Best of Vancouver my ASS.
I am seriously tired of The Straight’s “Best of” list continually being wrong and/or disturbing. When we first moved to Vancouver, we didn’t really have any idea of what to eat, so we relied on the hip and cool local rag to steer us in the general direction of delicious. Time and time again we were disappointed in what was considered “the best” in any number of categories – either someone has been buying reader votes, or a lot of people have just plain crappy taste.
Two examples spring immediately to mind: year after year, Las Margaritas on West 4th has been voted as the best Mexican food in the city. Even allowing for extra generous points knowing that you really can’t get good Mexican food in Canada, Las Margaritas was *terrible*. Overpriced food, poor service, and the worst crime a “Mexican” restaurant can commit: bland food. Salsa has flavour, people. It is not just watered down ketchup. Even with our warnings, friends have gone to Las Margaritas to check it out for themselves and came away with the same verdict: holy shit, that was awful. It’s places like this that make me happy to drive over the border into Bellingham, Washington to dine at Mi Mexico, which has some of the finest Mexican food I’ve ever had. Fie on you, Las Margaritas. You are no good.
Example number two: Mr. Pickwick’s Fish & Chips. My parents instilled into me a love of halibut, and every once in a while I get a craving for some good old fashioned fish n’ chips. We’ve had success at places like the Cockney Kings, but it’s so far down East Hastings it’s a block outside of Port Moody and too far to get to from our home on the North Shore. Also good is Montgomery’s Fish n’ Chips in the Lonsdale Quay, and Ed really likes the fish from Charlie’s in Sinclair but I personally think their tartar sauce is kind of funky. My current favourite, though, is C-Lovers – reasonably priced, fast service, completely delicious and close to my house, so it’s a win all around.
For the sake of adventure this last weekend though, we decided to try out Mr. Pickwick’s. It’s usually voted as the best Fish n’ Chips in Vancouver, so we scooted to the Denman Street location for some dinner. Apparently, calling yourself a “bistro” and serving things on square plates means you can charge out the ass for your food. We tried the crab cakes for an appetizer. They were okay; nothing spectacular although they were plentiful for the price. The real crime, though, was the fish – while I am truly down with the irony of this complaint, the fish was *watery*. And overpriced. A standard 2-piece halibut and chips plate ran a good $8 more than any other place I’ve been to, and the quality was just not there for the price we paid. Ed and I can eat ourselves stupid at C-Lovers for $24 – our meal at Pickwick’s was $45 and nowhere near as tasty.
I’m done looking towards random strangers for the lowdown on decent food options. Seriously, any poll that has McDonald’s winning more than one category with no trace of the funny should just not be taken seriously. Fie on you, Reader’s Choice voters. Your taste buds are clearly made of stupid.
delicious juice dot com 
I think Pickwick’s in my neighbourhood (Granville and 70th) is better… It’s still cheap, you just don’t want to bother eating it there because they have no space. I’ve only heard bad stuff about the downtown location.
I also like the Mexican restaurant in my neighbourhood (Casa de Amigos: http://www.casadeamigos.ca/). It’s cheap and you get a lot of food, but it’s good stuff, so long as you don’t want it fancy. If you and Ed are ever in Marpole we should go sometime. I think it’s run by actual Mexicans.
Tony’s Fish & Chips on Granville Island is super inexpensive, and really, really yummy. Or at least, I think so ;) I am not a fan of Pickwicks on Denman.
In defense of Mr Pickwicks… they used to be so, so much better, before the square plates came in. :( I used to go there all the time on my way home from work in 2005-2006. They were awesome. Cheap, plentiful, tasty…
Now they’re trying to be ritzy, and they’re not. It’s a fish & chips joint, for fucks sake. Also, the square plates are too tippy.
I must also note: Pickwick’s is off the list this year. Evidently others have noticed their gradual decline as well.
Hey Kimli.
If you’re in Nanaimo sometime, go to Gina’s Mexican Restaurant.
It’s really fantastic food and the owner really tries to make it authentic.
Also, in Victoria, Adriana’s is frickin awesome.
That is all.
I never trust the readers of the Georgia Straight!
When we moved from Van to the Interior in 1973, there was only one Mexican place, high-end, and it went out of business, and after that we only found good stuff South of the border. My preferences come from three generations of living between LA and San Diego, and eating in rural Mexico.
We came to Calgary in ’99, at the same time many new Hispanics were settling into Calgary, and there are a LOT of regional authentic places now, and life is good.
A new Merican-Mexican chain started up in Calgary last year, and it was bad for the first three visits, but now it’s good, cheap, and fast. An arsonist burnt down the one closest to Kimli, but there’s lots of others. Your results may vary…. the best and the worst of three franchise sites here in Calgary are run by East-Indians, who have a much better clue about beans and spices than most White folk. It’s SW US Mex, which is close to Baja Mex, and way better than the cute Doggie Mex.
http://www.tacodelmar.com/locations/britishcolumbia.html
Viva frijoles!
Ken
My favourite Mexican restaurant is Andales on Broadway. I think I maybe have seen an Andales downtown, but I have no clue if it is owned by the same people or if it is any good.
The Andales on Broadway is really nice and cozy and very tasty. During the summer they have a nice patio on the sidewalk- great people watching! At Christmas there is a wonderful combination of Christmas decorations and sombreros. It is worth a go!
I am with you- Las Margaritas is the suck.
Anything called ‘Mr. Pickwicks” has to be bad, unless maybe it’s involved picks, or wicks.
Check out urbandiner.ca for better restaurant info. Especially if you register for the forum. Lots of local chefs and owners and industry types. They know where the good stuff really is.
I agree- Las Margaritas is the suck. yuck.
I can’t eat fish due to allergies so I have no recommendations there but, have heard that C-Lovers is a goodie for those who can.We even have one in our neck of the woods.
Also, if you like Indian, don’t try All India Sweets no matter what anybody says- buffet, watery, yuck. Nirvana on Main is da bomb. And while you’re there, if you like veggie/vegan food, try Foundation- though be prepared to wait a very long time. It’s worth it tho’….
Wazubee on Commercial of course is always a tried and true.
I second Gina’s in Nanamio…really good mexican cuisine.
I swear the same 10 people vote for Vancouver’s Best in the GS, and none of them have taste buds….