Steve's Poké Bar — Restaurant in Victoria

Review edited Aug 7, 2024 to update accessibility & kids friendliness info.

Original review: Dec 2023

I came to check this place out after my trusty team lead at work mentioned of wanting to try this place and I assured him that I will be his intel and scope the place out 🤣

Well, this place does not disappoint and one of the two staff members was very outgoing and talked highly about the company and allowed me to sample the sauces and type of protein prior to my order. She checked before sampling if I had any food allergies and told me the choices available. Their specialized in-house drink tastes really good and I am glad the place has a healthy beverage to offer.

The ingredients tastes fresh and you can tell even before their grand opening (I was told I walked into their soft opening) they are doing very well with food delivery services buzzing in and out as well as lots of walk-in takeouts. I've always been more of a person who if not in a massive hurry like to take my time to sit and reflect. Well, this place allows it with good music, plenty of good lighting and floor to near ceiling windows to allow a full view of people watching.

The chain is all over the Lower Mainland; this location and the one on Millstream are the two new locations on the Island. I wish the chain well on their success and hope slowly they will consider reaching up island too as I know some work peers from my remote temp job that I had who would like a place like this in...

I don't like making bad reviews so I will keep it short. I ordered Steve's Poke through Skip The Dishes (an online delivery app). I ordered the large bowl with 3 scoops of assorted fishes with most of the add-ons totaling to about $26 for a single bowl.

In the end, the dish arrived by the delivery driver and the rice that the fish and toppings were placed on was hard, stale, weirdly crunchy and overall just obviously very old rice that had not been cooked recently. For 26 dollars I'd expect that a restaurant would at least take the base components of the dish seriously enough for it's customers. I mean... its rice! Rice is reasonably cheap, and even if you toss it, it doesn't cost that much. I cook a lot of rice at home and know this. You'd think a restaurant would just cook it regularly, but unfortunately Steve's Poke in Victoria did not.

You'd think I'm over-reacting until you realize that most Poke is toppings on a bed of rice. If you ordered a pizza and the bread (crust) was hard, stale and obviously old, you would be annoyed too.

Anyway, as a long time Poke lover, I can't recommend Steve's Poke. I'd point out positives but the rice being old and stale for 26 dollars annoyed me enough to not even enjoy the dish. Having to eat the toppings and then having to ignore 50% of the dish because it was inedible is very...

EDIT: decided it was necessary to bring this review down to a 3 star from my recent visit. Placed an order via the app and went to pick it up, left and realised when I got home that there was NO POKE in my Poke bowl! Had to drive back to ask for it, ridiculous. Will not recommend using the online ordering app, will stick to going in person from now on. Photo added is from this edit.

No photos because we forgot (it was too good and was devoured too quickly). There's a reason why this place is Vancouvers best poke bar, soon it would be Victorias! The poke was so fresh and generous amounts of toppings and sauce!!! The Hawaiian ice tea was so good and refreshing, there's an option to add a pump of cane sugar for those who have a sweet tooth! The girl who served us was amazing too, she kept making sure that she got the right things and making sure that we don't have any allergies, never had someone this nice and accommodating at a poke place before! Absolutely loved it! Cant wait to come back and try their Hawaiian chilli (it was sold out when we visit, sad) as well as other...