Bent Mast | Restaurants Victoria

Bent Mast - Restaurants Victoria
The Bent Mast: Sinking, Sinking, Stunk

Located in the heart of Victoria’s oldest residential community, The Bent Mast Pub sits on the slow moving five-way at James Bay Square. Built in the 1870s, this local-watering hole stands in an old Victorian-style house on the corner of Simcoe Street and Menzies Street.

Owner Jerry Seto has stood firm on ensuring the pub is presented to its customers in its original state. And in its antique condition is how this establishment remains. Half-lit Christmas lights strung up by duct tape adorn the wallpaper-peeling walls, while rickety tables of two and four scatter the polypropylene industrial carpet. The Bent Mast claims to give authenticity to Victoria’s sailing town feel, but the only genuine feeling I had was the concern of inhaling asbestos with every breath I took in this restaurant. An all-year ‘round patio is warmed with heat lamps, which gives the pub a cozy, backyard barbeque feel. Regional musicians sometimes entertain here, playing mostly folk, acoustic, Irish or bluegrass tunes. The Victoria Nautical Song Circle meets here regularly as well, and guests are welcome to join in as the group sings traditional "songs of the sea."

The Bent Mast’s claim to fame is the hidden spirits that apparently still reside within the old house. This restaurant even has a full history on the building, complete with tales of ghosts and ghouls plastered on the front page of the menu for patrons to amuse themselves while waiting for their orders. Numerous real-life testimonies to these phantoms are scattered throughout the Internet, but the only white face I saw during my dining experience was the look of horror from several of the customers leaving the uncared-for restrooms.

Under worked and under-bathed, the staff at The Bent Mast are polite but seem to be there only for decoration. The time it took to receive our requested pitcher of beer was speedy compared to the forty-five minutes we waited to get our food. I still believe they sowed the potatoes to make our French fries on that very evening we dined. The menu is modest and possesses your typical pub fare. Pot stickers, baskets of fries, perogies, and lamb burgers comprise the majority array of the menu at The Bent Mast. Beverages, both alcoholic and non-, are available but there’s a catch when considering this pub merely for an after-work drink. The menu clearly states that due to the liquor license the owner holds, each patron “must have the intent to purchase food while consuming alcoholic beverages.” Ravenous: beware.

On the bright side, the cost of such menu items is quite inexpensive. Menu prices range between $2.00 - $7.00, which is exactly what it should be considering you won’t be paying for quality, service, ambiance, or the unidentifiable hairs you’re guaranteed to find while consuming this grub.

Eating at The Bent Mast is like swimming with sharks: it’s something you can say you’ve done, but trying it again would just be bad for your health.


The Bent Mast Pub
512 Simcoe Street
Victoria, BC
383-6000