I recently visited Dunlop House and had a genuinely enjoyable dining experience. The atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable, and the staff provided friendly, attentive service. It's clear that the team is still learning, and while the service was very good overall, there were small moments that reminded me this is a training environment. In a regular restaurant setting, I might have expected a bit more polish, but given the context, the students did an admirable job and showed great potential. The highlight of the meal was the duck. It was perfectly prepared—so tender it literally fell off the bone. The flavour was rich, well-balanced, and beautifully executed. It's the kind of dish you remember long after the meal is over, and it truly showcased the skill being developed in the kitchen. I found the prices slightly higher than I anticipated, but still completely reasonable for the quality of the food and the overall experience. Considering the craftsmanship of the dishes and the learning environment, the value felt fair. Overall, Dunlop House delivered an outstanding experience. The combination of warm service, delicious food, and a unique training atmosphere made it a memorable visit. I would happily return and recommend it to others looking for a thoughtfully prepared meal while supporting students who are clearly passionate about growing their skills.
Inga Dillon
Excellent service, great food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Island
We had made a reservation months in advance and tried calling and emailing to confirm, but never received any response. When we arrived, it took quite a while before anyone came to greet us, and we were told there was no record of our booking. The person who eventually approached us was polite but evasive and unclear about how we could rebook, only emphasizing how popular the restaurant was. The website was never updated to reflect start or end dates for service or making reservations. For a place connected to a school that's meant to model hospitality, the lack of communication, transparency, and care was very disappointing.
Shannon
Our first time at Dunlop. We were impressed with the food quality, the service and the portion sizes. The kitchen was out of 2 things we wanted: pork belly dinner and a wine bottle selection, but what we had was delicious. I think I'd ask for a window or wall table next time for a better sense of privacy for conversations. We'll be back!
Dianne Paquette
The menu was changed AFTER our reservations were made - Had the selection be known, I would have cancelled. The service was excellent but this time, it is the Instructors who get my complaint. The poorly designed menu does not have the client in mind. Both appetizers are tomato based (which I couldn’t eat), my main of one small seafood cake was not only insufficient but was burnt to a crisp (which shouldn’t have been served) and the desserts were, once again, both dairy based (announced allergy). Very disappointing meal. I ate two mouthful for $50. Truly, I should have asked that they forgo charging me!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Diane
We arrived on at the restaurant expecting a certain menu, as posted on the website, and were disappointed that a different menu was being served. This menu did not look too exciting, however, our fears quickly dissipated as each course was served.... everything was absolutely scrumptious! We were also delighted with the extra appetizer and pallet cleanser which were also delicious. Another problem occurred when we arrived... we got the last table and it was situated right in the doorway where guests arrived and left and the waiters came through to do the serving. I was upset as I was not going to be able to enjoy my meal with people coming and going right by our table. I complained to the hostess and she immediately brought in the Maître d'/Instructor. He was very accommodating and without further ado agreed to move the table away from the doorway. I applaud this superior customer service (such a good example for the students too)! We were able to enjoy the lovely meal away from traffic. The food was truly exceptional. Our server, Ethan, provided first class service and attention to our needs. Even the wine was exceptional. When the bill came, we were pleasantly surprised that we were not charged for our bottle of wine. Ethan explained that this gift (per the Instructor) was to make up for our concern about the menu and table location. We are appreciative! All in all we were very happy with our experience and it was a most enjoyable evening. We are grateful that such a 5-Star culinary program exists that we can partake in in our community. Thank you very much! Diane
Karmen
A wonderful culinary experience, and an opportunity to support students entering the hospitality industry.
Jennifer
Aydn was our server for the night and she did a great job of taking the orders and serving us the food in a timely manner. It was a really nice experience and evening. Thank you.
Infusion VR Arcade
Good food and great prices!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill
One needs to appreciate that this dining room is used as a de facto training centre for the college's hospitality and culinary arts programs so the students who wait the tables are understandably nervous as they practice their skills and learn their trade. Keeping this in mind brings context to the food and service.
The service at this restaurant is the best I have ever experienced. Our server, Rex, was knowledgeable about the menu and helped us make the best choices. The food was delicious and portions were quite large. The location is an hold manor and is very comfortable. This is probably the best restaurant in Victoria, behind only Cafe Brio and Brasserie L'Ecole.
Barbara
Set in a beautiful Maclure home, with delicious food and outstanding value. All of the students are trying so hard to make it special for you, and for them to learn. While our server was clearly trying, she was nervous, and had things to learn, but still a 4/5. It was nice to have a relaxed dining experience where we were not rushed, but things didn't take long either. Amuse bouche and the palate cleanser (taste was wow!) were a bonus. Thank you to all of the team at Dunlop House. We'll be back. I am proudly a grad from 1980 from this version of the program.
SusanB
We loved our supper at Dunlop House. The students are just learning table service and did an excellent job. Not yet professional but attentive, pleasant and chart. The food was great, my steelhead trout was cooked perfectly. The building is lovely and good space between tables.
Dianne
Dinner at the Dunlop House! Mark and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, the staff and the delicious dessert, which was a decadent chocolate bomb !! We will be back ...
norman
Fabulous dinner with true excellence of flavor and presentation coupled with excellent service. Highly recommended.
I recently visited Dunlop House and had a genuinely enjoyable dining experience. The atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable, and the staff provided friendly, attentive service. It's clear that the team is still learning, and while the service was very good overall, there were small moments that reminded me this is a training environment. In a regular restaurant setting, I might have expected a bit more polish, but given the context, the students did an admirable job and showed great potential. The highlight of the meal was the duck. It was perfectly prepared—so tender it literally fell off the bone. The flavour was rich, well-balanced, and beautifully executed. It's the kind of dish you remember long after the meal is over, and it truly showcased the skill being developed in the kitchen. I found the prices slightly higher than I anticipated, but still completely reasonable for the quality of the food and the overall experience. Considering the craftsmanship of the dishes and the learning environment, the value felt fair. Overall, Dunlop House delivered an outstanding experience. The combination of warm service, delicious food, and a unique training atmosphere made it a memorable visit. I would happily return and recommend it to others looking for a thoughtfully prepared meal while supporting students who are clearly passionate about growing their skills.
Excellent service, great food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had made a reservation months in advance and tried calling and emailing to confirm, but never received any response. When we arrived, it took quite a while before anyone came to greet us, and we were told there was no record of our booking. The person who eventually approached us was polite but evasive and unclear about how we could rebook, only emphasizing how popular the restaurant was. The website was never updated to reflect start or end dates for service or making reservations. For a place connected to a school that's meant to model hospitality, the lack of communication, transparency, and care was very disappointing.
Our first time at Dunlop. We were impressed with the food quality, the service and the portion sizes. The kitchen was out of 2 things we wanted: pork belly dinner and a wine bottle selection, but what we had was delicious. I think I'd ask for a window or wall table next time for a better sense of privacy for conversations. We'll be back!
The menu was changed AFTER our reservations were made - Had the selection be known, I would have cancelled. The service was excellent but this time, it is the Instructors who get my complaint. The poorly designed menu does not have the client in mind. Both appetizers are tomato based (which I couldn’t eat), my main of one small seafood cake was not only insufficient but was burnt to a crisp (which shouldn’t have been served) and the desserts were, once again, both dairy based (announced allergy). Very disappointing meal. I ate two mouthful for $50. Truly, I should have asked that they forgo charging me!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
We arrived on at the restaurant expecting a certain menu, as posted on the website, and were disappointed that a different menu was being served. This menu did not look too exciting, however, our fears quickly dissipated as each course was served.... everything was absolutely scrumptious! We were also delighted with the extra appetizer and pallet cleanser which were also delicious. Another problem occurred when we arrived... we got the last table and it was situated right in the doorway where guests arrived and left and the waiters came through to do the serving. I was upset as I was not going to be able to enjoy my meal with people coming and going right by our table. I complained to the hostess and she immediately brought in the Maître d'/Instructor. He was very accommodating and without further ado agreed to move the table away from the doorway. I applaud this superior customer service (such a good example for the students too)! We were able to enjoy the lovely meal away from traffic. The food was truly exceptional. Our server, Ethan, provided first class service and attention to our needs. Even the wine was exceptional. When the bill came, we were pleasantly surprised that we were not charged for our bottle of wine. Ethan explained that this gift (per the Instructor) was to make up for our concern about the menu and table location. We are appreciative! All in all we were very happy with our experience and it was a most enjoyable evening. We are grateful that such a 5-Star culinary program exists that we can partake in in our community. Thank you very much! Diane
A wonderful culinary experience, and an opportunity to support students entering the hospitality industry.
Aydn was our server for the night and she did a great job of taking the orders and serving us the food in a timely manner. It was a really nice experience and evening. Thank you.
Good food and great prices!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One needs to appreciate that this dining room is used as a de facto training centre for the college's hospitality and culinary arts programs so the students who wait the tables are understandably nervous as they practice their skills and learn their trade. Keeping this in mind brings context to the food and service.
Restaurantji Recommends
The service at this restaurant is the best I have ever experienced. Our server, Rex, was knowledgeable about the menu and helped us make the best choices. The food was delicious and portions were quite large. The location is an hold manor and is very comfortable. This is probably the best restaurant in Victoria, behind only Cafe Brio and Brasserie L'Ecole.
Set in a beautiful Maclure home, with delicious food and outstanding value. All of the students are trying so hard to make it special for you, and for them to learn. While our server was clearly trying, she was nervous, and had things to learn, but still a 4/5. It was nice to have a relaxed dining experience where we were not rushed, but things didn't take long either. Amuse bouche and the palate cleanser (taste was wow!) were a bonus. Thank you to all of the team at Dunlop House. We'll be back. I am proudly a grad from 1980 from this version of the program.
We loved our supper at Dunlop House. The students are just learning table service and did an excellent job. Not yet professional but attentive, pleasant and chart. The food was great, my steelhead trout was cooked perfectly. The building is lovely and good space between tables.
Dinner at the Dunlop House! Mark and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal, the staff and the delicious dessert, which was a decadent chocolate bomb !! We will be back ...
Fabulous dinner with true excellence of flavor and presentation coupled with excellent service. Highly recommended.
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