Built in 1908, The Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, is one of the oldest buildings in the province’s capital city. The hotel restaurant, The Q at The Empress, is situated in the front of the chateau-style building and wide windows offer up spectacular views of the neo-baroque British Columbia Legislature Buildings and stunning Victoria Harbor. Sustainably sourced cuisine unique to the Pacific Northwest is highlighted throughout the menu and both food choices and atmosphere come together to create the perfect ambience for this dining experience.
The Q is open for all meals necessary and provides a different assorted menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Executive Chef Morgan Wilson, born and raised in British Columbia, heads a team of over 80 individuals, which make sure every aspect of enjoying your meal at the Q runs smoothly.
A second generation chef, Wilson has worked at fine dining restaurants all over the world from Australia to Germany and brings his vast knowledge of culinary experience to the Empress. This experience shines through in some of the exceptional dishes created at the restaurant.
When dining at the Q, it is always a safe choice to indulge in some of the local seafood selections. The Dungeness crab tagliatelle is a terrific option: fresh mussels, Dungeness crab, arugula and garlic make for the perfect combination in the delicate pasta. Another appealing seafood dish the Q offers is a brown-butter-basted ling cod. Local chanterelle mushrooms, crisp asparagus and red wine-braised onion accompany the fish. Both of the plates can be bought for $32 CDN.
Across the hallway from the restaurant, diners can find a seat in the Q Bar. An excellent array of handcrafted cocktails are made readily available upon request at this sophisticated yet vibrant “social hub,” where technicolor-splashed portraits of royalty hang as decor and plush couches are waiting for you to sink in, drink in hand.
The Northwest Collins is a go-to sipper when drinking in either establishment. Victoria gin, fir shrub and cider make up the Northwest Collins and the drink definitely deserves its moniker: it’s almost as if you visualize the quintessential Northwest rainy day on every sip.
When visiting Victoria, The Q is quite the destination to take in a good meal while appreciating over 100 years of craftsmanship in architecture. It helps that if you plan to overindulge, The Fairmont Empress Hotel offers some of the finest accommodations in the city.
