AURA waterfront restaurant + patio

Come on over to our place we'd like you to meet  - Mick & Pam Luckhurst, Owners of Road 13 Vineyard.  Their bringing along five of their award winning wines and of course Executive Chef Ito will be there with his amazingly creative & unique canapes.

Where:  Rogers' Penthouse Suite ...to die for

When: May 20th, 2014 @ 6pm - 7:30pm

Tickets:  $45 plus tax and grat

Who doesn't love Easter.  The official holiday of chocolate...among other important things  :)

This year we will dazzle you and the fam with all the fabulous favorites of the season. Roast beef and ham cooked to perfection, hot crossed buns, chocolate passion fruit tarts, coconut lime slices - the list goes on and on and on.

The stylish sound pairings of Tom Watson will have you kicking back and ordering another round of mimosas and your little bunnies will be busy at Chef Ito's cookie decorating table. 

Sounds perfect - right?

Seating's form 10am - 2pm available in both our most premium waterside settings AURA and the stunning Terrace Ballroom. 

$46 for adults, children 6 - 11 $23, and bunnies under 5 free

reservations are strongly recommended- book online or give us a call  

Bucket List evening...

We are very proud to announce an amazing once in a life time dining opportunity with the Torres family!

Mireia Torres, sister of Miguel Torres, and head Winemaker at Jean Leon winery will make the Torres's family first ever visit to Victoria.  Why you ask??  To do a special 5 course wine maker's dinner at AURA of course ...we're kind of a big deal apparently  :)

Chef Takashi Ito is creating five inspirational dishes to pair with the incredible wines from Torres and Jean Leon wineries.

Friday, April 4th, 2014

5 course dinner with pairing - $99 per person

6pm - 10pm

250-414-6739

Dig these wines?  Us too.

Join us on Wednesday, March 26th for another exciting wine pairing reception!

We have taken 4 Wild Goose award winning wines and paired them with Chef Ito's creative and unique canapes.  Come meet Roland Kruger, General Manager / Owner Wild Goose Winery and hear him speak about his wines. 

Aaaaand if that wasn't enough to entice, we decided to have this reception in the penthouse suite...yup, you heard that right.  Stunning views of the harbour, award winning wine and awesome tastes.  The perfect Trifecta.

Tickets are $35 per person

6pm - 7:30pm

250-414-6739

[email protected] for more info

Think 'Where's Waldo' only this time it's, Where's Jeremy?

Starting on Tuesday March 4th and running until Friday March 7th, Jeremy will be in position from 11:30am  - 12:30pm in a secret location in downtown Victoria.  He will have a Lucky Lunch Box to present the first person who finds him.

All you need to do is take a selfie with your lucky lunch box and upload it to Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #AURAlunch

We will be spinning clues through Facebook and Twitter starting Friday, February 28th so be sure to keep your eye on us there. 

4 chances to win!  One lucky lunch box per day.

Good luck!  And may the odds be ever in your flavour ...whoops, I mean favour.

Here you are folks - Victoria's  best Dine Around value...no joke!

$30 Menu

First

Butter Poached Side Strip Shrimp, Saffron Gnocchi

or

Braised Duck Confit Crepe

Second

Korean Style Beef Striploin Roast

or

Prawn & Rockfish Pinwheel

Third

Maple Cream Mille Feuille

or

Miso Caramel Brownie

And if that isn't enough our team has been hard at work with wine pairings with the Cedar Creek collection and this year beer pairings with Phillips.  So exciting.  So do as you're told and make reservations now. 

P.S. 'cause we know you might just take us up on these phenomenal pairings, you might want to get a room - rates start at $99!

Hey Victoria,  it's that time of year again when all the best restaurants in town put together fabulously affordable menus for you to come and try.  We are really pleased to be a part of this again this year.  We are featuring a $30 menu.  But more than just tempt you with all the deliciousness that our Chef Ito has whipped into this years offer we thought we would arm you with 5 tips on how best to take advantage.

Don't wait till the last week to enjoy.  This year Dine Around is running from Feb 20th until March 9th.  Most people will come in the last week.  Our advice is come sooner than later.  You are more likely to get the best table will all the harbour views you can possibly soak in...that is, of course, if you dine with us  :) 

Take advantage of the Stay In Town part! Such a great opportunity to make good use of the cocktail and wine list and treat yourself to a night of luxury.  Say no more.

Make a reservation.  Sounds obvious but we still recommend it.  Let us know that you are coming so that we can be sure we will have a table waiting for you when you arrive.

Never pay for parking. Well at least when you are dining with us.  Bring in your parking voucher and your AURA server will deduct it from your bill. 

Dine Around with friends.  We wonder why you go to the bother of entertaining at home when you can take advantage of such great deals.  We love groups of people who come to soak in the amazing vibe, enjoy fab food & drink and servers who are there just for you.

Love Potion #9

Yes faithful followers it really does exist.  The potion that is said to have inspired many happy ‘relations’ and we have it here for you all month long starting on February 1st.  Be forewarned however that you don’t want to sip this with just anyone …#dangerous

Victoria Gin

St. Germain

Strawberry Puree

a squirt of fresh lemon juice

Top it up with Prosecco

With food that is!

Hot off the press here is Valentines 2014 menu

Appetizers

Oyster Tasting ~ ceviche with apple fennel, gratin Florentine, fresh on a half shell champagne gele & northern divine BC caviar

Seared Qualicum Beach Scallop ~ pork & shallot crumble, cauliflower veloute, vanilla pickled onion petals

Game Hen Breast & Leg Ragout ~ sesame rice flour gnocchi & kimchi cabbage, white soy cured free range egg yolk, cilantro & red pepper puree

Entrees

Potato Wrapped Halibut Roast ~ bacon dashi stock, daikon cake, confit Tokyo turnip

Braised Bison Short Rib ~ smoked boerenkaas and celery perogie, apple braised kale, pressed carrot

Tofu & Shitake Cabbage Roll ~ ginger soy glaze bean & leek cassoulet, mushroom cornbread & pudding

Dessert

Warm Chocolate Fondant Cake ~ camelia cremeaux, passion fruit sorbet

Tahitian Vanilla Pot de Creme ~ pistachio finacier, raspberry mousse

3 courses $59, pairings $29

4 courses $69, pairings $37

This special menu is available on Friday, February 14th and Saturday, February 15th.

Some might say our lunch is in hibernation until March 1st but we'd just say that we think lazy, late breakfasts rule!

Our new winter hours - until March 1st are....

Breakfast 7am - 11am - perfect

Lunch - closed

Dinner 5pm - 9pm

So walk on the wild side and invite that special someone for the city's best benny or book that dreaded lunch meeting at 5pm cause wine and an appy makes everything waaay better - guaranteed.

That's right, our Santa Claus Brunch series has been sooo popular, we've added another  to our series - Sunday December 22. 

Here's a quick recap for those of you who have missed the 'memo'.

Remaining dates for Santa Brunch are December 8, 15 & 22

Kids can eat from their own special buffet, watch their fav Christmas movies, meet Santa and get their picture taken with him!

Live entertainment - Christmas Carols sung by our best holiday guy Tom Watson

Adults $41, Seniors $32, Children 6-10 $20.50, under 6 free

$1 from each adult brunch sold is donated to Habitat for Humanity Victoria

Reservations recommended as these brunches are sure to sell out.  250-414-6739 or [email protected]

Be sure to come in and see us after you have marveled at this year's Gingerbread creations, cause we've got our festive Gingerbread Tea happening again this year. 

Pastry Chef April Iverson will be offering gingerbread inspired dessert from her pastry shop for you to enjoy with tea, coffee or hot chocolate before you brave back out into the chilly winter's day.

$10 per person and $1 from each purchase will be donated to support Habitat for Humanity Victoria.

And sorry Gingerbread Tea is not available on Sundays, Christmas Day or New Years Day.

Squash Soup ~ Kobocha Squash, pumpkin seed relish, char siu shoulder, pickled shallots. 

Do you love chocolate?

Ever wondered about types and origins of the world's most loved vice?

Well, wonder no more, world-renowned chocolatiers Dominique & Cindy Duby, chefs and owners of Wild Sweets: internationally critically acclaimed Designer Chocolatiers & Vintage Chocolate-makers, along with our very own Pastry Chef,April Iverson are ready to share everything they know about chocolate.

You'll experience six exceptional variations of chocolate in various forms.  This elegant, speed dating style, event will help you find your ultimate love...in chocolate form of course.

Where:  Rogers' Penthouse suite ...to die for

When:  Tuesday, November 19th 7:30pm

Tickets: $60