Mr. Pickwick's Fish and Chips

Food: * * * *

Service: * * * 1/2

The Denman location was busy busy busy on a Friday night. The servers worked hard there, but there was definitely a wait for the piping hot, freshly battered and fried fish. Fish selection was great, and that batter is probably the best fish and chips batter I've had. Hubbs liked dousing his chips in vinegar (yuck, really?). I thought entrees were quite sizeable for the cost. Not sure it would've passed a Ramsay examination but I could ignore the tacky decor and what I saw in the "open kitchen" since the food was satisfactory. It's a casual dine-in sort of place, and one where you might have to wait, but if you're craving fish and chips (or bangers or mushy peas), this is apparently the place for them!

Firewood Cafe

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * 1/2 (Take-out)

Last minute decision to have pizza for dinner, and we hit up this tiny little place on 14th and Cambie. Impressive giant forno oven in their open kitchen - this was definitely a pizza place. They mostly do delivery/take-out and in-house dining space is very very limited. Pizza was thin-crust, well loaded with toppings, and deliciously flavourful. Our new Van favourite, and as good (if not better) than Ragazzi / Pizza Boys in E-town. Pizzas here aren't cheap, but worth the $ IMHO. Call ahead for take-out. A much better alternative to the boring pizza chains out there. :)

Caramba! - Whistler

Food: * * * * 1/2

Service: * * * * 1/2

While in Whistler we stopped in for lunch. Place was quiet (off-peak lunch hour) and food was solid. Grilled calamari was the best; garlicky and aromatic and came with the most amazing rich dip. Hubbs & I both raved about it. My lamb wrap was good but heavy; roti instead of a tortilla was used as a wrap. Hubbs enjoyed his thin-crust whole-wheat pizza but I thought that was the weakest part of the meal. Overall a great lunch (or dinner) place; we'll be back to check out their dinner menu. Prices aren't cheap; go for something special but not for casual quick dining.