If you live in Victoria, Dine Around and Stay in Town 2021 is an excellent excuse to support some of the city’s best restaurants. 
After a successful run this year from January 14 through February 7, Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria is back by popular demand from February 19 to March 8, 2021!
Dine Around’s return will include many of the same restaurants, as well as new feature menus for customers. With over 50 of Victoria’s restaurants offering $20, $30, $40, or $50 set three-course menus, Dine Around and Stay in Town is a great opportunity to return to your favourites or hit up that spot you’ve been meaning to try. Many of the menus also offer drink pairings with BC VQA Wineries and some of the provinces’ finest craft beer (score)!
If you’re a serious foodie, you’ll want to take an advance peek at the menus and plan to try as many of Victoria’s top spots as possible.
Changes for 2021
Unlike previous years, there will not be a Gala event, but the dates have been extended to run for 24 days from January 14 through February 7.
Of course, with the pandemic, Destination Greater Victoria and the BC Restaurant are Foodservices Association are also working closely with restaurants to ensure the proper protocols are in place and foodservice aligns with the province’s safety guidelines. Part of this will mean limited capacity at many of the restaurants, so be sure to get your reservations in!
A number of restaurants and pubs have also designed menus that will survive the rigours of delivery, which lets diners who are not comfortable dining out to enjoy the special offerings in the comfort of their own homes.
Now, more than ever, local BC businesses need your support. Let’s each do our part by staying local, and dining, shopping, and visiting attractions nearby this winter. If you don’t live in Greater Victoria, however, please follow the province’s COVID-19 recommendations — stay close to home and support local restaurants and craft breweries in your own community.
Contest: Dine, Scan, & Win
This year there will be a great contest through Destination Greater Victoria called Dine, Scan, & Win. Participating restaurants have been given a QR code for their Dine Around menus and customers can scan it when dining during the event for entry to win a grand prize of $500 in Dine Around gift cards.
BC Breweries Offering Set Menus
As mentioned, many of the participating restaurants will have beverage pairing options that include BC Craft Beer (many from the Victoria Ale Trail), but a couple of Victoria’s craft breweries themselves will also be pulling out all the culinary stops. As a proud sponsor of Dine Around and Stay in Town, the BC Ale Trail is excited to highlight breweries that are participating.
Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub
BC’s oldest brewery, Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub will be offering $20, $30, and $50 menu featuring a variety of farm-to-table dishes.
Paul Hadfield, a member of the Dine Around organizing committee and owner of Spinnakers says there was a lot of preparation in ensuring Dine Around fully adheres to protocols and prioritises the safety of staff and customers. That being said, he’s very excited to use this year’s Dine Around as an opportunity to introduce a number of new beers as pairings.
“Dine Around is important in calling upon people to get out and support the hospitality sector,” Hadfield said. “It provides a sense of security that diners will get the best that local chefs have to offer as they collectively up their game and provide unique opportunities for BC VQA wines and BC Craft beers to be showcased alongside each other.”
Spinnakers has turned both their $30 and $50 menu items into “Spinnakers at Home Meal Kits” so diners can take away if they prefer–without sacrificing temperature or quality, which can often happen with takeout.
Check out Spinnakers’ Dine Around menus here.
Canoe Brewpub
Canoe Brewpub, a gorgeous spot with soaring timber frames and a waterfront location, will also be offering $20, $30, and $40 menus that all sound delicious. Check them out here.
Be sure to sample their lovely house-brewed beer if you stop by either of these!
Dine and Stay
Even if you’re a local, or perhaps if you opt for the drink pairings, consider making a night of it at one of the participating hotels offering a special rate for a little staycation. Whether you’re looking for something budget-friendly, or luxurious, you’ll find an array of options available.
Will you be Dining Around? If so, use the hashtag #DineARoundYYJ and tag us @BCAleTrail to show us what you get up to!
Happy dining!
