Pros: good mochi donuts & banh mi, great variety of drinks!…read more Cons: service has been very very hit or miss. Have been here a handful of times and usually treat it as a banh mi + sweet treat moment, but gosh the last interaction/experience made me not want to return. I placed an online order because I had a flight to catch later and wanted to be able to pick up a quick banh mi on the way. I arrived the scheduled time and they hadn't seen the order or even started working on it. It seemed like there may have been a tech issue or error, so eh I was fine with waiting. They did throw in a mochi donut for my wait/issue which was nice. However....it just snowballed from there. They handed me my drinks and sandwiches and I was just out the door when I looked in the bag and realized they had forgotten the vegetarian banh mi I had ordered myself -- this would have been very unfortunate since I'm vegetarian and the other two in the bag were pork. I had to wait even longer, a second time, for this order to be completed and really felt like it'd been a waste of time to try and schedule the order. Because of all of the delays, I had a very limited amount of time to eat and it honestly soured my experience overall. The teas are fine but not my favorite in the area and sadly after my last visit, I'm going to search for a new banh mi spot for bites.

I came in just to try the mochi donuts! They only serve them on weekends, so I was lucky to be in…read morethe area on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was empty, but an employee came to the register as soon as I entered. I selected two of the Chinese New Year flavors, black sesame and mandarin orange. I loved the tart citrus flavor of the orange, but the sesame was just okay. The donuts were a little on the greasy side in my opinion, I've had better. The restaurant itself is clean and organized with a fun sitting area and even some games.

La bottega is an amazing option for Italian food in downtown Vancouver. The atmosphere is casual…read moreand because it's also a market the walls are lined with wine. Even going on a Monday night, it was packed with people, however, we were able to snag a table for two without a reservation right away. The service was attentive and helpful. I got the full portion of the smoked mushroom ravioli and I absolutely loved it. I appreciated that the portion was quite large because too often ordering ravioli means you barely get any pasta. The sauce was decadent, savory, smokey, and had a hint of sweetness, which pulled everything together.

Tuesday night is half price bottle night, which was a happy coincidence, as we happened in on a…read moreTuesday. The biggest draw for me was the favorable reviews about gluten free options. Our server was friendly and quick. She answered questions and described the specials. They have gluten free focaccia!!!! It was super yummy, but it was also served kinda cold. Worth it. We ordered the fresh catch, which was halibut with some potatoes and grilled asparagus. The accompanying sauces were delicious. The asparagus was good. The white potatoes though had been cooked previously and weren't reheated enough. They were described as new potatoes but were definitely large chunks of russets. They were hard to eat. So we didn't. We also had the Punta di Fesa which is a braised beef dish with mushrooms on polenta. The balsamic mushrooms and polenta were so flavorful and delicious. It was a good thing that my husband started with this dish (we traded halfway through and had plenty to eat!) because I would have eaten his share of the polenta too. The beef however was dry and not what I would have expected from a braised beef. When we were given a knife, we were told we probably wouldn't need it. We did. The service here was friendly and helpful. Our server was knowledgeable about gluten free needs and recommended a great bottle of wine that went well with our fish AND the beef (which is tricky...yummy Chianti AND half price!). It was pretty busy for a Tuesday night at 7. There were people that ended up waiting but not too long. There are shelves of Italian goods all around you. My husband said he felt like he was eating in a store. You kind of are, but it was still cozy. I plan to come back to try the gluten free pasta and maybe a lunch sandwich if they have solid gf options there. Also, the dessert menu looked great. We were just full.

When I think of a great food experience, I think of Crust Collective. My husband digs the beers,…read morebut I'm in it for the gluten-free deep dish pizza. I love that you can get traditional pizza toppings or creative combinations. The flavor of the pizza is amazing and I have heard that the gluten free crust is considered better than the regular by some people. This location gets busy, so if you can swing an early dinner or a meal at a slightly off time, your wait to sit will be shorter. We came in a bit before 5 when the patio seating was open and got to sit right away. When they are busy, you might wait a bit for food, but the servers are friendly and super knowledgeable about the menu items. We ordered the "something marvelous" (bbq chicken) and a pepperoni pizza (because kids) for our pizza. We also got the beets and burrata salad to start. This was more than enough food and we always take leftovers home. The weather was nice on the patio and you can see the waterfront and river from your seats. We've been here before. We will be back. I hope the Cuban style pizza makes it back on the menu...pizza with pulled pork and pickles? Yes!

We ate at Ruse Brewing on our way down to Portland for the weekend. This was a beautiful day on the…read morewaterfront and there was no wait at 7PM on a Friday night, which we found surprising given how almost every restaurant on the street seemed to be full. We were told it would be a 20 to 25 minute wait for our pizza (I had to ask - the server didn't volunteer this information). It actually took 30. Dini Broccolini ($16) - We ordered this as an app. The dish includes a thick romesco sauce spread along the bottom of the plate. It's served cold and it's quite nutty (walnuts?) and peppery with a strong tangy umami. It's chunky with lots of small pieces blended in. On top of the romesco are three slices of crostini that are much thicker than average. They are completely dried out and crunchy like croutons. They salt the bread a ton; it's salty enough that my mouth felt like it was burning. The only warm thing on the dish is the broccolini, which is baked rather than charred. The texture is great and the seasoning level is perfect. On top of the veggies, they sprinkle pecorino and and breadcrumbs, for additional saltiness, umami, and a bit of crunch. (4/5) Now onto the pizza. Taken from another of my reviews: there are several characteristics that define Detroit-style. Firstly, the base must be a thinner and chewier focaccia dough-like crust, pillowy on the interior and with a crispness on the bottom and sides that are somewhat greasy but not overladen*. There must be flavorful Wisconsin brick cheese (or blend), buttery and fatty, melted on top and spread until it spills over the sides of the crust, creating a crisp caramelized frico ring surrounding the pie. The pepperoni must be underneath the cheese**, and the flavorful tomato sauce, typically in several wide lines, is spread atop the cheese. There must not be too many toppings to prevent the crust from compressing and ruining the texture. *Note 1: The fat/grease is very important, both to allow the crust to crisp up and to act as a hydrophobic layer to prevent sogginess. **Note 2: This is the one trait I dislike since it makes the pepperoni limp and soaked with grease. Dial 'P' for Pepperoni ($26) - As always, I start with the base pepperoni pizza, the most classical Detroit-style pizza. The pizzas here are standard 4-square size (8in x 10in), cut into 6 pieces. Pricing is pretty expensive for this size - I'm used to 8-square (10in x 14in) pricing being around this much. Starting with the base crust - it's pretty good. It's crisp but not overly greasy, thinner and a little collapsed in the area with toppings, but still light and airy without being dense. It's super bubbly from frying in high heat and the crumb, especially towards the sides, looks great. It has a tasty buttery fried flavor. The cheese frico on the sides is underwhelming. While crisp, it's a little collapsed and flattened rather than having lacy, thin, uneven tops as with a great Detroit-style pizza. The bake on the pizza is also uneven, with one side much darker than the other. The darker side unfortunately burns the frico, which gives an unpleasant acridity on one end. On top, they add an appropriate amount of mild mozzarella. It's enough to give a slightly cheesy stretch, but isn't enough to feel overly heavy or rich. They then place pepperoni on top, which cups and crisps up. Again, they don't overload the pizza, so while salty, it's not overwhelmingly so like several other Detroit-style pizzas I've eaten recently. This all makes a pizza that give a really balanced bite. Unfortunately the sauce here is a miss. It's ridiculously tangy and acidic to start with somewhat of a metallic kind of flavor. It then descends into a really heavy overly concentrated flavor of dried Italian herbs. It's incredibly overwhelming, like they wanted to completely cover up the taste of bad quality canned tomatoes* but failed. The dried herbs are followed up with a slight heat that warms the mouth, probably from red pepper flakes mixed in. On each slice of pizza, they place a giant spoonful of sauce, which is unfortunate given that I didn't enjoy the sauce. I think they should revisit their tomato sauce recipe. It's one of the worst Ive had in a while. Luckily, it's not a huge part of the pizza. (3.5/5) Overall the pizzas have some major weaknesses. My review reads very critical, but I think the pizzas are still quite tasty and will satisfy most people. Still, I personally wouldn't return given the better options for Detroit-style pizza across the river. *Note: They use Valoroso canned tomatoes from Stanislaus, which is a company many places in Detroit also use. I doubt the quality of the tomatoes are actually bad. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms

Located in the heart of DT Vancouver, Brewed offered a variety of drinks (including beers). I…read moreordered the cold brew with a splash of cream. The cold brew was smooth and give me the pick up I needed. I also ordered a bagel with CC that was toasted perfectly. The kind barista brought it upstairs and checked in to ensure everything was going good. I sat upstairs for about an hour and was so impressed with how the team greeted each person by name. Whether they ordered in person or online it was so cozy.

Stopped by Brewed while walking around Vancouver and overall it's a cute little neighborhood coffee…read morespot if you're looking for something quick and simple. The shop itself is definitely on the smaller side with only a few places to sit inside, so it feels more like an in-and-out coffee stop versus somewhere you're going to spend hours working or hanging out. They do serve lunch items along with pastries and coffee, and when I walked in there were a few locals standing around watching TV which gave it a casual neighborhood vibe. I ordered a large cold brew and a pecan bar from the pastry case. The cold brew was actually really good -- strong, smooth, and definitely woke me up. The pecan bar, though, wasn't my favorite. It tasted a little aged/stale and unfortunately didn't really hit the mark for me (especially when you grow up spoiled by homemade pecan bars ). Service was okay but not particularly warm or welcoming. More of a "take your order and keep it moving" type of atmosphere. Nothing rude, just not overly friendly either. All in all, still a decent little coffee stop if you're nearby and need caffeine, but with so many coffee shops in the area, I'm excited to continue exploring and see what else Vancouver has to offer

Visiting from Chicago, we wanted to try a bbq place. So glad we wandered in here! The whole meal,…read moreservice and atmosphere were amazing. Best Mac & Cheese I've ever had. Hands down. Highly recommend!

Great atmosphere, got to play darts and watch FIFA. We enjoyed the fatty, the coleslaw & potato…read moresalad were great (northern style reminded us of home)

We decided to stop in here after seeing a movie downtown. The menu had a lot of clearly marked…read moregluten free options, which is a major plus for me. We started with a couple Thai mules which were made with a spicy and delicious ginger beer. For food we ordered the Nem Kai from the house specials menu and, after an enthusiastic endorsement, the drunken noodles. Both dishes were amazing. The ingredients were fresh and the portions were generous. We couldn't finish so we took the leftovers home and enjoyed them the next day. I have been craving that rice dish for the past week since our visit. I will have to go back soon! The servers were attentive and helpful, even though it was closer to closing time than we thought. We sat outside and enjoyed the landscaping on a nice evening. Highly recommend this spot for a delicious meal and refreshing beverage.

Met a friend here for lunch before seeing a movie next door at the Regal City Center theater. There…read moreis street parking nearby, or a parking garage adjacent to the restaurant. Restaurant was clean. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating options. We were immediately greeted and seated upon entering the restaurant. Staff was friendly, helpful and accommodating. We ordered a few appetizers to share; coconut shrimp, potstickers, chicken satay and BBQ pork fresh salad rolls. Each appetizer came with an appropriate dipping sauce. The food was good, and tasted fresh. The chicken satay was a bit dry, but the curry flavor was perfect and the peanut dipping sauce helped give it a bit of moisture. I feel like the prices were a bit steep. We only ordered one non-alcoholic beverage and 4 appetizers, and the bill was just shy of $80, with tip. I guess I didn't realize how expensive it was since last time I came for Happy Hour. Overall we were happy with our experience here; however, next time we'll make sure we hit Happy Hour for better pricing. Would recommend.

I was in here a few weeks ago and I gotta say I had a great experience. Service was fantastic right…read morefrom the start. The juice was fresh and the sandwich was unbelievable. Real deal. You take a bite and you can tell they know what they're doing in that kitchen. The atmosphere in there was perfect too. Nice and relaxed, not too loud, not too crazy. I was able to sit down and study for a few hours and nobody rushed me or gave me a hard time. Just a good comfortable place to hang out for a bit. The guy who took my order was a tall guy with a mustache and he was great. Friendly, quick, and just ran things the right way. The kind of guy who makes you feel like a regular even if it's your first time in. Overall I had a great time. Good food, great service, and a really nice vibe. When a place does things right like that you come back. Simple as that.

Nice staff, fast service and clean atmosphere - complete with classic rock playing in the…read morebackground! Sandwiches are HUGE and tasty, with lots of meat and fresh bread.

Went to Barrel Mountain Pizza tonite, had the small "Donnas favorite" pizza, definitely one of the…read morebest pies I've ever eaten, my wife swooned over the unique flavors, the thin crust, and the fact of two pieces left over. It's nice to see a real quality business getting traction, good food, excellent service, it's not rocket science, but maybe close to it.. There have been a few other operators in that bldg, it was the old benny's Pizza joint, a not too bad place. But Barrel Mountain owners really know the ropes, obviously, Wed night and the place had little room left to sit. I have long realized just how difficult the food bizz can be, and in that vein I certainly will make it a point to eat where others were impressed by the quality and service..

This place has really been hit or miss lately. Not sure what's changed from their opening, but the…read morelast 3-4 times we've visited it's been okay or subpar. Very disappointing. We both agreed this is the last time we'll come here. We came in and were greeted and immediately seated by the host. He was friendly and welcoming. They weren't super busy, but busy enough for a Saturday lunch crowd. It took him awhile to get our drink order, so when he finally came to take it, we went ahead and ordered our food as well. We decided on the bacon cheeseburger with chips, and the reuben with fries ($3.50 extra for fries). I've never understood the extra cost for fries vs homemade potato chips?! The chips have been hit or miss in the past, so we usually order fries for one entree just in case. Our food took about 45 minutes. Seemed way too long. Our server never came back and asked for refills on beverages during our visit either, which was disappointing. My burger looked good, but super greasy, even the bun was greasy on top. Maybe it was brushed with butter?! The burger dripped with grease while eating it. The chips were saturated in grease as well. Some of them so much they weren't crispy at all. Our server was nowhere to be found or I would have complained. They were left on the plate. My husband didn't like them either. He ended up sharing his fries with me. My husband liked his reuben, but the bread was burnt on the bottom. You couldn't tell at first look, only once it was picked up to eat. It had plenty of meat, cheese, peppers and onions. He enjoyed it overall. The fries were good too. Much better than the chips. The restaurant was clean when we walked in, but during our visit many tables were left dirty for far too long. Not sure if they were in the middle of a shift change, but it seemed like no one was around to clear plates or refill beverages. Someone from the kitchen eventually came out to get us our bill. Our plates were still on the table when we left. Overall a disappointing experience. There are far too many restaurant options in this area to spend $65 on lunch for mediocre, at best, food and service. We will not be returning.