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

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.

Discovering another gem in downtown Nanaimo Modern café is nestled in a heritage site built in…read more1910. They bring a fresh twist to classic comfort food using locally sourced ingredients. We stopped by for brunch and indulged in the Modern Acai Berry Bowl ($16) and the Modern Breakfast ($18). Whether you're in the mood for brunch, lunch, or dinner, this all-day dining lounge has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this unique spot! The Modern Cafe 221 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5GB 11:30-9pm (open till 10 on weekends) Food Parking 4.5/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 5/5

I was visiting Nanaimo for the first time and had brunch here with a large group, it wasn't super…read morebusy and I appreciated the service. I thought it was a decent brunch place however felt that the dish was a bit heavy -- big portion though. The duck while there was a decent amount in the hash, didn't have anything special to it and tasted like a regular pulled meat. I did like the addition of pineapple as that was something I hadn't seen before and the potatoes were pretty good! Overall, for the price point ($26), it's definitely not a go-to for me if I lived in the area however it's a nice spot to visit if you're on the island for a getaway.

This Is one of the best restaurants I have been to in nanaimo. The decor is awesome. The couches…read moremake me feel at home. The service is the best I have ever had. Yes the menu is huge, but it's a good read! Paul was amazing, instead of picking off the menu he just asked what kind of meat I wanted and he did the rest. The kangaroo was amazing! Everything was so well prepared! Tip: try the Pharaoh cocktail, sooo good. Also I don't like coffee but when I have it it's with cream and sugar.....stay for coffee at the end of your meal, with no milk, it's a blend of 3 different beans and it's so yummy! The previous review on this place should be erased... How can you even put a review on a place you didn't even go into, live a little! yes the menu is intimidating but Paul makes it easy. Try it, u won't regret it!

This is by far the WORST restaurant I have ever been to. Allow me to recount …read more.. My friend took me here because she had been told by a few people that it was a Nanaimo gem. We walked into the 'restaurant' and were immediately greeted by an unpleasant odor. The room was decorated with both office furniture and mismatched sofas from the 80's. We were a little surprised, but decided to take an office chair by the window. Paul (the owner) greeted us and gave us some plastic menus as well as a few copies of his poetry books to browse. In between fits of giggles, we couldn't help but notice that the entire room was covered in dust, dirt and food particles (some of which I had to wipe off my seat before taking it). We sort of shrugged and thought 'well maybe it's one of those quirky places that are slightly sketchy but serve the most amazing food' ... Paul insisted that we choose a meat; lamb, chicken, beef or pork, and he would make us a special curried dinner. He brought over glasses of ice water crusted with food particles, some of which floated amongst the ice cubes and our glasses of wine, also sprinkled with a few complimentary crumbs. We managed to fish out most of the debris and take a few sips when our food came. My underdone and very pink lamb swam in a pool of watery instant rice while my friends' beef took some serious elbow grease to cut through and even more to chew. The veggies were covered in jarred salsa and peppered with a generic italian seasoning mix. After peeling off the VEGGIE STICKER from my yam and taking a few tentative bites, I decided to switch and try the noodles. Rice and noodles!? Yup. They were covered in this strange mayo, peanut, mustard sauce and totally inedible. There were but two choices: RUN or, ask if we could have our bill, gently explain that the food was abysmal and leave. We chose the latter and after still being charged $30 (my friend is a very kind person and paid as I opened my mouth to say we weren't paying a cent) we RAN!! I would like the epilogue this novel by saying that I do know what I am talking about, food-wise. Seven years in the service industry will do that, and although I can be a bit food snobby, I love to experience new and interesting food, even if the atmosphere is a little grotty. This was scary. Avoid at ALL costs

Things just got better - a whole lot better - for craft beer lovers in Nanaimo…read more Craft Fare is a welcome addition to the local beer scene. With sixteen taps offering an excellent array of BC craft ales and beers, there is something for everyone. On our first visit, there were six IPA's plus a blond ale, a session ale, two pale ales, an oat ale, a guava ale, a sour, a stout, and two craft ciders. And with revolving taps, beer lovers will definitely keep coming back. Sixteen ounce sleeves are $6, a very reasonable price when one can pay almost $8 for a smaller sleeve at many craft breweries on Vancouver Island and more in Vancouver. Hungry? Craft Fare offers a limited but well thought out selection of pub grub, from Gram's Nuts and Bolts ($2.50) to Po Boy sandwiches ($14) or Baked Mac and Cheese three ways ($14 to $16.50) if you're looking for a full on meal. My Meatballs ala Beanie ($10.50) was excellent, but my partner's Protein Packed Peppers ($10.50) were bland and a little bitter, perhaps from not fully rinsing the quinoa before cooking? A little tweaking on these stuffed peppers and they could be a winner. All in all, great share plates and larger dishes for bigger appetites. The service is friendly and attentive - we were surprised how quickly we were served considering only two people were working the front area during Friday supper, a very busy time. It was busy and it was loud, perhaps a little too loud for some. Again, some acoustic panels might knock down the decibels a few notches for those who wish to have a conversation. We'll be back soon. Recommended.

I found it, the place that my be enough to make someone (buzzed me) brave the winters in Nanaimo…read more My wife quickly reminded me that I whine when the weather drops below 50 degrees in Tennessee. BUT amazing beer, great food and a charming staff and atmosphere. (Googling electric underwear).

A terrific place, with great people and food. My go to place to relax and enjoy the environmentread more

This neighborhood pub that also serves food will not let an almost 19 years old eat lunch with his…read moredad. Very unfriendly. A family group wanted to go here. But because one family member wasn't allowed, we went somewhere else.

English style pub is a cut or two above the rest, thanks to good food and a helpful staff…read more THE ROSES: If you're an Anglophile, Fox and Hounds is a great pub to visit. Wonderful olde English atmosphere. Very good selection of beers on tap. Staff is very helpful in setting up patrons with dishes that allow for dietary restrictions (like gluten intolerance). What I particularly liked is that they were able to make fish and chips for me that was panko breaded rather than battered. I know battered fish and chips is the 'English' way, but few restaurants this side of the Atlantic get battered fish right. All too often it's too much batter, or the fish is really greasy. I didn't feel like taking a chance, so the kitchen breaded my fish and it was really nicely done. The bread pudding is also a standout. THE THORNS: None worth mentioning. THE VERDICT: Fox and Hounds is one of those rare pubs that puts as much (or more?) thought into their food as they do their beer. It's a wonderful 'little bit 'o Britain' in the quiet backwater town of Ladysmith BC Highly recommend!

Pretty bad experience here. The chalk board in the foyer…read morelisted a Belgian Ale as the special of the day, and my friend and I both ordered it. Unfortunately, we were served two Mexican Lagers instead. After patron at a neighboring table also ordered the same beer, but was given something entirely different, not a lager, but also not the expected ale. Both the server and the bartender were friendly but totally incompetent. The bartender said she never even looks at the specials chalk board in the foyer, which is actually a necessity for her job, and that they were out of the ale and were given the new revolving beer. The lager I was given had soured a bit as well. Whenever I'm traveling and find fish and chips made with cod I get the plate, as I did at this establishment. Both me and one other person who ordered the fish and chips agreed that it was not cod at all. It had none of the characteristics of cod, and the beer batter was not flakey but overcooked, hard and crunchy. Nice ambiance however.

Lovely, friendly service and a delicious meal on Gabriola, a beautiful island near Nanaimo.read more

The pub review A little pub in the middle of Gabriola…read moreIsland, looks like your typical rough-around-the-edges spot... and then the food comes out and you're like wait, what?! So good.