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Swans Brew Pub
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Pubs, Restaurants [Edit]
506 Pandora AveVictoria, BC V8W 1N6
(250) 361-3310
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Swans Brew Pub
Review Highlights
"Can you say enough about these fish and chips."
(in 5 reviews)
"...Porter, Appleton Brown Ale, Arctic Ale, Pandora Pale Ale..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Beer, Shepard's Pie and people watching."
(in 3 reviews)
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Ann L.
1/17/2012
Have the raspberry beer.
Sit on the patio part. You will be inside and comfortable but have fantastic people watching. It's like being in a greenhouse, it's fantastic.
Food is good too and so is service :) -
Review from Chris B.
11/17/2011
After a day of walking all over Victoria our group wanted to have a good meal with good beer. After looking on Yelp for some answers I found the Swan Brew Pub had some really good reviews so off we went. The place was backed, which is a good sign that the place is going to live up to it's ratings.
We found a table for four and were met by our server right away. My girlfriend and I went right to the beer menu again, but we knew one thing is that we wanted to try their Coconut Porter, so we ordered a sampler of six, the Coconut Porter, Appleton Brown Ale, Arctic Ale, Pandora Pale Ale, Raspberry Ale and the Swans Oatmeal Stout. All were good on their own accord and the coconut porter was the stand out beer of the group with the pale ale a close second, followed by the brown.
For food I had two things in mind and with the servers suggestion that I should go with the Salmon and Prawn Burger, that is baked salmon, tiger prawns, red onion salsa with a combination of fries, yam fries, and onion rings. Can you say deep fried goodness! The Salmon was a big portion but the prawns were a little to be desired. The red salsa was all right but I think a chipotle aioli would have been a better compliment. The fact that you get fries, yams and onion rings was pretty cool.
Instead of writing a whole other review, we all went back the next morning for breakfast. It seems that Victoria doesn't like people to eat breakfast before 9am on a Saturday except the Swan. I had a special Eggs Benny, with chorizo sausage with the breakfast potatoes and a coffee. It was filling and a really good way to start the day! Then we were off to Butchart Gardens! -
Review from Martina M.
Vancouver, BC
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
A friend recommended this pub to my fiance and I, so we decided to check it out. The pub has a cozy feel to it, and has a nice patio as well as plenty of seating inside. We were given menu's by the manager, but it took a long time for the waitress to come ask us for our drink orders. My fiance got the beer sampler and I ordered a pint of the raspberry ale. The waitress messed up one of the beers in the beer sampler, but all of the beer's were pretty good.
For food, we both ordered the Franken Club. Be warned, it is a big sandwich. It is quite good, with strong hints of goat cheese. It comes with either a side of the house salad, or a mixture of fries, yam fries, and onion rings. I have never seen that mixture offered before at a pub, and it was fantastic. Highly recommended.
Overall, the service was pretty terrible (hence the 1 star deduction), but the food and beer were great. I'm sure this place would be fantastic with a better server.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge!
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Review from April R.
9/24/2011
During our trip to Canada my husbands goal was to try as much local beer as he could. By far his most favorite was the Extra IPA from Swans. He said is was more like the west coast/california style then most the others we found in Canada.
Swans is a cool little spot. It is also a Hotel and has an attached store where you can by beer. While at the restaurant we did try the spicy turkey nachos. Pretty good, but not that spicy. It was a very large plate.
If you are in Victoria and like beer I recommend you try Swans. -
Review from Alex P.
Saanichton, BC
11/17/2011
This was a real nice spot to sit in the glassed in room and enjoy a nice huge plate of fish and chips. What more could one want? Oh, yes, beer, something of a specialty for them (mictro brewing) and worth going if you're a suds fan. Had a great time. They let me use my cell phone for my "very important" call, even though the sign said "no cell phones." I would give it three AND A HALF if I could.
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Review from Mark M.
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really great micro beer. I suggest getting the beer sampler.
The halibut and chips was really good as well.
A must stop in Victoria. -
Review from Ashley B.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011
Great place to take visitors for a sample of the local beers Victoria has to offer. Food is tasty and well priced.
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Review from Meghan K.
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Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
11/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
What a strange, bizarre, perplexing place to be on a Saturday night. I'm not overly familiar with Victoria and its dining potential, and my partner and I were starving around 8pm on a Saturday night and had heard the beer at Swans was amazing, so we went off in search of food and drink.
I was a bit let down when we arrived. The furniture and decor were very dated, and the crowd looked to be mostly 50+. Not exactly the night out in Victoria I was hoping for, but whatever, it was bone-chillingly cold outside and there were tables available.
We ordered some beers which were good, but by no means mind-blowing for a brewpub. We also ordered the curried prawns and smoked salmon skewers for appetizers, and the vegetarian pizza for our main. The curried prawns were surprisingly delicious. It was served with rice, which combined with a side salad, would have made a reasonable meal for one person in of itself. The smoked salmon was okay, but it wasn't as flavourful as I have come to expect from smoked salmon. The pizza exceeded my expectations for pub fare. The crust was thin, and the toppings were fresh and plentiful.
My partner and I were deeply engaged in conversation for awhile and didn't really notice the shift in atmosphere and clientele until halfway through our meal. The retired folk have cleared out and gave way to a strange combination of a large group 20-somethings in golf apparel and another group of forty-somethings who appeared to be attending some sort of organized singles mixer at Swan's (?). A very loud cover band began playing the usual terrible 90s fare, so we hightailed it out of there in search of a less disconcerting venue. By the time i went in search of a washroom, there was a bouncer of sorts at the door, counting the people as they came in.
I just didn't get it, and as much as I was put off by the decor and subdued atmosphere, terrible cover bands and lonely 40-somethings made me long for the retired crowd and jazz music that was there when we first arrived. -
Review from Jessica R.
10/23/2010
Man, what a let down!
You never set your sights too high when dining at a pub. Food is expected to be alright/good and more filling than anything. This place is overpriced for the crap they deliver.
The old man got a 14 dollar tiny sandwich with a handful of fries that was "okay." I got a BURNT pizza. I ate the middle and left the rest of it and not a peep from the server who was actually pretty good despite serving that crap to me.
The IPA is great for Canada, good for US IPA drinkers.
Let me be honest, we didn't eat a lot of great food in Victoria. Maybe we needed to get out of the downtown area?
Food 1
Booze 3
Customer Service 3
Ambiance 3
I'll never go there again and will steer others clear... -
Review from A E.
Victoria, BC
8/5/2011
I love Swan's for the same reason I love coloured food sprinkles. The pub's dance floor can be seen (and heard) from the indoor patio, through glass windows. This is the perfect recipe for watching people of all ages swing dance their butts off. Seeing a 60 year hold sweating and giggling and laughing, and proclaiming that they have not had so much fun in 20 years, is like watching the happiness of coloured sprinkles leak their dyes onto delicious vanilla cupcakes.
It is a brew pub, and I like their beer (but I'm not a connoisseur), and they have yam fries.
The patio is great for conversation and people watching, while the inside is good for dancing.
They have an attached restaurant, hotel, and private eating/meeting rooms.
The service varies, but doesn't present anything out of the ordinary. -
Review from Brendan M.
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
Turn the freakin' music down! And then everything will be fine.
A strong disappointment formed my first impression of this place (that my friends chose and dragged me to). I could hear the band from outside, and of course, it got much louder once we were inside. I knew it would be impossible to carry on any conversation, so I hoped to have a beer, have some food, and escape as quickly as possible.
My mood improved slightly with the arrival of my beer, a pint of the house witbier, a C$3.87 special on that Thursday night. It was very crisp and satisfying. For my entree, I chose the vegetarian pizza, a thin-crust pizza with tomatoes, goat cheese, artichoke hearts, pesto, and spinach. I adored every bite. The toppings were layered in perfect proportion to the crust, and there was neither too much nor too little of anything. If any food was going to boost my spirits, this was certainly it. The band continued playing throughout our meal, so conversation with the waitress was limited to the essentials: drink orders, food orders, etc. Conversation amongst ourselves remained nearly impossible.
Slowly but surely, the beer and pizza were winning me over, DESPITE the loud band, which sounded like a ragtag bunch of high schoolers playing a gig in someone's garage. Eventually, the band took a break, so I was finally able to enjoy some conversation and get the ringing out of my ears. As I savored the last of my beer, the band came back from their break and launched into "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by the Beatles. Their sound still wasn't great, but I actually _enjoyed_ the music and finally realized that this was a good restaurant and pub, regardless of my initial dissatisfaction.
With quieter music (maybe a sound system instead of a band) I think I could give 5 stars to this place. -
Review from Danika L.
Vancouver, BC
3/1/2011
Came here after being snubbed at another restaurant. Found a table for a group of 7 easily. I ordered the baron of beef sandwich with fries. The sandwich was SO good! I was very impressed with the tenderness of the beef and I liked the addition of mushrooms. The fries, however were disappointing. Rather tough (heatlamp?) and not very crunchy. Service was good, with all of our meals arriving at the same time and drinks being replenished often. While I've ordered beer in the past, I opted for their house made rootbeer instead. I'm not usually a pop person, but I quite liked it.
We had unintentionally good timing, with the live music starting up just as we were finishing up dinner. The funk band (The Groovediggers) was pretty good and even played some top 40 songs (Pokerface, anyone?) The crowd is definitely older (50+), but my friends (20s) enjoyed joining the dance floor anyhow. One slight awkward moment was when my friend spotted her prof making out lol.
Overall, I'd definitely come here the next time I'm in town! -
Review from jade g.
8/6/2011
3-1/2 stars! I never turn down good pub food and we kept getting this place recommended to us so stopped in for lunch. We has no problem getting a table on Saturday. Our server was fairly attentive for BC, which was a definite plus after spending over 2 hours at dinner the night before. Ordered the nachos and the Arctic Ale, splurged for guac and chicken on the nachos. They were spendy, but the plate was oversized and they did not skimp on the toppings. The beer was crisp and refreshing. The pub lacked a bit in ambience inside, but the food was above-average pub grub, the beer was great and the afternoon was pleasant.
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Review from Brynn M.
5/4/2009
Okay, so there was a combo lock on the bathroom door. Maybe it's just me, but that had to be one of the weirdest experiences of my life.
The beer was good. Actually, it was very good. Because we were on a cruise ship tour we got to try several kinds. The big room they put us in was nice. Big wooden beams for decoration with a cozy feel to it. Then food we got was ok. I can't really judge what the restaurant food is like from the appetizers we got, but what we had was ok. Decent selection of stuff and it was all good.
Definitely would go back to Swans if we were in Victoria and try dinner this time. -
Review from Weirdie B.
Victoria, BC
Updated - 8/26/2009
I don't know what the hell is going on at Swan's, but I'm verging on depressed at the current state of what the kitchen is putting out. It's like reading your favorite author, the one you've raved about to all your friends and family. They've always been there for you, but one day you finish their latest novel and think, "What? What WAS that? What happened?!" That is Swan's for me now.
The past few times that I've gone there, I've gotten the same thing. It's been different every time, and not in a good way. Last night was the final straw. My burger was burnt. Not just flame broiled, BURNT. Charred beyond recognition. But I choked it down, hoping to find a silver lining. Maybe the patty would be juicy in the middle? Maybe the bun would be it's saving grace? Sadly, there would be no saving this meal.
Upon paying, we asked our server if they had changed their food supplier in the past couple months. Her response was a sheepish, "Yeah. Can you tell?" Yes, we could tell. But something like concurrent terrible meals can't be blamed solely on where the food comes from, but also how it's being used. The combination of lower quality food products and a seemingly dis-interested or overworked kitchen staff is breaking my heart.
I'll give Swan's another try in the fall, but until then, I'll be going to Rosie's.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/20/2009
What can I say? I love Swans. I used to go there all the time when I was living in the neighborhood,… Read more »
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Review from Adelina W.
Richmond, BC
2/20/2010
I've been here a couple times, the most recent as a part of the Dine Around Victoria promotion. They have the most amazing poutine and their wings are pretty decent too. Their regular fries are well made and crispy whereas their yam fries are okay. They brew their own beer and its pretty good. They have live bands playing Friday evenings and the atmosphere is pretty cool.
Their menu of the dine around Victoria was okay - nothing spectacular, but I have a feeling the stuff they have on their regular menu is good. I've been happy with all the "pub" food I've had here. -
Review from Cara S.
5/13/2010
Had a most wonderful breakfast here. A friend highly recommended the Eggs Benedict and it was divine. It was perfect simplicity. I would have bought a jar of the sauce to take home if I could. The egg was very fresh, poached perfectly and not watery. The canadian bacon and muffin were good as well. All together they sang the perfect harmony.
The potatoes were fried nicely and were not greasy. The even split the plate for us and did not charge extra for that. -
Review from Thom R.
5/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow! Can you say enough about these fish and chips?
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Review from Barney B.
9/8/2009
A local told us that we should hit Swans for beers before heading back to the escape ferry to Vancouver.
Still not convinced if she did it as a joke. I am guessing not, because I see the potential of this mimicking a solid watering hole - but there are just a few things off that make me question if all it does is mimic.
The beer was decent enough, available in glass, sleeve, pint. The food, a bit bland. The service... Unfair to judge because I think we got off on the wrong foot with her because we were being goofy (but not so much that an otherwise cool server wouldn't have just rolled with it)
Yeah, probably not a joke - just not my speed, Victoria -
Review from Norm G.
11/8/2010 3 photos
Wow, this place had the best breakfast we encountered on our entire vacation. The Eggs Benedict was simply superlative. My wife had their homemade oatmeal (porridge) two days in a row, and she said it was the best she's had in ages. My children loved their pancakes and French toast. I think we ate breakfast three times during our stay in Victoria. It was that good. We also had dinner here one night, and I had one of their German ales, and it was a really nice complement to the Shepherd's Pie I had. The women who served us were just so friendly and attentive; even my wife liked them, and she is picky about female servers, believe me! I want to come back to Victoria because it is a lovely place, and this is where I will be eating all my breakfasts!
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Review from Naoko S.
9/8/2008
Stopped by for a drink.
Nice decor. Cute waitresses.
Comfortable seating.
I had their summer special salad and it was different and tasty.
A live band started playing at 9pm that night. -
Review from Just Y.
5/18/2009
Yesterday marked my second visit - first was for lunch, yesterday for breakfast: thank gawd the bar is always open.
Home brews = pretty good. Some bigger hits than others, but at 9 choices, everyone can find something to love.
Food is not bad. Better than average, even for breakfast, which I am usually always disappointed with.
Service has always been perfect. Thank you again for not making fun of my coffee cup + cement + break and splash incident. -
Review from Mike L.
12/9/2009
We've been here several times, for breakfast mostly but also for a couple of dinners. On a recent visit we had a 6-beer sampler (which is a lot of beer because their "samples" are bigger than any I've seen).
Anyway, the service is good, it's an attractive place (although sitting by the windows at night can let you view some of the rougher locals and vice versa), and the food is not bad at all.
Coffee there is tasty and plentiful and I've always enjoyed breakfast. The food in the evening is mostly brewpub food, which is fine with me. It's good brewpub food. We'll always go here on future trips to Victoria. -
Review from Keegan L.
9/20/2009
If I could, I'd add half a star to my three. We had a very nice experience here after completing one of the downtown ghost tours. There is an inviting glassed-in seating area that pretty much sealed the deal for us as we searched for food. Inside the main room, a live band was inciting much (loud) merriment and dancing, but our seats in the glassed-in area allowed us to appreciate it on more of a background level while also enjoying the people-watching along the street.
Being from beer-centric Portland, I always appreciate trying local beers where I can (though I can't claim a very knowledgeable palate). The brew I had here was perfectly refreshing (the Arctic something or other). Food selections covered your standard alehouse grub - I enjoyed a decently executed french dip sandwich, and enjoyed even more so taking a bite from the boyfriend's pulled pork sandwich, which had an apple slaw on it that provided a nice twist.
All in all, there's nothing completely "wow" about this place, but it was a comfortable spot to kick back, try some local beer, and be fed well at a reasonable price. If I return to Vic, I'd happily return here. -
Review from Kyla L.
Calgary, AB
10/16/2010
Decent food. Good music. Lots of fun.
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Review from Bruce J.
12/31/2010
We ate there for linner today around 3 pm. The food was pretty good, the place was loud even though it was only half full and our service was pretty good until our waitress disappeared after giving us our bill.
We had fish & chips, soup and Monte Cristo sandwich (sandwich wasn't the one ordered, but good) and the club sandwich. My wife had the Arctic Ale which she said was tasty. I ordered iced tea and received sweetened iced tea - a little surprise but I happened to be in the mood for that today. They serve Coke from the bar - no Pepsi. -
Review from Linda M.
9/28/2010
Okay, so we're tourists, but don't treat us like we have some kind of disease; we're infusing $$ into your economy! But oh...the attitude and the service from the server was deplorable! It really took EVERYTHING away from the entire experience of the food, drink and atmosphere. We arrived mid-afternoon, and the place was not very busy. The server was cold and impatient with us when we asked questions about the various microbrews available. She threw down the plates of our food order and slammed down the glasses of the sampler. Ugh! It's a pitty that we'll never step foot in this place again because the food and brew are actually above par.
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Review from Jennifer H.
Victoria, BC
8/28/2009
Service, service, service...when the lunch crowd is over it should be expected that the service be phenomenal. 'twas not today. Fetched the menus for my friend and I, myself. My feet, had I been alone, would have bolted out the door. It's that awkward "Should we stay, or go somewhere else for lunch?" conversation that can end so terribly wrong when the service looks at you with sad, please stay eyes. Swan's today is why I got into this whole Yelp thing. I am so very tired of sub-par service. The food, however was just okay. Nothing screamed come back. "Meh, I've experienced better" star rating is totally fitting, because it's true, sorry, but being a downtown staple will not convince me to return anytime soon.
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Review from Joelle S.
7/23/2010
We are big microbrewery fans and went here after a local suggested it. Their Scottish ale is awesome, as was the fish and chips. Great atmosphere and amazingly great service. They even had live music and dancing when we went. Highly recommend it!
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Review from Rox R.
9/28/2009
Beer, Shepard's Pie and people watching! This place has a great view of the bridge where you will see all walks and bikes go by. It was great. I loved watching all the commuters on their bikes stop at the light and ride on by.
I had the Scottish ale- good stuff- my partners brown was ok.
Shepard's Pie was delicious. Not the best but full of good flavored beer infused lamb with a beautiful gravy. Potatoes were defiantly fresh mashed.
But, the salad made my freak it was so good. The waitress didn't ask what kind of dressing I wanted and I know why. This stuff was amazing. I wish they bottled it and I wish I could tell you what it was. It looked like a tomato vinaigrette but I really couldn't tell you what it was. Email me if you find out. But I would have not doubt to get this again, maybe with a larger salad and more time for people watching- a table by the window is a must- the corner table was the best.
I didn't stay here but it seemed nice with a view (the room above the bar (1am music) didn't appeal to me but we found an amazing guesthouse connected to another brewery. -
Review from Ms. B.
Calgary, AB
7/20/2009
I can't believe no one has Yelped about the art collection in this place...it is unreal and worth a Yelp. Stop in and have a pint and check out what is on the walls, the owner is quite the collector of Canadiana, it is like a little National Gallery of Canada; with beer! Look for the phenomenal portrait of Pierre Trudeau that presides over the bar; well they move him around the place; anyway he looks like Lestat or Johnny Cash in that painting; amazing!
