Pagliacci's
• 1011 Broad St. | Victoria, BC | V8W2A1
Average User Rating:
7.98/10
7.98/10
Recommended by:
87%
87%
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"Fantastic Italian Experience!"
Marion Ann
December 2011 — "Pagliacci’s on Broad Street is another local’s favorite places to have a great dining experience. Since they don’t take reservations you might have to wait up to forty five minutes to get into this Italian style dining establishment, but as all the locals have told me, it’s worth the wait.
When my friends and I arrived we only had to wait five minutes for one of the larger booths. The host was very friendly and welcomed us to Paglicacci’s. The restaurant is quaint and cozy with Italian décor and great back ground music. Our server was efficient and helped us with our choices. I tried one of the many pasta dishes offered, The Big Easy with fresh prawns, chicken and Italian sausage over penne with a spicy Mariana sauce. It was simply amazing! Great flavor and for the half portion I still wasn’t able to finish the generous portion. The endless basket of homemade bread is one of the selling features that everyone talks about. It’s a buttery bread that melts in your mouth. My boyfriend had the classic lasagna and it was such a healthy portion and I had a bite and it was good! My friend tried the Hemmingway which was a creamy sauce with cheese stuffed tortellini.
The prices are so reasonable and for two people to dine with entrée’s, drinks and wine was under forty dollars! My only recommendation is to get there early to get a seat but if you’re prepared to wait at a later time it is definitely worth the wait. We definitely will be going back to try another great pasta experience!
"
User Rating
9.83/10
9.83/10
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"All that fuss? Fogaddabouit"
Pamela
June 2011 — "Crowded is the first word that comes to mind when walking into this incredibly popular local restaurant. The tables are so pushed together, you certainly need to tuck in your chair and stuck in your tummy for people to get by you.
The service was less than impressive...waiting to be seated, to then have the waitress point o a table and tell us to go there, she would get us menus eventually.
My friend and I decided to share a pitcher of sangria, seeming not bad at $15. The wine and juice were not well mixed, and I would have been fine having just one glass.
I ordered "The Oddfather", a chicken Parmesan and pasta type combination. While the portion was certainly more than enough, the spice was missing from what should have been a delicious Italian taste.
After the whole experience, I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about."
User Rating
4.50/10
4.50/10
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"Always Fun"
Melinda
August 2009 — "I have been to this Italian flair restaurant for lunch numerous times over the years and very little has changed, but that's a good thing. It is always busy with a line to get in going out the door. The tables are so close together you could join into the conversations with your neighbors. But for some strange reason no one seems to care. Its loud and crazy with hustle and bustle, but that is part of the experience. The walls are plastered with celebrities autographed photos and walls painted with the New York City skyline of high rises. It's all fun to look at while your waiting for your food, which does not take very long at all. The server brings a basket of the best warm Focaccia bread as soon as you sit down. It is so hard not to fill up on the bread. They have daily specials which usually run out due to popularity. The menu items have catchy clever witty names. I love the Dr. Capelliti pasta served with choice of soup or salad for a $7.95. I usually order the salad with the house yogurt dill dressing. For the last 20 years or so I don't think the price has gone up more than $2. I have also taken my kids ever since they were little there and they are great with kids too. My sons are all grown up now and they take their girlfriends there for a fun date. If there a line when you get there, its worth the wait. If you have any room for dessert they have the best cheesecake. If you don't have room order a piece to go. Enjoy the experience."
User Rating
9.33/10
9.33/10
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"Busy Hot Spot"
deb
August 2009 — "We all enjoyed this place. There was a line up out the door and down the side walk which usually I wouldn't have the patience to wait but the hostess said that the line moves quickly. We were seated within ten minutes. There is not much room to walk around once inside. The tables are packed together very tightly barely room for the waitresses to move around. My niece and her boyfriend each ordered a salad as I did and my friend had a sandwich. Service was very quick even though the place was so busy. They started us out with some foccacia bread which I am certain was the best foccacia bread I have ever had. It was salty and a little greasy but especially soft and tasty. We asked for more! Our salads were all very good and my friend was very pleased with his sandwich. The salad had chickpeas and shredded carrot and came with a very nice balsamic vinegar house dressing. We passed on dessert. The salads and bread were enough! I would recommend anyone to try this place. Located right downtown Victoria it is convenient and easy to find. And don't let the line up stop you. It's worth the wait."
User Rating
8/10
8/10
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"Victoria Legend lives up to hype."
Tiemen
December 2008 — "Pagliacci's is a Victoria legend that has been serving delicious Italian food to the people of Victoria (and beyond!) for well over 20 years. They claim to have introduced Cheesecake and Cappuccino to Victoria, and should be applauded for that alone, but this is one restaurant that is worthy of ALL the hype. It took us a while to try Pagliacci's, because it is VERY popular. There is always a wait for seat at supper, and on weekend, that line usually stretches well down the block. We hit it at the start of the dinner rush, and were seated right away. The place was crowded. There is not alot of room between tables, and they make use of any available space for seating, but the atmosphere is very pleasant, and the restaurant seems very alive. We heard that the lasagna was fantastic, so my wife ordered that, but I couldn't pass up the Seafood Lasagna after reading the description. Service was great and the food came fast. The Seafood Lasagna was absolutely delicious, my mouth is watering just thing about it. I also tried the regular Lasagna, and wasn't that thrilled with it. That's OK though, I was more than happy with what I ordered, and the prices were fair. I know I'll be back, and probably often. "
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"Noodles and Novelty "Thomas
August 2008 — "It's, loud, busy and packed wall to wall with tables—and I love it. Pagliacci's has got something that's missing in most other places in Victoria. Though the city is full of great food, it's the attitude and atmosphere that really sells this Italian eatery. With its tall 6-m ceilings, cheeky memorabilia plastered all over the walls and retro furnishings to match, the restaurant is just a fun place to be. Aside from that, they serve some mean Italian meals—each with witty names to match. The service is alright, but I didn't expect much from a place that is apparently always at full capacity. I think the prices don't really match what you get either, but I guess your paying for the experience too... or something. Anyways, I recommend Pagliacci's to anybody looking for a fun night out in Victoria, BC. "
User Rating
7.17/10
7.17/10
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"Best Sunday Brunch in Victoria"Maria
May 2008 — "Pagliacci’s is a hidden but popular Victoria dining spot. The restaurant is small but ideally located in the heart of Victoria. The wait to get a seat can be long but worth it. The Sunday brunch is very popular. When you walk in you are greeted by signed photographs of famous celebrities and many of the menu items are named after them. Due to the small size, the noise level is high so I would not recommend this location for a romantic date but I would for a Sunday of shopping with friends. When you finally get a seat, which is essentially part of the neighboring table you are given a basket of Mt. Royal bagels during brunch hours with cream cheese and blueberry jam. The menu is extensive with many different versions of eggs Benedict, omelets and pasta dishes. They also have a daily omelet, breakfast and pasta special. I was delighted by the Eggs-Istencial eggs benny I which had the additions of lox, fresh tomato, red onions and spinach. The food portions are very large and very reasonably priced.
The servers are very friendly and they are quick to take your order and bring your food. Also they are very skilled to maneuver in small spaces with large plates of food. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for brunch. I am very eager to try their dinner menu!
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User Rating
8.17/10
8.17/10
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"Classy Jazz Bar"Jessica
May 2007 — "Oh so much fun! I really hadn't expected this place in sleepy Victoria's downtown on a weeknight. Nonetheless, it exists! Located on a side-street with neighboring commercial stores closed for the evening, Pagliaccis was full of volume when we walked in around ten at night. A live jazz trio was in the middle of the set as the casual and friendly owner gestured us in and a cocktail waitress showed us to a table. Lively and animated, the restaurant had an intimate setting that I'm sure would have been even more alive during a weekend evening packing the place full. On the weeknight we were there, the restaurant was about half full, which made for plenty of attentive service from both sexy waitresses attending to us. We decided to do a late evening dessert, wine, and coffee. The three of us had a New York style cheesecake and a carrot cake. I started off with a nice glass of Shiraz which was lovely from their carefully selected wine menu. The cake portions were huge and the cheesecake as rich as ever. Free refilled decaf coffee kept the cheesecake indulgence on the pleasurable rather than stomach-ache side. The staff seemed to frolick and enjoy themselves as much as the clientele, and my friend, a native to Victoria, told me the owner only gave a few shifts a week to any waitress as the tips were so good he wanted to spread the wealth."
User Rating
8.17/10
8.17/10
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DescriptionA popular restaurant featuring a variety of live music including R&B, blues, jazz and rock. Music starts at 9 pm, Tues-Sat.
Location Information1011 Broad St.
Victoria
BC
V8W2A1
