Dine Out Vancouver 2012 $28 Menu Recommendations

Crispy Ling Cod from Maenam Dine Out 2012

With only 5 days left of Dine Out Vancouver 2012. I want to let you know my top $28 menu recommendations. My selection is based on the menu's presented by the restaurant itself relative to the next best choice.

Other blogger's reviews into consideration and the opinions and my friends' experience.

When people see the pamphlet no one considers the chain restaurants and immediately crosses out the Boathouse Restaurant and The Keg. 

Dine out is an opportunity for restaurants to put their best foot forward to entice you to come back and eat at their restaurant on non-dine out days. There is no point enjoying a dine out menu at a fancy restaurant when they serve you their "low end" food just to get you in the door.

I wouldn't waste my money and time at those places and I don't think you should either.

As there are 120 restaurants in the $28.00 menu my top recommendations in no particular order are the following:

1. Hapa Izakaya - Kitsilano/Robson/Yaletown
Menu: here
Location: 1516 Yew Street / 1479 Robson St / 1193 Hamilton Street
Phone Number: (604) 738-4272 / (604) 689-4272 / (604) 681-4272
Urban Spoon Rating: 85%/82%/82%

Everything looks beautiful and a creative dine out menu, even though they have multiple restaurants, it's a great place to go to.

2. Baru Latino
Menu: here
Location: 2535 Alma St
Phone Number: (604) 222-9171
Urban Spoon Rating: 88%

There's a good variety on their entree's, halibut, slow braised beef short ribs (usually lots of bones), and seafood mix

3. Maenam
Menu: here
Location: 1938 4th Ave West
Phone Number: (604) 730-5579
Urban Spoon Rating: 84%

Pro: Menu is really unique.
Con: Group of 2 only get to choose 1 dish from each category. Disappointing because you want to try other stuff too.

4. Edible Canada at the Market
Menu: here
Location: 1596 Johnston St
Phone Number: (604) 662-3606
Urban Spoon Rating: 87%

Pro: Rabbit Terrine and Elk! What a great chance to try something different.
Warning: Elk is a really tough meat for those that haven't tried it.

5. Xi Shi Lounge
Menu: here
Location: 1128 W. Georgia St
Phone Number: (604) 689-1120
Urban Spoon Rating: 100%

Pro: Dine out at a posh hotel, high standard of quality
Con: No variety on the menu.

Dine Out Vancouver 2012 $18 Menu Recommendations

With so many choices for Dine Out 2012, it's a bit overwhelming to know which restaurant to go to. There's no "shuffle" button to let you randomly choose a restaurant if you don't know or simply don't want to go back and forth bantering, "you decide", "I don't care, I'm okay with anything", "okay then you just pick one". 

Meanwhile deep in our minds, our opportunity cost is another better restaurant. If you're having trouble deciding, let me give you my top 3 picks in each price range category (Dinner Only).

$18 (52 restaurants available)

1. Dunn's Famous Montreal Smoked Meat Restaurant
Menu: here
Location: 827 Seymour Street
Phone Number: (604) 682-8938
UrbanSpoon Rating: 91%

2. Suika Snackbar
Menu: here
Location: 1626 West Broadway
Phone Number: (604) 730-1678
UrbanSpoon Rating: 88%

3. Bistro 101
Menu: here
Location: 1505 2nd Ave West
Phone Number: (604) 734-0101
UrbanSpoon Rating: 96%

Bonus
For $18 Menu's you can't go wrong with an extra restaurant

Urban Thai Bistro
Menu: here
Location: 1119 Hamilton St
Phone Number: (604) 408-7788
UrbanSpoon Rating: 82%

Remember Dine Out Vancouver Ends February 5, 2012!