Restaurants

Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery has seen much success with the extended service area program in Saanich. (Photo courtesy of Graeme Macaloney)

Saanich distillery owner calls extended patio a ‘godsend’ during pandemic

Saanich council opts to extend temporary expanded service areas until June 2022

Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery has seen much success with the extended service area program in Saanich. (Photo courtesy of Graeme Macaloney)
Blighty’s Bistro, pictured here from the inside, ready to open on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 14. Under new management for the last year and a half, Blighty’s was still able to generate considerable revenue despite having to temporarily reduce its seating to 50 per cent capacity. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

New management keeps Oak Bay bistro alive during pandemic

Blighty’s makes a name for itself as a perfect date and fine dining spot

Blighty’s Bistro, pictured here from the inside, ready to open on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 14. Under new management for the last year and a half, Blighty’s was still able to generate considerable revenue despite having to temporarily reduce its seating to 50 per cent capacity. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Destination Greater Victoria has used Stats Canada data to confirm Victoria as the Canadian city with the most restaurants, eateries, pubs and bars per capita. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria leads Canadian cities in restaurants, pubs, bars per capita

Victoria’s 4.6 hospitality businesses per 1,000 residents tops Vancouver, Niagara Falls: Stats Can

Destination Greater Victoria has used Stats Canada data to confirm Victoria as the Canadian city with the most restaurants, eateries, pubs and bars per capita. (Black Press Media file photo)
Destination Greater Victoria has used Stats Canada data to confirm Victoria as the Canadian city with the most restaurants, eateries, pubs and bars per capita. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria leads Canadian cities in restaurants, pubs, bars per capita

Victoria’s 4.6 hospitality businesses per 1,000 residents tops Vancouver, Niagara Falls: Stats Can

Destination Greater Victoria has used Stats Canada data to confirm Victoria as the Canadian city with the most restaurants, eateries, pubs and bars per capita. (Black Press Media file photo)
Street and sidewalk patios are officially OK until June 2022. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff).

Oak Bay peruses potential for permanent patios in public spaces

Current patio use on sidewalks and parking spaces has been extended to June 2022

Street and sidewalk patios are officially OK until June 2022. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff).
Victoria food service businesses such as John’s Place restaurant are still seeing patrons wearing masks, despite the lifting of mandatory mask restrictions in B.C. as part of the phase three reopening plan. (Facebook/John’s Place)

Many Victoria business patrons still masking up despite lift of provincial mandate

Phase three reopening plan saw change to mask rules, state of emergency declaration July 1

Victoria food service businesses such as John’s Place restaurant are still seeing patrons wearing masks, despite the lifting of mandatory mask restrictions in B.C. as part of the phase three reopening plan. (Facebook/John’s Place)
Blair Lebsack, owner of RGE RD restaurant, poses for a portrait in the dining room, in Edmonton, Friday, June 18, 2021. Canadian restaurants are having to find ways to deal with the rising cost of food. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Canadian restaurateurs grapple with rising food costs, menu prices expected to rise

Restaurants are a low margin industry, so there’s not a lot of room to work in additional costs

Blair Lebsack, owner of RGE RD restaurant, poses for a portrait in the dining room, in Edmonton, Friday, June 18, 2021. Canadian restaurants are having to find ways to deal with the rising cost of food. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
B.C. restaurants are slated to reopen to indoor dining for the first time in nearly a month Tuesday, May 25. (Unsplash)

B.C. restaurants gearing up to welcome patrons indoors Tuesday

‘Restrictions end at midnight Monday so service Tuesday will be wide open,’ says B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices president

B.C. restaurants are slated to reopen to indoor dining for the first time in nearly a month Tuesday, May 25. (Unsplash)
Bigfoot Donuts found a special way to honour the passing of a recent friend to many in the community, Wayne Bradley. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Courtenay doughnut shop serves up sweet tribute to a friend

Proceeds honouring Wayne Bradley will help support food security group

Bigfoot Donuts found a special way to honour the passing of a recent friend to many in the community, Wayne Bradley. Photo by Mike Chouinard
Tidal Café owners Blythe and Kurt Reimer (left) and Toscano’s head chef and general manager Tristan Taylor have been sharing deck space to help both businesses during the expanded COVID public health order restrictions that ban indoor dining. Photo by Terry Farrell

Neighbouring Comox restaurants share patios for mutual benefit

COVID restrictions have business rivals working together

Tidal Café owners Blythe and Kurt Reimer (left) and Toscano’s head chef and general manager Tristan Taylor have been sharing deck space to help both businesses during the expanded COVID public health order restrictions that ban indoor dining. Photo by Terry Farrell
Cynthia Cummings, decked out in tie-die at The Funky Food Truck in Royal Bay, Colwood. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)

Psychedelic food truck the next thing for veteran’s wife in Colwood

From tropical resort to thrift store and now a food truck, if Cynthia Cummings thinks it, she’ll do it

Cynthia Cummings, decked out in tie-die at The Funky Food Truck in Royal Bay, Colwood. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)
Ucluelet locals Rachael, Caroline and Tom enjoy refreshments on a sunny Monday afternoon at a picnic table dining area set up by the District of Ucluelet to help residents and visitors support local businesses while staying outside. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Ucluelet launches bingo contest to support local restaurants

Four Ucluelet Co-op shopping sprees are up for grabs in #Ukee2go competition.

Ucluelet locals Rachael, Caroline and Tom enjoy refreshments on a sunny Monday afternoon at a picnic table dining area set up by the District of Ucluelet to help residents and visitors support local businesses while staying outside. (Andrew Bailey photo)
(corduroy.kitsilano/Facebook)

‘Selfish, arrogant’: Industry association blasts B.C. restaurants defying public health orders

At least two Vancouver restaurants tried to stay open

(corduroy.kitsilano/Facebook)
Chairs and bar stools are stored at a pizza restaurant in Montreal, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. As restaurants across the country fight to survive, industry watchers say there is growing frustration over a lack of data that conclusively links restaurants to COVID-19 infections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Frustration grows amid restaurateurs over lack of data linking industry to COVID-19

B.C. is one of few jurisdictions allowing indoor dining in second wave

Chairs and bar stools are stored at a pizza restaurant in Montreal, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. As restaurants across the country fight to survive, industry watchers say there is growing frustration over a lack of data that conclusively links restaurants to COVID-19 infections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
The Qualicum Beach Cafe team: from left, host owner Eli Brennan, general manager Amy Turner, host owner/chef Alan Tse, chef de cuisine Todd Bright, sous chef Jack Mitchell and pastry chef/baker Noemie Girard. (Submitted photo)

Fresh start: Qualicum Beach Cafe set to offer West Coast dining

New operators bring wealth of culinary, hospitality experience

The Qualicum Beach Cafe team: from left, host owner Eli Brennan, general manager Amy Turner, host owner/chef Alan Tse, chef de cuisine Todd Bright, sous chef Jack Mitchell and pastry chef/baker Noemie Girard. (Submitted photo)
There are many options for enjoying a meal out locally during Dine Around and Stay in Town, on now through Feb. 7. (10 Acres Commons)

Dine Around Stay in Town Victoria carries added importance during pandemic

Special menu items for eat in or takeout/delivery, staycation deals available through Feb. 7

There are many options for enjoying a meal out locally during Dine Around and Stay in Town, on now through Feb. 7. (10 Acres Commons)
Tim Siebert, one half of the partnership behind Citrus & Cane, says opening the Douglas Street cocktail lounge during a pandemic had challenges, but the bar is ready to adapt to whatever comes next. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

New Victoria tropical cocktail lounge designed with COVID-19 safety in mind

Citrus & Cane opens in site of former Copper Owl after eight-month delay

Tim Siebert, one half of the partnership behind Citrus & Cane, says opening the Douglas Street cocktail lounge during a pandemic had challenges, but the bar is ready to adapt to whatever comes next. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
The Anonymous YVR is an Instagram page that reviews restaurants and other establishments around B.C. based on how well they adhere to COVID-19 rules. (Instagram)

Anonymous Instagram page reviews COVID-19 safety measures at B.C. businesses

There are a number of public health orders various types of establishments must follow to slow virus’s spread

The Anonymous YVR is an Instagram page that reviews restaurants and other establishments around B.C. based on how well they adhere to COVID-19 rules. (Instagram)
The City of Campbell River has looked into what more it can do to help local restaurants improve their outside offerings through this winter and into next year after receiving a letter from various organizations representing food and beverage businesses. Photo courtesy The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Campbell River grants extension to temporary expanded food service areas

City will also fast-track new permit applications from businesses who wish to expand operations

The City of Campbell River has looked into what more it can do to help local restaurants improve their outside offerings through this winter and into next year after receiving a letter from various organizations representing food and beverage businesses. Photo courtesy The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck
West Kelowna’s Kelly/Carlos O’Bryans. (Kelly O’Bryan’s West Kelowna Facebook photo)

‘We don’t make the rules’: Okanagan pub owner says staff harassed over pandemic precautions

‘If you have six people plus a baby, guess what? That’s seven’ - West Kelowna Kelly O’Bryan’s owner

West Kelowna’s Kelly/Carlos O’Bryans. (Kelly O’Bryan’s West Kelowna Facebook photo)