victoriafoodie's Profile
Are Chain Restaurants a good or bad thing?
Sometimes we do recommend a chain, when the circumstances call for it - e.g. a large group of extended family, varied in age, with some picky eaters.
Best Fish and Chips in Victoria and Vancouver
Estevan, aka Willows Galley, is my favourite f&c in Victoria. I love RFBF but usually get the tuna tacones there rather than the f&c.
Buffalo (Bison) burgers - Vancouver?
They have them at our Thrifty Foods here in Victoria so I bet they have them at the ones in Tsawwassen and Coquitlam too.
restaurants in Victoria/Vancouver with dog friendly patios
Oh, yes, Paprika is wonderful! And you can park right outside the restaurant for sure. There is another restaurant next door called the Village Cafe that serves amazing breakfasts.
Canoe Brew Pub is another option with a large patio. I hadn't thought of it because it's winter now and the patio is closed :)
There are a couple of tables outside at Pizzeria Primastrada, come to think of it. I don't know but I suspect Lucy's in the Square may also put some tables outside during summer.
Bless your poor little doggie's heart. She sounds very well loved.
Help Victoria Chowhounders - Looking for Baked Goods Delivery
I would give De'Lish a call - they make amazing cakes and other treats and I am willing to bet they would deliver as they are a small business and also do catering. 250-598-5614.
restaurants in Victoria/Vancouver with dog friendly patios
Re Victoria:
There is no patio at Pagliacci's so I'm not sure where your dog would sit. I don't think there's one at Sauce either but I never go there so I am not certain.
As other posters have stated, this is a health bylaw, not a restaurant policy. I am a dog owner and lover too so I hate it, but there are a few places that are less likely to be noticed by the health inspector... I would think that going outside of downtown would be your best bet. Also tying your dog up just outside the patio would work, but again only if you don't attract the inspectors' attention.
I would suggest:
Nar (Turkish resto in Oak Bay) - has a large patio and it's outside of town
Sabha Thai (Sidney) - also has a large patio and is outside of town
Red Fish Blue Fish - if it's open (it might not be, depending on when you will be here), it's on a dock and totally open to the air - not technically a restaurant so they can't stop you from having a dog there
De'Lish (cafe in Oak Bay) - has a patio with a dog tie up just off the patio and a bowl of water; the owners will also bring your dog a cookie
Cafe Brio - excellent fine dining downtown, with a patio - but I personally wouldn't be very comfortable tying my dog up there since it's right downtown
Lucy's in the Square - in Fernwood; you could tie dog up outside and sit in the window to watch him/her
Pizzeria Primastrada - in Cook St Village; same as Lucy's, you could tie dog up outside and watch through window.
Both Fernwood and CSV are very dog friendly places, and just outside of downtown.
Enjoy your visit to Victoria!
Brasserie L'ecole Victoria BC
Marc, I am so glad to see your response. I have always been a fan and I was disappointed to hear the OP's story.
Good place for group of 11 to 15 in Victoria
What kind of budget? Stage is a great recommendation but it's quite expensive since, as anewton mentioned, each diner will want to order probably 3 plates to make a meal.
Zambri's is a great suggestion! Another one that might be fun is Nar, a Turkish place in Oak Bay. They have an upstairs dining room where you could seat 15 easily and you'd be separate from the main dining room so could have some fun, be a little loud, etc.
Christmas in Victoria...?
So glad that you enjoyed your stay and had some great food. Sooke Harbour House has always been worth the trip and the price for me. I'm glad it was for you too.
Re microbrews, did you try Driftwood Brewing when you were at Primastrada? I dig it. I can't remember what Bard and Banker has on tap - maybe Phillips? Usually his beers are really good IMO, but the pubs that don't have in-house breweries aren't usually that great - Spinnakers, Swans, Canoe are all better.
Also our liquor laws are bizarre in BC so that's why you can't buy booze except at a CBW or liquor store - and the govt liquor stores close on public holidays.
Christmas in Victoria...?
That is good to know about the B&B. I haven't been there in a while (my baby is 4.5 months old and our ridiculous liquor laws in BC don't allow anyone under 19 into a pub, regardless of whether there is any appreciable risk of them trying to drink - as my husband says, if our son walks up to the bar and orders a beer, please let us know as we'd love to get a photo of that for our album!) I guess it might be time to try it again. For sure the last time I was there it was pretty generic.
So, pusherman, what did you end up doing? I hope you had a nice stay in Victoria!
Christmas in Victoria...?
Oh, this is a tough request, pusherman! Victoria is pretty much a dead zone on Christmas.
I would not recommend the Bard and Banker for food. Their beer selection is good, but the food is just generic pub food and not that great. It is basically a generic Scottish pub-in-a-box. I prefer Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub's food; it is all locally sourced.
Some recommendations worth making a call to the restaurant about:
- Pizzeria Primastrada (Cook St Village)
- definitely Stage or Paprika if they're open
- Lucy's in the Square (Fernwood Village)
- Blighty's Bistro (Oak Bay)
- Cafe Brio
- Brasserie L'Ecole
- sushi - Ebizo Sushi
Oh, another thought. The hotels are all open on Christmas Day. If you're into curry, you could check out the curry buffet at the Empress Hotel's Bengal Lounge. It's an old-school, colonial-decorated sumptuous men's club style lounge, and the curry is good. Also a great place for a single malt.
One more thought! The Village Cafe in Estevan Village might be open for breakfast/lunch on Christmas Day as it is a Jewish resto. Really delish blintzes, latkes, etc.
Good luck, and Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful time in our beautiful city.
Where to buy local cranberries in Vancouver?
I had a friend who lived on a cranberry farm in Maple Ridge; they sold their berries to Ocean Spray. This was in the 90s; maybe they don't use local berries anymore.
Victoria - Bengal Lounge Curry Buffet
I was last there about 4 years ago for the curry buffet and I really liked it. I would call ahead to find out what they've got on offer re vegetarian options.
I love the old-school colonialist vibe in there. The tiger pelt, the palm frond fans, the roaring fireplace...
Decaffinated Tea
Tetley orange pekoe (round bags) comes in decaf and I think it tastes really good, almost identical to the regular.
SF Bay Area hound needs fun foodie stops near Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center
Aw, crap. I guess I thought she could just eat the dog without the bun, but is there gluten in the dogs too? Sorry, jsaimd.
Oh, yeah, +1 for Bin 941; I really enjoy that place when I go to Vcr for work.
SF Bay Area hound needs fun foodie stops near Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center
JapaDog! It's a street cart in front of the Sutton hotel, 1 block from the Sheraton.
Victoria - Saturday Night at Prime
Cool, thanks sdmwest. Can't wait to check it out!
Victoria - Nightime Dessert?
Hmmm... nothing that I would recommend. There is a 24-hour bakery-cafe called QVs, in Chinatown, but I haven't ever had really great desserts there (and I don't know if it's still 24-hour).
The best I can suggest is a hotel lounge like the Bengal Lounge or one of the ones recommended below by cassie, or Stage or Cafe Brio. I would highly recommend the latter two; they are excellent restaurants.
Victoria - Nightime Dessert?
Oy, this is going to be a tough request. Firstly most places are closed Sunday and secondly most places close before 11 even on Friday/Saturday.
Stage (not walking distance; you'd need a cab) is open Sunday and serves excellent desserts.
There is a place called Up After Dark (part of Union Pacific Coffee), which I have not tried, that caters to the late night dessert/drinks set.
I would think the Bengal Lounge at the Empress Hotel would also be open late and on Sundays.
Good luck and let us know what you find.
Where can I buy Malted milk powder?
Oh, you know, it might... very little if it does though (nothing like Ovaltine).
Where can I buy Malted milk powder?
Horlicks is sold at British food import places...
Hotel Grand Pacific Victoria
Haven't tried either, bevo, but that area of town (James Bay) has a couple of great restos. I recommend the Superior for small plates and live music.
Victoria BC - with a toddler
There is a thread called Kid Friendly Victoria - lots of good recs there.
Spot for Engagement on Vancouver Island
My husband proposed to me on the beach at Point No Point (near Sooke). It was really memorable - the waves were crashing so loudly that at first I didn't hear the proposal and he had to repeat it!
There are so many beaches along the coast here that you should be able to find a nice secluded spot to ask her (or him).
The Wickanninish in Tofino is spec-TAC-ular - you could stay there but propose down on the beach (if you walk a bit away from the hotel you can find a spot where there aren't many people milling about).
How's my plan re: restaurants in Vancouver and Victoria
You're probably here by now but the weather is spectacular (Saturday the 27th). Don't forget to always bring a sweater with you in Victoria - it can get wicked cold at night in summer.
Sour cherries in Vancouver?
Dried or fresh? There are dried ones at Galloways and Meinhardts.
How's my plan re: restaurants in Vancouver and Victoria
Your Victoria list looks top-notch to me. Enjoy!
Victoria next Monday: what's good (and open)?
Niche was my favourite restaurant but I haven't been since they put it up for sale. Stage has a great vibe - a bit expensive for small plates, but a fantastic wine list. I would go there.
