Las Margaritas

Las Margaritas
1999 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
604-734-7117
info@lasmargaritas.com
Author: AFB Society

Rating: 8.5

I have never been a big fan of Mexican cuisine... until a group of my friends and I stumbled upon Las Margaritas after a long day at the beach.  The fact that the doors were overflowing with people is what made it illecebrous; after one look at the menu posted on the restaurants exterior, we knew we had found a place to eat.  There was a 15 minute wait, but that quarter hour flew by as we waited anxiously to enter the eximious eatery.  Once inside, we were seated and ordered promptly.  My colleague and I both ordered the moderately priced Enchiladas San Blas ($14.40).  How can one resist two tortillas filled until bursting with a seafood combination to die for (fresh crab, shrimp and red snapper) and, of course, one cannot forget the Mexican rice and the refried beans. Surrounded by constant hustle and bustle, it was obvious we were not the only ones who found Las Margaritas foudroyant as we waited for our meals to arrive.  We enjoyed the unlimited in-house made tortilla chips and salsa and we were not unimpressed with the service.  In fact, considering that the restaurant was so busy, we expected a longer wait.  As far as we could tell the rest of the menu looked just as scrumptious. Also, if you are looking for a great place to enjoy a drink and a meal, the martinis being served were tempting.

All in all, Las Margarita offers great bang for your buck as the food is exquisite and the overall, authentic atmosphere only leaves you wanting more.

We plan on enjoying another meal at Las Margaritas as soon as possible.

¡Adios!

Sophie's Cosmic Cafe

Sophie's Cosmic Cafe
2095 West 4th Avenue 
Vancouver, BC V6J 1M7, Canada
Author: The AFB Society

Rating: 5.2/10

The proof is in the pudding: a perfectly enjoyable, sunny day spent in Vancouver and at the beach can be marred by a poor restaurant choice.  Despite the effervescent atmosphere, friendly staff, quaint setting, and great location, the food was crap.  We ordered milkshakes to start off which were delicious and got us excited for the meal but when it arrived, we were very disappointed.  I ordered the burger which is featured on their menu as a premium option but was overcooked and served on a slightly stale bun.  The fries were average but nothing special.  My colleague ordered the fried oyster burger which was "okay" but nothing to go home and rant to friends about.  Our mutual comrade ordered the BLT which he enjoyed however he "[has] had better".  Not much more can be said other than if you are in the Kitsilano region, we suggest you go to Las Margaritas.  A deliciously fresh Mexican restaurant. 

The prices were average ($10-12 per entree) however obviously not worth it.

#tipyourwaiters

Japan Sushi

Japan Sushi
403 8840 210th St
Langley, BC
Author: AFB Society

Rating: 7.8/10

We like sushi. So it's only natural for another sushi restaurant to make an early appearance in our blog.  Japan Sushi has a calm and modern atmosphere, but lacks authenticity.  Since we are not Japanese, we may not be in a position to label it as such; however, despite it's name, the establishment is run by Koreans.  That being said, the staff is very kind and the lunchtime aura is active and adrenaline inducing to say the least (the proximity of the high school makes for a very busy lunchtime hour (not really, its a half hour)).  After recovering from our initial confusion over the identity conundrum, we were able to quickly order food and have it arrive in a timely manner.  On the menu this particular day was a rainbow roll ($6.75), a California roll topped off with thin strips of avocado and sashimi.  Personally, it turned to be a new and fresh addition to an old classic.  We also ordered a spicy tuna roll ($4.75; as good as any), a calamari roll, ($4.95; did not disappoint), a dynamite roll ($4.75; not much to say here), a spicy chopped scallop roll ($4.95) which was unfortunately not as spicy as we would have liked, and finally a salmon tempura roll ($4.75) that was fresh and tasty.

We will leave you with a glowing recommendation and an open invitation to Japan Sushi. 

Ciao for now.    

Mazaj Best Donair

Mazaj Best Donair
404 - 8840 210th St
Langley Twp, BC V1M
Author: The AFB Society

Rating: 7.2/10

Mazaj Best Donair: a classic staple of the Walnut Grove area.  Fresh ingredients, timely and welcoming service, and an all around pleasant dining experience are all mainstays at this magnificent Mediterranean local.  We ordered a supersized beef donair (holy chub, double the size for a few dollars more!) and a regular lamb donair.  Both were impeccably prepared and tasted as good as they looked.  The tzatziki sauce and hummus are both home made and perfectly round off a truly exquisite ensemble of top notch good-eats.

The prices are relatively low, approximately 10 dollars for a super sized donair.  The hummus and tzatziki can be purchased individually on-site as well.  Definitely an excellent choice for anyone in the Grove area.