Tapas on Oak in Victoria

Honestly just wasn t great

Absolutely love this place. Dan and Trinity were incredible hosts for my Mom s 86th birthday. Really felt so homey in there and the food was excellent. Thank you!

I m sharing this experience as I do really hope to help the owners for the future. I think the chef probably wants to consider improving the dressing for tomato/boccochini salad as it tasted like what I would just make by using a store bought balsamic vinegar. The crab cake was 2 small round things that costed us $26 and.. it was greasy and mediocre in taste. My husband and I just could not believe that we paid over $100 for the amount of food we got.. I think if this place wants to do well, the owner must consider improving the flavours overall, increase the portion or lower the item $. I m worried that you may not survive in Victoria where there are just too many really tasty restaurants. We live closeby and have no plan of returning unless we see some major changes to the menu. Thank you.

Delicious tapas at Oak Bay. A small place, reservations are a good idea

The food is excellent. About 2/3 of the menu is fairly spicy, enough that beer, white wine, or sparkling wine suits it better than red. Get reservations because the venue is small, just one server and I think just one cook too.

Food was okay. Extremely expensive for even extremely small portions. It took a very long time for the food to be served.

Very good overall. Good service good food. Only thing I would nitpick is why have tiger prawns on your menu? You live on the west coast. Get something fresh and not farmed. Other than that pretty good.

Just had a great dinner here. Trinity the server was so fun and friendly and recommended some great options. Our top dish was definitely the Bison but prawn risotto was a close 2nd. Everything we had was really tasty. See you soon!

Great food excellent service great atmosphere!

I took my wife for an early dinner on her birthday and we had a great time at this place. We were served by the Manager (Trinity) who is super Friendly and attentive. We tried the cocktails designed by her (trintini and sugar plum martini). The first was a combo of empress gin with creamy vodka and the second had guava juice on it. Very creative and delicious! We had baked Brie and bomcoccini salad to start. There Brie was criminal ! And then patatas bravas and the bison tenderloin. The bison was super juicy and cooked to perfection. My only criticism is that the list of wines by the glass could be greater, and wines from Vancouver island were not represented there. Nevertheless I highly recommended as an oak bay adventure!

Excellent food and amazing service with such helpful and knowledgeable staff - definitely recommend :)

Food is presented well and tastes good with a nice variety of tapas but so overpriced. You d have to spend at least $50+ per person to be full .

I am surprised by the positive reviews. I went to Tapas on Oak with a friend yesterday. I would sum up our experience as the most money we have paid for the worst food we have had in a long time. We ordered 4 dishes to start, including bread and olives. On the menu, the plates were an average of about $18 - $22. Most are Asian influenced. The most expensive we ordered was a Japanese-style chicken - I cant call it a true chicken Karaage. It was coated in a sauce which we found so salty that neither of us could get it down and we left most of the dish untouched. It came with a cucumber garnish that was so doused in vinegar that it made our eyes water. Although garnishes are sometimes just for decoration, it is nice when you can eat them and they add to the over-all taste experience of the dish. We had szechuan - style green beans which were OK-to-good if somewhat standard but at $18 we could have found same or better in any reasonable Chinese restaurant for, given the small portion served at Tapas on Oak, 1/3 of the price. In addition we had a teeny-tiny caprese salad that was dowsed in a balsamic glaze, which, to my taste at least, extinguished all flavours in the dish behind a vale of cloying sweetness and at about $18, it was tiny: basically, just cherry tomatoes (I get that tomatoes are out of season) and those little bocconcini balls which are never as good as the real thing. For $7, about 5-6 paper thin slices of baguette, toasted, with some incredibly salty garlic butter. The olives, at around $8, were OK - but tasted like grocery store mixed olives that had been heated up with some roasted garlic thrown in. Some fennel seeds, citrus or rosemary, for example, would have made this more distinctive. Normally, when we go out for Tapas we start with around four dishes and then order more as the evening progresses. Not here. There was nothing in our initial order that instilled confidence that anything else would be to our liking and worth the money. Although we were hungry when we left, we decided it was better to make something when we got home. The cost, with tip and 1 glass of wine, was about $100. The waitress was very nice and tried her very best to be attentive, but she was alone and, to us, she did not have the level of skills or experience appropriate for a restaurant that charges so much - i.e. dropped cutlery, spilled water and not entirely confident in the menu. This is fine - she was really nice, but l think you have a right to expect a more professional and polished service at a restaurant that charges so much, as opposed, for example, to a cheap-and-cheerful burger place where you can be much more forgiving and typically are. Ultimately, you should get what you pay for. And yet, the place was full. Maybe we were missing something or were unlucky. People obviously like it.

Fabulous food, small plates served with good timing. Great service from Trinity. Excellent presentation and sauces. We don t eat red meat but didn t feel at all deprived. Crab cakes, salad, olives were all good. The roasted duck spring rolls and Szechwan green beans were particularly good.

Wonderful food. Wonderful service. Will be visiting again when we get out to that area.

Excellent tapas place with really warm and kind service from Trinity. Food is really good, dishes are sequenced in the right pace. We were lucky to be here on wine Wednesday, so good rate on excellent wines. Highly Recommended.

We were there for our 21st anniversary. Trinity was our sever and was fantastic. We had the duck spring rolls, prawns the bison and the spicy chicken tacos . We can say enough about the food and the service. Food : 5/5 |

Tapas On Oak what a fabulous find! From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Dan, the owner and the lovely servers, Trinity and Ella from that point on, the whole experience was one that will definitely bring us back time and again. Thank you for making our night out so special and memorable. Not only was the food scrumptious, the service was exceptional. Trinity and Ella were attentive, helpful and so delightful. Loved the music and the whole vibe still thinking about the superb evening we had and how much we thoroughly enjoyed the Szechuan Green Beans, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Karaage Chicken, Almond & Rosemary Baked Brie with Artisan Bread. Highly recommend Tapas On Oak!

If you get there you have to try the almond brie something because that was the second best thing on Valentines Day, me and my beloved were served by Trinity, so if you get her, you are in for a treat because she is really kind and very fun to converse with, she is knowledgeable about the menu and can suggest drinks. The manager is very helpful and accommodating, its certainly a delightful experience!

beautiful little gem, hidden from view by its outdoor patio and traffic, but easy to find for pedestrians with a nose for excellent cuisine. My Spaniard friend decided to come in and we were delightfully surprised, albeit we wished to have been able to use the outside patio, had the weather allowed.

$18 for 4 tiny dumplings? Compare that to the 5 dumplings you can get for $8 from Dumpling Drop and the math just doesnt add up. Youve got to be blowing minds with those dumplings if thats what youre going to charge and unfortunately they missed the mark.

Recently had my birthday party at Tapas On Oak. The food, wine and service was top shelf..... Dan and his team do an outstanding job....

New and excellent quality food. Some best in the city.

This place was amazing!!! Such a variety of dishes and such a delicious and fun dining experience. I would especially recommend the tenderloin, risotto, and chicken. Would absolutely recommend!

I m 58 years old and my husband and I have never experienced the level of service we experienced today! International travellers! TOP NOTCH!!!

Was extremely disappointed. 4 tacos and 2 glasses of wine was $80. Was rushed out. Not offered dessert or coffee.

We went to check out Tapas on Oak last week and had a fantastic night. The food offered a wide variety of tastes from around the world - from the Hong Kong dumplings to West Coast crab cakes, amongst other gems like the Karaage Chicken. All delicious. Great hospitality by the owner and excellent service by a fun staff. Nice selection of wines too, with a price point for all. Will definitely plan a return visit!

I have been to Tapas on Oak a couple of times and highly recommend it. Great food, good wine selection, and awesome service! Will definitely be going back.

Staff was incredibly helpful with ordering wine. Had a couple of tapas items that matched up with our drinks, and they where excellent. Get to steak!!!!

Came by for wine Wednesday. Such a great spot! Great wine and great tapas. Vibe is awesome, will be coming back!!

We hosted a work event with 30 people and it was incredible. Dan and his staff were so attentive, kind, and helpful. The food was delicious, can t say enough good things about the steak dish and green beans! Highly recommend this place for happy, hour, dinner, or hosting an event!

The house Pinot was excellent and the Spanish Rioja was delightful. Dan and his staff were outstanding and the atmosphere was very friendly and inviting. Definitely going back.

A little gem of a resto in oak bay, just charming. The food was to die for (try the tuna tataki), the service super friendly, and I just love the outdoor patio!

I had the Beet salad. Nothing better, except maybe the service!

We visited for a late dinner and had a lovely experience. The staff were attentive and helpful, the food was delicious and the prices reasonable. We also met the owner who was super friendly and had some delicious suggestions for our meal. We are looking forward to returning soon.

Recently visited this amazingly vibrant and superior venue with my relatives. They were beyond impressed with the service, value and off the charts delicious tacos. The service surpasses any other local restaurant. Gracias Dan!

Its a disappointment...very expensive for what you get. The atmosphere was very sombre in there...and no view whatsoever..just regular for what they charge.

We took a friend out to dinner here and we had a great experience. Although the servers were very busy, we felt seen, attended to and well served throughout our meal. She gave us suggestions, was knowledgeable about the menu and made the whole dining experience fun and relaxed. The food was great and we will be back!

We had a superb dinner last night there with some of our family. The staff are very welcoming and the individual dishes were inventive and delicious. Theres lots on the menu for both vegetarians as well as seafood- and meat-lovers. And the cocktails are a generous pour. We had an excellent evening.

Having driven by this small restaurant many times, we finally decided to try it out. What a delicious find! The dishes we tried were varied and taken from different cultures (Spanish, Chinese, etc.} and wonderfully executed. The service was personal with input from Jason, our server, and Dan, the owner. We loved it! We will definitely be back.

Awesome food, great service. The seafood dishes were soooooo good, especially the crab cakes. The owner also came out and introduced himself to us and chatted a bit, which I thought was so lovely.

Enjoyed the selection and tasty food and wine! Highly recommend!

Highly overrated. I m not sure how they remain in business. Brought visitors from England on a recent Saturday night. By 7pm we were the only 4 in the restaurant. Chipotle drizzle on everything. Staff were fine but really didn t encourage us to stay for dessert as they wanted to close. Nothing at all like the Tapa Bar in the city. We will not be returning.

Tapas on Oak is now my favourite place to eat in Victoria! I am very picky about where I go to eat and Tapas on Oak exceed my expectations. Everything was delicious and lots of options for those who dont eat meat. Highly recommend.

We stopped by on a whim. The food was fabulous!!! We enjoyed the bison, prawns and baked brie - to start! The wine recommendation paired very well. Our server Trinity was such fun! Dan, the owner sat with us at the end of the night. Such a fun evening! We will be back! Highly recommend Tapas on Oak!

My girlfriend and I were in on Friday night after wondering around Oak Bay. Tapas on Oak is a super intimate setting, and a great overall vibe for a fancier night out. We shared the olives (a hefty, tasty amount although a little heavy on the Chili Flakes), dumplings (fantastic), creme brule, and their sundae along side a glass of port. The Owner and the server were both extremely attentive and friendly. Id highly recommend this to friends if the budget permits (it is on the pricier side!). I would have loved to take photos of the food, however didnt want to disturb other patrons.

Loved our dinner at Tapas on Oak. Everything we ate tasted great, service was quick and the atmosphere was pleasant! Thank you very much.

Great tapas, the baked brie was a highlight. Very friendly service too!

Delicious food, lovely atmosphere and service.

This place has delicious food! I really wish I could rate it a 100! The service is kind and amazing!

Lovely restaurant with amazing food and wine! Lots of gluten free options and vegetarian meals. The szechuan style greens are an absolute must! Amazing service and very friendly staff!

Excellent food and excellent service. Recommend the tuna tataki. Look forward to returning soon!

Just found this gem had just opened down the street from our house with my wife. We went Saturday evening and the food/wine was delightful and delicious. Even better was our server Jason (his name i think/forgive me if im wrong). Honestly the best service weve ever had in 67 years of my existence! He went above and beyond taking his time describing each dish and helping us order as we have never had tapas before. He was patient with us even though they were very busy and he did everything with a big smile. This is my first ever review as my wife forced me to do it. Jason had shared with us some of his health issues and struggles currently and in the past and we thought he was just a remarkable young man to do what he is doing with such a positive attitude and big smile on his face. Thank you Tapas on Oak for such a wonderful experience, the food and service were some of the best weve ever had!!!!!! We will be back with some family and friends. Love, Greg and Sophie

My girlfriend and I just had a nice evening of dining at this quite nice bistro. The food is excellent and lots of good choices. The service is friendly and efficient. The atmosphere inside is quite enjoyable. The wine is delicious especially when you have Dan checking out the merlot outside. We saw you Dan. We will be back. Free dessert of crème brûlée for now.

BEST PLACE EVER(yummy crème brûlée

Best tapas and wine bar in Victoria! :)

We just returned from a wonderful dinner at Tapas on Oak. It is such a pleasure to have a new restaurant with such a varied and interesting menu of small plates. The tuna tataki was delicious - as was the creme brûlée . Our server, Julia, was charming and attentive. We could not have asked for a more pleasant experience - and we wish Tapas on Oak many years of success!

Great little tapa bar. We were going to head to cafe Mexico tonight but saw the beautiful waitress up front waving at us while we were driving and made an impulse decision to eat there. Great cozy restaurant with cute little tapas that tasted amazing. Lots of wine selections, but out of all incredible service from both the waitress and the owner. Will definitely visit again!

We had a great dining experience. Dan welcomed us even though they were full for the night. Every bite had incredible flavour ! Incredible effort into each and every tapa I sampled. Staff are amazing ! Our server Jason cared about our experience . Only critical bite I had was the bread . Wasn t as good as every other bite Highly recommend ! Can t wait to come back !

What a beauty little spot in the heart of Oak Bay! Delish food that made me want to get back to Spain. The portions are tapas style so on the smaller side, but the quality and flavour is incredible. Thanks to the owner, Dan, and his team for the hospitality!

Awesome service and great tasting food, cant wait to visit again!

Lovely! Everything about it was great. The service was splendid. The tapas were unique (some fusion style) and the wine selection was good too.

Outstanding food and great variety. Just what oak bay needs

Amazing selection of food and wine. Excellent service. Great addition to the oak bay area. Will be a regular place to visit.

The owner of this place rocks! Thanks Dan for a great experience. Great place.

Best restaurant I have been to in BC. Great food amazing service.

Best Tapas in Victoria by far. food is awesome and the service is just as good. If your looking for a good place to eat I highly recommend Tapas On Oak My thx to the entire team at Tapas Job Well Done

This restaurant is an absolute hidden gem and in my opinion one of the best new restaurants in Victoria. The tapas are gorgeous and so rich and high quality that 3-4 shared between two people feel like a full meal. Wonderful wine list as well. My partner and I have been 3 times and every time its been a special and classy experience. The owner and servers are delightful as well! I hope this place thrives because its a truly lovely nook with next level food.

Awesome menu something for every taste, always nice to see a owner that always greets his customers with a smile and a handshake, staff are the best, Trinity shes such a celebrity,

Excellent selection of tapas and wine here. I highly recommend the west coast crab cakes! I had to order them twice they were so good. The service was top notch. Staff were so friendly and went above and beyond to make sure I had the best dining experience. Would go back again in a heartbeat!

We happened by this place by chance and found out it had only just opened. We were super impressed with the food - everything was delicious and the clam chowder and thai satay were to die for. Portions were small, however, particularly for the price, but its hard to tell with todays level of inflation...

I think this place is new. It was not busy when we went and the owner was there clearly very passionate about his food. The food was incredible. Every tapas that we had was unique, perfectly cooked and tasty. The tacos are clearly the best in Victoria which I found very surprising. My only critique was that it was quite expensive for the portion size. Otherwise very very delicous

This was a delicious and delightful lunch spot for us. A very reasonable selection and very well executed. We found it easy to share, filling, and varied. Will be back!

Amazing food and experience! Dan and the team do a great job and very good service. The menu has a very international feel to it with some very unique tapas. Excellent restaurant overall and we will go back again!

Fresh, creative, full of flavour, and excellent service. Would highly recommend for a weekend brunch as well. A bit pricey to me, but definitely fantastic food and space.

We were a little disappointed in the taps. The crab cakes outer crust were burnt on the outside and not very big for the price. The chicken in the satay was a little mushy and too much peanut butter and not enough heat in the sauce. The tacos could have been a litte warmer as they seemed almost cold inside. The server was great and the decor is nice.

Was looking for a late (8:30pm) snack last night, gave it a try. What a treat, so glad i did. Excellent service and awesome eats. My new go to;)

Sweet little place in a great spot right on Oak Bay Ave. The menu had all my favourites and the 4 things we ordered were all yummy! Good music and happy staff as well.

Excellent little place for tapas! Service is fantastic and all menu items were delicious. Some favorites were the tempura shrimp, the beef tenderloin, and the clam chowder. Would have ordered more plates if we could have afforded it! While the wine list is extensive, it would be nice to see more selection for wines served by the glass. Place is very clean, and the front of the restaurant is accessible for wheelchairs. Was very quiet went we went in for an early dinner, but our server mentioned almost all of the tables were reserved for later that evening, so reservations are recommended for popular meal times.

First time to this awesome little tapas restaurant. The food was excellent. We tried 7 dishes, everyone (party of 4 celebrating an engagaement) had a favourite. Service was friendly and attentive. Dan, the owner, was very congenial. Thank you for the celebratory glass of prosecco! Desserts are limited to creme Brule, which had a delicate crust and delicious warm creamy consistency. The perfect place for a quick bite or intimate dining experience. Cant wait for patio season!

We had an absolutely amazing experience. Staff, food and wine choices were wonderful. Will definitely be back soon.