Tastes of Victoria: Four Mile Brewpub perfect for casual eats

Columns April 5, 2023

It’s not a secret to those who know me that my favourite food in the whole world is chicken wings. A couple of chicken wings are enough to snap me out of a bad mood. However, even though I love chicken wings so much, I have to admit that I’ve been disappointed with them at some restaurants.

This week, I felt curious about where I could find the best chicken wings that Greater Victoria has to offer. After a quick search, I found a picturesque and homey place called Four Mile Brewpub, located at 199 Island Highway. 

Tastes of Victoria is a food column appearing in every issue of Nexus (photo by Pablo M. Romero/Nexus).

Once there, I got a warm welcome from the main waitress, who was kind and friendly, holding a warm smile. I was stunned by the classic decorations around the walls, the black-and-white pictures, the chandeliers, and the wooden details that made me feel like I had just travelled back in time. When I arrived, I had yet to learn about this place and its rich history. After a quick look at the menu, I found why I was there: a pound of wings seasoned with either hot sauce, blue moon, honey Szechuan or dry garlic sauce.

I opted for a pound of honey Szechuan wings served with celery and carrot sticks with blue cheese dip. They looked marvellous, hot and crispy, bathed in a golden-brown sauce. I didn’t want to be biased by what I already had read about these wings, but once I started, I couldn’t stop eating them. The meat was soft, almost fall-off-the-bone, crunchy, mildly spicy, sweet and sour, flaunting one of those perfect combinations that just makes you want more.

I hadn’t tried honey Szechuan wings before. After this experience, they’ve definitely become one of my favourite options, almost above the always-classic BBQ wings. The celery and the carrots dipped in the blue cheese made good companions.

Four Mile Brewpub is in the fourth-oldest house in Victoria’s history, which means I definitely had to try the homemade pie served there. With Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” playing in the background, I enjoyed a delightful homemade black cherry and peach pie with whipped cream that was sweet, warm, and consoling like a mother’s love. It brought up memories of simpler and merrier times.

Four Mile Brewpub is perfect for a family dinner or a casual hangout with friends. From this experience, I learned more about this fantastic city and found a new favourite place that made me feel welcome, just like home.