Pagliacci's in Victoria

Best pasta in town. Friendly staff and vibrating ambiance.

This is Italian-American, NOT Italian, but it s a great Italian-American spot that would not be out of place in New Jersey or New York City. The food is always consistent, the vibe is loud, cramped, cozy, and welcoming. A rare place that s great for a date or for a meal out with kids. There s always a lineup and it moves faster than expected Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options Kid-friendliness: Kids menu including happy hour

I cant make my potato and leek soup anymore, now that theyve tasted Pagliaccis. When will they publish a cookbook?

I ve ordered from Pagliacci s through Uber Eats twice now, and both times have been a huge disappointment. Each order was incorrect and missing items. They charged $5.50 for baked cheese both times, and I didn t receive it either time. Additionally, I ordered an extra side of bread and only received two slices instead of the eight I paid for. To make matters worse, this time the pasta arrived completely dry with no sauce at all just bland and inedible. For over $100 spent on two meals, I expect much better attention to detail. This repeated experience makes me seriously question ever dining in again. If they can t manage takeout orders, it doesn t inspire confidence in their overall service. I definitely don t recommend ordering takeout from Pagliacci s.

Excellent food!

Foos is really good. Definitely try this restaurant.

Food is always the best. Love it there. Hemingway short story is amazing.

The food was delicious and service was fast.

Meh. Not terrible, not great either. I get why it is a local institution-hearty portions and a friendly server. Food was ok, but the high aggregate review number (4.5 across 1700+ reviews) had me expecting much better than meh . The space is cramped, claustrophobic with jumbled, outdated decor that felt like a rummage sale. Our friendly neighbors on both sides were so close they constantly commented on our conversation and orders. I enjoyed the truffle cream sauce on gluten free pasta with meatballs in tomato sauce a confusing dish, but delicious and very filling (I recommend sharing, I took half home). My table mate complained my truffle sauce smelled so strong he couldn t taste his own meal if you love truffle this is not necessarily a con. His bolognese was reported as very average. The sangria tasted like strawberry kool-aid and the infused fruit in it was off-putting, mushy and unidentifiable. The dark and stormy was so strong you could use it for lighter fluid. Ordered turtle dessert that was raved about and arrived home to disappointment we had been sent with chocolate cake instead. Pagliacci s was not terrible, but it wasn t great in a competitive marketplace their laurels as a local favorite will likely only carry them so much further. They could be worthy of that 4.5 with some quality control and small tweaks-I wish them much luck.

Great little Italian spot, super packed and cozy but in a good way. We went to have a late dinner and watch some love music, the servers were friendly, our pasta wasn t incredible but we enjoyed our time there! Would recommend to anyone in Victoria wanting a fun place to have dinner.

Ive been enjoying Pags since the early 90s. Ive never had a bad meal there. Great flavours, fun atmosphere and lovely servers.

I can imagine that Pagliaccis is cramped when full, but today for early lunch it was perfect at about 50% capacity. Todays lentil soup and house salad lunch was a perfect size for warmth and flavour. Try the yogurt dill dressing! Ed Norton steak sandwich - also perfect! Food

Good food but space is a bit cramped

We enjoyed the patio with delicious food. The service is good

First time dining here coming all the way from Vancouver. We ordered the i ll have what she s having on the menu sounds okay, and it came out with a suppeerrr bigazz food me and friend extremely shock and we couldn t finish that. Server nice try to check up on us couple times lol. Just space too small and it s really tight around.. pretty busy restaurant for a small space, but no line up. Overall great!

Really good food, love the pasta I got. Wine was awesome !! Also nice Musik and really good service !

Pagliacci s in my opinion is the best restaurant in Victoria. Every time I go to an Italian restaurant I judge their bread based on Pags. The atmosphere is amazing, with live music all the time, and the patio is great in the summer. Any pasta you get here is amazing, and their steaks are great. 10/10 would recommend to anyone visiting Victoria.

Great food and an awesome vibe! They are very accommodating with food sensitivities and allergies.

I had Sophias pasta, a seafood pasta dish. It was delish. My family enjoyed their meals too. Great and friendly service.

Close to ferry and great breakfast

As much as I hate to leave a poor review on a restaurant with such amazing food, the customer service we experienced was far too dismal and I felt compelled to leave this review. We were here for dinner on Tuesday November 19th. Our waitress had short brown hair and a nose piercing. From the moment my five friends and I sat down to down to dine our waitress was unwelcoming, frigid and extremely dry. We all ordered a pasta seafood dish which were all amazing. One of my friends who ordered the Sophia pasta noticed her tongue and throat becoming itchy after just a few bites of her meal. Along with mild swelling in her throat. She quickly identified these signs as an allergic reaction and stepped out of the restaurant to get some air. Justifiably, we were all quickly concerned for our friend s wellbeing and I began asking staff for an EpiPen in preparation for the worst case scenario. The staff was initially helpful and found an EpiPen, however told us they are not able to give guests medications and we should call an ambulance. Ironically, all six of us are nurses and understand the serious implications of an allergic reaction which goes untreated. Our waitress was very quick to judge our friend having the allergic reaction and blame her for choosing the Sophia pasta which has crab in the sauce. I clearly stated she was not previously aware of this allergy but had had an intolerance to it before. My friends and I then decided to leave the restaurant prematurely in order to care for our friend. A few of us still had dinner left to finish, including the friend who had the allergic reaction, therefore we took the leftovers to go. Our friend was not offered any type of compensation for her meal - even a small discount or dessert would have been appreciated. It is absolutely not about the money, it is the principle of it all. This is just professional curtesy - and clearly our waitress lacked these skills.

Came here during live music. The food here was some of the best food i ve ever had in my life Every bite of food was full of flavour and richness The beer was amazing, perfect amount for the portion size Bread sticks were amazing, you can tell they are freshly baked Service was polite, friendly and efficient. The live music adds so much to the atmosphere Definitely worth the price and most definitely coming back!

Nice bread. Ordered Dungeness crab lasagna and Wild halibut pasta with baked Brussels. A chocolate cake ( so big to continue to finish for the next two nights) with Okanagan white wine.

This is our go to lunch place in Victoria. 20 years ago when we lived here and it s still the same one now we re never disappointed and the bread to die for. I ordered food and then I mostly just eat the bread and sample my food. Then I end up taking most of my order home.

My Favorite place ro eat in Victoria for 3 decades! Class act love the hubbub and the wonderful sincere staff. The pricing on a Negroni is also very pleasing. Im trying to reverse engineer those polenta fries Food

Busy place with great food and service!

Omg, truly the best pasta ever. The customer service is top notch. Very accommodating in all aspects. All employees work as a team.

Our experience was brutal. They jam you in like sardines. The pasta was not al dente. It was hard. I have toured many eateries in Italy and it was never like that. Going to the washroom was a real challenge. Then on our way out some guy almost stared a fight with my husband because he brushed against him. For the life of me I can not understand how the safety laws ie fire and safety would allow that many in that size of a room. Disappointed.

Still the best. Been going since the early 90 s.

I have been coming to Pags since I was a teenager. The intimate jazz filled atmosphere combined with incredible comfort food is unbeatable. This restaurant has been around since 1979 for a reason! Vegetarian options: There are a lot of Vegetarian options.

Very delicious food and yes, the bread is addictive. Friendly and efficient service.

The food was great and the atmosphere was fun! We got there early enough to avoid a wait and wow, it filled up quickly. The service was fast and friendly and the pasta was so flavourful. I understand why this place was so highly recommended.

Amazing food! Love Victoria!!

Finally we had the opportunity to dine here. I can see why it is so busy. The service was top notch, and the food! oh the food! I dont know what they do to their bread, but it was divine. And one doesnt often see baskets of bread provided unless you pay an arm and a leg for it. So this was a nice perk. The Salmon Sling pasta and the Bicycle Thief were delicious and the servings were very generous. Mamas meatball Sandwich looked amazing. Actually, the whole experience was amazing and well deserved of the great reviews.

Great place for authentic Italian food can taste the fresh ingredients

My bestie, and I shared happy hour specials, and thoroughly enjoyed our time. Fabulous!!!

The person who first took the order did not process it properly. I kept waiting, and another server came to confirm and found out that the order didnt go in. He was quick to help me and kept saying sorry. The food is not bad, but the young male server that annoys a busy traveler has a problem. You need to get the service training properly. After eating, I was running out of time. I almost ruined my trip to Victoria.

Saw reviews and thought it would be a good place. A friend of ours had been here in the summer with unfavourable experience but we wanted to try it on our own. Very disappointed Food average Service was the biggest issue. We waited for 5 min before we got greeted at the entrance. Many servers saw us and walked by without a single look of acknowledgment. Finally seated by one server, brought water and menus over by another server and finally third server came over to take the order. It was unclear who our server was the entire night. Asked for hot water for us . Got only one cup of it for my wife, didn t get one for me. Asked again and 5 min later brings me my hot water. Finally brought food over average and felt way overpriced for flavour and quantity. I realize it s in heart of downtown and it s meant to be experience. However, either the service, food or atmosphere should redeem for it for the customer. Atmosphere -nice lighting, good decor, but the live music was obnoxiously loud. The trumpet (?) was way too loud and at the end of the song the player brought over his hat to tables asking for money. We found that a bit uncomfortable as we had just seated there 2 min ago. He was polite about it but it felt odd. The whole date night experience was soured. We won t be going here again. I m sure it s a great place for others but definitely not for us.

Love the Foccacia, the serving portion is great considering this is the small plate. The ambience is just chill and perfect. You can really sense the camaraderie with the band playing and just enjoying what they do best.

Great clients , great food !!

Came hear for our 5th night of out honeymoon. The young maitre d was juggling about four parties waiting to be seated. He kept everyone in the loop when they were coming up next. He really was a pro for the job. Once seated we were greeted by two waitstaff. Never had an empty water glass, nor wine glass. Food was out of this world good. I got the rib eye steak med-rare, my bride had the Sophia. Seafood pasta bowl. Incredible. Cant wait to return and try more dishes and will have desert next time.

For a meal, dining in with my two young-adult grandchildren, this was perfect. Not fussy or pretentious. Great food, good accommodations for gluten issues. My grandson works at Cactus Club and said this was the best steak he s had.

Every time I m in Victoria, I go to Pagliacci s. It s a tradition I can t break. I ve brought family, friends, and colleagues, and everyone loves it. My son loves their kid s pasta and this video of him is a favourite of mine. Never disappointed and I can t wait for my next visit! Five stars for sure!

Great bread, pasta and wine.

Please everyone do not eat here. We thought we had a very nice dining experience until we saw a family of mice running around the entire restaurant. On chairs and tables. We were told that s just how things are in Victoria. When we asked what cleaning measures were taken in the kitchen and behind the bar, the response was not satisfactory. We have been sick and grossed out for two days.

Excellent lunch, great meal, well cooked with friendly service. Highly recommended.

First Time visiting Canada from France, we wanted to have a nice dinner for the end of our roadtrip through B.C. and this restaurant did not disappoint ! We had a great time, the pasta dish was great and my New York striploin was one of the best i had in quite a time. First steak came out a bit overcooked, but the staff was very understanding and i quickly got my medium rare steak perfectly cooked. I definitely recommend this restaurant for the excellent service and delicious food !

Their Bread is the best, and after a plate or two I could barely finish my pasta. That s how good they are.

Im so happy I found this place, just by chance Then I find out how popular it is and takes no reservations. I got there around 6:00 p.m. There was a line outside but they picked me out of line because I was a single and they put me in a table right away, outside, I had a seafood salad. Then I had a nice chocolate dessert. They also made a nice fresh pot of decaf coffee for me. Great people watching in a very active and lively and very nice place. If I ever come back to this town Ill go here again.

The bread is the closest thing to crack on planet earth. I can quit any time said the carb addict

Live music made the evening awesome

Ordered food via UberEats. It came in about an hour. The normal pasta portions are incredibly small for the price and taste like warmed up food on a plane. Not recommended.

SOOOO good

A warm place to bring friends! Tasty pasta and the best complimentary bread.

I felt like I was transported to another world! The food is delicious. The service is exceptional. My food allergy concerns are acknowledged better than any other restaurant in BC.

Incredible food: fantastic fresh pasta and the most incredible polenta fritters! Cocktails were on point, and the service helpful and attentive without being overbearing. Dont miss out!

Amazing service, it was like our server read my mind Thanks for your service Johanna

I thought about giving less than 4 star because we had to wait in a queue outside for at least half an hour to my memory. It felt like waiting for a concert, and was quite packed inside. THAT BEING SAID This was three years ago, so I can imagine a lot may have changed. Maybe they have adapted their services to meet the level of their success. And here I am, writing a review at last, because the food was THAT good, that I daydream about it still. I had the lasagne: scrummy! Though I couldn t finish it because I d gorged myself on the starter bread. When we at last were at the front of the queue, and bustled into the corner of the most atmospheric restaurant, so full of happy noise and activity, we were set in front this non descript woven bowl of bread. I take and eat one absent mindedly, looking for something to occupy by saliva filled mouth. And . It was truly the best bread I ve ever eaten. Simply. I can t describe it. Hot from the oven. Salty, seasoned beautifully. Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside. I couldn t stop eating. Neither could my party. And whenever we finished the bowl, a waiter would scurry past and re fill it within what felt like seconds. It was like magic. I live in the uk. The family who took me to the restaurant are locals and kept telling me how good the food was, I only went because it was starting to annoy me. Now, I ve never managed to persuade anyone to leave home and head abroad purely for the sake of this restaurant, but let me assure you: when I discover some spare grand or two in cash in some hidden vault, I will be using it to head back to this magical restaurant. Signed An unsuspecting, wholly passionate ambassador

I had the lasagna and side salad. Greens for the salad were fresh. The lasagna was good, but not extraordinary. Best bread ever! The service and atmosphere is amazing. Personable staff and the place is so cozy. I sat at a table along the wall and the people on either side of me were only half arms length away. While this may be off putting for some, I found it quite comforting. Last but not least, the music! Jazz and blues for the win!!!!

This place has a lot of personality. The waiters are quite polite, funny and energetic ! Had one coconut curry sauce fettuccine with some shrimp in it and a pesto rose penne bowl. Cant tell if the pastas are hand made or come from the grocery store. I will come back for that delicious coconut sauce and the tasty sun dried tomatoes.

Pastas were all pretty good - the focaccia is perfectly salted and fluffy. A little cramped in terms of space, but homey and fun vibe. Food : 4/5

Excellent food, great staff! Definitely worth the wait.

Their bread is super good but then it starts to go down hill. Super basic standard Italian food. Felt nostalgic eating their but not worth the price.

45th anniversary bash and still made delicious takeout. Spicy meatballs!! And best foccaci to eat with it!

This is a phenomenal restaurant with friendly staff and delicious food! I went at a busy time and to be expected there was a long line out of the door. There was about seven groups ahead of mine and the wait was about 30 minutes. When seated the service was quick which made the wait totally worth it! My group had an assortment of pastas and seafood which was well seasoned and perfectly cooked.

I have been coming to this Victoria institution for 30 years and never once have I been disappointed. Pags has maintained outstanding service and a fantastic menu since they opened. With the weather turning warm I will certainly be sitting out on their patio. If youre in Victoria you must go to Pags.

The long line loop really quickly. For all the people coming off the cruise ship, we were in and out the door in out an hour and 15, with some speed-eating. The only bad thing was the menu was very confusing.

You must eat here. Outstanding.

I chose Pagliacci s for my birthday dinner with my family for the lively atmosphere and decadent food. Pag s did not disappoint! As a local resident, coming here is always nostalgic. My mother was able to enjoy a delicious gluten-free prawn pasta dish, which she very much appreciated. Hemingway Short Story s were enjoyed by 3 of us (all decided they did not like it baked with cheese). As always, the bread is to die for and service is top notch. Come hungry! Dietary restrictions: Options for celiac/gluten free

My family started this gem 45 years ago with Howie and David Siegel. I m so proud the Siegel family has maintained the vision of Pags these many years. Great celebration last weekend to honour that commitment.

It was my second time at Pagliaccis. It is super popular and quite an iconic place to visit in Victoria. Being popular makes it really crowded, so you have to plan accordingly, otherwise you might be surprise with the line. Youll be surprise with any pasta dish, everything is really good. The included bread is also something to try. Atmosphere-wise, there is also a really nice vibe. However, since there are so many people in the small space and that the music is loud, it can be overwhelming.

We dined-in the day after their 45th anniversary and they did not disappoint! We arrived behind a line of 9ish people waiting to get in (they dont take reservations) and we didnt have to wait long at all. Excellent service, both friendly and speedy; we had 3-4 people take part in serving us and our food came quikly. Both pasta dishes were delicious. Live music was . Highly recommend this place.

Best experience ever! First come first seated no reservation option

Ordered for pick up on me and the wife were in Victoria for the night. Both passes were phenomenal. The bread is everything that they say online. Its so good. Wish I lived here so I could either more often 5 out of 5 for s***

Best Italian food in town!

All we wanna do is wake up in the morning and eat at Pag s.,, with Johanna! Johanna! Never thought pasta could ever be so good! Johanna! #totoparody #morepepsiplease #bestofthebest #thankyou

One of the best meals on Vancouver Island. We celebrated in style. Food

Best pasta in town and the focaccia (bread) was out of this world !!!

I don t even know where to start, amazing food, vibes and service. It was my bachelorette dinner and Johanna was amazing, super caring and super up beat. Amazing food, I shared two plates with my sister and it was delicious. The band was amazing and supper sweet

Drinks, focaccia, and appetizer had been delicious. The pasta on the other hand was hardly sub-par, store bought tortellini and the menu stated baked mozzarella yet it was very sparse. It was a busy night, so service was poor. Food

3.5/5 stars Came here for lunch on a Sunday, and there was no wait. The menu had some unique items. I got the seafood lasagna (half portion - $19), and my bf got the Cabinet of Dr. Cappelletti (Large portion - $28). They gave us some focaccia bread to start, which was just ok. The seafood lasagna was pretty good. It had a crab flavor, but didn t really have much crab pieces in it. It also only had a few pieces of shrimp, and maybe could have had more cheese in between the layers. I tried my boyfriend s dish, which was tasty, especially the layer of cheese on top. It was supposed to have meat, but we didn t taste any meat. Overall enjoyed the meal, but it was carb-heavy and needed more protein!

One of the best Italian restaurant in Victoria. Great atmosphere. Worth the line up. The free bread they serve is worth the trip by itself. The big easy pasta is my favorite.

Been coming for years. Fresh breads on point. You definitely have to go through the menu to find your favs as not all dished hit the mark imo. Service is always friendly. Gets very busy inside and generally at peak times- expect to wait in line.

Server was lovely - cheerful and friendly but gave us space to make a decision and wasn t phased by us being indecisive. Food was delicious - I had scallop linguini and friend had salmon linguini. Both very happy. Bit spicy which we were surprised by but not unpleasantly spicy. Lovely experience.

The ambiance was delightful, and the culinary offerings were exceptional. The customer service was truly outstanding, and the live music on this beautiful Thursday evening added an extra touch of enjoyment. It was a thoroughly satisfying experience. A must visit when in Victoria!

Ordered a seafood linguini dish. It is an Italian restaurant that does not make their own noodles in house, but orders them through a third party. I understand cutting cost but I definitely can taste homemade noodles from third party bought and I think it downgrades and lowers the quality of your food. I think you should try to make your own. Food was a par for a golf course. Wine recommendation was good though and the service was good. Way too much salt on everything. Found shell still on shrimp.

Amazing experience! must go if youre in Victoria.

People with kids, this review is for you: - Highchairs AND booster seat options, and they were clean - Seated us on a nice wide table - Offered kids meal on the house - Brought out the kids meal *FAST*, before parents food, IYKYK, smart move for fidgety kids - Service was nice, helpful, and totally took care of us Food was good not great, bread was great, service was speedy. Excellent overall experience. Kid-friendliness: People with kids, this review is for you: - Highchairs AND booster seat options, and they were clean - Seated us on a nice wide table - Offered kids meal on the house - Brought out the kids meal *FAST*, before parents food, IYKYK, smart move for fidgety kids - Service was nice, helpful, and totally took care of us

Such a deliciously fun restaurant! Just wandering around Victoria on our first visit here, looking for dinner at 8:30 on a Monday night. Stumbled on this gem, jammed packed with great live jazz playing. Service was perfect, so fast and professional, food was awesome and drinks spot on. So happy we came in!!

Dear, lord the focaccia. Seriously.

Excellent experience, food and service was top-notch. Its been decades since my mother and I have come to Victoria and Pagliaccis came highly recommended from several people and didnt even know each other and we will definitely be back. The server was amazing and the best food recommendations. We left full, happy and extremely impressed!! Definitely a must try if you are looking for an excellent dinner place!!

Very considerate of an allergy at the table. The restaurant was crowded and a little on the noisy side, but our experience was otherwise excellent. Delicious food, attentive and friendly staff.

If you come to Victoria and dont dine at Pagliaccis, you have missed a top-notch dining experience. Great service from extremely friendly and helpful staff, terrific atmosphere to an establishment where you dont have to shout to have a conversation with your friends. The extensive menu should satisfy all but the fussiest eater. The Tortellini was superb. The Foccacia was worth the visit alone! Overall, this was worth travelling from Australia for, and if Im ever back this way, I know where I will be dining. Highly recommended.

Great food. It is in a historic building and the size of the restaurant is small, and the tables are close together, this means it is not very accessible for people with mobility issues. Vegetarian options: They had a vegetarian section of the menu. Looked delicious. Parking: Only street parking available. Wheelchair accessibility: NOT accessible at all.

Quite an extensive vegan menu for an Italian restaurant. I was so pleasantly surprised. I got a side salad and the doors of vegan perception and it was delicious!! Very rich sauce. Half portion is plenty there can be a line but it moved pretty fast.

My husband and I absolutely love this spot! We just got back from a lovely dinner tonight. Our server, Paris, was wonderful! Thank you Paris for the great service, and entree recommendations. It made for a perfect evening.

This is a must go to plane when in Victoria!!!!

Visiting from Florida . Someone at the hotel recommended this place . We Loved it . Our server Janice was amazing . Everyone worked as a team . The whole staff was truly outstanding. The food was great, the atmosphere was quirky and so fun . We highly recommend!

Cant get any better. Great staff. A special place.

This place is a charming hole in a wall with some of the best service staff we have ever had

Awesome

The foccacia in the bread basket is money. We got crab cakes, mushroom pasta, and salmon salad.

It was alright, super cramped space which was annoying, felt like I was going to bump the person next to me multiple times. Food was alright but for the price not good enough

Very popular place.. food is very good!

Our favorite Italian restaurant. All of the food is amazing and they make the best seafood lasagna anywhere!!!

Simply delicious food and great service, they even accommodated my little puppy

Nice vegan options! And omg the bread! Dietary restrictions: Vegan Food : 5/5 |

Great food, great service, would recommend! Had to queue to get in but the line moved fast and was worth the wait. Staff were all friendly and helpful, and the food was tasty. Vegetarian options: Plenty of vegan options!

I dont live in Victoria now but was a regular when I lived there.. I always go to Pags when I return for a holiday... My time goes back to when Howie ran the place and The Big Band Trio performed on a regular basis... I taught my son the art of dining and drinking responsible there. In all those years I never faltered the restaurant or staff.. I live in the UK now and Pags is always a place I recommend to people going on holiday to Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Thank you Howie, past staff and all the great memories this place gave to me..

Excellent focaccia, service was quick and very gentile. The food was delicious. I strongly recommend going to a Happy Hour

We went out for dinner with the family (4 adults) and we all enjoyed our night so so so much! The focaccia was so delicious and the pastas were all to die for. I had the Hemingway short story (something like this) WITH the baked cheese and it was scrumptiously delicious! I am a waitress myself and the ambiance and the lovely hospitality of all the staff made me so enthusiastic about my job. It was buzzing and vibrant and the jazz band playing live just added that extra touch of fun. Even the decor is cute! All the family pictures, beautiful art work and cute table lights which were dimmable, it all made sense. We all had an amazing evening, thank you all for having us! Will definitely come back whenever I were to visit Victoria.

We always enjoy Pagliaccis. We have never had a bad meal here.

Dinner with live music was good. Food was okay, not bad. It s not great either. Service was okay too.

My wife and I brought our 16 month old son to dinner here, and the staff were tremendously accommodating. The food was incredible and we had a great time!

We took our cousins out for dinner for letting us stay at their place in Victoria, and they suggested this restaurant. The food was unbelievably delicious with a range of items to choose from. We all had pasta, and we all loved it. I had the Asian style pasta, which I would never get, but I tried it, and it was delicious we had a seafood lasagna, which was good along with the scallop pasta. Paired with a nice bottle of wine, we all left full and happy. All u can eat bread was a hit, too. 5 ppl left full and happy for $250. We will definitely be back. The only complaint I have is that you are squished in there like sardines. If you are a larger person, you will feel uncomfortable trying to move around.

Honestly one of the best restaurants my wife and I have ever visited. I found it on a whim because we wanted to eat real food while our cruise ship docked in Victoria. The foccacia and a short story apetizer was incredible, for dinner I got the seafood lasagna which Im still salivating over as I write this review the next day, she ordered the vegan truffle mushroom pasta which I also tried and it is the best vegan food Ive ever had and Ive had a bunch before. The portions were well sized, unfortunately we were too full to try any desserts. The atmosphere was incredible with it being super busy yet still very comfortable, also the service was super fast, a short line to get in and we felt bad about savoring the food because we were there for over an hour and so many people had come and gone during that time, the staff were all amazing everyone was helpful even those that werent our server. Dietary restrictions: Super accommodating to my wife with plenyy of tasty vegan options on the menu.

This was my favorite restaurant experience Ive had. The food was phenomenal, the service was very quick, and the atmosphere was a delight. Highly recommend.

One of the best dining experiences we have ever had. Very busy but very organized. Long line up but moved us along quite efficiently. Once inside the atmosphere was great. The service was amazing and the food was superb. Next time we are in Victoria we will definitely come back. Cant say enough good things about this place. Bravo!!

Pags is a local gem that is always worth returning to. The atmosphere is unique (in three best way) in Victoria, while the service and food are always top notch. A cant miss experience

Pags is an institution. Their food is great but their doughnut like focaccia is an absolute delight, plus it s free and usually gets to the table on arrival. It s a wee squishy inside but that s to ensure as many people as possible get to rejoice in all that is pags. They even have a newer outdoor area if you prefer a less busy atmosphere. The photos on the wall are a trip. The service is great.

Excellent food. Fantastic service. A Victoria standard for good reason. Highly recommended.

Came for lunch on BC day without a reso, didn t have to wait! Food was also served fairly quickly. Pasta was amazing, thoroughly enjoyed the beef bolognese easily one of the best I ve had. Cool vibes. Definitely going to visit again when in Victoria.

Truffle pasta was so good !

love you pags

Very busy but lively and good food

High expectations due to the traffic coming in and out of the restaurant. We sat down the table was wobbly, the water jug was filthy with what looked like backwash in it. Asked for new water and that was filthy aswell. Left before we got the food.

We loved it. Amazing food. The waitress was super nice

A fun dining experience! It s always been busy but finally had the opportunity to go during happy hour. Sampled the meatballs and jumbo shrimp, both delicious and the in house focaccia bread was amazing. Great happy hour pricing, including the negroni cocktail. I look forward to returning and trying a main as the portions looked huge! Defiantly a place to satisfy a carb craving

Went here to celebrate and got the Frank is Vegan. So yummy! Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options and a vegan menu too. Dietary restrictions: Vegan menu online

The restaurant does not take reservations. They did the best to address the line ups outside to get everyone get a table. Service could have been better Not once did the waiter come to see if everything was ok after delivering the food. Was even harder to track him down for any questions regarding the menu Place was very busy with Live band so really hard to converse at the table

Delicious food and large portions! The patio is a bit squished but a nice add on. Their bread salted to perfection. There can easily be a lineup during prime time so come early!

We were a party of 3 and was told it would be a 15min wait but we were seated way sooner than that. The server also checked up us a often so we didnt have to wait too long to order our food/get our bills. I like that they have an option for smaller portions for people like me who have smaller stomachs :)

Buzzing restaurant with a live band. The seafood bowl with fettuccine was amazing. Our kids were made to feel welcome with complimentary Shirley Temples and the staff were engaging. Shame its our last night in Victoria as we would go back. Kid-friendliness: Very welcoming for the kids. Crayons and sheets provided. Complimentary virgin cocktails and staff engage woth the kids

My go to for pasta and a Negroni!

We have been coming to Pags for over the past 35 years. Almost as long as their head waiter has been working there. It is my wifes favourite restaurant. She loves the foccacia bread. The big easy is delicious and thet checkerboard cake is made for two I am sure. It is sooo delicious. So creamy good. We will continue to frequent Pags as it an icon in Victoria. Keep making amazing food Solomon and staff. Congrats on 45. Parking: There is paid street parking within a block and there is a parkade just down the street and another 2 blocks away other side of Broughton under the library

I ve had the privilege of eating here a number of times at both dinner and brunch. The food is amazing and the staff is friendly. Overall a great experience every time. This is a great institution in Victoria and an amazing place to take anyone you want to impress.

We were a group of eight with four little kids. On the plus side, they sat us down pretty quickly. But we were packed like sardines in a table in the back of the restaurant. I had to keep my appetizer plate on my lap for half the meal because there just wasn t enough room on the table. The service was very friendly and the food was pretty good, but I think next time I ll go for a place that has just a little more space. Also, I was kind of losing my voice already, and with all the noise I was basically mute while sitting for this meal.

Honestly I was expecting better with all the hype Pagliaccis has. Waited 45+ minutes as a single diner when I arrived at 4:30. Understandable but felt much longer as I was sat right by the door and the staff kept trying to cram new tables all around me.. They were discussing right over my head about where to put the tables and kept moving chairs around. I know youre busy but Ive never experienced that -not even in Japan which is way busier. My pasta dinner meal was greasy cheese with not very many raveolli hidden underneath. Left feeling hungry because Im not eating a plate full of cheese for my dinner. Started to feel nauseous with everyone bumping into me on their way out the door. Cold draft the whole time too as people lined up keep the door open. Staff were nice and working hard but the management sacrfices customer comfort to get more and more people in. Paid, left, disappointed, reviewed. Onto greener pastures.

Wonderful way to spend our 36th wedding anniversary! Wonderful food! Great service! Niko helped our cause to celebrate, Bogdan granted us a great table, and Kat s service was exemplary!! Just know this place is always hoppin !

I love this place! I ve been going there for 40 years and it s been consistently amazing every time I ve been!

The food was delicious; we went on a Wednesday evening. My , retired, police chief father was extremely concerned with the fire hazard situation; the place had us packed in like sardines, no maximum occupancy sign, my mom was in a walker, a band showed up later if any emergency happened & we occupants had to leave..it would have been a catastrophe. When it was time for us to leave, we had to walk all the way around away from the entrance, yelling over the band and boisterous conversations gor patrons to please push their chairs in so my mom s walker could fit through. Luckily, we are all smaller sized people -if you are in a wheelchair or are obese . getting through this place would be impossible!

Always my go to.

Vibes and food are always good here. I tried the super Mario I (mushroom ravioli) this time, I will definitely get it again but with chicken next time. The Frank (chicken with sundried tomatoes) was good as usual. Love the complimentary focaccia and the live music!!

Not a lot of room but thats part of the charm!!! Great food, fun atmosphere and attentive servers. A must visit when in Victoria!!

We ate here twice during our stay in Victoria. Quaint, a bit quirky, fast and attentive service, excellent cocktails, delish food.

Ximena is best of whole world

Authentic, delicious food. Very loud inside and hard to maneuver sometimes since tables are so close.

An icon of the Victoria restaurant scene. There is a reason they have been so successful for so long. Pasta, wine and cheesecake are not to be missed

Get the Hemingway Short Story. Have it baked with cheese. Get the second glass of wine!

Pagliaccis Is a must if your ever downtown Victoria. The atmosphere the staff everything is amazing. All the food is made in house and you can tell by everything you try. The ceaser salad , the homemade pasta and top it off with there cheese cake that s to die for. Also homemade ice cream. The entire menu is amazing and prices are reasonable. 10

Pretty good food, smaller portions but found it to be perfect size. They have some gluten free options but wished they had more noodle options and although they were sensitive about my celiac status, Im not sure what precautions were taken. I didnt get sick but they really didnt confirm or talk about how theyd help.

I ve heard only good things, so I really wanted to love Pagliacci s. And while I do feel we enjoyed our meal, there was too many demerits. The pasta was alright, but I feel they were coasting on the fact that s it s Italian food - cheesy, saucy, and delicious - and then not delivering. It was a bit greasy and non of the flavours stood out. I got the tomato mozzarella tortellini and by the end I felt heavy and disappointed. The restaurant was super crowded as well. I d be willing to overlook that if the food was 10/10 but unfortunately it wasn t. However, our server was fantastic so kudos to her. But a restaurant can t get by on good waitstaff alone. I would maybe consider returning once the sting has passed but the disappointment was real. The dessert was a saving grace though - the passion fruit sorbet was legendary.

We have come here a few times. One year we were there for lunch and it wasnt memorable. We only had limited time before our Blackball ferry. That was pre covid. Fast forward post covid, our first year back to the island and we were packed into the restaurant like sardines. Sadly, we went home with covid. I am in no way saying we got covid but the closeness in the restaurant was cringe worthy. I could have literally eaten off the neighbors plate comfortably. I will say, being that uncomfortable situation, our food was extraordinary. The veal chop is our favorite. We went back home and thought about it for a year until we returned the following year and came back (not uncomfortable that year) and brought our younger kids. They loved it as we did. Back again this year and all I keep saying is, we have to go to Pagliaccis! My older kids are going to come as well just because they know how much we love it. I am an Italian New Yorker, Im really hard to please at times but I will keep it real. Your food has been consistent and delicious. Im hoping tonight Im not going to be disappointed. (I actually have faith in you)!

The food is not bad, but the atmosphere is horrible. So crowded, they cram too many tables into a small space, so when you sit at your table, youre being banged into by someone behind you. Its noisy, uncomfortable. A few times Ive done takeout rather than dine in, but have stopped that now as well because the food is quite marginal.

Food was delicious, service was great and it was all reasonably priced. We will be going back again soon.

Vegetarian options: Vegan options for a few menu items plus a seperate vegan menu Dietary restrictions: Vegan and vegetarian options

Dunno where to start, I just hated the atmosphere of the restaurant couldnt even stand up from my table, too noisy( I understand restaurant cant be calm but this one is something made me irritated ..too much noise) if they wanna make more money they really need to upsize it. I usually go out for lunch with my boyfriend during weekends this time I was actually not feeling so good, sorry to say but this place made my mood even worse! Food was OKAY! I ordered crab cake and sophia and a drink(forgot the name)! I got sick the same day dunno what happened! Also they are showing one price on website and different price on store! I usually read the reviews and then only try food at the restaurant its was always a hit! But this one honestly was a miss for me!!!!

Edit: a $13 credit on Uber is not what I consider appropriate comp. Ordered close to $100 of food through Uber and they forgot all our of bread and there was barely any cheese on the dishes despite 1 being lasagna and 1 baked with cheese for $4.50. We live out in Langford and were so looking forward to it. Huge disappointment, wont be ordering again. Do better.

Good food, good vibes! I love it

An Italian restaurant with great live jazz performances and delicious pasta.

Food was good our server Akash was excellent.

My friends and I always wanted to try this restaurant we had the Sophia pasta and it was amazing. Chef s did a lovely job. And my server Akash D was absolutely amazing.

Cody and team provided service. Food was spectacular Thank you so much

Best services we had in Vancouver island. We asked for soft eggs but came well-done ones. They generously waived the meal and gave us perfect eggs after. Very lovely outside seating with considerate blankets.