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Banana Leaf
(604) 731-6333 – West Broadway
(604) 734-3005 – Wester Broadway
(604) 683-3333 – Denman
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Bananarama
a Quick Bite

By D. Fishman
Eat Vancouver writer

Thanks to an especially sunny, beautiful spring Vancouver day, Pam and I decided to venture down to Denman St. to have a look around and try to find a good restaurant. Among the myriad choices, I noticed a Banana Leaf outlet, a place I have been meaning to try for a long time, and a six-course tasting menu at $25 per person was too intriguing to pass up. Unfortunately I have been swamped lately and haven’t had a chance to write this up, so you will have to forgive me if my memory is a bit fuzzy on the details.

I think that the various Banana Leaf locations vary in size and décor (and possibly the availability of the tasting menu we tried), although the one on Denman was small and cozy, though a little crowded, and decorate with what may or may not be traditional pieces of art from the Malaysia. The waiters were decked out in the traditional garb of Malaysia, the Hawaiian shirt. Needless to say, I loved it. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive.

First of all, it is important to note that was is called a six-course meal is probably more aptly described as a large 3-course meal, with 2 appetizers, a variety of mains, and a dessert. First up were our drinks, a cranberry soda and iced coffee. Both were delicious, and the cranberry soda was free flowing. Next up was a papaya soup, with seafood. It was pretty tasty, although not spectacular. The highlight of the appetizer round was the sampler plate including Spring rolls with sweet chili sauce, Chicken satays with peanut sauce, a bread or crepe-like thing with curry sauce, and green salad. The satays were brilliant on their own or with the excellent with the sauce, and the curry sauce was absolutely fantastic. The spring rolls were also good, as was the salad.

Next up were the three main courses, a seafood medley in yellow curry sauce (Ghulai?), a beef dish, and a green bean and eggplant dish. The yellow curry sauce itself was excellent, although the bits of clam shell were a bit of a turn off. If you could get this sauce with chicken, that would be great (and maybe you can, I didn’t ask). The beef was fairly tasty, though not exceedingly memorable, but the bean and eggplant dish was excellent.

Finally for dessert we had fried bananas and vanilla ice cream. The ice cream was great, some of the best I have tasted, although the bananas I could’ve done without. All in all, the meal was very nice, and a bit of a steal at $25, if you are good and hungry. In the future I would probably stick to a dish or two, but it’s a great way to sample the various dishes Banana Leaf has to offer.

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