Gabriel's Cafe

Cafe · Nanaimo

Gabriel's Cafe

Cafe · Nanaimo
39 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G3, Canada

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Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null
Gabriel's Cafe by null

Highlights

Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe delivers a warm, inviting vibe with its farm-to-fork breakfast and vibrant vegan options, making it a must-visit for food lovers.  

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39 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G3, Canada Get directions

gabrielscafe.ca
@gabrielscafe

CA$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

Information

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39 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G3, Canada Get directions

+1 250 714 0271
gabrielscafe.ca
@gabrielscafe

CA$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

Features

wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 13, 2025

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Sarah El Kaissi

Google
Gabriel’s Gourmet Cafe is a delightful spot that truly impresses! Their Thai green curry is absolutely amazing—rich, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. Every bite was a treat for the taste buds. The ambiance of the cafe is warm and inviting, but what really sets this place apart are the staff. The waitresses are incredibly friendly and attentive, making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, this is a must-visit spot. Keep an eye out for Abby ,she’s a gem! Can definitely recommend!

Palm Daddy

Google
Great food and generous portions for the price. They use peanuts for a few dishes so be aware it might not be the best if you have a peanut allergy. Also a bit awkward service model to order and pay first then get served but whatever works for them. Would go again. Recommend.

Kenzie P

Google
I’ve never felt the need to leave a bad review before, but this experience left me absolutely stunned. The brunette bartender’s attitude and service were beyond disappointing. When I asked a simple question about a menu item, she didn’t bother to answer it and instead spoke to me in a condescending manner. Later, when I requested more Worcestershire in my Caesar, she spilled the first dash all over my hand missing the cup completely. Accidents happen and she apologized but then she carried on finishing my drink without offering a napkin. A few moments later my boyfriend walked up and I had to ask him for a napkin (that was on her side of the counter) and that’s when she finally got me one. The rest of our group ordered after me, and by the time their drinks finally arrived, they had already finished their meals. Rather than apologizing or making it right, the manager ignored the issue completely. To top it off, we were cut off after just one drink simply for expressing frustration over the ridiculous wait time. Customer service should at least include basic friendliness, but this bartender clearly had no interest in even pretending to be welcoming. From the moment we walked in, she looked irritated and never once made an effort to be polite. The level of unprofessionalism and lack of hospitality was shocking, it was honestly the worst service experience I’ve ever had.

Sebastion Menezes

Google
Terrible place. Avoid at all cost unless you’d like to wait 40 minutes from a ceaser. Once we did finally get them they were watered down and had terrible taste. Food was alright but blan.

Mia Duong

Google
This place does farm to table food. The portion was so huge I had to take it home. It’s very healthy and we had the raspberry lemonade as well. I loved that everything was so wholesome and locally sourced

Laura Dang

Google
Underwhelming experience - I got the special eggs Benedict with mushrooms. The mushrooms were really good, but there was very little of it. The dish was also under-seasoned

Hugh Mai

Google
The MT Benny was well-prepared, with the English muffin serving as a sturdy base. The bacon was crispy, complementing the creamy hollandaise sauce that coats the poached eggs. The eggs seem to have been cooked well. The home fries was average but overall for the price I can’t complain.

Kunal R

Google
Food: 3/5 We got a black bean burger, tofu rice bowl and kids pancake. The burger felt too dry and its ingredients did not come together. The tofu rice bowl was good - had nice sweet and spicy flavors and well cooked veges, yam and tofu - all coming together. The kids pancake was just like a regular pancake. Nice and fluffy. Ambiance: 4/5 A hip and modern but casual atmosphere. Nice wooden and warm feeling. Service: 4/5 Would have liked them to be a bit more proactively helpful and empathetic. Giving them the benefit of doubt as we came close to their closing. They were right in asking us to leave but could have been empathetic and helpful to help us speed up rather than being straight toned.

Allie G.

Yelp
Having visited Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe twice now, I'm obsessed. This time we stopped by for a late lunch, and found the restaurant mostly empty. The interior was spacious, with plenty of seating, and mismatched wooden furniture. I loved the moss panels on the walls, and the benches that were made out of old bowling lanes. For food, I ordered the Butter Chicken Rice Bowl. It came with a choice of white or brown rice and housemade apple cranberry chutney, and was absolutely delicious. Everything was so flavorful, and felt healthy despite the generous portion size. I also got a canned Apple Spritzer, which was tasty and refreshing. Gabriel's was just as good (and significantly busier) for breakfast, and the special Benny I got was fantastic. They had a ton of options for all different dietary restrictions, and service was fast and friendly. Would happily return!

Heize C.

Yelp
The breakfast menu is a testament to their farm-to-table philosophy, featuring locally sourced meat, eggs, and vegetables. Each dish I've tried has been a flavorful adventure, from the hearty Ian Staple with its perfectly cooked eggs and savory in house made bread, hash browns, scrambled eggs and their pancake was absolutely delicious! Their service was attentive and polite, ambiance is cozy!

Norm C.

Yelp
Awesome breakfast. Fantastic "green eggs and ham" and "hauling oats". Super friendly service, great atmosphere. Glad we went there and I think you should too.

Norm W.

Yelp
Eclectic selections for breakfast, brunch and lunch in the old part of Nanaimo, which is one of our favourite areas. It's a little unusual in that you grab a menu, join the queue, order and pay at the counter and then find a seat. They had two tills on the go, which made for a speedy process, but I could see it getting a little slow if they got a rush. The food came out quickly, nice and hot and tasty. Would have liked to see ice at the self serve water station, as I prefer ice cold water, but it's a mere quibble. The seating is communal, and although sturdy and easy to clean is a little uncomfortable, perhaps by design. We would come back again to explore more of the menu next time in Nanaimo.

Vivien I.

Yelp
What happens when you have a couple of hours to spare before your ferry ride back to the mainland? Look up must-eat places in Nanaimo, which was how I found Gabriel's Cafe. We parked in the nearby library parking lot and made the one minute walk across the street. We had hit the lunch rush hour, but we were told there were still spots available, albeit at the long communal table. Basic premise of this hip cafe spot: order with the cashier, receive a flag number, find an empty spot, and people watch until your order arrives. I saw the Malaysian Peanut Sauce Rice Bowl and felt a craving for rice and peanut sauce that I didn't realize I had. My jaw nearly hit the floor when my order came: for the price I paid and for this type of establishment, the portion was huge. It was one of the rare times I could not finish my meal, and had to leave half the rice behind. I chose the organic tofu option paired with brown rice. It felt like a healthy hearty meal and only half the bowl was loaded with peanut sauce, so in essence I could stick to the parts of the bown that weren't overloaded with peanut sauce. (Or if you like your rice soaked in peanut sauce, you can give the rice bowl a good stir). Overall, Gabriel's looks like one of those hipster restaurants. A mixture of individual table seating with one long communal table. Where you order ahead of time and then find a spot to sit (though someone does keep an eye on capacity, and informs patrons if the restaurant is full and suggests they get their order to go). The tables are arranged in a snug and tight manner, but it seems to lend more charm to the place, and I did strike up a few brief conversations with the patrons beside me, which (according to the sign) is the restaurant's intent. The food is your delicious farm to table goodness, and a worthy spot to visit if you find yourself in Nanaimo.

Susan R.

Yelp
the food is disgusting. i found a hair in my potatoes. the service is nice but yeah i don't expect anything lower from canadians. the ambiance is average it's giving starbucks ripoff. 4/10. canada fails once again. in war and food.

Eston M.

Yelp
The food is good and very friendly service. The ambience is good and warm. Wouldn't recommend their coffee though, has a strong burnt taste. Not sure what bean they use, but I'm yet to meet anyone including employees there who likes the coffee. I still go there for the food and service though.

Cristalle L.

Yelp
Large space indoors and plenty of patio seating as well, which was awesome considering they don't take reservations. We stopped by for brunch on a Sunday and managed to get a table for 5 before we caught our ferry back home. You order at the counter, get a table number and then your food is brought out to you. This seems to be a popular way of restaurant service in Nanaimo as the only place we went to also used this method. Portions are very generous and I was absolutely stuffed after eating. Two of us got the Jingle pot (sausages, ham, oyster mushrooms), the other two the lucid, and we also got a Kimchi salad bowl. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, comments included: Jingle pot toppings could have been better split. I had 2 tiny pieces of oyster mushroom but tons of sausages in my bowl whereas my friend got tons of mushrooms but almost no sausages. They were able to accommodate modifications (spicy mayo on the side) but could improve on their QC (also asked for no cilantro, and the server confirmed no cilantro when the dish was dropped off, but there was cilantro inside). Kimchi bowl was colourful and pretty looking. Server came to check in on us at a reasonable time after the dishes were dropped off which gave us time to actually try it and provide a genuine response.

Darcy G.

Yelp
Amazing food, really great mimosas! You go into order and then they bring the food to you. We sat outside on the patio with our dog. 5/10 for outside chairs. Plastic chairs that are sturdier than they look. Bathrooms are gendered.

Todd S.

Yelp
Amazing food. Nice atmosphere. Friendly & professional staff. Quick service. Would recommend and I'd gladly come back.

Chronic C.

Yelp
Ate here a few times and used to like it. Here is why i will not eat at restaurants that make you tip before getting your food. I just ordered their Mt Benny. It was horrible. Eggs cooked fine. Hollandaise Thin and runny, potatoes were the worst ive ever had. Unpalatable. Overcooked. Tasted stale and took half the plate. Zero fruit with it. The servers never once asked me how it was and when they picked up my plate the server went to walk away and i said "i giess you probably dont care but those potatoes were disgusting" she replied "thanks ill tell someone". No offer for refund, no care what so ever. This is the last time ill ever give them my business.

Leah B.

Yelp
All together just extremely disappointing and I'll definitely never return. They seam to think the food and quality over all is much higher then it actually is. My friend got a small glass of OJ for $7 and the price wasn't even listed. Food was sadly very disappointing. My friend said the eggs Benny was extremely bland and overpriced. I just got two sides and the bacon tasted off for some reason. The potato's were extremely mushy and not seasoned. Usually I'd suck it up but then I found raw egg shell on my bacon. Considering eggs make me sick and I can't eat them this was a pretty instant write off. They tried giving me a coupon for the meal which I find absolutely insane. Thankfully once I asked for the refund I got one on that meal. Service was mediocre at best and that's being generous. Anytime I wanted to talk to someone I had to stand up to find them.

Ray I.

Yelp
Yummy and surprisingly over filling lunch stop. Our dietary preferences were met without difficulty. Service was a bit off a drag, as a large table (9 to maybe) sat after us, received food before us. I was unable to finish my Jinglepot bowl, truly it is a rare meal that I enjoy that also doesn't get wholeheartedly consumed.

Elaine W.

Yelp
Wish I lived near this restaurant! Breakfast and lunch were fabulous on multiple days I was in town. What a wide variety of options, all healthy and delicious. I especially liked the vegan green eggs and ham for breakfast, and the haulin oats; and the poke salad bowl for lunch. They also make a really nice cappuccino. Service was friendly and helpful, food was quick, and it's a comfortable space to eat on your own or share a meal with friends. Hope I get back to Nanaimo sometime to eat there again!

Lyla M.

Yelp
Just all over excellent. Great food and ambiance. The owner could not be nicer and the staff is great.

Jessica W.

Yelp
Delicious and excellent service - super busy and worth the wait !!! Best Eggs Benny on the island so far and the bacon is super delicious!! Thank you to the staff for their constant hustle and the spectacular experience. Kyra greeted me with enthusiasm and was very calm and welcoming in a thriving morning rush but was warm and friendly and I looked forward to it. Less time than expect so when I went to order, what a pleasure to meet the next team member of this cosy restaurant. Matthew was friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and helpful. Despite no break. He kept moving through the lineup with speed but excellent attention to detail that was greeted by How's your morning so far ! and then William, what a delight constant refilling, restocking and drink barstar intuitive anticipation for the next drink but it was the foam that wins each time that I saw from afar that inspired the cappuccino and it was excellent! The juice waiting before I could pay was the touch as Fresh squeezed orange juice is always a treat. The whole magic was completed with Spencer's service and the kitchen created one of the best breakfasts I've had in a while. Thank you! Look forward to the next visit !

Calvin S.

Yelp
3.5/5 Stopped by Nanaimo during my recent trip to BC with family, and went to Gabriel's for brunch before our drive to Victoria after seeing very good reviews for this place. Arriving on a Tuesday 11am, there was a small lineup of about 10 minutes. You order at the front counter before finding a seat, though I've seen people fighting for tables before having someone as a representative to order...which is not how restaurants should operate given current health guidelines. They check for your vaccine passport while you order at the front counter if you specify you're dining in. I had the Mt. Benny, my dad had the Jinglepot, and my mom had the Left Coaster. The general consensus from everything that we ordered was "good, but nothing that blew us away". The jinglepot portion was huge though, so keep that in mind if you plan to order it. Always nice to support local businesses though. For a city this size I do think Gabriel's does its job well, it does kinda punch above its weight for a diner. The organization could be a bit better, especially given the current health guidelines and ensuring everyone inside is fully vaccinated.

Stephen R.

Yelp
I try to go here when im in Nanaimo. Amazing food, atmosphere, and staff, would definitely recommend going here

Susan M.

Yelp
Like many who stop in, we just landed in Nanaimo from the Vancouver ferry (on a Sunday morning) and we're looking for a solid breakfast. This place was AMAZING - staff are friendly, orange juice is fresh squeezed, coffee is local and the food - THE FOOD... I had the Jingle Pot Scramble with tofu (eggs are not my friend), local chicken leek sausage, goat cheese, kale and golden potatoes. My fellow visitor had the smoked pulled pork, smoked chipotle butter tucked in between two coconut milk pancakes with a side of maple bourbon syrup. Phenomenal. The interior of the restaurant has a good number of tables and local art hangs on the walls. This was a real treat - highly recommend!

Colin C.

Yelp
just a terrific place.. great soup! casual and unassuming... staff is on top of it. Been there more than a few times... you should too.

Lauren C.

Yelp
Stepped in here on the way to Tofino and WOW were we happy!! Fantastic menu with breakfast and lunch classics...with a twist! I had to tuna sandwich which was super high quality. Best meal we have had on Vancouver island

Jim S.

Yelp
Best breakfast in Nanaimo Good vibe and fresh food. Friendly staff. The orders come up fast.

Ornella S.

Yelp
Deliciousness on a plate! I was impressed by the creative menu, well beyond what I'd imagine from a "breakfast place". Not even halfway through the list I couldn't decide what to pick because I wanted everything. I ended up ordering the Easter Coaster plate, and my partner got one of the daily's specials, some very fancy bennies. The portions were rich and the pairings and flavours irresistible. I left happy and willing to have more. Hopefully soon, next time we'll visit Nanaimo.

MJ L.

Yelp
Order at the counter then sit down at a table indoors or on the street side patio. Coffee is a dark roast and I ordered today's special: Sri Lankan curry bowl with brown rice and cashew chicken. Hubby and son ordered the #5 breakfast with eggs, bacon or sausage and toast. My rice bowl was creamy, smooth and lightly spiced. No curry flavour but a mellow, nutty cream. Absolutely loved it!!! Fast service, excellent quality food that's locally sourced with many vegan options too!

Courtney H.

Yelp
Great food, coffee, and service. Massive indoor seating options and quick delivery on our food and coffee.

Denise W.

Yelp
We headed to Nanaimo downtown to board the Harbour Air back to Vancouver. I was looking for a place that had good food and a breakfast option. Gabriel's pictures on Yelp looked delicious and so we decided to head there. We left the house kind of late and we ended up at Gabriel's right on the dot at 3pm. So we missed breakfast. Darn! We ended up ordering from the lunch menu. I ordered the No.12 Pulled pork, coleslaw and brown rice in a whole wheat wrap. I had it subbed it with white rice (because I hated brown rice). Wow the wrap was super yummy. The pulled pork was nice and moist. The portion was very generous. The wrap was inexpensive for $11.25. B and our other friend got the pulled pork sandwich. The sandwich looked really tasty. Lots of pulled pork. How it works at this place is you would go in and order, they will give you a number and then you sit down. Everything else is self-serve. You would grab your own water and napkins. They have some patio seats outside. Good thing is that there isn't a lot of traffic in Nanaimo downtown. Nanaimo is a small peaceful beautiful town. The restaurant is located in the most beautiful part of town already.

Louis N.

Yelp
Came in right when they opened and was super happy we did. Weekdays are a lot easier to get a table, we passed by on a Sunday and oh man the lines were huge! line= must be good right? RIGHT. It was great. We had the pulled pork pancakes and the eggs benny with a side of fruit. Affordable, delicious, and oh yeah.. practicing social distancing! Food can be ordered either on your phone through their site or you can look up the menu on your phone and come to the counter. Tables were spaced properly and staff was on top of cleaning constantly. Perfect little brunch to start off our first day on the Island.

Jillian Z.

Yelp
Food was amazing and coffee was incredible! Very cool environment, portions were enormous, and staff were super lovely!

Joanna L.

Yelp
This was a good place for a healthy meal. The ambience is casual and the culture is for health junkies. The staff were nice and accommodating. The place offers many healthy options. I got the salmon bowl and the portions were generous. If you like salads or protein bowls, this is your place. There is also a vegan and vegetarian option.

Shirley Y.

Yelp
Gabriel's has a huge variety of home style large portioned meals to warm your heart and fill your tummy. Their soups are so delicious, make sure you order the medium if not the large, You'll definitely want for more. My friend got the hash, it was so large you could have fed three people with it. Super tasty and filling. I've been here few times and I will definitely go back. It is your local restaurant that is a mainstay in my books.

Emily S.

Yelp
Every single thing I ordered here was delicious!!!! We were in Nanaimo for a few days we ate there every single day after our first meal we were smitten. Day 1 we ordered Breakfast (served daily until 3pm ) The No.5 is a classic breakfast of two eggs any style with choice meat, pan fries and toast. I added side avocado. EVERY SINGLE THING WAS PERFECT ABOUT THIS BREAKFAST. Seasoned perfectly, incredibly fresh and service was speedy as hell. Partner ordered No.9 (lunch menu) pulled pork sandwich and he devoured it immediately. There are no photos of this meal because we ate it waaaay to fast. Day 1 part 2 that night we were both hungry and thought THERES NO WAY THEIR DINNER IS BETTER THAN THEIR LUNCH/BREAKFAST MENU!!! We had to be early birds because they close at 7. So we had 6:30 dinner with zero regrets. I don't know who this Gabriel is but he knows how to make food. I ordered No.12 without wrap swap basmati rice for brown rice. I also love how flexible they are with substitutions :D So without the wrap it is pulled pork with coleslaw on basmati rice. Fuuuuuck it was so good!!! Coleslaw was flavoured perfectly, rice was fluffy....I have to say this is the best pulled pork I've ever had. Each bite was heavenly. Partner ordered the No.9 again!!! That pulled pork again!!! So tender, flavourful but not overly spiced or sauced. Just excellent. Day 2 we both ordered breakfast No. 14 daily bennie special. We lucked out it was pulled pork kale with special hollandaise sauce. We were floored. HOW COULD THIS PLACE SERVE PERFECT MEAL AFTER PERFECT MEAL?! Day 2 part 2....So I went back for lunch later to grab food for the ferry. No.5 sans dressing add chicken. Perfectly balanced salad. Very large in size and definitely enough for two people. While on the ferry we discussed in depth how great Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe was. How fantastic it was that we finally have a great place to eat in Nanaimo, and how we wish there were more places like this in Vancouver. It reminded us of the foundation, but even more approachable. Seriously impressed with this place. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Olivia V.

Yelp
I have heard many good things about this place but my experience wasn't the best. Food was just ok but service was terrible. She put the plate on the table with an angry attitude. And we mentioned that we'll share some items but did get the side plate, when I went to cash and asked the side plate, she gave me a bowl ‍ Then at 2:59 I wanted to add a side fries because food wasn't big enough she said kitchen closed at 3:00 pm. I tried to give them credit a few times but they didn't care at all. I hope they get through the covid with this attitude.

Randy M.

Yelp
Eaten here a number of times and always find the food to be very good. Can be pretty busy at times.

Jay D.

Yelp
I order from here and when I want something healthy and delicious, the Malaysian peanut bowl with chicken is to die for

Natalie W.

Yelp
It was quite busy on a Sunday morning. The way it works is you order and pay first, they'll give you a number, and then you find a seat. They have plenty of seating, a patio, and a communal table. We ordered the oyster mushroom and kale omelette, the kids mini coconut milk pancakes, and a side of toast. It didn't take very long for the food to come out. The mini coconut pancakes for $6 is definitely a steal. It came with three mini pancakes, plenty of fruit (bananas, apples, and blueberries), and a dollop of yogurt. I couldn't taste very much coconut in the pancakes, but I still enjoyed it. The side of rye toast we got was quite large. The omelette was delicious. The pan fries were just alright. Overall, the food was tasty and the portions are quite filling. I didn't find the menu items to be that special and some parts of the dishes were just alright.

Kevin C.

Yelp
Excellent pulled pork omelette, really good house salad and my wife will divorce me to have another Benson Stack

Jordan N.

Yelp
I was visiting Nanaimo when I was looking for a local spot to have a nice lunch around 130pm. I stopped by this place as it was right in the heart of downtown but it was surprisingly busy for the size of the city. Busy meant at least locals think it's good in my eyes. The menu didn't have anything crazy unique, but just some solid rice bowl and sandwich options. There was also an outside seating area which I was lucky to nab a spot. I ordered the Curry Chicken Wrap with House Salad ($15). The extra salad was definitely with it as it was quite a cheap add on for good taste. It came with beets, cucumbers, greens and a subtley sweet vinaigrette. The wrap was also pretty good. The chicken and sauce was definitely the highlight, but I found there to be an non-uniform distribution of filling. There would be certain bites where I got an incredibly bland taste of bread and rice. I wish they would have tossed the filling together a bit more. A bit unhappy with some of the bites of my rice filled wrap, but the chicken was tasty and the salad was memorable. Would recommend friends to try this place if looking for a decent lunch in Nanaimo, but it's not a must-see.

Lisa Marie M.

Yelp
Went here as per my friends request. You seat yourself ( they even have communal tables ) after you grab a clip board which has the menus on it ( one for Drinks, Lunch ect ) You order & pay at the counter. Not a huge selection of cocktails, we all had the white wine ( 5oz ) 3/4 of us had a rice bowl of sorts. 1 had a wrap. I found the bowl was tasty but 80% rice. The wrap didn't get rVe reviews, but nothing got sent back. It was ok, not really my style. I myself wouldn't return, but I'm sure that many people would enjoy it. 2.5 stars

Michael P.

Yelp
I got this soggy salty wrap with salmon and watery cream cheese that tasted like over salty salmon and tomatoes. I ate five bites. I really tried and left. The coffee tastes like burnt trees and is really acidic. Not impressed for what equated to an over priced breakfast.

Tony L.

Yelp
This is a cool place to have a Saturday brunch. Their service concept is a little unique though. You order at the counter before you find a table - there were plenty so there was no rush for us to find seating for 4. They give you a number to bring to your table, and the rest is self-served: you get you own cutlery, water, salt and pepper, etc... the only service you will get here is someone bring you your food. We ordered two omelettes ($15 each) - one with cherizo sausage and one with oyster mushrooms. Personally, I like the mushroom one more because there was lots of cheese and kale in it. The cherizo was mildly spicy - nothing unbearable but it did not stand out to me. The hash browns that come with the plates were not as hot as I had hoped - as a result, their cooling down made it not as enjoyable. The sourdough bread (you get a choice) was very good and served with a fruit jam. The AC here was either not functioning or just very weak, but with so many in a confined space, it has to work! The environment, therefore, was very warm on a summer day. Although on the more expensive side, I'd likely give this place a shot again to try other things.

Caring C.

Yelp
Gourmet? Not today. Not even close. With prices going up the way they are the public deserves to expect quality. Apparently paying over $20 for a Benny and coffee isn't enough to expect poached eggs that aren't hard not only for one meal but two meals and hash browns with 50% of the potatoes burnt. If you can't fry potatoes or boil an egg than please don't call yourself gourmet. And, at the very least make an effort to care about the food you are serving by asking customers how their meal is. Yes this place is good but every once and a while you need a kick in the butt. This left me wanting to try some place else next time and that's not what an owner wants to hear. PS. I want my $45.00 back!

Kira K.

Yelp
Yes! Yes yes yes! I cannot recommend this place enough. Since 2015, this place has been the number one staple in my diet while living in and visiting Nanaimo. Even now, years later, it's the first thing on my list to visit when I return to the island. There has not been one item on the menu that I have not LOVED.

Nancy R.

Yelp
Yum, yum, yum! Had brunch here on Sept 21st. I had the Green Eggs and Ham Yam I Am - original and tasty. Husband had The Ian Staple - great corn cakes, perfect bacon and generous portions.

Ralph M.

Yelp
It seems if you ask almost anyone from Nanaimo where the best spot for breakfast is, the answer will be Gabriel's. Usually one to avoid any place with "gourmet" in the name, this became our breakfast choice when our preferred location wasn't open. Upon arriving, you stand in line with the menu before placing your order at the front and taking a number to the semi-communal tables, where your order is brought to you. If you're not a fan of rubbing shoulders with strangers immediately next to you, this may be a little too urban-hipster for you. Fresh, sustainable ingredients are often sourced locally and find their way into the No. 2, a breakfast wrap with pulled pork, scrambled eggs, and veggies ($12.50), or the No. 5 traditional breakfast ($11), served with Hertel's bacon from Alberni. The wrap suffered from a pool of fat at the bottom of the tortilla which had been nicely contained by the paper wrapper, and the tepid-at-best pan fries had lost their fresh crust and were soggy. And nothing quite says gourmet like a small metal container of Heinz ketchup on the plate! Caveats aside, the breakfast plates were largely okay, even if the slices of pineapple and blood orange seemed a little out of place with the café's farm to table philosophy. The freshly squeezed delicious OJ was served in the ubiquitous Mason jar. Perhaps they might think about putting those jars to better use and rustle up some preserved local fruit for their plates, or some house-made ketchup... Good food philosophy that seems to get a little lost in the mix.

Ngan T.

Yelp
We checked the restaurant out while in Nanaimo waiting for ferry. I love the ambiance and the natural lighting they got. My bf got the featured egg benedict with lox and avocado, flavourful. I attempted to order their chilli, scrambled eggs and rice dish but with fried eggs instead. We could see the server asking chef if it's possible to do that but chef put on a very angry look while answering 'no'. I opted for the pancakes instead, nothing to write home about, and the pancakes could be smaller. Overall, it's nice as the only option in the neighborhood on a Sunday but we would not come back.

Chris H.

Yelp
A kimchi salad bowl might not sound very exciting, but it was truly memorable. All of the ingredient were extremely fresh: greens, avocado, roasted beets, cucumbers, mixed peppers, daikon, brown rice, and pea shoots. It was assembled with great care and included just the right amount of gochujang mayo and sesame ginger dressing. It was also a generous portion, but I had to eat all of it, because it was so delicious.

Esther C.

Yelp
Value: 5/10 Taste: 6/10 Service: 6/10 1) veggie Benny - quite bland, needed to add salt and pepper. 2) tuna albacore Benny - also on the blander side but my partner really liked it.

Opie R.

Yelp
I'm not a vegetarian nor a vegan so I was a little hesitant to find anything that would appeal to my palate. I had the pulled pork sandwich and that was pretty tasty for a sandwich. The other people that I was with ordered the hot and sour chicken noodle with rice dumplings. It seemed as if there were more vegetables in this soup than noodle, chicken or dumpling. The dumpling (singular...1 dumpling) I was told, barely could be found in the soup. It wasn't spicy but it did contain a lot of carrots. Hearty soup all in all. It was odd entering the place because you come in, take a clipboard which had a menu, walk to the front, order and then find a seat. That's a good idea if you're not with a large group. In my case, I asked my party of 4 to sit down and two of us would go up and order for the group. They give you a number and someone will deliver the meal to your table, which was good since the people in our party had physical challenges getting up and around. I also like that they're very conscious of how they deliver and prepare their food to the customer.

Lily M.

Yelp
Came here because the reviews were excellent and Gabriel's delivered. It's busy but the line went fast. Ordered the basic breakfast (3), chorizo omlete (6), and smoked salmon burrito (2). The grapefruit juice is freshly squeezed and so good. Ordered my eggs sunny side up and you can tell these were high quality Omega eggs and they tasted fresh and delicious. The local multigrain bread was soft and if you were not a multigrain bread fan, you will become one. I'm going to look into whether this bread is available on the mainland. Service was quick and friendly. This cafe is going to do well and I hope they open a location in Vancouver. Will definitely be back when we visit the island again.

Gwen P.

Yelp
Delicious food. Had a difficult time choosing because everything sounded delicious. Opted for green eggs and the poke sandwich. Hubby and I shared and loved bith meals. Will definitely be back to try the rest if the menu