A foodie friend suggested I visit this Asian fusion restaurant after seeing it featured on the Food…read moreChannel. So, I took a day off and headed to our capital city, Victoria, on a hot and sunny afternoon. After getting off the bus at Douglas & Fort and walking a couple of blocks, I arrived at the restaurant. In all honesty, the location isn't in the nicest part of town. The place itself is small, both inside and out. Inside, they were in the middle of a paint job. Outside, the dining area consisted of three picnic tables, each seating about four or so.
I hadn't checked their website beforehand, but I told the cashier it was my first visit from Vancouver. She suggested three of their "most popular" dishes, all priced at $18. I chose the Sweet & Sour Pork Belly with Rice. Most entrées seemed to start at $15 and up. I opted to dine outside, given the beautiful weather. The cashier directed me to a self-serve counter for water, condiments, and cutlery, and suggested I sit at the far left by the wooden railing since other tables were occupied.
When my food was ready, she called my name. The presentation was nice, but for $18 the portion seemed small -- six small pieces of pork belly, with two pieces being almost entirely fat. The green beans (about 14 pieces, four inches long) were fresh and bright green, not overcooked, and the sauce was fine. Unfortunately, the biggest letdown was the temperature -- lukewarm at best. Even the rice wasn't hot. The menu promised crispy skin, but mine was soft. While the pork was tender, it lacked the crispness you'd find at a good Chinese BBQ meat shop.
Adding to the disappointment, the outdoor seating was right beside a parking lot of a liquor store where people smoked and chatted. The smell of cigarette smoke made it hard to enjoy my meal, so I ate quickly and left.
It's a semi-self-serve setup, with a tray for returning dirty dishes like in fast-food places. Another note: I paid cash but wasn't given a receipt -- my oversight, since cash payments save them merchant fees.
This place might have its fame, but for me, it was overpriced and the atmosphere was not conducive to a relaxing meal. Hot dishes should be served hot, regardless of the weather. Taste-wise, I'd give my dish 3/5. Value: 2/5. Sadly, it's a "one-and-done" visit for me.
