Sorry it took so long to get this review done and posted!!…read more I took my mother and my adult son here for a nice dinner while we were going to through a tough time of mourning the loss of my father. Nothing helps heal the soul like a good meal right..!? All I can say is this place is truly a gem. I am a foodie and enjoy great food around the world. I love it when I see someone bring big city, high quality Michelin level to small towns. Well done folks! Keep up the good work and I look forward to see you next time I'm in town. Thanks as well for the lovely coasters. They look great on my home made redwood river table ;)

You know the major problem with this place? The flavors simply do not pop. The food was good, but…read morefrankly it was bland. Even the lemon tiramisu had no lemon punch - I mean if you are going to make a variant or analogous spoof so to speak, it better be good, I mean really good. The other dishes were similar. The salumi platter was decent, the pickled items quite good - but the terrine was flat, even some salt would have helped. My halibut was just a hair mushy, and had no flavor and the pea sauce weak. The chicken tortellini were made near perfect and that sauce was good, chicken filling was toothsome and tasty, but needed some flavor. All that said, I'm not sure this really is an Italian restaurant, even northern. More of a Canadian fusion with French influences. The setting and ambiance, a street away from the town part - are great, outdoors in the shade perfect. The waiter, the matre di - was good, in his own way. I mean he alone hightened my expectations. He did his job and did it well, maybe too well. But I cannot in any way fault the excellent service.

It was packed the night we went…read more However there was no wait, we were taken right to a table at the back corner. Our server was always on the ready for us. We had a carafe of ice water and a basket of warm multigrain bread with a mildly spicy tomato dip. Both delicious. We ordered 2 frozen peach Bellinis a beer and a ginger ale. The Bellinis were better Than most places although no one can top Cactus Club! They were a big size so no need for more then one. My husband and my Dad split a platter of spaghetti and meat balls. They both enjoyed them. I tried a bite of a meatball, and I wasn't a fan. It tasted more like breadcrumbs and less like meat. But that's just my opinion. Luckily my Mom and myself ordered the Linguine with prawns. No garlic and mild not spicy. Omg it was delicious! Noodles & prawns were cooked to perfection. The sauce was so flavourful. We split the single order and it was the exact right amount. There must of been 10-12 decent sized prawns. More than expected and much appreciated. We all left very satisfied. The bill came to Under 130$ before tip. Very reasonable!! On our way out we went to visit the goats, which is a fun bonus !

I went here with my family as I haven't had Italian food in quite some time. The food was great but…read morethe service needed some work. Upon arrival it took quite a while to be seated. Living on Vancouver Island I think it's unreasonable to expect 5 star service from rural community's where the hiring pool is limited. The servers were not rude and instead quite nice, it just took a little longer to get things done. This place doesn't deserve 1 or 2 star reviews because of it. The food came out shockingly fast, same with the drinks. They provide a free bread basket as well which was a nice touch. Fettuccine Salmone: This was my first time trying a dish like this, It was very delicious but also very rich. I was very impressed at how generous the kitchen was with the salmon portion, I'm so used to restaurants being overly skimpy on seafood. Getting the platter for $47 is definitely the best value, serves two people with leftovers compared to a single serving for $30. The sauce was a little on the runny side but I didn't mind. Limoncello Spritzer: Nice summery drink, Could've used a bit more limoncello I thought for $13 but as someone who doesn't drink often I'm still gaging what's an appropriate price for different beverages. Atmosphere was nice and they had a good playlist of music.

Amazing! Food was delicious, service was impeccable, location was excellent. We sat on the covered…read morepatio and enjoyed a beautiful evening. The seafood pasta was out of this world. The gnocchi and bruschetta were very tasty as well. Finished off the evening with a unique tiramisu. We will definitely be repeat customers to this hidden gem.

The food was delicious and service was great. What else one could wish for! Sadly, it's quite…read moredifficult to get in unless you have a reservation. And making the reservation here is a bit complicated. You have to call, which is OK, but there's no confirmation email or anything telling you indeed have a table booked. Please make sure you double or triple check it before you show up for your dinner. Even though we booked over the phone a couple of weeks in advance, we were not on the list. Fortunately, we were lucky they were able to squeeze us in. Despite this unfortunate booking incident, I would still recommend you to visit this place. The food was indeed delicious!

We ordered takeout pizza and they were delicious. The portions were generous, and the leftovers…read morewere great the next day.

I had scouted out this place and it didn't disappoint. We didn't have a reservation but got lucky…read moresince a table was just being cleared. Absolutely delicious beet and greens salad, perfectly baked pizza, and friendly service.

Mattones at Salmon Point is an absolute must-visit for seafood lovers. It's one of the most…read morebeautiful restaurant locations on the North Island and a favourite for both locals and visitors. The local oysters, both fresh shucked and baked, are incredible. The seafood chowder is honestly the best I've ever had, and the freshly baked focaccia with their signature garlic sauce is perfection. There really isn't anything I could not recommend on the menu. Be sure to save room for the sticky toffee pudding!!! You'll love the food, the view, and the whole experience. Big Cheers to chef Ryan and his team for creating this place!!!

The food is very good. The view is beautiful. The price is a bit higher for what you get, the…read moreserving size is a bit small. You need to order at the table with your phone or at the counter then the food is brought out to you. So you pretip, which is strange when you don't t know how the food is and they only bring out foods to you no asking how it is and if you want another drink, which you would have to go up and pay again for or scan and pay. I feel they are losing lot of money from drinking a dessert orders. The chairs aren't that comfortable either. The food is good. Some easy fixes this place would be outstanding.

At first, I thought this was a little pricey for Courtney - $19 each, largish size. But, right next…read moreto Gladstone brewing... And I had just bought a flight. Beer n pizza, killer combo. Then the pizza came out. Oh man. So delicious. The toppings were slightly thin, but so. Delicious. Crispy thin crust, yummy cheesy goodness. We had the special Brassica, but I could have easily gone for the fungi. Carbs well spent.

Been wanting to try this place for a while and tonight placed an order for pick up. Staff on phone…read morevery pleasant and helpful. Ordered the Funghi and the Amatriciana pizzas. Tried to order the chopped salad but they were out of it. The panzanella salad was suggested to me so I said ok great, even though it's not the right time of year for that salad. Pickup was seamless. Got the food home and pizza was good, tasty. The mushroom pie was great, couldn't really taste the onion base but it was good. Liked the cheeses. Crust crispy, no soggy bottom here! The second pizza was the hit, fennel sausage really makes it. The salad was lacking. Dressing was good but the lettuce was wilty and toppings were few ( Kalamata olives sliced in half and cherry tomatoes in halves) no bread/croutons at all so not sure what made it panzanella? Not cheap either. Anyway, my dinner mates said the pizza is better in the restaurant so next time I'll give that a go.

I'm not generally a chain restaurant fan but my friend invited me to her daughter's birthday lunch…read moreand I was happy to go. Our server was fantastic. He was super knowledgeable about the menu (we found out he is also a cook there - what a great combination!) and very attentive and just sweet. We all ordered very different things and everyone was happy with their food. I just got chicken wings as I follow a low carb diet and was happy to find they weren't breaded. I will see about 8 wings and a soda water cost me almost $30 so I won't be back any time soon but the wings were baked perfectly and the hot sauce was truly a medium!

It must have been an off night. Slow service, cold food, constantly forgetting to bring items to…read morethe table when asked (such as clean cutlery and drink refills) and since the place was almost empty we aren't sure why things weren't up to standard. Definitely not returning to this one.

Giovanni's is split into two distinct restaurants: fine Italian cuisine in the main restaurant area…read moreand a lounge side catering to pizza enthusiasts, like me. What the lounge may lack in outward beauty, that is fully made up for (and then some) with its main course. Done in what I call "Greek Style", the pizza is baked in a pan and has a cupped edge crust that the ingredients come out to meet, with the bulk of the cheese spread on top. Additionally, Giovanni's has developed a wonderful sauce, which is not too sweet. Fresh ingredients and lots of them as well. When brought to your table by Tracey or one of the other wonderful staff, it is a thing of golden beauty. I never order anything less than a large (see photo) because I always want to take some home. Truly one of the top pies on the island. Enjoy!

the food here has always been top notch! the vibes and atmosphere of the place is also amazing, the…read moreway the lights are just perfect and the playlist is awesome too! we had this waiter who was so kind and funny. AMAZING service!!! when my dad spilled a drink, he came rushing over to clean it and even poured the rest of his can into his cup without him asking. Keep up the amazing work!

While staying at a nearby resort, we got a reccomendation for Brie & Barrel. It was also one of the…read morefew restaurants that was open late in town. The restaurant is in an historic building downtown and seems to be a part of a city revitalization effort. Inside, the restaurant is well appointed and there are many tables with views. We chose the bar area for a more social vibe. The bar seating is a bit awkward for socialization with the bartenders or other patrons. The staff we met were super friendly even though they were quite busy. We both had drinks. My wife had a Cranberry Fizz which was executed well and made her happy which makes me happy. The rosemary bread is excellent and makes for good snacking with the libations. I had the steak frites for an entre and my wife had a Caesar salad. Both plates were elevated in technique and presentation. My steak was the proper temp, but could had used more seasoning. Everywhere we go on the Island, the only steak choice seems to be flat iron. Why? Where is the rest of the cow going? Anyway, we like this restaurant very much and reccomend you try it if you want something better than a burger and a beer while in Port Alberni.

All three courses were wonderful - chicken Brie cordon bleu for the main course was the highlight…read more Nice experience - quiet due to the playoff hockey game. Likely lucked in to being able to walk in, suggest reservations as limited seating.