Marilena Cafe & Raw Bar

my server Kelsey made my first visit extra special. The food was amazing and so was the staff. thank you!

best restaurant in victoria for sure!! Sage and the rest of the team were wonderful:) will definitely be back for more. thank you sage!!

Now THIS was a fine dining experience for my girlfriend and I. From the second we walked in we were greeted by kind hostesses asking to if we wanted to check our jackets. The atmosphere and decor and lighting were all very cohesive, relaxing and warm. Our waitress was timely, friendly, and helpful. Every employee was very aware of their surroundings as it's a packed place as well! We ordered brussel sprouts and a couple drinks to start us off and from my first sip and bite I felt euphoric at trying a new place that was freaking delicious with amazing service. The crusted chicken was so flavorful and crunchy. I wish we weren't too full to have dessert was the only downfall for us. And a bonus tidbit - the bathrooms... Not something I normally review but they were 10/10. They also gave complimentary yuzu shortbread cookies with our bill which was an amazing surprise!

Outstanding food

A fabulous place for a birthday dinner for 8 ladies Everyone loved what they ordered We were pampered by the staff. Highley recommended for all occations.

Great service - Very attentive and tried their best to answer questions and go above and beyond. Tried their best to be unobtrusive while still checking in very frequently. Definitely can't fault them here although it may not be to the tastes of non north american diners. Same goes for atmosphere, the decor and ambiance were spot on and it's probably the nicest looking restaurant in Victoria (unless you get seated in the atrium apparently). Food was unfortunately uninspiring. 3 of the nigiri options were not available, as well as both of the grilled fish options that we were interested in. It was 530 so this is likely a supply chain issue. What we did order was cooked well, but just not exciting or memorable. We had the seafood tower, octopus, shrimp a la plancha and fries. A few of the items on the tower were good, east coast oysters, mussels and ceviche were tasty. West coast oysters were understandably different but just worse. The inclusion of literally 6 small, chewy, boiled or steamed clams was baffling. Shrimp a la plancha is 5 large shrimp with butter and mayo, and 3 shishito peppers. Each of these things is individually fine, not much cohesion in the dish. Home cooks would be able to produce something very similar. Octopus was very tender but the only flavor was salt and octopus. There was some tomato based sauce but it wasn't enough. Truffle fries were truffle fries. All in all, the wife and I left disappointed especially given the hype.

I don’t treat myself to higher end dining experiences often. I was far beyond impressed with my evening at Marilena. The food, the service, the decor, and the attention to detail. The food was excellent! I was escorted to the washroom because I asked where it was, the gentleman took me right to the door. All staff are smiling and welcoming. All around an amazing experience and I highly recommend treating yourself to an evening out at this restaurant. 7 star service!

Want to know what “success” looks like in a Victoria restaurant? Think about this: a Wednesday evening, raining like crazy and the place is packed! Such is the well-deserved success being enjoyed by this new addition to Victoria’s local restaurant scene. Lots of Pro’s and just one Con. The Pro’s – well, when you walk in the greeter welcomes you and gives you a complimentary coat check. Nice beginning. And then you look at the room. It’s a 10/10 “wow”. A large room with a high ceiling, beautiful subdued lighting and lots of west coast woods and soft materials on show everywhere. Then you are shown to your table where the great ambiance continues. Beautiful glassware and utensils, comfortable seats, and,,,,wait for it,,,,FULL linen service. So, Ambiance? Yes, in spades. On to the food. Well, if you can ignore the post-Covid pricing, the menu is impressive and we four diners enjoyed everything: starters, mains, and deserts. The emphasis is on fish and three of us had a fish main, each of which was excellent, beautifully plated and served piping hot. As the saying goes, “you remember the quality long after you’ve forgotten the price”. Finally, the service was also a big plus. At a time when good staff are hard to come by, here there seemed to be just the right staff size. As well, our young server was friendly, informative, attentive, and proficient. The only Con – and it’s a big one – are the wine prices. Granted the wine list is extensive and the sommelier was very helpful. But the prices seemed too high. All in all, this is an excellent restaurant and is quickly earning a strong, positive reputation. Despite a final bill for two of $435, we plan to return.

Very nice atmosphere and dining experience