Good pizza and pasta at the Italian in Victoria

We were looking for a restaurant in Victoria on Vancouver Island. Pizza and pasta are available at Zambri's on Yates Street. However, you have to know this beforehand, because from the outside the restaurant on the ground floor of a high-rise office building with its window front looks rather inconspicuous. The guests sit in front of wooden tables on which the food is served. There is nothing to suggest that Peter, the restaurant's chef, has already won awards for his dishes.

Pizza and pasta in restaurant in Victoria, Vancouver Island

Born into a family in Italy, Peter and his sister Jo grew up in an environment where food was important. Cooking and groceries played a role in their family. It was no wonder then that Peter began his career as a chef in restaurants in Toronto and Vancouver. As he likes to travel, he also got to know the cuisine of Southeast Asia and India and spent four years in his family's home country, Italy. There he learned how much the land, the food and the people are interdependent. He brought this knowledge back to Vancouver Island. The soils of the island provide all the ingredients for food like in Italy.

Together with his sister Jo and her husband Calen, he opened Zambri's, a restaurant that resembled a trattoria. This was between a pharmacy and a supermarket and offered lunch. It didn't take long for word of mouth to spread the reputation of his food further. And soon Zambri's pizza and pasta were showered with prizes. Vancouver Magazine named it Gold Best Italian Restaurant. Peter received the Victoria Chef of the Year award. The restaurant is featured in EAT Magazine and The Urban Peasant. James Barber called it the “nicest little Italian restaurant in BC. Maybe even in Canada.”

Zambri's - an Italian in Victoria on Vancouver Island well worth a visit

Not much has changed in that respect to this day. Zambri's has moved to a high-rise office building where the restaurant occupies the ground floor. But with its furnishings, it is still reminiscent of a trattoria. The fact that the restaurant guests now shake the door in hand contributes to the ambience. It's loud, but happy. The guests obviously know what to expect. We are also pleasantly surprised by our lunch, for which we order pizza and pasta.

My husband's prosiutto pizza looks very appetizing and he obviously likes it. I choose penne with peas and gorgonzola that melt on my tongue. If you're hungry, antipasti such as Insalata Mista, Minestra with crostino or tuna with canneloni, beans, egg, lettuce, capers, anchovies and olives are also on offer. In addition to pizza and pasta, the guest has the choice between a secondo such as grilled sausages with broccoli and potatoes or meatballs with tomato sauce, peas, cheese and polenta, and various sandwiches. And desserts such as tiramisu, ice cream, Coppa Italia and other delicacies bring back memories of Italy.

Pairing wines complete the meal at this restaurant in Victoria on Vancouver Island

In 2011, Zambri's won two of a total of four prizes for the best wine list at the Taste Wine List Awards. Very good for a restaurant in Victoria on Vancouver Island. These prizes are awarded by restaurant guests, including the best representatives of the food industry. Zambri's won the award for most customer-friendly wine list, citing how easy it is for guests to understand. Clear and straightforward descriptions of the wines make it easier to choose the right wine. Particular praise went to the staff, who were able to answer wine questions professionally and thus help the guest choose a wine.

Zambri's won second prize for its wine list, which offers a selection of quality products that match the menu in terms of price, quantity and style. The judges particularly emphasized that Zambri's wine program also includes wines by the glass, as well as seasonal offers and wine dinners.

Zambri's
Telephone: 250 360 1171
Email: info@zambris.ca
820 Yates St, Victoria BC

Then note the restaurant on Pinterest

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Source: On-site research. In any case, our opinion remains our own.

Text: © Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos © Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline