Tourism Vancouvers Dine Out Vancouver Festival is in full swing until February 2. I wrote about the Dos and Donts for patrons and restaurateurs last week and a few points sparked some interest.
I mentioned how portions and ingredients can be altered to meet the set prices for Dine Out, or how some menus are created exclusively for the festival. With the latter, the pro is that the menu becomes special for the event and there might be new items to try at your favourite restaurant. The con is that it might not be representative of the menu on a regular night.
I took the liberty of calling 45 (selected randomly) of the 263 participating DOVF restaurants to see who was offering regular menu options on their Dine Out menu. I also asked about portion sizes to see how the food would compare to a regular night. It is a good indicator of the real deals because you can go on their regular menu and calculate prices if you really want to see who offers the best value. That is if youre looking at the food alone and not ambiance and service, etc....
I called 15 restaurants in each category $18, $28, and $38 for three courses. In the $38 category, the 15 restaurants had an exclusive Dine Out menu, or items were not too much smaller if they were also featured on the regular menu. In the $28 category it was easier to find restaurants serving similar items on both menus, but most were new menus.
By far the easiest was the $18 category restaurants. Most are serving almost the same menu for Dine Out and the same portion sizes.
Dine Out Vancouver is not just about the deal, and a real deal is not just in the price. Many $38 menu restaurants are a good value since you cant walk out of most of these restaurants without spending $70+/per person.
But if you are just about snagging the food at the right price, then the following restaurants arent changing much of their menu and keeping portions the same.
Campagnolo: Desserts are different. (1020 Main)
Blarney Stone: The salad is a bit smaller since it is offered as an appetizer; on the regular menu it is usually a main. (216 Carrall)
Ceilis Modern Irish Pub: All the same. (Various locations)
The American Cheesesteak; All the same. (781 Davie)
The Reef: One new main and one new entrée, but everything else is the same. (4172 Main or 1018 Commercial)
Fogg n Sudds: One new appetizer and one new entree. (10720 Cambie Rd, Richmond)
Kerkis Greek Taverna: One new appetizer. (3605 W 4th)
Abigails Party: Bruchetta is a bit smaller, and one new appetizer and one new main. (1651-1699 Yew)
Romers Burger Bar: Romers famous whisky-dipped drunken doughnuts dessert is a half portion, but the regular size is meant to be shared. (Various locations)
See Mijune on Breakfast Television on Jan. 31 and find her at the Sonoma Country Winery Dinner: Rodney Strong Vineyards at Brix Restaurant on Feb. 4. She will also be at Vancouver Magazines Big Night on Feb. 7. Tickets to both events online.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
