JUNE 27 / 2003

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East Bound Eatery and Sake Bar A number of us, from the Epicurean Web site had a staff meeting and then decided to get a bite to eat. We ended up going to East Bound Eatery and Sake bar, located at 11248 - 104 Avenue. It is one of quite a few new and interesting establishments to pop up in that more "urbane" part of town. While much of the menu is indeed, contemporary, thee is a strong accent on the more prominent Japanese cuisine. You can get everything from wings and chicken fingers, to hamburgers, to steak, to mussels, salads, pastas and, oh yes…an impressive array of sushi or sashimi. Decor is simple and open, but certainly nice enough. Service is friendly, attentive and lively. It is a "fun" place to try. As for the food itself, my daughter ordered the Fettucini Alfredo, with a Chardonnay, Parmesan and light cream sauce. The egg noodles were just fine and the sauce was very pleasant. My son went for the Club House Sandwich with the grilled breast of chicken, bacon, cheese and mayo. He didn't want any lettuce. (By the way, bacon and cheese sandwiches are pretty impressive…especially if you add tomato.) This was a delicious and highly credible club sandwich. The writers of the site ordered a variety of goodies, ranging from the tamer California rolls to the more exotic selections of sushi and sashimi. We also sampled the tempura, the spring rolls and even a hamburger. There was nothing that was so outstanding that it brought anyone to his or her feet. Yet everything was most enjoyable and there was nothing to fault on anything in particular. The lounge area can be a bit loud at times, but everyone in this world has to live and let live a little. Prices are a bit high in my opinion…but then there is an unfortunate trend these days for a lot of places to jack up the numbers. A dinner for two, with a drink, appetizer and dessert will cost somewhere in the $50 - $60 range, depending upon your specific selections. BEST POINTS: Good overall quality food with good service and a wide selection to choose from. AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: It seemed to take them a while to have the food ready, and the lounge can be a bit noisy at times. RATING CATEGORY: 7.5 out of 10. East Bound is one of the better contemporary eateries to come along.