I was there for the Halloween special. The five course menu was delightful, a classy spooky atmosphere with background music. The service was also very nice, the waitress who I had the pleasure to meet was very attentive and knowledgeable. I had a great experience and would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gladwin Antony
Had a great time . Very friendly staff, Great atmosphere and Food. Definitely a must try place. 😍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steph Pedneault
Had such a great experience. The food was amazing and Fernando our server was awesome. He was super warm, enthusiastic, and fun and did such a sweet job of guiding us through the menu giving us solid recommendations that we loved. A super memorable experience and we look forward to coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elliot Poole
The food was great and we really enjoyed our meal but the service was absolutely terrible and I can't imagine ever eating there again for that reason. I'd sooner tell people that want to go there, to just order their food off an app.
I'm not sure if we were there on a really bad day or what, but it was the worst service i've recieved while eating out in Victoria. When we first arrived for our reservation, we were seated quickly, so no problems there but everything after that was ridiculous. We were seated at our table for 30 minutes before anyone came to get a drink order. Not the end of the world, especially during a Saturday dinner rush, and when the server arrived they were very nice and did a great job of explaining the menu. But then shortly after our drinks arrived and we had placed our food order, the waitstaff (not even our original waitress) asked if we could kindly move seats because they had booked a larger group that could be placed more easily in our section. At this point, we were a little bit annoyed, but again, not the end of the world. These things happen.
But that would be the last we would see of either waitstaff for the next hour and a half. I saw our waitress check in with the table to the left and right of us several times, and then eye the food on our table briefly while completely ignoring us. In addition, we overheard at one of the tables next to us that they were served a dish they didn't order by accident, so the waitstaff said it was theirs to have and wouldn't be on the bill. Meanwhile we're sitting in a corner, having moved tables in the middle of our reservation, being completely ignored, and now waiting over half an hour for the bill and a to-go container, with not so much as a sorry for the inconvenience.
You would think that if you're already inconveniencing some guests, you'd make a point to be more attentive to that table, regardless of how busy it was. We had come in to Malabar excited and had left feeling very disrespected and disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Sean French
Wonderful Halloween birthday dinner. Set 5 course menu with wine pairing. Our party of six really enjoyed our experience here. Staff went above and beyond to create a delicious memorable meal with fantastic presentation as well. The wines were all from B.C. and paired very well with the food. Will definitely come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
M G
Edit Oct '25: Tried their Hallowe'en Tasting menu today and will say I'm satisfied. There were a few misses here and there with the service, like forgetting cutlery or getting multiple courses together (they're clearly not used to the tasting menu setup :D ), though it wasn't a negative. The lentil cracker canapé at the start really set the tone for the evening as it was bursting with flavour; yet I did notice some aged tartiness maybe because it was left outside for quite long. Still loved it! The following 2 courses which was the quail soup and beet tartare were just alright, not bad, but not that impressionable either. Still I enjoyed the roll that came with it which was quite eccentric. The main dish with the halibut 2 ways with creamy rice was one of the best things I've had in a very long time, such amazing flavours OMG! The palate cleansers were just as good. Lastly, the dessert was simply out of this world. Having been to so many high end places I'm surprised this was my first time (or the first time I noticed) trying granita! The main+dessert together would easily fall in the best restaurant category. The only suggestion I'd give is to de-bone the fish completely before serving, plus the cook on the fish needed a tad more refinement. A bit more finesse and it would certainly secure a place in the Michelin guide, and maybe even win a star, if it ever became a thing in Victoria.
Even though I'm from India, just reading the menu online caught me off guard. Could not grasp anything...like almost never of multiple dishes until today. It explains how vast and multicultural Indian cuisine is, it's hard to keep track :D. This restaurant proves Indian cuisine is more than just naan and butter chicken. Trying Keralite cuisine was a delightful experience to say the least. I don't think I've had such ordinary, rustic dishes - fish curry (Molle) and chicken puttu ,in a restaurant before. It had the Indian countryside vibes, almost felt like notes of nature translated into food. Yes, it is still restaurant food with a few tones of added zest, quite unnecessary, but it's what enhances and makes the food tastier. Still, the closest it can get to experiencing authentic Indian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jon Trofymow
Absolutely terrific experience. Food was great, service was wonderful, can't wait to be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
GLENN VELHO
I had the pleasure of stopping in victoria bc and stopped to eat at Malabar Cafe... The food is phenomenal...chef Kiran and chef karma do an amazing job ... the presentation of their food and the flavours of all their dishes are unique and finger licking delicious .if you are looking for south Indian food with a twist, I would highly recommend visiting Cafe Malabar...you definitely will not be disappointed.. Will be back to dine at this place the next time I visit Victoria... Keep up the amazing job you do .. Glenn Velho
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Louise Tuck
Believe the hype.. the food here will absolutely blow your mind!! The fact that the chef was winning awards while they were just a stall at the market should tell you everything. The flavours were impeccable, service was super friendly and we got an explanation of each dish, beautiful waterfront location too. This is a must try if you’re in Victoria!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marion B
We just enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Cafe Malabar. The wait staff are attentive, and the food was delicious, perfectly spiced, well proportioned and fairly priced. While it's too cold to sit outside, this place has a beautiful patio that would be great the summer. Will definitely be back!
Incredible food and great service. Came here for lunch and it was easily one of the best meals we’ve had in BC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kuheli Chakraborty
Loved every bit of our experience. Lovely food for sure ❤️❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
shelly logan
This was one of the best meals I’ve had anywhere!!! Four of us each chose a dish and shared, family style. Each meal was beautifully aromatic, had its own blend of spices and so much flavour! We will all be back! If you want to experience an incomparable meal you must eat here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cassidy Towers
Amazing food, super informed servers and great cocktails
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Irene Pozzolo
Not your standard South Asian fare - what a fantastic new food experience. Unique dishes, perfect spice, and enough variety for everyone. They catered to our large group beautifully and navigated food restrictions respectfully. A must for local foodies.
I was there for the Halloween special. The five course menu was delightful, a classy spooky atmosphere with background music. The service was also very nice, the waitress who I had the pleasure to meet was very attentive and knowledgeable. I had a great experience and would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a great time . Very friendly staff, Great atmosphere and Food. Definitely a must try place. 😍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had such a great experience. The food was amazing and Fernando our server was awesome. He was super warm, enthusiastic, and fun and did such a sweet job of guiding us through the menu giving us solid recommendations that we loved. A super memorable experience and we look forward to coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was great and we really enjoyed our meal but the service was absolutely terrible and I can't imagine ever eating there again for that reason. I'd sooner tell people that want to go there, to just order their food off an app.
I'm not sure if we were there on a really bad day or what, but it was the worst service i've recieved while eating out in Victoria. When we first arrived for our reservation, we were seated quickly, so no problems there but everything after that was ridiculous. We were seated at our table for 30 minutes before anyone came to get a drink order. Not the end of the world, especially during a Saturday dinner rush, and when the server arrived they were very nice and did a great job of explaining the menu. But then shortly after our drinks arrived and we had placed our food order, the waitstaff (not even our original waitress) asked if we could kindly move seats because they had booked a larger group that could be placed more easily in our section. At this point, we were a little bit annoyed, but again, not the end of the world. These things happen.
But that would be the last we would see of either waitstaff for the next hour and a half. I saw our waitress check in with the table to the left and right of us several times, and then eye the food on our table briefly while completely ignoring us. In addition, we overheard at one of the tables next to us that they were served a dish they didn't order by accident, so the waitstaff said it was theirs to have and wouldn't be on the bill. Meanwhile we're sitting in a corner, having moved tables in the middle of our reservation, being completely ignored, and now waiting over half an hour for the bill and a to-go container, with not so much as a sorry for the inconvenience.
You would think that if you're already inconveniencing some guests, you'd make a point to be more attentive to that table, regardless of how busy it was. We had come in to Malabar excited and had left feeling very disrespected and disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Wonderful Halloween birthday dinner. Set 5 course menu with wine pairing. Our party of six really enjoyed our experience here. Staff went above and beyond to create a delicious memorable meal with fantastic presentation as well. The wines were all from B.C. and paired very well with the food. Will definitely come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Edit Oct '25: Tried their Hallowe'en Tasting menu today and will say I'm satisfied. There were a few misses here and there with the service, like forgetting cutlery or getting multiple courses together (they're clearly not used to the tasting menu setup :D ), though it wasn't a negative. The lentil cracker canapé at the start really set the tone for the evening as it was bursting with flavour; yet I did notice some aged tartiness maybe because it was left outside for quite long. Still loved it! The following 2 courses which was the quail soup and beet tartare were just alright, not bad, but not that impressionable either. Still I enjoyed the roll that came with it which was quite eccentric.
The main dish with the halibut 2 ways with creamy rice was one of the best things I've had in a very long time, such amazing flavours OMG! The palate cleansers were just as good. Lastly, the dessert was simply out of this world. Having been to so many high end places I'm surprised this was my first time (or the first time I noticed) trying granita! The main+dessert together would easily fall in the best restaurant category. The only suggestion I'd give is to de-bone the fish completely before serving, plus the cook on the fish needed a tad more refinement. A bit more finesse and it would certainly secure a place in the Michelin guide, and maybe even win a star, if it ever became a thing in Victoria.
Even though I'm from India, just reading the menu online caught me off guard. Could not grasp anything...like almost never of multiple dishes until today. It explains how vast and multicultural Indian cuisine is, it's hard to keep track :D. This restaurant proves Indian cuisine is more than just naan and butter chicken. Trying Keralite cuisine was a delightful experience to say the least. I don't think I've had such ordinary, rustic dishes - fish curry (Molle) and chicken puttu ,in a restaurant before. It had the Indian countryside vibes, almost felt like notes of nature translated into food.
Yes, it is still restaurant food with a few tones of added zest, quite unnecessary, but it's what enhances and makes the food tastier.
Still, the closest it can get to experiencing authentic Indian food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely terrific experience. Food was great, service was wonderful, can't wait to be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the pleasure of stopping in victoria bc and stopped to eat at Malabar Cafe...
The food is phenomenal...chef Kiran and chef karma do an amazing job ... the presentation of their food and the flavours of all their dishes are unique and finger licking delicious .if you are looking for south Indian food with a twist, I would highly recommend visiting Cafe Malabar...you definitely will not be disappointed..
Will be back to dine at this place the next time I visit Victoria...
Keep up the amazing job you do ..
Glenn Velho
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Believe the hype.. the food here will absolutely blow your mind!! The fact that the chef was winning awards while they were just a stall at the market should tell you everything. The flavours were impeccable, service was super friendly and we got an explanation of each dish, beautiful waterfront location too. This is a must try if you’re in Victoria!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We just enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Cafe Malabar. The wait staff are attentive, and the food was delicious, perfectly spiced, well proportioned and fairly priced. While it's too cold to sit outside, this place has a beautiful patio that would be great the summer. Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Incredible food and great service. Came here for lunch and it was easily one of the best meals we’ve had in BC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved every bit of our experience. Lovely food for sure ❤️❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was one of the best meals I’ve had anywhere!!! Four of us each chose a dish and shared, family style. Each meal was beautifully aromatic, had its own blend of spices and so much flavour! We will all be back! If you want to experience an incomparable meal you must eat here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food, super informed servers and great cocktails
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not your standard South Asian fare - what a fantastic new food experience. Unique dishes, perfect spice, and enough variety for everyone. They catered to our large group beautifully and navigated food restrictions respectfully. A must for local foodies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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