Restaurants in Vancouver Island
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A
Mint
This loungey late-night hang-out is popular with bar staff winding down after their shifts. But they don't just come to bitch about their non-tipping customers; Mint offers an eclectic, finger-licking menu of Nepalese, Tibetan and fusion delicacies that runs from spicy lamb cooked with apricots to almond-and-cashew pesto fettuccine. There's an equally diverse menu of regular DJ performances.
reviewed
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B
Pagliacci’s
At Pagliacci’s, unlimited baskets of fresh focaccia bread are delivered to the marble-topped tables. Generous pasta servings from the cinema-themed menu almost defy devouring; try the Hemingway Short Story (beef-stuffed tortellini).
reviewed
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C
Noodle Box
Southeast Asian cuisine with a strong Malaysian influence is the approach at this buzzing business that started out as a street vendor. A great place for takeout - served in those funky boxes - it's also a chatty eat-in spot. Popular stir-fries include Thai-style chow mein, and the Cambodian Jungle Curry is recommended for those who like their meals with a spicy kick.
reviewed
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D
Lotus Pond
Behind the unassuming, almost shabby exterior of this downtown Chinese restaurant is an extensive, all-vegan menu of delights created using Buddhist principles. Even meat eaters have been known to swoon here, as they tuck into surprisingly tasty spring rolls, dim sum and pot stickers. Combo meals are the best option, as they offer an array of different flavors.
reviewed
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E
ReBar
This place fuses colorful interiors with a clever, mostly vegetarian menu, but carnivores will be just as happy noshing here. It’s a good weekend brunch spot.
reviewed
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F
Lighthouse Bistro
This popular white-linen bistro is located on the waterfront and features a selection of conventional but well-prepared favorites, ranging from blackened halibut to veal scallopine and wild mushroom ravioli. The wine list has an excellent BC selection. The pub upstairs has lower prices and a more casual atmosphere, but there's an excellent view of the harbor from either floor as well as a great patio to catch the sunset.
reviewed
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G
Floyd's Diner
A funky eatery with an ultrafriendly vibe, Floyd's combines a sun-drenched patio, warming blood-red interior and a menu of serious comfort food - it's the spot to recover from a throbbing hangover. Along with the all-day breakfast menu (try the 'Elton', a heaping bowl of fruit, yogurt and honey), there are some bulging burgers and sandwiches and a great lunch deal: an around C$6 bottomless bowl of soup.
reviewed
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H
Pirate Chips
Locals originally came here for the best fries in town but they keep coming back for the funky ambience - the quirky pirate-themed decor makes it a great late-night hang-out after some beers. You'd have to be fairly drunk to down a large order of poutine (french fries topped with cheese and gravy) or a deep-fried chocolate bar but it's hard to beat the fries served with toppings such as curry or garlic.
reviewed
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I
Tina's Diner
Still known by its former name (Flo's) by many locals, this popular 1950s-style spot is the best place in town for breakfast. The massive menu runs from eggs Benedict to breakfast wraps, and there are plenty of burgers, sandwiches and salads for those who don't make it here until lunchtime. There are some special live music events, when dinner and singer-songwriters share the menu.
reviewed
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J
Javawocky
It's a Nanaimo tradition to get a coffee here and sit outside to watch the ships roll in and out of the harbor. A great place to rub shoulders with the locals, this is also your big chance to try a Nanaimo bar, the ultrarich brownie treat made from thick layers of custard and chocolate.
reviewed
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K
Penny's Palapa
This tiny, flower-decked floating hut and patio in the harbor is a lovely spot for a meal among the jostling boats. An inventive, well-priced menu of Mexican delights includes seasonal seafood specials - the signature halibut tacos are recommended - and some good vegetarian options.
reviewed
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L
Fort Café
Warm and welcoming subterranean hipster haunt with heaping fresh-made nosh – turkey avocado wraps and hot pepper beef sandwiches recommended – plus Salt Spring Brewing drafts. Check out the Atari game system at the back.
reviewed
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M
John’s Place
A diner-esque legend with wood floors, high ceilings and funky memorabilia lining the walls. Weekend brunch is an institution, but the heaping comfort-food dinners are also great – don’t miss a giant slab o’ fruit pie.
reviewed
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N
Legislative Dining Room
This is the Parliament Buildings’ subsidized restaurant, where anyone can drop by for dishes such as shrimp quesadillas and smoked tofu salad. Enter via the security desk at the building’s entrance.
reviewed
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O
Camille’s
A charming subterranean dining room with a lively, ever-changing menu reflecting great local ingredients. With its smashing wine list, this spot invites adventurous foodies.
reviewed
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P
Dutch Bakery
If diners had been invented by little old ladies with purple hair, this is what they'd look like. This charming downtown institution has been packing them in for 50 years with its Formica countertops, chatty ambience and simple, old-school meals. Rub shoulders with the regulars and they'll recommend a beef pie with potato salad followed by a fruit pie chaser. After your meal, try to leave without buying from the Aladdin's cave of handmade candies at the front.
reviewed
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Q
Temple
A soothingly trendy interior might indicate style over substance at this compact downtown restaurant but the opposite turns out to be the case. With a focus on Pacific Northwest cuisine, the menu is a taste-tripper's dream, with seafood particularly well represented: sample the Quadra Island mussels and you won't be disappointed. A Belgian beer focus at the bar means that you can try pairing food with an array of unusual ales.
reviewed
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R
Demitasse
This art school-style hang-out is where local grunge geeks come to sup endless cups of coffee and compare their latest Value Village purchases. It's very laid-back, with high-ceilings and old wooden tables. The food is chunky, fresh and satisfying but never gets much further than great soups, wraps and sandwiches - simple, satisfying food done well: check out the banana bread French toast breakfast.
reviewed
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S
Blue Carrot Café
An ideal hang-out in the shadows of Bastion Sq, this wood-floored family-run nook serves local favorite Salt Spring Island coffee along with a host of chunky, mostly organic cakes and muffins. It's also a good lunch spot - regulars enjoy the ever-changing roster of made-from-scratch soups (carrot and ginger is frequently requested), and the hearty burgers are as far from fast food as it gets.
reviewed
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T
Mrs Riches Dinner Club Café
Like stepping into a comic book about a carnival, Mrs Riches is a family-oriented place lined with an eclectic array of memorabilia (life-sized stuffed toys and car fenders are the norm here) but the food is not just for looks. The heaping burger platters are second to none (tackle the Mountain Burger, if you're starving) but the pasta dishes and old-school milkshakes are great, too.
reviewed
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U
Black Olive
This sophisticated but convivial downtown restaurant fuses a foundation of Mediterranean dishes with West Coast and international flourishes, offering meals that range from tiger prawn linguine to olive-topped wild salmon. While the starched white tablecloths suggest formality, the staff are bend-over-backwards friendly.
reviewed
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V
Modern Café
This reinvented old coffee shop has cool loungey interiors combining exposed brick and comfy booths or, if it's sunny, a sun-warmed outdoor patio. The menu runs from the kind of wraps, burgers and sandwiches that are a cut above standard diner fare and there are some small-plate options for those who just want to snack.
reviewed
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W
Troller's Fish & Chips
Nothing beats the ambience of Troller's when it comes to grubbing on some fish and chips. This shack on the docks at the boat basin always cooks the fresh catch of the day, selecting its prawns and salmon straight from the boats in the harbor. It's also a good spot to watch the maritime world float by.
reviewed
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X
Tibetan Kitchen
Lunch specials are an excellent deal (check the board outside) at this cozy Asian eatery, where fresh-made treats range from noodle to curry dishes. Whatever you end up trying, wash it down with a lip-smacking lychee lassi (a yoghurt-based, shake-like drink).
reviewed
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Y
Armani's Grill
They're not just burgers, they're works of art. Armani uses ground sirloin, not chuck, and makes each patty by hand after you order. There's 3oz of Jack Daniels in the Jack Burger and the Mushroom Burger has enough mushrooms to tap a small farm's entire crop.
reviewed
