Khona

No. 114


<2010-09-23 Thu>

Location, location, location: in that part of town, there is no better coffee (sorry Bubby Roses fans). I wouldn't go out of my way to have a coffee at Khona, but if I am in that area, there no better place, in my opinion.

Its espresso is thick and full of flavour; the way I like it.

Today, my coffee was, as usual very good.

The restaurant is medium-sized, with a big communal table in the middle, and a fireplace with lounge chairs. It provides free Internet and it is a good place to spend one or two hours working, specially if you sit at the large table, not taking precious space from others. It also has some seating outside, but it is right on Cook, and you get a lot of smog.

I have read that Khona recently changed owners. My experience is based primarily on the previous owner, who really cared about the quality of its espresso. At least in this visit, I felt that the coffee was still good.

Verdict: This are of the city, Khona's espresso has no competition.

For more information, including address, visit:

Travelling Bean Coffee, Fort St.

<2010-09-22 Wed>

No. 113

This is a simple and small coffee shop at the corner of Fort and Quadra. I had passed many times without being interesting in going in.

Two women who looked like Japanese in origin were serving behind the counter. They were very friendly. It is not in one occasion that my decision to go into a restaurant has been swayed by their friendly staff. Coffee, in particular, is as much about ambiance as it is about coffee.

The tables are comfortable. It was also interesting to overhear the conversation in the next table. Middle age women were discussing the difficulties of finding good men. They didn't mind the others hearing. When three men sat in the table next they invited them to contribute to the discussion. It was, as it should be, the true spirit of the old coffee shops: where ideas were discussed.

One day I'll write a book of these coffee shop stories.

The coffee? Decent. Similar to what I'd get from Starbucks.

There are two Travelling Beans in town. The other is located in James Bay.

Verdict: Decent coffee, in a small location, with friendly staff.

Saigon Night

<2010-09-22 Wed>

No. 112

Update. In an early version of this posting I made a mistake. I confused Saigon Night with Saigon Harbour. What follows is the correct review.

Saigon Night is located in Fort St just east of Quadra. It is a medium place with a dark decor. The restaurant was relatively empty, considering the size. Some customers were clearly regulars.

Saigon Night has the typical fare: rice and noodles dishes and pho. Unlike Pho Vy, they have few pho specials. I ordered the one with meat.



It was very good in all aspects: the meat was tender, the broth flavourful, the sides were fresh, and the plate was huge.

I certainly enjoyed it.

Many would ask: how does it compare to Pho Vy. There are not many pho options at this restaurant, but what I received is comparable to Pho Vy. One of my complaints about Pho Vy is that it is sometimes inconsistent. Is Saigon Night inconsistent? I don't know. I would have to visit again. On the other hand, its was more expensive.

Paid: 13.44 + tip


For more information, including address, please visit:

Shiki Sushi

<2010-09-21 Tue>

No. 111

I was prowling for a place to eat when I saw the restaurant. I was surprised, because I could not remember it being there. (Update: it used to be on Fort St, to next Beirut)

As I entered, I was shocked: this didn't look like a typical Victoria restaurant. It had a certain "posh" feeling. First, it is a very large place, very large. The tables are sparse, with lots of space in between that is occupied by planters. The sits are leather chairs, they are very attractive. The back of the restaurant is dark, intimate, and contrast with the bright area close to the windows.



I ordered the sushi-sashimi special (the most expensive special). The soup was ok, but I was surprised when a bento arrived. First, the entry in the menu wasn't labelled as a bento, second it was small, too small--I thought--for what i was going to be charged.



It included 2 hokkigai, 2 hotate, 3 maguro, 3 sake, all of them relatively small. In fact, as I looked more carefully, the one hokkigai was split right in the middle, to artificially increase the number of pieces.



The rice was covered with gravy. I don't like it, and I wish they would ask before they do it.

The sushi and sashimi felt average, and were overpriced.

Verdict: Expensive, average food. Avoid.

Paid: 16.74 + tip

For more information, including location, please visit:

The Soda Shoppe: its coffee sucks

My original review is here here

As I write this, I am looking at a coffee that is totally undrinkable.

This was no surprise. First, I knew I was one of the first to visit this location. The machine needed to be primed. Would they have done it? As I watched the young person operating the coffee maker, I discovered that she hardly knows how to operate it. The answer to my question was probably no.

Then there are the subtleties: why make the coffee in a glass and then pour into a cup? The crema is wasted. They won't warm the cups. My cup was cold.

The small side chocolate used to be Rogers, then Lyndt, now it is Planters (filled with peanut butter). Feels it is going downhill since it was under the Roger's umbrella.

The view is magnificent, but I can't drink this coffee.

--dmg

Paid: 1.95 for single espresso.