Kadoya Japanese

Kadoya Japanese
1063 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC
Map
Neighborhood: West End
Price: $

Editorial Review - Kadoya Japanese

We’ve heard sushi in Vancouver is unbeatable. So we’ve gone out every Thursday night (right before The Office) to try new sushi places. After 4 months, we fell in love with a place only a few blocks away—Kadoya. Kadoya is in the midst of Davie Street and small (why are sushi restaurants always so small!). You may have a short wait for a table but it’s worth it—totally affordable, totally yummy sushi. We love the Sakura Roll—a specialty roll with spicy tuna and scallions. The portions are generous; most rolls come in 10+ pieces. The service can be slow at times but it is always pleasant.

Sai Z

Sai Z Japanese Resturant
3116 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC
604.732.7249
Map

Neighborhod: Kits
Price: $-$$

There's so many restaurants on West Broadway, and so many Sushi joints in particular, it's hard for the uninitiated to know where to start. For those of us going simply on looks, Sai Z presents a swanky façade that delivers where it counts. A pleasant wood-beamed interior and a jazzish piano player offset the candle-lit ambiance. The food is presented in similarly meticulous manner (we had the yam tempura appetizer, which came out looking like jenga puzzle). The maki and sashimi were supple and tasty and for a price that defies everything about the place: one maki combo for $8 turned out to be a long platter of food that would comfortably fill anyone. An "A" for Sai Z. - daenalus

Maxine's Hideaway

Maxine's Hideaway

(formerly Balthazar)

1215 Bidwell Street
Vancouver, BC
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Neighborhood: West End
Price:$-$$

Tucked away beside the busy Davie Street corridor is Balthazar, a pleasantly gaudy, peacefully tacky oasis in the gauntlet of tourists and bikinis that is English Bay. The dark windows of this residential-looking restaurant piqued Vancouverist's interest for months until we were finally lured in by half-price brick-oven pizza Thursdays. Inside an open space of plush red greeted diners who enjoyed specials while sunbeams flitted into the dining room through a small terrace. The pizza was tasty, the beer cheap, and the service friendly. Balthazar transitions at night into a performance space for comedy nights, as well as karaoke, and where the specials continue in abundance. - daenalus

(UPDATE 4/02/08: changed names, maybe even management, seems to be "burlesque-themed" now. have not reviewed since this change)

The Whip

The Whip Gallery
209 East 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Map
604. 874.4687

Neighborhood: SOMO (South Main)
Price: $-$$

We were driving down Main Street after a disappointing trip to the Richmond Night Market last night when I caught sight of The Whip's red lights on a side street. It was a great summer night with a cool breeze and it begged to be enjoyed with a drink outdoors. Their outside seating was packed so we chose one of the two empty tables inside. We sighed with relief. Finally, a place

with historical detail mixed with modern charm that's not in Gastown. The atmosphere is reminiscent of Six Acres but a notch down in pretension. This was exactly the kind of place we East Coasters had been looking for in the last 5 months. We got drinks - reasonably priced and an interesting range. We didn't order food but the choices looked great. Yam Frites, Eggplant chips, etc. for Tapas. The entree list had the choices of Protein, Sauce, Vegetable and Carb all laid out for a customized plate for dinner. Many tables were enjoying plates of deserts. I can't wait to go back and get a Sangaria pitcher of try out their brunch.