What an amazing dinner! This restaurant is a little gem, tucked back from the street - it felt like we were on a European vacation. This was a delightful meal. When we came in, the host was attentive, nice and very welcoming. When being seated, he gave us our choice of different dining rooms/tables. Service was impeccable and everyone was so friendly. The ambiance was great - well lit but very warm - a rustic feel. Local artwork on the walls. The room gets a bit loud with the acoustics, but it still maintains a quaint feel (especially in the front dining room). The food was outstanding, and the option to order entrees in a smaller size allowed us to taste more. We had an amazing English pea soup, which had various layers and textures full of unique flavors that complimented each other fabulously. We then had homemade agnolotti filled with butternut squash and goat cheese. The pasta (made in-house) was delicious and cooked perfectly. We then shared two smaller portioned seafood entree items - the grilled yellowtail (which came with a delicious summer squash salad) and albacore tuna (a duo, with both tartare and a seared piece). The tuna duo came with such a unique and fabulous cucumber gelato! Incredible. For dessert we had the sampler plate, which was insane (especially with our Tawny Port!). This was a fabulous meal, in an amazing atmosphere with impeccable service. We will definitely visit whenever we are back on the island. Cheers to the team at Cafe Brio! read more

This was an expensive restaurant that was a bit misleading for Italian cuisine. It was Italian...just Northern or whatever place...it wasn't the pasta place we actually were hoping for when we arrived. The service option for each meal is a half portion or whole portion of the meal. The menu had one main pasta dish that was $30+ and the rest were around $40+. Not worth the portion size for what a full menu would be. And I find it laughable that they offer a salad of heirloom tomatoes with a half portion size...where you literally get half a cherry tomato along with 2 slices of some other type of heirloom tomato..with rind of a watermelon pickled or something like that...so imagine that a whole salad gets you a whole cherry tomatoe...The dishes were okay but portion wise not worth the price. It plays like an expensive high end restaurant with tiny portions. The service was fine and the staff was friendly. I picked the penne pasta and my friends each did a some steak or lamb dish....they did half sizes. You definitely do not get bang for the buck here...you could go elsewhere and spend the money for quality food....Italian doesn't need to cost this much... read more

Lovely and attentive waiters, scrumptious and creative food. Coming here made my night.

I'm not usually a five star guy but Cafe Brio clearly qualifies. Owners Greg Hays and Sylvia Marcolini were both working and each came to our table for a nice visit. He is particularly animated and upbeat. She is native Italian and they visit her home area annually. Our server, who has been there for many years, was professional and pleasant. We sat in the attractive "outdoor" area at the entrance and liked it. Blankets are draped over the chair backs in case it's too chilly. We shared a large excellent butter lettuce salad and our entrees were duck Bologna pappadelle and the beef chuck. All very fine. At our request they readily served the side items from another menu item for what usually comes with the beef. For dessert we shared a toffee pudding and I wish I had another one right now. Our bill, with three glasses of Rhône wine, came to $119.50 Canadian plus taxes and tip. We regularly visit Victoria and we'll go to the Cafe Brio every time. read more

Always fantastic food and service!...the menu changes seasonally and it's always great. I've never been disappointed. A must try for anyone visiting Victoria. read more

This is the kind of restaurant that you wish you could take back to your own neighborhood. We walked in without a reservation and despite a full house the snuck us to a table very quickly. From that point on we were treated like old friends, rather than tourists. Gregory's High Jack was a blend of bourbon with a bit of cinnamon bitters. I was jealous. Lamb prosciutto was fantastic as were his duck and my halibut. The only failing was our drinks continually arrived half way through each course. Worth visiting, especially if you're visiting. read more

Timeless Victoria spot. We had a wonderful birthday meal on Saturday. My husband and I had the family meal and were full to the brim when we left. Warm and welcoming service. read more

Very nice dinner here for special occasion. Casual, relaxed environment but the service started out a haphazardly. The second course was delivered before we'd finished the first and then we were not offered second glasses of wine for a long time after the first were finished. After that things settled down. A huge advantage is the option of most if not all of the dishes on the menu at either half or full portion. Everything we ate was delicious, fresh and imaginative. Extensive wine bottle list and decent local wines by the glass as well. Would definitely recommend the restaurant. read more

A real authentic Italian experience. It is a little walk from downtown but you will not regret it at all. We also met the owners who love what they are doing and are proud of it. They are from Italy and it shows in the food. Definitely a must go in Victoria, BC. read more

Definitely my favourite restaurant when you want smaller portion but great tasting dishes. The fact they do half order is amazing just means more variety to taste. read more

We came here for a nice dinner and Cafe Brio did not disappoint. I made a reservation previously and we arrived earlier so had a drink at the bar before eating. The staff is extremely friendly and made us feel very comfortable. The atmosphere is romantic and cozy. We ordered a cheese plate, the halibut, and the two half orders of the lamb dishes, and finally the chocolate ganache with olive oil ice cream. All were excellent! Extremely well cooked and unique flavors! The halibut was freshly caught that morning and was flaky perfection. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinning experience! read more

Oh my goodness! My husband and I are foodies. We love to eat. We love to eat in special places while on holiday. A recent wonderful find in Victoria, B.C. was Cafe Brio. Simply wonderful. Great ambiance, incredibly friendly, lovely and knowledgeable staff. The owner, Greg, really knows his stuff and is great fun to chat with. It's obvious his staff adore him as the good vibes spill over the restaurant. The small bar is great and I highly recommend the Pepper martini. Unique and wonderful. The food - oh, the food. Ever had a 45 minute poached egg that you don't need to wait 45 minutes for? Heaven. I could actually hear my husband humming while sopping up the custardy egg (with homemade bread straight from from the oven). All courses were first rate and perfectly prepared with wine pairings that fit like a glove. We will definitely be back. read more

Nice room, attentive service, even on a busy Friday evening (with Grad happening). Wine list features BC wines, although a reasonable selection of international wines available, but some great BC wines to be had at decent prices (we had the 06 Black Hills Nota Bene which was great). Food was good, but not great. My wife had a piece of halibut that had a more fishy odor (and taste) than in normal...she probably should have sent it back. I had a veal chop that was wonderful, and my mother had the duck breast, which she enjoyed greatly. Half portions on most items a definite plus. Deserts were good, if not spectacular. All in All, worth another visit. read more

Through Yelp, I found Café Brio in searching for a unique, intimate and locally-focused dining experience during my brief stay in Victoria. Selecting Café Brio was truly a winning choice. From the friendliness of the entire staff; the charming and intimate decor and ambience; the extensive wine list; and the broad, unique and delicious menu with its locally-grown and sourced focus, the entire experience was a pleasure from start to finish. I would readily return to Café Brio for a subsequent meal and would heartily recommend it to anyone traveling to Victoria. read more

I've been a couple of times lately and I've found the menu interesting and delicious. Service has been good as well, the owners are particularly enthusiastic. It's a lucky tourist that stumbles upon this restaurant, we'll go on a regular basis. read more

Food! They have 1/2 servings, which allow for tasting more tasty items. We started with the special gazpacho -- wow! Perfect for the summer evening. Next, we had the octopus -- different! I've had octopus in lots of different styles -- this was new. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it was delicious -- grilled and and tasting of both fire and ocean, and very tender. The service was friendly and knowledgeable, but we had to flag our server a few times -- it was packed on a Tuesday eve, but we got a table without reservations. read more

Such a sad, sad, night. I have been a loyal customer of Cafe Brio for eleven years. I first went to Cafe Brio when I lived in Victoria. Two years ago, I moved to Vancouver and when I have come to visit the island, Cafe Brio has remained a special place to visit. However, tonight the experience I had was less than mediocre. From the moment we arrived, the service was unwelcoming. The dining experience was rushed and we assumed that a larger party was coming in - however, by 7:30pm the restaurant was only half full. I have a severe gluten intolerance and usually Cafe Brio has been exceptional in telling me about the contents of dishes and which foods to avoid. However, during this visit trying to get our server to explain what was in the dishes was a frustrating experience; he clearly did not understand the importance of avoiding an allergen. The pasta that my partner had was mediocre. He described it as if left over roast beef had been chopped up and added to the pasta. My halibut was definitely better and the roasted cauliflower was delicious. The roasted beet salad was great. What we had hoped would have been a relaxed and casual dining experience turned out to be rushed and unwelcoming experience with food that was not up to their usual exceptional standards. Too bad, the atmosphere and staff were definitely not on their form tonight. read more

Went here for our anniversary. Great spot and the host/owner does a top notch job of making you feel welcome. Our bill was $80 for two meals and two glasses of $15 wine. The duck was epic, and my Penne Pasta did the trick too. I'd recommend it to others! read more

Beyond delicious! My husband and I came here for dinner and the food was by far the most tastiest I have ever had out for dinner, very good wine selection as well! read more

It's hard to write a review a week after eating at the place, but that's the perils of having limited internet access during a vacation. I can tell you that the food, service and ambiance were all very good or excellent. read more

Had a large party meet here for a Friday evening dinner, and everything was perfect from soup to nuts. I didn't actually have the soup, but it was a corn soup, which was amazing (I tasted) and the pork dish that I ate was out of this world. The owner seems like he's often on hand out front running the show, and he was extremely helpful in getting us set up from the reservations on, and the staff was excellent and attentive. This was a kind of rehearsal dinner thing, and they kept the wine flowing freely and there was no pressure to push us along in spite of the fact that they were having a busy night. I can't recommend this place enough for someone with a middling size group that would like to have a good experience. read more

Laguiole steak knives! Definitely the mark of a classy place. The sous vide steak was pretty tasty here. On another note...Would you like some cake with your booze? Holy moly the sticky toffee pudding i had for dessert was drowning in booze. I appreciate the attempt to give me good value for my money but truthfully the vat of rum that the cake was sitting in ruined the dessert and i could hardly get past the first bite. Overall this cozy little restaurant has tasty food, just a bit heavy handed on the booze...which isnt always a bad thing... read more

Yes, it's true, I actually do get off Salt Spring, and when I do I love to try new restaurants. One that is always a repeat visit for me, though, when in Victoria, is Cafe Brio, on Fort Street. Whether it's the summer season or a rainy winter day, it always seems to be sunny at Cafe Brio...must be that inspiring skylight! Delicious food...good wine list...love the ambiance of the room...the paintings filling the wall space do change...great staff & Greg and his wife, who take turns welcoming you to their exceptional restaurant are always friendly & interested in how things are with you. A "home away from home" for me...I know there are other great restaurants in Victoria, but Cafe Brio is a repeat for me! read more

Delicious food. Great service. Lovely, cozy atmosphere. If I lived here, this would bet local.

Love this place. I've been here twice now while in Victoria and think it's actually a reason to go to Victoria. The owner is such a great host and very welcoming. The wait staff is very helpful with the menu and wine selections. Both times that we've been here, we've gotten the option on the menu where the chef picks out 6 items for your group, and it's always a real treat to try more than one thing at dinnertime. The food is really just awesome, great flavor, originality, and the prices are very reasonable. You can get 1/2 orders if you like as well. The decor is warm with original artwork on the walls. I hope to be back again. read more

Highly recommended, we had a wine from BC cannot remember what specific one it was, Hoyne's Dark Matter beer, cheese platter with "random" cheeses and the Brie that they choose was to die for, the two entrees were the salmon and halibut, both prepared to perfection. Total bill was about $150 or so, which is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Best restaurant I went to while in Victoria for 6 days. read more

Great place for a romantic dinner! I love the food and service!

Hubby and I went to Cafe Brio for our last night in Victoria, walking distance from the B & B where we stayed. From the moment we walked it, it felt like we were visiting an old friend. The attention from the owner makes you feel so welcome. The staff operated like a well oiled machine, but with the humanity of perfect customer service. We appreciated that they offer 1/2 size portions. When on vacation we don't necessarily want so much food that we can't consume it in the restaurant. I had the beer braised short ribs and the gave me a steak knife. Why? The meat was wonderfully tender, I could cut into it with the back of my fork. The flavor was fantastic. My husband had the Brio steak, which was perfectly seasoned, cooked and so tender it hardly required chewing. The atmosphere is inviting and cozy, we will be going back on our next trip. read more

Good food, great service! Try and get a table outside if you can for better ambience. We had the Chef selection for 2 family style and we thought it was an excellent choice. read more

Had a wonderful evening there. Pros: very good food, warm atmosphere, excellent service, varied menu, small plates available. Cons: expensive wines and drink options, small portions required multiple courses to be satisfied and a bit more expensive than expected. But the bottom line is that we spent 4 hours there and had an unrushed and wonderful experience. So the cost per hour also known as diners' rent was very reasonable. read more

Went here after a recommendation from our B&B.So delicious! I decided to try a tapas style meal and had the stuffed olives, romaine hearts salad(1/2 order) and the salumi course of coastal salami,bresaola smoked meat,and cottechino served hot.The cottechino was out of this world!Pair that with a glass if the Grenache wine and it made for a culinary delight! My dining partner had the 1/2 order of pheasant which he described as being incredibly tasty!We decided to share a dessert plate consisting of a vanilla creme brûlée, the most chocolately tasting chocolate truffle,biscotti, and a sorbet.Yum! This was paired with a lovely muscat.Coffee was hot and had a nice roasted mocha flavour. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting.Staff is pleasant and attentive.I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Oh dear, what has happened to Cafe Brio? I might have to put this down to just one night but we had a bad meal here. It used to be my wife's favourite place and the first time I went I had a really good meal, so this time we went back with some guests of ours, hoping to impress them. The service was really really slow. An hour between courses. After 45 mins the server apologised saying that our meals were only minutes away, but they still came 20 minutes later. Having waited for our mains, it was equally sad to have to wait so long for dessert as well. Once you've waited that long you hope it's going to be good. The duck breasts were way too rare. I like my duck pink but this was just raw. I really like Cafe Brio's menu where you can order small or large portions. I went for 2 small portions instead of 1 large main. As well as the duck I went for a herb bread crumb roasted sole in a truffle-beet broth and handmade pasta. How good does that sound? Well it wasn't unfortunately. The fish and broth were flavourless and watery and the pasta was rubbery. I make my own pasta so I know how it should taste. Luckily our company was good so the evening wasn't a disaster, but it was a bit embarrassing to take guests to a restaurant that we usually like and have a poor meal. I hope, I really hope, that for some reason there was an inexperienced chef on that night or this was just a one-off. We will probably give it one more chance, but definitely 2 strikes and they're out. read more

My friend and I made reservation here on Sept 14th at 5:30. We arrived 15 mins early and sat at the bar and had a wonderful Cosmo. The bartender was delightful. People started to arrive and the owner didn't rush us to leave the bar. When we were ready the hostess took us to a small table at the front of the house. The serve and food was amazing. Everything fresh and flavorful. Wine perfect. Dessert topped everything off. I will be back again same time next year. What a wonderful find. Total bill $96 dinner for 2, two glasses of wine, 2 desserts, EXCELLENT SERVICE! Owner came by and asked how we liked our meal. read more

This place is a serious gem! Meals are pricey, but the quality is amazing. I think for the service and quality, it's a pretty great deal. Atmosphere and seating were comfy. Warm and comfy. Intimate. Nice art on the walls. Service was great. Go here during the yearly dine around in Victoria. Great for anniversaries! read more

I returned to this restaurant for the fourth time. One of my favorites in Victoria. Not sure why people are complaining about portion size. If you are not a foodie go to a buffet for dinner. Wine list is spot on. We had a dinner for six with white and red. Service was good. Food five star. read more

We came here for dine around with another couple. The service was good, but sadly the food was nothing special. Not bad, just totally not memorable, creative or exciting in any way. The drinks were also not very good. I hadn't been before, but based on this being their marketing menu to bring you back, I definitely won't be. read more

small, charming, touch of dress up elegance but still comfortable-food is quite good, real care in presentation but expensive for the amount you got-there was a feeling of stinginess disguised as gourmet-portions small the glasses of wine filled to 1/4 the wine glass-it felt like they were squeezing out every last penny of profit-to bad for it put the only bad taste of the evening read more

We were extremely disappointed with the service we received last night. Our server ignored us often throughout the evening - even at one point admitting that she had forgotten about us. it was difficult to figure out why because she seemed very attentive to other tables in our vicinity. Part way through the evening the restaurant owner and his wife joined the table next to us - they were obviously on an evening off. Our server paid immediate attention to them and continued to ignore us. I have been to Cafe Brio on several occasions and enjoyed it - so much so that I was scoping it out for my husband's 60th birthday party celebration next month. Needless to say it won't be making my shortlist... read more

We were on an Alaskan cruise with a stop in Victoria and we had a wonderful meal with a large group of 7 and they were so accommodating. Warm wood interiors with a hint of European flair, reasonable pricing that included half portions so you could sample sections of the menu. We have to rave about the salumi--we ordered mortadella, bresaola, and chicken liver pate....one of the best I've had. They have their special olive ascalone which is a special little treat. Our table ordered halibut, mussels, short ribs, lamb, penne pasta and spaghettini and only the spaghettini fell short as it was too lightly sauced and not rich in flavor. Do stop in if you are in the area for a delightful meal. Do note, it is quite the hike from The Empress and not the 10 minute walk they tell you it is... read more

We had a very good dinner here on a Monday night. Service, food and wine all very good. The date 'pudding' was delish. We would recommend it, and would go again. read more