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    Ugly Duckling

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

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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

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    Red Fish Blue Fish

    Red Fish Blue Fish

    4.5
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.6 km
    $$

    Wow this place is legit! We were here on a July 4th weekend, got in line around 11:20 (it wasn't…read moretoo bad) and watched the line just get progressively longer. There's umbrellas along the queue so you're mostly shaded while waiting to order. The wait to order goes by somewhat slowly - in a way that feels well timed to not overwhelm the kitchen. For eating, there's counter space along the water and there's a FEW small stools to sit on underneath umbrellas. Honestly everything does look VERY good and I would definitely come back multiple times; I'd be interested in trying nearly everything on the menu! For this first visit, we got one piece of fried halibut and the poutine. The chips (fries) are VERY good. Next time I wouldn't order the poutine as a party of two because it is pretty salty and filing (maybe it makes sense to share with a larger party). I've got my eye on the salmon sandwich and the tacones for next time.

    Going against the general crowd opinion about fish and chips…read more Chips actually were very good. 5/5. But fish for me was not as afresh as I expected it to be and the coating felt little thick for my taste. On the other hand the tacones were lip smacking good. We tried ones with cod but the the flavor was highlighted coz of added coriander seeds in their sauce. Loved the coleslaw. Can't eat those deep fried fish without refreshing side due dish. Salmon was also good. 4/5. We stayed in line for good 40 minutes but found a table along the boardwalk. This was on a Monday evening. At 6 PM. Thankfully, all the time busy marina kept our toddler busy. It's a small shack and right between a seaplane harbor and kayak rental. WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TACONES!

    Photos
    Condiments and utensils
    Condiments and utensils
    Albacore tuna ~ from the grill menu.
    Albacore tuna ~ from the grill menu.
    Pick-up window.

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    Pick-up window.
    Block Kitchen + Bar

    Block Kitchen + Bar

    4.7
    (69 reviews)
    0.2 km
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegetarian friendly

    The service was exceptional, and every bite and sip felt like a little piece of heaven. After…read morenearly every dish, we found ourselves looking at each other saying, "Wow... oh my God, that's amazing." The pork belly bao is generously sized and easily shareable. The bun was incredibly fresh, light, and pillowy, while the pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth tender with the perfect balance of richness and tang from the kimchi. The pickled vegetables added a bright crunch that tasted incredibly fresh. We started with the salmon tartare, and it was phenomenal! Rich, buttery, bursting with flavor, and so good we were literally fighting over the last bite. And the scallop? Order one for each person. Seriously. It's far too delicious to share. It had just the right amount of heat, leaving the perfect lingering warmth that immediately made us want another. Do yourself a favor and give yourself enough time to work your way through the menu, because every dish we tried was outstanding. Each plate was thoughtfully curated, beautifully executed, and cooked to perfection. I like to call it the C³ trifecta: curated, created, and cooked. Without question, this is some of the best food we've had in a very long time. We can't wait to come back (when visiting) and continue eating our way through the rest of the menu.

    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!!

    Photos
    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.
    Duck Spring Rolls with Nam Jim sauce.
    Duck Spring Rolls with Nam Jim sauce.
    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 July 2026

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