By far and away the best restaurant in Victoria, everything from the service to the food was above anywhere we have been on the Island. We found the food surpassed our experiences in Paris.Dietary restrictions: All food is made from scratch so dietary restrictions are functionally a non-concern.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Morgan V
Almost definitely the most high quality breakfast I have ever had. I never expected this place to be so phenomenal. The location is so weird, but the food is incredible. Wow!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
SheriandRex Robertson
Wonderful! A nice quiet venue allows for conversation. French cuisine, and service was unique with Laurent recommending 3 shared "surf and turf" courses for our group of four. Everything was a taste sensation, perfectly prepared seafood, beef and lamb. Expensive, but a place for a real treat or special occasion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emilia Soot
Wonderful service, food, and ambience! The wine was exceptional as well as the beef tenderloin and onion gratinee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
li yuge
This is the best French food I’ve had in Victoria. The restaurant is not as fancy as those bigs ones in downtown but overall it’s well decorated. Dishes are so delicate and ingredients are so fresh. The service is great and comfortable. Worth every dollar I spent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
car mina
The food was exquisite. I still can’t get over how amazing the food was. The waiter was exceptional. My husband and I wasn’t celebrating anything special but our waiter made the dining experience a memorable one. I had a hard time deciding on what to order and our waiter prepared something special. I had a shrimp and scallop dish with a sauce that I could drink-it was that good! I had lamb prepared 2 ways-the spicy nut and a mustard Dijon-the spicy nut was so good. I don’t usually like beans but I would eat a whole plate of JOIE’s beans! I wish I had room for dessert! Next time!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heather
Excellent food and service; like being in France.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leah Potter
I brought my parents here for a special evening and we had the most marvellous time. My father uses a walker and he was very kindly accommodated, our host was attentive but did not hover, and the food! One of the best meals I've ever had in Victoria. We started with the bread board, then the lobster chowder. It was outstanding; full-flavoured, beautifully presented and larger than anticipated. Then we all had the prawns and scallops in creamy cognac veloute. We were delighted that this was prepared table-side! It was heavenly - the seafood was tender and crisp, the pieces were enormous, and the sauce was delicate yet deeply-flavoured. We were sad to be too full for dessert, so I'll have to go back soon for a smaller meal that leaves room for Creme Brulee. If I could give our meal 10 stars, I would!Wheelchair accessibility: There are stairs at the front of the building, but around the side there is a ramp, and then you walk through the atrium to the front door. The staff are very accomodating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alixe Campbell
Had a wonderful dinner, with a salad and the stuffed mushrooms to start and a porterhouse steak for the table. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Champignon Diablo
Sena Turkdogan
I had some mixed feelings about our dinner here. Having seen such amazing reviews, we were super excited to try this restaurant that we reserved for Valentine’s Day, which was probably our mistake, because we could only choose from a single tasting menu and not the original every day menu, which felt easily twice as expensive than if you’d come on a regular day, even thought the items were exactly the same. Even the ambiance of the restaurant was a bit lacklustre with the simple dining furniture, dark tablecloths and minimal decor. Despite this we were okay to splurge for a special holiday, and we proceeded to let the chef choose our menu for us as that’s what he recommended.Now the appetizers were quite a bit underwhelming. The shrimp and cheese was tasty but felt like an odd combination. Pâté was certainly palatable but felt strange that it was served with 3 crackers clearly picked up from the store (literally Costco sells these). And the bread was just fine, simple baguette that felt defrosted and heated and nothing too special. All super underwhelming for the price point.Now the mains were delicious. I have nothing bad to say about the actual meals, where we had lamb chops and beef tenderloin cooked to perfection, and followed by dessert where we had the pistachio creme brûlée and lava cake which were phenomenal. Really really good.But what really left an extra bitter taste in our mouth was the 20$ charge for water. This isn’t France, and I couldn’t understand how regular still water could be charged that outrageously. All in all over 400$ + without any cocktails or wine parings for a semi decent meal was just not exactly worth the experience for us.
Excellent service. Food was good, personally don’t like the shrimp, but everything else was great. Love the desserts.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julien Legere
Having dined at numerous French restaurants in both France and Canada, I am fairly picky when it comes to spending my money on French food. Joie never disappoints me or my family. My wife (who is also familiar with French cuisine) and I have been to Joie multiple times now. We enjoy it so much that we had to make the point of bringing my father in law to Joie; as exploring high French cuisine is a tradition of ours. The overall experience of Joie est absolutment incroyable.Now for the details:The food! The cuisine is not what one might traditionally associate with French cuisine. Joie's food is not heavy in butter and cream. The food is full of flavour. Being more of a southern French palate, the food is fresh, lively, and relatively light in comparison to traditional Parisian cuisine. Now one may think that the food then lacks complexity or refinement. That's where Joie really shines. The several dishes that I have eaten (including the full tasting menu), have all been full of complex flavours without being pretentious. The food is refined, right down to the herbs, without losing flavour notes. The cook on all meats is absolutely spot on. The care and diligence that the chef puts into these creations shows wisdom, creativity, and flair. He has melded Parisian, Basque, and Northern Italian flavours into an experience like no other in Canada.The spice! For the younger audience, wine may not be of importance. Having grown up in French culture, a meal is not fulfilled without the delicate accompaniment of fermented grapes. Wine is just a way of life in French culture. It's not something imbibed for its alcoholic purpose, but more to enhance the flavours of food. The individuals at Joie have absolutely perfected this process. Each time we have visited, I have ordered the flight of wine, which the chef personally pairs with the foods chosen. Having not ordered the same dish twice, I can say without a doubt that the chef understands how wine enhances all the nuances of each dish. On some occasions has actually brought out flavours in the dish that I couldn't otherwise realize were there. The pairings are brilliant. The choices of beverages are outstanding. Does all this mean that the food is lost without wine? Absolutely not. However, it is a demonstration that the chef completely understands flavour profiles.When it comes to high French cuisine, the experience is never inexpensive (unless you cook it yourself). However, for an experience like what Joie can provide, ever dollar spent is absolutely worth it. You won't find another French restaurant in Canada that comes close to what Joie provides. If you enjoy French cuisine and don't want the heavy butters and creams, then Joie will take you on a taste experience that cannot be missed. Bon appetite!Dietary restrictions: If the chef is made aware of any dietary restrictions or anything the patron may not like, they will still provide a wonderful experience while ensuring complete dietary safety.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
fergiedad
You should be careful about this restaurant. Somehow, most reviewers appear to think highly of this place. There are much better “French” restaurants in Victoria and surrounding communities. The steak and lamb dishes are served on sizzling platters, just like Outback Steak House. The service is spotty at best and the decor is sterile and cold. I would never recommend this restaurant.
Grandj
We read the reviews and being a french cuisine fans decided to give it a try. First beware, the posted menu was out of date and the prices have been raised considerably. We felt that the still water ($10 CA) and Bread ($15 CA) was over priced and we had failed to see the pricing on the menu. We started out with the terrine that was OK but was mushy in texture. My wife had the rack of Lamb that was good but not outstanding. The duck in peppercorn was a double disaster. Ordered medium rare, got the first one well done. The did cook a second one, failed to replate with fresh sides and the peppercorn sauce was more of a paste than a sauce. The duck skin was not crispy and having had many a duck dinner it was mediocre at best.
Dirk Kirste
Steak cooked to perfection is what stands out the most. Excellent service and a lovely dialogue with the owner ‘Frenchy’. He was great in providing us advice on the dishes and the wine. An extensive reasonably priced wine list with by the glass and half litre options on most of the wines offered.
By far and away the best restaurant in Victoria, everything from the service to the food was above anywhere we have been on the Island. We found the food surpassed our experiences in Paris.Dietary restrictions: All food is made from scratch so dietary restrictions are functionally a non-concern.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Almost definitely the most high quality breakfast I have ever had. I never expected this place to be so phenomenal. The location is so weird, but the food is incredible. Wow!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful! A nice quiet venue allows for conversation. French cuisine, and service was unique with Laurent recommending 3 shared "surf and turf" courses for our group of four. Everything was a taste sensation, perfectly prepared seafood, beef and lamb. Expensive, but a place for a real treat or special occasion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful service, food, and ambience! The wine was exceptional as well as the beef tenderloin and onion gratinee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is the best French food I’ve had in Victoria. The restaurant is not as fancy as those bigs ones in downtown but overall it’s well decorated. Dishes are so delicate and ingredients are so fresh. The service is great and comfortable. Worth every dollar I spent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was exquisite. I still can’t get over how amazing the food was. The waiter was exceptional. My husband and I wasn’t celebrating anything special but our waiter made the dining experience a memorable one. I had a hard time deciding on what to order and our waiter prepared something special. I had a shrimp and scallop dish with a sauce that I could drink-it was that good! I had lamb prepared 2 ways-the spicy nut and a mustard Dijon-the spicy nut was so good. I don’t usually like beans but I would eat a whole plate of JOIE’s beans! I wish I had room for dessert! Next time!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food and service; like being in France.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I brought my parents here for a special evening and we had the most marvellous time. My father uses a walker and he was very kindly accommodated, our host was attentive but did not hover, and the food! One of the best meals I've ever had in Victoria. We started with the bread board, then the lobster chowder. It was outstanding; full-flavoured, beautifully presented and larger than anticipated. Then we all had the prawns and scallops in creamy cognac veloute. We were delighted that this was prepared table-side! It was heavenly - the seafood was tender and crisp, the pieces were enormous, and the sauce was delicate yet deeply-flavoured. We were sad to be too full for dessert, so I'll have to go back soon for a smaller meal that leaves room for Creme Brulee. If I could give our meal 10 stars, I would!Wheelchair accessibility: There are stairs at the front of the building, but around the side there is a ramp, and then you walk through the atrium to the front door. The staff are very accomodating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a wonderful dinner, with a salad and the stuffed mushrooms to start and a porterhouse steak for the table. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Champignon Diablo
I had some mixed feelings about our dinner here. Having seen such amazing reviews, we were super excited to try this restaurant that we reserved for Valentine’s Day, which was probably our mistake, because we could only choose from a single tasting menu and not the original every day menu, which felt easily twice as expensive than if you’d come on a regular day, even thought the items were exactly the same. Even the ambiance of the restaurant was a bit lacklustre with the simple dining furniture, dark tablecloths and minimal decor. Despite this we were okay to splurge for a special holiday, and we proceeded to let the chef choose our menu for us as that’s what he recommended.Now the appetizers were quite a bit underwhelming. The shrimp and cheese was tasty but felt like an odd combination. Pâté was certainly palatable but felt strange that it was served with 3 crackers clearly picked up from the store (literally Costco sells these). And the bread was just fine, simple baguette that felt defrosted and heated and nothing too special. All super underwhelming for the price point.Now the mains were delicious. I have nothing bad to say about the actual meals, where we had lamb chops and beef tenderloin cooked to perfection, and followed by dessert where we had the pistachio creme brûlée and lava cake which were phenomenal. Really really good.But what really left an extra bitter taste in our mouth was the 20$ charge for water. This isn’t France, and I couldn’t understand how regular still water could be charged that outrageously. All in all over 400$ + without any cocktails or wine parings for a semi decent meal was just not exactly worth the experience for us.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lava Cake
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent service. Food was good, personally don’t like the shrimp, but everything else was great. Love the desserts.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Having dined at numerous French restaurants in both France and Canada, I am fairly picky when it comes to spending my money on French food. Joie never disappoints me or my family. My wife (who is also familiar with French cuisine) and I have been to Joie multiple times now. We enjoy it so much that we had to make the point of bringing my father in law to Joie; as exploring high French cuisine is a tradition of ours. The overall experience of Joie est absolutment incroyable.Now for the details:The food! The cuisine is not what one might traditionally associate with French cuisine. Joie's food is not heavy in butter and cream. The food is full of flavour. Being more of a southern French palate, the food is fresh, lively, and relatively light in comparison to traditional Parisian cuisine. Now one may think that the food then lacks complexity or refinement. That's where Joie really shines. The several dishes that I have eaten (including the full tasting menu), have all been full of complex flavours without being pretentious. The food is refined, right down to the herbs, without losing flavour notes. The cook on all meats is absolutely spot on. The care and diligence that the chef puts into these creations shows wisdom, creativity, and flair. He has melded Parisian, Basque, and Northern Italian flavours into an experience like no other in Canada.The spice! For the younger audience, wine may not be of importance. Having grown up in French culture, a meal is not fulfilled without the delicate accompaniment of fermented grapes. Wine is just a way of life in French culture. It's not something imbibed for its alcoholic purpose, but more to enhance the flavours of food. The individuals at Joie have absolutely perfected this process. Each time we have visited, I have ordered the flight of wine, which the chef personally pairs with the foods chosen. Having not ordered the same dish twice, I can say without a doubt that the chef understands how wine enhances all the nuances of each dish. On some occasions has actually brought out flavours in the dish that I couldn't otherwise realize were there. The pairings are brilliant. The choices of beverages are outstanding. Does all this mean that the food is lost without wine? Absolutely not. However, it is a demonstration that the chef completely understands flavour profiles.When it comes to high French cuisine, the experience is never inexpensive (unless you cook it yourself). However, for an experience like what Joie can provide, ever dollar spent is absolutely worth it. You won't find another French restaurant in Canada that comes close to what Joie provides. If you enjoy French cuisine and don't want the heavy butters and creams, then Joie will take you on a taste experience that cannot be missed. Bon appetite!Dietary restrictions: If the chef is made aware of any dietary restrictions or anything the patron may not like, they will still provide a wonderful experience while ensuring complete dietary safety.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
You should be careful about this restaurant. Somehow, most reviewers appear to think highly of this place. There are much better “French” restaurants in Victoria and surrounding communities. The steak and lamb dishes are served on sizzling platters, just like Outback Steak House. The service is spotty at best and the decor is sterile and cold. I would never recommend this restaurant.
We read the reviews and being a french cuisine fans decided to give it a try. First beware, the posted menu was out of date and the prices have been raised considerably. We felt that the still water ($10 CA) and Bread ($15 CA) was over priced and we had failed to see the pricing on the menu. We started out with the terrine that was OK but was mushy in texture. My wife had the rack of Lamb that was good but not outstanding. The duck in peppercorn was a double disaster. Ordered medium rare, got the first one well done. The did cook a second one, failed to replate with fresh sides and the peppercorn sauce was more of a paste than a sauce. The duck skin was not crispy and having had many a duck dinner it was mediocre at best.
Steak cooked to perfection is what stands out the most. Excellent service and a lovely dialogue with the owner ‘Frenchy’. He was great in providing us advice on the dishes and the wine. An extensive reasonably priced wine list with by the glass and half litre options on most of the wines offered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5