Gabriel's Cafe

Great atmosphere, excellent coffee. Didn't order food, but hear it is amazing and it looked like it would be.

SO good! Fresh, high quality ingredients, delicious, and healthy. Generous portions. Unique flavours. I'll be back for sure!

Been here now 2Xs and enjoy the food and atmosphere every time.
I had the kitchen salad, with brown rice, avocado, pickled onion, kimchi, pea shoots and daicon and a light tasty dressing.
They also have vegan options.
There is seating outside as well as inside.
It's located in the old part of downtown Nanaimo, waterfront.
It's pay street parking on any of the streets in the area.
Check this incredible tasty food place out!
They even had a water bowl outside for thirsty pets!

I was very impressed with the delicious food! Staff very friendly, nice casual atmosphere. Food was so fresh and lots of healthy choices. It is farm to table and you can really tell. 10/10 would go back

My wife and I went for breakfast. First time. Won't be the last. Beautiful spot with amazing food, all locally sourced. Huge servings. Great service. I had the hash special and my wife had an omelet. Both super tasty and generous portions. I'm a bit of a hash affectionate and I have to say this was the best I've had anywhere. Highly, highly, recommend

We wanted to try Gabriel's because of the other reviews. I wish I could give it a better rating because the food was good and generously portioned. However, they have a rather large fruit fly problem. It's not enjoyable to try and eat your food and swat away hefty fruit flies. Someone is either not doing their job daily and completely or the owner has stopped caring and it shows. It's unfortunate because the concept is great, they are trying to thrive in an area where there are obvious struggles but experience counts as much as service and food. We aren't opposed to going back but not until the fruit fly problem is resolved.

We had a tasty breakfast. We split two eggs with corn, bean and cheese fritters and multi grain toasted bread. Very tasty and 9.

Extremely disappointing, as previous reviews had been very positive. I had The Mt Benny. The potatoes were barely warm, not crispy and appeared to have been cooked some time before and kept warm before serving. The muffin was a soggy mess. There was no response from the waitress when I gave this feedback to her. I will not be visiting again.

I came with my baby and husband for lunch but was told it was a 25 minute wait for a table and they would text when our table was ready. We went for a walk as there is no place to wait. They texted within 5 minutes and when we came back right away they said we weren't fast enough and gave away our table to the next people in line who weren't even there yet. The manager girl didnt offer to help us and we found her to be rude and unprofessional. It was very disappointing as we have enjoyed Gabriel's as a family friendly restaurant before. Please don't cancel a family's table like that again and please dont tell people it's a long wait when it's really only 5 minutes.

Disappointed. I quite enjoyed going to Gabe's as they have great vegan options. When the 6 of us visited this morning I asked to push two tables together so that we could sit together. The server said that this was fine. I reaffirmed this to her by saying "I just want to make sure that it's okay that we move things around", she agreed once again. We started moving tables and the Manager, Sarah, approached, told us that we couldn't sit in the area that we were in, and that we couldn't use more than one table. I explained that we had asked another Server, and she approved it. The Manager then said "Well, I'm the Manager, and they're just wrong". She then proceeded to tell us that we likely wouldn't even get the table due to the line up that was forming while this discussion was being had. We elected to leave. No accountability was taken for the staff member's mistake, no accommodations were made to invite us to stay. Instead we were only told that we received wrong information from her staff and that we were going to have just wait and sit apart when we finally got our order taken. I've brought large groups in for work meetings during just as busy of times and never experienced this. I've got better places to eat in town.

The It's Vegan Scramble is one of the best breakfast scrambles I've tried. Huge portion and delicious veggies!

I was really happy with the Tunisian tagine. It had plenty of flavour and the portion was big and very filling. You can customize the rice and the protein for no up-charge. I chose brown rice and prawns. Good value for money and good quality of food.

Was excited to try this place but didn’t feel like it lived up to the hype, especially after waiting for such a long time.the wrap didn’t taste fresh and the pulled pork and other ingredients just felt like a mush.the pan-fried home fries were tasty though! The coconut milk pancake was also good - not quite buttered enough but excellent fluff and tasted good.very good freshly squeezed orange juice but small sized glass.the service behind the cash was great but actual servers running food were not very pleasant.when i asked for butter on the side for my pancake, one server responded rather rudely, “it already has butter on it” as if she didn’t feel like going to get it.um, okkkkkkk but i clearly felt like it could use more so i wasn’t sure why she came across so judgmental.note: you have five minutes to come
to your table when you receive a text otherwise your spot gets given away.we witnessed a couple with a young child get turned away after arriving after 10 minutes.don’t wander too far when waiting!

Healthy food, huge portion sizes, lots of GF and Vegan options - I'm *so*. Happy we found this place. The Kimchi Salad was humungous and the type of meal that makes you feel better after finishing it. We won't eat anywhere else in Nanaimo now!

Such a wonderful little café and amazing food. Locally sourced ingredients make this a very fresh meal. Came for breakfast and ordered the Ian Staple, eggs over easy and a side of bacon. Definitely one of the best breakfasts I have had in a while.

Prices are comparable to other restaurants on the island. Seems like everything is a bit more costly on the island as compared to the mainland. The quality and imagination is worth the price.

Went for brunch on a Saturday - it was busy but still easily found a table. We had the Jinglepots, When Pigs Fly, and Salmon Chowder. Portions were huge and good value for money. The coconut pancakes were delicious and the soup was very hearty. Also nice that they had tons of vegan and gluten free options. Very west coast!

Staff does not disinfect tables between guests. Menus are not being disinfected and just put.on a pile. Vaccine passports are only being checked if you eat (!) in. No checks if you buy a coffee and sit down. Also, if you call yourself a "cafe", one would probably expect the place to have an espresso machine. Only choice is drip coffee.

Start your day off right by ordering the pulled pork breakfast wrap.
Flavourful, not drowning in BBQ sauce like most pulled pork, crispy lettuce, a bit of a spice kick, the perfect amount of eggs and excellent hashbrowns.
A hearty wrap for the price.

If we were locals this would be a regular spot.

I called to order take out but as soon as I asked them what their soup for the day was they immediately hung up. Not the first time this has happened. Wont bother coming here for a while

Servers are stuck up and treated my girlfriend horribly!

She asked a few simple questions because there was zero communication between the server and her after the order was made.

Eg- where is the water located? Which was met with a point in its general direction accompanied by a demeaning tone.

Do you have forks? (in addition to the take out order she was waiting for) " We don't provide that kind of service" - In a snotty manor.

She used to rave about this place but after that experience I highly doubt she will return.

Go to Gabriel's Cafe if your looking to be talked down to and ignored after you make payment.

I think "diner" is a more fitting term compared to cafe. When thinking of a cafe, they tend to have a variety of coffee types whereas this location only has drip (which was only okay in terms of taste). Food (breakfast) was okay too but seemed a tad pricy as did the coffee for what it was.

Very good breakfast places right in the heart of downtown with good services. Make sure you come early to avoid queue. I ordered the special Benny and Not McMuffin and they are both really delicious.

Good Place. Excellent service and Delicious food. A must go to if you are visiting Nanaimo. Fresh and locally sourced food.

I ate here because I’m from out of town and I’m vegan. I don’t know what I was expecting but I had the Hey I’m a Vegan! And it was absolutely beautiful! They make delicious vegan food here and I will be back every time I come to Nanaimo. ️

Stopped by in the morning to pick up some lunch after working 24 hours. Ordered a poke bowl, as it would be something they could hopefully do fast as there is no cooking involved. The kitchen was disorganized? Or there was a miscommune between the front and the kitchen. I was told it would be a 15 min wait from ordering but ~45min later I finally got the poke bowl. Was offered a glass of water while I wait, after checking in on what the status was about 30min in. But what I really wanted to do after being on my feet for 24 hours was not stand to wait that long outside in the sun, but a seat in shade would've been nice.

Aside from that, the food was awesome! I'd highly recommend the food. Not sure about the delivery. As they said on the box, the bowl is "the tops" but I'm not sure I can survive such a wait again.

There's a great reason this place is always so busy. Good food, quality ingredients, welcoming and accommodating staff.

It has it all - yet, is unfortunately in the armpit of Nanaimos dying downtown core. If you have a hankering for a great breakfast, GO. Well worth the trip.

Excellent menu item, very excited to try their go fig or go home benny, except that the benny didn't come with the fig compote. I realized that I didn't get the fig compote after a few bites so I asked the head waitress if it was supposed to come with a side of fig compote, and she replied that the fig was actually a part of the balsamic reduction that was drizzled on the benny and if I'd like some more of it, to which I said no it's fine. I didn't want more balsamic reduction drizzle. I wanted to try the fig compote made with locally farmed figs. A compote is not a reduction. A compote is more akin to a jam with chunks of fruit in it. They are two different things. I was not about to go into the difference between a compote and a reduction with a server. Felt robbed. Funny thing is that you prepay for the meal, and that means you also prepay for the tip.
What a great start to my morning.

Beautiful food. Child friendly. Our favourite breakfast place In Nanaimo's historic centre. Gets busy so go early and sign in to their waiting list.

Such a cute and delicious cafe! The atmosphere is very trendy and everything is locally sourced within the cafe. Their ingredients come from local farmers and they use only free range eggs. Prices are reasonable and you do get a large portion for the amount that you are paying! Service is great and our waitress was very polite. This place does get very busy so either be ready to wait for a long time or come early!

Very good food, healthier options. It's a very busy cafe so be warned there can be a bit of a wait even for takeout.

Incredibly delicious food, and a great place to stop on the way to the ferry. Very relaxed vibe, too; just make sure you leave enough time to enjoy your meal

Unfortunately we didnt have a great experience, but that could easily be changed with the service (along with crispier hash browns) After being told it would be 20 mins, we waited 40, then we received the text they were ready for us and I stood at the front for 15 mins before someone even greeted me. Then we were seated, she said she'd grab us water and never came back. We waited, before I finally walked in and asked for menus.then we finally ordered, ate, and left after 2 hrs! The food was decent, but we wont be back.

One of the worst experiences ever, never mind the time waiting, even could be much lesser, if well organized, which is absolutely not, we arrived at around 08: 45, told us will be a waiting time 25 minutes! We waited and they informed us at around 20 minutes later, then another 5 minutes to clean 3 tables, of leaving consumers, then called us, I asked for a specific table we wanted, from the 3 cleaned tables and was explained, that they are filling first the 2 seats tables, then the rest, gave us the worst-case 2 seats table, then on the table that we asked, was placed a single person, then to the other that we asked was arranged for people who they knew 2 of them, absolutely disrespectful and disappointing! On the top of all of this, you have to choose from the menu and go waiting on line to order, terrible, then waiting for the actual order, we have not enjoyed, understandably why! We came from Ontario first visiting BC, and Nanaimo, we travel around the World a lot, and never been treated like this!
We left at 10: 30! Our breakfast plans became early branch, Never again!

I loved that many items on the menu can be made plant-based / vegan with simple substitutions. I had the vegan poke bowl which was delicious. Service was quick and portion was very filling.

Eggs Benny was very delicious! Outdoor seating was decent! Especially first thing in the morning right when they open!

Tasty food but for the price you would expect a bit more, such as coffee with breakfast. Unfortunately you need to pay for all the other things (like coffee, and there are no refills), and things like only 2 strips of bacon instead of the standard 3 strips ends up driving the price way up to get a whole breakfast. Also you need to order at the counter like a fast food joint, which I don't like. The food is fine, but overall 3 stars because it will end up costing you $25 each for just a simple breakfast.

Went to Gabriel’s café while I was waiting for the ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Had a very nice pokey bowls tofu, vegan option very tasty. Nice atmosphere and a very tasty IPA. I think I will come here again if I have the time to kill. Decent prices for the amount of food. Five stars no complaints

It's been great watching Gabriel's restaurant grow. The food is good, as is the service.and you can order online so you don't even have to go inside! Innovative restaurant, if local and community matter to you you should support them. Friendly and caring owners

Downtown Nanaimo and a quick walk from the Gabriola ferry. Delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. Reasonable prices.

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.

This local restaurant is a great example of Farm to Table fresh food everyday made fresh. The food is always delicious and I would recommend the pulled pork pancakes.

Lots of good restaurants in Nanaimo.
Gabriels is my family's favourite. Food people ethics. Whole package right here.

Un super endroit pour petit déjeuner ou déjeuner. La nourriture est excellente, salade, sandwich, soupes, english breakfast! Tout est frais et local.
L'endroit est cosy et le personnel très agréable. Prix très correct.

This awesome little joint was our first restaurant in Nanaimo. Best slaw I've ever eaten in my life and an amazing pulled pork sandy. Interesting layout and concept. Loved the whole experience.

Nice place to having a good quality time with friends, companion or family. They served the best breakfast food ever and I am satisfied with what they served, taste excellent, the staff were polite and friendly.

Once again I had the breakfast hash it never fails to satisfy. My wife had what she described as a delish eggs bennie. Definitely a place to go for breakfast.

Great food, I personally really like to complain. I dont enjoy having to pay so much for food at restaurants so I eat with with a grudge on my shoulder most times. The service was friendly but not fast that's forsure. It was 50 min for the food but it was a packed house. Also some jackass told my kid to drink the water outta the community dog bowl so those two factors cost them a star and the latter almost cost buddy a tooth. But the food was great so yeah 4 stars couldve been 5

Really impressed with the quality and price of the food, even more so when you consider it's farm to table concept. I've been here a few times now and the quality is consistent. Just really impressed.

Consistency of service & quality of food here is always way above par. I eat here whenever I'm in Nanaimo.

Lovely atmosphere, delicious food, seating is tight but that's just becaise they serve such delicious food and have such a wonderful atmosphere.

Great laid back atmosphere. Had the pulled pork sandwich, was fresh and tasty. 2 others had the beef rice bowls and loved them and even had to take leftovers as they couldn't finish.

The foods great and the prices are fair. I'm not a fan of cilantro though. They have a inside joke we're they like to put it on even if you ask to not have it. Atmosphere is great if you are a liberal, hipster or a feminist.

Best pancakes I've ever had (coconut milk pancakes No. 11). Best breakfast in Nanaimo so far I'd say.

The one vegan option on breakfast menu was pretty good and good sized portion but we spent $34 for two tofu scrambles, one side of toast and one tea so bit expensive but we were satisfied overall.

We love going here. My partner loves ordering the coconut milk pancakes with the braised pulled pork and I usually get one of the specials of the day. It is SO. GoOD.

Very big breakfast and delicious. Coconut milk pancakes are more than awesome. The taste and the texture of coconut is real not just artificial flavours. Yogurt and blueberry jam and chopped banana on the top makes it wow. Juice are very fresh here. Very cool environment. Staffs are friendly.