YAM magazine’s Best Restaurant Awards 2024 celebrate Greater Victoria, B.C.’s exciting food scene, judged by an independent panel of chefs and food experts.
BY CINDA CHAVICH | PHOTOS BY JEFFREY BOSDET
Best Casual: Block Kitchen + Wine Bar
#101-538 Yates Street | $$ | blockvictoria.ca | Reservations optional
With its exposed brick walls and colourful murals, friendly staff and globally inspired dishes, the scene at Block Kitchen is clearly convivial. It’s a buzzy spot with mostly high-top tables and bar seating, the kind of place to slide in for a few drinks and bites to share, with two or 10 of your friends.
The original location is in Banff, but co-founder/manager Andy Burke and chef Tyler Thompson opened Block Kitchen here last year. They’re all about creative cocktails, local craft beer and shareable plates — from the Sake-tini drizzled with sesame oil to Korean-grilled short ribs with housemade kimchi, octopus takoyaki dumplings or Tokyo fries dusted with sumac and nori flakes.
It’s the kind of menu filled with delicious surprises that will have you coming back to try it all.
Runners-up:
FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room