So this place wasn't too busy tonight, but me and my girl decided we would give it a shot. And it's…read moreactually better than what I first thought. This one is a sports bar aswell (hooray) but it's a very mellow one. It's nothing spectacular, but it's nice enough for a drink or two. We had the house wine and it was very fruity and easy to drink. The happy hour options were pretty good aswell, and just as a whole this place is good. I can imagine it's more exciting when it's busier but it's good enough for me. I like to have a drink with good music and conversation, and this place was very good for that. - E

Took a friend here on a Friday night as we were visiting from Vancouver and honestly it was…read moreprobably the worst experience I've had in recent times. Not only is the music ridiculously loud and obnoxious but even the bartender appeared to be half drunk. You know it's bad when you have to scream at the top of your lungs to order a drink or talk to the person next to you. Also, because of the douchebaggery you frequently see in these places my friend nearly got into a fight with some 20 year old claiming to be some sugar daddy to two younger girls who claimed to be lesbians?! Go figure that one out. I guess slapping down a $100 bill on the bartop in this place makes you the big man on campus Fundamentally it's a bar for younger people later at night who are totally wasted and full of attitude. For a good time in Victoria there are plenty of other good alternatives

We stopped in for a drink while exploring the city. I was impressed by the building interior and…read morethe beautiful holiday decorations they had up. It was such an inviting space. We sat at the bar but there is a lot of seating throughout: high tables, low tops, booths, and some private nooks towards the back. They had live music that was really good! We had drinks (lots of beers on tap and a full bar) and the hummus. They had a happy hour menu. The hummus was really tasty and a large portion. We had great service at the bar, friendly and attentive.

We stopped here for an appetizer and a cocktail before continuing on our way while we are walking…read morearound Victoria. The restaurant itself is beautiful the inside and original decor is quite exquisite as it used to be a bank. The food was OK. I felt like it was overpriced for portion served and lacked a little bit of flair for something that is normally smaller portions. The oysters were good and a cocktail was decent, but since we weren't super impressed with the other appetizer, we decided not to have dinner there. The service was OK, but they were very busy so we had to go up and get our check when it was time to leave.

Had a quick dinner at Browns and it exceeded expectations. The interior was fun and everything a…read moresports bar/restaurant should be Paige (our server) was so friendly and sold us on getting the a Cowboy Chop and Florida Sandwich and both were great. Only area of feedback would be that the gravy for our poutine was extremely salty. But other than that, this was a great spot for a casual meal while we were in Victoria. Would come back

I enjoy the food, drinks and music bingo . The staff are professional and friendly. I also…read moreappreciated getting a reservation in advance for Saturday night when it is busy. Thank you !

You don't walk into Big Bad John expecting refinement--but even by dive bar standards, this place…read morefeels less like a throwback and more like it's been left behind. There's no warmth waiting for you here. No charm to soften the edges. Just a small bar, guarded--literally--by a security presence, and a room filled with heavy, worn wooden booths that have seen better decades. Not years--decades. Look up, and you'll find the signature décor: a ceiling crowded with women's undergarments. Bras, mostly. Some scrawled with messages, others just hanging there, collecting time and dust in equal measure. The occasional pair of panties or something more adventurous makes an appearance, but the effect isn't quirky so much as... committed. Committed to a theme that's long overstayed its welcome. Dust is part of the aesthetic here, whether intentional or not. It clings to everything, including those ceiling relics, turning what might once have felt playful into something closer to a time capsule you're not sure should've been opened. And yet--there's life in the room. The ambiance, somehow, is still jovial. People are laughing, drinks are flowing, and there's a certain unspoken agreement among patrons to just go with it. The drinks are surprisingly cheap by Victoria standards, which certainly helps smooth over some of the rougher edges. And then there are the peanuts--toss the shells on the floor, no one's judging. In fact, it's encouraged. It's chaotic, a little grimy, and unapologetically itself. For me, it's a one-and-done. The kind of place you visit once, take in the spectacle, and check the box. But talk to the regulars, and you'll hear a different story. For them, this isn't a relic--it's a ritual. A place that hasn't changed, and that's exactly the point. Whether that's endearing or exhausting probably depends on how much nostalgia you're willing to drink with your beer. Cheers...

Fun dive bar. Atmosphere is great. They have a full menu able to order and can make just about…read moreany drink that you want. Free peanuts when you get there and you throw the husks on the floors. Definitely worth a stop.

The his place was pretty good but my experience was a little off. My wife thought it was good. I'll…read moreprobably go back and see if I can get it upgraded to a five. My wife and I were visiting and hungry for a late lunch. The atmosphere is awesome. Multiple levels of awesome bar. Comfortable, clean, inviting dining area. Great location. Good price for happy hour. The dry rub rib appetizer was great, the nacho appetizer was good. My wife and I split their fish and chips. Her piece was perfect. Mine was overcooked. The fries are awesome. No offer of water refills. Friendly staff but a little scattered. Try it and let me know.

Amazing pub! They have a nice old British pub decor that is perfect for the British heritage of…read morethe city, amazing beer, staff, food, and great prices. I sat at the bar and the bartender was amazing and gave me samples of various beers on tap and I had two of them on draft. My mother got tired walking around Butchart Gardens so I got pierogies, cauliflower wings, and fish and chips which we both loved. The deals were great with happy hour and she loved the food I brought back to her.

Great food! Pan seared halibut burger was unbelievably good, buffalo chicken wrap was also quite…read moregood! Service was great no issues at all! This is one of the nicer patios downtown, and although you cannot see the water, you still get a nice breeze from it! The patio is also COVERED in plants which makes it very beautiful. The heavy foot traffic makes for a great ambiance and people watching also! Overall a great summer spot to try out! Never been in the winter so can't speak to the inside.

The vibe here alone would have been enough to draw us in, but the floral ambiance of the outdoor…read morepatio, the lighting, and the perfect summer evening weather made The Local our first dining choice for our weekend visit to Victoria! We found it randomly on our nighttime stroll through Bastion Square, although we ended up looping around the block to get a feel for the area before setting in. Despite it seeming to be completely full, we were seated immediately on an outdoor patio table away from the street, and our incredibly friendly and welcoming server Danika taking care of us for the rest of the stay. We ordered the Cowboy Steak Tacos, the Spicy Vegetarian Rockstar, and a London Pimm's between us, and were treated to a slowly-encroaching lightning storm in the distance, while we waited, which wasn't long! The Cowboy Steak Tacos were probably my favorite meal of the entire trip: peppery, spicy and lean, with a delicious savory sauce and pickled onions. Even my wife's tofu salad dish, something not usually to my liking, had a thick glaze of spicy sauce that gave it a more solid, inviting texture, and when coupled with the array of fresh veggies, really came together to create a dish even I would order. And my London Pimm's, despite being a gin drink which, again, not something I usually order, was light, crisp and refreshing, and something I'd like to have more often. I should try to get the recipe. I didn't see much of the interior, but I liked what I saw: looks like the kind of social bar, like the Dixie, that I tend to frequent back in Portland, although nicer: multi-hued neon lighting, loud music, multiple levels filled with party people. But the outside patio is really where it's at: I didn't see a restaurant with outdoor seating anywhere in downtown Victoria that could hold a candle to the charm of The Local, and it will always stand out in my mind as one of the city's premier outdoor dining option: a fantastic location at the base of the Bastion Square steps, and boasting an unparalleled ambiance. This is the sort of place I am going to want to return to again and again, whenever the weather (and the wallet) allows!

This place was walking distance from our hotel which was lovely. It's like an upscale bar with…read morebooth seating and high tables. They did have regular tables too. When we got here there was no wait and we were seated right away. The food was great. I loved their truffle fries, it was super crispy. And my entree, the crispy tofu bowl was delish!!! Other things we ordered from the menu were teriyaki chicken, rice bowl, grilled salmon, cheesecake and some cocktails. We enjoyed every single minute. The service was great. Our server was so friendly and she was all smiles every time she came to our table. Overall was a very nice experience.

Stopped by Victoria on a cruise. Had 2 hours here and where did we go? Cactus Club! I've heard…read morereally good things about the Cactus Club so I had to check it for myself. The place was very busy. Glad we were able to get a seat. Only ordered a few items off the Happy Hour menu because time was so limited. Got the prawn crunch roll, truffle fries, and ravioli. It was good! They tasted great and I'm happy to hear they're gonna open their first US locations soon. Boston and Miami!!

Cute pub in Victoria, BC. We sat outside. Perfect crisp weather. We ordered the garlic fries (yum!)…read more and the fish & chips with poutine fries to share. Fish was crispy and flake. The Cole slaw was very good. I think they use horseradish in it. The restaurant is very dog friendly. They even bring a doggy bed for your furry friend. Be aware: They are very strict on their no entry for anyone under 19.

What a great place! Found it randomly walking down the street…read more They have an extensive variety of foods and drinks! The servers are so nice and the place is really nice!!!! Definitely recommend!!

Love their ginger soy burger. I didn't realize you could have them sub soy for their other patties…read moreso definitely will try that in the future. Especially love getting their 2 for 1 specials

Incredible hamburgers. I only have a pic of mine because my friend inhaled his. I had the Angry…read moreBull and he had the Italian Job. We ordered through DoorDash after a very long day play tourist. Food was still hot, flavorful and the fries crisp. The Italian Job is a chicken sandwich with bacon, balsamic vinegar, basil aioli, bruschetta and lettuce. My burger, the Angry Bull, is a combo of bison, chorizo and pork with goat cheese, roasted jalepeno aioli, crispy tortilla strips, peri peri sauce, lettuce and tomato. They have a variety of fries to choose from and lots of dipping sauces. We both had the caramel eggnog cheesecake. Would pass on this in the future. It was ok but not the best taste. Most likely due to having to be delivered and not served fresh.

This Restaurant is so far from being a Scottish pub. Just the typical pub with decor that is plain…read moreand worn. Four people ordered and we felt the food mediocre maybe a two out of 10. We noticed that a number of people eating the fish and chips left food uneaten on their plates. The waitress was nice. But we watched our food sit under the warming lights for 10 minutes before it was served. Not good. The view was beautiful. Wonder when the owners last ate the food. Better to drive down the road to Genoa Bay for a better restautant experience.

A decent place to grab something if you're in the Maple Bay area. A very large pub with a ton of…read moreseating options. Lovely views over the docks. There's a parking lot on the lower part of hill, if you're not lucky to snag the few spots up front. I went here on a night that I just didn't feel like cooking supper & to enjoy the bay views before it got too dark. There was some larger groups eating/celebrating plus a smattering of smaller tables. I didn't notice more than one waitress & occasionally what I think was a manager on the floor serving. I wasn't in a huge rush to order but I do think the was some very long waiting periods to get a menu, get my a non-alcoholic drink and even much longer to be noticed I just wanted to get the bill to leave. I did appreciate that it was delivered warm. It wasn't a slammed place, but I do also understand when a waitress is running on fumes. So perhaps the bartender & manager could step in when when gaps need to be filled (as I noticed there was more tables awkwardly waiting to pay than me). Food was decent helping but nothing I would say was at a wow factor. I only had one meal here but my friends that have stopped here several times had good remarks about their meals. So maybe another stop by when I'm in the area is worth a second shot & enjoy a view to the water.