Solomon's | Victoria | 500-block Herald Street | CLOSED in 2010

I hope they will be back as i loved their cocktails, the chaplin in particular. I thought the food was fair for what you got but that is perhaps just me. The quality seemed outstanding.

If you serve liquor to a minor once, you get a warning. If you do it twice, you get another $10,000 warning. If you do it three times, they pull your license and you are closed, for "kitchen renovations" of course.

Don't expect to see Solomon's back anytime soon. I hear a local chef is looking at putting it back together.

At least, that's the word on the street.

But it's true, many restaurants take advantage of the January lull to close for a week or two and give everybody a break/do whatever maintenance is required/save labour.

-- Matt.

there is definitely no kitchen renovations going on. The business has been on and off the market over the past year or so. I heard today that the local chef thing fell through but new offer from somebody with experience and money. Tough space as the kitchen doesn't have ventilation. It can work (ie. Ferris' Upstairs) but it takes a bit of a special touch.

Solomon's facebook "Fan Page" update on 1/16 says: "Time for a kitchen renovation; stop by tonight as we're closed for two weeks after tonight! Get a seat while you can!" fwiw.

The database of liquor infractions only goes back to September 2009.

Interesting to note, in all of the province there were only 350 infractions in the 6 months ending September, and a grand total of 35 fines and/or suspensions in that time.

Solomon's is officially closed now. See solomons.ca.

Ultimately Solomon’s was a success. We helped bring about a change in the culinary minds of Victoria. Not only did we bring artisan cocktails to Victoria. But also pushed concepts of food and drink pairing. And classifications of night spots. To some we were Victoria’s first cocktail bar, to others the best beer list in town, or a whole new type of dinning experience.

Hmm, it goes on to say he's to become an educator. Hope he's not teaching spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Time to call wine list proofreader and former VV forum contributor Walter Moar.

Victoria’s cocktail bar pioneer closes doors after 18 months in business
By VibrantVictoria.ca
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/?p=1915

“Ultimately Solomon’s was a success,” writes Solomon Siegel as part of his latest entry on his recently closed cocktail bar’s official website.

Solomon’s, named after Siegel, opened in 2008 to much fanfare from local foodies and Victorians who knew the difference between a standard cocktail and one created by someone versed in the “art of cocktails,” as Siegel put it. Dubbed as a cocktail pioneer in Victoria, Solomon’s quickly became known for its unique alcoholic concoctions, a vast offering of beers and an acclaimed menu, adding up to what became a unique experience in a city dominated by traditional bars and restaurants. But that wasn’t enough to keep the operation in business. [...]

Well, damn. I liked it a lot.

I didn't get a chance to try it.

does anyone know how much a liquore licence for an establishment like solomon's is?
In Sydney Australia the city government has recently reduced the liquor licenses from over $15 000 to $500. this was done so as to allow establishments that cater to 75-150 people to operate without having to pay onerous liquor licensing fees. the large fees previously charged required that night club venues would have to be just that, large night clubs cramming drunken people into them, otherwise on top of rent and other expenses they couldn't make a profit. Sydney is doing this to increase the diversity in drinking and eating spots as well as to cramp down on large overly crowded venues where a great deal of assaults and fights occur
Sydney has followed Melbourne's lead, a city regarded as the cultural, food and drinking capital of australia. Melbourne has allowed liquor licenses to be acquired for $500. they allow bars and restaurants to open up in laneways and alleyways. in small, artistic, funky locations.
the purpose for this is to spread out the number of venues so that people have choice and to provide people with smaller more interactive venues. drunken nuisance still occurs in melbourne, but the results of the more liberal and less costly licenses has seen that the trouble (fights, arrests, assaults etc) occur in the areas where the large venues are.
I wonder what the costs are here for such a venue like solomon's. personally, i think smaller venues like solomon's should be encouraged to flourish throughout victoria and strict onerous licensing that encourages venues like upstairs and the social club should be avoided. they have their place, but a more social and interactive atmosphere is created out of the smaller venues

The city and province enjoy their income from these type of places.

does anyone know how much a liquore licence for an establishment like solomon's is?
In Sydney Australia the city government has recently reduced the liquor licenses from over $15 000 to $500. this was done so as to allow establishments that cater to 75-150 people to operate without having to pay onerous liquor licensing fees. the large fees previously charged required that night club venues would have to be just that, large night clubs cramming drunken people into them, otherwise on top of rent and other expenses they couldn't make a profit. Sydney is doing this to increase the diversity in drinking and eating spots as well as to cramp down on large overly crowded venues where a great deal of assaults and fights occur
Sydney has followed Melbourne's lead, a city regarded as the cultural, food and drinking capital of australia. Melbourne has allowed liquor licenses to be acquired for $500. they allow bars and restaurants to open up in laneways and alleyways. in small, artistic, funky locations.
the purpose for this is to spread out the number of venues so that people have choice and to provide people with smaller more interactive venues. drunken nuisance still occurs in melbourne, but the results of the more liberal and less costly licenses has seen that the trouble (fights, arrests, assaults etc) occur in the areas where the large venues are.
I wonder what the costs are here for such a venue like solomon's. personally, i think smaller venues like solomon's should be encouraged to flourish throughout victoria and strict onerous licensing that encourages venues like upstairs and the social club should be avoided. they have their place, but a more social and interactive atmosphere is created out of the smaller venues

The liquor licence is just a few hundred dollars a year for a food-primary (restaurant licence). Somehow I get the feeling the infraction that got them the fines and closure might have been for operating contrary to this licence class.

A pub or bar licence goes for anything from $200 (Victoria Events Centre) to $250,000 (Bard and Banker).

Thanks to everyone for all your support. It been a great ride.
Sorry about spelling, mistakes, Hockey.Fan we dyslexics have other skills you know.
Solomon Siegel

Thanks to everyone for all your support. It been a great ride.
Sorry about spelling, mistakes, Hockey.Fan we dyslexics have other skills you know.
Solomon Siegel

Well said, Solomon. Best of luck with your future endeavors.

Rumour has it there is something going on at Clive's for Solomon's tonight - anyone know anything?

I am told the men who own Brasserie l'ecole are taking over the old Herald Street Caffe (Solomon's) space - it's about time!

And the restaurant circle in Victoria continues ...

-- Matt.

Yah - saw a tweet from Brasserie to this same idea... are they MOVING Brasserie or simply going to open up something else in Soloman's place? Another wine/beer bar? Will be curious to see what shows up!

They are not moving, but who knows what the concept will be. Since they stopped taking reservations, this would be an excellent venue for overflow or first/third courses.

Imagine how fast they could turn tables if patrons were able to have first and last course somewhere else, maybe at a discount if eating your main meal at brasserie? They're going to own the block soon.

there was a tweet today saying that the Brasserie is not expanding to the Solomon's location.

There is a for lease sign in the window and Solomon has the business listed on Craig's List for $5K.