Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe
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I had high hopes! But, when you have to tip before you get your food, it's always a gamble, and this bet didn't pay off unfortunately. The avocado toast was very meh, but definitely not seasoned that much, if at all (prob not at all). The bread/toast used for it was completely lackluster and boring. If you're preaching local, then I'm sure there's better bread than this (and it came out ice cold too). Is Salt and pepper absent from the kitchen? Did someone with no tastebuds or experience cooking make my dish? The pan fries were OLD! As in they were prepped days earlier and then reheated/fried for a few minutes in a pan. They looked old, they tasted like leftovers, and were a huge disappointment. Not sure what everyone else has eaten here before, but for a breakfast spot, these were awful. For a place that specializes in all day breakfast and preaches eating and supporting local, wow, do better. Your customers deserve it. Maybe if the cook (definitely not a chef) paid more attention to his cooking and not his phone, the quality would improve (just maybe though)
Eclectic selections for breakfast, brunch and lunch in the old part of Nanaimo, which is one of our favourite areas. It's a little unusual in that you grab a menu, join the queue, order and pay at the counter and then find a seat. They had two tills on the go, which made for a speedy process, but I could see it getting a little slow if they got a rush. The food came out quickly, nice and hot and tasty. Would have liked to see ice at the self serve water station, as I prefer ice cold water, but it's a mere quibble. The seating is communal, and although sturdy and easy to clean is a little uncomfortable, perhaps by design. We would come back again to explore more of the menu next time in Nanaimo.
The breakfast menu is a testament to their farm-to-table philosophy, featuring locally sourced meat, eggs, and vegetables. Each dish I've tried has been a flavorful adventure, from the hearty Ian Staple with its perfectly cooked eggs and savory in house made bread, hash browns, scrambled eggs and their pancake was absolutely delicious! Their service was attentive and polite, ambiance is cozy!
What happens when you have a couple of hours to spare before your ferry ride back to the mainland? Look up must-eat places in Nanaimo, which was how I found Gabriel's Cafe. We parked in the nearby library parking lot and made the one minute walk across the street. We had hit the lunch rush hour, but we were told there were still spots available, albeit at the long communal table. Basic premise of this hip cafe spot: order with the cashier, receive a flag number, find an empty spot, and people watch until your order arrives. I saw the Malaysian Peanut Sauce Rice Bowl and felt a craving for rice and peanut sauce that I didn't realize I had. My jaw nearly hit the floor when my order came: for the price I paid and for this type of establishment, the portion was huge. It was one of the rare times I could not finish my meal, and had to leave half the rice behind. I chose the organic tofu option paired with brown rice. It felt like a healthy hearty meal and only half the bowl was loaded with peanut sauce, so in essence I could stick to the parts of the bown that weren't overloaded with peanut sauce. (Or if you like your rice soaked in peanut sauce, you can give the rice bowl a good stir). Overall, Gabriel's looks like one of those hipster restaurants. A mixture of individual table seating with one long communal table. Where you order ahead of time and then find a spot to sit (though someone does keep an eye on capacity, and informs patrons if the restaurant is full and suggests they get their order to go). The tables are arranged in a snug and tight manner, but it seems to lend more charm to the place, and I did strike up a few brief conversations with the patrons beside me, which (according to the sign) is the restaurant's intent. The food is your delicious farm to table goodness, and a worthy spot to visit if you find yourself in Nanaimo.
Large space indoors and plenty of patio seating as well, which was awesome considering they don't take reservations. We stopped by for brunch on a Sunday and managed to get a table for 5 before we caught our ferry back home. You order at the counter, get a table number and then your food is brought out to you. This seems to be a popular way of restaurant service in Nanaimo as the only place we went to also used this method. Portions are very generous and I was absolutely stuffed after eating. Two of us got the Jingle pot (sausages, ham, oyster mushrooms), the other two the lucid, and we also got a Kimchi salad bowl. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, comments included: Jingle pot toppings could have been better split. I had 2 tiny pieces of oyster mushroom but tons of sausages in my bowl whereas my friend got tons of mushrooms but almost no sausages. They were able to accommodate modifications (spicy mayo on the side) but could improve on their QC (also asked for no cilantro, and the server confirmed no cilantro when the dish was dropped off, but there was cilantro inside). Kimchi bowl was colourful and pretty looking. Server came to check in on us at a reasonable time after the dishes were dropped off which gave us time to actually try it and provide a genuine response.
3.5/5 Stopped by Nanaimo during my recent trip to BC with family, and went to Gabriel's for brunch before our drive to Victoria after seeing very good reviews for this place. Arriving on a Tuesday 11am, there was a small lineup of about 10 minutes. You order at the front counter before finding a seat, though I've seen people fighting for tables before having someone as a representative to order...which is not how restaurants should operate given current health guidelines. They check for your vaccine passport while you order at the front counter if you specify you're dining in. I had the Mt. Benny, my dad had the Jinglepot, and my mom had the Left Coaster. The general consensus from everything that we ordered was "good, but nothing that blew us away". The jinglepot portion was huge though, so keep that in mind if you plan to order it. Always nice to support local businesses though. For a city this size I do think Gabriel's does its job well, it does kinda punch above its weight for a diner. The organization could be a bit better, especially given the current health guidelines and ensuring everyone inside is fully vaccinated.
We headed to Nanaimo downtown to board the Harbour Air back to Vancouver. I was looking for a place that had good food and a breakfast option. Gabriel's pictures on Yelp looked delicious and so we decided to head there. We left the house kind of late and we ended up at Gabriel's right on the dot at 3pm. So we missed breakfast. Darn! We ended up ordering from the lunch menu. I ordered the No.12 Pulled pork, coleslaw and brown rice in a whole wheat wrap. I had it subbed it with white rice (because I hated brown rice). Wow the wrap was super yummy. The pulled pork was nice and moist. The portion was very generous. The wrap was inexpensive for $11.25. B and our other friend got the pulled pork sandwich. The sandwich looked really tasty. Lots of pulled pork. How it works at this place is you would go in and order, they will give you a number and then you sit down. Everything else is self-serve. You would grab your own water and napkins. They have some patio seats outside. Good thing is that there isn't a lot of traffic in Nanaimo downtown. Nanaimo is a small peaceful beautiful town. The restaurant is located in the most beautiful part of town already.
2 months ago
2 months ago
Good, fresh, healthy food with gluten free chowder as a BONUS! Love it!! I can never find a gluten free chowder in my locality. read more
Having visited Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe twice now, I'm obsessed. This time we stopped by for a late lunch, and found the restaurant mostly empty. The interior was spacious, with plenty of seating, and mismatched wooden furniture. I loved the moss panels on the walls, and the benches that were made out of old bowling lanes. For food, I ordered the Butter Chicken Rice Bowl. It came with a choice of white or brown rice and housemade apple cranberry chutney, and was absolutely delicious. Everything was so flavorful, and felt healthy despite the generous portion size. I also got a canned Apple Spritzer, which was tasty and refreshing. Gabriel's was just as good (and significantly busier) for breakfast, and the special Benny I got was fantastic. They had a ton of options for all different dietary restrictions, and service was fast and friendly. Would happily return! read more
7 months ago
I had high hopes! But, when you have to tip before you get your food, it's always a gamble, and this bet didn't pay off unfortunately. The avocado toast was very meh, but definitely not seasoned that much, if at all (prob not at all). The bread/toast used for it was completely lackluster and boring. If you're preaching local, then I'm sure there's better bread than this (and it came out ice cold too). Is Salt and pepper absent from the kitchen? Did someone with no tastebuds or experience cooking make my dish? The pan fries were OLD! As in they were prepped days earlier and then reheated/fried for a few minutes in a pan. They looked old, they tasted like leftovers, and were a huge disappointment. Not sure what everyone else has eaten here before, but for a breakfast spot, these were awful. For a place that specializes in all day breakfast and preaches eating and supporting local, wow, do better. Your customers deserve it. Maybe if the cook (definitely not a chef) paid more attention to his cooking and not his phone, the quality would improve (just maybe though) read more
Eclectic selections for breakfast, brunch and lunch in the old part of Nanaimo, which is one of our favourite areas. It's a little unusual in that you grab a menu, join the queue, order and pay at the counter and then find a seat. They had two tills on the go, which made for a speedy process, but I could see it getting a little slow if they got a rush. The food came out quickly, nice and hot and tasty. Would have liked to see ice at the self serve water station, as I prefer ice cold water, but it's a mere quibble. The seating is communal, and although sturdy and easy to clean is a little uncomfortable, perhaps by design. We would come back again to explore more of the menu next time in Nanaimo. read more
The breakfast menu is a testament to their farm-to-table philosophy, featuring locally sourced meat, eggs, and vegetables. Each dish I've tried has been a flavorful adventure, from the hearty Ian Staple with its perfectly cooked eggs and savory in house made bread, hash browns, scrambled eggs and their pancake was absolutely delicious! Their service was attentive and polite, ambiance is cozy! read more
What happens when you have a couple of hours to spare before your ferry ride back to the mainland? Look up must-eat places in Nanaimo, which was how I found Gabriel's Cafe. We parked in the nearby library parking lot and made the one minute walk across the street. We had hit the lunch rush hour, but we were told there were still spots available, albeit at the long communal table. Basic premise of this hip cafe spot: order with the cashier, receive a flag number, find an empty spot, and people watch until your order arrives. I saw the Malaysian Peanut Sauce Rice Bowl and felt a craving for rice and peanut sauce that I didn't realize I had. My jaw nearly hit the floor when my order came: for the price I paid and for this type of establishment, the portion was huge. It was one of the rare times I could not finish my meal, and had to leave half the rice behind. I chose the organic tofu option paired with brown rice. It felt like a healthy hearty meal and only half the bowl was loaded with peanut sauce, so in essence I could stick to the parts of the bown that weren't overloaded with peanut sauce. (Or if you like your rice soaked in peanut sauce, you can give the rice bowl a good stir). Overall, Gabriel's looks like one of those hipster restaurants. A mixture of individual table seating with one long communal table. Where you order ahead of time and then find a spot to sit (though someone does keep an eye on capacity, and informs patrons if the restaurant is full and suggests they get their order to go). The tables are arranged in a snug and tight manner, but it seems to lend more charm to the place, and I did strike up a few brief conversations with the patrons beside me, which (according to the sign) is the restaurant's intent. The food is your delicious farm to table goodness, and a worthy spot to visit if you find yourself in Nanaimo. read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
Large space indoors and plenty of patio seating as well, which was awesome considering they don't take reservations. We stopped by for brunch on a Sunday and managed to get a table for 5 before we caught our ferry back home. You order at the counter, get a table number and then your food is brought out to you. This seems to be a popular way of restaurant service in Nanaimo as the only place we went to also used this method. Portions are very generous and I was absolutely stuffed after eating. Two of us got the Jingle pot (sausages, ham, oyster mushrooms), the other two the lucid, and we also got a Kimchi salad bowl. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, comments included: Jingle pot toppings could have been better split. I had 2 tiny pieces of oyster mushroom but tons of sausages in my bowl whereas my friend got tons of mushrooms but almost no sausages. They were able to accommodate modifications (spicy mayo on the side) but could improve on their QC (also asked for no cilantro, and the server confirmed no cilantro when the dish was dropped off, but there was cilantro inside). Kimchi bowl was colourful and pretty looking. Server came to check in on us at a reasonable time after the dishes were dropped off which gave us time to actually try it and provide a genuine response. read more
2 years ago
The food was incredibly fresh and local with great flavor and taste. The restaurant had so many vegan options and were very kind and sensitive to my dairy allergy. Wish we could go here every week!! Amazing breakfast and lunch spot. read more
1 year ago
3.5/5 Stopped by Nanaimo during my recent trip to BC with family, and went to Gabriel's for brunch before our drive to Victoria after seeing very good reviews for this place. Arriving on a Tuesday 11am, there was a small lineup of about 10 minutes. You order at the front counter before finding a seat, though I've seen people fighting for tables before having someone as a representative to order...which is not how restaurants should operate given current health guidelines. They check for your vaccine passport while you order at the front counter if you specify you're dining in. I had the Mt. Benny, my dad had the Jinglepot, and my mom had the Left Coaster. The general consensus from everything that we ordered was "good, but nothing that blew us away". The jinglepot portion was huge though, so keep that in mind if you plan to order it. Always nice to support local businesses though. For a city this size I do think Gabriel's does its job well, it does kinda punch above its weight for a diner. The organization could be a bit better, especially given the current health guidelines and ensuring everyone inside is fully vaccinated. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Amazing food, really great mimosas! You go into order and then they bring the food to you. We sat outside on the patio with our dog. 5/10 for outside chairs. Plastic chairs that are sturdier than they look. Bathrooms are gendered. read more
We headed to Nanaimo downtown to board the Harbour Air back to Vancouver. I was looking for a place that had good food and a breakfast option. Gabriel's pictures on Yelp looked delicious and so we decided to head there. We left the house kind of late and we ended up at Gabriel's right on the dot at 3pm. So we missed breakfast. Darn! We ended up ordering from the lunch menu. I ordered the No.12 Pulled pork, coleslaw and brown rice in a whole wheat wrap. I had it subbed it with white rice (because I hated brown rice). Wow the wrap was super yummy. The pulled pork was nice and moist. The portion was very generous. The wrap was inexpensive for $11.25. B and our other friend got the pulled pork sandwich. The sandwich looked really tasty. Lots of pulled pork. How it works at this place is you would go in and order, they will give you a number and then you sit down. Everything else is self-serve. You would grab your own water and napkins. They have some patio seats outside. Good thing is that there isn't a lot of traffic in Nanaimo downtown. Nanaimo is a small peaceful beautiful town. The restaurant is located in the most beautiful part of town already. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Amazing food. Nice atmosphere. Friendly & professional staff. Quick service. Would recommend and I'd gladly come back. read more
3 years ago
Came in right when they opened and was super happy we did. Weekdays are a lot easier to get a table, we passed by on a Sunday and oh man the lines were huge! line= must be good right? RIGHT. It was great. We had the pulled pork pancakes and the eggs benny with a side of fruit. Affordable, delicious, and oh yeah.. practicing social distancing! Food can be ordered either on your phone through their site or you can look up the menu on your phone and come to the counter. Tables were spaced properly and staff was on top of cleaning constantly. Perfect little brunch to start off our first day on the Island. read more
3 years ago
This was a good place for a healthy meal. The ambience is casual and the culture is for health junkies. The staff were nice and accommodating. The place offers many healthy options. I got the salmon bowl and the portions were generous. If you like salads or protein bowls, this is your place. There is also a vegan and vegetarian option. read more
6 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
Stepped in here on the way to Tofino and WOW were we happy!! Fantastic menu with breakfast and lunch classics...with a twist! I had to tuna sandwich which was super high quality. Best meal we have had on Vancouver island read more
4 years ago
Deliciousness on a plate! I was impressed by the creative menu, well beyond what I'd imagine from a "breakfast place". Not even halfway through the list I couldn't decide what to pick because I wanted everything. I ended up ordering the Easter Coaster plate, and my partner got one of the daily's specials, some very fancy bennies. The portions were rich and the pairings and flavours irresistible. I left happy and willing to have more. Hopefully soon, next time we'll visit Nanaimo. read more
3 years ago
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Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026
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