23 replies to this topic

[FunkyMunky]

1028 Hillside Avenue (Hillside Avenue at Fifth Street)

I enjoy this spot with friends,

On the upside, I like the way the menu is broken into $5 price increments; it keeps me from tripping over all the expensive stuff I can't afford. I think the $10 roasted half-chicken dinner and the roasted pork loin are ridiculously good values. The food quality has also been pretty consistent, as well.

On the downside, the room is way too dark (must be for the dating crowd and I'm way beyond that) and it can get a loud with a full room bouncing off all the hard surfaces.

[Galvanized]

They have been inconsistent the last couple of years. I was there on Saturday night and got a rare steak when I ordered it medium. I sent it back only to have it return chared on the outside and barely warm in the middle! I told them to forget about doing it again and ordered something else which was the chicken satay and it was really good. When I got my bill they didn't charge me for either dish which is good but the steak thing I found ridiculous.

[Holden West]

Automatically comping a meal (or two!) unless the customer demands it is bad management. Surprisingly, often people are happier with a free fancy dessert instead. A sincere apology and a tasty dessert or fancy coffees lingers in the memory long after the cash is forgotten. And it costs the restaurant a hell of a lot less.

I've only been a couple of times and enjoyed it, but yeah, it does get noisy, especially if a hockey game's on.

[VicHockeyFan]

^ Exactly. Better to comp booze than food (although "technically" against liquor rules). That's a LOT cheaper.

[VicBooster]

Fifth's buffalo burger is excellent and at $10 it's an incredible deal.

This place also has some of the most reasonable prices (at least on the pub side). The menu has items in $5 increments starting with $5, and everything from the least to most expensive food tastes great for pub fare.

[Zimquats]

^ Exactly. Better to comp booze than food (although "technically" against liquor rules). That's a LOT cheaper.

ROFL...you've obviously never gone to dinner with me

[victorian fan]

In the mid '60s, my sister lived in a small apartment on that very corner.

[pseudotsuga]

In the mid '60s, my sister lived in a small apartment on that very corner.

Was Gordon's Sporting Goods there in the mid '60s?

[VicHockeyFan]

Was Gordon's Sporting Goods there in the mid '60s?

Ya, somewhere near. I bought my first ten-speed there. A red Nishiki. Later I was more of a fan of Reno Bikes on Government St. I think I bought a bike or two from a shop in Shelbourne Plaza too. I forget the name of the place, I think it had a persons name in it. I always had a few bikes on the go, one or two for the paper routes (you always needed a back-up, if you get a flat and the news had to get out in time, no time for a repair. I'd do the repair later that day), then one or two for leisure.

I love the smell of bike stores.

[victorian fan]

Was Gordon's Sporting Goods there in the mid '60s?

Yes. After my sister and her husband moved out. The building was owned by her father-in-law.

[Bhatman]

I love this place, staff is so friendly there! And awesome pricing

[martini]

I've always had good food and service there. Going tomorrow night actually.

The only weird experience was them running out of martini glasses. We wound up swilling them out of tumblers. LOL

[teddygram]

I used to go here at least once a week, for almost a year. Then one day, while there were only about 5-6 other customers eating, my food took over 45 mins. No apologies or anything from the server, and as I bit into my burger, there was hair in it. And I will add in, they did not give me my meal complimentary.

[mat]

I used to go here at least once a week, for almost a year. Then one day, while there were only about 5-6 other customers eating, my food took over 45 mins. No apologies or anything from the server, and as I bit into my burger, there was hair in it. And I will add in, they did not give me my meal complimentary.

Was there recently for a client meeting and was not impressed at all. Late lunch, around 1:30pm mid week. Very few people in, the TV's in the bar side were blasting, so we moved to the 'restaurant' side as the bar person gruffly refused to drop the sound level. Food took 1/2 hr, and was cold - our server seemed really embarrassed.

I have been there a few times previously and it had been average to good. This last experience really put me off the place.

[Mike K.]

Councillor Shellie Gudgeon has sold Fifth Street.

[Bob Fugger]

Councillor Shellie Gudgeon has sold Fifth Street.

Reliable source? Best time to sell is when you're still making money.

[Mike K.]

Yup, her neighbour, "Mrs. Mike K."

It should be making its rounds through the media. The buyers, if I recall the conversation correctly, are the fellows behind Lucky Bar and Pescatore's.

[Matt R.]

I heard the same thing, and heard that at the same time bought a farm somewhere in saanich to raise the meat and veg used in his restaurants. Apparently this was in the paper yesterday or today... ??

Mike Murphy is his name, isn't he her brother?

Matt.

[Mr_E_Squirrel]

From the Times Colonist- Changing hands

http://www.timescolo...5586/story.html

From the article

The new ownership group is a partnership with David Kindrat, Mike Murphy and Balbant Singh Sandhu. Kindrat owns Lucky Bar and Fiamo downtown while Murphy, the brother of Shellie Gudgeon, operates a trio of successful restaurants downtown - Pescatores, Oyster Bar and Bon Rouge.

Murphy, who was an original partner in 5th Street in 1998 and was bought out early on, said the 70 staff will be kept and there won't be many changes.

He said the March 1 change will be "a seamless turnover."

[VicHockeyFan]

I'm picking up rumours indicating that the bar is going to be moved, to make the entry less constricted, and make it look busier from the street at all times.