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    Ugly Duckling

    5.0 (14 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM

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    Recommended Reviews - Ugly Duckling

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    I cannot stress how amazing this restaurant is. We had the most divine tasting menu presented to us and it was beyond anything I have ever experienced. The food, amazing, service; top notch and the setting is intimate and private. I cannot say enough about the Ugly Duckling!!!

    Foie gras bao
    Jim C.

    Tasting menu here was superb, even according to Hope. Service was excellent. Great place for dinner or date night.

    Exterior view
    L C.

    Ugly Duckling is a hidden gem, located in the Chinatown district of Victoria. Unlike the name suggests, this is no ugly duckling, the clean lines of the interior contemporary decor leave the impression you're about to experience something unique - and you are. Small enough to be intimate yet not so tiny you can't enjoy private conversation, we were delighted by the tasting menu which was creative and delicious. The wine pairings with each course, expertly introduced by the outstanding staff, offered exotic flavours yet surprisingly the food was not so strange you don't enjoy it. I often find there can be too much emphasis on sounding good but then the food disappoints- nothing like that here. As well, some restaurants do not accommodate substitutions for dietary restrictions, this one does. Portions were ample yet left the right amount of space for the next delightful dish. Dinner took about two and a half hours as we took our time to enjoy the ambience and hospitality between courses. Initially I was a little intimidated by the descriptions on the tasting menu but upon nibbling each new bite ~~ that quickly faded away. Prices are consistent with tasting menus. This restaurant has quickly become recognized as an outstanding experience, I would try it soon before it becomes too busy.

    Dine around Victoria tasting menu

    Had the pleasure of trying the tasting menu for "Dine Around Victoria", absolutely loved every dish. Every plate that came out was beautifully presented and skillfully crafted. We loved that every dish was thoroughly explained by the lovely staff. Our table had the pork belly, beef tartare, halibut, duck, chocolate pot de crème, and the apple crumble. You cannot go wrong with whatever you decide but the standout dish for me was the duck!

    Surprise sorbet - extra dessert course!

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    Review Highlights - Ugly Duckling

    Had the pleasure of trying the tasting menu for "Dine Around Victoria", absolutely loved every dish.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Red Fish Blue Fish

    Red Fish Blue Fish

    4.5(1.6k reviews)
    0.6 km
    $$

    My husband got the 2 piece halibut fish & chips. I can never get at all my chips so we have started…read moresharing a larger order & no more wasted chips. The halibut is perfect-just like I like it. The pieces are generous. One piece is plenty for the average person. The halibut is BC caught, which is great. Tasted fresh and delicious. I like the fresh tasting coleslaw. It isn't that gluggy sweet sugar & mayo combo you get at many places. It was just a simple cut up cabbage nicely seasoned. Maybe it had a little something else on it. Expect a line whenever you go because the word is out. The wait staff was friendly and working hard to keep the line moving. We found a chair up against a narrow wooden "bar" facing the water. It was quite warm so we appreciated the shade of an umbrella.

    If you're visiting Victoria and only have time for one seafood stop, make it Red Fish Blue Fish…read more Located right on the harbor in a repurposed shipping container, this spot serves some of the freshest seafood you'll find on Vancouver Island. The line can get long, but it's worth the wait. My recommendation: get the BC Halibut. Perfectly cooked, flaky, and incredibly fresh, it showcases exactly why Pacific Northwest seafood has such a great reputation. Simple ingredients, expertly prepared, and packed with flavor. Grab your food, find a seat along the waterfront, and enjoy the views while watching the boats come and go. Great food, great location, and a true Victoria classic.

    Photos
    Red Fish Blue Fish - Condiments and utensils

    Condiments and utensils

    Red Fish Blue Fish - Albacore tuna ~ from the grill menu.

    Albacore tuna ~ from the grill menu.

    Red Fish Blue Fish - Pick-up window.

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    Pick-up window.

    Il Terrazzo Ristorante

    Il Terrazzo Ristorante

    4.5(788 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$$

    Just another excellent evening with the restaurant folks! This time, finding the place was easier…read more(it's off a back alley). Got there just when they opened and got a prime seating near (but not to near) one of the fireplaces (they have several italian brick style). The restaurant has many twists and turns creating many wonderful dining alcoves. Very inviting to sit and talk. So on a cold December evening we both had the Polo Appollonia; a wonderful mixture of garlic, bacon, and cheesey pasta. But the real star of the meal were the appetizers! Amazing tasting tomato soup, and the insalata caprese. The salad had a large portion of crisp tomatoes served with like a half pound of real homemade buffalo mozzarella, and lots of fresh basil. Almost a meal. The waiter was very helpful in selections of the food and some wine. We will definitely be back on our next visit to Vancouver Island.

    You have to come here! Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Ordered drinks- loved the Chianti…read more Got the caprese salad for an appetizer- perfect for 4 people to share. I ordered the LINGUINE CAPESANTE without onions. It could not have been better. Allison was the most amazing server. Ask for her! My friend had the FRUTTI di MARE della CASA. Those were probably the table favorites. The manager even came by to ask us how things were going. On a Monday night the place was packed. I recommend making a reservation. The bread and the olive spread with the dinner were so good. We ordered the tiramisu and the crème brûlée to share. Amazing. I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant !! Love it!

    Photos
    Il Terrazzo Ristorante - The interior is stunning

    The interior is stunning

    Il Terrazzo Ristorante - Chocolate cake and gelato

    Chocolate cake and gelato

    Il Terrazzo Ristorante - The architecture is stunning

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    The architecture is stunning

    Block Kitchen + Bar - You'll know it when you see it.

    Block Kitchen + Bar

    4.6(65 reviews)
    0.2 km
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegetarian friendly

    Drove down from courtenay to meet with a friend to go to the…read moreCity & Colour show and she suggested the Block as she had been before. Ambiance was great - super warm and welcoming which was magnified by the host. Super lovely. Then the wait staff. Whoever is hiring/training is doing a great job! Not drinking right now but the cocktail menu was super tempting. Every menu item sounded great. We got some help on ordering from our servers and Tanya picked ones she had enjoyed before. We also sat right beside the pick up window so it was fun seeing food come out! The food was fantastic. See pictures for what we ordered. Not sure if I can remember the names of everything but it was a perfect combo!!

    So straight up this place went and took us to places we hadn't been prior to eating at the Block…read more Overall a very enjoyable experience for sure, but you cannot pigeonhole this place, which is a very good thing! We are big fans of traditional fare, but the Block is a place we are so glad we experienced and will certainly return utilizing the knowledge we garnered during our first experience. A big thank you to for helping us through picking one price fixe January exploration of your local restaurants and filling it with other ala carte additions. As we often do we ordered far too much food, wanting to explore everything off a menu that is far reaching. Not sure if our additions worked with the price fixe menu, but we sure enjoyed checking everything out. The interior is interesting with the addition of structural steel in the space to keep this heritage building (I think) standing tall for a few generations. We sure hope it's still here for a long while and will most likely come again the next time we are in Victoria. That is saying a lot as there are a wide range of restaurants in the neighbourhood, but you do want to check the Block out!

    Photos
    Block Kitchen + Bar - From local craft beers to exotic cocktails, we have a drink for you and that special someone.

    From local craft beers to exotic cocktails, we have a drink for you and that special someone.

    Block Kitchen + Bar - Duck Spring Rolls with Nam Jim sauce.

    Duck Spring Rolls with Nam Jim sauce.

    Block Kitchen + Bar - Admiral Sho Cauliflower with marinated and fried cauliflower bites, General Tso sauce, sesame, chili thread.

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    Admiral Sho Cauliflower with marinated and fried cauliflower bites, General Tso sauce, sesame, chili thread.

    Ugly Duckling - newcanadian - Updated June 2026

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