perfect...well, for sharing because once you're done eating half then your sugar craving for the day has been fulfilled.
As for being moist, it's still not up to par with the good ones. It's not dry. It's just not moist.
So if they can take the time to tweak their recipe, then I'll keep on trying 'em out and giving higher stars.
Although, they do have to work on their pricing. It's too expensive. I can't blame them for taking advantage of Vancouver. But why follow the rest when you can set a trend and put a stop to hyped up pricing.
I'll be watching...and rating.
2 Previous Reviews:
-
7/25/2009
Big City Cupcakes...BIG JOKE!
Why didn't I just trust my instincts to venture somewhere else given my middle of the road experience the first time? Tsk. Two voices overpowered my gut, my sugar craving tummy, and wifey who is mad about red velvet cupcakes. Meh. This was the worst red velvet cupcake we've had. And I may not know a lot about baking, but we do know our red velvet cakes. One bite and I knew the joke was on me. Argh.
The cupcakes were definitely dry. No surprises here as the cupcakes weren't baked in-house. Looks like the same route Krispy Kreme took when their quality plummeted as they just started to deliver their donuts to franchise locations than make them on the spot.
You know what else is dry? The customer service. When we went back to buy more, we mentioned about the lackluster taste of their supposed best selling chocolate truffle cupcake. The only response we got was a perky statement that it was the favourite. No genuine concern to hear input on quality from a customer. Just a spiel and a mission to market them.
Amidst the nice looking store is just a set up for BIG disappointment for assortment of flavours that only tastes like stale products attached to rip-off pricing. I gave you another shot, Big City Cupcakes. This time it's a big N-O. -
7/19/2009
Having tried the abundant cupcake shops in LA, I had to go try this for myself especially with the large window art display screaming Big City Cupcakes. I like the minimalist decor of the place, instead of the typical pastel themed decor most cupcake stores have. Entering it, you could key in on the main attraction, a large and colourful flavour selection.
We came in at almost closing time and they ran out of the red velvets. I got the ones the staff recommended, and instantly fell in love with the Strawberry Cheesecake! Cream cheese frosting was smooth and creamy, while the strawberry cake was filled with more frosting inside. Then we moved on to the lemon drop which was decent. However the biggest disappointment was the truffle flavour. I could only understand why this did not make Marc D happy which didn't do it for me either. The cake was dry and seemed like a day old, I felt like returning and getting my $3.95 back! One reason could be that they do not bake it onsite, which dropped another star for me.
I've definitely had way better cupcakes in LA, but will come back again to give the red velvet a try, and will surely skip the truffle or any other chocolate flavours this time.
Vancouver, BC V6H 1Z3
(604) 738-3198
Dragon Ball Tea House
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Shaughnessy, South Cambie
They now eliminated the stamp system citing the effect of HST and put up a hand-written sign by the counter. It was written in haste that they didn't bother to correct any errors. (Photo attached).
As if that kitschy sign wasn't enough, they have another high tech sign (sarcasm) made from one of the boxes and hung it by the wall explaining the parking system.
Finally, they started using thin cups that are more of a hazard to hold due to their extreme flexibility and can cause spills.
So my favourite bubble tea place gets it's stars knocked down.
If it wasn't for the quality of the tapioca balls, they would get only one star from me. This is the saving grace and what adds character to their otherwise normal tasting, but fresh drinks.
3 Previous Reviews:
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12/5/2009
Yay. So after being closed for renovation for nearly a month, Dragon Ball Tea House is back up and running. I guess it's long overdue. They repainted the place and built new seats. But it's still the same tight hole in the wall space we all come to love and crave. With a better interior, I still wouldn't come here to hang out. But at least waiting can be a little bit more comfortable. Or can it? Try to find a seat or even space first.
And what happened to the pearls? Someone forgot to coat and soak it in glucose. I hope that wasn't part of the renovation plans.
Good to know fresh fruit milk slush are still offered along with half and half choices. Oh and the stamp cards are still not readily made available. You have to go and ask for one and present one or you'll never even hear about it. It's like some "Milk Tea Mafia" is watching and making sure only a few cash in on the perk. Come on! Let's be proactive here and help generate repeat business.
Overall, still my go to place for when I crave. -
6/14/2009
So it's no secret between my growing tummy and I that we've been going back to this place (and a few failed bubble tea houses in between, so yes, my dear Dragon Ball, I've been seeing someone else).
Today they updated their menu board and covered a few items that won't be available for now including...sigh...s niff...FRESH TARO! The horror! I asked the guy at the counter and he said the taro is getting pretty expensive already not to mention cooking, peeling and slicing it. (Sidenote: which mind you Pearl Fever @ UBC uses canned taro. Another sigh.) And while he was talking, in the background someone was slicing some fresh avocado. Yum.
NOTE: They DO have a stamp card which you have to ask for. I'm surprised they don't readily offer it because it could mean repeat business. On the other hand, I could have gotten something free by now if only I knew about it early on. Man!
This has got to be the best bubble tea house I've been to so far. It really deserves five stars. The pearls are consistently fresh and sweet. It complements the not too sweet drinks. But I'm still giving it four stars because I do question the cleanliness of the food preparation and for not offering a stamp card. (Bad!)
WHAT TO ORDER:
- Lychee/milk/slush/co conut jelly
- Japanese Green Tea/milk/slush/pearl s/coconut jelly -
6/7/2009
"Hello, Number 35: An Ode"
Please hear me when I say
You may want to stay away.
I am officially addicted
As fellow Yelpers have predicted.
Never mind the arduous long line
They make your drink just mighty fine
Each trip is always a wait
As each drink also costs my waist :(
Milk or no Milk? Slush or no slush?
Damn, it's hard to predict the rush
Grungy interior, close your eyes to forget.
I just want my Dragonball or I'll be upset.
Uh-oh. Dirty gloves used for cleaning
are the same gloves used for ice mixing
Sanitation and cleanliness I do not approve
Food handling standards should be the next move
Fresh, powdered, fruity or special tea?..
Oh, how I heart all of thee!
Pearls oh so chewy, so are the grass jelly
Oh please have mercy on my belly!
Yes, I declare it. Dragonball.
Certainly the yummiest of them all!
Don't even try to be a pessimist
It will get you too, no need to resist!
Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6
(604) 662-1900
Griffins Restaurant
Categories: American (New), Steakhouses
Neighbourhood: Downtown
I do love the service. It's proper, but not formal. If only all restaurants can be the same way each and every time.
So why only two stars? The food. It's boring and normal. The menu sounds sophisticated, but the taste is bland. We had their Risotto as well as their Prime Rib entrees. Both lacked oomph. The taste is what I would expect from any run of the mill city restaurants, but not from Fairmont and especially not at this price. The steak was cooked medium rare (which is what I normally ask for and perfect if I didn't have a pregnant wife to share) despite requesting it medium. And they missed pouring dressing over the salad which when I called attention to it, the Maitre d'hotel apologised for the omission.
I thought the saving grace was the included dessert buffet which was tucked by the entrance and was very visually appetizing. Nothing to praise about. All I can taste from each offering was sugar. There was nothing unique like Lavender infused chocolate or even something basic like a sprinkling of Sea salt. This is the Fairmont Hotel after all.
Still I'm willing to give this another shot when I feel like having a sugar rush.
Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6
(604) 669-9378
900 West Lounge & Wine Bar
Category: Wine Bars
Neighbourhood: Downtown
We had their afternoon tea service which they call "Tea at the Castle" which normally goes for $36 per person, but was discounted by 50% due to the recent Groupon offering.
Service was friendly and unassuming. The staff was there when you needed them at the start and then completely out of the way when the food items were already by the table.
The sofa-like seats by the perimeter visually looked great, but was not ideal when you constantly had to lean forward to reach for items at the table. Best to have the usual chairs if going for afternoon tea.
I did enjoy the tasty loose leaf teas as well as the two-tiered delights of finger sandwiches (on the lower tier) as well as the pastries and scones with Devonshire cream, jam, and fresh berries (for the second tier).
However it was too expensive for what it was and you're only paying the bulk of the bill for the Fairmont name and hospitality. I wouldn't recommend it at $36 per person. And even at the price we paid, our total bill came out to $48 for two which is actually just right for a two-tier tea service. Actually if I think about it, the price is still expensive considering I had the best tea service at the "Rose Garden Tea Room" in the Huntington Library where you have a central table containing all the fresh finger sandwiches, pastries, scones, and fresh fruits all for $24.95 per person. As a bonus, when you're done you have acres of Botanical gardens to walk thru as well as a library and art collection to oggle. You can't get any more old school than that. With Fairmont, you walk back out into the street.
In any case, it's an experience when staying at the hotel in Downtown Vancouver.
Richmond, BC V6X 2T1
(604) 278-8772
Richmond Auto Spa
Categories: Auto Detailing, Car Wash
It was too little, too late. When the car needs cleaning, perhaps I'll be charged $50 over my quote to make up for the gift certificate.
Oh, and I still don't have my official receipt. Is it wrong for the customer to keep on chasing after it?
2 Previous Reviews:
-
7/27/2010
Tuesday has arrived and despite travelling all the way to the sister business, Yaletown Auto Spa, the $50 certificate was not available. The person in charge didn't know what I was talking about. When he called Danny to verify, I was given an excuse that the "driver" was stuck in traffic.
It's been two weeks and I still don't have my official receipt that was promised to be emailed to me from day 1 when service was rendered.
Because of it's lack of professionalism and obvious disregard for customer support, I cannot recommend this business any longer. -
7/23/2010 First to Review
This is the sister company of Yaletown Auto Spa. In fact the billing on my credit card was under YAS.
It pains me to give this only 2 stars. I go to Yaletown for my previous vehicle. The recent Living Social coupon plus a better pricing structure for the Richmond business made it a no-brainer to try.
I called Danny to inquire about his best pricing for the vehicle by stating the make, model and relatively new mileage. I asked if he could go lower than the quoted $350, but he said this was as low as he can go. I informed him that I will be bringing the Living Social $100 coupon effectively bringing my bill down to $250 plus tax. This was confirmed and so I set my appointment for that weekend.
I arrive and two nice, young gentlemen were waiting for my car. They knew the car they were expecting to service by stating the make and brand as well as asked for the Living Social coupon right there and then. Perfect. After which I would come back 4 hours later as explained over the phone and reinforced when I arrived.
When we went to pay up, I was billed $450 minus the coupon. I told them I spoke to Danny and he quoted me $350 minus the coupon. They reasoned the vehicle was big and necessitated that amount. Hold on. Why wasn't I informed when I brought it in that morning that the price changed. It would have been helpful to inform the customer PRIOR to performing the service so I could have had the chance to decide then.
We're not talking about a $1 or $10 over-charge. We're talking about a full $100 increase for service already rendered. It's no use to put up an argument at that point as they weren't the decision-makers. So I paid the bill and called Danny the next day.
We spoke on Monday about the HUGE price discrepancy than was originally quoted. I told him I understood that it wasn't a car, but a $100 increase was too much of a jump that wasn't even authorised. I then proceeded to offer and meet halfway at $50. He agreed and said he could do that.
I thought this was settled. I realise last night that by Tuesday they still proceeded to charge my credit card the original amount of $350 plus taxes. Nice.
So I speak to Danny again today to question about our next failed agreement for the $50 over charge rather than $100. He said my credit card was processed already and he couldn't refund me at this stage. He then offers the $50 refund via another voucher which he said he will issue for me to pick up by Tuesday next week. With two dis-honoured agreement, you think they were actually willing to refund you the money back? Exactly. So I agreed to this new arrangement just to get this over and done with. No more follow up, phone calls or empty promises.
It's a 4-star service, really, just like his Yaletown Auto Spa business.
My gripe of course is the business ethics and failed gentleman's agreement that wasn't honoured over the phone. My suggestion to make this business more respectable and more successful is by providing transparency in the pricing structure. As of this writing the website of both Richmond and Yaletown Auto Spa does not indicate how much is charged depending on the classification of the vehicle. There's just a minimum pricing and up and away from there. Just like any car wash, there should be a posted sign for the size of the vehicle and the respective pricing. That way there are no surprises or disappointed customers.
Despite all this experience, I was going to give 3 stars for the hard work of the two employees despite a few sloppy buffer scratches and black undercoating left on the wheels which I easily rubbed off myself. I had to finally settle for 2 stars because it's been 5 days and I still have no official receipt despite promises it will be emailed. Well, that and the fact that I was charged $100 over the quote.
Would I still recommend this place? As crazy as it sounds, I would. Just make sure to have the quoted price in writing so when it comes time to pay, there are no surprises.
I'll update this review by Tuesday to see if Danny delivers.
Vancouver, BC V6B 3N9
(604) 633-1001
Yaletown Auto Spa
Categories: Auto Detailing, Car Wash
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Granville Entertainment District
I'm extremely disappointed at the lack of professionalism and their disregard for customer support. With too many empty promises, I can't recommend this business any longer. I was quoted a price they didn't honour themselves only AFTER the fact when the work has been done already.
As of this writing, there isn't any set pricing for a specific vehicle category. Which means the quoted price over the phone can change the same way it did to me. If you can't get the service in writing, it's best to go elsewhere.
1 Previous Review:
-
10/3/2009 First to Review
The actual place isn't as nice or fancy-looking than the other places I've been to. But what's more important is the honest service that ensures a repeat business rather than a one-time endeavor for a quick cash grab.
You can go with the basic "Vancouver Car Wash" ($30-$50) which involves hand washing the exterior and wipe down of the interior.
From there you build up with an Engine shampoo ($80), Interior Shampoo ($125), Deluxe Cut Polish ($150), and even Pet Hair Removal ($100) which I'm glad I don't have to. Not contented with the price? How about going for an Interior and/or Exterior Auto Detailing for a whopping $175 a piece.
And if you're questioning the pricing, sigh, welcome to Yaletown. If you're too busy (or lazy, or both) to come over then they offer pick-up and delivery of the vehicle.
They have a neat website complete with starting prices that does escalate depending on the size of vehicle and quality of interior. But like I said, they don't seem to over-charge you for a service that you won't need. They'll check the condition of the vehicle. And hey, if you can't afford their recommendation, then you can't afford it.
Honestly, with this kind of pricing I'd rather invest in my own tools and clean my own car. But for those who live in the Downtown area where some of the buildings provide no provision to wash in the garage, this is an alternative which I succumb to. Have to? Not really. Want to? Occasionally, why not.
Burnaby, BC V5C 3Y6
(604) 294-0104
Sushi Garden Japanese Restaurant
Category: Japanese
While we were eating, an arrogant kid obviously connected to the restaurant owners asked some newly arrived patrons if they were seated by somebody or if they just sat themselves down. He was doing this from across the restaurant tables and didn't have the decency to approach them and kindly ask them or inform them of the restaurant's policy. And this is what's going on with the service.
Water and tea isn't being refilled at all you'd have to flag them down.
What makes this restaurant popular is the pricing and serving size. You'd be hard pressed to find a decent enough quality of food for big california rolls normally only seen in LA. Well this restaurant and the other branch in Metrotown as well as Sushi California by Burnaby is making good waves.
Personally, if I'd be paying this price just for the average food in big portions and be suckered by the service. I'd bring my business elsewhere and be served by owners who know how to make their customers and their servers happy.
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2V6
(604) 669-2289
HMV
Category: Music & DVD's
Neighbourhood: Downtown
Fast-forward to HMV in Canada and the selections are abysmal. There are a few imported versions, but with the local CD prices that they charge you can imagine how much more they add on.
That's why I just shop online at Amazon in it's various incarnations of .com, .uk and .ca sites. You get great pricing for those various marketing gimmicks of limited, deluxe, box sets, and yes imported versions.
They don't have an edge in this cyber world. Even Future Shop is able to come up with their own "exclusive" edition just to ensure you buy it from them.
And what's up with the pureHMV membership card that charges to join? I pay HMV money to be able to join just to earn points by, wait for it, shopping at their store.
Don't be suckered into buying their expensive Blu-Ray disc pricing. There's a Walmart for that.
HMV stores in the US has folded. I honestly won't be surprised if this follows suite. They better come up with no-bull pricing, fast. Canadians have been taken advantage far too long.
The worse I've experienced are the people at the Emergency admittance. It's an emergency, people! Why the attitude?
The reason they are getting a generous 3 stars is due to the great people at the Maternity section. Day and Night shift staff are the best over here. Their help in sincere and will do what they can whatever time of day.
With that said, the hospital is old. It looks old and the equipment are old. This hospital harkens back to places in 3rd-world countries which by the way have hospitals that look like hotels already. This hospital looks like a, umm. hospital. Which should be a "duh", but shouldn't look like this. Think about it, the last place you want to feel like you're sick and in need of help is by being in a place that mimics exactly THAT.
Oh, and cable TV and telephone are both paid service. Thank God for mobile phones. That solves the telephone. For internet, well you'll have to do internet tethering with you're phone so that solves that as well. As for cable TV, it's provided by the Hospitality Network. We signed up for the supposed "Premium TV" service at $17.36/day (after taxes and a one-time administration fee and all we got is a lame 10" screen fit for one person to see. Maybe if it was the year 1980, this would be an acceptable cost of luxury. But not thirty years later. Oh, and what activation fee was that when a lady went in the room with a remote control to turn on the service. How about activating in an automated manner so we can extend, upgrade, downgrade or cancel the service ourselves.
This hospital needs to keep up with the times and do a revamp. It's long overdue.