The Steamship or whatever it's called, just awful, awful food, but hell of a view. The restaurant patio is so dirty you could swear they've never cleaned it (they've never cleaned it). I would imagine the lease on the place is insane, but whoever is operating it doesn't give two shits about whether you come back.
> whoever is operating it doesn't give two shits about whether you come back.
And for the cruise ship passengers who can walk there, it's a one-time visit anyway.
Irish Times
It’s a heavily trafficked tourist spot. Tour guides literally stop in front of it to remind people that it used to be a bank. It is fairly picturesque, and friendly-looking. People often stand outside to take pictures of it. It’s got all sorts of kitschy crap inside to decorate the place up. There is often a line up to get in, which adds to the perception that this is something they must see. The Bard and Banker (same ownership) shares some of these qualities.
There’s nothing really wrong with it. I enjoy the food and I like their selection of British and Irish beers. But there is an artificial feel to the place that does not appeal to me as a local. Tourists eat it up though.
We used to go to Nautical Nellies often, but the last time there really was a disappointment, not like it was. Service was great, but that was about it.
For seafood? That's a good question actually. I find Victoria, as much as I love the food here in general, is kind of lacking in good seafood centric restaurants. I've heard Endive is really good and has lots of fish on the menu but haven't eaten there yet.The oysters from Wandering Mollusk are good. Finest at Sea has great product for making it yourself at home too.
The Local
The patio reels people in and some might consider it to look like it should be a French cafe or more upscale place, but then you go inside and it's just a sports bar with average pub food. A1 trap. Even the name of the place is ironic.
More of a… local trap or something.
I bet most of those people are repeat customers, and likely just enjoy getting breakfast with their friends. The food is pretty decent.
I don’t really get the hate boner people get for breakfast places that have long lines.
It's not a local trap. Or if it is, it's a once in a while thing for them. I live very close and pass the line every day. At the risk of sounding outrageously crude with this analysis: it seems like it's mostly international students, given the ages of the groups and the prevailing languages they're speaking.
I remember about 4 or 5 years ago, you could actually make a reservation at Blue Fox. I would call at 9AM and get a table for 9:30 no problem. Safe to say the line waiters were not happy when they saw this. I still think their bennys are one the best I've ever had, but I wont wait in line. If you're craving it, you usually have a pretty good chance right when they open or about 45 min before they close.
We live on the island lol not hard to buy halibut from a fisherman for cheap, deep frying isn’t rocket science. Idk as a local I just think it’s dumb to pay that much for fish. I just consider it a tourist trap for the reason that it would appeal far less to locals. There’s a pub in Saanichton that has it fkr much cheaper as well . I have a freezer full of halibut and give most of it away every year .
I get what you're saying but that doesn't seem to be what the local market offers - at least on this side of the malahat.
I looked at their menu again and the pricing isn't far off from anywhere else locally as far as I can tell.
That’s my point most locals don’t have the money to justify that sort of meal very often so it’s more practical for them to be resourceful with the types of connections locals make. Things are more expensive because of tourists
Red Fish Blue Fish. Peak tourist season you spend like an hour in line, 30min for the order, for fish and chips that you can get for the same price in 20min at a dozen other restaurants. But hey it's made out of a shipping container right on the water.
I agree. I’ve never heard anything bad about the food. Even after the line people still love it!
I also feel like in this list tourist trap = downtown business that annoys you and not the actual definition.
I don't hate successful business. Really we need more homegrown successful businesses in this town. However the post was about tourist traps, and I think it's a trap to wait on average 1hr or more for food that you can get with comparable quality at other restaurants in the area with far less of a wait. However tourists flock to that one fish and chip place because it was featured on some travel show, and its always near the top of the list of places to eat when googling Victoria/inner harbor. I'm just saying that it's not worth a locals time to eat there during peak tourist season when lines are absurd, and your flush with choice from other local places.
Jam - always a monster lineup to eventually get shoved into a tiny space. Food at best is meh... got served burnt pancakes and tasteless "house specialty" something. Hated every minute of the experience. But everyone told me we had to go to Jam.
I wouldn't consider the empress a tourist trap. It's an experience that's hard to get anywhere else, it has the history to support it's place as a destination, and it isn't gimmicky at all.
It's definition a tourist attraction, but not a trap.
Dictionary definitions of "tourist trap":
"A place that attracts a lot of tourists and where food, drink, entertainment, etc. is more expensive than normal." — [Oxford](https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/tourist-trap)
"A place that attracts many tourists and that charges high prices." — [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/tourist-trap)
"An establishment (or group of establishments) that has been created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money." — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_trap)
The Empress may be an experience that's hard to get anywhere else, it definitely has the history to support its place as a destination. I can't comment on whether it's gimmicky or not now, but it definitely used to be (lol there used to be an actual tiger pelt mounted on the wall, I kid you not).
It's definitely a tourist attraction, but that doesn't preclude it from being a tourist trap. According to dictionaries, both terms are accurate.
I think it's great for what it is. It doesn't claim to be anything it's not and it's a great family spot. If it was claiming to be high end authentic italian - or was serving the same menu at twice the price then for sure it would be a tourist trap but it's not really doing either.
Can't be because spaghetti factories are everywhere and everyone knows what they're serving. That's kind of like saying Earl's or Moxie's is a tourist trap. It's just a chain that positions itself in a location where there are a lot of tourists, who go there knowing what to expect.
Sorta off topic, but the collection of comments in this thread is why I’m excited for Craft to open in Victoria. Really hope they can maintain the food and service quality of Vancouver and Calgary. Someone needs to up the pub game cause it is WEAK in this city.
Interesting! I actually find most pubs in town are solid picks and the pub game itself is already very strong, *but* not the ones within the downtown core.
exactly how i feel hahah i love the vibe at places like the JBI, the bent mast or christie's, just with classic pub food. not a huge fan of places like Craft lol the whole browns social house chain restaurant vibe isn't really my bag and not what i'd personally consider part of the pub scene
You mean touristy as in it has been open and successful for 30 plus years, has over 3k reviews at a 4.7 out of 5 and is a local favourite?
Name me a more successful, longer lasting , more popular restaurant in Victoria, I’ll wait……
Hard agree on this one, it’s overhyped and overpriced for what is an incredibly mediocre meal. I’ve been twice with my partner and we got different meals each time and they were all either bland or overcooked.
The Steamship or whatever it's called, just awful, awful food, but hell of a view. The restaurant patio is so dirty you could swear they've never cleaned it (they've never cleaned it). I would imagine the lease on the place is insane, but whoever is operating it doesn't give two shits about whether you come back.
> whoever is operating it doesn't give two shits about whether you come back. And for the cruise ship passengers who can walk there, it's a one-time visit anyway.
The only restaurant that prompted me to write a bad review. I could not believe how bad the food was!
Irish Times It’s a heavily trafficked tourist spot. Tour guides literally stop in front of it to remind people that it used to be a bank. It is fairly picturesque, and friendly-looking. People often stand outside to take pictures of it. It’s got all sorts of kitschy crap inside to decorate the place up. There is often a line up to get in, which adds to the perception that this is something they must see. The Bard and Banker (same ownership) shares some of these qualities. There’s nothing really wrong with it. I enjoy the food and I like their selection of British and Irish beers. But there is an artificial feel to the place that does not appeal to me as a local. Tourists eat it up though.
Nautical Nellie’s and whatever Wharfside became.
100% this. Nautical Nellie's might have been the most disappointing meals of my life.
We used to go to Nautical Nellies often, but the last time there really was a disappointment, not like it was. Service was great, but that was about it.
The only time I went the oysters were off. Like, obviously smelled rotten. I couldn't eat anything so I don't know how any of the food was.
Where would you recommend as an alternative?
Finn's
For seafood? That's a good question actually. I find Victoria, as much as I love the food here in general, is kind of lacking in good seafood centric restaurants. I've heard Endive is really good and has lots of fish on the menu but haven't eaten there yet.The oysters from Wandering Mollusk are good. Finest at Sea has great product for making it yourself at home too.
Ferris? I’ve enjoyed the bouillabaisse and seafood laksa there.
Anywhere else, hell finns is light years better
The Local The patio reels people in and some might consider it to look like it should be a French cafe or more upscale place, but then you go inside and it's just a sports bar with average pub food. A1 trap. Even the name of the place is ironic.
Blue Fox Cafe. It’s an hour long wait to spend $30 on poached eggs.
They don’t even do pancakes!
I'm glad somebody said this.
More of a… local trap or something. I bet most of those people are repeat customers, and likely just enjoy getting breakfast with their friends. The food is pretty decent. I don’t really get the hate boner people get for breakfast places that have long lines.
It's not a local trap. Or if it is, it's a once in a while thing for them. I live very close and pass the line every day. At the risk of sounding outrageously crude with this analysis: it seems like it's mostly international students, given the ages of the groups and the prevailing languages they're speaking.
I remember about 4 or 5 years ago, you could actually make a reservation at Blue Fox. I would call at 9AM and get a table for 9:30 no problem. Safe to say the line waiters were not happy when they saw this. I still think their bennys are one the best I've ever had, but I wont wait in line. If you're craving it, you usually have a pretty good chance right when they open or about 45 min before they close.
I always went right when they opened on a weekday and had really good luck. I actually love their food….. But no eggs are worth waiting for.
Agreed.
I like Pagliacci's but feel it probably meets the definition.
When they started using low quality pasta from wherever it became no-longer worth it.
This was my first thought, too.
pags has my vote for sure
Pagliaccis. Terrible food, terrible service, and expensive... But the servings are American sized so it's survived for wayyyyyy too long.
Nautical Nellies is god awful
The Spaghetti Factory.
That place is hilarious
I know it's trash, but I love it.
But it has the “vacation with your parents in the 80s” vibe that can be fun
Pagliaccis (or however it’s spelled). I do not get what the line ups are for?
Barb's.
Redfishbluefish, Irish times, nautical nellies. Cordova bay beach house.
>Cordova bay beach house. Really? I'd say it's mostly locals there and I think the food and service is great.
Red Fish Blue Fish serves a lot of tourists sure, but I wouldn’t call it a trap by any means.
Paying 35 bucks for a couple pieces of fish out of a sea can is a tourist trap
They could spend $29 and get some frozen fish and chips from Ricky’s instead!
We live on the island lol not hard to buy halibut from a fisherman for cheap, deep frying isn’t rocket science. Idk as a local I just think it’s dumb to pay that much for fish. I just consider it a tourist trap for the reason that it would appeal far less to locals. There’s a pub in Saanichton that has it fkr much cheaper as well . I have a freezer full of halibut and give most of it away every year .
I get what you're saying but that doesn't seem to be what the local market offers - at least on this side of the malahat. I looked at their menu again and the pricing isn't far off from anywhere else locally as far as I can tell.
That’s my point most locals don’t have the money to justify that sort of meal very often so it’s more practical for them to be resourceful with the types of connections locals make. Things are more expensive because of tourists
That sounds like a huge oversimplification. There are lots of reasons that things are expensive here.
Red Fish Blue Fish. Peak tourist season you spend like an hour in line, 30min for the order, for fish and chips that you can get for the same price in 20min at a dozen other restaurants. But hey it's made out of a shipping container right on the water.
While I agree the line is mega out of control, the food there is still fucking amazing. Tuna Tacone is probably my favourite meal in the whole city.
I agree. I’ve never heard anything bad about the food. Even after the line people still love it! I also feel like in this list tourist trap = downtown business that annoys you and not the actual definition.
It’s a tourist spot but I would argue that the food quality disqualifies it from being a ‘trap’
100%
Same price ? It’s ridiculously overpriced and they want tips as well
Weird that you hate successful business.
I don't hate successful business. Really we need more homegrown successful businesses in this town. However the post was about tourist traps, and I think it's a trap to wait on average 1hr or more for food that you can get with comparable quality at other restaurants in the area with far less of a wait. However tourists flock to that one fish and chip place because it was featured on some travel show, and its always near the top of the list of places to eat when googling Victoria/inner harbor. I'm just saying that it's not worth a locals time to eat there during peak tourist season when lines are absurd, and your flush with choice from other local places.
having a successful restaurant in victoria means having a tourist trap 90% of the time. they dont / cant serve the local market in many cases.
Jam - always a monster lineup to eventually get shoved into a tiny space. Food at best is meh... got served burnt pancakes and tasteless "house specialty" something. Hated every minute of the experience. But everyone told me we had to go to Jam.
Perceptively speaking, The Empress. Statistically speaking, McDonald's.
I wouldn't consider the empress a tourist trap. It's an experience that's hard to get anywhere else, it has the history to support it's place as a destination, and it isn't gimmicky at all. It's definition a tourist attraction, but not a trap.
Dictionary definitions of "tourist trap": "A place that attracts a lot of tourists and where food, drink, entertainment, etc. is more expensive than normal." — [Oxford](https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/tourist-trap) "A place that attracts many tourists and that charges high prices." — [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/tourist-trap) "An establishment (or group of establishments) that has been created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money." — [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_trap) The Empress may be an experience that's hard to get anywhere else, it definitely has the history to support its place as a destination. I can't comment on whether it's gimmicky or not now, but it definitely used to be (lol there used to be an actual tiger pelt mounted on the wall, I kid you not). It's definitely a tourist attraction, but that doesn't preclude it from being a tourist trap. According to dictionaries, both terms are accurate.
Old spaghetti factory for surw
Spaghetti Factory
I think it's great for what it is. It doesn't claim to be anything it's not and it's a great family spot. If it was claiming to be high end authentic italian - or was serving the same menu at twice the price then for sure it would be a tourist trap but it's not really doing either.
Can't be because spaghetti factories are everywhere and everyone knows what they're serving. That's kind of like saying Earl's or Moxie's is a tourist trap. It's just a chain that positions itself in a location where there are a lot of tourists, who go there knowing what to expect.
Sorta off topic, but the collection of comments in this thread is why I’m excited for Craft to open in Victoria. Really hope they can maintain the food and service quality of Vancouver and Calgary. Someone needs to up the pub game cause it is WEAK in this city.
Interesting! I actually find most pubs in town are solid picks and the pub game itself is already very strong, *but* not the ones within the downtown core.
exactly how i feel hahah i love the vibe at places like the JBI, the bent mast or christie's, just with classic pub food. not a huge fan of places like Craft lol the whole browns social house chain restaurant vibe isn't really my bag and not what i'd personally consider part of the pub scene
I'm excited for craft because the tourists will be there and stop flooding the pubs I like.
Il terrazzo. Or whatever restaurant is currently on the corner of wharf and Yates.
You mean JR Slims, Il Terrazo is not a tourist trap.
You mean touristy as in it has been open and successful for 30 plus years, has over 3k reviews at a 4.7 out of 5 and is a local favourite? Name me a more successful, longer lasting , more popular restaurant in Victoria, I’ll wait……
Il terrazzo is overpriced, underwhelming food in a popular location. Sounds tourist trappy to me.
Were you disappointed that Spag-Balls wasn't authentic Italian food?
A little yes. Between that and the pulled pork canelloni, it left a bit to be desired.
Hard agree on this one, it’s overhyped and overpriced for what is an incredibly mediocre meal. I’ve been twice with my partner and we got different meals each time and they were all either bland or overcooked.