John's Place Restaurant — Restaurant in Victoria

Our hostess was great and sat us quickly, but sadly, that was the best part of my experience this morning. I received a drink order I didn't ask for and half of the ingredients I requested for my omelette were missing. The pan fries were far too large, meaning they came out burnt on the outside and firm in the centre. One of the bathrooms looked like a bomb hit it with water all over the floor complimented by scraps of mushy toilet paper. The best part was finding feces smeared on the seat. I quickly understood why the other single occupancy bathroom had a line.

We requested our bill a couple of times from passing staff as our waitress was a bit busy chatting with a table of four, and were told to wait for her. After maybe ten minutes, I politely caught her attention as she was passing by our table and requested our bills. The next thing I know, she ran her hand down the length of my arm, patted my wrist, and in a condescending tone, said "sure, hon". I've worked in the service industry for over 15 years, and I firmly believe customers don't touch staff, and vice versa. There might be exceptions if it's a regular or someone you're friendly with, but this woman is a stranger to me, and I do have issues with being touched by strangers.

We got our bills, and when I received mine, I noticed I had been charged for a drink with double espresso shot. I explained I had actually ordered a different drink of the same price, but a single shot, but she again became defensive, and said "well, ya got a double, but whatever. I'll take fifty cents off the bill for you." In a rather dismissive, and impatient tone.

I wish I could give a better review, but this place feels more like a tourist trap than anything. I will say I enjoyed the pictures on the wall and the building had a great nostalgic feeling. The large windows are especially beautiful, but that's about the most positive...

The interior looked funky/cool, although it was very loud. The service left a bit to be desired, but I wonder if they may have been understaffed or too busy. I think the lady was trying her best to handle the rush although she came across as passive aggressive... I liked the lavender latte, although I’d recommend they add vanilla syrup when making the whipped cream as the whipped cream was bland. I thought the bennies looked good and was originally wanting to order that, but I was excited to see one of their brunch specials on the menu and decided to order that. I had the pork and fig jam frittata which turned out to be more of an overcooked omelette than an actual frittata. As someone who likes fig jam, the fig jam they used was really gross (I suspect it’s the one from Costco which I don’t like in general, and which has vanilla in it – which was a poor compliment to the rest of the flavours on the plate). If the balsamic glaze was the one from Costco, I’m not a fan of that one either. The sourdough toast was not real sourdough, but cheap white sandwich bread. The street outside reeks of urine and the smell is so strong that you can smell it in the restaurant. Between the strange flavours and smells, my stomach is still feeling unwell hours later. In theory, I’d be willing to give the bennies a try (as I heard the hollandaise sauce is quite good), but I don’t think I can stomach another meal there due to the noise and the strong...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at John's Place Restaurant in Victoria, and it was an outstanding experience. The atmosphere is really cool, perfect for friendly meetings and casual dining. The restaurant is quite popular, especially on weekends, so be prepared for a wait or make a reservation in advance. The food was absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of dishes available for breakfast. The menu had a great selection of classic breakfast items as well as some creative and unique options. Everything I ordered was expertly prepared and presented, with plenty of fresh ingredients and bold flavors. I particularly enjoyed the eggs benedict, which were cooked to perfection and served with a rich and creamy hollandaise sauce. The pancakes were also a standout, with a fluffy texture and a nice hint of vanilla. The home fries were crispy and well-seasoned, making them the perfect complement to my meal. The service was also top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff who were more than happy to help with menu suggestions and make sure that we had everything we needed. The prices were also very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the food. All in all, I highly recommend John's Place Restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious and satisfying breakfast experience in Victoria. It's definitely one of the best breakfast places in town and a must-visit spot for anyone looking to start their day off on...