Wildside Grill - Tofino!

This place is "da bomb!"  I haven't had a meal that I enjoyed so much in a really long time!  I think the outdoor ambiance and the picnic table eating and fresh ocean air adds to the fantastic-ness of this place.  Wildside Grill is located in Tofino, BC. It's in this fabulous little hippie surfer village just a few minutes outside of the town of Tofino.  All the surfers come roaring in to get "whatever," sporting their wet suits and bare feet and it just makes it so cool to be there.  Some surfers even pull up on their bikes with their surf boards hung from the side of their bike.  It's a buzzing little village.  The best part....the FOOD. They have a burger menu and of course a whole seafood menu with a variety of fresh seafood chowder and seafood gumbo. 

What really stole my heart tho was the taco's!  OMG!! Amazing!  They had a few different kinds to choose from, my favourite, the fish taco.  Made with fresh caught white fish (the catch of the day was lingcod,) they are served in soft corn tortillas and fresh guacamole and chunky fresh salsa.  If you haven't caught on yet...the key is FRESH. They catch their own seafood, I think daily.  You just can't get any better. The prices are very reasonable and the service is top notch.  They have started to make a name for themselves as they are going to be featured on the Canadian show "You gotta eat here" on the food network, airing February 22, 2013.  They are as local as they can come and I love supporting new up and coming restaurateurs.

Red Fish..Blue Fish

2 piece Fish & Chips

Tacone         Red Dog

The Joint

Hands down, best fish "n" chips in town. There is traditional fish "n" chips and then there is oh so much more.  My favourite is called the "Red Dog."  It is a succulent huge piece of salmon that is dipped in their signature batter and crisped until perfection.  It is put on a fresh portuguese bun that is topped with homemade tartar sauce, fresh dill pickles, and pickled ginger (which I take off.) OMG! So fantastic!  I always get a side of fries that are perfectly cooked with an order of their curry sauce (a zingy, tomatoey, curry like) dip that is hot and I slather it on my Red Dog and dip my fries in it.  Heaven...pure heaven.  There are so many other delicious options that are so fresh and healthy it will blow your mind.  Tacones are fabulous too.  A fresh tortilla filled with shrimp or scallops or salmon or tonnes of other fillings its just great.  The best part, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.  The worst part...well it's kinda a catch 22....you have to wait, sometimes for a long time depending on the season/weather.  The good catch is you're outside, right on the wharf they have a covered shelter to eat under and oh ya did I mention you're outside!  Sometimes it a view money can't buy!  It is worth the wait everytime and I would go everyday if I could wait.  Little hint.....January, February, and even March......hardly any waits! Here is the website.

Pizzeria Prima Strada

Filetti Pizza

This is just great pizza! It's Neapolitan style, which is thin crust and cooked in a wood burning stove.  There are a couple of locations, they have a website with menus and daily specials.  The pizza's come in individual size or sharing size.  The crust is phenomenal and the toppings are not so traditional and oh so tasty.  Lunch is deli style and you pay at the counter then they bring the food. Dinner is
a la carte.




My favourite is called:
Panna e Pancetta cream, pancetta, parmigiano, mozzarella,
ricotta, scallions

It's so yummy and creamy with the perfect salty taste with the pancetta. 

It's worth checking out.

 

Four stars.....I had one undesirable experience here that had to do with the service. 

Pagliacci's

Pagliacci's is a Victoria landmark. This is a great little place.  It is a tight sqeeze to get everyone in so you have to be in the mood to be close to other people!  It is worth it though, the food is fantastic! It can be a bit pricey depending what you order, they have hiked the prices up in the last year which has detoured me from going on a regular basis, it is now a bit of a treat to go.  They have free bread, amazing, and the service is great and it is an all around funky little joint. The menu has fresh made pasta's, homemade pizza and a variety of main courses that are all tasty.
They have a special's menu that is different everyday.  The homemade soups are fantastic and are a great deal for a lunch, they can be bottomless and served with the bread.... muwha! Here is the website, you can check out the specials before you go! 

I give it only 4 stars due to the HUGE price hikes.

Japanese Village

Need I say more?  If you live in Victoria you have to go to the Japanese Village.  It is a sit down Japanese Teppan Grill Restaurant that they cook in front of you.  They also have a sushi bar that serves a full menu as well.  I love love love this place and go for lunch as often as we can get in!  Lunch is great deal, dinner can be a bit pricey, but still worth it! I have the teryaki salmon which is fantastic, everything is good though and I have tried everything!  You get a bowl of rice (or two) and you have to try it with the "steak sauce" which is just icing on the cake! The service is great and food is always consistent and delicious.  You usually need to make reservations for dinner, lunch it is suggested but sometimes you can walk in.  They also do take out for lunch.....a big bowl of rice with steak sauce $3.00, great deal. The ambience is cool too, you go underground and there are no windows so it is really different and memorable. 

John's Place

If you want a great meal for a great price....John's Place! It is on Johnson St close to the intersection of Douglas. They have a website that lists their menus and specials.  The best part.....free bread...and not any old bread..a fabulous homemade rosemary bread that is so unbelievable!  They have even been featured on the food network.  I have been going to John's Place for over 15 years and the staff is still the same, they know me by name and practically role out the red carpet when I arrive!  The thing is...they do that for anybody. It is a casual fun place to be and to top it off the food is outstanding.  I like a variety of items there, Chicken Chang Mai soup is one of my fav's, and the meatloaf with mashed potatoes......uh can you say stuffed!  There is something for everybody and they love kids too!  One of the specialties is their breakfast/brunch that they serve all the time. Check the website for Sunday brunch menu.
If you have never been there...then you need to go.

Italian Delicatessan on Blanshard Street

This is a fabulous Italian import delicatessan.  It is right on Blanshard street between View and Fort.  It is amazing!  You can go and sit down there are lots of seats, real european style, and then the food...well out of this world.  You can order loaded panini sandwiches, italian rolls loaded with salami's and artichokes and olives.  They have fresh pasta dishes availabe too.  They have a hot meatball sandwich...need I say more?  They slice the meat to order it is fresher than you could ask for! You could also buy all your dinner ingredients if you go for lunch and have a fabulous authentic meal for dinner too.  The staff are all super friendly and knowledgable about their products and want you to enjoy their food and products. The best thing....the price  $5.60 for a HUGE sandwich.

Shizen Sushi

I love Sushi, not the raw fish kind, it's one of those things I can't wrap my head around. All other types involved though....and Shizen Sushi is the SHIZ! If you know what I mean.  They have a fantastic lunch menu offering their Bento Box style eating with a wide variety of choices and that will only run $7.95 you can add on just about anything for $2.50 more.  Dinner menu is extensive and full of all varieties of Japanese food, their sushi chefs are unbelievable! Be sure to thank them when you leave, they love that!! 

The piece de la resistance that I came accross a long time ago was their highlander roll! Now this used to NOT be offered on their menu, but has since been added in the new 2013 year of new menu printing! So now everyone can get in on it.........Holy SHIZAZZ hold on to your hat, this is not for the faint at heart it has tempura prawn, avacado, creamy spicy mayo, and is topped with thinly seared rib steak that is melt in your mouth crazy....then they top it off with this ginger spicy crucnhy business on top...I don't know it's just heaven.  I would actually consider asking for this as my last meal........not that there is one coming soon...but it is that good!
http://shizensushi.ca/
C-Rae Rating:

Baan Thai

Gang Gai (Red Curry) Lunch Combo
w/soup & 2 spring rolls!

Baan Thai Broadmead has become my newest hangout. I love Thai food and these folks got it covered. They know us when we walk in and treat us so well everytime.
For lunch:
They offer a combo lunch meal that can run you as low as $9.75 and come with soup & 2 springrolls! Crazy. It could easily be split as well, but not me, I'm in it to win it!!
For dinner:
The plates are served off an ala carte menu and are all delicious. I haven't tried one yet that I don't love.
Here's their website http://baanthaivictoria.ca/
They have 3 locations to serve Greater Victoria and they are spot on every time. Consistency is huge with me, and you get exactly what you go for every single time!! The do delivery and take-out and it is awsome right to the table at home too!

C-Rae Rating: