Friends of Dorothy Lounge

This may be a gay bar by night, but there's nothing queer about the brunch menu here, folks!

My wife and I spotted this place the night before, when it was lit up in all manner of multichromatic madness, gleaming and glittering gaily, with pulse-pounding tunes pouring down the adjacent alleyway. The interior décor intrigued me, but as we had our toddler son with us, we couldn't enter during the "adult" hours, but we resolved to return in the morning for their legendary "best brunch in Victoria".

Did it live up to its reputation? YAAAS QUEEN, SLAY those taste buds! My wife ordered the Homemade Maple Bacon, drizzled in mezcal cheese and accompanied by similarly glitzed-up scrambled eggs, roti flatbread, and a light salad with vinaigrette. After waffling back and forth over two dishes, I went with the ambiguously named "Tomatoes" which, as expected included tomatoes, of course, resting on a bed of a soft, moist cheese similar to queso fresco, dressed in chili crunch oil with peanuts and topped with spinach.

It was wonderful, with my only regret being there wasn't enough of it. I had decided against the Steak and Eggs, as I'd wanted something lighter for breakfast, but in the end, what I'd ordered was a little too light for me. No matter; I helped the wife finish her meal as well, so everything worked out! I will say, though, that menus that lean in a little too far into brevity when it comes to the description of their entrées for the sake of being cute should probably rethink this strategy, and in all honesty, $16 CAD is a little steep for a dish this paltry in size, no matter how good it is.

Alright, I've been enough of a basic bitch about nitpicky things, so let's put a bow on this review, slap its backside and send it on it's way! The "Lions, Tigers and Bears" cocktail was a frisky, refreshing take on my favorite, the Old Fashioned, and my pregnant wife's (virgin) Caesar may have been Bloody Mary-red, but it left me green with envy after a couple sips! I would be hard-pressed to choose between the view on our (inevitable) return visit to Victoria which, I hope, will be far sooner than later. For now, we'll be somewhere over the rainbow back home, waiting for a tornado to whisk us up and fling us back over the border. Vancouver may be the true Emerald City, but the yellow brick road leads directly to Friends of Dorothy in Victoria!

Food was decent and drag was interesting! This was my first time ever coming to a drag show. The MC banter was really fun. Dinner and a show, something new!

I got their three course tasting menu and smash burger to share with my partner. The tasting menu came with a risotto stuffed bell pepper, prawn spaghetti, and a citrus cheesecake.

The smash burger was delicious. Everything about it was perfect in my opinion.. and the fries were really good too!

The risotto stuffed bell pepper was interesting. Pretty good and no complaints, but I personally wouldn't get it again. The prawn spaghetti was good but lacking in sauce in my opinion. Not the best pasta I've had.

The cheesecake was the worst cheesecake I've ever had. Possibly the worst dessert I've ever had in general. They put the rind inside???? And there was no crust??? It was like eating a bitter mound of thick cream.

The service was mediocre. Extremely slow.. maybe they were doing that so we stick around for the drag? I'm unsure, but it felt like they didn't even want to serve us. Ambiance is extremely loud. The music is BLASTING. Overall, mediocre food but fun drag!

Outstanding waiters
Bartender not so much
We should have had 5 drinks to one served
Terrible bar service
Drag show fun and amazing
Zach was awesome
Update
They were short staffed
Apologies
Loved the show and staff
Just a bitchy queen when i have to wait for a drink
Thirsty bitch
Manager was amazing took time to tell me staff was sick
Great job in hard times

They need to rethink bar
Seriously review
15 min to get a beer on tap
So u have to order a round do it times 2
Disappointed

Bartender was amazing, so nice and fun! Our drinks were great and the atmosphere is so cool. Would definitely come back

I'm so glad this place exists! What a gem. I love any queer-friendly space, especially ones like this one that are quality.

We stopped here for dinner early on a Monday evening and had the place to ourselves. We enjoyed drinks and dinner from the lounge menu. We split the whipped feta (creamy and airy feta that has been whipped with garlic and honey, topped with balsamic peaches and served with crostini) and the Caesar salad (mixture of lettuce and kale, garlic croutons, bacon, pistachio Caesar dressing.) Both dishes were really delicious. The feta and crostini were so easy to eat and the salad was very flavorful and fresh--the kale and lettuce combo gave it an interesting texture, and while I sometimes don't like how chewy and thick kale salads are, this one had a good balance and small pieces of kale that it worked.

I love the decor in this place and the staff was very friendly--we chatted with them, talked dogs, things to do in town, and lots more. This place is clean and feels welcoming and fun, and relaxed.

Neighborhood LGBTQ bar - on the night I went it was actually a mixed crowd of different people within that alphabet soup and different age ranges. We went to see a show - Candy Whip - that was hilarious and creative. Even though we were in the back room away from the stage, there was a TV showing what was happening in the front stage and the performers came in the back room with almost every song.

I liked that the back room was open air with lots of cool decorations.

We both got burgers and fries and wine. Since the place was busy the service took a while but the server did a wonderful job of telling us what to expect and was extremely attentive despite having a ton of tables. Burgers and fries were just fine. :)

This phenomenally fine and stylish new gay bar will appeal to gays, lesbians, and anybody who belongs to the human race.

Phenomenal staff members like Kate and her team present elevated cocktails and remarkable appetizers and food.
The Saturday and Sunday brunch are fantastic , and the wallpaper in the restrooms can't be beat.
You'll need to see the "Tom of Finland "wallpaper bathroom to have the complete experience.

Don't miss this spot ... Gay, straight, or otherwise.

A Magical Wonderland Where Dorothy Welcomes All!

If you're searching for a bar experience that'll make you tap your ruby slippers with joy, then Friends of Dorothy in Victoria, BC is the place to be! My friends and I stumbled upon this hidden gem while visiting from out of town, and boy, were we in for a treat!

Let's start with the most important aspect: the food. The culinary delights at Friends of Dorothy are more than just munchkin-sized treats. We dined on dishes that were absolutely scrumptious, leaving us craving for more. The chef deserves a standing ovation for the superb menu! I'm still dreaming about the delectable munchies that magically disappeared from our plates.

Now, let's talk about the real stars of the show-- the incredible waitstaff and bartender. Despite the place being packed to the Emerald City limits, they were on their game, gliding through the crowd as gracefully as Glinda's bubble. Our drinks never ran dry, and they managed to keep a smile on their faces even during the most hectic moments. Bravo, my friends, bravo!

But wait, there's more! Brace yourselves for an unforgettable experience when the curtains part and the entertainers take the stage. These magnificent artists brought the house down with their comedic brilliance and unparalleled talent. I couldn't help but laugh, gasp, and applaud throughout the show. They were like a twister of laughter, blowing away all expectations and leaving us in stitches.

And speaking of laughter, the patrons of Friends of Dorothy deserve a round of applause too! We were a group of out-of-towners, feeling a bit like Dorothy herself in a strange new city. But the moment we stepped foot inside, we were embraced by the warmest, most welcoming group of people imaginable. Everyone was friendly, open-minded, and ready to have a good time. We felt like we were part of the magical family at Friends of Dorothy.

So, whether you're a wizard or a Munchkin, a Dorothy or a Toto, make sure you visit Friends of Dorothy in Victoria, BC. It's a place where food becomes a feast, the staff is enchanting, the entertainers are spellbinding, and the patrons become your new best friends. Don't miss the chance to dance down the yellow brick road of laughter and joy--this bar is a true treasure!

"Follow the laughter, it'll lead you to Friends of Dorothy!"

important to note that this is a LBGQT restaurant/bar - NOT that there is anything wrong with that but if you have a phobia you won't be happy there

We liked the ambiance and service was good. we had two amazing drinks. Pics and names below. Also, we shared the Caesar salad with lettuce and kale and the lemon chicken pasta. Could have had more lemon and a bit more cheese Never did get a sec to ask for more cheese and salt and pepper but aside from that good food And drinks. Sunday night at 8 is karaoke night and visitors and regulars can sign up to sing a song. Fun but we only stayed for a couple. They have something every night so look them up before going.

We went for the 9PM drag show--call ahead for reservations! The two queens who hosted were so fun! Great audience participation without feeling like it was too much. They really celebrated people's birthdays.

Barstool seats: 8/10. Get one with a foot bar and it's good, but without...get ready for a lot of adjusting.

The nicest bartenders!

10/10 bathrooms. Gender neutral and have great wallpaper!