|
The green little island across the bay from Nanaimo offers more and better dining than expected because of the deep concentration of artists, sculptors, photographers, writers and musicians among Gabriola islanders. No need to ferry back to Nanaimo for eats. There's nary a Chinese diner in sight, but the range jumps from pizza and fish and chips to superb local product with global village accents. Gabriola Island Pizza does take-out and delivery. Buffet lunches and dinners at the Haven Resort garner praise from particular locals. Dessert and coffee go down well at Razzberry's Jazz Cafe. Upscale Pub Grub The pub at Silva Bay Marina leaps above traditional pub fare with the likes of premium BC oysters, salt and pepper calamari and Penn Cove mussels. The adjoining restaurant holds its own with BC side-striped prawns, halibut, salmon and steaks. And for dessert, the sublime as in Stilton cheese-cake, runs to the ridiculous, like deep-fried Mars Bars.
Local Favourite Insiders send outsiders to Suzy's. Suzy's sustains islanders through breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's easy to love Suzy's because it offers a traditional Canadian breakfast in three sizes, accommodating appetites from the bird-like to lumberjack. Eggs are farm-fresh, home fries don't come from a freezer package and breakfasters fretting about carbs have an option on fresh or fried tomatoes instead o' taters.
Suzy's At dinner, Suzy's sprawling menu runs the gastronomic gamut of pastas, fish and chips, burgers, chicken, ribs and steaks. Gourmands may jump at mango pesto salmon. And how 'bout those Fanny Bay oysters deep-fried in Japanese panko crumbs? Not bad, eh?
Dinner with View Hankering for a sea and sunset view over dinner? Beat a path to Surf Lodge on Berry Point Rd. The Driftwood restaurant's globe-trotting cuisine includes olive tapenade and hummus from the Middle East, gyoza dumplings from Japan, ginger beef from China and Cajun snapper from Louisiana.
Driftwood Restaurant From the ocean straight out the window, choose from: prawns, scallops, halibut and salmon. And, oh yes, good steak-frites for committed carnivores. The wine list features several labels from Vancouver Island wineries. Give 'em a whirl.
New on the Block Gabriola's newest restaurant is the Old A Frame. The humble exterior shouldn't fool anyone: A handsome interior gives way to serious dining. Salad translates as golden beet and goat cheese terrine, apps include garlic cream prawns and mains run on to pan-seared salmon with crispy polenta and braised lamb shank with parmesan risotto. Head to the Gabriola Island Visitor Centre for information and brochures on Berry Point Rd. Proceed cautiously because the turn-off after the ferry terminal is maddeningly easy to miss.
|