CAN: Salmon n' Bannock
First experience with First Nations-inspired cuisine!
Having been around since 2010, the restaurant seems to be well-loved by many. To each of his own, it's not my favourite.
For the uninitiated, the First Nations are the predominant indigenous people in Canada. At the point of writing, Salmon n' Bannock is the only restaurant specialising in indigenous cuisine in Vancouver. Despite the modern touch in its dishes, it sticks to using traditional ingredients from First Nations-run businesses.
Have you had bannock before?
Game Burger C$20.00 (~S$20.85)
Taste: 4/10
The first main course that my BFF and I shared was pretty disappointing. I found the elk patty to be rather dry. The baked sweet potato wedges were somewhat cold and not moist either. The saving grace was the bannock bun that was satisfyingly crunchy. FYI, bannock was traditionally made of unleavened barley or oatmeal dough cooked on a griddle. Pika's advice: You may want to opt for organic mixed greens instead of the wedges.
Wild Sockeye Salmon C$32.00 (~S$33.35)
Taste: 7.5/10
The salmon main course is supposed to be the star of the restaurant, but somehow I wasn't too impressed with it. Wrapped with Haida Gwaii kelp that was rather hard to eat for me, the salmon was fresh indeed, but nothing to rave about. The bannock dumplings tossed with white wine and citrus sauce, on the other hand, were quite nice like well-cooked gnocchi. BTW, the dish came with crunchy bannock served on a separate plate (shown in the first photo above).
Salmon Soup (Set Menu)
Taste: 8/10
There are six main courses that can be upgraded into a 3-Course Meal by paying an additional C$15.00 (~S$15.65), one of which is the salmon dish. Between soup of the day and salad, I went for the former, which appeared to be salmon soup that came with carrots and celery bits. Topped with seaweed, it was delightfully heart-warming, but I thought it could be a little bit thicker.
Blackberry Cheesecake (Set Menu)
Taste: 7/10
Coming out straight from the fridge, the cheesecake was a decent dessert dish. It was pretty rich, though I'd prefer something smoother in terms of consistency. I felt that there was too much blackberry sauce. Also, it could use just a bit more sugar for a greater balance of the sweet and the sour.
Maple Whiskey C$8.00 (~S$8.35)
Taste: 9/10
I love anything and everything to do with maple. To prove myself right, I went for my very first alcoholic maple stuff. True enough, I really enjoyed it as it was sweet and strong enough for my liking. The maple aroma extended from nose to finish.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Having been around since 2010, the restaurant seems to be well-loved by many. To each of his own, it's not my favourite.
Salmon n' Bannock
1128 West Broadway
Vancouver
British Columbia
Canada
(Mon-Sat: 5.00pm - 10.00pm)
*Prices quoted are subject to 5% GST.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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