Dining in Victoria BC
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Victoria, British Columbia.
With more restaurants per capita than any other city in Canada and second only to San Francisco in North America, Victoria is evidently comprised of serious foodies. Chain restaurants are few and far between among stellar, independent establishments that focus on sustainable and local ingredients. The cuisine here then is typified by seafood, fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, and island lamb and poultry. This is coupled with a strong British heritage, accounting for the abundance of pubs and teahouses. But a growing immigrant population and well-travelled residents have influenced a flourishing ethnic restaurant trend too. One thing is certain: the competition is stiff, propelling the Victorian culinary scene into world-class standards.
DINING AREAS
With hundreds of restaurants in such a small geographical area, Victoria presents a veritable smorgasbord of selections heading out in any direction. The main area, however, is the inner harbour downtown near major accommodations. This neighbourhood encompasses the Fairmont Empress, several waterfront restaurants, and chock-a-block eateries amongst the shops on streets such as Douglas, Fort and Johnson (and every side street in between). Visitors are spoilt for choice.
While there is little need to venture farther out of downtown in terms of variety, there are other communities worth exploring away from the madding tourist crowd of summer. Oak Bay is an upscale community boasting a handful of restaurants a mere stone's throw from downtown Victoria. The out-of-town communities of Sidney, Colwood, Langford and Cordova Bay also have their fair share of restaurants.
A SMORGASBORD OF OPTIONS: TYPES OF CUISINE
Pubs
Whether due to the cold, rainy winter weather or the old British heritage, finding a pub in Victoria is as easy as finding cheese in a ploughman's lunch. A trio of pubs owned and operated by the same group have cornered the market on character: Irish Times, Bard and Banker, and the Penny Farthing. Each features traditional and lavish decor making visits an experience. One of the oldest pubs in town, the Sticky Wicket oozes with character featuring seven rooms filled with interesting memorabilia. It's a popular student hangout made even more popular on sunny days for its rooftop bar and beach volleyball.
Bringing a decidedly West Coast feel to the experience is Canoe Brewpub, created out of a warehouse down by the water. They brew a collection of their own beers, as does Spinnakers, a pub of note also waterside and known for its beer and chocolate pairings.
Seafood
Thanks to a seaside location, seafood is a ubiquitous ingredient on Victorian menus. But there are restaurants in town that specialize in the stuff, and to make things easy, the bulk of them are located in waterfront locations. Nothing is closer to the water than Red Fish Blue Fish, which is situated right on the wharf on the inner harbour in a converted shipping container. Socially responsible, their seafood is ethically sourced from companies that employ sustainable fishing methods. Benches are provided for eating fish and chips, seafood rolls and fish tacones en plein air.
Other dockside restaurants include Chandlers, Wharfside and Nautical Nellies, each with an upscale West Coast menu and decor. Look for locally caught Dungeness crab, red coho and sockeye salmon, Fanny Bay oysters from North Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island mussels along with a variety of fresh fish such as halibut, ling cod and rainbow trout.
Regional
If there is anything that typifies Victorian cuisine, it is the use of local ingredients. The agreeable climate helps, making an abundance of ingredients available year round. Also known as farm-to-table cooking, restaurants serving regional foods change menus regularly serving only what is most fresh. This might include wild chanterelle mushrooms or Cowichan Valley salmonberries, springtime fiddleheads or autumn squashes. Along with local seafood, look for meats like lamb from Salt Spring Island, and hormone-free rabbit and poultry. Island cheeses are also something to look for. While there are too many restaurants to mention, local favourites include L'Ecole Brasserie, Cafe Brio and Camille's—all centrally located. A little farther afield in Sooke is the Sooke Harbour House, which prepares a fresh menu daily and relies on its own garden for much of its produce.
Legendary
There are a few places in town that have been around for what seems like forever, making them somewhat iconic on the restaurant scene These are the legendary restaurants that have survived the trends and the economic highs and lows to become the most popular restaurants in town. One such place is Pagliacci's, in operation since 1979. It is distinguishable by its long queue of salivating patrons waiting to dine in this off, off, off-Broadway restaurant. A mural of the Big Apple serves as a backdrop for dozens of signed photos of stars that have dined there, from Bob Dylan to Susan Sarandon. But the real star of the show is the menu—mainly specializing in pastas with gluten-free options available. Another character establishment is John's Place, a casual cafe that has been going strong since 1984 with arguably the best breakfast in town (and there are some very excellent breakfast spots).
Rebar is famous beyond Victoria for its popular cookbook. But it all started in 1989 at their Bastion Square location, where they serve healthy and funky vegetarian cuisine such as the mushroom-pecan burger and spinach and ricotta ravioli.
The jewel of Victoria's culinary crown is certainly the historic and iconic Fairmont Empress. Dine like royalty in the Empress Room with regal views of the inner harbour, a sumptuous decor that includes a hand-carved wood ceiling, and an exquisite West Coast menu. Or try the Bengal Lounge, fit for a Maharaja with its famous Indian buffet.
Afternoon Teas
Victoria is renowned for its afternoon teas—a tradition here that is as old as Victoria itself—the quintessential experience being at the Fairmont Empress within their Tea Lobby. The White Heather Tea Room, James Bay Tearoom, Murchie's, Point Ellice House and the Blethering Place are all area favourites serving the obligatory tiered tray of sandwiches and sweet treats, scones with berries and cream, and endless cups of the most splendid teas.
Diverse Influences
Amidst West Coast cuisine sensibilities, regional food favourites and British influences, Victoria has a good selection of ethnic cuisines due to its growing cultural diversity. Japan is represented by a bounty of sushi restaurants, many of which are found downtown. Other cuisines include Mexican, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Caribbean, German, African, Italian, French, Korean and Mediterranean. Stand-outs are Da Tandoor, Baan Thai, Blue Nile, Hernandez, La Piola, Rathskeller, Matisse and Reef. And don't miss Chinatown, Canada's oldest Chinese district dating back to the 1870s. With it comes a collection of mouth-watering restaurants and bakeries.
DINING AREAS
With hundreds of restaurants in such a small geographical area, Victoria presents a veritable smorgasbord of selections heading out in any direction. The main area, however, is the inner harbour downtown near major accommodations. This neighbourhood encompasses the Fairmont Empress, several waterfront restaurants, and chock-a-block eateries amongst the shops on streets such as Douglas, Fort and Johnson (and every side street in between). Visitors are spoilt for choice.
While there is little need to venture farther out of downtown in terms of variety, there are other communities worth exploring away from the madding tourist crowd of summer. Oak Bay is an upscale community boasting a handful of restaurants a mere stone's throw from downtown Victoria. The out-of-town communities of Sidney, Colwood, Langford and Cordova Bay also have their fair share of restaurants.
A SMORGASBORD OF OPTIONS: TYPES OF CUISINE
Pubs
Whether due to the cold, rainy winter weather or the old British heritage, finding a pub in Victoria is as easy as finding cheese in a ploughman's lunch. A trio of pubs owned and operated by the same group have cornered the market on character: Irish Times, Bard and Banker, and the Penny Farthing. Each features traditional and lavish decor making visits an experience. One of the oldest pubs in town, the Sticky Wicket oozes with character featuring seven rooms filled with interesting memorabilia. It's a popular student hangout made even more popular on sunny days for its rooftop bar and beach volleyball.
Bringing a decidedly West Coast feel to the experience is Canoe Brewpub, created out of a warehouse down by the water. They brew a collection of their own beers, as does Spinnakers, a pub of note also waterside and known for its beer and chocolate pairings.
Seafood
Thanks to a seaside location, seafood is a ubiquitous ingredient on Victorian menus. But there are restaurants in town that specialize in the stuff, and to make things easy, the bulk of them are located in waterfront locations. Nothing is closer to the water than Red Fish Blue Fish, which is situated right on the wharf on the inner harbour in a converted shipping container. Socially responsible, their seafood is ethically sourced from companies that employ sustainable fishing methods. Benches are provided for eating fish and chips, seafood rolls and fish tacones en plein air.
Other dockside restaurants include Chandlers, Wharfside and Nautical Nellies, each with an upscale West Coast menu and decor. Look for locally caught Dungeness crab, red coho and sockeye salmon, Fanny Bay oysters from North Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island mussels along with a variety of fresh fish such as halibut, ling cod and rainbow trout.
Regional
If there is anything that typifies Victorian cuisine, it is the use of local ingredients. The agreeable climate helps, making an abundance of ingredients available year round. Also known as farm-to-table cooking, restaurants serving regional foods change menus regularly serving only what is most fresh. This might include wild chanterelle mushrooms or Cowichan Valley salmonberries, springtime fiddleheads or autumn squashes. Along with local seafood, look for meats like lamb from Salt Spring Island, and hormone-free rabbit and poultry. Island cheeses are also something to look for. While there are too many restaurants to mention, local favourites include L'Ecole Brasserie, Cafe Brio and Camille's—all centrally located. A little farther afield in Sooke is the Sooke Harbour House, which prepares a fresh menu daily and relies on its own garden for much of its produce.
Legendary
There are a few places in town that have been around for what seems like forever, making them somewhat iconic on the restaurant scene These are the legendary restaurants that have survived the trends and the economic highs and lows to become the most popular restaurants in town. One such place is Pagliacci's, in operation since 1979. It is distinguishable by its long queue of salivating patrons waiting to dine in this off, off, off-Broadway restaurant. A mural of the Big Apple serves as a backdrop for dozens of signed photos of stars that have dined there, from Bob Dylan to Susan Sarandon. But the real star of the show is the menu—mainly specializing in pastas with gluten-free options available. Another character establishment is John's Place, a casual cafe that has been going strong since 1984 with arguably the best breakfast in town (and there are some very excellent breakfast spots).
Rebar is famous beyond Victoria for its popular cookbook. But it all started in 1989 at their Bastion Square location, where they serve healthy and funky vegetarian cuisine such as the mushroom-pecan burger and spinach and ricotta ravioli.
The jewel of Victoria's culinary crown is certainly the historic and iconic Fairmont Empress. Dine like royalty in the Empress Room with regal views of the inner harbour, a sumptuous decor that includes a hand-carved wood ceiling, and an exquisite West Coast menu. Or try the Bengal Lounge, fit for a Maharaja with its famous Indian buffet.
Afternoon Teas
Victoria is renowned for its afternoon teas—a tradition here that is as old as Victoria itself—the quintessential experience being at the Fairmont Empress within their Tea Lobby. The White Heather Tea Room, James Bay Tearoom, Murchie's, Point Ellice House and the Blethering Place are all area favourites serving the obligatory tiered tray of sandwiches and sweet treats, scones with berries and cream, and endless cups of the most splendid teas.
Diverse Influences
Amidst West Coast cuisine sensibilities, regional food favourites and British influences, Victoria has a good selection of ethnic cuisines due to its growing cultural diversity. Japan is represented by a bounty of sushi restaurants, many of which are found downtown. Other cuisines include Mexican, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Caribbean, German, African, Italian, French, Korean and Mediterranean. Stand-outs are Da Tandoor, Baan Thai, Blue Nile, Hernandez, La Piola, Rathskeller, Matisse and Reef. And don't miss Chinatown, Canada's oldest Chinese district dating back to the 1870s. With it comes a collection of mouth-watering restaurants and bakeries.
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Historic Inn
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