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The Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

4.8
4.8
3507 Reviews
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Northwest
Top Tags:
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.com

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 9 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Fine Dining

  • Cuisines

    Northwest, Afternoon Tea, Canadian

  • Hours of operation

    Afternoon Tea Daily 11:30 am–3:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (250) 652-8222

  • Website

    https://www.butchartgardens.com/restaurant/the-dining-room/

  • Payment options

    MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Executive chef

    Travis Hansen

  • Private party contact

    groupres@butchartgardens.com: (250) 544-4478

  • Location

    800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8

  • Neighborhood

    Central Saanich

  • Cross street

    Wallace Drive

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Entertainment

    The Butchart Gardens Summer Entertainment Calendar can be found at http://www.butchartgardens.com/

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 3,507 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Vancouver / British Columbia

    Best Overall

  • Vancouver / British Columbia

    Best Service

  • Vancouver / British Columbia

    Best Ambiance

  • Vancouver / British Columbia

    Northwest

  • Vancouver Island

    Most Booked

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  1. P

    Patti

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A perfect setting in a historic building g overlooking the most beautiful gardens
  2. FC

    FaryonC

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A Must Do when you come to Victoria! The Gardens, the Dining, the Gift Shop , Staff and Customer Service are all First Class!!
  3. JH

    JennaH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday here and it was perfect. The food was delicious and they were very accommodating of my 8month old baby who came with us.
  4. s

    susie

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 16, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    A lovely place for afternoon tea. Sandwiches were delicious. We really enjoyed the wine/cider flight too.
  5. A

    Anonymous

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Have been coming for afternoon tea at butchart gardens for over 20 years and it never disappoints. Absolutely lovely
  6. l

    larissam

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Chicken with pudding and sauce was delectable and melts in your mouth. What a treat!
  7. JK

    JohnK

    Vancouver

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Visit with out-of-town friends to see Christmas lights which are always outstanding.
  8. TS

    TehS

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Overall, great experience. The service and food exceptional and the lights stunning.
  9. DA

    DennisA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Thank you a magical evening, excellent service and thank you Lauren, nothing was a problem, everything was timely and our glasses were always filled. The food was outstanding, wine was also great and the decaf coffee was awesome….followed by a wonderful dafter dinner stroll around the gardens. We felt that we were the only ones there and it was the second to last night for the Christmas lights…spectacular as always. For us…two seniors, we felt that an evening like this was more therapeutic for our long lasting love. We felt like twenty year olds and just as in love. Thank you again
  10. L

    Leroy

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 6, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Overall, it was a great experience, one of many I have had there over thirty years. As a personal thing, I found the food to be carefully and innovatively prepared, but in some cases the more subtle flavours were rather dominated by its saltiness. That may be entirely situational, one day and one experience.
  11. AP

    AndreaP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely place for high tea, especially during the Christmas season.
  12. JC

    JohnC

    Calgary

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a great time
  13. MH

    MauraH

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2023

    overall5food4service4ambience5
    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. L

    Lois

    Vancouver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 5, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The Conservatory Dining area is lovely, and especially so at Christmas. Our waiter was very gracious and attentive. We waited quite some time for our entrees, and I wondered if my (expensive) rack of lamb had been under a heat lamp too long. My husband said that the beef tenderloin was delicious. Generally the food is very good. We were given a dessert to share for the wait (which we hadn't complained about.) The Butchart Gardens dining room is one of our favourite restaurants, winter and summer.
  15. CF

    CathyF

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a fabulous experience! The Afternoon Tea at Butchart Gardens never disappoints. From food, to service to ambience, everything is top-notch. How lovely to enjoy a holiday version of the Afternoon Tea! Offerings specifically designed to celebrate the holiday season made it an extra special family gathering. Bravo!
  16. LC

    LesleyC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely wonderful! Spot on on all aspects. Well done
  17. SM

    SteveM

    Vancouver

    51 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    51 reviews

    Dined on January 4, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    Wonderful Christmas lights. Fabulous dining room. Jason was a very pleasant and professional server. Overall food did not our meet expectations. Parsnip soup very good 9/10. Mushroom gnocchi disappointing 6/10. Rack of lamb main @ $54 4/10. Tough and undercooked/raw. Asked for medium rare, strange flavour on lamb. Green beans were tough and undercooked. Potato croquette were stodgy and tasted like they cooked up several days prior. Au jus again had some unpleasant flavours. Left half of meal untouched including lamb but Jason did not ask if everything was alright. We were hoping the Dining Room would be as good as The Chalet but it didn’t come close. Steve Marsden
  18. JZ

    JanZ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was terrific and the service impeccable. A very relaxing dining experience.
  19. SH

    ShelaghH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was lovely as expected. The service staff were very attentive and helpful. Every detail was excellent.
  20. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Loved every moment, took my daughter for tea. My only concern is I am anaphylactic to fish, (and I am sure many people are) this I noted on the open table booking app. When the Server came to serve us, they were nothing short of amazing and checked with the kitchen - all sandwiches are prepared on the same board, so we could only have two savoury items, and a lot of sweet items which is a problem if you are diabetic. The food was amazing - I cannot say enough about even the sweet food items, but would like to ask if it’s possible to maybe look at in the future, allergy requests and being able to provide more savoury food options. We have eaten in the dining room for dinner and this has never been an issue. Everything is truly amazing at Butchart Gardens and we will be back!
  21. CJ

    CindyJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We thoroughly enjoyed Butchart’s Christmas High Tea!
  22. DM

    DarrenM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing setting. The staff were very polite and wonderful. The food was unbelievably tasty! Every bite was delicious . I would definitely recommend the Cowichan chicken. Very peaceful and inviting atmosphere . It was definitely a treat to be surrounded by such beautiful scenery inside and out. The windows, the glowing lights, the season. It was all magical. Thanks for all the years of service and all the labour that has created the perfect experience .
  23. p

    petern

    Vancouver

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely atmosphere and dinner with very courteous and friendly service
  24. TT

    TomT

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had the festive Tea in the dining room at the Butchart Gardens. It was a beautiful experience with excellent and informative staff. Highly recommended for any occasion.
  25. TT

    TTTT

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A sparkling night of Christmas display embraced by a wonderful dining room meal is an unforgettably exceptional experience. Buchart is truly magical. In all of its offerings, it is a destination to gaze upon and savor. It is a Canadian treasure.
  26. J

    Joce

    Edmonton

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 2, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Sat us on plastic chairs in a foyer with heating lamps for $50 a plate, basically forgot about us where we were sitting, and the weren't even busy. Spent 200 dollars on 4 appetizers and 4 drinks then did the dip somewhere else with my family, unfortunately. Was not the vibe.
  27. MR

    MRA3382

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a fantastic meal, Great staff and excellent attention to the customer.
  28. GS

    GailS

    Toronto

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Afternoon Tea had a great variety of superb sandwiches, scones and desserts. Our personal favourites were the Lemongrass/Ginger and Bachelor Button teas. The vegan choices were delicious and our server ensured that all was in order. The personal service was well appreciated!
  29. KB

    KellyB

    Vancouver

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Had a wonderful date night enjoyed walking throught the lighted gardens and then a wonderful meal with my love.
  30. GP

    GordonP

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Greeted at the door invited to sit as we were early Elizabeth our server was excellent The coffee was only so so
  31. B

    Brynny

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An excellent, well served meal in a charming atmosphere.
  32. AW

    AlanW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Noisy baby beside us was disappointing given it was the 7:30 pm sitting
  33. S

    Somegoodwha

    Vancouver

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We always enjoy tea at the Butchart gardens as a family Christmas season tradition
  34. AI

    AmberI

    Vancouver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was an absolutely amazing tea experience a must for anyone who loves tea. The ambiance was exquisite and decorated for the holidays. It was wonderful to have our lovely tea and watch the gardens get darker till the holiday lights shown brighter and brighter. Highly recommend!!
  35. TD

    TransplantDiner

    Portland

    19 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    Lovely venue; excellent food that was better than some of the high end restaurants in Victoria.
  36. RT

    RichardT

    Edmonton

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 27, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience5
    I had the chicken, which was delicious but insufficient vegetables to make an enjoyable meal. My wife had salmon which came with fingerling potatoes. These tasted like they had been heavily smoked, hard and cold. I tried one and it was disgusting. Her vegetables were undercooked a little. Hard to beat the ambience and pleasant service. Dessert a little too small to share.
  37. C

    Carlyb

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We try and have dinner here every year on Christmas Eve. We are never disappointed,
  38. CB

    CorinneB

    Vancouver

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    An annual seasonal treat that was better than ever, in every way. Chefs outdid themselves this year. Staff were fully knowledgeable, accommodating and on top of everything, food was nicely portioned and paired with excellent recommendations by server. The garden walk pre dinner was magical with all the snow this December 23. Rather glad now that we were late this year to book our usual Christmas Eve reservation and had to settle for December 23. Couldn't have been better. A 32 year tradition that just got better. Thank you so much!
  39. 1

    1230

    Vancouver

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The dining room is a great place to enjoy afternoon tea in the holiday season. My friend and I had a very great time in celebrating our Christmas here.
  40. JS

    JoanieS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 22, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely Christmas dinner. Would definitely come back. You put us in the Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room is rated 4.8 stars by 3507 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 9 times today
Google Map for The Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Wallace Drive

  • Neighborhood

    Central Saanich

  • Hours of operation

    Afternoon Tea Daily 11:30 am–3:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Northwest, Afternoon Tea, Canadian

  • Dining style

    Fine Dining

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Payment options

    MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Travis Hansen

  • Entertainment

    The Butchart Gardens Summer Entertainment Calendar can be found at http://www.butchartgardens.com/

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

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