Reviews of Friends of Dorothy - Victoria (Night Club)

Marie Tak

What a truly lovely place. It's visually a delight. The food is quite good. The staff are delightful. The cocktail menu is comprehensive and charming. And Il Sauvage is featured on tap. We were very pleased with our evening out. (I'm Covid times there was a solid adherence to protocols and we felt very safe.)

Jeremy Clarke

Fun place. Delicious food. Great service.

Dani Kobelka

Such a neat restaurant. Like many other people mentioned, the décor inside is so cute! We came for brunch and mimosas and it was delicious!

Justin Curran (Vicengineer)

Great atmosphere, welcoming environment to all. Had dinner and drinks at the bar last night courtesy of Brian, he mixed a child great beverages is highly recommend the yellow brick road or the Judy (off menu, don't tell anyone I told you)

Maureen Kaufmann

Great food and cocktails, excellent service, and fun entertainment!! My new favorite place in Victoria! ????????✨

Diane

I really want to give this place the benefit of the doubt that we had a one-off bad experience since the other reviews are so good. However, our brunch experience didn't live up to the hype. Our server was attentive enough, but the food took almost an hour with no real explanation for the delay. When the food did finally arrive, it wasn't worth the wait at all. The chicken and waffles which ran us $22 had an over-salted super stingy piece of chicken on it, and I felt completely ripped off. To the server's credit, I did mention this and she brought us out some more chicken at no cost. However, what wasn't quite as forgiving was the salad that we ordered. The feta cheese on top had completely turned making a sour smelly feet odour envelop our table. I'm going to assume because the chef was masked, perhaps the smell wasn't apparent to him, but I thought it was very careless to be serving rotten cheese. All this being said, the decor and vibe of the place is wonderful. I don't think I'll be going back for food, but perhaps I'll give a cocktails a try.

Sarah Mills

Fantastic brunch menu. Fresh and classic cocktails. Delicious food. Brunch dj had the perfect beats playing to turn around a sleepy (hungover) Saturday morning. The decor and staff were the cherry on the top of the experience.

jen

Food is quite mediocre, but the atmosphere is lovely. The service was also a bit slow, but it was a Monday afternoon and there was only one waitress

Sammy Long

Sadly had a very poor experience and will not be going back. Service was extremely lacking. We paid for our drinks and left after one sip. The tables were concerning close together even with the plexiglass between them. Even if the service and beverages were better I would not feel comfortable going back during COVID-19

Brenda Quinn

Friendly staff carry you back to a time when hospitality wasn’t a corporate line item on a spreadsheet. That said, spread your wings, be yourself and relax. Great cocktails in the historic patio site of the oldest bakery in British Columbia. Menu delivery something for everyone.

Philip Zein

Love this place! Hands down one of the best places in Victoria.

Bailey Skaret

This place has an amazing vibe, like Louis XIV meets punk chic. Food was fantastic, I had the mouth watering beef ribs. Practically falling off the bone. The music adds to the already sick ambiance and the cocktail menu is superb. Everything is centered around the wizard of Oz, brilliant. Service - can't beat it. Staff are so welcoming. It was so nice I came back for their brunch, they open at 9am! As if it couldn’t get any better, their eggs Benny were surprisingly en par too, I took a few daytime photos. This is totally a must when in Victoria!

Ron Fisher

Last night was a disappointment, I had gone on Wednesday with a friend to have dinner and watch a drag show, a lot of fun. So I told another friend let’s go, so off we went on Sunday. I had tried for a couple hours to call to find out all the details but I kept getting a recording. I checked the website no details so I checked Facebook could not find details there. Went at 8 pm and were told everyone would be out at 9 pm, 40 or 50 % were reservation and rest would line up first come first serve, a suggestion was made for us to grab a drink across street and watch the line. When there was about 20 people in line so we left and were in line (8.30) we got in line behind two women that arrived at 7.30, they too were told to go across street. Well at 10 we all found out we did not make it in. Many of the people ahead of us and around the corner had let there friends in... we were no longer number 20 or so... when I talked to the man out front in charge he acted like too bad.... he had not noticed all the people coming to be with friends expanding the line. Needless to say I was very disappointed, pride was going to be fun... the fun part... great people we met in line, plus we when to Vicious Poodle .... different reception, very friendly.... waited 10 and they found us a sit out side for a drink.... bit long winded but you get the drift... I don’t know if I will bother going back to friends of Dorothy’s ... I don’t want to wait 2.30 in line again.. not to get in... poor communication...

Hike-the-island. Bates

Went in here with my boyfriend and his daughter. We had the Vancouver Island omelet and grilled cheese sandwich. The real hit was the Mimosa kit. We enjoyed 3 yummy juices, fresh fruit and yummy champagne. It was so affordable and we all got several mimosas.

Tony Yacowar

Stay away for brunch. Coffee is terrible, service is non-existent. Server kept bringing out random dishes asking if it's what we ordered. Had to wait about 15 minutes just for cream for the terrible coffee.

Sherry Jensen

Fantastic atmosphere, service with a smile.The good and drinks are A plus! Highly recommend.

Trev Friesen

We recently stopped by for a snack. We were greeted by Boston who took great care of us. The food is amazing fresh and well thought out. Click your heels there no where like "Friends of Dorothy " !

D'Arcy Henneberry

We came to FOD for the first time last night for the happiest of happy hours (3h long!) and had a great night enjoying the food and atmosphere (not to mention the great prices). We returned first thing this morning to try brunch and found we were lucky enough to be served by Lauren again. She’s so friendly and knowledgeable about the food!! The food here is clearly made with good quality ingredients. Everything we’ve eaten so far has tasted great, comes out hot and you’re left feeling satisfied while not feeling bloated. Well done FOD! Welcome to town and thanks Lauren for your fantastic service!

Ryan Duncan

I visited Victoria a few weeks ago and spent some time at Friends of Dorthys, I am from Kelowna where they also have a location. I have to say I was amazed at the whole experience, the staff was great, atmosphere was fantastic, we all had such a great time. The pork belly eggs Benny is a must to try! Can’t wait to return.

Emmalee Brunt

This is what Victoria needed. Fun atmosphere, amazing service, fab cocktails and a fun and inclusive vibe. Love this new place!

Chelsea Vancouver

Great venue and amazing music. Pretty Expensive cocktails and food.

Lynn Nnyl

I'm obsessed with this place! I've been a number of times now for dinner and am never disappointed. The cocktails are fantastic, the charcuterie boards are very filling, the food is great, and they have lots of vegan options for those …

SCOTTY HENDERSON

Great Brunch What a colourful creative decor in vintage old building downtown Victoria. The fire roared on royal purple and pink colours, comfortable seating, friendly staff and creative food for brunch

Dallas K.A.

We thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere from the moment we stepped through the door. Every where you looked there was an artistic touch of class. Sitting areas are all around, COVID safe and comfortable. The bar has a neat plex glass with a window to receive lounge drinks. The servers were plenty and knowledgeable. Two of the dishes, the fondue and crispy chicken were shared between my friend and I. There was enough that my husband was able to finish it off. I can't do this place enough justice in words, so I have added some pictures. When ready.....go visit them and please dress nice.

D B

The service can chill out juuuuust a bit, it was really eager to the point where my friend got asked at least twice per visit to the table if they needed a drink. Once is enough, pushing alcohol on people who are being clear they don’t/won’t drink is pretty uncomfortable. In fact, once is enough in general, including about appetizer or dessert. There’s friendly and then there’s like. Calm down.

shayd johnson

I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that is was day 2 of their new menu… we ordered chicken and waffles. The waffles were dry and chewy, probably pre-made earlier in the day. Didn’t come with syrup. The chicken sandwich the others ordered was just ok… service was passive aggressive.

Miranda Pedro

Friends of Dorothy's is a friend of mine ❤️ Edit: One thing..paint the bathroom bricks yellow pleeeease! :)

Pup Dax

Cute, swanky vibes, fries are amazing, even better with the white truffle, friendly staff, they didn't mind us playing some cards while waiting! Wasn't a long wait! Will come back again soon! Love from the East Coast!

Craig Lawrence

Please spare a moment or two and let me tell you about the best brunch I have ever had. It begins with the bright and wonderful décor, the larger than life flowers painted on the walls and the portrait of a King Louis with his hair in curlers. All of this told me that I was in for something special. Then came the the enthusiastic "Happy Brunch guys!" From our server, Josh. If it weren't for the aforementioned décor, Josh would be lighting up this place all by himself. And then came the masterfully created eggs benny with smoked salmon. Not only could they make this dish DF and GF, the flavors are beyond words! How do they make a hollandaise sauce DF?!? I don't even care, I just know coming back as soon as I can. Without a doubt the best brunch of my life.

Aaron Nelson

I’ve been twice now: today and back in February. I love the vibe with the art, decor, and music. I wish the food lived up to the expectations set up by this setting and prices. Today I had the community bowl priced at $21. The cedar plank salmon was good - not exceptional but good. The slaw and hash browns did not meet my quality expectations; very much lacking in taste. Great vibe but average/good food.

Kelsey Greer

Gorgeous venue, food and vibe!

leonnights19

Follow the yellow brick road! Happy hour was awesome as was the service. We loved the vibe. Great addition to the Victoria food and beverage scene

Shawn Corkum

Really great atmosphere and service. Our server was very friendly and suggested a cocktail I thoroughly enjoyed. The patio is enclosed and cozy. Will definitely return.

Lois Freeman

Beautiful decor...great food...great service! Definitely has the wow factor! Drinks were great, too!

Berenice G

Sashay your way to Friends of Dorthy.

Sara M

Had a great time last night. Delicious food and Drag Queens is a win in my books. Will def return.

Brittany Webster

The best new spot for brunch! Absolutely delicious food, good vibes, friendly staff. Highly recommend!

Athena H. Razis

My friend and I were in search of a place to grab a cocktail one night and were tired of the same old places to go downtown that lacked originality, a mixed crowd and quality drinks & service. We were thrilled when we walked into friends of Dorothy. We hadn’t heard of it before and I honestly thought it was a brunch spot when I had walked by a few days prior. If someone had explained this place to me I would probably think it were cheesy or over the top but it’s actually quite great!

Kari

Came here a few weeks ago, had very delicious chicken & waffles! Good drinks as well! Service was fantastic! Definitely will be back!

Nicola Hestnes

My spouse and I went as we wanted to go check out the atmosphere. The drinks were fantastic and the music was so good, the place has a great vibe. Unfortunately the food is very mediocre and I would not order anything from the food menu again. My spouses burger was okay and the fries were way to salty. My artichoke appy was not fantastic. I would certainly go again for the welcoming and fun experience but will not order any food. Hopefully there will be improvements on their menu in the future since they are still a new business.

Abhay Verma

Great decor, limited menu but basics done really well, great service! Highly recommended for brunch

Ellery Rose

Lovely humans, lovely food, lovely atmosphere and great music selection! Happy to have more LGBTQ establishments in town

Joao Vitor Squillace Teixeira

My new favorite place! Such good atmosphere, decoration is beautiful. Prices are great! Food quality is amazing. Service is excellent! Really happy Victoria has place like this. Enjoyed both the afternoon happy hour and the brunch! Definitely recommend

BC M

Terrible drinks and the food was gross

Sarah Shubrook

Good service, ok food but far too expensive for a breakfast place. I blame the rent price they must pay for their location, but $50 for 2 drinks and a plate of ok Benny's.. gobsmacked.

Roger Cusson

Met a friend and had brunch at this eatery in Victoria. Excellent food and coffee. Outdoor terrace was welcome. Definitely worth a visit.

Karlee Friesen

Such a cute place and amazing drinks (we asked for something virgin but to surprise us and they were incredible!) The food was definitely not worth the price, though. The service was also not great. Everyone was super cheerful and fun but our server became rude half way through and only became nice again when it was time to pay.

Frederick Parsons

We went on a Thursday night. We managed to catch the end of the drag show. Amazing ambiance and the cocktails were interesting. The place is beautiful inside and the music was excellent. Next time we visit Victoria we will definitely be back.

Tracy Bock

Welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, great food and wonderful live shows. A magical spot in downtown Victoria. High energy, exceptional decor all contribute to an awesome experience when visiting Victoria.

Karley Breese

I have been here twice and both times the food was amazing! Beautiful decor, amazing service, and supporting local drag -what more could you want! Will be back again!

Justin Rudd

My boyfriend and I came here for brunch. Excellently executed quirky decore, and super friendly and efficient staff! Brunch was really good too. We missed our bus to the ferry which was only every two hours, but the bus stop was really close so we went back and waited it out there with some drinks. Noticed off shift staff sticking around together which because I work at a bar with a similar vibe I know it shows they feel appreciated and get along with each other, which I'm sure contributes to the great atmosphere and teamwork! You'd never guess they'd only been open a few months. We'd be regulars if we lived in Victoria for sure, thanks for a great afternoon Friends of Dorothy!

Maureen Simpkins

We just had a really fun evening at “Friends of Dorothy “. There were several negatives unfortunately. We had a reservation for 5 people. At the last minute one person was unable to come. They told us we would have to pay an additional 50$ if we wanted to keep the reserved table minus one. The alternative was a cramped space on bar seats. I have never heard of such a policy! We didn’t want to be uncomfortable…. We don’t get out much…. We are in our 60’s….. we wanted the original table. Beyond that my burger was way overdone and overpriced with a plain flat white bread bun. The fries were good. The show was great! The atmosphere on pride weekend was great. Not sure I will be back due to the 50$ overcharge along with some very mediocre food.

Lauren Rex

So so good to see LGBTQ+ establishments here in Victoria. Friends of Dorothy delivered everything I could have wanted and more. As a gay person myself, having a place to go with my girlfriend where we feel part of the community means everything. So happy to have a FOD in Vic!

Graeme Wellburn

(Translated) Its good! (Original) C'est bon!

Jacob Miton

gorgeous venue that’s always treat us well! owner is lovely and gave the entire place a round of shots on the house last time we were there

jay anthony

Got to try their new menu today, enjoyed the seafood Benny and it was great! 4 stars as I have to try other meals. Looking forward to it.

Justin Comartin

Recently had dinner at Friends of Dorthy for a birthday and I have to say I just love this place. The atmosphere is to die for and the service is deserving of royalty! We were greeted by the entire staff as we entered and quickly seated. And after a few minutes were asked if we’d like to move to the table in front of the fire place, as that table had just left. It was wonderful! The food was delicious and the drinks were phenomenal! The bartender even came over and introduced herself with a tray of shots from the owner who wasn’t far behind to come and make sure we were all enjoying our evening in style!!! Highly recommend this place!!!

Felicia Pfaffe

My husband and I came for dinner and were blown away on so many levels. The lounge itself was beautiful and the ambiance was fun and welcoming, the food and drinks were delicious, and the staff were outstanding. Extra shout out to the staff because they were so welcoming and so attentive. Considering the place was very busy, I was really impressed at how often they would check in to make sure we were having a good time. The level of service is fantastic. We can’t wait to come back and try their brunch menu.

Dan Dan B

Terrible taste of Mojito!

Julian Yim

Good vibes only. Awesome decor ????????????

Rhiannon King

The food was spectacular and every single one of the cocktails exceeded expectations. The space is very welcoming and the service sparkled.

S Johnston

Great vibe, great cocktails and the brunch was delicious!

Jason Penner

Don’t usually write reviews but.... Went there a few days ago for brunch. The server was pushy, way too hyper, and she wouldn’t leave us alone. Then got snarky when we asked kindly to enjoy our brunch in peace. Although we didn’t, the food was what ever and the cocktails we got were laughable. Honestly not worth the hype to just sit in a overly tacky room. Not going back.

Kevin Korpa

Friendly staff, amazing cocktails and food. And the aesthetic is absolutely FANTASTIC! I must see in the city for sure! :)

Erica Davis

Brunch would have been much more pleasant if they didn't loudly blast nightclub music at 10am on a Sunday. When I asked if they would change it or at least turn it down they said they weren't allowed to because the owner lives upstairs and doesn't care if people like his music or not. Would have been great Saturday night, not so much Sunday morning.

McKenzie

Amazing vibe and interior design! Felt safe there and staff were really nice. Food was a little overpriced and I found the “Birds Nest Rösti” kind of bland, like they didn’t use salt and pepper or something. Glad I asked for hot sauce because they didn’t even have salt and pepper at the table. I would go back though and try another dish!

Lois C Parkes

ALLERGY ALERT!!! I ordered the risotto with prawns only (no mussels). When it came I had two bites before I realized there was salmon in it - I am allergic to salmon. It took some time to get the wait staff's attention but after I did another staff member came and berated me for ordering something that I was allergic to. Told me they were worried and that I should leave. I told them that the only things listed on the menu were prawns and mussels which I'm not allergic to. I was advised that everything in the dish is on the menu. Advised that I would be paying for that meal and anything else I ordered as it was my responsibility to read the menu. Offered my cold risotto back to me insisting there was no salmon in it or that I should just leave. About five minutes later the same person returned apologizing profusely that yes, there was salmon in the dish and it wasn't listed on the menu. They were preparing my second choice from the menu and would be bringing free drinks. A few minutes later the manager came and advised the chef was revising the menu as we spoke and he was so sorry. Evening ended with the risotto taken off my bill but my replacement meal being charged and no free drinks. I have left a message and any email to the manager and owner asking to discuss the accusatory and rude behaviour I was subjected to but no response. The online menu still does not list salmon in the dish. I'm extremely disappointed in this restaurant as I thought we had found a funky local restaurant. This was the second negative experience I had at this restaurant and actually had a gift card to cover most of what ended up on the bill, however, the point is not the bill, it is the behaviour and the lack of follow up that concerns me. I am appalled that no one from the restaurant has inquired as to my reaction to the allergen (massive headache but otherwise ok).

Rasul Kadraliev

Nice atmosphere and good food

Barry Reid

Great food, wonderful staff and love the vibe and decor and playlist! Can’t wait to comeback.

alex anna

Went for an incredibly memorable Sunday brunch. Loved the attention to detail in the decor, what a trip! Excellent service, great food. When one of our party requested an Irish coffee without the whipped cream, I joked that I’d take the whipped cream… and the lovely waiter brought it in a martini glass with a spoon! Love it; thank you FOD, for going the extra mile! Can’t wait to come back.

Jrod Dski

Such a great place! Cozy, inviting, quirky atmosphere. Tastefully and eccentrically decorated making for an inviting, cozy lounge. Great service. Fantastic cocktails at totally reasonable prices for the quality. It's so great to see an LGBT2Q+ lounge open during these tough times and provide a wonderful, warm, welcoming atmosphere. Will be back!

Jordan Welch

Not sure which is better... the food, the cocktails, the service, or the ambience??? Gonna be going back soon to narrow it down!

nicky million

Such a pleasant atmosphere! Kind staff beautiful decor

Marius Pepin

Great ambiance

Lyndon Fisher

Wonderful space! I love seeing a mix bag of Queer and Trans folks. Good cocktails and a fun atmosphere!!

Francesca

WOW. My 2 friends and I were born and raised in Victoria and were amazed by this place. We collectively agreed that this was one of the best service experiences we have every had. First, our server Bailey instantly was amazing, broke the ice, and was so accommodating to our annoying diet restrictions. Everyone working was incredible.. we were greeted and chatted to by almost everyone. We were all blown away when they brought out a bottle of champagne on ice for my birthday. So unexpected and such a lovely surprise. Food was delicious (crispy artichokes are a must), cocktails were tasty and creative. We ended up cancelling our reso at another place to stay at Friends of Dorothy longer and decided to order some desert. Unfortunately, by the end of the night they were out of desert, BUT, AGAIN, ABOVE AND BEYOND, our server came out with waffles, whipped cream and fruit that the kitchen whipped up for us. Absolutely incredible place, people, and vibes. Can't wait to try brunch. Favorite spot in Victoria right now. Special thanks to Bailey for the memorable experience! <3

Meg Parker

Amazing atmosphere, staff, drinks. The dinner rolls are to die for. Can't wait to go back!

Tevye Cowan

Napkins are 10/10! Cloth feel, kind of like if you left a clean baby wipe out to dry off. That's not a particularly pleasant description but trust me it's good. I only needed 1 napkin for the chicken burger which was pretty juicy!

Rob Petley-Jones

Absolutely amazing! What an incredible reno on this space. Incredible energy, such a cool design, great cocktails! Love this spot!

Emily Holden

Cute small lounge in Victoria, fun drinks and drag shows. Exceptional customer service, staff were very friendly and engaging. As for food, try the cauliflower app or the pasta entree was good for a bar-like place

Roger G

Perhaps a tad harsh with my 1 star review but I’ll never know if truly deserving of more as I could not step thru the door today. One star is for poor communication. I had called the day prior to, to inquire about reservations for Friday evening. The lad I spoke to said they were only accepting 50% reservations and the rest were walk-in only and that they were fully reserved. He did say however that if I came by at 6pm that it would be no problem to be seated. I arrive promptly at 6pm only to be told that they were preparing for a show and kicking everybody out in preparation and that I’d have to stand in line outside until 6:30 to be admitted. Standing in line for 30 mins when given instructions otherwise the day before is not the idea I had in mind for dinner on a Friday evening. Perhaps a line-up outside an establishment is their way of giving the illusion of a busy restaurant. In this case it only makes for a disgruntled customer who’s likely never to return.

iluknm

Amazing food, amazing service, amazing awesome decor! Glad we went for a walk and stumbled on this new place!