Originally Posted by Lychee (Post 10394888)

No, you don't have to do pizza express for that price range. For £8-12 you can very well in Vancouver. One of my favourite restaurants within that budget range (for lunch):

http://theflyingpigvan.com/

I asked for a dollar amount because some of the results you were getting were bottom rung cheap (which isn't necessary unless you're on a serious budget)

Originally Posted by Londonuck (Post 10394902)

Says a lot when you have to go for lunch for it to be cheap :)

Fancy that Wild Seafood Pappardelle though

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10394895)

I know its unbelievable but they flock to the naffing places. :confused:

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10394883)

It’s symbolic of their cultural makeup. They seem to revel in mediocrity. Like Earls or the Cactus Club. The food is pretty ordinary; it’s over priced and has the atmosphere of a work canteen so they dress their staff up like strippers obviously to hide the glaring banality of the places. And stay away from Montana's. I had the misfortune of having to go there once, I still can't quite come to terms with the trauma. :(

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10395026)

However, defining dining in Vancouver by chain restuarants is like defining dining in London by Aberdeen Steak Houses.

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10395026)

I have never eaten at Montana's, but I have in Earls, Cactus Club, The Keg and so on. OK food, a bit overpriced, fills a whole but I won't cry if I don't eat there again.

However, defining dining in Vancouver by chain restuarants is like defining dining in London by Aberdeen Steak Houses.

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10395026)

I have never eaten at Montana's, but I have in Earls, Cactus Club, The Keg and so on. OK food, a bit overpriced, fills a whole but I won't cry if I don't eat there again.

However, defining dining in Vancouver by chain restuarants is like defining dining in London by Aberdeen Steak Houses.

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10395103)

I didn't, I'm just saying there's a a lot of them and they seem to be packed most of the time. As I mentioned before, there are some very good Asian places and a few decent higher end ones, the rest, especially 'Canadian cuisine' are mediocre at best but tipping the scale towards pretty shit. The defining characteristic is that nobody seems to know or care how shit they are.

Originally Posted by Shard (Post 10395164)

Also...many if not most of the sushi places are nothing special, as they will be run by Chinese entrepreneurs that have little appreciation for the food and ingredients but lots of appreciation for the $$. Not saying that you have to be Japanese to do sushi, just as you don't need to be Greek to do greek food, but it helps.

Originally Posted by Shard (Post 10395164)

Also...many if not most of the sushi places are nothing special, as they will be run by Chinese entrepreneurs that have little appreciation for the food and ingredients but lots of appreciation for the $$. Not saying that you have to be Japanese to do sushi, just as you don't need to be Greek to do greek food, but it helps.

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10395182)

Many are run by Koreans. Quite how Koreans became good at Japanese food is something probably best left for another thread.

Originally Posted by Lychee (Post 10394912)

It doesn't say a lot, it just says that this particular restaurant doesn't fit their budget for dinner, but it does for lunch. :) Their pastas are fabulous.

The other restaurants I recommended previously do suit their budget for both dinner and lunch.