NANAIMO RESTAURANT GUIDE
Discover:
|
Welcome to our local Nanaimo Restaurant Guide. The following restaurants are some of our favourites in Nanaimo and your 'Best Bets' for great places to enjoy a taste of our local West Coast cuisine. We've tried them all and enjoyed the food, service and value.
We have tried to provide a wide-ranging list of restaurants covering different types of food and different price ranges. There are many other choices in Nanaimo and some that we are not aware of. If you find a place worth mentioning please let us know. Please come back and visit this Guide often, as we will update our recommendations and make changes as necessary. We hope you enjoy your dining experiences in Nanaimo!
|
OUR TOP 10 PICKS!
GRANARY RESTAURANT
Located 3 blocks away at Terminal Park Plaza, The Granary serves a very popular menu of good old standby English dishes and Canadian favourites. It's not a fancy place but the food is always excellent. During the week nights they feature a different roast dinner each night. Open 8 am to 7:30 pm Monday-Friday. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Highly recommended. #7-1533 Estevan Rd., 754-4899.
DINGHY DOCK PUB
Canada's only floating pub. Located on Protection Island at 8 Pirate's Lane. Ferry leaves at 10 minutes past every hour from southeast end of dock in Commercial Boat Basin at end of Seawall Walk. Last ferry leaves pub at 12:00 midnight in the summer and at 11 pm in the winter. A must do in Nanaimo! Now open all year. Guests of The Buccaneer Inn get a special gift for the Pub, ask when you check-in. Call 753-2373 for the pub and 753-8244 for the Protection Island Ferry.
DRIFT
A modern Downtown Nanaimo restaurant designed with a West Coast flair featuring driftwood, sand sculptures, stones, tea candles and a bird's eye view of Terminal Avenue and towards Mt. Benson. Drift is perched on a cliff, off to one side of Skinner Street, a couple buildings south of Gina's. Drift offers a more elaborate style of food that takes classics and introduces a new twist. The best macaroni and cheese in the world, according to our son, Christopher. Try their bottomless bowl of soup at lunchtime! Nice little lounge area with a Liquidstone counter. 77 Skinner Street, 75DRIFT (753-7438). To get the Drift, stay in the far right hand lane as you come up Front Street, take the right turn at the Y junction near the Courthouse and keep Gina's on your right. They're just down the hill a bit in a rusty/burgundy coloured building.
GINA'S CAFE
A tacky but excellent Mexican restaurant. First come first served. Located behind Katerina's Greek restaurant at 47 Skinner Street in downtown Nanaimo. 753-5411.
BISTRO TAIYO
Real home style Japanese cooking. Their menu features items that most Japanese eat at home and sushi and tempura dishes. Very wholesome and delicious. We spent five years in Japan and this restaurant has great home cooking! Open for lunch and dinner. Located at 2-321 Wesley Street next to Wesley Street Cafe. 716-8861.
LONGWOOD BREW PUB
Nanaimo's only brew pub! Beautiful Whistler style building beautifully decorated. Brewery tours available. Huge outdoor patio area. Outstanding food. 5775 Turner Road, next to Thrifty's Foods on the Island Highway, 729-8225.
MAHLE HOUSE
Arguably Nanaimo's best restaurant. Innovative cuisine, casual elegance and award winning wine list. Mahle House features unique events on Adventurous Wednesdays and Grazing Platter Thursdays. The orange house on the corner of Cedar and Hemer Road. 2104 Hemer Road. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5 pm. 722-3621.
CROW & GATE PUB
Real, authentic English pub. Great classic food menu with some West Coast favourites. Excellent selection of ales and beers. Large garden area with lots of outdoor seating. One of the first pubs in British Columbia and still one of the best! 2313 Yellow Point Road. Open 7 days a week from 11 am to late. 722-3731.
MALASPINA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DISCOVERY DINING ROOM
Nanaimo's best kept secret. Fantastic food created by the new chef's at the University cooking program. Best view in town. Small room, intimate dining. 900 5th Street, 740-6136.
DELICADO'S
Tempt your palate with their exciting line of Tex-Mex favourites. Located at 358 Wesley Street in the Old City Quarter (753-6524) or in the north end at 404-6581 Aulds Road next to Home Depot (390-0700).
AND CHRISTOPHER'S TOP PICK!
MONTANA'S COOKHOUSE
A national chain with a western cookhouse theme. Paper tableclothes for Christopher to draw on, fun kids menu with his favourite, Cookhouse Combo, interesting collection of farm equipment, fun wait staff and the dreaded moose antlers and a song for your birthday. Located a Nanaimo North Town Centre mall at 4715 Rutherford Road, 758-2388.
WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE BUCCANEER INN
NAUTICALS
Great fresh seafood in a well decorated funky room with a great nautical theme! 1 block south of The Buccaneer at 1340 Stewart Avenue. Open Sunday to Wednesday from 11:30 am to 9 pm and Thursday to Saturday 11:30 am to 12 pm, 754-8881.
IRON WOK
Gourmet Chinese BBQ located 1 block south of The Buccaneer next to Nauticals Seafood.
MILLERS PUB
A favourite of locals and visiting divers, Millers offers a simple but good pub menu. Beautiful, new outdoor deck! Open daily from 11 am to 11pm. 102-1840 Stewart Ave., 753-4833.
MUDDY WATERS PUB
Marine Pub over the water next to Millers. Good pub food and local hangout for real ‘Nanaimoites'. Open daily 11am till 1 am. Also has a beer, wine and liquor store.1724 Stewart Ave., 754-4220.
GRANARY RESTAURANT
Located 3 blocks away at Terminal Park Plaza, The Granary serves a very popular menu of good old standby English dishes and Canadian favourites. It's not a fancy place but the food is always excellent. During the week nights they feature a different roast dinner each night. Open 8 am to 7:30 pm Monday-Friday. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Highly recommended. #7-1533 Estevan Rd., 754-4899
BEEFEATERS
Steak and seafood. Located on the water at Sealand Market at 1840 Stewart Ave., 753-2333.
DOWNTOWN NANAIMO & OLD CITY QUARTER
DINGHY DOCK PUB
Canada's only floating pub. Located on Protection Island at 8 Pirate's Lane. Ferry leaves at 10 minutes past every hour from southeast end of dock in Commercial Boat Basin at end of Seawall Walk. Last ferry leaves pub at 12:00 midnight in the summer and at 11 pm in the winter. A must do in Nanaimo! Now open all year. Guests of The Buccaneer Inn get a special gift for the Pub, ask when you check-in. Call 753-2373 for the pub and 753-8244 for the Protection Island Ferry.
TROLLER'S FISH & CHIPS
Fabulous, fresh fish and chips on the waterfront. Located on the water in the Boat Basin, just below the Wharfinger's office. Open daily during the summer months only. No phone.
PENNY'S PALAPA
Mexican favourites on the waterfront. Located on the water in the Boat Basin, just south of the Wharfinger's office. Open daily during the summer months only. No phone.
GINA'S CAFE
A tacky but excellent Mexican restaurant. First come first served. Located at 47 Skinner Street in downtown Nanaimo (stay in the far right hand lane as you come up Front Street and take the right turn at the Y junction near the Courthouse). 753-5411.
LIGHTHOUSE BISTRO & PUB
Seafood, steak and pasta in a waterfront setting. Located over the water on the Seawall walk, downtown Nanaimo at 50 Anchor Way. Open daily from 11 am. 754-3212.
MRS. RICHES DINNER CLUB CAFÉ
Extreme dining! The best burgers in town. Huge servings in a fun atmosphere. Downtown at 199 Fraser St., just off Highway 19. Open for lunch and dinner. 753-8311.
MAMBO PIZZA
Excellent pizza! Lots of vegetarian choices as well as meaty ones. Our family favourites are the Chef's Special and the Spinny pizzas. Soya cheese also available. Eat in, take out or free delivery. 16 Victoria Crescent, 753-6667.
ARMANI'S GRILL
Gourmet burgers, noodle boxes & more. Our guests tell us this is a great place to eat! 22 Victoria Crescent, 754-5551.
BISTRO TAIYO
Real home style Japanese cooking. Their menu features items that most Japanese eat at home and sushi and tempura dishes. Very wholesome and delicious. We spent five years in Japan and this restaurant has great home cooking! Open for lunch and dinner. Located at 2-321 Wesley Street next to Wesley Street Cafe. 716-8861.
WESLEY STREET CAFE
Fine casual dining. Interesting menu and award-wining chef. Located in Old City Quarter at 1-321 Wesley Street. 753-6057.
DELICADO'S
Tempt your palate with their exciting line of Tex-Mex favourites. Located at 358 Wesley Street in the Old City Quarter (753-6524) or in the north end at 404-6581 Aulds Road next to Home Depot (390-0700).
AMAZING THAI
Thai restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday. Located at 486A Franklyn Street just around the corner from Wesley Street. 754-7818.
NEW YORK PIZZERIA
Great pasta and pizza restaurant. Located in Old City Quarter on the corner of Fitzwilliam and Wallace Streets. 299 Wallace Street, 754-0111.
REST OF NANAIMO
FAST EDDIE'S
Comfort food favourites and lots of really original recipes. Eat in or free delivery from 5 pm. Open daily from 11 am. 1 – 2220 Bowen Road (next to Beban Park), 758-2274. Free Delivery.
MALASPINA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DISCOVERY DINING ROOM
Nanaimo's best kept secret. Fantastic food created by the new chef's at the University cooking program. Best view in town. Small room, intimate dining. 900 5th Street, 740-6136.
LONGWOOD BREW PUB
Nanaimo's only brew pub! Beautiful Whistler style building beautifully decorated. Brewery tours available. Huge outdoor patio area. Outstanding food. 5775 Turner Road, next to Thrifty's Foods on the Island Highway, 729-8225.
ZOUGLAS
Great lunches and dinners featuring Mediterranean dishes and steaks. Located at 2021 Estevan Rd on the corner of Brechin and Estevan. Open daily from 11am to 11pm, 716-3233
SHANGHAI CITY
Very busy Chinese restaurant with a big smorgasbord. Large selection of Cantonese and Szechwan items. At 215-2000 North Island Highway just off Departure Bay Road at Brooks Landing Shopping Center. 756-9368. Free Delivery.
EARL'S
Trendy hot-spot with outdoor patio area. At 100-2980 North Island Highway at Rock City Plaza. Open for lunch and dinner. 756-4100.
CACTUS CLUB
Another trendy hot spot! Up-market burgers and marguerites in a lively atmosphere. Located at Northridge Plaza at 8-5800 Turner Road. 729-0011.
MAHLE HOUSE
Arguably Nanaimo's best restaurant. Innovative cuisine, casual elegance and award winning wine list. Mahle House features unique events on Adventurous Wednesdays and Grazing Platter Thursdays. The orange house on the corner of Cedar and Hemer Road. 2104 Hemer Road. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 5 pm. 722-3621.
CROW & GATE PUB
Real, authentic English pub. Great classic food menu with some West Coast favourites. Excellent selection of ales and beers. Large garden area with lots of outdoor seating. One of the first pubs in British Columbia and still one of the best! 2313 Yellow Point Road. Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 1 pm. 722-3731.
BREAKFAST
A & W
4 Locations in Nanaimo: Southgate Center at south of Nanaimo on Island Highway, Rutherford Mall, Northgate Shopping Center at Turner Road and Woodgrove Shopping Center.
THE GRANARY
Located 3 blocks away at Terminal Park Plaza, The Granary serves a very popular menu of good old standby English dishes and Canadian favourites. It's not a fancy place but the food is always excellent. During the week nights they feature a different roast dinner each night. Open 8 am to 7:30 pm Monday-Friday. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Highly recommended. #7-1533 Estevan Rd., 754-4899
RICKY'S GRILL
Nanaimo's favourite family restaurant with good food and outstanding service. Consistently wins Best of the City awards for its food. Located at the north end of Nanaimo at 6550 Island Highway at the corner of Aulds Road across from Woodgrove Centre. 390-1227.
PERKINS COFFEE COMPANY
Great coffee roasted on Saltspring Island. Perkins has a wide selection of freshly baked goods in the morning and soup and sandwiches throughout the day. Located downtown at 234 Commercial Street 753-2582.
WHITE SPOT
Famous B.C. legend. Located at 130 Terminal Avenue at the south end of Stewart Avenue. Open Sun to Thurs 6:30 am to 9:30 pm and 6 am to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. 754-2241. Also located at Woodgrove Centre in North Nanaimo.
JAVAWOCKY
Waterfront coffee shop on Seawall Walk downtown Nanaimo with an outstanding location and waterfront patio. 8- 90 Front Street, 753-1688.
|
