The Village | Oak Bay | 2518 Estevan Avenue

[Bob Fugger]

Estavan Village breakfast mainstay "The Village" has recently been sold by the Blades brothers (Jesse & Daniel) to Jason Chan, former proprietor of Samuel's by the Park (in the Queen Victoria Hotel). Ownership should swap hands at around mid-month. Don't think that there will be any major changes, except perhaps to the menu (will still be breakfast oriented, afaik).

As my first (and only) dining experience at The Village was fairly mediocre, I look forward to seeing Chan's plans for the place.

Review forthcoming...

[Bingo]

The Village has been a breakfast favourite of mine, and I have always enjoyed the food. good lick to the new owners.

[Holden West]

Originally Posted by Bingo

good lick to the new owners.

I'm sure a handshake would be thanks enough.

[Bob Fugger]

[Bingo]

[Jill]

I hate to think how many breakfasts and lunches I've had at the Village since the Blades opened it almost six years ago. I've never had a bad meal, and only once or twice found the service somewhat wanting. I'm sorry that it is changing hands, but maybe now bacon will be on the breakfast menu!

[Bob Fugger]

New owner Jason Chan did a great little remodel over the Canada Day long weekend. They've got a couple of taps and are open for breakfast and lunch. The new decor is pretty cool, especially the street map of Oak Bay painted on the ceiling. I was at the reveal and the appies were delish! Especially the potato latkes with Montreal smoked meat, both items from their regular menu. Nice to see that they kept some of the Semetic menu items, but thank Yaw-h that he's got bacon, now!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Bob Fugger

Nice to see that they kept some of the Semetic menu items, but thank Yaw-h that he's got bacon, now!

I was there today with family and the breakfast, coffee and service was excellent. The thick bacon was crispy at $1.00 a slice, and the place was full by 10:00am.

[Matt R.]

I heard this place is for sale.. didn't it just change hands?

Matt.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Matt R.

I heard this place is for sale.. didn't it just change hands?

Matt.

Seriously? Where'd you hear that from? They only just bought it before the summer.

[Mike K.]

For what it's worth, the quality of offerings has slid off the rails and service has also plummeted. I gave this place three tries and the last two meals were below expectations based on the prior visit. The very last time I went the server never checked up on us and I had to get up to ask for ketchup, then I had to get up and ask for a coffee refill. Meanwhile only half a dozen tables were occupied.

I guess what I'm saying is I've thrown in the towel.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

For what it's worth, the quality of offerings has slid off the rails and service has also plummeted. I gave this place three tries and the last two meals were below expectations based on the prior visit. The very last time I went the server never checked up on us and I had to get up to ask for ketchup, then I had to get up and ask for a coffee refill. Meanwhile only half a dozen tables were occupied.

I guess what I'm saying is I've thrown in the towel.

That's off - my experience there has always been par excellence. I ran into quite the contingent of VVers there this past Saturday. I know Bingo had a good experience and I can only assume r0ark did, too.

[Mike K.]

Are you sure? Your first post in this thread:

As my first (and only) dining experience at The Village was fairly mediocre...

Granted the place is under new(er) ownership, but as has been mentioned earlier in the thread other than an interior remodel the foodstuffs haven't changed much. Further to that my girlfriend is half Jewish, has been to Israel, and has a strong sense of what that style of food ought to taste like. In her opinion the offerings are a very general approximation of the real deal.

[Bingo]

Some of the staff is the same, and the patrons are still there in droves, and oh! did I mention the real bacon that is now served.

[Mike K.]

We have received word from The Village via Twitter that the restaurant is not for sale.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Are you sure? Your first post in this thread:

Granted the place is under new(er) ownership, but as has been mentioned earlier in the thread other than an interior remodel the foodstuffs haven't changed much. Further to that my girlfriend is half Jewish, has been to Israel, and has a strong sense of what that style of food ought to taste like. In her opinion the offerings are a very general approximation of the real deal.

The food has been tweaked and it's under new ownership. I find the food quality and portion size relative to price - my biggest problem previously - are definitely no longer issues. Big fan of their composting regimen, to boot.

Also, I didn't realize that this was supposed to be an Israeli restaurant. Ok, so Jewish brothers ran it and had Jewish undertones - but that's like expecting to go to an Italian restaurant in Williamsburg and then questioning that it's not Tuscan enough for you.

[Mike K.]

I wouldn't necessarily call it an Israeli restaurant, but it definitely has Israeli undertones and a few ethnic dishses. My girlfriend's biggest beef was the lack of seasoning. In her words, "if you're going to call something shakshouka and it doesn't taste like shakshouka you're going to disappoint people who are expecting an authentic dish."

Bob, if your business ties to The Village make you feel as though you should deflate negative criticism perhaps it would be best to refrain from commenting in this thread. Your most recent review of Famoso was less than stellar and despite it being a pizza place thousands of miles from Italy that didn't preclude you from writing a negative review.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Bob, if your business ties to The Village make you feel as though you should deflate negative criticism perhaps it would be best to refrain from commenting in this thread. Your most recent review of Famoso was less than stellar and despite it being a pizza place thousands of miles from Italy that didn't preclude you from writing a negative review.

If had bothered to read my review rather than post a bastardized summary of it to suit your point, my issue was not that it wasn't Italian enough: it was that their ordering style is bizarre and they blew it on their use of flavours.

As for the buisness ties comments, I really lost a lot of respect for you Mike, having just read that. It is a low blow to suggest that I would be such a homer. If you'd like to review the 2,151 posts of mine on here, I'm sure you'll find that I am nothing less than forthright. Very disappointing.

[Mike K.]

I'm not asking for your respect, Bob. What I am asking is why you feel the need to challenge my opinion of this place? Nobody else is taking offence to what I have to say but you feel the need to step in and remind us all that your experiences are "par excellence," and for me to expect good-tasting Israeli food so far from Israel is setting the bar too high. And we also know that you're a big fan of the restaurant's composting regime, "to boot." Most business owners that I know tend to be fans of the products and services they sell -- that goes without saying.

Reviews are personal, Bob, and I know you know this given your most recent review of Fomoso which (despite your assertion that it was only the "ordering style" and "use of flavours" you took offence with) goes something like this:

"it was sadly underwhelming"
"She ate it without complaining"
"I later learned that she did not enjoy it"
"crust for all of the pizzas was thin and very soggy"
"Sadly, it fell short and succeeded only in raising my esteem of Prima Strada."
"is a bit of a missed opportunity and I don't think that I will be returning."

Now I don't know about you, but if it isn't primarily the "use of flavours" we review, then what are we reviewing? The use of ...cutlery? Napkins, maybe?

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

I'm not asking for your respect, Bob. What I am asking is why you feel the need to challenge my opinion of this place? Nobody else is taking offence to what I have to say but you feel the need to step in and remind us all that your experiences are "par excellence," and for me to expect good-tasting Israeli food so far from Israel is setting the bar too high. And we also know that you're a big fan of the restaurant's composting regime, "to boot." Most business owners that I know tend to be fans of the products and services they sell, too.

Reviews are personal, Bob, and I know you know this given your most recent review of Fomoso which (despite your assertion that it was only the "ordering style" and "use of flavours" you took offence with) goes something like this:

"it was sadly underwhelming"
"She ate it without complaining"
"I later learned that she did not enjoy it"
"crust for all of the pizzas was thin and very soggy"
"Sadly, it fell short and succeeded only in raising my esteem of Prima Strada."
"is a bit of a missed opportunity and I don't think that I will be returning."

Now I don't know about you, but if it isn't primarily the "use of flavours" we review, then what are we reviewing? The use of ...cutlery? Napkins, maybe?

I'm sorry that you feel that I was challenging your review. All I was suggesting was that your experience was off compared to my experience and the recent experience of other forum members. I wasn't suggesting that you were wrong - in fact, I was wondering if I was wrong because I might have been a bit biased. But asking me if I'm sure about my review because it was different before, I'm pretty sure that wasn't meant to lead into a thought provoking discourse. Well, take out the word "thought" and there you have it.

As I do know the owner, I was going to have a quick word and pass along your feedback.

[Mike K.]

I appreciate your clarification, Bob.

Like I said earlier I gave this place a solid three tries. First time I fell in love with the place. Second and third experiences soured my desires to return, which is too bad because I really like the gentle ambiance of the village.

I do appreciate that you are willing to speak with the owner on my behalf and I sincerely hope that my feedback can make a positive contribution to the establishment. Israeli food is quite something and if done right and word will spread and patrons will follow. I know I will.

[R0ark]

Originally Posted by Bob Fugger

That's off - my experience there has always been par excellence. I ran into quite the contingent of VVers there this past Saturday. I know Bingo had a good experience and I can only assume r0ark did, too.

Here's my take on the Village, before and after the sale and renovation.

Before: Great food, good decor. They gave you blankets for when it was cold out yet wanted to sit on the sidewalk. Portions were on the small side, but you got what you paid for. It bears nothing on the restaurant, but they also had the friendliest and prettiest waitress in all of Victoria, bar none. I never got her name but for those who frequented regularly she had a peacock feather tattoo and electric blue eyes. I only saw her once since the sale, and not since.

Now: The first time I went was the first day after the renovation. I ate outside. On that first visit the prices had jumped nearly 10% plus from what I remembered them being previously. I was a bit disappointed with the meal, but I would say it was only 90% of what I was expecting. I chalked it up to the changeover.

The next time I went for brunch I ate inside with a party of four. Although the new orange ceiling looks nice, I swear it somehow now reflects and magnifies the noise of the room tenfold. I had to shout my part of the conversation. We were not impressed.

Since then my first time back was three days ago. The food had improved since my last visit, but I still think the prices are a tad high for what you get. I was happy with it though. I didn't recognize any of the wait staff, but they were pleasant and courteous.

Will I return in the future? Perhaps. They've been bumped down behind Jam in my go-to brunch list for now, and only when it's warm enough to eat outside.

[Bob Fugger]

Originally Posted by R0ark

Will I return in the future? Perhaps. They've been bumped down behind Jam in my go-to brunch list for now, and only when it's warm enough to eat outside.

The only reason I wasn't at Jam myself was because I was there the weekend previous, LOL!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by R0ark

Although the new orange ceiling looks nice, I swear it somehow now reflects and magnifies the noise of the room tenfold. I had to shout my part of the conversation. We were not impressed.

I have to agree with the more noise. I think it could be the ceramic tiles on the walls next to the tables. I mentioned the noise levels to the staff. They have heard those comments before.

The prices have increased, so I may be checking out alternatives.

[Monkey]

I visited The Village today for the second and last time. I was not expecting much since an underwhelming first try, and my taste buds were even further disappointed. Blegh!

I ordered a salad that included some quinoa, spinach, lemon rind, roasted red onions, and yams. I really enjoy the sharpness of lemon, so I was excited to taste my dish. In my opinion one of the biggest mistakes cooks make with quinoa is cooking it in plain water instead of broth. The result is bland, lifeless tasting grains, and that's what I got. This taste combined with the fact that it was so chilled it had clearly been pulled out of a refrigerator, and the taste of the sweet, overcooked, unseasoned yams was almost nauseating. I spent the entire duration of the meal searching for the one redeeming quality of the salad - the goat cheese. As for any dressing? I could see it on the spinach, but could not taste anything. In all, it was just a bland, bland bland experience all the way. Definitely not worth my 11 dollars.