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Victoria has a tremendous number and variety of restaurants for such a small city; this fact, and the glorious pantry that is Vancouver Island—think local fish, seafood, cheese, and organic fruits and veggies—keeps prices down (at least compared to Vancouver) and standards up. As an island, there's a self-sufficiency vibe, and t
Victoria has a tremendous number and variety of restaurants for such a small city; this fact, and the glorious pantry that is Vancouver Island—think local fish, seafood, cheese, and organic fruits and veggies—keeps prices down (at least compared to Vancouver) and standa
Victoria has a tremendous number and variety of restaurants for such a small city; this fact, and the glorious pantry th
Victoria has a tremendous number and variety of restaurants for such a small city; this fact, and the glorious pantry that is Vancouver Island—think local fish, seafood, cheese, and organic fruits and veggies—keeps prices down (at least compared to Vancouver) and standards up. As an island, there's a self-sufficiency vibe, and the collaborative foodie ethos between chefs, producers and suppliers is palpable. Restaurants in the region are generally casual. Smoking is banned in all public places, including restaurant patios, in Greater Victoria and on the Southern Gulf Islands. Victorians tend to dine early—restaurants get busy at 6 and many kitchens close by 9. Pubs, lounges, and the few open-late places mentioned here are your best options for an after-hours nosh.
Wild salmon, locally made cheeses, Pacific oysters, organic vegetables, local microbrews, and wines from the island's farm-gate wineries (really small wineries are allowed to sell their wines "at the farm gate") are tastes to watch for. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered to in this health-conscious town, and seafood choices go well beyond traditional fish-and-chips. You may notice an "Ocean Wise" symbol on a growing number of menus: this indicates that the restaurant is committed to serving only sustainably harvested fish and seafood.
Some of the city's best casual (and sometimes not-so-casual) fare is served in pubs—particularly in brewpubs; most have an all-ages restaurant as well as an adults-only bar area.
Afternoon tea is a Victoria tradition, as is good coffee—despite the Starbucks invasion, there are plenty of fun and funky local caffeine purveyors around town.
This circular room with art deco rosewood booths and a 180-degree view over the sailboats of Oak Bay Marina. Ocean Wise savvy, food is all about sustainably sourced seafood including wild salmon and Dungeness crab, all of which are teamed with local organic vegetables. Starters include spot prawn bisque or spiced calamari and fresh shucked oysters. A lunch menu of salads, burgers, and fish and an evening-only sushi bar also favor local ingredients. An attached marina-side coffee bar makes a handy stop for a seaside drive or cycle tour.
1327 Beach Dr., Victoria, British Columbia, V8S 2N4, Canada
If you think that Oak Bay is all British tweeds and shepherd's pies, pull up a stool at the long, polished-wood bar in this thoroughly modern storefront bistro. The imaginative small-plates menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients and regional purveyors in a long menu of charcuterie selections as well as updated comfort foods like braised short rib and onion tortiere, Parmesan frites, mouthwatering soups such as Dungeness crab bisque, and salads. The beers are mostly locally crafted and the wines—from BC and farther afield—come in 1-, 5-, or 8-ounce pours, making it easy to pair different wines with the various tapas. You might top off your meal with a small something-sweet: macarons or a selection of bite-size chocolate treats.
2228 Oak Bay Ave., Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 1G5, Canada
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