Cactus Club Cafe
5800 Turner Road #8
http://www.cactusclubcafe.com/locations/bc/nanaimo
(250) 729-0011
Cactus Club in Nanaimo is great. They offer a diverse menu. Fresh local foods. They use ocean wise products and are green table certified. Had an excellent server who told us all about the food and how it's made in house fresh. It's casual fine dining. You can have a top bottle of wine and steak or wings( fresh not frozen) and watch the hockey game. We love the ribs and the flirtini!!! All the staff were friendly and knowledgable as always. Cactus Club is definitely our first choice when we want to either have a night out or just a casual meal. Their food, drinks, and staff have had us coming back for years!! I like how they are always adding new Chef Fenie dishes. Always a treat !! Can't wait for summer to hit the patio for a bellini.
Blue Ginger Restaurant
1-5769 Turner Road
http://www.thebluegingerrestaurant.com
(250) 751-8238
Blue Ginger features a fusion of Asian cuisine. Dishes are Thai, Japanese and Szechuan inspired. This includes a sushi bar and satay grill onsite.
Asteras
347 Wesley Street
http://asteras.ca
(250) 716-0451
Located in the heart of the old city quarter of downtown Nanaimo, Asteras is an authentic Greek restaurant known for it's traditional, delicious foods, warm Greek atmosphere and a focus on excellent service. Locally owned and operated, with long standing experience preparing traditional Greek foods, we invite you to step into our restaurant, housed in a heritage home over 100 years old, and allow yourself to be embraced by the warmth of traditional Greek hospitality. Choose from sensational, traditional recipies, all originating from Crete, an island renowned for its healthy diet made up of fresh and simple ingredients. Everything in our kitchen is made in house daily, from whole foods and high quality ingredients. Our menu items range from authentic Mezethes (Greek appetizers), fresh seafood dishes, delicious roast lambs and grilled chicken, to vegetarian dishes such a Moussaka and Spanakopita, and amazing homemade deserts. Asteras Taverna offers generous portions, complete with a full selection of wines, and good music late into the night, assuring a fulfilling, fine dining experience.
Dinghy Dock Marine Pub & Bistro
8 Pirates Lane
http://www.dinghydockpub.com/index.php
(250) 753-2373
This prominent and well-known pub, with its distinct pale blue roof, floats leisurely in Nanaimo’s harbour. Boats can easily tie up alongside the pub with a connecting walking pier to the shoreline of small, populated Protection Island. A visible landmark in the harbour, this popular pub and restaurant is a favourite among locals, tourists, and visiting yachtsmen.
This energetic, nautically themed pub is packed during the busy summer months. Its popularity is due to the incredibly friendly atmosphere, good service and good food. Seafood and salads are a specialty along with regular pub fare, all moderately priced. A wide selection of beers and ales are available.
The only access to the pub is by boat. The Protection Connection ferry, moored in the downtown Nanaimo boat basin, ferries you across (a 10-minute ride) to the pub and Protection Island. The ferry runs daily, on the hour with the last ferry heading back to Nanaimo at 11 pm.
Nori Japanese Restaurant
203-6750 Island Hwy North
250-751-3377
Exceptionally good.
by NatoriErk, Calgary (66 reviews)
March 25, 2011 - Really likes it
I eat a lot of Japanese food, and Nori is among the best places I've been, in Canada or Japan. I've had the sushi/sashimi bento and the spicy chirashi-don, both were amazing. I went with a former English student of mine, now on an exchange out here from Japan, and she ate the unagi-don with more gusto than I have ever seen someone consume a dish. I'm not sure what higher compliment I can pay.