July 2009 – Rod and Melissa (and Ellie)

Food	(5 out of 5)
Atmosphere	(5 out of 5)
Service	(4 out of 5)
Price	(4 out of 5)
Comments	We went to The Shore Club for an anni dinner and it’s a neighbourhood gem. There’s a bar/ lounge downstairs and the restaurant is upstairs. I expected it to be loud and busy as it was a Saturday night, but it was pretty quiet with just chatter in the background along with a live piano player and guitarist. We were seated at a corner table overlooking the bar/ lounge area and it was really nice. To start, we ordered Pan Fried Oysters and it was yummy! Never thought I would enjoy anything but raw oysters. For the main course, Rod got a Bone-In Steak with Sauteed Spicy Mushrooms and I got the Macadamia Crusted Halibut with Steamed Baby Beets. The food was beyond delicious – best steak we’ve ever had and the fish just melts in your mouth. For dessert, we had the Key Lime Pie and it was perfect. What was even better was that the server got “Happy Anniversary” written on our dessert plate. That really made our evening. Jude, our server, was absolutely great in helping us decide on our food choices and was very friendly. The price was kind of steep, but considering the location, food, and service, it was well worth it.
Overall	(9.5 out of 10)

Monk McQueen’s Oyster Bar

Food	(3.5 out of 5)
Atmosphere	(4 out of 5)
Service	(3 out of 5)
Price	(3.5 out of 5)
Comments	Tried out Monk’s at dinner time, and the best part of this is place is the view. It’s overlooking False Creek and you get a pretty nice view of the Vancouver skyline. I got the Lobster BLT and it was REALLY lacking. Melissa had the Hawaiian Seared Ahi Tuna and she liked it. If you’re hungry though, probably consider avoiding this place – the portions are tiny! As for the oysters, they were delicious but I can honestly say I’ve had better. $3.50 per oyster kinda lingers in your mind while you’re digging into them. The service was also okay, but kinda slow at times (considering the restaurant wasn’t even busy). For a pretty expensive meal, I would say this place wasn’t really worth it. If Melissa didn’t like the food, the rating would probably have been a lot worse.
Overall	(7.5 out of 10)