Skip bar snacks at Steel Toad

Just back from a little get-together at the Steel Toad near Main Street Skytrain Station. Nice airy space with very high ceilings. Tables a bit narrow especially if they are going to seat you opposite someone else, so full-on dinners for everyone can be tricky.

I went with just drinks and test a couple of interesting-sounding items on the menu... which sadly didn't turn out so interesting, so I don't know if I'd go back for mains.

Free WiFi! Look in the drinks menu near the bottom for the password.

Chips & Dip ($5) beer salt crisps with roasted garlic chip dip

• Salting very inconsistent.
• Random chips may taste oily.
• Chips generally large and in good shape. Presentation good. No crumbs or broken chips on the plate.
• Beer salt? Don't be swayed -- tasted like deep fried chips with a dusting of salt. Sometimes too much on the chip and you get a sudden salty overload.
• Dip was garlicky and OK. Not quite enough for the plate of chips.

Dickie's Ginger Beer ($4) fresh lemons, cane sugar, real ginger

• Glass mostly ice. FAIL.
• Maybe because there was so much ice, it tasted watery.
• Where's my ginger bite?
• Cheap except you're mostly paying for ice.
• Worse than getting a lemonade.