Sanafir

Grilled Naan Bread – Hummus, garlic confit, mixed olives

Prawn Ceviche – mango papaya salsa

Mezze Platter – Mediterranean ribs, lamb kofta, black pepper calamari, grilled tandoori tiger prawns, braised shortrib crostini, tuna confit crostini, watermelon & valdeon salad

Butter Chicken

Sanafir offers a menu of exotic flavours showcasing North African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Indian. The Mezze Platter was really filling, but you have to order at least two portions. I came in thinking it was more of an Indian restaurant, but the flavours are very interesting and clearly showcases a fusion experience. The dining environment is also very interesting! The restaurant is basically open so flies coming in was a little frustrating. However, when you go upstairs, they have beds and also low couches that you can choose to dine on. Apparently you need to make reservations before hand for those special seatings though. Now that I think about it, it probably would be quite hard to eat on a bed, or at least I would make a mess. Great service and food! Check it out if you want to try something exotic!

Their Website: http://www.sanafir.ca/index.html

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Foundation

Nachos – with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa

Final Option – Crazy Veg Curry, Served on Rice

OPPP – Our Peanut Pesto Pasta. Onion, Broccoli and Tofu tossed Round Pasta

Foundation is a vegetarian restaurant on Main St. It is probably one of the most hipster restaurants I have ever been to. And it’s not just the people working there. People eating there are also very hipster with a unique style of their own, but I guess most of the people strolling around the streets of Main are like that. Most tables were ordering the huge platter of nachos and there seemed to be a rave about how good they were, so we ordered it too. We only ordered the regular size and it was already huge! Really cheesy with beans and the side sauces make it even better! Definitely a must try! Servings are also quite large and I’m not even a big fan of veggies, but I definitely enjoyed my vegetarian meal here! If you want to enjoy a different dining experience – perhaps a hipster one, this is the place to go!

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Yavis Club Cheesecake Cafe

White Romance Cheesecake

Green Tea Glacier Cheesecake

Yavis Club is located in Richmond, and offers a variety of cheesecakes and drinks and opens till late night. Their cheesecakes are either New York Style, so baked, like the White Romance, which is really an original flavoured cheesecake, or it is Glacier style. Glacier cheesecakes are basically ice cream mixed in the cheesecake. It gives a icy feeling, almost like an ice cream cake. A great place to get some cheesecake late at night!

Check out their menu at: http://www.yavisclub.com/index.asp

Yavis Club Cheesecake Cafe on Urbanspoon

Secret Garden

Cute jacket for the teapots!

High Tea

Creamy Earl Grey – Bergamot and Vanilla

Ever wondered what it would be like to relive the childhood tea parties but as an adult? Well you can do so at Secret Garden located in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood! With pretty decor and cute little chinaware, Secret Garden offers a variety of tea time snacks and of course tea! My friends and I went for high tea, and by making a reservation beforehand, you have a preset variety of dainty sandwiches, scones, cakes, and desserts ready for you. The portions are split up for the number of people having high tea and is quite filling even though they are dainty! High Tea is around $27 a person. I also chose a Creamy Earl Grey and mixed with milk and sugar, it tasted wonderful! Now call your girlfriends up and have some tea time fun!

Check out their site for more info: www.secretgardentea.com

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Leisure

Japanese Light Cheesecake

Definitely not my first time at Leisure Tea and Coffee, but always a go to place for me. Owned by a Taiwanese family, they offer a variety of bubble tea, sandwiches, Taiwanese snacks, coffee and tea. I especially love the vintage and artsy environment and decor in the store. And don’t think that it is only a hangout place for teens and young adults because it seems to attract much of the older crowd as well. Here, I decided to try their Japanese Light Cheesecake. It is really fluffy but I guess it’s nothing too special. I would recommend trying their ice cream waffle and most of their drinks are also extremely good.

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Butter Chicken Poutine

Butter Chicken Poutine

I’m a big fan of poutine, and when I heard that New York Fries came up with a Butter Chicken Poutine, I got really excited! Butter chicken is already good, and now with poutine? I wondered what that tasted. Indeed, it was really fatty, but so delicious! A great twist to the normal poutines out there. I believe they also have a Braised Beef Poutine. Definitely go try these new poutines!

New York Fries (Richmond Centre) on Urbanspoon

JapaDog (Robson Store)

Love Meat

Kurogoma Age Ice & Matcha Age Ice

Got hungry in downtown and decided to get some famous Japadogs that I believe are only found in Vancouver! Instead of the street stands, my friends and I decided to head down to the store on Robson Street. They offer a different variety of japadogs, as well as shake fries and desserts that aren’t found at the street stands. You can also dine in or take out here, although the store is quite small. My friend chose the Love Meat and it looked real cheesy and delicious! Another friend decided to get the Kurogoma Age Ice, which is black sesame ice cream on a fried bun with sugar. It reminds me of the Chinese fried donuts in bakeries. I had the Matcha Age Ice and I also got a bag of shake fries, which unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of. The Age Ice is really filling, and a great dessert if you are craving some ice cream. Its cold in the inside and hot on the outside! Really good! I got the Shoyu Butter Shake Fries, but I found them too salty for my liking. Definitely go down to the Robson Store for some japadogs when you go downtown though! You can’t find most of these items on the menu of the street stands!

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