It's a great place to have good food and great service. During our short stay in Victoria, I would say this place was one of the better dining options. You get to experience good western food, fantastic service, and good ambiance. Except for the long walk tot he dining hall from the entrance, this place is a must visit for tourists visiting the BC capital city. Our more elderly companions did not appreciate the walk, but the hallway decor kept them preoccupied. We were a big group, so they gave us the private room. This was big plus as we had 5 young kids with us. We didn't want to disturb the other guests in the restaurant. read more

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Interesting venue to have lunch inside the legislative building. Food was fast hot and tasty. Wait staff and kitchen were efficient. Make reservations and be on time! read more

Super cool experience. Located in the historic British Columbia legislative building. Not super easy to find! But just ask, there are friendlies everywhere. Highly recommend on your trip to beautiful Victoria Island. read more

A little confusing trying to find the dining room. You will have to go through security and leave one form of picture ID at the front desk while you're dining. Once in the dining room, we were treated very well and had a very tasty breakfast. Good selection for everyone. Service was very nice. Prices were comparable to everywhere else downtown. read more

Legislative Dining Room - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I've been to this place a few times already and enjoyed every one of my visit. It is extremely busy so I highly recommend you make reservations ahead of time. You likely won't be able to get in without reservation because you have to go thru security like the airport and they won't even open the locked door if you don't have reservation. The menu items are plentiful with a wide range of choices to satisfy all different dietary needs. The price is also cheap compare to other restaurants. The staff there were all very nice and accommodating. The building itself has over a hundred years of history. Inside the restaurant they have some rather interesting old photos hanging on the wall. Make sure you ask the staff there about some of the more unique photos. read more

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COVID #43 Welp, that was an easy 5*s In a building that's over 100 years old that's been modernized. Top notch service. Fancy place settings that made me feel like the royalty that I'm certainly not. Toast that used actual butter instead of margarine, and this isn't even the Empress Hotel! Exceptionally prepared food. My steak was done perfectly. Taxpayer subsidized meals, aka it was extremely reasonably priced. Now you know where your taxpayer $'s are going, so I may as well take some advantage of it. The place does get busy. I just happened to luck out. Check out the website for timing. Only one thing to note. Heavy security to enter. It's like going through airport security. Empty your pockets of anything metal, and you also walk through a metal detector. They do x-ray your belongings. I guess they don't want any stray ceremonial swords entering the building other than what is already onsite. Leave ID with security and you retrieve it on the way out. P.s. GST included in the pricing. It's pretty much unbeatable. Recommended. read more

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I don't know if this is Victorias best kept secret but guys... wow! Go! Hidden in the basement of the legislature building here in Victoria is the 'cafeteria' where the politicians can grab lunch! I would have expected high prices to match the location but not at all! Fine china, delish food and reasonably priced. Plus as free tour of the parliament building for dessert! Make reservations and enjoy this secret gem in the heart of BCs capital building! read more

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Such an amazing and unique experience we would never have known about without Yelp! We called ahead to try to get lunch reservations but they were booked solid for lunch for weeks. We settled for breakfast and it did not disappoint. To enter you have to have a reservation and be beaded in at the bottom entry. They then take your ID and repaint you with a visitor badge before having you and your belongs go through an X-ray and metal detector. You then go through the basement and follow a green line to the entrance. It was all very elegant with linen and china. The menu was simple and they had a chef special which was the breakfast sandwich, which the hubs ordered. I had the breakfast fried rice which was to die for, my eggs were perfect! Through the course of the meal, some of the members of parliament came in to the table next to us and were discussing their politics. The hubs said "oh this is just like like the West Wing!" After eating, you return to security to retrieve your ID, then you can proceed upstairs to your the parliament building, if you wish. Would 10/10 return and hope to snag a lunch reservation next trip! read more

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Dining at the Parliamentary Dining Room for lunch was one of my favorite experiences in Victoria! There are no walk-ins and I was lucky enough to make a reservation the day before for lunch since they get booked up really fast. Highly recommend to call to reserve early to get the time you want! They are only open on weekdays for breakfast and lunch. Once you're inside the dining room, you feel like you are having a VIP service to eat here! At least that's what it feels like to me lol. Food is so delicious and affordable. Service is great as well! I'm still thinking about my meal since coming back home now haha. Truly a wonderful experience that I'll never forget! Tip: Go through security at the main entrance to explore the Legislative Assembly first (can take a free guided tour or do a self tour) and then tell a staff that you have a reservation at the dining room. They'll take you through an elevator on the lower level and you bypass the security at that floor. Once done, you can leave through the entrance of the dining room instead of going back to the main floor to leave! read more

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Wonderful! We had company from out of town, and we were visiting from the mainland , it was a lovely lunch to start the day! read more

A unique dinning experience. A bit austere but the tone was in keeping with the building we were in. It was somewhat odd to wind our way through quasi utility corredores and into a basement dinning room but it was pleasant and comfortable sitting in this historic building. The breakfast was very good with the eggs cooked as requested (how do they do that?). We got a chuckle out of our wait person who was going to have no truck with a group of US tourists. (Response to a request for a juice; "I wish you had told me that before I went back there.") We began to feel like an elementary school group outing under the watchful eye of our teacher. So we sat up straight and minded our manners! read more

Such an interesting experience! This is the restaurant in the BC Legislature Building, entered through a side door on street level just to the right of the big fancy stairs. The door might initially be locked but pull on it and they will open for you. There's first a security check where they will ask to see an ID and proof of COVID vaccination, then put your belongings through an x-Ray and you walk through the metal detector. They'll give you a dining room badge then you follow the green line in the basement hallway and a breezeway to the dining room. The dining room itself is old school, it looks stuffy but it's anything but. Wait staff are in uniforms and so friendly. The table is set with fine china and nice flatware. The food is priced very reasonably. I think the steak was $16.95 CAD?! We had the seasonal soup $5CAD and raw tuna sashimi salad $13 CAD. The soup is definitely made in the kitchen with seasonal vegetables, a little institutional tasting. The salad came with big pieces of raw tuna on top of cabbage salad with sesame dressing, sliced avocado and edamame. It was an interesting and affordable meal for sure. The menu changes frequently. read more

We ate there for breakfast. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and asked the waitress to have the bacon on the side as I can't eat it and my husband wanted it. It showed up with the bacon, she was indignant/rude when I asked her to replace it and was overly unpleasant thereafter. Not enjoyable, especially given that the dining room is in the basement and looks like it should be the dining room for a 1950's senior citizen assistive living facility. read more

High security breakfast! Took us awhile to find the entrance to get to the restaurant. It was like going through some back door entrance. Just walk down the curvy path that is to the right of the restaurant signage (see photo) and you'll find this mysterious door. The door is locked and you have to buzz in. Next, we had to provide our IDs which they'll hold on to until you leave. Then we went through security scanners! Love it already and haven't even gotten to the restaurant yet! As soon as we walked in, it was very welcoming. It had a classic dining decor that was very comfortable. Our server was extremely nice and helpful. They had a good selection breakfast menu which included steak and eggs at very reasonable price. Highly recommend. read more

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Absolutely one of our favourite places to have breakfast or lunches. Their service is amazing, their food extremely delicious. Have eaten there, & taken guest to introduce them to our wonderful city! read more

Unique experience, reservations made ahead of time required otherwise they won't let you in. Food is the best deal you will find in Victoria. It's a bit like cafeteria quality, but it's fun, especially when it's decorated for the Christmas holidays. read more

What a great hidden gem for breakfast! It's got a good selection. So we had two eggs scrambled, a dried fruit sconce, juice and hot coffee which was refilled. Good service and a good value for the money--$20 for two. Just sorry that they aren't open on the weekends nor this holiday Monday.... read more

Hands down the best deal in town. We had breakfast and everything was great. You probably need a reservation for lunch but not for breakfast. Afterwards you can tour the parliament building. At no charge. read more

Not your typical dining experience. Breakfast and lunch only during the week. Available every day during the summer when Parliament is on recess. Pathway to the right of the main steps. Security check point and you must exchange your ID for a badge. Follow the green line along the wall that leads you into the dining room. Staff is very attentive and meals are reasonable and good. Highly recommend. read more

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Great atmosphere, delicious food and nice service. Very reasonable prices. My friend and I had fun there. read more

Had to pass through airport-like security and leave our ID with the guard. The food was very good and reasonably priced. Friendly service. Ambiance was pretty spartan but very pleasant. Plenty of seating when we were there (10:00 AM). read more

What a surprise this restaurant was! It is hidden in the bowels of the Legislative Building. Reservation only! The food and the service were wonderful. They have a great menu and the prices are a throw back to prices from 10 years ago. Highly recommend! read more

Stayed in a beautiful room at the Hotel GP next door for a night and was looking forward to an awesome hotel buffet breakfast. But per usual, before going read some Yelp reviews on the hotel buffet and decided I didn't want my great impression of the hotel to be marred by its potentially lackluster buffet offering. So I looked for restaurants close by and the Legislative Dining Room popped up. WHAT?!? Eat at the cafeteria in the Legislative building?!? Crazy, right? But it sounded kinda intriguing and different and the reviews were enticing. Well, it was excellent. Top-notch service, great coffee (I drink mine black), seriously yummy food quality, unique setting....what more could a tourist want at a reasonable price? I could not recommend it any more highly. And yes, everybody needs to go through security (enter at ground level, down the little path just to the right of the main entrance), and all adults need a photo ID to exchange for a pass. Children do not need ID. read more

Great service, extremely attentive wait staff!. Limited breakfast menu, but still tasty and was great to tour the building after

A pleasant dining experience, nice variety of dishes offered, decent portions and pricing. You will pass through a security check, so be prepared to hand over your pocket knife... read more

Legislative Dining Room - Citrus salmon from the day's Feature Sheet was excellent. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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For years, many locals didn't even know they could go to this dining room--most thought it was reserved for politicians and staff. The truth was, and is, otherwise. The food here is good and quite inexpensive, for the simple reason that it's subsidized by taxpayers (which is why more taxpayers should eat here). There are three things to remember, however: (1) you need a reservation; (2) the hours of operation change depending on whether the legislature is in session, so consult the restaurant's website; and (3) you need to pass through security, and security guards can sometimes be grumpy when dealing with tourists, as they are there to protect the building and its inhabitants from strangers, not to be kind to them. Any hassle you experience is worth it, though, because this restaurant is truly a hidden gem. read more

Tucked away in the base of the Victoria Legislative Assembly Building I never would have thought breakfast would be so good ! read more

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For my first time at the Legislative Dining Room, I had the marinated harissa salmon served over a warm couscous salad, with cucumber yogurt and steamed vegetables. It came out a little bit more well cooked than I like my salmon to be but still managed to be quite moist, juicy and flaky. Harissa is something new to me but it, along with the flavour of the cucumber yogurt, went very nicely with the salmon. The vegetables were also fresh and flavourful. The portion size is a tad on the small side, but not insubstantial, and at $13.95 before tax, was quite reasonably priced for the quality. Our server was efficient, and while a little stiff at first, her demeanour seemed to improve by the end. Also be aware that reservations are recommended, as the dining room is fairly small, and that patrons must walk through a metal detector and have their belongings x-rayed in order to get in, as this is inside the Legislature. Overall, this was a very enjoyable dining experience that gets an enthusiastic recommendation! Seek with confidence. read more

Legislative Dining Room - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

It was a bit intimidating going through the medal detector before entering the restaurant. The restaraunt interior is charming like being inside a heritage house. I would say the food tasted way better but cost less than WhiteSpot. The service was also attentive. read more

Just ask at the front steps on how to get here and enjoy a fabulous and relatively inexpensive breakfast. Best breakfast. My husband had the Douglas and he is very picky about how his eggs are cooked and he declared them perfect. I had the oatmeal and it was just right. Truly a unique experience. read more

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Excellent place for breakfast or lunch!! Best kept secret in town! Great food good value!!

Terrible! We went here today with my niece and nephew. While it smelled great and was very clean, we left right after getting drinks due to how unbelievably rude the waitress was. She yelled at my young nephew for looking at a menu because, and I quote, "you're probably going to stick that in your mouth and slobber over it." She then ripped it out of his hands, which caused him to start crying. We reported her to the manager, who was thankfully quite nice and offered to wait for us instead, but by that time the damage was done, my nephew was in tears, and we left immediately. NEVER go here with kids! read more

Hidden gem! And not just because it requires a security checkpoint, and a few twists and turns down some basement hallways to get there. If you're coming here for breakfast, about the only people who seem to know about it are senior-centric tourists groups and the employees, which is good for us, because it meant we could get a seat in this most exclusive of places. It's open Monday-Friday around 8:30 am. It is also open for lunch, but hours of operation are cut back when parliament is in session (they're out during the summer). The room has the old-timey sort of Victorian charm to it. The staff are some of the best, and totally professional. The food is good, it tastes wonderful, and portion sizes are to standard. Here is the kicker: Everything there is almost 1/2 cheaper than any of the hotels flanking the Legislature. Maybe it's unexpected, or maybe people find the security checkpoint to be invasive (it's Canadian security. They're nice people!), but this unfrequented place is a really nice stopover. read more

After finding the entrance (a small door tucked in to the base of the building, around to the right of the main entrance staircase) you then have to go through a security screen (don't forget your picture ID). After that, you enter a world of a bygone era; with white tablecloths, prompt service and great food at a reasonable price. Really glad I came! read more

Once you get through security and the metal detector all is good. You must have your identification to get in. Went there for breakfast and was very impressed with the service and food quality! Would go there often if I lived on the island. A very nice surprise. read more

We loved having breakfast here. The staff were friendly and inviting. We enjoyed the experience of dining in this historic building. We knew we'd have to go through a metal detector which actually made the experience more fun because we knew we were eating where powerful and notable people eat. We chose the special that day, the cinnamon roll French toast with berry compote. We should have taken a picture but it looked and smelled so great that we dug right in. We were NIT disappointed! It tasted even better than it looked. We highly recommend this restaurant read more

Wonderful secret!!! White linen tablecloths, impeccable service by a delightful waitstaff, great ambiance, and a delicious breakfast - free range eggs, hash browns, bacon (my wife) and sausage (me), and a wonderful warm (just baked this AM) cheddar biscuit which I highly recommend. We initially went to our hotel cafe for breakfast.m but it was full - sure glad we came here instead!!! Great start to the day. read more