Brasserie L'ecole

Brasserie L'ecole was our dinner destination a few weeks ago when we arrived in Victoria from an afternoon ferry ride from the mainland. We had heard great things and knew that the line could get pretty long so opted to arrive right before open. There were already 6 or so parties ahead of us, so our party of 7 had to split up into a table of 3 and a table of 4, but we all still had a great time for dinner.

The complementary bread and butter was excellent, and all the apps we ordered were great. We loved the medjool date app; I'm not usually a big fan of blue cheese, but the roquefort worked so well with the sweetness of the date and the nutty almond. Mussels were a huge portion and we were able to use extra bread to dip into the delicious white wine sauce. Endive salad was bright and also a huge portion; I loved the slight bitterness of the endive, paired with the richness of the pork, fresh apple, and crunchy hazelnuts. The french onion soup was by far the best we've ever had; it wasn't too overly salty like many versions are, and it was packed full of cheese, onion, and croutons. The sablefish and cod brandade was very good with peppery arugula and a bed of creamy bechamel.

Our mains were great too! The steak frites were well-cooked to temperature (medium rare) with crispy fries and the duck confit was flaky and moist. Really enjoyed the pommes dauphine that came with the duck. We were stuffed by the end of our meal! Highly recommend this place for anyone who's in downtown Victoria and looking for hearty French fare.

Mid. Overhyped. Overpriced. The food was nothing to write home about. We lined up outside at 5 and there was already a line. I ordered the duck confit . The bacon bits were salty. The tater tots(?) were crispy but salty. The duck itself was soft...But salty. The peas were alright. But for what it was... Not sure if it was worth the price. It was just an oily, underwhelming dish.

The onion soup was actually pretty decent. There was a mixture of different things in the soup, not just onion. The broth was just right and every scoop had either bacon, onion, crouton or cheese... Or all of the above!

Service itself was decent. The waitresses were kind and attentive but I have a feeling that they're not used to seeing people of other races come here. I got a few weird looks/side-eyes when we first stepped in and ordered food. The waitresses seemed stand-offish at first but warmed up over time. Not surprised I'm not the only review mentioning this.

The restaurant itself was cozy and moreso meant for people who enjoy drinking. Not really a family type of place. In general, I might've I expected too much with the food from the reviews and recommendations. If you have tastebuds that are used to well-seasoned food, I'd look elsewhere.

The food was fantastic. Of the very best quality prepared carefully and without pretension.
The service was timely, friendly, and alert.
We ordered a bottle of wine, but upon tasting it, discovered it was really not to our taste, and without any fuss, we were able to order another selection.
I recommend this as among the best French restaurants I have enjoyed in North America

This place was so wonderful! The atmosphere was cozy and warm when I visited on a rainy day. Service was friendly and attentive. Note that you should line up right when they open, so you can grab a table. They don't take reservations, and their menu changes constantly.

To start, the smoked steelhead trout was fresh and paired well with the underlying pilaf/salad. The French onion soup felt a bit too heavy, the pieces of bread/croutons inside were too large for my taste.

The steak frites were so flavourful! The steak was quite large, and sustained my partner and I for another meal each. The 3 butter rounds on top was too much - it took away from the steak enjoyment, so I would recommend only spreading as much as you'd like, to taste. The fries were the best we've ever had. Not sure if they fried them in meat fat, but they were so crispy and flavourful on their own. It felt like a clean fry, not any excess oil.

I wanted to note that we were stuck with a +$2 charge on our bill just for an extra plate with steak sauce on it for sharing. This was not communicated to us beforehand, and so when staff arrived with the extra plate and sauce, we thought it was generous and thoughtful. We were not aware that it cost extra money. Had we known, we would have declined this early on.

The duck confit was fall off the bone! The crispy outer skin was cooked perfectly, and the meat inside stayed tender. The vegetable accompaniment paired very well with the duck, and the sauce balanced everything out.

Would visit again to try new things on their menu!

Had to wait in the below freezing temps 20 mins before opening, but it was well worth it.

The food was extremely delicious, with the French onion soup hitting the spot after a frigid evening out. The charcuterie board was also very tasty, with the comte cheese and 4-5 different types of cured meats. Unlimited bread and butter was a plus!

I got their burger, which was very high quality and cooked medium. The fries were extremely crispy and elevated by the truffle oil and shredded parmesan.

For dessert, we got the creme brulee, which was smaller than expected, but good nonetheless.

Classic French brasserie in a small jewel of a restaurant. Get there early or be prepared to wait for the 2nd seating-- if you have to wait, there are several places in the neighborhood where you can get a cocktail and they will call you when your table is ready.

Back again and as good if not better than last visit. Service was wonderful and food outstanding. The restaurant was very comfortable and there little disturbing noise. I cannot recommend this place enough, if you have to wait when you arrive (there are no reservations) you will be texted when your table is ready. Come relaxed and ready for a fine evening of dining Brasserie style.

Food was delicious! You do need to know that the menu changes on a daily basis so expect to eat something different every time you go.

One of the best meals ever. The menu full of great choices. The service was exceptional.
The atmosphere was relaxing.

Nice little french restaurant. It is first come first serve, so make sure you arrive as early as possible as there can be a line waiting go open on weekends or around a special menu. The menu is set every second day I believe, so you must consistently check online or with the restaurant to se what the daily menu is. The atmosphere is very laid back, so no need to get dressed up to go and good prices for quality of food.