Let me just say that Ferris Oyster Bar – the main floor is one of my favorite places in Victoria.
On the insistence of a dear friend, I took my dear overworked wife to Ferris Upstairs for something new and exciting.
Made a reservation at 4 PM today – thought it might be challenging getting a table 2 hours before dinner service… for such a popular place. No problem.
Arrived at 6 PM to an empty restaurant — apart from the staff that is.
Ferris Upstairs is kind of a duplicate of downstairs – fewer tables… bits of kitschy art… a few windows… Old Town at its funkiest. Lots of brick and bare wood on high ceilings.
Wait staff were formal and pleasant… punctual. They seemed to be slightly distracted – we were the 1st customers, so maybe like a good motor, they needed to warm up.
Ordered a couple of glasses of Merlot and some bread for purchase… a tiny baguette and hard butter for $1.50 – no big deal, bread does not grow in trees.
I ordered the Bouillabaisse and Andrea the Ravioli.
The Bouillabaisse was OK – rustic with lots of shell fish, white fish, salmon and shrimp perfectly cooked in a fairly ordinary tomato broth – a garlic toast with a mysterious orange butter on top… Again, it was OK.
Andrea had the Squash Ravioli with grilled sage, walnuts and cheese.
The ravioli was so overcooked that my wallet could have been chewed and swallowed more easily. Did I complain? Nah. Not worth it. Andrea gave up on the Ravioli after a few labored chews. I dug in while she sampled some of my Bouillabaisse.
Thankfully, a few folks sauntered in by 6:30. We were feeling pretty lonely.
Dinner for 2 with 2 glasses of wine. $64 with HST.
I would give the meal a 4 out of 10. Andrea gave it a 3.
The pasta should have gone in the bin – no, chef served it. Unacceptable.
I quipped to Andrea that we would have been better off at McDonald’s – could have gotten a happy meal.
Loving it. No. Verdict. Will try again another time – As a dear friend and baker told me – “You cannot judge a restaurant on the first pass…”
Yea – they probably had something going on that was effecting the quality of the product – I could have spoken up but I did not. It happens. Only human.
As I said earlier, Ferris Oyster Bar downstairs is an eclectic classic – we visit there almost monthly and they are reliable as heck.