Shine Cafe on 1548 Street,Victoria. BC. Food: BandFFE FRENCH toast,Burritos Del Sol,Nemo and Fenwood Benny! Service (5/5) Ambulance (5/5) read more

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Fresh food and tasty smoothies. I had a tasty and healthy smoothie. Highly recommended. The staff were on spot with recommendations and quick service. It appears to be a favorite with locals, this might partially be because it is not near the prime touristy spots. Oh, the coffee is GOOD. A good vibe all around. read more

Shine Cafe - Inside - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

=== 1. VERDICT/VALUE If you like Sweet E's Cafe or Kaila Cafe in Honolulu, you'll like this place: brunch, a little tucked away, decor that's older but it adds to the charm, good customer service, hard to get parking, likely to wait a while for a table...but good eats! Tip: try to get there around opening time, especially on weekends to avoid the waits! === 2. FOOD Harvest Hash ($19.50): For the healthy(er) appetite: three eggs combined with pesto, butternut squash, red onions, kale, and goat cheese. Comes with a choice of side. Good option! Nemo Eggs Benedict ($19.50): A typical eggs Benedict served with smoked salmon, red onions, and avocado. Also comes with a choice of a side. Solid choice! Single Pancake ($8): So they don't have a kid's menu; however, you can get a smaller portion of most things on the menu. My little guy chose a pancake, and you get a choice of two fillings; he chose raspberries and chocolate chips (of course lol) and it's served with butter and syrup. === 3. SERVICE Service was pleasant and good as one would expect. === 4. ENVIRONMENT As mentioned, the older decor adds to the charm of the small, quaint joint. It would be challenging to squeeze in much more than a group of 4 in here - not just logistically, but also because the wait time could be quite a while. Wheelchairs and baby strollers are up for a challenge since there stairs going down to the restaurant...also a challenge is parking, which is very limited and shared by the entire shopping complex! read more

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I love Shine and feel so lucky to live so close--it seriously has the best hollandaise in the world! It's my go-to comfort brunch spot. The service is always fantastic, and the ambiance feels so homey, like you're in someone's kitchen. Beyond the Bennies, they have amazing lattes, chais, pancakes, French toast, and more. Classic brunch fare--you can't go wrong with Shine! read more

Shine Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Stopped in for breakfast while staying in Downtown Victoria. I really liked the chorizo and the crispy jalapeños in the Sierra Omelette. Staff was very friendly. The restaurant is clearly a local favorite. read more

Very Covid-safe! They take proper precautions and wipe down tables and all chairs between guests, and I don't even need to touch the debit machine to pay. The tables are spaced out nice and far from each other. The food and the service are both good. The omelette was very tasty and not too salty. We will be back to try more brunch items. read more

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Unique food options, yummy Benedicts (Bennys), and really great service! Loved it there! I got the Smoked salmon Benny (half size). Yummy & savory! Then I got a half of the lemon berries French toast (like dessert!) great meal. You pay a bit more, but it was worth it, I think. read more

Shine Cafe - Smoked salmon Benny (half size). - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Great breakfast! We had Salmon Benedict and French Toast with Pear Cobbler. Coffee and bacon + hash browns sides were good. Service wasn't attentive but not rushed and we got to enjoy our coffee and plan our day. read more

It was ok. I'm a eggs Benedict fan and I have to say the hollandaise sauce here was lacking. Very dry tasting sauce. Powdery I guess and no flavor. Wasn't great. Just typical breakfast. read more

Excellent selection of eggs Benedict's. We loved the pesto hollandaise. Perfectly poached eggs. Food was well prepared. Unique potato scones that we thought we more like potato pancakes - very tasty. Good bacon. The whole place smelled amazing as soon as we walked in. Bright and sunny. Friendly and accommodating service - they split up our order on two plates without us even asking! read more

Shine Cafe - Half order of veggie eggs Benedict with pesto hollandaise (don't remember the name) and hash browns - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I used to love this place as they had the best bennys I have ever eaten. When they had the two locations, they served Becketts Bennys at the downtown location. It was amazing and I would always order it. Now that you can't get the Becketts Bennys at they remaining location, you can't even order it off menu which the downtown location was still doing until they closed. I don't bother going to Shine anymore. Hope they bring it back. read more

There's that age old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, I think Shine's Polish spin on the traditional eggs benedict is an appetizing addition to the family. The Polish ($15.95) omits the English muffin altogether and replaces it with perogies, topped with two poached eggs and smothered with bacon, caramelized onion, and a roasted garlic hollandaise sauce. Of course, since these are perogies, there is a side of sour cream to dip them in. These perogies were rich and decadent, and made all the more so as I sopped up the yolks and sour cream with each bite. For all eggs benedicts at Shine, you also get to choose 1 side of hash browns, toast, grilled or fresh tomato, Scottish potato scone, cornbread, garden salad, French fries, or soup. Feeling the guilt of it being a new year, I decided to be healthier and opt for the tomato soup instead of the critically acclaimed hash browns (though I did steal a few bites of my dad's Chorizo Hash). It made for an emptier looking plate, but I do have to admit that the tomato soup was very pleasant and creamy. Was the dish worth $15.95 though? Maybe not, but it was still yummy and I'm glad I tried it. If you're planning to dine at Shine, I recommend visiting the Fort Street location since it's more secluded than the Blanshard location. We walked right in when we got there and we also found free parking outside. The service here also *ahem* shone, with both of our servers checking in on us during and after the meal. read more

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This is hands-down a wonderful place for breakfast in Victoria. The food is excellent! Lots of options and arguably the best strip-bacon in town. Great omelets and coffee bar too. Love their side fruit cup option, which is generous. Indoor seating is cozy and the outdoor patio is roomy with tables in the shade or under cover if there's a light rain. Most of all, the team there (Reid, Michael, Anna Marie, Lonnie, and Matt) are super-kind and relaxed. After coming here for the past year, they always remember my 1-year old by name and make us feel welcome. Thank you, Shine, for being so lovely! read more

For a place named Shine, it's kind of dim in there. More lights, please, so I can see (and snap) the food. The best thing here is the Scottish scone, made from potato. It's flat, but has a surprisingly tender, almost pillowy sort of texture. I tried to make it at home afterwards, but couldn't find a recipe anywhere online that's nearly as good. The other best thing is the tropical French toast. It's simple, creative, and so refreshing with the mango compote. Don't get the hash potato or Scottish pudding. They're really dry and overdone. It almost ruin the experience. read more

Shine Cafe - Tropical French toast, in a coconut lime batter, topped with mango compote and coconut whipped - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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This was a first visit for both my dining companion and I. Although the menu isn't massive it took us both awhile to figure out what we wanted because there were many things that sounded very appealing. (always a nice dilemma to have!) Although neither of us is vegan, we both settled on "Karin's Brunch" which is a vegan combo plate with 4 items of your choosing. I also ordered a side of smoked salmon because I saw they had it for the smoked salmon bennys and got a craving for it. (ironic, ordering salmon with a vegan plate... LOL) The food was EXCELLENT. Everything was made in house, from the nice crispy roasted rosemary potatoes, to the home-made black bean and rice patty. Also on my plate was sauteed spinach and mushrooms w/ roasted garlic, and grilled tomatoes. YUM YUM. My dining companion got the same items but opted for the chilli sesame tofu instead of tomatoes, and refried beans instead of the potatoes. I sampled the sesame tofu -- delicious! Service was friendly and efficient although felt a bit "hover-y" at times. But, I'd much rather feel a little awkwardly OVER attended to, than neglected. So really, am not complaining about that. Anyway, we will definitely be returning. I can't wait to try the other items on the menu that caught my eye. I kind of want to go back tomorrow, actually! :) read more

Shine Cafe - Karin's Plate: bean + rice patty, sauteed mushrooms + spinach, grilled tomatoes, roasted potatoes (also, smoked salmon in bg) - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Omg the service was astounding. Sooo kind and attentive. The lady let me try the Scottish cakes and they were delicious, especially with the raspberry jam on the table. PHENOMENAL. The pancakes were so light and fluffy. Eggs Benny was good. Hash browns just ok, but I don't prefer the chunky potatoes. With the hollandaise sauce it really ties it together though! read more

Shine Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Fun energetic environment when you walk in. Yet Music good for "old folks" and not too loud like some breakfast places. Food and service was great. I had the 2-2-2. Big enough to share! read more

Shine Cafe - The 2-2-2 French Toast eggs and sausage Big enough to share! - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I asked around for a great place to go for lunch and Shine Cafe was recommended - boy were they wrong. Not much to offer for lunch - it apparently is a breakfast place but I am not counting off for that since it is not their fault. However - the place is real noisy - very bad acoustics and thus not good for conversation. I had a BLT and could make a much better one myself at home - nothing special. I also tried the Zucchini Cheese soup which I did not like (they gave me a refund without me asking). It tasted like pepper and a little cheese. If it was up to me - they would get 2 stars - but I will not count the marginal lunch offerings. They are getting 4 stars since my wife said it was one of the best Omelets she has had. A basic Omelet with an addition of Feta and Cheddar cheese (at $1.50 EACH). Also service was good and friendly and they did remove my soup from the cost. read more

Shine Cafe - BLT - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Breakfast was great here! I got the traditional 2 egg, bacon, hash brown and toast breakfast. If you don't eat meat, then it's 1.50$ less. Also, you can choose your two sides - it doesn't have to be toast and hash browns, so that's unique and nice to have the options. It came with 2 pieces of toast, I'm sensitive to the places that serve only one slice, lol. The hash browns were actually baby potatoes and deliciously seasoned. The restaurant itself is quite noisy as the door to the kitchen is open, so you can see and hear most things. The dining area is small but adequate. read more

Ate at Shine for breakfast and had a jalapeño popper benny with a side of French toast. I've been here lots and each time the food is delish! read more

Shine Cafe - The French toast side. - Cafes Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Victoria has plenty of brunch spots to offer (being the brunch capital of Canada and all), and Shine definitely earns a place in my top 5. Over the years of living in this city, I have visited Shine at least over 20 times, no exaggeration. During those 20+ or so visits, I've tried a majority of their menu. Some personal favourites? Robin's Hash, Urbanite Omelette (SO. GOOD.), Coastal Omelette, and the Polish Benny (served on top a bed of perogies). They have a good selection of savoury and sweet breakfast as well as lunch options. Service has always been stellar. The ambiance is your typical Vic brunch joint -- upbeat, fun, and charismatic. Beware though: if your someone who doesn't like waiting 30+ minutes in line, don't come here on the weekends before 1:30. During the week: come after 1. Pro tip: get the Polish Benny. You won't regret it. Oh, and they also serve the best dang hashbrowns I've ever tasted by far. Shine is always worth the wait in my opinion. read more

I think it's interesting that as you get older (and less likely to sleep your day away), breakfast becomes more and more important. I'm not talking about your average Wheaties- I'm talking about delicious brunch involving poached eggs, bacon and an IV of coffee. The BF and I arrived to meet some of his friends, who thankfully had put their name in...because it seemed a bit of a wait. One bonus is that you can get coffee as you are waiting, which helps. The wait wasn't too bad, and we were sat fairly quickly at a table outside. I could only imagine the wait when the weather isn't cooperating, however. I was craving eggs, so of course I got the Cali Bennie, and the others got various egg dishes, which were all delicious, or so I heard. Service was okay, nothing spectacular. I wouldn't NOT recommend this place, but it wouldn't be top on my list for places to go. read more

I took my boyfriend out for breakfast last weekend before we hit the Oak Bay Tea Party for some fun, sun and nostalgia (for me anyway), all set to the soothing soundtrack of children screaming and barfing their lungs out on various rides. But I digress. At 9:45 a.m. we were still firmly entrenched in the breakfast hour and not yet the dreaded brunch hour, so we lucked out and got a table immediately (by the time we left 45-60 minutes later, people were waiting). I love this place. Lauren, the owner, is a woman I went to high school with, but don't worry - we weren't super tight or anything, so this remains unbiased. ;-) Anyway, I love what she (or whomever decorated) has done with the place. It's a bit "sunken", so could have been in danger of having a basement feel, but it lives up to its name, and is the brightest, sunshiniest little space, with bright, cheerful paint and complementary art, and an impressive selection of teas on the wall behind the register. The menu is a thing of beauty for the serious breakfaster. It is definitely not an inexpensive breakfast (our breakfasts and two drip coffees came to $32 before tip), so not somewhere I'd come every weekend, but both the quality and quantity of food support the price. It's almost overwhelming to have that many choices, so I first decided I wanted a benny, so I could skip the other sections (omelettes, sweet breakfasts, plain egg breakfasts, hashes, etcetera) and focus. But there must have been at least a dozen benedicts to choose from. And after all that, I ended up having Huevos a la Marisol (because my boyfriend's sister-in-law is named Marisol, and just had a baby and named it after my boyfriend), which was a giant whole wheat tortilla, folded over and grilled until just crisped at the edges, with poached (my choice) eggs, beans, cheese and other goodies inside, and topped with a few slices of avocado. Unbelievably tasty. I was very happy with my choice. As a side, I opted for the Scottish potato scone, which are...how to describe...flat, and delicious, and in no way like any scone I've ever had. They're more like a potato pancake or latke, to me, but what do I know? Technically I'm Scottish, but....not so's I'd notice. Whoops. Digressed again. It came with two pieces of toast, as well, one of which I gave to my boyfriend, because MAN that was a lot of food. He had the special of the day, which was a crab cake benny, and it was fantastic. An english muffin with two crab cakes (generous portions, real crab, well made), and poached eggs, with some of the best hollandaise ever as a complement. The citrus in the hollandaise was really perfect with the crab. He had the potato scone, too, and the same reaction as me ("Hey, weird! Mmm, good."). So we ate and shared and made happy noises, and I would like to go back again soon. I'm always happy when I see someone nice from my past is doing well, and this is a shining (ha! get it? SHINE?) example - this is a good thing here. read more

Sounds like the guy above let waiting in line taint his experience. While Shine doesn't exactly reinvent breakfast, it's a nice, relaxed place, the portions are perfect, and they do breakfast well. It's much more paired down than The Blue Fox - they don't overload you with globs of pan fries and the portions will buckle your belt, not your chair. Don't let the location throw you. It's really quite pleasant inside. read more

The coffee is substandard and that's about the only thing I could complain about. Shine is diner breakfast food done well - I've gone twice and walked away very happy both times. The cheddar hash is excellent - who knew a breakfast joint would actually spend the money to put rosemary on their roasted hashbrowns such that they taste delicious? Good stuff all around with friendly, casual service. I'd happily stop by anytime for a bite. read more

Had some very good Eggs Benny here today. The first question the waitress asked was "How do you like the eggs poached: soft, medium or hard?" Some places just assume you want them runny and gross.... Good coffee with plenty of refills. Staff were attentive but non-intrusive. Nice atmosphere and free Wi-Fi. Prices were about average for Victoria. read more

While I was definitely put off by Shine's location (think small, highly dated strip mall with absolutely no other redeeming qualities), my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try for breakfast after hearing a few good things about it. The wait for a table was definitely long, but I didn't mind so much once they put a steaming mug of coffee into my hands. Besides, good things come to those who wait, and my french toast was well worth the wait. They call it the "Eiffel Tower", and with good reason - it came loaded down with an epic pile of fruit, yogurt, and granola. It actually tasted healthy, and I didn't leave feeling like I had just ingested a pile of lead. And as for that strip mall location? Well, once you're inside it's actually pretty nice - lots of bright colours, and an overall cheerful feeling. I'll definitely be back here for a second helping of that french toast. read more

Shine shines . . . Finally made it Sunday around 1pm for brunch. Busy place still. 10 minute wait advised, but window and stool seats available, so we opted in. I had the Burrito Del Sol, a breakfast burrito, and it was well balanced on flavour - scrambled eggs, cheese, carmelized onions, etc. Same texture soft, good size, filling. Comes with one side - I chose hash browns - hand cut, well seasoned, crunchy outside, soft inside, yummy. Sour cream and salsa condiment sides. Ron had the Canadian Benny and he complimented that it was perfect, nothing that could be changed, perfectly soft as ordered, with hash brown side. Offer of HP Sauce and hot sauce was good. Pepper mill, and individual jam and honey portions at the table. Only improvement would be better quality jam portions, like Kraft, or homemade even better, than the lower quality Sysco portions. Service attentive, even though it was full house, and many people now waiting behind us. With the level of quality and service and menu selections, we'd return and recommend Shine . . read more

Despite the popularity, we didn't have to wait long and had coffee in our cups within minutes. We ordered 2 different eggs bennies (The Yodeler and the special) and the Eiffel Tower. The Yodeler was good and definitely a good choice for any morning and any occasion. A safe and tasty bet! The special of the day was eggs bennies with goat cheese. A choice we don't regret. I'm a goat cheese fan (don't judge) and I thought it tasted very good! The cheese did take away from the eggs and the Hollandaise sauce, but as I mentioned previously, I'm a goat cheese fan, so I personally didn't mind. The Eiffel Tower was sweet sweet! Bread in batter stacked on top with yogourt and granola in between topped with fruit - can't go wrong. It tasted a little plain, but there was maple syrup to pour. I'd definitely go again, but I think there are more brunch places that my my palate awaits! read more

Food is pretty good, ambience casual and comfy. In general I've found the service a bit spotty depending on who is waiting on you. Our server today spoke is "up speak" and at a low volume. My hearing is pretty good but the combo of qualities made her virtually incomprehensible. The food took over 45 mins to arrive and while tastes wasn't worth the wait -- the eggs ordered as soft poached were hard and cold. Since I wrote the first part of this review, we've visited again several times. Overall food is good, not always great, but consistently NOT bad. The service is the only inconsistent thing about this place. If the owner is around, the service is awesome. When he's not, service seems a bit random and focused more on the server's friends or regulars. Maybe not such a great approach for a place that could have a lot of touristy traffic. They don't seem to be suffering tho' as there is often a line up. It's nice to ave tables to wait at outside and the servers check back and let you know how the wait is going... If the manager is about. read more

Average breakfast/brunch place. Unfortunately weekend brunch seems to be a big thing in Victoria so almost every place has a 30 min wait. Shine Cafe very brightly colored so it'll help wake you up quickly even if their coffee is terrible! Standard breakfast items with bennies, omelets, scrambles, etc... Portions are big and include your choice of sides. My omelet was A-OK and my hashbrowns were good. Still haven't found my perfect brunch spot yet in this city so I will keep searching... read more

The Shine Cafe is often mentioned in the same breath as the Blue Fox, when discussing breakfast joints. And Victorians take their breakfast places very seriously as it seems as if it's the only time people actually seem to hang out in the city. Naturally, one must wait at least 30 minutes to brunch at the Shine Cafe. Shine offers many different variations on the Benedict. I found mine to be tasty, but not one worth waiting 30 minutes for. Sure it had goat cheese, but the goat cheese was lost in the hollandaise. And my wife found herself disappointed with her omelette and its accompaniments. We also found ourselves a bit disconcerted by a busboy who brought the trash outside through the front door of the restaurant, rather than the back door. The Shine Cafe would be a fine breakfast place in a number of towns without upscale breakfast places. But the competition is stiff in Victoria and this place just doesn't rank with John's Place or the Blue Fox. They don't even home make their bread (or at least it doesn't taste that way) :) read more

For the last 2 days we have ordered from shine cafe on fort st and this place is amazing!! The food is guch great quality and you can tell there is love and care put into the making of their food! Both me and my husband just cant believe how great they are. I tried to call them today to tell them this but they were closed...so I wanted to leave a little note here to tell them we love them and thank you all that works there and puts time and effort into their food. I know we are in a pandemic and times are hard and a lot of resturants quality have gone down a bit but you guys have made sure your food is amazing and not let this pandemic stop you from making your great food. Thank you so much and we will fore sure be ordering again! read more

We were visiting Victoria BC from Texas. This restaurant was recommended by a Craigmyle staff member. It did not disappoint. My daughter and son ordered pancakes with add-ins and they were fantastic! My husband and I both ordered bacon and eggs with toast. We also ordered the Scottish potato scones which we had never tried before and they were awesome. The coffee was flavorful. The decor was inviting and the staff were friendly and efficient. It was a great experience and we highly recommend this restaurant. read more

The first time we went to shine for breakfast, (in January of 2022) we were absolutely blown away by our food. We had a dolly parton themed benny (served on cornbread) that was absolutely delicious, as well as their mini donut shaft that we loved. Our second experience wasn't quite as good, but it wouldn't turn us away. We ordered the Southern Belle benny and the chorizo hash. The Southern Belle was pretty good, although we expected more tender peaches with a bit more seasoning. Despite that, I would order them again. The chorizo hash was somewhat of a disappointment. Their house made chorizo while not being a total disappointment isn't.... quite chorizo. I'm not sure exactly what was missing but it was very heavy on more perfumey herbs like thyme (or maybe oregano, I can't say for sure), but lacking in spices such as chili and garlic that really make chorizo. The portion was also quite small, especially considering it was a hash. It probably should have had more potatoes in it. Overall, it was alright. The experience really depends on what you order. And their Ceasar is just okay. read more

Shine is my go to for great breakfast or brunch in a city with lots of breakfast options. It's also a great place to take fussy eaters. There are vegan, gluten-free and dairy free options as well as customizable dishes. Always pay attention to the monthly specials, as they come up with fabulous treats. Staff is wonderful and if for some reason something isn't to your liking speak up and they will do their best to keep you happy! Note: the hash browns are actually delicious herb roasted potato chunks, the Scottish potato scone is like a savoury pancake, the sausages are peppery and the house made cornbread is a to often overlooked side. read more

Service is good, food is average. Certainly not worth the long wait.

I went with a friend for my first visit to Shine the other day for a mid-afternoon, hang-over breakfast. About half of the tables were taken and I found the service to be really fast and super friendly. I had the breakfast hash: scrambled eggs, sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms, and bacon (hold the melted cheese) over pan fries with multigrain toast. The eggs were good, though they were a little bland compared to the tasty pan fries. The portion size was perfect, which was a nice change from some of the other breakfast places in town where you leave feeling like you need to have a nap. The only thing close to a negative for me would be the price. I'm used to getting a full breakfast at QV's for $4, and I don't think that our two breakfasts were worth $30+ including tip. I'll definitely be back to Shine, but they're going on my "once in a while" breakfast list with Floyd's. read more

Been here a couple times at the request of friends I'm with and I'm just so unimpressed. Over easy eggs were ok. The oven-roasted hashbrowns were disgusting. Soggy pieces of potato coated in some spice rub that I'm sure is Mrs.dash or something. My grilled tomato was soggy mush. The coffee gets one star. read more

Great food and friendly staff. Always a good meal and never dissatisfied. One thing I love is the Benny's and the fact you can order a half. Pancakes are to die for and the coffee never stops flowing. read more