If a home-cooked comfort meal is what you crave John's place is the most go to place Fun environment a great staff lots of smiles and incredible food read more

A solid spot with its own distinct vibe and an impressively long menu. Great for groups since there's something for everyone, and the portions are generous. Almost too much for one person. One thing that stood out: unlike most diners that only offer one brewed coffee option, this place lets you choose between regular and dark roast. Small detail, but appreciated. I went on a weekday morning, so there was no wait, but the space isn't very large, so I'd recommend making a reservation during peak hours. Staff were friendly overall, and the atmosphere is worth experiencing. That said, while the food was consistently solid, it wasn't particularly memorable. I ordered the Valentino, smoked salmon and poached egg on an English muffin with avocado, but the avocado was completely unripe, which brought down both the texture and the flavor. With a menu this wide, most dishes land in the "good" rather than "great" range, and execution details like that make a difference. If you're going for variety and the overall experience, you'll be satisfied, but if you're hoping for something exceptional, it may feel a bit underwhelming. Bottom line: a reliable brunch option for groups, as long as you're not setting the bar too high on the food itself. read more

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My boyfriend and I were hungry for brunch on a Tuesday morning after coming off the ferry from washington. He got the meat lovers mash and I went with the traditional bfast. My bfast was two sunny side eggs, bacon, gf bun and grilled tomatoes. Mine was made dairy and gluten free. We both got a mimosa and I got a coffee as well. Overall the food was tasty. There is on the street parking. Our server wasn't the friendliest but she got the job done. The place was quite busy as well read more

Best sourdough I have ever eaten!!! As soon as we sat down they put a basket of fresh bread down. I normally wouldn't have any, but it smelt so good I had to try it. Incredible!! Soft and fluffy with a perfect salted crust. The rest of our meal and coffee was also delicious. Great casual spot. Highly recommend! read more

Forget the polished, fleeting trends John's Place Cafe is the kind of establishment that wraps you in a warm hug and feeds you until you have to undo a button. Tucked away in the vibrant heart of downtown Victoria, this is less a restaurant and more a communal rite of passage for anyone seeking true, unpretentious comfort food. Your first clue that you've found a gem is the line yes, the notorious queue that often snakes out the door and around the corner. But this isn't a frustrating wait; it's a friendly, expectant buzz, fueled by the intoxicating scent of sizzling bacon, fresh coffee, and melting butter wafting from the perpetually busy kitchen. The atmosphere inside is perfectly homey: worn wood, local art, and a bustling energy that makes every table feel like the biggest, warmest kitchen table you've ever sat at. The true spectacle, however, is the brunch menu. These aren't just portions; they're glorious, family-style feasts designed for sharing, or tackling solo if you dare. Plates arrive laden with golden, thick-cut hashbrowns, expertly poached eggs, and generous sausages or chorizo. But the undisputed main event is the pancakes. They are legendary in their scale impossibly thick, fluffy, golden discs that truly are the size of your ass, practically begging for a dousing of maple syrup or whatever the brown frothed topping was. Cutting into one is like sinking your fork into a sweet, edible cloud. And then there's the final act: the Bumble Berry Pie. With its rustic, buttery, flaky crust giving way to a deep, crimson filling bursting with a mixture of berries, it's a definitive taste of pure summer nostalgia. It's the kind of pie you imagine someone's grandmother perfected over fifty years of loving practice warm, messy, and utterly unforgettable. John's Place isn't just a meal; it's an experience built on generosity and pure, simple flavor. Go early, stand in the line, and savor every single moment of the experience. The wait is absolutely worth the feast that awaits. read more

TL;DR: A true local institution. Comfortably chaotic, entirely fine, and not worth planning your day around. Food: We had the eggs benedict with a side of house chorizo. Solid, filling, and easily enough for two. Nothing special, nothing offensive. Vibe: Peak hometown chaos in the best way. Old chairs, loud diner clatter, walls covered in celebrity photos that feel more aspirational than factual. Smells exactly like an old American diner, which is kind of the point. Service: Efficient and unfussy. You're fed and moved along. What could be better: Food execution is forgettable. This isn't a destination, and it doesn't try to be. Bottom line: You go because everyone eventually does. It accepts everyone, locals, families, drunks, tourists, and no one complains much. \ read more

John's Place - Classic Benedict and side of house made chorizo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We went for an early breakfast at John's Place, which was already busy at 8:30am on a Sunday morning! The interior decor is welcoming with a mix of sports team flags & shirts hanging from the ceilings as well as signed celebrity photos on the wall. We chose this restaurant because I saw they had lots of gluten free offerings. I went with the Veggie Benedict, which came on a potato pancake topped with gluten free hollandaise sauce. Delicious! The potatoes on the side were good as well, but I was pretty full from the benedict. We also shared their Belgian Waffle (gluten-free batter at no extra charge!!) with their house-made cream cheese syrup. Oh my gosh, this was incredible. The waffle had great chew, and the cream cheese syrup, which I've never tried before, added a sweet and creamy layer. I recommend coming early on a weekend to secure a booth. This is a locals spot for sure. Portions are large and definitely share-able. Go for one savory and one sweet to share, or go crazy and bring leftovers home like I did. read more

John's Place - Veggie Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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I loved the decor. We were seated right away. The highlight was the pancakes. I felt like you could eat these cakes without syrup. One pancake is PLENTY. Typically the larger the pancake you sacrifice flavor. The eggs were okay and we were split in the sausage links. read more

John's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Victoria is known as the brunch capital of Canada. We were able to squeeze in some brunch here. Street parking is available. We went on a late morning Monday weekday and there was no wait. Inside the walls are lined with pictures and memorabilia. It really gives you that casual diner vibe that's comforting for a homey meal. The servers are nice and in good spirits. They're engaging and do a great job of checking on you. We ordered the "BAT OUT OF HELL" MEATLOAF 'N' EGGS That order alone was enough to feed the two of USA Two slices of Southwestern meatloaf made from ground beef and pork with mushroom Marsala gravy and two FREE RUN eggs any style. Served with your choice of toast, English muffin, sesame bagel or house made savoury cornbread and your choice of seasoned home fries or fresh tomato, or grilled tomatoes read more

John's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Great decor and had a diner vibe. Our server today is Liz. She was energetic and funny. I got the egg benny with the veggie option with grilled tomatoes. The hollandaise sauce is great, it's creamy and thick. The egg yolk was nicely done as well since it was slightly runny. Great combination for a light breakfast read more

John's Place - The veggie (1/2 portion) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

The server seemed visibly upset throughout our meal. She had a terrible attitude every single time she came to our table, making the whole experience feel very rude and uncomfortable. read more

I was not impressed with the food. I ordered a frittata of some kind and it smelled like actual garbage. I was told it was the chorizo and the garlic that made it smell like that, but I like both of those things and it just did not smell good. I sent it back and they let me pick out something else from the menu and I went for a singular pancake. The pancake was huge, which was cool and all, but it was RAW in the middle and I felt like throwing up. Unfortunately my stomach is a bit sensitive in the mornings and this was not the place for me. But, the staff were understanding, the latte was fine and the food came with a goldenberry which is a cute addition. My sister and dad said their meals were fine. I guess YMMV read more

John's Place - You can see where the pancake is raw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

We came on New Year's Day expecting there would be a line at 9am because every time we pass by this place it's packed and ppl are waiting. I guess New Year's morning people were sleeping in... but while we were finishing our meal, the tables got pretty packed quickly. Ordered a full salmon Bennie and also the senior portion of the meatloaf. It's soooooo juicy and with the gravy it tastes like the comfort of home. The eggs Benedict was so good. As a protip we ordered all the sauces on the side (mushroom gravy for meatloaf, hollandaise sauce for eggs). I like to control the amount of sauce I have with each bite and it made my meal very pleasant. Overall would for sure dine in again! Great fun vibe and we got to see John's collection close up - we sat next to the autographed photo of the friends cast! Even gave us fancy cups with lemon when we wanted hot water. service was amazing especially for a diner! Would gladly dine here again!!! read more

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Some things don't need any comments. It's simply delicious and definitely recommended. read more

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Stopped in here for breakfast and was not disappointed at all! Food was amazing; we had the latkes, waffle, and eggs benedict. Service was great, and the decor was inviting. My husband initially requested the plain maple syrup with his waffle but our server actually told him "no, you have to try our cream cheese syrup"! LOL. We're glad she told him no, the cream cheese syrup sauce was delicious! We wish we were in Victoria longer so that we could come back and eat again. read more

Visited this location again this month to find that the food quality has gone down, but still had a pleasant experience here. Came in for a milestone birthday breakfast and was told by the host we could order breakfast or lunch. I got the Polish breakfast which was a mix of eggs with pierogies, sausage and green onion with fried potatoes and choice of a bread - got the sesame bagel. The eggs were all right, half of the potatoes were hard as a rock and the bagel seemed like it was toward the end of its life. Fresh cream cheese was good. Friend had an omelet with the same rock hard potatoes and an English muffin. Everyone but us was served bread, so we asked for some. It never arrived. When the server came with the check, I asked if I could buy a loaf of bread. I was given a loaf for free, which was really kind, and they wouldn't let me pay for it. I told them that I had strong memories of how good it was when I was here before in 2011. Welp, we were both so sad to see that it was hard and plain white bread without much taste. Still appreciate the gesture for sure. read more

John's Place - Bread 12/24 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Not sure. Lighten up the menu. Add some porridge. Find some passion for cooking subtler plates that don't drown the food in sauce. The matrix for omelettes in the menu is too extra read more

Best breakfast spot in Victoria. Lunch too. Must visit when in town. See u there Great food and atmosphere read more

The staff are amazing. Greeting was friendly smiles. It was our first time here. There are pictures all of the walls of celebrities that have visited here. We ordered the pierogies and sausage plate with the sour cream. It came out enough for two people totally for like lunch the best part The bread, soft pillow from the oven squishy, love. Pierogies are soft and pillow clouds with the potato cheddar filling perfect dish for two if you're eating your way through town. P.s. my hubby couldn't resist getting the peanut butter pie before leaving. Silky, pb/chocolate spa texture. I closed my eyes and was instantly transported to heaven after my first bite. Well done I could live here!!!! Thank you for the food hug! Addition: We were supposed to go toBlue Fox Cafe the next morning for breakfast BUT, take note they are closed on Wednesdays the day that we are here. So we walked probably 2.5 miles back to John's place since we had lunch there the previous day. He waited for our favorite booth, the place was a little bit busier than yesterday. But we asked to have the same server, Hillary with a single L in her name best server I've had in years so sweet, personable, recommendations, add-ons you name it she knows it you gotta have her as a server !!!!! I ordered the catch 22 which is combination of their famous regular eggs Benedict and a Belgium waffle. I added fresh strawberries that were just picked. It tasted like and it comes with a side of cream cheese syrup, which they make homemade in house. The waffle was hot fluffy inside crisp on the outside and the eggs. Benedict with the homemade gluten-free hollandaise sauce was indescribable. You could taste the lemon that was in it, but it was so buttery, smooth, and rich that I told Hillary, our server, that she should recommend to get a side of hollandaise sauce with everything. My husband got the corn beef hash, it came with toast. Hillary suggested get a side of hollandaise for that as well. The poached eggs were spot on runny on both dishes. Both of them were poached. In fact I added a video of my egg and I broke into it off my Benny coffee is hot fresh frequent atmosphere is perfect with community members that repeat coming here every day if you're gonna have breakfast in Victoria or in the surrounding area I would make it a point to make this one of your number one stop here for any of your meals. You can thank me later.! read more

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Review Template === 1. VERDICT/VALUE So John's may not have the top food quality of other establishments, but it's not competing on that front. As far as greasy spoons go: this is one of the joints that was featured on TV (Food Network) and it does not disappoint with value and decor! === 2. FOOD "Bat Out of Hell" Meatloaf & Eggs ($20): Beef and pork meatloaf covered with mushroom sauce with two eggs your way and a choice of starch - great option! Blueberry Lemon Zinger Pancakes ($18): Only available during special or holiday weekends - you get two of these with cream cheese or maple syrup - a delight! Vlady's Frittata ($19): It looks more like a personal-sized thin crust pizza: eggs, tomatoes, onions, sausage, and cheese, along with a choice of starch - not bad! Coffee seemed to be included (or they missed billing us). === 3. SERVICE A lady who seemed to be in charge served us and she was great. We could tell she was pressed for time to get tables (including ours) turned over for a the many waiting guests; however, she was always patient with us and our little one, answering all of our questions (including the history of the place - look for John in some of the pictures!). === 4. ENVIRONMENT It's older, a little dimmer, and really meant to feel like an old cozy spot to enjoy heart-warming (or heart-stopping?! ;) ) meals - the walls are adorned with sports memorabilia / photos. Groups of 4 or less are ideal; you could get a larger group up to 6 perhaps. Not sure I would want to bring Mom in her wheelchair or our baby stroller in here - not much space. Parking is also a crap shoot - it's either metered street parking or a parking garage nearby for your chariot! read more

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Best brunch ever! I got the gluten free Belgian waffle, which was perfectly crispy. The cream cheese syrup was amazing. The breakfast potatoes perfectly crisp and seasoned. My 5 year old who never finishes his food kept asking for more! I love the decorations all over the walls. This place has such a home feel and everyone treats you like they've known you forever. Just a great place to take your family or anyone frankly. We'll be back! read more

I only wish I could give this place six stars. This is a perfect breakfast spot in downtown Victoria. My wife and I had breakfast here this morning, a Saturday. Around 9 am. It was busy but we lucked out and got a table. The space is cramped with tables and memorabilia from sport stars and movie/TV stars. One local, a regular, said Ching and Ching were there not too long ago. We had the meat lovers hash with Hollandaise sauce. It was awesome. The cornbread was delicious and we got a side of fruit which was fresh. The coffee was excellent with plenty of folks coming by to top it off. Our waitress was awesome and she recommended, and I obliged, to get a piece of strawberry rhubarb pie to go. Which is delicious. Go here. Run! read more

We decided to try John's Place for brunch. It's a few doors down from Nubo Japanese Tapas and ENe Raw Food and Sake Bar. We dropped in on a packed Monday (11:00am). Go inside to put your name on the waitlist. We waited about 25 minutes for a table. Service was terrible; we had the unfortunate luck of getting a server in trainee. We waited 20 minutes to order and another 30 minutes to pay, after asking for the bill twice. The servers don't work together, instead ignoring customers that aren't part of their section. We were given the lunch menu (on weekdays, the brunch menu switches out at 11:30am). We had to ask if we could order off the brunch menu. - Bread - they brought out a basket on the house for the wait. - Café latte ($5.50 double) - at least they don't charge extra for oat milk. Standard latte. - Catch 22 ($18.00) - B opted for the gluten free waffle and half classic benny. She subbed for a gluten free bun ($1.50). They charged full price for the bun, even though it was a half order. Waffle was excellent; fluffy inside, crispy outside. The house made cheese syrup was okay. Benny was standard. - Cloudy with a chance of meatloaf ($19.00) - carrots weren't cooked enough. Grilled onions didn't have any flavour. Mashed potatoes were bland. Meatloaf was tasty and the sauce wasn't too rich. Can't get over how brutal the service was at JP. Never coming back. read more

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Food service ambience everything you want for a great diner breakfast! And bonus choose between medium or dark roast coffee.

Service was great: the food came out hot and quick. Typical old diner food as you would expect. Filling and good coffee refilled consistently. read more

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good cozy place, servers actually talk to you i liked that. me and boyfriend got the 222 headache and natures granola, was super good very satisfied! read more

John's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I have been coming here for over 35 yrs and I have never had a complaint ! Johns Place has never let me down! Its a FUN place too!!! read more

Classic breakfast ALL DAY kinda place..It can get VERY busy especially on weekends and holidays..So be warned!!Great classic breakfast fare here All the regular options are available..Decent, NOT great cuppa coffee too..Been here since Downtown Victoria was somewhat safe and clean 198???..Check it out if ya fancy..Jay in James Bay..Cheers.. read more

Crazy busy. Long wait, almost an hour. Crazy tight seating inside. Really tight. So tight the server's butt will skim you. Crazy wall to wall of celebrity yesteryear photos. And while you look around you see others looking around too which makes a strange scene of folks turning heads. The hostess ~ awesome. Young person with such poise & professionalism. Impressed. Service ~ A bit busy tone. Pushy to order add-ons and giving hints of regretfulness when declining the suggestions. Really pressured by the server with her repeat question if we are finished yet. One time we had food in our mouth. Yeah there is a line of folks waiting, but we are each bite until we cleaned our plates for this $60 breakfast for two. Heavy, creamy, sweet, salty. All delish. read more

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food was yummy. the crew was so nice and loves their local customers and new visitors. talk ceilings a place for jackets and your typical diner with signed posters all over the wall. read more

John's Place - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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We just had the best Sunday brunch at John's Place. Loved the Sunday menu and the decor and ambience, but what brought our experience to another level was the service from Shayne. He was so helpful, so enthusiastic, we thought he had been serving for years, but it turns out that as of today (July 6th) he had been serving just a few weeks. Thanks so much Shayne, and we hope to see you again! read more

This is the second time me and my husband have gone to this restaurant since coming to Victoria. We had forgotten about it however, when checking in with the hotel staff, they recommended this café as it was a place that had a great bunch. This restaurant is about 5 to 10 minutes from most of the hotels near the Victoria BC Harbor . The exterior of the building is very unassuming, and you would never know by the sign that it has excellent food. There are all kinds of photos of sports stars, television stars, actors in paintings of the local area all over the walls. It's got a special kind a need for the area. We had been up since very early in the morning and had already eaten breakfast, but was looking for something in between breakfast and lunch. The thing I remember most about this restaurant was how fresh the eggs were, and how orange the yolks appeared. Having raise chickens in my past, in order to get yolks like that, they're typically from a open range scenario for the chicken and they get to eat pretty much whatever they can get a hold of. That being said, it creates a wonderful tasting egg, and you'll never go back to eating regular eggs again. I ordered the 222 which included a Belgian waffle, a choice of sausage, bacon, ham, or Italian, turkey sausage and two eggs. My choice was link, sausage and eggs over easy when the waitress brought the dish over and included a hey beautiful Belgian waffle to link sausages to eggs served with cream, cheese syrup and fresh butter. My husband had a Classic eggs Benedict. He describes the hollandaise sauce as homemade and fresh eggs were poached to perfection. The ham and English muffins was fresh. There were home fries on the side. The food came out very quickly. The waitress was awesome. The was excellent. The Belgian waffle had a crispy texture to it, and after you've put the butter and the cream cheese syrup on there, there's nothing like it. The eggs were so fresh and so flavorful no leftovers were coming back to the hotel with us. I highly recommend this café if you're looking for a quick awesome breakfast, check them out . read more

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great casual diner for breakfast/brunch. we put our name on the waitlist for a party of four, around 11:55 am on tuesday and was told it was going to take about half an hour, so we checked out the thrift stores. nearby. john's place is covered with photos of sport teams, banners, celebrities, and caricatures. we ordered and enjoyed the southwest tofu hash for vegans, john's free run traditional breakfast, belgian waffles and half an order of the eggs veggie benny with grilled tomato, avocado and savoury potato pancake. the hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy, and the seasoned home fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. we thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast and felt satiated. read more

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The food was good, nothing too crazy though. The ambiance was nice and so was the service. I would go there a second time, but I don't know that it's a place that would come to mind first to recommend to someone that was inquiring. read more

You definitely gotta eat here! John Catucci is right about John's Place Restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant I was in awe with all the pictures on the wall of celebrities and family of John. We knew this diner has a special history which I can tell why local patrons keep coming back. The menu is extensive; it was hard to decide what to order. We had: - The Belgian Waffle - as seen on "You Gotta Eat Here!" - The "Odd Couple" - The Classic Eggs Benny (1984) - as seen on "You Gotta Eat Here!" added cornbread - Omelette special for the day Generous portion and the flavours are outstanding. We were so full we needed to walk it out. The staff was so attentive and great. We will definitely come back again to try out other dishes. You gotta eat here again and again. read more

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I do not know which is cooler, the ginormous menu, the friendly wait staff or the plethora of posters, pictures and albums covering the walls. So much to look at and enjoy. I know the first thing to talk about is the break fast and boy have we done breakfast in Victoria. John's Place is cookin'. We all chose different menu items. A very large buttermilk pancake, a fruit and cottage cheese plate that came with delicious warm banana bread, and lastly a veggie omelette. Large portions but our plates were cleaned! Just excellent service, fun music. We will be back. read more

Really great service Really good food Pancakes were a little small Maybe order two ......................... read more

First time in Victoria BC and I had the best brunch experience at John's! I can't explain how amazing their eggs bennys were. The roasted tomatoes on the sides I love so much! Don't miss it when you go on your trip to Victoria! read more

John's Place - Eggs Benny - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Visiting Victoria with my granddaughter and had breakfast there on our last day. The place was packed, but we were able to get seated pretty quickly. Very friendly service and the portions are large and very shareable. We had pancakes, eggs and bacon and a good cup of coffee. read more

After a 5.15am ferry ride our first stop was John's place for an early breakfast. Almost every inch of the walls are covered with photos flags and other memorabilia. The staff is very friendly. When asked about the ingredients in the veggie patty we were also shown a book written by hand which had all the ingredients listed out! I got the classic eggs benny and swapped english muffin for potato pancakes. Love that there was plenty of side salad. Got the lavender latte good taste but temperature wasn't as hot and it got cold pretty quick. The show stealer of the day was the cream cheese sauce that came with the waffles. We spent a good amount of time trying to figure out the ingredients! read more

John's Place - Lavender latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia