The "A" List
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(Listed in no particular order)
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 | Pluto's Diner - 1150 Cook St, Victoria, BC V8V 3Z9 Ph (250) 385-4747 - A converted Royalite gas station which has a retro-garage decor. The menu is quite extensive and the prices are low to moderate. Food quality is OK to good, and the service is friendly but spotty - sometimes excellent, sometimes not. Mid-week they have all-you-can-eat nights featuring different items. Their salads are good, and they make great smoothies and floats. Odd though it may seem, their specials are often not the thing to order...stick to the basics on the menu. |
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Olive Grove - 4496 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC Ph (250) 479-9361. This family-run Greek restaurant serves very good and reasonably priced food, especially their Lamb Kleftiko - the tender and flavorful meat falls off the bones. There are several rooms which will accommodate family celebrations or small events, and there is a large patio for when the weather is warm. They are one of the few restaurants to offer an extensive gluten-free menu for those who are allergic to wheat. Olive Grove website |
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Blue's Bayou - 899 Marchant, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1B5 Ph: (250) 544-1194 - Excellent Cajun style seafood served to you right over the shoreline at Brentwood Bay. Worth the drive to find this gem. |
| Nautical Nellies Restaurant & Oyster Bar - 1001 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T6 Ph: (250) 380-2260 - Some of the best seafood in town. |
| Swans Pub - 506 Pandora St, Victoria, BC V8W 1N6 Ph: (250) 361-3310 - The best fish and chips in town, but pretty expensive. Excellent quality pub-style food and they offer a west coast menu as well, along with very good beer made on the premises. Free entertainment some nights. Check the Swans Pub website. |
| Millos - 716 Burdett Ave, Victoria, BC V8W 3G2 Ph: (250) 382-4422 - Very good Greek food. Features a belly dancer on Friday and Saturday evenings. A large restaurant located right downtown close to many hotels. Arrive between 5-6pm and order their Early Bird Specials. |
| Med Grill Villages Pasta and Pizza - 4512 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 3G4 Ph: (250) 727-3444 - Good variety of interesting entrees and appetizers. Daily specials, as well as steak, pasta, seafood, salads, pizza, vegetarian. On the way to Butchart's Gardens. |
| Moxies Classic Grill - 1010 Yates St, Victoria BC V8V 3M6 Ph: (250) 360-1660 - Good variety of interesting entrees and appetizers at reasonable prices. Line ups often form shortly after 6pm on weekends. Noisy. |
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Baan Thai Restaurant - 1117 Blanshard St, Victoria, BC V8W 2H7 Ph: (250) 383-0050 - Authentic food of Thailand. Located downtown. |
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Spinnaker's Brew Pub - 308 Catherine St., Victoria BC V9A 3S8 Ph: (250) 386-2739 - Superb west coast cuisine & Pub fare. Excellent selection of their own quality ales (no lagers), patio downstairs, pub upstairs & harbour views. |
| Milestones - 812 Wharf St, Victoria BC Ph: (250) 381-2244 - Waterfront view on the Inner Harbour; steak, prime rib, ribs, pasta, large portions, noisy, hard to find parking during tourist season. Line ups often form shortly after 6pm during tourist season. Located downtown on the Causeway across the street from the Fairmont Empress Hotel. |
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Passero's - 1102 Yates St, Victoria BC V8V 3M8 Ph: (250) 384-6474 - Very good Greek food, reasonable prices, Mediterranean decor, friendly and attentive service. |
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Cafe Mexico - 1425 Store St, Victoria, BC V8W 3C6. Ph: (250) 386-1425 - West side of Market Square. Good Mexican food and drink, and funky Mexican decor. |
| Fifth Street Bar & Grill - 1028 Hillside Ave, Victoria BC V8T 2A3 Ph: (250) 380-4600 - Half pub and half restaurant; wood roasted chicken and other meat dishes. 10 minutes from downtown. Noisy. |
| The Keg Restaurant & Bar - 500 Fort St, Victoria BC V8W 1E6 Ph: (250) 386-7789 - Located at the foot of Fort Street at Wharf Street. Very good steaks and prime rib, ribs, and seafood. |
These Victoria-area restaurants are favourites of my friends and I. There are some simple criteria which these restaurants must meet in order to make this list:
| the food must be good on a consistent basis. We personally visit each restaurant or pub at least four times each year. | ||||
| the food and drink must be mid-priced, which means:
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| service must be prompt, cheerful, and professional, yet not persistent to the point of being annoying; | ||||
| no strict dress code - i.e. clean jeans & t-shirts ( not torn) are acceptable; | ||||
| reservations are not necessarily required if you arrive early. |
Many of the restaurants listed above are not restaurants tourists to our town would likely find or try out. Too bad, because they represent some of the finest food in town at reasonable prices. If you are a tourist and are staying downtown, most of these restaurants are located within walking distance, however some are located up to 8 km (5 miles) from the city center, so keep this in mind if you are taking a taxi.
Opinions expressed are based on repeated visits over many years, and are based on dinner menus only. The restaurants listed above are all open for lunch and dinner unless otherwise noted.
Health regulations prohibit smoking in close proximity to all public places in the Province of British Columbia. This law includes restaurants and bars . If you smoke, you will have to step outside and stand clear of the building to take a "puff" - please read the Province of British Columbia's Tobacco Control Program for further info.
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