Ferris' Upstairs Seafood & Oyster Bar

Ferris' is split into two separate restaurants, an upstairs tapas-style tablecloth-and-more discerning foodie area where you can impress your prom date (or Canadian equivalent of prom, whatever that may be), and a more wood & brick paneling and wooden benches pub-style eatery on the ground floor. We ate on the ground floor.

The oysters I would recommend, only because I am an oyster fan. It turns out the larger-shelled oysters actually don't taste good at all, with a dingy, dirty/musty taste. The smaller shelled oysters were much more fresh and had individual salty flavors. The house mango hot sauce paired very nicely. Honestly, I am not yet an oyster snob, so I could not tell you the varietals or species or whatever marine biologists do to identify oysters. They're just grey cool, bubbles of salty chewiness.

We had the Moroccan lamb burger and vegetable/nut burger. Both were quite well prepared, the chowder was thick, bacon-ed, and hearty for a cool summer rainy night, and the beer went down very well. They only have 3 drafts but quite a few bottle versions.

The servers were overwhelmingly chipper, but not saccharine. Good, genuine smiles, a bit of humor, and they left you the hell alone when it was chow time. The restaurant building itself is very long and narrow, so the wait staff always pass you by the entire time, making flagging one down very simple.

I would recommend this place as a simple brew and seafood eatery. There's no view but plenty of good hearted souls. Burger-type items are $10-13 CAD. The dozen oysters were $25 CAD, not too bad. I think next time when I was all gussied up I would deign the upstairs version.

without a doubt, this is my fav seafood restaurant in Victoria but make sure to go upstairs vs the downstairs Ferris (more casual). Finer dining without all the pomp and circumstance

the Japanese inspired Miso glazed black cod is my go to and also recommend the grilled octopus. Top tier seafood There are allot of victoria seafood restaurants catering to tourists but This is where the locals go. Get your reservations in as the place is Booked fast

Interesting location upstairs. Staff were super friendly through our and quick. It was quiet enough to have a conversation easily even though there were tables filled near by.

We started with a dozen oysters which were great (no choices on oyster variety), followed by the scallops (very good). We shared the bouillabaisse at the recommendation of the staff and we agreed it was one of the best dishes we've had in recent memory. We asked for additional toasted bread to soak up the broth (which our waiter kindly brought). Can't recommend the bouillabaisse enough. We finished with a desert special that had puff pastry over a cream/yogurt with a sort of fruit sauce--very good and relatively light. The Albarino white paired nicely with what we had, but the cocktail menu is a bit light on unique/interesting drinks.

This is great spot to check out for seafood.

Great food, excellent service, nicer ambience yet still casual than downstairs, and reasonable prices overall. Be sure to make a reservation, the place was packed on a Sunday in June(tourist season?), but it sounded like locals were eating here too. It was a quite loud when it was packed, but quickly quieted down during the last hour. Would definitely try eat here again!

$9CAD/$7USD deep fried smelts with squid ink aioli...crispy whole fish! Hot, crunchy, and flavorful with the aioli. Very shareable, great value!
$9/$7 House White wine...chilled and lovely, and so much cheaper than Seattle!

$19/$15 Smoked Trout...served on top of greens, bacon, apple, and crispy toasted bread, delicious! 2 pieces, I wish there had been 3 for this price.

$31/$23 Bouillabaisse...I don't think I would call this "bouillabaisse" as in French seafood dish, but this was still a delicious seafood stew with fish, clams, mussels, in lovely light tomato fennel broth.

$36/$27 Black cod with prawns, pork & shrimp dumpling, bok choy, thai red curry broth...Asian inspired, the cod was moist and buttery...wife enjoyed.

$9/$7 House White wine...chilled and lovely, and so much cheaper than Seattle!

Desserts were amazing Triple Chocolate Threat and an Orange Cake...can't remember the prices, but I remembered them both being divine and delectable!

A hidden gym in BC, from the food to the ambiance to the Canada art on the wall, I highly recommend.

Stopping in BC for the evening when on our cruise, Ferris was highly recommended by a few of the crew on the ship. I booked on OpenTable and upon arrival was greeted by a friendly hostess who treated us like locals. We were given the normal menu and the happy hour menu as well!!! As a tourist it's nice when a restaurant does not discriminate.

From our drinks to, the oysters in the half shell, to the roster cauliflower and the halibut, the food was over the top. The witness suggested the roasted cauliflower and happy we took her suggestion.

100% would highly recommend and the price point was great too!!! One item, It is important to note that there is an upstairs and a downstairs, we went upstairs.

This quiet unassuming restaurant is tucked in along Yates street just a few blocks from the main Seaport in Victoria.

If you want seafood, especially Mussels and oysters this will call to you. Ambience is intimate and cozy.

Called ahead to ask if there's availability for 4 people and they said yes. We showed up and they said there's no availability for at least an hour. We also saw a table for 4 available when we arrived. We went elsewhere.

I decided to check OpenTable and they had a table for 4 within 15 mins. What gives?

I highly recommend making a reservation in advance if possible. I stumbled upon this restaurant during happy hour and was lucky enough to snag one the last couple of seats at the bar.

Happy hour is from 5-6 pm and has a variety of beers, house wines and cocktails to choose from. Also three different small plates including a rotating arancini option and fried smelt. Unfortunately, when I went they didn't have their happy hour oysters. However, I really wanted oysters and we opted for their regular menu oysters from Prince Edward Island (rosemary cove to be exact) and holy crap they were the best oysters I've ever had!

We also got 3 rounds of the sangria if that tells you how delicious it is!

Our rotating arancini option was prawns and corn on top of a chimichurri sauce. We also added steamed clams and mussels to top off our happy hour.

Very happy indeed!

Upon discovering this establishment through various "must-try," "happy hour," and "fresh oyster" lists, we decided to visit and experience it for ourselves. We arrived shortly after 5 PM, and were fortunate enough to secure seating, as the majority of the restaurant was already reserved for the Dine Around event.

We availed ourselves of the happy hour menu, which included the following options
Miyagi Fresh oysters - These small to medium-sized oysters were carefully selected for their clean and fresh taste, and were served with an option of additional sides of horseradish and mango marinara for 50 cents each.

Arancini Balls (3pcs) today's selection were gumbo-style risotto balls filled with shrimp and savory chorizo, which were expertly cooked to perfection. The slight spiciness of the chorizo was perfectly balanced by the acidity of the tomato sauce, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. The exterior of the ball was incredibly crispy, providing a satisfying texture that was both comforting and enjoyable.

Buttermilk Fried Oysters - Five large, plump oysters were lightly battered and fried to perfection, resulting in a crispy outer layer that encased the succulent oysters. They were served on a bed of crisp lettuce and accompanied by a tangy mayo sauce, which added a contrasting flavor and texture to the dish, making it a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

Chorizo Puff (4 pieces) - featured a mildly spicy chorizo, encased in flaky, buttery puff pastry. The dish was elevated by a drizzle of sweet honey, which added a subtle sweetness that perfectly balanced the savory flavors of the chorizo.

The Burrata dish was a standout favorite for us during our dining experience. The Burrata was expertly paired with a flavorful mixture of pistou, zucchini, hazelnuts, basil, and urfa pepper, creating a truly irresistible combination of flavors. The depth of the flavors in the pistou perfectly complemented the delicate creaminess of the Burrata, making for a truly mouthwatering dish. The only downside was that it was only served with two slices of grilled bread, however, upon request, the staff promptly provided us with additional bread to fully enjoy the dish.
Along with our dinner, we both decided to complement our meal with a Hoyne Espresso Stout. The stout was smooth and creamy, with a subtle hint of espresso that complemented the flavors of the meal perfectly.
Our experience at this eclectic seafood bar was a fantastic start to our mini getaway in Victoria. The atmosphere was lively and fun, and the seafood was fresh and expertly prepared. We highly recommend this establishment for a night out, whether you're looking for a casual meal or a more formal dining experience. Additionally, it seems that they also have a downstairs restaurant that serves a variety of different foods, providing even more options for diners. All in all, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience.

First time in Victoria, this place was recommended by the server on the Victoria Clipper. We started off with the pan fried oysters, four large ones came out. The sauce was lemony and very nice. We ordered extra bread to sop it up. I had the fish and chips, it was cooked perfectly. My wife had the salmon burger and she enjoyed it. The service was attentive and friendly. Overall, a very positive experience and good value for the money.

Ferris' did not disappoint! We remarked that we enjoyed the one available oyster menu item to our server at another establishment, and he immediately recommended this place. The restaurant is warm and inviting. The exposed brick walls are adorned with the most gorgeous works of a local artist. The service was excellent! It was all oysters for us - fresh shucked and the baked trio. So good! Will definitely visit again.