740 Handy Rd, Mill Bay, BC V0R 2P1, Canada
Bridgemans Bistro is the perfect setting for a family gathering, a friendly meal, a relaxing dinner for two or a customized experience for any size group. Our thoughtfully crafted and West Coast inspired lunch and dinner menus are full of locally sourced ingredients and house-made items – our local clams and mussels are a favourite for seafood lovers. Every table enjoys a breathtaking view of the Saanich Inlet and Mt. Baker and you may be lucky enough to see the local swans, a kayaker enjoying the inlet, or even a few whales. Whether you come for a full meal or just a drink at the bar to watch the game, we have a variety of local beers on tap and a selection of the Cowichan Valley’s best wines guaranteed to please any palette.
Lots of good menu choices. Accessible by car or boat as it's at a marina with good views and nice sunsets. Service was excellent. Excellent wine choices by the glass at fair prices and a 6 or 9 oz pore not the 5 oz tiny one.
We had a really nice supper here on a recent vacation. Thank you for a nice mocktail menu!!! My mango mule was fantastic. The calamari was super tasty and mostly small pieces which is my preference. The chowder was delicious - but small pieces of seafood, no big chunks (I would have liked bigger pieces). Garlic bread was really buttery. The patio is absolutely lovely and service was great.
I love this spot but they seem to really struggle with adequate staff so it’s very slow and food can be inconsistent, cold. Cocktails are good and can’t beat the view. Wish they would bring live music back.
Awesome location and outstanding food. Service was efficient and personable. One item of note. Sitting in the glass enclosed patio can be noisy during busy times (almost always). There is a wide selection both comfort and healthy foods. Large variety of wines and beer on tap. Portions are satisfying. The Bistro is located on a dock with water views to enhance your dining experience. A very good dining choice.
The coleslaw was weird, had mint in it or something. Fries were acceptable but not amazing. Fish was heavily battered, didn't seem like enough fish in the fish to batter ratio. Can't beat the view and cool interior. There's a bar and TV to watch sports etc. Service was slow to get food, waitresses were nice and kind to my elderly mom.
Lovely place with delicious food, great service and amazing views. They have indoor and outdoor areas for sitting, both having views at the Gulf. We ordered a chowder and a salmon burger. Both were finger-licking tasty.
Wonderful experience. Great location. Relaxing atmosphere. Friendly service. Tasty food. Nicely presented. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend. Two consecutive critiques- the tap water might be skipped. The starters and drinks came quickly. The mains tool quite some time to arrive.
Excellent service, the staff is very friendly and helpful, the menu has a lot of options. Brunch was fantastic with rich taste. The potatos were hot and with alot of flavour. 100% recommended. Very cozy place with amazing view. We were sitting under the hitter and it was extremely hot. Everything clean. Every dish looks amazing. I will come back.
We had a house dinner there. The food was great and service was excellent
Great place on the water.
Food was great service was better ; )
Great food. Loved the fish and chips. A beautiful place to enjoy brunch with friends or family.
Fantastic food and beautiful location! We saw a few harbour seals swim by while we had our lunch. I love how it s right on the water! All the food was really delicious and the service was fabulous. Dietary restrictions: Decent number of Gluten free options on the menu
Gluten Free menu is perfect! One of the only places I can trust.
Such a lovely place right on the bay! Food and service were both fantastic! Highly recommend the chowder, cod burger, salmon burger, and Maui shrimp. Looking forward to next time!
The service was absolutely stellar tonight - a quiet restaurant with unobtrusive music, the food was prepared very well and very quickly, and we had a lovely time. Many thanks to those serving us!
TERRIFIC salmon-shrimp cakes in a lovely setting. Highly recommended!
Bridgeworker burger probably the best burger I ve ever had. Service was great. Super friendly. The wait Staff and the hosts were professional and friendly. Made you feel welcome. Seafood chowder and salad were next level. Gorgeous views. Relaxing, friendly atmosphere. I m making this place a regular stop whenever I come to Mill Bay n
Such a beautiful place!
Always a good time.
Great find. Great food. Great service.
Georgia, our waitress was a big help, adapting to our changing situation. The food was great, and very tasty. Good job to the cooks too! Wheelchair accessibility: Easy walk in
Five years ago, I walked out of this restaurant because they didn t have a vegetarian option. I came back recently for a work lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the menu, service and atmosphere. Glad to see they improved and update my review accordingly!
Wheelchair accessibility: Fully accessible Food
Food was ok. I wouldnt say it was worth the price. I got the baked seafood pasta and barely had any seafood in it. Was disappointed in that.
wonderful bistro. highly recommended. nachos were great. Food
A place that doesnt rely on its great location. Delicious food and great service.
My husband and I used to stop by in this marina with our sailboat frequently between 2019 and 2021, and loved it. However, we came in today Sept 09, 2024, and were sadly dissappointed. The food quality has diminished a lot. Were not sure if this is a chef issue, but imagine that it is. We dont reccomend eating here. However, stop in for a $12 drink maybe for the view. Other than that, just dont. The service is good when you get it, but they are clearly understaffed. Its busy because theres nowhere else to go.
Lunch was very good...compliments to the chef. Service was fine until we were given our bill. There was an Open Food charge of which when I questioned what it was for, Thea, the server, was hestitant at first and then said it was for a salad ordered. When ordering I had asked if I could get greens instead of fries that came with the meal. She said at the time that was no problem. I then said to her that it would have been nice to have been informed of the extra charge when ordering. She became very rude saying that vegetables are very expensive and that the extra charge is on the menu. My wife and I both said we never saw that and that most restaurants inform you of extra charges. Most restaurants do not charge for such. She was very snippy and rude in the way she spoke to us not even offering an apology. It was very disappointing and left us with a bad feeling. Dietary restrictions: There are upcharges to any changes on your order such as salad greens for fries Parking: Parking lot gets near full at busy times as parking is shared with the marina users.
Went for my bday lunch with my Mom. We were seated outside on the patio. Nice vibe but the chairs looked like they were dug up from the sea bed. Very uncomfy. We split a burger and had a beer and a ceaser. Food and drinks were great. Service also good! Best French fries I have ever had!! Food
great service, beautiful views and great food. Parking: limited parking Food : 4/5 |
Food wasnt great. The staff and atmosphere were amazing.
Who wouldn t want to eat at an airy seaside restaurant with great service and delicious food.
No complaints, very good food, reasonable prices. One of the nicest venues around, scenery is wonderful right out over the water in a very clean harbor.
Decent! Spaghetti and meatballs were alright, but wish I would ve gotten one of there burgers instead.
A great spot on the water, food is good, staff great. They worked hard to accommodate my youth ball team on a busy night!
Lovely place to have lunch! Really great food and lots of menu items to choose from. Friendly, attentive service. I will definitely be back.
3 out of 4 meals were good however one meal, a vegetarian choice, was so poor the waitress took it off the bill. Location, setting, and service were all good Vegetarian options: The crispy tofu dish sounded good however it was not properly prepared, having way too much sauce making it so spicy it was difficult to eat.
Great menu. Fantastic service awesome location
Great find. We were driving from Victoria to Port Alberni. Checked Google Maps for restaurants near me. What a great little worthwhile detour. Fantastic food and libations.
Great food and service. Right on the water. Best views are at the far end near the marina gate.
My sister was visiting from Saskatoon and we decided to try this place out. WOW! Starting from the wonderful welcome we received at the door to the incredible service at our table we felt so welcome! Erin was our server and she was fantastic! Then her shift was over and we received the same great service from Thea. The food was delicious! All four of us ordered something different and everything was done to perfection! We will definitely be back! KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU from the front end to the kitchen! I would have given more stars 10 out of 10!!!
Despite very pleasant setting and views cooking and food quality is average at best. Needs a change of chef and menu. Most recent service was a significant improvement over previous.
We stood inside by the wait to be served sign for just over 25 minutes with no staff acknowledging us as they continued to walk by. Unsure if this is a reservation only spot? In the end we obviously walked out as they seemed disinterested in our money.
Great food, great prices. great view!!! It was just delightful to discover this pretty place!!
Great little place with an amazing view. Had a couple of drinks and some.yummy calamari
Were on the Trans Canada 1 heading towards Victoria. We ended up at Bridgemans Bistro in Mill Bay after a short detour. The food was absolutely perfect 1x fish and chips and 1x fish soup. Not a long wait, great view, very friendly service. Anyone who is nearby should definitely go there. Only our little dog wasnt allowed in. (unfortunately this is the case everywhere now).
Great place Vegetarian options: Great vegetarian burger Food : 5/5 |
Awesome setting at a marina, surrounded by full length windows taking full advantage of the view of the lovely beach, active kayakers, and moored and active pleasure craft. Food was excellent. I had the salmon cakes and house salad Served up with a friendly smile! Parking: Plenty of parking for lunch.
On the water dining with a great view, plentiful menu and friendly staff. A must visit all seasons as the venue and scenery are stunning. Staff and selection of food and drink make the perfect combination.
Service was poor from the front door all the way to the serving. Treated below par and wont be going back. Tables were dirty and floor was sticky to top it off. They dont have any of the things there online menu says just fyi and they wont tell you any of that until theyve wasted your time seating you and baiting you. Also they are on the ocean but all their seafood comes from a truck frozen. Go somewhere else.
Exorbitant pricing and very small portions. Fish and chips was so soggy, unseasoned, and underdone it was almost inedible. Left feeling sickly and scammed, the only enjoyable thing was the view. Cannot recommend.
Best view and delicious food !!!
Very good experience. We sat outside with nice weather, the service was prompt and friendly. We had fish and chips which was excellent, especially the dill coleslaw. I highly recommend this bistro.
I always enjoy the Bridgemans Bistro, the water view and atmosphere is super! The service was wonderful along with the food.. Food
It was very busy and we were provided seating quickly. Amazing environment and the staff very pleasant. We ordered the wings and clam chowder. The wings were full and hot, however we did expect a ranch dip and celery to accompany.. The chowder was very tasty. Not hot enough and not generous enough. Snapper than a cup it seemed. The white wine was barely cooled. I ve eaten there before 2x I believe I had the hamburger and a large salad. And recall they were good. That was oct 2023. At $65 including a 15% tip, all in all it was over priced for the volume of food. Todd of Nanaimo
very nice location!
I was there on a bad day for the kitchen, the first forgot the eggs for my steak and eggs , then they cooked my steak improperly twice times in a row. However my friend enjoyed the chorizo hash, and the server was great. Food
The batter on the fish and chips was soggy and not cooked properly. The server did not seem to care when I told her. I did not enjoy the meal.
Had Nachos and fries, nachos presentation was very good. But no taste seasoning spice at all. Portion size was good but taste was not
Excellent food excellent friendly service one of the best Caesar salads I ve ever had . Unfortunately they have horribly uncomfortable chairs!! We simply can t go back because they re so painful to sit on . you d think management would want their clients to be comfortable and want to stay but we had to quickly eat and leave.
Amazing views and good pub fare
Decided to check out this place as a surprise for my girlfriend just because. She had been here before and it was my first time. The food, the service, the atmosphere are amazing. When in Mill Bay and hungry, dont go to A&W or MacDs. Take the time to have great food at a great price.
Food is consistently great. Service can be slow and it can be very loud when busy inside. However the view and food make it worth it!
Use to be our favourite restaurant on the island but showed up for chowder and all they were serving was pizza. Absolutely ridiculous, what a disappointment.
Delicious! They have a small small menu that really allows them to concentrate on making fresh, high quality meals. The staff was top notch.
Wasnt any service unless you had a reservation. Unfortunately we drove up from Victoria as it is a favourite place to eat by the ocean. We should have checked prior as do to limited staff they were only serving if you had reservation. Kinda sucked but so sad we will try to reserve next time if there is a next time...
Very poor variety on the menu, no specials, no deserts made in house, and not a clean space. Our party complained about the filthy women s washroom and out of toilet paper, all they did was slap an out of order sign on it. Very bland flavours, salads that were orders had hardly any lettuce. Very disappointing dining experience, will not be returning.
Had a lovely date night here with my husband! We ve dined here multiple times and each time has met our expectations. We both loooooved their burgers Our waiter Sebastian was so so kind, we adored him! We ll be coming back time and time again! 10/10 recommend
Today was a failure for the restaurant unfortunately. We arrived at 1:35 and were told it would be a 20 minute wait for a table so we said OK. We sat for 10 minutes then were told we couldnt get a table before 2pm and that is when the kitchen closes until 3pm when they resume with the dinner menu so we were turned away. We traveled 20 minutes to dine there as we enjoy the place but I would advise calling ahead this was disappointing.
I love going to Bridgemans. The atmosphere is great, the food is topnotch and the service is fantastic. Thank you for always accommodating me for my needs. Well done as usual...
This is our go to in Mill Bay!
Great for a local dining spot. I love coming here in the winter when it is more intimate and cozy.
Could not get a response after booking a reservation. Nobody got back to us. Eventually was told we had NO reservation. Not happy.
Service was sad. The barman was young and full of himself.
Great food, awesome staff and beautiful views
Great service and food.
Fun place on the water!
Seafood chowder was the best I ever had and I never leave reviews on anything. It just had to be said.
Waitress was amazing.everything was prfect Vegetarian options: Had a peanut bowl and added tofu Food : 5/5 |
Tasty food in a relaxed seaside atmosphere.
My husband and I who live in Mill Bay have been going to Bridgemans Bistro since they opened, and at that time they were definitely rated a 4.5 for many years in our opinion. It became our local hangout and we loved the staff whom we knew on a first name basis. We havent dined at the Bistro for the last 2 years and thought we would visit it again since it is one of our favourite hubs. Not only did we not recognize any of the staff members, we were never so insulted by the new ones who studiously ignored us with absolutley NO acknowledgement and eye contact for 5 min. despite the fact we were standing 3 feet away from them trying to get their attention. My husband and I fully understand the strain some restaurants are under due to lack of staff, and we have no problems waiting patiently as long as we have been acknowledged. To receive no eye contact while staff were chit chatting with each other and two bartenders standing behind the bar doing nothing, was appalling. With disappointment rapidly setting in, we were so insulted, we left. We have been dining out in Victoria with way better service than this, and some of those restaurants also suffer from staff shortages..... Yet the staff remain professional and very friendly. We have been recommending the bistro for years, but now wont be doing so any time soon.
Had the fish and chips today, supposed to be cod, maybe not, second piece was so fishy tasting could not eat it. Just tasted bad.
Brigemans is right on the water at the Marina...not just for yachties!
Great views from being right on the water. Service was excellent and the food was fantastic. Definitely worth dropping in. Oh, the coffee was terrific too. Food
Good food and good service.
Perfect
This place is great. Our server Francis was one of the best servers we ve ever had. She was really knowledgeable and recommended us the best picks on the menu.
A fantastic local spot with great views, excellent decor and consistent service and quality food and drinks. Definitely my local go-to! I should mention as well...best seafood chowder anywhere! Parking: Convenient and free Wheelchair accessibility: Fully accessible
So nice yo be on the water! Staff were very professional & friendly. Eggs Benny were done to perfection!!
They only deserve stars because its in a beautiful location. We were excited to try somewhere new for dinner & drinks but when we saw the menu prices (IE...$20 for a pound of wings [this is $4-$5 more than most places]) we decided to just have a drink and then go to a much nicer and reasonably priced place not far down the road that is also on the waterfront & at a marina. We didnt know that 2 Caesers would run us $25 until we got the bill. They were not spectacular & there was nothing special about the presentation. We wont be back. EDIT: The House Caesers werent listed on any menu that we had at our table, but we saw the $2 off sign at the door when we entered. Regardless, we wont be back.
Awesome location. Lovely views with great food and service. Highly recommend this place
Food and atmosphere/scenery were great!
Took my wife there for a belated Valentines Day late brunch. Always have enjoyed the location. Happy hour is a nice treat. Great in summer on a sunny day. Menu gets a little stale but simple and tasty. Got to do something about the drinking water. The first thing we were served was the water and it was like stagnant well water. Complete turn off. Come on folks, spend the big bucks and get a water cooler and bottles.
Lovely location. Unfortunately very limited vegetarian options. Good service. Vegetarian options: Very little vegetarian food. Other than salad, just a curry or quesadilla with meat removed and of course a veggie burger. Food : 3/5 |
Extremely busy, but decent service and food anyway.
Lovely and warm inside on a cold winters say. Came in for brunch and it was great, super friendly staff, food was awesome so were the drinks.
Got a bistro burger and it was really good! Really nice atmosphere as well! The prices are reasonable too.
Great spot, beautiful views, charming and warm. The food was great and good value for the money! Will definitely bring friends and visitors here.
The service is great but their menu and food always disappoints.
Great food and nice views
Always a pleasure,! This is our go to , Our family lives on inlet Dr. In the bay . We have dinner every time we visit from Ontario . I WANT A DRINK NAMED AFTER ME TOO! Lol!! The calamari is just perfect, it s the best ! The view is always a winner too! Unfortunately I m unable to post the picture of the rainbow over the marina?
We came in for a pleasant Easter dinner as this marina location came highly recommended. I work and live in marinas all over the coast, so I take recommendations to heart. We both ordered one drink each and prime rib special. I asked for medium rare and was told I could get medium. It arrived well done. The furthest state from medium rare possible. The server was very inattentive. At no point were we offered anything else, despite continuous attempts to flag her down. including condiments ordered, drinks at dinner, coffee or dessert. The entire experience was quite disconcerting and unpleasant. I am submitting this with respect and tolerance at a time when we all trying to get by on very little.
Great food! Cheerfully noisy. Needs PADDED SEATS! Found their seats hard after a half hour or so. Bring a cushion!
Hard to give a bad review on the food..it is really good, despite the portions shrinking each year. The restaurant itself is awesome..location too. But the service is such a disaster..lack of respect, communication and ignorance ruins all the rest! Any customers that are above 50 have no place to sit while they wait 35+ minutes staring at empty tables. Being ignored by staff, then finally seated and waiting another 15 minutes just for anyone to acknowledge for drinks, much less food! Benefit of the doubt given, after this, our third round of disappointment, we will not be back nor will we recommend anymore. Really a shame...
Very busy place
Usually I have a good experience with this restaurant, and it is my go-to place for dinner dining in Mill Bay. However, yesterday may be the last time I visit. After placing our order of wings to start and our entrees, it took half an hour before we had to enquire when our appetizers would be coming. It was wing night, and although the restaurant was fairly busy, we should have our wings by then? We began to notice that tables around us that were seated much later than us received their orders, and when we inquired, apparently the reasoning was that their machine to input orders could only take so many, so our order was left out. We arrived at 6:30, and it was 7:20 when we decided to leave without any food. Not even an apology from our waitress. Unfortunately, all the restaurants are closed at 8, so we could not even be seated at another restaurant. I really enjoy the atmosphere as the surrounding ocean is breathtaking, and generally I have a good experience here. Unfortunately this ruined what have been a nice date night. PS Please clean your heaters because little bits of white stuff periodically falling on you is gross
I went for dinner tonight and had the best service. My host, Isabelle, was unbelievable kind and an absolute joy.
Went here today for brunch with friends. The location is the draw - lovely - service not bad, food ok but not great. Probably will stay away for a while.
First time here. I come to the area every 2 months but this was my first time trying this restaurant. The drinks were decent and the clam/ mussels starter was good but the ribs dinner was absolutely awful. I normally wouldn t order a pricier dish but was with my mother and thought it would be a nice treat. In the end we didn t even eat them split between us as they were sooo bad. The atmosphere is nice and views are wonderful and servers definitely doing the best they can being run off their feet but we waited almost an hour for an appetizer. Again not faulting the service as they had a dinner rush and a large group that pre-ordered. Would come back for the atmosphere and location but wouldn t splurge on anything beyond the beef dip or seafood tacos in future
Excellent bistro, top service. Frankly excellent food. And above all the place at midday in full sun is a delight!! I highly recommend. Kid-friendliness: Quality childrens dishes. When we were seated, they directly brought a menu on which the children could draw with the pencils they brought!! Top
Blown away by the food, 4 different plates at the table, everyone was very pleased. If you have not been, GO.
Chairs are very uncomfortable
The view is perfect, we had muffles, the side butter was sooo good! And the portion is enough for two!
Husband and wife Here for lunch Monday June 5,2023 at 1:25pm beautiful sunny day (lucky scenery is beautiful)busy but def not crazy 5 empty tables we ordered fish and chips/coffee and pop 2:32pm STILL sitting here no food no asking if we would Like a refill horrible service and seriously sitting here waiting for fish and chips WOW WONT BE BACK EVER and won t recommend ~Youbou BC
Would give this place 5 stars but it closes too early. The food is good, the atmosphere or scenery is amazing, the staff are all great. This is my wifes favorite place for lunch on the weekend. I would reccomend to any visitors for sure.. You just cant beat the view!
Just found this place by chance, what a great find. Great atmosphere, food and views !!
We enjoyed this waterfront restaurant a few days ago with some great friends who live nearby. The setting is amazing - the tables are literally over the water as you walk toward the marina dock. Good energy in the boating community that seems to rub off on us as we sit and watch the boats come and go. We will definitely be back.
It is a wonderful venue with a great view of the harbour. Our breakfast Bennys were good, but they could have been better had the english muffins not been toasted to the point that they were difficult to cut and chew. The highlight was definitely the venue..
Good food, excellent staff and nice view.
Absolutely the worst service we ve experienced in a restaurant setting. Wings were great, if and when you receive them.
This review is for the ladies! If you are wanting good food, a good mood and a vibe, go to this location. Birthday dinner? Perfect. Brunch with the girls, perfect. Wanna an engagement here, super beautiful and friend atomosphere. Catching up with the besties spilling the tea, order a drink and appies! This place is so cute. I love all the foos. Staff are always kind and friendly. Music is always playing, views are beautiful and its a little busy at times but once you go youll understand
Was very good. Little understaffed but Waitress did awesome. Seems the norm now. Enjoyed the location and atmosphere. Highly recommend.
Very tasty dinner with a nice view of the marina. Friendly service!
A hidden gem off the beaten path. Pub-style restaurant situated on the dock at a marina. Parking: A paved lot right at the entrance to the marina.
Great setting and awesome views. Attentive service and delicious food.
Nice spot, almost always a long wait as its very popular. Good food. Went on a weekend night, waited a long time for a table despite many tables being empty for the entire 45 minutes we were waiting. I think they take reservations which means they have to hold tables between guests. Worth the wait though if you can get a spot at the bar for a drink!! Vegetarian options: Nice vegetarian curry dish
Beautiful views. Food was ok
Great service and excellent food. Very good atmosphere . Parking: Parking is free, and a lot of space. Kid-friendliness: Drawing pictures for kids. Wheelchair accessibility: Easy to access with vill Cher.
Very, very nice. Literally outta sight, but figuratively as well. Its out on the wharf, at the marina, but its not at all the kind of place youd expect in such a location. Not a large place or menu, but a great chef and like similar places, their specials are special! The seafood chowder isnt a thick chowder, but has a really great balance of seafood for a really nice taste.
Very unhappy with my experience Sunday evening at the Mill Bay location. First I must say that my wife and I are 80. We showed up at 7 PM for our reservation. It didn t exist and the young woman we spoke with said so. She didn t apologize but went on to in so many words indicated that maybe we just thought we had made the reservation. I was offended. Yes I was and my wife was very disappointed. We were told to stand back and wait for the other customers. We had a nice dinner and the server was great. THEN a surly male brought us our check. I asked if he was a manager. He said he was. He had dark hair and a beard. I told him we liked our waitress and then tried to tell him about how we had been treated. He seemed angry nd would not listen. He pushed our bill at us and took our card for payment. As we left I tried again to tell him how we were treated. Again he shut us down ..then he told us we were aggressive and we needed to leave the restaurant. He kicked us out yes that s what he did in an angry and aggressive manor. I know we are old. We have our complete mental abilities though. I tried to think of it as just a angry person on a bad night but this morning I still hurt. I m so sad that we will no longer go to this marina or restaurant. It seems the young woman didn t understand that we felt she did not respect us. I don t hear well so maybe I misunderstood her but it didn t go well. The manager sided with the inexperienced young woman and came after us. I sad experience
Most amazing food
Smaller place but not overly crowded seating. Has a semi outdoor feel as back area doesnt have solid walls. Right on the dock so completely water view. Nice westcoast style bar with seating. The server was friendly and fairly attentive but busy. Not a large menu but varied, adequate sized servings and tasty. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free and vegan food options. Wheelchair accessibility: No steps from parking and on dock. Chairs movable to seat a chair
Great view, food barely okay. Normal great view mediocre food. Will wait sometime before going again.
The view that doesn t end! Food is exceptional. Amazing service, Georgia! Great first experience. Loved it all. Great drinks, food and service! Food
Phoned three times...nobody answers. Left a message, no return call ! Ended up going to Unsworth for dinner.....spectacular dinner. Supposedly Bridgemans will only take reservations for six and under....??
Stopped in for a drink. A lovely spot with great views and atmosphere. Were looking forward to coming back for a meal.
I had the pulled pork quesadillas it was AMAZING! Super tasty. A little bit oily so make sure you ask for extra napkins
First time at this place .. Excellent food & even better service from top top bottom ! Despite being very busy on the holiday Monday and being short staffed , the servers did an amazing job and doubled as bartenders! Cannot say enough about the hard working team..Will be back for sure !! Staff even called us the Bestest customers of the day
This restaurant would have received and overall 5 star, if not for the terrible treatment we received from the hostess. She told us there would be a 15 minute wait, which was fine since they were pretty busy. We were then seated in a sunny area, which was not the most ideal. We noticed a shaddy table across the way, which had a reserved sign. We then noticed that it was given to the couple waiting behind us. We were not happy with that. They were served water and drinks and we had not been given any attention. Then we saw another table where it had become available. I went up to the hostess and asked to be moved there. She said no. That really made me furious. I asked for the manager and after 5 minutes, a man came by and he said that there was a misunderstanding and set up the newly vacated table for us. Our server was very pleasant and the food was great. We did not see anyone after us being seated on that sunny table. Why were we treated that way? Go figure. This should be a learning experience for them. All people wanted to be treated well.
Great location, pub style food, good lunch spot thats not too pricey. Saw some otters in the ocean while we were eating which was a nice bonus!
Love the location, the food, the staff and atmosphere.
Probably the worse place in the cowichan valley, actually Vancouver island. Horrible service even for regulars. Mediocre food. Not enough chefs and over staffed waitresses. As a local it s a shame, great location is the only thing going for this place. Needs a lot of work from management in hiring chefs and having more adequate staff. Avoid at all costs.
Love this place. We ve had both lunch and dinner. We ve eaten in and taken away. Good variety of food and all very tasty. Stunning views of marina and across the bay. Keep in mind they close between lunch and dinner (or have limited food options, I don t recall which) this is a good thing though. It means the food is always fresh. In the summer it can get busy, so make reservations or be prepared to wait. Staff is always friendly and helpful.
Food was very good. Not a large selection but the food was very well done. Service was good and better than expected in this sort of environment. The place was noisy and not conducive to carry on a conversation Parking: Gets better in the evening when boaters with trailers are leaving
Very cool spot right on the water!
Wonderful food great view.... a poor review would merit tossing the person overboard!
Have been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Great pier dining experience, we had the nachos with spicy chicken. Too large for two of us to finish (thats a good thing)!
Nice place, excellent service, good looking food, mediocre taste, bland. Customers get the lunch menu at supper hour, mostly burgers. The only part that was tasty was the home fries. Cesar salad dressing was white and pasty, I m guessing bottled, unfortunately not zesty or lemony. Food
Fantastic views and Great food!
Nice location, food is ok. Basically food truck/pub food, so Whitespot with a view.
They deserve negative or zero stars. Bad customer service, unpleasant environment and experience.
Beautiful venue! Great menu
Very slow service initially. Had to ask to have server come take our orders.
The food is really bad - both in quality and overall taste. We had the 1. sirloin and prawn. The meat was very chewy and gristley. The baked potato lacked flavor and the shrimp were small and cheap 2. Thai curry. The flavor was one note and it lacked flavor - they served it with overcooked egg noodles? Yuck. The restaurant is decent. The bar is nice and so is the view. Service was decent. I had been told by others in the neighborhood that the food was bad but I thought how bad could it be?.,...it was bad. I wouldnt go back for dinner/lunch/brunch but it might be a nice place to have a coffee and chat.
Hadn t been here in a few years due to one bad experience but very glad I came back the food was amazing staff very attentive and just all around perfect dinning experience here amazing food and view and service, the pulled pork quesadilla was phenomenal , steak in steak salad was just okay but gotta say this place is great will definitely be back
Amazing location right on the water. Good was delicious, service was fast and friendly. Will return.
The service was outstanding, our server did an excellent job. The atmosphere is beautiful right on the water. The food unfortunately, was awful. We had wings as an appetizer and honesty they were awful. Frozen wings from a grocery store are gourmet food in comparison with those wings. Our meals were also very disappointing, from too much sauce and not enough noodles on a $28 pasta dish, to a pulled pork quesadilla that was dry as as Death Valley, it all added up to a very poor meal. I know these are expensive times we are in, but this food was seriously way overpriced for the quality. The view of the ocean was incredible though.
We came early a half hour before evening menu and the server was very accomidating. Applies came quick I had calamari , no spice and you can tell they were frozen. Husband had the clam chowder very watery with no flavour. Next was the blackened chicken , thaught I would get a whole breast but it was sliced in half and received a half potion that was dried out. Also we tried the beef dip not good, grisly and chewy, again no flavour! You would think for what u pay one would get better qaulity!!! Top it off I got food poisoning and barely made it home to the washroom My husband said we will never come back there which is to bad because the view is beautiful and so was our server who we felt deserved a tip since it wasn t her fault! Cmon guys get ur act together!
Good vegetarian choices. Nice presentation. Views were great, a bit noisy.
Absolutely love it!
Always a tasty meal with excellent service here. Plus, the view is great, sitting right out over the water.
We came in off the dock on paddle boards and were told they wouldn t serve us because we only had bathing suits and a towel. I offered to buy their T-shirt to cover up as we couldn t leave the bay by vehicle either as there was a fuel leak on their driveway. It was closed. They still completely denied us service. I m extremely unimpressed being as this is a restaurant on the water and the situation at hand. I will not ever return nor suggest them to anyone.
This place never disappoints. From happily being greeted at the door to an entire night of delicious pizza, wings and drinks! The view is beautiful- highly recommended.
Less is more? I had the Bridgemans Chowder at the Bridgemans Bistro. It was more of a broth in that it was rather thin and severly lacking in chowder. Very little fish, clams, etc. The taste was also bland to me. Ive been getting chowder as I drove up the west coast from California to Parksville, BC. This was twice as expensive, which I can accept for the view, but I cant stomach the lack of quality. I see overall good reviews for the place, so maybe I got the wrong dish. Third star is for the view.
When you visit an island, Bridgemans is the kind of seaside treasure you hope to find. A postcard-perfect location on Mill Bay, the atmosphere is comfortably between rustic/informal and fine-dining. The menu is family-friendly pub fare with many items elevated just enough to be a bit fancy. Tried the salmon/crab with wasabi burger as well as the chicken & brie paired with a regional craft brew. The great service matched the view to make a charming evening.
Great staff. Very friendly. Very pleasant atmosphere on the ocean.
Soooo good and excellent staff
Awesome food, great drinks and terrific staff.
Excellent service and food. Stunning location, well worth a visit. Great selection of drinks and food. Thank you
Great restaurant! The clams and mussels are amazing!!
Terrible customer service. They took our name for a table and our phone number and said it would be 10-30 minutes. We went back after 25 minutes because we hadn t heard anything and they had crossed off our name and let about 10 groups go ahead of us even though they hadn t bothered to contact us. They then said it would be another 20-30 minutes before they could seat us. We left and won t be going back.
Great food, very good portions and excellent quality. Very good menu selection as well. The pizzas are great. lots of seafood on the menu. Friendly staff, It is a little above average on the price scale but we found it worth it. Excellent location right on the water with an awesome view. Walk the pier after dinner a see tonnes of sea creatures in the water. Please keep in mind they are short staff like ALL the restaurants in the area, Thanks to Justin LOL . Patients may be required but we had a drink at the bar and got seated in a timely manner. Highly recommended. On vacation from Ontario. Parking: Lots of parking Kid-friendliness: Burgers fries pizzas ,maybe add Mac and cheese to the menu as a suggestion.
Great location and marvelous food.
It is of my favourite restaurant in the island, excellent food, excellent service and the location beautiful.
Amazing people great drinks great food
Love this place. Great food, great staff.
I was heading up Island so I reached out to an old friend that lives in Shawnigan to see if she wanted to meet for lunch. She suggested Bridgeman s Bistro, and since I m always happy to try a new place I agreed. Bridgeman s is right on the water in Mill Bay at the marina and the view is unbeatable. We ordered the 2 piece fish and chips, their seafood chowder and an order of their house made cornbread. Everything was delicious and the quality of ingredients and care in the preparation of everything is very apparent! The place gets very busy at lunchtime and with good reason. We got there right at 12 noon and there were maybe 4 tables seated but in 15 minutes the place was full and people were waiting at the door. Even though it was busy our food was out within a matter of a few minutes, which shows that their kitchen is on the ball. Apparently there are a few locations of Bridgeman s Bistro so check if there s a location near you and give them a try!
Great food, friendly staff and a nice atmosphere
What a nice dining experience. Britney our server was the best and made us delicious drinks and recommended wonderful food. Mussels were wonderful Chicken Brie pizza to die for and my empress gin drinks so tasty. Can t wait to drive up their again.
Such a perfect spot for a first date! Thanks for making the night so special
Friendly service, great food and lovely views
Kid-friendliness: Took the baby, she loved it lots of lighting!! Food
A very nice spot for a family brunch
I absolutely love this Bistro. It s such a hit in the summer and worth the drive from Victoria. I highly recommend their Meatloaf Sandwich! It s one of the best I have had, I order it every time I come here.
Very disappointed went there yesterday dec17 server took us to a table , completely forgot about us ,wasnt really busy .we chatted about the view which was awesome half an hour later still no server .a few ppl came in and were served water ,where was ours.on our way out we complained to maybe the senior person she said do u want a table I will get u served duh .we left and went too the pizza place in the shopping center where we were met with a charming young girl who was so efficient. So grateful for service and disgusted with bridgemans terrible service
Walked in for dinner to a half empty restaurant asking for a table of 5 and was refused a table because of a seating policy of no more than a table of 6 every hour - which didn t even make sense because we were less than 6 Our group is racially and gender diverse, and we have tried to sit at this restaurant multiple times and have never been successful. We will stop trying to come here because it s hard to fathom that us never being successful at getting a table (mind you, restaurant was never full and always had tables) was not motivated by discrimination. Extremely disappointed