April 15, 2008 at 9:38 pm
· Similar Stories in Openings & Closings, Restaurant News
I took a peek in at Ping’s Cafe tonight and was wowed by what I saw. The new restaurant at Main and 11th (2702 Main) just opened this past Friday. It’s all about Japanese comfort food, and the room is a tiny stunner. There was no pre-opening buzz about it at all. In fact, none of the restaurateurs I know who work the same strip of Main knew it was coming. It was quietly birthed, as if from the ear of Minerva.
It was put together by a collection of Vancouver artists and designers. It shows. Lit by dozens of wire-arrested fixtures shaped like cuttlefish tubes, the 30 or so seats face eachother in a small, lofty box. Dark grey woolen felt is folded in rough pleats along the banquettes under large, birch-framed mirrors (good luck getting the crumbs out, dudes). Tables are silver-grey, and the walls, ceiling, and bar all emanate creamy hues of a comforting sort. A massive Rodney Graham canvas dominates the rear part of the room (I’ve heard the artist is an investor), while the front is shadowed by heavy curtains shielding every diner from the world outside. Not that you’d notice it from the outside, mind. The frontage is ugly, brutishly beige and unappealingly brickish, and the windows are smoked out save for a thin strip where only the most depraved of voyeurs could possibly sneak a peak-a-boo.
The menu is izakaya-esque on the appetiser front, with usual suspects like kabocha pumpkin croquette ($6), edamame ($5), and karaage ($6) all making appearances. Their “Ping Fries” look interesting with their mayo and aonori ($5), as does the “Ping Dog”, a grilled bratwurst with daikon and hot pepper-spiked ponzu ($6). For mains they do panko-crusted prawns deep-fried with a tartar sauce ($16), miso cod ($18), sukiyaki beef ($16), ginger pork ($15), and plenty more. The menu reads really well.
For booze, they’re doing 3 reds, 3 whites, 3 saké, and 1 rosé. I didn’t see any cocktails on the lists I was shown, but I did see 11 different beers, among them Asahi, Czechvar, Palm, and King Fisher.
The chef is a Japanese import, and though I’ve yet to stay long enough for a nibble I’ve been encouraged by the first reports from friends. It sounds like it’s a goer.
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KarenDw wrote @ April 15th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Sounds intriguing. what was in that space before?
I have no idea what it was immediately prior to their takeover of the space.
The “Ping’s Cafe” sign was apparently discovered under another sign. They left the sign up with the awning that once covered it, and decided to call it Ping’s Cafe again.
I think that’s the story. Could be wrong.
chowman wrote @ April 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I am pretty sure that there was a Ping’s Cafe in the space previously occupied by Monsoon. This goes back several years. The space now occupied by Ping’s used to be a Japanese restaurant. It was so non-descript that I do not remember the name
I’ve been living around Main street for a long time. The space occupied by Monsoon was originally “George’s Grill”, one of many greasy spoons peppered along main street. The space across the street (currently Kishu Island) used the be the “Premiere coffee shop”. Pings was a greasy spoon, then the owner’s son turned it into the short lived venture “Pings at night”.
chowman wrote @ April 19th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I could have sworn that Pings and George’s were in the same spot. I cannot tell from tangentman’s post if I am incorrect. I ate at George’s in the daytime and recall the sign referring to Ping’s.
I went here and was disappointed by the saki. I was expecting a saki cup’s worth but had to peer into the cup to find the liquid way on the bottom. It’s about an ounce or less for $6. It looked like somebody had drank it and they brought me the dregs. I sipped it very slowly and was very disappointed.
Wiggles wrote @ April 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
this is exciting news, especially for peeps like me who are still irked by the closing of monsoon (rip).
ReleaseB wrote @ April 22nd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
It used to be Miyagi sushi. It was owned by a lovely couple but the place lacked any real pizazz especially with two quite fabulous sushi places nearby. I always wondered how it survived.
MainM wrote @ April 27th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Just curious which quite fabulous sushi spots you are referring to? I have only found Zipang on Main & 21st to be really good.
tre wrote @ April 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am
there indeed used to be a Ping’s Cafe there. It used to be a lunch hangout for the kids and teachers that went to the private high school on the other side of Main/11th. (disclosure, i went to that school but never went to Ping’s for lunch). It is probably a throwback dedication to the name/history of the place.
pings and george’s grill were a block from each other. George’s was next to the parking lot at main and broadway.
Munchkin wrote @ May 11th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
We popped by Ping’s tonight for dinner and left with very happy full bellies. The “Bang Bang Chicken” , “Ebi Gyoza”, and the “Sunomono” were the favourites of the bunch. The “Hambagoo” took me back to my Chinese mom’s version of a Western burger patty. The room is stark but gorgeous. Definitely something different for this city.
[...] out other web people talking about the place, HERE, HERE and [...]
I was going to have a dinner at Pig’s Cafe but it was very and very annoyed by several things.
1)What the hell is Pig’s Cafe anyway, don’t keep previous restaurant name. Come up with new name. It is Japanese Restaurant then put Japanese name.
2) What hell wrong with these people who visited there. There is no parking lot at rear. Nor spot anywhere. Bullshit!
3) What hell. The sign is shitty, the door looks poor. No intension of trying to attract customers. If you want to do businss, do something nice outside as well. May be menue is very appealing to Canadians but as a Japanese insult.
4) What hell wrong with Georgia Straight, Pig’s Cafe got some good comment and trun out be shitty place.
5) It is waste of time, money, gasolin is expensive, do better business plan.
I was very disappointed and annoyed by this restaurant. Name, no parking lot, no able to see inside the restauran.
What hell!, Get rid of the name and put proper Japanese name for Japanese Restaurant. No business plan whatsoever. Very and very annoyed. How could they can open a restaurant in Canada? Such insult!! I will never recommend to someone.
George wrote @ June 14th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Japlish is so funny.
Mary wrote @ June 14th, 2008 at 10:54 am
MainM, you were asking about good sushi in the area , TOSHI!!! You just must go!
Thank you for your comment, George. You should comment on Ping’s Cafe, not someone’s poor English. If you want to comment such a thing, you shouldn’t be commenting at this site but somewhere else.
PickyEater,
Why are you so angry? It’s just a restaurant. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it.
I won’t be insulted if someone named Korean fusion restaurant something other than Korean. (I’m Korean.)
Why do you need a parking lot? It’s not a necessity. I think many of Main joints open for neighbourhood peeps, not as destination spots. You can find a parking spot if you really try, same in Kitslano, downtown, list goes on.
Things change, evolve, mix and grow. Think outside of box.
If you can’t spell, why would you think I want to read YOUR restaurant review. What does a parking lot, sign, name have to do with Main St? It sounds like you belong on Robson or South Granville where you pay 10 times as much to be in the “wanna be” scene and might get spotted. Stay out of the hood man! we’re quite happy to not have neighbours like you!!!!
You should know the line “Location, Location, Location”.
Not only location but also when you do a business everything counts from location, exterior, interior, staffs, customers and many more.
You see that’s why there is no Michelin guide book for any of Canadian cities because you Canadian don’t care about anything.
Irishgirl wrote @ October 5th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Wow. Can you say a huge generalization?
Can we all just stop being racists, and talk about food? If you are so upset with Ping’s business plan, sir, then perhaps you should send them a letter.
You sound like you have exacting standards, and there are people in Canada who are like that as well. But to go to a “cafe” and expect those exacting standards is a bit much.
Also, to trash the restaurant on a public website and expect people to agree with you is a bit much as well.
Good luck sir. I don’t know what your business is, but I feel that your exacting standards would make it interesting at least.
This blog is the greatest. I love that Picky Eater’s comments just boosted the character of Ping’s 10 notches.
I think Pings is like a little treasure box. It under-promises and over-delivers, which, in my opinion is the best way to do business. From the outside it doesn’t even look open, and then once you get inside you are wowed by hand crafted elegance that is at once beautiful and comfortable. I also really appreciate that they are open late, which is rare in Vancouver.
I agree with “eat don’t criticize” that staying local is important and that there is no need for a parking lot. Go Green “picky eater” and stay home if you are going to have an attitude like that!
If you can’t appreciate the atmosphere and are looking to stuff yourself for pennies, then this is not your place, but if you are looking for a beautiful home cooked Japanese meal in a serene and friendly environment, then you should definitely try this out.
jonathan wrote @ February 6th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
what a joke.
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