Canada Guide
Vancouver Island
Restaurants
1 Bengal Lounge In the Empress Hotel, 721 Government St Restaurant-lounge complete with tiger-skin over the fireplace, where you can have a curry and all the trimmings for about $15.
2 The Empress Dining Room In the Empress Hotel, 721 Government St A treat of a place for dinner, amidst Edwardian splendour.
3 
Brasserie l'Ecole 1715 Government St 
250/475-6260 
www.lecole.ca This multi-award-winning restaurant serves the best French country cooking in town, with classic moules, frites, steaks, local fish and other staples, all made with immaculate and well-sourced local ingredients. Menus change daily. The dining room is pleasantly small and intimate, much like the wine list, which doesn't dazzle with big names, just decent, unpretentious wines to match the cooking. And prices won't hurt, either, with main courses from about $18. Opening time: Tues– Sat 5.30–11pm
4 Canoe 450 Swift St 250/361-1940 www.canoebrewpub.com In a short time, this restaurant and brewpub has become one of Victoria's most popular places to eat and drink. It setting is impressive – this was once Victoria's power station, and the interior retains an old industrial feel, with sturdy walls and vast beams. Outside, the patio is superb, with views towards the harbour and the Johnson Street bridge, and the atmosphere lively and convivial. Best of all, the food is excellent, whether you take the more ambitious and refined restaurant offerings such as wild salmon or Moroccan-style tagine stews upstairs (mains from $11) or the simple bar snacks and pub food (oysters, pizzas, burgers) downstairs (from $5). And the beer, of course, is excellent. Opening time: Sun– Fri 11am– midnight, Sat 11am–1am
5 Da Tandoor 1010 Fort St 250/384-6333 Tandoori specialist that is, with the Taj Mahal, the best of Victoria's half-dozen or so Indian restaurants offering good food at good prices (mains from $9) and a wonderfully over-the-top interior. Opening time: Daily 5–10pm
6 Earl's 1703 Blanshard St and Fisgard St 250/386-4323 You'll find an Earl's in many Canadian towns, but the restaurants are none the worse for being part of a chain: good – not fast – food, with a lively, pleasant interior and friendly service. Always reliable, and fair prices, with mains from just $9. Opening time: Mon– Thurs & Sun 11.3am–10pm, Fri & Sat 11.30am–11pm
7 Herald Street Café 546 Herald St 250/381-1441 An excellent and stylish old favourite for Italian food with a Northwest twist. Pricey (some mains cost almost $40, others begin at $17), but generally good value, plus there's a relaxed atmosphere and lots of pleasant modern art on the walls. Well worth the walk from the Inner Harbour. Opening time: Daily 5–10pm, brunch Sat & Sun 11am–3pm
8 Il Terrazzo 555 Johnson St, Waddington Alley 250/361-0028 www.ilterrazzo.com Smooth, laid-back ambience with lots of red brick and plants and a summer patio that provides the setting for good North American versions of Italian food. With Pagliacci's (see below), this is the best place in town for Italian food. However, it comes at a price, with mains costing between about $14 and $37. Opening time: Mon– Sat 11.30am–3pm, daily 5–10pm (closed Sat for lunch Oct– April)
9 Milestone's 812 Wharf St 250/381-2244 Popular mid-priced place for burgers, pastas, steaks and the like, slap-bang on the Inner Harbour beneath the infocentre, so expect lots of bustle, passing trade and good views. Prices are keen, with mains starting at $8 and running to around $25. Opening time: Mon– Thurs 11am–10pm, Fri 11am–11pm, Sat 10am–11pm, Sun 9am–10pm
10 Pagliacci's 1011 Broad St between Fort and Broughton 250/386-1662 The best restaurant in Victoria if you want a fast, furious atmosphere, live music, good Italian food and excellent desserts. Prices are good, too, with mains from $12. A rowdy throng begins to queue almost from the moment the doors are open. Opening time: Mon– Thurs 11.30am–10pm, Fri & Sat 11.30am–11pm, Sun 10am–10pm
11 The Reef 533 Yates St 250/388-5375 www.thereefrestaurant.com It's a long way from home, but the Caribbean cooking here is authentic, especially the classic jerk sauce, a spicy Caribbean staple, added to meats, and chicken in particular. There are several jerk dishes, plus prawn and fish dishes (good grilled blue marlin) and some innovative salads. Reckon on between $11–20 for main courses. Settle down later in the evening to listen to DJ-spun sounds and a mellow lounge atmosphere. Opening time: Mon– Thurs 11am– midnight, Fri– Sun 11am–1am
12 Taj Mahal 679 Herald St 250/383-4662 Housed in a mini Taj Mahal and a bit of a walk from the centre, this restaurant serves good Indian food with chicken, lamb and tandoori specialities. Main courses cost from around $14–19. Opening time: Daily 5–9.30pm
13 The Tapa Bar 620 Trounce Alley 250/383-0013 www.tapabar.ca This buzzy place has inexpensive tapas (plates from $7) – try the excellent gambas al ajillo (prawns in a pugent garlic sauce), wines by the glass and a long list of martinis. Opening time: Mon– Thurs 11.30am–11pm, Fri– Sat 11am– midnight, Sun 11am–10pm
14 The Temple 525 Fort St 250/383-2313 www.thetemple.ca The chic, sleek main dining room here has a wraparound bar (in glowing glass) and a double chaise lounge-bed for reclining couples and an imposing fireplace (the more intimate Velvet Room has a couple of cosier tables). There's a DJ later in the evening, but the emphasis remains on good Pacific Northwest cooking and a seasonal menu, with small dishes from around $8, more substantial ones up to $20 or more. Opening time: Mon– Fri 11.30am–2.30pm, daily for dinner from 5pm