Been there three times. Been disappointed each time. Nice enough servers but the food wasn't great, especially when you factor in what you are paying and what that would get you elsewhere. read more

Had a great lunch. The steak portions were done just right, not over cooked. The Greek salad was very fresh, with several pieces of shrimp. The balsamic vinaigrette provided the right balance. The bread was perfectly toasted. All for $13.50. My partner enjoyed her crab and shrimp brioche. Would recommend this cafe. read more

The Modern Cafe - Bars Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Pros: Good place for drinks, nice patio and cool vibe. Cons: Poor service, your empty plates will sit there until you leave. Every time I have gone there I have to go up and pay. Once the server brings your food you won't see them anymore. The burger I had was really bad. Overcooked frozen patty with some basic toppings served with basic frozen fries. Honestly you will get a better burger at Burger King. The kitchen needs to seriously up their game, they are just phoning it in right now. The place needs some help, I've avoid it until they sort things out. read more

We noticed this place while walking in downtown Nanaimo. The outdoor signage has neon with flashing theatrical lights. Large windows in the front made it look inviting. Went for breakfast with my cousin. We sat at a semi circular booth. It wasn't very busy at 10am. The waitress was very pleasant and the food came in a timely manner. We both had the full breakfast. The bacon was great as it was perfectly crispy. The place had a chill ambiance. read more

The Modern Cafe - Full breakfast. Eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast. - Bars Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

This was a horrible experience. We went to the Modern Cafe in July 2019 while we were on a trip to Nanaimo, we have been to the Modern Cafe 10-12 times in the last 20 years, though it had been a few years since our last visit. Before we made it to our seats, I said to my wife, must be different owners, the restaurant looked the same, totally different vibe. Our waiter was a nice enough guy, although he was not a good waiter, restaurant was very slow, pretty late in the evening and our waiter was not very attentive. The food; we shared the hummus that came with crackers and five pieces of stale bread, it was bad, very bad. I had the Lobster Ravioli that was again poor, no flavour, barely warm. My wife had the Clam Chowder and a Side Salad, nothing particularly wrong, nothing to write home about. the biggest issue was the mouse that was running through the restaurant and parked himself under our bench. We did not see it, however, other patrons brought it up and the waitress was surprisingly rude about it and very dismissive. We were given 15% off of our check, not sure why, no one from the restaurant actually spoke to my us about the mouse.. I will be going back to Nanaimo in a week or two and i will go back to the Modern Cafe for breakfast, second review to follow. read more

Super friendly staff, lovely food. Great at sanitising their restaurant! Would recommend

I haven't been for dinner for years but they make a great brunch! The ketchup with the hash browns is amazing and I would love to know how to make it. read more

The presentation on the french toast needed some work but it was delicious :) the service was ok and price was decent

I wonder how this cafe is? Is it gothic? Old Victorian? Or maybe it's MODERN!! How will I ever know!?!? Sorry, little sidebar there. I just find it infinetely amusing when restaurants or any other service providers tell me beforehand how they are. Examples...any resto with the word Delicious, Yummy, Best in their name. You get the picture. As for the Modern Cafe. Well the neon signs outside made me think more of an old school diner but the inside was, well, I guess Modern!! It's a Modern Cafe!! Ok i'll stop now. We were seated quickly and as we walked towards the back a distinct aroma of someone in need of a shower wafted past my nostrils. Oh I'm hungry now!!! It lingered for a good 20min. Not sure if it was another patron or what but...not good. Although I don't blame Modern Cafe for that. After all, they are MODERN!! I had the "Modern Soup Creation of the Moment" (no joke) which was a delicious roasted red pepper with goat cheese. I also had a small cesar that had yummy proscuitto bits on it (take note Minnoz Cafe). Both were delicious although the price point for the portion was a little off ($6-7 each). Service was polite and efficient. I also took a look at what other people were eating and all plates looked delicious. My mocking of their name aside, it is certainly a solid spot for a quick sit down lunch in downtown Nanaimo if you are in town for meetings/conference. read more

Today is a holiday and not much was open except for this place The food was great and the steak was delicious The service was really good Very happy it made a long week better for me I highly recommend this place read more

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All to often you hear people say a place has the best "whatever". The term "best" is thrown around much to freely, without backup or consideration for the real meaning of "the best" Well Modern can hold its head high with the knowledge that they might very well have the best burger around. The patty is home made and season to perfection. The bun is was toasted perfectly the toppings where bold without being over whelming and complete product was perfectly sized and tasty. It is the attention to detail here that makes the difference. The burger is work of art, a simple but perfectly crafted work of art. If you are ever in the area or want to make a trip just to see how things should be done than you will very very happy you did. read more

Visited Wed Nov 11, 2015 party of 2. Pros The only place open on Remembrance Day so it was packed! Spinach salad - It's a warm salad which was interesting. Beef Dip - good as well, no problem. Fish and chips - you get 2 pieces of fish which were good. Cons Another review mentioned a wet dog odour in the left side when you face the kitchen. If they can figure out why it smells, they would have gotten a better star. Service was a bit slow, but hey it was busy. Protip - A stop on the Nanaimo Bar trial, home of the Nanaimo bar martini! Did not get to try it but it sounds interesting. Damage - $45 tip included. read more

Modern Cafe is truly a 3 1/2er,but I'm generous and'll round up. They serve a fab brunch on the weekends and the hollandaise sauce on my Benny was absolutely superb, as well I love a perfectly soft poached egg. They serve a five star cup of tea, any establishment serving Vanilla Bean Mighty Leaf always gets my nod of approval. My date had the special, a Greek omelet that wasn't too shabby either. Our service was outstanding, quick and friendly. So why only four stars? The Modern Cafe has huge potential to be a full fiver with improvements in what my date called "weak coffee tastes like crap" and cheaper prices. read more

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Excellent seafood chowder and Caesar salad, great service Kinda a rough downtown in Nanaimo, avoid the alleys and bring a friend, 2 assaults nearby last night read more

Wow The had a brisket eggs Benny on a crispy potato So delicious was the special for today, we also ordered the crab Benny with arugula so tasty Will be back. Ordered the raspberry Collins not a sweet drink but very refreshing will also order it again. Service was prompt and very friendly. Will come back again. read more

Went here for dinner tonight. My girlfriend got the lobster ravioli and I got the steak with crab bernaise sauce. My girlfriend took a bite from my plate and pulled what looked like a FINGERNAIL out of her mouth. We flagged down the server, who apologized and got us the chef. My girlfriend was visibly upset. He told us that it was a lobster shell and that he would take care of her dinner. We told him we were done and left in a hurry. My girlfriend didn't feel right about his explanation so she called him when we got home and told him that it was from my plate (steak and crab) and not hers. The chef proceeded to get mad at her for "leaving without paying" and then accused her of "putting it there to get a free meal" even though we had only taken no more than three bites each. Unbelievable. read more

Great atmosphere and service. Try the Nanaimo Bartini. Good food and a fair menu selection. A nice stop.

If you're put on a wait list and your number isn't local they don't/can't call you. The restaurant is way too hot. Service was pretty bad, doesn't look like their servers have specific sections so you're just seated and then no one comes to serve you. The food was actually pretty good but I don't think the good outweighed the bad on this one. read more

I love coming to the Modern. Downtown vibe, sitting out on the street or inside this heritage place is such a great experience. Service is always great. I really find the food hit and miss, though, unfortunately. Had a beautiful vegetarian lunch patty one day and next time it was off the menu. This last time one of our party ordered the seafood chowder and it was just a lump of paste, beyond stew even. The coffee was lukewarm. Caesar salad so overdressed. Charcuterie board was good. I'll keep trying but really wish it was more reliable. read more

If you're in Nanaimo I recommend you go. The service and food are top notch. I ordered the steak and crab...deliciousness! Steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned well! Partner had the prawn pasta and was also happy with the choice. read more

Nicest server and hostess I've met in my entire trip of West Coast Canada. We came to Nanaimo on a Sunday to catch a ferry and chose this place because it was recommended for it's Nanaimo Bartini alcoholic drink on the Nanaimo Bar Trail. We really eanted the bar and didn't see it listed on the menu here but then the server answered that we could get the bar right here, when he asked where is open at this time that has it. There Nanaimo Bar is amazing! I would definitely bring this to parties, and in turn, would be the best thing at the party with the accompanying Modern Cafe's Nanaimo Bar. read more

Nice breakfast, no HP sauce, strange for being in Canada Eh! Good service, lots of seating. Good assortment of breakfast options. Good coffee. read more

Had a quick dinner here before grabbing the ferry from Nanaimo. Staff were great and very attentive to the fact that we were in a bit of a rush. The food was very homely and comfort food , a great stop for a rainy evening dinner. I had the veggie Mac n cheese which was delicious! A small portion probably would have been enough for me, although I ordered the full plate. The steak and crab was great value although minus one star for the quality of the meat , it wasn't the greatest. read more

Pretty average food. Didn't feel remotely healthy, lots cream/butter/mayo ingredients to make the meal taste richer. Basically pub food. I had the special BLT wrap (excessive mayo) with red pepper soup (too sweet for me). read more

The food was very good but the service was unimpressive. We had a snooty waiter, way too pretentious, forceful upselling and made us wait at the end while he was chatting at the bar. The other waitress seemed much more attentive to her tables so we might have just gotten the bad apple. read more

Nice room doesn't feel like Nanaimo Nice staff good food been several times and always enjoyed it. It's nice to go to a non chain that is consistent and know what they are doing. read more

The food here is great and desserts are a blast. The last couple times I was there the servers were a bit off; the meals were slow to come out and even the waters and drinks took their sweet time to come out. read more

I was on my way to Vancouver island and found myself making a quick stop in Nanaimo after a 2 hour ferry ride. There wasn't much open in downtown Nanaimo and I definitely needed a meal to keep me satisfied until we got to our destination. We stumbled on the modern cafe and ordered off of their lunch menu. I was nervous because there were only a handful of people in the cafe, but it turned out to be awesome. They had a gourmet version of poutine that had sour cream, bacon and sun dried tomatoes. I had a mac and cheese dish that had a crab cake added on top and my fiance got fish and chips which was huge. All of the dishes were delicious! Definitely a gem in downtown Nanaimo. The staff was super friendly and there was nothing bad to say about the place. read more

I am really loving how they prepare their veggies here. The warm balsamic spinach salad was a treat and was surprisingly more satisfying than the fried oysters. The garden veggies including the yellow beets were gently sautéed in olive oil and stood out more than the lobster ravioli! read more

Great value, ambience and food. Favorite restaurant in Nanaimo. Amazing brunches for $15 and solid entrees from $20 to $28. Try the chicken amd waffles for brunch with a Cesar read more

Not a bad spot for dinner in nanaimo. Friendly staff, decent menu- but a little pricey for the area

I was kind of turned off by the neon signs, thinking it was going to be like some kind of soda fountain - but it was the opposite! Lots of wood, brick and old world character inside. The food was outstanding! We had salads, barley risotto, lobster ravioli, and beer. It was delicious and creative. The vegetables that came with our meal were super fresh and perfectly cooked. Loved this place! read more

Went up for the weekend and our first meal -- brunch on Saturday morning -- was here. Very pleased, all around -- great beni's, spinach salad, french toast. Amazing coffee! While a bit tight and almost "in" the street, the outdoor seating in nice. read more

I've always enjoyed the food here. Everyone I brings has thoroughly enjoyed the food and great setting. Top notch!

Where do I start? From the server indicating that we should've seen the special board outside instead of telling us, to forgetting a drink, lipstick on water glass, forgetting cutlery, and sub par food. There was a hockey team in for a buffet lunch and once they arrived we were totally ignored. If the server has asked how the food was, I would've told her not good. The beef in the beef dip was tough, the bun cold and dry. The dog loved the leftovers. The best part of the meal was the mint lifesaver. Thankfully I don't live here and won't have the option to go back. read more

Modern Cafe food was very good. I had the mac and cheese the first visit, it was great, not the best service though. Second visit was atrocious, waitress took 15 minutes to get me gravy for my fries, and by then the fries were cold. When I explained this to the manager, she flat out lied about it and made comments about my girlfriend. I don't want to spend my time in places that hire liars and manipulators. read more

I have been coming to the Modern cafe on and off for the last 5 or 6 years while on holidays in the area. It is always consistent in their quality of food and ambience. It's one of the funkiest independent restaurants in the area. The brick wall interiors and well designed tables are inviting. With the local art on the walls this space could easily compete with restaurants in Vancouver. Give it a try. Last time I had the beef dip and seafood chowder. It was really good. My only reservation is the serving staff. If they tried a little harder at being friendly without being too intrusive I bet their rating would go up. Like I said the food is very good and always consistent - drop the aloof servers and find some super friendly people to work up front and you have a winning restaurant. read more

I have eaten at the Modern regularly for the past 2-3 years and have never had a bad experience. With the wholesale revamp of their menu a few months ago, I have had the opportunity to run the gamut and can say that both the dishes, as well as the quality of their ingredients, have improved substantially. Housed in an historical building downtown, the space is a far cry from the cookie-cutter chains that are common in Nanaimo. Service is always friendly, and the restaurant is always busy when I'm there, so obviously others feel the same way. read more

Good food, but the service is not paying much attention. Napkins And cutlery were missing and were only delivered on request, refill of beverages worked only once the second refill was forgotten, read more

The food was good, but the prices are a bit steep. The sushi roll appetizer was amazing! The burger wasn't anything to write home about - pretty standard fare and couldn't really taste the cheese. The other person in my party had the mac and cheese which was definitely the better of our two entrees. read more