Babylon Cafe (Robson Market)
Babylon Cafe (@ Robson Public Market)
105 – 1610 Robson Street
(Also in 716 Robson Street)
Vancouver, BC
New Year, new restaurants, new eats. Or that’s supposed to be the idea. Among the new restaurants in the area near my workplace is Babylon Cafe.
OK, while this location is new, the restaurant itself is not. Just like Falafel King, this restaurant seems to expand almost out of control… Sort of. Last year (more or less by this time), they had not one but two such restaurants in the 700 block of Robson Street. One of the two closed sometime last year; I guess there was enough critical mass in the area, specially considering the amount of restaurants there.
I don’t consider myself an expert of this cuisine, other than I like most of what I have eaten so far. My best experience was Semiramis (in Chicago, IL) but my expectations are not that high. After all Falafel King, the place I have been the most, has a lot of flaws.
As for the food in this place, it is similar yet different at the same time to that of Falafel King. Garden-like salad (top of the picture – totally bland) rather than tabouleh, tsatziki rather than hummus (container on the right – not “garlic-y” enough), a roasted potato (left), parboiled rice and chicken cooked in a vertical spit (almost tasteless). While the changes are interesting, execution was, well, far from acceptable (yes, not even “average”). Now, probably I am being too hard, after all, they just opened this location. Time might tell; however, not for me…
Looks like this location’s got an extended menu…and seats!
I’ve gotten the chicken wraps with falafel a number of times at the other location on Robson (size of a shoebox). Probably because there’s a bazaar of flavors in each bite. Makes for the messiest lunches ever though.
Hi Dan,
Yes, compared to the (other) Robson location, this one is larger (space-wise). Messy? Who cares if the food tastes good!
I went to Europe a few years back and had a Shawerma wrap, very good and a little different than what I had here although this was one was the ultimate. I am a food conisseur and it was to die for. (without the pickles).