LUNCH MUNCH - McCORMICK & SCHMICKS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT - BELLEVUE WASHINGTON

I popped by Bellevue recently to pick up a few things from the wonderful Bravern, thus going to one of my favourite venues for lunch. I always spare an hour to visit McCormick & Schmicks when I come Bellevue. I love the clean wooden decor, complete with textured glass, wine displays and individual private booths. The nautical feeling of this restaurant is fine and inviting, truly completing my vacation mood. 

Clearly this restaurant is very photogenic!

We ordered:

Smoked Salmon Benedict - Smoked Salmon Lox Topped with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise

Crispy Fish Tacos - Cilantro Aioli, Southwest Jicama Slaw, Charro Beans 

The bread tasted like a sweet blueberry cake! It was quite a delightful addition to the meal. Overall, the food is pleasant to average. I am hesitant to try their dinner, but for $11-15 a lunch entree, complete with such a lovely atmosphere, the M&S company never ceases to disappoint me. 

700 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-454-2606

Brunch Munch - THE DISTRICT SOCIAL HOUSE - NORTH VANCOUVER LONSDALE QUAY

I always think Fish and Chips when I go to Lonsdale Quay. But one sunny mid morning, I was starving like a monster, I passed by The District, and took on the courage to try something new. I was surprised. 

AMBIANCE | I sat outside on a sunny day.  The table was sticky. But thats okay, it was the expected. The one thing that annoyed me the most was the slow service. The restaurant was busy. But sitting in the patio put us in a terrible disadvantage because the waitresses were sometimes more caught up with customers inside. But it was a nice day, I was okay with waiting.

  

We ordered - 

Brunch Benny

Breakfast Migaz

FOOD | Apparently the Brunch Benny is widely popular, I heard two other tables around be informed that it was sold out. I guess I got the last one. I understand why it is so popular, it was so good! The herbs, garlic and sausages, complete with a half cooked egg benny, drizzled with some inhouse sauce was perfect. The fries with some fresh tomato sauce, tabasco and ketchup were the best comfort food I have had in a while. The Migaz was braised beef stirred together with potatoes and eggs. I am not a fan of braised beef, but the sauce was amazing. Overall, a very very well put-together brunch. I see myself driving all the way to North Van just for its brunch. I loved it. 

13 Lonsdale Ave
North Vancouver, BC V7M 2E4
778-338-4938

Brunch Munch - SUVAI RESTAURANT - KERRISDALE VANCOUVER

Suvai is a sweet and cozy restaurant, with a sidewalk patio decorated with garden benches and flowers. As we sat on the side-walk patio, covered under an arch of leaves and blossoms, I temporarily lost myself and thought I was in some place outside Vancouver - probably in Paris or Nice. I can absolutely picture this local and home-ran bistro to be sitting exactly off the streets of France and Montreal.

AMBIANCE | I love local bistros with small wooden tables, white table cloths and shiny silverware. Though it sounds like I am describing a majority of restaurants, Suvai has its own cozy flavour. I shall let the pictures speak its volumes. 
While I has having brunch, next to us sat an older couple, each drinking their orange juice and having a great time. As kill-joy as I was, I was actually playing on my iPad and eating my omlette and the same time. I was promptly interrupted by the older couple, and we actually engaged in a warm conversation as the older gentleman was thinking of purchasing a tablet and wanted to know our feedback! Vancouver is certainly a friendly city, but the atmosphere of Suvai certainly sets up an even more warm and neighborhood enviroment.

FOOD | I have nothing much to rave about the food here at Suvai. The omlette and eggs Benny were of the expected. Portion size was decent. I say the atmosphere certainly increased the food presentation, as the warm feeling of Suvai certainly adds happiness and enjoyment to the meal. 
I have heard that dinner prices at Suvai are leaning rather high, but brunch for $10-18 sounds reasonable to me.  I say, the next time you decide to go for brunch at good old chain Boathouse again, why not give local Suvai a try? The price ranges are similiar, and Suvai's atmosphere is a worth a visit on its own.

We ordered:

Bacon Eggs Benedict

Omlette and Toast

Side of Sausages

2 glasses of Orange Juice 

2279 West 41st Vancouver

V6M 4L3
604-261-4900

Brunch Munch - PROVENCE MARINASIDE - YALETOWN VANCOUVER

Nothing beats having an sunny side up egg on a non-sunny day! Jokes, I'm being a pest because it was raining when I got to Provence. In Provence, its always sunny! I love their quirky slogan: "Enjoy the South of France without a Jetlag!"

Provence has such an amazing location in False Creek, next to the Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre, its always nice to enjoy a luxurious brunch there no matter the weather.

We ordered (Party of three)

Smoke Salmon Eggs Benedict - Poached eggs, smoked salmon on pancakes

Seafood Crepes - Salmon, baby scallops, shrimps, spinach, veloute

(Me) Provence Panini - Goat cheese, pesto, sun dried tomato, prosciutto

Cafe Cappucino

Berry and White Chocolate Clafoutis- French style cake served warm with vanilla ice cream

Menu found here

1177 Marinaside Cresent

Vancouver, BC

Lunch Munch - THE BOATHOUSE - PORT MOODY VANCOUVER

There's nothing better than having a wild Saturday night and going to brunch on a sunny Sunday morning. I love eggs Benny!

The Boathouse never fails to keep me going back. I've been to the Kits Beach and Downtown venues numerous times for both lunch and dinner, but this time it was my first going to Port Moody for brunch. I love how each restaurant is facing the water, the Boathouse concept is too delightful!

Mr. F ordered - Lobster Grilled Cheese Benny - golden grilled cheese with chunks of lobster meat, topped with poached eggs, fresh hollandaise & a drizzle of basil oil

I ordered - Prime Rib Hash - Kennebec potatoes, onions, red pepper, edamame, red wine demi, topped with two poached eggs & fresh hollandaise. Served toasted olive bread.
Menu found here

AMBIANCE | As with all The Boathouse restaurants, you really cannot go wrong with the ambiance - eating Seafood in front of the sea (or lake). Pictures say a million words, there are 4 posted. It's really quite the expected beauty.

    

FOOD | My Prime Rib Hash was really just a normal stir fry of all the ingredients mixed equally. I loved the cheese curds and prime rib with a slight Asian blend of edamame and sauteed onions. Lobster grilled cheese was also a pleasant - thick chunks of lobster squashed in between rich, thick cheese. The eggs Benedict were slow cooked to a firm egg white and gooey oozy egg yolk. Absolutely GOLDEN! Both dishes had neither difficulty and nor elaboration, but it tasted amazing.

Overall, The Boathouse was never meant to be "fine dining", but its always as nice casual place for simple, good food.

2770 Esplanade Ave
Port Moody, BC(604) 931-5300