Knowing the western side of Vancouver Island is known for great seafood options, we selected the…read moreGreat Room to try some! The hostess was was very nice and gave us a table with a view (which I'm sure would have been striking if it hadn't been dark unfortunately). Still, we ordered prawns and a 1/2 dozen oysters to start off with a bottle of Blue Mountain Sauvignon Blanc. (i wasn't nervous about the oysters as the north pacific is clean for raising them). For dinner my partner opted for the chicken platter that she really enjoyed; lots of fresh components and interesting small side portions. I had the scallops and pork belly that I have never had before, but would absolutely have again here. Add this restaurant to your list whether staying in the lodge or not. I agree reservations are a good idea unless you plan to go in an off time.

Dined at the Great Room as part of our 3 day amazing stay at Long Beach Lodge Resort. They are…read moreavailable for brunch, Happy Hour, and dinner with reservations highly recommended. We came for dinner and the view of Cox Bay is unbelievable! We got to watch the sunset and it was incredible. Too bad they don't have an outdoor patio but considering the rain, wind, and storm weather in Tofino, there's probably a reason why. Decor and ambiance is cozy, elegant, airy, and timeless elegance. Service here is attentive and warm. We ordered the house made bread to start (small comes with 6 pieces) with sourdough and charred leek butter. This was really homey and comforting. I ordered the Shrimp Carbonara for my entree and my partner got the Crispy Chicken sandwich. The shrimp carbonara take on the dish is served with udon noodles, shrimp, smoked black cod, butternut squash and topped with soft egg in a miso butter, garlic, chili, and parmesan sauce. The dish was hearty, filling, flavourful, yet not too heavy. It really hit the spot and I enjoyed it quite a bit. My partner enjoyed his huge Crispy Chicken sandwich and was thrilled that they had enough hot sauce on the chicken for some kick. Come for the views, food, or service - you can't go wrong. They also currently have a special multi-course for under $50/person from 5pm to 6pm.

Could not be happier that the Arbutus Lounge exists (and the distillery) in our town. This place…read morerivals the best quality cocktails I've had in major cities, and when you factor in the INCREDIBLY low price, it truly can't be beat. From the classic martini to the weird and wonderful Where the Wild Things Are, and everything in between, the drink list is unique and exciting with something for everyone. The mixologists are amazing, and they even have board games and snacks available. They also do a happy hour, but I can never get there in time so can't speak to it. By far the best kept secret in Nanaimo!

Just discovered this place! Awesome craft cocktails from a serious mixologist. Never even knew this…read moreplace was here, as it's kinda hiding out of sight on a bit of an industrial park road. Nice cozy eclectic atmosphere with herbs and flowers drying all around. The cocktail menu is lengthy and def has something for everyone. Each drink has a chart letting you know sweet, herbal, boozy, etc. Not very busy on a Friday night, I imagine people haven't discovered it just like we didn't! Check it out!

A complete flop of an experience. Nice looking place inside…read morethe black rock resort. The nice ended there. Drinks were overly sweet. Food was meh. Fish and chips - cod was so greasy. Watermelon salad dressing was thin and tasted weak. Worst of all was the service. Totally forgot to enter our orders. Had to ask for appetizer plates twice. They took silverware and didn't replace. Had to ask for more. By the time we left we were eager to just have leave and never look back. And all this with a cavalier "you're lucky we even let you enter here" kind of attitude. Needless to say, not recommended. Always like to spend my money at places that feel like they have to earn it.

Pricing very reasonable for this outstanding food! The deep-fried Ling Cod is as good as it gets:…read more fried in FRESH oil, thinly battered, and cooked to just the right done-ness so it was tasty, flaky, and not greasy. As good as any halibut we've had anywhere, including fresh off the boat in Alaska. Four of us ate there and were all raving about what we had. Geoff Johnson was the entertainer the evening we were there, who played a variety of wonderful songs and played them well, all by himself.

We didn't have reservations but we arrived right when the restaurant opened at 5:00 p.m. and they…read morewere able to seat us right away. We got a beautiful spot on the patio and I loved how they had heaters to keep us warm. We started with some appetizers and they were absolutely amazing. I especially loved the octopus. For means we got the salmon which was a daily special. Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavors were amazing. ​​​​​​​​​

Wow! We had a reservation for Wolf in the Fog our last night in Tofino and it couldn't have been…read morebetter! The entire place felt elevated but cozy - our table was upstairs under beautiful wooden beams and big windows overlooking the town. The vibe was lively but not too loud on a Tuesday evening. Service started out wonderfully and we regularly received fresh table settings between courses, however we had a switch in waitstaff later in the meal and it was incredibly slow at the end. No big deal since we weren't in a rush but something to note that it could be hit or miss. The food, on the other hand, was 100% on point. We ordered the potato crusted oyster appetizer and I was blown away - innovative and delicious. For my main, I got the halibut in a curry sauce that was just perfection. My friends tried the sea board, seaweed salad, and scallop gratin, and loved all of it. This meal was a highlight of our vacation.

I had little context when arriving with a group of 7 to a restaurant that planned to seat 8 of us…read moreat 2 tables. They had expressly stated that they did not "do" large tables of 8. We were confused. Our organizer's assistant had set this up. I was just along for the ride. What a ride it turned out to be. The reason they don't do tables of 8 became obvious when we realized that this was a 2 star Michelin star restaurant that didn't have the stars yet. Pretty hard to get the folks at Michelin to wander into Uculet BC. Trust me when I say - it doesn't matter if they've been anointed by the rubber tire makers, they qualify in any event. They graciously accommodated our slightly diminished group of 7 at one cobbled together table. This is a world class dining room entirely contained within the floor plate of a 20th century home. It likely holds about 20 people per seating. The kitchen pumps out tasty pieces of art. The artists studio is naturally designed for intimacy, not rambunctious conference attendees. They bent the rules and pushed the limits of the kitchen to ensure we all got to experience the service as designed. They pulled it off. The photos below give you a glimpse into the menu. It clearly ebbs and flows with the seasons, and they were also able to accommodate needed dietary restrictions. Claire, our lovely server, took the time to ask each of our names, and then used them correctly throughout the evening. We were no longer strangers, we were guests in this former home. It happened to be Claire's last night before she left on a personal hiatus. I hope they can find someone as lovely to replace her. The food was tasty and beautiful. The wine pairings were sublime (with one slight miss) and the chef's amuse bouche and little delights were woven into the experience in a way that surprised and delighted us throughout. If you enjoy world class, and you find yourself in Tofino or Uculet - make the effort and head over to Pluvio. 4.9/5

Best to make a reservation and arrive on time, not earlier cause the restaurant is quite small…read more There's no place to wait. We had the set menu. The food!! Or shall we say the ART! Everything is surprising. Delicious, super creatively crafted and fresh. It definitely an experience, that satisfies all your senses. I love that they also give you some little treats between your five courses and everything adds up together you're perfectly full.

We have been to the AQUA Bistro a few times for afternoon appys and to try some of their signature…read morebeverages. Went to Ocean7 restaurant to give the finer dining side a try. For the most part it was very good, but fell short of a five star experience. With reservations we were seated quickly in the restaurant which was decorated for the holiday season. First thing I noticed is haw far I sunk into the seat, and I'm not a big dude. Second thing I noticed was the dirty wine glass in front of the lovely K. They took it away when it was noted with another off the table, but did not replace them. Our guests arrived and as locals they had been here on occasion and spoke highly of the place. Drinks were ordered and came out along with a bottle of wine. Still only two wine glasses, which our waiter offered to fetch, but I just gave mine to K. Should've already been dealt with. Both couples ordered the Caesar salad which we were told was big enough to share, and was. Pretty good salad, but the romaine was left large enough you had to cut it with a knife to get it anywhere close to bite sized. The entrees were good, a couple of chicken two ways, a lamb, and an eight ounce strip loin. My chicken was a little over and had no real carbohydrate on the plate. K's steak was cut right down the middle, for presentation, which she does not like as the steak cools too quickly. Overall it was good, not fantastic. I also noted the AC/ heat above our table needed a vacuum as it was very dusty, a little thing, but it's blowing air down on us. We'd give it another go, but there are things to improve upon.

We are staying at this resort and decided to try the Aqua Bistro attached to it. We are so glad we…read moredid! Our server, Jocelyn was professional and cordial. She made excellent recommendations. We both had the Korea Fried Chicken and Rice Bowls. Delicious! For mixed drinks we had an Old Fashion and Lycee Martini. The inside has adequate seating and a well stocked bar. We had a delightful time here!

We have had many great Sunday Brunches. Staff are wonderful and so are the drinks and foodread more

Omg!! First time ever being there. Service was great and our…read morewaiter answered all our questions about the menu, Food was phenomenal!! No wonder there is always a wait time to get on. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We had lunch at Flora's today. Three of us had the salmon wellington and one had a hamburger. We…read morewere all happy with our meal. The salmon wellington was amazing. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a tasty salsa and yummy sauce. The service was great and the patio was perfect for the warm day.

the much anticipated cod burger is served on a large and…read moretasty bun, however the amount of fish is disappointing to say the least; A single child's fish stick worth of cod. Although my first visit to this restaurant was enjoyable and the food hot and delicious. My subsequent visits have included tepid ribs and takeout items.

Love the place very friendly and good serves the owner is a a hoot a great person I recommend it…read morehighly give it a try and tell her Leo says Hi

Had SO much fun!! Delicious cocktails, clean comfortable space, and the staff are the best. Thanks…read moreto Jason for taking care of us on our night out in Nanaimo! We had the best time! Love forever! ^_^

Loved this place! Excellent breakfast and service. I substituted fruit for the hash browns and…read moreexpected what I typically get from most American restaurants, a tiny dish with 5 small, unripe pieces of pale melon and a grape or two. I was so surprised when our server brought a giant dish of the best fruit salad I've ever had - with every type of ripe, delicious, fruit included. Seriously, I was trying to figure out which fruits were not included, and every time I thought of one, I'd find a piece of that fruit. Two thumbs up for this place! If we are ever in town again, we will be back!!

We had a killer brunch here last week. I had the Fraser Valley Skillet and highly recommend it. The…read moreonly thing that could have heightened the experience would be having a better hot sauce than Frank's!