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Best Steak In Victoria BC

Many people love red meat. I am one of those people. That is why I was inspired by this Reddit post to mention the best steak in Victoria BC.

Victoria is a city that is definitely more known for it’s seafood restaurants. Which makes total sense given how close it is to the ocean. But where to go when you are looking for a good piece of meat? Not Argentina that’s for sure!

Keg

Keg Steakhouse Victoria BC

Now my first and top place to grab a steak is the Keg. The Keg has been pumping out consistent steaks that are always cooked to perfection.

Both locations in Downtown on Fort and in Saanich are fun while they offer a different atmosphere.

Keg Saanich
3940 Quadra St
Victoria, BC
V8X 1J6
250-479-1651

Keg Fort Street
500 Fort St
Victoria, BC
V8W 1E5
250-386-7789

Nautical Nellies

Nautical Nellies

I mentioned earlier in this post how well known Victoria is for their seafood restaurants. Nautical Nellies is one of those. But they also serve an awesome steak.

I hadn’t been here in a few years until this past winter. Although the prices seemed to be a little higher, the quality of food was as well. I had the New York Strip Loin and it was very, very good.

Nautical Nellies
1001 Wharf St
Victoria, BC
V8W 1T6
250-380-2260

Brasserie L’ecole

Brasserie L'ecole

I have still yet to dine at Brasserie L’ecole but the Yelp reviews of their Steak are pretty damn good. Just one more place for you think about. That is if you can get in. I’ve heard their busy and don’t take reservations. If you want to try the steak at Brasserie, try and go early in the week.

Brasserie L’ecole
1715 Government St
Victoria, BC
V8W 1Z4,
250-475-6260

So there you have three fantastic places to enjoy the best steaks in Victoria BC. No matter if you are a long time local or just visiting, I’m sure these restaurants won’t disappoint.

July 26, 2015 Food, Victoria Read more >

Best Wedding Photographers In Victoria BC

It’s a busy season for weddings, and one thing that every couple would benefit from on their big day is a Victoria BC wedding photographer. There seems to be a lot of options in this city, making it hard to decide. You have probably had your friends or family suggest who you should hire for the job, and maybe you feel inclined to just go with one of those suggestions. How hard can it be for someone to photograph a wedding, as long as they have the right equipment and maybe some training?

Well, it depends what you want out of your wedding photos. If you really just want someone to take some basic shots of the wedding party and of the ceremony, then maybe you would be satisfied with any photographer your friends suggest to you. But what about if you want some shots that are creative, exciting, and completely unique to you and your partner? If you look up ‘wedding photos’ on Pinterest or anywhere else online you can see some of the possibilities for photographing couples and their wedding parties. Your photos do not all have to be standard issue. Here is who we think you should consider if you are looking for the best wedding photographer in Victoria BC who will take photos that you will not soon forget.

FunkyTown Photography in Victoria has photographed hundreds of weddings in the past 10 years and aims to take funky, artistic shots. Christina Craft of FunkyTown was the highest ranked photographer in Victoria in 2014 and won #3 for all of Canada. FunkyTown is skilled at making people feel comfortable and look natural in the camera, so the photos will come out flattering. You will not be put into forced poses but will be given the direction needed so no one who looks at the photos will stop to think that you are camera shy. Their gallery of Victoria wedding photography shows you what they are capable of and what they can do for you. And if you also want more standard group photos for your own memories or because your family asks for them, FunkyTown Photography will be glad to take those as well.

You will want to look back at your wedding photos in the years to come, so getting something fun done will make it even more enjoyable than it would be otherwise. If you choose FunkyTown Photography, you can be sure that you will get creative photos that will remind you of the special, unique day that was your wedding.

wedding photographers victoria bc

FunkyTown Photography

3255 Glasgow Ave

Victoria, BC V8X 1M2‎

(250) 813-0846

Website

 

July 23, 2015 General, Victoria Read more >

Best Victoria BC Driving Lessons

A friend pointed out to me a few days ago how many more people they have noticed running red lights and turning left on red lights. It was has become unsafe on the roads throughout the city lately. Victoria Transmission and Auto Care came out with a great blog post about the 8 worst intersections in the city for traffic accidents. No doubt many of these accidents are caused from people with poor driving skills, impatience and they were distracted.

Outside of those reasons we both felt it had a lot to do with the fact that the city has grown and traffic has become a real problem. Some trips across town use to take me 15 minutes and now they are taking 25 due to the high traffic volumes. We can all agree that the traffic has become very crowded out on the roads.

But really most of the problems with accidents is that people need to not be distracted and to brush up on their driving skills. That’s why people are looking for the best driving lessons from driving schools in Victoria a lot these days.

Whether is a young teenager who is getting ready to take their first driving test or a senior looking to brush up on their skills, driving lessons can be taken by anybody. And they really should be many people to avoid have many traffic accidents.

We know there are lots of schools in Victoria who offer driving lessons. But we feel that Westshore Driving School out in Colwood & Langford is the best when it comes to offering driving lessons. Their prices are the best in the city and they have brand new cars to anyone to learn on.

westshore-drive

Westshore Driving School
3376 Happy Valley Road
Victoria, BC,V9C 2W4
250-590-3211

July 22, 2015 Auto, Victoria Read more >

Best Basement Renovations Contractor Victoria BC

On hot days in Victoria BC, your greatest wish might be to be able to relax in your basement and cool off from the heat. But if you came here from a search engine for renovations, your basement might need to be worked on before it can be used for whatever its intended purpose is for you.

A basement could be a lot of things for you. A work space, a play area for kids or adults (what other space works better than it for a pool table or dartboard?), an extra spot to put a TV and a couch, a suite to rent out. A basement can also have a lot of problems going on with it. If you are in an older house in particular, you might have some mildew or structural problems that you don’t even know about. So if you are looking for a Victoria BC basement renovations contractor, you need someone who has the experience needed to make your basement look liveable as well as to take it up to current structural standards. Someday you will want to sell your house and getting all the work done now to give it the highest value possible will save you time later. At the same time, you want a contractor that is pleasant to be around and will be honest with what they can do, how long it will take, and how much it will cost.

With all of that in mind, we recommend Toolbox Renovations for your basement renovations. They have been in business since 2005 and the man who started it, Steve Burgess, has been a certified journeyman carpenter for 20 years. He has solid experience in getting the renovations done, the knowledge on relevant municipality laws that you need to know, strong alliances with plumbers and electricians, and a commitment to communicating with you about the process.

His process with basement renovations is to speak with you and the electricians and plumbers that he works with all together before the actual work gets started. This makes it so everyone is on the same page. When your renovations are being completed, you need a plan in place to keep the temperature controlled down there as well as to have other practical elements taken care of. Instead of rushing to get a job done, the team takes into account everything that will be affected by the renovations, before they start the work. This is why we think Toolbox Renovations is worth your consideration for your basement renovations.

Toolbox Renovations

1118 McBriar Ave

Victoria, BC

V8X 3M6

Phone: 778-677-1036

Email: info@toolboxrenos.com

 

July 19, 2015 Home, Victoria Read more >

Best Brake Repair Shop Victoria BC

There is nothing more scary then having a pair of brake pads that are wearing thin. Brakes are obviously the most important safety part of any vehicle. Without brakes we wouldn’t be able to stop and of course this would never happen. Your brakes are to the point where you are searching for the best brake repair shop in Victoria BC.

Every knows about places like Midas, Speedy, Budget and other big brands. But we like to promote local businesses on this website. We strongly believe in supporting the local business community here in this great city.

Victoria Transmission & Auto Care

For years Victoria Transmission & Auto Care was known strictly for their transmission repair. But in 2010 the ownership changed and the new owners Peter Block and Adam Sullivan wanted to branch out and offer general car repair and maintenance services. Their mechanics were well trained and had been with the company for many years.

The have won many awards during these years including the 2013 Better Business Bureau’s Ethical Decision Making in the Trade Services & Support category. They do so because they are open and honest with customers. They never do work on a car unless they have the owners permission and never will they pull a fast one by saying a car needs work that is not needed. They even have auto education classes to empower and educate people about their vehicles.

This is the main reason why we feel they are the best brake repair shop in Victoria BC. They offer drop off service for residents located in the Saanich, Esquimalt and Victoria municipalities as long as things aren’t too busy. This alone is a nice feature as any brake repair service will require them to keep your car for a few hours.

Victoria Transmission & Auto Care
1885 Government Street
Victoria, B.C.
V8T 4W6
250-382-2833

July 15, 2015 Auto, Victoria Read more >

Best Accountants In Victoria BC

Are you searching to find out who the best accountants in Victoria BC are? They are so many firms to choose from. We have hand selected one company who was provided great service to Victoria residents and business for years.

As much as you may love your business or your job however it is now, chances are you want to see it continually get better for yourself and for the people who benefit from it. And often in order to improve business services, you need to have your finances organized and used as well as they possibly can be used. Talented people can only do so much without the finances to back them up in Victoria BC, an expensive city to live in considering its small size.

Let’s face it: if you are looking for an accountant, as you might have been when you clicked onto this page, you probably are not a financial wizard. And maybe you have no desire whatsoever to become one. You just don’t have the passion for it, and that’s okay because you have passions for other things. Hopefully you’re getting paid to do one of those passions already. What you need now is someone that you can trust who is passionate and talented when it comes to finances. With that in mind, here’s who we think you should consider when you are looking for accountants in Victoria BC.

James & McIntyre Chartered Professional Accountants have the experience you need to assist you with a wide range of accounting services. They can assist with corporate and individual taxes, which includes trust & estate tax, sales tax, the preparation of T-slips, and estate planning. They can also manage the preparation of financial statements, payroll and bookkeeping, and assurance engagements. And they do it all while keeping at the front of their minds that your finances are important for your success.

On top of those services, these Victoria accountants can also give you advice–the kind of advice that can play a big role in your future success. Maybe you are thinking of purchasing a business but have little experience with the financial aspects of doing so. Or you might want to sell your current business or form a partnership or joint venture. You have a lot to take into account, some of which you might not have thought of, andJames & McIntyre Chartered Professional Accountants have practical knowledge that they can share with you from their years providing accounting services and just from having the passion for and skills with financial matters.

You should not make light of your decision to get an accountant in Victoria BC. You have a lot of options out there and it’s important that you choose an organization that has passion for the services they provide. We think that consideringJames & McIntyre Chartered Professional Accountants as you move forward with your decision making would be a wise move.

 

James & McIntyre Chartered Professional Accountants

210 – 1677 Poplar Avenue

Victoria, BC V8P 4K5

Phone: 250-220-7908

 

 

July 14, 2015 Business, Victoria Read more >

Best Patios In Victoria BC for 2015

Summer has been in full effect almost since the beginning of May here in Victoria. We’ve had a unbelievable stretch of weather that looks like it will continue into September.

The weather has surely got you searching to find out what the best patios in Victoria BC for 2015 are. You see last year we published a post on the best patios. But they are a couple of patios that we didn’t mention that opened late last summer. We felt the need to mention them because you may or may not know about them. You could be a local who doesn’t get downtown much or a visitor looking for a great place to enjoy the sun, views, food and drink.

Lure Restaurant

Lure actually opened in the early summer of 2014 but we never got a chance to check it out. That was until early this June. Sure glad we did.

It arguably has the best view of the inner harbour as you face The Empress, Parliament Buildings and the beautiful massive yachts that dock at the harbour. A couple of problems we found were that drinks were quite expensive and that it can get windy. So bring warm clothes no matter what and don’t plan to stay for too many cocktails.

They’ve got normal table seating but also couches that surround a nice natural gas fire pit. It really is something similar to what you’d see in a big city.

$5 pints ALL DAY!! Work in the industry? 10% off food starting at 5pm! #yyj #patio #VictoriaBC

A photo posted by LURE Restaurant & Lounge (@lurevictoria) on

If the #patio is calling your name, we’d love to see you!

A photo posted by LURE Restaurant & Lounge (@lurevictoria) on

Lure Victoria
100 Harbour Rd
Victoria BC
V9A-0G1
250-360-5873
 

 

Steamship Grill

Another patio that opened early last summer that we never had chance to check out was the Steamship Grill. It faces out towards the Songhees area and Lure’s patio infact. What this means is that it get’s the sunsets.

We had a meal and a couple of drinks while there. The food was ok but nothing special and the drink prices were decent. It can get cold on this patio but one nice touch is they provide blankets which you can see in the photo below.
 

Summer nights and sunsets on the patio. #summer #victoriabc #patiotime #views #harbourfront #explorebc #innerharbour

A photo posted by Steamship Grill (@steamshipgrill) on

 

 
Steamship Grill
470 Belleville Street
Victoria, BC V8V 1W9
778-433-6736
 

July 10, 2015 Food, Victoria Read more >

Best Asbestos Removal Victoria BC

Summer is here in beautiful Victoria BC and if you’re like many Victorians, you might be looking forward to all of the warm weather perfect for beach days and walks along the Inner Harbour. But of course, you probably still have important tasks to get done at home and work, and some of these tasks won’t fit with your carefree summer attitude.  If you’ve read the title of this post, you know what’s coming next: asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a dangerous material that you most likely don’t want to be around. You don’t want it to be in your home or business and you don’t want to have to deal with getting it out if it is there. Not to be a downer, but asbestos can cause mesothelioma cancer and Canada has one of the highest rates of it in the world. This is why you might be searching for the best asbestos removal company in Victoria BC.

This is serious business, and you need a professional to do the job. A professional will have the right training, protection, and tools.

When picking someone for the job, you want to be able to trust that the workers can get all of the asbestos removed from the property. You’ve got a few companies to choose from in Victoria and it’s important that you take into consideration the company’s experience and professional reputation when making a decision. Here is who we believe is the best company to choose from.

Here’s one option you can consider: Pro Pacific Hazmat. They have been in business since 1960 and have done work for CFB Esquimalt, the Department of National Defense, the Victoria Police Department, and others, so you can trust them for asbestos removal in your business.

Pro Pacific Hazmat also provides free estimates for the removal of vermiculite asbestos, which is found in older homes in their attics. You could have difficulty getting your home insured if you have this type of asbestos around. It will not immediately pose a health risk to you, but you don’t want to have to pay extra for insurance—or risk having an insurance company refuse you. It could also lower the value of your home, according to Hazpro.

Pro Pacific Hazmat makes the process of removal in the home cheaper and quicker than it traditionally has been. A job that used to involve bagging the asbestos by hand and taking it through the home can now be completed withPro Pacific Hazmat. The machine goes through a roof vent and sucks the material out. Then it can be bagged outside. Less expensive, less time-consuming, and less invasive of your home.

Pro Pacific Hazmat is an option worth checking out when you need asbestos removal in Victoria BC.

Pro Pacific Hazmat

786 Fairview Rd

Victoria, BC

V9A 5V1

250-585-3997

June 29, 2015 Home, Victoria Read more >

Best House Painters Victoria BC

Spring is in full affect here in Victoria BC. In a lot of ways it feels like summer with temps hitting the mid 20’s. The nice weather is making for people to look after their homes. Lots of gardening is done in the spring and summer. Many people are doing home renovations since they can work longer hours due to the longer days.

Many of those renovations are focused on painting and many people are looking for house painters in Victoria BC. That was why I thought it would be good to write a post about the best residential painters in the city.

It’s so hard to find out which painting company is the best in the city since they are so many. From small companies to big companies, you certainly have plenty of choices. But sometimes the paradox of choice can affect your decision making process. With too many choices we often get clouded and make the wrong decision.

Well we want to add another choice and option for you. The company is Islanders’ Choice Painting and they have been doing business in the Greater Victoria area for 5 years. They have a great reputation and the business owner Evan Seale is at the front of center. He personally comes to your home to give you a free quote and to run you through how his company works. This is a great way to build trust so you can feel comfortable about the job his team will do.

Islanders’ Choice Painting

24-1240 Newport Ave

Victoria BC, V8S 5E7

250-208-1787

Islanders’s Choice Painting Google Reviews

When it comes to choosing the right painter, you have lots of information at your disposable. You can read company websites, get testimonials from friends and read reviews online. In the end you have to meet with your contractor so you can get a sense if your trust them or not. Just because lots of other people had a good experience with a contractor, doesn’t mean you will.

I hope this post allows you to consider Islanders’ Choice Painting for your house painting project this summer in Victoria BC.

 

June 6, 2015 Home, Victoria Read more >

Best Auto Glass Repair In Victoria BC

auto-glass-reapir-colwood-bc

Finding the best auto glass repair shop in Victoria BC can be difficult. After all, who knows what company is the best? There is no way they could have possible gone to each shop and formed an opinion on who is the best. Regardless you want to still find out who people think is the top company to help with automotive glass repair or replacements.

Having a vehicle that needs a window repair or replacement can really mess with you life. In the case of when you need a new window or windshield all together, you have to give up your car for a day. This could have been caused to someone breaking into your vehicle or an act of god like a tree falling and smashing the window.

Another scenario is when a rock bounces up and chips your windshield. This is the ultimate annoyance. You wait a few days to see if the chip grows and turns into a spider web. If it does, you need to get it repaired or fixed as soon as possible. If you don’t, you run the risk of having to replace the windshield altogether.

In both cases you might be able to have the repair or replacement covered by your insurance company if you have comprehensive insurance. In this case, you want to look for an ICBC Express Glass Shop to help you with your claim. First Response Glass is such a shop and can take care of your claim from start to finish. This is wonderful service that allows you to enjoy your life rather then having to sort out things you don’t want to.

This is why we suggest First Response Glass as the best auto glass repair shop in Victoria BC. They have two locations to serve you in Saanich and Langford. See those locations below and give them a call if you need assistance with any auto related glass problems.

auto-glass-repair-victoria-bc

First Response Glass Ltd (Main Branch)

#2 – 4217 Glanford Ave
Victoria, BC V8Z 4B9
250-383-9300

First Response Glass Ltd (Westshore Branch)

894 Van Isle Way
Victoria, BC V9B 5R8
250-478-0872

April 29, 2015 Auto, Victoria Read more >