A really enjoyable evening with delicious food, authenic to Kerala in Southern India, Emphasis on fresh fish and local seafood flavoured with Indian spices. The music sound system was not functioning that night, which was okay by us! Normally it would be playing, so on another occassion there is bound to be a mix of Indian music and Pop. A real find and in the summer a lovely patio. We'll be back!
Don
The Cafe Malabar has won a raft of awards lately, and based on our experience, it deserves every one -- and more. Simply put, between the fantastic food (different enough to be intriguing but with local ingredients and approachable flavours), the best service ever (thanks not only to our terriffic waiter, but also to the co-owner and one of the chefs for their personal attention), and an atmosphere relaxed enough to be enjoyable but formal enough to make the experience special, the whole evening was a blast. Don't assume this is just another Indian restaurant. The flavours, ambience and chefs and hosts are steeped in Keralan culture and cuisine, a distinct region know for its progressive policies, beautiful scentery and fabulous food. And like Kerala itself, The Cafe Malabar is a place of its own, exceptional in every way.
Marion
Really enjoyed our evening at Malabar cafe. Food was innovative , well prepared and delicious. Service was excellent. Thank you ❤️
Katrina
What a great experience right as you walk in the door. The lady that showed us to our table was very friendly and gave us a great little intro as to what to expect. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and all around pleasant. The food is phenomenal, nice size portions easy to share so you can try a few things.
Michelle
Very unique dining experience, with many interesting and new dishes to try from Southern India. The waitress was very helpful when ordering sides dishes to go with our main dishes. Would highly recommend for diners who want something different.
Jane
Flavours good, too bad the menu is sparse. Would have enjoyed a few shared plates. Menu had mistakes, such as identical items on two cocktails with different descriptions. Service needs improving, maybe short-staffed.
Valerie
I've eaten here many times. It's one of my two favorite restaurants in Victoria. Last night, they managed to impress my friends from Brooklyn, NY.
David
Our dinner at Cafe Malabar was outstanding ! From a cheery welcoming arrival to a very lovely friendly server , we e joyed everything about this very nice quite casual but delightful setting. The lamb Biriani was my highlight !
Michele
We went to Cafe Malabar for the first time on New Year's Eve. Two of us had the regular set menu and one had the vegetarian. All of us were wowed by the innovative menu items, creative presentation and depth of flavour! The service staff were all knowledgeable and friendly. We will definitely return. The only piece of feedback I would give is to dim the lights facing the wall where the banquettes are. Thank you CM for helping us to start 2026 in a great way!
Jon
This is such a good restaurant. Excellent food and drinks. Great service. The whole experience was great. Congratulations to the team. Highly recommend.
The service was outstanding: from the moment you came through the door you felt welcomed and taken care of. The food was exceptional: beautifully spiced and flavourful. I appreciated the thoughtful recommendations about the food so that my dining experience was perfect. Bravo to the entire team!
Perry
Great South Indian food. Tasty and very well presented. Great location. Will go again shortly.
Rohit
Top notch! Best Kerala food we have had in North America!! We went for the Christmas meal and it was delicious.
Farah
Arguably the best Keralan food I've had in BC and the best Indian restaurant in Victoria. Always a great experience - extremely good food, exceptional service and lovely ambience. We always bring friends when they visit from out of town, and its always a hit.
Dana
The food was excellent, the service was friendly, helpful and attentive. Lots of variety and great options for the vegan person in our party. Will definitely be back.
A really enjoyable evening with delicious food, authenic to Kerala in Southern India, Emphasis on fresh fish and local seafood flavoured with Indian spices. The music sound system was not functioning that night, which was okay by us! Normally it would be playing, so on another occassion there is bound to be a mix of Indian music and Pop. A real find and in the summer a lovely patio. We'll be back!
The Cafe Malabar has won a raft of awards lately, and based on our experience, it deserves every one -- and more. Simply put, between the fantastic food (different enough to be intriguing but with local ingredients and approachable flavours), the best service ever (thanks not only to our terriffic waiter, but also to the co-owner and one of the chefs for their personal attention), and an atmosphere relaxed enough to be enjoyable but formal enough to make the experience special, the whole evening was a blast. Don't assume this is just another Indian restaurant. The flavours, ambience and chefs and hosts are steeped in Keralan culture and cuisine, a distinct region know for its progressive policies, beautiful scentery and fabulous food. And like Kerala itself, The Cafe Malabar is a place of its own, exceptional in every way.
Really enjoyed our evening at Malabar cafe. Food was innovative , well prepared and delicious. Service was excellent. Thank you ❤️
What a great experience right as you walk in the door. The lady that showed us to our table was very friendly and gave us a great little intro as to what to expect. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and all around pleasant. The food is phenomenal, nice size portions easy to share so you can try a few things.
Very unique dining experience, with many interesting and new dishes to try from Southern India. The waitress was very helpful when ordering sides dishes to go with our main dishes. Would highly recommend for diners who want something different.
Flavours good, too bad the menu is sparse. Would have enjoyed a few shared plates. Menu had mistakes, such as identical items on two cocktails with different descriptions. Service needs improving, maybe short-staffed.
I've eaten here many times. It's one of my two favorite restaurants in Victoria. Last night, they managed to impress my friends from Brooklyn, NY.
Our dinner at Cafe Malabar was outstanding ! From a cheery welcoming arrival to a very lovely friendly server , we e joyed everything about this very nice quite casual but delightful setting. The lamb Biriani was my highlight !
We went to Cafe Malabar for the first time on New Year's Eve. Two of us had the regular set menu and one had the vegetarian. All of us were wowed by the innovative menu items, creative presentation and depth of flavour! The service staff were all knowledgeable and friendly. We will definitely return. The only piece of feedback I would give is to dim the lights facing the wall where the banquettes are. Thank you CM for helping us to start 2026 in a great way!
This is such a good restaurant. Excellent food and drinks. Great service. The whole experience was great. Congratulations to the team. Highly recommend.
Restaurantji Recommends
The service was outstanding: from the moment you came through the door you felt welcomed and taken care of. The food was exceptional: beautifully spiced and flavourful. I appreciated the thoughtful recommendations about the food so that my dining experience was perfect. Bravo to the entire team!
Great South Indian food. Tasty and very well presented. Great location. Will go again shortly.
Top notch! Best Kerala food we have had in North America!! We went for the Christmas meal and it was delicious.
Arguably the best Keralan food I've had in BC and the best Indian restaurant in Victoria. Always a great experience - extremely good food, exceptional service and lovely ambience. We always bring friends when they visit from out of town, and its always a hit.
The food was excellent, the service was friendly, helpful and attentive. Lots of variety and great options for the vegan person in our party. Will definitely be back.
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