We went to Chameleons the other night for my birthday dinner and it exceeded our expectations in…read moreevery way. The service is friendly and attentive. The ambiance is warm and cozy. I started with the flavorful lemon merengue martini. Yum! The wine selection was pleasing, and we able to order both a chardonnay and a cabernet. My husband had the potato leek soup and I enjoyed the stuffed mushroom caps as our appetizers. They were both delicious! For dinner, he had the special of the day - stuffed chicken with Mashed potatoes and vegetables. The chicken was perfection and the mashed potatoes were incredible. I had the seafood crepe with garlic bread and vegetables. I'm so glad I tried this! It was rich and savory, without feeling too heavy. To finish things off, we shared the sticky date cake - a dessert that is a must-try. It's clear that they take great pride in their food, beverages and service. Other than recommending every item we ordered, I'd also suggest making a reservation ahead of time since this is a small restaurant. You won't be disappointed dining at Chameleons!

I saw a review on Yelp and likewise decided to try this place. I was lucky to get a table, as the…read morerestaurant was nearly booked (5:30ish on a Thursday)! It is a small but charming venue, with comforting jazzy standards playing quietly in the background. Had a glass of BC wine and the crab cakes. They were not made with lump crab, but whatever binding they used was light enough and didn't get in the way of the flavor. Fully enjoyed my experience and felt very cared for, despite the busy atmosphere!

It I recently attended the 35th-anniversary celebration at Fairwinds Golf Club, and I must say, it…read morewas a truly disappointing experience that left me utterly unsatisfied. From start to finish, the event was marred by a series of unfortunate mishaps that made it clear the planning and execution were far from adequate. First and foremost, the lack of seating arrangements was shocking. Upon arrival, it became evident that there were not enough seats to accommodate the guests. A substantial number of attendees, around 20, were left to fend for themselves by setting up makeshift tables on the patio. This involved not only cleaning the tables and seats but also enduring the inconvenience of arranging their own dining spaces. Additionally, some unfortunate souls were relegated to standing at tall tables, giving the event an unintended dance club vibe. The dismal state of affairs continued when it came to the food. The offerings were far from satisfactory--a sad assortment of cold buns, condiments, a few vegetables, and dipping sauces. To make matters worse, the burger patties were pre-made and barely lukewarm. The absence of appetizers or salads left attendees with minimal options, and to top it off, there were no utensils available for those who attempted to navigate this underwhelming feast. What struck me as particularly appalling was the blatant disregard for the paying guests. Despite the glaring lack of seating for attendees who had shelled out $35 each to participate in this event, Fairwinds manager seemed to have reserved a seat for herself and her friends. To make matters worse, she was one of the first in line for the food. This not only displayed a lack of professionalism but also underscored the sheer insensitivity to the guests who had been let down by the event's execution. Perhaps the only redeeming aspect of the evening was the presence of the band, which managed to salvage a bit of the celebration's integrity. The musical performance was indeed fantastic and served as a temporary distraction from the event's overall inadequacy. Considering the demographic of Fairwinds Golf Club's members and the residents of the area, the event's setup was not only inappropriate but also downright insulting. The lack of attention to detail, the absence of proper seating and dining arrangements, and the disregard for the guests' experience all painted a grim picture of the event planning. It's my firm belief that the individual responsible for orchestrating this debacle should be immediately removed from such responsibilities, as their incompetence was on full display that evening. In sum, the 35th-anniversary celebration at Fairwinds Golf Club was a tremendous letdown. The event fell drastically short of expectations and left attendees with a sour taste in their mouths, both literally and figuratively. The subpar setup and execution rendered the celebration a far cry from what one would expect from a reputable establishment. If anything, this event seemed more fitting for teenagers rather than a mature, paying audience. a Terrible Dinner and Venue; The Music Band was the Saving Grace

I rarely write reviews unless exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. I was excited to go into…read moreSimonholt today having looked at the menu online. I ordered a beer and some takeout. The beer was good, server charming. When I got home, the side of coleslaw was mixed in with the sticky ribs (!!not even a separate container) and the ribs were so black and charred and crunchy (ouch), they perforated my tongue! Also, they mixed up my order with another patron, so if it hadn't been that I used the loo before leaving, I would have gone home with the wrong order. This was a Tuesday evening (4:30 ish), so not busy - in fact I don't recall seeing any tables occupied. JEEEEZ guys, what a let down!

Basically a pub. Stick with the burgers…read more Wrong dish brought, reordered ... partner finished his meal before replacement meal arrived. Offered a free dessert... seriously ? Menu never changes. Decor sldo. eeds a reboot

If your looking for oysters, this is your place. Fantastic cozy little restaurant with a variety of…read morefresh seafood options. All reasonably priced and properly portioned. We ordered 6 oysters, (the sauces were amazing), broiled oysters, 1/2 lbs clams, tuna wontadas, shrimp sandwich, and a Cesar salad. It's a small place and it gets busy, we went at 4:45 just after they opened and it was full. Waited 20 mins and was seated. Go early! Ps the lamb kebabs are no longer on the menu. They are old yelp pics.

We had to wait a while to get a table but it's understandable why it's a popular restaurant. We…read morestarted with the baked oysters which was full of flavor. Then we enjoyed the Crudo which was especially fresh. Service was quick.

Original Joe's is generally fine, as far as franchised bar & grills that your suburban mom loves…read morego. I've been to a few, in the bustling "City in the Country," Abbotsford, and Vancouver, and it's always been above average for what I expect from a place like this. But the one in Nanaimo was a real drag. The veggie burger was alright, but the salad-from-a-bag it came with was obviously bad. The lettuce and cabbage were visibly brown, and the carrot shavings had that white coating on them. I'm glad I got dressing on the side or I may have had to discover the salad was soggy and old with my mouth instead of my eyes. I get that people maybe don't order salads as much at this location, but if it's obviously just coming from a bag you can pick up at literally any grocery store, then at least check if it's turning before you dump it in a bowl and send it out. You're too lazy to make a salad? Whatever. Too lazy to see if your bag of salad is bad? Unforgivable.

I'm not the biggest fan of this place but we needed to eat and it was right there. We figured we…read morewould be safe with chicken fingers and fries. Wrong. The chicken fingers were super dry and the fries were the saltiest things I've ever eaten. So. Gross. We now have horrible indigestion. How do you screw up chicken fingers?? Seriously. This place is disgusting.

No wait time, easy to read menu, and great service. We order steak with mushrooms, fries, and…read moreveggies. Also a sushi pizza with the pulled pork. So yummy live the fried bread rice in the pizza and the steak was yum! Not very crowded so not very loud but it was great.

We walked into Firehouse Grill with no prior information and had the absolutely best meal in weeks!…read moreThe menu is surprising--including cornbread muffins and jambalaya! We ordered burgers--best burgers we've eaten in a long time. Amazing food, prepared and quickly out of the kitchen. Beautiful presentation. Service was perfect. Chef (owner?) came out to meet us and we learned his history, including time spent in New Orleans where he learned how to prepare cornbread and jambalaya. Interesting note--we'd asked for restaurant recommendations and this one had not been mentioned by anyone. Honestly, don't know how the other places could beat Firehouse Grill for service, selection, and taste. Next day, sitting in Vancouver, we talked about riding the ferry back to Nanaimo to eat here for a second time.

Really amazing pub…read more Causal, nice patio, amazing food and service. Bee was my sever and went above and beyond. She even brought me sunscreen when I wa having an allergic reaction to the sun. She is a superb server and human. All the servers helped each other out which was awesome and a great team environment. I had the desert duo for dessert - yummmmm House Chardonnay which was surprisingly delicious. And green salad with salmon added. The salmon was meh but the salad was so yummy so it made up for it.

Great atmosphere, fun and welcoming. Good food, great prices, and outdoor seating options.read more

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.

Will absolutely never return. The poor server was working the whole restaurant by himself. Left a…read moregood tip because he was very friendly but service was SO SLOW. I sent my breakfast back because the eggs were burnt. I had to wait 10 minutes to do that because the server was way too busy to do a quality check. After sending it back and asking for eggs that weren't burnt, I received (after another 10 minute wait), these eggs, which were clearly burnt, again. I just shut my mouth and ate because I could see the poor guy was doing his absolute best. So that's over 50 bucks and well over an hour of my life I'll never get back. Please don't go there for a good breakfast experience. I was in hospitality for 36 years before hanging up my apron (although I still own a catering company) and the experience at The Pantry is one I won't do again.

the food was okay however the server input on the card machine a 25% tip that i didnt notice or…read moreagree to give, till the payment went through as me and my partner were wanting to leave