Located in the original Butchart family residence inside the famous Butchart Gardens, this local treasure offers classic dishes using fresh ingredients. Favorites include beef short ribs, Gulf Island mussels, and scallops with pickled beets, celeriac remoulade, and beet greens. Eating here requires that you pay an admission fee, and the dining room is only open during the summer and around the holidays, but the garden is worth it in any season. Especially notable are the lighting displays during the brief Christmas period, and the foliage and flowers during spring and summer. The 120-seat dining room offers enchanting views of Tod Inlet and the Italian Garden. Executive chef Travis Hansen and his team serve meals of the highest caliber, the extensive wine list includes an award-winning selection of Vancouver Island vintages, and service is impeccable. The kitchen also serves afternoon tea year-round, as well as gourmet picnics in the Italian Garden on summer Saturdays before the spectacular fireworks displays.