The Old Spaghetti Factory, Downtown Victoria

Reasons to go to Old Spaghetti Factory

• It's Dine Around Victoria time, and they've made a $20 menu offer.
• The lovely Brunette of my Acquaintance's daughter has wanted to go for ages.
• It seems like a nice treat to take her, and not break the weekly budget.
• They do family style food effectively and fast, with a good range of choices.
• You like pasta dishes that aren't too crazy.
• You like fresh goats cheese on your spinach salad... and fresh, rich green leaves mixed in with tart dried cranberries
• You like a good, thick, New England style clam chowder.  One which will make you lick the bowl clean.
• A decent chunk of cheese cake finishes a meal for you.
• A pile of varied veggies in the lasagne makes a good meal for you, especially if it's enough for a second serving to take off to school the next day.
• In fact, you like options that contain something fresh and nutritious for yourself, or your kids.

Reasons to not go to the Old Spaghetti Factory

• You want panache and spark in the cooking.
• You want anything that isn't pasta.
• You want pasta that has complex set of flavours, rather than a cream and pesto dish with some random chunks of white chicken breast.
• You think a broccoli starter should be more than fresh cooked florets drowned in grated cheese.
• You like your dishes served with a style beyond 'shove it on the plate'.
• You want the waiters to have a deep knowledge of the wine list.
• You want a long wine and beer list.
• Warm bread white bread and whipped butter is not your idea of a interesting start to the meal.

In summary:  It was a enjoyable family meal, at a fair price in surroundings that have been taken care of.  The staff are young and slightly naive, but enthusiastic, polite and fast.  The food is well cooked, but won't win awards for presentation or innovation. It's not trying to win awards for presentation or innovation.  Three of us ate a good meal and had good conversation.  

There's better places in town for pasta. They are catering to a different market and price.  There's place in town that do family-orientated food.  They are often tacky, dishevelled and serve crappy food straight from the freezer.