The Pork dry ribs were fantastic and the scenary, overlooking Port San Juan was spectacular. If you are looking for solid pub style food on a seaside harbour, this is the place in Port Renfrew.

My buddy, Ron Larson, called me up today and wanted to know if I’d like to head out for a bite to eat and catch up. We tossed around restaurant ideas and then remembered that this new place had opened up, so of course that was what we chose.

I arrived just as they were opening up (11:30am) and they were putting on a fresh pot of coffee for us, a nice dark roast.

I glanced over at the menu board and scanned the list of items that they offered. The items are standard fare that you would expect at a Mexican eatery plus a few things I hadn’t thought of, like pizza by the slice and pulled pork sandwich, which they said was a top choice offering. They also suggested the soft tacos was a hit.

I opted for 2 soft tacos and rice, you can choose corn or flour tortilla’s, which was under $10 and Ron grabbed the Steak Burrito, also under $10.

Our order came out quite quickly, which would be great for the people who are on a working lunch break and really fresh.

I was impressed with the taste and quality and think this is a wonderful place. The flavours and menu are different from the existing choices in the Sooke Region and I hope they do well.  The amount of food was perfect. Ron was in agreement and his food looked really great.

I will be going back and most likely very soon. The overall experience was positive and I hope our locals and tourists support this business.

You can check out their website at http://www.thelazygecko.ca

For more information on the Sooke Region, please visit the official Discover Sooke website.

Service was quick and friendly and everyone’s food came out fast and VERY delicious.

This rave isn’t just about the service though, but more about the quality of food. I’m a hamburger lover and I love to explore new places and see what their hamburgers are like. Most times they don’t pass the Discover Sooke approval system.

It’s funny, I’ve been to the Stone Pipe Grill many times and I’ve never ordered a burger there because I’ve always tried new stuff off their menus, but not tonight. Tonight I felt like a burger, not just any burger, but a Stoney burger. It was fantastic. The bun was probably the best bun I’ve EVER had with a hamburger. I’ve gotta talk to Patrick about that one..

The flavour, patty, sauce, all awesome. Well done.

But.. the story doesn’t end here. Mrs. DiscoverSooke had the Ginger Beef. I was thinking I’ve tried ginger beef many times at Chinese Food places. You know what they are.. those hard nuggets of dried beef in a warm sauce, right?

Not here. WOW.. double WOW.. they were the best ginger beef I’ve ever had and Mrs. DiscoverSooke agreed. It’s like a Ginger Beef I didn’t even know could exist. Now I don’t know if I can ever eat the “standard” stuff.

If you like Ginger Beef you’ve got to try it at the Stone Pipe Grill.

Well done gang at the Stone Pipe Grill, awesome food and service. Thank you.

For more information on the Sooke Region visit the official Discover Sooke page.

David told me the story behind this creative drink made with store made Chai Tea and a shot of their wonderful Espresso.

So this rave goes out to David and the crew of the Stick in the Mud. Always wonderful, funny and amazing service. Fresh roasted (in store) coffee beans and wicked espresso. The vibe and feelings one gets sitting in this small but cozy establishment is like something you see on television but never happens in real life, at least not unless you are at the Stick.

Do yourself a favour, especially in this cold snap we are having and get yourself a nice warm bevvie from the Stick and say hi to David for me. Tell him Discover Sooke sent you.

http://stickinthemud.ca/

Our dogs are getting a little older and we thought that it would be easier on everyone if we just found something local so we decided to bring her in to see Dr. Hanna Opetz and staff.

It was a nervous time for us and a very sensitive time as well. But they took great care of us all. The service and respect we received was a warm welcome and we were quickly put at ease. Dr. Opetz gently took control and explained everything to us in a manner that made sense to us.

While our little dog isn’t out of the water yet, we all have hopeful expectations and the course of action and next steps are laid out in front of us.

We feel we made the right decision in choosing this new vet and we’d just like to thank them for treating us so well.

Thank you, from the DiscoverSooke clan.

The menu changes daily, with a few favourites that reoccur regularly. We feasted on a homemade pita and humus appetizer, a local mixed greens with rhubarb vinaigrette salad course, the flash fried sushi-grade albacore tuna and the apple tart with homemade chai tea ice cream. And the freshly brewed ice tea was very refreshing as we endured the August heat wave.

The service was excellent and the chef was extremely talented, putting out one excellent dish after another. In one word out experience was: sumptuous. We will definitely be returning.

This hidden gem, located at the end of Beecher Bay Road just before the entrance to Aylard Farms, is a must see for locals and visitors alike. Call for hours and daily menu selections: (250) 642-0332.

Don’t forget to check out the official Discover Sooke Online website to learn more about Sooke businesses and our community www.discoversooke.com.

It was exactly 12 o’clock when we arrived and there was an extremely large table of people, maybe 20+ in all just starting to enjoy their food. There were only a few tables left but we managed to scoop one right away.

We were quickly greeted by a lovely young waitstaff who was all smiles and polite. She showed us our table and within minutes came back for our drink order. Our lunch came in a timely fashion, even better since it was so busy, and we all enjoyed what was presented in front of us.

The menu at the Stone Pipe Grill is wonderful. While they have some classics to present, they also boast some kick-ass curry dishes, fantastic salads and soups as well as seafood and pasta lunches as well.

I kept it light and had the club sandwich, and let me tell you, I’m a club snob, and it was very good indeed. I enjoyed the salad with it, which was very nice and fresh.

It’s not the first time we’ve been to the Stone Pipe Grill and it certainly won’t be the last. If you are looking for a wonderful lunch option in the Sooke Region, don’t forget about the Stone Pipe Grill.

Please visit their website and check out their online menu as well as other information about the business.

For more information on the Sooke Region, please visit the official Discover Sooke website.

All the tables were filled and the place was buzzing with activity. The service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming.

We both decided on the fresh Halibut and Chips and are so glad we chose that. I’ve had many fish and chips before and we are successful with our own at home, however these pieces of fish were perfectly cooked and the batter was very light and fluffy with good colour to it. Mrs. DiscoverSooke made a comment, and I didn’t even realize it until I was half way through my meal, but there was hardly any oil left behind on the serving plate. They were the farthest thing from being greasy or oily.

The fries were top-notch as well. Nice and crispy as well.

Huge kudos to the team working the kitchen last night. Will be back again soon. I highly suggest going to the Coastal Kitchen Cafe next time you are driving around Port Renfrew.

We both ordered something different from the menu to try. Tim had the Pear and Squash soup, I do believe that was what it was, as well as the pulled pork Panini, both which were fabulous.

I tried the grilled veggie Panini with the vegetable pasta salad, which was amazing. You can taste the fresh ingredients in all of these dishes and the addition of real goat’s milk feta was a nice touch.

When we walked in the door this afternoon we were greeted by owner Kate Naugler and she has a wonderful way of making you feel like she’s known you for years. The vibe in this place is contagious.

Kate gave us both a complimentary shot of Hemp Milk, which was something I’ve never tried before. It was quite good, MUCH better than I expected. And on our way out she made sure we were handed some fresh, brownies which were stellar to say the least.

With this addition to our already great dining places in Sooke, the Farmer’s Daughter will stand amongst the best of them as they offer different fare and options. The food is great, the staff is wonderful and the local produce, smoothies, coffee and edible flowers, just to name a few of the things you can purchase here are what makes this place special.

I look forward to my next sit down at the Farmer’s Daughter Food Market in Sooke. This time I might just bring Mrs. DiscoverSooke with me.

Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.

We all limited out on Halibut and brought in 9 really nice Coho to boot. The help, assistance and pointers shared to us by John was amazing. A truly world class fishing charter.

Along the way we got to stop and watch many, many Humpback Whales, as well Sea Lions and birds.

What a great day to spend with your friends.

Thank you, John for a once in a lifetime trip. We all can’t wait to do it again.