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    Spinnaker's On the Fly

    2.5 (34 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

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

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    11 years ago

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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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    10 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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    7 years ago

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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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    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 - Gather.

    Next Door Gastropub

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    58.0 km
    •$$

    So glad we found this place on our way to ONP. They don't take reservations but they will add…read moreyou to a text based waitlist. We had a 15-20 min wait on a busy Tuesday night but we're glad we waited! Our server was friendly and helpful with choosing cocktails because they had a to. Of unique selection. Haven't ordered more than one at a restaurant before but had to try two here! We thoroughly enjoyed our final selections of Ginny from the Block, Garden era, strawberry bourbon smash and Blackberry goose beer! For our mains we got the alaskan cod and chips and Blackened cod tacos and loved it all. They really know how to prepare tasty cod! The Alaskan cod and chips had the perfect crispy texture and my blackened cod tacos had all the flavor profiles you need. A hint of heat in the Thai chili slaw with a creamy avocado, Crema and the brightness of mango salsa and of course a touch of sour with the HOUSE made pickled red onions. Even better they let me substitute corn tortillas in for the flour. But you can't mix and match your proteins. I didn't need to because I loved both of my blackened cod tacos. The atmosphere is in the name: cozy Gastropub. They have a plethora of beers on tap, but parking is solely on the street so a little bit more challenging than picking your beer but I don't think it would be too challenging if you're up for a small walk. We were able to walk from our Airbnb, so didn't have to figure that part out. Pretty sure it was farther than any walk you might have to do for parking!

    We stopped in during our trip through Port Angeles. The ambience was fun and the restaurant seemed…read moreto be constantly busy and was recommended to us by some locals. The food itself was a little underwhelming and overpriced for what it was. The roast beef on the pub dip was not fresh and lacked flavor. My fiancé took a couple bites and couldn't finish. The blackened cod tacos were fine but also lacked flavor and seemed more corn and onion than fish. I would recommend the poutine fries and clam chowder.

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

    Citrus crab salad. Love the presentation.

    Next Door Gastropub - Yummy

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    Yummy

    Spruce - Dates wrapped in bacon. Crispy Brussels sprouts with balsamic/maple syrup smoked yogurt with pistachios and beets.

    Spruce

    4.6(194 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!

    Not good for big parties. We had 6 adults and 1 child and had to sit in separate booths, but at…read moreleast the booths were next to each other. We were also warned that the kitchen gets "overwhelmed" with big groups, which we appreciated their honesty. Our table decided to order a variety of items and to share. My mom would've loved the schnitzel but when I asked if they could put the spaetzle and sauce on the side, the waiter told me "no, the chef won't do that because it would be visually unappealing." We ordered it anyway and it tasted good but my mom couldn't try it. I think it would've been fine if the spaetzel and sauce were on the side (would've been my preference too) so it would also keep the schnitzel crunchy. But anyway, we also ordered the seared tuna, which was too garlicky for our liking, the shrimp boil, which was very good, and the fried chicken, which was just ok. My sister sitting in the next booth also ordered the brussel sprouts and that was easily the star of the show! This restaurant allows kids but I'm not sure if I would really consider it to be "kid friendly" since they did not offer a kids menu. All-in-all, food was good, service was honest, and we would probably come back.

    Photos
    Spruce - Interior

    Interior

    Spruce - Fried Chicken with Salad

    Fried Chicken with Salad

    Spruce - Interior

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    Interior

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

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