Today we were at Bimini, Kitsilano’s local watering hole and sports bar since 1975, and its age is showing.
We were here to try their new Grill and Rib fest, a seasonal specialized menu at promotional prices. But first started off with a couple of martinis, they have two versions either mixed with well or premium spirits. We went for the latter and appreciated the choice upon taking our first sip.
I had the Grey Goose Cosmopolitan with Grey Goose Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime. My guest ordered the Belvedere Espresso Martini with Belvedere Vodka, Kahlúa, espresso, and vanilla. Both were pretty standard and as expected.
For food we would try majority of the above mentioned six item menu, everything minus the pollock, as neither of us were particularly excited over fish.
The BBQ Pork Ribs was served with sides and the ability to add on and customize. The base order is a half rack that didn’t look like much. This was a small slab on a larger tray with a small ramekin of coleslaw and a single brick of cornbread. This all felt pre-made and just assembled together, and based on its cooler temperature it tasted like it too. The slaw was watery, the corn bread dry, and the ribs needed a thicker glaze of sweet bbq sauce and/or some on the side to give it personality. As is this was all pretty dull and uninspiring.
The Butterfly Grilled Chicken Breast was marinated with Cajun spice and served with mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and a creamy mushroom sauce. I enjoyed how fresh the plate looked with its bright colours. The vegetables could have used some salt and pepper at minimum, but the serving seemed to have relied on the mushroom sauce to flavour and bring bites to cohesion. All the butter in this did help. I found the chicken skin crispy with a good char, but its ends were dry.
The Grilled Striploin Steak was 7oz and had a similar vibe to the above with the same mushroom sauce, but done more peppery. With the potatoes for a starchy base, and the broccoli and peas for freshness, this felt like a healthier and comforting plate. At $22 this wasn’t the best out there, but it certainly was a more affordable steak lunch.
The best deal was the Grilled Shrimp. Ten peeled shrimp in your choice of Cajun or garlic seasoning, served with a creamy homemade coleslaw. At $13 you got what you paid for and left happy. This too was of good value, salty and heavily seasoned, balanced by the creamy coleslaw. I just could have used a starch as a base to have with all this shrimp. Although it was easy enough to order a such a side as an add on.
The Chicken Souvlaki Platter came with two meaty skewers, heavily coated in herbs, sitting alongside a side Greek salad and tzatziki. The latter was the highlight and needed for freshness in the plate. Otherwise I found the dish bland and the chicken tough. Much like the comments above, this felt premade and assembled given the water weight of the salad and how the meat was not warm through to its centre.
Overall a decent pub menu at a fair price for the community they serve.
Bimini’s Since 1975
2010 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9
(604) 739-0222
biminis1975.ca
