A Biased Look at Restaurants in Victoria
By Ed Hickcox (not a gourmet)
Victoria is blessed with many, many restaurants, ranging all the way from multiple stars to MacDonald’s. The conference is at the tail end of the tourist season so there should be no difficulty in getting reservations, or just dropping in.
One common characteristic of most Victoria restaurants is that they will serve salmon in addition to a variety of other seafood. Halibut is particularly good here. For shell fish, crabs are the best. If you order lobster, realize it will have been flown in from Nova Scotia.
Listed below are a few places that I have frequented at one time or another, all within walking distance of Laurel Point. They are not in any particular order.
The Blue Crab ( 146 Kingston St.) This is usually ranked at the top of any list of Victoria restaurants, and it is priced accordingly. The ambiance is outstanding, and the view superb. Excellent crab cakes. It is just around the corner from Laurel Point, just a short walk.
Nautilus Nellies ( 1001 Wharf St.) This is my personal favorite seafood place. Not quite as pricey as The Blue Crab, but really excellent food and service. There’s no great view of the Inner Harbour but you’ll forget that when you start eating.
Harbour House ( 607 Oswego St.) Moderate priced good quality restaurant. They have table cloths. Fairly traditional menu, including both seafood and steaks and other meats. No view at all, but the location is really excellent, half a block from the harbour and close to downtown.
Samuels ( 655 Douglas St.) This is a moderately priced good quality restaurant. It is where the bureaucrats who work in the government building nearby go for lunch. You can get a good evening meal here, also.
Wharfside Eatery ( 1208 Wharf St.) Right on the edge of the inner harbour with a great view of the legislature building. Really spectacular at night. A bit above moderate prices but not out of reach. Be sure to ask to be seated on the deck (enclosed).
Milestone ( 812 Wharf St.) Excellent location, just near the tourist bureau. It has a full menu but is really an upscale pub. No tablecloths. Again, a favorite lunch spot for local government workers. Wonderful view, and really close to the shops. I’ve had dinner there once, and it was very good.
Irish Times ( 1200 Government St.) This is a really great pub and one with a huge choice of both beer and food. Quite a large place but in great condition and with first class service. It’s certainly my favorite pub in downtown Victoria. No view at all, but in the middle of lots of activity, including Bastion Place.
Fisherman’s Wharf. This is a fish and chips place very close to Laurel Point and in the middle of a working harbour where the fishing boats come in. If the weather is good, this is an excellent place for lunch. You can see houseboats, deep sea fishing boats, seals begging for food. We sometimes go there to buy crabs right off the boat.
Don Mee’s (538 Fisgard) This is the best Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. ]
Precatore’s Fish House and Oyster Bar (614 Humboldt) An upscale Italian Restaurant, one of the better know eateries in Victoria. Close by the Empress Hotel.
Legislative Building. There is a restaurant inside the building open to the public. You have to check in at the entrance to the Legislature and it is an interesting walk to find the restaurant. But it really is excellent for lunch, good service, relatively inexpensive, and you can get a close look at some politicians.
This is just a sample. You can always go in the Empress and have high tea for $45 plus tip. You’ll be watched over by portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip. Likely there will be a piano player or a harpist to entertain you.