The long wait is over!
Sooke has its first full-size commercial hotel, and it’s a beauty! Nestled on the shores of the Sooke Harbour, The Prestige is quite a sight – and offers visitors and guests spectacular views and service, tasty dining options, and a full-service spa.
I had the pleasure of joining Mr. and Mrs. (and baby) DiscoverSooke for dinner at The Mix by Ric’s – one of the dining options at the hotel – for dinner last night. The spectacular view over the harbour is visible from almost every seat in the restaurant and bar. Sooke has needed something like The Mix for a long time – an upscale casual spot right on the water.
Overall, we were impressed. The service was spectacular, the dining room was gorgeous and perfectly appointed, with large, comfy chairs and that view! Despite a few hiccups attributed to the first few days of opening, dinner was great. The menu has something for everyone, and focuses on seafood, fresh salads, steaks, and pastas. We were told that soon the Sal’s Prime (a steakhouse) menu will also be available, so you’ll have two choices when dining. The prices were by no means cheap, but reasonable considering the quality of the food and the location – much less than you’d pay in a downtown waterfront hotel – that’s for certain.
I had had a late lunch so I opted for a couple of tapas – Kobe beef meatballs and calamari. The meatballs were exquisite – lots of garlic and just a hint of spice, with a tangy basil marinara sauce, fresh bruschetta, and parmesan cheese. The calamari was a little overdone, but I still enjoyed it. My wife had an absolutely gorgeous spinach salad – complete with candied pecans, smoked gouda, and tart apples – to which she added grilled sockeye salmon. Mr. and Mrs. DiscoverSooke enjoyed the tuna offerings, including an amazing tuna poke and a tuna rocket salad.
Baby DiscoverSooke enjoyed munching her cheerios, pureed prunes, and broccoli brought from home – 🙂
While the bar was not set up – I had a look at their offerings. I was told there will be over 120 different bottles of wine available, just about any spirits you can think of, and the beer selection is varied also. I perused the draft offerings and saw they had mostly, if not all, local or import selections – Sapporo, Guinness, and local favourites Phillips (Blue Buck, Hop Circle IPA) and Vancouver Island Brewery (Piper’s, Islander, and I think Hermann’s). Prices are reasonable, around $6.50 for an 18oz pint, and they have great nightly drink specials. A few I made a note of were Monday (pints for $5) and Wednesday (2 oz martinis, $6). The bar is in the centre of the room and has plenty of seats, and a couple TVs for sports nuts.
I also snuck a peek at their breakfast/brunch menu. Great choices and very reasonable prices, with most items in the $9-14 range – I’ll definitely be checking out breakfast there in the near future. If you’re a local, be sure to ask about Prestige’s VIP program!
With their first conference arriving today, the staff and crew at the Prestige has been working pretty much around the clock to finish preparations – and I think they pulled it off beautifully. Congratulations to the team that made it all come together, and best of luck for a great future here in Sooke!