Review Blue's Bayou Cafe - Central Saanich

Our first visit to Brentwood Bay. It’s already all been said: wonderful location with outstanding views. A cheerful server with personality and who’s familiar with the menu and drink options added to our positive lunch experience. Flavourful food. Portions big enough to share. Too bad we had no room for dessert. Appreciated the decor and spotless bathrooms with attitude.

There was a bit of a wait, but it was worth it! This restaurant sits right on the water and the food is delicious. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the food came out quickly.

A great place to sit and watch the tides come and go. Great yet simple fare. Good selection of wines, beers and other drinks. Friendly service too. But the winner here is the charm of the restaurant inside and the amazing view from the deck outside. Highly recommended!

We visited this place while waiting for the gardens to open so we were not extremely hungry. We just had a couple of ceasar salads and a pint. The service was excellent with our waitress being highly personable and friendly. She made a noticeable effort even though we didn't order much. The atmosphere is intriguing with a Cajun theme that you wouldn't expect from Canada. I noticed alot of the menu was Cajun as well with items such as jambalaya and gumbo and such so I would definitely be back to try that. The building itself is over the water next to the marina which is unique. I will make an effort to return for a dinner the next time I am on the island.

Cute little place down on the water. Great atmosphere and the most amazing staff. Food was absolutely amazing and prices aren't bad! A must eat at location!

One of my favourites and usually where I go to celebrate my birthday every year. The view is phenomenal and the food is always as good as I remember. Make sure to get the cornbread.

Fantastic food,warm attentive service in a stunningly gorgeous location

Unexpected and lovely surprise during our trip to The Butchart Gardens. The food is delicious, the place is cozy and beautiful, the vibes warm and the view amazing. We were so lucky to find it and for sure we are looking forward to visit it again. Highly recommended.

The parking lot is past the restaurant passing through a small one way street. There was plenty of parking. Walking about a half a block to the restaurant and down the stairs to the front entrance. Lots of knick knacks by the front. Indoor and outdoor seating available. We chose to sit outside on the deck near the water. It was not too busy and the service was quick and courteous. The menu is small and simple. But the food my wife and I ordered was lacking. The steak my wife ordered was supposed to be medium but received well-done. The jambalaya was missing authentic Cajun flavours. Missing a rue and the holy trinity did not taste right. It felt toned down for seniors. It was not bad, but it was not for us. Most likely will not go back. And still in search of good southern food in BC.

Very delicious food and great service. We didn’t know their schedule and arrived earlier and waited for 1 hour to get the 5:00pm dinner, all worth it!

We really enjoyed our late lunch here. The dishes that my wife and I had were both very good. The flavors on everything just wonderful. The service is friendly and professional. The view is awesome too. Will definitely be back a few times here. A must try really.

I love everything about this little cute cafe . Chef prepared really nice meal , view is unbelievable and service top niche!! Suggest everyone to visit it .

They tried to talk us out of eating here! We walked in and the told us there was a 30 to 45 min wait on the kitchen. We stayed and the wait was not that bad. We all ordered appetizers and lunch. Soda here is by the can so no refills. Would be good to know before you order drinks. We picked what we thought would be good, the waitress was new so had no real input on what to order. The waitress was friendly and very kind. The food was very good. Nothing was overly spicy but had good flavor. The fried green tomatoes were very good. Not soggy. All in all the food was very good despite them trying to talk us out of eating there.

Had an amazing time here with the view of the water and the food. Scenery on the drive up here was beautiful and the streets around the Cafe were super cozy to drive through. Definitely a New Orleans vibe going on here and would love to come back during Mardi Gras can see what's going on. Our server was Jackson and he was super cool, let us take our time looking through the menu and let us know what was on special order for the day. Food was very good and came out fairly quickly too which was nice. Wife had the small jambalaya and I had the 10oz steak. Good thing she didn't order the bigger one as she couldn't finish this one lol. Enjoyed the weather and view on the outdoor patio and watched the boats and paddle boarders getting out on the water. I even enjoyed the washrooms as they had some great pictures on the wall of some famous celebrities during their mugshots lol. Very relaxing atmosphere, highly recommended and we will definitely be back.

Lovely atmosphere on the water; inside seating would also be good when the weather requires it. Great staff, very friendly. Check the website or call about food service in the shoulder hours between lunch and dinner. The bar is open but food service may not be available during this time.

This place is unreal!! Great family that runs it and the food is spectacular. The fish of the day special I had last week was so good I dont remember having halibut quite so yummy. Thank you to my server Katherine for the recommendation and the amazing service. The view could not be more beautiful - A must try!

We were a group of 13 women who reserved and arrived in a flurry to a nice double set of tables out on their deck in the shade, with a scenic view. We were served our drinks promptly and our delicious assortment of foods arrived. I ordered the tasty shrimp melts. I ate one there and brought one home for my dinner. All delicious. Go for the view and be impressed with the food. Shrimp melts and jambalaya with cornbread in the photos.

this place is a must go to ! my husband and I live in brentwood ,unfortunattly we don't get to eat out as much as wed like ,but when we do we come here .the jumbalaya and gumbo is soooo good ,and this restaurant makes us feel like were transported somewhere else ! even if only for a short time , keep up the great job

A beautiful location right on the bay in Brentwood the food is Bayou food, with mixed selections of Louisiana and Florida swamps. The <br/>service is friendly and food is always good. Try the chicken it's amazing.

Cool location, food not what it used to be but still worth going

Very good. I'm reading all the bad reviews here and wondering if this is the same place I've been to at least 10 times. I have always been served delicious food here! The fried green tomatoes are great as well as anything else we have had. I'd really love to see Shrimp and Grits on the menu but that's my only complaint , if you can call that a complaint. Service has always been good as well

Loved it! Amazing food, great ambience. Party of 5 - we all ordered differently and shared and not 1 meal was anything short of delicious. Will definitely be back!

Not worth the price. Food was OK, we bought a Groupon so we had a shared appy, a soup, and an entree. For the appy we had the Couldron, which was basically chips and dip, and it was quite tasty. For the soup we both had the gumbo, and other reviews were on the spot: it was really bland and needed much more seasonings. For the entree we had the steak and ribs, and they were pretty good. The worst part of the night was the waitress. No smile, un-pleasant attitude. We normally tip generously by the price before the Groupon, and we were reluctant to leave any at all!!!!!!!!!!!<br/><br/>Bottom line: don't go unless you have a big discount :)

My husband and I recently went on a date night with our groupon coupon. Never knew this place existed. We both had the shared alligator sausage appy not so interesting. Two little sausages in a bed of tomatoe sauce Next we both had the gumbo. It was boring as well. The rice was under cooked and not so spicy. I had the jambalaya what a. Total disappointment rice was cooked by then and a can of tomatoes placed on top with some veggies. I had 6 shrimp and a few sausage slices and some chicken. My husband had the ribs witch were delicious. Aid only everything else was as good. Will not be going back

Great staff, excellent food. Locally owned, new Orleans style. The food is always cooked to perfection, no surprises because the food always tastes delicious! Small Town Favorite! Plastic Lawn chairs on the patio... But boy they are actually very comfortable! Also a very clean atmosphere! This place has more than a great view to offer!

It was horrible! Went hoping for a taste of New Orleans and ended up eating only a few bites. I had the jambalaya and it was bland, veggies were undercooked and it tasted like an Italian tomato sauce. Very disappointing.

This place is still in business?. My wife and I ate at blue's bayou years ago when we first moved to the area, and decided to try it again over the holidays. Big mistake. It started on the phone with the very surly female owner, who told me that reservations would only be held for 15 minutes, since they were fully booked. (a complete lie, as the place was mostly empty during our meal). The menu was the same, except the prices have gone up and the same dusty, tacky "decor" is all over the walls. My wife felt bad for our waitress, who was constantly being watched over by the older female, who I assume is the owner I spoke to. As for the food, my wife's chicken was bland and tasteless, a chicken breast with some microwaved mashed potatoes and a lukewarm mustard sauce. My jambalaya, if you can call it that, was just a big bowl of white rice, covered with canned tomato sauce and some scraps of chicken. When my wife asked for a few more green beans with her chicken, our server, after returning from the kitchen, told us that a side of veggies would be $4.95. (I get the impression that the owners would charge for water if they could). Needless to say, we will not ever be returning to blues bayou, and we'll be telling our friends to stay away as well. There are too many honest, local businesses worth supporting, and this is not one of them. Steer clear.

I used to enjoy going here but it is no longer what it used to be. Flavour is lacking and the prices are expensive for what you get. Skip it.

Repeat Customer for over a Decade. I have been coming from the Mainland for many years and the trip is not complete without a stop at the Bayou. My FAV? The Jambalaya! There are places that make their Jambalaya with ingredients from cans and plopped on the the "House" rice but I stand by Blue's recipe. Everything about it tatses fresh and rich.<br/>This was the first time I visited in the winter and had to sit inside. While I ached for the outdoor ambiance and sun, the indoor experience was quite intimate and warm. My family also tried the Alligator sausage - what a treat.<br/>I don't mind waiting for my food (and we did) but when my food is prepared faster than I KNOW it could have been cooked, then I know it could not have been prepared fresh.<br/>Our server was very friendly and working solo. The chef was very accommodating and looked after my family's Gluten Free needs with no hassle and little compromise.<br/>A great dining experience and a fair price. If you're in a hurry, let them know. Otherwise, relax and enjoy!

Meh. I was recommended here by a friend, but I'd have to say I was a little disappointed. I don't know if it was just an off night, but the jambalaya which was raved about wasn't very good, nor was the service. I don't think I will be coming again.

Nice location; expensive sub-par food. I heard about Blues Bayou a few weeks ago and finally got around to trying it tonight. The location is great and the patio is nice. Interesting decor and great scenery.<br/><br/>We started with the crab cakes and crayfish ($12.95). The appetizer came quickly and was reasonably good (if a bit overpriced, though the crayfish was a novelty). We had high expectations for the Jambalaya. <br/><br/>The Jambalaya was disappointing. Not unpalatable (the ingredients were fresh and good), but poorly spiced and cooked without any real artistry. Just a plate of wet rice and plain tomato sauce with a few shrimp, a few thin slices of smokey-style sausage, and a few shreds of chicken. It was mostly chopped celery, chopped red peppers, coarsely chopped onions, and chopped tomatoes. This dish was something that would be satisfactory as a quickly made home meal, or something served up by your mediocre-chef Aunt, but wasn't what I expected for $22 (large plate) or $14 (small plate). I doused mine in the habanero sauce available on the table, but it didn't make much difference; the dish was just too lackluster. <br/><br/>It satisfied my hunger but was certainly not worth the price. I'd just stay at home and chop some basic vegetables and throw 'em on plain rice with a handful of prawns if I wanted this kind of meal. I kept wondering how they managed to get good reviews with it; I don't think even bland-loving senior citizens would like it because of the poor price:value ratio.<br/><br/>Now, this is a strange thing to complain about, but the service was so fast that we were in and out in about an hour. Fast service is great, but for a dinner costing >$100 for three people it sure wasn't much of an experience. I left a standard tip because the server was attentive and nice, but I left feeling burned.<br/><br/>I hope they shape up because they've got a great spot and I'd love to go back to a better dining experience.

Extremely disappointing. My husband and I came down to Butchart Gardens from Courtney and had seen this restaurant in Eat magazine. I don't know if we came at a bad time, but we received a cold greeting from an older server who seemed more interested in chatting than in serving people dinner. The food was ok, but that's only half of a good dining experience. The only positivity we received from our server (whom I believe might even be the owner?) was when we left and still paid a high gratuity. If only we'd received that kind of appreciation upon arrival. Don't eat here - they don't deserve the business when there are plenty of restaurants out there that do!

Good atmosphere, BAD attitude!. Enjoyed a nice meal on the waterside patio. Food was good overall but overpriced for the quantity, quality etc. Bread pudding is one of my favourites and have to say was underwhelmed. What reeallly bothered me was the attitude of the women whom we paid the bill to as we were leaving (she may be the owner, you know who you are). I admittedly gave a slightly below par tip (more inline to what I thought the bill should have been), and she out load, in front of other customers and our waitress asked if there had been something wrong with our service! Basically saying why were you so cheap with your gratuity? Very awkward! Last time I checked a tip should be to the discretion of the customer! Left on a sour note. May never go back!

Get the chicken!!. I went here last night because we had a Couvon. It was so good!! I had the ribs, my mom had the chicken; I DEFINITELY had dinner envy. My ribs were good, albeit a tad dry in some places. The mashed potatoes and veggies they came with were perfectly cooked. My mom got the chicken, and it came with the same sides, but it was SO GOOD. She got two chicken breasts, what is that?! That is crazy awesome! They have cream cheese on them, and are wrapped in phyllo pastry. It was so creamy and delicious and perfect. I actually...actually dreamed about it. *single tear* Also our server was really nice, so there is that too. I'll be back. :)

Not so yummy! Yuck!. The jambalaya was simply a few scraps of chicken, 5 prawns, & unsavory slices of pretend sausage on a bed of rice, topped with a can of diced tomatoes. Huge disappointment! The bread pudding which ended this unsatisfactory entree was sub par. What a let down and I'll never go back,

A Surprise. When I arrived at Blue's Bayou Cafe I immediately couldn't get over how much of a hole-in-the-wall this place is. It's really close to where I live but I never even knew about it, in relation to everything else in Victoria it's out in the middle of nowhere. I loved the whole New Orleans atmosphere, from the crazy decor to the awesome music.<br/><br/>I started with a Caesar salad side and my parents both started with a side of oysters each. Apparently the oysters were quite good (I'm not big on oysters so I really can't judge). The caesar salad was very lackluster however. It's clear they used a very generic brand of caesar sauce (like kraft or something) OR they put in waaay too much pepper. We did get some cornbread as well which was excellent.<br/><br/>For the main-course I ordered their Bayou chicken dish. I forget what is in it but they have a very accessible menu online at their website. First, I must say I was not expecting much after my disappointing caesar, but then when I took a bite out of that piece of chicken... YUM! EASILY the best chicken dish I have had in Victoria, and I have been to a lot of nice restaurants with great chicken dishes. Everything in the dish worked well with each other and the hint of mangos inside the dish just took the dish to a whole new level.<br/><br/>Overall I would easily come back here again. I was disappointed with my caesar salad side but my main course was so good that I almost forgot all about the salad. I still need to go there for lunch, but for now I would give this place a solid 8.5/10. And I could easily see myself changing that to a 9/10 if their lunch is great too.

Great atmosphere and unique food! Been there 5 times and only thing I didn't like is they microwave the soup/stew/jambalaya which makes u think they make a weeks worth at a time... But to b fair I only saw do it 1 time

Meh, go to the seagrille over here hands down

I loved the deck on the water, the food was good and there were a lot of servers on. I will definitely be going back. Fun place to watch the Butchard Garden fireworks on a Saturday.

Unremarkable. A shed on the water with an attached deck. Food was unappealing. Lacking in spice and confused in identity. Jambalaya was a plate of boiled rice with some fish and broth. Worst I have had (The best always comes from New Orleans!). Gumbo was watery and unappealing. Servie was attentive, but bill was more than expected given the amount and quality of food.

Fabulous patio. This place has good food and perhaps the best patio on the island!

Cajun in passing only - worth a look & taste

Absolutely amazing Cajun menu inspired by the fascinating New Orleans culture. Beautiful patio in the summer over the ocean, reservations a VERY good idea.

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I will have to note, that more 'gator in the gumbo would've made the meal complete. While it basically tastes like chicken, there was something else in the texture that I liked. I do understand the cost of bringing this meat in from New Orleans is very high (be warned, the two pieces of sausage is $12.95), and I was willing to shell out this time. Perhaps a proper trip to New Orleans is in order!

Menu : Seafood dominates this New Orleans-style restaurant's menu, with ribs, chicken and a steak also offered. You can't go wrong ordering one of their specials, and there is usually a seafood feature of the day. Features : Seafood is the main feature of