Q: My wife and I are headed to Victoria BC for our wedding anniversary the weekend of May 16th. We have never been there before. I am looking for a very romantic restaurant, preferably one that is quiet with maybe a view of the water. My wife is not a huge seafood fan, but is always open to a very nice restaurant even if it is seafood if everything else is right. Does anybody have any recommendations?
A: Ye Olde English Inn...out of town, but worth the ride (take a taxi). Call ahead for Reservations, and ask the time the gift shoppe and other things close. It's near the sea....and has a restaurant (as well as romantic overnight accommodations). At the restaurant, your food is served by costumed waiters & waitresses & food is served on Peuter-like dishes & utinsils. We had a table by the fireplace. Make sure you go early enough to tour Anne Hathaway's cottage (EXACT replica). There's even a "lawn-swing" for you two to stop and 'muse'. There's another Inn on the water on the way out to the Inn...but I totally recommend this place. You could have High Tea at the Empress, or Tea at the Inn, the day after. Brunch I TOTALLY recommend at the Queen Victoria Hotel on Douglas Street, behind the Empress (lovely rooms, indoor swimming pool, workout room & parking too). Anyone can walk-in for brunch (don't need to be a guest). I was with the Ritz Carlton before retiring & the brunch at the Queen Vic...is not even SECOND to that! If you take the Coho ferry over to Victoria from Port Angeles, you won't need to have a passport if your U.S. born. It's a great ride across the Straits of Juan de Fuca too! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!