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.

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.

So... This is a bizarre review…read more.. The food, I have to say, was pretty good. Solid pub fare. The most enjoyable hot wings I've had at a pub in years. Nachos that were cheesy and loaded with toppings. Weird toppings maybe, and a very strange tasting salsa, but not bad... The ambiance on a Monday night is a little meh. Only about 6 tables seated in quite a large, voluminous space, made it feel a little vacuous. Maybe if they turned their lights down a bit the vibe might be a bit nicer. They sure like their decorative lights here.... The server was very nice. Pleasant, but could have come around to check on things a couple times more, especially since it was so quiet. Now, for the weird part... Toward the end of my nachos I lost my appetite when I saw a mouse scurrying on the floor. It was very daring and was exploring under tables right up to me. I notified my server and she said "oh we know, we try to catch them but it's difficult. I think we caught one a couple days ago. Yesterday I saw one run up the stairs. I'm sorry you had to see that. Would you like a box for your nachos?" Um, no thanks! I finished my drink while watching this mouse wander around a few more times, and ANOTHER mouse come out from the opposite side of the room. and decided it was time to leave. There was no other response from my server about this - I just paid my bill and left. I get that this is a port town close to water, but it seems like these folks probably need to get a bit more serious about pest control.

I got a "mango smoothie" which at first tasted like water. And then when I sent it back for them to…read moreremake, it just tasted like mango flavoured water. I also have a friend that got served raw frozen fish. How do you even do those things that bad?!

Offers a unique experience for sure! The interior is decked out in the most charming nautical…read moredecor, with cozy, homey vibes that make you feel right at ease. I loved the quirky touch of salt shakers made from empty beer bottles--definitely adds to the pub's character. However, the food didn't quite live up to the atmosphere. The fish and chips were a bit dry, though the fries were crispy and tasty. The seafood poutine was okay, but nothing spectacular. Still, the coolest part was being on a floating pub--it's a fun setting that's hard to beat. While the food wasn't amazing, the overall experience makes it worth a visit if you're in the area!

Visiting the Dinghy Dock Pub is more about the experience than the pub itself. We took the ferry to…read moreProtection Island (cash only if you pay on the ferry, but you can pay by card at the pub), but saw many people arrive by boat and kayak. The interior of the pub was full of nautical decor - anchors, old diving equipment, wood carvings, etc. We ended up sitting on the patio, which had a beautiful view of the water. For drinks, I got a canned Mojito Mocktail - very tasty and refreshing. We also ordered the Classic Poutine to share. It wasn't the best poutine of my life, but still good and very filling. Service was fast and friendly, and the ambiance was excellent. Would return for the vibes alone!

The waitress was so mean to a customer. Unprofessional…read moreand we left and will not be back. Management didn't stop at the waitress for belittling the customer.

Not really impressed. We ended up here due to the missing two ferries. We needed somewhere to pass…read moretime, have lunch (plus a drink) that was close enough walking distance to the ferry terminal. Out of the two pubs nearby, this one had more of a vibe going. Note to self, maybe that's not how I should make future food decisions... We were greeted and seated pretty quickly. But after that, it was like we had to wave done someone to place our order. They have a big cocktail menu, we ordered a Caesar and a Blue Hawaiian. To me, pub meals tend to be on the extra large portion size, so the two of us opted to share a Celtic Shepherds Pie with a Caesar salad. It took a while for the food to come out. Everything was just alright, the Shepherds Pie was definitely living on the salty side of life. If there wasn't an issue with the ferry schedules, I'd have no reason to be there. And I won't be making the same mistake twice.

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.

We've stayed in the neighbourhood a number of times in downtown Nanaimo and have read about this…read moreplace a few times. Finally took the plunge, and really wish we hadn't, and certainly will not again. Our server was quick to seat us, took good care of us, gave us some insight into the menu items, and generally speaking was great. The view from the top floor part of the Lighthouse is great. Overlooking the marina and sea plane dock in downtown Nanaimo, there is plenty to see, and plenty to watch, it should be a licence to print money. Sadly to food was atrocious, in both taste and the visual. Looking at it as it was as delivered, we should have left right then. The salad that I chose with my beef dip was terrible. The mixed greens part had black ends, and black slime on it. I tried picking through it, and finally gave up and didn't touch it. The dip for the sandwich was thick, very dark and had what looked like the part that sticks to the pot while it's reducing. The meat colour looked a little off as well. K had the wings and clam chowder. The wings looked like they had been sitting for quite a few hours in a bowl on the counter prior to tossing them on the plate. The cut veggies had also been out for a while, she had to cut each end off the celery. The soup was hot, but had no flavour. I could go on, but you get the idea, don't go to this restaurant for food. Have a beer enjoy the view and eat elsewhere. The photos attached say a lot!

We lived this little pub on the ocean. First time sat in the restaurant, second time on the outside…read morepatio. Service could be better but the seafood risotto I had was delicious. Would go back!

Nice food and very convenient location not far away from Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo …read more Service offered by Taylor was very professional and courteous. We had ciders and dry ribs, Hunan Kung Pao bowl , exquisitely prepared and buffalo chicken wrap. We do have to go back again

Between a 2 and a 3 rating. Used to be a pretty happening place. Food its still pretty good, decent…read morepriced... Nothing mind blowing but the wraps are really good. Biggest downfall is the service.. This place used to have some of the best service around... Lately it's been fairly terrible. Better order 2 beer to start cause you'll be going up to the counter to ask for a second one when you're done your first. Waitress last night was borderline sociopathic, if she smiled or had a pleasant tone at any point... We missed it completely. If you're not local it's a decent place to kill time between fairies although you're probably better off at Carlos Obryans next door.

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).

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! ^_^