The Old Firehouse Wine & Cocktail Bar

Great upbeat vibe, exceptional staff and a cozy atmosphere. You made our birthday get together something to remember!!! I especially enjoyed the succulent steelhead and black garlic beef croquettes. Many delicious mocktails to choose from. Exquisite food that was perfectly prepared. I can’t wait to visit again!!! .

The Old Firehouse is such a gem in Duncan. My partner and I have been here a few times now and it’s been excellent every time. We were recently there for Valentine’s Day and they had a lovely set menu that was reasonable. Their Langos is an absolute must try, it is so delicious! The plating is beautiful and the cocktails are inventive and tasty. Highly recommend for a date night or wine with a friend.

The Old Firehouse was a lucky shot on our tour through Duncan. I can admit, we would have regretted not going here. The food is simply amazing. Local and presented like an art piece on a plate. The service is warm welcoming and a really interesting chat is always around the corner. My wife and I both highly appreciate the use of local products and the story behind the wines. A casual evening that turned into a romantic and fascinating dinner in our honeymoon. We are looking forward to be back soon.

Another anniversary, another trip to the old firehouse! Everything we ordered was excellent and fully devoured. The daily cocktails were creative and complex and fun! My favourite book store turned into my favourite restaurant. Sorry about the pics, food was so good it was partially eaten before I could get my phone out!

What a charming little restaurant - such a treat to have somewhere to go in Duncan with consistently delicious food and a warm, inviting atmosphere. I always get the daily pasta which is freshly made and delicious but everything on the menu is tempting. Great selection of wines, some local, and great service too.

What a great spot! The Old Firehouse is famous for their cocktails... Jeff is one helluva mixologist! Just choose your favorite liquor... and let him go to town... you won't be disappointed! The food tonight was really, really good! We had the Venison Carpaccio to start, which was fantastic. For our entrees, we had the Lamb and the Steak. We were both really impressed with our meals! Table conversation devolved into moans and grunts while we ate, we had no interest in talking... just eating... Very enjoyable meals. The staff were all amazing. They squeezed us into a full restaurant and were there when we needed them, finding the right balance between giving us privacy and providing great service. Big thumbs up from us! Another great restaurant in the Cowichan Valley... I guess I just can't be surprised any more. Have been back numerous times and we've never been disappointed. The menu changes regularly and is always creative and tasty.

The food was amazing. The service was fantastic. The atmosphere was great too. Me and the wife will be back soon. Special thanks to Joel for great recommendations for mocktails and desert.

Overall, I'd say the old firehouse is good. Could it be better? Yes. We had a lovely server but where things could improve is in the kitchen. We ordered fries at two different times. The first batch was perfect! Hot and crispy. The second batch, wilted and cold. Why do chefs try and pawn off less desirable food? We sent it back and the chef had to make a new, proper batch so if they were concerned about food wastage, it happened anyway. Then there were the donuts for the dessert...the quality and presentation was not the same as a few days earlier. Not only were the actual donuts smaller, there was less blackberry curd and macerated blackberries. The other food we had was great but I don't have a previous comparison to see if the kitchen was trying to take shortcuts. On top of great customer service, consistency in the kitchen is key for long term success. You can see that in successful, long time American restaurants.

We both had the excellent lamb special. Great service in a cozy atmosphere right in the centre of Duncan. Actually, it was one of the nicest meals I've had in a long time.

Delicious food and great service. The best restaurant in old Duncan. It's pretty pricey but worth it for a nice night out.

Wow very yummy flavours ! The mock tails were great ! Scallop ceviche delicious, even the polenta fries and fish tacos had nice new flavours ! Nicely done ! We're coming back ! The truffles yum!

Awesome food, awesome atmosphere and great service. One of the best burgers I've ever had.

Had the steak and a couple dealers choice cocktails, you pick the alcohol and the flavor you're after, and they surprise you. Both the steak and cocktails were delicious! Nice atmosphere as well. Super classy! Service was definitely up to standards. Would go again.

Worth the price in spades....beautiful plating with fantastic food. We came here for my ladies birthday with her mom and it exceeded my expectations. Great service but as with anything food related....taste is king and they earned my 5 stars tonight.

That such a great location like this exists in Duncan, of all places, pleases me to no end. Top-notch wine selection, brilliantly crafted food, and our very own, local addition to the growing Cocktail Revolution. I've been in bars in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Victoria, and have enjoyed world-class drinks in all locations. I can honestly say that The Old Firehouse stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of them. Right down to the wine-flights, tapas menu, Somalia offering advice and recommendations, glass-wear, plating, and aesthetic--paying homage to the historic firehouse--I cannot over recommend the Old Firehouse Wine Bar.

It was a pleasant surprise having this quality of restaurant in Duncan. Foodies will love this place. The bartender definitely knows his stuff.

What a rip off!!!! $26 for 4 scallops and one ravioli. Better to go to Victoria where one can get double the food!

I want to make it clear that I would give this place a 3.5, I just rated it a 4 to be nice on YELP! The service we had was really amazing, the waiter even took the time to learn everyone's names. So many servers would never make the effort to do something like that, and it definitely goes a long way. :) I have this ridiculous issue with the Charcuterie Board... we paid $20 for something that had literally nothing on it. I was like dang thats a good price for a charcuterie board. But then I actually got it... And I was so confused because we paid for bread and butter as well, and that is what we used for the charcuterie board. So if we hadn't bought the extra bread would we have gotten nothing to actually put the meat and cheese on?? You HAVE to buy the add on if you actually want to EAT the charcuterie board. So basically it is listed as $20, however since you have to order bread or crackers on the side it makes it more like $26. Not a huge price difference, just a weird way to list something on the menu. Like just list it as $26 and add some effing bread/crackers to the plate. I am ordering a charcuterie board, I am not concerned about price here I just want to stuff my face with crackers and meat!!! Here I am thinking I'm getting this charcuterie board with crackers involved, and paying for some extra bread and butter on the side. But no crackers! Damn! So when people order the charcuterie with no add on are they just eating cheese and meat? So weird! Anyway I've gone on about this long enough, it's not exactly a crisis situation. I tried the heirloom carrots as well which were really good. The best thing that I tired was the sausage and red pepper flatbread. If you're going to come here for dinner I would recommend just going with a flat bread. I wish I did that instead of trying to mess around and share things with other people. I could have straight up eaten that entire Charcuterie board by myself in 3 minutes, but I had to sit there and pretend like I was able to share. Mistake on my part. The ambience of this place is really great. They have live music and it seems to be decently busy. We left around 10ish and it was dying down. A very upscale and trendy feel to it.

Really enjoyed this place, great service, really interesting flavor combinations and overall very tasty food and drinks.

Excellent food in a quaint setting. I had the broccoli dish in a Thai peanut sauce and it was a dream. Perfect for a light supper with some wine.

This is the best restaurant in Duncan. Always great service and incredible food and drinks. The deconstructed carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and ginger glace is to die for. Food presentation is always spectacular.

This is one of the absolute best unexpected finds I've had while traveling. Fate had me stop here on a whim due to a long drive and work conference. The staff was delightful. Attentive but not overbearing. The wine flight was a decadent surprise and the food was absolutely tasteful. I highly recommend trying this hidden jewel. You will not be disappointed!

I havent eaten out since the pandemic started, but it was my birthday, and this place had a nicely distanced patio, so my friend took me here. Everything about it was perfect. The atmosphere is nice, with eccentric fun music, pretty lighting, the food was deliscious- I got the shrimp salad and it was SO FRESH with citrus seafood flavour, reminded me of when I was in Thailand years ago it was made so expertly, and it paired perfectly with my cocktail, which was I think blue flower something, it had lemon and ginger flavors to it that suited the dish like a perfect companion. The staff seemed treated well and genuinely happy to be there, when you can tell staff are being treated well by a locally owned establishment, and that they dont dread coming to work, it creates such a pleasant atmosphere, our server was really charismatic and easy going. For dessert we split a mousse which was so rich and decadent, that it was satisfying to just eat half of it, didnt leave us hungry for more. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone, it is such a treat, and I will go again if I'm ever in Duncan for a special occasion again

One of the best places to eat and drink I have ever found! We wandered in here out of pure curiosity and have been here every night since. Jeff is the owner and head bartender. He makes the best cocktails I've ever had. We started off with a new take on an Old Fashioned and went from there. A master of mixology, Jeff is able to make up drinks on the spot. They also have a phenomenal kitchen staff. The chili was the best I've ever had (don't tell my mom) and the Fire House burger and Firehouse Fires are both world class. You will not find a better burger for less than twice the cost anywhere. Make sure you stop by and check this place out, wether visiting or if your a local looking for a new spot. The Old Firehouse is sure to be your new favorite spot.

We've been here twice: once for dinner and once for a 'pop up' Saturday breakfast. The food is FABULOUS. Seriously, you won't get food like this anyway else. Wild boar and apple sausages? Yum! Homemade, brown butter hollandaise on perfectly poached eggs? Scrumptious! The chef knows what he's doing, seriously. I heard they were going to do Saturday breakfast all September long...and we'll definitely be back. Service was excellent, with knowledgeable and super friendly staff. Price was reasonable. The restaurant itself looks like it needs a bit of a lift, but is still a nice place to enjoy a delicious meal of real, quality food cooked to perfection. Shop the Duncan market at then pop in for breakfast. You won't be sorry.

Love this local hangout for good food with a higher end feel. Nice music and ambiance as well!

I'm a big fan. The food is great and the drinks and service are as well. I've honestly loved everything I've ever eaten there with one exception and it was a dish I had tried before and really enjoyed. I was trying a new drink that was really intense and maybe it threw off my taste buds so I'm writing it off as a fluke! I've recommended this place many times and will continue to do so.

One of the best restaurants in the Cowichan Valley. Excellent chef and the lead bartender makes killer Martinis. It's a tapas bar, so don't go in expecting a one-dish meal or you will leave hungry. Prices are on the high side, but the food, service, and ambiance is great. You do get what you pay for.

Duncan's "real town"...not the strip mall/big box presence of the Island Highway...continues to evolve into a very pleasing specialty shopping area. A new addition is the wine bar at this location...add it to your list of things to experience & to appreciate in "downtown Duncan"! Say hello to hosts Jeff & Alanah Downie. Welcome!

Thank you for the amazing service. We did not have a reservation but the hostess happily found us a spot. Great food and really friendly staff. Our first time and we will be back.

We had a very disappointing experience here. My wife ordered the Burger, which arrived rare, (she notice half way through). After explaining to the waitress she was pregnant, and it was too rare she sent it back. The waitress returned asking if we minded if they put it in the oven to cook it more as it was all they could do (I guess they don't remake here). The Burger returned on the same bloody bun, with the same condiments and dirty plate. After cutting into it it was still pink, although less than before. Another waiter came over and my wife again explained she had sent it back as she was pregnant, bit it was still pink. He replied "No one explained that?" And removed the Burger with no offer to remake it after my wife explained she was still hungry. He returned with our bill (including the Burger). Our original waitress returned and said she'd try and talk to the kitchen. She came back with a new bill with half the Burger removed explaining that was the best she could do.

I've always wanted to try absinthe and I finally did. Great drink. My husband tried a negrotini with a wonderful maraschino cherry. Sandwiches were an unusual take on a basic sandwich. I'd definitely return if I came back to Vancouver Island.

This is a fabulous place!! Great food, drinks, atmosphere and staff. A talented chef serving locally grown and tasty cuisine! Jeff the owner is an outstanding host and bartender!! If your travelling through Duncan and need a great place to stop, this is it!