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  • Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

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Reserve at Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

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Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room
Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room Details

  • Dining Style: Fine Dining
  • Website: http://www.butchartgardens.com/dining/dining-room
  • Phone: (250) 652-8222
  • Hours of Operation:
    Afternoon Tea: Monday - Sunday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm (served April 1 - September 30)

    High Tea: Monday -Sunday 12:00pm - 3:00pm (served October 1 - March 31)

    Lunch: Monday - Sunday: 11:30am - 3:00pm (served April 1 - September 30)

    Dinner service resumes June 15 - September 15 & December 1 - January 6
  • Payment Options: Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Northwest, Afternoon Tea, Canadian
  • Executive Chef: Travis Hansen
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Farm to Table, Fireplace, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, High Tea, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access
  • Entertainment: The Butchart Gardens Entertainment Calendar can be found at http://www.butchartgardens.com/activities/calendar/

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Wallace Drive
  • Public Transit: From downtown Victoria, you should take bus #30 or #31, then transfer to bus #75 (at the Royal Oak exchange) which comes right to The Gardens. For BC Transit schedules visit
    http://www.bctransit.com/regions/vic/?p=1.txt
  • Parking: Private Lot
  • Parking Details: The Dining Room Restaurant is located within The Butchart Gardens, so admission to The Gardens is required. You will be guided to your complimentary parking spot.
A word from Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room
Enjoy the stunning floral display gardens, plus the restaurant's historic surroundings and contemporary, fresh local foods. Located in the original Butchart family residence, you can experience spectacular views of the Private Garden, the Italian Garden and Tod Inlet. Indulge in Afternoon Tea in… our Spring and Summer seasons, or our High Tea which offers more warm savories from October through the winter months. Lunch and dinner are served seasonally with a strong presence of local sustainable ingredients. Choose from our award winning showcase of Vancouver Island wines. Enjoy adding to your awareness and appreciation of local grapes and vintners. Please note that admission to The Butchart Gardens is required in order to access The Dining Room Restaurant. Our current admission rates are at www.butchartgardens.comContinued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diner Reviews
  • "My mother moved to a seniors residence in Brentwood Bay almost a year ago, and we finally made it to Butchard Gardens for High Tea! I can't believe we waited so long. It was absolutely perfect for my British mother...great food and lots of it...and since we sat on the veranda, we had an outstanding view of gardens and water. It was later in "tea time", so it was lovely and quiet, and the service by Dominique was perfect. Thanks so much, and we'll be back soon!"
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "A great afternoon tea. Beautiful setting, with great service and food."
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "The afternoon tea - at lunchtime - was enjoyable with savories, sandwiches, scones and pots of tea. A very British kind of meal in western Canada. The food was good considering they must spend the morning making hundreds of sandwiches, but not exceptional, and when you factor in the price of admission to the gardens (you cannot visit the dining room without a ticket to the gardens) it is expensive. The service did seem rushed, presumably because they want to seat as many as they can in the time available, but not to the extent that you felt as though you were being pushed out the door. Overall, it is recommended if you are planning to visit the gardens anyway, but not really worth it if you just want afternoon tea."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "The greatest ambience ever - with an eyeful of God's wonderful world of colour while you enjoy being pampered with great food and wine. We sat on the terrace and could survey the amazing scene before us. Our compliments to the chef who made everything on the menu sound exciting and I had my best sandwich ever - really a foodie's delight. The wine list was well chosen and we enjoyed our choice while we sipped, and just drank in the beauty before us The service was always there and yet quietly in the background. I will come again in a heartbeat and always do when I have overseas guests to show off my part of the world. The weather too was perfect and it all made up one of the most enjoyable days of our lives."
    Dined on 7/1/2014
  • "We chose to dine outside on the veranda, the staff were attentive and even offered us blankets. It is a little pricey, but the dinner/dessert was excellent and well worth it. Overall, a great experience!"
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "Very special addition to the garden... Really loved it. Atmosphere is calm and serene.. We had the tea."
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "My wife and I went to the Butchart Gardens for the very first time and had dinner at the Dining Room, prior to the Sat night fireworks. The food was okay, bit over priced but the location is fantastic. Would defiantly recommend for that special occasion. Did notice the gourmet picnic baskets looed pretty cool too,"
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "The service was outstanding, but the size of the servings for the food was not adequate. We had the scallop appetizer (which had 3 very small scallops) and the halibut dinner. The halibut was only 3 oz. I have never seen such a small piece of halibut for $34! The chef should have been embarrassed sending that size entrée to the table. However, the taste was excellent....just too small for the price. The view was wonderful!"
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Every time we come to Victoria, we eat at Butchart gardens dining room for high tea. Food is excellent in taste and variety. We love to eat outside or in the glassed in area. The experience always makes us smile, at the time and when discussing it later."
    Dined on 6/24/2014
  • "My sister & husband arrived from Toronto and we insisted on visiting Butchart Gardens and the dinning room (balcony). The wine/food/service was exceptional. We sat outside and viewed the gardens as we eat, so beautiful.........A very memorable experience by the 4 of us."
    Dined on 6/25/2014
  • "Early dinner at the garden, perfect service, quiet atmosphere. Overpriced food even for the high quality it was - very good, but nothing particularly memorable either."
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "My husband and I enjoyed High Tea at the Dining Room. I had pre-ordered a gluten-free version, and it FAR surpassed my expectations. Truly, for someone who is gluten-sensitive, this high tea is amazing! The quantity of food served is HUGE, so go hungry and be ready to down a large quantity of delicious tea sandwiches and cakes. What a treat! (My husband loved his "regular" high tea, as well.)"
    Dined on 6/23/2014
  • "There were beautiful views from each dining room overlooking the rose garden and the Italian garden. I requested the rose garden. It was more girly. We each had plenty of delectables on our plates..we were stuffed. We thought we were going to get to taste all of the teas and were told typically you choose one tea. The waitress let us choose a 3rd flavor when we asked though. The service doesn't compare to the emprice but it was still a great time"
    Dined on 6/23/2014
  • "The gardens are spectacular. We enjoyed afternoon tea. The food was delicious and the service first class. We will return every time we are in the area!"
    Dined on 6/24/2014
  • "Went to "High Tea" at Butchart Gardens after touring the magnificent floral display in full bloom in the gardens. A bit disappointed at being placed at the back of the room with no view, and barely enough light to see what we were eating, especially with the beautiful view outside the windows, of which we had none. The tea begins with a berry trifle, which almost fills one up before receiving the rest. After that a triple tiered platter arrives full of typical tea sandwiches and desserts and it was lovely. We didn't feel rushed, and the service was good. Probably would never plan to repeat again."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "We had afternoon tea at the Gardens. It was a wonderfully fun experience to have in Mrs. Butchart's home. The food was very good and the atmosphere one to experience. We passed up tea at the Empress on local advice. We weren't sorry. Don't miss out."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "I would choose this restaurant in a heartbeat if I am in the neighborhood again. What a difference from the Empress Hotel's afternoon tea experience. The difference between heaven and hell (Hell is Empress)."
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "Really enjoyed the experience of tea at Butchart Gardens. Our server was very knowledgable and had good suggestions of what to eat first, etc. He had the chef prepare special sandwiches which accommodated my food sensitivities which was very much appreciated. Highly recommend making reservations."
    Dined on 6/18/2014
  • "The food was variable. Asparagus and Mushroom Quiche with Boursin Cheese, was all egg, one small piece of asparagus, very few mushrooms and no hint of boursin! The mussels were great. The chicken salad was tasty, but two small boneless chicken thighs made the value questionable. The service from the hostess through, was very poor. The hostess was not welcoming, might as well have had a robot, you would have felt more welcomed! The hostess was cold and brusque. The server was friendly but paid no attention to us. A very poor impression for such a place with a international reputation for my cousin's first visit from Japan!"
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "We were sitting by the window having High Tea, the flowers were in full bloom and the smell from them was wonderful. The lady that served our table was gracious, friendly and excited we were there. The flowers and gardens on the outside of the window were fantastic. I couldn't have had a better experience anywhere. This is a place that needs to be experienced by everyone."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "Don't change a thing - a part of our English Heritage."
    Dined on 6/12/2014
  • "High tea at Butchart Gardens is an experience not to be missed. The service was exceptional, the food exquisite, and the view of the gardens from the dining room was magnificent. This is a must do if you are visiting the Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C. Area."
    Dined on 6/11/2014
  • "There were many empty tables but they were turning people away."
    Dined on 6/9/2014
  • "The Gardens make the location of the Dining Room picture perfect. The staff were attentive and friendly without being intrusive and helped to make a special occasion perfect. The food was excellent. We visited the Butchart Garden on the recommendation of a friend and I would have no hesitation in recommending both the garden and Dining Room to others."
    Dined on 6/6/2014
  • "Everything was fabulous! Great food and ambience. Waitress checked regarding allergies - very helpful."
    Dined on 6/2/2014
  • "reservation at 1 p.m. seated at 1:40. food to table at 2:20. no acknowledgement of birthday occasion. no happy birthday chocolate draped over ginger scone. waitperson was lovely. i am a season BG annual pass holder. i love BG. i was very disappointed in the delay."
    Dined on 5/31/2014
  • "Sorry, but after many lovely experiences , this one did not hit the mark. Service here is always exemplary, however, after making a reservation 1 month earlier, and requesting a window table overlooking the Italian garden, we were told, only when we arrived, that the Breakfast room was not open ( or only open to groups) . Noisy children and patrons with loud children and babies added a not-so- romantic edge to our Anniversary lunch. Very disappointing!"
    Dined on 5/29/2014
  • "Overall, a wonderful experience. Just a caveat: on reserving a table, specify outdoor dining if desired."
    Dined on 5/26/2014
  • "If you are looking for High Tea and love flowers this is the place. The Empress tea may be traditional but I like to be relaxed and comfortable. The servers were friendly and knowledgable and the lunch was delicious. A bit too much good but we took it home for sweets after supper."
    Dined on 5/26/2014
  • "My wife and I have been going to Butcharts Gardens for years. We love the gardens and the experience wouldn't be complete without enjoying afternoon tea. Both of us are vegan so really appreciated the vegetarian option now available."
    Dined on 5/24/2014
  • "We have been there 7 times (each year we come to Victoria!) Definitely recommend reservations! The food is always delicious (different each time we visit) It is always very fresh, tasty and presentation is beautiful. The service is always fantastic as well. Beautiful sights from inside or outside seating. We heard someone (a local) say that if you are ordering the tea (with assorted tiered tray of foods) and you want less sweets on it to specify that you want a "savory tray" for more of the little sandwiches, etc. Price is a little high but well worth it!! It is a must on our list every year and then spend the afternoon walking the gardens...beautiful!!"
    Dined on 5/22/2014
  • "This restaurant takes you back in time to a slower pace. It is very charming and the food was good although my salmon was a bit overcooked. The specialty cocktails were delicious and fun and the creme brûlée was up there with the best I've ever tasted. "
    Dined on 5/22/2014
  • "Such a lovely place, wonderful food, and excellent service. "
    Dined on 5/20/2014
  • "After walking around for a couple off hours, thru the most wonderful Butchart Gardens, the right place to have a lunch is the dinning room at the Gardens. you are still surrounded by the charm of the garden. the atmosphere in the restaurant is relaxed and pleasant all around. the service is nice and professional. the food is well prepared and nicely presented to complete a charming all around day."
    Dined on 5/18/2014
  • "Afternoon Tea T Butchart Gardens was a complete delight for all members of our party of six. The gorgeous setting in the sunroom filled with orchids and beautiful greenery was a large part of making it special. The service was very friendly and attentive. The delicious morsels of sweets and savories were each delightful and of very good quality. The special experience made our visit to Butchart Gardens even more memorable. We recommend it highly. "
    Dined on 5/16/2014
  • "The afternoon tea was very good and our server was a delight. Quite attentive, without being hovering. The hostess could have been better. She seemed preoccupied and could not remember our request for outdoor seating 10 minutes after we made it"
    Dined on 5/15/2014
  • "Lovely facilities, great service. Unique experience."
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Had a very nice brunch by the window - but it took a really long time to get our food, which was disappointing. "
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "We always go t0 Buchart Gardens for Afternoon Tea ,at least once a year. It is always a very pleasant experience. Service is non-obtrusive but efficient and the food good and adequate. However I think the menu could change once in a while since it always seems to include the same items. And never a cucumber sandwich!"
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Once again we had a great experience at Tea. Every time we come to the island we try to visit and have Tea. Something for us to look forward to! Keep up the good work. "
    Dined on 4/26/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Vancouver / British Columbia Winners
  • Best Ambiance
  • Victoria Winners
  • Best Overall
  • Best Ambiance
  • Best Food
  • Best Service
  • Romantic
  • Scenic View
  • Special Occasion
  • Most Booked
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