Fusion & fresh west-coast style stuff?
The Superior
Everything about this place is totally rad. The food is great, the decor is out of this world, hold on I'm going to try to actually describe it: as classy as it is quirky, as pricey as it is funky... good music...
106 Superior Street (map) (next to Fisherman's Wharf
in James Bay) 380-9515
Hours: 11am - 11pm / Closed Mondays
 The Mint
Just a block away from OI is one of the trendiest restaurants in the city. It's also a great place to enjoy some nice DJ-powered or live music while you enjoy a good meal, and they're open super-late!
1414 Douglas Street, between Pandora and Johnson (map) (directions) 386-6468
Ferris’ Oyster Bar and Grill ($$)
From young to old, trendy to tawdry, Victoria residents call Ferris' their dining room of choice. Ferris’ is a classic default for dates, birthday parties, quiet dinners because of its enormous fusion-style menu and great courtyard patio to enjoy your food and drinks on. Shellfish lovers do not miss out on this gem. Also check out their awesome Portabella Burgers, made with grilled portabella mushrooms the size of your hand.
 Noodle Box ($$)
Official food of OI's front desk staff. With two nearby locations, this place serves up tasty food, healthy portions etc in sweet portable boxes. A Victoria must! They even have chilled coffee, beers and juices. And they often play drum n bass in there.
Blue Fox Café
Dorian says: wow I can't decide whether this is the best place to take my mom out for breakfast on a Sunday morning (get there early, it's busy as hell), or take my girlfriend on a saturday afternoon. So pleasant and just nice. Food's great.
Madeline says: I wouldn't recommend this place on the weekend. Great food + large portions + small vicinity = LONG LINE-UPS. Conveniently, they don't take reservations on the weekend.
#101-919 Fort Street (map) 380-1683
Delicado's Southwestern Café & Deli
Mike says: Everyone should know about this place! I go to the one in Oak Bay. The portions are huge, the menu is healthy and vegan-friendly (they even stock vegan soy cheese), everything is reasonably priced, the service is super-friendly and the atmosphere is very relaxed.
1911b Oak Bay Avenue (map) 595-9984
799 Fort Street (map) 381-3354
Floyd's Diner
This bright pink restaurant is only 3 blocks away from our lovely establishment. My week is not complete without a visit to Floyd's for one of their amazing all-day breakfasts, and the bottomless soup is not to be taken lightly either. With writing on all of their walls except the bathrooms, this place has got one of the coolest atmospheres in town. - Heather
866 Yates Street (map) 381-5114
Guru Korean Bar & Grill
Korean fusion at it's finest! The only downside is that you pay for it. Fully licensed bar, lots of import beers, and great martinis. It's on Fort Street between Cook and Vancouver. Asking the servers for recommendations helps, they have a pretty big menu, and some of the dishes are really spicy!!
1015 Fort Street (map) 384-5337
Hippie & Hipster food (aka broke & lazy)
Don't you dare deny your identity as a hipster/hippie! If you're staying at Ocean Island, or you're considering it, you probably fall into one or more likely both of these categories! Here's how you know which you fit into: if you're thinking "that guy's totally wrong. I don't label myself at all" then you're a hippie, and if you're thinking "I can't be a hipster, those people are so pretentious" then you're definitely a hipster. Don't worry - they're catch-all categories, like "indie rock," "pop" or "IDM." You think they're getting way too broad, and they're used way too flippantly, but then when you somehow end up at a top-40 bar and it's like being on the moon except you hate it, then you realize that those catch-all categories are just there as "this is probably not absolute crap" filters.
Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant ($$)
Lotus Pond between 2:30pm and 3:30pm (except monday) is where all of Victoria's young bohemians, hippies, hipsters (ohmygod I used the H word), random vegans, UVic's eight cool students, totally looped art school teachers etc, go to collectively pretend they're not hipsters and bohemians, and to celebrate the only two things they admit to having in common: a love of vegan chinese food and a shared lifestyle of laziness and poverty. Jesus Christ it's beautiful. Make a thing out of it!
After 3:30pm they close for a couple hours, and open again with a standard restaurant-type setup. The food is killer but not as cheap as half-price time obviously.
They also have free books about Buddhism, and they play the same ambient record every day, but it never gets boring. Remember all that crap about musical wallpaper, invisible music, that kind of thing? They got one of the five records that actually worked in that way.
617 Johnson Street, near Broad (map) (directions) 380-9293 Closed Monday
Green Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant ($$)
Organic buffet, pay by weight, can be a bit pricey, but it's super-filling and hearty, so it's worth it. Chill on the patio with some congas and dessert, and watch the afternoon turn Market Square into deep oranges.
5-560 Johnson Street, on the lower level of Market Square (map) (directions) 385-1809 www.greencuisine.com
Lady Marmalade
A great place to grab some breakfast. Tucked away between shops, you'll miss it if you blink! Somewhat trendy with delicious food. Highly recommended!
608 Johnson Street (map) (directions) 381-2872
Good old greasy spoon comfort cuisine
John’s Place ($$)
Licensed to serve alcohol.
Just down the street from Ocean Island, John has created a welcoming and casual place for fabulous breakfasts any time of the day or night. Yeah of course there's lunch and dinner served too. But really, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, why just have it once? The walls are covered in a mad montage of old film photos and paintings, and an old jukebox pumps out the old-time tunes (if you pump in the money). Their warm baskets of bread are non-stop and delicious.
Shine Café
Small breakfast/lunch cafe far up on Fort Street in the Stadacona Center. Reasonably priced, decent food, who can complain about that? They're licensed and make some pretty fancy coffee drinks.
1548 Fort Street (map) 595-2133
Swan's
Got a crowd of friends to eat with? Great Calamari, great Fish & Chips, sometimes-great desserts, good selection of beers, nice patio, live celtic and rock music. There's always a nice crowd of 30- and 40-somethings dancing. The crowd is generally 20 - 50.
Pagliacci’s ($$)
Licensed to serve alcohol. Italian cuisine in an unforgettable Victoria-meets-New York atmosphere. Very popular, be prepared to wait.
1011 Broad Street between Fort & Broughton (map) (directions) 386-1662
Café Mexico ($$$)
Licensed to serve alcohol.
Authentic Mexican cuisine in a fun, upbeat atmosphere.
Dinner reservations are a good idea in the busy summer months.
1425 Store Street, part of Market Square (map) (directions) 386-1425
Hernandez
"They have great tacos and really good deals! Like 5 tacos for $5." - Madeleine. Open Monday-Friday 11am-8pm. And bring cash, as it's the only form of payment they accept.
735 Yates Street, located inside the Arcade. (map)
La Fiesta
Can you say "SALSA BAR!"? A personal favourite, it's fast, pretty cheap and close to town. I recommend the chimichanga (it's like a deep-fried burrito). - Madeline
1001 Douglas Street 383-6622 (map)
The Sour Pickle
A great place for breakfast or lunch, right on charming Store St, between Fisgard and Pandora.
1623 Store Street (map) (directions) 384-9390
Captain Cook's Bakery
This funky little café/bakery has the most amazing chocolates ever. They have a huge variety of cakes, pies and pastries, and also soup and sandwiches for something a little more filling. Reasonable prices, nice atmosphere. My favourites are the buns filled with red bean paste and the yogurt-chocolate squares.
1019 Fort Street (map) 386-1020
De Dutch Pannekoek House
Excellent variety of classic Dutch breakfasts and lunches. The 12 inch pancakes are beaten by no one and eaten by everyone. It's only open until 3pm but it's worth waking up for.
642 Johnson Street, inside the Best Western Carlton Plaza Hotel (map) 382-9118
Sabri Indian Cuisine
We do sell their samosas, but they pale in comparison to the everyday buffet the restaurant boasts. With only two chicken dishes and array of vegetarian ones, this one is good for all sorts of people. It's worth the bus ride out and unless you choose to walk back to burn calories, you better wear something with an elastic waist.
3480 Tillicum Road (map) 388-4655 Lunch 11am-2pm; Dinner 5pm-10:30pm
Fish & Chips
Barb's Place
Seasonal fish and chips joint at Fisherman's Wharf, you can get a fish and chips dinner with coleslaw and tartar sauce for $8.00. It's outside dining, right on the water.
Fairfield Fish & Chips
Quaint little fish & chip shop in a great neighbourhood. A bit out of town, but worth it!
Old Vic Fish & Chips
A very over-hyped fish & chip shop downtown. A friend of mine from Britain said it was the best but I don't believe her. Maybe British people aren't the ones to trust when it comes to Fish & Chips? Not the best but definitely nearby.
1316 Broad Street (map) 383-4536
Swan's
See listing under Greasy Spoon. Best fish & chips in town but very pricey.
Greek
Eugene's
Family owned and operated. If you like good Greek food, you'll like Eugene's. Souvlaki, gyros, spanokopita and they're licensed! Not badly priced either and they do take-out.
1280 Broad Street (map) 381-5456, also at #103-1990 Fort Street (map) 592-7373
San Remo's
A great place to go on a date (if you like Greek food and have some cash to drop). They have a large menu, helpful staff and a friendly ambience. - Madeline
2704 Quadra Street (map) 384-5255
Caribbean!
Jamaican Jerk House
Amazing food and great people. Friday nights start with an all-you-can-eat jerk chicken buffet, followed by a live reggae band. Fully licensed and they make their own (booze free) ginger beer.
607 Pandora Avenue (map) 383-5344
The Reef Restaurant
Caribbean Cuisine with a matching decor! It's worth it just to see the little seahorses in the toilet bowls, but while you're there you gotta try the yam fries. If they're not your thing, the plantains are a close second. Curries, rotini, jerk anything and fish, it's kinda like a short vacation to the tropics, bamboo bar and everything! - Heather
533 Yates Street (map) 388-5375
Sweets!
Fat Phege's Fudge Factory
Fudge is Love... Their slogan and absolutely true! But they have more than just fudge--remember those mini fried doughnuts?? Oh yeah baby, and hot dogs, frozen yogurt, sea foam, nougat, chocolate, candied apples, the list goes on and on. Got a sweet tooth? This will fix it up just fine until your dentist gets a look at it! - Heather
I vouch for Fat Phege's too--the best fudge I've ever had in my entire life!! Beautiful stuff, if you like sweets you CANNOT miss out on this! - Teresa
134-560 Johnson Street (in Market Square) (map) 1-866-383-3435
Sushi!
Sushi Plus ($)
This is one of those Japanese places that hardly even looks Japanese but the sushi is fan-freakin'-tastic! And cheap! Mmmm.
766 Yates Street (map) (directions) 386-3116
Shiki Sushi
The staff here is always fantastic and it's great quality sushi for a good price. Try it out... but don't even try to say the name 10 times fast.
787 Fort Street (map) 381-8622
Pizza Joints
Ghetto Slice (second slice, dollar slice etc)
Ok you can go with the "good" pizza places on this page and spend $3 or more on a slice of pizza, or you can go slumming and spend $3 for three slices of pizza! There's a few places like these:
1310 Douglas (google directions link) and 1680 Douglas (google directions link) and this new one on Yates between Douglas and Broad. It's the cheapest. They're all open 'til like 2 or 3 in the morning.
  The Brick Yard ($)
A definite favourite, this place is home to some fabulous pizza at great prices and they’re licensed to serve beer!
784 Yates Street, between Blanshard & Douglas (map) (directions) 995-2722 Open Monday-Saturday 12noon-3am; Sunday 12noon-1am (a great post-bar stop)
Ali Baba’s ($)
They’ve been voted Best Pizza in Victoria, and offer some great pizzas if you’re looking for a change from the norm.Huge slices for $4.
775 Fort Street (map) (directions) near Blanshard 385-6666
Pacific Rim Pizza ($)
Another of Victoria’s big slice outlets, and a common after-bar spot. Now with two locations!
532 Pandora Street (map) 385-7746
704 Broughton Street (map) 385-1167
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