- This was part of a Yelp Elite event. Nothing lavish, but nonetheless we did get basically free food and free stuff. You can see what we got in the pictures. Foodwise we got plates for each table of 4-6 persons to share.
- It's basically a sports bar. I don't watch sports and a bar doesn't make me want to watch sports either.
- There's a bar. We even got free wine and a fancy to-share drink as part of the event. But I don't drink.
So this is me trying to first review the place for what I feel it primarily is: A sports bar. As a sports bar, if I had to be dragged to one, this would be the type I'd like to go to. It doesn't have a claustrophic low ceiling. It isn't dimly-to-darkly lit. And because of the airy spaciousness you can see the televisions -- all three of them. One super big one in the middle and one on either side, all three on a different channel. Plus if you don't want to watch it, you can turn your back to it and not be forced to even hear it turned on super loud (at least it wasn't that way when we were there, BEFORE the Canucks game that night).
So if you are a sports bar person, and especially if you have a larger group heading in to watch a game, give this place a try. Free parking in the Casino parking lot, lots of clean posh-hotel-quality washrooms too! It's like upscale slumming in a sports bar. Maybe time yourself to eat before and after the game with their Happy Hour, which is available every day.
The food however... We got to try various dishes:
- Ebi Prawns
- Cauliflower Fritters
- Sticky Ribs
- Tropic Thunder Flat Bread
- Poke Bowl
- Buddha Bowl
I'll pass on talking about most of them because basically they taste mediocre. Except the one standout, you could probably do just as well if not better at home. Price is not outrageous but no point buying this quality either. And when an appetizer and main and drink will probably cost you about the same or more than the all-you-can-eat buffet right next door, you might as well go there. If you want a shot at really excellent food in the Grand Villa, in that same building literally a two minute walk away is Atlas. Pricey, but if my last experience there is still representative, it's going to be between "very good" and "wow".
Two dishes did stand out as being worth mentioning.
Tropic Thunder Flat Bread ($12) grilled chicken, alfredo sauce, grilled pineapple salsa, bacon, cilantro, BBQ sauce drizzle, chili threads
- This was decent but not because of the chicken, which was tasteless and very dry. The overall ingredient mix made it interesting although I wouldn't put it at more than "good".
Cauliflower Fritters ($9) crispy battered cauliflower florets, our signature spice mix, tahini dip
- Of everything we tried, this was the winner AND it was actually quite interesting and good.
- If you have to order something, order this.
- It's like Cauliflower Pakora magically done perfectly. NOT oily tasting. Really nice batter that also gives it a cute and interesting look of nuggets. Lightly crispy exterior that's fun to eat. Curry spice in a "sweet spot" that is clearly curry but without bitterness.
- Skip the dip. I really don't know what they were thinking with tahini.
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