Going Down Under …

Moose’s Down Under Bar & Grill
Basement 830 West Pender St.
Vancouver, BC
(604) 683-3300

What can you do when a ‘koo is angry and about to give chase? Well, I’m not Steve Irwin and God bless his soul, I hope he’ll forgive me for what I did. I ate Skippy. Okay, that dated television show was before my time, but I’ve caught the occasional episode as I was growing up and my fascination with Australian life does not end there. In fact, I may have to go to that country and make it my permenant residence when considering how friendly everyone was at Mooses Down Under.

With rugby playin’ on the big screen, I thought why not. Watch a bit of the sport while snacking on a ripe ol’ salad and munching on one of this country’s indigenous marsupials. No it isn’t a koala, but I do have to wonder if that’s an animal protected by the World Wildlife Federaton. They’re far too adorable and that’s one creature I will refuse to touch on a dinner plate.

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Vancouver: Japadog

Japadog
Burrard St. & W. Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC

I can finally say I’ve tasted the best of what two cities can offer for Japanese fusion hot dogs.

Last year, I was in Seattle and found Gourmet Dog Japon a few blocks away from my hotel. In Vancouver, Japadog has a truck right across the street from where I’m staying. While I missed an opportunity on my first night here for Salvadoran food, I still have two days left … if I can tear myself away from Fan Expo.

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Looking for a Real Taste of India

Real Taste of India
768 Fort St  
Victoria, BC 
(250) 477-8883

E: One of the essential rules of waitressing includes knowing which is which on the menu and being able to know who ordered what. To not know can spell trouble. That can be excused when taking orders from a large crowd, but when James and I were the only two in Taste of India, I can’t be too kind. The food was great, but the service really needs to be worked on.

J: The service was poor and I’m saying this kindly because I want to use a manure reference. Our first server made many fatal mistakes; the first one was with upselling us more food without explaining his reasons for doing it.

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Getting Splashed with Sockeye Sushi

Sockeye Sushi
726 Johnson St.
Victoria, BC
(250) 388-4338

E: I honestly should not leave the decision-making to James and his frugalness to suggest that we try out Stone’s Throw Restaurant. One look at their small buffet table and I was ready to high tail it out of there. It was not because of the food, but I don’t see three buffet warmers to be a shining example of what a buffet should be.

I’ve been to enough to know that a smorgasbord of visual delights be offered to entice diners in, not something out of an archaeological dig! And between the two of us, we’d most likely clean their taco offerings out in no time and be kicked out afterwards.

J: The buffet was much like the old Atlas ads in the comic books. Well this buffet could’ve had sand kick at it and not do a damn thing in return.

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The Melt Serves Up Simplicity


Note: This place has closed permenantly.

The Melt

G2A – 1001 Douglas St
Sussex Place
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-4636

The Melt replaces the former pizzeria that once operated here. While I liked what the previous establishment made, square shaped pizzas, it did suffer from one problem: the lack of proper heaters to keep the pizza warm.

Ironically, the new establishment fulfills a certain need. The Melt properly grills its toast so that the cheeses are satisfyingly gooey at every bite.

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Enter a World of Delights at Shanghai Noodles

2224 Quadra Street
Victoria, B.C. 
(250) 386-8802

J:
Shanghai Noodles is located between two of my ol’ stomping grounds. Blanshard Community and George Jay Elementary. Between the two, one I liked and the other…well you know how it goes. It was to be a toss up for what direction this experience would take. I was hoping the coin didn’t fall over the George Jay line.

And once again Ed had to listen (or covertly tune me out) as I rambled on about the places I’d been, the people I knew and Heather, the girl I kissed.

E: Aw, isn’t young love grand? But we are not here to recount another version of “My Girl.”

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