We ate here while coming through on a cruise. Seven of us found quick seating. Make sure you ask…read morefor outside versus indoor as the inside was a bit stuffy. Food was good. I enjoyed my cod and chips. The mac and cheese was enjoyed by my kids. Be warned - a cheese pizza is just cheese on crust so its really heavy. Ambience wise it has an old atmosphere feel and the staff was great.

The Irish Times is such a fantastic find in a lovely part of town. We spent a great evening sitting…read moreout on the sidewalk, but the interior is just as impressive--a beautiful and historic building dating back to 1894 with very lively music playing inside. I was honestly shocked by how good the food was. I had initially assumed it might be a spot primarily for tourists, but a dear friend of mine who is a local mentioned that people in Victoria actually love coming here. She even noted that some friends from her children's school were there just the night before for an alumni weekend. The menu absolutely exceeded my expectations. I was blown away by the fish and chips; the fish was moist with a light batter and wasn't oily at all. The burgers, Irish stew, and shepherd's pie were all delectable as well. The real standout, however, was the sockeye salmon in a pesto preserved lemon broth--it was so addictive that I wish I could replicate the recipe at home. It is very easy to see why this spot has received so many accolades, and I would love to return the next time we are back in Victoria!

Casual indoor table service with diner standards. Great for breakfast. Friendly service. Recommend…read morethe Eggs Benedict: the Diner Classic version has some sweet onions which go well with the tangy hollandaise. The eggs they use have deep orange yolks that give all the egg dishes a nice color. The diner is on Government & Courtney upstairs of the Burger King.

Frankie's Modern Diner was a nice casual place to stop by for dinner. We had a reservation for…read moredinner on a weekday, but there were hardly anyone in during prime meal time. The atmosphere was alright with dimmer lighting than other similar places which was nice for the mood, and the place was surprisingly louder than expected for the little people that were there. The waitress we had was friendly and nice, but also came by frequently to ask if we were done looking at the menu, with our food, wanting the bill. It felt very rushed despite there not being many other customers in the area. We were only in the restaurant for about 45 minutes today. The food was mediocre. I had the fried chicken and waffles, which looked good but tasted generic. The fried chicken was a bit dry and just tasted like it was seasoned with salt and pepper and that's about it. The waffle tasted like something anyone could make at home. My friend had the Caesar salad, which was drenched in sauce but otherwise looked alright. Overall, the food is on the pricier side, relative to the portion size being served. Expect to spend at least $30 to be full, not including drinks and dessert.

We sat at the bar on our visit. Raj was excellent. He knows his drinks as well. The prices are…read moresteep but well worth the service, views, and what you get! If you're just looking for a quick drink or even a long one, the bar isn't a bad choice. Seats were pretty comfy too!

Apparently a recently renovated space in the lounge area next to the afternoon tea lobby. A moody,…read moredimly lit ambience that is very ideal during the evenings if you want to wind down or have a romantic evening. I got one of the signature Empress 1908 cocktails - the Empress 75. To be honest, all of the Empress 1908 cocktails are fairly easy to make but I still went with ordering it for the ambience (plus I am on vacation). I love the lighting with the grapefruit pearls since it looks like gold and it makes the drink super pretty. Great for pictures and decent - but the ingredient ratios felt a bit off. For CAD$32 before tax and tip, it was a bit steep but it is what it is for a hotel bar. I wanted to get another drink - the Silk Glove as I tend to get clarified drinks. That one is terrible as they served it over fairly crushed ice so the drink is super diluted - far different from the menu description of a king cube for aesthetics and minimal dilution. I flagged this to the bartender that it's undrinkable but I'm glad they took the drink away and took it off the bill.

This place was one of two fantastic eats that we had in Victoria! Highly recommend. The portions…read moreare ridiculously generous, and the staff is courteous and quick! No notes! Ambience in the dining room is gregarious, but not too out of control, actually quite a nice dining experience.

Food is fantastic, Service is outstanding, Ambience is great…read more I cannot recommend this place enough