The Penny Farthing Olde English Pub
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The Penny Farthing Olde English Pub
Review
About
A warm welcome awaits in the heart of Oak Bay. Enjoy a drink on our outdoor patio, at the bar, or by one of our 4 crackling fireplaces.
Features
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub, Canadian
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Free off-street parking
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Gift Cards Available
Non-smoking restaurants
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Street Parking
Table Service
Television
Wine and Beer
Location
Free off-street parking, Street Parking
Is this a British restaurant?
Reserve a table
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Hours
Open until 11:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Monday
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Tuesday
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Wednesday
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Friday
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Saturday
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Contribute
3.9
470 reviews
Excellent
169
Very good
176
Average
67
Poor
34
Terrible
24
Lisa K
Victoria41 contributions
Nov 2024 • family
This is our go to spot when in Oak Bay. The service is reliable and friendly.
The menu items we've tried have all been very tasty and large portions, (chicken wrap, fish and chips, burger and shrimp/avocado salad), I had to take half my wrap home for later!
If you're going for lunch go early the place fills up!
Written December 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gardiner W
Vancouver537 contributions
Mar 2022 • none
The two for one fandc is hugely popularfand for good reason. Two quite large pieces of fish (almost enough to share for 2 oldsters) and a mount of very tasty chips. Prices have gone up since our last visit several years ago - the regular fandc now $24 for 2 pieces - but not too surprising I guess. Lively atmosphere...everyone letting their hair doow after years of covid restriction. If this promotional offering is designed to get you back into the puc another time..;.they sure have my attention. (I had the shepherds pie which was a huge serving too)
Written March 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Canucksontheloose
Victoria781 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
This place is always hopping and if we arrived before 5:30 pm I'm sure we would have gotten an outside table in front of the restaurant but we were outrun by minutes by another group on a sunny Monday evening! So we opted to go to the back of the restaurant which is a sunny white brick room so we eventually sweated back there as it became a slow oven for us. Food is a bit pricey for what it was ($5 for a Phillips root beer!); the sizes were reminiscent of European portions (Ploughmans; Nicoise salad, which was good BTW). Service was slow and we waited well over 30 minutes for our food. Interestingly, the bus-girl wore a mask but our hostess and server did not. Clearly this pub has its locals and a great vibe but I wouldn't come here on an empty stomach. If you are yearning for that English pub vibe though and want to chat and drink without worrying about your volume, this is your go-to. Free street-parking and limited parking at back of building.
Written September 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew B
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • friends
My main beef was being charged $22 for a tiny portion of poorly cooked chicken wings and having to ask for some blue cheese sauce which eventually came in a tiny little bowl. See the pattern here? A rip off, over rated pub which is a shame - it used to be good.
Written September 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yukon Cornelius
Victoria1 contribution
Oct 2022 • couples
The only pub in Oak Bay and they know it. Talk about having a captive audience. They know that the locals will keep coming because it’s convenient and the beer list is adequate but save your money and eat dinner at home before you come. The menu is overpriced and the food is pathetic.
My partners “Nashville hot chicken sandwich“ was anything but hot or spicy. When asked about the missing sauce they brought a ramekin of oil to the table and passed it off as hot sauce! When questioned further on this they explained that chilli oil is the secret Nashville hot sauce in their Nashville hot chicken sandwich! Like I said – pathetic.
My fish and chips were among the saddest I’ve ever had. Minuscule piece of fish that was mostly batter. The fries might as well have been made from a cardboard box. Cold and flavorless.
Did I mention the service?
Written October 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenton P
Victoria1 contribution
Aug 2022 • none
Service was poor they were training a new bartender which was not being trained very well I still tipped him 18% as it was not his fault - poor training practices.
I ordered a ceaser salad for $14 which was the worst salad I have ever had had two bites and asked for the bill.
I am a Oak Bay Resident and I will never go back to this pub or recommend it
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jac
5 contributions
Aug 2024 • friends
The pub is a nice venue with character; however, a pint of beer is almost 10.00 and the food is mediocre at best. It used to be good food and value for ur money but those days are gone. For instance, the chicken wings are tiny now with very little meat on them. They used to be a generous size. The prices aren’t reasonable for what u get. There are better pubs in Victoria for sure.
Written August 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moira Shared, Destiny
Victoria14 contributions
May 2022 • family
hello my foodies, this is an excellent place to stop and connect with friends. They have little hidden tables with fire places and other corners with TVs and noise barriers so your guests can really get in to the game. This pub has also a dining room area and private rooms for social gatherings. We were in the private room for a 36 wedding anniversary which held about 35 to 40 people if needed, we had around 30. The food was on a side table and was never empty, always hot, fresh vegetables and different plates added as the evening carried on. The waitress were never really seen as they kept the drinks coming on time and dishes removed quickly and quietly.
This pub would be a fantastic place for the cycling team to visit on oakbay route.
cheers may your next pub run be pleasant.
M
Written May 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VM0
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • none
Always wanted to try this place. Extremely disappointed. Wait staff don't know proper policy. All staff not overly friendly or personable - in fact, not friendly at all. Didn't feel like a valued or appreciated customer. Table/chairs had food pieces on it. Give you a menu with lots to choose from. Ordered the salmon burger, but they then said nothing on that menu was available, only the drinks on the reverse side. Should have told me that when they gave me the menu. The tiny "limited menu" only had abt 8 things on it, nothing appealed to me. 2 salads, 1 soup, onion rings, can't remember last few items. No sandwiches or burgers, etc. Terrible experience. Would never go back, even after pandemic is over.
Written August 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry B
116 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
Pretty average fare. We had French Onion Soup and IPA. Both disappointing - the soup wouldn’t pass entry level cooking school. Suggest it be taken off the menu. And the so-called ‘hoppy’ IPA - please, it lacked flavour and depth… service was fine, ambience okay too. But the Head of the kitchen and beverage person needs to get a handle on food/drink quality.
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fearless65122788274
Surrey3 contributions
Nov 2023 • friends
My friend and I both ordered shaft drink and the Sunday Roast Beef/Prime rib dinner. The shafts were very heavy on the coffee. The roast beef was quite dry, tough and chewy and the mash potatoes that came with the meal were heavy salted. Would not recommend either shaft drink or the roast beef dinner.
Written November 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
john19602014
Victoria Capital Regional District2 contributions
Sep 2021 • none
I live close by and keep coming back to see if the food has improved,, it has not. My wife and my burgers were overdone on old buns with the very minimum of lettuce/tomato/onions, and served with a side of remnants of fries. As far as pub food in Victoria goes, this is probably the worst that you can find.
Written September 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BennyC
Victoria3 contributions
Nov 2021 • couples
My wife and I dined on November 5, 2021. We ordered the Onion Rings from the Happy Hour menu to start. They were delicious and the portion was generous. My wife dined on the Fish and Chips which also really delicious . I ordered the Chicken Burger which was overcooked to the point of being burned., I am not sure why the cook even sent it out.! The server offered to make another one, but I requested the Shepherds Pie, it was just ok, not much in the way of lamb and root vegetables.
Written November 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
asmith9955
Mississauga21 contributions
Jun 2022 • none
We were encouraged to have lunch at The Penny Farthing and have the stuffed mini-Yorkshire appetizers. They did not disappoint!
The hosts and servers were very friendly and attentive.
A few doors down, go to the Rogers chocolate store and Ottavio's, an incredible Italian Bakers & Deli. Be sure to get some gelato!
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vancouver1009
Victoria7 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
Excellent service, Outstanding, plentiful food and drink. Loved the Old English atmosphere. Best pub I’ve ever been to on the Island. Quality and quantity! A rare combination these days. Went with a gluten free person and the chef and waitress were so accommodating. Friendly and great atmosphere.
Written March 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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