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.

Great ambiance and delicious food. Service was great Kelly I believe was our server and was super…read morefriendly.

While walking by the harbourfront, we saw this nice little place and we wanted to try it. Cod fish…read moreand chips was delicious, I wish the cod serving was bigger. Seafood chowder was yummy too. The staff were amazing so that made it even better.

I got off my cruise ship and headed to Trollers first because I was starving for some fried…read moreoysters. The menu item was marked "Sold Out". Looks like a pleasant place for a meal right on the water, sigh...

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!

Great country pub... delicious food and fabulous service. Enjoyed wonderful times at the Crow &…read moreGate Pub!

The place is cute, but your really paying for the ambiance. The food is very average, the beef dip…read morewas more like heated up deli meat and tough to chew, and my partner had the burger and described it as so greasy is kept sliding out of the buns. The service is friendly but if you're not willing to wait you'll probably have to sit inside on a nice day.

Good, fresh, healthy food with gluten free chowder as a BONUS! Love it!! I can never find a gluten…read morefree chowder in my locality.

We were looking for a healthy lunch spot after indulging in one too many delicious Nanaimo Bars and…read moreGabriel's turned out to be the perfect antidote to our sugar overload! It's a casual restaurant with mostly indoor tables, but we were able to snag a table in the small parklet in front of the restaurant. We ordered two bowls - the Malaysian Peanut bowl and the Tunisian Tagine bowl. Both were delicious, but the Malaysian Peanut bowl was particularly tasty - rich, warm, with veggies and choice of meat. It's true that the bowls are probably about 70% rice, 30% everything else, so they aren't exactly "light" fare. I think since we weren't starving, we could have shared one bowl and been satisfied. All the ingredients tasted super fresh and nothing was overly salted or oily. Extra bonus that the Cafe is super close to the everything downtown, and directly across the street from the Nanaimo Museum. Overall, a great spot for lunch or brunch in Nanaimo!

1. I went here over the course of several days on vacation and enjoyed it…read more 2. They make a solid macchiato which I had several of. 3. It's in a cool old train station building and has both indoor and outdoor seating.

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

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.

arriving at mon petit choux around 2:30 pm, i noticed a handwritten note on the front door: the…read morekitchen was closed for the day, but drinks and pastries were still available. exactly what i wanted anyway. stepping inside, the comforting scent of freshly baked bread wrapped around me like a warm hug. the interior immediately draws you in, robin's egg blue banquettes curve around small marble tables, paired with dark wood chairs and deep red flooring. charcoal walls trimmed with subtle gold details give the space a slightly vintage, old world charm feel, softened by leafy plants and framed artwork. it's cozy without being fussy, elegant without ever feeling stiff. the barista greeted me with a genuinely warm smile, answering my questions with patience and ease. there was no rush, no performative cheer, just the kind of friendly, attentive presence that makes you feel comfortable settling in. it's a small thing, but it set the tone for the entire visit. by mid afternoon, the pastry case was understandably a little sparse, with the almond croissants already gone. i grabbed the last chocolate croissant and ordered a matcha latte with oat milk. after paying, the barista offered to warm the croissant and bring it over to my table, a thoughtful, relaxed touch that matched the gentle pace of the room. when my order arrived, the matcha latte carried a subtle, unexpected peachy note, light and refreshing, though not quite to my taste. the chocolate croissant, lightly warmed, had a slight crunch exterior that gave way to soft layers, and a rich dark chocolate filling. it wasn't ultra flaky, nor chewy, but it was baked in house with care. as i prepared to leave, i was offered a baguette or focaccia to take home, another generous gesture that left a lasting impression. even though the latte wasn't a personal favourite, mon petit choux is a genuinely welcoming, quietly charming spot i'm already looking forward to returning to, especially for brunch. it's the kind of café where you linger a little longer than planned, where the space itself encourages you to slow down, and where the city outside feels momentarily hushed.

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!