小酒馆 Tasty BBQ & Beer Bar (Richmond) — Restaurant in Richmond

Came here for dinner. We made our reservations through WeChat. Be sure to make a reservation or you will end up waiting awhile for a table especially on peak nights like on Fridays and Saturdays. They came around with a cart filled with the classic Hong Kong style drinks and mini bottles of Smirnoff and Bailey's. We got the lemon tea and lychee. To describe the taste it tastes like lemon tea until all the Smirnoff comes down and then all you taste is Smirnoff. It doesn't really mix together. Wouldn't recommend except for pictures. We got a ton of skewers including sausages, lamb, beef etc. My most recommended has to be the Xin Jiang Lamb skewers. But beware, the first batch we got of these Lamb skewers were delicious, the second batch not so much. Would also recommend the sausage skewers. The cumin seasoning they put on top has almost a numbing yet addicting feeling to it. We got the deep fried chicken skin and also fried chicken knees. The chicken knees were really addicting. Definitely on the saltier/MSG heavy side. But VERY addicting and crunchy. Would recommend the chicken knees over the chicken skin. We got the lamb dumplings, grilled oysters, butter corn, Mala stir fried clams and Beijing style black bean noodles. Would not recommend any of those items. The lamb dumplings were really oniony and lacked lamb flavour. The grilled oysters were big and nicely cooked but not worth the price. The Mala stir fried clams were pretty numbing and the portion was quite big but felt that the flavour masked the flavour of the clams. The Black bean noodles they stir at your table which is cool but tasted not as good as it looked. The butter corn was over done, making the kernels dry. If you like durian balls I would definitely recommend them as the durian flavour is really strong and the outside taste like deep fried mochi. Very chewy and delicious. Overall: if you are looking for a place with nice atmosphere and nice neon nights. Then this is your place. If your looking for good food, I would pass on this place. There are more misses than hits. The price is also pretty expensive. Our bill came to almost $300 for 4 people and I swear we aren't big eaters... Regardless, good for a one time experience and get ready to go all out when you do go. Tip: if you are having a birthday here and want to embarrass the birthday person. Please let them know and they will sing happy birthday while...

the small restaurant is located on W. Minister Highway in Richmond and within a strip mall complex. It's been recently renovated away from a Cantonese dim sum type of place to a more traditional northern Chinese style barbeque and drink establishment. When you come in, you'll notice right away the vibe is energetic and filled with young people enjoying drinks with fresh table top cooked barbecue. The decor is super interesting in that the walls are painted with murals depicting really traditional Shanghai style culture and daily life. Overlaid on this is a type of art nouveau Element lending to the more youthful feel. The selection of foods relates to a lot of skewer-based barbeque of beef, lamb, chicken. There are also many traditional Shanghai-based vegetable dishes and hot pots of different sorts. On the table is a small warmer where the skewers are placed after being cooked in the kitchen. You'll have skewers made of metal and wood as well as through traditional looking skewers that are just sharpened twigs cuts fresh from trees. As would be predicted in a establishment such as this, the drink menu is extensive. They really focus on beer of different sorts and provide many different flights of beer if you want to try. When selected, beer will come in a large self cool dispenser with a tap that is left at your table. There is also a wide selection of hard liquor for those who wish to partake. The room is very small sitting on the boat 30 or 40 at various small tables. There is ample parking for the strip mall out front as well as in the back. Value for money is actually quite good for a drinking establishment. This is my first time here but will...

Service:

the service here was so poor! I made a reservation specifically for indoors for 7:45pm. I called them prior to tell them we were going to be 5-10 minutes late. My friend got there on time but took 5 minutes to look for parking since their lot had limited spots. When I called to tell them we were going to be late they said no problem. When my friend got there they told her they gave away our table because we were late and offered us the patio which we declined because it was cold and we specifically requested for inside. 1) we called to notify them that we were going to be late and they said okay 2) my friend would have been on time if they had more parking 3) what restaurant gives away a table almost immediately after? Most at least will hold for 10-15 min. I understand it’s COVID and restaurants have been hit, but if your customer called to notify you it means they’re still coming!

In addition to this when we were trying to pay no one would come. It took me having to wave down at least three people and I think the service bell didn’t work because I also rang that and no one came.

It was also so awkward when the server came to take our order they didn’t even say a word. I can’t believe I still tipped, I wish I could take it back.

Food: Food was okay at best. Nothing was super amazing. The meat portion for skewers were TINY esp the beef, chicken was better. The food was also warm at best not even hot. The actual dishes were more decently priced and portioned. They had good drink options though.

Atmosphere: 10/10. Super cute place and atmosphere

Overall: Cool place to just chill and chat with friends over some beer. But the service was...