Finn's Seafood Chops Cocktails — Restaurant in Victoria

This place is awesome and truly deserving of the 5 stars, I'd do more if I could. From the time I arrived I was well taken care of. I'd had a mixup with my party and thought they had arrived before me, the hostess graciously toured me around the entire restaurant which is no small task given there are 3 levels, multiple areas on each level and 3 patio sections. We didn't find my party in any of them but the Hostess took me back to the front of the restaurant to set me up with a table, my party luckily arrived just as we got back to the Host desk. She was all smiles and very gracious through it all.

Our server was equally gracious and awesome and guided us expertly on GF options on the menu. My drink was never empty, she perfectly picked her times to interject for orders and made suggestions with great familiarity with the food.

Appies - Oysters were gorgeous, fresh, sweet and a little creamy. The Mussels somehow outdid them with a garlic, white wine butter sauce, order extra bread to mop it up or just drink the sauce it's splendid.

Mains - the Dungeness crab was an experience, perfectly prepped and cooked. The sablefish had beautifully crispy skin and our friends steak was juicy, tender, well seasoned.

Drinks - the martinis seemed to be a hit with my friends and as a former drinker I can say they looked great. I tried the elderflower non alcoholic cocktail and very much enjoyed it.

Unfortunately we did not have room for deserts but I also don't feel it was a loss because the seafood here is so excellent and such a treat in and of itself.

Atmosphere - there is a certain kind of ringing that happens between conversations, cutlery, glassware and eating that is part of all dining experiences. This place has a pleasant ring to it, they engineered the sound of the space expertly and it is always there, a laugh from a good joke, the click of a shutter from friends taking pictures, some things rise slightly above the ring to let you know the people around you are enjoying themselves. That was the experience, there is no dissonant noise, no sharp clatter of plates cutting from the far end of the bar, just the constant ringing. Low enough it doesn't grab or direct your attention away from your conversation, high enough that it sets you at ease. I am in awe of the sound engineering that is present in this place and its easily one of the most impressive accomplishments of any restaurant. And yes, yes, of course aesthetically it's beautiful as well, looking over the harbor, white table cloths on dark woods and iron a truly modern...

Yesterday my husband and I visited Finn's for lunch as part of my birthday weekend.

Let me start with the good stuff. OMG!!!!!! That Shrimp Taco with pineapple was amazing. Since I've moved to Canada, I very rarely enjoy something that really blows my mind, in most of the "pub like" or "steakhouse" type of places. This was truly amazing flavours put together 10/10. Crab legs to die for! Cooked perfectly :D 10/10

The lobster was a bit over cooked, it's quite an expensive dish to have over cooked. 7/10

Service : 8/10 (could have been 10/10 without the hostess that was on shift) Lastly, I am really not sure how to feel about this. It left a very bad taste. Obviously. A young blonde woman was our hostess, she didn't ask us anything when we said "table for two" walked us straight to the bar lounge part of the restaurant (3pm) and seated us right by the door way on a bar height table which was sooooo tiny, one can barely have a drink on this table. The restaurant's dinner section was EMPTY. The backside sunroom dinner side was also pretty empty, yet she picked this tiny table for us right at the door. We asked our server to move us somewhere with a bigger table. He had to speak with the same hostess again. And she comes back in and says "so you want a dinner table!?" and then leads us to the back sunroom (we told the server table with view would be great), then seats us in the corner with the smallest fing table again. Right next to the server's tableware shelves. There were about 3 other tables (4 seaters but come on the restaurant was empty) and she chooses to place us in this dump of a corner. I didn't want to throw a fuss to someone who already has been asked for a better table once and yet does this. She was just so odd, so impersonal, while walking us to the second table she was on with some fake small talk, and totally disinterested in what we actually said. I don't know what her deal was, but my goodness it felt so f*ing discriminatory. How could we not, we were very casually dressed (since we had been road tripping), hate to bring up the race thing too, but that's the thing, this was so bizarre. At one point we thought she gave us that corner one because the other 2 seater was having a leak from the ceiling but there was a another 4 seater! so!?!? Anyway. The food was great, and our server was so amazing and sweet. The hostess can't take...

I don't really venture into seafood restaurants because I typically find that the wallet is crying after a visit, but we received a gift card for a present. Hubby and I were happy to go, as it usually would take a special occasion to go to Finn's.

Definitely met my expectations: From the menu pricing, taste of the food, service, and atmosphere.

Because it's a seafood and chop restaurant, the prices may be a bit more than usual, but having the garlic Flatbread for an appy, the trout, and my husband having the seafood linguini, the quality was noticeable.

I quite like trout, so I appreciated the flavours that came out with the whipped potatoes and puree with the dish. It looked deceiving, but a mound of potatoes was hiding under that portion of fish. My husband was happy with his linguini, which was nicely adorned with seafood. He mentioned it was flavourful and satisfying, preferring this dish to the other seafood pasta he had at a different restaurant. The Flatbread was nice and pillowy for myself, as I enjoy a chewier texture instead of a strong crisp to the bread. It was nothing too complicated, but as an afterthought, might be a little salty for someone watching their sodium(I myself liked the salt). The dip was nice, although I'm sure other dips would have gone well with the bread as well. My amateur self is convinced that the seafood shines through the dishes, executed in a way that is not overly complicating our dishes' flavour or textures.

I didn't get to visit the bathroom to check how are things in there, but maybe next time.

Overall the service was quick, we didn't feel ignored for too long, the servers, hosts, and general staff never failed to greet us at least once when we were seated, entering, or leaving the restaurant. We felt valued for our visit and I am confident to say that I will be back again. Highly recommend...