Joey’s
507 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post on Joey’s Burrard and Robson location (you can check it here). In it, I said you can safely guess if I will NOT be back (unless dragged by my friends)!. Guess what? I was “dragged” there by some friends! (When your friends says their food is “soooooo gooooood” ad nauseum…). However, thisime, it was not the same location but the Burrard and Pender location.
I have expressed previously my dislike towards these chains and I am still amazed why people would queue up when there are, in my opinion, better holes-in-the-wall in the area. Unfortunately, due to the distance to my workplace, I would seldom be able to go to the area. Anyway, back to Joey’s… My friends, who work a couple of blocks away, were able to get there “early enough” and manage to secure a table so I was able to just walk in.
After making our orders, more in a moment, we started our usual chat. One thing I must admit that the restaurant is well lit, mainly natural light; however, the tables and slightly oversized chairs were not necessarily well laid out. In my case, there were some challenges walking towards/leaving the table. The challenges include customer with chairs too far from the table (hence partially blocking the way) and waiters/waitresses standing near the POS or attending other customers. Now, as you all know, most waiters/waitresses in this establishments are know for their physique but when one of the is standing there and you can’t walk through, that should give you an idea that it felt squeezed. Sure, while seated you are quite comfortable, but… (It is ironic that you will encounter scenarios like this in Chinese restaurants and I seldom if ever complain about it!). Anyway, to the food.
TX, friend A, got what I think it is seafood Sicilian pesto linguini (I think); while UW, friend B, got… Actually, I do not remember this dish at all! Anyway, both were pasta dishes and both seemed to enjoy it. After all, they were saying it is
“soooooo gooooood”…
As for myself, I got the Lobster Grilled Cheese, with atlantic (sic) lobster, brie & cheddar grilled cheese sandwich served with fries & cocktail sauce on the side. The fries were… Fries, not much to comment. Probably a bit too thin for my liking but it did what it was supposed to do. As for the grilled cheese sandwich, well, it was buttery, it was cheese-y, it was…. disappointing. While there were small pieces of lobster (I won’t expect much lobster given the dish was $15, which, I think is damn bloody expensive), they were completely overpowered by the cheese and butter. Had they used surimi, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. Well, may by the texture but, then, this is not crunchy or chewy like some Chinese dishes where they are loved because of the texture (pig’s ear, anybody?). Sure, I should have known that, just that I did not expect it to be that way. I guess I should stop ordering sandwiches/burgers when I go to these places and have an actual meal instead? Will see….
The service is “as expected” from these places. And to me, “as expected” means coming to ask “how is everything” when I have my mouth full and making some chit chat about “you ordered the lobster grilled cheese? Good choice”. (I am sure it was some other dish, it would have been the same expression…). At least the glasses were always filled. Overall, my opinion of Joey’s have not changed. My friends, though, had mixed feelings, specially considering their “soooooo gooooood” comments before the lunch. UW, who favours Cactus a bit more, said next time it will be there. (sigh) The things I have to do for a post…
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Happens to me too Kim. Sammy J’s is soooo gooood… NOT!
The pasta dishes look like the left overs my mom makes!
Sherman, I am sure you wish they were to told you to check a hole-in-the-wall that serves food like Hawker’s Delight or, as you blogged, Prata, right? ^_^
Jessica, unfortunately, if my mom would make noodles, it would be the Chinese version… Not that it is bad, just that it would be different…
Kim, in fact, a lot of places use a “touch” of the real lobster / crabmeat / scallop and make up the rest with surimi. *sigh* There was a bar that I went to one time that were advertising tempura scallops – well after a few bites I have to tell you, it was *not* scallop at all, but imitation crabmeat / surimi.
Question, when you’re taking photos, do you visualize where you’ll be putting your watermark? It seems perfectly apt, like the one where the watermark is dangling on that french fry…
Yes Kim, hole-in-the-wall places are the best. Usually really good food for cheap. Yes, compromises must be made; but I don’t mind personally.
Jessica, thanks for your note about scallops and surimi. In your experience, what would be the best way to tell them apart, specially when they are battered and fried in small morsels? As for the watermark, no, I do not do that. That would be thinking a bit too much!
However, some food is a bit easier to put than others, in the case of the fries, since they are straight, that should not be a problem (unless you are talking about the curly ones). However, noodles would be a nightmare…
Ah the joys of eating out side the box Kim; as, I imagine, many bloggers do. Like, you I have friends that rave days on end about how wonderfully tasty Olive Garden is for example. Great photos as always!!
* Am I the only one that finds a huge chunk of bread, as a pasta side, a strange idea?
Raidar, since I haven’t been to Olive Garden, I will have to take your word for it… Wait, actually, I have been to Olive Garden once in the US (Philly to be more specific). It was bad… As for the bread + pasta (read: carbs + more carbs), yes, I found it strange too but I did not ask… ^_^;;;
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