Restaurant Review: Jamjar South Granville

By Sherman Chan,
Special to The Post

We had the Hummus Trio consisting of original, lemon and red pepper. All were pretty good except the original which could've used more acidity. We also could've used more pita bread. The Falafelsand did not disappoint.  There were four large perfectly fried balls that were firmly crunchy on the outside. Inside was not fluffy per se, but neither dense. They were nicely spiced.

The Makali (aka deep fried cauliflower) was tossed in pomegranate molasses dressing which was a rather large serving that featured a mixture of large and small florets of smoky cauliflower. I enjoyed the firm, yet cooked through texture, but it could've been crispier on the edges. I loved the sweet and tanginess of dressing. The Riyah (lamb popsicles rubbed with cinnamon, turmeric and Greek yogurt) which was a little pricey. It featured a smoky and crispy char. The meat was a bit overcooked and wasn't as succulent as it could've been.

A Taste of Lebanon featured Olives,Makdous, Feta, Hummus,Muttabel, Mohamara,Spinach Dip,Mujadra, Eggplant Stew, Cauliflower,Falafel and Batata Harra. One of my favourites was the muttabel (roasted eggplant dip with tahini, lemon and garlic) as it was smooth, tart and aromatic.

The beef kibbeh was the best. It sported a smoky sear and was well-seasoned. The shish tawouk (chicken) was also seared nicely, but dry and lacking impact. It could've used more lemon juice.

For dessert, we got the Chocolate Rice Pudding featuring coconut milk and aborio rice. This vegan, gluten-free dessert was actually pretty good where it was creamy while thick and rich. It wasn't overly sweet. Overall, our visit to the new location of Jamjar was decent and reasonably-priced (except for the lamb). But some more refinement is still needed, especially with their proteins.

Jamjar South Granville

1488 W 11th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

The Good:

• Something different, especially for the neighbourhood

• Generally okay pricing considering the area, but some are strangely overpriced

The Bad:

• Some proteins were overdone

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.