Veneto Tapa Lounge
1450 Douglas Street
Hotel Rialto
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 383-7310
Tapas seem to be the hottest trend these days, and these lounges that offer small sized portions of food is not a place I’d often go to. After this dine-in experience, I have found a new place to induldge in one particular guilty pleasure: enjoying fusion cuisine.
Ebi Ten
388 Robson St.
Yaletown
Vancouver, B.C.
(604) 689-9938
J: Ebi Ten is just one of those little discoveries of Ed’s from 6 years ago. Despite a few repeated attempts, Ebi failed to please the freelance food critic with their takoyaki. It was a good thing Ed took little convincing to give Ebi another go. The girl behind the counter was very young and helpful. And it didn’t hurt that she spoke the language of the food she served. With our orders placed, we took a seat near the entrance. I wasted time by pointing out Ed’s age and how the girl at the counter was easily in elementary when Ed first visited.
It was clear his age is starting to bother him because he responded with a quick punch. I’m only grateful his strength is not as it once was.
Fanny Bay Inn
7480 Island Highway
Fanny Bay, BC V0R 1W0
(250) 335-2323
Yes, another trip up island towards Courtenay meant a visit to Fanny Bay. Although the friends I was with arrived 15 minutes late to have lunch at Happy Hen’s Café, the operation that runs within Fanny Bay Service, the advice of the staff at this stop led us to Fanny Bay Inn, and we were not disappointed.
Since this township is famous for their oysters far and wide, I was considering an all oyster meal. But before I could finally decide on what to eat, I was served with a cola delivered with class. I do not often find bars that serve it with a lime wedge. That helps cut the acidity down in the pop, and it is a trick not many operations consider doing.
Skinnytato Polish Restaurant
615 Johnson Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-6550
J: A lesson to be learned by one hungry bloke is that a barely populated establishment does not a poor restaurant make. Or at least not below average in any sense of the word. It was a shoot-out between Skinnytato and Lotus Pond.
Ed had reinforced my doubts about the fact that we had recently done the Asian food scene to death. It was time to call for a change.
Kuma Noodle Japan
#215 – 1551 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.
Saanich, BC
(250) 590-3398
J: It’s not often one can be bought dinner for doing very little work. I managed to get away with that. I was originally meant to clean gutters at Ed’s home, but I was downgraded to moving kitchen appliances when a suitable ladder could not be located.
And for my reward Ed drove us to Kuma. He had avoided this place until a pair-up review was possible.
494 Old Island Highway
View Royal, BC
(250) 478-3121
I do not often head out to the outskirts of Victoria to dine, but when I am hanging out with PARAVI, Victoria’s homegrown paranormal research and investigation society, we visited Six Mile Pub to check out its supernatural history. Or for me, to check out one of their many flavourful burgers.
The first time I was here, I ordered their Guinness Cheese and Bacon Burger ($16.50) as a take out meal. I did not want to pass up the chance in case I did not return.
The singular large crisp onion ring really made this particular meal stand out, and I quite liked the toasty warm bun. I thought the meat was very tender. It tasted was like it was braised; the juicy softness complemented the added crunch very well. And the tanginess of this particular dry stout tasted light on the cheese.
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