Battle Royale with Cheese

RED WAGON is a Vancouver brunch institution, and a Red Wagon brunch review would hit the highlights: we all know about the pulled pork pancakes, we all love the Trucker plate. But maybe you'd be surprised to hear that Red Wagon has an excellent dinner menu.In an episode we're calling Red Wagon: Nights (said in a sultry voice), we talk the VanMag Restaurant Awards and Georgia Straight Golden Plates and explore the meatloaf, chicken and housemade potato chips of our dreams. And don't worry: we ...

We're pro-pineapple and pro-not apologizing for it! In this episode Jill and Brian review The Pie Shoppe, a neighbourhood pie counter that's become an amazing spot for pizza and natural wines on top of their already great desserts. We also keep it in the East Vancouver family with a quick trip to Resurrection Spirits, a vibey new cocktail bar right around the corner from Pie Shoppe that deserves your love and attention.Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and above ALL else, tell frien...

We're so back. We're at unbelievable levels of backness. Jill and Brian return to the Vancouver restaurant review scene by treating you to a three course feast. First, we celebrate the return of MONARCH BURGER (the only known 10/10 burger?)! Next, Jill talks about her first experience with new burger hotness, MONZO BURGER! And finally, we review Chickpea, the reliably great Middle Eastern / Mediterranean vegetarian spot that will give you a whole head of cauliflower, and you've got to deal wi...

Timeless or time... stuck? That's the question at the heart of HY'S STEAKHOUSE, a venerable, 65+ year old, white table cloth and tableside ceasar salad steak joint. Jill and Brian kick off apostrophe two-four old school, trading their usual excitement for new and interesting restaurants for the most classic dining experience imaginable. Hear us talk about the strange childhood nostalgia of the cheese toast! Laugh along about a ceasar salad that was more table-adjacent than tableside! Enjoy Br...

It's un-bolo-ievable! Battle Royale with Cheese returns to the Vancouver Bib Gourmand list with a review of Say Mercy! Exclamation mark necessary. In this ep, we talk about Say Mercy's "Jesus Take the Wheel" tasting menu, exceptional service, signature BBQ Bolo and more. Enjoy!Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and above ALL else, tell friends about the show! Follow our socials:InstagramTwitter

We promise the title will make sense.Your hosts take a dip into the ol' GRAB BAG to review a plethora of Vancouver restaurants we've enjoyed over the last month. In this hot episode, we talk some return visits to old favourites (SUPERFLUX F*CKING AWESOME FEST, PARTY PIZZA WORLDWIDE, ELEPHANT, SONG) and shout out some travel adventures (JILL went to VEGAS, Brian went to RED DEER). Need more? Well Brian also tried the $35 dollar burger at PER SE SOCIAL CORNER, and Jill shared her first exp...

TACOFINO has become a major part of Vancouver and British Columbia's food scene. With an original truck in Tofino and new locations in the Greater Vancouver Regional District popping up everywhere, their varied menus and semi-famous fish tacos make Tacofino an interesting case study in our Sizzlin' Summer Series. Luckily, we have many Tacofino thoughts! Tune in for some oral science on the best locations, best menu items, and the THRILLING CONCLUSION to our ranking of Vancouver's hottest taco...

LA TAQUERIA and its upscale counterpart LA MEZCALERIA have been staples of Vancouver's taco scene for over a decade. But the word to describe that decade? Change. Can a franchise with proper branding and goals of being a sit-down restaurant establishment still maintain their "real ones know" appeal?Our sizzlin' summer series continues with a ranking of Taqueria and (crucially, separately) Mezcaleria against Chancho and Sal y Limon. Enjoy!Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and ab...

Summer taco time continues with SAL Y LIMON! We compare our previous experience at CHANCHO to another perennial local fave and talk about how Sal Y Limon has become a go-to takeout option over the past few years. How does their Commercial Drive location stack up against the original spot? Have we tried their airport location? What led to us having potentially the worst margarita experience of our lives? All this and more in our SAL Y LIMON review!We also appreciate your patience while we sort...

Is CHANCHO Vancouver's best taco restaurant? After one trip and a luxurious bath in their quesabirria, we're hard pressed to think of anything better. Join us on the first episode of our summer project as Jill and Brian set out to review Vancouver's hottest taco spots and pit them against each other, BATTLE ROYALE style. CHANCHO is up first, and will meet SAL Y LIMON, LA TAQUERIA and TACOFINO on the tortilla-strewn field of battle.NOTE: We had a broken mic during this recording and didn't rea...

Anh and Chi is a Bibendum-approved top-tier Vietnamese restaurant in Vancouver, and if you're reading this, you should close your podcast app and just go. But if you MUST hear our takes, we won't fight you. We heap praise upon praise upon praise like so many vermicelli noodles, talk about their miraculous (and for one of us, diet-changing) fish sauce chicken wings, and get a little gross thinking about whole aubergines. Have questions about Anh and Chi, vietnamese food, or anything else?...

The debate rages: What IS Vancouver's BEST sushi restaurant? Miku, Minami and Tojo's win their fair-share of awards, but only one has Royale Court status: KISHIMOTO.Learn about our long history with this Commercial Drive gem, Kishimoto's amazing commitment to presentation, high quality sushi, and just the right amount of fun gimmicks - smoked oshizushi, anyone?Hit our DMs and let us know your fave Sushi spot in Vancouver! Let us know why we're right about Kishimoto! Let us know why we're wron...

McDonald's! It's simply some of Vancouver's (or any city's) finest dining. In honour of Jill's birthday, we sit under the golden arches to review her all time fave restaurant and share some great McDonald's opinions from listeners. "I'm lovin' it!" is what you'll say as soon as you press play on this very episode. And remember: Nothing can kill the Grimace.Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and above ALL else, tell friends about the show! Follow our socials:InstagramTwitter

Welcome to the ROYALE TIER. Or is it Royale Tiere? Either way, we introduce a delightful new concept for the show before reviewing another of Vancouver's 2022 Michelin star recipients: AnnaLena. Minor spoilers: We're in love. Enjoy this detailed review of AnnaLena's "Chapter 62" tasting menu, plus a bonus serving of Hawaii talk and a return trip to Downlow Chicken.Have questions about restaurants, food, or anything else? Email the show at BRWCpod@gmail.com to start filling up our question buf...

Jill and Brian review THE LUNCH LADY, one of Vancouver's most popular restaurants! You might know the Lunch Lady, Nguyễn Thi Thanh, from a 2009 episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations that visited her restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, but did you know the restaurant bearing her moniker is actually an official partnership? In this ep your hosts cover Hollywood's biggest night, what dishes at The Lunch Lady have become regular parts of our diet, and talk a lot about chitin. Serious...

Jamjar Canteen is a popular Lebanese chain dating back to the long ago era of 2014 - but how does it fare against Vancouver's other popular Lebanese restaurants like Nuba? How full will two people be if they order the $72 Taste of Lebanon platter? And just how great is their great fried Cauliflower? Find out as Battle Royale with Cheese brings you the DEFINITIVE Jamjar Canteen review.Next up? One of Vancouver's hottest restaurants: LUNCH LADY.Don't forget to rate, review and subscri...

With busy schedules and travel, your two beautiful and talented hosts haven't been able to get together for a meal lately. But that doesn't mean we weren't snarfing and guzzing on our own! For the first time we cover not just one, not just two, but SEVERAL notable Vancouver restaurants - Cozy up to this buffet of takes and hear us talk about:- The joys of recent home cooking- Jill's Alberta eats and brewery visits- Chancho Tortilleria- The Stock Room / Hundy- Courtside- Red Wagon Cafe- Tablea...

We already talked the chicken, but Downlow Burgers has become a Vancouver staple in its own right - shout out to Doug Stephen, Lindsey Mann and their whole crew. Hear about our experiences dating back to the OG Monday-pop-up days and the joys of their recent efforts (hello Oklahoma Smash), and hear our final thoughts on our first Soby Janoby!Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and above ALL else, tell friends about the show! Follow our socials:InstagramTwitter

BIBENDUM RETURNS. Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer is one of Vancouver's Michelin Bib Gourmand winners, and let us tell you: It's great. In maybe our loosest episode yet, we celebrate the many delicious fried and steamed foods on offer from Little Bird, give a little more love to our book club, and do a check-in / confession on ol' Sobey Janobey (aka dry january).Next episode: DownLow BURGERS.Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and above ALL else, tell friends about the show! Follow o...

THE BURROW is a Commercial Drive institution, serving up delicious vegetarian Mexican food along with cozy, community-focused good vibes. Jill's been a long time regular, and we're here to say that their nachos are IT. They are ICONIC. They are THE MOMENT. We also take some time to discuss their recent name change from Bandidas to the Burrow. It's cold outside - face plant into some nachos with us!Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe, and above ALL else, tell friends about the show...