Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio
680 Montreal Street V8V 1Z8 Victoria, BC, Canada

New Spring Menu items are now available from Inn at Home! Try our new Pop Rock & Mini Egg Milk Chocolate bar, Tea for Two, Lemon Sticky Buns, Pretzel Croissant Sausage Roll (OMG ) or one of our other incredible treats! See all of the choices and order here... http://ow.ly/cGKn50DRvZ2 See more

Dine Around & Stay in Town is back! Cheers to 20% off bottles of wine, and from 7:30-9pm treat yourself to 2 for 1 desserts (pass the forks!) https://www.aurarestaurant.ca/news-events/dine-around-2021/

Dine Around & Stay in Town is back! Join us for 20% off bottles of wine, and from 7:30-9pm treat yourself to 2 for 1 desserts. http://ow.ly/pGvX50DFdCK #DineAroundYYJ #eatataura #yyjfood

We've got sweet treats for your Sweetheart (or just for you ) Availble on our Pastry take away table this weekend Saturday & Sunday from 7am 3pm... Monday 7am 11am #spoilyourself #eatlocal #eatYYJ

We are heading into the final days of #DinearoundYYJ (last day is Saturday, February 6) Our $40 menu is pretty incredible (and so are the wines ). For menu and reservations: https://www.aurarestaurant.ca/menus/40-dine-around/

Primitivo vs. Zinfandel you be the judge. Primitivo is the blockbuster wine of the South of Italy and Zinfandel is a grape made famous in the big reds of California. A relationship between the two was often suspected but with the improvements in DNA testing it has been proven that they are the same grape. We will serve three great examples; Botter SPA Salento Rosso, Puglia. This wine is actually a blend of Negroamaro and Primitivo. These two are often blended together as... Negroamaro can add structure to the big fruit often found in Primitivo based wines. Some of the grapes in this wine go through appassimento where the grapes are dried into raisins. This adds richness and weight. The wine is produced in the Salento region of Puglia, an area known for quality winemaking where the cool ocean breezes moderate the very hot temperatures. Next A Mano WINE Primitivo, Puglia. This warm, spicy red is also surprisingly elegant given that it is 100% Primitivo. This is perhaps due to the modern winemaking methods introduced by an Italian/American couple who fell in love with each other and Puglia. Mark was a winemaker from California well versed in Zinfandel and curious about Primitivo. The rest is history. And Rodney Strong Vineyards Knotty Vines Zinfandel from Sonoma, California. These grapes are sourced from the Alexander and Russian River Valley. The resulting wine combines fresh bright fruit and good acidity with a peppery finish. Baking spices is a good way to describe the nuances of flavor. A wonderful, big, punchy wine, not too tannic and great for sipping. Enjoy this flight with the Beef & Scallops or see what other delicious pairings the team will suggest Tasting Victoria

Sangiovese is our feature grape this Tasting Tuesday Made famous in the Tuscany region of Italy, the grape may actually have originated in Emilia Romagna, a region on the east coast of Italy and it is now being grown around the world, even here in B.C. We'll start the flight with the Casa Boschino, 2016, from Società Agricola San Fabiano Calcinaia in Tuscany. This fruit forward wine with a dusty finish is mainly Sangiovese with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. ...Next, we'll move to the Sangiovese Riserva, 2014, from Umberto Cesari in Emilia Romagna. Medium bodied and elegant, with approachable tannins, this wine would be a fantastic pairing with the Lamb Shoulder. Finally, the outstanding single vineyard, Small Lots Sangiovese, 2016, from Sandhill Wines in the Okanagan. Aged twenty months in new oak, this wine is fuller bodied and a great example of what this grape can do outside of Italy. All paired perfectly with tonight's bite - Squash & shiitake arancini, kale ohitashi Univins et Spiritueux

Let’s celebrate B.C. wine history this #TastingTuesday with this flight of wines from the Mavety family at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars . They were one of the first wineries to show what B.C. wine could really be. They also produce their wines only from estate grown fruit in their Okanagan Falls vineyard. We will start with a glass of the Brut NV. This sparkling wine has a fine mousse and a long toasty finish. Their elegant Sauvignon Blanc, 2019, will be next up. T...his wine is much more subtle than many and will be a fantastic pairing with the Pea and Ricotta Tortellini. We will finish with the Gamay, 2017, which does well in the cooler climate of the Okanagan Falls. This wine has good fruit and a lovely spicy finish. For your full history lesson read more on our blog and of course join us Tuesday for a tasting. https://www.aurarestaurant.ca/new/tasting-tuesdays-october/ See more

Did you hear? You could win a $100 gift card to your "restaurant of choice" when you enter Times Colonist giveaway contest? We hope you choose us

This #tastingtuesday let’s mellow post Thanksgiving with a trio of wines from the Malbec grape. The first is the Moon Curser Vineyards Malbec from the Tolley family who make outstanding wines from atypical grapes near Oliver B.C. Next we'll pour a Malbec from Catena Zapata High Mountain Vineyards in Argentina. Their vines are planted on mountainous slopes at very high elevations in order to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and drainage. This results in a refined and elegant wine. To complete the flight we'll pour the Domaine de Cause from Cahors in France where the grape originates. The wines there are big, dense and inky black - an interesting contrast to the other two. #eatataura #yyjfood

Join us October 11 & 12 for two Thanksgiving features. We'll feature a turkey small plate with our regular menu, and all your favourites. And be sure to leave room for dessert for a "guest appearance" of a pecan slice with rosemary ice cream. *reservations are always a good idea #yyjfood #eatataura #thanksgiving

Ever skip ahead to the ending cause curiosity got the better of you? Us too Tonight we’re hosting and participating in the #sommsmackdown competition and we’ve skipped ahead to the entree participants will be preparing Shio Koji beef sirloin, rendang beef belly pithivier, buttered chanterelles, fresh yeast jus... Information: http://ow.ly/aKWl50BL9tk Info. https://winebc.com/.../chef-meets-bc-grape-somm-smackdown/ Zoom Link: http://ow.ly/9kmq50BLskj Passcode:112657 #BCWine #YYJ #ExploreBC #BCHarvest #BCWine #ChefMeetsBCGrape #YYJfood #eatataura

It's Tuesday and we're tasting BC Chardonnays Back by popular demand, it's Gold Hill Winery Chardonnay from Oliver it made a cameo on our flight of International Chardonnay’s but its interesting to see how well this wine holds up next to others from B.C. This wine is the lightest of the three and has a softness that make it lovely for sipping. It comes from around Oliver but does not pack the big wallop that other wines from the south Okanagan do. Next, we're off to Okana...gan Falls Blue Mountain Vineyards. This wine is well balanced with an intensity and layering that make it a delight to pair with food. Produced in a relatively cooler climate, Blue Mountain was one of the first wineries to show the quality that B.C. is capable of. Lastly a Chardonnay from Hester Creek Estate Winery and Golden Mile Bench.. The most full bodied of the three, it has a pleasant buttery feel and spicy finish. Just enough acidity to keep it interesting, it has spent time in new oak barrels and this accounts for its toasty aroma. #eatataura #tastingtuesday Empson Wines Canada #yyjfood

We're taking a trip to the Old Country this #tastingtuesday. You'll sip on a trio of Spanish wines all made from the Monastrell grape. First up is Castillo de Jumilla Rose from Bodegas Bleda - this richer style rose is beautiful to sip just by itself but is also a great wine to pair with spicy food. The second is a medium bodied spicy Al-Muvedre from Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez. He's a natural winemaker whose mission is to revive traditional Spanish grapes such as Monastrell. The final wine takes it up a notch of intensity - the bodegasvolver Tarima Hill Old Vines, 2015. This is an intense and layered wine, much more full bodied than the other two but still a great food wine as the tannins are present but well rounded. #eatataura #yyjfood @cliff.laurendeau Christopher Stewart Wine and Spirits

Tomorrow's #TastingTuesday features Semillon! Originally used as a blending grape in France, the New World has made this grape its own. We're opening three exciting examples: one from Australia, Washington State and B.C. Taste the Brokenwood Wines Semillon from the Hunter Valley in Australia next to the L'Ecole No 41 Winery Semillon from the Walla Walla Valley in Washington State. Finishing the flight will be the Lock & Worth Winery Semillon from Kelowna B.C. You may end ...up with a little sediment in your glass and that's ok because the winemakers do not filter their wines. They are all about natural winemaking. Semillon is definitely a white wine that can benefit from aging. All these wines have aged somewhat but you'll be blown away by what a difference 8 years makes to the intensity of the Brokenwood! Come taste a flight and a bite for just $25.00 #eatataura #yyjfood

Congrats to @ haylsjgrant - lucky winner of Inn at Laurel Point's gift card giveaway to come visit us! We look forward to welcoming you

We're tasting "Les Autres" this #tastingtuesday You'll start with Pinot Blanc from Lake Breeze Vineyards. A spicy nose leads to a medium weight wine. Great with food and sipping by itself. This winery is located in the Naramata but the grapes come from the Similkameen an up and coming winemaking area in B.C. Next is a Pinot Blanc, from Anthony Buchanan Wines & the Black Sage Bench. Anthony Buchanan is a garagiste who also works as a winemaker for Desert Hills. He literall...y makes this wine out of his garage and it is made in very limited quantities. This wine is lean and very clean with a funky nose and a gravelly edge. Perfect pairing with our bite. And in your last glass, Chenin Blanc, from Road 13 Vineyards . This wine is more full bodied with a lovely soft mouth feel. It is from the Golden Mile Bench which is the first sub GI created in B.C. #eatataura #yyjfood Road 13 Vineyards

We thought it would be fun to pair three red blends from around the world and see how they compare First in your glass is Cactus Red, 2017 from Desert Hills Estate Winery in Oliver B.C. passes as Aura’s house wine and we’re not ashamed to say we serve this wine from kegs. This innovative technique allows us to offer great quality wines that stay fresh. The grapes in this blend are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah and come from the Black Sage Bench. A fan...tastic sipper, it is great with meat dishes and/or spicy food. Next in your glass is Concha y Toro, 2018, Palo Alto, Maule Valley, Chile. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Shiraz. It is a very popular blend in Chile where Carmenere is very popular. This aromatic and spicy red wine has a lovely fullness thanks to the Syrah. And in your last glass Chateau des Landes, 2016, Lussac des St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France. The name of this wine is the same as the winery, and the Chateau is next door to the more well-known St. Emilion. The wine is mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Cabernet Franc. It is rich and soft with more elegance than the other two. It’s pretty incredible to get a Bordeaux wine at this price point. #tastingtuesday #eatataura #yyjfood Storied Wines & Spirits

Starting tonight we're launching a long weekend feature menu. We even managed to get a sneak peek at the foie gras & flank steak on the menu, and if they don't have you adding Aura to your patio hopping plans, maybe the addition of a refreshing Italian wine flight will. #eatataura #yyjfood

Who doesn't love being a "prize"?! Enter to win a $50 G I F T C A R D - Good Luck

It’s Aromatic BC this #TastingTuesday featuring 3 aromatic grapes from B.C. Thornhaven Estates Winery’s classic Gewurtztraminer with a rose petal bouquet and a lightness in the palate. Marichel Vineyard + Winery Estate Viognier has more weight and isn’t quite so aromatic. Tantalus Vineyards Riesling is steely & elegant with a smoky nose and a long finish

We're just so thrilled that we can make people's night with great food and "incredible" desserts - their words not ours, but we won't argue Thank you for your reviews & your continued support #yyjfood #eatataura

Today’s tasting Tuesday bite is chilled lavender honey duck breast with smoked fig - and we’re sipping Cabernet Franc. Lock & Worth Winery from BC’s Naramata, are natural winemakers sourcing grapes from single vineyards. Their wine is fairly light with a herbaceous finish. The Domaine Jean-Maurice Raffault from the Loire is a style of Cabernet Franc that is also fairly light with a beautiful raspberry nose and savory green tea notes in the finish. The Raffault family have ...been making wine in the Loire since 1693. Back in BC the @Tinhorn Creek Vineyards Cabernet Franc comes from the much hotter region in the South Okanagan and the wine is rich and full bodied. It is nicely layered with a pleasing spiciness. #chinonrouge #okanaganwine #naramatawine #explorebc storiedwinesandspirits

Around the World in Chardonnays This Tasting Tuesday, travel to Oliver B.C., Burgundy France, then Monterey California all while people watching from our patio. Your first glass is from Gold Hill Winery in Oliver B.C. Owned by the Gill family, their story begins 8000 years ago when agriculture first blossomed in the Indus Valley of NorthEast India. Fast forward to recent years, when the family began winemaking in the Okanagan - solid gold.... Domaine du Chalet Pouilly Saint-Veran Chardonnay from Burgundy France is the next tasty glass. A completely unoaked Chardonnay that has been fermented in stainless steel. It has stony, citrus notes and a medium weight. Délicieux! On to Monterey California, the La Crema Wines Chardonnay is big & oaky. It spent 7 months in new French oak barrels. The result in a buttery wine with a spicy finish - mmm buttery Empson Wines Canada #eatataura #tastingtuesday

Sunset views from Aura : @rebjiojio

It’s Sparkling Sunday alright and glasses of Giró Ribot cava are featured. This family owned company has been making sparkling wine in Spain for generations. They recently bought the winery back from Remy Cointreau in order to put the production solidly back in their control.

Tomorrow until September 8th, pop in for some mac & cheese in support of Our Place Society. Our dish is competing against some of Victoria's best restaurants, to be crowned the city's best mac & cheese. Proceeds from our deep fried mac & cheese, with Thai chili mornay sauce & cheese curds (yup, we levelled up), will help support the city's most vulnerable. We hope you'll stop by, vote and enjoy our take on mac & cheese.

Today's Tasting Tuesday flight highlights Sauvignon Blanc. Sample a glass from Sandhill Wines in the Okanagan- the grapes are sourced from vineyards in Oliver and Okanagan Falls. A whiff of gooseberry is balanced by a crisp edge - refreshing! Next what the Da Silva Vineyards & Winery Fume Blanc lacks in aroma it makes up for with intense minerality and a long smoky finish - 6 weeks in American Oak will do that to you . We are excited to have Rich Da Silva with us to talk ...about the wine too! His family immigrated from Portugal and have been farming and now making wine in the Okanagan for generations. Lastly, the Vins et Vignobles Dourthe La Grade Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux France. This Old World Sauvignon Blanc has a bracing acidity and a very subtle nose. #tastingtuesdays #eatataura #yyjfood

Question: What do Macabeo, Xarello and Parellada have in common? Answer: They're the grapes found in Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. Although these grapes are very different from the ones used in Champagne, the method used to make this sparkler is the same. See you for Sparkling Sunday and a $9 glass (or two) of Giro Ribot Cava - it's a long weekend after all.

This week’s Tasting Tuesday spotlight is on Light Reds from around the world no passport required. Starting with the Island’s own Blue Grouse Pinot Noir. As a special treat winemaker Bailey Williamson will be here for part of Happy Hour to chat with guests! This world class Pinot with a lovely cherry nose & bright acidity will be a fantastic pairing with our tasting bite a red Thai ceviche, with local mussels, scallops, prawns & avocado puree. Next in the lineup is Castelforte Corvina from Italy - a fantastic food wine. Thirsty yet? We sure are! Finally the Monastrell from Telmo Rodriguez Winery in Spain - spearheading a revival of traditional varietals. Fun fact: Monastrell is known as Mouvedre in France tasting & learning, what a night! #tastingtuesdays #eatataura #yyjfood

Light Reds from around the world is this Tasting Tuesday’s Theme. Starting in the Cowichan Valley with Blue Grouse Estate Winery’s Pinot Noir, winemaker Bailey Williamson will be here for part of Happy Hour (starting at 3:30pm) to chat if you’d like bonus! Bailey has a passion for making world class Pinot Noir and this wine is a great example of that. A very fruit forward Pinot with a lovely cherry nose and bright acidity, we can’t wait to try it with our tasting bite- r...ed Thai ceviche, with local mussels, scallops, prawns, & avocado puree - yum! Next in the lineup is Castelforte Corvina from Italy - a fantastic food wine with a bit more weight and good acidity. Finally we’re tasting the Monastrell from the Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez Winery in Spain. ¡Salud! Telmo Rodriguez himself is part of the new wave of passionate Spanish winemakers who are spearheading a revival of traditional varietals. Did you know that Monastrell is known as Mouvedre in France and makes a medium bodied but distinctively spicy wine? Us too! We can’t wait to share this lineup with you, not to mention the opportunity to meet & chat with winemaker Bailey Williamson. Christopher Stewart Wine & Spirits Asia #yyjfood

Today on #SparklingSunday we’re featuring Cava. @GiroRibot Cava is grown in certified organic vineyards in the Penedes region of Spain. This wine is made in the same way as Champagne but, of course, we can’t use that word . We can say it is made in the Traditional Method which results in a fresh floral wine with a toasty finish. Lovely with oysters or any kind of seafood it‘s a great wine to sip on a Sunday! Champagne style without Champagne prices. Great value at $9 a glass. #yyjfood #eatataura

Is pinot gris BC’s grape? Come find out for yourself Today we’re tasting 3 different pinot gris from BC, 3 different styles and 3 different colours (incase you’re just getting into wine tasting and don’t know a pinot gris from a pinotage) - we’ve got you! Sampling glasses from Nichol Vineyards, Haywire Wines & Roche Wines #naramata #TastingTuesday #BCWine

Summer fun - Win a stay at Inn at Laurel Point

Highlights of how we exercise our creative muscles nightly - Bottom left: Nouc Chum Octopus & scallops, Top Left: BC crab & uni dumpling @msethi21 Right: Gindara sablefish, smoked mushroom dumpling @harneyryan Eatataura #yyjeatslocal #yyjfood

Book your picnic today by 8pm and pick it up tomorrow 6-9pm

It’s Tasting Tuesday and we’re pouring Rosé. Today’s tasting line up includes: * the Cowichan Valley’s Unsworth Vineyards sparkling rosé - congrats to the Cowichan Valley for being recently named a new winemaking sub-geographical indication * Rathjen Cellars Rosé - another Island favorite See how they compare to ... * Retrofollies Rosé from Provence Included in this $20 tasting is a gyoza stuffed chicken wing - your tastebuds will thank you for stopping by! Join us 3:30-9pm today for Tasting Tuesday

Tasting Tuesdays - exciting food and drink pairings every Tuesday starting July 14th.

Happy Hour is back starting today at 3:30 - see you on the patio #yyjfood #eatataura #happyhouryyj

Happy Canada Day You know, some of our best drinking buddies are Canadian We’d love to introduce you over dinner 5-9

We’re coming back with your favorites and some newcomers you have to try. Opening Friday June 26th for dinner, join us on the patio or in the restaurant. Highlights from our summer menu include KFCB Korean fried broccoli & cauliflower and a fresh apple tart with almond frangipane & granny smith mousse - delish. From June 27th, we’ll be open daily for Breakfast 7-11am and Dinner from 5-9pm.... #EatatAura #yyj #yyjeats @ Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio

Celebrate Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary! In past years, our team took part in the annual Earth Day Power Hour clean up, picking up garbage around James Bay. This year we’re committed as always to minimizing our environmental impact and as proud members of the Vancouver Island Green Business Collective we wanted to share info about #MyFEDFarm an initiative started by our partners at Synergy Enterprises. #MyFEDFarm will support families and laid off workers by providing home-based start up food gardens so great! For more information about this program visit https://www.get-fed.ca/myfedfarm

Sometimes you need a little treat, and having someone else make dinner while supporting our local businesses is a great idea. Here’s our recipe for a hat trick of support Order from local restaurants like Ferris' Grill and Garden Patio not only can you order dinner, but you can pair your meal with a drink(s) We recommend the Island’s own Blue Grouse Wine Cellars They’re donating $1 from every bottle sold to the Nourish Cowichan Society. Oh & you can also stock your kitchen with meal kits & supply boxes from Ferris’! So let's dine together safely apart until we can welcome you back. #yyjfood #supportlocal #yyjeats

Aura Waterfront Restaurant + Patio is temporarily closed. Due to our ongoing commitment to our guests we want to ensure you that as always, the health and safety of our guests, colleagues and community is our top priority. We've closed temporarily and will resume service when Health Authorities advise it is safe to do so. We'll be sure to share this information through our newsletter and social channels. ... We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thinking about turning that Monday meeting into a lunch meeting?

From our Brunch Menu CHICKEN KARAAGE & PANCAKES: cheddar & mascarpone filled, anise maple syrup, sweet chilli nam jim : @blackpearlfee

Time to come back to Aura to check out the stunning fully finished new entrance?

"Wow, ending the night with dinner at @aurayyj was the best ending to a trifecta of good eats today. I can get down with a place where the dishes are equally beautiful to look at and eat. Some really great flavour combos here. " - @phancouver