Office lunch outings in Victoria
Business lunch isn’t always about meeting customers. Sometimes it’s about kicking ideas around during a casual lunch with colleagues. And a nicely priced meal in a sociable setting will do wonders for your productivity. Victoria has plenty of office-retreat eatery options. The common denominator in our list is fast, friendly service that gives you plenty of time to refuel and recharge before you’re back to the daily grind.
Rebar
50 Bastion Sq, Victoria BC V8W 1J2There’s a lot going on at Rebar, a bright, contemporary space with plenty of colour on the walls, and its menu is no less vibrant. Hipsters and in-the-know foodies visit Rebar for its ultra-healthy, largely vegetarian menu and extensive juice bar. Refuel with miso soup or the kale and quinoa salad. Monks’ curry and the spicy peanut noodle bowl are also menu highlights. We promise you won’t miss the meat!
Broughton Street Deli
648 Broughton St, Victoria BC V8W 1C9This mom-and-pop deli serves a Montreal smoked meat sandwich that’ll satisfy the biggest cravings for the real deal; piled high on light rye, it’s a thing of beauty. Deli classics such as turkey clubs, Reubens and marinated tofu wraps are served on familiar red-checkered paper. Three varieties of house-made soup are served daily. These may include chicken noodle or wild mushroom, say. It’s just like going home for lunch, without the cleanup.
Dutch Bakery & Diner
718 Fort St, Victoria BC V8W 1H2Fancy time travel for lunch? The family-owned Dutch Bakery opened in the ’5os. Wood panelled walls, chrome stools and a soda fountain leave no doubt you’re in a diner, as do blast-from-the-past menu items such as the tuna melt and cottage cheese plate. It’s slamming busy most days, but the speedy service keeps everything moving. Try the beef croquettes (a Dutch specialty) and a root beer float, and buy some chocolate to help you through the rest of your day.
Ambrosia & R S Events
638 Fisgard St, Victoria BC V8W 1R6Known for fabulous coffee and drinks such as lavender lemonade, this small yet uncrowded café also offers a pared down lunch menu that changes often. The daily salad might be roasted eggplant and kalamata olive; the weekly soup, vermicelli pho. There are two inventive sandwich specials (recent offerings were smashed roast potato and bacon, and grilled ham and artichoke melt). PiCNiC’s lunchtime clientele, most from nearby businesses, seems to be regulars – not surprising, given its casual, friendly vibe.
Roast
5-1701 Douglas St, Victoria BC V8W 0C1In the Victoria Public Market, the line-ups are long but move quickly at Roast. The food stall is a carnivore’s dream. Think sandwiches made of prime rib, chicken arrabbiata meatballs, sausage rolls and pork crackling. Porchetta (stuffed roast pig) is served warm with broccolini, salsa verde and provolone cheese. Salads are made to order, with emphasis on fresh and local. Grab a lunch to go, or find a table in the common eating area.
Don Mee
538 Fisgard St, Victoria BC V8W 1R4A fixture of Canada’s oldest Chinatown for over 80 years, at Don Mee, you can share lunch with the whole office, letting the lazy Susan fly. A large neon lantern marks the entrance to the restaurant, and the large dining room is typically filled with a mix of tourists and locals. Along with à la carte menu items, a daily dim sum menu of 60 to 70 items is served daily. Carts are wheeled around the room, and you’ll find delicacies such as tripe, sticky buns and congee as well as shrimp and crab dumplings.
Italian Food Imports Ltd
1114 Blanshard St, Victoria BC V8W 2H6Where else can you say you had Rocky Balboa for lunch? Oh, sure, it’s a grilled panini sandwich, but still. Order from the counter, grab a spot in the small seating area, or browse the imported Italian grocery area while you wait. Another of its quirkily named sandwiches, the meatball panino is also a knockout. The place serves decent salads, and for about five bucks a panini, it’s very affordable.
Uchida Eatery
22-633 Courtney St, Victoria BC V8W 1B9Look closely, next to Victoria’s Bug Zoo. See the door with the Japanese characters above it? You’ve found Uchida, a casual little eatery that’s been winning raves for its authentic Japanese cuisine, including don (rice bowls with fish). Get there before noon to snag one of the half dozen tables. The chalkboard menu changes daily. For a sneak preview, check out the restaurant’s Facebook page where the updated menu is usually posted.
Sizzling Tandoor Restaurant
637 Johnson St, Victoria BC V8W 1M7Best thing about a lunchtime buffet? Great variety, and self-service is speedy when you’re in a hurry. Sizzling Tandoor’s buffet lunch features a dozen or so Northern Indian dishes. If you prefer to eat à la carte, you might try the stuffed naan or the tandoori chicken burger. And with the crisp white linens and comfy chairs, it strikes a nice note between casual and formal. This family-run business also features a location at Uptown shopping centre.
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