When it comes to pizza, Canada is no different from its American neighbor: thick and doughy is the norm. But not to worry, if you’re craving some thin-crust pizza, there is still a plethora of pizzerias to choose from.
If you are in Victoria, Faro at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is one of the many options. This Italian restaurant opened in the summer of 2020. Its menu features Mediterranean appetizers and handcrafted Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Atmosphere
I went to Faro for lunch on a Sunday. It was a chilly day so I sat inside, but there is a nice patio that must be very enjoyable when the sun is out.
The dining room is on the small side with a total of less than 10 tables. The bright and modern décor gives a stylish vibe to the interior, but calling it a fancy setting would be a stretch. I would say Faro has more of an ‘upscale café’ feel.
The Food
The menu is nothing out of the ordinary yet the price-point is higher than the other Neapolitan-style pizzerias in town. It is not outrageously expensive, but for reference, you’ll be paying approximately $3 more for a simple Margherita pizza…
4 formaggi ($21)
I ordered the 4 formaggi. When the plate was placed in front of me, I thought the toppings looked a little scarce. After the first bite, I indeed thought it could have used more cheese…
Despite the lack of substance, the taste was good and well-balanced. The slices of pear were unusual, but I loved the association of the fruit with the gorgonzola and the walnuts. It somewhat made up for the lack of dairy goodness that I was hoping for.
I asked for some spicy oil, which is rather standard in Neapolitan pizzerias, but they didn’t have any. They gave me some spicy honey instead, which I thought was good and complimented the pizza well.
Capricciosa ($23)
The Capricciosa however was a little more garnished. Generally, I tend to prefer white sauce pizzas, yet I must admit that this was probably a better pick.
This tomato-based pizza was topped with prosciutto cotto, artichokes, portobello mushrooms, onions and some olives. This combination was good and it worked well, although a tad more of tomato sauce would have been welcome.
Just like the 4 formaggi, the crust was thin so, overall, the pizza was rather light and easy to eat. It was good, but not noteworthy.
Arugula Salad ($18)
The Arugula Salad looked surprisingly bare. Although the honey lemon vinaigrette was a good dressing, the pear, fennel and hazelnuts were nowhere to be seen at first sight. Even after digging in, it was hard to spot them. This was disappointing for a $18 salad, they could have been a little more generous. Frankly, this dish was overly simple and lacked substance.
Overall
The food was good and the setting was nice. Yet, I don’t think the higher price-point is justified. They were very light-handed with the pizza and salad toppings so, even though the food was good, I can’t give Faro a better rating.
The service was pleasant, but not extraordinary either. I would not say you should avoid this place at any cost, but there are definitely better and cheaper options for Neapolitan-style pizza in Victoria. I have yet to try them myself, but 900° Wood-fired Pizza and Pizzeria Prima Strada seem like potential contenders.
Faro
Opening hours: open every day from 7am to 9pm
Website: click here
Address: 1175 Beach Dr, Victoria, BC V8S 2N2
Telephone: 250-940-0302
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
