SALT SPRING ISLAND ACCOMMODATION |
THE BEACH HOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST |
The Food Scene
The standard line is, “The millionaires come to town in their gum boots just like everyone else.” As elsewhere, restaurants come and go on Salt Spring but year round, from Vesuvius to Fulford Harbour, you can find flavourful meals. There are a few pubs including the Fulford Inn which still serves good food in a great setting at the south end of the island and the most recent addition is The Local at the water side end of Gasoline Alley in Ganges. The Vesuvius Inn has closed it doors but Porters at The Harbour House has a full makeover and has its following. Shipstones in the lower level The Oyster Catcher is a cozy place to enjoy a brew with a great seaside patio for those sunny days! Rock Salt Café has been a great addition to the south end. It is about a half hour walk or less than 5 minutes by car from the Beach House and has lovely harbour views as well as outside seating. It is full service restaurant, café and bakery. The food is made from scratch with as many local ingredients as possible. It is open 7 days a week from 6 AM - 9 PM serving breakfast lunch and dinner. We eat there quite often and I don't hesitate to recommend it. Reservations at (250-653-4833). Ganges has a wide range of restaurants so I will just mention a few as a sampling. The Tree House Café is mostly outdoor seating so pick a nice evening and enjoy their live music nightly form Victoria Day to Labour Day. Auntie Pesto is now well established with their own loyal following. They have a great lunch menu and is worth the stop if you are a pasta lover. They have extended their dinner menu as well and is blessed with a pleasant waterside setting. The historical building that has housed Rita's, The Ship's Anchor, and The Tides Inn has been completely refurbished to now be home to The Salt Spring Inn. Located right in the center of town on the main street it has a varied menu and is family friendly. It is very popular with islanders and has a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Calvin's (one of our favourites) is just across the street with a harbour side patio and ample seating. It has an excellent menu and the quality of food and service is consistently good. I have guests who have been coming for seven years and they go to Calvin's at least twice during their stay. House Piccolo is right up there with the best of the best but you do pay for it. I have guests who reserve there when they reserve here which is not a bad idea if that's your choice. It is a chef owned restaurant and is located in a very charming house but seating is limited. On weekends and in peak season I definitely recommend reservations. (250-537-1844) We do not have any fast food chains on the islands but we do have a couple of good pizza outlets.
For those of you who wish to prepare your delectable meals you can have lots of fun shopping at the Honour Stands, or farm gate meat, picking up fresh produce at the market, or dropping by one of the major grocery stores. Thrifty’s is right in the center of Ganges and Ganges Village Market (GVM) is just north of town in the Upper Ganges Center (on the left hand side of the road when heading north). The health food store, Salt Spring Nature Works is on the main street, just across from the Tourist Info Center. It has a large selection of organic foods as well as a wide range of supplements. For fresh seafood try Admiral’s Specialty Foods & Sushi Bar or The Fishery. Some may be lucky enough to grill your catch of the day if you chose to go out on a Fishing Charter.
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or phone 1-888-653-6334.
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It is in the food emporiums that many islanders first meet and quickly learn that dining attire, for the most part is casual. It may take a while for some, but new residents, weekenders, and repeat visitors learn to mix and mingle on an island with very little class consciousness.
