This is one of the best brunches I have ever had. It was definitely quality ingredients and freshly cooked food. This is not a greasy diner - the food is wholesome and satisfying, without relying on massive portions or oil. The meatloaf was delicious, I definitely recommend them with grilled tomatoes. The waffle was light and buttery, and paired well with their housemade cream cheese syrup. This place is a must try! read more

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This was the last place I dined at before leaving Victoria. Friends and I had a great brunching experience here. It's like they knew where to take me, cause the food kept me full until my next journey into the US.. From the wait staff, to service and food, everything was incredible! Even their pies were delicious! read more

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Kudos to variety of breakfast entrees and the many photos and characteures on the wall...I can see why this place is popular, but the omelettes were over cooked. Both mine and my husband's were dry. We both got a custom one,,,mine with homemade meatloaf and cheddar cheese and his with feta, spinach, and cheese. I got home made cornbread which was not as good as the sourdough toast with butter. I had side of crispy potatoes, which were generous, and he had tomatoes. My daughter had fruit salad off kid's menu which looked great! read more

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Ok let me start with it's Sunday around 10:30 and there was a crowd outside waiting to hear their name called. I put my name on the list, and I have to say the wait wasn't bad, maybe 30 minutes. I'm told if you do t like waiting you should come after 11:00. Or maybe during the week. I didn't mind the wait, and everyone was really nice and thanked us for waiting. Once seated the service was great, friendly, and our food came without to long a wait which surprised me considering how busy they were. The atmosphere is really fun with the alls covered with pictures of famous people. Great music playing in the background. But let's talk food. I got one of their specials with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. The hollandaise was the best I've had. And the poached eggs, OMG!!! Whoever is cooking their poached eggs is masterful. Beautiful pouches with a firm white and a yolk, that when I pierced it, it burst open and let the yolk flow out. Never have I had such a perfectly cooked pouched egg. I almost cried. read more

Food was great as to be expected with a reputable diner. Where I have an issue and this is entirely our fault, we ended up order a "deconstructed" large breakfast. This is only because we started by ordering a smaller breakfast, then adding the parts as my partner and I, usually share one large breakfast dish. Our waitress could've taken the initiative to advise us but she didn't. What should've cost us in the low $30's ended up at almost $50 with tip. I'm not trying to be a cheapskate here, just pointing out that you should be mindful in your ordering process. read more

I had the huevos ranchers, and it definitely earned my "big yum" award. Service from our beautiful server Mattie was top drawer as well. Highly recommend! read more

John's Place - Huevos topped with avocado slices, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

What a disappointment. With all the raving reviews, we had such high hopes. Showing up just as the doors opened, we still had to wait until they filled our entire section of the restaurant before an annoyed server took our order. It seemed they were short staffed, which quickly led to a big crowd in the small waiting area, while the majority of the tables were empty. The place is old. The walls are covered in photos and memorabilia, none of it recent. If that's your jam, this is the place for you. The coffee is... well... brown and wet. Everything was so bland and uninspired. The eggs Benedict (with turkey sausage) were cooked fine, but the hollandaise sauce was truly flavorless. So was the sausage. So were the country potatoes. Everything had to be augmented with salt, ketchup or hot sauce. The waffle plate with bacon (two thin strips bordering on transparent) were along the same flavorless vein. . The star is for the waffle and waffle only, though be sure to stir the frosting they give with the waffle. Mine came out in a big gloop. For a million times better breakfast experience, grab a hot and fresh breakfast sandwich at Hey Happy coffee shop a few blocks down. It was AMAZING. read more

We always come back here every visit and it's always delicious! The classic Benny, pancake, and home fries. My husband had the corned beef hash. Recommend everything as we've never had a bad meal. So glad to see the servers and crew. They always take great care of us! read more

This place us just straight up legend. Amazing ambiance. Great food ridiculously large portion sizes, unique offerings are what make this place truly one of a kind. It's hard so say anything about this place that has not already been said. Featured on "You gotta Eat Here" the word is definitely out on this legacy location in the heart of Victoria. I am happy to say it has only gotten better since my time in university 20 years ago. read more

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I don't think I could say enough good things about John's Place. Awesome atmosphere with all the photos on the walls, fantastic service and somehow the very nice lady knew exactly what we wanted! Food was wonderful and I won't need to eat again until tomorrow!!! If you are in Victoria, hungry, give John's place a try, you will not be sorry read more

Very cool place with a great atmosphere. Both our breakfasts were great. Seems to be a local hangout which I like and not a tourist trap. They actually brought us bread to start! Nobody does that anymore! Friendly employees. Prices are better than other places around. What's not to like? read more

This place is a great hole in the wall. The Valentino (smoked salmon eggs Benedict) was so good I forgot to take a picture. The chicken and fries are great as well. Would recommend this place for a breakfast or lunch. read more

Love love love this place. A staple and a must for my visitors. Have yet to have a bad meal, bad service or messy story. Atmosphere is so much fun with the wall plastered with photos & memorabilia read more

The food is great! We ordered the eggs benedict and chicken and waffles. Flavors were about average you find anywhere, nothing special. Their menu has a wide variety of breakfast food and burgers. The atmosphere is nice, has a ton of memorabilia on the walls. The hostess was nice and sweet, but our waitress was completely rude! She rushed the ordering and her comments were not pleasant. I know they were busy, but I always say it, if you cannot handle the stress, then get a new job! She is the person that makes or breaks the business because she deals with the customers. Because of her, this place will get a bad review. However, I witnessed her later, and such a big change of attitude when she was less stressed. read more

Had the chance to go to Victoria for a day trip before Summer ends! So I had to go to John's Restaurant because i saw lots of reviews and it's locally famous! The ambience is 10/10 amazing and so retro and old school and I love those stuff! The walls are filled with pictures of celebrities/famous influencers eating and their autographs! However, I find the food a bit too "normal" for me. After a few bites in my dish i'm already done with it and was looking for something more. I'm not sure if it's just that I read a lot of good reviews about this place that I expected more or it's just not my cup of tea. I ordered the shepherd's pie and we also got some of the famous meatloaf and the meat lovers hash. The poached egg that we got was a little bit overcooked as well so it was a bit sad. Note that their menu online is slightly different than the ones they give you at the restaurant. Would recommend to try it out while you're in Victoria if you are into these sort of foods. read more

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Nice staff, interesting place. Good food, big enough serving. I recommend their homemade cornbread. Their poached egg is cooked just right!!! read more

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Very friendly service food was decenthanks, large portions. Fresh bread is always a hit! It was nice. They had some vegan options. I don't always eat bacon but sometimes I just want something a little cleaner. So that was nice. The tofu is very good read more

Absolutely delicious, our group tried the polish frittata ( pictured) pierogies and omelet, the pancakes, and and corned beef hash, all good. And my toddler loved his little eggs and bacon plate as well. read more

John's Place - Polish frittata (pierogies and eggs) very delicious - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

My favorite breakfast place in Victoria. They serve pretty standard breakfast food, but do it well. I'm particularly fond of their Italian chicken sausage patties, which have just enough spiciness to be really good. A favorite is meat, eggs, and pancakes (called "The 222 headache"). For those who want eggs Benedict and a waffle, you can get a half portion of each ("Catch 22"). The only problem with John's Place is that it's good, and hence popular. BTW, though a gluten-free or vegetarian person can get something to eat here, it won't be their favorite. read more

John's Place - The 222 headache (pancakes, scrambled eggs and Italian sausage in my case - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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This one is our go-to for out of town visitors as well as regular dining when we just need some comfort and warmth. The specials sheet is always varied and incredibly creative, and of course we both have our own favourites off the extensive regular menu. The variety of delicious bottomless soups and freshly baked herb bread keep me coming back, and I have never imagined a simple pancake could have so many mouth-watering variations as they are presented here...Lemon Zinger Blueberry Pecan?...lets go!!!! read more

Came back for my long awaited return to John's place and was not disappointed, food is great. Their specials were very good. Service was great as always, and the atmosphere is always aweosme. Can't wait till my next return. read more

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

So yum and such friendly people! I came in to pick up my order, and I heard an enthusiastic "YAY!" from inside the restaurant. Doesn't that just perk up your day? Haha! The food is good and quite cheap for downtown! Nicely seasoned fries, good quantity, the beef pattie is homemade and fresh delicious, not too salty like the commercial frozen patties. The complimentary bread was such a generous gesture, and it was so soft and so good. We will be back!! read more

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Haven't been lately, but was great in the past: good food/great service! Had a tough time choosing what to order but was delicious! read more

The place was busy on Sunday morning but we got there before a big lineup outside. The coffee was good and refills were fast. The cups were tiny though- maybe four or five ounces (120 ml). We waited an unduly long time for our meal and I suspected someone else had gotten our order. Anyway o went for the waffle Benny gluten free combo and it was delicious. The egg had a bright orange yolk and the cultured butter was heavenly on the waffle. It came to the table hot. It was a perfect breakfast. The two people who were in the table next to us were asked to move as we finished eating as they we're combining our two for 5 settings. I would have been annoyed but the customers moved without complaint. As we were paying the bill, the waitress snatched away my last half cup (1/4 cup) of coffee which I would have drank if she'd left it. It seemed we waited a long time to be fed, and then they couldn't get rid of us fast enough. Aside from this it was excellent. read more

I came to John's in the morning for breakfast while visiting Victoria for a couple of days, since it was only a short walk from our hotel. Man, the french toast blew my mind! Glad the serving portion was well-sized. Luckily we chose a good time of day too, since it seemed like it could get pretty busy. I didn't mind the wait for the food, as it wasn't terribly long. If I could, I would love to eat here again :] read more

Oat milk, gluten-free, and veggie options. The service was quick and they offer a " catch 22, which has both a waffle and Benedict together!

John's Place is as wonderful as ever! The gluten free selections are great and the Eggs benedict especially so. Wonderful staff, John and his son still run it, and run it well! Expect a wait to get in, but it's well worth the wait to experience eating here and a food haven for the gluten free! read more

The service was great: casual, friendly and kind all while being prompt. Likewise, the food was good too. You have the option of getting three pancakes for a very good price ($14), making it an excellent choice for brunch. However, I went for their Belgian waffle which was lighter, along with bacon and eggs. I would recommend this restaurant for its good pricing, but also for its relaxed nature and personality which you would hardly find elsewhere. read more

The first place I went to have my first meal in Victoria. Not mad about it! The staffs are playful and I saw a couple of regular customers whom they have good relationships with. I like the decorations and setting of the restaurant, it made me felt nice and cozy. I ordered the Odd Couple (basically chicken waffles). The waffles had great bounce and texture- not soggy nor stiff, perfectly cooked. The only thing I am not a big fan of is the use of chicken breasts. They tend to be a little bit too dry to my liking and the deep fried crust felt slightly thick and rough in my mouth. The stars of the show were definitely the home made sauces, the cream cheese and spicy pancake syrup were super addictive. A piece of chicken and waffle, topped with egg and sauce- sweet and savoury done right! It's overall a very interesting dish, you can mix and match anything on the plate to get your perfect bite. I also appreciate how they added some fruits to the plate, they went well with the food and refreshing to the palette. I had the B52 coffee (it's an alcoholic drink). This definitely taste like alcohol which I do like. The coffee tasted a little bit weaker comparatively. read more

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Alright, so if you are in Victoria and plan to have brunch / breakfast here, prepare for a 30-40 mins wait. We ended up here on the long weekend which was obviously pretty busy. After our wait was over, we were seated in one of the smaller tables. The layout of the restaurant is quite tight which makes sense as they try to accommodate as many people they can during busy times. The memorabilia on the walls is amazing with signed posters from a lot of known celebrities. We started off with cappuccino and Blue lavender latte (an Easter special). I loved my Latte quite a lot and I made the right decision to take off the whipped cream. For brunch I went for the Easter Greek Fritatta which was another Easter special and tasted great! My husband had half and half which had waffles with eggs Benny, despite the weird combination he quite enjoyed his dish too!! The quantities are just right and I really appreciate the prices as well. Didn't have to doggy pack or waste anything which is what I want when on vacation. Amazing food, run (and then wait) to John's place!! read more

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Was looking forward to our first meal in Victoria after getting off the ferry, but both my friend and I thought this place was disappointing. Due to the ferry timing, we arrived in Victoria around 3:30, which is an awkward time between lunch and dinner. Luckily, John's Place serves brunch until 4 pm on the weekends, so we decided to give it a shot. Most likely due to the off-peak time, the restaurant wasn't busy when we arrived and we were able to get seated immediately. I was debating between the corned beef hash and the meatloaf and eggs dish and was recommended the meatloaf ($15.25) by our server, who said it was one of the most popular brunch dishes there. I love meatloaf, so I went with that. Essentially it's two slices of meatloaf served with a mushroom gravy and two eggs cooked any style. I paid an extra $1.50 to swap out fries for a side of fruit. I was already disappointed when I was first served the dish, as it felt like a bunch of separate components thrown together on one plate. There's the meatloaf with gravy, eggs, toast, and fruit. The meatloaf was okay, but the slices were on the thinner side and there was definitely not enough gravy to cover both slices. Why skimp on the gravy, of all things? Some of the fruit was okay, but other pieces weren't very fresh so I didn't finish eating it all. My friend ordered their Huevos Rancheros and it wasn't what he was expecting at all, which lead to his disappointment. For one thing, the tortilla is crispy while most versions of this dish I've seen uses a regular flour tortilla. Decorations were overwhelming but in a good way. I could tell there was a lot of history and personality behind the restaurant with the flyers and pictures that were all over the walls. Parking for us was fairly easy as there is street parking nearby and we were able to snag a spot right in front of the restaurant. One of the benefits of eating at off-peak hours... read more

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I saw postings online mentioning how great John's place was. When we arrived, we were seated right away. We ordered our drinks right away and food about 10 minutes after. Our drinks didn't come until 30 minutes of being there and then another 25 minutes for our food to come. The food was not bad, but the service was horrible which did not make the food as enjoyable. There were people who came AFTER us, who received drinks and food before us or at the same time as us. We will not be coming here again and recommending to others. read more

Great reviews and it lived up to today for Brunch. We had the traditional Benny and it was wonderful. The wait staff were wonderful as well. The Belgium waffle with the house made cream cheese syrup was also amazing! read more

John's Place - Traditional Benny, with addition of steamed spinach - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Best breakfast I've had in decades. Get the Baja Burrito, not on the menu but they can still make it. It's the same as the current burrito they have on the menu, but you sub chorizo for chicken. read more

This place is amazing! The food is so tasty - fresh and huge portions! Tons of variety. I would go again and again! So great! Staff friendly and super good! read more

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Solid diner. Solid. Small tables. Friendly staff who call you 'hun'. I saw a giant lemon meringue on display and almost skipped breakfast for dessert. Good thing I didn't. The pancakes are massive and famously yum. I got the classic Benedict . It was served on a long thin slab of Canadian bacon. What is Canadian bacon called in Canada - it is just called bacon. Right? The restaurant is in such a cool place too. read more

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The best breakfast I have had in years! Great waffles, great hash. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was fun with memorabilia and good music. This is a must have breakfast while in Victoria. 10 stars. We will be back! read more

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

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Love the environment of this place. Retro vibes. Server was very sweet. I had the omelet with fruit, it was simple yet very filling. My dad had the huevos rancheros. It was served almost like a pizza with lots of toppings. Portions are large, and a fair price. Definitely stop by if you want to a taste of a jem in Victoria. read more

We had breakfast at John's Place while we were visiting Victoria, great service and delicious food. The vibe is amazing and I was happy to see some Seahawks love in there. We will definitely come back. read more

I seriously think this may have been the best breakfast I've had in my life. I loved the warm decor and the welcoming service, but it was the food which simply blew me away. First of all, expect huge portion sizes. I ordered the Bat out of Hell meatloaf breakfast AND a pancake with their signature cream cheese syrup because I was on vacation and it was now or never to have these unique dishes before leaving Victoria. I knew it was probably too much food when ordering, but the plates were intimidatingly large when they arrived. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish even half of it, except it was so delicious that I didn't want to stop eating. Usually there's some aspect of a meal that could have been better, but not this one. Everything was "the best." Thick slices of meatloaf with Marsala mushroom sauce were superb. The potatoes were well-seasoned, crispy outside and tender inside. Even my multigrain toast tasted special. I don't know that it was baked onsite, but it didn't taste like commercial bread. And then there was the fluffy pancake as big as my head. I'm not much of a pancake person but I wanted to try the cream cheese syrup and it was totally worth it -- thick, white, rich, creamy, tart, sweet goodness. It was just an exceptional breakfast and worth getting stuffed for. The worst complaint I could even come up with it is that I've had eggs scrambled as perfectly in other restaurants. But every other aspect of the meal far surpassed anything else I've ever had. read more

John's Place - "Bat out of Hell" meatloaf breakfast and a pancake with their signature cream cheese syrup - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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