SodaPop

I don't really think this is much of a secret ← Probably not much of a secret amongst foodies. My husband and I moved back to Victoria this fall, after five years on the Lower Mainland. Even though I lived on the Island for roughly 20 years before that, the Crow and Gate's existence was a mystery to me. A friend in Burnaby told me about it last month, and we stopped in on our way home from Mt. Washington. We love food, but we're in no way hard core in our knowledge of the local restaurant scene.

- A pint of chocolate porter and a beef dip at the Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar (near Nanaimo) - A late at Starbucks - A burger and fries at the Med Grill in Royal Oak, Victoria

Two places my family has been to recently and loved are Adriana's on Amelia Street (mexican) and The Black Olive on Pandora. Great service at both places. And, I really hate to let this cat out of the bag...but the Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar is a great place for a cold pint and a beef dip. You'll have to find your own way there, though. The Crow and Gate could be one of the Island's best kept secrets and we like it that way!