Foodology
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North Vancouver

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In Delivery

Krave Kulture Yogurt Shop in North Vancouver: Review

I love seeing the rise of artisan yogurt shops in Vancouver. Krave Kulture Yogurt Yogurt Shop is the newest one to open in Edgemont Village serving up Artisan small batch yogurt made locally in North Vancouver.

We were invited to come taste a few of their signature yogurt bowls and frozen soft serve yogurt. My husband is a crazy yogurt lover and so was Baby E, so we made our way to North Vancouver.

Interior

There is a small eating area in the front with a few seats but with the pandemic restrictions, only one family at a time. Most people did take their yogurt to go.

PB+J Krave Bowl

This bowl has their base of organic vanilla yogurt, banana, peanut butter, chia seed, jam, granola, hemp hearts, date, and caramel.

It’s a must for peanut butter and jelly lovers. The star of the show is really the combination of the ingredients and the yogurt compliments it very well. It doesn’t over power any of the toppings which I found balanced very well.

Coffee Krave Bowl

This bowls has passion fruit, fresh berries, granola, slivered almonds, pecans, dark chocolate chips, coconut, coffee, and maple syrup. They add organic coffee yogurt to the base of the bowl.

It’s an interesting combination and even though we do love coffee, it was my least favourite bowl, but my husband loved it. We agree to disagree and that’s ok.

Cake Krave Bowl

This has their organic vanilla yogurt, chocolate banana bread, fresh berries, granola, almonds, and honey. Another delicious option and the chocolate banana bread makes this bowl a bit more filling. A good combination of different textures.

Mediterranean Krave Bowl

A savoury yogurt bowl may sound weird and I kept thinking that too until I tried it. This has the base of plain yogurt, marinated grape tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives, fresh basil, feta cheese, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, rice vinegar, and garlic salt.

This ended up being my favourite bowl because I was shocked at how well it worked! Imagine a Greek salad but with really creamy feta.

Tulum Krave Bowl – $9

This is another savour bowl and it has mango, avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, olive oil, lime, and tortilla chips. It’s essentially as taste of Mexico in a yogurt bowl. It worked well, but the Mediterranean Krave Bowl was still my favourite.

Frozen Yogurt

If you’re looking for a frozen treat, they have frozen yogurt made in-house too. You can have it in a kids cone, regular waffle cone or their charcoal waffle cones. It’s been a while since my last froyo, but this hit the spot.

I didn’t feel guilty giving Baby E the frozen yogurt because it’s not as sweet as regular ice cream.

To Go Yogurt Jars

If you are looking for something more simple to go, they have their 1 Litre yogurt jar and their fruit bottom yogurt cups.

Their 1 Litre jars last for 4 weeks and as it comes in a glass jar, you can bring it back to get a discount. The first jar will cost you $18, but once you bring back the jar, the next full jar is $14. A nice $4 discount. The flavours do vary from season to season.

The fruit bottom yogurt cups feature their house-made jams topped with yogurt. These flavours change seasonally as well.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s great to have a yogurt shop in town as there aren’t any around. Locally made yogurt is so much better than the grocery store version and there is no comparison. Love how Krave Kulture Yogurt Shop is open and we recommend it.

Address:
3151 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.kravekulture.ca/

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In North Vancouver

Seaside Provisions in North Vancouver: Review

Seaside Provisions recently opened inside the Seaside Hotel, a boutique hotel in the Shipyard District in North Vancouver. It’s a great addition to the North Vancouver area and it gives more options to visitors and locals who want a taste of the best the sea can offer.

Interior

The design of Seaside Provisions blurs the lines between restaurant, bar, and lounge. These clusters of space divides up the room to give customers different experiences.

There’s the bar area, counter by kitchen to watch the Chefs prepare food, centre space is for casual dining and is a little more fun and lively. Beside the lounge space with sofas is a more intimate dining space and finally in the back, there is a semi-private space.

This creates a holistic dining experience in a style-infused place featuring locally sourced coastal tapas and bespoke cocktails in a space filled with curated art and photography. 

Menu

Their menu changes every week with some staples on the menu that may remain the same. Prices are pretty good for the location and food quality.

Tropical Fizz

This zero-proof cocktail has fresh strawberries, orange, sparkling apple juice and passion fruit nectar. It was really delicious and a great option for those who want a nice drink without the alcohol.

Berry Smash

Another zero-proof cocktail is the berry smash. It has muddled fresh berries, raspberry purée mint, lime, and topped with soda. It’s very light, refreshing and not too sweet.

Complimentary chips and bread

We were served a plate of veggie chips and bread to start. Those veggie chips were so good!

Jamón Ibérico

This ham is paired with parmesan, olives, olive oil, and cipollini onion. Love how they use cured ham from Spain. It has a great ratio of fat and meat, so its really delicious and not too salty.

Burrata

The burrata is served with white anchovy, chive oil, and tomato. It was delicious and we liked the pairing with the crisp. The anchovy is strong in taste, so it can take away from the delicate Burrata.

Crispy Potato

The crispy potato is paired with a smoked garlic and spicy tomato sauce. The plating doesn’t do it justice but it was delicious. The potatoes are smashed and then deep-fried, so it is nice and crispy.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

Of course you want to taste some fresh Oysters right from the sea. It is paired with ponzu, meyer lemon, chili oil, and lemon. We love the dropper bottles as you can control how much goes onto your oysters.

Wagyu Beef

The wagyu is cooked well and it was nice and tender. It was quite lean and not a lot of marbling.

Humboldt Squid

The Humboldt Squid is paired with chermoula, quinoa tabbouleh, tahini, and chili oil. It was one of our favourite dishes. It’s super tender in texture and was well enjoyed.

Dessert

When we were dining here, they didn’t have a set dessert menu yet, so the Chef made us this frozen chocolate bar with fresh strawberries. The frozen chocolate and the fresh Strawberries were a great pairing. It was well balanced with the sweet and tart.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a good dining experience at Seaside Provisions. Its tapas style, so the dishes are meant to be shared among the table. I can see it as a great spot for drinks and some nibbles after work.

Address:
130-125 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://seasideprovisions.com/

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In Italian

Bufala Edgemont: Fine Italian Cuisine in North Vancouver

Bufala has opened up their newest location in the Edgemont neighbourhood in North Vancouver and has an expanded concept compared to their first location is in Kerrisdale. They are best known of their pizza and Italian fare.

They are part of the Gooseneck Hospitality Group that owns Bells & Whistles, Wildebeast, and Lucky Taco. We were invited to check out their signature items as well as the beautiful space.

Interior

The space is quite nice and it can seat small to large groups. You’ll definitely want to make reservations to ensure a seat for your party.

Dante’s Garibaldi Campari

We started the night off with Dante’s Garibaldi Campari which is made with orange juice and Campari. They use freshly pressed juice of one whole orange. It was fruity, refreshing and easy to drink.

Arancini

Arancini are fried risotto balls, but this one has mushroom risotto and Mozzarella. A great appetizer to share and its nice and heavy for the Winter. Not too greasy either, but fragrant and full of delicious savoury mushroom. It is served with a smokey aioli dip.

Caesar

A solid kale caesar made of baby kale, Parmigiano, anchovy, and bacon. A good accompaniment to the meal. It’s lighter and will go with the heavier dishes later in the meal.

Meatballs

A classic dish at any Italian eatery. It is made of beef and pork, marinara sauce, Parmigiano, and Sourdough. Delicious and you can’t go wrong.

Rigatoni

The rigatoni has their beef and pork bolognese, and topped with Parmigiano. It was cooked perfectly as the pasta was al dente with great flavours.

Ravioli

The ravioli is filled with ricotta, sage, lemon, and parmigiano. The ravioli are shaped like medallions and tasted really good. The filling was very nice with the hint of lemon.

Caponata

This pizza has eggplant, burnt orange, fried capers, and marinara sauce. This pizza is vegan, so no cheese at all. The pizza dough was great with a bit of chew to it. Very surprising because usually vegan pizza dough at other places are hard and crunchy.

Finocchiona

This pizza has fennel sausage, caramelized onions, green olives, smoked provolone, and marinara sauce. This one was one of our favourites. It has a good combination of ingredients.

Bone Marrow

How decadent to have bone marrow on a pizza. There is roasted bone marrow, Cotechino sausage, leeks, mushrooms, parsley, and Bianco sauce. You can take the bone marrow and spread it on the pizza or on the crust. A good item to order if you love bone marrow.

Peace Country Lamb Shank

This has braised lamb shank, rosemary, and mushroom risotto. Wow, this was fall off the bone delicious. Very tender and super flavourful. Mushroom risotto paired very well too. Highly recommended.

Heritage Flatiron Steak

You get 7oz of Alberta Beef and it also has peperonata, and polenta. It is definitely a comfort food.

Artichokes

The artichokes are cooked with almond, romesco, and lemon. It’s definitely not for everyone. We felt it was quite sour.

Tiramisu

You gotta end the night with dessert. It is a pretty solid tiramisu with mascarpone, espresso, amaretto, and cookies.

Final Thoughts

The food is pretty solid and a great addition to the North Vancouver neighbourhood. They still have lots planned. Look out for weekday lunch, weekend brunch, and a patio in the near future.

Address:
3280 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://www.bufala.ca/edgemont

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In Indian

Indian Fusion Restaurant: Indian Cuisine in North Vancouver

Located on Central Lonsdale in North Vancouver, Indian Fusion Restaurant is serving up classic Indian dishes with a modern twist in a relaxed setting. I have to admit, I have walked passed this place many times and never thought about dining here and I can’t believe I’ve been so blind. I’m glad they reached out for us to come make a visit.

Interior

The interior has a lot of seats for smaller groups, but if you’re lucky, you can get a bigger table if you arrive early.

Menu

Chai Tea

We started off the meal with a hot chai tea. I’ve learned to really enjoy Chai over the years. The spices of cardamom is quite nice. It’s not for everyone but I think it pairs well with Indian food.

Veggie Pakora

The veggie pakora are chickpea battered fritters and a good portion comes on a tray. It is crisp on the outside and served with 2 sauces – tamarind and mint chutney. Both great sauces.

Kachumber Salad 

This salad has diced onions, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and cilantro tossed in black salt vinaigrette. A nice light salad to balance the meal. It’s simple and nothing fancy.

Butter Chicken 

This is a classic item that most people associate with Indian cuisine. There is boneless chicken breast mixed with a butter sauce cooked in ginger, garlic, fenugreek and cream. It was rich, creamy and hit the spot. The chicken pieces inside was meaty too.

Lamb Korma 

The lamb korma has boneless pieces of lamb cooked in a cream, cashew and cardamon. Very fragrant, full of spices, and also very delicious. The korma dishes are popular here.

Fish Masala

When asked what are some good items on the menu, they suggested the fish masala. This has Alaskan cod, cooked onions, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes, tossed in fresh cilantro, and finished with coconut milk. The coconut milk doesn’t stand out as much, but the cod is really good. I usually don’t order seafood items at an Indian restaurant, but this was great.

Palak Paneer 

Palak paneer is my go to item at any Indian restaurant since thats what I usually order. It is a vegetarian dish and it is made with creamy spinach cooked with their home made cheese and lightly spiced. When it arrived, it was different and not so green compared to other ones around town. It was good! The spices are just well blended together.

Mixed Grill 

This dish has a bit of everything for those who are indecisive. There is tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, tandoori prawns, tandoori fish and lamb tikka. The mix grill is served on a melody of onions and peppers.

I was impressed with the different chicken and fish.

Pulao Rice 

This is made with basmati rice cooked with green peas, cumin and spices. Great eaten on its own or with the curries.

Papadum

These are crispy chips made with lentil flour. I love it!! My daughter loves it and she’s only 9 months old. You can eat it on its own or have it with the curries. It’s so crispy and music to my ears.

Garlic and Basil Naan

This is traditional indian flatbread with garlic and basil cooked in a tandoori oven. Very flavourful!

Onion Kulcha

This is stuffed with diced onion, cumin, spices and fresh cilantro. Another great option to go with curry.

Final Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised with Indian Fusion Restaurant. The staff were nice, it’s kid friendly and the food is delicious. I did prefer the dishes with chicken and fish more than the lamb. The lamb was a bit chewy for me, but nonetheless, the curries are very good. We even had a lot of leftovers so we brought it home and the rest of the family was very very impressed by the quality of the curries.

Address:
2045 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.indianfusiononline.com/

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In burger

The Shop at Two Rivers Meats in North Vancouver

The Shop is an eatery and butcher shop under one roof at Two Rivers Meats in North Vancouver. We were invited to try their winter menu, which features their specialty meats and seasonal produce available from local suppliers.

Interior

The space is bright and welcoming. The left half is an eatery with an open kitchen and family style seating.

The other half is a butcher shop with an array of ethically and sustainably raised meats. Two Rivers Meats proudly offer meat products from farms all over BC & Alberta who “raise their animals in open spaces without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones.”

Help yourself to popcorn while you wait for your order!

Menu

Their winter menu is a good mix of shareables, food from the grill and rotisserie, as well as options for the kids.

After placing your order, grab a popcorn and your bone marrow table number.

We decided to sit right by the bar facing the grill so we can feel the warmth of the fire (it was cold and raining outside). Meats were cooked over an open fire using alder and birch wood.

We ordered the burger with tallow fries, sausage platter, the beet slaw, and the ramen.

65 Day Dry Aged Beef Burger

Their signature item is the 65-day dry aged beef burger, which is served with aged cheddar, charred tomato, zucchini pickles, iceberg lettuce, and white BBQ sauce in a brioche bun. We opted to add bacon.

This burger is delicious! There’s a depth of flavour in dry aged beef that is hard to describe but is easy to distinguish by taste. The bacon is good, but this burger didn’t need it. It’s great as-is.

As a side, The Shop offers Tallow Fries and I recommend that you get them each and every time you visit. (Fun fact: McDonald’s Fries were originally fried in tallow–it’s now made in vegetable oil…and additives to mimic the taste of beef tallow.)

Sausage Platter

The sausage platter is good for sharing and the selection rotates every other day based on the season and availability. It’s served with pickled onions, zucchini pickles and mustard. The pickles are fresh and are made in-house.

When we visited, the three sausages featured were Buffalo Chicken, Toulouse and Chaurice. This is a great option if you’d like to try their sausages or to share with the table.

Two Rivers Ramen Bowl

The Two Rivers Ramen is miso bone broth, soft poached egg, bean sprouts, noodles, charred garlic chili oil, spiced nori, crispy pork and green onions.

Ramen in a butcher shop?! I was initially suspicious, until I realized they have a ready supply of bone, marrow and fat to make an amazing soup broth.

The miso bone broth in this ramen is rich, buttery and tastes amazing. The noodles has a good bite and the garlic chili oil topped egg was a nice touch. It was perfect on a rainy day. My only hesitation about this dish is the five-spice crispy pork which overpowered the taste and did not complement the soup. Next time I visit, I’ll ask if there’s another meat option available or simply ask for the crispy pork on the side.

Final Thoughts

Two Rivers Meats have supplied Vancouver retailers and higher end restaurants for over a decade. Their meat is from BC and Alberta farmers who make sure their animals are raised ethically and sustainably. Best of all, they’re making it available for everyone to easily purchase and taste these products at The Shop.

Their menu is solid and the food tastes great. They’re a great option if you’re considering eating less, but better sourced meats. It would be an afternoon well-spent to drive up to North Vancouver, try their burger and fries, then purchase a selection of their sausages for the week ahead. My only regret is that I forgot about the cookie, so I’ll need to come back and try it.

Address:
180 Donaghy Ave, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://tworiversmeats.ca/the-shop/

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In American

Colony Northwoods: Bar and Restaurant in North Vancouver

Colony Northwoods is a bar and restaurant in North Vancouver. This is a great location as it’s in a new plaza close to Seymour Mountain and Deep Cove.

They have a large selection of local craft beers and a variety of new fresh dishes created by Executive Chef Karen Lyons. A good spot after a hike or snowboarding on the slopes. There are other Colony locations in Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant as well.

Interior

The interior is quite large with 130 indoor seating and 130 more on their heated patio. The space looks very nice and spacious with the high ceilings. This location is a lot larger and modern that the other 2 locations.

Drinks

Beers, wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages are on the menu. If you don’t see something you want on the menu, you can ask them if they have the ingredients to create something more for your taste.

Corn Dogs

Who doesn’t love a classic corn dog? There are 2 kinds available – regular and veggie. It is house-battered with a Nathan’s Famous Dog in the centre, then served with dijon mustard, and ketchup. A fun dish that comes with 4 pieces so you can share among the table.

Yam Fries

The crisp yam fries are served with a chipotle mayo sauce. Another great items to snack on while you have a drink.

Loaded Tater Tots

Tater tots, an all time favourite is loaded with banana peppers, jalapenos, sour cream, green onions, chipotle mayo, and pico de gallo. If you don’t love banana peppers and jalapenos, you can always ask them to omit them. This was one of our favourite dishes to snack on.

Rainbow Glory Bowl

If you want something a bit more healthy, they have different filling bowls with quinoa, spinach, fried tofu, cucumber, beets, Carrots, Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Tahini Dressing. Delicious!

Chicken Wings

Classic pub fare and this one is coated in Frank’s Red Hot, which is always a nice spicy flavour, There is also Lemon Pepper and Sriracha Salted. You can also request salt and pepper as well.

Crunchy Chicken Sandwich

On the bun you have a big piece of crispy chicken with house pickled red onion, arugula, and herb mayo. You can have it served with either fries or salad.

CB Burger

This burger has 100% Pure Beef Patty, aged Cheddar, butter lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and burger sauce. A good burger and nothing complicated.

Baby Back Ribs

This dish has the whole rack of Danish baby back ribs slathered in their housemade BBQ sauce. Then it is served with some veggie skewers and fries. It was a so-so dish as some parts were drier than others.

Salmon Cobb Salad

This hearty salad has a piece of Wild Pacific salmon, grilled leeks, charred corn, gem tomatoes, and their Goddess dressing. It was a large portion and tasted good. The salmon was moist.

Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

In each order, you get 3 macarons with vanilla bean ice cream. It was surprisingly really good. A bit pricey, but it was the perfect bite to the end of the evening.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the food is good for the price you pay and there really aren’t too many options in this area. It’s a great place to have a drink with friends and some bites together. They have a variety of items if you want a fuller meal or just finger food.

Address:
2100 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
https://colonybars.com/north/

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In Cafe

Stuffies Pastry Cafe in North Vancouver

Stuffies Pastry Cafe is located in North Vancouver and they create delectable treats that are almost too cute to eat. We were invited to check out a few of their signature items likestuffies and cro-tai. Who knew such a cute store would be located in this area. They have only been open for a few months but it’s something unique to come to a cafe tht specializes in these pastries.

Interior

There are a few tables inside where you can enjoy your treats. You order at the counter and you can watch them create all their stuffies and cro-tai with their cool machines. If you were always curious how they were made, you can find out here as you watch them.

Menu

Cro-Tai

Cro-tai gets it’s name from being a hybrid of a croissant and a taiyaki. They comes in a bunch of different flavours depending if you like savoury or sweet tastes.

Here are all the options:

  • Bacon & Egg
  • Sausage & Egg
  • Egg & Cheese
  • Pizza
  • Thai Chicken
  • Tuna Salad
  • Ham & Cheese
  • Nutella
  • Vanilla
  • Cinnamon
  • Blueberry

The exterior is crisp and not too buttery or heavy. One of of favourite flavours was the nutella. What better way to enjoy this than with the sweet hazelnut and chocolate spread.

Stuffies

Stuffies are their signature items they sell in stores. They come in fish or bear-shapped patry, also there can have a vanilla or red velvet filling inside these pastries.

If you want to be a bit more fancy, you can have them decorated with icing and sprinkles.

They hand decorate the fishies and bears and if you want to customize them for a special occasion.

His and hers bears for weddings or anniversaries.

Makes for fun gifts too and can be individually packed.

Stuffies Soft Serve

The soft serve waffle cone shaped like a fish opening its mouth is crunchy and tastes similar to corn pops. The ice cream is vegan, which was a big surprise to us, but it still had a creamy texture to it. The toppings were simple with mostly syrups, sprinklings, or cereal. We wished they used more fruit, nuts, or even bbt toppings would be a great touch.

Below were the 3 we tried.

Coco Heaven

This has a chocolate and vanilla soft serve with mini chocolate bar, chocolate dipped pretzel, dark chocolate sauce, and choco rocks.

Beary Berry

This fun version has sprinkles, strawberry syrup, gummy bears and a strawberry and blueberry skewer.

Orient Express

This last one that we had consisted of red bean paste, rice puffs and a skewer of mochi.

Iced Matcha Latte

They also have drinks too if you want a beverage to go with your pastries. This is the Iced Matcha Latte.

Final Thoughts

Overall, cute concept and I can see their stuffies as great gifts for parties or any other special occasion. Very cute characters that kids and adults would love. Also very affordable prices too.

Address:
571 Oxford St, North Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://stuffiespastries.com/

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In Brunch

The Brunch Affair at the Shipyards in North Vancouver

I’ve mentioned before that I LOVE brunch, so checking out the Brunch Affair was only natural! The inaugural event was held at the Pipe Shop at the Shipyards in North Vancouver. My good friend, Alvin, attended the event with me. We had a hard time choosing from the featured food vendors: Arc, A Good Egg, El Coroto, Finch x Barley, J, N & Z, Rosemary Rocksalt and Thomas Haas. To start, I landed on El Coroto and he chose J, N & Z.

El Coroto

The Reina Arepa from El Coroto

El Coroto offers Venezuelan fare, with a West Cost flair. They make Arepas, which is like a bread, but is made from white cornmeal, water and salt. The dough is formed into a patty, grilled, split open and stuffed with a variety of ingredients. The one I tried was called the “Reina” (which I chose because it means “queen” in Spanish). This Arepa was filled with zucchini zoodles, creamy avocado, green pea smash, cilantro, lime, green onions and a touch of olive oil. This was one of three vegan and gluten free offereings on their menu. What makes their Arepas especially different is that they are grilled, and have hemp and flax seeds in the dough. The Reina was refreshing and tasted healthy, with a slight citrus flavour from the lime. My only critique was that it needed a touch of salt, as all the good green ingredients are very subtle in flavour.

J, N & Z Deli

Charcuterie Board from J, N & Z Deli

Alvin and I then shared a charcuterie board from J, N & Z Deli, which is a family owned and operated deli on Commercial Drive. This board included smoked Italian sausage, smoked Polish cheese, aged cheddar, Kransky, Serbian garlic sausage and back bacon. We really enjoyed this charcuterie board. The sausages were all so tasty, and the cheeses were amazing! Despite being lactose intolerant, I have a hard time avoiding dairy. It’s cheeses like these that remind me to pack lactase so that I can enjoy every smooth, creamy, salty bite.

Finch x Barley

A Breakfast Burrito from Finch x Barley

Alvin was hungrier than I was (which is unusual), so he wanted something filling. He tried the Breakfast Burrito from Finch x Barley, which was packed with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa, cheese, guacamole, pesto and sour cream. He enjoyed it not only because it was tasty, it also hit the spot. I had a bite and liked how it was simple but elevated, thanks to the addition of guacamole and pesto.

Thomas Haas

A Lemon Lemon Tart from Thomas Haas

To be honest, when I saw Thomas Haas as a vendor at the Brunch Affair, I was excited and almost skipped out on trying anything else. But we came for brunch, so we saved dessert for last. To round out the savoury food we had, we finished off our brunch affair with a Lemon Lemon Tart. This tart had a shortbread crust, fresh zesty lemon cream and lemon custard, hence the two lemons in its name. It was topped off with a raspberry and a small white chocolate square, branded with Thomas Haas. The Lemon Lemon Tart was delicious! It was creamy, and the lemon flavour was not overpowering. I especially enjoyed the texture of the shortbread crust, which was a welcome contrast to the creamy lemon custard.

Overall, the Brunch Affair was an enjoyable event. Alvin and I enjoyed some live music while we ate, and he even had a mimosa from the bar. However, my friend and I found that the average price for food was somewhat pricey, (two tokens, with one token equal to $4). Then again, I guess it isn’t such a bad thing, since partial proceeds go to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. The next Brunch Affair will be on August 12th and 13th, from 10am-4pm. Some of the vendors I mentioned will be there, plus some new ones. You can grab advance tokens on the website, which includes entry (otherwise admission is $5, plus what you spend on tokens). If you believe that weekends are meant for brunch(ing), then check out the next Brunch Affair.

Website: https://www.brunchaffair.ca/

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In Bakery

Bjornbar Bakery: Cafe in Edgemont

Bjornbar Bakery is located in Edgemont neighbourhood of North Vancouver. We wanted a cute place to have lunch after we finished the Grouse Grind. Since it was somewhat close by and heard this place was good, we made a visit here.

Interior

The space is cute and cozy. A nice neighbourhood space to hang out with friends and chat over coffee and treats. You order everything up at the counter and they give you a number and deliver the food to your table when it’s ready.

Cappuccino

I got a small cappuccino and it came with a sweet treat on the side. A nice touch. Good coffee and it was made very well. After I got it, I wish I got a larger size.

Old Skool Sandwich

This sandwich has ham, sharp cheddar, grainy mustard and a pickle inside the panini pressed sandwich. It was a really good solid sandwich. Just looking at the cross-section, there is a lot of ham and cheese inside. I really enjoyed this sandwich a lot.

Final Thoughts

Overall, its a great place for the morning or afternoon to indulge in treats and have a cup of coffee. I would definitly be back again.

We Rate Bjornbar Bakery: 

Address:
3053 Edgemont Boulevard, North Vancouver

Website:
https://bjornbarbakery.com

Bjornbar Bakery Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Bakery

Honey Donuts: Sweet Treat in Deep Cove

Honey Donuts is a popular spot in Deep Cove to indulge on their donuts and coffee. They serve up home cooked and freshly prepared wholesome food.

The small beautiful village of Deep Cove is 20 minutes away from Vancouver and is popular for kayaking, paddle boarding, boating and of course hiking. The downside is that parking is super tough to find when it’s busy. Also, use debit cards or cash when coming here.

Interior

There are a decent amount of seats inside and outside, but if it’s raining, most people prefer a seat inside where its warm and dry.

We came here over the holidays and it seemed like most people at Deep Cove was here getting lunch.

All the coffee is self-serve. So, you pay at the counter and they serve yourself. Refills are not free.

Coffee and Donuts

We managed to find a seat quickly as another party just left. We had our donuts and coffee ready for our afternoon snack. There were 4 types of drip coffee available, but I just chose the Honey Blend.

Classic Donut was huge and had a light cake-like texture inside. It seemed like it was soaked in honey and I didn’t feel like it was too sweet.

Chocolate Donut is like their classic donut dipped in chocolate. M didn’t really like this as the texture of the donut wasn’t what he expected. Different texture than a traditional donut as it was a bit oilier.

Overall, it’s a nice place to have a snack in the afternoon. It is very popular, so it can get very very busy at peak hours.

We Rate Honey Donuts: 

Address:
4373 Gallant Avenue, North Vancouver

Website:
http://www.honeydoughnuts.com/

Honey Doughnuts and Goodies Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In North Vancouver

Thai House: Celebrating 30 Years with 1986 Prices

thai-house-30-1

In 1986, I was -2 years old, Vancouver had Expo 86, Top Gun was the top grossing movie and  Thai House Group opened their first location on Robson Street. 30 years has passed and Thai House is celebrating their 30th anniversary by bringing back their 1986 pricing with a $30 tasting menu for 2 with their top menu items.

For $30 you get:

  • Spring rolls
  • Tom yum goong soup
  • Kaeng kiew waan (green curry)
  • Pad ma-mung him ma-pan (sautéed chicken with cashews)
  • Steamed Thai Jasmine Rice

Foodgressing and I were invited to try out the menu and went to the North Vancouver location. This special menu is available throughout the month of November at all Thai House locations.

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Interior

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The interior was nice and has a good amount of seating for small to large groups.

Drinks

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Drinks are extra but we tried out the Fresh Young Coconut and Thai Iced Tea. Both were delicious and what I liked about the Thai Iced Tea was that it wasn’t too sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness. Drinks aren’t included in the set meal, but it’s a nice accompaniment.

Appetizer

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For the appetizers, we got 2 spring rolls and 2 bowls of tom yum goong soup.

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Tom Yum Goong is a spicy and sour noodle soup with tiger prawn, mushrooms, lemongrass and Thai spices. It had a good amount of spice to the dish.

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Por Pia Tod are spring rolls. They are deep-fried and served with their sweet chili sauce. Crisp on the outside and the savoury veggie filling inside.

Entree

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For the entrees, there are Kaeng Kiew Waan (green curry), Pad Ma-Mung Him Ma-Pan (sautéed chicken with cashews) and Jasmine steamed rice with coconut milk. Plenty for 2 people to share.

The green curry has chicken, coconut milk, eggplant, bell peppers, and topped with fresh basil. I found the chicken to be a bit dry but other than that, the taste went well with the steamed rice. I liked the hint of coconut milk.

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Pad Ma-Mung Him Ma-Pan is sautéed chicken with cashew nuts, veggies, and roasted chili. The chicken was also a bit dry too and I would have liked a bit more spice to this dish. You can ask the kitchen staff ahead of time to have your dishes more spicy or less depending on your preference. I generally like my food a bit more spicy to bring out those bold flavours.

Dessert

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Sticky Rice with Mango is what we ended the meal with. A good item to share and I like how it isn’t too sweet. There are days where my sweet tooth isn’t there. This isn’t part of the set menu, but it’s an option to order if you need something to end the meal off with.

Overall, the $30 set meal for 2 is a great price. The spice level could be increased but thats just my personal taste preferences. You get a good amount of food at 1986 prices…something that we probably won’t see again like the housing prices in Vancouver. It’s only here until the end of November, so grab some reservations before its too late.

We rate Thai House: 3rated

Address:
116 W Esplanade Avenue, North Vancouver

Website:
http://thaihouse.com/

Thai House Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In North Vancouver

Zeitoon: Persian Cuisine in Vancouver

zeitoon-outer

Zeitoon is a Persian restaurant located in North Vancouver on Lonsdale Ave across the street from Loblaws City Market. They also have another location in Downtown Vancouver. When I got the invitation to dine here with M, I got quite excited since it’s been over 10 years since I’ve had Persian food.

Where the restaurant is located, it is in the heart of the Persian community. There are several Persian restaurants close by. To differentiate themselves, they made sure they have high quality ingredients used in their dishes and provide a nice atmosphere inside the restaurant.

zeitoon-persian-menu

They have an English menu and a Persian menu.

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A pictorial menu is at the table too. It helped to get a sense of what the food looks like.

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As we waited for our food to arrive, there is complimentary pita bread, butter and onion.

zeitoon-crispy-rice-tahdig

Tahdig Crispy Rice is topped with either gheimeh or ghormeh sabzi stew. We had it with the ghormeh sabzi stew, which is like a Persian herb stew. Gheimeh on the other hand has meat, tomatoes, split peas, onions.

The crispy rice comes from the bottom of the pot of cooked rice. I loved the crispy texture of the rice paired with the savoury herb stew. I had some leftovers the next day and it still stayed pretty crispy.

zeitoon-vaziri

Vaziri Kabob Entree has roasted seasonal veggies, basmati rice, boneless chickens skewer and koobideh ground beef skewer. The skewers are very moist and tender. It comes without the metal stick and its easy to cut off individual pieces. We really liked this dish.

zeitoon-solanti

Soltani Kabob Entree has steak grade AAA top sirloin skewer and the koobideh ground beef with the rice and seasonal vegetables. This dish was also quite good! M loved all the tender beef.

zeitoon-lamb-shank

Lamb Shank is slowly cooked in house sauce, served with Baghali Polo, which is a combination of basmati rice, dill weed, and lima beans. There was definitely a lot of rice pled on top over the lamb. I enjoyed the sauce that came on the side of the dish. It would have been nicer if the lamb shank had more meat on it.

Overall, the meal was pretty good and we were impressed by the kabobs.

We Rate Zeitoon:

Address:
1615 Lonsdale Ave.,
North Vancouver

Website:
http://zeitoonrestaurant.ca/

Zeitoon Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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In Malaysian

Tamarind Hill: Malaysian Cuisine in North Vancouver

tamarind-hill-outer

Tamarind Hill is located in North Vancouver and serve up Malaysian food. Their top items are Rotis & Satays, Green Papaya & Mango Salad, Hainanese Chicken, Rendeng Beef, Kari Lamb, King Prawns with Indian Black Peppercorn and Garlic Butter.

After hiking, I came here with a few friends to eat some dinner. We came to this place because it was highly recommended by people who live in the area.

tamarind-hill-roti

Roti Canai (2 pieces -$7) is their signature Malaysian soft bread with pan-fried golden crust, served with a spicy curry dip. We ordered 4 pieces, so the pictures has double the amount. There was 5 of us, so we wanted to make sure there was enough.

tamarind-hill-skewers

Satays (5 skewers for $7) comes in either chicken, beef, or lamb. We got one of each for everyone, so we ordered 15 in total. These bite size meat skewers marinated with lemongrass, turmeric, onions and coriander with a delicious peanut sauce dip.

tamarind-hill-chicken

Boneless Hainanese Chicken with Hainanese Chicken Rice ($15.95) is steamed to perfect tenderness, topped with light sweet soy, served with grated ginger green onion dip and sweet chili dip. I love how it’s boneless! The dish is served warm rather than the traditional cold.

tamarind-hill-noodles

Char Kuey Teow ($10.75) is stir fried flat rice noodle with spicy sweet soy, egg, bean sprout shrimp, fish cake & cuttlefish. This totally reminds me of a Chinese dish. Tastes very familiar but a tad spicy.

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Nasi Goreng ($10.75) is a popular Malaysian style fried rice with beef, shrimp, egg, tomato, onion & green beans. I thought it was a decent dish.

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To go with all this food, we had some Tiger Beer from Singapore. It’s another light beer that pairs nicely with this food.

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Overall, the food was decent but the flavours didn’t wow me. That might just be me since I found Malaysian cuisine is very similar to other South Asian cuisine.

tamarind-hill-menu

We Rate Tamarind Hill: 

Website:
www.tamarindhill.ca

Address:
1440 Lonsdale Avenue,
North Vancouver

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In Brunch

Earls: Brunch Time

earls-brunch

Everyone loves brunch! I love brunch and I am still looking for some good eggs benny in town. I was very surprised Earls had brunch on the weekends. Apparently its something new they are offering. I was invited by Earls North Vancouver for a Brunch Chef’s Table to check out some of their signature brunch items.

Brunch starts from 11:30am till 2pm on weekends and holidays.

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This particular location is quite large and has a cool view of the kitchen. You can see some of the cooking done in the kitchen.

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Mimosa is a boozy breakfast drink with orange juice and champaign. It’s quite refreshing for the morning.

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Classic Caesar has smirnoff vodka, clamato, signature spices and garnished with jerky, a pickle and a lime. This is probably not the best drink in the morning but some people like it.

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Granola + Yogurt Parfait ($9) has flax, rolled oats, dried cranberries, sultanas, toasted almonds and pecans,and  fresh berries. It comes with a container of agave syrup to adjust the sweetness of the yogurt. 

I really liked this item. It’s quite filling and not a usual item you would order for brunch. It is a nice alternative.

Earls-benny

Eggs Benny ($13) has virginia ham, hollandaise, grilled sourdough with a soft poached egg. Crispy fried potatoes and ketchup come on the side. Oh man, those potatoes were so good!!  The grilled sourdough bread was a nice alternative to the usual english muffin.

We did find that the sourdough bread over powered the ham, so it subdued it’s taste.

Earls-mushroom

Eggs Florentine ($13) has parmesan cream sauce, spinach and mushrooms, soft poached egg, and polenta with grilled sourdough bread. It is presented in a skillet. The dish is different from the classic eggs benny. It has a strong mushroom taste, so its great for mushroom lovers like myself.

earls-egg

The egg was just perfect. It’s always a good sign when the eggs ooze beautifully like this.

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Sourdough French Toast ($12) has chantilly cream, apples, and maple syrup. Sourdough bread really makes an appearance on their menu. It’s definitely not an item if you are into savoury items. The portion is quite large

Overall, a good place to have brunch and they have some cool brunch items on their menu.

We Rate Earls: 

Address:
303 SW Marine Dr
North Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.earls.ca/

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Tour de feast
In Brunch

Tour de Feast: Hidden Gem in North Vancouver

Tour de feast

Tour de Feast is this little restaurant on the north shore. After hiking at Deep Cove, we got hungry and decided to come here for brunch.

The restaurant is very cute and adored by locals. The outside of the restaurant didn’t look like very much, but once you walk inside and look at the menu, you know it’ll be good.

Tour de feast

It’s a family run restaurant and you can definitely feel the love in this place. It was a busy Saturday for them, but when we arrived at 2pm, the place was starting to clear out.

Tour de feast

Home made Iced Tea ($2.50) is infused with blueberries and strawberries. It was a big glass and was very refreshing our hike. Not too sweet.

Tour de feast

Lyon ($12) comes with two poached eggs, mushroom, spinach, red wine sauce and bacon. The dish is presented on a cast iron pan and comes with buttered bread and a simple salad. InsecureGirl and NotFauna thought this dish was ok. It was kinda like a stew.

Tour de feast

The salad that comes with the Lyon is mixed greens with a vinaigrette.

Tour de feast

 Confit Pork Sandwich ($7) has slow cooked pork, ciabatta, dijon, onion Jam and a side salad.

Tour de feast

You can choose to add the soup of the day to your meal for $2.50. Coconut Bisque with roasted pepper, carrots and seafood. It was pretty good and it has lots of seafood, which was unexpected.

Tour de feast

Smoked Salmon ($10) has sunny side up, english muffin, smoked salmon, capers and lettuce salad. There was a generous amount of smoked salmon. It was really good. Simple but delicious.

Tour de feast

The smoked salmon and Lyon dishes came with a side of roasted vegetables. They were a great addition to the meal.

Overall, the food was great and it was very unexpected. The environment is very relaxed and we will definitely be back again.

We Rate Tour de Feast:

Address:
319 Mountain Hwy
North Vancouver District

Website:
http://tourdefeast.com/

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[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://www.google.ca/maps?q=319+Mountain+Hwy,+North+Vancouver,+BC+V7J+2K7&sll=49.2399859,-122.95816940000002&sspn=0.1721632379598321,0.3516140337636478&t=m&dg=opt&hnear=319+Mountain+Hwy,+North+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V7J+2K7&z=16 “]

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In Brunch

Tommy’s Cafe: Brunch in North Vancouver

A while ago, @petitefoodie and I ventured to North Vancouver to try Tommy’s Cafe. I seldomly go to the North Shore and it was about time too since there are lots of restaurants up there. They are best known for the brunch! When we arrived, there was already a line up! People are sure serious about brunch! It’s something I’ve noticed about Vancouver, people will wake up early for good brunch.

There is some seating indoor and some on the patio. It’s a bit cramped, but what can you do with such a small space? It was still comfortable for 2 – 4 people.

Coffee ($3) was definitely needed! It’s also bottomless, so you can drink all the coffee that you want!

Cajun Scram ($12) has eggs scrambled with chorizo, jalapenos, green onions, tomatoes, cheddar, toast & pan fries.

VW Scram ($12) has eggs scrambled with smoked salmon, tomato, spinach, red onion, cream cheese, served with toast & pan fries. What I like about the egg are that they are still a bit gooey, it’s just a personal preference. The eggs were really the star of the show as the bread and potatoes were just ok. You kinda need to eat everything in order to be full.

Overall, I found the food to be a tad pricey for this type of food. Given the area, I kinda see why they charge so much.

Words of Wisdom:

  • You may have to line up around noon
  • A bit expensive for what you get
  • Yummy eggs but small portions

We Rate Tommy’s Cafe:

Address:
1308 Ross Road
North Vancouver District, BC

Website:
http://tommycaters.com/tommys-cafe

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In Cafe

Thomas Haas: Macarons, Cakes and Croissants

Thomas Haas Patisserie is known for their decadent pastries and treats. The owner- Thomas Haas has been recognized as one of top 10 chocolatiers in North America and have also won numerous awards.

I’ve been here a few times and it’s always tough to get to the North Shore, but its a treat thats worth the drive. The location is in the middle of nowhere, but it still draws a large crowd on weekdays and weekends. Amy, Angela, Anita, Kathy and I decided to stop by here after our Tomahawk adventure.

This place was super busy and packed!

Macarons are one of their specialties. One of the better macarons in Vancouver. Angela was a bit upset because even though she ordered 4 different flavours, they ran out of one of the flavours. They just give you any other random flavour. Nonetheless, she did enjoy it and you can read more about it on her blog – Muchkie’s Munchies.

The same thing happened to me too. I ordered Pistachio and coffee macarons, but the passionfruit and coffee came instead. I was sad because I didn’t quite like passionfruit but I ate it anyways. The texture and consistancies of the macaroons are top notch.

Lemon Tart ($5.50) has a shortbread crust, lemon cream on top of the light lemon custard.

Milk Chocolate with Passionfruit and Almond ($5.50) has a light milk chocolate mousse, passionfruit cream, soft
almond cake and crispy hazelnut wafer. Check out TheFoodQueen to see what Amy thought of this dessert.

Tiramisu au Chocolat ($5.50) has light mascarpone cream and soft almond cake with amaretto, coffee, and milk chocolate mousse. It was delicious and I love how you can see the whole cross-section of the cake. Tasted awesome too.

Butter Croissant ($2.50) has a lot of flakey layers to the croissant. It was good, but I wishes it was more crispy on the outside.

Look at all those layers.

Double Baked Almond Croissant ($4.45) was so good. There are no words to describe how good this is. *Drools* *DIES* It’s so savory and has so many almonds. Definitely a must get item! Tastes the best when it’s just fresh from the oven too!

Oh like at that. SO good.

Overall, Thomas Haas has some solid treats and even though the locations are so far away, it’s worth the trip.

Words of Wisdom:

  • Few free parking spots out front
  • You kinda need a car to get here, unless you like to walk
  • Recommended: Macarons, Double Baked croissants, and Tiramisu
  • Can be a bit pricey
  • Busy with people and might be hard to find a seat for large group
  • Outdoor seating (great for summer)

We Rate Thomas Haas:

Address:
998 Harbourside Dr
North Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.thomashaas.com/

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In Aboriginal

Tomahawk Restaurant: Established in North Van Since 1920s

The Tomahawk Restaurant has been around since the 1920’s. It’s been featured on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives’ and also ‘You Gotta Eat Here’, which are both shows on the Food Network.

With so much buzz going on about this place, Amy, Angela, Anita, Kathy and I decided to trek all the way to North Vancouver to check it out. It was an interesting drive to this place as I kept trolling Angela by not putting my hands on the wheel as we drove on the Highway. Was she ever freaked out. hahaha.

As you walk in, there is a mini gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and other sweet treats. The wait was quite long for a table for 5 people. I think it was about 35 – 40 minutes. Seeing that there were so many awards won by this restaurant, we knew that this place was something special.

Near the couches, you will be able to spot Guy Fieri’s trademark emblem when he visits restaurants.

There’s also a mini pond with rubber duckies.

The inside was actually quite small. From the videos from the show, it seemed so much large for some reason.

Their placemats are quite interesting too. Theres a whole map of Canada and a few things that are fun facts about each province.

Coffee is a must for me when you make me wake up before noon. Free refills too!

Tomahawk Style Beep Dip has slow-roasted organic Baron of Beef, shaved on toasted French baguette with a homemade au jus in a cup. Amy chose fries as her side. Check out The Food Queen to find out what she thought about it.

Chief Dominic Charlie Burger has Lettuce, organic ground beef patty, grilled Yukon-style bacon, aged cheddar cheese, tomato and Tomahawk special sauce. Angela chose fries as her side.

Check out Muchkie’s Munchies to find out what she thought about it.

Organic Roast Beef Dinner has slow-roasted Baron of Beef, hand-carved and served with a thick gravy, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and thier world famous Yorkshire pudding.

The beef has a nice thick cut, but at time it was a bit bland and tough. It’s just a personal preference since I like my beef a bit rare. The gravy did make it taste so much better. The yorkshire pudding was also ok. I found this dish to be a bit expensive. Probably a bit too hyped up from the TV show.

Side of Fries thats a lot of fries for just a side order.

Side of Onion Rings

Overall, the Tomahawk Restaurant was ok. The prices are a bit steep for certain items and the food is so-so. I think it really depends on this dish that you order. It has a lot of rich history in this establishment .

Words of Wisdom:

  • Long waits during peak hours
  • Decent food
  • Around $10 – $18 dollars for lunch
  • Lots of free parking around

We Rate Tomahawk Restaurant: 
Address:
1550 Philip Ave
North Vancouver District, BC

Website:
http://www.tomahawkrestaurant.com/
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