Best selection of cheese and specialty deli goods, hands down. Wonderful shop, helpful and…read moreinformative staff. My favourite store in town for gourmet snacks and nibbles (for everyday!). Special shout-out to the heavenly cheese selection and the cute and clean premises. They also have an Italian pork jowl that I can't find anywhere else in town. Considering the rising price of eating out (and junk food), I will get myself some fancy treats here every week instead.

Although the staff at McLean's was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and I did get hooked by…read morethe nostalgic story of the place, I was kind of unimpressed with McLean's. We got a LOT of stuff there, including crackers, pate, cheeses, jams, and a bunch of other items, all of which sort of flatlined. Now, in McLean's defense, the pate and cheeses were the only things they brought in specifically under their name. And the place was EXTREMELY cute, and they served sandwiches, and the owner was friendly and on premesis, and they'd let you bring wine if you wanted... ...but really, everything flatlined. The fig crackers tasted like prunes. The sheep's brie was overly strong in flavor, almost off-tasting. The porter cheddar tasted like...plain cheddar. The pate was bland. One standout was a cheese (I forget the name) which had a line of gorgonzola down the centre. Really, of everything we bought, this is the only thing I'd consider re-purchasing. Now I don't want to rule this place out based on one trip, but it *was* expensive (some of the crackers and jams were way over-priced) and I *was* disappointed, considering how it's touted around town as being wonderful. I like to support local businesses, so I will be back to purchase a significantly smaller portion of cheese. Till then...

The kindest man in Nanaimo runs this shop. What a gift to the community. The feta and baked goods…read moreare sublime and he's got farm eggs - leave some for me ;)

This place is a real find. Lots of products from the med. They have real Turkish Delight! That…read morealone is worth a visit. Very nice owner. If you cook you need to visit this store.

An amazing grocery store with something for everyone taste and cooking ability level. There are so…read moremany treats here, grocery items, cured meats, cheeses, bakery, toys, housewares, their own goats merch, and even a cafe with sandwiches and tacos! A great stop while you're on the island, or as a destination on its own!

Amazing store! Something for everyone. Such a variety of…read morefood items to choose from around the world. There is a whole section of items with Goats on the Roof printed on them. Yes there are goats on grass roof of the building. There is a dessert and lunch counter in the store. Housewares, Christmas items and all kinds of fun outdoor items. Such a fun unique place to visit. There also other businesses to visit close by.

Like the wide selection of Eastern Europeans goods here. Prices are above average, but not…read moreunreasonably expensive. Store layout is clear so it's easy to find things. Not everything has English labels so it's tougher to do exploratory shopping if you aren't familiar with the products. Store clerks were nice, but highly preferential towards the regulars who spoke Russian. Warning: carefully inspect packaging for Expiry/Packaged On dates. I found out that, after the fact, quite a bit of the stuff I bought wasn't very fresh. Threw away two out of four cheeses because they were pretty far gone. They were so bad that I did not feel it was worth holding onto it to bring back to the store for a refund, just wanted to be rid of it. I take responsibility that I should've checked better, but it's poor business practice for the store to be carrying inventory that isn't safe for patrons. Hope to see this improved on.

Place sells expired products. They've been doing it for years, so stay away for your own good…read more To the owner: your discounts for expired food and excuses are complete bs. You had years to make it right.

This tidy market serves the island community and tourists pretty well…read more Well stocked, you can find almost anything here you'd find over the water, and they have plenty of fresh items. Last time I was in, what I picked up wasn't any more pricey than at the Thrifty's in Port Place Mall, especially when you take the ferry fares into consideration.

From the owner: Village Food Market is a family-owned, full-service grocery store located on beautiful Gabriola…read moreIsland. We carry a complete line of grocery products including fresh meat and produce, in-house baked goods, dairy and dairy substitutes, a full-service delicatessen, purified water, flowers, lottery and more! We source local products whenever possible and have a strong focus on organic and natural foods. Come to us for variety, friendly service and a chance to connect to Gabriola's wonderful community. We look forward to serving you!

On April 6th, 2011, my wife purchased almond butter on sale at this store. My wife checked the best…read morebefore date before she went to open the product, and it was September 28th, 2010. When she called to voice the issue, she was told that the product was fine, we should eat it, and they would not take it back. When she explained due to medical advice, I cannot consume a product that is beyond its best before date or aged and that the consequences could be fatal, they offered to take the product back. However, they showed no intention to alter their policy to knowingly sell expired merchandise. When we asked to escalate our issue to a manager, we were told our only option was to email the owner. We find this unacceptable. Our business was sacrificed over an item worth only a few dollars. Customers clearly are not important to this business. We strongly recommend you avoid dealing with this business.

Love this place! I am shocked they don't have more reviews, let alone any good ones. Great prices…read moreon most things. Love the variety. Friendly workers. Love it! :)

The perfect provisioning stop if you're a boater. Easy walking from the marina to this store with…read morefresh produce, a great whole foods section, and some delights for chocolate lovers. We've been here several times and enjoy the variety of offerings, service, and clean, bright vibe of the store.

Love this store, don't know how people can say its more expensive than Country grocer or Quality…read morefoods. I know my prices! using your Airmails money is a bonus, good savings. Staff is great in this store.

Very disappointing experience today. We went there specifically to pick up some black vinegar. When…read morewe opened the bottle at home, which had a plastic seal on it, we discovered the glass bottle was broken underneath. It had been sheared off at the top at the level of the screwtop. We took it straight back to swap it out for a new one and the man refused to exchange it for an unbroken one. He said he would lose money because the company wouldn't allow him to send it back. No refunds or exchanges because he couldn't sell it again. No concerns about selling a defective or dangerous item, and apparently no concerns about losing a customer over a $7 bottle, because after this dreadful customer service, we won't be back.

The closest location to get Indonesian products from Victoria, BC. They have some popular…read moreIndonesian products. They give good service also

I have been shopping here for about five years, and I love it and could not go anywhere else! When…read moreI had a very serious injury when I broke my foot in two places, the staff were so helpful with helping with groceries into the car, and have always been super friendly. Some of those young students staff were especially so kind to me when I was so badly injured. They have a good selection and I especially love the convenience of their fabulous organic and health section that beats all the other stores. I love it when they bring in the fresh dandelion leaves and so did my naturopath who cured a patient of a serious health issue when I told their office that the leaves were available at Country Grocer! I actually love this store due to its organized aisles and cleanliness, too. (We won't be mentioning the problems at other stores...) Listen - they even sell organic soil and pretty flowers!!! Love it! Would never go anywhere else. xo

It's easy to see the positive reviews are all fake . Usually posted with the managements blessings…read more I refuse to Shop , customer service sucks . There Not very helpful and treated me like I was an inconvenience. Buffet style I've heard , has made people violently ill . No big surprise there . In fact I wish I could give it a negative star . As one example for instance. I popped by , while running some errands. Went Grab a few editions of coffee news . And this employee ( complete DB) Preventing me from taking and brochures. I don't recall a sign saying I'm limited to - per customer. Shop Anywhere else.

OMG!!!! This is the BEST Mexican restaurant I've ever been too. Its small but quaint. And they…read morehave a patio, super bonus. Staff are super friendly. Food is consistent and tastes amazing. They have a giant selection of options to choose from.

Legitimate Mexican food resto right in Nanaimo!…read more Wasn't sure what to expect as its location is at a strip mall / plaza - was pleasantly surprised with the great food quality, authenticity & lovely legit decor touches SOO happy that they served their Mexican drink Horchata (not an easy find in Canadian westcoast) and I ordered the tasty flautas. The rest of our group ordered fish tacos, veggie burrito, +2 more... no pics as everyone ate before I could snap one Our (Mexican) wait staff gave us complimentary chips & salsa - the chips are massive, crisp & light! I'm making a b-line for this place the next time I'm in Nanaimo