kettleVictoriaSince February 23, 200926 Reviews
(3.1)- Food
(3.2) - Service (3.1)
- Value (3.1)
- Ambiance (3.1)
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(3.1) (3.2) (3.1) (3.1) (3.1)After reading positive reviews of La Fogata (the new place that opened on View St where the old Pig BBQ used to be) I decided to try it. They’re not open on Sundays, but do offer late night hours on the weekends. I tried the arepa with bacon and thought it was delicious. I especially love the couple working behind the counter and how friendly they are. La Fogata is a great addition to Victoria, bringing Colombian food to a city full of Asian cuisine. I will be back to try their other dishes.
Syn, Platinum, and now its the Office. I hope it stays as the Office for a while since it's a great place. My first time there was for a XMas party and the buffet food provided was great. I will have to go back to try something from the menu, which I'm sure will be delicious as well. The $27 Movie Monday deal for dinner and a movie across the street is an enticing offer. And they have live music too! The different lounge and bar section works well. The only thing I would change: the name. Saying "I'm going to the Office" is confusing and who wants to be reminded of work?!
We visited on a Saturday at 10am and was happy not to stand in line. Ordered two eggs benny, and although I was disappointed that my eggs were overcooked, the meal was good. What I do really enjoy is their baked goods, which can be found at the Royal Museum as well. A line did end up forming later, so I suggest going early (as with every breakkie place in Vic) to beat the rush. I am looking forward to visiting in the summer when the patio is open.
I have always wanted to visit the Elbow Room after hearing about the unique dining experience, but I was pretty disappointed. When I heard that they insult you, I was expecting something more… maybe actors/servers with certain lines that they dish out constantly. I was told to get my own water and other than that, I wasn’t as entertained as I hoped. The flamboyant man that served us was fun though, especially when it would be hard to constantly joke with everyone. Okay, now about the food. We ordered one coffee and two eggs benny: four eggs total, two English muffins, veg, meat and some hollandaise. The bill was $40 after the tip- and I’m talking a 15% tip. Maybe we are paying for the Yaletown location? The visit was fun, but I don’t think I will be back.
The only resturant with a view like that of the city can get away with higher prices, snobby servers and mediocre food...
But when I visted Vista I found it to be an excellent restaurant! We stopped by for dessert and drinks, and the atmosphere was perfect with live jazz playing. I thought the server was polite and prompt, the dessert was unique, and I expected the higher prices because the view was amazing.
Compared to other high-end resturants around Victoria with only a view of the ocean, I will definitely come back to Vista, if only for special occasions.
We visited Guu after it was recommended to us, and it wasn't as guu'd as I expected. Many servers helped us, which you would think it would be for faster service, but our five dishes came periodically throughout the hour visit.
I thought all the dishes were fine, but we should have ordered more for the five of us. And I know their policy is to loudly greet everyone who comes in and leaves, but towards the end, I was finding it distracting.
Thsi is a pretty good restaurant, but I think it is better for a group of friends who want a break from shopping. It didn't seem suitable for a diverse family or birthday party.
Last night I went to the Tapas Bar for the first time and found it a nice change the Mint, from my regular place to hang. On a Sunday the two of us got seated right away.
We had a pitcher of sangria on special for $13, the cheese fondue, calamari and chili rellenos. The bill came to $50 including tip. Our server was polite and efficient, and I enjoyed the dim atmosphere and music. It was such a great, relaxing way to enjoy a Sunday night.
A few years ago, this was my friends' favourite place to dine. Then something happened. The bread isn't served with oil and balsamic vinegar, once they even gave us old cold bread leftover from the other tables. Occasionally pastas don't seem as scrumptious. On the most recent visit, the pasta sauce was too liquidy and tasted thrown together. And I discovered that the cheesecake from the Market on Yates is almost as good as Pag's.
I still have Pag's as my top ten in the city, but just because there is always a line outside the door, doesn't mean food quality can slip. Anway, Pag's is a must for any visitor to Victoria.
As a billards place with a bistro inside it, the restuarant portion does well for itself. The food is a bit overpriced for my liking, but it goes well with the upscale atmosphere that Peacock's is trying to give. Although, since all ages come to play pool, I can't see many 16 year olds paying for the food.
For the food itself, the portions are small but the food is tasty. I got nachos once and did not appreciate the miniscule amount of cheese on the chips. The cheesecake was very good. Service is solid, and I am fascinated by the original artwork that lines the walls and tables.
If you want to do something different this weekend, play some pool and grab a bite at Peacock's.
I visited Spinnakers in the summer and was seated outside on the deck. It was a gorgeous day and this was the highlight of the visit. The fish and chips and beef burger were great, and we also got a pitcher of their beer which was good too. Then the bill came and I realized that for that price, I wouldn't be making it a habit of coming back frequently. I love the open kitchen and "elegant pub fare" concept, and I just need to get a raise so I can return and try more items.
Situated on Shelbourne Street within a 15 minute walk of most UVic student's houses, Maude's is a great neighbourhood pub. As a student, you are bound to run into some friends there. The place is usually packed, and therefore sometimes the service a bit slow. The food is decent pub food, with weekly specials. Go there for a pitcher and to watch the game.
Ali Baba has the best value too. The pizza by the slice (1/4 of a pizza!) is always fresh, it's high quality, and less than $5. I definitely recommend ordering a premium pizza. The Phat Philly with a ranch/BBQ sauce base is amazingly delish! Sometimes I get a craving for pizza and go to the buck-a-slice joints, but then I still have to go to Ali Baba to get a "real" slice of pizza.
Named after it's address, 1550's has disputably the best wings in Victoria. I recommend going on Wing Wednesday when they are 40 cents each, or else you will end up paying $16 for a pound. The decor is a bit kitschy with plenty of vases and pottery lining the walls. Service can be a bit slow when the place is packed with students, but the servers definitely try hard. With any great neighbourhood pub, there are good specials, like super cheap highballs on Tuesdays.
Located on Douglas and Fisgard, this cute Thai place opened a couple years ago. The owners/cooks are a friendly, nice couple straight from Thailand. Their smiles and authentic cooking make such a difference compared to larger Thai places. It is usually packed during lunch, and for good reason. With a kitchen area in the middle of the room, they make the available seating work. The decor is great. I highly recommend you visit Sod Sai ("fresh and clear") Thai.
This bar & grill re-opened a couple years ago with new owners/management. It is a great addition to Victoria's sports bars, and now my first choice. Solid food, decent amount of TVs, and packed nights for UFC and especially stand-up comedy on Friday nights. The food is good, and the menu may be a bit limited. But that's okay because you go for the sports. Sometimes the servers are slow, which is understandable for a busy night. Be sure to try a comedy night on Fridays. It's hilarious!
I like how this Japanese restaurant is right beside Chinatown- it makes it stand out more. So I've only had the bento boxes, but they are excellent. Very fresh and lots of food. All the boxes come with salad, fruit, miso soup, your choice of meat, and your choice of sushi. For only $7.95, it's a good, filling choice.
In response to the previous review about respecting the family business and where they hail from... The servers are Chinese! Yes, maybe the owners are Thai, but they shouldn't hire Chinese workers and think they can still call the restaurant "authentic"! After coming back from living in Thailand, I went to Siam and spoke some Thai to the servers. No one had a clue how to speak Thai. They didn't even know khao, which means rice, and is the most basic term. My first dish I tried was the tom yum. The most famous soup from Thailand, it tasted like beef broth. The other dishes were good, but at least get the tom yum right.
If you want to support these "people and the country they hail from" then try going to Baan Thai, Sod Sai on Douglas, or even the Little Thai Place where all the kitchen staff are Thai.
One Sunday a group of us ventured in for the all-you-can-eat sushi. It was about $25/person so we made it our mission to get the most for our money. The sashimi rules were confusing: only three pieces per person per type, or something like that. The cuts of fish weren't that good, but it is all-you-can-eat. I enjoyed the other items we ordered, such as the rolls, tempura and cones.
It was fun to cram ourselves full of sushi, and I am happy Yokohama provides Victoria with that option!
I have to echo the thoughts of the previous reviewers: the service needs work. My only visit to Young Young was late one Friday night. I only came for a bubble tea, and after getting the attention of the bar guy, finally ordered it. It was taking a long time to make it, so I walked to Mac's down the street, went to the movie place, started a conversation, rented a movie, walked back... and the teas still weren't made! The tables had dirty dishes on them, and despite the four people working, no one was busing tables. There were tons of students around, probably distracting their friends from doing their job. I like the concept of a trendy Japanese food/bubble tea place in Cedar Hill, but it needs work.
Sports and girls in skimpy outfits. That's what you get when you dine at Shark Club, and I'm sure most males love this fact. The place is usually really packed on UFC nights, so plan on coming a couple hours early and having dinner there. I've always had the burgers, and they are great. The bacon double cheeseburger is exceptional- it's massive, marinated in BBQ sauce, and has quailty ingrediants.
