The Top ‘Meet to Eat’s in Victoria
The good news is that Victoria has no lack of classic ‘Meet to Eat’ eateries. The bad news is that these places are invariably packed, and you had better make a reservation or face what may be a rather long wait. For convenience sake, this list will be limited to eateries within a walking distance of the waterfront. This will allow you plenty of time to walk around and just be a tourist while you wait for a table. Why eateries? Because not all Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’s in victoria are restaurants. Indeed, some may come as a total surprise.
Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’s are rather difficult to categorize. To separate them by cuisine would be a waste of time, as they are all varied. As such, cost is the best differentiating factor. There are three different sections to this guide: cheap, costly, and expensive. For the sake of convenience, all marked prices will be in Canadian dollars. A cheap eatery will net you a meal of $10.00 per person or less. An intermediate meal will put you back from around $10.00 to $20.00. An expensive meal, of course, will be anywhere above that. These prices do not take drinks into account as the price of a drink varies wildly from free to more than the meal.
Cheap: Average cost of less than or equal to $10
For a tourist city like Victoria, there are a surprising number of cheap eateries within range of the hyper expensive waterfront. Some of these are simple to get into, but many will require a reservation. Unfortunately, a cheap meal often requires a cheap tableau, so Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’s in the $10 range are few.
McDonalds
No, seriously. Victoria has one of the most fascinating McDonalds in the world. Indeed, the number of exclusive restaurants in Victoria that can lay claim to a full length chandelier is extremely small. If you are looking for a quick bite in a hurry, then you can’t go wrong with coming here at least once. At the very least it’s a chance at a photo-op with one of the strangest fast food joints you’ll ever set foot in.
Cuisine: Fast food
Food Quality: About what you would expect
Location: Corner of View and Government
Unique: Chandelier
Pagliaccis
http://www.emenus.ca/Pagliaccis/
It would be wonderful to call Pagliaccis a Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½hometown secret’, but so many people grace its small doorway that it didn’t stay secret very long. Home to the famous Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½soup and a sandwich’ lunch, Pagliaccis is the best Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’ in Victoria for a cheap meal. The number of restaurants that boast clown decor are small, and the number that pull it off with flair and an excellent menu to boot are endangered indeed. With a warm, cheerful atmosphere, a bustling clientele, and live music, you will be talking about Pagliaccis for years to come. The catch? NO RESERVATIONS. Don’t worry though, the wait is never too long, and standing outside on a warm summer day is the perfect way to Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’.
Cuisine: Cafe style soups, sandwiches, salads, and desserts
Food Quality: Very high
Location: 1011 Broad St.
Unique: Live music, clown decor, relaxed a atmosphere
Intermediate: Average cost of less than or equal to $20
If you are looking for an average cost sit down meal, then these restaurants are the way to go. Intermediate costing restaurants in Victoria are far more common due to the high cost of keeping a building in the downtown area. However, the number of those that match the Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’ criteria are few.
Japanese Village
http://www.japanesevillage.bc.ca/
A restaurant beloved by residents all over Victoria, Japanese Village offers a classic teppan dining experience at a low, low price. Not only that, but Japanese Village also offers sushi at the sushi bar, making it the most varied japanese eating experience in downtown Victoria. Teppan meals are famous for the fabulous dinner shows, where all the meat is cooked on the table in front of you. With flashing knives, roaring flames, and a cute waitress or two, the teppan dining makes Japanese Village a classic Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’. However, that’s not all; Japanese village also boasts some of the most visually spectacular decor in Victoria. From a full length fish tank, to a wedding kimono, to samurai swords and armor, Japanese Village is restaurant that will fascinate you from the moment you step in, to the moment you leave.
Cuisine: Teppan and sushi
Food Quality: High
Location: 734 Broughton Street
Unique: Japanese Decor, Teppan Dining Show
Don Mee Seafood Restaurant
http://www.donmee.com/
Don Mee Seafood Restaurant is perhaps the only Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’ in Victoria that can honestly recieved a recommendation of Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½come an hour before your reservation’. Don Mee is famous for the fabulous shows that take place outside the front door. Be it a chinese lantern parade or a dance by the lucky dragon, Don Mee always has something fascinating happening (but phoning ahead to make sure you don’t miss the show never hurts!). Furthermore, a Dim Sum meal is always a conversation piece, and Don Mee’s if famous for having some of the best Dim Sum in Victoria.
Cuisine: Chinese traditional, seafood, dim sum (lunch only).
Food Quality: High
Location: 538 Fisgard Street
Unique: Outdoor shows, Chinese Decor, Dim Sum dining.
Expensive: Average cost of $20+
Milestone’s Restaurant
http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/victoria.html
Yes, Milestones is a chain, but the Victoria Milestones has the honor of what could be the most ideal location on the inner harbor. With two floors located right on the waterfront, Milestones has a superb view of the docks. On a warm summer day, a table on the balcony will sit you down a mere 10 feet from the water, often within hearing range of the occasional street band. Milestone’s is well known for having excellent and varied cuisine, and the Victoria Milestone’s is even better known for the gigantic fishbowl martinis. Sharing a fishbowl with a loved one on a warm night in Victoria is not to be missed, as the Parliament buildings across the water from Milestone’s are lit up in a light display that could be considered the most romantic view in Victoria.
Cuisine: Various
Food Quality: Medium-High
Location: On the inner-harbour
Unique: A commanding view of the inner harbour
The Bengal Lounge: Dress code and age restrictions apply
http://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/Hotels/Facilities/CDRestaurantDetail/0,1130,facility%25255Fcode%253DREST%252B%2526property%25255Fcd%253DEMP%2526property%25255Fseq%253D100128%2526facility%25255Fseq%253D1005044,00.html
The Bengal Lounge could best be described as Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½a slice of india in the midst of Canada’. Indian decorations dominate the lounge, instantly transporting a customer to Colonial England. The Bengal Lounge is best known for the Indian buffet, although the Death By Chocolate dessert buffet is equally scrumptious. On Friday and Saturday nights, a live jazz band is also in attendance, making an excellent experience even more so. With plush leather couches and an unmatched cocktail list, this is the Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Greet’ premiere establishment for a taste of the past with a dash of the present.
Cuisine: Indian, Various
Food Quality: Medium-High
Location: The Fairmont Empress
Unique: Live Jazz music, High class Indian decor, Located in the Empress
Afternoon(High) Tea at The Fairmont Empress: Dress code applies
http://www.fairmont.com/FA/en/CDA/Home/Hotels/Facilities/CDRestaurantDetail/0,1130,facility%25255Fcode%253DREST%252B%2526property%25255Fcd%253DEMP%2526property%25255Fseq%253D100128%2526facility%25255Fseq%253D1005035,00.html
The highest possible point of Victorian Cuisine, and the heart of the city, the Fairmont Empress is famous the world over for its High Tea. Located in the epic lobby of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, Afternoon Tea will transport you to the glory days of the English Court. With live classical music on the grand piano, to a delightful assortment of pastries, Afternoon Tea at The Empress is an unmatched Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½Meet to Eat’ attraction. Be warned that this sojourn into English high society doesn’t come cheap, costing on average $35+ for adults and $18+ for children. However, every cent is worth it, and you will forever be able to say Ã?¯Ã?¿Ã?½I had High Tea at the Empress’. Make sure to set reservations far before you actually want tea, as demand is high and seating is minimal.
Cuisine: Tea and Pastries
Food Quality: Very High
Location: The Fairmont Empress
Unique: English decor and the High Tea experience
That concludes this guide on ‘Meet to Eat’s in Victoria BC. Hopefullly it will serve you well when you desperatly need a place to plan a lunch or dinner with another party in the downtown area.
