VICTORIA - Vancouver and Victoria - page 247

served in the bar, while West Coast and seafood dishes such as sea bass basted in an ale
sauce are offered in the downstairs restaurant.
Althoughthe Oak Bay Hotel (1175BeachDr.,250/598-4556)isamodernreplacement
forthehistoricalhotelthatoncestoodonthiswaterfrontsite,diningoptionsremainsimilar
to those enjoyed by generations of locals and visitors alike. Snug Pub (11am-midnight,
$14-24) was a busy social hangout as early as the 1950s, and in the reinvented hotel, con-
tinues this role, with dishes such as fish and chips and steak and kidney pie, all best en-
joyedwithapintofbeeronthewaterfrontpatio.Muchoftheexposedbeamworkanddark
polished wood in Kate's Café (6am-10pm daily, $13-18) was reclaimed from the origin-
al structure, while the classic cooking offered in the upscale Dining Room (from 5:30pm
daily, $26-38) has been impressing the genteel residents of Oak Bay for generations.
SEAFOOD
Fish and chips is a British tradition and is sold as such at a number of places around
town. Most centrally located is Old Vic Fish & Chips (1316 Broad St., 250/383-4536,
11am-8pmMon.-Sat.,$12.50-18),whichhasbeeninbusinesssince1930.Asatanyisland
fish and chip joint, pay the extra for halibut.
Down on the docks below downtown, at the foot of Broughton Street, Red Fish Blue
Fish (1006 Wharf St., 250/298-6877, 11:30am-7pm, $10-20) is a takeout place ensconced
in a brightly painted shipping container. Unusual for a fish and chip joint, the emphasis
is on wild, sustainable fisheries. Prices reflect the waterfront location ($20 for two pieces
of halibut with chips), but the quality of fish is excellent. Other choices include a grilled
scallop burger and wild salmon fish tacos. Expect a line in summer.
My favorite two places for fish and chips are away from the tourist-clogged streets of
the Inner Harbour. For the very best quality, Fairfield Fish & Chips (1277 Fairfield St.,
250/380-6880, 11:30am-7:30pm Tues.-Sat., $7-10.50) is a winner. Fish choices include
halibut, haddock, cod, and rockfish, which are served with perfectly cooked chips. Other
optionsincludeahalibutburgeranddeep-friedoysters.It'slocatedalongFairfieldRoadat
Moss Street, a few blocks north of Moss Street.
The location alone makes M Barb's Place (Fisherman's Wharf, at the foot of St.
Lawrence St., 250/384-6515, 11am-dusk daily March-Oct., $9-18), a sea-level eatery on a
floating dock, my other favorite. It's not a restaurant as such, but a shack surrounded by
outdoor table settings, some protected from the elements by a canvas tent. The food is as
fresh as it gets. Choose cod and chips, halibut and chips, or clam chowder, or splash out