614443 Thu Apr 23 13:47:39 -0700 2009 2 57 Western Canada 0 4622819 Thanks for all the help and feedback, quick thoughts on what I did, where I ate and how it went... Chambar: A really great meal. I loved the vibe and the space and everyone is right, the mussels are out of this world. Duck breast and halibut entrees at our table that also rocked. Great cocktails, did an outstanding foi gras appetizer that was wonderful as well. Service was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. A wonderful choice overall. Something I couldn't find in Chicago easily. Japadog: I just happend to run past this cart and remembered the stuff I read about it. These hotdogs blew my mind! I thought they were outstanding and fun. We had two and if I weren't stuffed I would have kept stuffing my mouth with them. Kingyo: I tried this izakaya, and thought about doing a crawl, but just wanted to settle in for dinner. Sat at the bar and all of the five dishes or so we ordered were home runs. I loved the crab and clam croquette and all of the cocktails we had. I have to admit I liked Guu with Garlic a bit better when I went there two years ago, as the dishes seemed smaller there and easier to try more. I kept saying "Wow, that's a lot of food..." Raincity Grill: I read warnings to stay away, but it was a weeknight, I had to get up at 4am the next day and knew that they had a early bird special. I should have listened. The let-down of the trip. It wasn't that anything was bad, it's just that nothing was great. Three courses for 30 bucks from 5-6 can't be beat, and I would say check it out if you are local or have a reason to eat that early. The dining room is boring, the average customer's age is proably 55-60 and I won't remember a thing I ate there a year from now. I should have found another early bird special and ventured out a little further for it. But, I was warned by the boards so it is my own fault. We also did some wine and cheese and meats and seafood and baguette for a Granville Island picnic lunch and it was amazing and tasty and a nice simple meal I will remember fondly for years to come right after arriving into Vancouver. Thu Apr 23 13:47:39 -0700 2009 16878 Chargenda 1 4623409 Thanks for the report Chargenda. Glad you had a good time. Thu Apr 23 16:57:29 -0700 2009 4622819 145820 fmed 1 4623599 Sounds like you had some good eats, chargenda. I'm sheepish about the fact that I haven't made it to Chambar yet for dinner but Medina is my go-to for brunch now and I love the vibe there, even better now they've started opening up the back room in the daytime. I so want RainCity to be stellar and live up to its great location, since we end up going there at least twice a year with rellies. Sorry you had to learn the hard way but sometimes that's what chowing is about, right? Thu Apr 23 18:02:22 -0700 2009 4622819 169233 grayelf