508 Bistro

Note: This review was originally posted on Dine Here and reposted to this blog on Sep 16, 2013.

J and I always see this place as we drive by on Kingsway, and we decided to finally try it out. The restaurant is spacious and the atmosphere is a little hard to pinpoint. Clearly, it used to be a lounge/bar. The service was average to good, as we had to flag down the servers whenever we needed them. The prices were average and comparable to others in its category. We ordered a bubbletea which was surprisingly better than a majority of establishments that specialize in making bubbletea. What makes this restaurant unique is their Taiwanese style to their dishes.

We ordered three dishes and an appetizer. The first was a stir-fry pork with chillies which was quite spicy and tasty. The second dish was a fried rice with dried shrimp. It too was pretty good and not too greasy the way most restaurants make fried rice. The third was the well-known 3 cup chicken. At first, I wasn't too excited about ordering it, but at 508 Bistro they make it with boneless chicken which wasn't drowned in sauce. Another good dish. Finally, our appetizer was the handmade beef roll (another common dish at Chinese restaurants). They use a thicker wrap than most places, but it was quite soft and fluffy. The beef was tender and it came with a delicious garlic dipping sauce. Instant favourite.

We are already planning on returning with my family as we were happily surprised at the quality of the food. As of the time of writing this review, the restaurant is open in the evenings only (until late, for those with midnight cravings), plus lunch on weekends (not weekdays).

Summary
Food: Good. Although a little on the greasy side, the dishes were very flavorful and their drinks are made well.

Service: Average. Nothing good or bad to mention.

Setting: Good. Parking is readily available and the interior of the restaurant is nice.

Value: Average. The dishes were average priced for Taiwanese eateries in its class, but the dish sizes were a little on the smaller side.