| |
| Victoria is a world-famous destination for travelers, as well as a popular place for Canadians to enjoy life.There are a number of outstanding Victoria BC restaurants offering cuisine comparable to that found in New York, San Francisco, Paris or Rome, and all located close to Abigail’s Hotel. Here is a sample of local restaurants in Victoria BC: |
 |
|
THE MARINA RESTAURANT (Price: $12 to Over $30)
1327 Beach Dr., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
(Phone: 250/598-8555)
A prime spot for Sunday brunch, the Marina has a 180° view over Oak Bay. The extensive menu usually lists a variety of pastas, grills, and seafood entrées, such as grilled rare ahi tuna and slow-roasted B.C. spring salmon.
There's also a sushi bar. Downstairs is a more casual café-deli with seating on the patio overlooking the marina.
BARB'S PLACE (Price: Under $8 to $12)
Fisherman's Wharf, Erie St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/384-6515) |
 |
| Funky Barb's, a blue-painted take-out shack, floats on the quay where the fishing boats dock, west of the Inner Harbour off Erie Street. Cod, halibut, oysters, seafood burgers, chowder, and carrot cake are all prepared fresh on the premises. The picnic tables on the wharf provide a front-row view of interesting vessels, including a paddle wheeler, houseboats, and some vintage fishing boats. There's also a grassy park nearby. Ferries sail to Fisherman's Wharf from the Inner Harbour. Closed Nov.-Feb. |
 |
|
BRASSERIE L'ÉCOLE (Price: $12 to $20)
1715 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/475-6260)
French country cooking shines at this informal Chinatown bistro. The historic room -- once a schoolhouse for the Chinese community -- evokes a timeless brasserie, from its white linens and patina-rich fir floors to the chalkboards above the slate bar listing the day's wines-by-the-glass. Sean Brennan, one of the city's better-known chefs, works with local farmers and fishers to source the best seasonal, local, and organic ingredients. The menu changes daily but lists such classic bistro fare as duck confit, steak frites, and mountain trout with brown butter, sage, and lemon. Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch.
RESTAURANT MATISSE ($8.00 - $30.00)
Classic French Cuisine without the pretentiousness. Choose from such traditional French dishes as “Coquilles St Jacques” and “Beef Bordelaise” or dishes with a more West Coast flare such as “Loin of Smoked Tuna Aiole” and “Local Sea Scallops”. Pair your meal with a wine off their extensive menu. Experience a taste of France in the heart of downtown Victoria.
CAMILLE'S (Price: $12 to $30)
45 Bastion Sq., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/381-3433)
The menu concentrates on fresh local products, such as lamb and duck, and regional exotica, like game and ostrich, often appear, too. Other favorites include lemon ginger and rock-prawn bisque, pork tenderloin in a Jamaican jerk marinade, and pan-seared fillet of salmon with red wine cream. The setting, on the lower floor of a historic building in Bastion Square, is candlelit and romantic, with exposed brick and intimate booths. An extensive 300-item wine list is one of the best on the island. No lunch. |
 |
|
EMPRESS ROOM (Price: $20 to Over $30)
Fairmont Empress, 721 Government St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/389-2727)
Candlelight dances on tapestried walls beneath a carved mahogany ceiling at the Fairmont Empress hotel's flagship restaurant. The French-influenced Pacific Northwest menu, usually served as a three-course prix-fix menu, lists such imaginative starters as Pacific salmon cakes with crepes, mascarpone cheese and caviar, and such mains as rack of lamb with kalamata olive gnocchi. More than 500 labels make up the wine list. Reservations essential. Closed last half of Jan. No lunch. |
 |
CAMILLE'S (Price: $12 to $30)
45 Bastion Sq., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/381-3433)
The menu concentrates on fresh local products, such as lamb and duck, and regional exotica, like game and ostrich, often appear, too. Other favorites include lemon ginger and rock-prawn bisque, pork tenderloin in a Jamaican jerk marinade, and pan-seared fillet of salmon with red wine cream. The setting, on the lower floor of a historic building in Bastion Square, is candlelit and romantic, with exposed brick and intimate booths. An extensive 300-item wine list is one of the best on the island. No lunch.
|
 |
|
IL TERRAZZO (Price: $12 to Over $30)
555 Johnson St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/361-0028)
A charming redbrick terrace edged with potted greenery and warmed by fireplaces and overhead heaters makes Il Terrazzo -- tucked away off Waddington Alley near Market Square and not visible from the street -- the locals' choice for romantic alfresco dining. Starters include mussels steamed with banana peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, Asiago cheese, and cream. Main courses, such as the Dijon-encrusted rack of lamb and osso buco with porcini mushrooms, come piping hot from the restaurant's wood oven. Reservations essential. No lunch Sun., or Sat. Oct.-Apr.
CAFE BRIO (Price: $12 to $30)
944 Fort St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. ( Phone: 250/383-0009)
Lush Modigliani nudes and rich gold walls create a warm glow at this Italian villa-style building. The menu, described by the owners as "West Coast contemporary with a Tuscan hint," changes seasonally and uses a wealth of local, organic ingredients. Appetizers might include smoked sablefish and potato ravioli or seared jumbo scallops with watercress. Mains could be Cowichan Bay duck breast; fusilli with roast mushrooms, arugula, and goat cheese; or wild sockeye salmon. The three-course tasting menus, including a vegetarian option, are popular choices. No lunch.
PAGLIACCI'S (Price: $8 to $30)
1011 Broad St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/386-1662)
Long lines attest to the popularity of this lively New York-meets-Victoria-style trattoria. Opened by the Siegel brothers from Brooklyn in 1979, Pagliacci's is all showbiz, from the signed photos of the owners' movie-star friends plastering the walls to the live jazz playing several nights a week. The multipage menu runs from the Mae West (finally a "veal" woman) to the Prawns Al Capone and includes dozens of pastas. "Pag's" is busy, crowded, and buckets of fun. Reservations not accepted. |
 |
|
DON MEE'S (Price: $8 to $20)
538 Fisgard St., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (Phone: 250/383-1032)
A large neon sign invites you inside this traditional Chinese restaurant, which has been in business since 1923. The entrées served in the expansive dining room include sweet-and-sour chicken, Peking duck, and ginger fried beef. Dim sum is served at lunchtime. |
 |
|
|
|
|
