Review The Tapa Bar - Victoria

This marks our second visit to the tapa bar, where we indulged in their exquisite pasta offerings once again. Alongside our pasta selection, we also explored a variety of other dishes on their menu. Yet, even with the assortment of choices available, it's the pasta that continues to steal the spotlight for us. Undeniably, their pasta dishes stand out as some of the most delectable we've ever had the pleasure of savoring. Whether it's the seafood-infused creations that transport us to the coastal flavors or the hearty sausage-based options that provide a comforting contrast, each dish showcases a harmonious blend of flavors, textures, and attention to detail. The consistency in the excellence of their pasta offerings ensures that every bite is a delightful journey for the palate.

A super cute bistro offering small Spanish plates including vegan & gluten-free items, plus a full bar. 🥂🥘 Try the delicious grilled fish tostada or fresh ceviche. I’m coming back for those firey de Cha Cha mussels 💃🏻& stellar service 🌟

Starting off with the appetizer of Papas Bravas was okay, the tomato sauce was slightly a bit too much and the potatoes weren’t as fried to standard, so it wasn’t quite crispy. The Fritos was really really good (highly recommend); especially the fried Jicama was a unique touch. The Moroccan chicken was good (nothing special though, slightly bland chicken). This chicken dish had couscous base was well done and seasoned. The gambas con coco came with focaccia, it was a 7/10 (good), the sauce was delicious.

Trounce alley is a neat little evening destination. Tapa Bar was buzzing this Saturday evening. There were even diners sitting in the patio. Music was loud but not too much that you can’t have a conversation, the lighting was pleasantly dim to set the ambiance, fire will from time to time light up the corner in the open kitchen, and there was a candle in each table. Our host and server were very friendly and made you feel at ease, all around good vibes with the staff. We ordered the papás with both sauces, the mixed olives with focaccia, the fried fish bites and the roasted eggplant in marinara. Also had a nice Spanish beer to wash it down. Everything was on point and delicious. The four tapas were enough for the 2 of us to share this evening. Would go there again to try the other dishes and the desserts!

Not the first time I am going to a tapa bar, the food is really good but I have some notes: - Sangria: add some apples, pears and soda, it would make it wayyy tastier. - Food: get some meat dishes, drop the tortilla chips and when you make a ceviche please mixed the “salad” upon order otherwise it gets soggy and mushy… Overall, the flavors were there, the ambience was great and so does the service!

Had a divine time here. My partner and I shared the tapa platter for two and it was the perfect amount of food. We left feeling refreshed and satiated..the service was equally as good, as were the drinks. Definitely would recommend this spot for a delicious Spanish meal!

On recommendation from front desk at our hotel, decided to go to the Tapa Bar, Saturday late afternoon. Sat at the bar, had drinks and an appetizer. Bartender was a very attentive lady; friendly and professional. Had such a fun time decided to have dinner there on Sunday. Had margarita pziza and chicken cubanette. Both very tasty. Drinks as well. Fun spot to enjoy a drink and some food!

I went along with friends, It has a great vibe and option of Alfresco sitting as well with heated vents to make you comfortable outside. The chicken soup was really yup as the one you can see in the picture. Even one of the best pizza I had being a vegetarian as there weren't many options. But overall value for money as you can spend some quality time with your friends and family. Waitress and staff are courteous and welcoming.

This gem of a find is located in Trounce Alley and was absolutely buzzing on a Monday evening! They have outdoor, bar and restaurant seating. The staff are very nice and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. The menu encourages tapas style sharing so go with a group and order many dishes. The mushroom salad was so delicious with a mango vinaigrette but I wish the salad were bigger!! The table next to us had ordered the coconut lime muscles and I wanted to sit with him so badly because it smelled so good. I also really enjoyed the pizza it was a thin crust and well done.

Wonderful meal while visiting Victoria. The Spanish salad and pasta were the standouts. Special thanks to host Chantelle for setting up this meal for us.

We love tapa bar!!!! We came all the way from Toronto to visit tapa bar once again after an incredible experience last year. Impeccable vibes, swift service and killer food. The sardine toast is out of this world and the mussels de cha cha cha are killer. Once again, WE LOVE TAPA BAR

A very cozy place which is perfect for evening when most restaurants are closed in downtown! The food was super delicious, the service was a bit on slow side as all tables were full and there was a huge lineup. The staff were beyond friendly, they even gave us recommendations for places to visit in town.

In terms of price, food, and atmosphere this is easily one of the top 3 restaurants in Victoria. The grilled kale which normally wouldn’t jump out to me on a menu is actually amazing. Great place to go with a bunch of people and split a bunch of different dishes. The atmosphere is great if you’re okay with some loudness/busyness. Great drinks too

Tapas bar is one of my favorite places to eat on a special night out in Victoria. It’s in the heart of downtown by a very dreamy, charming, and beautifully lit alleyway on Trounce. In terms of food, they are never a let down. They feature classics like the Mussels in a nice Spicey sauce that comes with focaccia bread to dip it in. You cannot go wrong with most of the dishes there. The only dish I don’t recommend are the chicken wings just because they have so many better options instead. While I love the atmosphere during the summer and seating on the patio, the inside of the restaurant is often way too loud. Because of this, it often makes me want to leave the restaurant quickly. The food is always a classic and the sangria is to die for. I highly recommend. 9/10

Excellent food but a bit of the pricey side - usually around CAD 10-12 per tapa order. Obviously can't be compared to the 1 euro tapas in Spain but they're comparable to the other restaurants in the area. Service was good and would recommend their red wine sangria and sharing plate.

We try to go to the Tapa Bar every time we're in Victoria, the food is great every time. We also like it because there are lots of options for us including vegetarian options for our vegetarian family members although even those of us who aren't vegetarian also enjoy the vegetarian dishes too. Great place for some delicious food.

We stopped in for dinner on a whim and this place was amazing! Awesome food, great vibe and sangria was on point! I don’t know how soon we’ll be in Victoria again but I know where we’ll eat dinner!!

This is the second time we have been to The Tapa Bar and again we enjoyed ourselves immensely. The food is exceptional, perfect portion sizes and such a great selection for us vegetarians. The ambiance is relaxed, but romantic and fun, with the decor holding a good mix of traditional and modern. The staff are so helpful and cheery, the wine list is really interesting and I honestly cannot flaw this restaurant in a single way - everyone should go!

Ahhhhhmazing an explosion of flavours, the dates wrapped in bacon are to die for we also loved the lemon chicken tortilla soup this was one of the best soups we've ever had , recommend this restaurant 2 times :) o and the organic Rollingdale Pinot Grigo was divine

2.5 -The food was only okay but the service was poor. It felt like we were inconveniencing them the whole time just by showing up. The hostess mumbled something about not wanting to use up tables when they were super busy when the whole inside was pretty empty and our waitress never cracked a smile and gave us the impression she wanted us to eat and get out. Not cool. Probably won't eat here again.

Best place good eats service n workers � cooks � highly recommend for a good night out

Food was outstanding! Service was spectacular! So many really, really wonderful dishes � favourite was the grilled kale with cayenne and coconut milk xoxo mmm so good !!

All of our food was great, especially the bacon wrapped dates with blue cheese and balsamic reduction!

This is one of my fave restaurants in Victoria. The food is amazing, the staff is always friendly and the bar flows :)

Everytime I go I try a new dish, and I am impressed everytime. The staff is incredibly lovely, and always do their best to maximize your experience.

Greet happy hour prices and just enough on their HH menu. Chicken wings in butter garlic wine sauce and as fab!

Excellent choices and everything we have ever tried has been absolutely delicious. We always make a point of catching lunch here every time we visit Victoria. One day we plan to make it a dinner stop.

The Tapa Bar was lit warmly and exuded a feeling of excitement as we walked down the intimate alley - we just had to stop for a visit. The wait staff all were wearing zombie makeup which was perfect for the Halloween season! They promptly seated us outside on the busy Saturday night... the table had a candle and fine dishes. We ordered the house chardonnay, an order of fried oysters and a chicken artichoke tapa... all were delicious! Such a fun, romantic, classy atmosphere. Shortly after our arrival, we noticed folks were lining up for a table. Would definitely return!

Great food, nice atmosphere and the service was excellent. We highly recommend this restaurant.

I had an awesome food experience in Victoria, The Tapa Bar, however was not up to the standard for me. Our server did not know much about the beers or wine and the food she recommended was far from tasty and appealing

I've been coming here for years and it's really been consistently great every visit! Staff are always super friendly and give amazing suggestions like adding the house made sausage to the tortellini dish (Aaamazing!!!) and no judgments, just a shared chuckle on my traditional 11:30am lemon drop martini when I visit each year. Oh and NEVER leave without trying their bacon wrapped pecans with blue cheese and balsamic. OMG yummo! Until next time!

Amazing! Staff super friendly, kitchen was great to accommodate my food alergies. Highly recommend!

Went here after finding it on this app<br/>Was not disappointed <br/>Obviously popular with locals <br/>Thursday was busy<br/>Staff extremely helpful<br/>Service brisk but not intrusive <br/>Had two of the tapas and two of the bigger meals <br/>All very tasty <br/>Deserts OMG! <br/>Loved the decor music <br/>Great spot from which to wander down to the harbour and walk it off

I honestly can't fault the food, service or atmosphere here. This is my 3rd visit and every time has been exceptional. There is a wide variety of dishes to choose from and the flavors are simple and very tasty, plus the staff are friendly and fun.

So delicious! Eggplant dish was amazing and everything is so well seasoned. All the tapas I tried were so flavourful and exciting. This place has a great atmosphere, beautiful building and perfect dinner lighting (I like darker lighting in restaurants). Overall it was a great dinner experience.

Sangria night on a Sunday evening. So glad we made reservations to avoid having to wait at the door. If i really had to pick between the sangria here or at Bodega (same owners), I would lean towards the latter. Tapa bar ones still had the kick we were looking for but it still had a little more ice than required. It was nice that the server poured the refills for us, but it also felt like we were being rushed out. Food was delicious and well made. No charcuterie boards available though - go next door if you're feeling meat and cheese with your drinks.

Good wine list and great atmosphere. Will come back! I highly recommend the bacon-wrapped dates and the curried prawns. The staff is super friendly too.

Strongly recommend the gamba chipotle. (Prawns in a spicy paste) super savory! We also ordered mussel cha cha cha, grilled kale and they were really tasty too. Cubanette was not bad either tho the pork was kinda hard and a little dry so I don't recommend this dish in particular. In general Service and food are both fantastic.

Overpriced and under delivered! Food was salty, flavourless, small, and not at all impressive! I really don't think they had a clue about wine pairings, even though they claim to be a tapa bar, which should mean they know a bit about wines. The service was by far the worst I've experienced in Victoria. The space was very hot and humid, making it extremely uncomfortable. I most certainly will not be returning anytime soon. The location is very good however, but not enough to make me want to go back!

Was really excited to try for the first time. May I suggest do not sit at the bar or you will not return. While the food tasted good my main concern is around food safety and what I witnessed happening in the open concept kitchen. I was appalled as I watched cooks using dirty rags, not sanitizing the stainless steel counters and cutting cured meats cheese and various other products with no regard for food safety. What really blew me away was when I watched a cook bury his hands in the ceviche as he plated it.... GROSS!!!! <br/>Now the washrooms, disgusting, period. <br/>I write this review not as just a regular observer but as a certified cook, previous server, and as someone who currently works in the food service industry. I will definitely not be returning.

I've been here many times and keep going back. The food is delicious and the service is great. My favourite dish is the Mussels de Cha Cha Cha. Amazing!

The food was very tasty. Great ambience and service excellent. It was a Wednesday night, so $10 off any bottle of wine. We had the mussels cha cha cha-fiery, but super tasty. We requested extra bread for the broth; we wanted to mop up every last morsel of the tasty broth. Highly recommend that dish. Everything we order was really delicious. We would definitely go back.

Our 7th stop in Victoria in 2 days.. And by far our fave! Down to earth service in a beautiful, unique setting. Amazing tapas- especially the almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. Great Martina's for happy hour. Exceptional all around. Yummy!

Very friendly staff, a bit pricey but they are really quality driven instead of quantity. They have an open kitchen and lots of original south european style food. You should absolutely try the expresso mousse for dessert.

I like this place very much! There are a few favourites here: Garlic shrimp, sautéed kale, sardines, queso dip, bacon wrapped dates, just to name a few... Delicious!

Excellent cocktails! Excellent service. Food left a little to be desired. Olives were quite good, chili con queso fondue had some good flavour. But the papas bravas were just deep fried potatoes with aioli on top, dish didn't reflect the price. Finally the bistek al ajillo steak was really disappointing. At 19 dollars steak should be cooked well and have some good flavour and be of fair size, this had none of the above. There was no identifiable white wine butter sauce and a rare steak came out medium, charred and chewy. Would love to see the food at this excellent location brought up to snuff!!!

Closed for renos. Closed closed and closed<br/>bottomless soups choices are limited with too many beans and lentils at times

Dessert. If you don't order the creme brûlé then sadly you've missed the best dessert in town.

My Favorite Place In Vic. I love Tapa Bar, and even though a few times the quality has not been consistent, it has never been enough to send me astray.<br/>The atmosphere is top notch, I feel like im on vacation there, a very miami/cuban feel to it.<br/><br/>Favorite Tapas:<br/>Gambas Chipotle(ask for extra bread for the sauce)<br/>Grilled Kale<br/>Fried Fanny Bay Oysters<br/>Saffron Mussels <br/>Almond Stuffed Dates<br/><br/>The Creme Brulee trio desert.

Disappointed...will not come back.... Came in with high hopes after reading all the raving reviews...We ordered the Almond bacon, garlic chicken wings and caso fondue...<br/>Almond bacon...too much bacon...quarter piece of date...portions were off...<br/>Garlic wings...wings tasted frozen...meat was chewy...drenched in oil...not much garlic flavor other than the diced garlic spread on top...<br/>Case fondue...chips were stale...told the waitress she took it away Came back with the same plate except heated up the chips...I knew because the one chip I took a bite from was still there...Sangria was meh...nothing special...Waitress was very pushy...There was no line up our plates were still full but she kept returning every 5mins trying to take our plates...we kept telling her we're still working on it but she insisted on helping us clear our table...Overall we were disappointed and will not return...

Disgusting..... The garlic chicken wing taste old and super greasy. its something I can only picture a stoned college student eat. unless you like the flavor of grease. the chicken wings taste so old, stale and chewy. the chip with the caso was so stale. I ask the server to take them back but they bought the same chips back just heated up with more grease on the plate but still stale. the bacon wrapped almond stuff dates are so salty... and to top it off its covered with blue cheese ... one bite and I need a whole glass of water to wash it down. I wanted to puke after the meal... it was one of the worse food I've eaten in a long time.

The food is always very tasty. My husband especially loves the almond stuffed dates and I love the pollo al ajillo and chorizo fondu. The atmosphere is noisy and crowded. The service is ok to good depending on the server. We enjoy going back for the delicious food.

I've been going to Tapa Bar for years now and have always enjoyed my experience - until this evening unfortunately. The garlic prawns are my husband's and my fav item on the menu to order - they arrived cold. The bread that came with the dish had been toasted at one point, but by the time it arrived at our table, it was also cold. Our other dishes were not exciting nor as flavorful as we have had in the past. The service has always stood out in past visits as well, with the servers being very friendly and knowledgable. Tonight we felt like our server was just putting her time in to get her shift over. On top of it all, staff were preparing for a larger group to arrive - rather than picking up the tables to move them into position, they dragged all four tables one by one. In a restaurant that already has poor acoustics, you can imagine how much tables and chairs dragging on a concrete floor must have sounded, not to mention the two plates that fell and smashed on the ground. Needless to say, not quite the experience we had in mind for celebrating a special occasion. We always counted on this restaurant for a good meal and were let down. With so many fantastic restraurants in Victoria, we won't be going back to the Tapa Bar.

Love. Mussels cha cha love love them

Snotty. Our group of four received the impression we were 'bothering' our server - we were surprised she didn't offer up an exaggerated eye roll when we asked for more water. <br/>It really brought the mood down. Everyone has off days - but best to leave it at the pass bar in the kitchen. <br/>The food here is unique and there are lots of choices to please folks. So we were doing our best to overlook our servers disposition. That said, we ordered a Caesar salad that was billed as a "south western Caesar" - basically it was minus the croutons and the cook scattered a handful of nacho chips on top. Really? Really?? <br/>It's a shame - there was a time when this darling restaurant was our go to for a great dining experience. -Sadly things seem to have changed for the worse - we won't be returning, there are just to many other restaurants that are actually happy to see their customers.

Overrated. Came here thinking a line and good reviews would be a good choice. Ordered the bacon wrapped dates and queso fun dido. Dates were very small and ok but nothing to write home about. Queso was horrible and chips seemed to be out of bag. Server said she recommended both. We planned to have dinner and more small plates, but decided to leave after these two items and an over priced wine to go with it. This is the place if you like trendy ambiance and food without much soul. You might just fit in!

Nothing special. Tapas were very plain--seems like the nachos from 7/11 cheese dispenser were served. Poor quality. Greasy.

Good. The food was wonderful, so creative and flavorful. As a bit of a picky eater I scrutinized the menu for a while but I got a great dish and next time I won't be so wary to order. I loved it.<br/>Lively atmosphere, busy and bustling, feels like the talk of the town. Very nice servers, all over a good place!

Great Food!. Lively, happening spot with great food/tapas. The sangria is absolutely awesome - seriously try it! Service is good, would go back again!

Terrible Service, so-so food.. The food was alright, nothing spectacular, although I did enjoy the mussels. But let me tell you about the service. If you make a dinner reservation, on your birthday nonetheless expect to wait outside in the cold for at least half an hour. I phoned two weeks in advance and was told the earliest they could fit me in would be 9pm.. a little late for dinner in my opinion, anyways arrive and I am told to wait outside because our table isn't ready yet. So myself and 10 guests are made to stand in the cold, WITH A RESERVATION! The whole meal the waitress was rude and kept asking if we were ready for our bills yet, trying to rush us out. SO RUDE!! Won't be going back!!

What happened? This place used to be ok in terms of food and location but wow, how quickly things can change. The food which used to be unimaginative but nonetheless tasty seems so sloppy now. Service has never been great and I keep wondering why I come back. Never again.

My wife and I came her for what was supposed to be a romantic delicious dinner. It was quite the opposite. There wings (garlic and butter) were appalling. We also had another dish chicken (NOT SURE OF WHAT IT WAS CALLED) came out super sour. <br/><br/>How ever my wife did enjoy the mussels. But almost threw up when she ate the oysters, and that says alot as she loves oysters. <br/><br/>Service was nothing special. Had the bill tossed down on the table. When the waitress asked how everything was I told her not so good then she walked away.<br/><br/>in my opinion I wiuldnt eat here again.

My boyfriend and I wanted to go out for a nice dinner and chose this restaurant as he had been here before and quite enjoyed it. Well we were both not impressed. We reserved a table for two but were out in a terrible location right by the door. Then our waitress was the most inattentive and we had to ask the hostesses three times to get her so we could order more food or drinks. The hostesses were great asking us how everything was and filling up our water, etc. The good was subpar - calamari was soggy and had terrible breading, the sardines had the guts in them still (the meat was good once you got over that), the chorizo fondue was incredibly greasy and stringy and looked like someone just melted hunks of cheese and chopped up chorizo and put that in there. The prosciutto wrapped dates were amazing and I'd definitely order them again, however I think they taste better with Gorgonzola cheese instead of blue. Overall, not very impressed but would give it a second try if under new management.

This place is amazing. Best restaurant in town. Amazing people, delicious food, and an unbeatable atmosphere. I enjoy the Cubanette con Polo With rice. The kale is a great addition to any dish here too!

Why are tapas bars in North America so expensive? the point of tapas is to add to the experience of sampling good wines, beer, or sherry... they're often free with the drinks - here they're appetizer sized meals at high prices <br/>this place is well managed and the food is good... it should be, you're paying for it

Sooooo good! Love this place! Food and service excellent! Chili Relleno amazing wings amazing mussels cha cha cha unreal!

Salt and Noise. Salty food, and very noisy. Perhaps when you drink lots of drinks, you don't notice either. Had reservations and were placed in the middle of the place. I could hear the next table shouting more clearly than my dinner date. Not a relaxing experience, nor a fun one. Best to go there intending to drink - that way you won't notice as much of the noise.... or the salt. Did I tell you the food was salty? We didn't even have any olives!!!

Variety of smaller portions / dishes to provide for an opportunity for sampling MORE FOOD<br/>Interesting martini ....olives stuffed with blue cheese ....tasty and different

The Best!. Each time I'm in the Capitol I go to The Tapa Bar. If you haven't been there you are missing a treat. Keep up the great service and food people.

Fabulous!. The dates wrapped in bacon with blue cheese are amazing!!! Great sangria. Great everything. Definitely going back!

This is a good place if you like waiting extremely long periods of time for things.

Favorite. The tapa bar is my favorite lounge to drink in. The chipotle prawns are awesome. Sangria is to die for. Love!

Mussles cha cha cha, yes please. I am in love with the mussels cha cha cha. i live in calgary, and actually flew to victoria in october for a weekend just so i could have the mussles. i love everything about this place, the spanish wine, the noise, and of course, the food, wich is simply amazing. <br/>I had one of the best experiences a few years back i have ever had at a restaurant. last month they were just as good as ever.

Beautifully decorated, modern ambient music & classy waitstaff. The food is sensibly portioned so one can choose a balanced meal. We chose this place on a lark, as we wanted to check out a new place. Would definitely return. Flawless service & food. Thanks so much for a great night. :)

I am excited for my birthday dinner at tapa soon! Looking forward to the almond stuffed dates, mmmmm!!!!!!

Like the ambiance and the food. Such a nice restaurant and always good service.<br/><br/>The house-smoked chicken breast salad with chili aioli is so amazing - the chicken is really smoky and the aioli makes a great dressing. The grilled chicken breast on focaccia with melted cheese, avocado, beans & salsa also really good.

Disappointed!. My friends recommonded the Tapa bar to me several times because its baked oyster and chicken wings. Finally i went there with my friend yesterday. I was a couple minutes late so my friend got a table first. When i arrived, i first waited in the patio and tried to find a waitress. And I did not see one standing person in the dining area, where are the waitresses? It took me a couple minutes to find out where my friend was, and there was no one welcomed me while i was wondering around in the dining area. <br/><br/>Then it was the eating part. We ordered the three baked oysters, medium rare garlic steak, and the medium madagascar steak. After we were served with oysters and finished, it took a good half hour for out steak to arrive. And the thinly sliced steak was just warm. and very very very hard to chew like a very well done weak. My friend's order was the same. I did not get this. Why we waited so long and the food was not hot? Was my food also waiting to be served while i was waiting? I was kind of hungry at this point so i was eating the sides while waiting for the waitress to check on us. Until i finished everything in my dish, the waitress still did not come. So my friend and i called it the last. <br/><br/>Besides the steak was very over cooked, the garlic sauce was very good but definitely not good enough for me to balance their bad service. The baked oyster was quite small, considering baked oyster usually are size medium or large. I am quite a seafood eater, i think those baked oyster you can get in every decent seafood restaurant. And red tide is still there, i don't know how they got fresh BC oysters.

The Tapa Bar: ¡Que Viva!. Great ambiance, just inside classy Trounce alley off of broad st. 1/4 block from where broad dead ends against north side of bay centre mall downtown. note that this is not a Spanish tapas place, the menu is neo-Mexican, mostly what are snack foods in Mexico but larger portions. Prices reasonable and service is prompt. Saturday night crowd had a positive vibe and just a short wait for a table, they called us promptly on cell phone 10 minutes after we left. Management is obviously on the right track here, staff is mostly female, but, very courteous and positive. we will definitely dine here again and keep it on our recommend-you-go-there short list.

Top place for Victoria. I've been here a few times and it's not a place I frequent often because it's not really my favorite style of food, but the food has always been delicious. I would recommend this restaurant for any visitor to Victoria. It's always busy so make sure you reserve. The service was great recently. The waitress was on the ball, but the food came out SO slow. I don't remember it being too slow before so hopefully it was just a bad night for them.

My husband had never been, it was my birthday so we decided to try it. The atmosphere was great, lots of energy, laughter. The service was awful from the moment we walked in. The hostess/server pointedly ignored us, no greeting, then gave us a table. We picked a few items, the fondu was gluey, the bacon figs were overcooked and not very good, the sardines tasted like a gas grill, it took away from the flavor. The butter garlic wings were okay, but anything doused in that much butter would taste good. They were nothing special.The service didn't improve, it was as if our server was annoyed at being there at all. We won't be back, we work hard and would rather spend our money where we feel welcome and valued as customers. We waited a full 15 minutes for the bill, and that was the only time our server interacted with us , asked if we were locals or tourists while our interac was processing.

Yum!!. Sangria and a platter for two...

Afternoon Undelight. I love the Tapa Bar but unfortunately the food has been dropping in quality during lunch hours. The service is great, but the food is slow and not cooked properly. I will now only be coming in for dinner.

Great Date Night. Had a wonderful date night last night at the Tapa Bar. bacon wrapped dates, smoked chicken salad and pesto pizza were all good. Cheese cake and cappuccino were average but still yummy. Great location and service. It was a lovely meal, we will for sure be back soon

Terrible service, not great food.. I was really looking forward to going to the tapa bar for a birthday lunch, but it was the worst experience I've had in a long time. First off, the service was terrible, I watched another group of people walk in 20 minutes after me, order and receive food before I even had my order taken. I tried to flag down a waitress but she completely avoided eye contact, only returning to me after another 15 minutes. My friend and I ordered appys and mains, her soup came and I watched her eat it, but where was my salad? I asked the waitress and she said it was coming. another half hour till I could flag anyone down and she told me it was still coming. I complained that I had been here for a full hour by this time, with no food. She tells me it's really busy. Lunch time on a saturday, not all the tables are taken, they should be prepared for a few orders. She races off and another half hour later another server comes with our mains. I ask her about my salad, and she informs me there was no salad ordered. um, excuse me? salad comes ten minutes later. I eat that, neither of our main courses were any good, didn't even bother eating them. No apologies from the servers for the bad service, and they billed me for the food. Complained to the manager who compensated the bill. Hope the girls get fired. NEVER GOING THERE AGAIN.

A birthday to remember!. Went in for a birthday drink - the first martini was so fabulous that it warranted a second. The bartender was so great and it was memorable time. Great stop!!

Best Restaurant Ever.. Have been there a few times and every time the food has been more than Amazing. Every bite has been full of incredible flavours. The mussels are out of this galaxy.

My favorite restaurant, hands down!. With amazing food and a fun lively atmosphere the Tapa Bar has it all. Try the grilled kale, the almond stuffed bacon wrapped dates, and the grilled portobello mushrooms. They also have the best Sangria in town. Oh and don't forget the desserts, I had a chocolate espresso mousse in a brandy snap basket last time that was to die for. Next time I want to try the brulee trio. Mmmmm.

The food is delicious and the muscles are to die for but more then once the service wasn't great. I felt rushed out of restaurant when I was trying to enjoy a nice dinner with friends because they had lined up reservations to close to mine.

Average, But Always Very Busy. :|<br/><br/>Generally, the food is average, but some items are definitely good. You have to try everything, then decide what works for you. Expensive for what you get. Good atmosphere. It's loud and packed at night, great if you're with friends.<br/><br/>Try the Almond Stuffed Dates<br/><br/>Average Food • Okay Service • Clean

Good venue (very busy on a Tuesday night) although some people would find it too noisy. Tapas was ok - perhaps a but too much melted cheese though. Good selection of wines by the glass, service was good, price was surprisingly good. I'd go there again.

Nothing special here. Went with 6 people. We ordered 8 diff dishes. None spectacular. We were all kinda disappointed. For the price we expected much better

Nice ambiance - decent food - snobby staff. Visited for the fist time, the place has a nice feel.<br/>4 people in our group so we went a little wild ordering a bit of everything.<br/> - table favorite was the bacon wrapped dates, good old Red Barn double smoked bacon saved the day on this one.<br/> - second fav was the baked tortellini<br/> - Absolute last was the chicken, you cannot cook chicken breast and throw them in a wine sauce thinking that dry chicken will no longer be dry chicken by dousing it in a sauce (yucch) <br/> - shrimp dish was just OK, nothing spectacular . . . shrimp/garlic and butter<br/> - deserts were nice, creme brule trio was a clear winner, cheesecake was typical New York store bought with a nice raspberry coulis

Sublime grilled portobellos. Three of us shared a pitcher of the red sangria, which was pretty good. The grilled portobello mushrooms with a champagne mango vinaigrette was phenomenal and I'd totally love to have it again...all to myself! The fondue was whatever and the halibut was overcooked in the tostada. Doesn't matter though, all I remember is the portobellos with love.

Great food and atmosphere!! We ordered a few dishes as had been saving ourselves all day for this meal. The mussels, chiopolte prawns,and aramada chicken are excellent! The ceviche is okay and the bread is yummy!! Also if you want some good sangria order a jug, well worth it! We look forward to a repeat visit! Make sure to make a reservation to ensure u get a seat!!!

I heart Tapa Bar. I love the Tapa Bar! Great food, great people, fast service, great environment, very chill place, can be loud at times but that makes it fun! I have great memories at the Tapa Bar!

Sangria sunday!. Tasty snacks, great social atmosphere and the sangria is the best!

Nice mood, nice food.. Bit pricey, but the mood is nice, and so is the steak as rasberry mojitos. Reservations are suggested, i went there with family (4 of us total) with no reservation, and we were lucky to get a spot in the back.

You couldn't pay me to go back to this place. About 6 years ago my friends and I had the worst service I've ever had in my entire life. I realize this happened a long time ago but I get a kick out of telling the story. It's a long story so Im leaving out the funny details, but here's a summary. First of all, the first waitress we had was the rudest wait staff I'd ever run in to. I think she left after taking our drink orders without getting passed on to someone else. We asked multiple times to order and finally got a drink order after an hour. We got coffee that was half coffee grinds, and show our new waitress the cup full of grinds. We asked for another coffee that had coffee grinds in it AGAIN! We got our cold food 45 min later. When we spoke to someone about it, the person who was supposedly the Manager said "Oh, sorry" and turned around and left. At least we left with a great story to tell that we can all laugh about. There are so many great restaurants in Vic that I don't feel the need to ever go back.

Great time!. What a meal. We had a jug of Sangria (white), breads and the platter for two. It was some the of the best Spanish ive had and Tapas is a regular thing for me.<br/><br/>Service was superb and atmosphere vibrant. Will be back!

Best mohitos outside of Havana. Went here despite not being able to get a reservation. Walked in about 8 pm and they sat us in the bar. Good service. Excellent tapas - tried the bacon wrapped dates on recommendation of server and it was fabulous. The halibut was good as well. Good prices: 3 tapas, multiple drinks and dessert for under $100. I recommend

Love this place. I don't care what people say but I have great service, and good food everytime I come here!<br/><br/>Their sangria is TO DIE FOR, and their lychee martini is soooo delicious. Food-wise their bacon wrapped dates are amazing and it's nice to have a bunch of tapas, try a bit here and there and share with your party.

The food was decent. The wine choices fantastic for the price! I had the artichokes, duck leg and the chile relleno. Duck leg needed more braising. Other than that, flavores were really good. Thanks to Robyn for taking good care of me!

Really tasty! We tried the bacon-wrapped dates, the tostada and the cha cha cha mussels. Devoured it all, but the broth from the mussels was my fave. You'll need lotsa focaccia to soak it up!

Best in the city.. By far one of the best in the city. Try the pesto pizza and you will never be the same. The chachacha mussels are also one of my favs. Wine Wednesday.... enough said! Very very good! Great for dates too :)

Stylish, Convenient location. Been there just once. The reccommendation came out of a popular travel guidebook. Location is excellent - just off the main tourist drag, yet not on a busy street. Outdoor patio is on the cobbled alleyway and with lights on in the evening, its quite a neat place. The inside seemed lively, high ceilings, spacious coves and booths. I tried the Gambas Chipotle off the seafood Tapas menu and it was delicious. The white wine sauce was unique and the prawns were succulent and quite well seasoned. The wife had a thin crust pizza which was quite good too. Their wine list looked extensive (and somewhat expensive) but I settled with a Granville Island brewing Co lager (when in BC thats supreme). For dessert we had a kind of a crumble apple and peach cobbler. It wasn''t extraordinary but nevertheless worth a try. Service can be spotty on the patio if its a busy time (we were there at 530 pm just a few minutes before the dinner crowds came in, so we got good attention early on). Definitely stands out as a hip stylish kind of place in what some would consider grumpy and stately Victoria.

Best Social Dining Experience. I have to say that The Tapa Bar provides the best social dining experience in Victoria. As long as you are with people that understand that the plates are for sharing (as are the cheques). And for those who unable to share over dinner, I suggest you relax a little, maybe revisit kindergarten and return to Tapa Bar once you've acquired that basic social skill. I am confident there is something in Tapa Bar for everyone's liking.<br/><br/>I have been there 25+ times on dinner dates, with groups, and just for a bite to eat. There have been a few times when I thought the service was slow, but usually that was when I was by myself and bored with no one else to carry conversation; then again, I go to Tapa Bar to dine, not to scarf down food in a hurry. If you are ordering more than one plate per person and you are timing your food (ie we will start with this...then try this and finish with this...) then the food comes in waves which is what a Tapa Bar is all about. I am sure all of you experienced diners will understand. (If you ever have a friend who doesn't understand Tapas I suggest comparing it to Chinese food--I know awkward comparison, but the plates come for sharing. Although for a Tapa Bar some of the dishes are huge! <br/><br/>Personal Favorites include Almond Stuffed Dates, Chorizo Fondue, Heart of Palm Salad, Mussels de Cha Cha Cha, and Pollo Armanda. I really enjoy their classic vodka martini...especially their blue cheese stuffed olive (in house). If you have the opportunity order the Key Lime Pie martini--I am pretty sure they put that on the menu, since my friends and I ordered it so much.<br/><br/>I recommend reservations for groups over 2 at least a day in advance. Although 50% of the restaurant is reserved for walk ins if you are a larger group, you might be waiting some time. Their patio is great, and if you get too cold they have blankets for you.<br/><br/>I really like Tapa Bar because it has an atmosphere that is appropriate for several dining needs. Although I would never call this a family restaurant, I've brought family here on several occasions. I have had huge success here on dinner dates...and it also serves as an impressive local joint to bring guests. The restaurant doesn't survive solely based on location, but on their menu and returning local clientele.

Amazing!. I had not gone to the Tapa Bar in such a long time that I decided to make it the place to go on mine and my boyfriends date night a couple weeks ago. Boy was it worth it! We made a reservation as it was a Saturday night when we went. After sitting at the bar for only a few minutes (long enough to order a drink) they kindly sat us at a little table at the front by the window.<br/>We split 3 Tapas; bacon wrapped dates, seafood fettuccine, and the pepper steak I believe. And all I can say is, WOW. Every bite was better than the last.<br/>Definitely worth the wait and the fact that the restaurant is a little crowded with tables. The ambiance is lovely as it's darker and cosy for date night :)

Hmmmm?. Cool place. slowest service ever. sangria was good except the clearly boxed wine taste wasn't the greatest.

Just thinking about it makes me want to go back.. The service is ALWAYS great, and the food and cocktail menus are amazing. I could eat here everyday. The food is affordable, and its always a blast to come here with a group. I do recommend reservations though :) Great ambiance, and the staff always look happy when working. Its great when you frequently visit a place and see no turn over in staff...and everyone looks like they are enjoying their jobs. There is NOTHING bad about this place!

Food was very good and Sangria was on special. The Pollo Madagasgar has a kick to it but for someone who doesn't care for spice I quite liked it. Service was excellent! I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Very mellow atmosphere. Prices mid range. $60 for 2 meals and a few drinks.

Good experience overall. I went on a Monday night, and it wasn't very busy, so that might explain the attentive service. The gambos chipotle and halibut tostada were amazing. Very reasonably priced pitcher of sangria, too! Nice atmosphere, would definitely go again.

The house smoked chicken thin crust pizza for under $15, combined with grilled eggplant provide both tasty and substantial lunch for 2.

Always great. I have been eating here for years and have never once had a bad experience. Great little hidden spot to go any night of the week.

Hit and Miss. The service and the food are hit and miss at this establishment. They also lack consistency as the dishes are prepared and served one way may come out differently the next week.

Service.... I used to live in James Bay so my wife & I would walk down and spend warm summer evenings on the patio with a pitcher of sangria. My visiting parents even liked it so much they ate there twice in 2 days. Things have gone downhill though... On our last visit, the busy server tried to impress us by not writing anything down, so she ended up forgetting a major dish and messed up the drinks, and we waited uncomfortably long for pedestrian food...

Terrible.. Went there with two friends one afternoon, the place looked okay and wasn't too busy, but the food was a severe let down. i ordered rice and beans, and some chicken sandwich thing. the chicken sandwich wasn't bad, but the rice was hard, chunky, lukewarm, and overall disgusting. i couldn't tell if the rice had been undercooked, overcooked, or baked, because it looked as though it had somehow been all three of those. never ever going again.

The small portions were typical of a tapas restaurant but the food was good. The sanguria was solid and the house salad was especially good.

Absolute worst dining experience ever. After experiencing a lot of great food in Victoria, we had high hopes for The Tapa Bar. It was a Saturday night, and the place was packed but without a wait. For anyone who likes to talk with the people at their table, the noise may be an issue inside. Outside seemed better. The real problems were (1) the service and (2) the food. After ordering, we waited 45 minutes without attention from our server, drink refills, or food. The server freaked out on us when we asked what was going on. Once the food finally came, we had a Dr. Jekel/Mr. Hyde experience. The starter chicken salad was surpisingly tasty and mussles were good, but both our entrees were inedible (pork cubana and pollo madagascar). I'd be willing to take some responsibility for ordering a lame chicken salad, but that was the best thing served. To the manager's credit, he did take the horrible entrees off our bill. Add to this the hostess who attempted to turn the evening into an MTV reality show by falsely telling the server that we had threatened physical violence. Are you kidding me? So, if you'd like a surreal evening in Victoria, this is your place. If you'd like good food, walk the few blocks to Il Terrazo or the Reef.

... really weak broth, almost bland; avocado not completely ripe; chicken dry...

Overall, we had a great time at Tapa. Although the menu could use a little work, most of the dishes were pretty tasty and we did not leave much behind. We loved the atmosphere and the ability to order a selection of dishes to share. The service was sub-par at times, but always friendly. It was a entertaining first night out in Victoria!

If you've ever driven from the Victoria airport to downtown Victoria, you have probably seen that section of highway 17 with the big billboards advertising various things to see and do in this great city. One sign that I've noticed many times is that of the Tapa Bar Restaurant in trounce alley. I may not be a huge fan of those signs but I have to admit every time I drive by I think to myself, I have to go there some day. Well, "some day" finally came and am I ever glad it did. From the second we sat down on the patio (a great place to sit on a summer evening if you are lucky enough to get a seat), Mark and I fell in love with this restaurant. With great Spanish music paying in the background, good indoor and outdoor lighting, and lots of people, the atmosphere here is just one of Tapa Bar's selling points. This restaurant has a great menu with lots of selection, even for those vegetarians out ther

I had visited the restaurant long before in my quest, but didn't write a review. Today, I had a "business" lunch and it was the perfect opportunity for the Tapa Bar, since it is usually better enjoyed with a group of people. We sat outside. It was a

So Victoria isn't that big a city which is why I guess you can call a restaurant The Tapa Bar. We really enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere - large bar on one side, open wood oven on the other and lots of people sitting around enjoying drinks and eats