🍽️ Victoria BC Food Guide | 3-Day Dining Recap

1️⃣ Dining Room at Butchart Gardens Oh. My. Goodness. 😍 This place is absolutely magical! We didn't have reservations, so we sprinted to queue at opening—luckily scoring a garden-view patio seat! 🌸 The afternoon tea set (~$49) was stress-free—just pick your tea (no confusing menu jargon!). The tea (sold in their gift shop!) is house-blended and heavenly—I stocked up for gifts. 🎁 The freshly baked scones were divine (no dry, choking hazards here!). But the real star? The "ordinary" egg sandwich—elevated with garden-grown herbs and seeds. Perfection in simplicity! 🥚✨ 2️⃣ Il Covo Trattoria I literally followed my nose to this place! 👃 Last visit, I caught whiffs of garlicky tomato goodness from the street—this time, we barely snagged bar seats. From the free bread basket to the seafood pasta and braised lamb, every bite was heavenly. The classic tiramisu (ladyfinger-style!) sealed the deal. 🍝🍷 3️⃣ The Surly Mermaid Meh. 🧜‍♀️ Saved on my map ages ago, but mediocre at best. Tourist-heavy (probably riding on Glass Beach's hype), with equally disappointing food. Skip it. 4️⃣ Sabhai Thai Owned by Thais, but don't expect authenticity—this is full-on fusion. Still tasty though! We tried red curry shrimp and green papaya salad (others were devouring pad thai, but we were too full!). Heads up: bring a flashlight—it's cave-level dark in there! 🔦 #FoodieGuide #VictoriaBC #AfternoonTea #TravelCanada #VancouverIsland #EatLikeALocal 🍜📸