I was looking for a place to eat last weekend when I stumbled across Heron Rock Bistro. Its categorized under "affordable fine-dining" and I think that describes the place perfectly. If you're looking for a nicer place to eat without breaking the bank this is could be a good option. It was a satisfying meal but wasn't superb beyond belief.

The small bistro is located right in the heart of James Bay. They were very accommodating when we made reservations for a large group and added several more people last minute. The restaurant atmosphere was alright. They're aiming for that fine dining/romantic atmosphere with candles and low lighting. I can't stand low lighting in restaurants. Honestly, I would appreciate it if I could see my food thank you very much. I did like the works of art that featured local artists.

The menu isn't very extensive but each item sounds delicious.
I decided to go with the Fraser Valley Duck (as seen in the picture). The portion was just enough to satisfy me without making me feel overfull. The Gnocchi was soft but not as chewy as I'd have liked it to be. The apricots definitely added a special flavor to the overall meal. The duck was tender and juicy and was a lot like turkey. I liked the dish, I'm just not sure it was worth $22.

Another friend has the quiche, which was accompanied by a salad. It was a bit small portion wise.

However I liked how the restaurant used a lot of local ingredients and the seafood was ocean wise. It's great to see places trying to be more sustainable in nature.
Overall it was a pleasant experience. I'm not sure I would go back again as I don't think it was worth the price of the meal.

2.5 food comas out of 5

Firstly Happy New Year. Hopefully this year I'll be able to add more to this blog, considering I only have classes one day a week. Back to the reviews...

Hidden off of Alexandra road in Richmond B.C., Bonqula (pronounced Bon-ku-la) is a refreshing Japanese restaurant that should be tried. I went during the winter break after reading about it on dineout.ca

Prices are a little bit above average but well worth what is served. The restaurant isn't a typical Japanese one and very different from the typical asian

I actually got to the restaurant pretty late and it was very empty. This worried me cause empty places tell me that they aren't great. I think because of its location a lot of people don't see and know about it.

The waiter gave us a small appetizer of sliced bread that was made in store by the chef. Apparently she makes a batch everyday. It reminded me of pound cake and was quite savory.

I tried the chicken curry nabe noodle dish, which was served with rice. The portions didn't seem huge but ended up being quite filling. It was about $15 if i remember correctly. The curry flavor was very light and didn't overwhelm the other tastes and wasn't super spicy either. The chicken was not too bad as well. The dish was quite tasty, not anything super special but satisfying all the same.

I assume because it was the holidays they gave us a awesome complimentary dessert. Seriously who doesn't love free dessert? The small sundae dish was sweet and simple, consisted of vanilla ice cream, corn flakes, and green tea grass jelly. The interesting combination made for a great finish to the meal.

The severs were also really nice and friendly (I'm big on friendly severs) and you could tell they were actually authentic Japanese running a Japanese restaurant unlike most you see. I'd definitely go back again perhaps during lunch and give something else a try off their large menu.

3.5 food comas out of 5