Black Rabbit Kitchen in Nanaimo

This place used to be so much better. We just ate there with our family today, gluten free bread was stale, the fries are not like they used to be, service is slow and the menu is more like tapas and drinks. The only actual main dishes that I saw available for lunch was a burger or fried chicken over slaw and salads. Who wants to eat a salad in the winter, not sure but they say they changed the menu according to the season. Maybe it s working for them but unfortunately it s not for me. S

Oh my! This is a top notch spot. The food. The ambience. The service. Nailed it. Definitely one of my top restaurants. Cant wait to go again and will be recommending it to everyone until then. Vegetarian options: Great veggie options - so flavourful.

Horrible service

Work xmass dinner in the attic . Primo good 100$ all in It was like a Victorian Era Castle feast . The food kept on rolling out Food : 5/5

Holy shit! It s a hidden gem! Quit reading this post and go there! Drinks awsome! Food awsome! Service awsome! Go! Go! Go! Food : 5/5

The Black Rabbit is going to grow on me very quickly. There are some worn spots, but thats a given when you occupy a building old enough to remember the dawn of the telephone age: the floorboards have that grandmas-attic soft-fibered creakiness that renders a trip from the table to the bathroom and back again a bit of a sea-legged affair, pillar-mounted tables listing and wobbling to varying degrees perched atop flooring that forgot its original shape generations ago; the light fixtures, while pretty, appear borderline anachronistic; whoever installed most of the wall art needs to be informed that levels are a tool that exist. Years of quaternary sanitizer spray and Windex application have turned most lacquered surfaces into spongey look-dont-touch pieces. However, the skill of the team at the Black Rabbit have managed to turn all of the lopsided, uneven edges of the carriage house into a carriage home. The menu is nothing short of delightful, and risks being branded that exhaustingly over-deployed adjective, playful. Carrots with sumac spice and chives were a fantastic concoction, despite its overall lack of wallet-compressing panache. Roasted potatoes with cheese sauce and dill were perfectly balanced, existing to complement whatever they were paired with rather than being a standalone item. Agrodolce pork chop with crispy shallot and more chives was a particular standout. The Black Rabbit has taught me that fried mushrooms go with literally anything. The $49 market price beef dish, while delicious and worth every penny, risked feeling like an overspend as ten ounces of striploin struggled to keep pace with its cheaper, punching-above-their-weight competitors. I have learned over the years that I am one to hold a grudge. Being a vain, overly-sensitive and somewhat dramatic foodie type, I still have yet to forgive Nanaimo for letting spots like Figo and Hilltop Bistro go under. While I will be a little sad that I will have to share my dining out budget that has been, up to this point, reserved solely for La Stella for years, I am glad for the change of pace that Black Rabbit offers. If anybody leaves the Black Rabbit with a negative opinion, its because they went in intending to do so.

possibly one of the best places you will eat at on Vancouver Island...this place is the whole package, the room is right, the music, and the food is something else. Try the Apple Salad and send your brain to the moon! I wasnt lucky enough to be there when the Attic is rockin, but watch for music events and other experiences they host above the main restaurant (who doesnt want to take a dog collar making workshop over cocktails and tasty snacks). This place rocks.

There are very few people at noon on weekdays, so you can have a good lunch! Pate is particularly delicious Pale $14 Scallop Crudo $28 Graves Toast $16 Avocado Toast $14

Great spot for Sunday brunch. Very friendly staff

I accidentally went in when they were closed and was immediately scared away from a very grumpy and rude individual that said to own the place. I tried to apologize, that o got them confused with another restaurant, but he wouldn t take the apology, and kept on being rude. Very sad to see that they weren t friendly and understanding. Will avoid them at all costs !

Vegan and gluten free options, great vibe, friendly attentive staff. Our weekly date night go to always enjoyable. Great value for the money, portions are perfect.

Fabulous service, food and cocktails. Highly recommend.

Great overlooked lunch/dinner spot. Cool history. Good drink/beer selection. Good food. Nice staff.

A local hotspot and Nanaimo treasure. The freshest local ingredients for some of the most incredible dishes. We often order one of everything on the menu and always thank the kitchen on our way out. Their cocktails are also to die for.

Best meal Ive had in Nanaimo in 10 years. Its share plate style, flavors were so unique. I really recommend this as a destination for 2 couples. Kitchen did amazing Friend chicken 10/10 Fries 10/10 Cheese mushroom on bread 10/10 Shrimp 10/10

The best dining experience in Nanaimo! Great atmosphere, a gourmet yet unpretentious menu and perfectly crafted cocktails

Very very good restaurant. I was blown away with all the food we ordered. I highly recommend to try this gem

My sister and I were looking for a last minute place to have dinner while visiting Nanaimo, and stumbled across this gem! We shared a number of dishes (Cucumber, Beets, and Burger) and each was delicious! Food came out quick, and our server was lovely. Will visit again when in the area!

Lucky to have a place like this in Nanaimo! Friendly, welcoming atmosphere with delicious food and drink. Love coming here for a drink outside.

Lovely restaurant, with friendly staff and the food was really good. If I didnt live over 5 thousand miles away I would be back next week!

Food was good but the vegan and gluten free options lacking in protein. Vegetarian options: Vegan options had no protein Dietary restrictions: If vegan and gluten free, limited in protein options

Fantastic experience last night - great food, fantastic cocktails, and absolutely phenomenal service. Everything we ordered came out perfectly prepared and presented. Friendly, attentive, and extremely personable staff. This was our first time visiting but definitely won t be our last. Dietary restrictions: Several food allergies at our table which were taken seriously and accommodated without issue.

Such a shame because I would love to give them 5 stars across the board! However, Ive been trying to reach them for weeks about a reservation upstairs in the Attic, and they still havent gotten back to me (3 forms filled, 2 emails sent and 2 phone calls - nothing!)

innovative menu and professional staff, came here last valentines day and enjoyed everything. very attentive to our water glasses without being overbearing.

Great place to eat.

A vibrant food and cocktail scene! We have dined here about 3 times now; always tried something different and never disappointed. The food and service always exceeds expectations!

Excellent spot! The patio was a gem when you have three kids in tow. They were able to get the wiggles out as the rest of the group ate. We so appreciate the vegan options. Both cabbage dishes were delish. Spotting the rabbits was a fun activity too! Meat eaters enjoyed their meal too! Server was fantastic and attentive!

Lovely atmosphere and patio. The food was the typical overpriced hipster fare. Pretentious and limited. Way too expensive for what you get.

Dont order wine. 16.00 per small glass. Maybe 6 0z.

Im diabetic and cant handle carbohydrates. I asked if I could get a salad instead of fries. The chef said no.

We had a light dinner on the patio with our 2 year old daughter. Everything was absolutely delightful - the service, the dishes, late summer evening atmosphere, historic building. Our girl kept saying we are not done yet anytime the plate was empty :-)

The food is good. The place is nicely decorated.

Great steak, lovely patio and great service

Very noisy

Just go. Wheelchair accessibility: Has it. Food : 5/5 |

A real gem in downtown Nanaimo. Only came for cocktails and a few snacks, but everything was very much enjoyed. Creative cocktails that would match the quality of any bar located in a bigger city with friendly service and tasty food. A nice large patio space to sit on during the summer months too. Much recommended!

Fun delicious experience!

Ive never enjoyed broccoli so much!!

Top flight food and service. Fish and chips was among the best Ive had, and the portions were generous, 4 really fresh pieces of cod. Small but thoughtful selection of beers, enjoyed both I tried. Only knock is the A/C was unnecessarily switched on on a cool evening so it got cold sitting still and eating. Baffling. Otherwise a great experience.

Absolutely fantastic! From the staff to the chefs to the vibe of the restaurant! Everything was amazing! Would highly recommend if youre in nanaimo!!

My dear friend had her wedding here and it was absolutely wonderful! Food, ambiance and staff were all amazing!!!!

The food is delicious and super fun to share with a group of friends. The drinks are amazing. And the atmosphere is so nice. It s a great location. The service is very friendly too!

My first time was at a poetry reading. The drinks, Atmosphere, and food were great.

Wonderful atmosphere, and the menu is fantastic.

This was one the most enjoyable meals i ve had recently. The space, the service, and the food were all fantastic. Butter lettuce was absolutely fabulous, as was the gluten free bread with the salmon tartare. Will definitely be back whenever we re in Nanaimo! Dietary restrictions: Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Food was very good, but why is focaccia bread with everything? Some items really need a lighter bread or even a cracker. The salmon tartare was great but the bread was so heavy with it. Vegetarian options: Very good choices. Cabbage steak is especially good

They have about 5? Dinner options? And were out of half of them? Everyones food came out cold, my hen came out burnt. Waiter barely knew what he was doing. For food for $50 / per plate (small portions), we expected the best service and food. On top of that, automatic 20% gratuity added on everyones bill. Whats worse is that it was recommended by a few people. I will never come back.

From the moment we sat down we were taking care of . Great example of hospitality. Dined on Saturday May 18 at around 8pm . Thank you for the amazing meal and fantastic service . That olive caramel is out of this world !!

Had a fantastic meal, highly recommend the Pâté, the Cucumber Salad and the Broccoli. Delicious.

Went in for brunch today. French toast was excellent and service was even better. Highly recommend.

I had the privilege of dining at BR with some loved ones tonight. They have just launched their new menu, and everything we had was seriously delicious! The family style dining, knowledgeable and friendly service, and beautiful atmosphere made for a magical evening. I m can t wait to go back!

Has a small but good brunch menu. Had the French toast and Tofino eggs Benny with a lox bagel. Service and food was excellent. They also make a great cappuccino.

The mocktails were excellent! The food was delicious. The vibe was super chill. Definitely recommend perfect date night!

Beautiful dining room. Cornish game hen and salmon were phenomenal. Evidently they have some real professionals in their kitchen. 5 stars. Highly recommended. Great cocktails as well.

This place is absolutely phenomenal!!!

Dined last Friday with friends and found the experience quite disappointing. We ordered a couple of items to share as well as individual orders and a bottle of wine. Wait staff suggested we try their regular way of bringing dishes out of the kitchen which she said was as soon as theyre prepared instead of all at once because food is fresher and hot sounded like a good idea.... Plates came out one at a time, but they were far from fresher or hot! Food was just barely warm. Cold dishes were room temp. I found portions were pretty small and flavor underwhelming. For the price that Black Rabbit charges, (just under $300 for four people!) the food should have been MUCH BETTER. Staff were attentive and nice but food was only just okay, no where near delicious, and certainly not hot and fresh.

Beautiful interiors and great atmosphere, combined with delicious food! Bonus: saw a real black rabbit right after coming out of the restaurant

Great food, great drinks, great service.

What a gem we have here!!! Excellent cuisine, phenomenal service, the menu is changing (the Cote de Boeuf tonight was as good as anything I ve had in Argentina and will be gone, unfortunately) but I m looking forward to seeing what new and innovative dishes are coming soon! Hats off to Amy and all the staff for giving my wife and I a memorable dining experience tonight!

We were gifted a dinner here as a Christmas present. The service was terrific, the food was also wonderful. We had the steak dinner for two with the shrimp Appy and fries. Dessert was so delicious! Thanks to Izzie for taking such good care of us

Consistently amazing meat dishes here, excellent and attentive service and THE best fries in town. Always a pleasure to visit the BRK

Friendly and good service.

Made a VERY last minute reservation for a valentines date, they made the space and time for us, waitresses were fun and had a lot of personality. Sadly they were out of stock of what we originally tried to order, but what we ended up with was delicious and i was definitely happy with the experience. The ...cherry something mocktail? Amazing! Im gonna need the recipe for that one, 10/10 for the taste! My only complaint would be the noise, great taste in music but i was sat under the speaker and it was a bit too loud for me. Ive recommended to a few friends, definitely a good place for a fancy date night.

Great staff and amazing food. A highly recommended dinning experience!

we had our staff christmas party in the loft area, and it far exceeded our expectations. service, food, atmosphere was beyond amazing. we are already planning our next visit!

Enjoyed a lovely date night dinner out with my wife at Black Rabbit. Try their cocktail The Hopper - delicious, well balanced. Simple yet elegant. Appetizers were the Goat Cheese Terrine and Warm Olives, both very nice. Gluten free baguette option was nice to have and very good. Mains were steak frites and steak salad, both well seasoned and the cook on the steak was perfect. Generous portions. Creme Brûlée and Chocolate mousse for dessert was the grand finale. A very nice addition to Nanaimo s restaurant scene. Chill but upscale vibe. Excellent, attentive service. Will be back and recommend to friends!

Delicious food made with local ingredients. The vibes were also immaculate

Recently had a great experience here, were caught looking for a place to eat without reservations on a Friday evening but managed to get a table and were treated with exceptional service and delicious food. Great ambience, beautiful and unique space, and a great menu with equally great daily specials.

A great place for bespoke cocktails and expertly prepared game. We had the prix fixe duck and it was very good. I love that the old train station has a great new use and a great future.

Run to this gorgeous place!! Beautiful historic train station wonderful staff and service hands down the best steak I ve ever had! 10 out of 10 !

Another top quality dining experience here. It s just fabulous. Food service ambience . Love it. Go.

Have been to a black rabbit multiple times now. Fantastic food and cocktails and the service is always excellent. I love the ambience and atmosphere! Kudos to Amy and the staff for choosing to continue investing in Old City and bring more people to this beautiful neighbourhood

We had a wonderful dinner here last night. Food was great as was the service. We will go back.

Very happy with the service and food, both were excellent!

Amazing food! Very professional and friendly service! Strongly recommend going there and trying it. Cote de Beouf is the best steak Ive had in years.

My friend and I celebrated my birthday here because the atmosphere is upscale yet relaxed. The food is phenomenal every time and the drinks are always made with care! The service is outstanding and you always leave feeling content and full.

The place and staff are great.The decor,music, drinks and food all good.

Wine tasting night and had dinner afterwards! Our neighbour and hubby and roommate went for the experience! It was absolutely wonderful! Great experience! Fabulous staff and great venue!

What a magnificent place! I was so excited to hear that the White Rabbit folks acquired the rest of the old station and we re going to be doing a restaurant! I ve been a couple of times and every time was so phenomenal. The food is higher end for Nanaimo, creative, fun, and especially tasty. I always have recommended White Rabbit as Amy is masterful, and Black Rabbit is no less. Also THANK YOU for the nonbinary bathroom, bathroom safety is crucial for trans and nonbinary folks, and it is so meaningful to have that acknowledged.

I have visited Black Rabbit Kitchen twice now, and each time I have absolutely loved the great food and amazing cocktails I received. I can t remember the name of the server I had on my first visit, but she was very attentive and knowledgeable. On my most recent visit I had Tori as my server, who provided excellent service and provided me with an amazing recommendation for both drinks and food options. Such a fun and cool vibe here, would definitely recommend :)

Delicious

Great spot, we did the $105 set menu option. One of the best steaks Ive had in a while. The rest of the menu looked fantastic as well. Will make it a must visit every time were back!

Amazing food and service. The best restaurant in town!

Awful staff, immature and untrained ! Tried to get a adult sized table for two, but could only offer a tiny table in the middle of a empty restaurant. I told her Id order and tip as if a 4 person table but nope . We left and well never return ! Absolutely awful place here. You should be ashamed, if you continue to treat people the way you have treated me your business will fail . I look forward to seeing a new friendly reasonable restaurant here in this same location soon. Maybe owning a restaurant isnt for you

Great place, delicious food, friendly service. Perfect mix of formal and relaxed atmosphere. Would recommend highly to visitors and locals. Love everything we ve eaten there, and they were helpful and accommodating with our little kids too.

Sipping my coffee as I enjoy a latte. Very good coffee ! Staff were great.

Great restaurant with excellent cuisine presented creatively. Was a wonderful experience and we both left satisfied. We will be back again and highly recommend this restaurant.

A beautiful anniversary dinner. Thank you for taking care of us

A rare find- coffee that is not over-roasted and a choice of bean for pour over

So happy to have this spot in Nanaimo! The food and drinks are all great, service is always awesome, and both the patio and indoor restaurant are beautiful.

Incredible food and a gorgeous restaurant!

Great place to stop for drinks with friends, great sangria and fries!

Amazing food! Worth every penny. Staff was wonderful. The cocktails were delicious. 5 stars across the board.

Lovely birthday dinner. Ordered the rack of lamb dinner for two.

Best restaurant in Nanaimo, hands down.

First time trying black rabbit. We were greeted by a black rabbit when we got out of our car. Is that rabbit on the payroll? We tried various drinks and we were impressed by all of them. They were presented beautifully and the flavours were so tasty. For our meals we got a bunch of small plates and a few main dishes and split it all with the table. I think the stand outs were the spicy noodles, black cod, côte de boeuf. But everything was incredibly flavorful. The space is so warm and inviting. The only hiccup of the night was the server forgot to order our duck with the rest of our meals. Other than that our evening was a delight! Update July 13, 2023- Went for lunch this time! I had the blt with fries and I have to say the fries were some of the best Ive had! So crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. The BLT had some great bread and the bacon was cooked to perfection. We sat out on the patio which was nicely shaded. Service was quick and delightful. Excited to go back and try more dishes.

Once again we were blown away by the whole experience, execution and food quality! Thank you to all the great team members and ownership who make this possible. Albacore tuna tartare with house pickle will change your life. Let these people feed you and share what they are so good at doing! Much love.

We had a a amazing meal and equally amazing service! The guys had the delux royal burger and the girls had the steak salad. For our appies we had the Shrimp. I am celiac and so is the owner!! Everything or most of the menu is Gluten free and they know exactly how to handle celiac dishes!! Definitely will be regulars at this restaurant!!!!

Great use of an old train station, the restaurant has a great menu. We had the fixed price dinner for two and shared it amongst three. Perfect for a light dinner. Drinks were great and the service was perfect. Very pleased to have been shown to this gem.

We came in for the first time after hearing a wonderful review. My partner ordered the Royal burger and it was served raw in the centre. This was not an unfortunate med rare, but quite raw. The thing that is disappointing is the response from the owner- instead of rectifying anything she suggested it was fine to serve as their beef was grass fed and sourced from the Fraser Valley. I appreciate the sourcing of ingredients but that s doesn t negate the necessity for safely cooked food. She was blunt and cold- unnecessary and unfortunate.

Worst place in all of naniamo! 115 dollar steak I wouldnt feed to my dog! Slow unless staff. Have less then 15 items on menu I cant belive this place is even open! Shame on the owners and staff

The staff, the atmosphere and most of all the food were amazing! I love how they have tasty vegan options, totally recommend an experience here for all!!

Had a great experience at the Black Rabbit. Delicious food, wonderful wait staff, and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Was visiting family in Nanaimo and visited your lovely restaurant. Was amazed at the black rabbits roaming freely on the lawn. The resto has a really cool vibe. The food was delicious and the staff were welcoming, friendly, and professional. My meal was delicious and the service was top notch. Highly recommended!

What a pleasant find in Nanaimo! Chill spot to grab a lovely meal. The duck salad was perfection. It was a gorgeous day, so the patio was a treat.

Although I didnt actually eat here, I was told by a number of people that the food was fabulous! I was here for the Fringe Festival and the live entertainment was amazing! Watch for the name James Vickers as this very young man is going places! Thank you Bryony Clare for a wonderful festival!

I had dinner at Black Rabbit Kitchen about a year ago and I forgot to review! I had a lovely dinner with friends and had their duck lorange for my entrée. It was delicious and well made. The service here is awesome and the atmosphere is top notch. Shout out to Sara H. for an all-star service!

Alright!

Dinner was delicious! Had the steak frites, with the green bean almandine. It was sooooo good, I had left overs which was such a treat the next day. Great atmosphere inside and out. Every experience Ive had at Black Rabbit has been wonderful. I especially enjoy being able to hang outside on the patio. The staff does the due diligence to make sure your experience is top notch. This spot is a local gem!

Amazing food, excellent service and very nice place. My daughter and I loved it.

First time and definitely not the last. Lindsay, our server, was amazing. Personable, knowledgeable, attentive, and simply delightful. The food, from starters to dessert was fantastic. Our table ordered the lamb, the duck and the turkey roulade (a special). Not a single dud. This is definitely a keeper.

Best fine dining in town!

Food was good. Location was excellent.

Gorgeous lunch on the sunny patio. Enjoyed the food, the cold beer, and the great service.

The old train station building is beautiful, the staff very nice, our waitress kind enough to turn down the volume of the recorded music so that we could hear each other talk, mind you the place was empty, I cannot imagine how much echo there is when it is busy. However, I was very disappointed with the chèvre chaud salad I ordered. Small portion, not much to it. The thin slices of beets way too vinegary, the dressing kind of ordinary, the two small orange pieces hidden in there mushy. The presentation boring. I like the fact that there was the option of gluten free baguette, once again two pretty small pieces though. Too expensive for what it was. It lacks the quality of Gabriel s cafe salads or of Real Foods salads whose attention to detail is quite remarkable. This was my second visit to Black Rabbit, both times very disappointing. Probably won t go back.

August 20th our family of 7 celebrated our mothers 75th Birthday. The ambience was really fun, a former train station. The dinners we ordered were excellent. Duck, steak, etc done to perfection. Deserts were also delicious. This was more fine dining in a funky atmosphere. A lovely selection of wines also. Staff was great. Look forward to coming back.

We had lunch on the patio at Black Rabbit on Saturday. Our server, Elliot, was so nice! Professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was delicious. Four of us had: the portobello burger, turkey club sandwich, and 2 had the beet/goat cheese salad. The fries with the sandwich were homemade and fantastic! The little side salad that I chose to accompany my portobello burger was dressed with a simple olive oil dressing. Everything tasted very clean and tasty - nothing was greasy. The Caesar was perfect and the glasses of rosé wine were dry and flavourful. Good value for money in the old Nanaimo train station with so much history and character. We will definitely return! After lunch, we went next door to White Rabbit (the little coffee bar) and got some absolutely delicious coffees (iced lattes and an Americano) to take home. Very impressed with both Black Rabbit and White Rabbit! Vegetarian options: Good vegetarian options.

Gem. Excellent food. We had a pri fix for two and enjoyed it very much. Truly dog friendly. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options available Parking: Street parking 2h Kid-friendliness: Lots of space to run around

Some of the best food nanaimo has to offer and not nearly spoken about enough. You are getting what you pay for. As well as some amazing cocktails

Dog-friendly patio seating ordered: chicken liver pâté & prime rib sandwich. I loved the pâté - the caramelized onions were a nice touch on top of either a cripsy or soft baguette. Our server Elliott was very pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable when answering any questions we had about the menu.

The new menu was incredible. Cocktails were thoughtful and well-balanced, and food was delicious as usual. All topped off with a beautiful light-drenched space and great service. Black Rabbit is really upping the standard for dining in Nanaimo.

Black Rabbit is my favorite place in town for a fancy dinner, lunch (when the lunch menu is available), or cocktails. Its become our special-occasion go-to and never disappoints. We often bring our toddler and everyone accommodates her beautifully. I booked the Attic space for a staff dinner (20 people) and it was an amazing experience that everyone raved about. The food is always incredible and the inclusive space and kind service are extras!

The decor is cosy and warm in this antique building. The ladies were quite welcoming as well. We had great service. The food though needs work. I had the classic eggs Benedict . So the pea meal and hollandaise were good but there wasn t any vegetables or fruit on the plate. The hash brown was like a giant deep fried McDonald s hash which if that s your thing great. I personally was hungry after this menu item and the plating needed serious work. So 3/5 for this restaurant.

We had friends that were visiting out of town so took them to our current fav restaurant in Nanaimo - Black rabbit. Food is always on point, the kitchen staff really know how to combine great flavours in a dish. The cocktails are also very skillfully mixed and its obvious some real thought goes into the menu and methods. Our service tonight we could not fault which really completes the experience - Elliot looked after us very well and was super attentive all night, thank-you! Look forward to our next visit!

Tried out the brunch today the Tofino Benedict was amazing!! Love the atmosphere and the service was superb. Well done!! Food

Excellent food, and friendly service. Best preparation of duck weve both had. The food quality was excellent and really felt healthy.

Im very disappointed with what i experienced at this restaurant. I would like to start of by saying this restaurant has a great atmosphere and well crafted menu. And lots of great potential with unfortunate poor service. I called the restaurant ahead of time to ask them if they have vegan options since my friend is vegan and I was told yes, but when we arrived not only did it take about 10-15 minutes for someone to come up to our table (there were only two other tables at this time). But when the man came up to our table i asked him what the vegan options are cause I only noticed one on the entire menu. He said with much attitude we have ONE vegan option woulda been nice to know that when I asked over the phone. he also gave me a very hard time for nicely asking if they had strawberries he said no and I didnt say anything after that but he continued to ask Why?? And I kindly said oh because then I would ve gotten a strawberry daiquiri and he very coldly said to me yeah so there s no strawberry daiquiri on the menu like ok???!!!! And??!! Sorry for asking ?? .at that point we had to walk out. no one deserves this kind of treatment especially not for what this restaurant is trying to be. as someone who s very passionate about hospitality and has worked at many high end places I m very saddened by what I experienced tonight that kind of attitude is something youd expect from a customer at work not when you re just trying to have a nice night out. I can t ever imagine taking so long to come up to a table on a slow night and then speaking to the customers the way I was spoken to. One of the first most basic things you learn about hospitality is to make EVERYONE feel welcome no matter what.

Excellent food, great service, and a nice chill vibe. You gotta get the duck!

We came across this place by accident and we were pleasantly surprised! The eggs Benny on zucchini latkas were amazing!!

My first time at the Black Rabbit was memorable. The food was fantastic, and the drinks are good too.

Beautiful space, lovely cocktails and inspired cuisine! Such a great spot to enjoy a meal and drinks.

Food and drink were amazing! I want to visit again!

Great cocktails and amazing food! Pink lady and lions tail were our favourites. So nice to see a place with this kind of atmosphere and even better that it s in a historic building within Nanaimo.

I am hooked :) loved the interior design and feeling of the space. Delicious food and great selection of wines.. definitely recommend it. Been a repeated costumer of White Rabbit and now the Black Rabbit kitchen Coffee, Lunch and dinner always covered and with love. Thank you

Lovely bistro with an inviting drink list/ menu and ambience unlike any other venue in Nanaimo. I attended during the test kitchen and was thoroughly impressed with their attentive staff and thoughtful menu. The chef has real vision and delivered fresh, inspiring combinations. There are many options to imbibe (light or boozy) and menu items are easily shared, contributing to a spontaneous night out, whether its date night or friends celebrating!

If I met Shakespeare in a back alley with a stone wall covered in sweet woodroof, I would whisk him away and take him here for a Lion s Tail or anything Tiki. Great food paired with poetic atmosphere and cocktails bathed in sunshine.

Developing into its own, a great spot for drinks. Had a good time. I think that some chandeliers or something hanging from the ceiling could bring the room together. Little more detail, and .

Really lovely experience. Food, service, and ambiance were all amazing. One of the best steaks in recent memory, the fries were incredible, and the asparagus salad was delicious.

Amazing vegan options! The wild mushroom sauté was to die for!

Really fantastic place & people and the cocktails are

Food was unique and absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend the dinner for two. Steak was out of this world! Absolutely lovely servers!! Can t wait to come back and try more.

The food was incredible! If you are wanting to try a new place or wish Nanaimo had more selections for dine in look no further. This place was excellent, good service, amazing cocktails (they have great beer too ;) and quaint atmosphere. I highly recommend it and will definitely be back!

Excellent experience - delicious food, unique cocktails, friendly staff and a great atmosphere!

Really nice restaurant in Nanaimo, right next to the White Rabbit coffeehouse (which do a great pour-over). It s a nicer restaurant, so rating it as such. It sounds like it s relatively new, so they are probably still working through some growing pains on setting up their menu, but on the whole if you re looking for a place to get a nice drink that s a step above the lounges built into the lounges on Front Street I d really recommend this place. And the food is very nice in a casual/professional environment. Some of the items that they have on the menu have really inspired combinations (if you re up to it I d recommend the Very Hot Noodles)! I look forward to coming back and seeing how it develops in the meantime.

This establishment has an excellent vibe accentuated by friendly and helpful staff. If youre seeking a culinary experience that has flavor galore give this place a go. My favorite is the Ratatouille.

Five stars is not enough. This place is great. A memorable dining experience. All the food we had was excellent and unlike other French bistros, the portions were very generous. A great value. They care about the details. The mushroom consume was a unique taste experience. The orange sponge cake desert was significantly understated. This is not just orange flavoured cake. This is a sensational one of a kind desert. Go and enjoy!

My husband and I experienced this gem of a restaurant on July 2, 2022. We were more than pleased with our meal. We decided to go with the set menu, and chose two of the four appetizer offerings. We shared the house made pate and the ratatouille. Both were delicious and the portions were generous. This was followed by a morel mushroom consume, very enjoyable. We chose the cote de boeuf for the main. The meat was prepared medium rare, melt in your mouth perfection, and was accompanied by a salad and home fries, again generous portions. We finished the meal with two choices from an offering of four items, the lemon tart and the orange sponge cake, both of which were the perfect end to a truly fantastic meal! The service was very prompt, friendly and the timing was great. Our experience here was so enjoyable that we are planning to return with our visitors from out of town, birthdays and anniversaries, and just because! Well done, to the owners, Amy and Adain!

First time here and absolutely will be going back. Tiki Thursday!!! True to the Polynesian food & feel expressed in cocktails and freshly made tacos. Their tortilla chips are obviously handmade and ridiculously delicious. Looking forwards to trying the rest of their usual menu.

Myself and my friend went for dinner to Black rabbit and unfortunately we got very disappointed. I had Duck l oragne but the size of $30 main dish was very small. Also pairing duck with fries with ketchup and mayo on one plate seemed to be weird, not so French. Duck itself was tasty though. My friend had steak she couldn t cut Big thanks to our server, Tara, who took well care of us and took 30% off of our bill. She was caring and professional. We had higher expectations and I ve heard very good opinions about your place . Maybe we should try again one day. P.S. can t see the option to add photo

Holy S@#+!!! I almost dont want to leave a 5 star review because it will mean The Black Rabbit will become hard to get into Hands down. Wow! Amazing food. 100% will be back.

Great cocktails and loved the wine. Food was pretty mediocre.

They have turned this room into something you want to come back to. French with a slight twist. Not rushed like a real French bistro. I had the moules et fries, local Fanny Bay mussels, delicious and excellent fries. My partner had the salad Niscose. Slightly deconstructed only marred by the use of Kalamata olives instead of Niciose. The late apple was very good but ask for fresh bread. Good wines excellent service. Cant wait to go back. Looking forward to trying their cassoulet in the fall.

The food is absolutely amazing! I had a small platter (almondine) and fries (my oh my best fries ever!), my husband had the mushroom poutaine (not sure what is was called again). The broth was amazing! Did I already mention the fries? Best. Fries. Ever. Period!

Nice new decorations. Good Ambiance! But we ordered sea bass and dessert and appetizer , after more than one hour they served our main plates! It was samll portion and it was 75 box (included dessert and appetizers) But the taste was really Good!

Absolutely delightful spot for a delectable meal. The staff feel like friends even on our first visit. The building is tastefully decorated, mixing modern accents with the original look of the old train station. Our price-fix menu dinner was phenomenal- to start we chose the ratatouille and the chicken pâté; both were great. Next came the consommé soup, which had a dark brown broth, slivered scallion, and morel mushrooms. A unique and tasty take on the traditional soup. However the star of the night was easily the best ribeye steak I ve ever eaten. It was perfectly marbled, tender, and easily enough for two at 24oz. The pictures tell it all better than I can. The fries were doubled fried and easily the best I ve ever tasted. The salad was light and the dressing was not overbearing. The desserts were sumptuous; the perfect ending. I cannot wait to return. Thank you Amy and co!

An excellent and recently opened spot with spaciously vibrant energy in the dinning Hall along with a sunny patio out back on the rails. Expansive bar list with a super creative kitchen team putting out stellar dish after dish. Great pairings for sharing and big plates for when you need to eat. Busy on a Wednesday night with a line at the door before open! Left off seeing some local black rabbits enjoying the yard. We enjoyed a bottle of fine wine with the côte de boeuf and Demi glaze after a phenomenal asparagus salad. Mussels in a rich broth and ended with some gelato and lemon tart after a Oaxacanight (?) Cocktail. This was a great evening with great food at a great restaurant. If you are in the neighborhood give it a go and if you are local, this recently opened spot is sure to please.

Great food & drinks, very nice place and friendly staff. And of course the kids LOVED the rabbits :) Highly recommended!

I just love this place. Great interior design, happy & friendly staff, great cocktails, we only had desert which we loved. Even the white & black rabbits are outside for real. Overall a great location to recommend in Nanaimo if you look for a special location to dine out as a family, bigger group or just as a couple!

We waited 15 minutes to have someone take our drink order, another 15 at least before drinks came. The restaurant was extremely loud. We moved outside to avoid the noise. It was so hot, but better than the din inside. The food was amazing though. Gotta say.

Absolutely worth it. A hidden gem. Will be back. Vegetarian options: Great vegan options - not just an option- truly delicious :)

Nanaimo s hidden gem! I am from Nanaimo heard amazing things about it finally got out to take my girlfriend to dinner and it was absolutely delicious. Great atmosphere service and food.

Great new spot overall. We were seated and ordered drinks, which arrived promptly. We then waited 40 minutes for anyone to come back around. After getting up to find our server, she was incredibly apologetic and did everything possible to make it right. Unfortunately after that we didnt have time for appies but enjoyed our mains very much. Despite the massive service fail, food was still great and they did everything they could to right the situation -- so well be back!

Excellent restaurant in a gorgeous setting in the old train station. Both the beef and duck were sumptuous. The pate was to die for. Must return!

So excited to have a new restaurant in town serving exciting and interesting food! Also a great selection of cocktails and drinks. Will be coming back for sure. Super nice and helpful staff as well.

We had some family visiting from out of town and brought them to Black Rabbit. Exceptional service, and everyone commented on how delicious the food and cocktails were. The dining room is also gorgeous as it is located in what used to be a train station. A must-visit!

Ridiculously good meal and wonderful atmosphere. Truly one of the best restaurants I ve ever eaten at - so much so that I ate there twice. First night, chose a fancier selection of small plates and entrees. The second my partner and I went for the burger, because how could we not? All the food was fresh, beautiful, delicious and most importantly filling! I also appreciated that they source ingredients locally, which adds to the freshness of all the plates. The staff were amazing, making some great recommendations for drink pairings, but striking the perfect balance between being present and not stifling our conversation. A true gem in the heart of Old City Quarter Nanaimo!

Been to Black Rabbit a few times now. Wonderful cocktails. Food is modern and tasty. Friendly staff. Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian and vegan options called out on the menu Dietary restrictions: Most dishes can be customized and quite a few gluten free options available.

Amazing food and great service. Also has one of the best steaks I have ever eaten!!!

quotes from my dining experience included oh my god this is beyond this pate reminds me of childhood and how do you get leeks to taste like that? - gorgeous location, the friendliest staff, and probably the best steak ive ever had in my entire life. actual rabbits of all colours including black out on the lawns was the cherry on top of the delicious cake. thank you to the lovely amy for the drink recommendations! <3

Nice to see another upscale restaurant in Nanaimo, delicious food, nice cocktails. My only advice is to add a 20oz pint, and speed up the service.

The best duck I have had and the sea bass was to die for!!! I will definitely be back

Absolutely amazing place. One of the best dining experiences Ive ever had. Wonderful attentive staff. Amazing food and great ambience. Truly enjoyed every aspect of it. The duck la orange was beyond delicious

Excellent steak frites and decent service, but very limited wine menu. No other option but stale brewed old coffee. Crème brûlée was very disappointing.

I very much enjoyed my meal tonight. Even as a single diner, I did not feel neglected. The drinks were excellent and the food phenomenal. I came from a larger city with very high quality restaurants and I was looking for something of the same quality in Nanaimo. Black Rabbit is it.

I had a great experience at Black Rabbit Kitchen! Delicious food and cocktails and our server, Tara, was awesome, she was super knowledgeable and attentive. The duck lorange was out of the world. Definitely will be coming back :)

Such an amazing experience at Black Rabbit. The ambiance, the food and the service was exceptional. The steak frites are to die for. I will definitely be coming back!!

Amazing flavours. If you like well made food with exceptional flavour you will love eating here. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free no problem

We just enjoyed an amazing meal at the Black Rabbit. Great portions, delicious food, amazing flavours... Probably the best meal weve had in Nanaimo! Highlights were the cote de beouf, harissa carrots, and duck confit. The desserts were absolutely fantastic though... Make sure you save room! Like most places these days, service is suffering due to under staffing, but the team did the best they could. Its a tough time and we understand. Oh... I am so happy to see a great selection of soda waters and mocktails. Nice to see that the non drinkers are getting tasty options these days!

Everything was very good.

Delicious interesting food great service

Amazing service and delicious food every time!

The best restaurant in Nanaimo. Cool friendly staff. But the food is second to none.

Had dinner with a group of colleagues. The food was excellent; worth the price for the quality. We all got cocktails which were lovely. The star of our meal was our server, Morgan. She was exquisite. Exceptional service, great recommendations and catered to each one of our dietary restrictions. Dealt with a difficult table nearby with grace. Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Four ate at The Black Rabbit. Everything from the spicy noodles, duck, steaks, and coffee to the lemon tart dessert was 10/10 on the delicious scale. Great atmosphere and service. Highly recommend this restaurant. Parking: Easy to find parking

Such a welcoming and unique atmosphere in the old train station. Felt transported to somewhere like Portland or Seattle, but without the too cool hipster attitude. Our server Lindsay was lovely and attentive. Went with a group of diverse eaters, and all felt welcomed and left happy with the vegan and omnivore options. I was particularly impressed by the carrot side dish. Im not sure how carrots could possibly be so delicious, but trust me--they were! Will be back to try more side plate delights and will try to save room for dessert next time. Parking: Easy peasy parking

I felt somewhat taken advantage of. I was looking forward to a steak and they had two listed on the chalkboard outside as well as steak being a regular featured item on the actual menu. Only to be informed by our server the steak shipment hadnt come in so I settled for a burger which was quite good. As a result of the foregoing, I wont be going back.

It took too long to receive our meals. Steak was quite good, while carrots were ok. I didnt have the dessert but friends said theirs was good. I felt there was general room for improvement, but worth trying again.

It was an interesting dinner experience, it was so unique I want to go back again and get the beef dish all to myself! Delicious

The prime cab rib eye was butter tender and demi glace so savoury!...will definitely have the chicken liver pate with soft bread again..and recommend the brulee and sponge cake.. delightful meal topped off with a grenache..thank you for a lovely Thursday date night

We had our team Xmas party here. It was absolutely fantastic. The food was astounding, the service was friendly and consistent and the price was on point. I honestly can t wait to go back. A real Nanaimo gem.

Great food and wonderful cocktails. The staff was really polite and friendly. I hope to go back again soon!

Absolutely amazing food. The best steak that we have ever eaten, and the pate was addictive.