Salam Bombay on Burrard was surprisingly excellent. And they serve those huge Kingfishers!

Their vindaloo is no joke. Full of Indian people too which is somewhat of a sanity test of it's quality.

Yes but you recommended "All India" on Davie. A dreadful place which uses stale tomato ketchup as their jalfrezi sauce.

The curry I've experienced in Vancouver (Vedas, North Van) has too much sauce and oil. On a recent trip to San Diego, we ate some great curries, with a better depth of flavour. Maybe there's not much call for curry here, but I do make my own at home, because spices are plentiful here.

I suggest opening one in Vancouver than cooks curry in maple syrup!

My favourite curry place in the area closed down at the end of last month. It was kind of fusion curry rather than traditional UK-style Indian (Morrocan beef was a plate of spicy joy) but good quality food with a pleasing lack of oiliness. Sadly it just didn't get enough customers.

That's (somewhat) true. To add some context I did say:

"I agree it's not great but best of a bad lot IMO. I am Jonesing for a decent curry."

This place is truly very good.

It looks very posh. Is that the one who has the Indian standing outside in fancy dress?

Just popped out to pick up our regular Saturday night curry. We have a place down the street that, although not cheap by UK prices, is really, really good. I've (obviously) eaten a lot of Indian food in my life and this place is excellent by any standard.

Great food, good location, patio etc. Yet, not that busy...

Meanwhile the nearby Italian places are heaving. Now, I don't mind Italian food but it is a bit crap and you can pretty much make it yourself if you have a can of tomatoes and a box of pasta in the house. The places that are packed are also definitely average.

I don't get it. I'm just worried the Indian will close so I might have to eat there every night (a la Gilbert and George) just to keep it going.....

You get that a lot here.

Why is it that Canadians seem to prefer crap food rather than quality stuff?

Yes that's the place. It's not that posh but it's nice though.

Honestly give it a whirl. It is ten times better than the one on Davie.

Had a good one at Vij's, just off Granville & 11th last night.

Bit busy mind you and it's first come first served.

Now that is probably your most stupid generalization.

Oh come on I've taken a large enough sample of mediocre to dreadful restaurants here that are packed by Canadians. It’s the Corner Gas syndrome I believe. They've all grown with such shit restaurants in their little towns that when they bugger off to Toronto or Vancouver they want something familiar.

The Corner Gas syndrome, indeed. And I've heard the same comment about Brits who move to, say, Spain, then insist on having fish & chips, "Brit-style." My guess is, for some folks (perhaps a lot of people?) one's tastebuds want that which is most comforting to them.

Plus most Canadians have little contact with other cultures' foods as most don't travel further than Florida so they have little to no comparison.