Author: Corey_Castano

Since my initial experience at the Banana Leaf on West Broadway, I’ve been back several times with my partner and family. Over the intervening months, I’ve had the pleasure of trying different menu items while also re-visiting old favourites. In the end, I’m left to...conclude that maybe – just maybe – I was a little hard on the Banana Leaf in my initial review. But, hey, at least I’m not afraid to offer a revised opinion should one be merited! My initial comments on the atmosphere at Banana Leaf remain the same. It is a colourful contemporary space, replete with Malaysian influence. The mix of individual tables and long booths, punctuated by the “splashes” of greenery from the plants, makes for a vibrant yet cozy dining environment. Of course, there is one big difference between my experience of 2019 and that of 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic. In the current day, seating capacity has been reduced so as to comply with Provincial Health guidelines and plexiglass barriers have been erected between some tables. In addition, servers must wear face-masks at all times. Surprisingly, none of this impacts the environment or atmosphere at Banana Leaf. The servers remain engaging and friendly while the overall ambiance of place and space remains warm and inviting. I think all of this is a testament to how well the team at the West Broadway Banana Leaf operates – you do not really notice the pandemic measures in place while dining. I won’t comment on all the dishes I’ve tried since my initial visit; however, I will note that all of them, including some I knocked previously, have been exceptional in both presentation and flavours. Consider the tiger prawns sambal. Served with a fine and fair mix of chili, shallots, garlic, turmeric, lemongrass and dried shrimp paste, the dish is beautifully presented, with the jumbo prawns taking center stage. The vegetables are vibrant and bright while the prawns are succulent and juicy. The spice is enough to give a “kick” to the dish, but doesn’t overpower the natural flavours of the prawns. Similarly, the sablefish with caramelized ginger highlights what Banana Leaf does well – West Coast fusion with traditional Malaysian sauces and preparations. The sablefish, which is a naturally rich fish, works beautifully with the caramelized ginger. Finally, I also had to re-try the assam curry scallops, which I’d previously described as “the biggest disappointment” because “it was just so bland.” Well, I’ll be more than happy to eat my words because my most recent experience did not reflect that at all. The scallops were cooked to perfection – tender and juicy – and nicely infused with the curry. I appreciated the subtle hints of lemongrass and garlic, which elevated the dish to new heights. FOOD: 5/5 SERVICE: 5/5 VALUE: 4/5 RECOMMENDATION: In my previous review, I concluded by saying that “I would rate the Banana Leaf at 3.5 out of 5” because “What we had was above average, but not quite ‘very good.’” Now, I’m very happy to do an about-face. Since my initial dining experience, I’ve been here a number of times and been wowed by both food and service. In fact, the Banana Leaf on West Broadway has become my partner and I’s “go to” for date nights! Highly recommended. PS: If you found this review helpful in any way please consider hitting the "helpful" button!More