We had my mother's 96th Birthday lunch here. The food was excellent with a wide variety of choices…read moreeven for the vegetarians in the group. everyone was very happy with their meals. They happily accommodated our group of 12 with a reservation for lunch in a separated room and all the food came out at the same time which is often tricky with a larger group. As for the staff, our servers were terrific, efficient and friendly. Prior to the day Robert replied to emailed questions very quickly and made the whole event very stress free. I honestly can't recommend this restaurant enough.

Truly a gem. A house converted to a small restaurant and bar. Excellent food and service. Worth a…read moreside trip if visiting downtown Nanaimo.

Found this gem via Google while hunting for pub food in Nanaimo, and the 25-minute drive absolutely…read morepaid off.! Food & Drinks The Publican Burger is incredible: layers of meat and melted cheese with crispy ends, perfectly balanced flavors. We upgraded the side to the soup of the day (cream of mushroom), which was pure umami bliss - creamy and delicious on a cool day. We also got the bangers and mash with broccolini, and added on the sauerkraut. This was a generous portion that hits all the right notes. We paired it all with a cream ale and their excellent Spanish coffee. Atmosphere: The location has charming Tudor-style buildings lovely gardens. The patio is beautiful - if the weather is good, you should definitely opt to sit outside. Inside was crowded and loud, so we were really happy to be outside. Service: Staff were attentive and clearly cared, even though the kitchen was slammed. Worth every minute of the wait. We are definitely coming back when we are back in Nanaimo!

OMG this place was utterly fantastic in every way!! Sitting outside, then later strolling the…read moregarden/yard was delightful! The service was excellent! I had the chicken and vegetable pot pie, and it was the best pot pie that I've ever had in my life!! The bread topping was amazing, light and fluffy and tasty! The inside was cooked perfectly and all the flavors melded together -- I was rolling my eyes back into my head throughout!! The inside decor was also very cool!! Be warned, though, we saw families turned away in anger because they didn't know there is a strict age policy in place, no one under age 19 allowed!

Everything was amazing! Worth the stop!…read more The place was highly recommended by a family member that frequents this brewery. Of course we had to make a stop on our route up island. We all enjoyed our meals. Visited back in August so it's been a couple of weeks. Our table shared the mushroom kalamari and it went fast! It was so good, crispy and balanced, we could have easily ordered a 2nd plate - it was that good! I wasn't too hungry and ordered the West coast chowder with a side of bread. Little did I know this was one of the best meals this summer. I took a photo and ate the rest! I need that recipe! My 2 kids had the pesto pasta and both thoroughly enjoyed it, no leftovers. Husband had the brisket plate. He also enjoyed his flight of seasonal beers. Highly recommended and anyone heading up island or back to Victoria, make.the.stop! Parking was difficult, but it all worked out, there was a 20 min wait. Our regret was not buying the merch, cute shirts for sure! Instead we bought brews to go as host gifts before we left. We were visiting from Los Angeles and can't wait to be back next summer! Round 2 of my west coast chowder and husband wants to try the burnt ends apps!

Great beer, but the pleasant surprise is that their seafood chowder was perhaps the best we had…read more Great service and fair prices, plus excellent t-shirts...

We got the seafood platter for 2 ($50). I think this was the best fish and chips I've had in my…read morelife. Not only was it a good value because it came with prawn tacos to start and a large amount of coleslaw+fries, but everything was so hot and fresh. The batter was airy and light, both the fish and fries were very crispy and hot. There are both salmon and cod. I usually find that if the fish is salmon they overcook it and it tends to be dry, but this was perfect. They even gave us an extra piece of cod.

Nice atmosphere despite being in an out of the way place. We were thrilled that the fish and chips…read morewere gluten-free and they were amazingly fresh and good with great tartar sauce!!! The hamburger not so much ...not much flavor nobody wanted to finish it ...gluten-free roll should've been buttered and toasted. Cocktails and gluten-free beer were excellent server did not know why everything was gluten-free would've liked to appreciate that. But, a fun meal !

We totally love this place. We went for lunch here on our way to Tofino, and then we had dinner…read morehere on our way back from Tofino. It's all amazing and delicious!

The food are very good. We ordered several things to share, including Creamy Rose Tteokbokki,…read moreTruffle Japchae Noodle, Flaming So Galbi, Yangyum Glaze fried chicken as well as the Soy Garlic friend chicken. Some of the food is to the sweeter side, like the galbi and the yangyum chicken. But tteokbokki and japchae's flavour is on point. And highly recommend their makgeolli flight if you are rice wine lover.

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.

We found a great brunch spot before starting our trip!…read more We were in Nanaimo looking for a nice brunch spot before starting our Vancouver Island road trip, and Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe really hit the spot! We liked how easy the ordering system was. You pick up a menu, choose a table, decide what you want, and then order and pay at the counter. They give you a number, and they bring your food and drinks to your table. It's straightforward. The fresh, local ingredients stood out, and we would recommend this place if you want a tasty and filling meal. The portions were just right for our big appetites. The atmosphere was so relaxed we almost wanted to stay longer. We'd recommend starting the Nanaimo road trip here. Food: 5/5 Must Try! Service: 5/5 (hybrid-service) Kids: 3/5 Presentation: 2/5 Parking: Metered street parking is available throughout the surrounding neighbourhood. Tips: * Inside & outdoor seating available. * Great stop before heading out to explore Vancouver Island. * They have G/F and Vegan options. Would I Return: Yes

Yes, this is the place to eat. I had the hash, which did not appeal in writing but it was popular…read moreso....... Well, I loved it! In fact I spread it out more on the plate just for a good look to try and duplicate it. It was more attractive at serving but I had already dived into it

Wow! Amazing!! It's a real treat when you unexpectedly come…read moreacross a Gem like this Restaurant My wife and I love good Mediterranean food and have had many wonderful meals of such but this one tops them all !! Every aspect of this meal was executed brilliantly It wasn't just dinner it was what we look for in a great experience and our server was a big part of that she was great ! The Atmosphere is old world beauty so comfortable and relaxing even with all activity and conversations Right from the first bit of our baked oyster to the final bit of the ekmek it was incredible and I don't use that word about food often Even the owner goes from table to table checking in and a free liquor a nice touch Just make a reservation and go experience this wonderful place for your self !!!

We showed up without a reservation and they squeezed us in on a very busy night. This is obviously…read morea very popular place and family run. Staff was professional, the owner greeted and welcomed us as we arrived and when we left. Food was outstanding! The lamb was delicious and well seasoned, sides very tasty and the baklava fresh and a great finish to the meal. It's not cheap, but well priced for this level of atmosphere, service and quality of food. Highly recommend...but probably best to call ahead and get a reservation.

Nanaimo had been sorely missing something to really call their own. A dining experience that meets…read morethe expectations of living the finer life. Melange did that with wonderful food, a great atmosphere and service beyond compare in our little town. The owner took time to shake my hand and specifically took time from his duties to welcome us and thank us for coming. Who does that?

Let's start with the ambiance, it was fine. It was nice and clean…read more Service was also fine. Took a little bit of time to get menus and water. The food took quite a while to come out considering there were no more than 14 people in the restaurant. Server was nice and answered the questions we had. BBQ ribs: 3.5/5 tender and fall off the bone. The flavour was ok. The sauce was good but the meat itself wasn't flavored well without the sauce. Chicken liver parfait: 5/5 this was my highlight. Generous portion of liver. Beautifully plated with sweet, savoury, components including different textures. Bread was soft, fluffy and warm. Jamaican jerk chicken rice ice bowl: 2/5 Came a bit confusing. We had to clarify with the sever that this was indeed the jerk chicken bowl. Nothing screamed Jamaican. It was more Taiwanese fried chicken with a kicked up Tabasco sauce on top of Chinese fried rice with a bit of dry jerk seasoning sprinkled into it. Flavor wise, it wasn't bad but Jamaican jerk flavours it was not. For $26 I wanted full Jamaican flavours. Would I come back? Probably not. Would I stop people from going? Also probably not.

We finally had to find out what all the hype was about!…read more We kept seeing this Japanese restaurant get top ratings and heard it was really popular in Nanaimo, so we decided to try it for ourselves. Was it actually worth all the hype? We ordered the Sora Omakase Sashimi (8 types, chef's choice) along with a few other special rolls, and the sashimi was the real star of the show. The fish was incredibly fresh and generously thick-cut, with a great variety of premium sashimi. We were impressed by the creativity, generous portions, and presentation. Compared to other sushi places we've tried in the city, the quality and attention to detail here really made a difference. The prices are a bit higher than some other restaurants on the island, but after tasting the food, we thought the quality made it worth it. If you love sashimi, we especially recommend trying their sashimi options. There are plenty of premium choices. The restaurant itself has a modern-chic atmosphere, and it was BUSY. We saw a mix of locals, visitors, and a steady stream of takeout orders. Despite the crowd, our food came out surprisingly quickly, and the quality stayed top-notch. Whether you want a casual sushi night for two or a place to celebrate with a group, the menu has enough variety to please everyone. We came in wondering if the hype was real, and left understanding exactly why it's so popular. Honestly, Nori deserves the 5 stars from us. We're not the Michelin Guide, but we can definitely see why people are talking about it. Food: 5/5 Must Try! Service: 5/5 Kids: 4/5 Presentation: 4/5 Parking: 3/5 Tips: * Reservations are highly recommended. * Walk-ins are accepted, but be prepared for a potentially long wait during busy times. * The menu is extensive, so take your time deciding. * Great option for everything from date night to group celebrations. Would I Return: Yes ‍

All aspects are wonderful. The food is exceptional and service and ambiance are perfectread more