John’s Place

Great service and even better food. The meat loaf & eggs and the English breakfast are superb. All topped with constant refills of hot coffee and constant attention from waiters. Looks like is a locals and tourists favorite. Perfect place to start the day.

Excellent brunch my wife and I had today — our first time at John’s! Likely the morning t decadent huge fluffy pancake I’ve ever had along side a half order of Popeye eggs Benedict that was amazing. My wife had a Spanish style eggs Benedict that was mouth watering. I can see why it’s considered the best breakfast place in Victoria. Definitely would like to go back again one day!

Cream cheese syrup!!! What more do I need to say?!
Went for breakfast with a friend and I got a bacon, eggs and pancake breakfast. I didn’t realize the pancakes were the size of a dinner plate. I gave one to my friend. The bacon was really tasty. The pancake itself was pretty basic but the cream cheese syrup (almost as thick as frosting) really dresses it up a notch!
My friend got the eggs benny and said they were amazeballs!
The downside to this place is that there is always a lineup and it’s downtown so the parking is not great.

⁶⁄₅ stars!
I think this place had the best service I’ve ever had in my life! Water was never empty, coffee levels didn’t go down! Man, we got served really really well here!
And then there was the food! Which was amazing! I had the Frittata, which was the perfect mix of cheesy-​ness/​meat and eggs! OMG! It was good! Perfectly done and it was amazing! The hash was nice and baked, seasoned to perfection!
The atmosphere was great!
Loved loved loved this place!

Absolutely delicious breakfast! Had the Catch 22 which is a waffle and an eggs Benedict breakfast. I love a salty and sweet breakfast. Their cream cheese syrup is awesome. Plus it’s a fun quirky place to go.

Just had breakfast at John’s place — an omelet with fresh tomatoes and feta cheese, with an english muffin and fresh fruit on the side — and it was absolutely wonderful. The people working there were super nice, although our servant was a bit rushed. The overall atmosphere was great and really cosy. I’ll definitely go back to John’s Place if I’m ever back in Victoria!

If you are only in Victoria for one night, don’t even think about going anywhere else for breakfast. Insane waffles and phenomenal eggs Benedict. Great staff and all super reasonable.

We used Unilocal to find this lovely place. We followed our waitress’ recommendation and had the Catch 22– ½ order of the traditional Eggs Benny and waffle. Delicious! Best eggs Benedict we have ever had, other than my wife’s! We also had the meatloaf and eggs. Very good! Huge meals meant to be shared, as we did. Our waitress, Liz, was very friendly and the food came out quickly. Great atmosphere with lots to look at. We highly recommend you make this your breakfast stop.

Best service AND food in Victoria hands down!!! The servers are happy and know what’s good. They are happy to tell you what’s good and trust them! The place is decorated with fun memorabilia and the service staff goes out of their way to make you feel like family! They gave us a taste of the homemade soup of the day and it was so flavorful!!!
The meatloaf and eggs seriously taste like heaven, best meatloaf I have ever eaten! They sear the meatloaf so there is an amazing texture to it! GET THIS!
The other amazing thing was the fritatta! It was the best fritatta I have ever tasted. It was like an awesome breakfast pizza but it was all eggs!
The homemade cream cheese syrup was to die for!
We will be back again!

Food took a little while to get to us, but the waiters was very kind, I wasn’t enjoying my iced chai latte, so she tried some, it was apparently how it was suppose to taste but she offered me a chafe of drink. The chocolate milk was satisfactory. The food was good, I’d suggest the pancakes and Dover it in their cream cheese syrup.
Next time I’m in Victoria I’ll probably stop by here. The line was also very short, compared to the blue fox Café.

Are you allowed to swear on this? Because this place is F@$#ing amazing! Their meatloaf was so good, I dream about it lol. I go there as much as possible and my bf and I have the same waitress (the blonde) she is great. Always has great recommendations. She never disappoints us. I can’t wait to go again!

Terrific breakfast menu from granola to Belgian waffles to huevos rancheros and much more. Fresh ingredients, large portions. The granola is a mix of many ingredients, reducing oatmeal to minority status. With fresh and dried fruits, various nuts and grains, and yogurt and milk, is a full, rich meal. On a regular basis, I’d want something simpler, But as a special meal it’s a great treat. And I’d say that that notion extends to all the featured items — they are complex, rich, distinctive, and large, large portions.
The ambiance is fun. The walls are festooned with memorabilia from music, film, and sports.
Not cheap. Granola, coffee, and large juice will set you back $ 17can plus tip.

Had to get to the Ferry back to the Mainland, But first, Breakfast. The place was Packed. Food was flyin all over the place. We ordered and told the Waitress we were in a rush to make the Ferry. She was very accommodating. The food came, Generic Bacon & Eggs and I have to say it was really good. Not just ok. Freshly cooked exactly to order.
We could see this was a Locals Institution, so I want to make sure I remember to go here next time in Town.

I was advised on arrival in the city, that this place serves the best breakfast in Victoria! And I was not dissapointed, there was a bit of a wait for a table but I didn’t mind at all. The service was great, the atmosphere was buzzing and the food was really good! Definitely value for money here. What a gem!

LOVE this place! My boyfriend and I came to Victoria for a few days, and this place was right by our hotel. It was the first place we went to eat after arriving in Victoria. We made the right choice! They give you this amazing bread to eat while you look at the menu. They keep bringing it to you, too-​and they even packed it up for us to go! The servers were very attentive and friendly.
I got the veggie eggs benny, my boyfriend got the brisket sandwich. We both loved it. Super delicious and generous portions at a great price. In fact, we loved this place so much we came here again for lunch before we left Victoria. Would definitely reccomend!

This place is delicious.
I’m in town for a conference and it was someone’s birthday so we decided to not eat in the cafeteria. The food was beautiful and the portions were excellent. I almost never finish any food when eat out but I finished everything.
They have a great cream cheese syrup that goes well with the waffle and strawberries.
The service was good. All the servers were really friendly and made sure that we had everything we needed.
I highly recommend this place.

Amazing – seriously, I love their classic eggs Benedict. The Hollandaïse sauce is buttery, the ham is thick sliced, and the (optional) cornbread and fruit are delicious.
The only thing I am ever so slightly annoyed by is when I come in alone, they always say «Here, I’ll seat you right next to the window.» When I’m ALONE, the last thing I want is to feel like a goldfish in a bowl with tons of people walking by. Please, just seat me somewhere private and cozy and protected from the door draft, preferably next to a wall.

Visiting for the weekend from Vancouver, I went to John’s place for Saturday lunch with my wife, and to our surprise, they only serve all day breakfast on the weekend.
It was OK though, they had some lunch items pretending to be breakfast items on the menu.
We both ordered breakfast burritos, and were greatly satisfied, man the portions were great. My chicken burrito was basically a large chicken breast cut in half and grilled, then put into the wrap with an egg cracked on top of it. It was delicious, fresh and satisfying.
As one of the other reviewers mentioned, the staff here is «real» as it were, at one point two of the waitresses were having a rather funny conversations over patrons heads and people were chiming in, not something you encounter every day.
It was a great experience, and I’d be keen on going back.

OH. MY. HEAVENS. Do you want the best bread you have ever eaten in your life? Do you want the most incredible, delicious, surreal breakfast you have ever experienced? Do you want to be served by real, genuine people who truly care about their customers and have passion for food? Then come to John’s Place. NOW.
I came to Victoria on a trip, and I asked my hotel concierge for a recommendation for a place for breakfast. She recommended John’s Place which was close to where I was staying with my associate and she said it was «good» food. We decided to try it out. Man, did she undersell it!
Completely, absolutely, blown away. The portions are freaking huge. The food is ambrosia. I have never tasted anything as amazing as the food at John’s Place in my entire life, and I have traveled all over the US and Canada. It was insane. I was stuffed beyond measure and my meal was half gone. I kept trying to eat more because it was so damn fantastic. My associate reported the same. We ate till we couldn’t eat anymore and then we planned to return the very next day, which we did.
The second day was as freaking terrific as the first day. I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t a line down the street for this little restaurant. It was a gold mine. It doesn’t appear that way from outside, but don’t let it’s storefront fool you.
The waitress we had the first day was a kick in the pants. She was hilarious, flirtacious and kind. We had a gorgeous, strong waiter the second day that looked like a former NFL player who had a heart as big as his biceps.
I was raving on and on about the bread. The BREAD. Holy freak. THE BBBBRRRREEEEAAADDDDD. Olive oil. Sea salt. Heaven. Sex. Flour. Diamonds. Love. Eggs. AAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!
Our sweet waiter gave me a fresh, hot out of the oven loaf of bread on the house because I was so impressed with them. I tried to pay him, but he wouldn’t let me. He insisted it was his gift to us. I would’ve made out with him right on the spot if I didn’t have someone with me.
I ate that bread in the car as we drove around the island the next 2 days. It was like snacking on love.
If you ever go to Victoria, you MUST go to John’s Place. If they do get a line out the door, wait in the damn line. Wait as long as it takes. You will thank the food gods, lick your silverware and plates clean, and scream orgasms of delight.
I want to mention that this place is owned by a former athlete, and the guy has signed pictures of athletes and celebrities covering the walls. It was great fun to look at them all while waiting for our food. This, along with the excellent service and overall fun and positive atmosphere, really added to the whole experience.
I can’t wait to go back.
Food: 5 (Scale is 1 – 5)
Service: 5
Ambiance: 5
Parking: 3 — Street parking only

Such a fun, deliciously decadent spot!
After a painful thirty minute discussion on where to go for lunch, our Victoria resident friends opted for John’s. Lunch morphed into breakfast because on Saturday, breakfast and decadent desserts are the ONLY options, which was fine … because breakfast was wicked awesome and I couldn’t stand the thought of another thirty minute discussion.
We started with teas, coffees, hot chocolates, and juice for the under 8 member of our party. Our waitress was quick, courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable which is a wonderful result of working there for over 25 years (we recognized her from a picture on the wall and asked about the history of the restaurant).
Everyone enjoyed breakfast: the omelettes were awesome; huge, fluffy, light, and flavorful, the French toast was fabulous; thick, delicious bread with incredible toppings, the catch 22 had a little bit of everything, the home fries were heavenly; tasty and fresh, and the fruit bowl was a fun combination of colors and textures.
This is not a place to go every day … I’d weigh 300 pounds if I did … But a great place to splurge, spend time with friends, and savor good food.