We celebrated our 25th anniversary by taking the Victoria Clipper from Victoria to Seattle and spending 3 days enjoying the sights and food of the area.

We had two delightful dinners and enjoyed the view on offer at AQUA by El Gaucho off Pier 70.

The first night was stormy and the bar and dining room afforded a terrific vantage point of the waves and crashing surf. Excellent service and useful advice from the two sommeliers we dealt with.

I had a nice lunch sitting up at the bar art MATT's IN THE MARKET as my wife continued her shopping and my back and a "powerful thirst" persuaded me to take a break. Delicious halibut sandwich that might have come as a "McFish" but was anything but. Big portions of barely cooked halibut that was just as I like it, cooked to barely opaque.. Busy, lunchtime crowd. Good service and excellent chat wtih Sal up at the bar.

As a result of things I had read at this site we had intended to try get into SPINASSE as we both enjoy Italian for our anniversary dinner but they were closed on Tuesday. Instead we went to ALTURA. Very good food. My wife still raves about the American Wagyu beef she had because it was so "melt in ones mouth". My basil fed snails and braised lamb cheeks were good.

Again excellent service in a pleasant albeit bustling atmosphere for a Tuesday. The only drawback was we were seated a a table for four which was already occupied by another couple, the four of us being divided by a large flower bouquet. Seemed strange as no one had told us of this before hand but worked out well and there was literally no other seats during the time were there whether at a table or up at the bar. Turns out the other couple were just recently married in Portland and we were there for our 25th year celebration.

Had other meals at ELLIOTT:'s ...yes I know, very touristy but that was what we were. Nice salmon, good view and excellent Oregon pinot noir....al fresco out on the deck at the PINK DOOR off Post Alley on the advice of the staff at the INN AT THE MARKET where we stayed as well as CUTTERS where we sought refuge from the heat on our last day before sailing back to Victoria in the afternoon.

We thoroughly enjoyed Seattle and will be back now that we got a lot of the tourist things out of the way.

Bob & Sandy Macdonald, Edmonton, ALBERTA

1+ for Rosie and crew at Cibo

Don't mean to hijack your thread but Spinasse was a spot which we were thinking of going for our anniversary when we visit Seattle for the first time in May.

Apart from price which I can get from their menu, any other comments?

Thank you gumption, akq and kaleokahu.

I am developing quite the list.

Much appreciated.

This thread's tilte applies to me as well. Wife and I are visiting Seattle for the first time in May [taking the Clipper from Victoria] staying at the Inn At The Market and am looking for spots to eat during the three days we'll be there.

No car. Open to any food although wife does not particularly care for seafood...yes, yes I know, why go to the coast? Comforable casual style best appeals rather than shirt and tie. Money not a big isssue. Good wine a plus.

Do not intend to hijack the OP's inquiry but this is a good source of general info.

SOBO here in Tofino has had them topped with or without pecans this week

Never having tried any of the various "GUU incarnations" while visiting Vancouver I look forward to trying this one here.

The drink list is quite impressive...the beer rivals most of what is currently available in town.

Either of the two private rooms adjacent to but at opposite ends of the dining room in Sorrentino's downtown.

The room in the bsmt of the Hardware Grill.

One of the room downstairs at Ruths' Chris

Those are the ones which immediately spring to mind.

chefathome:

The next time you are in town, try out EVOOLUTION on 104th Street, just North of Jasper.

They specialize in olive oil and balsamic vinegars but I did "taste" a sherry flarvoured one too. Great to be able to taste before one buys.

I picked up a sharp, "green" olive oil from Portugal and a lemon infused one...the latter has been "getting a lot of work" on grilled veggies and meat off the barbeque.

Some of my "haunts" are:
-Sorrentino's Downtown
-Bistro Praha
-100
-Sabor Divino

Cleo:

I am currently enjoying the frizz ante bottling of Medici Concerto Lambrusco that is about $15 up here in Edmonton....quite dry...good food wine and a nice alternative to the sweeter sparkling shiraz from OZ

Long gone I am afraid, picardsteele. I enjoyed it as well. He was from Pointe Claire I think.

What is "bugst's" an abbreviation for?

Scary Bill:

The Co-Op in Tofino is much improved and you can just about get most things you will need there.

Beaches out on the Highway in what has almost become a gravel/dirt "strip mall" houses a number of spots but the Beaches Grocery there has a surprising number of things from rice and beans to frozen duck breast and whatever mushrooms are "pickable" at that time of the year. I go there almost on a daily basis when we are visiting after Thanksgiving.

Cannot help with Nanoose Bay as we have never stopped in all the time we have been heading to the coast.

Thanks anewton....usually you are one of my "stand-bys" when I am looking for Victoria info.

I usually try to get out of my hotel but their menu and the accolades they have received since Gill's review tempt me. Unfortunately, my wife is not a fish fan...yes, yes I know if that is the case why do we head to the Island all the time? Reality is, I am.

I think our itinerary is complete. We fly out this afternoon and will meet family at the English Bay Cactus Club for an early dinner as I ":work"...well sort of...tomorrow. I just want a nice bottle of wine, a seat with a view of the water and I can "chill out" .

Tomorrow we are heading to a spot [as of yet unnamed] on the North Shore as that is where our friends are and Saturday my wife and I will find another spot with a view for lunch and meet up with our friends some place downtown. They are good company and so I am sure we'll enjoy ourselves.

We get to Victoria more often than Van so am looking forward to the week-end. During past visits we've introduced them to Ouest [as it then was]. Lumiere, La Regalade, Cru, etc. so it will be good.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Siena sounds like Cru was the one time on a past visit we "introduced" our friends to it. Copious quantities of Poplar Grove cab franc and mouthfuls of Tiger Blue cheese spring to mind.

We usually end up on the north shore with them so this will be a change.

Lotusrapper, I expect I'll pop into Yew if no other reason to spy their wine list which advertises 300 wines by the glass.

Looking forward to seeing the water and relaxing.

I am flying in for the week-end Thursday afternoon. We are meeting good friends who have suggested Ensemble and another which is apparently amore casual offering from the folks from Cru.

We are staying at the Four Seasons and are interested in good interesting food of any type but are up for more casual than dressed up. A view of the water would be a plus for me. I intend to go for some wine at the Cactus Club at English Bay. I don't mind CC and quite enjoy their tuna club. We did the Boathouses in Kits and New West last visit so will give them a pass.

Comments?

Dawnerson:

Yes Murphy's is indeed a decent stout. I do not live in Calgary but I think I did have it at the pub in Eau Claire...the one which is just across the lane from Joey's, the Barley Mill? It was some time ago so I do not know if they still stock it.

It was originally poured for me at the Irish Times in Victoria...Guiness without that sharp after-taste

Good luck

Cibo Bistro or Red Ox Inn

I finally made it to Cibo this lunch hour and must say that I was impressed despite the fact as others have already commented, lunch is more restricted than dinner. Nice room. Fairly spacious despite the fact that is long and relatively narrow with the exception of the immediate area where one enters and the long table for bigger parties. I do not know if that becomes "family" communal style on busier nights. I selected their arugula salad with apple slivers and walnuts with a lemon vinaigrette and the arancini with black chanterelles. Both were ($10). Also on the menu, i.e. read chalk board ...were a couple of sandwiches and a couple of pastas which I no longer remember. The soup was chowder. If memory serves me correctly, they were all in the $8 to $10 range. My salad was very good. The arugula was peppery but not overly "green" as can be the case elsewhere as the arugula itself was smaller and delicate . It did not "suffer" from being "over dressed" which can be the case and is one of my bete noire's. The two arancini were superb. Raquet ball sized. The exterior broke off easily releasing the rice, cheese and mushroom interior. Nice blend of crunchy exterior, al dente rice, salty interior and slivers of black mushroom. Are black chanterelles and black trumpet mushrooms the same thing? I do not know but these added colour/contrast and taste. Neither were too large, but combined made for a nice lunch. Their wine menu is well chosen. I had a nice montepulciano which went well with the food. While eating lunch I had occasion to read their dinner menu and speak with the chef. Friendly with a good attitude. Keeps the menu small with enough changes so that both the "buying public" and the kitchen brigade are enthused. Definitely will be back some evening. I could "graise" on the appetizers and other antipasti alone but it will be a battle of who gets the osso bucco v. the braised beef cheeks. Now have to try Corso32 though recent articles have left the impression that it is hard to get a seat if you have not made a reservation some time ago. I chuckled when I most recently read that in Hicks' column. Food writers may think that is a complement but I know that it can drive restaurant owners mad...or is that madder?...in that the general public may decide not to call on a whim when they do have an empty table rather than be rebuffed.

Cibo is a good bet. Excellent food. Interesting albeit admittedly limited at lunch. Excellent, friendly service.

Did not make it downtown last week but am back at work on Monday, so perhaps I will make it to Cibo. By the time dinner comes around I am out of the city centre and back to suburbia so do not know when I will get to try out Corso.

I chuckled at the music comment. Chefs with attitude. Zambri's in Victoria is that way if some poor soul suggests variations.

Remember ordering lamb chops rare in a Greek spot [is there any other?] in Jasper and being told, "the Greeks do not eat their lamb rare" to which I responded, "I am not Greek, and I do".

Have not tried Hassan's B olognese recipe. I have one, well sort of [smile] that combines about three. Mine uses ground veal, pork and beef and the last time, chicken, just because it was around. I subscribe to the white v. red wine and add milk and cream school of thought. This pot did not turn out too bad from the one bowl I have tried....the rest is in the freezer.

Hamilton Lake:

There are a couple of posters from Winnipeg so hopefully you will get more input from the list. My last visit to the 'peg was too many years ago to be of use.

Hungarian, "was too out there for some..." [?] Does not sound like your group is very adventurous.

Have not tried Boccavino during visits to [what I am assuming is] Calgary. Look forward to hearing from others who have

LOL, unfortunately have to agree

Which may be the reason they are generally toasted.....

As a former Montrealer, I am a fan of the bagels from St. Viateur...family "peace offering" when I would stop in the wee hours of Sunday morning after a night on the town and pick up a bag or two which I left on the kitchen counter for their breakfast as I slept off my "sins" ......

fexlx:

I have been "out of the culinary world" of late and have not been downtown to eat at either Cibo or Corso 32 although both are spots I have intended to visit.

I am going to try to get to Cibo this week for lunch.

Both strike me as being more "authentic" [?] and rustic Italian, ie. arancini and the like, than VIVO which has as one its main attractions the grill. Mind you there is nothing wrong with beef or lamb on the grill or their grilled caesar salad. The last time I was there was lunch when they opened at that time prior to Christmas Eve.

In speaking with the original chef at VIVO his eyes lit up when I suggested they should try grilled rabbit but my "impression" is that he has gone elsewhere.

I made three big pots of spaghetti sauce and ragu bolgnese last week so I exepect my Italian will be chez nous for the next little while ....[smile]

jerkstore:

My "knee jerk" reaction to those two suggestions is "decent beer but mediocre food".

Canoe is a place I have wanted to like. Good clean decor, wood, brick, etc. Menu usually reads very well and seems interesting but the food has always disappointed.even though we are tempted, particularly for lunch. On our more recent visits to Victoria I have given it a miss.

Swans. Did not inspire food-wise but enjoyed some of the beers. Friendly bar staff, interesting First Nations Art throughout.

Please post after your visit because our dinner card is always full to overflowing but lunch has been more problematic....although we at ate Zambri's [finally a restaurant had Falanghina by the glass with Fiano di Avelino as a back up]on a couple of occasions and then one at Primastrada as well.

Does their menu offer a number of selections to accompany the meat if you so wish? What is the Italian term, contorni? Veggies, salads etc. like what Zambri's in Victoria does with their terrific cauliflower

That is too bad misterpeer.

I just went through the menu posted on the internet and from what I read, it interests me. Will have to pop in the next time I am around the area at lunch time.

Are they in the same space that used to house Blue Iguana? A place I really "wanted to like" but the menu was always better written and generally more interesting than the food which was delivered.

Can depend upon my mood and the extent to which it has or is snowing, but my favourite is to head north and walk past the Y and through Eau Claire Market and take the footbridge across the river into Prince's Island and take the short stroll to River Cafe. Nice atmosphere. Excellent food and wine with an emphasis upon regional fare.

Often have dined alone either in the dining room or more often, up at their bar.

islandgirl:

I have in the past from just about, if not the actual, the year they opened. Lisa and her husband of SOBO were part of management in the early days and that is where I had my first "Killer" fish taco.

In years gone by...although not this last visit in October...we would usually pop in for at least one lunch. The Great Room within the Lodge affords a beautiful view of Cox Bay and the rolling surf there differs from that which one sees from Chesterman Beach where we stay. Always pleasant but not outstanding and they seem to have quite the staff turnover.

Another option when you want an ocean view so SoBo and Shelter are out, you do not want to splash out $ at the Wick and the weather drives you inside from the Wildside Grill.

Look forward to reading your post when you finish your visit

Just lunches there us as with the Black Rock in Ucluelet.