We've stayed in the neighbourhood a number of times in downtown Nanaimo and have read about this place a few times. Finally took the plunge, and really wish we hadn't, and certainly will not again. Our server was quick to seat us, took good care of us, gave us some insight into the menu items, and generally speaking was great. The view from the top floor part of the Lighthouse is great. Overlooking the marina and sea plane dock in downtown Nanaimo, there is plenty to see, and plenty to watch, it should be a licence to print money. Sadly to food was atrocious, in both taste and the visual. Looking at it as it was as delivered, we should have left right then. The salad that I chose with my beef dip was terrible. The mixed greens part had black ends, and black slime on it. I tried picking through it, and finally gave up and didn't touch it. The dip for the sandwich was thick, very dark and had what looked like the part that sticks to the pot while it's reducing. The meat colour looked a little off as well. K had the wings and clam chowder. The wings looked like they had been sitting for quite a few hours in a bowl on the counter prior to tossing them on the plate. The cut veggies had also been out for a while, she had to cut each end off the celery. The soup was hot, but had no flavour. I could go on, but you get the idea, don't go to this restaurant for food. Have a beer enjoy the view and eat elsewhere. The photos attached say a lot! read more

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We wanted a restaurant on the water with a view. This restaurant has that. We were seated and then no one came to give us menus or take our order. Finally, after having multiple employees walk past us, someone stopped and asked if we had been helped. They apologized and we got water and menus. We ordered a local wine which turned out to be the only item we ordered that was good. We ordered clams for an appetizer. Those were basic and nothing special. They were out of oysters which was our first choice and the waitress recommended the clams. We ordered fresh halibut fish and chips for dinner. The fish was way overcooked and dry. We were only traveling through so we will not be back. We recommend you find another location for dinner if you are traveling through. read more

Had lunch at this place for the first time and our experienced was very good. The place was very nice and not busy. The view was spectacular and very nice to have a conversation. The staff was friendly and we did order the day's specials Beef Dip with Mushrooms. The food was very good. Very hot and crispy fries and the beef was tender and tasty. A bit pricey but worth it. I highly recommended this place to try when visiting Nanaimo. read more

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This bistro not only has amazing food but also a terrific view! Best chicken wings I've ever had! I got their wings with the spicy sauce and I thought this would be an appetizer but was honestly a proper main course meal. The wings were crispy and saucy, very hard to find. Their outdoor patio overlooks the waterfront and has pretty fairy lights making it an amazing place for summer parties. The service was quick! read more

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The Lighthouse Bistro has an awesome selection of local seafood entrees and is located right on the stunningly beautiful Nanaimo harbour. I was fortunate to be there on a jazz night (held monthly). Attentive service, and we indulged in one of their Nanaimo bars. Would love to return and sit on the patio. what a view! read more

Just Ok. Never had poke stack with rice in the dish.. the margarita was more like a soda spritzer it was just ok. Friendly staff, beautiful location. I'm sure there are other dishes that are better I'll just have to try next time read more

SERVICE To start things off, the service was amazing! Me and the other ten people i came with were seated immediately and were given our orders from the menue within ten minutes of ordering. Our waiter was a very kind woman named Ashleigh who worked very hard to get our food out as quick as possible, and was lovely. Overall service: 10/10 FOOD The food our group ordered was well made and cooked to perfection. Four of us ordered the fish and chips, which were well cooked, and the general consensus was that the fish itself was pretty good. It was a tad bit to doughy, but overall was pretty good. The fries were great, however, the tartar sauce was very un- consista t and was served steaming hot, rather than cold. Overall, the fish and chips was a 8/10. The linguini was also well recived by the two people who ordered it, and there were no complaints from their end of the table. Overall, the linguini was a 7.5/10. The chicken tenders were some of the best chicken tenders ordered by the party member. The plum sauce was amazing and the chicken wasent too flakey or too Hard. Overall, the chicken tenders were a 9.5/10 The light house burger had very good sauce, and one of the best patties that our party member had ever had. It was the right amount of chewy and flavour, and was a overall 8/10 The nachos had a wide variety of sauces to select from including guacamole and salsa. However, the sour cream was quite bland, and tasted like you average Walmart sour cream. Overall, the nacho plate was a 8.5/10 RESTROOMS The mens room was well maintained and in fairly good condition. The laidies room however, was in poor condition, with the toilet missing the seat, and the stall duct taped off. The restrooms were in a separate area from the restaurant entirely, and required a pin on the door to access the hall in which the restrooms were located in, giving it a "restricted area" feel. The overall restroom experience was a 6.5/10 Some other last minute things to add include: Decent wifi access A lovely view of the harbour A Comfortable seating area Minimal wait time for seating FINAL SCORES Service: 10/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 8.5/10 Presentation: 8.5/10 OVERALL SCORE: 8.5/10 Recommend? YES read more

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Service was adequate, a bit slow but polite. Salmon dish seemed cooked from frozen. Seating felt like something found on the side of the road for free. View was nice. read more

Great setting on the water. Had some delicious mussels and ice cold beer after boating. Very enjoyable read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

We came for a quick bite. Quick was part of their service. The service was so slow it was painful. The only friendly server was the supervisor, the other 2 just seemed angry. They were understaffed, but no excuse to not be friendly. Good was pretty good and the cocktails were good. Not sure we would come again read more

Lighthouse Bistro Nanaimo...would definitely NOT recommend! This is the 3rd time over a couple years I have been to Lighthouse Bistro, which has changed hands a few times but only 1/3 of those visits were decent. I booked a table for 6 on a Wednesday night prior to a show at Port Theatre and when we arrived in the pub, we were the only table. The waitress informed us that there was no chicken breast, no artichoke dip, no calamari, no flatbread and no soup except for Seafood Chowder (these items made up many of the dishes on the menu as mains, sides or appetizers), so very disappointing to start. Our drinks were served in a timely fashion, we were given VERY small water glasses and our orders taken. The server/supervisor was polite and friendly then took our orders: Fish tacos with fries $25 (for 2) 1 bowl of seafood chowder $18 Catch of the day pan seared Halibut $39!! 1 Piece Halibut & Chips $28!! 2x Pacific Herb Roasted Beef Dip $23 Our bills totalled $278. There were big disappointments with every meal honestly with incredibly high costs! 1. We were told the fries were "fresh and hand cut" daily so we ordered those with the fish tacos and they came out luke warm. There weren't a lot on anyone's plates either which was surprising, and they had obviously been sitting for a while to be that cool. 2. The bowl of seafood chowder was the only thing ok on the menu that we ordered. 3. The $39 seared halibut was a joke. The flavour was good and it was well cooked but the vegetables were only peppers and mushrooms and the rice was a cold ball that was picked up and dropped it was so cold and hard. (I took that video!) 4. The halibut and chips...the halibut was about the diameter of a navel orange. Very small, very flat. A REAL disappointment for $28. The fries also didn't even fill half the plate, probably to try and make the fish seem bigger?? 5. The beef dips were apparently decent but the au jus was sweet and full of mushrooms & onions and the beef was really not thin at all. It was about 1/4" thick slices on a huge bun. Overall, we just had a VERY bad experience. When we let the waitress know, she did speak with management who compensated each bill by 5% only. For a total of $278 we were compensated $13.90. About 4 other tables came in after us, filling just under half the restaurant and one of those tables left when they heard the scarce menu. I'm really disappointed they didn't call me to tell me about the lack of menu items as they had my number for the reservation and the supervisor mentioned to us they were out of items from the weekend and were to get their stock in Thursday's (which was the next day). I definitely would never recommend this place to anyone. Too expensive, bad food no real understanding. VERY DISAPPOINTED. The ambiance was good.... read more

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Stopped in for coffee and nachos, good coffee and great nachos, the size of the order was perfect for one person. The jalopinos added a comfortable amount of spiciness but not too, the toppings were evenly spread and a great ratio to the chips as well as a healthy dollop of refried beans in the middle. I especially liked the way the sourcream was added as a drizzle to the nachos and not on the side. Last and never least the service was excellent, unfortunately for Tara I had her back and forth a few times but she was always pleasant and personable. Since the recent decline of The modern Cafe, I'm hoping my future visits will be as successful and enjoyable making The Lighthouse Bistro my new regular dining location. read more

Great location right on the water. Food was good but not the best fish & chips I've had. read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - 2 piece cod & chips - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

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Well... went to the pub when the bistro said they had no outside tables (but half of the tables were empty - maybe no servers for those tables?) Ordered the wings... best of the trio... the calamari and the dry ribs. I loved the jalapeños in the calamari! The sauce for the calamari was flavorless. We asked for tartar...worse. Dry ribs...pretty good. As many have said, service could be better. When you have a half full bar and you have to ASK for a second drink(where your profit really is) well done training is in order. I'm in 'that service biz' so I value customer service a ton. Don't rest of your view laurels. Bring it up a notch. read more

This was the worst value for money. It was deep fried pub food and $120 for lunch for two. Nice view but not worth the premium.

The service was helpful mostly. I do wish servers would not hit us with the list of specials while we're trying to get seated. We came in to relax and them doing that makes you feel rushed. Once seated, the service was very good. They are eager to please and polite. My chowder and garlic toast were off tasting and the server politely replaced it with something else. So I give the servers an A for eagerness and politeness. Not sure about the kitchen - why the chowder would be off like that. That is why I gave 3 stars instead of 4 or 5. You've probably lost good customers by chancing the food quality like that. Don't do it. read more

Service is ok, the foods are reasonable. My friend didn't like the steak, coleslaw are not fresh. A little bit over priced. However due to the environment, still a good place to go for travellers. read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

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I really wanted to like this place, friendly server, beautiful venue, but the food was super slow, my coconut shrimp looked like they came out of a Panache frozen box, and the chowder was over-salted and nasty. My stomach felt terrible for hours. They were out of so many menu items too. Disappointing. read more

I came here with my daughter looking for lunch. We waited at the door for quite a long time and then a waitress asked us from across the restaurant to follow her. It was hard to tell that she was even talking to us as she was quite far away. When we got to the table she actually threw the menus on the table and said in a rude tone that she'd get some waters for us. I told my daughter that we should leave as we wouldn't be getting good service today. When the waitress came back with the waters (my daughter later commented that there was no ice in the water) I announced that we would find somewhere else to eat and we left. We went up the road to a very nice restaurant (Melange) that had excellent service and I tipped the waitress generously as I was grateful for the effort after our previous experience. read more

Drive 30 minutes all the way from Chemainus to this great location but everything was disappointed. There was only one waitress in the whole pub to deal with only 5 tables of guests and we waited 20 minutes to have our menu and tap water. Then after we ordered, it was another 45 minutes wait with only the tap water on the table. When our foods are ready, I realized the waitress forgot to order one of our entrées and she gave us an appetizer that I didn't order. So our family have to share the foods only for two and find another restaurant for some more food that night. At last, she gave me the discount for wasting our time and ruining our family dinner but she still charged on the food we didn't order. It's literally the worst restaurant I've even been to and I have to skip the tips which I never did before. What a waste of such a good location! They should of do better on food and service! Hire someone professional! Maveric read more

Absolutely horrible. I wish it could be zero stars. Terrible experience. I highly recommend you steer clear. Server looked about 12years old and acted it as well. Obviously brand new. -Staff drinking in pub having loud conversations with server using profanity f*uck etc. -Didn't know what a hoppy beer was. -Poured 3" of foam on my beer, Screwed up my meal twice and gave me attitude. -food was bland, overpriced with below mediocre quality. I understand it's hard to find workers. I understood it's hard when you are starting a new job. Still no excuse for bad service and bad food. read more

The linguine and prawns were extremely bland and tasteless - like water. Our server was alright but it's clear she didn't like her job and was only there for a paycheque. 1 star for the location as it's a nice, clear view of the harbour from anywhere on the patio. I don't recommend coming here when exploring Nanaimo. read more

I would only recommend you to go there if you want to see the Nanaimo harbour view without obstruction. The food quality is less than mediocre, and the price is moderate as well. We have ordered the summer salad with the most distasteful gluey dressing which I have asked for plain vinegar to replace it. The Prawns & seafood linguine is equally tasteless. Quite sure for a fact that this bistro won't survive without the best view in Nanaimo Harbour. Probably order just a drink next time to enjoy with the view! read more

SIGNATURE CEDAR PLANK SALMON Signature cedar plank salmon was the best salmon dinner I have had in a long time. It was cooked just right. Loved the teriyaki flavouring, it was not overpowering. The fresh vegetables were great, especially the asparagus. The sliced carrots were good, but the parsnips were a bit tough to chew. Overall, a well presented and flavourful meal. The service was fantastic. The ambiance was just right. read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - SIGNATURE CEDAR PLANK SALMON - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Don't waste your time. Was sat down at a dirty table. Waited 25 mins because they were clearly under staffed. Not one server acknowledged us in that time frame. No menus offered. No drink offer. Nobody offered to clean the table from previous customers. Needless to say... we left and went to Penny's Palapa where all was amazing! read more

Fast, friendly service. We had the salmon burger, wings, seafood chowder, and local beer. Tasty, warm, flavourful. Great views, busy with locals and tourists. read more

All 5 of us enjoyed our meals. The Salmon burger - excellent! Delicious and well seasoned burger! Calamari was unique and tasty. Bistro burger was,...well it disappeared too fast for me to try but my son loved it. The fish tacos were "yum yum"! Chicken tenders were great! Service was fantastic, attentive and fast even though we arrived just before closing. Too bad they close at 8pm but that's not unusual in Nanaimo! read more

One star because I can't give minus five, this place serves absolute disgusting food and they steal from you while doing it, Had a cocktail with "1 oz" of alcohol, seriously there was nothing in it, But worth they sell a scallop plate with 6 scallops, HA, no they cut each scallop in 3 for $17 , never have I seen a restaurant cut the scallops to rip off people, we also had a Caesar salad, seriously the salad was burned from the dressing, I don't understand that not more people complain, Even the waitress said that she knows about, the quality, Had lunch at Cactus Cafe, and I'm not one for chain restaurants, but this guys need to go for lessons, In Gordon Ramsey's words, fucking disgusting Also please clean your place, it's dirty, Sorry I forgot, the vine was excellent, ah but wait, you don't make that read more

Just horrible. The oystwrs were 3.75 each and are no bigger than a 5 cent coin. The prime rib burger was clearly just ground beef. It was void of tastw and overcooked. Like chewing on a hockey Puck read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - Overcooked ground beef sold as prime rib burger - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

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So poor experience, the place itself is great nice, view and ambiance. However, the food not so good at all, for the price the portions are way too poor. And also, seemed like they used leftovers for the fries and salad. Not worthy at all.Clubhouse read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - Chicken club sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Good stuff. Amazing setting. Lots of good seafood. Liked the ceviche, loved the seafood salad (nice citrus dressing too). Would definitely return. read more

Excited to visit this restaurant for the first time given its prime location. Good service but the food really wasn't very good for the premium prices. If you're going to charge $30 for a seafood pasta main it better be kick ass but instead tasted like microwaved leftovers. Just horrible. I hope the owners read these reviews because you need a new menu and head chef in charge of your kitchen. read more

Coleslaw should come with a warning. Otherwise the fish and chips is good. Nice service. Great location. Lovely music! Interesting views of a working harbour. read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Such a great location it's too bad that: 1) The service, while efficient seemed reluctant even though the bistro was quiet for lunch 2) The food was just okay given the price and the bistro's impression of being a bit higher end. 3) The atmosphere - the Bistro is nice but the pub upstairs needs some work. Not a place I would go to for a drink which is really disappointing. RE the service - the waitress went to set a soup down and jerked the dish back when our friend reached up to help her deliver it, almost spilling the soup and done in a very "don't effing touch the dish" manner. Also, after bill was paid we sat talking business for about half an hour - the place maybe had three tables filled and the staff was not busy - no water refills or checking in. Little thing but she left a bad taste in our mouths. She definitely did not want to be there and it showed. read more

Ate at this place yesterday afternoon, I loved the salmon burger and the cheese cake. Kinda expensive like the other places but you have to eat! read more

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Visited Sat Feb 28 dinner party of 20, private event. This is one of the best restaurants in Nanaimo and is really a hidden gem! I worked directly with the GM Rachel and Chef/Jason to plan my birthday. I booked the 2nd floor and brought in Arvind from Success Karaoke to host a karoake party! Lighthouse Bistro was professional and courteous throughout the process and accommodated all of my small requests such as table cloths and labelling all the food items clearly. I will definitely be coming back again! Pros The amazing view of the harbour! Small patio that overlooks harbour. Able to accommodate private events up to 50 guests! Vegetable platter - the veggies were fresh and beautifully presented. Skewered fruit - were very cute it had 4-6 pieces of fruit per skewer. Salmon antojitos - wow these tasted amazing, never had them before. Ahi Fish tacos - honestly the best fish tacos I've ever had in my life, my guests loved them. Pesto pasta tray - excellent as well! Cons A bit difficult to get a hold of Rachel at times, she is off on certain days and I would have to wait until she returned. The washrooms are a bit odd, it's 4 individual washrooms spaced around the 2nd floor, 2 are labelled mens, and 2 are labelled womens. Might as well turn all 4 of them into unisex washrooms, or else you have to walk around just to find the washroom. Protip - There are 10 parking spots at the meters that are free in the evenings and weekends, there is a walkway that connects parking and the 2nd floor. read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - The layout for a special event on the 2nd floor. Host your next party or event here up to 50 guests! - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

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Very expensive for the meals you get. Ordered dry ribs ($18.00), received 8 small ribs and a 'side' of 2 small carrot and celery sticks with a dip. Had to order some fries for extra $4. Coffee is $3.80. Total: $27.09 with GST. I could have bought 2 good steaks for that price. read more

This lovely place is right on the water in Nanaimo Harbor. Nanaimo has done an outstanding job of developing their waterfront transforming it from grubby and ugly to dazzling. There is a long seawall path for walkers and joggers that is well used. The Lighthouse has a pub on the upper floor with the Bistro down below. For sunny days there is an outdoor dining area which, sadly, was not available the evening we were there. We were greeted by Katie who also seated us and was our ever so pleasant server. It was hard to concentrate on the menu with the dazzling view which featured boats of every size, sea planes, eagles and everything else you would expect in a busy harbor. We both opted for the Seafood Hot Pot which was a disappointingly small serving but absolutely delicious. Salmon, scallops, and shrimp along with some thick Shanghai style noodles all swimming in a dazzlingly tasty broth with curry and coconut...very tasty! The hot pot was served with a mini loaf of very fresh, warm bread and was $22 I opted for a cup of their clam chowder which was, as advertised, very buttery and thick...possibly too thick? It was very tasty and full of clam goodness and the clams were tender not rubbery. I would have wished that it was a bit warmer. They have a fairly good wine list with local wines and imports. We broke with tradition and tried a Hardy's (AUS) blend of Riesling and Gewurtztraminer which was a reasonable (for BC) $23. Great food and a lovely spot for a Friday dinner in the Hub City! We can't say enough good things about our server, Katie, who is working her way through nursing school. If she's half as good a nurse as she is a waitperson she will have some very happy patients! read more

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub - Seafood Hopot - Seafood Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Great view, friendly staff, great fish and chips, lots of beer on tap, large wine selection and a full bar. The calamari is a must have!! Best in town. read more

We liked it. A shorrt walk from our hotel, the best western, and we sat in the bar area which was comfortable and had great views We had the beer on draught, a glass of wine (ordered Chardonnay but it tasted very sweet) Oysters Rockefeller Chicken wings with Thai chili It was all good read more