Filipino food is finally having its moment in Regina


Local foodie eats his way through Regina to share his take on what’s good
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6192664

Their new location is looking beautiful!

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It’s not a Brazilian-owned company that relies on paying immigrants poverty wages to sling shit coffee en masse but there’s a new pub on South Albert in the same mall as Dandy’s and Wiid called Rock Tavern and Eatery. It’s alright for middle of the road pub fare, which aligns with their full restaurant brand, Rock Creek. Here’s my handsome pal standing in front of it.

Happy that local places are trying, but I can't say that excites me in the slightest.

Ya it doesn’t really distinguish itself from Boston Pizza’s lounge down the road.

Me neither

So Rock Tavern & Rock Creek are related - couldn't find any obvious links on their respective pages... but the logo sure made me assume they might be.

We ordered for pick up there a few weeks ago - everything was very good. The vibe inside the place reminded me of a Leos or Vic's - just without all the paraphernalia on the walls & ceiling. It was busy the day we picked up there (a Thursday night, IIRC).

I remember when Rock Creek first opened in the East end. Their menu was refreshing and different. Then they got pretty popular, expanded quickly and became very mundane and average.

That is EXACTLY my thoughts about Rock Creek. Same with the Freehouse (now Social Hall). Seems like Leo's Group was able to figure that problem out (for now).

My gf and I were planning on getting some Beaks this week and were very sad to learn they have closed temporarily. We ended up trying Milu instead, which was very good. There has never been a more important time to support local restaurants.

That's a shame. I drove by it at noon today, and noticed it was closed, which is unusual for a Friday. I had a bad feeling it had closed for good.

I haven't tried Milu yet, but must do so one of these days. Which location did you go to?

The Vic Ave one. We pre-ordered online and picked it up. I got a sub, she got a rice bowl, and we had fresh rolls to share. Gonna have to try their bubble tea next time.

As per Beaks' Facebook page, as of January 11th they are temporarily closed. According to a story in today's Leader-Post, they are closed due to staff shortages. It also mentions that The Keg on Albert South is also temporarily closed for the same reason.

A lot of restaurants closing temporarily in Regina last week due to their staff coming down with Omicron. This should be temporary (let's hope for these places)

'Out of options': Sask. restaurants closing, scrambling due to effects of COVID-19

I don't see Restaurants Canada getting their way and vaccine mandates being dropped.

I'm not confident that dropping the mandate would actually help. Personally (and only speaking for my own circle), many vaccinated people weren't going to restaurants until the mandate, and likely would stop going if they mandate was dropped. True, it matters less with Omicron due to immune escape, but I think it would still track (the behaviour of people). What is really needed is better financial support, if anything.

This, exactly, but alas Saskatchewan is a special province and the only one to not have access to the federal government's financial supports thanks to our own provincial government's inaction.

As far as the Mercury Cafe goes, I have actually never been there so my gf and I are going to give a try this weekend and help provide them some support. I hope everyone here who has the means goes out and helps out our struggling local businesses. Consider takeout if not dining in, when available, instead of using exploitative food delivery apps.

I am largely avoiding eating out, but have a couple of times since the mandates have started (and have done takeout at places that require proof of vaccination).

I wouldn't have gone to any of them if not for the vaccination requirement.

I probably don't matter since I am being careful, but I bet there are a lot of people who would not dine out if not for the requirement.

I used to go to the Merc on Fridays for breakfast or fish & chips. They have a good breakfast (breakfast special M-F) and their fish & chips (Fridays) are probably the best in the city (I speak from experience). I feel bad about not going as often since covid, and on top of that, we have rising prices which limits how often I can eat out or order in. However, I do support local businesses.

Restaurants are getting hit with a double whammy. Not good.

Eating out has gotten really expensive the last 3-5 years and, for a lot of people, COVID hasn't made their finances better. I don't think it's just vaccine passports keeping people from eating out. It's also lack of disposable income.

Is it just me or is the produce section of grocery stores shrinking too? I noticed that at the Southland Safeway which recently got a makeover.

I always get my groceries at Cathedral Safeway, and I have not seen a reduction in their produce section. It is still the same size, and very well stocked (as is the rest of the store).

Yeah I haven't seen any of these grocery shortages the media is on about at any of the stores I shop. Sure, sometimes they don't have something I'm trying to buy but it's always been that way.

That one is still pretty new so I doubt they have changed anything since they opened to replace the old location. Southland Safeway has been around for a long time and they recently had a renovation. The produce section in that store in particular just feels tiny compared its overall size.

I was talking about the size of the produce section, not the the availability of its stock. I have noticed the produce shortages at Costco recently. Are you suggesting that the media is lying about the produce shortages? Not sure our small city is a good representation of the state of the food supply. Perhaps its a sign that people can't afford to eat fresh produce in this city and instead eat at the myriad Tim Hortons and McDonalds in an effort to survive.

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Arby's to the strip mall next to Sobey's Liquor at Northgate Mall
 

according to staff at the east location, it will open in the next 2-3 months.

I still cannot be convinced that my buddy is not the only one in this city that goes to Arbys.

I heard that you have to be really hungry to eat at Arby's :haha:

I have never eaten at Arby’s and I’m pretty sure my family has never either.
Didn’t there used to be only one location at Albert Street and 1st Ave North?

Yes, and then they opened a second location on Victoria Avenue East, just to the west of Tim Hortons on Vic @ Prince of Wales Dr.

The Albert Street location is/was a weird one. Originally that building was a Firestone Tire store. The building was L-shaped but they tore down the part on the south side, and left the rest of the building, which became Arby's and now Popeye's. Class dismissed. LOL

I like Arby's. I just haven't been to one in a long time because I rarely go to the east end of the city (and take-out across the city just doesn't stay warm enough long enough).

Arby's is ok once in a while. I call it the brown baloney place. It's all about the cheese sauce anyway, much like Fuddruckers.

I've also never eaten at Arby's and I always confused it with Hardees but the only location left in Saskatchewan is in Saskatoon.

Anyone know why that one failed? It was beside the equally doomed north Swiss Chalet in Superstore North parking lot.

P.S. I have never eaten at Hardees either.

I remember when Hardees used to be in the East Home Depot. They where like the subway of burgers.

I think you're confusing with Harvey's!

That was definitely Harvey's. I think the last two posters might have both had them confused.

Hardees was the male strip club!

Hardees and Carl's Jr. are owned by the same company. Apparently (as per internet), Hardees cannot operate in Canada due to the similarity of their name to the Canadian chain Harvey's, and therefore all stores in Canada are of the Carl's Jr. brand.

Personally, I don't like Carl's (at least the Regina franchise) and I didn't like Harvey's.

Harvey's has decent burgers. Their fries used to be amazing, and then they changed them (years and years ago) and I stopped going because the fries went from among the best in fast food to among the worst.

Maybe they're not so bad today. Haven't gotten around to going.

That happened with Fuddruckers too. Potatoes are super cheap too so it shows just how much these companies try to suck every single penny they can out of their products. I would have paid the extra 10 cents for the old fries from Fudds.

You are right...I mixed up the names. Harvey's is right...I'm brainwashed by American television

Many fast food fries suck these days. You need to cover or dip them with gravy/mayo/ketchup, or cheese sauce (as I do at Fudd's). Fries are only good while they are hot and fresh.

Burp (sorry!) :haha:

Would love a new upscale restaurant or microbrewery style restaurant for this main floor space. It has always bugged me that the Canada Life building on Scarth has ZERO main floor activity.

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There is plenty of activity on the main floor. It is used by Canada Life. There are meeting rooms, training rooms, the mail room, and receiving, as well as other uses.

Currently, there are only around 30 people working in the building. I have worked there for many years.

Damn, that cafeteria was one of the most underrated places to get lunch in downtown. Sad to see it go.

Me too. It had one of the best views of any eating establishment in the city. This would have been a much better location for Avenue, IMO. Hopefully when things pick up again someone will takeover this space.

Agreed. Just one of those kind of hidden things.

They're referencing activity that connects with and spills out onto the street. The type of activity that activates streets and helps create vibrant downtowns. Unfortunately none of those internalized activities do so. In fact, they have the opposite effect.

You got it right. The main floor of that building never made me want to go in. There wasn’t a patio or signage or anything from street view that made it look like a restaurant or bar or retail that I would want to visit. Famoso, right across the street, with signage and a patio I have definitely visited.

An Earl’s or Cactus Club or something else would be great to give some life to that corner. I also would love some trees (tree cells) planted into the sidewalk on the north side of the Canada Life building.