I took my partner here for his birthday. He had never had French food before (I eat it OFTEN) and wanted to try the steak especially. We ordered quite a few items, the beef tartare, the French onion soup, the chicken liver pate, he got the rib eye and I got the duck confit. The tartare and French onion soup were both out standing. Delicious. The chicken liver pate was a good portion and also quite tasty. The steak was good but not phenomenal and for 96 dollars it should have been. The duck confit was bad. Too salty and so dry. I had one bite, took it to go and threw it in the trash. We had a cocktail each and two beers each. The service was pretty slow and not super attentive and missed things. The bill came to 400 dollars. I personally wouldn't go back, I live in Vancouver and there are so many better restaurants. Maybe this place is good for Victoria? My partner had a good time still and that's what mattered And finally we didn't order dessert but it was my partners birthday and they gave him a candle that was just on a little plate... most places will have a small dessert or something that they provide for birthdays. It was really tacky and made the whole evening seem a little cheap and odd. read more

There's a certain romance people expect when they step into a French brasserie--the low hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, a dimly lit room that whispers rather than shouts. Brasserie L'Ecole leans hard into that mood. Maybe a little too hard. Look, I get it. Lighting can be seductive. It can soften edges, blur imperfections, make everyone feel like they're in on something intimate and vaguely cinematic. But there's a fine line between ambiance and obscurity, and this place crosses it with confidence. When the room is dark enough that you're squinting to make out what's on your plate--when you can't even appreciate the color of the food you're about to eat--you start to wonder who this is really for. Diners? Or vampires? And then the food arrives. Let's talk about the French onion soup gratinée--the kind of dish that should feel like a warm, savory embrace. Deep, rich broth. Sweet, slow-cooked onions. That molten cap of cheese pulling apart in long, indulgent strands. Instead, what lands in front of you is a salt delivery system disguised as comfort food. A few spoonfuls in and your palate is already waving the white flag. It's not nuanced, not layered--just aggressively, relentlessly salty. A blunt instrument where a scalpel should be. You start thinking about wine. You *want* wine. But then reality kicks in: what's the point? Pairing anything with this level of salinity feels like pouring a decent bottle straight into the ocean. Whatever subtlety, whatever character the wine might have had--it doesn't stand a chance. Then comes the brasserie burger. In theory, a reliable fallback. In practice? More of the same. Heavy-handed seasoning that bulldozes everything else on the plate. After the soup, it's not just overkill--it's a slog. Each bite feels like work. Finishing it becomes less about enjoyment and more about stubbornness. By the end of the meal, you're not lingering over dessert or debating another glass. You're reaching for water. Lots of it. The kind of deep, desperate hydration that feels less like refreshment and more like recovery. Like you've just spent an afternoon face down on the shores of the Dead Sea. There's a good restaurant hiding in here somewhere; since the service is spot on, buried beneath the darkness, buried beneath the salt. But as it stands, the experience feels less like a Parisian escape and more like a test of endurance. Cheers or Jeers.. .up to you. read more

The service was very good, helpful, and friendly. The oysters were very fresh, and the sauces served with it were super yummy. Nice decor and comfortable seating. read more

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The food was delicious. The service wonderful. What else do I need to say? Definitely give them a try if you like French food. The duck confit and the gnocchi are definitely worth trying if you like those. read more

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Food - 5/5 we ordered the Beef Bourguignon, truffle Frites, and Gnocchi. The rich sauce of the Beef Bourguignon balanced well with the freshness of the carrots, mushrooms, and potatoes. The Frites might have been the best Parmesan garlic trout for fried I have ever had! The Gnocchi was light and fluffy with another wonderful rich creamy garlic sauce. DESSERT- Crème Brûlée had the perfect layer of caramelized sugar and wonderful cream to share to wrap up an amazing experience. Service- 5/5 the team does a perfect job managing the pace of the meal and keeping everything flowing well. Our waitress was especially kind and we could not have asked for anyone more perfect for our honeymoon! 5/5 or 10/10. We are from San Diego but it it so good, WE WILL BE BACK! read more

Brasserie L'ecole - Creme Brûlée - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We stood in line at 5:15 pm on this rainy Tuesday to get a table at the first dinner sitting. We were greeted by attentive service and a knowledgeable waitress. This is a small dinning room, not a place to bring large groups. There are 8 spots at the bar besides a few 4 tops and a few tables for two. We had nice French wines and cocktails to choose from. We had complimentary bread and butter to start with our salad. The winter salad was beautifully dressed and had lovely bites of endives, pears and goat cheese. The onion soup was delicious but takes a bit to arrive at the table. We ordered the rockfish and enjoyed every bite, the fish was light and cooked perfectly. I would skip the desert next time crème brûlée was tiny and carrot cake was just ok. However, we really enjoyed our dinner and would recommend you give this restaurant a try. read more

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Brasserie L'ecole was our dinner destination a few weeks ago when we arrived in Victoria from an afternoon ferry ride from the mainland. We had heard great things and knew that the line could get pretty long so opted to arrive right before open. There were already 6 or so parties ahead of us, so our party of 7 had to split up into a table of 3 and a table of 4, but we all still had a great time for dinner. The complementary bread and butter was excellent, and all the apps we ordered were great. We loved the medjool date app; I'm not usually a big fan of blue cheese, but the roquefort worked so well with the sweetness of the date and the nutty almond. Mussels were a huge portion and we were able to use extra bread to dip into the delicious white wine sauce. Endive salad was bright and also a huge portion; I loved the slight bitterness of the endive, paired with the richness of the pork, fresh apple, and crunchy hazelnuts. The french onion soup was by far the best we've ever had; it wasn't too overly salty like many versions are, and it was packed full of cheese, onion, and croutons. The sablefish and cod brandade was very good with peppery arugula and a bed of creamy bechamel. Our mains were great too! The steak frites were well-cooked to temperature (medium rare) with crispy fries and the duck confit was flaky and moist. Really enjoyed the pommes dauphine that came with the duck. We were stuffed by the end of our meal! Highly recommend this place for anyone who's in downtown Victoria and looking for hearty French fare. read more

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Stopped in for a quick meal, heard was a great spot to try while visiting town. Was blown away by how delicious the food was. Had the pork jowl and was mind blowing. Then after some conversation with the bartender, pull the trigger on the burger of all things. Again, wasn't expecting something so common to be uncommonly amazing. And to note, the fries may have been some of the best i have ever eaten. Sounded to simple to be amazing, but was elevated with an incredible flavor profile. This place is a gem, and the chef and his FOH crew are killing it!! read more

Tried to get into this restaurant. The hostess walked right past me and served the people who came behind me. They did not have reservations for that night I did not either but she squeezed them in but I was turned away. Not impressed. Terrible service. read more

This place was so wonderful! The atmosphere was cozy and warm when I visited on a rainy day. Service was friendly and attentive. Note that you should line up right when they open, so you can grab a table. They don't take reservations, and their menu changes constantly. To start, the smoked steelhead trout was fresh and paired well with the underlying pilaf/salad. The French onion soup felt a bit too heavy, the pieces of bread/croutons inside were too large for my taste. The steak frites were so flavourful! The steak was quite large, and sustained my partner and I for another meal each. The 3 butter rounds on top was too much - it took away from the steak enjoyment, so I would recommend only spreading as much as you'd like, to taste. The fries were the best we've ever had. Not sure if they fried them in meat fat, but they were so crispy and flavourful on their own. It felt like a clean fry, not any excess oil. I wanted to note that we were stuck with a +$2 charge on our bill just for an extra plate with steak sauce on it for sharing. This was not communicated to us beforehand, and so when staff arrived with the extra plate and sauce, we thought it was generous and thoughtful. We were not aware that it cost extra money. Had we known, we would have declined this early on. The duck confit was fall off the bone! The crispy outer skin was cooked perfectly, and the meat inside stayed tender. The vegetable accompaniment paired very well with the duck, and the sauce balanced everything out. Would visit again to try new things on their menu! read more

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This is my go to restaurant when I want to celebrate a special occasion. Service is perfect and quick. The dishes are always changing (except for a few standbys) and are simply perfection. You feel like you're in a bistro in Paris- it is both casual and dressy. I send friends here knowing they will enjoy themselves and be treated well. read more

Excellent across the board. Great example of a classic French bistro. Highly recommend.

Mid. Overhyped. Overpriced. The food was nothing to write home about. We lined up outside at 5 and there was already a line. I ordered the duck confit . The bacon bits were salty. The tater tots(?) were crispy but salty. The duck itself was soft...But salty. The peas were alright. But for what it was... Not sure if it was worth the price. It was just an oily, underwhelming dish. The onion soup was actually pretty decent. There was a mixture of different things in the soup, not just onion. The broth was just right and every scoop had either bacon, onion, crouton or cheese... Or all of the above! Service itself was decent. The waitresses were kind and attentive but I have a feeling that they're not used to seeing people of other races come here. I got a few weird looks/side-eyes when we first stepped in and ordered food. The waitresses seemed stand-offish at first but warmed up over time. Not surprised I'm not the only review mentioning this. The restaurant itself was cozy and moreso meant for people who enjoy drinking. Not really a family type of place. In general, I might've I expected too much with the food from the reviews and recommendations. If you have tastebuds that are used to well-seasoned food, I'd look elsewhere. read more

Brasserie L'ecole - duck confit - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I chose this restaurant as part of our Victoria vacation based on Yelp reviews, and am glad I did! I would definitely suggest a reservation - we went on a Tuesday evening and it was very busy. The decor and setting is stylish and bustling - definitely felt like we were in a Parisian brasserie. While many things on the menu were tempting, we both got the burger (based on Reddit reviews) which was huge and delicious. I opted for the upgraded truffle fries which were definitely worth the $3 upcharge. In hindsight, we should have split the burger and also ordered one of their delicious sounding appetizers. The beer and wine menu was all European offerings, but our friendly and helpful server was happy to guide our choices. read more

Had to wait in the below freezing temps 20 mins before opening, but it was well worth it. The food was extremely delicious, with the French onion soup hitting the spot after a frigid evening out. The charcuterie board was also very tasty, with the comte cheese and 4-5 different types of cured meats. Unlimited bread and butter was a plus! I got their burger, which was very high quality and cooked medium. The fries were extremely crispy and elevated by the truffle oil and shredded parmesan. For dessert, we got the creme brulee, which was smaller than expected, but good nonetheless. read more

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Classic French brasserie in a small jewel of a restaurant. Get there early or be prepared to wait for the 2nd seating-- if you have to wait, there are several places in the neighborhood where you can get a cocktail and they will call you when your table is ready. read more

Back again and as good if not better than last visit. Service was wonderful and food outstanding. The restaurant was very comfortable and there little disturbing noise. I cannot recommend this place enough, if you have to wait when you arrive (there are no reservations) you will be texted when your table is ready. Come relaxed and ready for a fine evening of dining Brasserie style. read more

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The food was fantastic. Of the very best quality prepared carefully and without pretension. The service was timely, friendly, and alert. We ordered a bottle of wine, but upon tasting it, discovered it was really not to our taste, and without any fuss, we were able to order another selection. I recommend this as among the best French restaurants I have enjoyed in North America read more

Food was delicious! You do need to know that the menu changes on a daily basis so expect to eat something different every time you go. read more

Brasserie L'ecole - Outside the restaurant - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

One of the best meals ever. The menu full of great choices. The service was exceptional. The atmosphere was relaxing. read more

No reservations. First come, first seated. We got there for the 5:30 pm opening time and there was already a line. Best (large, plump, and tender) mussels we had in ages. Salads, soups, and fish main was delicious. A nice wine list. No room for dessert. read more

Their burgers are excellent - definitely worth the money. However, our service was abysmal. Maybe even less if that's possible? Our server ignored my boyfriend and I for the whole meal - did not refill our waters and we couldn't even order drinks! After countless tries of attempting to get our servers attention, we asked another server for our bill and he eventually went to grab our server for us. She came over and said "I heard you wanted to see me?" We just want our bill so we can leave.. thanks! We do think it was a racial issue... as other individuals had amazing service, the tables are a foot a part from each other so she was helping out every table - except for ours... would not recommend going here - maybe grab take out if you must try their burgers! read more

Great local place. Great staff and delicious food. We had the delicious onion soup. The duck crepe was amazing. So filling. The only average meal was creme brûlée Will return again read more

The best of the best , without any genuine competitors in its class . It just does everything so well , food wine service . A fine restaurant incredibly well run . A regular customer for 20 years . read more

Best Beef Bourguignon we've ever had! We started with the pork and apple croquettes, they were amazing! All the better with the aïoli on the side. Very COVID-friendly, we waited outside where they took our name for reservation, and we only went inside when our table was ready. The tables are spaced quite far apart and we felt comfortable throughout the whole meal. Our main courses were wonderfully paired with Rochefort 10 and the always entertaining Kwak beer from the Bosteels Brewery in Belgium. Too sated to have dessert, next time we'll go for the Creme Brûlée, it looked amazing! Thank you To Marc and all his staff for a wonderful meal! read more

Brasserie L'ecole - Beef Bourguignon paired with Belgian beef. - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

The Empress concierge recommended we get there right at opening, that was great advice ! A very nice experience, great food, portions, wine list and service. Highly recommend, this is French food without pretense or attitude, as we like it. Humble, slightly off the beaten tourist path, but walkable, it was great value and we'll go back for sure. But you need to time your arrival, it's popular! read more

While visiting Victoria, my Aunt & Uncle treated us to dinner @ Brasserie L'ecole. WOW! Besides being a Beautiful, Cozy, Small, Dark & Intimate little French Bistro...the food is Divine! I started with the French Onion Soup...Best EVER! HOT,HOT,HOT! Then, I ordered the Steak Frites w/ compound butter...I'll NEVER Forget It ! The steak was prepared to perfection....the Steak Frites w / herbs, Parmesan & truffle oil.....mmmm! Be sure & Get The Truffle Oil ! ! ! Oddly enough, we didn't wait more than 10 minutes. I love this beautiful little bistro and look forward to our next visit to Victoria and dining @ Brasserie L'ecole! Great customer Service! read more

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Lining up for what is supposed to be Victoria's hottest eatery was not too onerous in the 15 degree temperature. Brasserie L'ecole does not take reservations. From reading the reviews, nearly all five stars, the trick is to get there before 5:30 and join the line. Because the restaurant is small and fills quickly, you'll most likely be seated for much later. They'll text you when your table is ready. Ours was set for 8 p.m., and we were seated by 7:40. There are lots of nice bars in the area if you're inclined to wait. Now, having to perform a 'trick' to simply get a table for dinner seems a little like jumping through one too many hoops. And, considering the success of the restaurant, I'm not quite sure why they don't take reservations. Still, it's their party. Was the wait and early line up worth it? The restaurant has a great ID (you can even purchase the L'ecole aprons ($30), a welcoming host, and a nice ambiance. Lots of Dubbonet and Parisian posters. The bar looks cool. Brasserie L'ecole aims to be sophisticated and sexy. An adjustment here and there would make it more of both. A few (comfortable) demi lune booths and a jazzier ceiling would help. The food? In general, excellent. The service, also excellent. Attentive, smiling servers. The wine list? French only with some interesting choices. If you love Parisian bistros, you'll find exactly what you want. We went with a $60 Languedoc that was a perfect accompaniment to our meal. I had French Onion Soup and Steak Frites, my wife had Vancouver Island Mussels with Pernod and Sooke Trout with barley and beet reduction. The onion soup was beautifully presented with very tasty Gruyere, good, dark bread and an average broth. I prefer mine sweeter and more dense. This was the opposite. But, tasty. My $34 steak tasted delicious in a wonderful, light jus, but a little 'al dente' for that price. The frites were good, nothing special. I purposefully chose my meals to compare to the Parisian style bistros I've in eaten elsewhere. The choices compared well, but still have a way to go to match the best I have experienced (Le Select Bistro in Toronto and Cafe de la Paix and Cafe Imperial in Paris -- all three about the same price as L'ecole, so a fair comparison). The Island Mussels were excellent but the star of the evening was the Sooke Trout. Truly outstanding. Fresh, local produce and beautifully presented. It was superb and highly recommended if you are willing to jump the hoops to get a table. So, a four star rating, losing only one star for the bread service (a thinly sliced baguette -- this simple service could be elevated and really bump up the experience), and for the line up only entrance. $192 for two with two courses, wine, tax and tip. read more

Brasserie L'ecole - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Probably the best french onion soup I've ever had. They don't shy away from the cheese, bread or onion. Every spoon of soup was loaded with something so it wasn't just broth. Also ordered the mussels and fries. Ordered the fries "Fancy" style which included truffle and shaved parm. Highly recommended! We showed up on a Tuesday evening expecting long line-ups. But luckily we didn't have to wait for a table for 2. Overall a great restaurant. Would definitely recommend if you're out in Victoria! read more

Brasserie L'ecole - Mussels and fries - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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First off, let me just say their Dirty Gin Martini is by far one of the best I have ever had... The olive brine was just the right amount to offset the gin, sweet mother of goodness, I had 2 just make sure ;) Then the steak arrived, it melted in my mouth with the perfect amount of searing and seasoning to enhance the flavour of the meat. And if I may, I have to give props to the crusty bread that was served with our dinner, we ate it all which was a shock but indicates just how yummy their food is! Thanks for an amazing experience Brasserie, I'm already planning my return for your burger (and martini)! read more

Got dinner here during our one-night tour of Victoria, and it did not disappoint! We stopped in after a few locals told us it was a must-try. Entering this place feels like stepping into a medieval castle, for some reason. It's pretty dark and gothic. I felt right at home! The front-of-house guy had a great sense of humor and our waitress was knowledgeable about everything on the menu, including the drinks. We ordered the burger and the french onion soup. We split a beer (the waitress gladly poured it out into two glasses). Rus loved his burger (referred to him by a guy outside) and my french onion soup was so great and flavorful! It was a huge portion and I wasn't even able to finish all of it. The broth was full of soft, yummy onions, perfectly seasoned and not too salty. This was the best french onion soup ever! Brasserie L'ecole is such a neat little place. I'm glad that we decided to stop in. read more

Comme c'est magnifique! No reservations! Had to wait a good 45 to 60 minutes for a table but being one of the top 2 restaurants in Victoria (according to Yelp) I figured it was worth the wait. And it was. The scallop appetizer was delicious. The sauce that came with it made a great dip for the everlasting supply of bread coming to our table. 8 oz. steak with frites which can be made fancy with garlic, parmesan, herbs and truffle oil for an extra $2. Great value. Do it! So delicious! The steak was a bit overcooked for medium rare around the edges but the centre was done right. The flavour was amazing and the steak was very enjoyable. The flavour made up for the steak not being cooked to a perfect medium rare. Overall, the food was amazing and done right. It was very rich and could easily stop a weak heart, so be warned! Comfort food with gourmet flavour. The atmosphere was nice, service was friendly and fast. If you'll be going out for dinner while in Victoria, I definitely recommend it! read more

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The best of the best for 20 years , still wonderful . Service attention to detail , quality of food , wine selection cannot be beaten . read more

One word: Exceptional It was date night for my wife and I. Having popped in to try a French Onion soup earlier in the week and coming away impressed with the experience I decided a return was in the cards. Upon arriving to a full house the hostess, Danielle, was helpful in organizing a lovey table for later in the evening with a simple text , thus holding our table without lineups or stress. A unique and effective system I was impressed. We were greeted by Sterling and with his help navigated the menu and made our starter and dinner choices. The pace and timing was perfect for a date night experience and the food was epic. Without a doubt the best meal I've had in this lovely city. If the chocolate torte is available I highly recommend it..my wife called it orgasmic lol Also thank you to Peige for a little help identifying one of the ingredients in our lovely salad :). A perfect destination for your special evening in the storybook city that is Victoria. Thank you for helping make our date night so special :) Tim and Melissa West read more

Brasserie L'ecole - The French Onion Soup, perfect on a cool winters eve. - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Nice little french restaurant. It is first come first serve, so make sure you arrive as early as possible as there can be a line waiting go open on weekends or around a special menu. The menu is set every second day I believe, so you must consistently check online or with the restaurant to se what the daily menu is. The atmosphere is very laid back, so no need to get dressed up to go and good prices for quality of food. read more

Food: Excellent Staff: Attentive Atmosphere: warm & casual Line-up: could be long(I went there 6:15 pm on Friday and had to wait an hour) I had trout with kale and roasted fingerlings two weeks ago. It was really good!! It was more than I expected. The top of trout was crispy and inside of it was moist. It was perfect. I truly recommend this place to have dinner. read more

Brasserie L'ecole - Inside of the restaurant - French Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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We had great hopes for Brasserie L'Ecole after such a long closure but unfortunately our hopes were dashed badly. Wine was the best part of my dining experience. I ordered a steak and was truly disappointed. The steak was served on the plate with no garnishes whatsoever. It was cooked to my satisfaction however it was barely chewable. Served as a side was a dish of French fries which were about as bad as fries could be. I have never been to a French restaurant that served such awful fries. These were not consumed. Unfortunately for the restaurant our dining experience was such that we will not be returning as there are too many good restaurants in Victoria to risk another disappointment like this. Service was very good by the way. read more

They don't take reservations so arrive early to place your name on a list! Well worth the wait. Arrived at 630 put our name down and went across the street to have a glass of wine to fantasize our palate while we waited. We were buzzed 45 minutes early (woo hoo) before we expected for dinner. We had a fab bottle of Gewurztraminer and a plate of delectable smoked meats and cheese to start - a perfect way to get your mouth watering! All the meats were fantastic and well balanced. Husband had the 8oz steak with blue cheese butter and fries - delicious and perfectly cooked I had mussels and fries in the house special sauce - well worth to drag my fries in. Overall many gold stars Only complaint is that our waitress was not informed of the wines on list but was very upfront on this. Did not help or suade me in any direction Overall will be back 100% read more

Delicious! We got their burger, their cod dish, French onion soup, and cream brûlée. The cod dish was fresh, crisp, and bright. The burger was perfectly cooked and so flavorful! The French onion soup was very cheesy and good. The cream brûlée had a perfect sugar crust. Our waitress was very nice and the restaurant was well decorated. read more

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Great to get back to some of the most pleasant....and delicious....dining in Victoria, after the Covid interruption!