Restaurants in Victoria, BC
When your guests are in town, you want to treat them right. Here are some of the highest rated restaurants in the Victoria area, with different cuisines and tastes to tickle the tastebuds of everyone.
Stage Wine Bar Situated in one of the oldest and most interesting places in Victoria, this casual restaurant is perfect for wine lovers, those who adore small plate sharing, and great cheese options. Chef George's small plate menu has five themes: charcuterie, vegetables, cheese, fish and meats, including fare such as marinated olives, artisanal cheeses, spetzle dumplings, steamed clams, and more. All plates are priced at a point between $2 and $12. If you're looking for a large selection of wines, local food, and a knowledgeable and helpful staff, Stage Wine Bar is your place. Their wine selection has a wide range of both whites and reds, and excellent food that complements them. Local products are from vegetable & poultry produce, breweries, wineries, and coffee roasters.
The Black Olive Restaurant This popular Greek and Mediterranean inspired restaurant is nestled off the beaten tourist track just half a block from Victoria City Hall. Featuring a casual fine dining experience in an unpretentious environment, it's no wonder why this friendly and delicious restaurant is so popular among locals and tourists.The menu features locally grown, wild and organic fare, everything is made in house, and its menu is popularized by being internationally known for its Rack of Lamb and Mediterranean West Coast Cuisine. Traditional dishes such as kritkia, a Greek salad with Kalamata olives, feta, oregano, olive oil; seared calamari, black olive liniguine pesto, clams in a savory broth, lamb chops with red wine demi-glaze, are just some of the menu offerings. They also offer the chef's own Kastamonitsa olive oil to take home.
Skinnytato Looking for traditional, classic Polish food? Look no further than Skinnytato, a delicious East European Polish restaurant with all the right dishes. Using high quality ingredients, this brings the authenticity right to Victoria. Consider pierogies filled with mushrooms, cheese, sauerkraut, beef or potato. Potato pancakes with sauerkraut and thin slices of kielbasa. Potato salad with dill pickles. Cold, savory beet salads. An that's just the beginning. Even Polish alcohol options, including Zywiec lager.
Cafe Ceylon Cafe Ceylon is a Mecca for excellence. With a wonderfully friendly chef and owner, layers upon layers in flavors in the dishes, menu items that are just plain delicious, this is a restaurants loaded with well done dishes. Chef Tamara Bailey is a native of Sri Lanka, using the principles of Ayurveda in her cooking which gives the food she prepares a balanced and harmonious taste. The menu features an array of soups and salads with Indian breads such as papadum and naan, Sri Lankan coconut roti with dhal sauce and organic cucumber yogurt sauce, vegan friendly Bhikshu's bowl, Indonesian Nasi Goreng (fried rice and eggs), Koulfi (Indian Pistachio Ice Cream), Wadiyan Vindaloo (Hot and sour soya meat balls), and more. The dishes are filled with flavor, moderately priced, and all within a cozy, friendly atmosphere.
Brasserie L'ecole This French inspired restaurant is dining at it's finest, all within a nice bistro that doesn't allow reservations - but the wait is worth it. Defined as "an unpretentious restaurant that serves drinks, especially beer, and simple or hearty food", it is an element of the classic French bistro/brasserie design and menu. The menus change nightly, focusing on Chef/Owner Sean Brennan's approach to using seasonal, locally available products cooked in a classic French-country style. Highlights of the menu include stuffed dates with Roquefort and smoked almonds, chicken liver mousse with cornichons and grain mustard, quinoa, olive and goat cheese fritters with piquillo vinaigrette, or the steak frites with red wine and shallot sauce and Roquefort butter. Whatever you choose, you'll love to savour each bite in this hidden gem in Victoria.
Ferris' Oyster Bar This restaurant is the perfect balance of casual atmosphere with high quality food. casual but with high quality food. Ferris' Oyster Bar is simply delicious. Loaded with fresh flavor, everything from perfectly cooked salmon to juicy burgers grace the mneu. But that isn't even what they are known for! Their menu is chocked-full of oyster based dishes, including everything from raw to breaded to baked and more. Their raw oysters are very fresh and buttery, just as you would expect, with different sauces to complement the flavor, such as habanero, vinegar, and others. Baked oysters are flavorful and tender, and breaded options come with that perfect fried texture. For those who want a little bit of everyday with a twist, this is the restaurant for you.
Pizzeria Prima Strada Prizzeria Prima Strada will bring you right back into Italy. Featuring solid, authentic flavors, it pays homage to their Italian roots with a commitment to simple and fresh ingredients on traditional wood-fired, thin crust pizzas. The inspiration for Pizzeria Prima Strada stems from a passion for the authentic, fire-roasted pizzas born in Naples and found throughout Italy. They also provide catering. Their menu features a wide variety of antipasta, including salumi, cheese, and focaccia, a large wine menu, impressive, but deliciously simple pizzas, and classic Italian desserts, such as tartufo affogato, tiramisu, panna cotta, and more.
Cafe Brio Cafe Brio is aimed at serious diners, promoting the cuisine of Vancouver Island with a French and Italian twist. Named as one of the Top 100 Restaurants in Canada in Wine Access Magazine, they are known for their salumi and Italian cured meats, all made in-house. Options include salumi with lamb, complemented with a mixture of red wine, garlic, pepper, and salty, smoky prosciutto aged at least 12 months.
Ulla Using local ingredients, classic flavours and modern techniques, Ulla has a commitment to using local organic products whenever possible, balanced with ethically raised proteins. The menu features something for everyone, from simple seafood dishes to flavorful vegetarian options. There are many wines to choose from, along with cocktails, each balanced to go perfectly with your meal. It doesn't just stop at the food, though. The building has character as well, with brick walls, high ceilings, arched windows, and contemporary art that brings life to the room. Sample the duck prosciutto, pastrami spiced tofu, and poached chicken breast. Simple and satisfying, with that extra twist.
Nautical Nellies If you're looking for the classic steakhouse, look no further than the " World Famous " Nautical Nellies. They serve only award winning Certified Angus steaks and fresh seafood, all high quality with a great group of staff and chefs. They have a cozy dining room with 120 seats, as well as a heated patio with 38 seats and a gorgeous view of Victoria's Inner Harbour, making for the perfect atmosphere for wedding-related get togethers. They also have a detailed sushi bar, a large wine and cocktail list, and more.