Ferris' Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar
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Four Course Meal for Two First of all, this is the second time I've been Upstairs and the second time Michelle was our server. I don't know if servers have above average memory but she remembered us from last time and what we ate. Incredible. She's a joy. We love her. Last time we were there, she suggested the four course meal but we chose other dinner items - but thought the four course would be great for the next visit. Tonight was that night, and she was so right about recommending that special. I'm sorry we couldn't post a picture of the whipped ricotta cheese spread and the smoked seafood plate (which we ordered separately) but they were so good we completely destroyed them. Not a single crumb was left on the platter. I can't tell you how much we love the smoked platter and the variety of items. It's almost enough to make an entree. The second course were three incredible Korean deep fried oysters over a spicy slaw. Crispy, spicy, and garnished with kimchi and a dash of samba olek. The main course I chose perfectly. The striploin. Cooked to perfection and served over the most incredible choices of crisp green beans, tender white beets(?), asparagus that was firm, cooked perfectly and yet somehow had the most delicious crispy tasty tips! But what stole the show was the potatoes. I don't know the culinary term, but they had been sliced so thin, they were like pages in a book. Crisp, savoury, and delicious. Incredible. The steak was awesome as well, with a nice dollop of garlic butter on top. My date had the clam linguini and besides the perfect blend of garlic, herbs and butter there was an uncanny amount of perfectly cooked clams. They topped off the meal with a little mocha mousse for two - with a couple of spoons for sharing. Although we were stuffed from the entree, there was a tiny bit of room for dessert. It all paired well with Hoyne Dark Matter and in a setting that relaxing, warm, and super friendly. Thank you all at Ferris; you fine cooks, diligent and friendly servers, and Dave, who made sure no small detail was left untouched. From replenishing the cutlery, filling the water and even replacing the napkin after it unknowingly fell in the floor from my lap. If you're visiting Victoria, or live here and have never been, please, do yourself a favour and check out their menu. I've come to realize a restaurant shouldn't have a lot of menu items, but specialize in what they do have - and that's exactly what Ferris has, and does. I look forward to trying more of what they offer and hope Michelle is there to greet is again. A most special birthday dinner. Thank you all for making it perfect. 5 out of 5
Lars HildebrandtLars Hildebrandt
00
This is a great little spot in downtown Victoria! A cozy room with smallish tables but high dividers so you don't feel the proximity of your neighbours. Lovely wood paneling, antique cut and stained glass, a small patio out front, another in the rear (I think?) and more upstairs. Bonus points for original art on the walls for sale. This is not a tourist trap with over priced items cranked out with minimal effort, there is some good value here, unlike many of the water view spots nearby. The food here was classic west coast casual, tasty oysters are their specialty served with basic accompaniments (horseradish, cocktail sauce, a light minionette). They have a half-price oysters at happy hour deal 3-6pm for the early diners. Our table had: The west coast chowder which was loaded with seafood and topped with almost a half a loaf of bread for dipping in the creamy broth! A classic oyster burger on a nice bun, with fresh toppings and a pair of large cornmeal/panko crusted oysters, which were tender and juicy. This was paired with a kale Caesar salad which wasightly dressed but could maybe have had more anchovy and lemon for my taste but would be about all most people could handle. The classic fish and chips which was a large thick cut of cod, hand dipped and not over fried, the coleslaw was lightly dressed and fries are...fries! I'd love to come back to try the bouliabase, or one of the pastas as the way they handle the dishes I had gives me confidence that they know what they are doing. Don't miss this little gem!
nova hanennova hanen
00
Overall, it was a delightful experience. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted warmly by the attentive staff, setting the tone for a fantastic dining experience. One of the standout aspects of Ferris Upstairs Oyster Bar is its ambiance. The vibrant and lively atmosphere created an enjoyable and upbeat vibe throughout the evening. Whether you're looking for a casual night out with friends or a charming date spot, this place hits the mark. The drink selection at Ferris Upstairs Oyster Bar is impressive and the wine at happy hour pricing is awesome. However, while the service and drinks were excellent, I must highlight one area for potential improvement. The food, particularly the seasoning, leaned towards the saltier side. While some may enjoy the bold flavors, I found it a bit overwhelming. I would suggest that the kitchen pays closer attention to balancing the salt content to ensure a more well-rounded dining experience. Despite this minor drawback, the overall quality of the dishes was commendable. The oysters, in particular, were fresh and presented beautifully. The menu also features a variety of seafood options, showcasing the chef's dedication to sourcing high-quality ingredients. In summary, Ferris Upstairs Oyster Bar offers an inviting atmosphere, attentive service, and a wide array of delightful drinks. It's the perfect place for an enjoyable evening out. While the food could benefit from a reduction in saltiness, the overall experience is still worth savoring.
Rae WongRae Wong
10
* A note on grades, I rate outwards from three stars * TL;DR : This is your dinner destination in Vic. A friend and I were in Victoria on family business and when we reached out to our network re: where to eat; the oyster bar at Ferris was the top recommendation from each of our trusted references. We actually already had dinner on night one, so we went over for local oysters and a nightcap. It was so delightful that we elected to do dinner the following night. The dinner was amazing. We sat at the bar for conversation and got to know some of the staff. They were invested and professional, which is a big plus for me. We discussed the menu and decided what might work for our party of two that evening. For a starter, we went with the Spanish, tinned mussels in paprika garlic oil with pickled veggies and French bread. If you haven't been to Portugal or Spain, canning seafood is an art form. Excellent and brilliantly presented (see photo). For a main, we both ordered appetizers. The trio of baked oysters for me and the seared scallops with pancetta and polenta for her. Both were very substantial and tasty. I'll say this: let those baked oysters cool down for a long time. The Rockefeller was the best, imo. We went with pairings for our courses, which were all excellent.
Rajeev DavéRajeev Davé
10
We decided to have a nice dinner and chose one of the best rated places in Victoria. So expectations were high. What we received: - oysters were warm and even dry. They were provided in seconds after our order. How long they stayed open? - pasta was perfectly prepared al dente, but the cheese, omg - it was not a cheese, it was some plastic bag. U can see it in pic; - the waitress was nice, but very in a hurry. She recommended a perfect local Pinot gri, but it was WARM: - we loved interior- very nicely done roofing, windows, walls, but PLEASE take away the so called art from the walls. Just small advise - less is more! - at the end we received a bill. It would be ok to pay such amount for Normal European restaurant. But, dear Canadian friends - European price goes with the quality of food. What we experienced today - was 1* Michelin restaurant price for regular American burger quality. Actually, yesterday we had a very good chorizo burger at Town square restaurant in Pemberton. That burgers quality was better than had to be ours on of the best dishes in Victoria. Overall, the restaurant is overrated.
Evaldas KlimasEvaldas Klimas
30
We almost missed it because the entrance is a hole in the wall but upstairs is a nice little place the fills up quick. They greeted us very nicely and within seconds we sat at the bar. We started with two old fashions and a dozen oysters. The drinks were well made and the oysters were clean fresh quality and completely shucked. The Arancine were good but not traditional but if you know anything about Sicily you will also understand that you either need to go to Sicily for the real ones or ask your grandmother to make them. Now for the mains, one was a seafood stew with muscles served with bread and it was very good. Very clean and fresh seafood served in a white wine based stew with garlic most definitely why it comes with the bread to dip in the broth we had to ask for more bread, top notch. the Halibut was over a of seafood and spinach. It had a clean mild tast and the fish was crisp on the edges yet flaky to my fork, my only observation is it was a little small but a good choice. Bottom line is this place does prepare good quality seafood that is obviously fresh.
VirgilioAlfredo SuazoVirgilioAlfredo Suazo
00
Nearby Attractions Of Ferris' Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar
Royal BC Museum
Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site
Bay Centre Shopping Centre
Miniature World
Victoria Bug Zoo
Inn at Laurel Point
Market Square
Victoria Public Market at the Hudson
Munro's Books
IMAX Victoria

Royal BC Museum
4.5
(4.3K)Click for details

Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site
4.3
(2.4K)Click for details

Bay Centre Shopping Centre
4.1
(2.2K)Click for details

Miniature World
4.6
(1.4K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Ferris' Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar
Red Fish Blue Fish
Bard & Banker
Irish Times Pub
Pagliacci's
II Terrazzo
John's Place Restaurant
Tacofino Victoria
Frankie's Modern Diner
Jam Cafe
The Sticky Wicket Bar & Restaurant

Red Fish Blue Fish
4.6
(2.5K)Click for details

Bard & Banker
4.4
(2.2K)Click for details

Irish Times Pub
4.5
(2.2K)Click for details

Pagliacci's
4.4
(2.1K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
536 A Yates St, Victoria, BC V8W 1K8, Canada
Map
Phone
+1 250-360-1824 ext. 1
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Website
ferrisoysterbar.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.4
(853 reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Set above a street-level grill, this quaint seafood spot offers a changing menu.
attractions: Royal BC Museum, Victoria’s Chinatown National Historic Site, Bay Centre Shopping Centre, Miniature World, Victoria Bug Zoo, Inn at Laurel Point, Market Square, Victoria Public Market at the Hudson, Munro's Books, IMAX Victoria, restaurants: Red Fish Blue Fish, Bard & Banker, Irish Times Pub, Pagliacci's, II Terrazzo, John's Place Restaurant, Tacofino Victoria, Frankie's Modern Diner, Jam Cafe, The Sticky Wicket Bar & Restaurant

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