Name: Samurai Japanese Restaurant
Location: 1108 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC (map)
Phone: (604) 609-0078

What’s not to hate about that attrocity called Samurai on Denman?

Poor service:

• At Samurai, they’ll ensure to let you know that they’d rather clear tables than take your order

The restaurant is empty, there are alot of empty tables, so why, when I ask to give my order do you insist on clearing a table and telling me to wait. There are no customers in line and the restaurant is practically empty.

• At Samurai, they’ll make sure to ignore you when you have a request

Dinner has arrived, my date still hasn’t received a fork as per our request. So, I have to get up to get some cutlery … ?

Poor food:

• At Samurai, the food ain’t all that

Sorry folks, the sushi (and accompaniments) can only aspire to be bottom tier. Alot of people think big portions are better (American supersize ideology, perhaps?). I prefer better quality food which usually results in smaller portions. Decent miso soup, for example, not some watered down excuse for bilge water, good quality fish, not the red tide special they sell there, etc. (yes, I could go on at nauseaum, but I’ll refrain).. That way I don’t have to be queasy the next day.

No tip for you! … and don’t think I’m coming back this lifetime.

Update 2006-07-18: 

Here’s a list of restaurants in the area which qualify as good alternatives:

Name: 1215 on Denman
Location: 1215 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC (map)
Phone: (604) 633-1215
Comment: Decent Japanese fusion, former chef of Hapa Izakaya

Name: Okada Sushi (top level of Nelson Square)
Location: (M101, 2nd floor) 888 Nelson Street, Vancouver, BC  (map)
Phone: (604) 899-3266
Comment: Excellent sushi place. Good service, authentic, great fish, reasonable price, great location.

Name: Yoshi on Denman
Location: 689 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC (map)
Phone: (604) 738-8226
Comment: Great sushi, love the blue fin tuna. Skilled sushi chef, the omokase and kaiseki are good value for those who can’t make up their minds.

Apparently the Paymint Parking Service that works at the EZ Park lots is terminating in Vancouver as of July 14th. I wonder if this has anything to do with Verrus and their recent takeover of Vancouver’s parking meters:

From: do-not-reply@mintinc.com
To: Rajesh Taneja

Subject: Paymint Service Notice

NOTICE

Good day. Please be aware that the PayMint cell phone parking service will no longer be available as of July 14th. Please use traditional forms of payment to avoid receiving a ticket.

We thank you for your patronage.

Any outstanding customer service concerns will be addressed in a timely manner.