Grounds for Appeal Café

I was recently invited out on a food adventure with my long-legged friend and my faux-long legged friend.  I had no idea where we were going, but I had been promised scrumptious Indian food and knew that lawyers were somehow involved.  Turns out that we were going to the Grounds for Appeal Café.

This café is definitely not fancy (think two steps up from your school cafeteria), but the food is delicious, the service is efficient, the chairs are comfy, the space is large and bright, and the price is definitely right.  So, next time you're craving some yummy in your yummy Indian food, make your way down to the Grounds for Appeal Café.  Just make sure you do it before noon to beat the line!

My butter Chicken with rice and naan...super yummy in my tummy!  My faux long-legged friend also had the butter chicken and thoroughly agreed with my conclusion.  ($8.25, tax included)

My long-legged friend's Chicken Curry.  He swears that this is the best dish on the menu.  Guess I'll have to try it out next time!  ($8.25, tax included)

The X that marks the spot.

Rice N Spice

I recently grabbed Rice N Spice for lunch only to discover (a) they have a new vegetable (eggplant), and (b) they now have a website (link below)!  It totally made my day. 

Since the first time I went to Rice N Spice, the vegetable options have always been: potatoes, chickpeas, beans, cabbage, lentils and mixed veg.  All very yummy, but to see a new one, and eggplant nonetheless, was very exciting!  The eggplant is in a sauce similar to the mixed veg.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and, if they're offering it the next time you're at Rice N Spice, I would encourage you to give it a try.

http://www.ricenspice.ca/

The Deli

The Deli is my go to place to get a soup and sandwich for lunch during the work week.  The sandwiches are massive, the ingredients are fresh and delicious, the soup is home-made and scrumptious, and the prices aren't out of control.  The best part?  They have an amazing list of ingredients, breads and condiments and you get to create your own sandwich!  The price you pay is dependent on the meat you pick.  If you work downtown, I highly recommend checking this place out for lunch one day.

Things to note: (1) The line-ups get very long, so try to be there at 11:45 or expect to wait at least ten minutes for your meal.  (2) They have frequent customer cards: buy 10 sandwiches, get one free.  (3) on Fridays, all sandwiches are $5.99, including cheese.  Cheese is normaly $0.80 extra.  (4) They're closed on Saturdays and Sundays.  (5) They also do catering.

Enjoy!

 Curried squash soup and a roast beef sandwich ($10.06, tax in).  Just what the doctor ordered on a chilly Fall day.

 

Roast beef sandwich (real roast beef, none of this deli meat business) on multi-grain bread, with mustard, avocado, olive tapenade, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, roasted red pepper, pickle and havarti cheese!  Regularly $7.39, but only $5.99 on Friday.

http://www.delivancouver.com/

Bubble Tea, Rice N Spice and a Side of Pickle

This morning started off with me packing up my lunch and heading out the door.  I went to a spectacular spin class this morning care of Fitness Junkie so, needless to say, my tummy was growling something fierce by 11am despite having eaten my two morning snacks.  As I was working some spreadsheet magic, I started dreaming about Rice N Spice.  I had full intentions of squashing my dreams and eating the lunch that I'd brought with me, but then a colleague stopped by my office and not only asked if I wanted to grab lunch but asked if I wanted to grab Rice N Spice for lunch!  It was a sign. 

Rice N Spice was yummy as always.  I opted for a half order of the butter chicken with lentils and mixed veg.  My bad influence co-worker opted for the curried chicken with chickpeas and mixed veg.  It definitely hit the spot.  It also helped me conclude that Rice N Spice and Vij's Railways Express both serve different purposes.  Vij's is a treat when you're looking for some amazing Indian flavours, aren't that hungry and are okay with a more expensive lunch.  Rice N Spice is good Indian flavours for when you're looking for a fuller portion and lower price point. 

I was still hungry after lunch (gosh darn spin class!) so I grabbed a Strawberry-Grapefruit fresh fruit slush with pearls and no syrup from Big Orange, while my bad influence co-worker grabbed an Americano from Second Cup.

While lunch was delicious and a lot of fun, I have to admit that the highlight was hands down getting my photo taken with the Dunn's Montreal Smoked Meat Pickle, and getting coupons for two free pickles!

http://www.bigorange.ca/locations/

 

http://fitnessjunkie-kate.blogspot.ca/

Urban Fare

Today I headed out to lunch with a lovely colleague and a wonderful former colleague.  I was craving some warm you up food and was hoping to eat inside because I'd been a bit chilled all morning.  We didn't want to have to sit in a food court dungeon, so we decided to go to the Urban Fare beside Shangri La. 

I had no idea that the Alberni Urban Fare had an area to sit down and eat until about a year ago.  For those of you who haven't been there, it's a hidden gem!  There is a great deli area where you can buy a pre-made sandwich or have one made to your liking.  (Word to the wise, if you order the chicken sandwich, you literally get a whole breast of chicken!)  They also have a hot and cold buffet, a deli section with pre-made salads and such, and a hot food section with chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies.  Plus, word on the street is that if you buy their packaged meals near the hot food section, they'll warm them up for you so you can eat them there.  How awesome is that?

The best part?  Their seating area.  Nothing fancy, but it's at street level with tonnes of natural light!  Such a nice switch from the rest of the food courts downtown.  Plus, they have jugs of ice water and plastic cups.  So you can save that toonie you'd spend on a bottled water for another day.

The long and the short of it?  The food isn't out of this world mind blowing, but it's good, reasonably priced, and the seating area is bright and sunny.  Definitely a nice place to grab lunch if you didn't have time to make anything.

My cajun chicken, mashed potatoes and veggies.  Delicious!  It was just what the doctor ordered and came to about $9.50 tax in.

A hot and cold buffet special for about $8, tax in.

A salmon, chicken, green bean and fry meal for my wonderful colleague who doesn't eat anything with four legs or a tail!

http://www.urbanfare.com/restaurant-menu

Rice N Spice

Today I had lunch planned with one of my closest friends.  However, it quickly turned into a smorgasboard of people and catch-ups when another close friend on mat leave and our very favourite ex-boss were able to join us.  Top it off with another very close friend happening to bump into us for a quick visit at the end, the lunch was great even if you don't consider the food! 

 

As for the food, we opted for the Royal Centre food court.  Options for everyone, and warm air for the cutie patootie baby.  I decided to go to Rice N Spice.  I was a little sheepish getting into line because I have pretty much completely abandoned them in my food cart excitement this summer.  However, the people were friendly and lovely as always and the food reminded me why I have to keep it as a regular "lunch out" eating spot.

 

I went for my regular: shawarma with everything, mixed veg and lentils.  Oh so yummy!  Is it up there with Vij's or Rangoli's?  No.  Is it good quality Indian food for lunch?  Absolutely.  So get in there and try it!

 

Things to note: (1) Cash only.  (2) HST is included in the prices.  (3) Get there before 11:55 to avoid the line.  (4) You get the same amount of meat and veggies in a half order.  The regular order just has more rice (as far as I've been able to determine).  (5) The Royal Centre location is only open during lunch hours, Monday through Friday.  (6) Rice N Spice recently opened a second location in Yaletown.  I'm not sure about the hours there.  (7)  Our favourite ex-boss mentioned that they have really good daal.  I haven't tried it yet, but am hoping to soon!   

 

http://www.ricenspice.ca/