Brasserie L'école

1715 Government Street
Victoria, B.C.
250-475-6260
Visit their website
Map


The best French restaurant in this Canadian capital city is in Chinatown. L’Ecole , a brasserie, (1715 Government Street) is an award-winning local favourite run by people that love the restaurant business and aim to please. Sommelier and co-owner Marc Morrison knows how to run a dining room and chef Sean Brennan can dish it out. I was very impressed by the selection of Burgundy and Rhone wines and the chef takes fresh local ingredients to a place where few capital city kitchen mavens tread. Start with a couple of apps like Chicken Liver & Cognac Mousse or Cowichan Valley Chanterelles with bacon, cream and toast, then move on to Sooke Trout with Spanish chorizo, almonds, smoked paprika and brown butter. The menu changes daily and the room is usually full of satisfied diners--so make reservations.

The restaurant opened December 2001 and has won numerous awards and accolades since such as Best Restaurant in Victoria (2007 Vancouver Magazine Awards) and One of Canada's Top Wine Savvy Restuarants (Wine Access Magazine 2005). Brasserie "L'école" has been recommended by media such as the New York Times (June 11, 2004), Martha Stewart Weddings (Spring 2002), Travel & Leisure (June 2003), Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic Traveler (September 2005).

The menu reflects Chef Brennan's approach to using seasonal, locally available products cooked in a classic French country style and is printed every day.

Most of the produce and meat come from local farms and ranches that practice ecologically sound agriculture.

In addition to the menu the restaurant features blackboards around the room that highlight Steak-Frites (such as a choice of a 8 or 12 oz Sirloin or a 10 oz NY Striploin), the oysters that are currently available as well as the choices of Mussel preparations.