Tag Archives: big disappointment

Gabriel’s Gourmet Cafe, Nanaimo

This was called “Best of Nanaimo #1 and I am in total disbelief. At lunch time, there was 7 people eating and we made it 9. You have to pick up a menu, look it over, go to the desk, pay for it and then find a place to sit. Okay.

Don and I have travelled extensively in the U.S.A., Europe, and Canada and I have been able to order anything on their menus without a problem, except for here. This is far from gourmet.

We finally agreed on their Eggs Benny, as there was not another thing on this menu that I could or would eat. After a lengthy wait, it came out. The pan fried potatoes were mostly burnt and on the ‘old’ side but lots of them. The eggs were hard to see and this is why. The English muffins never saw a grill or toaster, they were soggy and very slimy in texture. This was due to the fact they were covered with chopped tomatoes and lettuce. The eggs had some sauce on them but were totally covered with green onions and were cold. I guess they ran out of avocado as it was awol.

The server asked how we loved their food and we told her it was cold. She did offer to re-do the eggs but we were so turned off with the offering, we declined. Even Don felt the same and, believe me, he can eat almost anything.

This was, by the way, $47.00 of total disappointment.

There is not a single item on the menu that is not covered with chipotle sauces, harissa, green onions, cilantro, kimchi, gochujang mayo. Will we return? Not ever.

 

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Boston Pizza, Nanaimo

It has been years since Don and I have been to a Boston Pizza Restaurant, and never in Nanaimo. Guess what? Never again. This is not being nasty but very truthful. Let me explain.

It was between 3:30 ish and 4 p.m. when we arrived. Four people at a booth and Don and I. No one else. That should be a clue. They do not carry a non-alcoholic beer which shows no respect for those who wish not to drink and drive. I ordered a white wine and when the server came back, she says the wine I ordered they were out of but she gave me the much more expensive wine at the lower price. That was nice. I was given two choices at the start and had not heard of the latter one before, so I didn’t order it.

Don ordered a pizza called a meateor or some such name and I ordered the chicken pecan salad. The pizza that came out should have been tossed. It was totally unappetizing to look at. Very dark (close to burnt) but Don said the crust was pretty good. And that was it.

My platter came out. It was one slice of tomato that was chopped and set on the side of the platter. Two large, cucumber wedges, that had been sitting out for awhile as they were dried and starting to turn colour. Two small patches of shredded cheeses (white and orange) and each one set on the edge of the platter. Shredded toothpick size pieces of carrot and a handful of the best candied pecans ever.  Not to be outdone, there was a mound of bacon bits (from a pkg. and was not suitable. To round it all off ,  in the middle was a huge heap of greens that had some dressing on the bottom portion only and a slice of  very, very over cooked and dry grilled chicken on top cut into 4.

The greens on the salad were meant for a large man to try to consume. None of the stems were removed and the ‘tree length’ pieces of greenery were impossible. If this had been in a bowl and tossed together, it would, maybe, be better.

Our server was a very polite and smiling young lady and is an asset to the restaurant. The food, however, is a definite fail. As our daughter has proclaimed for years “that is not food”. Yup! This time she was right.

 

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