Off The Hook Surf Turf Smokery in Nanaimo

Food could have been more flavor. Seemed a bit bland. Staff was nice.

Love the food!! It is the best gluten free fish and chips!

Food was delicious, good size and well cooked, both the meat and veg. Nice place to hang. Couldnt tell it was all gluten free at all. Thanks. Dietary restrictions: 100% gluten free. Other allergens were clearly marked.

I d like to share my experience with On The Hook and warn others. Let me start with the good part. The food is actually decent. We ordered fish and chips with salmon and halibut. The fries were excellent, and the fish was cooked well with just the right amount of batter. The flavors were rich and enjoyable. Now, let s move on to the bad, which completely ruined our overall impression of the place. We decided to place an online order for pickup. We made our order at 5:21 PM and paid online. The website confirmed that the order was received and would be ready within 20 25 minutes. However, it also instructed us to wait for a confirmation email before heading out. Everything seemed fine. About 20 minutes later, we arrived at the restaurant and waited in the car for another 10 minutes. By this point, 30 minutes had passed (already longer than the estimated time). My husband insisted I go inside to check on the status of our order, and thank goodness he did! Turns out, no one had even seen our order. It only got located after I showed a screenshot with the order number and proof of payment. Fine, I thought, and was told to wait while they prepared it. Now, take a guess: how long did I wait? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? 15 minutes? No. I waited 40 minutes! That s right 40 minutes! And only after I demanded a refund did the kitchen suddenly manage to find my order. Within 5 minutes, it was ready for pickup. I m absolutely certain that if I hadn t asked for a refund, I would have waited another 30 40 minutes. The staff avoided eye contact, acting as if I wasn t there. They mumbled excuses about the kitchen being busy and said, You know, it s Sunday evening. No, I don t understand. How is it acceptable for a customer to wait 40 minutes for an order placed ahead of time? The service was atrocious, and the entire experience ruined our evening. We had to cancel plans we had for later that night. Be cautious when ordering online. Show up early and check on the status of your order every five minutes because the staff clearly doesn t care enough to do it themselves!

The food is delicious and aesthetically pleasing. A small and simple menu, which is wonderful, definitely going give this place a second go.

Excellent fish & chips and it s gluten free! Service was fabulous; fast, friendly and attentive servers and host. Highly recommend this place for excellent fish & chips. Dietary restrictions: Almost entirely gluten free menu Parking: The restaurant is located in a strip mall with other stores sharing the same parking lot

I bought chili and frozen Mac and cheese today. Put the Mac and cheese in the oven on 400°, covered with foil and an hr later its still frozen.. Oven was definitely on but I feel it had been too deep frozen... Im confused. Turn your freezer down please. Instructions said 25 mins...

My wife and child are celiac so this place is amazing. Great food, waitress was awesome. Cant wait to go back Dietary restrictions: GF

Excellent food and service. Daily specials were amazing, and portions were very generous.

Stopped in on the way home from the Hullo after a day of work in Vancouver. Delicious food, and gluten free too. My kids really enjoyed the old Buster Keaton movies that were playing on the screens :) My wife and son opted to split a fish a chips, instead of just getting an extra plate as is usual the kitchen delivered the meal already divided. Excellent service. Dietary restrictions: The Celiac member of our group had no problems eating here.

I thought the seafood platter for 2 would be an assortment or seafood, but it was basically 1 large fish and chips with a side salad with a few shrimps

Fantastic seafood and vegetarian options. Great service

An amazing place to go, especially if you are on a gluten free diet. Everything on the menu is gluten free. Dietary restrictions: Everything is gluten free.

We went to try this place, but the menu was not appealing.. to much smoke no surf options

Love this place the food was great, and the service was wonderful. Thank you Dietary restrictions: Full gluten-free menu.

This is a hidden gem. Food was amazing. Our server Ori was the best!

Delicious food, generous portions for the price. This is a one piece halibut & chips with a calamari appetizer.

Stopped for lunch on a visit to Comox... Awesome! The fish and chips were excellent crispy and fresh with a light batter wonderfully seasoned. We also shared a kale ceasar salad... absolutely delicious and a very generous amount. We loved our meal and the griendly atmosphere!

Really loved this restaurant for dinner with family and friends during a visit to Nanaimo. One person in our group is GF, but the rest is us were equally happy with our meals. I had the cod fish and chips, which was pretty perfect. My partner had the brisket meal, and it was very good. Our server was also lovely, attentive and friendly. Absolutely zero complaints, we had a great dinner and everyone left happy.

The only 100% gluten-free restaurant in all of Nanaimo, but you wouldnt know it because the food is absolutely amazing. The fish and chips are some of the best around and I highly recommend the deep fried cauliflower. Also an excellent spot for pre-packaged to go meals in their cooler. Great option for lunches and dinners.

What a great local find with a super appealing menu and daily specials. Nailed the fish and chips, the tartar sauce was fantastic and the kale ceaser salad was fresh and loaded with deliciousness. The restaurant s cozy old- school atmosphere felt nostalgic and inviting. The staff are very attentive, courteous and gave excellent service. I highly recommend this family friendly, glute-free gem for a casual dining experience.

Food was amazing, just had the Crispy Halibut bowl - delicious with a twist of creativity/innovation! Highly recommended

Wow! This place is a treasure. Had the halibut and crispy chicken burger. Both had a light, crispy batter that was cooked perfectly. Portions are generous and the service was great. They also have take out options, so we grabbed a pork belly mac and cheese plus a nanaimo cheesecake to have later. The bonus for me is that this restaurant is 100% gluten free. Allergens are listed for each menu item, so if you have food allergens, this restaurant is a great option. Dietary restrictions: 100% gluten free restaurant plus the menu lists the allergens for each dish.

The best food and service

Overall 5 stars. Good was fantastic, I got a salmon burger and it was great. I found seafood options are not great for take out. But the full menu is good. Service was good no issue. They were friendly and nice. While waiting would have been nice to be offered a water or better spot to sit. The atmosphere was nautical and clean. I will definitely go there again.

Went out to Off the Hook tonight for the first time. I have recently been advised that I may have a sensitivity to gluten so we were recommended it as a restaurant to try for date night and we were not disappointed. The service was impeccable, shout out to our server Ori. Food and drinks were delicious. 10/10 dining experience, which is not something we can often say these days. Can t wait to go back.

AMAZING fish tacos!! Also got ribs and fries, the ribs were so tender and well seasoned, and the fries were super crispy. Highly recommend!!!

We got seafood chowder, it barely had seafood in it and it was watery not rich.

Surprisingly great find in a strip mall! Nice layout inside the restaurant, really attentive and friendly service plus an impressive menu with tasty food. Well be back! Vegetarian options: They have vegan and vegetarian options, well-labeled on the menu Dietary restrictions: Allergy info is actually on the menu!

We just left and already can t wait to come back! As a celiac I was overwhelmed with how many options there were for me to pick from. Ori took such great care of us and was very informative about the details of the menu. Highly highly recommend.

The girls are super friendly and food is great Dietary restrictions: Totally gluten free....love having an entire safe menu to choose from Food : 5/5 |

My husband and I ordered the BBQ platter for 2 and had to pack almost half of it up to take home. Fantastic food & value. Great service too.

Everything is gluten free and also many dairy free choices. Excellent food, service and staff. Definitely going back and recommending to friends.

Pet friendly on the patio. Food and service were great.

My son and I had an amazing lunch here, we will be back!

Wonderful restaurant and we had a superb lunch of halibut tacos, Yorkshire brisket and the best(and most unique) Nanaimo Bar cheesecake. Everything was well presented and beautifully plated. The fact that everything on the menu is gluten free just makes this place perfect since the Celiac in our party can choose anything from the menu. You d never know any of this was gluten free. Absolutely delicious. Our server, Devon, was the epitome of professional, efficient and friendly. She is very skilled at what she does! Shout out to manager, Matt who is very involved in the smooth operation of the restaurant. He took the time to interact with us and introduce us to the silent movies featuring Fatty Arbuckle. They show silent films on the big screen and it s fantastic. Definitely give this place a try. You won t regret it! We will be back!!!

Waitress rude. Said she would get to us when she could. 15 min. cant even get a drink. Giving them 3 minutes more because my husband wants fish and chips.

Absolutely incredible fish and chips! The halibut was perfect.

It was ok, I had the brisket burger, it was decent but didn t have much for flavour, the service was terribly slow, we were on the patio and kept being forgotten about. I would eat here again if I were in the area, but I wouldn t drive across town for it.

We went here for our 21st anniversary and we were disappointed. Most of our food was cold when it arrived at our table and my sons chicken sandwich was so overcooked it was inedible. Overpriced and underwhelmed

This is a hidden food gem in Nanaimo. All the food is fresh and delicious. They have seafood, and also non-seafood menu items. Well priced for the quality and service. Would eat here again and again!

we realky enjoy the food

Daaaang. Thats some crispy crunchy fish with a beautiful flaky tasty interior! The fries are much the same albeit a bit greasy I feel like this is a worthy sacrifice to get the amount of delicate crunch followed by a fluffy interior! The only knock is the atmosphere but what can ya do? Its an old neighborhood pub. Sit back with a decent selection of the usual suspects on tap and enjoy that crispy fish and chip combo! Parking: Lots of open parking in the strip mall area. Kid-friendliness: They have fish or chicken nuggets with fries.

My first visit, I was in a bit of a hurry. Good from scratch food in a comfortable setting. Nice cocktail as well.

Wonderful gluten free food. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free restaurant Food : 5/5 |

The food OMG so so so good you want great friendly quick service off the hook is off the chain so far best place ive ever eaten at oh ya excellent its deffinatly the place to go keep doin what your doin cause boy oh boy its workin

Good food and great service! The waitress was very helpful, friendly and accommodating. She even brought a bowl of water for our dog to drink as we sat on the patio! The one thing is say is that the battered salmon on the seafood platter for 2 was definitely not as good as the cod! He salmon got a bit over cooked and dry. But the house made sauce with the fish and chips was fire.

My friends have always told me Im such a talented food conniseur- I adore great tasting food. The more the variety, the better. 10 thumbs up Vegetarian options: The salmon burger is not a choice on this online site. See below. Dietary restrictions: Im a Diabetic 2 - forgot to take my snacks & diabetic shake & could tell my bg was low. I watch my bad carbs always, but knew it was sort of an emergency. I had a delicious, fresh/large sockeye salmon burger cooked to perfection (pineapple, jalapeño, coleslaw & great sauce). Its a bit messy to eat but worth it. I suggested to the chef that it would be a to die for burger if they used a brioche bun instead. I plan on returning in a month or so just to see if they changed it. The atmosphere, staff & food are fab. Highly recommend & will be back. Parking: Handicapped parking spot Kid-friendliness: I dont have kids, but it appeared to be somewhat kid friendly. Wheelchair accessibility: It appeared to have considerable space for wheelchairs, double entrance doors & lots of space around tables.

Truly delicious!

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free restaurant

This place is a bit of an odd duck. Seafood, smokehouse, and gluten free. I had brisket tacos and they were very good. But, while I know ingredients are expensive, portion size was a little small for the price (as were the dishes other members of my party had). I think that there are ways to mitigate this a bit while still keeping prices in check. But I think the diverse menu may be responsible for part of this. The service was amazing. And my food itself was very good. The only other complaint was from a member of our party who had the halibut burger who was not fond of the GF bun.

Great place the waitress Haley was awesome would definitely recommend the salmon. Will definitely be back

Well dont let the name fool you . To me I thought this place was going to be like a full on smoke house bbq place . Pictures looked good reviews were good so I looked forward to trying it out . We ordered a BBQ platter for two and a side of calamari along with two beer . We got the calamari and our beer and the calamari was really good, great batter . So we waited for the rest of our food for quite awhile and its not like they were busy there was only one other person actually eating there . Finally our order came and it was not bbq at all rather than chicken and ribs that were simply covered with bbq sauce and heated in an oven . To top it all off the chicken was ice cold and was sent back and we had to wait even longer , they were very apologetic and offered me a discount a some Deseret but I was so disappointed that I just wanted to leave . So even after that it still cost me $98 bucks . Take a lesson from Jones bbq in victoria now thats a bbq smokery place .

My wife and I have eaten here a few times now. We really enjoy the flavor of their fish dishes. The batter is very crispy, flavorful, but thin as to not take away from the fish. The sauce it comes with is very tasty and compliments the flavors from the fish and batter. The coleslaw is nice and sweet and sits well. The fries are fried just right and lightly salted. The atmosphere is nice. I love the curved ceiling in front of the bar. My favorite feature there is the black and white movies they play on either side of the bar. It is a very nice touch instead of watching sports. The art on the wall is minimal and not distracting. They have nice outdoor seating for those who want to. The bathrooms are always clean and stocked! The staff are very friendly and attentive. They have no problem helping out with anything you may need, especially if something comes up. They dont badger you like other places, tho they dont ignore you either. They are able to make the mood of the place relaxing.

This food, oh my God. Im so stuffed right now to the point I almost feel drunk. The chicken, brisket and the ribs, wonderful. The ribs fall off the bone. Even the corn, coleslaw and fries are excellent, especially the corn. Staff great and friendly as well. Definitely worth coming back for.

We waited over an hour for our takeout. Part of it was on the past through for 20 minutes. Wont be back.

Our meal was good. We ordered the wild sockeye salmon bowl, crispy halibut bowl and crispy cod with fries. Next time we will order the seafood plater for 2 as the portion size for that dish is generous. Service was friendly and efficient. It was a bit hot inside on a hot day. Not sure if there is A/C. Wed come here again.

Really delicious food friendly staff, definitely coming back.

Best gluten free fish + chips I ve ever had. Perfect restuarant for celiacs and even those who can eat gluten.

Great food. Amazing service. Chill patio!

What a treat to have a full menu of gluten free deliciousness. We stop here every time we come to Nanaimo) I had chicken strips (you can order an adult portion)- what a treat! Fish and chips were lovely and calamari (tried time before were also splendid). To balance out the fried food we had a salad which was actually very tasty.

Food is amazing and everyone is super friendly. I can t wait to go back again!!

Amazing to find a gluten free restaurant! Love that all the allergens are clearly labeled. Food was fantastic, the cauliflower bites were delicious and I could have eaten a massive bowl of the crispy kale alone. My non-gf husband loved the brisket burger. Great service. Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options listed Dietary restrictions: All gluten free, other allergens (dairy, eggs, soya, shellfish) clearly labelled Kid-friendliness: Small kids menu

Good food, great service.

Quiet, dog friendly and good food. Great place to go if you are waiting for the ferry.

Stale buns, man behind me had sent his uncooked food back,crazy expensive cocktails, will definitely not be back !!!!

Not really what I had in mind. Pretty weak brisket sandwich. Hard ultra dense bun. Brisket itself was a 5/10. Small portion and high price for what it was. Not likely to return.

Fish and chips are fantastic. Waitress was lovely, had a great first experience here today!

Great hidden gem! I had not heard about this restaurant, but searching for a gluten free eatery for a couple visiting us for lunch. Amazing variety on the menu and great service. We will be back!

We picked up our order. Halibut was phenomenal. Our order was missing tartar sauce but it was great without it. Would definitely visit again our next time through Nanaimo.

A neat place with a hearty dinner. The staff was really good and helpful. Would love to visit again to try more things from the menu.

My friend I came over for some appetizers and felt very uncomfortable the owner left and these two mid 20 women were laughing at us. We won t be coming back. The food was ok and could be better and better staff than having young women working there

Super yummy, got the platter to share (chicken and brisket) and everything was delicious. Best part was my waitress, she was so nice! Wheelchair accessibility: Two doors to enter into restaurant - didn t see a button

Alyssa and Meagan are phenomenal wait staff and by their smiles enjoy what they do. The smoked salmon chowder came highly recommended by Alyssa and it did not disappoint. Come for the friendly, family like atmosphere or the food, you will not be disappointed.

Had the Calamari with Yam fries tonight. Very good. Cold glass of IPA beer!! Top drawer for sure. Reasonably priced

The owner is incredible, great *allergy sensitive* menus, fast service, and lots of new and updated food items. One of our favourite stops in nanaimo. Dietary restrictions: All food on the menu has a list of allergens, all food is gluten free

A little hidden gem!

Dietary restrictions: Alllll gluten freeeeee, this makes me so happy, the options! Food

Good food, reasonably priced. Good service and conversation too. Highly recommended. Ordered the calamari as a meal, tacos and chicken rice.. All very good.

Had lunch here for the first time this week and it was amazing ! Creative menu with very flavourful food. Service was awesome & probably my new favourite wings in town yummy

Vegetarian options: Not a vegetarian but had a great salad and cauliflower tacos as part of my meal. Both were great. Food

Accommodating, pleasant, excellent food and service.

Great food, staff a bit overworked but were kind despite it. Atmosphere inside was good, though nothing really stand out or exceptional about.

Food was bland Didnt get drinks until after food (and had to remind her) When I said the special was really small, (looked like 2 tiny sliders for the beef dip special) the server said great! She didnt quality check Do not recommend nor will I be back. Dont waste your money Wish I took pictures

We were here for lunch not really knowing what to expect. First off GREAT fish and chips, not 75 percent batter like most places. Super filling and pretty quick service, we were in and out within a hour I d say. Friendly staff greeted us upon arrival and as we left. Overall experience was excellent as we needed a good meal and quickly. Will definitely be back when in the area. Kid-friendliness: We didn t have our children with us this time but I d say a child friendly environment.

Had a great meal on Valentines Day with friends. My wife had the halibut tacos w/salad and I had one piece of cod. Food and service was excellent, and I really liked the total price with a drink each, $57. We will be back soon. Nice atmosphere.

Great food and service 7 of us from the Nanaimo Hornets rugby club alumni had a wonderful dinner thanks for the super time. Loved the Chicken Oscar as well as the Ceasars

Food and service was great Vegetarian options: Great salads Parking: Lots of parking right outside

100% gluten free celiac safe restaurant so happy to have somewhere to eat safely as a celiac, great food, Great experience every time! Love this restaurant Dietary restrictions: Fully gluten free restaurant celiac safe Other Allergens in food noted on menu

Did not disappoint! We had the fish (2 piece cod and 2 piece salmon) and chips. The fish fillets were thick, the batter was crispy and delicious! Fries were great and the coleslaw was amazing. The entire menu is gluten-free but youd never know. Extensive menu with something for everyone. Service was excellent. Would definitely eat there again the next time were in Nanaimo. Highly recommend!

OMG! There are not enough stars for this place! My husband and I went there to eat for the first time as I have several food sensitivities and Im tired of having pain after eating out. Not only is everything in this restaurant gluten-free, but under each item they list other possible allergens like soy, eggs and dairy. For me, this is hugely helpful and makes eating there safe for me and worry-free. But hold on, Im just getting started! The food at Off the Hook is AMAZING! We shared the Seafood Platter for Two and it was freaking delicious! Neither of us could decide which portion of the platter we liked best because it was all incredible! Even the salads were fabulous! And my husband commented that the batter on the cod and salmon was the best hed ever had! (Im not usually a fan of salmon but they made it so yummy I actually enjoyed it!) I was also impressed with how they swapped out the salad dressing and sauce on the crispy cauliflower tacos so there was no soy in the meal. We were too full to finish. (And after eating there, I was pain-free... yay!) Matt, our server, was a delight and so accommodating, including creating a specialty drink for me. This will now be our go-to place to eat whenever were in Nanaimo. Weve already planned ahead for my birthday! Vegetarian options: There are some delicious vegetarian options. Dietary restrictions: Everything is gluten-free. EVERYTHING! Any other allergens are listed under each menu item, so no guesswork. And they are very accommodating so if there is something you cant eat, they are open to swapping out things. Parking: Plenty of free parking and easy access. Kid-friendliness: Relaxed, family atmosphere. Funny, vintage, (silent) films playing - a great distraction for young ones. Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor, wide spaces, plenty of room for wheelchairs.

Theyve done great things with the interior, the food is amazing and the service impeccable! Special thanks to our wonderful server, Ori!!

Delicious halibut fish and chips

We coordinated a work party for 45 attendees on a Friday night at Off The Hook. We had the whole space, took advantage of their excellent sound system and microphone setup, hosted a Mario Kart tournament on their projector, and enjoyed a wonderful catered meal. Im not sure how they managed it, but our meals were plated and all the different meals for everyone came out within fifteen minutes of one another, and all fresh. The ribs were fantastic, and I hear the brisket and turkey meals were winners too. Fortunately for us, they agreed to stay past their normal closing time so we could continue playing games as a group and chatting. They were super great to coordinate with. Everything was easy, friendly, and very reasonable. Im super happy with how everything went and would definitely recommend going there! -- On a personal review, they are one of the only celiac-friendly gluten-free (all food) places in town that my family can eat at, and all the food is excellent. This is a hidden gem of a location

I attended a work event here and was very pleased with the experience. My meal was delicious with everything properly seasoned. It all had flavour and worked well together. I had the turkey dinner which was tender and moist and couldn t stop stealing the kale off of other people s plates :) Having previously worked as a server for over 10 years I was very impressed by the service. The staff made us feel welcome and comfortable, laughed with us and were incredibly quick and efficient. Nothing was missed. They also stayed late past their closing time so that our evening could continue. Highly recommend and thank you so much for such a fun evening!

Everything was excellent! The brisket was cooked perfectly, it just melts in your mouth and the staff are super friendly and attentive. Will definitely go there again!!

Excellent food, amazing staff, had an absolute blast having our staff party there

Orianna is the most fabulous server! Her and Matt worked tirelessly to make a welcoming and fantastic experience for our staff dinner.

I had been to this restaurant before, food is good, service is always good, but my 1st BEEF ( no pun intended) this past experience the server told us the Special which was a brisket beef dip with fries. That s what we ordered!! We failed to ask cost, expected a Special to be cheaper. Our sandwich was very small and then just fries not a super elaborate meal not even a salad for $28 each 2nd complaint what kind of restaurant brings all their food shipments through the front door? not very precessional!! 3rd complaint, we sat out on the patio right beside 20 kitchen items such as stoves and other used items, maybe for sale?? More of a garage sale environment than a nice ( ands expensive) restaurant. The food is good, expensive $86 lunch with two specials and a glass of wine and a virgin Caesar !! I won t be returning.

Cozy little restaurant with a fireplace and nice atmosphere. The server we had was friendly and did a great job attending to us. I ordered their ribs with fries, coleslaw, and the OTH chowder. The ribs were beautifully slow-cooked. The fries came out nice and hot and were very tasty. You get a generous sized portion of fresh coleslaw. And the OTH chowder with its candied smoked salmon and clam nectar was also quite enjoyable. I would definitely come back again next time Im on the Island.

Fully gluten-free restaurant. Expansive menu options all GF! Casual and cosy. Dietary restrictions: Fully gluten free facility. Offer prepared takeaway options. Food : 5/5 |

Dietary restrictions: GF kitchen! Food

First time visit. Place was full but had a very short while a table was cleared. Good fish and chips. Even though it was busy several times we were asked if we had any needs. We will go back.

All celiac try this place!!!!

100% gluten free restaurant in nanaimo is awesome. As one of my family members is incredibly sensitive. The food was delicious and our waitress was super kind and gave great service. Cute interior as well. Would definitely recommend especially for those gluten sensitive or celiac folks. Awesome parmesean fries! Great quantity. Thanks guys!

We had the smoked fish chowder , flavour was great , could have had more fish in it ! we enjoyed the seafood platter for two , it was amazing , very flavourful and cooked to profection! the waitress was awesome ! we will go back !

Best fish and chips ever the server was great thank you

Super delicious food amazing and gluten free. My non gf partner loved it too. We will be back for sure. These smokey Caesars are delicious. Don t let the post apocalyptic looking sign deter you this place is great! ;) Dietary restrictions: Gluten free!

As a couple with a lot of dietary restrictions, this place has been such an amazing find. The fish and chips are the best weve had, and they are gluten free! The tardar sauce is even dairy free! The service is great, as well. Also, try the gluten free calamari - it will not disappoint!!

This is the only place to go for fish and chips! The salmon and the chowder are both amazing!

Ordered the seafood platter for 2 and the smoked meat platter for 2 WORST meal we have had in years. The brisket was tender but had zero flavor and was half cold fat and the pork belly was a slimy pile of also cold fat. The coleslaw that came with was soaking in at least a half cup of watery dressing. The fries were frozen from a bag and the gravy on the side was ice cold as was the coffee I ordered. On a lighter note the 2 cauliflower tacos that can with the seafood platter were good but not 100.00 worth. The manager did take 13.00 off our bill for the meat portion of the platter which was nice but meant we paid 35.00 for a plate of frozen fries and a bowl of watery coleslaw. Would never go again or recommend to anyone. Susan G

I was really looking forward to eating here as the menu is 100% gluten free and I have an allergy. The reviews looked promising as well! Our waitress was great - prompt, kind, made sure our drinks didn t run empty but didn t linger. My drink was good, however, my boyfriend s mom s coffee was stone cold. We ordered the 2 platters along with the calamari for 4 of us. The salad and cauliflower tacos were alright, nothing amazing, but decent. The calamari was 3/4 batter with a hint of meat, and small. They were the highlight of our meal. When our platters came, which was a very quick 10 minutes, everything was cold, other than the bed of fries everything was on. We had pork belly that was so undercooked, and was straight fat. We also had the brisket and it too was cold, had no flavor and was not okay at all. As an avid meat eater, I am certain these were cooked by a vegetarian or vegan because they were a disgrace. As for the seafood platter, it was tempura fish that was dry with no flavor. We addressed our issues with our waitress, explaining all of our issues and she said she would speak with her manager. A few minutes went by and when she returned she told us she had to call the manager, they were not in house, and they were only offering to compensate the pork belly and brisket. The BBQ platter is $48 and we were only compensated $14. We paid $34 for a plate of fries, soupy, couple days old coleslaw, and watery gravy. There was no other compensation. We will never ever go back. What an absolute terrible place! Dietary restrictions: 100% Gluten Free Menu.

Extremely wonderful place, love the atmosphere and aura the place provides. The food was incredible and came super quick, at a very good price for the portions! My waitress was super sweet and had a smile to light up the room! Her name was Breck, strongly recommend checking this out! - Joe Prevost Food

I dropped by tonight with the family, was one of those nights where no one wanted to cook and I just wanted to take a minute to not only mentioned how phenomenal the food was but how great the service was. Breck was our server and I just cannot say enough good words she was attentive, very kind and made us feel very welcome and looked after. Overall a 10/10 experience!!

Went to off the hook tonight with my family and Im astonished by the service there. Fantastic food and an amazing atmosphere. Wanted to give a shoutout to our server Megan, she made sure my glass was never empty. left that place absolutely BUZZZIN cheers!

Great

Wow, this place is amazing, not only 100% GF but great and creative food creations while still serving the classic fish and chips. Dietary restrictions: 100% GF

The fish and chips was amazing. Super tasty and not over oily servers was good very nice and friendly food took at out 2 minutes to come out but was worth the wait

The food was very delicious. I got the pork belly tacos and Halibut bowl. It was quite busy when we were there and the food came out quickly. The service was amazing. Highly recommend coming here. We will be back!

We stopped by Christmas Eve to have lunch and it was a great time, cool setting , food was awesome , had the pork belly tacos and halibut bowl , will have to go back again for some clam chowder

Perfect fish, batter and tartar sauce. Delicious food and excellent service. Fish and chips were not greasy.

Sooooo good and the whole menu GF is heaven amazing service too Dietary restrictions: Gluten free Food : 5/5 |

My fiancé and I were craving fish and chips so we stopped in to Off the Hook for the first time a few weeks ago. The food was amazing, and our server (we didnt catch her name but she was tall with dark hair and glasses) was so friendly and helpful. We will be back to try some other things off the menu soon. Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend :)

Great gluten free menu. Food tastes amazing!

We had the platter for two with brisket and pork belly...oh wow it all just melted in our mouths! The whiskey blackberry smash is now a fav. cocktail and paired well. Well be back again and to shop the frozen yummy cases. Well done. Wheelchair accessibility: Nice to see its accessible to all.

Do not get the Mac and Cheese. The noodles are gluten free. Theres no option for non gluten free noodles. The texture is gummy and chewy, the sauce is also gluten free which means its way too thin, barely any cheese and completely flavorless. Its a shame, everything I got otherwise was great. The ribs are phenomenal, the brisket was good but It needed some BBQ sauce. All n all Id say the Turf shines more than the surf does.

Came for a lunch and was pleasantly surprised with the good service and variety on the menu. Would recommend if looking for a spot to grab a nice lunch. Everything is gluten free too! So makes it great for many people if you re needing to please some dietary restrictions. Check it out.

We no longer ask where do you want to go for dinner? It s just a given now! Amazing food, great service, comfortable atmosphere and best of all Gluten Free!! if youve never been stay away because i dont want you taking my spot! Lots of ready made grab and go goodness too. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free!!! 100%! No gluten on premises!

This place is fantastic! Fresh and outstanding food ~ you would never know its gluten free! Great service. We will be back.

Great BBQ. Good frozen take home food selection. But a few items are definitely not good. The Mac n Cheese is definitely one to avoid. Steer clear of the crab cake fritters. Fish tacos while good, were swimming in juice from the Pico de Gallo they put on it. My tacos were in a puddle after my first bite. The BBQ tho is fantastic. Brisket is fall apart tender as are the ribs. Pork belly is also wonderful.

Excellent food, menu is completely gluten free. Dietary restrictions: 100% Gluten free Food : 5/5 |

Visited Off the Hook Seafood and Smokery restaurant last night as part of the Dine About Mid-Island. Gluten free restaurant, amazing food! Seafood platter for two - iceberg lettuce wedge, pico d gallo, garlic butter prawns; smoked cauliflower tacos; one piece each battered cod & salmon with coleslaw and fries; pistachio cheesecake. Wow! We waddled out of there. Saw lots of other dishes served - ribs, chicken. We ll be back.

Bright, friendly atmosphere. Gluten free menu. The food was amazing. We will be back. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free menu

Food was very yummy and fresh.

Off The Hook is an absolutely fantastic addition to Nanaimos restaurant scene. The menu is just the right size to give enough choice while not having any filler items. The atmosphere in the restaurant is lovely and bright and service was well informed and friendly. Well definitely be back. Vegetarian options: There are a number of fantastic vegetarian options. The kale chips included with the bowls are delicious, as are all other components that Ive tried Dietary restrictions: The entire restaurant is gluten free and staff are knowledgeable about ingredients and substitution options

Had an excellent beef brisket sandwich.

Best fish and chips in the city. Great atmosphere!!!

Great food, great service, very chill dining experience! Definitely recommend! Vegetarian options: I had the portobello burger so awesome Dietary restrictions: Its all gluten free but the taste is amazing!

Everything was super.

I was very disappointed with the meal I ordered from here! When I called I asked if they had alternative dishes to go with the fish other than fries. I ordered the one (1) piece Cod and I believe it was their house salad (not sure). When arriving to pick up my order I was quite surprised at the price increase of ABOUT $7 or $8 DOLLARS!! My mistake for not clarifying on the phone about the COST for a SALAD and not having french fries with my fish! Met with my friend to eat at the beach to be DISAPPOINTED again with the portion of fish!! The coleslaw had NO dressing on it and was mostly the core of the cabbage. My goodness! Lesson learned! Why this business has a 4.5 for reviews is beyond my understanding!

Great fish and chips, ribs, and fish tacos! That its GF and celiac safe is purely a bonus. Wonderful food and service. Well definitely be back when were in town. Kid-friendliness: Our kids loved the fish and chips.

Very good. Especially for my gluten free eating friend. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free Food : 5/5 |

The cod&fries omg so tender crust perfect crunch fries perfect will be going back for sure.

Complete Home Run! Celiac or not, the food is amazing. Two family members are celiac and were ecstatic that without asking any questions, everything was safe. I am not celiac and everything was delicious irrespective of being gf or not. No eye rolling, I ve eaten my fair share of marginal gf food. I would come back here over and over. Don t fret that it s located in a small-ish mall, once you step through the front gate the atmosphere is very inviting. #celiacscene #glutenfree

Very friendly staff, great atmosphere. And the best fish and chips I have ever had. I highly recommend the calamari. 3 people in my group and we were all very pleased. We will definitely be back.

I know, its me again. We had to know that it wasnt too good to be true so we went back to Off the Hook the very next day for lunch. This time was better than the last. For my lunch I had the fish and chips (Cod) and all I can say is, maybe its a good thing that this restaurant is in Nanaimo and we live in Victoria because Id be eating these fish and chips 4-5 times a week and my waistline would suffer the consequences. The breading was light, crispy and delicious. The fish was moist and tender and cooked perfectly (the tartar sauce was excellent as well). The fries both days are as good as fries get... seriously. Any time we pass through Nanaimo, we will be stopping in for a meal... its that good. In all seriousness, if expansion into Victoria were ever an option, we would be dining there regularly. Thanks to the people who run this place for making such great food.

The bowl options are delicious! Same with fish taco

Cant believe I have never heard of this place before trying it out today. Great atmosphere, incredible and kind service... and the fish and chips were out of control. I honestly thought they accidentally gave me Halibut because the fish was so flaky and good. Ill be back for the cod fish and chips along with probably everything else on the menu.

Gluten Free... Nanaimos first fully gluten free restaurant... but the food is so good ya wouldnt know if nobody told ya :)

Had a reservation for 6:30 tonight for 4 of us -- showed up exactly on time. We were seated quickly then... nothing. We left at 6:49. No one said anything to us, no one took our drinks. There were a total of 11 tables with customers, thats it. I would love to be able to comment about the food, but the servers would have had to acknowledge our existence for that to happen. EDIT: The Owner called us and left a very nice and polite message and is trying to make it right. Thank you for the call, looking forward to returning and updating the review.

WOW WOW WOW, I cannot rave enough about this place. The location is tucked into the corner but they have two awesome patios and a wonderful open space inside. Key here is they are celiac approved, wow they were incredible and accommodating and the food is spectacular. Hands down our favourite place on the island. The only thing I could ask for would be if they had a sampler / tasting option because the menu is INCREDIBLE and we wanted to try it all but not the full meal size. If you re looking for amazing service, really wonderful staff and an adventure for the taste buds, give this place a try. Thank you so much to the staff both BOH and FOH and our waitress, you are all incredible, also kudos to the owner, just wow.

Better steaks at zougla & fireside no return visits planned!

Must try at least once and if you happen to be one with a Gluten condition, nothing is off the menu!

My first experience as a celiac customer at Off the Hook was amazing. The halibut and chips was good value for the money - I had a really big piece of fish and a ton of chips, and it was delicious. But most importantly, and I cant overstate this, is that I felt safe to eat there! Its almost unheard of for someone like me to find a place where I can eat anything on the menu. I only wish that they would open a place where I live, as Id be there at least once a week. Thanks to the friendly staff, who even brought my takeout order out to the car, too. I cant wait to go back!!!

Excellent renovation/ refurb of the Windward pub location. Great atmosphere as soon as you walk in the door. A menu that hits most every palate, with the bonus of being entirely gluten free. A good tap list to accompany the best fish and chips around. Did I mention the helpful, friendly staff?

Best gf food on the island Dietary restrictions: Gf Food : 5/5 |

Mediocre experience here. Came to try a few dishes: found the brisket was very disappointing, but enjoyed the wings and chowder. Glad they accommodated gluten free for most of the menu, but would not likely head back.

Terrific new restaurant. I had the halibut bowl special that came with all sorts of tasty goodness: crispy kale, pickled vegetables, perfect coconut rice. The halibut was lightly battered and cooked perfectly. I tried a few fries and they were excellent, as was the calamari and the kale salad. Friendly, helpful service. Highly recommended!

First time in and the food was amazing. Being celiac I m always hesitant in going out. The food did not disappoint. We ll be back!

I visited Off the Hook Surf and Turf Smokery with a friend a few weeks ago. I was very excited to try this restaurant given that all the menu items are gluten free and I am celiac (literally a Celiacs dream restaurant). I had the chicken strips with coleslaw and my goodness! It was probably the best chicken strips I have ever had. They were tender, crispy and the honey mustard sauce is to die for. The service was also great - we were in and out in less than 40 minutes. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Nanaimo!

Dietary restrictions: Entire menu is Gluten Free Food

The place was empty aside from one other table, so decor and environment seemed stark. Maybe better with more people. Our server was fabulous and friendly. Meals arrived quickly. One of our group had Halibut burger which was a bit cold inside and sort of small. I had the loaded fries which was huge and tasty, the best meal of 4 of us. My guy had the special which was lobster macaroni and cheeze. It was disappointing enough in size and quality for $35 that we will likely not return and it marred our visit. It was a really small portion with a side of dry bread and had no garnishes or any cheese on top and was really unimpressive. If someone is willing to pay $35 for macaroni it should be fabulous. I was really the only one with a good meal and even then, the brisket slices on top were a bit dry.

Dietary restrictions: Off the hook is gluten free Food

We ordered take out and loved it! Great portion, reasonable prices and recyclable containers. Some of the most crispy fries Ive ever ordered for take out. We will be getting food from here more often. Thank you!

Great food and menu! Decent prices! Killer Caesar Food

This restaurant is amazing! Food is always good. The staff is great and friendly. Our server Kaylee was amazing. She very knowledgeable about the menu and very attentive. Definitely want her as our server again.

Im in from Vancouver for medical reasons and tried out the restaurant for the first time. I am super impressed. The restaurant is very clean. Megan my server is awesome. Shes super friendly, helpful and made me feel welcome. Being Celiac and knowing the higher costs associated. The food was amazingly priced at Comparrison to non gluten food plus the size portion was large for fish and chips. A true must for Celiacs or anyone else. Hats off to the owners and great staff. Ill be back and this place is a must stop.ill pass it along back home in Vancouver -Rob

Excellent service amazing food. So yummy!!

An remarkable lunch in Nanaimo with my friend. My friend picked this seafood place because we are finally around the sea. For those Surf dishes, they are mainly serve Cod/Halibut/Salmon. I have ordered the Chilled Tiger Prawns as starters, and the Crispy Cod Taco as appetizer. Our main dishes are shared, which are Crispy Halibut Burger and Pineapple Ginger Salmon Bowl. Chilled Tiger Prawns are chilled out which is the best for outdoor seating under super warm and nice sunshine. And those taco are not really special compared to the prawns. Two main dishes are pretty good, especially the Crispy Halibut Burger. The bread is made by themselves, not too soft and not tender like a soggy baguette. The pineapple is not too sweet, but with that little bit sour which made the coconut rice very flavourful. However, the salmon has a new fresh combination taste for me. Lots of different herbs and seasoning matched it well. It is pretty balanced, have a try if you come to visit. The most remarkable scene is those dried kale leaves on the top of the salmon bowl. This is amazing! No wonder it got recommended. The waitress moved to Nanaimo for studying and serve us as her new job. She is pretty and very friendly, trying to answer lots of our questions with nothing related to menu. If I come to Nanaimo and have my lunch, I definitely will choose here again.

Hello if you want good service awsome staff and really dam good food you need to come here ! We just found this place thought we would try it and gotta say it was fabulous. We took ares home but look nice very clean we will be back again and again cant wait to try some smokery. Best restaurant Ive been to in a long time.

Finally a restaurant that knows what extra crispy fries are !! Delicious meal good value and friendly staff - topped with the worlds best coleslaw!!

Had fully loaded fries with brisket. Portion was good and with a lot of brisket in it. Waiter was very friendly. Nice patio.

Wonderful food, great portions, friendly and acomodating staff. Loved this place! Had the special sawganaki prawns and in was delicious. Great fish and ships. The fully loaded brisket and pork belly was delicious.

Completely gluten free and you wouldn t even know it. Best halibut I ve had in 15 years. Love this place, huge plates great people!

This restaurant is completely gluten free, the food and service are fantastic. Once again tonight this restaurant did not disappoint, the food was fabulous as was the service. Our family favorite for sure Vegetarian options: Everyone can find something delicious Dietary restrictions: Everything on the menu is gluten free Kid-friendliness: They are very family friendly, the chef even came out to see how my grandson was enjoying his lasagma

The food was so phenomenal, the portions were perfect. Our server Promise was cheerful, helpful and so polite. We will definitely be back.

Our family has to eat gluten free. Other than making it ourselves to insure it s GF, eating out is very difficult. We tried Off the Hook last night and we re extremely pleased. Daughter and I had Yorkshire pudding with brisket (a starter but plenty for a meal) and shared fries which were crisp, hot and delicious. Hubby had Chicken Oscar and was definitely happy and satisfied !WE WILL MAKE THIS OUR GOTO ! Can hardly wait until they have the Grab and GO and frozen entrees available!

Just my humble opinion but the place didnt give me the wow factor. The food was okay but service was excellent.

Totally delicious food with some very interesting choices. Wonderful for me as I have to be gluten free, and everything on the menu is gluten free, but for regular eaters, you would never know. We were in a group of twelve and we found the service very slow. One of our group never got to eat with us and had to take her Calamari in a takeaway box. The servers tried their best, but a lot of waiting was involved. Fine for us as we could catch up on chat. There were some mistakes when the food did arrive; no bread for one guest, and although it was promised, it never did appear. However the food was definitely the best that I have had in three years in Nanaimo, and I will definitely go back; many of our group said the same! Dietary restrictions: EVERYTHING is gluten free, but you would never know. By far the best that I have ever had. Much much better food than any other regular restaurant.

With 9 people and everyone enjoyed their meals very much! Great menu

Excellent meal and service!

Great food. Every time we have eaten there, everyone ( ages 8-72) has loved the food. Friendly staff.

I had a great time here. Friendly staff, amazing gluten free fish. It was an awesome dinner.

I did not realize this was a GF restaurant until reading reviews after a really gross over priced chicken burger, makes sense why the bun was a hard dry puck. Pretty disappointing for a 30$ meal.

Really enjoyed my time here. Their service was great. Super friendly. Will defo come again!

My new favourite spot for fish and chips soooo good the batter is perfect light and crispy calimari is delish as well my wife really enjoyed her beef dip as well

The way the atmosphere is set up is so perfect. What makes it better is their food. The Calamari was some of the best Ive had. I also got the braised short rib, which was amazing and really good portion sizes as well. Other people at my table also got the Chicken Oscar the ribs and the smoked chuck burger. All said 10/10. The drinks were my only thing that could use some work, Im a big Caesar fan, and their Caesar wasnt that bad but not amazing, same with the blueberry margarita. However, their cucumber and pink peppercorn gin and tonic was amazing! Highly recommend this place

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free Food

got new hidden gem

Lovely waitress, food was good, enjoyed as family member is Celiac and it was exciting to take her somewhere safe to eat.

What a fantastic place! Amazing food and great service. I can t wait to go back.

Dietary restrictions: 100% gluten free kitchen, and mostly dairy free menu! My girlfriend is celiac and has never had any issues here. Food

Totally gluten free and delicious, high quality take home meals for those with IBS and other illnesses, what s not to love about a place like this in a small city!

At the place Gluten Free meets food Excellent for all. The dinner for two was amazing plenty and then some. The rub on the ribs is spot on. The gravy on the brisket- isnt just there to cover up dry meat. Fall off the bone smoked. My server was informed and friendly. Oh, I saw they have some grab and go meals made up. Sure you can heat them up and throw them on a plate and tell everyone you slaved in the kitchen! Will be back. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free whole establishment- Dairy free available. Parking: Plenty of spots. Wheelchair accessible.

Had the brisket and it was exceptional.