il terrazzo

my girlfriend and i went to il terrazo last night and we will definitely be returning. let me just say that i am pretty picky when dining as i don't like wasting my money, and this particular restaurant delivered well.

upon arrival, we were seated immediately (we made a reservation, and we're happy we did because the place was very busy) and our waiter took our drink order. the fresh bread and tapenade was delicious as we're the muscles in broth we ordered as an appetizer. i had the cannelloni stuffed with pulled pork for the main course and she had a wood fired pizza, both were delicious. service was excellent, wait staff was very attentive without being annoying and very efficient. wine list is very extensive and there are menu choices for everyone.

the only small negatives i noticed: the wine seemed a bit overpriced (i know this is a fine dining restaurant, but it even so) and the table we sat at was very small and had no legroom. other than that is was a great experience and i will be returning agian.

no corkage policy = i'm not coming to your restaurant. i don't care if you have 1300 different wines - i don't want to pay $500 for a heavily-marked up wine that would still pale in comparison to a bottle i'd bring from my own cellar. charge me $25 or whatever and i will come for dinner - you're far better off getting my $25 for corkage than having a deuce that orders no alcohol at all or just coffees.

make your corkage a strict policy - no wines can be brought that are on your list. or only after 8 pm or something, but wake up to the new law!!!


-----01 jul, 2011-----

shame - overcooked fish. halibut was so overcooked that it was hard to tell if it was even fresh. sockeye salmon also way past done. why???

such a shame. great not-so-little place, but horrible execution on serving fish.

mechanical service via novice waitress left a lousy aftertaste. tourist venue.

prefer lunch to dinner. beautiful restaurant. prefer it for lunch as the prices are better and i don’t have to try to read through the way-too-long wine list. even though it’s not on the menu, my absolutel favourite thing is the focaccia - best bread i’ve ever had in my life!

mussels are fabulous ! ling.... mussels are fabulous !
linguini marco polo is tasty
wonderful brick building inside with ambience

perfection! lovely atmosphere, excellent service, fabulous food! made reservation after reading reviews, and it was wonderful. reservations a must in peak season, would request patio next time with more notice! server was friendly and knowledgeable, wine list was amazing. i had a caesar salad - perfect balance of lemon and garlic - and the spaghetti carbonara, which was creamy and delicious. husband had a duck & lamb fiesta, which he loved. too stuffed to try dessert! would definitely dine here again.

with a rustic cottage-style decor, there was something about the ambience that was really alluring at il terrazzo .  we were seated in a lovely indoor patio with a warm fireplace nearby and surrounded by brick walls.  thank goodness because despite being summer already, it was really freezing out.  the restaurant was at its full capacity on canada day with people constantly coming in and out.  it was absolutely chaotic inside.  nonetheless, i was thoroughly impressed by how quickly the food came out altogether from the kitchen. my initial impression of the restaurant was that they would be serving traditional rustic italian fare, but, in fact, their creations were much more redefined than i imagined. we were offered a basket complimentary bread with tasty mixed olive tapenade.  if only we could take a jar home too. some of our favorite dishes had asian influence in flavors and i shall start with the marinated smoked ahi tuna salad with perfectly seared scallops and seaweed salad, cucum

nopers!. ive brought 16 friends here from out of town, you would think i would have learned a lesson. everytime, awful food, but great atmosphere. don't go for the food!

best in victoria. hands down, the best restaurant in victoria. delicious food, great atmosphere. have been bringing friends here for ages and will continue to do so.

started off poorly when we had to wait half an hour to be seated when we had a reservation. no apology whatsoever. but it was great food! i had some white fish with berries (maybe a jam type thing i can't remember). my partner had a lemon pasta which blew my mind it was so good. service was great throughout our meal (it's the silent type service where they check up on you just the right amount and you don't notice staff at all move around the dining room). nice and sexy environment too - super romantic!! great place for our anniversary dinner.

love love love!. formagio di capra- as an appetizer..hazelnut crusted goat cheese a top a wonderful salad. so good its almost like a dessert! bistecca di manzo -steak, hands down is the best steak in victoria. however, once taking my parents there, my dad ordered his medium well, and the steak didn't taste as good as it should served rare. dessert sampler for the win and perfect drinks.

although il terrazzo is located in downtown victoria, the narrow and dimly lit alley leading to the entrance seemed somewhat ominous at night. as we neared the entrance, the sounds of dishes clattering and people chattering permeated through the glass doors, creating quite a contrast with the quiet and deserted street outside. the restaurant itself was very dimly lit, but the atmosphere was cozy and intimate. as we were still very full from the afternoon tea at fairmont empress , we decided to get a couple of drinks and appetizers to share. i tried one of the cocktails - the french lemonade ($6.25). it tasted ok but was so sweet that i felt like i was drinking syrup. we wanted something light, so we opted for seafood over meat. the capesante e tonno affumicato ($13), meaning "scallops and smoked tuna" in italian, was indeed a refreshing appetizer. the scallops were juicy and tender, and the tuna was soft with a hint of smokiness. what i enjoyed most about this dish was the marinated wa

good. very expensive, but good. service is sometimes lacking.

love it. we've come here 3 times now. everytime we enjoy ourselves very much. the food is amazing. the price reflects the quality of the food. if you want cheap, go to dennys

excellent!. took my partner there for his birthday and it was fabulous! great service, beautiful enclosed patio, romantic atmosphere and the best spaghetti and meatballs i have ever had!

a treat!. my husband and i went here expecting overpriced, possibly not great food, based on reviews. we had to see what all the fuss was about. the food was of a great quality, diverse flavours, and for a bit more money, absolutely worth it. we know that appetizers are always the best tasting item, so weren't shy, and found ourselves absolutely satisfied by the time the entrees came out. i wouldn't want to give up a thing that i ate though. if you're into food, skip the wine and go for an app. and an entree. we arrived at 5pm so it was peacefully quiet, still natural light on the patio, great relaxing ambience. (husband did not want to go here based on previously being rejected at reception w/out reservation, they seem a bit snobby, try to look past that) we'll be long time patrons for sure!!