Rebar

Visited this location in October 2024. My wife has their cookbook from many years ago, and I enjoyed their lentil soup from it. We had the chance to visit on our latest adventure. I’d say this is worth a stop for sure. Great menu with some very tasty Vegetarian and Vegan options, which packs enough protein if you’re worried. Crafted with care, and spiced well, I enjoyed the Super Bowl and their spiced chickpeas the best. Service was excellent, and they suggested an option or two for a cider for me to try out. So had a nice apple + raspberry cider which was good. Will easily return for a second visit!

first time customers attentive helpful server , food delivered, quickly , tasty entrées. enjoyed Dale Evans smoothie Quantity for dollar spent reasonable Space is dated so if you value modern decor, you may want reconsider your choice

My favorite vegetarian restaurant in Canada. Every time I visit the beautiful city of Victoria, I have to eat here a few times. The location is also beautiful and the price is more than fair.

I have been a loyal customer since 1996, the food keeps me coming back. She's looking a little dated, and the washroom feels a bit like being back in high school, haha it's up some stairs so not wheelchair friendly. The service is always friendly. The margaritas are friigin' amazing! So many good choices, the almond burger and spicy Thai noodle bowl are my fav! My kids love this place too something for everyone and family friendly.

We have enjoyed meals at this super-pleasant restaurant for many years. Tonight, again, our food was delicious (so great to get brown rice) and the service was nice ... except that a mouse was running around, ultimately taking up residence under the table of 4 oblivious diners. We pointed it out to our server, who seemed unconcerned and promised to deal with it after the restaurant closed. We had been interested in dessert, but our appetites instantly vanished. No heartfelt apology. No break on the bill. I'm very sorry to strike this legacy restaurant from our go-to list. BTW, we saw the exterior mouse hole to the left of the door. Also, I've tried to give 5 stars for food, 1 for service, and 1 for atmosphere, but it doesn't stick.

Delicious! Almond burger is a highlight— lots of flavors and textures — table mates also enjoyed the salmon burger and the monks curry was super flavourful— matcha latte was not a standout, but the matcha smoothie was enjoyed— great service as well— we really enjoyed our lunch! Loud spot when busy, but atmosphere very fun and relaxed

I loved the vegan Reuben! The place was cute and the service was speedy and it was nice to have a kombucha on tap.

Rebar is one of my absolute favourite restaurants in Victoria. I always have a meal here every time I visit. A great menu, lots of space, a cute patio when the weather is warmer. My fave is the almond burger.

This is a review just for their soup and salad combo. I was doing a yelp search looking for soup and salad because my husband and I just wanted something light and healthy. Enter Rebar. I can't speak for the other stuff on the menu and to be honest I'm not a huge fan of vegan food, but I think we lucked out and the soup of the day was a creamy smoked fish type of chowder and it was SOOOO GOOD. Next time I'll make sure to call in to see when they serve this chowder again!!! Also... the salad. Fresh ingredients and they were so accommodating to sub beets with sprouts since my husband can't have beets . Their dressings are made in house I believe and it tastes so good - especially the creamy sesame one and also the ginger honey dressing! To die for!!!! Totally a game changer when added to the salad. And finally the yummy crispy, buttery garlic toast pieces that come with the soup and salad is just heavenly... I am salivating just thinking about it. Prices were extremely fair! Please don't increase the price - it's just right!!! I'd come Back in a heartbeat for the soup and salad. Few improvements could Be: slow service and sticky floors. So that's for the one star knockoff otherwise it would've been 5 stars for sure!!! Portions were generous!!!!

Amazing quality vegan food with so much flavor!! Do not miss an opportunity to try one of the flavorful soups of the day for my personal favorite almond patty burger! You will crave more and come back without a doubt ! Service is polite and fast. Plenty of room inside and outside. It's also walking distance from the harbor.

This cafe is a great spot in Bastion Square! I decided to stop by around supper time and was immediately impressed. Before even stepping inside, I perused the menu outside. As I entered, the friendly host greeted me warmly and seated me right away. Great service! I opted for the almond veggie patty with baked potato wedges. It was tasty! The flavours were outstanding, and I appreciate the abundance of vegan options available. They also sell cakes and vegan cakes to go. If you're searching for a cool place with delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere, you won't be disappointed dining here.

This veggie restaurant is very good especially the almond burger who is very tasty, it's one of the best I've taste. And the enchilada is also excellent. The brownie/cheese cake is also good even.if i didn't have a sweet tooth at all but the others like it mucho. The decoration is very one of a kind, it's so kitch thats it's beautiful said my fiancee ! Service is very good. They found the perfect recipe it seems : nice decoration, good service and delicious meals. Ce restaurant Végétarien est très bon surtout le burger aux amandes qui est très goûteux et bon, un es meilleurs que j'ai dégusté. Et l'enquilada est aussi trés bon. Le brownie/cheese cake est aussi très bon même si je n'i pas la dent sucrée, les autres ont bien appréciés. La décoration est spéciale, c'est assez kétaine que s'en ai beau a déclaré ma fiancée ! Le service est très bon. Il semble avoir trouvé la meilleure recette : Une belle décoration, un tres bon service et de l'excellente bouffe.

The food is very fresh, the service great and the location is perfect in the centre. Had lunch there with family (4 people). Curry dish was awesome, enchiladas too. Smoothies are a nice complement to the meal. We had a wonderful time.

Service was pretty poor - the hostess didn't notice us for a few minutes, but just kept chatting with the bartender and other staff. Even when they did take us to a table, they tossed the menus on a table and walked away. Then after perusing the menu, we were ready to order, so we grabbed the hostess' attention and they said they'd grab our waiter. We waited for 10 minutes, looking out for our waiter, but they were nowhere to be seen. Yet there were 3-4 other staff just hanging out, who could have helped us, which added to the frustration. I got the super bowl with ginger-tahini sauce, and it was extremely underwhelming. The vegetables were cut like a 5-year-old had sliced them, and though they were steamed, there was no seasoning whatsoever on them. I think the dish would've been better with the spicy peanut sauce. My friends got the spicy peanut noodle dish (they said it was tasty) and the blackened rockfish burger (they said it was okay). We walked away feeling kind of unsettled from the initial first impression and massively disappointed (on my part) by the food.

I love vegetarian restaurants. I feel healthier just being in them. Enchiladas with rice and slaw - delicious. My partner is still talking about his almond burger. Our drinks were quite good too. I had an fruit drink and my partner a fruit and vegetable drink. Both so good. The service was great. Our server very nice. Ya. There's lots more on this menu to return to on our next visit to Victoria.

Had a terrible lunch today ... Nut burger ... everything was cold and dry .... waited at least 25 min for service. What's gone wrong!

3 reviews·4 photos Perfect location, Nicely prepared food with sufficient portion size. I can't believe it's a Vegetarian restaurant but that makes them unique restaurant, which serves healthy and hygienic food. Egg & fish seems to be an exception. The server was knowledgeable about recipes and quite helpful. Menu is well designed. Although less food options in menu, the quality of food is superb with balanced flavors and taste. We had ordered 1 enchilada and 1 pad Thai noodles with 1 miso soup and 1 dal soup, and it was more than sufficient for a family of 5. Everything was tasty and filling. My wife had severe headache, so, requested tea with ginger and mint and the server and chef tried their best to get it done. Nice gesture. One must pay a visit, it's really worth it. Lunchtime visit is preferable to avoid rush and wait. Interior and tables are simple but clean, little upgrade in tables and toilet will take the restaurant to top in the area.

Love Rebar; always have. Food is excellent. Service can be slow if you are there during busy times (lunch). Try their juice and ice cream stand located on the promenade in the inner harbor.

Delicious fish tacos, all vegetarian except for a couple of fish dishes, would definitely eat there again

This place ticked all the boxes! The servers were kind and prompt, the setting was perfect (outside tables with flower baskets all around), and the food was outstanding.

There is a group of six of us, we came for brunch. The portions and food are amazing! The Green Eggs and Hash is truly delicious. We will definitely be back next time we are visiting.

Loved returning to Rebar after several years away. I had the Super Bowl and my husband had the side of potato wedges. Peanut sauce with the Super Bowl was excellent! The entire bowl was well presented and filling. The side of potato wedges was very tasty as was the sauce with it! Wait person was super friendly and efficient. We enjoyed our return visit to Rebar very much!

While waiting for our food, I looked down, and saw it has been almost 40 minutes since we ordered our food, and I wondered out loud, should't it be coming by now? I don't know what the hold up was, it was late in the evening, we weren't even seated until 8pm, and that was after a long 45 minute wait... I could tell that it was going to be a long wait. We didn't get reservations, but the server said something on the lines of 20ish minutes, we thought, can't be that bad. As we tried to let time pass, as we waited for our food, I saw that I wasn't the only one questioning what the situation was. I had seen food pass by our table, it looked delicious. I was looking forward to something tender, and fulfilling. Looking at the menu earlier, they call out their bread is from their "sister" bakery from somewhere else in Victoria. We were here because my relative is a vegetarian, and this was one of the more highly rated places. Once the food stated to come out, I could tell, the wait was probably worth it. I ordered the Almond Burger, something of a homage to something delicious. I love slicing my burgers in half, and what was inside was layers of vegetable goodness. The sprouts were a surprise, a very welcome one. The bun was what you expect, but the centerpiece was the Almond based patty, which didn't taste of almost, and almost has a flavor of umami. For the nearly two hour wait for food, since arriving at the restaurant, my mouth was able to take on something delicious, and it was yum. So is the food good, on this day, it was. Was it 5 star quality? Not sure, but does it make up for the long wait... probably. Still, just because they forgot about us, missing the bread (which every other table got), as well the condiments (I had to find a bottle of sriracha from another table), it's just good enough to be okay.

We stumbled upon ReBar while walking around the wharf area. Being hungry and having heard good things about the restaurant, we decided to try it. We were immediately greeted outside, and the staff gladly allowed our dog to sit with us on the patio. It took a bit of a while for a server to take our order, but when one finally did, the service was very friendly. We had placed our drink and food order at the same time as we were in a bit of a rush so we had time to renew our parking. The staff was accommodating to this, and our order was out fairly quickly. Our meals arrived before our drinks, however, which we found to be a bit odd. As well, we had to ask for place settings. The staff apologized and told us that they were a bit overwhelmed that day, which was understandable given the popularity of the restaurant and the current widespread staffing shortage. However, it was a bit surprising considering we had missed the lunch rush, having been seated at around 2pm. Our food was delicious. We had the Blackened Rockfish Tacos, Three Sisters Enchiladas, and the Monk's Curry. All three meals tasted great, with generous portion sizes. The Monk's Curry was one of the best vegan dishes I'd tasted, and it's no wonder ReBar's cookbook is so renowned. ReBar was a very good experience overall. Despite the mild chaos, we thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and with so many vegetarian and vegan options to try we'll surely be back again.

They don't pay their employees properly.. both underpaying hourly wage and missing entire days for shifts already worked. This happened on numerous occasions and is only ever corrected if an employee brings it to the attention of the management team multiple times. The owner settles these discrepancies with cash (off the books) but only after personally attacking the employee's character and person. Additionally, the kitchen staff have the power to alter other employees time cards at will and do so at their own discretion. I did not want to believe the bad reputation that preceded this place when I got a job here but now I have experienced it personally. My heart goes out to the honest employees who still remain at this establishment despite its dishonest business practices. PS. Real "vegetarian" restaurants don't sell fish.

I had dinner here with a friend in October... we loved our salad and seasonal pasta (we both ordered the same thing - it sounded so good). We enjoyed our meals, drinks and the service was great... we had limited time as we were catching a show afterwards. The staff was courteous and helped us get in/out as we needed to without feeling rushed. The dessert menu looked great, so we were sad to leave so soon.

I eat gluten-free and I got their green eggs and hash, it was the best meal I've ever eaten in my entire life. 100/10 recommend!!!

I have been waiting at this place for over an hour and have only gotten my appetizer. Very disappointed. Update: got the food it was okay nothing special, and the portion size was small for what it was. I sympathize because it seemed they were short staffed, but at the same time the wait and lack of service was not something anybody wants for a dining experience. Always hard to give a vegan place a bad review because I appreciate the restaurants that are vegan because as a vegan I know they are in short supply, but the fact that I am writing this negative review should really hold some weight.

Bright, friendly atmosphere with very healthy food. The rockfish burger and potato wedges with homemade ketchup were excellent. I was especially impressed at how thoughtful the server (Emily) was, asking about my food allergies and having the order adjusted in three ways so I could still enjoy the meal. Big kudos to you all for being so caring!

We loved the food here! My brother had the salmon burger and said it was really delicious& I ordered the super bowl - super satisfying and delicious! Also the staff was super friendly and the prices are really good!

ReBar SOLD to new owner Wait to try. Food very slow. Most of the kitchen staff resigned when owner sold.

Hair in two dishes. For the longest time I stuck up for this restaurant because I really liked the food, but everyone I mentioned it to complained about the lack of service. I had come here with a group of people for a special occasion and myself and another person both had hair in our food, that we spotted just moments after the food was placed in front of us. When I let the server know, she said sorry, and that was it. The service was slow, and we were in a rush to pay, and it took her a good 30 minutes just to get us our bills after we asked for them. I then asked if she was going to do anything for the hair in the food, and she said that she had taken a coffee off the bill. I never had coffee, and the hair wasn't in my coffee it was in my main dish. You get what you get for costumer service here.

rebar has been my favorite victoria eatery since my first visit to the city. the ambience, the menu options, the quality of ingredients and thoughtfulness with which they're married together to form the finalized dish is just a gift plain and simple. it can be difficult to walk in and get a table so if i know i'm coming to b.c., i call ahead and make a reservation. on this latest trip, i did something different: i walked in and placed a to go order. i still experienced perfectly fine service but had to wait about 30 min for my order to be prepared and packaged. luckily, the sun was shining on the inner harbor and it wasn't an inconvenience to hang out in bastion square people watching in exchange for a yummy almond burger and a slice of key lime cheesecake. what i learned is that if you eat there or take things to go, it's still great food. i'll always stop into rebar, be it for a snack, a juice, or a full meal. it's one of those staples that makes me grateful for people who care about offering nutritious and vibrant food options to discriminating customers from near and far.

Really delicious food! My spouse had the Rebar salad which he enjoyed. He commented that the chickpeas were really soft, which normally are on the tough side at other places and at home. He really polished off the basil vinaigrette dressing and was tempted to ask for more. I had the Quesadilla with the roasted yam and they were delicious. The flavors were great and I really liked the lime crema dip. If ever back in the the Victoria area we will return. Wave hi to Godzilla for me.

I loved my experience at ReBar! Everything on the menu sounded delicious and I'm disappointed I couldn't try all of it. I eventually settled on the yam quesadillas which were outstanding. I loved the fresh salsa. I also really enjoyed my drink. I went with the ginger snap and I was surprised with how spicy they made it, a good thing in my opinion. Most places tend to skimp on the ginger. The atmosphere is very homey and I was surprised by how many families were dining here. That isn't something I'm used to seeing in cities like Calgary and Vancouver. Very cool. Overall the service was decent as well. We didn't have to wait long for food and drinks and our server was generally attentive. The only blip was that early in the evening (our drinks hadn't even arrived yet), the server asked if it was okay if we moved to a table in the corner, suggesting that it was more private. It was kind of an odd request considering they ended up seating someone at our table right afterwards. I'm wondering if they had a complaint about our conversation? We weren't being inappropriate by any means but I've never had anything like that happen before. Oh well. I'll let it go based on the rest of my experience!

Date Visited: Saturday, July 14, 2018 (Brunch) We came here to eat with some friends and a lot was going on so I really didn't notice time going by. I couldn't say whether or not the food was served quickly or not, so I won't comment to that. We were a party of 6 adults and 2 children, so they had a large table ready for us. I was anxious for breakfast food, so I had to figure out a good mixture of my food and the kid's food so that we'd both walk away happy. I got him the 3 mini pancake dish and said yes when asked if we wanted it with blueberries. It came with a yummy maple syrup. The kid wanted it poured onto the pancakes, which was a mistake. He ate one pancake and then said the rest weren't that good because the syrup was all gone from them. Ugh! I said it soaked through but he took and bite and wasn't buying it. He had a freshly squeezed orange juice and LOVED it. I had the 2-eggs any style (scrambled please) with breakfast potatoes and toast. Delicious. It definitely hit the spot for me. The vegan had one of the bowls and I supposed he liked it. He was too busy talking for most of the visit, so it was there one minute and then when I told him to eat, it seemed to be gone the next. Service was friendly, so can't complain there. We will probably return. I'm very curious about the vegetarian poutine, which I opted out of two different places/times this visit!

I'm sad that Rebar has changed. I used to love coming to this restaurant whenever I visited Victoria. I loved their food, and bought and used their cookbook. But now it seems like a shell of the place it once was, back when it a busy, bustling, juicing, wheat-grass growing kind of place. The menu is really small now. And my favourite item is no longer on it (the salad with soba noodles, cashews, avocado, and other veggies). I was there this month in mid afternoon and it wasn't busy. I had the blackened rockfish tacos and they were pretty bland. My husband had the spicy peanut bowl, which he liked, but it was served in a surprisingly small bowl. I was wondering if they had been sold and now see the other reviewers here indicate it has. I'm not giving up on them but they need to improve.

My dtr's and I ordered twice recently and food was great. The steamed vegetables is such a great choice - delicious, simple and somebody does it for you. The fish tacos are as another thing we had and good both times. Ive been (or had been) going there for 20 years and always good.

I'm not sure why this place has the reviews it does. Every time I've gone the menu has items sold out on it (and I generally go at 6 or 7, with friends who want to try it). The options are limited for dinner, they honestly aren't amazing dishes compared to the kind of vegetarian and vegan food you can find in Vancouver, and the service is terrible. Friendly staff but forgetful and the food always arrives over an hour after we order. Be prepared for an all-evening experience of mostly waiting, without consistent beverage refills while you do.

My wife and I were able to spend a couple nights in Victoria without kids, we did a quick search on Yelp and found this place that offers vegan food options open on Sunday night. Upon arriving, we waited for a seat for maybe 5 mins, the service was friendly. The decor was a little odd, not sure what we were expecting, but it was rather peculiar, not bad or dirty, just not in line with what we were expecting from looking at the menu online. Regardless. The menu offered a nice variety of vegan options, and even had suggestions on how to make regular non vegan menu items, vegan. We waited about 20 mins for the food and let me say, it was delicious. My wife had the yam falafel with potatoes, and I had the signature house green curry dish. Both were very well prepared, tasty, and a decent sized portion. We loved everything about our meals. With a couple of drinks, our meal was $55 which wasn't cheap but certainly wasn't crazy expensive. All in all, a great night, excellent food, friendly service, and a great place to escape without kids.

My first meal in Victoria and it was delicious. Authentic tasting curry with a slight spicy kick. Loaded with yummy grillled veggies and tofu. I was surprised by the variety of vegetables. The desserts looked amazing as well but I didn't try any :/

My family and I have been going to this particular restaurant for years. It's a 2 min walk from the harbour and right into downtown Victoria. The interior is also very pretty. The tables are covered with those plastic tablecloths covered with flowers that you thought you could only find in your grandmother's kitchen (if your grandmother had good taste in tablecloths). The waiters are all pierced and/or tattooed. We always feel right at home. The food is also excellent. For my gluten-intolerant vegetarian mother and sister, it's always a challenge finding a restaurant that can accommodate them. Rebar, however, is vegetarian and offers many options with eggs and rice. I ordered their salmon scramble on a bagel with potatoes. It was my second time ordering the same dish and I have never been disappointed. The salmon scramble is always warm and creamy as I believe it's mixed with a bit of cream cheese and chives. The potatoes are always crunchy but soft inside and the bagel is toasted. I like how this dish is fulfilling without being hard to digest. I had also ordered a hot chocolate which came in a regular tall glass with a heart design on it. It's always nice when a restaurant pays attention to the small details. Since it was a celebration, we decided to splurge and get desserts. I ordered the salted caramel tart and I am hooked. The caramel is soft and a nice contrast to the rough texture of the tart. The tart is regular dough mix with chocolate. I have always been a fan of caramel and chocolate mix together since I had the Himalayan pink salt caramel at Purdy's and this dessert didn't change my opinion. I tried a bit out of my brother's white chocolate cake and it was creamy and delicious. The service is always impeccable at Rebar. The waiters and waitresses are cool, hip and can always answer our questions. This day was no exception. :) Obviously, I would go back to Rebar. Have done so for years and I will keep doing it for at least a couple of years. I can promise you this: there will be more celebrations done at Rebar. Total: Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Price: 4/5

We received the ReBar cookbook as a gift several years ago and have enjoyed many of the recipes. When we found ourselves in Victoria we couldn't resist the opportunity to check out the restaurant. I was surprised by many things -- it didn't show up high on Yelp, it's small, very expensive, and it's stuck in the 1980s. I considered giving only 2 stars but I enjoyed my soup and beans. It's really like a diner. For some reason I thought it would be fancier and originally made a reservation for dinner. I'm glad I changed my mind about dinner because it's just not a suitable nice dinner kind of place. We had a late lunch. I had miso soup ($7.50), a side of beans ($3), and my partner had a tuna melt ($17). Crazy, huh? The menu is kind of old school vegetarian so the name "Modern Food" just doesn't apply.

We were looking for Vegan food and read that this place could accommodate us. Just for future information for anyone out there, if you are also vegan the veggie burger has eggs and the sauce for the tempeh reuben also has mayonnaise . We thought that the food was a bit bland and ordinary for the price. The servers were helpful and friendly, the place was not crowded but it took awhile to get our order. If you want good vegan food there are plenty of other great choices out there.

ReBar is unique restaurant that offers GF and vegan options but they do offer non GF and salmon. I really enjoyed the creativity in the food but my only complaint is it was sauced enough. I went with 3 other friends and we only had to wait for 10 minutes which is good! The place was packed! My friend ordered the poutine with miso gravy but there wasn't enough gravy so the cheese didn't really melt. It definitely needed more. She added the Caesar salad which was very nice and light. The dressing was unique and super favorable. My other friend ordered the Rebar salad with sesame miso dressing and she really enjoyed it. It was fresh and filling with great ingredients for a salad. I ordered the Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowl (with rice instead of noodles). It was really good except it was not sauced enough. I had to order an extra side which was still not enough. I don't need it to be dressed but the rice was so dry. I added hot sauce and it still needed more flavor. My last friend ordered the Reuban sandwich and she absolutely loved it! It was a huge salad and she said she could have ate just half and saved the rest for later! Definitely a great experience. The service was good and the location is perfect (smack dap in the center).

Found this place walking and really happy we did. Cute little coffee/dessert/restaurant with interesting decor. The desserts catch your eye initially while walking in and waiting to be seated.. all made in house. We warmed up with teas and capuchinos then added coconut cream tarts for some extra energy. So delicious! The only thing I'd want more of is more coconut cream! It had a generous serving of whipped cream and dried coconut flakes on top. Fabulous. Since we stayed long to visit we even received a conplementary americano. This restaurant also sells its own cookbook. They call it "Good Food" and i totally agree. Their entree menu are things like almond burgers and yam falafels while the cookbook has over 100 recepies and personalized photos of the founders and employees. Such a great idea.! Great find!

Great choice if you're wanting to eat vegetarian or entirely plant-based. They had a number of good vegan options, plus a whole list of smoothies and juices made to order. We went during the COVID-19 pandemic and they had hand sanitizer at the front plus a pad for you to leave your name and phone number for contact tracing. The food was delicious! My dining partner is not vegetarian/vegan and chose the rockfish side dish with a couple of other sides, which were tasty. I chose one of their vegan Bowls (I think it was called the Super Bowl) with the spicy peanut sauce/dressing, and the server was kind enough to bring me another pot of the sauce/dressing on the house. Very filling, hearty, and healthy - felt great afterwards and not over-stuffed! Highly recommended and will go again the next time we're in town.

Love the colorful decor at this restaurant! Food is good and tastes healthy and freshly made! I love the drink list and the Blue Lagoon smoothie hit the spot after a long day of sightseeing! This is a GREAT spot for adventurous vegetarians!

Went to Re-Bar for a healthy lunch after kayaking. My London Fog, less expensive than at Starbucks, was also much better, however, it took a very long time to arrive at my table. I ordered the almond burger and soup. The soup was excellent. The almond burger was tasty, but fell apart as a tried to eat it... a little too heavy on the alfalfa sprouts i think. This was a nice place to eat alone in. I didn't feel out of place at all. The godzilla action figures above the bar were cute and i loved the mosaic pieces around the entire restaurant. Very hip looking. Unfortunately, they do not have their own washrooms and, well, they were sort of below par.

Solid Breakfast Food and Fantastic Juices and Smoothies. The decor was blah but the service was good. We sat at the bar and basically watched the various smoothies being made (wheat grass shots were especially interesting). A friend had given us the ReBar cookbook some time ago but we just happened upon the restaurant and we're glad we did. We'll definitely go back! I want to try the Almond Burger!

How I heard of this place: Our hotel was just around the corner, and our walks through Bastion Square to enjoy the weekend arts and crafts market led us right by rebar. On one such walk, I paused to peruse the menu, and an older lady from Vancouver stopped by to tell me, "Don't think about it. Just go in!" When my husband caught up with me, I suggested it for our Saturday morning brunch. He was in! Type of cuisine: "Refusing to embrace space-aged foods engineered to mimic freshness, rebar has always celebrated real, local flavour. At Rebar, eating modern means being aware: aware of where your food comes from and preparing and serving food responsibly, from seed to table. Rebar proves that exotic flavours don't need to traverse the globe to reach your plate, especially since there is a wealth of culinary treasures in our own backyards. At Rebar Modern Food, we prepare food for our customers just as we would cook for ourselves at home: carefully and conscientiously. Food is meant to nourish and Rebar focuses on serving food and juices that maintain as many nutrients as possible. Steaming and roasting vegetables, toasting and grinding spices, using fresh, hand-cut herbs in our dishes and fresh juice from our own juicers to enhance stocks, sauces and dressings: at Rebar, you enjoy real, gourmet food because we never fake it. Fresh, authentic, nourishing food. That is what matters most to us." Ambiance: "Fusing hippy-chic neo-noir retro-fitted coolness, this place brought together the best of the best: healthy, delicious food in a trendsetting atmosphere." "Nestled in the heart of Bastion Square, Audrey found an odd-ball half underground empty space for lease that had previously been home to a store that sold military memorabilia. The building was constructed for the Royal Trust bank in the 1930's and the space that would become the Rebar's kitchen was the bank's vault..." "Buckets of green paint, kitschy second-hand art and those signature Mexican-oilcloth table coverings were just a start." "People come from all over the world to munch on the health sustaining, casual decadence that Rebar serves up and bask in the bohemian vibe Audrey and her team created." What I ordered: To start, my husband and I were each intrigued by the Blushing Georgia Zinger (CAD$5.75 each), a featured drink of fresh juiced oranges and ginger blended with peaches and raspberries. For our main entrees, my husband selected the Smoked Salmon Scramble (CAD$16): hot-smoked wild B.C. salmon, cream cheese, fresh dill & scallions scrambled with eggs, served with roast potatoes and buttered sourdough toast. On the side, a helping of homemade (what tasted like) raspberry-rhubarb jam. Me, I opted for the Eggs Benny with Spinach & Mushroom (full order CAD$13): two poached eggs topped with Hollandaise sauce set atop wilted spinach & grilled mushrooms on focaccia, served with roast potatoes. What I loved: We were so in love with the fresh juice, and my Eggs Benny, that we were determined to return the next morning for round two! Sadly, we made other delicious plans and were unable to return this time...but our next visit will certainly include another trip to Rebar! It was the buttery grilled mushrooms that perfectly complemented the earthy, wilted spinach and light, buttery focaccia with perfectly runny poached eggs. Whoa. My husband, too, surprised me with his delicate palate, finding the burst of fresh lemon zest among the garlic-oil roasted potatoes. Why I loved it: Bright and crisp interior with kitschy colors and plastic tablecloths that, somehow, worked well together in the window-lit basement space. Cost: Average to high (CAD$10 - CAD$17 per entree)

Rebar makes the most delicious reuben sandwich.....you can barely believe it's not full of corned beef, it tastes so good! I appreciate the fairly funky décor, and the servers are nice.

When I spent four days in Victoria I ate here almost every day. It is an amazing cafe that sells soul food for people who love food and care what they put in their body. ReBar is so well-loved they sell their own cookbook of recipes served up regularly in the restaurant. You can even get it at Chapters (See The ReBar Modern Food Cookbook). So if you sample something on the menu you love you can learn to make it at home. They do salads, sandwiches, soups, baked goods and fresh fruit and veggie juices, and have vegetarian and vegan options. I've had their Huevos Rancheros, which are delicious and a bean burrito that I had to come back twice for. It's guiltless eating that is good for body and soul. See www.RebarModernFood.com.

I had their veganized tempeh reuben. It tasted fantastic - and I'm not a big fan of beets - and it was generously sized. One ov the best - if not the best - vegan sandwiches I have ever eaten. It certainly filled me up. However, the price was too high for what I got: once veganized it was $19 for a fancy sandwich and potatoes. I would love to eat that again, but certainly not at that price.

This place changed. Horrible service, flavourless oily food, dirty sticky tables and chairs. Party of five, no one was happy with food or service, nor the attitude. Ordered blackened fish burger, was deep fried in engine oil and the fish was so fishy, it must have sat for hours defrosted. Mushroom burger extremely oily and spuds on the sides undercooked. Soup and curry were half salt, not edible. They had run out of desserts (probably was a good thing). We also all stunk of oil when we left (very bad ventilation). And not cheap either. Shame, my daughter used to love this place since she's vegan and they have some dishes she could have. We will not be giving them our business again.

Simply incredible food! I went with my mom, we both got the same salad and tea, and WOW the servings are huge! A side salad for 12$ is giant, definitely getting your moneys worth. The service is brilliant, we were seated immediately and within seconds a server was ready for our order. The food came super quickly! 100% would recommend

Very few restaurants can really nail it and this place gets 5 stars from me purely for food and service. Food so healthy and delicious that you will relish every mouthful. Veggie lovers order the quinoa bowl with chickpeas, carrots and some amazing combinations. Very lightly flavoured and super healthy but not bland. Yes having been to other vegetarian friendly places, you somehow get compromised on the taste but not in rebar. Enchiladas - was served with most scrumptious green pepper basil sauce that I requested one more. Not a big fan of sour cream and cheese so I separated that and the remaining dish was pretty awesome. Good portion size and reasonably priced. The ambience was good and busy on a Sunday afternoon but not the decor. It looked tacky and they can certainly work on the Interiors and make it look a lot more modern and interesting.