Saigon Noodle

Great, new location in the Totem Mall with access indoor and outdoors.

Fun, bright, interesting décor that doesn’t look like it was purchased at the local Walmart. The owners actually put some thought and effort into the ambience.

Friendly cash register girls.

Nine, four-seat tables, entered at a dinner rush, food took around 20 minutes. At a full service restaurant, that would be a long time. A place such as this should, essentially, be quicker.

Food ordered: #14 Pork Slice Spring Rolls…something about Lemon Grass Pork….a very plain dish as far as flavour goes. Vietnamese restaurants everywhere take note….Hoang Long of Edmonton does an EXCELLENT Lemon Grass Anything. Look it up next time you’re in that city.

#19 Chicken Pad Thai….excellent noodles-almost velvety in texture, scrumptious flavour overall, decent amount of chicken, abundant veggies and crushed peanuts. I would get this again and again. This dish will bring me back. My only request would be fresh lime to squeeze over top.

#20 Shrimp Egg Noodles…another excellent dish in terms of flavour. The fresh garlic is prominent but not overdone. I kept wanting more of that delectable taste in my mouth. Speaking of more…there were a mere 5-6 shrimp in this dish. That would be fine if the oodles of noodles and grandiose plate presentation didn’t make it look out of balance….oh yes, and the fact that it cost 9.95. Hi, I could buy an entire bag of shrimp less than 9.95. Stop being so cheap and throw three times the shrimp on there! Your customers will thank you by good word of mouth and ordering again and again! I feel as though I should bring some extra shrimp from home to add to my plate (psstt……the shrimp weren’t seasoned so it would totally work…)

Loved the assortment and variety of condiments on the tables, as well as real silverware and chopsticks. So nice not to use the toss-away types.

And let me tell you about Maggy one of the owners—what a nice lady! We saw her walk around to every table as well as ours, and converse. Not the obligatory How-was-everything,-etc., but actually talking to people! Wow…..now there’s something that a consumer does not see. A rarity.

Saigon Noodle comes to mind when I think of Asian takeout. So unlike Ming’s.
GRADE: B+

Saigon Noodle
9600-93 Ave (Totem Mall)
250.785.1628

Safeway VS Tim Horton’s (Doughnut Style)

Bring in the boxing ring. American competitor vs the good, ol’ Canadian standby.

Round one: Presentation (Kevin from The Office: “That means what it looks like…)
T: Great, attractive packaging for any amount ordered.
S: One giant box even if you’d only like half a dozen. I find myself usually purchasing three. One for me, one for my spouse and one for me for later while winding down from the tornado kids.. When and if a “6 doughnut box” existed I would prolly load up to maximum capacity. Instead, I would rather have my three remain un-squished and unsullied in the paper bag.

Round Two: Taste & Freshness
T: Dry out much quicker and are made somewhere other than the respective location. They’ve got some great combinations (Honey Crueller,-on the light side, eggy, nice balance of sweet, fun design.

Yet, I’m still surprise that others are still around (Double Chocolate tastes like coffee granules were substituted for the cocoa during mixing.

Beware of any fritter—usually there is a substantial portion of the middle that remains raw.

S: Made on site, every day. There is nothing better than fresh. Nuff said. S’s doughnuts are light and chewy with slight bread taste to compliment the sweetness. Sometimes I’m really wishing for a slightly thicker icing to balance the bread side of things.

Do your own freshness test. Buy a few from each place and see how long they last on your counter. P.S. Works best in a paper bag to allow limited air flow. Do not, repeat DO NOT seal your little, baked goods in Tupperware. They need air.

Round Three: Aftertaste
T: Sometimes my tummy hurts after consuming a T.H. doughy morsel. Maybe it’s the preservatives. (No, I doughnut pig out thus creating abdominal discomfort. Sheesh.)
S: I’m ready for another. No pain there.

Although, I must flesh out a negative here, Yesterday I shared a fill morsel with my spouse and the filing had a ring of rancidity to it (oil-based product.) Somebody cut a corner. Oops, Mr. or Mrs. Baker person.

Round Four: Availability
S: Friday is their busiest day so double batches are ordered up. My fave there is the Glazed Croissant drizzled in chocolate. And they do not disappoint. Deelish.
T: Hit and miss. My fave is the Sour Cream Glazed and quite honestly either location can’t guarantee them consistently. Perhaps they should supply more for the demand, hmm? I’ve tried finding them on different days of the week, different times of the day and various seasons throughout the YEAR. Clearly I spend too much of my time trying to perfect their supply science. At any rate, I was frustrated so I started looking elsewhere. (Enter Safeway doughnuts.)

Round Five: Cost
S: Usually a single doughnut will run you somewhere in the ballpark of 70 cents. I believe I’ve seen them for as low as 49 cents.
T: Almost one dollar. What is it, 85/89 cents? And they’re smaller. Even when comparing apples to apples, they’re still smaller.

Round Six: Business Hours
S: 7-11pm
T: All the time. But don’t let this fool you. Because their product is not made on site means you can’t have it at 3am.

Overall, I’m a Safeway fan. Dear Safeway, could you build a drive-thru? I would love you even more.

Safeway GRADE: A-
Timmy’s GRADE: B-

From the Tip Jar

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RestaurantOwner.com Best Practice of the Week - November 3, 2009
=================================================================
I Am Your Guest

You often accuse me of carrying a chip on my shoulder,
but I suspect this is because you do not entirely
understand me. Isn't it normal to expect satisfaction
for one's money spent? Ignore my wants and I will no
longer appear in your restaurant. Satisfy those wants
and I will become increasingly loyal. Add a little extra
personal attention and a friendly touch and I will become
a walking advertisement for you.

When I criticize your food and service to anyone who
will listen, which I may do whenever I am displeased,
take heed. I am not dreaming up displeasure. It lies in
something I perceive you have failed to do to make my
eating experience as enjoyable as I have anticipated.
Eliminate that perception or you will lose my friends
and me as well. I insist on the right to dine leisurely
or eat in haste according to my mood.

I refuse to be rushed as I abhor waiting. This is an
important privilege that my money buys. If I am not
spending big money this particular time, just remember,
if you treat me right I will return with a larger appetite,
more money and probably with my friends.

I am much more sophisticated these days than I was just
a few years ago. I've grown accustomed to better things
and my needs are more complex. I'm perfectly willing to
spend, but I insist on quality to match prices. I am above
all, a human being. I am especially sensitive when I am
spending money. I can't stand to be snubbed, ignored or
looked down upon.

Whatever my personal habits may be, you can be sure that
I'm a real nut on cleanliness in restaurants. Where food
is concerned I demand the strictest sanitation measures.
I want my meals handled and served by the neatest of people
and in sparkling clean dishes. If I see dirty fingernails,
cracked dishes or soiled table clothes you won't see me again.

You must prove to me again and again that I have made a
wise choice in selecting your restaurant above others. 
You must convince me repeatedly that being a restaurant
guest is a desirable thing in the first place. I can,
after all, eat at home. So, you must provide something
extra in food and service. Something so superior it will
beckon me from my own table to yours.

Do we understand each other?

(You may have read this before but it never hurts to be reminded
of job one - taking care of your guests.)

================================================================

Whole Wheat & Honey Cafe

My first impression of this place is good. I’m talking about their hot, new location—all newly designed and freshly painted and tastefully decorated. Very new age. The high ceilings, warm colors and hippy vibe all contribute to my journey to what I affectionately call my ‘restaurant happy place.’

The positives:

Ample space and diversity in seating. Sit by the south windows. Chill by the stage. People watch while facing 100 Street. Hang out in center of the place, cafeteria style. Breathe in the clean, fresh, crisp décor. I felt like Hippy was my religion while eating there. I wanted to order some herbal tea, pop in an advertised Dana Manning CD and braid my hair.

Nice-looking employees. After a few minutes of conversation, I didn’t mind the extremely severed bangs combined with a ‘natural’ look.

Great ordering set up. Huge menu board that’s easy to read; knowledge, chill staff. Very open feel—didn’t feel claustrophobic or pressured to hurry my decision-making process.

Loved the live music idea. I feel like it’s a place where I could pick up my guitar, book a slot and leave my case open for coinage. Actually, strike the case idea—that’s tacky. Never been to a show here, but I plan on it ‘cause it looks cool. And I want to be cool.

Finally figured out when they were open (anyone remember than Texas BBQ place that just couldn’t quite figure out if they were doing construction or serving brisket?) and went exclusively to breakfast/lunch. WW&HC had a similar problem during the first few months in their new place.

Loved the idea of homemade muffins and those extra large beverage mugs. Although, it’s sort of weird to have the muffins individually wrapped in plastic wrap--kind of low budget. The mugs remind of Central Perk in Friends. Which also reminds me: Isn’t it somewhat against a law somewhere to ‘borrow’ another’s idea? Anyone remember their old location and signage? Totally Friends… I’m just sayin’.


Areas of improvement:

Sometimes open late for special events. This is sad to me. I would love to see this establishment rock it all day long. Despite it being in a high traffic location and catering to workday foot traffic, this place has great potential for tapping into the night crowd. Not everyone wants to frequent a pub, you know.

The food was not so memorable. After the first few bites, I came down from my giddiness in finding a donair in FSJ (-skimpy on the tasty tzatziki, meat on the bland side, but, bread was soft and chewy.) It was okay. The side salad, accompanied with a too-oily vinaigrette, was just weird. All the veggies were cut too large. I can’t even say they were chopped because that would mean the pieces were smaller than they were. Couldn’t decide if the fork and knife were needed or to just pick it up with my hands.

A tad warmer in the chillier months. Nothing like a good teeth chatter while eating a salad.

Overall, I would go back. WW&HC has so many good things going for it to be ignored. To be honest, if this place were open at night I might get there more often.

GRADE: B+ Step up the food and make my mouth water, please. If I think “Quizno’s” before you, that’s a problem.

Whole Wheat & Honey Cafe
10003 110 St
250.787.9866

From the Tip Jar

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From RestaurantOwner.com - October 20, 2009
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Weekly Planning Will Improve Your Managers' Effectiveness

A common characteristic of many successful independent
restaurants is the owner's practice of pausing at the
end of each week with their management team. They
review how the restaurant is performing and decide
what to focus on in the coming seven days.

Having a weekly review and planning discipline helps
managers clearly understand what their priorities are
and what they need to do to accomplish specific, short
term goals and objectives.

The cornerstone of this approach is having a brief,
well-organized weekly management meeting in which
the owner and all managers participate.

Effective weekly meetings generally include a review
and discussion of the following items:

- prior week's key numbers including sales, guest
counts and prime costs

- daily tasks such as ordering and scheduling

- weekly goals such as anticipated sales and cost
goals, repair  and maintenance projects, upcoming
marketing promotions, scheduled banquets or catering
 events, and special events that are going on in
the community

Weekly meetings improve the odds that your managers
are organized, goal-oriented and clearly understand 
your priorities. They are also more likely to feel 
like they are an integral and important part of your
restaurant too.

If your management team is lacking direction and
cohesiveness, start meeting at the same time each
week to discuss how the restaurant is doing and
specific goals for making it better.

With everyone's input and your guidance
you'll probably see a more effective
management team and better performing
restaurant.

Ming's Kitchen (Takeout Service)

First time visit because of word-of-mouth. Took me two years to get there, but the point is that I did.

You see, despite what restaurant owners may decide to believe, customers really have the power if a place succeeds or fails. Owners don't want us to band together to bring them to their knees. They would prefer we remain in the dark and keep coming in the door regardless of poor service, high margins and low food quality.

(Enter the FSJ Food Critic.)

Back to the review.

Ordered takeout and smiled to myself that I could have my order delivered if I exceed the $15 requirement. Easy peezie. Family dinnertime is always more than $15 and what a great tactic to encourage customers to come often. It's tricky, but it works. You think "Hey, I could get Ming's for only $15 bucks and I don't have to leave the house." And you always end up ordering more.

It's called a hook. And it's a good one.

Phone girl could have been a little more in tune with the food. It's called product knowledge. Say it with me: PRAH DUCKT NAHLLLEGE. I literally heard every ingredient twice concerning the egg roll. Once from cook person and another from phone girl. Quite unprofessional.

Let's talk food. Hunger was in the air. I ordered the SS Chicken Balls, Beef & Broccoli and Mushroom Foo Yong. I'll be honest, I was expecting those cutesy, classic Chinese takeout containers with the little metal handles. Instead, just a random assortment of metal, styrofoam and cardboard. Weird. Where were the chopsticks? I know they're a little strange to use at first, but it is definitely part of the experience.

First tastes of all respective dishes were positive. Perhaps being very hungry skewed my perception-because then I started seeing flaws.

Pretty scanty portions for the price. I was expecting at least 20 lbs of food for my $29. I mean, really, I know how much the typical Asian ingredient cost the local consumer.

The beef was pretty much MIA in the broccoli ensemble. I had to search for it and the flavour. Somewhat bland.

Mushroom Foo Yong is the Asian version of the omelette only loaded with bean sprouts and other goodies and slopped with a gravy mixture. Kind of tasty. Kind of earthy. MFY did not disappoint. Keeper.

Chicken balls (couldn't they have picked another name that didn't jive with current slang??) were actually a little too greasy and dry. I'm not sure what happened here but the box was soaked through and some morsels were just too hard to bite through. Should have opted for a different chicken dish. The complementing sauce was nice. Perhaps a layer of white paper in between the chicken and cardboard box to stifle the grease stains. It would look much better. Plus, I'm not sure if the hamburger and fries cartoons lend anything positive to experience.


GRADE: C- Because I seriously don't know if Ming's would come to mind the next time I want Chinese takeout.

Mr. Mike's Steakhouse & Bar

This place is so different than the previous Little Italy wannabe. Fresh flower baskets adorn the outdoor patio during the warm months. Warm, woodsy colors are splashed inside from the bar area to the spacious dining room. The tag line is something about West Coast, but with only one picture of the ocean up on the corner wall, I'm not sure if I feel that vibe.

Watch the threshold at the first set of doors, a nicely twisted ankle awaits you. But no hostess! And a very weird set up of the greeting area. I feel like I'm strangely observing parts of the hostess stand that I should not. Let me say that this area should be welcoming and not a chorus of wiring and silverware tubs. This is one of the first impression areas and should probably reflect awesomeness.

The restaurant was nearing capacity. Great sign. Nobody likes to walk into a place on a weekend night and see very few people. Sends a bad vibe about the restaurant.

Some girl dress in cheap black (like everyone else) approached us in a friendly manner and asked where we'd like to sit. I replied, "Where ever." This confused her. She then offered us three different selections to which I replied the same again. After a few blank stares, she finally took charge and led my small party to a cozy table with some very snug chairs. I liked them, but if I was a fatty it wouldn't have worked.

We had to be in and out within 40 minutes and we had our doubts. Server girl was pretty good throughout the entire experience. We ordered the Steak Sandwich and Chicken Creole. But we also did a few substitutions. Let's start with the sandwich.

I don't really enjoy biting into a steak sandwich unless the steak is sliced super thin. I've had a few weird combinations around FSJ like that. What. Are my teeth supposed to be like the wildlife around the area?? Sorry, but slapping on a 5 oz cut to a piece of bread is NOT a steak sandwich for people. Taste wise it was okay. The steak was aged and flavoured. The bread was screaming of blandness although the menu claimed a garlic presence. Decent onion rings and crispy, hot fries. Another issue was the lack of green. The dish wasn't eye candy. Presentation was truck-stop average. Thought I was at Mr Mikes-one of the 'nicer' places in town.

Moving on to the Chicken Creole dish. I don't like restaurant rice. Ever. Always, always substitute it for some pasta or vegetables. Nobody seems to be able to touch the rice. Scallops were small, but quite tender. Shrimp was mediocre. I was picturing a nicely seared, creole-spiced viddle. Chicken was the prob. Sorry, but the food paint does not fool me. I can see a and taste the difference between grilled and microwave chicken. Stop buying chicken with grill marks painted on it! One competitor of mine started doing this and business sank. The place was never full. I'm sure it was one of the many reasons the restaurant started to fail.

To the kitchen's credit, the substitutions were done as asked. That was nice. Especially since the server said she put a rush on our ticket. We were out of the place ahead of schedule. Very nice.

GRADE: C Because the food is average. Step it up a handful of notches and tap into the 'West Coast Thing' and Mr Mikes could be among my favorites......Make me feel like I'm walking into the west coast. Not some random pub.

Mr Mike's Steakhouse & Bar
9324 Alaska Road
250.262.4151