Nice community cafe with good coffee. Nothing fancy but nice comfy vibes. Will be coming backread more

I live in Victoria and this is one of my favourite cafes. I love all that they offer, service is…read morefantastic and food is always tasty. No surprises here, I would definitely recommend this place to anybody visiting BC

This place broke me. Literally ruined me on cinnamon rolls anywhere else. You may be able to eat…read moreone and not feel the same, but my outlook on the cinnamon rolls I've been eating up until now in my life is extremely dim. I've never had one so amazingly light, soft and perfectly just-sweet-enough. Wonder if they will ship them...? We stopped by Leaven for breakfast one morning on our trip getting a savory crêpe each and a couple pastries. Didn't even make it though breakfast before we knew we had to do a repeat the very next day because it was so good. Crepes are French style and are clearly made with skill and talent. The space is bright and cheery with very friendly staff. I see other reviews mentioning waits during busy times or complaints but experienced nothing of the sort. We were a bit off peak and didn't have that issue but I can honestly say I'd be HAPPY to wait for the food at Leaven. This is really something special and whoever is behind it has a gift.

I'm excited to have found such a gem on Friday Harbor! My boyfriend and I were on the island for…read moreour anniversary and to took photos for that. Our photographer suggested Leaven as a place we could take photos at since we love going to cafes together. We ordered a Cauliflower Crepe, Cauliflower Danish, and Matcha Latte. The crepe was delicious! I love have a savory crepe once in a while, and this crepe had the perfect amount of creaminess from the cheese, crunchiness from the cauliflower and onions, and freshness from the arugula. The same could be said about the danish. They had great components of a creperie/cafe. The Matcha Latte though, was not up to par. It seems it wasn't whisked well, so it tasted grainy. Overall, not taking a point off for it because what they specialize in was so great! Besides the food, the space was pretty lively. During our photoshoot, there was live music and every table was taken up. Leaven seems like a great space for a hangout or catch up with someone. Honestly, If I lived in the area, I would always be down for their crepes.

We stopped by Granny's on our way down from crescent lake and I'm so glad we found this hidden gem,…read morewe decided to stop by for an afternoon treat and it certainly did not disappoint we tried the blackberry pie with a side of vanilla soft serve and it was the best pie I have ever had, they don't skimp out on fruit there was so much filling in the pie, they also have the cutest little farm adjacent to the restaurant, we saw goats, chickens and even an emu, over all it was a great experience

I was recommended Granny's Cafe place by many different people, and it definitely lived up to the…read morehype! I like that you order with the cashier and they deliver the food to your table, so it's like partial food service. This is great for people coming in groups so you don't have to worry about splitting the bill. I ordered a grilled cheese with cheddar, and egg added inside. I do wish the cheese was a little more melted, but the bread was perfectly crispy and soft. For my side I chose the tomato bisque, which was pretty creamy and lacked a strong, tangy tomato flavor. I would skip the tomato soup next time and opt for a different side. The sweet potato fries were DELICIOUS, they were so crispy on the outside and not soggy. I do wish they had different sizes for the sides, because the full order of sweet potato fries is huge and a little excessive if you're already ordering an entree that come with a side. There is an extra charge for ranch dipping. My friends were all happy with their food. There is a bathroom that also brings you to free roaming chicken! I do want to come back to try their ice cream and pies!!!

Yummy food! Coffee was great and the service was amazing. The ugly donut was delicious. Highly…read morerecommend coming here!

The good: such a sweet staff, reasonable prices…read more The meh: the food was pretty unremarkable and the ambiance was so-so

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Fox & Monocle in the North Saanich/Sidney area, and the…read moreexperience was truly memorable. From start to finish, everything was beautifully prepared and wonderfully served. We began with the truffle gougere -essentially delightful little cream puffs filled with melted parmesan that were absolutely to die for. Each bite was rich and delicious. Next up was the bread served with onion butter, which had a fantastic flavor profile. My only tiny wish was that the bread had been toasted just a bit to help that lovely butter melt right in. For the main course, we shared a mushroom pie that was beautifully presented and had that comforting, home-cooked feel. The standout dish of the night, though, was the rock fish. The fish was tender, flaky, and paired with pillowy soft gnocchi that was just perfect in texture. We ended the meal with a dark chocolate namelaka (a type of soft biscuit) and a sticky toffee pudding, both beautifully presented. The sticky toffee pudding was delicious, though I personally would have loved just a bit more of that rich sauce to soak up the entire cake, Overall, the service was wonderful, and the meal was impeccable. The area is truly lucky to have such a fine dining gem, and I can't wait to go back again!

While visiting over the weekend I was invited to a Shinto shrine that departs every so often. My…read morefamily and I ate at this cozy cafe which reminded me of being in a Wes Anderson film. Every baked good was perfectly semetrical and there were regulars, bicyclists, and families. The only thing missing was the cool color tones of a Wes Anderson movie to capture mood and dialogue. I tried two of the breakfast sandwiches: beef and an egg and sausage. Both were delicious. I also tried their galette with mushroom and cheddar. It was a nice savory bite of crunch from the pastry dough , and texture of the mushrooms and spices. My belly was full for the direction of my 3 hours on the island. Service was very good also.

I grabbed breakfast at Riptide Cafe while visiting the San Juan Islands and really enjoyed it. I…read morehad the avocado toast, berry blast smoothie bowl, and a latte. Everything was fresh and delicious. The smoothie bowl was especially good, packed with berries and a nice crunch from the granola. It is a little on the pricier side, but that's kind of expected given the location right by the pier. Overall, a solid spot if you're looking for a good coffee and something healthy to eat while taking in the view.

Little cafe right by the water! The girls working were very…read morefriendly and patient with us while we decided on our order. Got the salted blackberry and the vanilla latte, both iced and with oat milk. Decent flavor profile for each drink, though the espresso was a little bitter. Overall good visit with a nice ambiance in the cafe, enjoying our drinks and watching boats in the harbor.

We had a wonderful trip to Victoria BC and ended it on a high note when we dined at the JOIE French…read moreCafe. The food was fantastic, had delicious gluten free options and was capably and quickly served by the polite and gracious Yuma, who is apparently the owner's son. The family runs another restaurant with a more substantial menu which is also situated on Cook Street called the JOIE Grilles which we did not have the pleasure of visiting as we were leaving Victoria that afternoon. The Croque Madame and gluten free crepes were all fabulous. We will be back next year on our next visit to Victoria.

We discovered this cafe through an online review and were attracted to the atmosphere and crepes…read moreoffered. Everyone working is very friendly, the food is served extremely quickly and is delicious. The London fog was the best I've had, and we even came back the following day to have it again. I would 100% recommend this place to anyone in Victoria!

I brought my husband here for his first time ever having a traditional tea experience…read more Unfortunately, at the time we had a bit of a crisis that was happening at home and it was hard for us to sit and just enjoy our meal because we were dealing with a crisis, however, the server was so sweet and genuine and understanding about us being somewhat distracted. Despite our side quest, my husband still told me he enjoyed every second of that tea lunch and had a great time. They do a really good job about decorating it making it feel very authentic, and the tea was delicious and they really went above and beyond to explain everything that we were receiving. I would definitely go back!

piggy and paisley is a small, charming local café in james bay that fits really naturally into the…read moreneighbourhood. it's located just across from thrifty foods and a short walk from victoria's inner harbour. james bay itself feels quite different from downtown. while the core of victoria is busy with tourists, government buildings, and constant movement around the harbour, james bay feels more residential and relaxed, with tree lined streets, older homes, independent shops, and a steady local rhythm. i stopped in for a matcha latte with oat milk and sat by the bay window. it's an easy place to slow down for a bit and watch the neighbourhood go by. natural light fills the space, softening the pink tones and cozy interior, and there's a quiet, comfortable hum of conversation in the background. during my visit, a few people were catching up over tea, others were working on laptops, and some were simply enjoying coffee and pastries. it has a very unhurried feel to it, like people naturally settle in. afternoon tea is available but needs to be booked in advance. there are also small curated displays throughout the café with teas, gifts, and artisan items available for purchase. it feels thoughtfully selected and woven into the space rather than presented as a separate shop, which adds to the overall charm without distracting from the café experience. what stands out most is the atmosphere. it feels genuinely local. regulars come in and out, conversations happen easily, and even as a visitor you feel comfortable settling into the space. it feels more like a neighbourhood café that naturally belongs where it is. if you're in victoria, it's worth stepping away from the inner harbour and downtown for a bit. wandering into james bay and spending time at piggy and paisley gives you a quieter, more local side of the city that many visitors miss, and it's a nice place to slow down for a while.