Tag Archives: Downtown Victoria

11.05.11
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Jack n’ Joes, or Barb’s and ol’ Nellie’s?

Joe’s Seafood Bar
1208 Wharf Street
Victoria, BC
(250) 590-6323

If I could write a nursery rhyme with Jack and Joe, going up the hill, and sailing the tumultuous seas, I’m sure they’d be hanging on for the ride of their life.

Jack’s Fish Spot is based in Pike Place Market, in Seattle, where they get their fish from the sea, and Joe’s Seafood Bar gets most of their product from Wharfside Seafood & Grille.

This detail was stated to me by the staff member who was tending the pier side of the operation. It makes me wonder about their advertising about where they source their food from. They say it is from local fisherman, when possible, but that be after Wharfside gets the pick of the litter.

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10.08.11
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The Victoria Downtown Public Market Society prepares for Winter….

The Eat Here Now Victoria Harvest Food Festival at Spirit Square came and went last month, and in my brief time there, I found a dozen restaurants offering some delicious tastes. The Canoe Club stole the show with their octopus kabobs and the Island Chefs’ Collaborative salmon and wild mushroom fare was enough to sate my appetite for the early afternoon.

I had a few other tastes, but none of them really stood out except for these two. At the ICC table were various kinds of fungi, and part of me was disappointed in that I wasn’t able to sample the cauliflower mushrooms—a rarity which is tough to find even in Red Cellar Market. There was some being bbqed up, but timing is everything. I had a morel mushroom, which was a taste I was already familiar with.

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09.14.11
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Pho Boy, What a Meal!

Pho Vy
772 Fort St.
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 385-5516

J: I played a little Russian restaurant roulette recently. It’s where one travels to the downtown core of quaint little Victoria. From here Ed places his faith in me to wander the streets before my stomach tells me to walk in. Will it be good, bad, a classic or just a night of taking Gravol?

I settled on a little Vietnamese place decked out in fake flowers but with a yellow and green colour paint combo that was oddly appealing.

E: Pho Vy sat on the opposite side of the road, where Pho Hua is on Fort. I checked out Hua a long time ago, reviewing it for Nexus, and wasn’t too impressed, but Vy had a different atmosphere.

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09.05.11
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How to do the Fringe Part 5: God was at Fort St. Cafe!

Fort Cafe

742 Fort St
Victoria, B.C.
(250) 382-3130

My last night in taking on the Victoria Fringe Festival was met with two powerhouse performances and a good meal. The latter could’ve been better if it didn’t feel like it took a long time to get it to my table. I was able to Facebook, make status updates, read my email, compose a reply, and play six rounds of Angry Birds before it arrived.

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09.02.11
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How to do the Fringe Part 2: Sammiches!

Sam’s Deli & Bistro
805 Government Street
Victoria, BC (250) 382-8424

I ran into my friend Janine just as I was heading to see Zack Adams: Love Songs For Future Girl and here I was, with a bag of chips and a bottle of pop as my dinner. Oh boy, did I ever look sad.

After she looked at what I had, I tucked the chips into my satchel, and we walked down to Government St. for the healthier option at Sam’s Deli. This place is a favourite of her’s, and hopefully I’ll get her to insert a review too.

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07.26.11
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I’m Jumping Jack Flash

This operation has closed.

Jackalope Bistro
760A Yates St.
Victoria, BC
(778) 430-5673

I originally wrote this piece for Nexus Newspaper to print, and instead of giving a director’s cut with extra details here, I thought I’d simply add a few extra notes about the evolution of Diagon, er Odeon Alley.

Actually this place is supposed to be known as Millie’s Lane, but for me, this location is always going to be the Odeon.

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