Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[jollyburger]

Cactus Club is bringing their King Taps brand to Lonsdale Quay

We couldn’t be happier to announce @kingtaps will be opening a two-story, 10,000-square-foot Metro Vancouver flagship location at The Quay! Brought to Lonsdale Quay Market by the team behind the iconic Cactus Club Cafe, this location will be all about seriously good food, creating an inviting and energetic space where art and music are complemented by the North Shore’s most scenic waterfront patio.

Construction is well underway and we cannot wait to welcome you to King Taps at The Quay in 2024!

https://www.instagram.com/kingtaps/

Strathcona Beer is taking over the brewery spot.

[zahav]

Las Tortas is so good, and conveniently only a 3 min walk from my house lol, dangerous to have something so good that close.

The amount of speciality sweets/dessert shops that have been opening lately is nuts, it's definitely outpacing actual restaurants. Things like Korean or Japanese cafes with specific specialties seem to be all the rage. They're fun additions to the food scene, and not only cater to locals but would be fun for tourists. Just hope they last and aren't a passing trend.

Finally some signs of life in the old Moi Cafe underneath the Vancity on 10th and Cambie. The cafe has been closed for ages with the windows papered up. And for what seems like years, there was basic advertising for a Vietnamese restaurant but zero action. Just noticed yesterday that a new posting with a formal name has been put up, so must still be moving ahead, thankfully. The spot is terrible right now with the subway construction, totally hidden and narrow, crappy access. But once that's done, it's an extremely desirable spot, so hopefully they're playing the long game.

On a side but related note, I wonder how Broadway is fairing in terms of closed businesses due to the train construction. Several properties were bought and torn down as part of the construction itself, so I don't count those. I mean ones that were open and operational during construction, but subsequently closed due to poor performance. Especially wondering compared to Cambie during the Canada Line construction. I didn't travel along Cambie in those days, but just remember hearing so much about the businesses struggling and closing. So far that hasn't seemed to happen on Broadway, they are still gaining restaurant while losing some, so a natural churn. Doesn't seem to be a huge drag on businesses, hopefully that lasts

[giallo]

Originally Posted by zahav

Las Tortas is so good, and conveniently only a 3 min walk from my house lol, dangerous to have something so good that close.

The amount of speciality sweets/dessert shops that have been opening lately is nuts, it's definitely outpacing actual restaurants. Things like Korean or Japanese cafes with specific specialties seem to be all the rage. They're fun additions to the food scene, and not only cater to locals but would be fun for tourists. Just hope they last and aren't a passing trend.

Another Las Tortas lover!

Vancouver has also seen a rise of really good patisseries. I live near L'Atelier on Broadway which is great (their ham and cheese croissant is fantastic), but the best in Melo on 8th near Main. Everything from there is delicious.

[bluefox]

Originally Posted by Klazu

"Sky-high", "rooftop", "skyline views"... located on the 9th floor, surrounded by 35+ floor towers. :haha"

Surprised we haven't busted out some combination of "premium bespoke organic shaman-blessed zero-carbon" when describing this supposedly unique dining experience...

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by zahav

The amount of speciality sweets/dessert shops that have been opening lately is nuts, it's definitely outpacing actual restaurants.

Allow me to add Gateau de Henri to that list-exquisitely done confections and wildly popular with locals.

[s211]

Originally Posted by zahav

Las Tortas is so good, and conveniently only a 3 min walk from my house lol, dangerous to have something so good that close.

The amount of speciality sweets/dessert shops that have been opening lately is nuts, it's definitely outpacing actual restaurants. Things like Korean or Japanese cafes with specific specialties seem to be all the rage. They're fun additions to the food scene, and not only cater to locals but would be fun for tourists. Just hope they last and aren't a passing trend.

Finally some signs of life in the old Moi Cafe underneath the Vancity on 10th and Cambie. The cafe has been closed for ages with the windows papered up. And for what seems like years, there was basic advertising for a Vietnamese restaurant but zero action. Just noticed yesterday that a new posting with a formal name has been put up, so must still be moving ahead, thankfully. The spot is terrible right now with the subway construction, totally hidden and narrow, crappy access. But once that's done, it's an extremely desirable spot, so hopefully they're playing the long game.

On a side but related note, I wonder how Broadway is fairing in terms of closed businesses due to the train construction. Several properties were bought and torn down as part of the construction itself, so I don't count those. I mean ones that were open and operational during construction, but subsequently closed due to poor performance. Especially wondering compared to Cambie during the Canada Line construction. I didn't travel along Cambie in those days, but just remember hearing so much about the businesses struggling and closing. So far that hasn't seemed to happen on Broadway, they are still gaining restaurant while losing some, so a natural churn. Doesn't seem to be a huge drag on businesses, hopefully that lasts

I'd be curious to know whether that large seafood restaurant above Whole Foods is getting any business.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by s211

I'd be curious to know whether that large seafood restaurant above Whole Foods is getting any business.

I just noticed it the other day and was thinking about checking it out. If anyone’s been, let us know.

[giallo]

It's got a 'blink and you'll miss it' entrance. My wife and I were also curious about Seaport, but it's pretty pricey for what looks like standard Canto dim sum fair.

Their crispy tofu with fried beef is $50. Sautéed assorted mushrooms for $29. Unless I hear that it's god's gift to dim sum, I'll pass, and hit up Yue's in Richmond instead.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by zahav

On a side but related note, I wonder how Broadway is fairing in terms of closed businesses due to the train construction. Several properties were bought and torn down as part of the construction itself, so I don't count those. I mean ones that were open and operational during construction, but subsequently closed due to poor performance. Especially wondering compared to Cambie during the Canada Line construction. I didn't travel along Cambie in those days, but just remember hearing so much about the businesses struggling and closing. So far that hasn't seemed to happen on Broadway, they are still gaining restaurant while losing some, so a natural churn. Doesn't seem to be a huge drag on businesses, hopefully that lasts

There's a lot of churn on Broadway for sure, amongst a certain segment, probably paying current high lease rates. Others seem to keep going no matter what, again probably on long term leases.

It's also hard to tease out COVID vs. construction as the main cause for businesses that suffer. It could be both. Even if we consider COVID to be "over", a lot of businesses that didn't pivot to an online order/pickup/delivery model won't make it too much longer.

[urbanight93]

Since someone mentioned wraps, if anyone is craving a shawarma I strongly recommend trying Zaatar w Zeit on Granville and Dunsmuir.

Their pita is made in-house and their food is very authentic Lebanese. The restaurant space is nice to hang out in too.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

Since someone mentioned wraps, if anyone is craving a shawarma I strongly recommend trying Zaatar w Zeit on Granville and Dunsmuir.

Their pita is made in-house and their food is very authentic Lebanese. The restaurant space is nice to hang out in too.

Great spot!

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

There's a lot of churn on Broadway for sure, amongst a certain segment, probably paying current high lease rates. Others seem to keep going no matter what, again probably on long term leases.

It's also hard to tease out COVID vs. construction as the main cause for businesses that suffer. It could be both. Even if we consider COVID to be "over", a lot of businesses that didn't pivot to an online order/pickup/delivery model won't make it too much longer.

Actually I read recently that as much as the online/delivery model was a lifesaver for a lot of restaurant businesses during the pandemic, it's more recently become a bane for those that have come to rely on it as a big part of their revenue streams now.

Aside from the prohibitive and punishing charges/percentages taken out by the delivery services (the SkipTheDishes, the DoorDashes and the UberEats...et al), a lot of restuarants haven't been able to reconfigure their staffing numbers (Read: hire more people) to deal with the extra online orders, food preparation and packing for those orders for delivery - which means that a lot of them have had to deal with staffing shortfalls for the in-house customers, as the existing staff are over-stretched dealing with both in-house orders and online.

In some places (like quite a few Tim Horton's locations for example) you can actually see them struggling in real time to deal with both, while trying to fill those online orders.

Unless you were a restaurant that already had an inhouse delivery service and system (and therefore the associated costs were already factored into your overhead), then you're likely struggling as much with this new hybrid model rather than benefitting from it.

The sad part of a lot of eateries is that because a lot of people haven't gone back to their dining out habits from pre-covid days, in-house dining numbers are still lagging behind what a lot of restaurants need to survive (especially with current Inflation issues), so they're still heavily reliant on the online order and delivery system - as much as it may hurt their foot traffic business.

You'd think the online service system would have been a lifesaver for a lot of these mom-and-pop spots, but chances are that it just as likely killed quite a few as did the pandemic.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Actually I read recently that as much as the online/delivery model was a lifesaver for a lot of restaurant businesses during the pandemic, it's more recently become a bane for those that have come to rely on it as a big part of their revenue streams now.

I read something similar although the focus was on online ordering and quick pickup being required to pay rent on a given property. You can't serve enough sit in customers in your existing space to make a profit as it's so expensive per sf. You need those to-go orders, deliveries, etc.

[hollywoodnorth]

looks like Langley is getting a 2nd Popeyes at 96/201 >> https://goo.gl/maps/TkK966vw5kP8ZNsw6

[whatnext]

Dennys Broadway is a test kitchen now? Who knew Dennys even had a test kltchen?! I just assumed they all used a menu cooked up in the States somewhere.

https://www.dennys.ca/promotions/dennys-test-kitchen/

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I read something similar although the focus was on online ordering and quick pickup being required to pay rent on a given property. You can't serve enough sit in customers in your existing space to make a profit as it's so expensive per sf. You need those to-go orders, deliveries, etc.

I've been to a couple of smaller restaurants recently that used to be sit-down and are now take-out only. The tables are pushed up against the wall and chairs are stacked and the former dining areas are full of supplies now.

I'm not sure if all the delivery ap things work the same but I heard that Skip the Dishes charges a fee and that fee goes to the drivers and then Skip the Dishes gets a percentage of the food sale from the restaurant.

As for the delivery aps, I find a lot of places need to adjust their service counters so that delivery drivers can get their food without pushing past the lineup and yelling out the number they want. Some places will at least have a dedicated person to deal with it but I've seen many times when the order taker person stops dealing with the customer ordering to deal with the driver. Or sit down places it can get crowded in the waiting area when it starts to fill up with drivers.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Dennys Broadway is a test kitchen now? Who knew Dennys even had a test kltchen?! I just assumed they all used a menu cooked up in the States somewhere.

https://www.dennys.ca/promotions/dennys-test-kitchen/

Denny's Canada is mostly run by Northland (The Gaglardi empire) - they hold 59 of the 70 franchises.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I'm not sure if all the delivery ap things work the same but I heard that Skip the Dishes charges a fee and that fee goes to the drivers and then Skip the Dishes gets a percentage of the food sale from the restaurant.

I used to deliver for Skip when I was in school. The delivery fee and any tip goes straight to the driver. Restaurants pay a flat access fee to be listed on the service (I am not sure if this is a one-time, annual, or monthly fee) and also pay a commission to Skip for each sale. So customers do not pay anything directly to Skip unless the restaurant passes along the costs in the form of higher prices for app orders, which is pretty common.

It's incredibly difficult to serve walk-in and app customers effectively at the same time. Some fast food places are able to do it by hiring an additional employee or two to only focus on mobile orders. Chipotle does this. If you have visited a Chipotle you may have noticed that they still have the full assembly line team for walk-in customers, but they have a separate counter just for the app orders with a couple employees dedicated to that.

For smaller restaurants that only has one or two servers working normally, they may not get enough app orders to justify an additional employee so the preparation and packaging of app orders comes at the expense of good walk-in service. Once you add the cost to be listed on an app it may not be worth it for smaller, local restaurants to do any app orders at all. This is unfortunate because being listed on an app is a great form of marketing. I have discovered several of my favourite local restaurants through initially placing and app order and have remained a loyal customer ever since.

[SpongeG]

Surrey named the 'next great food city' by Food and Wine magazine

2 May 2023 #CBCVancouver #Surrey #BritishColumbia
The American publication, Food and Wine magazine, chose Surrey alongside six other big cities, including Venice, Marseille and Kanazawa in Japan. Lien Yeung has more on the reaction.

• Video Link

[Conrad Yablonski]

There's an amazing amount of variety found in Surrey but little of it is found in the bloated malls so loved by simple minded CBC producers.