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    Spinnaker's On the Fly

    2.6 (33 reviews)
    ModerateCafes, Gastropubs

    Spinnaker's On the Fly Photos

    SPINNAKER'S ON THE FLY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    3 pigs pizza. Bacon, sausage, pulled pork. A meat eater's frenzy!
    Simon L.

    Spinnaker's On the Fly has become somewhat of my go-to YYJ food hub (mostly because it's one of the very few options available) but I think I'm going to have to change that up. Last time around, I noted that I didn't mind paying the exorbitant airport prices since it's kind of the norm but really, it's a bit disappointing that the quality doesn't reflect the price at all. Yes, the airport is a captive customer base, but that doesn't mean my taste buds turn off! I sat down and got the veggie burger with fries, along with a glass of wine. The burger was dry and didn't have much flavour to it, which is extremely surprising because it's a partial beet patty and typically, I find them to be quite delicious. The pickled beets and arugula that came on top were good but due to the buns being half the size of the patty, they all just fell off anyway. The fries were the same: even with ketchup, they still seemed to be flavourless but they looked like they were seasoned quite well, so it was another bummer. When you consider that this burger is over $14, they could put a bit of effort into it, y'know? Plus, if you see my picture, the patty even came out broken and fell right off the bun. Not great... The wine, however, was pretty dang good. The Salt Spring Island Rose was one of the featured drinks and I was in the mood for something light. I really enjoyed the flavour and crispness of the wine, and figured "sure, what the hell" when my server asked if I wanted the 9oz glass. It was about $15 for 9oz's, which is pretty on par with what you're paying for booze at an airport. Lastly, the server that I had (he might have been the manager?) was friendly, helpful, and prompt when I arrived but he never came back around after my food was served to check how it was, if I needed anything else, or even to bring my bill. In an environment where literally everyone is on a schedule (and usually a tight one), I'd expect the bill to be coming as soon as the plate is cleared. Instead, I had to find another server and flag them down for my bill after sitting for a few minutes, completely finished. I really don't like giving negative reviews but I just expect a lot more out of my dining experiences, and over $35 for a dry burger and fries isn't something I'm too happy about.

    Being made fresh
    Nina W.

    We had an early morning flight, with no time for breakfast in the morning. We also didn't want to haul a bunch of food through security, so opted to see what was available after security. It was our first time departing YYJ. I'm a bit disappointed that Spinnaker's is the only option, but that's not their fault and in fact it's quite to their benefit. I was pleasantly surprised by the array of 'to go' options and also noticing an area to sit down and order from a menu. We just grabbed sandwiches as we could see they were being made fresh for the day. Our multi-grain croissants were more 'bready' than light and flaky as I might expect, but still tasty. My husband really liked it! I had the egg salad, which wasn't drippy with mayonnaise or salty and fit the bill. My husband had ham and Swiss cheese and although he wished it wasn't made with mayo as he's not a fan, it didn't really slow him down. :-) I was worried about the coffee, but I needn't have. It was rich and strong and just what I needed ahead of my flight. I enjoyed it with some banana-chocolate chip bread I'd gotten for desert. The banana bread wasn't dry or crumbly and tasted like mom made it fresh. Although typical 'airport pricing' is in effect, I thought it was good value for 2 sandwiches, coffee and banana bread for ~$20. I would recommend!

    Zach I.

    Wasn't even able to try as they closed at 8:00pm on a Friday. Place was packed, staff allowed patrons to just sit around not even ordering as others were waiting. Laughable place for being the only restaurant past security at Victoria airport. Don't even bother with this joke establishment. Go to white spot before you get through. Half a star is possible. Worst airport and restaurant selection ever. UPDATE. Expensive!!!!!!!!! HOLY OVER PRICED. 20$ for a small meal!? Genuinely hope they give up business to someone more fit for the hospitality business.... Small pop was 3$.

    a woman working at a coffee shop
    Anthony K.

    Unassuming coffee/breakfast bar airside at Victoria International Airport. The only reason I'm writing a review, considering most airport restaurants are dodgy on quality and hideously overpriced, is that here you can get the best English breakfast in Victoria. Try to schedule your flight in the morning so you can taste for yourself. Lovely servers and quality ingredients -- sausages and bacon from Two Rivers in Vancouver, and incredibly fresh, free-run, organic eggs. I usually leave the home fries at other places, here, I gobble them all up. Seems an odd place to get the best in Victoria, home of the specialized brunch (lots of great ones incl. Jam Cafe, The Roost, Blue Fox Cafe, and a multitude of others), but there it is.

    Cynthia G.

    I've stopped in a couple times since they opened last year and it's great. Not your run of the mill airport restaurant - the inspire to be "LOCAL" for many menu items and its a great inspiration to try something new. Large breakfast selection and the Eggs Benny west coast (with loads of very well prepared salmon) is likely the BEST I've ever had - seriously !!! The lunch and dinner items are wonderful. Al is cooked in an open kitchen which I appreciate so you can watch and hear all the action. They have a very extensive beer and wine menu and again lots of local choices ! Fantastic. The have a great "grab and go" section with the same menu food and a couple salads - looks really good and they will do take out very quickly. My server today was slammed busy and she checked in on my a number of times. The prices are very reasonable and the seating is ample for such a small airport. Community tables really help when they get busy and lots of seats at the open counter to watch the action. I don't give out 5 stars very often - but Spinnakers really earns it !! Way to go team

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Service is horrible, the older man needs to learn some manners ! Very rude . Wouldn't eat here ever !

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    8 years ago

    A typical over priced small pizza here. Staff friendly though. Better off to eat before or at your destination.

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    9 years ago

    Quite possibly the worst espresso I have ever had in my life. A sip was like drinking poison from Hell. Not a good way to start the morning.

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    12 years ago

    The service is quite good and the food is decent but it is a little pricey. The staff is very friendly. The coffee is terrible!!!

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Quick stop before our flight. French fries, mimosa, and Bloody Caesar were great. Helped pass the time when our flight was delayed.

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    Next Door Gastropub

    Next Door Gastropub

    4.2
    (1.5k reviews)
    58.0 km
    $$

    Had an excellent gluten free bun!!! Ordered the Ron Burgundy with Elk patty and Sweet Potato fries…read more Absolutely amazing food, wonderful drinks and a welcoming establishment!! The wait staff and especially the bartender were happy, helpful and all around wonderful people. I especially liked how comfortable the restaurant and bar felt, very nice ambiance. We will be hitting this place up again when we are in town, and recommend y'all to others who visit the area too. Thank you for your hospitality!!!

    My wife, daughter, son-in-law, and I dropped in for lunch around 1230 on a beautiful Friday in…read moreJune. The place was packed with many watching a World Cup game. By some small miracle, we secured an outside table. The hostess put up an umbrella to spare us from sunburn while we ate. It took a while for our server to appear, but once engaged, things were speedy. Our server was super friendly and took great care of us. The pub dip was calling my name. The sandwich was a good size and tasty. The meat was cut thicker than I like, though. Also, I paid a $6 upcharge for a side salad that was served in something not much larger than a ramekin. The salad was very fresh and enjoyable, but there wasn't enough of it. My wife went with a smash burger and was thoroughly disappointed with it. Her burger was served cold and just seemed like patties from a grocer's freezer. There were high points. My daughter's Westsider (BLT) sandwich was enjoyable. And we all mooched off her yummy side of fries. Also, her husband's albacore tatami looked and tasted fantastic. Service was fantastic. Our meals were hit or miss, and for the steep prices on the menu, disappointing overall.

    Photos
    Next Door Gastropub
    Citrus crab salad. Love the presentation.
    Citrus crab salad. Love the presentation.
    Yummy

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    Yummy
    Spruce

    Spruce

    4.6
    (187 reviews)
    58.0 km
    $$

    Fried Brussels Sprouts - Fried to perfection. Brussels sprouts are ubiquitous these days, known for…read moretheir hearty health benefits and delicious taste, but this restaurant truly did them right. They were perfectly fried with a crunchy exterior, all heightened by a lovely drizzle of honey. 5/5 Fried Chicken Sandwich - This sandwich was a monstrosity! If I were Sasquatch, I'd still be full after eating this. They practically put two fillets into one sandwich. The breading was flavorful, and the chicken was incredibly juicy and tender. I definitely appreciated the generous portion size. 4/5 Ahi Tuna - Deliciously fresh and simple. The tuna was lightly seared and served sashimi-style with a perfect rare interior. Being so close to the ocean makes you appreciate how fresh seafood can taste, and they deliver that here. It's lightly dressed with soy sauce and citrus to bring out the natural flavor of the fish. 5/5 Service & Atmosphere - The service was great, and we were seated quickly. Our waiter knew the daily specials by heart; he was quick yet succinct in explaining what the restaurant specializes in. I really enjoyed this place!

    Spruce is a busy small restaurant specializing in craft cocktails and foods that pair well…read moretogether. Open most evenings. The bartenders are true mixologist and even have non/ alcoholic cocktails and 25 specialty bitters (dry jan anyone?) I enjoy all their appetizers every thing from, seared ahi tuna, bacon wrapped dates (you get 4 per order), crispy brussel sprouts are crack, they are so good. (balsamic vinegar goodness) Menu is somewhat small but they have a great Chicken sandwich that is perfection in crunch, best batter Ive had (since Oak in Seattle. I think it originally was the sister to Spruce but changed owners.?) The other star dish is pork schnitzel, tasty all around and I love the capers, the red cabbage side, it's not too big, so you can finish the meal. (which is perfect as I don't think it would carry well to reheat due to gravy) I can't forget to compliment the service. Our waiter checked on us often, gave suggestions when we asked, water always was refilled which we appreciated so much. Service is lost nowadays but not here! So come here for a small plate and specialty cocktails or craft beer night or a full meal. The only underwhelming item was the side of fries that come with the sandwich was meh, but they do have decorated ones you can order as side that might be more tasty.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Fried Chicken with Salad
    Fried Chicken with Salad
    Interior

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    Interior
    Midtown Public House

    Midtown Public House

    4.4
    (188 reviews)
    58.5 km
    $$

    Restaurant has table service with Asian fusion choices such as Bibimbap, Korean Tacos, Bánh mì,…read moreUdon bowls. Friendly service. Clean bathrooms. Plenty of parking on either side. Outside may look very basic but indoors has comfy seats and an open feel. Recommend the Udon Bowl--try it at spice level 1 even if you normally opt for 0 spiciness (it's a sweet-spicy) and choose bulgogi beef if you like a smoky leaner meat or the pork belly if you're craving more of a rich fattiness. Also check the drinks fridge as you walk in--they have some choices you may not see on the menu such as Mexican Coke.

    TLDR: Me and my partner got food poisoning from the chicken sandwich and had to call multiple times…read moreover the course of two weeks to get a partial refund from the owner. Me and a group of friends (8 total) were visiting the Olympic peninsula for a camping/backpacking weekend and stopped by Midtown on a busy Friday night and were quickly seated. The food tasted good and we had great service during our visit. Since we were a large group, and already had shared expenses for the weekend, when asked about the check we offered to put everything on one tab to save time. Later on that night however, after we had set up our tents at our campground, my partner began to experience intense stomach pains which turned into full blown food poisoning. I spent the next several hours helping them, before I also got sick. It was at this point we realized that it was from the chicken sandwich my partner had ordered at Midtown, since I had eaten her last remaining bites of the sandwich and this was the only food we shared that other members of our group had not also eaten (we all shared food at lunch earlier in the day). My partner and I essentially spent the night in the campground bathroom (we are extremely lucky they had one). The next morning we were feeling depleted, dehydrated, and decided to head home to recover while the rest of the group continued on the trip. We spent the rest of the weekend trying to get food down. I called Midtown the next business day and let them know what happened for their awareness mostly. They thanked me and told me their policy is a full refund if something like this happens and that the group should expect it soon. We didn't hear from them or get notification of a refund so we reached out a week later and they said they forgot and now the owner would only provide a refund for me and my partner's meals and that they never offered a full refund. They said since we had "12 people" on the ticket they wouldn't do it (our tab for 8 people was $186 before tax and tip) but if we had a doctor's note that could change things. I promised them we weren't making it all up and that I've never gotten food poisoning from a restaurant or even left a bad review before! Tired of the gas lighting I decided it wasn't worth arguing and let them know this will have to be my first. It's a shame their management is unprofessional because our experience in the restaurant with the food and staff was nice.

    Photos
    Midtown Public House
    Spicy Taiwanese Breast Nuggets ($12)
    Spicy Taiwanese Breast Nuggets ($12)
    Udon Bowl w/ Bulgogi Beef ($19)

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    Udon Bowl w/ Bulgogi Beef ($19)

    Spinnaker's On the Fly - cafes - Updated July 2026

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