Metro Vancouver Restaurant News thread

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by memememe76

Maybe they're moving into one of the 18 million vacant storefronts right along the water?

Those Steveston storefronts are empty because ONNI built commercial space without having the proper zoning. I'm sure after civic elections it will magically be rezoned.

[Spork]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I don't know how much the franchising fees might be, but the Chipotle restaurant in Downtown must be a gold mine. They charge high prices, but still there is pretty much always a line-up. I also frequent the restaurant once a week, as their tacos are so damn good.

I could see several more Chipotles doing very well in Downtown area. Business idea for someone looking to establish a franchising restaurant.

Chipotle stores are all owned by the company itself. They do not franchise.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Those Steveston storefronts are empty because ONNI built commercial space without having the proper zoning. I'm sure after civic elections it will magically be rezoned.

I think they were approved, but only on the basis of maritime themed retail - i.e. nautical supply, etc. - to keep the Steveston seaside / boat basin feel alive.

Whether or not ONNI built them with the expectation of an easy permitted use amendment, I don't know.

Nautical uses have not been viable (or so ONNI says), so ONNI wanted to expand the permitted uses - which current council has refused to do.

[VanK]

I think the current council already fairly recently rejected Onni's proposal to change the maritime use restriction on the retail.... and the composition of the Richmond council is unlikely to change too much in the next election so I think Onni will be out of luck.

As for Boston Pizza.. I am not too excited about BP coming to downtown. The food is subpar IMO. I wonder if the BP that was at Station Square will be coming back into the development. I hope not.. the food and service at the Metrotown BP was horrible.

[Klazu]

I have never left Boston Pizza satisfied. The pizza there is just... disappointing in all regards.

[SpongeG]

that steveston place has signs up about rezoning, they seem to show grocery store spoace, drug store space etc. but it currently has to be marine related business only.

seems kinda silly of richmond to put such limits there

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I have never left Boston Pizza satisfied. The pizza there is just... disappointing in all regards.

x2.

I just don't get the attraction to the place. I realize it's a BC-run company, and if British Columbians are anything, they're fiercely loyal to local/provincial businesses, but c'mon, the place is a major rip off for what you get - and what you get isn't very good.

[Metro-One]

For BC run companies White Spot is the place for me. I miss it so much right now. I always leave full and satisfied (and they have the best yam fries around IMO).

[giallo]

Yes. White Spot/Triple Os is godly.

Metro-One, there are a bunch in Hong Kong and a couple in Seoul waiting for you.

[Henbo]

Good luck finding a set though. I read somewhere that all of the Triple O's in
Hong Kong do double the sales of the average Canadian one

[Denscity]

You gotta think of BPs as the best fast food in town. Or the only place for pasta under $20.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Henbo

Good luck finding a set though. I read somewhere that all of the Triple O's in
Hong Kong do double the sales of the average Canadian one

I was just at the Triple Os in Pacific Place in Central last week, and yeah, it was packed during the lunch rush. We had to wait until 1:30pm until all the office workers went back to work before we could get a seat.

Even though Triple Os does quite well in HK, I noticed that two have closed down; the Wanchai one by the Chinese immigration office and the one at 2IFC. Strange.

[whatnext]

It looks like the Bluetree living condo at Main & King Ed is going to have at least one of the retail spaces occupied by a restaurant, judging by the construction going on inside. Sleep Country has also opened there.

[SpongeG]

i know a few cooks who worked at BP and the tales they tell... makes me not want to eat there, that said i've always liked their pizza, the nachos I had weren't that bad

i tend to only order pizza if i go there, perhaps i like it from childhood memories

[spm2013]

....

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by spm2013

You can pretty much add every restaurant to that list for places you don't want to eat at if you could see what happens in the kitchen.

I was just about to say, I cook at a chain restaurant too. Don't kid yourself, we're all the same.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I was just about to say, I cook at a chain restaurant too. Don't kid yourself, we're all the same.

Did you overcook my filet mignon on Saturday, giving me free lunch?

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Did you overcook my filet mignon on Saturday, giving me free lunch?

Unfortunately I am still a lowly appetizer/sautee cook, so no

[Klazu]

Well, nonetheless me and my wife enjoyed our overcooked filets at West Vancouver Milestones. Being from Nordic Countries, I would have settled for free desserts, but I did not say no to free lunch when offered.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Denscity

You gotta think of BPs as the best fast food in town. Or the only place for pasta under $20.

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