The Brentwood Pub, Brentwood Bay

The Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa is only a three or four years old, built next to the Brentwood ferry dock.  The resort has a spa, very nice ocean view rooms, a highly rated seafood restaurant and The Brentwood Pub.  Featuring a small forest worth of varnished wood and and polished metal, it's got the contemporary look.  Large windows casting light across the bar, with high ceilings and openings on to a huge deck make it a free and open space.  It reminds me of the design of a couple of the nicer casino's in Vegas.  But without the flashing lights of the slot machines, or the low-necked dresses on the cocktail waitresses. Maybe not quite what they were going for, but it does make you feel relaxed and welcome.

Finding a nice seat straddling the entrance to the side deck, we could get some fresh air but stay in the shade, having caught enough sun on a brief hike up Observatory Hill.  Top tip - the view up their across towards Victoria is excellent... worth the climb (or the short drive, or the hard cycle ride, as some folks were doing).  Ian, our server, plied me with enough water to re-hydrate, while my friend sampled the Mermaid Cocktail.  Unfortunately, I didn't record the contents of the cocktail, but it was green and tasty, or so I am told.

After a long look through the menu, we decided to share a pizza and cod wrap. A brief trip the washroom, and I freshened up with the lemon soap... very nice after the exercise. Very nice toilets.  Clean, tidy, normally a good sign.

Food arrived after a good talk about life, the state of nation and various subjects.  And some people watching.  First the pizza.  Ultra thin crispy base, covered with a good scattering of prawns,  a thin melted layer of cheese and lovely fresh pesto sauce.  Light, crisp, combination of salty, savoury and gooey.  Will go back again for the pizza alone.

The Ling Cod wrap came with Sweet Potatoes Fries (note this is not Yam Fries, which I for some reason assumed it was) covered in batter. This batter needs to be on a Chicken-Fried Steak. Crisp and tasty, wrapping the fresh fries perfectly.  The fries came with a Chipotle Aioli, which had not enough bite for me, and was more like a tangy lime condiment.  Not a good combination with the fries, but with the Blacken Ling Cod... it just took the edge of the spicy coating, and went well with the succulent tomatoes and lettuce.  The cod was perfectly cooked, still tender, but not gluey, with the blackened crust having a great smokey chipotle flavour.

We declined the dessert, mostly as our stomachs were full, and a digestion time was needed.  I loved the open atmosphere of the place, and the quiet, but active buzz the place had.  Plus the food and service was spot on.  Worth the drive out to Brentwood from the city, especially after a day on the water - Kayak hires and boat hires are available for a tour around the Saanich Inlet. Or maybe a hard day walking around the Butchart Gardens.

Final Bill :

Pesto Prawn Pizza - $16.00
Blackened Ling Cod Wrap - $17.00

Mermaid Cocktail - $8.00

Total - $50 with tip and taxes.

Phone: (888) 544-2079

Location : 849 Verdier Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8M 1C5

Website : http://www.brentwoodbayresort.com/pub