Restaurant review: Eating at the Libra Room

N and I went to the Libra Room tonight to hear a string quartet play some Shostakovich. I know, what? He's a Russian composer that I had only read about, but our friends R and J were interested so we agreed. R pulled out (something about touring NYC with his band... guess he missed out on Shostakovich), so the three of us went to enjoy an evening of modern classical music at what is normally a jazz-ish bar.

We started with a drink. The wine list is full of cheap drinkers that didn't appeal. I went for beer: Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly is a lovely wheat beer in the German tradition. N had some forgettable shiraz. I have no idea what J had. Like I said, cheap drinkers.

I ordered the southwest pork tenderloin with polenta, salsa and refried beans (of which I was nervous) for $14, N opted for a beet salad to start ($8) and the sable fish with purple potato mash and green pea puree($15), and J went for the steak with puff pastry potatoes au gratin and grilled tomatoes and eggplant ($19). The lamb sounded good (anything wrapped in prosciutto will taste pretty good), but for $25 I'll eat lamb elsewhere.

I'm not overawed with the kitchen's ability to put out a pork tenderloin. The pork itself was a bit bland (though nicely tender), the polenta was a touch too crispy (when polenta gets too crispy it's just chewy), and the refried beans came out of a can, I'm pretty sure. Still, for $14 I've had burgers that were worse than this. I wouldn't order it again, but I would try something else on the menu.

I tried a piece of steak, and it was decent. I hope the sides were better. The sable fish looked very good, though I didn't try it. N's beet salad looked quite good, with a generous dollop of chevre.

All in all, not a great dining experience. The Libra Room is not a place to go strictly for food, though they are trying to make it so. The menu has been improved, and you can tell that the chef is trying to offer interesting meals. They're just not pulling them off that well. It's decent for the price, and hopefully they will improve.

The real reason to go to the Libra Room is the music, which tonight was horrible at times, and merely good if uninspiring for the remainder. A Shostakovich string quartet is not your mother's classical music, I'll tell you that much. Moody, amelodic (unmelodic?), punctuated by sharp bursts of minor notes... pleasing dinner music this wasn't. It is, however, one of the only places I know that has live music seven days a week, and for that it deserves our support (even though I've heard there are rumblings about how they treat musicians). I'll come back the next time a friend's band is playing, order a beer, and maybe try the fish.

Libra Room
1608 Commercial Drive
5 - 1 seven days a week (and usually later on the weekend)
604.255.3787

Review: Vij's on a Friday night

I was the lucky recipient of a surprise dinner at Vij's last night (many thanks to the lovely N and J, and to S for companionship). Everything you've heard is true: it's packed, the wait is fun (no reservations), the service is excellent, the food is amazing, and Vij is a brilliant host.

We started off the evening at Bin 942, the second Bin. This Vancouver stalwart is going strong, with an excellent selection of wines and tasty tapas. We tried a few different wines; the Chateau St. Michelle Riesling ($7/glass) was a hit, and Tinhorn Pinot Gris ($8 and slightly orange from leaving the skins on) was also tasty. It gladdens my dining heart when the cheaper glasses are recommended. The $10 malbec was also good, and I'm glad to have finally found one I enjoy. Popcorn with truffle oil was a little too salted but helped stave off hunger while we waited. The service was excellent (though N might argue that I just had a crush on the bartender).

At Vij's we settled into the waiting area and were quickly offered some tasters. We ordered some drinks, which the staff attach to your table (so much better than having to settle with a bartender after waiting at the bar for a table). Vij came over to check on how we were doing, and to see how our time elsewhere went. Apparently he had met our friends while they put their name down, recommended a place for drinks, and was checking to see if they'd followed his recommendations. Attentive: check.

The ladies ordered for the table as anticipation grew. Vij asked if we were chilly (courteous: check) and how busy Bin was (professional: check). We were going to order a sweeter German white to go with the spicy food, but I spied Joie Farm's A Noble Blend, touted as one of the best BC whites. I asked Vij if it would go well, and he effusively agreed (okay, now I'm just gushing). The wine was truly excellent, and the mark-up was under 100%.

The food arrived in batches, first some naan, then a seafood dish with spot prawns (frozen from May, I'm sure, but still good), the creamiest saag paneer I've ever tasted, and the amazing lamb popsicles in a lovely sauce that was both creamy and tangy (which N just told me she would drink cups of if made available). After discussing how the lamb recipe is in Vij's cookbook and is perfectly rendered, the waitress told us how happy she was to discover that the recipe is in Vij's cookbook and is perfectly rendered.

The aforementioned lamb popsicles, wine-marinated, in a fenugreek
cream curry on turmeric spinach potatoes. A true delight.

After dinner chai was complimentary, the service was excellent, and the setting was perfect. The busy room never felt claustrophobic, food arrived quickly but staggered perfectly. Vij was a wonderful host, and we ate the best Indian food in the city. I'm already looking forward to a return visit.

Vij's
1480 West 11th at Granville
604.736.6664
dinner served from 5:30 - no reservations

Bin 942
1521 West Broadway at Granville
604.734.9421
5 - 2 daily