Dine-around Victoria, 2024

Like it is traditional this time of the year, local restaurants are offering "Dine Around" menus. The promotion goes from Jan 26 to Feb 11, 2024.

The Web Site of Tourism Victoria requires a lot of clicking to be able to see and compare the different options. Thus, I created the following list.

The name of the restaurant links to its website, the price links to the description of the menu (most are hosted by Tourism Victoria, but a few are only in the Website of the restaurant).

Note that some restaurants offer more than one option, and in some cases, the option depends on the time of the day (bruch/lunch/dinner).

For details see Tourism Victoria

Most menus are in PDF format.

 

Click on the title of the column to sort by that column.

Restaurant	Area	Price
10 Acres Bistro	Downtown/Courney 600s	$45
10 Acres Commons	Downtown/Humboldt 600s	$45
10 Acres at the Pier	Sidney	$45
Aura (not officially part of Dine Around)	James Bay	$65
Bard & Banker	Downtown/Government 1000s	$45
Bard & Banker	Downtown/Government 1000s	$25
Block Kitchen + Bar	Downtown//Yates 500	$45
Blue Crab Seafood House	James Bay	$65
Boom + Batten	Vic West	$55
Browns Vic West/Langford	Langford	$35
Browns Socialhouse	Downtown/Douglas 800s	$35
Cactus Club Cafe	Downtown/Dougles 1100s	$45
Callisto	way, way out of town	$55
Earls Kitchen + Bar	downtown/Government 1100s	$35
Earls Kitchen + Bar	downtown/Government 1100s	$45
FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room	Oak bay	$45
Ferris' Downstairs Grill & Garden Patio	Downtown/yates 500s	$35
Ferris’ Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar/ Perro Negro	Downtown/yates 500s	$45
Ferris’ Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar/ Perro Negro	Downtown/yates 500s	$35
Fiamo Italian Kitchen	Downtown/yates 500s	$55
Fiamo Italian Kitchen	Downtown/yates 500s	$45
Finns Seafood Chops & Cocktails	Downtown/Wharf 1200s	$55
Fire + Water Restaurant	Downtown/Humboldt 700s	$65
Glo Restaurant + Lounge	Gorge	$45
Good Ovening	Downtown/Fort 700s	$35
Hermans Jazz Club	Downtown/View 700s	$35
Irish Times Pub	Downtown/Government 1200s	$25
Irish Times Pub	Downtown/Government 1200s	$35
L'Apero Wine & Cheese Bistro	Downtown/Blanshard 1000s	$55
LURE Restaurant & Bar	Vic West	$55
Little Jumbo Restaurant & Bar	Downtown/Fort 500s	$55
Lot 1 Pasta Bar	Cloverdale	$45
Marilena Cafe + Raw Bar	Downtown/Douglas 1500s	$65
Milestones Millstream	way out of town/cosco area	$45
Milestones	Downtown/Inner Harbour	$45
The Pendray Inn and Tea House	James Bay	$25
The Pendray Inn and Tea House	James Bay	$55
Penny Farthing Pub	Oak Bay	$35
Q at The Empress	Downtown/Empress	$55
Six Mile Pub & Eatery	Island Highway	$35
Six Mile Pub & Eatery	Island Highway	$45
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub	Vic West	$35
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub	Vic West	$45
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub	Vic West	$55
Steamship Grill & Bar	Downtown/Steamboat terminal	$45
Sticky Wicket Pub & Restaurant	Downtown/Douglas 900s	$35
The Arbutus Room	Brentwood Bay	$65
The Courtney Room	Downtown/Courney 600s	$35 Lunch
The Courtney Room	Downtown/Courney 600s	$35 Brunch
The Courtney Room	Downtown/Courney 600s	$65
The Keg Steakhouse Saanich	Saanich	$65
The Keg Steakhouse Harbour	Downtown/Fort 500s	$65
Ugly Duckling Restaurant	Downtown/Chinatown	$65
Virtuous Pie	Downtown/Pandora 500s	$25
Virtuous Pie	Downtown/Pandora 500s	$35
Virtuous Pie	Downtown/Pandora 500s	$45
Virtuous Pie	Downtown/Pandora 500s	$45 (GF)
Vis-à-Vis	Oak Bay	$55
Wind Cries Mary	Downtown/Bastion Sq	$65
Zambri's	Downtown/Yates 800s	$45
Zambri's	Downtown/Yates 800s	$55

Camille's: the best lunch in Victoria

I know, I know. I haven't written in a long time.

Most of the best restaurants do not open at lunch time (e.g. The Brasserie, Ulla, and many others). It was welcoming news to see Camille’s open for lunch. I have never eaten there. It was there the second day it was open. I really, really hope they stay open at lunch time. It is some of the most sophisticated lunch time food I had in a long time in Victoria.

Since then I have become a regular, and I consider it the best lunch in Victoria

If you enjoy food, do yourself a favour and stop by for lunch. The food is delicious and the service impeccable. You can't go wrong. And if you are worried about prices, most entrees are in the 15 dollars range. Try their burger: it is the best in town (in my opinion, of course).

Pho Hoa

<2010-10-25 Mon>

No. 131

Located in the most competitive area in Victoria (Fort St, between Douglas and Blanshard), Pho Hoa is a chain Vietnamese restaurant. It is exactly across from Pho Vy, a local favorite when it comes to Pho.

It is a medium sized place, and has a look and feel very different from Pho Vy (its tables are nicely spaced and its the menu screams chain restaurant).

I ordered a #44: Pho Chin, Nam, Gau, Gan, Sach: Brisket, Flank, Tendon, Tripe & fatty flank. What a mouthful. I was slightly disappointed. The meat was dried out, and overall, felt average.

The natural comparison for this restaurant are its two Vietnamese neighbours: Pho Vy, or around the corner, Saigon Harbour. In my opinion, both places offer a better product. In terms of price, there is not much variance between the three.

There is, however, one saving point for Pho Hoa. It is a place that stays open later than the others. They close at 10:00 PM, if I remember correctly, which is why I sometimes end eating there.

Verdict: there are better places around.

Paid: 8.95

For more information, including address, please visit:

Teaopia

No. 130

<2010-10-21 Thu>

On the South side of the Bay building, this is a tea shop that sells both the tea leaves, and by the cup.

It is hard to describe the process or ordering a cup of tea. You come to the counter and you are confronted with what they call "the Tea Wall", that features literally more than 100 bins filled with different varieties of tea.




They will try to gauge your understanding of tea and try to show you teas that you might like, giving you some background about each, opening the bins, inviting you to smell them. It is an educational experience, albeit overwhelming. Of course, I had no way to know how accurate their information was; after all, they are a biased source of information.

I am keen on lightly or non-roasted tea and became curious about their white teas, and ended ordering simply white tea, and ordered a cup. The cost was steep --4.20, tax included, but, if the tea is as rare as they promise, I think it is not a bad one (regular teas are priced a 2.75).

You are invited to seat---they will bring the tea to your table--- something I appreciate it. The table next to mine was like a Tupperware party. They were having a tea tasting, discussing flavour and aromas like sommelier (apparently they were planning a tea party).

I got my tea. The cup is probably 350-400 ml. Large. The tea had, as I expected, a subtle flavour. As I expected, it was slightly sweet, but didn't have much smell (something I missed). Definitely a good cup of tea.

The place is small. it sits approximately 16 people in a combination of tables and comfy chairs.

One think that bothered me is that I didn't get to see the tea leaves. I understand the process of making tea, but I would have wanted to see what the leaves turned to after they are used. Otherwise, what guarantees me that the tea I got was the one I ordered?

I enjoyed my visit. It turns tea drinking into an experience of discovery. If you are willing to take the time to listen to their descriptions (and sales pitch), and to learn about teas, Teaopia is worth the visit. The downside is that, if you are looking for a cup of tea only, it will be an expensive one.

The obvious comparison is against Murchies. As a tea speciality shop, I feel Teaopia is better. At Murchies (the restaurant) you can order almost any tea, but there is no ability to ask about each, or get to smell them. They will not educate you (that is what the store is supposed to do, but they can't make the tea for you, you have to go back to the restaurant). On the other hand, Murchies has coffee, pastries and food (much better than Teopia). Murchies has more sitting space, and is cheaper.

Verdict: Expensive. Visit only if you are tea aficionado.

Paid: 4.20


For more information, including price, visit:

Cafe Bliss

No. 129

<2010-10-14 Thu>

Cafe Bliss is located in Pandora, just west of Government.

Open for breakfast and lunch, Cafe Bliss specialices in salads and soups.

This is vegetarians paradise. Cafe Bliss claims to use local and in-season produce, and to prepare everything organic and raw. Yes, no cooking allowed.

Prices range from 8 to 14 dollars, depending on the salad, or whether you want soup or not.

I am not a "salad" as lunch person, and I was feeling it was unfair to rate this restaurant based on a pizza and a soup, but I didn't feel like having a salad today. I was, however, curious on what a "raw" pizza looked like.

The space is narrow, and long. It has few tables and a long bar, where I sat. It feels inviting, and it is filled with a smell of tea brewing.

To call this dish a pizza is a misnomer. This was more like a huge cracker with a salad on top: spinach, pear, cream, cucumber, onion, nuts, what felt like an avocado-based sauce. The soup is not traditional either. It was a corn "chowder", and the corn was not cooked. The rest of the ingredients read: winter squash and cashew cream. It was very interesting.

I am torn in how to evaluate it. I think in terms of inventiveness and presentation, this place gets top marks. The flavours were there, but they are not the expected ones, because the food has not been cooked at high temperature. You might like them or you might not. My last concern is that, I felt it was expensive for the amount of food that I received, and there are very few options to choose from. If you like salads for lunch, this is definitely a place to come to.

If you are vegetarian, you probably know about Bliss already. If you are not, and you can enjoy a full meal made of vegetables, give it a try.

Verdict: Recommend for vegetarians, or salad "nuts", otherwise your might or might-not.

Paid: $15.68

For more information, including location, please visit:

Dynasty

<2010-10-13 Wed>

No. 128

Dynasty is one of the many restaurants in "China Block".

I have been thinking about coming this place for a while. I was very curious about their crab. The entrance says: Live Crab, limit 1.

I like crab and I don't get many opportunities to eat it at lunch time.

As the waiter approached, even before I sat I said: "I want the crab". The waiter looked startled. He asked me if I wanted , to which I replied I wanted the crab special mentioned in the entrance. Another waiter had to be called, and she looked like she understood. Later came back and said that no crab was available.

No crab. Darn! I feel cheated.

I looked at the menu. It is rich with options, and less formulaic than the Ocean Garden. Had I come with somebody else I'd venture into more expensive dishes that seem made to share, like the steamed salmon. I settle for eggplant and pork belly schezuan style (I have "a thing" about Schezuan style of cooking). I suspect I was given the dinner menu because it only had one "special", and most dishes were above 12 dollars. I am ok with that. I actually prefer good food that value food.

Almost every table has a Chinese person. Its size is in the "medium" range, compared to the other Chinese restaurants in the block. The music--Chinese style--is slightly loud, making it somehow annoying. Even though it only has windows in the front, it feels brighter than Ocean (which is in a corner). Partially it is the white cloths on the tables, which beautifully bright the place, and make the tables more elegant.

As I waited, I observed how the table next ordered. They were given a different menu than me, one with photos. I later discover that they have dimsum at lunch. I suspect that, because they don't the number of clients as Don Mee, people have to order their dim sum from the menu. It also explains why the other tables have dim sum. Ok, my mistake. I jumped the gun by ordering before I got a menu.

The dish arrived. I could hear the signs of approval of the looks of my plate from neighbouring another table. It looked and smelled wonderful. And it tasted wonderful too. The meat was tender and the eggplant was braised to perfection--soft but without falling apart.

When I think about the dish I was served the day before (schezuan prawns on rice, at Ocean Garden) and compare it to this, there is no contest. Dynasty is head and shoulders above Ocean Garden's food. I paid more, but I was left with leftovers for dinner.

How does it compare to the other Chinese restaurants? That is a more difficult question. The food I received was recommendable, and I am already planning my dim-sum lunch visit. And yes, I still want my crab!

The crab-bait-and-switch scam was the only thing that made me cautious of fully recommending it.

Verdict: tasteful food that feels authentic.

For more information, including address, please visit:

How Paprika became Stage

The Times Colonist has a feature article about George Szasz, the owner and chef of Stage.

I haven't been at Paprika since he sold it in 2009, but I have been at Stage, and I like it. It is, however, out of the areas where I am usually, and I don't think about it frequently. I think I'll try it this weekend. I wish they would open for lunch. Definitely one of my favourite restaurants in Victoria.

--dmg

Ocean Garden

No. 127

Located at the corner of Government and Fisgard, I consider it the most "tourist" oriented of the restaurants in China Block.

If you ever walked by it, you will see that this place is usually full of non-Chinese. Yet, the signs are written in Chinese and English.

I wasn't sure what to expect. The place is large, clean but feels run down. Its best times are long past.

The lunch menu is massive. Items range from 7 dollars to 10. As I have learned, at Chinese restaurants I avoid the preset lunches; instead I try to find interesting dishes in the menu. Its menu, like it is frequent in Chinese restaurants, is really a bunch of "combinations": do you want rice or noodles? soft noodles or crispy noodles? do you want pork, beef, shrimp, seafood, chicken? do you want sauce X, Y or Z? It would be significantly easier to decide if the provide a "choose one of each" type of menu, rather than listing every possible combination.

I settled for "Schezuan prawns on rice".

The dish is huge, full of vegetables, but too much sauce on it. It disappoints. It is messy and lacks good flavours. There is nothing special about this dish. My suggestion? there are better restaurants in the block, hence avoid, unless you are looking for a lot of cheap food.

Surprisingly, the restaurant always looks busy from the outside. Go figure.

Verdict: Avoid

Paid: 10 + tip

For more information, including address, please visit:

Bagels on Broad

No. 126

<2010-10-09 Sat>

When I am downtown and want a quick sandwich, I turn to Bagels on Broad. Ok, it is not a sandwich, it is a bagel, but the objective is the same: a quick bite.

I like their California Bagel, which is essentially a vegetarian one. The bagels are good (I think they come from Mount Royal). It is not a "gourmet" dish, but very satisfying nonetheless. It is comprised primarily of artichokes, spinach and cheese.

You have to wait few minutes for the oven to do its magic, time you can invest sitting by the window looking at the people passing by.

There are one fast food alternative close by: the taco truck of Puerto Vallarta Amigos. They are very different products and types of locations, and my choice will depend on my mood.

Verdict: simple, cheap, but good fast food.

Paid: It was around 6.50, but was treated, so I didn't keep track.

For more information, including address, please visit:

Shanghai City

<2010-10-07 Thu>

No. 125

This is a huge restaurant, in the second floor of a building in China block. It probably sits around 200 persons, and at 1:30, I was the only one. Perhaps it is the grey weather outside,

It feels as Chinese as a restaurant in Canada can be: many round tables with a lazy Susan. There is Chinese music playing softly in the background. A small water tank shows the customers that the crab is fresh. And there is the usual Chinese paraphernalia found in any Chinese restaurant in the world (including China).

The entrance advertises crab, and I was tempted to order it. Next time, when I have a little more time.

I was seated at a table next to the window. It is a nice view of the street from up here.

The lunch menu is full of options: around 20, plus 2 "typical" specials (what every Westerner expects in a Chinese restaurant). The full menu is also available at lunch time, but didn't look at it.

I ordered the "Shanghai Style Beer Brisket Noodle Soup". It is a mouthful to pronounce. At 8.95 it is one of the most expensive lunch specials (the cheapest is 5.95, which sets a new "record" for places I have visited). I reckon that, if the name of the restaurant is Shanghai City, then a dish with the name should be a speciality.

And it is also a mouthful to eat: it is a huge bowl. Brisket is a hard meat to cook, and one the best ways to do it is to braise it. The meat in this dish has been braised, and had a slight sweet flavour in it, which I enjoyed (but some pieces were still a bit tough). The noodles are nicely cooked, but the broth could improve with some zest. I liked the large vegetable in it (I have to look it up). I finished the bowl, and I am absolutely full. I need a walk!

Verdict: good value, but not a lunch that gets me excited.

Paid: 10.02 + tip

Kim's Vietnamese Restaurant

<2010-10-06 Wed>

No. 124

There is something about soups and stews that makes us feel comforted. It might have to do with the belief that, when we are sick, a soup will cure us.

Seafood soups are some of my favourites, in part because they bring me back memories of my childhood. This, in my opinion, is the power of food: to take us back to places and times long gone. Our palate send a signal to our brain that reacts in an amazing way. Think about it. There have to be dishes that do that for you.

At Kim's I tend to order their "Seafood bouillabaisse" (a loose translation of a seafood soup). It is an amazing dish, full of flavours. This is a list (which is surely partial) of what I could recognize: lemongrass, pineapple, tomatoes, celery, sprouts, basil, scallops, squid, shrimp, fish, mussels, ginger, some type of chili pepper, and I think thai basil. It is very tasty, and has to be one of my favourite "soups" at lunch time. The small version is large enough for me. It comes with noodles that you poor in.




Kim is a small-to-medium restaurant, that sits around 30-40 people, located in Johnson, between Blanshard and Pandora. Some dishes are better than others. I have been disappointed in the past.

Verdict: I'll keep coming back for their seafood bouillabaisse.

Paid: 12.95 + tip

For more information, including address, please visit:

Ulla: how to cook perfect octopus

Click here for my first review of Ulla.

In my first visit to Ulla, my very first plate was their octopus appetizer. After the first bite, I knew I was in a special place. I wondered how they cooked it, because it was absolutely tender.

Brad Holmes, head chef and co-owner of Ulla, shows us his kitchen and in the process explain us the simplicity of the dish (courtesy of A-News).

Thank you, Brad!

--dmg

Looking for a warm soup?

It is a cold day, the type that calls for a warm soup. Here are some suggestions:

* Pho Vy, on Fort Street, almost at Blanshard. Try their pho.
* Green Leaf: on Douglas in front of the Old Bay Centre. Very good pho too.
* Kim Vietnamese, on 748 Johnson. Excellent "Seafood bouillabaisse". Go for small, it is large enough.
* I Kyu Noodles, in China Block. Home made noodles. I enjoyed the hot and sour soup during the weekend.
* Wah Lai Restaurant, also in China Block (next to I Kyu). They have great dumpling soups.
* Relish: Pandora and Quadra (in front of the Conservatory). They have a soup special every day.

Does anybody have any other recommendations?

--dmg

Ferran Adrià and his view on eating

Ferran Adrià is one of the persons in the world that I most admire. He has not only created a new entire way of approaching cooking (what he call desconstructivist), but he has been sharing his discoveries with the world. His influence and legacy in the craft of cooking is undeniable.

I was surprised to discover that Harvard had a class on the science of cooking, and one of the most important components of it was bringing star chefs (and by star I don't mean TV stars, but truly visionary chefs, i.e. Michelin stars) to give a public lecture.

The first of them was a "conversation" between Harold McGee and Ferran (whose translator was José Andrés, one of his disciples, and from who I learnt to appreciate Spanish food via his TV program).

I have always wanted to eat at El Bulli (good luck!). I have been lucky to have eaten at two of Andres restaurants (although I still hope to eat at the Minibar one day--which is inside Atlantico, where I have eaten).

Harold McGee is responsible for the On Food and Cooking: the Science and Lore of the kitchen, and his book is the best bible on the "why" of cooking. If you are a cooking geek, you MUST get this book.

The lecture is well worth the time for anybody who values the food in front of them.

And enjoy the answer to the last question of the day (which he misunderstands). Yet, his answer is a gem of insight on what eating is (and I paraphrase): what we choose to eat, how we do it, and how we enjoy it depends on when we do it, where we do it and with whom we do it.

Enjoy!



--dmg

The tourist season is over, brace for Christmas

It is that time of the year in which I have entire joints for myself during lunch time.

The seasonal "restaurants" have closed (Blue Fish/Red Fish, and Barb's) and it is clear that restaurateurs are bracing for the low season. We, Victorians, become the main source of customers for many restaurants, particularly around the inner harbour.

It might also be the rain. It tends to affect the mood of people, who are less likely to go out.

It must be hard in some restaurants. I can't imagine a place can stay in business if there is only one person for the entire lunch service. In the case of that restaurant, they were doing prep for the dinner service, so it is not really wasted time--but still.

I think ultimately we, Victorians, benefit from this seasonal imbalance. If tourists were around year long, restaurants could charge more. Their low season depends on us to go to their restaurants, and that means providing food and service of a quality that will attract repeat local business. Those who don't might face extinction.

Business will soon pick up for Christmas. Nov, and Jan. must be the hardest months for restaurants in Victoria.

And while some restaurants are almost empty this time of the year, Christmas is another story. Suddenly people remember they have friends and want to enjoy a meal with them (love at Dec 24 sight). At my favourite joints, Dec. is crowded, and I need to plan to arrive early.

So, brace yourselves for this season variability: enjoy the almost personal service of Nov and Jan, and plan ahead for those crowded restaurants of Dec.

--dmg

Zambri's at the new location

<2010-10-08 Fri>

For my previous review of Zambris, please see this

The big question that was in my mind, is the new restaurant still Zambri's?

Few days ago I was talking to a person who said that she did not want to have a fancy dinner in the back of a London Drugs, thus never went to Zambri's for dinner.

The new Zambri's opened in an-almost-finished building: the Atrium. This building is a good addition to Victoria, which lacks good architecture, and its atrium lives up to the name of the building. It seems to be destined to be a gathering place. Pig BBQ Joint was packed. Maybe there is something in that little hole in the wall that has sprouted two people's favourites (the other being Hernande'z). Habit is getting ready to open.

The lunch service now feels like dinner. This is no longer the "family" style trattoria. It has changed dramatically, and it is now a fancy restaurant. I recognized some faces around the tables, but most of them were probably curious of the "new" restaurant. The bar is now large and it is a center of the new restaurant. Gone is the "order from the board" style. Now you have to wait for a table. Perhaps what I liked the most of the old Zambri's was the ability to greet the kitchen staff. Now that is gone. They are well beyond the prying eyes of the audience. Throughout the years I had build a relationship with them. They knew how to cook my food, and usually asked me for my opinion. It was one of the reasons I soo much enjoyed Zambris'.

I feel like a foreigner. This is no longer the Zambri's I knew. The question is, do I like the new restaurant.

The restaurant is in a beautiful location. Its floor to ceiling walls of glass overlook the corner of Blandshard and Yates. It will be interesting to see what happens during the hot days of August (although it seems to have air conditioning). The old furniture is gone, and replaced by modern, swanky one. A computer system has replaced the old "hand-written" ticket system.

The service staff has grown considerably too. From 2, there are now around 6-7, including a metre die. Many are new to me.

Coming by myself, I was offered to sit at the bar. I originally declined, but decided that it was a good idea.

The menu is printed, and the big novelty is pizza. Yes, there is a pizza oven. I am not crazy about pizza, and decided to ordered the salmon.

When it arrived it, I was surprised it came with a separate salad (simple lettuce dressed in a vinagrette). The smells of the dish were Zambri's. The olive tapenade was absolute delicious. But the salmon was dry. I mentioned this to the bartender, Brendan, who relied the info to the kitchen. I was offered a replacement. I hesitated. i don't like to be a pain. But he really pushed it and I accepted. Ok, New-Zambri's cares.

What came back was delicious, and reminded me why this has been my favourite restaurant since I came to Victoria.

I like the place, the extended hours.

It is hard to accept that the old cozy place is gone. Like many things over time, change comes whether we like it or not. Zambri's continues to serve good food, and that is, or should be, my primary concern. It is time to build a new relationship.

Verdict: Beautiful restaurant, serving excellent lunch food, but it is a different Zambri's.

Paid: 19.04 + tip

Pluto's

<2010-10-05 Tue>

No. 123

In what looks like a converted gas station and/or car garage, it is an all-day restaurant with a southwest influence. It is located at the intersection of Cook and View.

It was very late when I walked in (2:30) and the restaurant was almost empty. I was given a menu, and told to choose my table of choice. The tables are uncomfortable: they are too high for the height of the chairs. Pluto's has space for around 50 people. Its high ceilings and large windows make it look large and pleasant (except for the uncomfortable tables). Its decor is American Southwest. There is also a patio that might be useful during the warmer days of the year.

I ordered a "nut burger". The menu claims that they have been serving it for 22 years, so I imagine this would be dish they know how to make.



The burger is not bad. The bottom side of the bun only had butter, and I think it will greatly benefit from having something to make it moist, since the patty is(naturally) dry. The burger is not bad, but does not excel either. I had the same feeling about the soup: it wasn't bad, but it wasn't interesting either. Considering the price I paid, I'd rather choose going somewhere else (like the Pink Bicycle, that has a superior burger).

What gives Pluto's the edge is that they stay open for most of the day.

Verdict: Average food.

Paid: 11.70 + tip

For more information, including address, please visit:

Relish

While I have not posted a review yet, I can say that, as of today, I consider Relish the best lunch destination in town.

Review will follow.

--dmg

John's Place

<2010-10-04 Mon>

No. 122

John's Place is located in Pandora, few meters from Douglas. It is a local's favourite.

Having woken up at 5:00 AM to take the first ferry to Victoria from Vancouver, I was very hungry at 10:00 AM.

Lively and noisy was my first impression as soon as I stepped in. The restaurant was playing very loud music, and it was surprisingly full for this time of the day.

John's Place is a "full day" restaurant, that offers a large breakfast menu.

John's place is a visual feast too. Like Pagliacci's, one can't stop looking at the walls. It is full of posters and photographs that cover music, sports, and entertainment. Here and there you can find photos of "John". The center piece is a large mural of the now defunct Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Under it, the wall is peppered with photos of famous players of the Tigers. No other subject is as heavily represented. John must be Tiger fan, I reckon. There are Canadian icons too: a photo of Joe Carter running the bases after his famous home run that gave the Jays the World Series (I still remember that moment, soon after the roar in the neighbourhood caused by the play--I was living in Jay's territory at the time); a faded poster of Gretzky in his early years holding the Stanley Cup along Geoff Cournall.

The breakfast-lunch is populated with pancakes and eggs. I ordered the "John's Special": two scrambled eggs with chorizo patties. The eggs were dry, the patties had only a faint flavour to chorizo, but a heavy one to cheap grease. It was a forgettable breakfast that makes me wonder: why is this place so popular? The other two times I have eaten here I left wondering why I did. The food has always disappointed me. The food, in my opinion, does not deserve this restaurant's popularity. And this is a question to you, the reader. If you like John's place, would you mind explaining me why?

Verdict: Avoid

Paid: 9.24 + tip

For more information, including address, please visit:

Cranberry's Coffee Cup

No. 121

<2010-10-01 Fri>

Coffee Review

Located in Pandora, almost at Quadra, this is a beautiful small cafe. Recently opened, there are few locations in Victoria that exude love like Cranberry Coffee Cup.

I had passed by the place around one week ago, and liked it, and made a mental note to come to visit. I arrived at 3:30; they were getting ready to close the till, but were happy to accommodate me.

Cranberry lives up to its name: its decor is bright red while and black, lovely little tables with matching table cloths. It is definitely beautiful.

As I walked in, there was certainly cheerfulness in the air. It felt like a family gathering, the ones that talk highly of good vibe between the staff.

I got my coffee (a good cup of espresso) and chat with them. I learnt that this is a family run and operated business. "Mom" runs it, as one of them explained it, "and the family helps".

The offer light lunch at very good prices. The place is small and cozy, and I love their bench by the window where you can people-watch under the sun.

Unfortunately they have one of the toughest competition next door (Relish). Food wise, I will choose Relish (yes, I haven't tried the food here, but such is the power of Relish in me). In terms of coffee, I'd choose Cranberry. Cranberry's coffee is head and shoulder above the Wildfire bakery (where I had undrinkable espresso the last time I was there; I should admit I have not tried the coffee at Relish).

I thought it had been open longer, but it is only 5 days old (at the time I wrote this review, Oct 1). I wish them the best of luck.

Verdict: They are the type of business that I love to support.

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