Lighthouse Bistro and Pub

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#35 of 271 Restaurants in NanaimoSeafood, Vegetarian friendly, $$ - $$$

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Lighthouse Bistro and Pub

Review

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Website

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About

Lighthouse Bistro & Pub Fresh Local and Sustainable. The Lighthouse is the place to meet your friends and colleagues for some of the best food the West Coast has to offer. A variety of unique, fresh seafood, sushi and other dishes are served up in both the Pub and the Bistro, or specials of the day, mouth watering burgers, grilled seafood, and calamari. Accompanying all our hugely satisfying menus is the finest selection of local craft beer, wine and spirits Vancouver Island has to offer. We support our local vendors such as Longwood Brewery, Hoyne Brewing Company, Unsworth Vineyards and Vancouver Island Brewery! You can find their products in both the Bistro and Pub! Check the website lighthousebistro.ca for all the latest event information.

Features

CUISINES

Seafood

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

American Express

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Live Music

Mastercard

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Television

Visa

Waterfront

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

50 Anchor Way, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 7B5 Canada

Does this restaurant have live music

Yes

Unsure

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed now

• Opens at 11:00 AM

Sunday

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Monday

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday

11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Friday

11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Saturday

11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

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3.6

545 reviews

Excellent

165

Very good

181

Average

Poor

Terrible

tjmU4374LJ

San Juan Islands927 contributions

The harbor view is marvelous. . .

Sep 2024 • couples

Food and service here take a back seat to the harbor view, which is quite entertaining. Food not so much. Best was kale Caesar salad with shrimp, pretty yummy. Recommended halibut burger was frankly disappointing to be honest: smallish portion of halibut-/ perhaps the salmon burger is better? Mediocre fries. Service was stretched to thinly done. Busy Monday evening. Better places for food a bit away from the harbor.

Written September 23, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BabyboomerCalgary

Calgary234 contributions

Go for the location, not the food

May 2023 • couples

We went there for supper at about 5:30 and sat outside looking over the harbour and watching the seaplanes coming & going. We had fish (1 piece) and chips and fish tacos. The piece of fish was all batter and very little fish and didn’t come close to equaling that at Piccadilly Bistro at Lunch. The 2 fish tacos were significantly better with more fish and a good side salad. Disappointing as we had visited Lighthouse Bistro on previous visits to Nanaimo but this time not so good.

Written May 18, 2023

Barbara D

Qualicum Beach328 contributions

Good Food...Good Service...but

Sep 2022 • none

Food was good...we had the beef dip and fish tacos. Service was friendly. My only fault was when my husband ordered the fish tacos she asked if he wanted a green salad or a Caesar salad...he chose Caesar and when the bill came it was $5.00 extra...for a small Caesar on the side. Surely they should say green salad comes with the meal, but for $5.00 extra you can get Caesar instead. A small thing, but irritating.

Written September 29, 2022

JaniceAnd

3 contributions

Still starving, too long to wait

May 2024 • family

Had a reservation upstairs for Mothers Day lunch. When we arrived we were told it would take 45 minutes to get our meal. We were ok with that as we could visit. We ordered right away to help with the long wait. We had someone with us with allergies and when it was discussed the server asked if we had brought our epi pen with us. Probably should have left then. We waited for 1.5 hours and asked the server how much longer it would be as we could see people on the outside deck, come after us and left before we got food. She said she would check how much longer. When she came back she said another 20 minutes. We left just before 3 unfed. Will not try them again.

Written May 13, 2024

Elden B

1 contribution

Untrained management and staff

Jul 2023 • family

Was there with family. Took 20 min to get first drink ordered, took another 25 min to get the drinks. After food was ordered it was 45 min to get food and 15 more minutes to get the wine that was ordered with meal. When the bill came there was only 5% tip given for horrible service, the manager came to table and she questioned the tip in front of restaurant costumers (UNPROFESSIONAL). Restaurant was busy but not packed! When we lived here 22 years ago this was our absolute favourite spot, it was a 5 out of 5, fun as well with live entertainment. Who ever is the owner should invest in staff training and incentives. Sad to say but don’t think I will ever return 🤨

Written February 17, 2024

MGMoss

Rosemount142 contributions

Good seafood and view of the sea

Oct 2024 • friends

We had a wonderful meal. Our server Jing gave the proper amount of help, and she was very helpful in explaining the dishes, the portions and other questions. Service was quick and excellent. We all ordered fish and chips and each bite was good. The cod and halibut were both flaky and tasty. The fries were just right. We also enjoyed calamari and clam chowder. Both very good. The dessert of Nanaimo Bar was very good as well. The location is great. We watched sea otters romp along the wharf and other fun activities. The seats were cozy and comfortable.

Written October 6, 2024

ashley s

1 contribution

Utter disappointment

Aug 2022 • family

I went here for a nice waterfront view dinner with my parents and was extremely disappointed. Where food should be served hot we were served warm food, the food was extra oily, horrible customer service and literally having to ask for the essentials such as utensils, napkins and such is not what i would expect for an establishment in such a beautiful setting. My mum even asked for the dessert menu in hopes that she atleast enjoy something sweet to end the night and literally the rude waitress just handed her the bill. I understand if it were busy but literally there were 3 tables and one was ours. The staff were conversating about personal matters near the bar and totally ignoring their customers. It wasnt just our table, who experience this level of service. Another couple came in and literally the waitress was beyond rude to them too. Her tone of voice and remarks, you really wonder if she was cut out to work in the public sector. I've eaten at many restaurants and by far this is one of the worst experiences ever. I definitely will not be coming back here nor recommending this to anyone ever. My mum was so disappointed that we had to go and find another place to have dessert. What a waste of money. I'd rather have McDonalds than come back here.

Written August 13, 2022

DLH L

4 contributions

Piss poor

Jul 2022 • couples

Cafeteria style menu and they were out of half their beers on tap. I ordered water. My date ordered mozzarella sticks "on a bed of French fries"?! Who even serves mozzarella sticks? He asked for clam chowder as a side because they offered. This is what I ate. Had I paid for the chowder as a separate dish, it would have been $15, but by ordering it this way we got two meals for the ridiculously priced mozzarella sticks. Do they not have anyone managing this place?You'd expect this style of food in a dive bar, not a waterfront bistro! $17 for 4 tiny mozzarella sticks battered in a bland flour mix and deep fried in dirty oil. Unreal. My date had a cesar and said they forgot a couple ingredients. The views from this restaurant are beautiful, but it was hard not to notice the clueless servers loitering around the bar with their hands in their pockets, texting or socializing with one another and ignoring their customers. This place used to be good. Another casuality of the Covid Era.

Written August 13, 2022

CoCoLau

Vancouver131 contributions

Our worst meal in Vancouver Island

Jul 2023 • family

I would only recommend you to go there if you want to see the Nanaimo harbour view without obstruction. The food quality is less than mediocre, and the price is moderate as well. We have ordered the summer salad with the most distasteful gluey dressing which I have asked for plain vinegar to replace it. The Prawns & seafood linguine is equally tasteless. Quite sure for a fact that this bistro won't survive without the best view in Nanaimo Harbour. Probably order just a drink next time to enjoy with the view!

Written July 13, 2023

Donnel P

Maple Ridge1321 contributions

Lunch

May 2024 • couples

Had lunch at this place for the first time and our experienced was very good. The place was very nice and not busy. The view was spectacular and very nice to have a conversation. The staff was friendly and we did order the day’s specials Beef Dip with Mushrooms. The food was very good. Very hot and crispy fries and the beef was tender and tasty. A bit pricey but worth it. I highly recommended this place to try when visiting Nanaimo.

Written May 12, 2024

Steve L

Nanaimo5 contributions

Never again will I waste my money there.

Mar 2022 • none

My wife and I decided to have her Birthday lunch at The Lighthouse Bistro, as we had heard about the great chef there. Well as it turned out, that particular chef was no longer there. While Susan ordered the Beef Dip with a side Ceasar Salad and a glass of wine, I ordered the Sweet Chili Chicken Wings with a side of Ranch Dressing. I was charged $18.50 for eight (8) well overcooked, tough, tiny wings. The Beef Dip was menu priced at $18.00 but we were charged $23.00. And to make things worse, the Beef Dip had zero flavour to it, like it had been used for soup stock first. Our total Lunch bill came to 57.00, making the glass of wine worth $15.50. I was shocked and stunned by the escalated prices and very poor food quality and portions. Save yourself the embarrassment and stay away from this tourist trap. We will never go back or recommend this place to anyone.

Written March 18, 2022

Jason H

Brighton12 contributions

Average food, bizarre service

Jul 2022 • none

Follow the logic on this one. We ordered a beer and a burger at lunch on a Wednesday. The service was fine, but the food decidedly average (the fries overcooked, the burger dry). At the end of the meal, I noticed a small card that said '$10 burger and beer Wednesdays'. Great. However, when the bill came, the burger and fries were charged at $22 and the beer at $7. I pointed it out to the waitress but she said that I hadn't asked for the special. I agreed that I hadn't, but said that we ordered exactly what the special was and that we weren't told about the deal. She said she would 'see what she could do'. A few minutes later, another waitress came over with the reductions made, but she was clearly not happy and warned me that I was really not eligible for the deal because I had fries with my burger. You'd think she might have apologized and admitted that she should have pointed out the special; but no, instead she chose to argue the point. So yes, I won't be back. If you do go for the Wednesday special, take a lawyer.

Written July 20, 2022

Lora S

Nanaimo58 contributions

Disappointing - be better

Aug 2021 • friends

I have tried so hard to give Lighthouse Bistro a chance and it is disappointing everytime. The last couple of times I have been the food as been mediocre. Like very mediocre. I'm not convinced anything is made fresh. I had Chicken Tacos about a month ago and if looked like frozen chicken strips from Costco with coleslaw on the verge of its expiry date. Most recently I had the Carbonara. The sauce looked separated and not like Carbonara. It came with a slice of white bread, like sandwich bread with a weird blob of butter? Not worth $25 at all. The drinks are the only decent thing. I can see with other recent reviews that Lighthouse has gone downhill. This place has SO much potential with its beautiful location and I wish the owners would get the food to match the location.

Written August 5, 2021

Jldarling

50 contributions

Chipped glasses and frozen food

Mar 2021 • none

The location is lovely, that is the only positive. My glass was chipped and I cut my lip, when I explained to the bartender she advised she didn't see a chip but would get me a fresh glass. I was still charged full price. The food was utterly disappointing. The calamari arrived cold, the mozzarella sticks order included 5 pieces for $12. I actually asked the server is my order correct, it can't possibly be what was presented. They were not homemade, simply the frozen variety. I would return to sit on the patio for a beverage but I would never waste money on the food here again.

Written March 26, 2021

Eva H

Budapest323 contributions

Not photo worthy

Sep 2021 • none

When you order the wings because it comes with celery and cilantro, and it shows up without either. My hubby ordered the halibut burger hoping it would be as good as the dingy dock across the water but got a fillet-o-fish. He ordered with salad thinking he doesn’t want to order too much but the salad was so small I finally asked our lovely server ‘Julia’ please bring him a handful of fried so he doesn’t leave here hungry. She was absolutely perfect, and the beers and view were great as I watched half eaten food taken back to the kitchen. I am however an optimist and hope the new kitchen staff takes this review as feedback and truly starts to improve. I know after Covid it’s like fishing in a bucket, but come on, we are locals, your neighbors, those who help you through the next pandemic, stock market crash, weather storms; just serve us some good grub and have the drinks pouring cold; it’s not much to ask for us it?

Written September 4, 2021