Return to The Reef

So I went back to The Reef to finally give the Mo-Ca Burger with Jerk Tofu a shot, and boy was it worth it. I was a little hesitant to try a tofu burger because although I'm a vegetarian, I have never tried a satisfying tofu dish. The Reef's Jerk Tofu Mo-Ca Burger was an exceptional burger and I can't believe it was made of tofu.

 

The tofu itself was marinated in jerk seasoning and topped with cheddar cheese, a grilled pineapple, jerk mayo and salsa and a side of plaintain chips.

The Burger: The cheese and pineapple takes the tofu burger to a tantalizing new level. It was sweet, cheezy and had a light spice. I myself preferred this burger with a little bit of their special hot sauce that you can ask for.

The Plaintain Chips: These are no ordinary chips, they are thick jerk-spiced chips. I wouldn't call them wonderful, because I thought they were softer and not as crispy as they were the last time I came, but they were a compatible pairing to my Mo-Ca Burger. They got this combo just right, with the not-too filling and flavourful chips.

And of course the Johnny Cakes which they serve right before every meal. This time I went they were way better than the last time. Gosh, I just can't get enough of them Johnny Cakes!!!

The Reef really has the Caribbean-Western fusion down right. And it's so exciting to come here because every one of their dishes is an exciting new experience.

The next time I go, I'd like to try their appetizer called "Doubles" which is basically a chana sandwich...interesting! Hoping for the best!

Stats:

Rating:

Food = 4.5/5

Service = 3/5

Value = 4.5/5

Ambiance = 3.5/5

Overall: 4/5

Cost of my meal: $14 + TAX

4172 Main Street,
Vancouver, BC, V5V 3P7

Contact:

Tel: 604-874-JERK (5375)

Price: $$ ($15 - $30)

Hours: Mon - Fri: 11AM - 1AM, Sat - Sun: 10AM - 1AM

Los Compadres

Bad Experience, Boring Food

My friend and I were craving mexican and searched for "best mexican restaurant in Vancouver," and Los Compadres looked to be the most promising option. Maybe the staff were having a bad day, because both the food and the experience were disappointing (Will not be discussing the poor service though).

I ordered the Enchiladas Platter (Rojas) which was a plate of three rolled up tortillas filled with beans and cheese, covered in tomato sauce, and a side of rice, bean puree and a salad made of lettuce, onion, and grated cheese. The rolled tortillas are suppose to be made with chicken inside, however, you can ask them to make this vegetarian version.  My friend had a meat dish - the Chile Relleno. For dessert, we shared the Gansito which is a cake soaked in milk and topped with icing.

To me, mexican food is about flavour, spice, and a full belly. The good thing  quite filling thanks to the protein-rich beans. The salad was pretty plain and seemed to be put there to fill empty space. The bean and cheese-filled tortillas were lacking in flavour. I thought they needed more cheese and tanginess which is where the green hot sauce helped a bit. I found that combining everything on the plate and adding hot sauce was the best way to enjoy this meal. My friend was equally disappointed with his meal for similar reasons. Overall? It reminded me too much of a microwaveable frozen meal. In fact, I've had much better frozen meals!

The highlight of the evening was the dessert, which cheered us both up. The cake was soft and wet at the bottom, like pudding, a spongy texture in the middle with a nice, not-too-sweet icing. Mmmmm, nice end to a meal.

Anyways, I'm still on the search for a good, authentic and flavourful mexican joint in Fraser Valley, so if anyone has any recommendations, please send them my way!

Good Luck to me on my quest to find the Best Mex in town!

Update:

Found a good South American Restau - El Caracol!!

Stats:

Rating:

Food = 2/5

Service = 1/5

Value = 1/5

Ambiance = 2/5

Overall: 1.5/5

Cost of my meal: $15 + TAX

Address:

4280 Hastings
Burnaby, BC V5C2J6

Contact:

Tel: (604) 569-1922

Price: $$ ($15 - $30)

Hours: Mon - Thu: 12PM - 9PM, Fri - Sat: 12PM - 10PM, Sun: 12PM - 9PM