From The Fairmont Empress Best Nearby Italian (Restaurants) (10 Overall Closest) Metro: Victoria, BC Pagliacci's (Restaurants - Italian) 1011 Broad St, Victoria  BC  V8W 2A1 • 250-386-1662 Distance: ~344 m User Rating: 9.5 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. The bustle and energy at Pagliacci's is non-stop. This New York-style Italian restaurant is a favorite among locals. The cuisine is traditional southern Italian, including knock-your-socks-off ravioli and luscious veal parmigiana. You'll also find 20 a la carte pastas available, each made by hand. This is one of the best late night eateries in the city. Try fresh, warm focaccia while you listen to live music Sundays through Wednesdays. A limited menu is available from 3pm-6pm. Ali Baba Pizza (Restaurants - Italian) 775 Fort St, Victoria  BC  V8W 1G9 • 250-385-6666 Distance: ~428 m         Description: DOWNTOWN. Regularly voted best pizza on Vancouver Island, this two-for-one joint does indeed have impressive pies. Try the Barcelona (chorizo, feta, spinach, roasted garlic, onions), the Chipotle (roasted chicken, green peppers, red onions, spicy chipotle sauce, roasted red peppers, mushrooms), or the Pacific Salmon (smoked salmon, spinach, red onions, feta cheese, artichoke hearts, shrimp). Or create your own masterpiece, choosing from 30+ toppings, six sauces, and three different types of crust. If you're ordering by the slice, better start with just one – these babies are HUGE. And vegans and lactose intolerant folks take note – soy cheese is available, too. Paradiso Di Stelle (Restaurants - Italian) 10 Bastion Sq, Victoria  BC  V8W 1H9 • 250-920-7266 Distance: ~0.509 km User Rating: 9 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. If you're downtown and need a break from sightseeing, you'll want to head over to Paradiso di Stelle to see "Momma." She makes superb gelato, some of the best in the city. Even if you're not a big ice cream fan, you can sit out on the patio amidst the bustle of Bastion Square and sip a cup of freshly brewed Illy coffee or slurp up a steaming bowl of minestrone – you won't be disappointed! II Terrazzo Ristorante (Restaurants - Italian) 555 Johnson St, Victoria  BC  V8W 1M2 • 250-361-0028 Distance: ~0.656 km User Rating: 9.75 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. This bustling restaurant offers some of Victoria's best Northern Italian cuisine. Thanks to a covered terrace and five outdoor fireplaces, it's possible to enjoy your meal al fresco no matter what the weather. The excellent appetizers include such temptations as smoked tuna over fresh arugula with horseradish dressing. For an entrée, try linguine with prawns, mussels, clams, calamari and tomatoes in a white wine and saffron broth. All pastas are made fresh to order and, as you would expect, Il Terrazzo features a wonderful selection of Italian wines. Business-dressy attire. Reservations required. Zambri's (Restaurants - Italian) 110-911 Yates St, Victoria  BC  V8V • 250-360-1171 Distance: ~0.833 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. At lunch Zambri's is a super-casual buffet style restaurant with good pastas and salads, but at night, it's a whole different story. Dinner is an upscale sit-down affair where house-made sausages, marinated octopus and other Italian delicacies are featured on the menu. The owners work with local farms to obtain the freshest seasonal ingredients, many of them organic, and the chef is well-traveled and quite experienced, so you can definitely expect a gourmet Italian meal. But for the ultimate experience, try the multi-course tasting menu on Saturday nights. Cafe Brio (Restaurants - Italian) 944 Fort St, Victoria  BC  V8V 3K2 • 250-383-0009 • 866-270-5461 Distance: ~0.879 km User Rating: 9.75 / 10         Description: Warm terra cotta tones, candlelight and hardwood floors make for an intimate dining experience at this Tuscan-inspired Italian restaurant. The menu changes daily according to the fresh produce and seafood available. For an appetizer, try homemade pork, fennel and red wine sausage. A popular entrée is crusted Alaskan scallops with tomatoes, basil and crème fraîche. There are plenty of pasta and vegetarian options for the non-meat eaters in your party. Victorians brag about Café Brio's great wine list – it's reasonably priced and features many local vintages. Smart-casual to business-dressy attire. Reservations suggested. Romeo's Place (Restaurants - Italian) 603 Gorge Rd E, Victoria  BC  V8T • 250-384-2020 • 250-383-2121 Distance: ~1.996 km         Description: NORTH VICTORIA. Locally owned and operated since 1974, this casual family-friendly restaurant is a good choice for virtually any occasion. The local and regional press regularly deems Romeo's the best Vancouver Island pizza and granted, the pizza is awesome, with a choice of more than 25 toppings. But Romeo's has way more than just pizza – the eclectic menu also includes escargot, wings, oysters, spanakopita, egg rolls and fresh salads, and that's just the appetizers. Among the main dishes you'll find chicken cordon bleu, grilled top sirloin, veal parmesan, moussaka, fajitas and several cheesy baked pastas. San Remo (Restaurants - Italian) 2709 Quadra St, Victoria  BC  V8T • 250-384-5255 Distance: ~2.127 km         Description: FERNWOOD / HILLSIDE. Greek and Italian favorites comprise a rather extensive menu that also features pizza and a handful of sandwiches. Pastas are excellent and varied; steaks, seafood and chicken are generally grilled and topped with lovely sauces and sautéed veggies. A good choice whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just hanging out with friends. Rosemeade (Restaurants - Italian) 429 Lampson St English Inn & Resort, Victoria  BC  V9A 5Y9 • 250-412-7673 Distance: ~2.970 km         Description: ESQUIMALT. The English Inn & Resort successfully combines old world charm with contemporary style and convenience, an approach that extends to the Rosemeade dining room. The stylish space has hardwood floors and plenty of windows looking out onto the gardens, along with an impressive cantilevered steel fireplace. The chefs take the best local ingredients and apply an Italian twist, and the resulting cuisine is wonderfully successful. Start with porcini, white bean and bacon soup with bone marrow gratin, or veal loin carpaccio. Main courses might include sablefish picatta with parmesan polenta and sage stewed tomatoes, or black pepper dusted venison loin with horseradish gnocchi. This is one restaurant you don't want to miss! Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen (Restaurants - Italian) 2272 Oak Bay Ave at Monterey Ave, Victoria  BC  V8R 1G7 • 250-592-4080 Distance: ~3.280 km         Description: OAK BAY. What started as a family bakery in Torino, Italy nearly a century ago is now a family bakery, deli and café in Victoria. The bakery shelves are lined with handmade artisan breads and scrumptious pastries. The deli boasts a selection of over 200 cheeses, estate olive oils, and imported Italian and European delicacies. The café serves absolutely fantastic homemade food from soups and salads to pastas and gelato. During the summer, Ottavio shows old black and white movies out in their courtyard, and throughout the year they hold fun special events like tastings and cooking demonstrations. Plus their amiable staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. If you're a foodie, this is another don't-miss-it stop. Copyright ©2001 10Best Inc. All rights reserved.