Victoria Gastro Pub, Columbia

This sunday I met a couple of friends at Victoria Gastro Pub for brunch. I've been excited to come here for a while since it's been getting such great reviews! The space was much larger than I expected it to be, and yet quite cozy. It was a great place to choose for a group meal since there's so much space and voices don't seem to carry. We got there around 11am and it wasn't full at all, but by Noon there was a steady stream of people.

I was lucky enough to catch Howard County Restaurant Week, so I chose some items off the $12.50 Lunch Restaurant Week menu (WOW what a deal!). For starters I chose the Sierra Nevada Porter Onion Soup and for my main course I tried the Rosti (shredded potato cakes) topped with egg, smoked salmon, creme fraiche and dill.

The Sierra Nevada Porter Onion Soup (as pictured above) was fabulous (usually $6). It was cheesy, chock full of onions and not at all beery-y. This was a great starter and I was very pleased. The broth was savory and pleasant, and my appetite was quite satiated with one small bowl.

For my second course, the Rosti (pictured above and usually $9) was perfect. At first I thought it was quite a small portion, and then I realized that it was the perfect amount to serve. The Rosti wasn't as crispy as I usually like potato pancakes, but still quite flavorful. The eggs were cooked well, and the salmon tasted great with each bite. I REALLY liked this.

I couldn't have been happier with my experience here. We stayed chatting for a long time, and we never once felt rushed by our waitress, who was very pleasant and attentive.

After surveying the menu, I am 100% sure I would come back again, and it wouldn't need to be for a Restaurant Week menu! There are so many things here I want to try, especially for dinner. What a great addition to Columbia!

p.s. the grits were fabulous- very creamy, cheesy, and full of corn! Delicious!

p.p.s Thank you Royela for your fabulous picture-taking!

p.p.p.s Howard County Restaurant Week is going from January 18th-31st and menus can range from $10-40, so double check the website for each restaurant.