The Regency Cafe, London - Pudding for Pennies

Home made bread & butter pudding. It was like eating a lullaby.

You are in a major capital city and you are hungry. It is cold and you crave something warm, homely and nourishing. You have 5 pounds on you (US$7.50). Good luck!

However, if that capital city happens to be London, then you are in luck. Find your way to the Regency Cafe. Described as a "working man's cafe", the Regency is unassuming, welcoming and will fill your belly up with good honest food for less than it costs to buy your orange mocha frappaccino in some parts of the world. This is a no fuss, no frills kind of place. What you see is what you get and what you get is good. If you are coming for lunch, come early or you will join the queue that often reaches out the door.

We arrived for an early dinner (keep in mind it shuts at 7:30 so don't show up too late) and "ummed" and "ahhed" our way through the menu before settling on the gammon with chips and salad (known as the half and half approach - otherwise you can skip the salad and get a quantity of potatoes that even the Irish would struggle to chew through). My dining companion opted for the home made beef pie served with a generous pile of peas, chips and a river of thick gravy. You order up at the counter first before taking your seat - a strict etiquette adhered to at the Regency which magically ensures that no matter how busy the cafe is, you always seem to get a seat by the time your order is ready, since people seem to finish their meals at about the same pace as new orders are slowly taken.

Only a matter of minutes after taking our seat we heard the yell from the counter that our food was ready (pay attention because this is a no-name system where they will simply yell out the name of the dish that is ready and it is up to you to remember what you ordered and get on your feet to collect it when called upon).

The beef pie was piping hot, with fluffy pastry embalming thick, tender chunks of quality beef. The simple gravy was the perfect companion to the pie and the thick hand-cut chips were delicious tools to mop up any excess sauce. I had never tried gammon before and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It came across like a thick, less fatty version of bacon and appeared to be cooked in a similar way. It didn't rock my world, but it was fine for what it was.

A friendly patron of the cafe suggested that we should end our meal with one of the deserts on offer, namely the bread and butter pudding, and at 2 pounds, how could we refuse? What emerged from the kitchen was a bowl almost the same size as our main dinner plate that was filled to the brim with pudding and custard. Often quantity spells disaster for quality, but in this case the pudding was easily the winner of the meal. The texture was perfect - light enough for the spoon to slice through the pudding with ease. The creamy custard, while basic, complemented the fruit and cinnamon spice of the pudding. I was transported back to my childhood, sitting in my grandmother's kitchen enjoying a recipe that had been handed down by generations before her own.

If you are looking at this on a 32" screen, then this picture is probably actual size.

RECOMMENDED

I struggled with coming to an overall verdict for the Regent. Reading the above you might assume that this place warrants a highly recommended and you would almost be right. It was good, it was very reasonably priced and it left me with that warm, contented feeling that you only get in your tummy after eating comfort food. However, this kind of simple fare doesn't challenge me or present any new combinations of flavours or cooking methods. I give it a "recommended" for doing what it does very well.

You will definitely need to take a look at our map to find this place.

The bill (for 2):
1 x Gammon & Chips - £4.50
1 x Home Made Steak Pie with Chips, Peas & Gravy - £5.20
1 x Bread & Butter Pudding - £2.00
TOTAL: £11.70 (Approx. US$17.50)

Restaurant address: 17-19 Regency Street, London, Greater London SW1P 4BY, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Regency-Cafe/146515905390603

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

Bridgemans Bistro, Mill Bay - A Well Kept Secret

Some things don't need much paid marketing to become and remain popular. By not advertising a restaurant it becomes more 'exclusive', and provided it's any good, becomes one of those hidden gems that you show to your friends at the first opportunity. Word of mouth is the best kind of marketing since people are personally vouching for the restaurant, not just handing out flyers written by the owner of the place.

An example of a restaurant that doesn't need to do anything else to be successful is the Bridgemans Bistro, perched atop a pier watching over the yachts in Mill Bay, on Vancouver Island. It isn't brilliantly signposted, and it isn't listed on Google Maps, and even the entrance to the restaurant is tucked away behind a relatively dull cafe / gift shop. But anyone who manages to find it and try their brilliantly fresh and diverse range of seafood will be sure to recommend it to anyone who will listen, just like I'm doing right now.

I can't really decide where to begin here. The view is obviously a slice of heaven, looking out into the clean, calm waters of Mill Bay, with dino-sized seagulls just hanging out wherever they find a place to sit. Then there is the menu, with just enough variety and creativity to justify multiple visits, but short enough to remain tightly focused on fresh seafood and hearty lunch fare.

The prices are better than reasonable as well, starting with the locally brewed beers for four dollars, all the way up to my seriously decadent lobster tail linguine for only seventeen bucks. Sounds like fine dining, but my bank balance thinks I'm in a kebab shop.

The attractive view, the attractive menu, the attractive prices... There was something else about this place that made me want to ask if there were any jobs available in the kitchen. Oh, that's right - THE FOOD.

We ordered a couple of fried oyster tacos to start with. Locally caught, and fresher than Will Smith, these things were battered, fried and then tucked into a comfy little bed of zesty salad ingredients. The avocado, lime and coriander worked well with the briny, oily oysters, and the tortillas were soft and pliable, making it almost possible to contain the inevitable mess that comes with me trying to eat tacos. I would probably just stick to nachos if only tacos didn't taste this good. 

The salad was next, and I had not tried anything quite like this before. Greens, cheese, maple roasted pecans, strawberries, sweet onions and white balsamic all thrown together into one of the classy, slanted bowls which were used for our other main courses as well. The sweet pecans and strawberries pinched through the rich balsamic, and all that combined with the onions and greenery made for one crazy, crunchy, creative course. Big pat on the back to whoever came up with that little concoction.

I already mentioned that I ordered the lobster tail linguine, but I should point out that the presentation was exquisite. The flesh had been levered out of the shell with only the very tip of the tail holding onto the flesh, and then shell, with the meat perched on top, was placed onto the bed of grated parmesan and creamy linguine, which was almost thick enough to stand on. The main flavour jumping out of the pasta was a salty richness, coming from the pesto cream which had been stirred through, as well as the handful of parmesan initially supporting the weight of the lobster. It all worked quite well together, with the lobster still perceptible through the waves of white sauce.

Our other main was the seafood chowder, containing all manner of sea life, including clams, prawns, fish and.... bacon. Another well presented, creamy dish, where all elements were identifiable entirely by taste. This was a chowder which had obviously been prepared very recently, instead of sitting in a warmer for hours until it is unwittingly ordered.

Considering their prices you would think they are putting themselves out of business. But I think that the Bridgemans Bistro relies on locals for the majority of their business, so keeping the prices comparable to pubs and cafes probably helps locals justify eating there on a regular basis. The local focus might also explain the relatively low profile that the Bistro seems to have. The locals know where it is, and the tourists are none the wiser.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Well for better or worse, the secret is out now. Bridgemans Bistro is an absolute winner, and well worth the trip to Vancouver Island just to hunt it down. Just make sure you take a look at our map so you know where to find it.


The bill (for 2):
2 x Fried Oyster Tacos - CA$11
1 x Salad (strawberries and pecans) - CA$10
1 x Chowder - CA$10
1 x Lobster Linguine - CA$17
TOTAL: CA$48 (before tax) (Approx. US$45.50)

Restaurant address:740 Handy Rd, Mill Bay, BC, Victoria Island, 2P1
Website: http://www.bridgemans.ca

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

TacoFino Cantina, Tofino - Fish Tacos to rule all tacos

We heard about the Tacofino Cantina while doing some research of what to do and where to eat in Tofino, Vancouver Island. The quirky taco selling van rated high on everyone's must do list, so who were we to pass up on the opportunity to try some of the local fare that everyone was raving about?

It's not the easiest place to find, being tucked away at the back of a lot behind a bunch of surf shops. Luckily it has made its way onto the maps issued at the Tourist Information centre, so this was a major help! The Cantina is an old school bus that has been converted into a fast food style kitchen. You go up to the drivers window to order your food and then sit down on one of the park benches to wait for your name to be yelled out. In the time we were there, a steady stream of people came and left and we get the feeling that this place is buzzing all day long.

The menu isn't extensive - they serve Burritos, Tacos and Gringas - all available with a variety of different fillings. This appeals to me. They aren't trying to cook every dish known to man, but stick to what they are good at and perfect it over time. We ordered from across the menu and decided on a Pork Burrito, two fish Tacos (their specialty) and a black bean Gringa. We sat and waited with anticipation.

 First, the burrito. It was a 12 inch flour tortilla filled with refried black beans, seasoned basmati rice, shredded cabbage, sour cream and soft, deliciously seasoned pulled pork. The tortilla was a little undercooked for my liking which gave it a bit of a wet, slippery texture. It was, however, packed to the gills with delicious ingredients and was certainly a filling, tasty meal (and at $10 a pop, you would want it to be filling).

The Gringa wasn't anything I can really rave about. It was nice, but not incredible. It was a 6 inch tortilla filled with cheese, vegetables and black beans and then grilled. It tasted very similar to a pizza actually. 

The Gringa

The definite winner of the meal was the fish taco. It has redefined a taco for me. No longer will my mental image of a taco be the hard shell corn taco filled with beef and salad - i shall forever more think of this fish taco. It was a 6 inch flour tortilla  that had been lightly toasted and then filled with tempura battered cod, chopotle mayo, shredded cabbage and salsa. The combination of the battered fish and the fresh zesty salsa was incredible and we devoured the tacos way too quickly. Not the best overall meal we have had in Canada, but the fish taco by itself would be one of the best dishes we have had.

Fish Tacos. Splendiforabulous.

RECOMMENDED

This place is not cheap considering you are ordering out of a converted school bus. However, it is quirky, interesting and fresh food which leaves you with a nice warm belly and a feeling that for a brief moment in time, all is well in the world. Recommended if you ever get the chance to make it to this beautiful part of Vancouver Island.



The bill (for 2):
1 x Pork Burrito - CA$10
2 x Fish Tacos -CA$9
1 x Black Bean Gringas  - CA$4.50
TOTAL: CA$23.50 (Approx. US$22)

Restaurant address: 1184 Pacific Rim Hwy, Tofino, British Columbia, Canada

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

Dunn's, Vancouver - Not Quite A Deli

When I think of deli sandwiches, I picture a pile of bright pink slices of meat stuffed between two rustic slices of bread. That mental image must have been planted in my head by the movies I've watched usually involving old men sitting around in delis, since I had never actually tried one of these things myself until my recent visit to Dunn's in Vancouver.

The inside of Dunn's looked like it was entirely furnished and decorated by an upscale department store like David Jones. It was classy enough, but everything looked shiny, and of an identical age. It had a slightly plastic feel which was well out of line with how I pictured any deli sandwich shop to look. At least it was clean, and there were plenty of spare seats.

Sadly there were no weathered old characters at Dunn's when I was there. They probably don't go to Dunn's anymore since it went non smoking. Undeterred, I ordered the classic six ounce version of the Montreal Smoked Meat Deli Sandwich. The concept of protein-heavy smoked meat sammy's originated in Montreal, over on the other side of Canada, but I wanted one now.

And before long, it was delivered to my table, looking like it was chopped in half with an axe, judging from the gaping sandwich in front of me. The halves were splayed open, revealing the layers and layers of cured, smoked then steamed beef brisket, dribbling juices all glistening and warm.

The rye bread was fresh enough, but it looked very small and mass produced; once again not quite fitting within the concept of a true deli sandwich. Luckily the meat was superb. At least ten layers of meat all heaped together, with a small smear of mustard on the bread being the only other flavour imposed on the sandwich. Half a dill pickle was slumped over the side of the plate, and there were a couple of the standard sauces on the table as well, just in case anyone wanted to smother the delicate flavour of the meat.

Thanks to the softness of the meat and the freshness of the bread, the whole thing was just a little too easy to gobble down, and it was all over in a matter of seconds. I wouldn't say that the sandwich was small, but I would have expected a bit more for almost ten bucks. It wasn't as filling as you might think either, and I could have easily ordered another one, if only I hadn't been acutely aware of how that would affect the cost of my lunch.

AVERAGE

Dunn's offer larger versions of their sandwiches, with eight ounces of meat instead of six, as well as combo deals that come with salad and fries, but those start to get very expensive. I enjoyed my brief visit to Dunn's, and my time spent sampling their best known sandwich, but I won't be going back. The atmosphere verges on tacky and the sandwiches reflect that vibe as well. On top of that it just isn't good enough value to justify a repeat visit. I've been there now, I've ticked it off my list. Now I just have to wait until Montreal before giving this style of cuisine another shot.

The bill (for 1):
1 x 6oz Montreal Smoked Meat Deli Sandwich - CA$9.50
1 x Lager - CA$5.50
TOTAL: CA$15 (before tax) (Approx. US$14.50)

Restaurant address: Dunn's Famous BC, 827 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3, Canada
Website: dunnsfamousbc.com

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

Da-De-O, Edmonton - 50's Style Cajun Dining

You wouldn't know it from the inconspicuously narrow shop front, but open the door to Da-De-O New Orleans Restaurant & Bar, and an interesting world awaits you. From the black & white chequered tiled floor to the red pleather couch booths, this place oozes old-school charm. The care and love that has been spilled into this place is obvious from the meticulous interior decorating that instantly makes you feel welcome, like you have arrived in a happy fantasy land that you never want to leave. But just like you don't go to IKEA for the great food, we weren't here for the furniture. So how was the food??

This place just stretches back for a mile

The menu was quite extensive, offering a wide range of southern fare. You could even order oysters cooked in a variety of methods should the seafood cravings kick in. However, we came to Da-De-O to try their famed Po'Boys. What is a Po'Boy? Good question, because we ordered two of them with little knowledge of what we were getting ourselves into. Basically, they are a chunky sub sandwich served with coleslaw. But not just any ordinary ham and cheese on bread kind of sandwich. These are sandwiches that take pity on the old ham & cheese and arrogantly scoff in the direction of the tuna melt. These are big sandwiches with attitude.

While we were intrigued by the oyster Po'Boy and tempted by the blackened catfish option, we opted for the Philly steak Po'Boy and the pulled BBQ pork Po'Boy. They come with salad, but for an extra $1 you can substitute the salad for their sweet potato fries. Bring on the fries!

Skip it.

Before our meals arrived, we were served with a complimentary appetiser - I would call it a scone, but I think they are known in Canada as "Biscuits". Same same, just different name. They were accompanied by a small tub of jalapeno jelly, which had a dominant vinegar flavour at first with a sugary finish. It was odd to look at and weird to taste. After the first confused bite, we politely pushed it away and waited for the main attraction to arrive.

The Po'Boys arrived shortly after and were impressive in their size, but not particularly overwhelming otherwise. Not to say they weren't nice - the Philly Steak one in particular could have passed for a really great pizza if you closed your eyes. The steak was moist and the cheese was generous. The pulled BBQ pork was a little heavy on the mustard which disguised any true meat flavour. Basically, they were just great sandwiches which had a little flare to them. The sweet potato fries however were awesome! They had been lightly battered and coated in plenty of spices which gave them a fantastic crunch on the outside but they were still soft and moist on the inside. So much better than ordinary fries.

We had just enough room for dessert so we ordered a slice of the pecan pie with ice cream. Even though the crust of the pie was a little thick, the filling was a perfect balance of sweetness and richness that was well accompanied by the ice cream. There were certainly no crumbs left on our plate by the end of it.

Pecan Pie & Ice Cream. Hard to screw that up, really.

Boring on the outside.

RECOMMENDED

Da-De-O scrapes in as a recommended on the basis of originality, good value and a great atmosphere. The Po'Boys were not the awe inspiring meal that we had hoped for, but the sweet potato fries took up some of the slack and the pie left our desert stomachs happy and satisfied. It is a good option for a relatively cheap meal out that's fast, but doesn't taste like fast food.





The bill (for 2):
1 x Philly Cheese Steak Po'Boy with Sweet Potato Fries - CA$10.00
1 x Pulled BBQ Pork Po'Boy with Sweet Potato Fries - CA$10.00
1 x Slice of Pecan Pie - CA$6.00
TOTAL: CA$26.00 (Approx. US$25.50)

Note: All Po'Boy sandwiches are only $9 on Mondays and Tuesdays ($1 extra for sweet potato fries). They are usually a couple of bucks more.

Restaurant address: 10548 Whyte Avenue, Edmonton, T6E 2A4, Canada
Website: http://www.dadeo.ca/

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.

Fat Frank's, Edmonton - Must Love Dogs

Hotdogs. Uniformly shaped, pink, rubbery tubes of meat and meat-by-product, ironically containing every animal except dog; and served on a lot of streetcorners here in Canada. This review was inevitable.

Fat Franks is a chain of 'dog vendors which usually operate from your standard sidewalk hotdog carts. We found one run inside a proper little shack on the side of the road, looking clean and smelling smokey. It would do just fine.

Before extras. Like a blank canvas.

The chain is best known for it's Honey Ham Smokie, so we ordered one of those, as well as a chili cheese dog. A fellow customer explained to me that a smokie is a sausage of higher quality, both in terms of spices and meats used. High quality hotdog eh? Sounded like an oximoron to me.

The most interesting thing about the hotdog culture is the vast array of condiments that you are encouraged to use to dress up your otherwise dry dog, which allows for endless variations of flavour. My pet sandwich smothered with raw onion, cucumber relish, sauerkraut and curried mustard. No surprise that after all that I couldn't make out the honey ham flavour at all. It was just a big, messy hotdog. Did I say messy? I mean it was an astronomical, apocolyptic dreadnaught of destruction. Imagine the Exxon Valdez spill if it was filled with curried mustard. Oh, and it was blowing a gale at the time. And there were no seats. Got the picture? I probably should have skipped the part where I tried to eat the thing, and just smeared it all over my shirt and trousers, just to save time.

Our end result.

The chili dog had the added benefit of extra richness thanks to the meat, with the drawbacks being the awful liquid cheese sauce dripping all over it, and the fact that this hotdog had become something closer to a soup once even more condiments were committed to the concoction.

Beer mustard. What a great idea.

AVERAGE

The flavour of each dog was dominated by whatever condiments were plopped on top, so my advice would be to get whatever the most basic, cheap hotdog is available, and then dress it up with a kilo of extras. There was no major difference between the smokie / regular dog in my opinion. Ill happily try another smokie at another vendor, in another town, but as far as Fat Franks go, Ill stick to the basics.



The bill (for 2):
1 x Honey Ham Smokie -CA$5.25
1 x Chili Cheese Dog - CA$5.70
TOTAL: CA$10.95 (Approx. US$10.50)

Restaurant address: Whyte Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

for exact locations of all reviewed restaurants, take a look at our map.