Bard & Banker
• 1022 Government St. | Victoria, BC
Average User Rating:
8.69/10
8.69/10
Recommended by:
100%
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"Perfect for Date Night"
Frida
January 2012 — "My husband and I enjoyed a meal here last night. Being January on a Wednesday night, it was relatively quiet but it is also such a large pub there is almost always seating no matter how busy it may be. We sat upstairs by a warming fire in a cozy booth and admired the rich dark wood and gold furnishing highlights. The prices are are high for a pub and as such the Bard and Banker is a bit of a tourist trap but for the ambiance it is is worth it. Another highlight is that there is always live music in the evenings. I had steamed mussels and the broth was delicious. My husband enjoyed a meat lovers pizza. They did not skimp on the toppings. Our server was pleasant but not invasive. We've been here a number of times and have never had a bad experience. We will be back again, and again and again. I definitely recommend this pub for visitors and for locals with visitors."
User Rating
7.83/10
7.83/10
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"Fine dining at a fine pub"
Melissa
January 2010 — "We could tell this place was going to be special, so we saved it for a special occasion. Then we came back with the in-laws a week later.
This is the bar we go to in heaven! The beer is local, the food is seasonal, the decor is fabulous, and all of the staff are in kilts! What else could you possibly ask for?
We started with some exceptional marinated olives with preserved lemon, then I had this exquisite pasta with chanterelle mushrooms. Sitting next to the fire, listening to some great music... wonderful.
"
User Rating
9.67/10
9.67/10
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"recently changed menu"Jenny
December 2009 — "I think this place is under new management because the menu has changed at some point in the last few months and is no longer like the one at Irish Times. I like the new menu items but they seem to be more expensive now.
I got the soup of the day and it was lamb with barley and vegetables in the bowl size. it was a decent size and tasted pretty good, but I'm not sure if I would order it again for $8. It came with some bread and butter on the side. I wasn't very hungry at the time so it was perfect as a small meal. My boyfriend ordered the potato chip crusted fish and chips. I tasted the fish and it does taste like potato chip covered fish.I'm not sure if it's worth $18 though."
User Rating
9.50/10
9.50/10
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"a classyl pub"
Jenny
October 2009 — "This isn't your typical dark and wooden pub. It's bright, with lots of pretty lights, with greek looking columns, and very open space (where a lot of pubs you feel cramped by the furniture). They have a stage on the second level where they have a live musician every night at 8:30pm.
We went on the 2-for-1 burger night which is every tuesday but you have to order two drinks, and their drinks tend to be on the pricey side compared to other restaurants. This time i decided to order mike's hard cranberry and my boyfriend got beer. Their drink menu is pretty extensive and they had 7 different "hard lemonades" to choose from which is relatively large for typical pubs. I got the angus beef burger and it was mediocre. My boyfriend got the bison burger, which included bacon."
User Rating
9.33/10
9.33/10
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"Worth a Visit"
Gary
September 2009 — "The Barb and Banker is a newer pub on Government street and is owned by the same group that owns the nearby Irish Times. As the name suggests, the pub was originally a bank but it has had extensive renovations and looks brand new inside. There is seating on two levels and an elevated stage above the bar. There is live music most nights but unfortunately for the dancers, there does not seem to be a large enough area for dancing. However, apart from that this is a great place and the food is excellent. Plus there are specials every evening so you are bound to get a deal on a meal. My spouse started off with the oyster special while I decided to go with one of the ‘pub classics’, chicken pot pie. Other classics are bangers and mash, shepherds pie and steak and ale pie to name a few. The food was excellent and at $14.99 a little on the dear side but it was well worth it. The ambience of the pub is great and is a good place to listen to live music, drink some good beer and have a good meal."
User Rating
9.17/10
9.17/10
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"Scottish Gastro Pub!"Allison
July 2009 — "My husband and I were looking for somewhere to go for a pint! we found the perfect place. As long as you are willing to venture to the heart of downtown Victoria, The Bard and Banker Pub is a great choice! All the Handsome waiters wear traditional kilts and are very prompt and friendly servers. We were there on a weekend evening, when there was an awesome live band playing in the mezzanine of the historical building. It is a loud place, so if you are looking for a quite beer.....don't come here! The details of the building are beautiful, and it feels as though you are truly in Scotland. (except for all the Canucks)
We were there to drink, so i can not review any food tastes, but the presentation was wonderful, and my mouth was watering!. The drinks were cold though and there was another one on our table, as soon as the first one was empty. I loved the feel of the pub. the energy was explosive....I will certainly be back!"
User Rating
7.83/10
7.83/10
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"Great Ambiance"Shane
June 2009 — "The Bard and Banker is a beautiful pub, where you can tell some serious money was spent on decor and ambiance. It has an Victorian style feel to it, with some great woodwork and decor. We were there for drinks, for which they have a fantastic selection. There are countless beers on tap, really hard to decide which to go with. Its nice to see a place with some European beers on tap. They also have some great cocktails, not to mention the largest list of scotches I have ever seen. As a scotch drinker, this is a must. I had a curry lamb burger and was very happy with my decision. The menu really is huge, with alot of classic pub fair, but is a bit on the expensive side. That being said, I am happy to pay it for the ambiance and feel of the place. There was also a live band starting up as we ending our time there, and I could see that this would be a great place to spend with the boys (or girls!)."
User Rating
8.50/10
8.50/10
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"Best oyster deal in town"Diana
May 2009 — "I have a new guilty pleasure: oyster happy hour at the Bard & Banker.
Every day between 3 and 7pm, you can order their fresh oysters of the day for only 69 cents. With most seafood houses charging upwards of $2.50 for each of these little gems, this was too good a deal to pass up - especially for 3 shopping-weary girls on a sunny day. Every day features a new selection, usually offering 2-3 choices. This day they only had Fanny Bay, but on other visits we have enjoyed several of the small Japanese varieties I am particularly fond of.
We ordered a dozen a piece, and they arrived nicely displayed on individual silver platters of ice. Accompaniments included fresh ground horseradish, cocktail sauce, a vinegar, and lemon. They were plump and beautifully fresh. Washed down with a couple cold beer, it was the perfect late afternoon treat, and the best bargain on raw oysters I have found.
I have looked at their regular menu, and generally find it a little steep for pub fare. Expect to dish up for bevvies here too - our pints of Philips came to $6.30 each. The pub is extravagantly decorated, with brass fixtures and crown molding abounding. Also note that service here is notoriously slow, so best avoided if you are in a rush."
User Rating
9/10
9/10
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"What a beautiful building"deb
January 2009 — "The waitress told us that the building had once been a Christmas decoration store and before that a bank. The decor was amazing and I would imagine a lot of money went into restoring this historical building. It has a stone block front with oversized wooden doors. When you enter you are faced with a wide open space two storeys high of polished dark wood with high pub tables and chairs. The centerpiece to the building is the wide staircase that cuts the main floor in half. It is spectacular. We walked around looking for the right place to sit. We found little cubby holes with tables nestled inside. The upstairs was full so we returned to the main floor and choose a table at the bottom of the stairs to the second floor. From this vantage point we could see most of the building. Our waitress brought us the menu and was quick to return with our beer. The menu was huge and I had a very difficult time trying to decide what to have. I settled one a three mini burger meal - salmon, halibut and crab. These were little three or four bite burgers and was a sampling of other burgers on the menu. And they had yam fries which I love. My friend ordered the curried lamb burger. He said it was amazing. It wasn't a cheap meal but it was definitely worth the experience. I would go back but maybe not too often. I don't think I could afford it all the time. "
User Rating
8.33/10
8.33/10
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"Traditional pub"
Sally
July 2008 — "Shopping and people watching along Government Street in Victoria on Canada Day was an entertaining experience. The pub, Bard and Banker, had just re-opened and we stuck our noses inside the door. It is a really impressive Victorian style pub with dark décor, lots of brass, booths and a full-length bar. There are old photos and it does have a very genuine feel to it. We decided to sit outside in the street café area and order burgers and salad for four. The food and coffee was good if a little pricey for traditional pub fayre but we were glad we sat outside because the best was the entertainment. A gentleman had donned his Victorian era costume to impersonate Robert Service, the poet and read prose just outside the pub named for him (the Bard). It was an enjoyable lunch watching the passers-by but the wait staff were a little unfriendly and not particularly helpful with our questions about the area. "
User Rating
8.17/10
8.17/10
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"Exceptional and elegant pub"Joy
June 2008 — "There are few pubs around like the Bard & Banker (well, outside of Britain and Ireland, at least.) Newly opened in one of Victoria's grand historic buildings on Government Street, this restaurant and public house is worth the stop just for its elegant Victorian interior. We weren't particularly hungry but were looking for a place for a coffee - ideally, outside in the sunshine. The Bard & Banker did have a streetside patio but one look inside and we knew we wanted to take in the atmosphere indoors. The service and beverages were both fine but not exceptional.
Two days later, we found ourselves again right next to the Bard & Banker, this time feeling hungry and while we wouldn't normally choose to experience the same place twice in one trip, we were too hungry to look further. This time we opted to eat outdoors and our experience was much the same as the last, ie. great atmosphere/people-watching, good food and drinks but service that was just okay.
The prices are a little high (for what you get) but the impressive and traditional decor of the pub makes it worth a visit. My suggestion - do as we did on our first go - pop inside for a cappuccino that won't break the bank but that will afford you a half hour in a splendid pub. "
User Rating
8.20/10
8.20/10
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DescriptionThis Irish pub is located in the building that housed British Columbia's first bank. It offers traditional pub food in a large open drinking and dining environment.
Location Information1022 Government St.
Victoria
BC
