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 !

By far the best Polish food I've had in North America. We tried the sausage, all five flavors of…read moreperogies, sauerkraut, borscht, and slaw. I wish this place were closer to home. If we lived closer, I would have gone back and purchased one of their many frozen options like their perogies or soup (they even have kapusniak!!!!!). Alas, the frozen food wouldn't have survived our trip home. The combo plate comes with your choice of perogies (you can get one of each or all one flavor), two small rounds of bread, sour cream, a sausage link, small pieces of bacon, onions, sauerkraut, and slaw. One bite and I felt like my Polish ancestors were somewhere dancing to Polka. Everything was so well seasoned and tasty. The borscht was delicious, and I don't even like borscht. The perogies were better than any I've had in Seattle. They also have a small selection of sweets and other prepackaged food. We enjoyed a chocolate-covered plum candy for dessert. When I think about the most memorable meals I had on a recent trip to Victoria and Nanaimo, the Hungry Rooster is number 1 on my list.

I ordered delivery one time and loved my meal! The pirogies and sausage were great. I love…read moresauerkraut. I love borscht. It was all really good! I have tried to order from there several times since and quite frankly I'm not sure if they really want any business. They are closed three days out of the week and only open minimal hours Tuesday to Friday. They are closed by 6 o'clock for this, I would like to give them zero stars, except that their food was really good. The other serious complaint I have is their borscht is way too expensive! $11 for one serving? For that price, you can get double the amount at most other places that have borscht. Costco has a really good borsch as well that you can get two containers (4 servings) for that price.

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.

We came here for the Reuben and were not disappointed! Thankfully we decided to split the sandwich…read more(with fries) and added the Little Gem salad. Wow! What a great combination and great flavours! Plenty enough for lunch for two people. The meat on the Reuben was so juicy and flavourful and the Little Gem salad was amazing. We throughly enjoyed our meal. The service was great; quick, friendly and welcoming. I would definitely come here again when back in Nanaimo.

Some of the best cod and chips I've had! The halibut was no slouch either, it's up there on my…read morelist. Nice peaceful dock with a harbor view, pet friendly patio, what more could you want? Beer, I guess. Otherwise, as good as it gets.

This fish and chips / seafood spot is fairly touristy in a prime location, and what is special…read moreabout this place is that it is on a floating dock. We got the 2pc halibut fish and chips which was a bit pricy over the cod since I've always had fish and chips with cod so I wanted to try something different. It came with fries and Cole slaw, both of which were okay. They were very stingy with the tartar sauce so it was barely enough for the fish only, and I typically like to dip my French fries with tartar sauce when I eat fish and chips instead of ketchup. And extra sauce is $1. When I'm already paying almost $30 for the order, at least be a bit more generous and not nickel and dime. Also, the fish is decent texture, meaty, but a bit dry, so it was a little underwhelming of a meal.

We visited Bocca Cafe as our second stop out of three for Nainaimo Bars. This is a pretty cozy…read morecafe, with only a couple of tables and seats for people to relax in. When we visited on a rainy Monday afternoon and there were a couple of people inside, sipping on coffee and working. Traditional Nanaimo ($5.99) - This Nanaimo Bar is very thin, about half the height as compared to Bar 1. It shears while cutting, causing pieces to break off in chunks rather than cleaning going through. This happens to both the icing in the middle and the top and I'm not sure what causes it. The top layer has a nice rich chocolatety taste. The bottom layer has finer coconut shreds and a nice cocoa flavor, mixed with crushed silvered almonds for nuttiness and crunch. The layer is able to easily shatter. It's dry and almost powdery in texture. The middle icing isn't that noteworthy other than being sweet. As a whole, the bar is hefty, hard and very dense. It's very sweet. (3/5) Salted Caramel Nanaimo ($5.99) - This is similar in texture to the traditional with the same shattering grittiness. The middle layer is caramel icing and top layer has some flaky salt sprinkled on top. Otherwise again it's very sweet and crumbly. (3/5) I can't say I was a huge fan of these Nanaimo bars. They are definitely higher quality than the last bakery we visited, but they are a bit too dry, gritty, and powdery for my tastes. Based on my enjoyment of the food, I would normally give Bocca Cafe a 3 star rating, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and raise them to a 4, especially because the employees were very nice. Maybe i just don't like Nanaimo bars that much! Washrooms - One unisex room.

Bocca Cafe was pretty empty when we stopped in, but the ambiance was cozy. The interior had…read morecolorful walls, covered in art for sale. They also had some cute holiday decorations. I ordered a Matcha Latte and my boyfriend got a Dirty Chai Latte, which were both tasty and came in large mugs. We also ordered a Caramel Brownie to share. The brownie was super decadent and rich, but delicious. I was glad we only ordered one for two people. Service was friendly and reasonably fast. Overall, cute cafe - would return!

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!

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

This place is bright and cheery, and we found the staff delightful and personable. This was a stop…read moreoff before grabbing the ferry but it was so good I imagine our family will return! They have hands down the best Nanaimo bars I have ever tasted! I didn't grab a picture of those because they were devoured, but we also enjoyed our cortados

I love this place. Great atmosphere--reminds me of Japan with the work stations. But more than…read moreambiance, the baristas are friendly, and the coffee is excellent. Great pour over selection if you're a snob like me, and also great options for the espresso coffee lovers. Took my fellow snobs and have also taken my instant coffee lovers, and everyone likes it. Go check it out, it's worth it

Didn't expect much from the food here as the servers seem hot and annoyed... BUT…read moreOrdered tomato soup which was absolutely fantastic tasty spicy beautiful served with great baquette. Ordered salad Nicole's - another rave! Lovingly chopped potatoes,cucumber,boiled egg,tuna, with a lovely lemon dressing. Best food ate all weekend in Nanaimo.

Solid French bakery and brunch spot in Nanaimo. We only mostly wanted to try a pastry for a quick…read morebite, as well as some coffee, to start the day. You order in front for pastries and coffee only, or sit down and someone will assist you if you want a full meal. We got the tomato pastry with salad add on since the salad was only 3 or so CAD extra for a more satisfying meal. We tried the drip coffee and red eye (basically drip coffee with extra espresso shot) and both are so strong that we barely finished them. The tomato pastry was good, very flaky and buttery. Water is self serve. Service could be better as they only gave a set of utensils and had trouble flagging someone down to get another set so I had to eat with a spoon. Restrooms are single stall which can be a huge wait when the restaurant is busy.

The new owner at Nellie's European Deli is wonderful, kind and accommodating. He makes great…read moresandwiches and soups. This store now stocks many European items everything from sweets to European cheeses, meats and even Scandinavian pickled herring. I wish they had more lunchtime patio seating or even some indoor seating. Good fresh made food!

Terrible food! I ordered German potato salad for a Family Reunion and it was horrible with too…read moremuch salt taste. I also ordered the Almond cake which was dry and no one ate it as well. The apple cake was the only edible dish. I returned the food and $140.00 later, the owner tells me too bad!