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The Empress Room
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
721 Government StVictoria, BC V8W 1W5
(250) 995-3615
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
7 reviews for The Empress Room
7 reviews in English
-
Review from Michael C.
3/4/2012
The Empress was fun. Victoria is beautiful and The Empress hotel, including the Tea Room encompasses all of what you'd expect from this historic harbor town.
The tea was fun. All of the food that arrived was great. They seemed to be a tad understaffed though.
Be careful if asking for extra sandwiches, we're not greedy, but it's custom to get a few more sarnies in during a delightful afternoon tea. When we asked, it seemed to come as a shock to our wonderful tea spilling waitress.
What really made things nice was the goodie bag we were given when we left. It was full of delicious tea and the cakes we didn't finish.
Would go back. -
Review from Sean C.
3/28/2012
If you don't do this at least once in your life, you're not really part of the Elite.
-
Review from AJ M.
5/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Flexibility: THEY WERE AWESOME.
We fell asleep and our expected wake up call never arrived in our hotel room. I called the restaurant and the hostess worked us in to a later time slot.
Luck: We were actually seated at the same table we had sat at 18 years before. Right next to the fire place.
Ambience: Richly, romantic, nice.
Wait staff: Friendly, welcoming, polite, patient and informative.
Food: I tried duck for the first time. I have to say it was marvelous. I am a simple meat-and-potatoes guy.
Soda: It was delivered in a can with a glass of ice. A little shocking and extremely costly.
Cost: Cost vs Value. When you hear, 'You're paying for the memory' we all know that means it cost alot. Sometimes too much.
If you are going to have a meal (dinner) with out alcoholic beverages you should escape under $200. But if you add a few drinks, wow, bring your American Express. (ok, to be fair, or your Diners Club Card, Discover Card, MasterCard, or Visa and anyone else I may have missed.)
It was worth it for us. This will be a great memory. I would even say, if you are in a relationship, then this is a great, at-least-once, place to try. -
Review from Mike L.
12/9/2009
We decided to have breakfast at the Empress during our last stay. After wandering around outside trying to find an entrance, then inside trying to find this dining room, we were seated in a handsome, very high ceilinged room loaded with dark wood, dark wall coverings, and dark tables and chairs. The room was quite well lighted and as it was pre-Christmas it was bright with decorations.
So the coffee was excellent, the food was all good and fresh, and our waitress was helpful and friendly. There are plenty of nice touches here of course. Things like a little pre-meal muffin, huge glasses of fruit juice, and quality jams and jellies. (I didn't request Marmite.) And, of course, it wasn't cheap. But all in all I'd recommend it as a must-visit while in Victoria. We've not had the afternoon tea there but have heard how good it is many times. -
Review from David C.
Victoria, BC
5/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
First night of the summer menu. Oysters were yummy, beef tenderloin you could almost cut with a fork and a wholly satisfying single malt to cap it all off. To make it ALL worthwhile, our server (Mark) and the mait're d' (Renée) made our 6 year old feel very special and very welcome. Kudos to all!
-
Review from Rose B.
3/29/2010
We ate here in the evening of Boxing day (Dec 26th) since they were packed on Christmas night. I remember when we tried to get a table the night before, we said something like "maybe you will have a cancellation". They were pretty put off by that "You don't understand, this is the Empress room and it's Christmas, there will not be any cancellations". Well despite their hoighty toity attitude we made reservations for the next night.
The next night, not nearly as busy. Despite that the hostess kept us talking out front for a few minutes while out table was readied (the restaurant was less than half full). The service I thought was mediocre. The hostess chatted with us again while we were sitting at the table, a little too long I thought but maybe that is because I had to twist my head around like Linda Blair to politely acknowledge her attention.
Well I have these allergies so it's not always easy for me to eat out. They had gluten free bread for me (instead of regular dinner rolls), which is really wonderful. Even coming from Seattle I am not used to that. I told them I probably could not have the mashed potatoes unless they could make some with broth or soy milk (because of the dairy). They said "we will make a substitution for you". I thought they would come back and ask me if such and such was okay but they did not. In fact I didn't see much of our waiter at all. When my food was brought out by who I think was the bus boy (lamb chops w/mint) there were veggies on the plate that I did not recognize, which is pretty unusual given I am in the business of encouraging people to eat their veggies.
So my fault, I didn't go through all of my allergies when I ordered. My second mistake was to just eat what was put in front of me. Even after tasting them I could not figure out what the veggies were although the lamb chops were superb. No one asked us "is everything okay" after a few bites which should be standard in a place like this (remember "this is the Empress room" from the night before??) If they had I would have asked what was on my plate. Anyway, when the waiter finally came after we were done eating I asked him and he replied "I don't know, I didn't bring your plate", not "I don't know but let me find out" or anything similar.
With coffee they brought out a nice plate of complimentary chocolate and strawberries, let me tell you those berries must have been ordered for the Queen mother because it was splendid as was the chocolate. During coffee time I managed to flag the bus boy who went to the kitchen and found out that the three vegetables on my plate where yellow carrots (I guessed zucchini), red beet (I had no clue since it was cut to be long and thin, totally disguised) and blue potatoes. I am allergic to carrots and beets, and would have never eaten them had I known. I did get a little sick the next few days. Of course that somewhat cancelled out the gluten free bread.
Sorry this is long, my boyfriend dropped at least a hundred bucks in this place so I couldn't complain to him. I was not impressed by this place. -
Review from Katie H.
4/4/2011
Soooo....one time experience is enough, there are way better places to eat and not drop a car payment on! Our 10yr anniversary dinner and decided this was the place to celebrate it! Booked reservations then the king and queen table for added privacy as well as special attention from the executive chef. Well, the executive chef just took another job so we got the sioux chef, the dinner was ok but the wine and service were great. The dessert was sub par and the house made muffins were over salted. All in all it was a pleasant experience considering we just got engaged that day and nothing could really dampen how we were feeling. Won't be coming back since 400$ on dinner is not on the menu for a 3-star experience.
