Zin Sushi & Noodle, Langford

Once again - Sushi Disaster!

Why is it that every time I try and go out for decent sushi; I find myself disappointed and wishing I had just saved my money and gone to McDonalds's or some other fast food joint.

We started off with a Bubble Tea each and for food, I ordered the Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef) and a Deep Fried Spicy Tuna Roll. My wife and son ordered the dinner bento boxes; which came with sunomono salad, miso, teriyaki beef or chicken, 3 pcs of nigiri (salmon, tuna and ebi) and a piece of semi-frozen cheese cake.

The bubble tea's were all very good; unfortunately, I can't say the same for the food. The noodles used in the sunomono were slightly thicker than normal and the broth was way too lemony. The the nigiri was scary at best and looked as though it was cut by a five year old with a dull knife. The part of the nigiri that seemed the most off putting was the big brown spot in her salmon (eww). The bulgogi was okay at best and looked and tasted almost identical to the teriyaki beef my son had. As for the deep fried spicy tuna roll - it was okay, but nothing to rave about.

I was also slightly disappointed with the service at Zin Sushi. It wasn't overly busy, but they only had one waitress on to cover the tables and the front counter which also served as a bubble tea bar. To say that we rarely seen our server is an understatement. Oh did I mention she only gave us one saucer for our teriyaki for the whole table to share.

Overall - good bubble tea and bad everything else.

...the search for decent Japanese food continues...

Waterstone European Cafe, Langford (CLOSED)

This post speaks to the trials and tribulations of the restaurant business. Some mediocre restaurants manage to be blessed with lady luck and stick around for 50 years and other decent restaurants find themselves surrendering to bailiffs within 6 months. Unfortunately, the latter is the outcome for the Waterstone Cafe.

Having only eaten their once, I am not able to provide a detailed analysis on what troubled this little cafe, but I can take a guess that it was just too hard to compete in an area with multiple Tim Hortons, Starbucks and Serious Coffee's. Not to mention, it appeared to be a tough location to make a go of it.

For the food, they served up some decent grub. I have never eaten German food nor, will I try to baffle you with some profound knowledge of the culture; I will simply say I enjoyed it.

The Jaeger Schnitzel was tender and flavourful, the spaetzle was made fresh to order and the gravy that topped it all was simply delicious. I will say though that their panini's sucked! My son ordered a chicken panini and it was so burnt that it was almost inedible.

Now, I don't think the panini would ruin any restaurant, but unfortunately, limited customers will.

It's too bad, I enjoyed the Waterstone and was looking forward to some homemade pretzels.

Auf Wiedersehen...

Auntie Pesto's - Salt Spring Island, BC

I was on Salt Spring Island today and was searching for somewhere to stop for coffee when I stumbled across Auntie Pesto's. Auntie Pesto's is a small little cafe tucked away in the back corner of the town centre in Ganges; and I am glad I found it.

I ordered a regular coffee and was pleasantly surprised when the owner told me that their regular cofffee is actually an americano - Wow! I couldn't believe it most cafe's charge extra for good coffee, but at Auntie Pesto's good coffee is the norm. I must say that they make a great americano. They start with piping hot water then pull the perfect shot of espresso (about 18 sec). On first taste you can tell the espresso beans are fresh and ground for each cup.

Originally I was just going in for a coffee, but the owner managed to twist my arm into ordering a scone to go with it. I decided on the roasted red pepper and Parmesan  scone; and once again, I was glad I did. The scone was cut in half, toasted, buttered and served with a side of strawberry preserves.

In my short dining experience in Ganges, I would have to say that Auntie Pesto's is a must visit for anyone looking for good food and a great cup of Joe.

BEX Bubble Tea & Espressso, Langford

There are a few key ingredients to opening a new restaurant. Ingredients to ensure that your business is successful over the long term and doesn't fall flat after a few months. Here are a few of these key ingredients:
1) Bring something new to the table, don't try and enter a market that is already over-saturated
2) Make sure what your selling is good quality.
3) Good location
4) Friendly staff; and
5) Good atmosphere that people don't mind spending time (and money) in.

I write this blog in hope that the owners of BEX will listen; and take my criticism (positive or not) and turn it into a positive, something that will ensure they have a long and prosperous career being self employed.

They have nailed point one, I don't know or have I ever heard of another bubble tea joint in the Western Communities. However, I can't say that they are making the grade on any of the other points. Granted as a new business it is sometimes hard paying for primo store front, but almost anything would be better than not having any street front visibility. BEX is located on the corner of Jacklin Road and Sooke Road (Hwy 14), but you would never know it. They are tucked away behind and below Mac's. I have driven by this area plenty of time and never even realized that there were stores underneath Mac's...yikes!!

I guess I skipped by point number two: Good quality. Unfortunately, this is another area where BEX is slightly behind the "8" ball. There Bubble tea was similar to other places I have been to in the past; however, there were a couple of noticeable differences: not good ones either. There bubble tea was loaded with ice; thus, making it watery and hard to enjoy the "bubbles". This overabundance of ice could have been avoided it they simply left their pre-made concoctions in the refrigerator; rather than, on the counter on a 25 degree Celsius day. They do offer an assortment of bubbles to choose from, it would be nice though if they got your order right. My son ordered green apple bubbles to go with his drink and even after the so diligently wrote down his order, they still gave him Tapioca bubbles. This is one of my biggest pet peeves with restaurants: get the order right!

My #1 biggest pet peeve is customer service. If I get one bad experience with service, chances are I will never go back! I was unimpressed with the customer service I received at BEX; actually, what service. Upon walking in the door the girl at the front counter almost seemed annoyed that customers were coming in - not a good first impression for a new business. Then when we placed our orders there was no friendly "hi" "how are you", nope, just a blank stare into the abyss, as if she had better more important things to do than take our order.

Lastly, if I could give one final critique: get an air conditioner for the summer! It wasn't even a hot summer day, but I started to break a sweat walking in the door. The outside is no better as there are only 4 seats to sit and enjoy your warm, watery bubble tea; and if there is anyone there I am sure those will be the first seats to go.

All in all, I wasn't impressed with BEX - I am not sure if I will ever go back; maybe, in a year or two - that is if they are still in business.