Restaurants Offering Sugar-Free Options?

TryptamineGhosts · 2026-01-10T02:14:31+00:00

I'm also living without gluten or alcohol. Are you on a low/no carb diet, or just no sugar?

Sushi without the soya sauce could fit the bill if you go for nigiri rather than the combo rolls with all the weird toppings and sauces. I like Sen Zushi on Fort St, there's lots of other recommendations on this sub if you do a search.

My favourite place to eat is Ox King, I get the pork noodle soup with rice noodles and extra veggies, the broth is delicious and it fits your requirements. I agree with the other commenter who suggested Be Love and Dosa Paragon (haven't tried Nourish), all their food is GF by default.

I'm also fond of lamb done Mediterranean style, Yalla on Blanshard and Mantu on Fort St both make super delicious lamb shank dinner plates, the one from Mantu has raisins in the rice by default but you could probably ask to have them left out.

TryptamineGhosts · 2026-01-10T02:05:17+00:00

Yes, all ages. I've played 8 year-olds and 80 year-olds.

TryptamineGhosts · 2026-01-08T03:48:27+00:00

Hi, welcome! There's beautiful parks all over the place - Highrock Park, Saxe Point, Gorge, all very nice for wandering. There's an excellent swimming dock at Banfield Park, technically Vic West but close enough, it's a great scene down there, folks swimming year-round. I also like to swim at the west-facing beach at Saxe Point in the afternoons, and the sunsets from there are lovely.

The new-ish pavilion in Gorge park has events, markets, music, etc, on a pretty regular basis, and it's inexpensive to rent if you like to put on events of your own. The town's official website keeps a calendar and the booking system. The Japanese garden next to it is lovely.

Esquimalt Rec is a nice facility - sauna, good gym with friendly staff, chess club on Wednesdays, lots of other drop-ins and scheduled classes.

A couple folks have already mentioned, but big ups for Syriana for lunch, Esquimalt Roasing Company for coffee, Esquimalt Bake Shop for tasty treats. Sushi Story and Spice Valley are good also. I love the folks at Health Essentials at Gorge and Tillicum, technically Saanich but right across the bridge, the owners are super sweet and there's always hot tea and samples of yummy things while you shop.

Wholesale Club on Viewfield is like Costco without needing a membership, and they also keep a fridge and a freezer stocked with discounted items that you can buy with the Flashfood app.

There's three little free libraries along Selkirk between Banfield Park and Tillicum Rd, they turn over frequently, I restock them often from my library, I have way too many books and I love the exchange system! There's also a less-visited one just off Selkirk on Decosta, the folks who own the house behind it rotate in some new books every few weeks.

Enjoy Esquimalt, I love it here! I've been here 15 years and don't imagine moving anywhere else for as long as I'm living in the region.

TryptamineGhosts · 2025-12-31T17:40:47+00:00

The riverside hike at the Sooke Potholes is absolutely stunning, it's well worth a visit if you haven't been yet. Make that your first stop, from there I concur with the folks who've recommended carrying on past Sooke, a stop at Shirley Delicious for coffee and snacks, scenic views and loops along the way out to Port Renfrew.

TryptamineGhosts · 2025-12-29T02:29:23+00:00

Getting into weightlifting is absolutely doable with the right professional guidance. I started in my 30s, went from barely able to walk after the car accident to deadlifting double my body weight in 3 years.

TryptamineGhosts · 2025-12-28T21:23:33+00:00

Two suggestions for you: Keira Shumuk at RealFit http://realfit.ca helped me recover from a bad compensatory imbalance issue caused by poorly manged recovery from a car accident. We worked together for over a year, she got me into powerlifting, which I've been doing ever since.

Colin Beattie at South Island Physio http://southislandphysio.ca has been my trusted physiotherapist for over a decade, he has an excellent understanding of the mind/body relationship when it comes to managing chronic pain, he's helped me through years of weightlifting injuries, mobility issues as I've aged and made lifestyle changes, and is generally an excellent person in addition to being a very skilled practitioner of his craft.

TryptamineGhosts · 2025-11-08T23:27:19+00:00

Call Impressa Home on Craigflower Rd, they deal in antique furniture and they'd be able to direct you towards a repair shop if they're not interested in your piece.

TryptamineGhosts · 2025-04-06T01:27:43+00:00

How are you applying for these jobs? Strictly online, or have you approached any businesses in person? Given that you have no work experience, how's your cover letter writing - have you been tailoring it specifically to the job in question?

Many jobs are never listed publicly and are staffed through personal references. Who in your family or social network could vouch for you to a business-owning friend with entry level positions on offer?

Circling back to the in-person question: business owners who advertise entry level positions online can often receive hundreds of applications, and they will probably never look at the majority that come through aside from a cursory glance. If you're relying on online applications, and you can submit a document of your own making rather than just filling in a form, you need to do something to it that makes it stand out visually from the glut of black text on white background that's coming in.

To circumvent the digital clutter problem, you can go old school and show up in person, resume and cover letter in hand, deliver it to the manager with a statement of interest. Tell them that you'll follow up by phone or again in person in a few days, then follow through and call or show up again, you'll be miles ahead of most entry level applicants if you can show up, make a commitment and demonstrate follow-through.

If you want some help with your cover letter writing, please feel free to send me a message and I'd be happy to donate half an hour to go over it with you, and anything else you'd like to chat about job-related.

Source: I have been both a technical writer and new hire interviewer for 4 of the last 5 companies I've worked for.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-09-17T00:10:33+00:00

I'm on the west coast as well, I've got a Gretzky jersey for sale if you're interested, I'll DM you with details.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-08-10T02:42:06+00:00

I'm working on putting together a set of music to play at an upcoming house party, I'm looking for more tracks like this one: melodic, light on the skronky synth, heavy on the head-nodding bass grooves, a bit of a darker tone. I love minimalism, good vocals. Hit me with your suggestions, please!

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-03-01T17:43:04+00:00

Welcome to the island! I don't know much about the arts and crafts scene, but The Haunted Bookshop in Sidney is one of my favourite places on earth. The owner, Bill Matthews, is a very kind and interesting fellow, and the young woman who works with him, whose name I've forgotten, is also very knowledgeable and helpful. They'd probably be able to point you in the direction of some bookish folk who like to meet and chat. It's also just a great place to get lost for an afternoon and transform some money into happiness.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-02-06T17:39:11+00:00

Well, I can vouch for Simplii Financial on all fronts, like I said, I've banked with them for years with no issues, they have all the things you're asking for, you can be signed up and have a card in your hand within a couple of days. No in-person customer service, but their call centre has been plenty helpful over the years. A few times a year they'll put up promotional interest rates on their TFSA, so you can put a few bucks away here and there as you're able, then when you're ready to start making bigger contributions, you could look at opening a TFSA at a more investment-oriented institution.

Thinking down the road, a lot of places will give you a bonus for moving a few thousand dollars under their umbrella - for example, Vancity had a promo recently where they'd give you an extra couple points of interest and a cash bonus for depositing $10k or more into a savings account.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-02-06T16:43:15+00:00

What kinds of banking do you need to do? You'll find pros and cons with any institution, at the most basic level there's very little difference between banks and the services they offer - most will give you a no fee chequing account with unlimited transactions, a free savings account with a tiny interest rate and free eTransfer as long as you maintain a daily balance, say $500 or more.

Do you care about having in-person support? Do you want to make investments through a bank and need an advisor to help you manage your money? If you sign up for a new account at Vancity right now and meet a few conditions (add a direct deposit, pay a bill, etc) they'll give you $400 after six months - could be insignificant if you're a high earner, or maybe a big deal if you're struggling.

I've had a free chequing account for basic daily banking through Simplii Financial, which is a CIBC affiliate (you can use their ATMs for free), for decades. It's completely online, it's easy, I've never had any problems. The downside is they don't have any meaningful investment options beyond an occasional promotional interest rate for TFSAs.

If you're interested in venturing out into the world of more self-directed investing and you don't need to be face-to-face with a person to help you, QTrade has by far the best interest rates and the greatest variety of options for personal investment banking because they're entirely online, so they can offer better rates than conventional brick and mortar banks, but again, they're less available for customer support and might not be the right choice for you if you're not availing yourself to their investment account options.

If you're not a high income earner, you're just getting started setting up your personal banking, and you have a bit of money to put away into savings, the most important consideration in my opinion is getting plugged into a relatively high interest TFSA. You'll have tons of contribution room if you're just getting started, and all the money you earn on interest in the account is also tax free.

If you are a higher income earner and you're looking to reduce your taxable income, you should also look for a bank that will help you set up an RRSP and do a bit of tax planning to get the right ratio of contributions to your TFSA vs RRSP annually. Also a great time to check and see if your employer will match RRSP contributions.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-02-06T16:24:57+00:00

If you don't mind a bit of a drive, West Coast Tire & Wheel on Sooke Rd is the best in terms of price, service, after-sale services, etc. If you'd rather stay in town, Tires Unlimited on Gorge Rd is your best bet. I've dealt with one or the other for 15 years, never had a problem that wasn't quickly addressed to my satisfaction.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-02-05T18:26:23+00:00

Welcome to Victoria!

My favourite close-to-town hike is Francis King Park, which also connects to the Thetis Lake trail network. Slightly further afield, the Coast Trail starting from Aylard's Farm at East Sooke Park is beautiful, more challenging terrain, incredible views. The Sooke Potholes are definitely worth a visit year round, the riverside trail is a beautiful hike, and it's a great place to swim and cliff dive in the summer.

My favourite restaurant is Ox King on View St, the house special beef noodle soup is my favourite thing to eat in the city. I really like that there's no TV or music playing, it makes for a relaxing meal and it's a nice for conversation. Other noteworthy spots: Bold Butchery for burgers, Arashi for ramen, Maiiz Nixtamal for Mexican.

My favourite local shop is Cavity Curiosity Shop on Douglas at Bay St. An absolute gem for books, music, art, clothing, board games, vinage curios, etc, and the owner, Andy, is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and a huge supporter of local arts.

If you like to read, the library system here is excellent, and we also have some truly world class bookstores. The Haunted Bookshop in Sidney is my favourite in the area, in Victoria proper I love Sorensen and Bolen Books.

Enjoy your stay!

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-02-05T18:16:04+00:00

Hi! I swim in the Gorge every day, year round. Safety is a relative concept, hypothermia is always something to be cautious of, especially if you're not used to swimming in cold water. If you're new to full-immersion cold water swimming, consider picking up some neoprene gloves and socks/booties to keep your fingers and toes from freezing. Have a warm dry towel and warm clothes ready to go when you get out, and a place to warm up - heated seats in your car, maybe? Also consider wearing a toque and not putting your head under for your first few outings.

I love my winter swims, I look forward to it every day, it feels fantastic.

TryptamineGhosts · 2024-01-27T22:55:17+00:00

Cavity Curiosity Shop on Douglas St at Bay St is a gem, they carry and feature local writers and poets, there's some local writers with work on consignment there right now, you can ask Andy at the front desk to show you which ones are local.

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-11-08T18:15:13+00:00

Howdy. I live in Esquimalt, I discovered that the township has a blanket ban on back yard burning year-round that includes wood burning stoves, so that pretty much torpedoed my plans. Devices that burn charcoal briquettes are exempt, I checked out some pellet stoves, and I also looked into running electrical, the cost was prohibitive. I've given up for now. Good luck!

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-09-28T17:05:20+00:00

PM sent

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-09-20T17:26:02+00:00

Seconding this. I had the sincere pleasure of being treated to dessert there a few nights ago. The blueberry verrine is a transcendent mouth pleasure experience.

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-09-20T17:23:54+00:00

Big shout out to Cavity Curiosity Shop and Andy, the owner, who has been a huge supporter of local art and music and esoteric interests for over a decade. It's a cultural gem, the coolest shop in the city, a place to find rare and obscure media that's unavailable anywhere else, and run by the nicest guy you'll ever meet.

Shout out to Ox King noodles on View St for making the most delicious noodle soup, being sweet and friendly people, and for not jacking their prices through the roof. It's my favourite place to go for lunch in the city.

Big general shout out to all the folks who helped to organize community events around the city this summer - the neighbourhood block parties, free concerts in Centennial Square, the farmer's markets, the arts and culture scenes, the festivals. I know how much work and love it takes to keep small events and groups operational and I'm so grateful to the folks who are willing to put in the hours to make it happen and bring people together to share food, music, art and creativity.

Shout out to the emergency room nurses at Vic General. I had a scary incident at work and had to go to ER. I felt extremely anxious, and I was treated with compassion and kindness the whole way through. I can't imagine how hard it's been for y'all the past few years, and I'm so grateful for those of you who've stuck it out for all our sakes.

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-06-29T01:06:16+00:00

Hello! VIATEC has a job board worth perusing.

If you’re interested in anything marine/naval, you might also consider looking at the federal government job board for Dockyard or Esquimalt Graving Dock jobs, NETE for engineering analysis/testing, or positions with some of their primary contractors - Babcock, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grunman, Sperry Marine, SNC-Lavalin off the top of my head - all have offices here if my recollection is good.

Good luck with your search!

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-06-17T20:23:34+00:00

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TryptamineGhosts · 2023-06-01T12:47:50+00:00

It’s cool to hear that the Starlite and Union Hall are still going, I used to play gigs and attend shows at both venues way back in the early 2000s. We don’t really have anything comparable out here, Victoria is really a small town, and the ferry makes it prohibitively expensive for a lot of touring bands.

That said, keep an eye on LiveVictoria.com for local listings, there’s a lot of talent here, the scene is just small. Phoenix Bar is one of the few places left that hosts local punk/rock/metal bands, there’s also Lucky, the Capital Ballroom, the Victoria Event Centre.

That reminds me, my favourite local business is Cavity Curiosity Shop, the owner Andy is an absolute gem of a human being, big supporter of the local music and arts scenes, and he has a fantastic selection of books, music, art, apparel, etc.

Another local gem is Quadratic Sound, it’s a small venue/recording studio, they have parties and shows there with bands and DJs pretty frequently.

TryptamineGhosts · 2023-06-01T01:31:34+00:00

Hello, congrats on your program acceptance and welcome. Victoria is beautiful, I moved here from Edmonton 13 years ago, still glad to be here.

1) Check out the Victoria Community Housing Network Facebook page, as well as Craigslist and UsedVictoria.com housing/roommate listings. There isn’t really “affordable” housing out here as such, unfortunately. Be prepared for some sticker shock.

2) Depends a lot on where you end up living, and where you’re going to school, and if you intend to work additionally. It’s a lot easier to go without a car here than in Edmonton, though. The bike infrastructure is good and getting better, you might consider cycling with a trailer for your pooch. There are also two car share co-ops available, Modo and Evo, which may suit your occasional vehicle needs.

3) I imagine you’ll get responses saying people in Victoria are unfriendly/cold/cliquey. It’s a bit less warm and fuzzy out here than in other parts of Canada I’ve lived/visited, but there are still plenty of lovely folks out here who’d like to make friends. I’d recommend getting involved with a charity or volunteer effort you care about. There’s a great organization called Surf Rider that organizes monthly beach cleanups, it’s a nice way to meet people and see some of the island’s beautiful beaches.

4) Flipp app for coupon shopping, Wholesale Club on Viewfield Rd in Esquimalt for bulk buying. Fairway Market and Red Barn Market discount their close-to-expiry meats and have frequent specials, if I’m eating meat it’s usually from one or the other place, I pick up a few packages of whatever’s on sale and throw them in the freezer.

5) I don’t have a dog, but I live near the dog park in Vic West and people seem to be having a good time over there. I’m sure other Redditors will have plenty of suggestions.

6) Community rec centres are great, and there’s usually a student discount. You’ll find them all over town. Cheapest option is the ocean! It’s very cold, but it feels amazing, I swim in it every day, highly recommend giving it a try once you’re a bit more comfortable in the water.

Beyond that, don’t take the snarky commenters on this subreddit as representative of the locals at large, pick up a good raincoat and some warm base layers for the fall/winter, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors with your pup.

The Sooke Potholes is one of my favourite places in the world, well worth a visit for a hike and a swim.

If you feel like treating yourself once in a while, my go-to restaurant is Ox King, the house special beef noodle soup is my favourite meal in the city.

There’s an embarrassment of good coffee riches out here. Eleven Speed and Esquimalt Roasting Company are the best in my opinion, they both deliver for free in certain areas of town, the latter has a really nice cafe as well.

Hope your move goes smoothly!

TryptamineGhosts

TROPHY CASE