Victoria must eat 🤤 Atmosphere pub Italian tapas bar

A charming little bistro slash restaurant in downtown—Tapa Bar is such a vibe! The lighting inside is dim and cozy, creating the perfect intimate atmosphere, and every table around us had a bottle (or two) of wine, making the whole place feel so relaxed and laid-back 😆 We skipped the drinks though, since my friend isn’t a fan. ✅ Gambas con Coco (Coconut Curry Shrimp) – $17 Huge prawns simmered in a rich, golden coconut curry sauce—think Thai-style curry, creamy and fragrant. The shrimp were plump and bouncy, each one soaking up that sweet coconut aroma, and dipping a piece of bread into the sauce? Chef’s kiss. So flavorful, we practically mopped the plate clean. ✅ Pollo Chipotle (Garlic Spicy Chicken Wings) – $18 The wings here are massive—coated in a thick, spicy chipotle sauce with a strong garlic kick. Fair warning: they’re pretty spicy and oily, but in a good way! The order was split between wings and drumsticks—personally, I loved the wings more; they’re juicier. The drumsticks were a bit overcooked, though, so they turned out a little tough. ✅ Casarecce con Salsa Rose (Rose Sauce Pasta) – $26 Oops, we accidentally ordered this! I thought it’d be a creamy pasta, but it’s actually a spicy rose sauce. The portion’s generous, though—those short, plump casarecce noodles hold onto the sauce perfectly. It comes with tender braised chicken, mushrooms, and a hint of tangy goat cheese. Heads up: it’s on the heavy side, so you definitely need the complimentary bread to balance it out. We ended up paying around $37 per person—not bad, honestly. Most Western restaurants around here charge similar prices, so it’s totally manageable 😭 The service was fantastic too! The waitresses were all super friendly and polite—definitely worth a visit. 🖇️ Tapa Bar 📍 620 Trounce Alley, Victoria, BC V8W 1K3 #ItalianFood #CozyBistroVibes #DowntownEats #HiddenGemRestaurant #DateNightSpot #StudentFoodie #VictoriaEats